Sugar rush for traditional sweet shop

AFTER just three weeks in business with an ‘old school’ sweet shop concept  Lisa Oakes is already looking at expansion.

The Gobstopper, based on Ashley Road in the affluent south Manchester suburb of Hale, opened earlier this month and has got off to a flying start with large queues forming around the corner just to get in to the shop.

An e-commerce site www.thegobstopper.co.uk is already in the pipeline, which will allow sales to go nationwide, while a second shop in another local destination such as Didsbury, Alderley Edge or Wilmslow is under consideration.

Lisa, a mother of two, says: “I have been totally overwhelmed by the response to The Gobstopper. I knew that people liked sweets, but perhaps underestimated just how much.

“I am passionate about a sweets, and also independent high street shopping – so it made sense to combine the two.”

The Gobstopper presents its wares like the sweet shops of old – in large glass jars – customers have to wait to be served personally by the shop’s staff.

The shop is striking a cord not just with children from nearby schools, but also with their parents.

Despite the tough time in the retail sector – consumers have been cutting back as household bills have soared – spending on sweets and treats has held-up.

Lisa says: “Sometimes you have to go for it – you can always find an excuse not to do something, but in terms of location, having a product where you can spend as little as 20p and where we’re offering something new and different, I really believe in the business.”

So far the best-selling lines are sherbet and strawberry and raspberry bon-bons.