From party planning to selling essentials for the community, a local business has come a long way since the start of lockdown.
Having always had fun party planning and supplying your favorite characters to your homes, Shelly’s Treats are now helping the community and selling essentials in a bid to keep a family business going.
They are a family run business, with six full-time staff, in Bartley Green. As a party planning business, they also have weekend workers who dress up as children’s favorite characters, but unfortunately, they have been out of work. They have kitted out the shop to follow all covid-19 procedures and have only 6 people in the shop at one time with social distancing.
The shop is open for essentials and has brought in delivery service for their munch boxes, which are very popular.
Leah Hyde, manager of Shelly’s treats says: “Through the lockdown, it has taken a turn and we have had to do what we can in order to help the local people.
“We closed for the first lockdown, it was a full lockdown for the four weeks and then he (Boris Johnson) relaxed some of the rules so we opened to do essential deliveries. We could get to the warehouses where people couldn’t get to. We were shopping for flour, eggs, everything like that, so we were getting up at 4:30 am every morning to queue at the warehouses and to send delivery drivers out.
“We have been going for five years, we started as Santa’s little helpers, which where it all roots from really. This year, we will be going around as elves and things on the doorsteps of people so children can still see the Christmas magic but we will not be going anywhere near them unless restrictions change.”
Callum, a full-time employee, said: “If you love the job you do, you want to make it work and all we can do is try.”
Bev Moloney, a regular customer, said: “I can get everything I want from sweets to pasta to toilet rolls, what is not to like.
“When the first lockdown happened, as much as it is a sweet and party shop, they got everything in, all the essentials and kept everyone going. They kept the community going by doing drive rounds with mascots and gave away free chocolate to kids.
“So you have to give back, they have given to everyone so it is nice to help them.”
BVoices is committed in supporting communities across south west Birmingham and surrounding by keeping them informed and engaged. Please see the following:
• Community Chat for south west Birmingham • Coronavirus support
• Community Classroom – Resources for parents & carers
• Community Together • Mental Health & Wellbeing through COVID-19
• Community Kindness • Positive acts during the COVID-19 outbreak
• SW Brum Camera Club – for the love of the lens – Photography Birmingham
• SWBrum Jobs Page
• Community Recycle – Repurpose & Reuse – SW Birmingham & Surrounding