Flowing Ink News Room

For Lutonian cake-maker Lois Lawrence there is no such thing as just one more slice! Lois is the owner of Plumbun, a company that creates and sells sumptuous cupcakes and cakes – and she is the fourth local finalist from The Mall Luton in the national Make Your Mark in Retail competition.

Plumbun has already set up shop in a retail merchandising unit (RMU) in the shopping centre to compete for a place in the finals of this national competition. Over the two week test-trading period Plumbun will be judged on their customer service, sales performance and retailing skills. If Lois gets through this local round, she could be in with a chance of winning a top prize worth over £15,000, including six months free RMU trading space in The Mall Luton and a place at an internationally renowned retail summer school.

Inspired by her mother who was a head cook and who taught Lois to bake from a very early age, Lois has created her own range of recipes; tweaking and enhancing old favourites, as well as creating new ideas, and fulfilling specific requests from clients.

Having run a general catering business in London, Lois moved back to Luton three and a half years ago having gradually realised that her passion was for baking. So, with marketing support from her daughter Corinne O’Sullivan, Plumbun was born and Lois started to concentrate on creating the cakes and buns that have already built her a fine reputation.

Plumbun started selling at music and community festivals, but the business has grown through recommendations and referrals. “Being in The Mall Luton has already surpassed my expectation. Adding to the excitement of being in this competition, I have received eight orders for celebration cakes and cup-cake towers for birthdays in the last two days alone – which is wonderful.” Lois explains, “It has been brilliant to test my cakes with a larger audience, and I am just delighted that people in Luton have been so supportive and are interested in my products.”

The competition has enabled Lois to recruit her very first member of staff - a local catering student - and Lois is also looking forward to building a solid customer base in the area and moving into local farmers markets. In the future, Lois would love to open a glorious Plumbun store in Luton.

All of Plumbun’s products are free from artificial flavourings, colourings and preservatives and some ingredients, such as eggs, are sourced from local farms. Lois is confident that customers will be able to actually taste the quality and freshness, ensuring that her range will stand out from run-of-the-mill commercially produced cakes.

The three other finalists from The Mall Luton are: Urban Jewellery, Humbers Homemade and Inanna. The winning finalist from Luton will be announced on the 13th April 2010.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

For high resolution versions of the image above, contact Danielle at flowing Ink on 01582 487223 or email Danielle@flowingink.co.uk.

Make Your Mark in Retail 2010
The Make your Mark in Retail competition gives entrants the opportunity to test their business on a Retail Merchandising Unit (RMU) and the outstanding candidate is rewarded a ‘retail start up package’ that includes:
• Six months rent free trading on an RMU
• Hands on support from The Mall
• A business mentor from NatWest
• A place at the British Shops & Stores Association Summer School at Keble College Oxford
• A place at the National Skills Academy Retail Master class

The Mall

The Mall is the leading owner and operator of community shopping centres in the UK. The Mall currently owns 18 shopping malls throughout the UK and sees around 4 million shopping visits a week.

The Mall, Luton houses over 120 retailers and sits in the heart of the town centre in Luton. The £20m redevelopment of The Mall Luton, due to end autumn 2010, is currently taking place to remodel the St. George’s Square end of the centre. The redevelopment will provide over 75,000 sq ft of high-quality new shopping, with cafes and restaurants opening onto the recently redeveloped square.
The Mall is committed to Luton as a major destination and is confident this development will provide the best possible shopping experience and has already secured TK Maxx as an anchor tenant in this new development.

www.themall.co.uk – Shopping as it should be…

This press release has been written and distributed by Flowing Ink. For more information contact Danielle Tarren at Danielle@flowingink.co.uk.

www.flowingink.co.uk

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