A childhood love of sweets has come full circle for one local shop owner, who has turned fond memories into a growing business now drawing in customers old and new.
Darren Gould, who runs The Jelly Bean in Tiverton, said the shop has been built on a lifelong passion for confectionery and a connection to the very premises he once visited as a child.
The business first opened in May 2024, with Darren recalling his early enthusiasm for the venture. He said: “I have always loved my sweets and used to buy them in this very shop as a child.”
Reflecting on the early days, Darren added: “When we opened it was very exciting and I had a good regular stream of customers.”
Since launching, the shop has maintained steady trade, with a mix of quieter and busier periods. Darren said: “The business has ticked over nicely since day one, a mix of quiet days and great days.”
Among the products introduced, freeze-dried sweets proved particularly popular, although initially they were considered a premium option. Darren said: “The introduction of freeze dried sweets was very popular but were an expensive treat in the early days, they are much more affordable now.”
He believes the shop stands out locally for its focus. He said: “I think the shop stands out as being the only sweet shop in town selling only sweets.”
The business later relocated from Gold Street to Bampton Street after the previous lease ended, with hopes of increasing footfall. Darren said: “I moved from Gold Street to Bampton Street because my lease had ended and we hoped for more foot traffic.”
Since the move, customer response has been encouraging. Darren added: “The response from our customers has been positive.”
Although the new premises are smaller, he said the range has expanded significantly. Darren said: “The shop is slightly smaller but we have got a lot more in there, sweets from decades ago to brand new, over 400 different sweets at last count.”
Having lived in the town all his life, Darren said the business has also strengthened his ties to the community. He said: “I have lived here all my life so I get to see many friends old and new.”
He also supports local initiatives where possible. Darren added: “I try to support as many local causes as possible, donations for draw prizes and the like.”
Looking ahead, he hopes to continue building on the shop’s success. Darren said: “I am hoping to carry on for years to come adding new sweets as I discover them.”
