Having grown up in the Roly’s Fudge family (My parents started the company) I NEVER imagined I would go on to own my own fudge shop. I remember the trips to the cash and carry where everything was 6 times as big as me and thought it was all just a bit of fun rather than actual work! Fast forward a few years and I ended up at Durham University studying Natural Sciences. I immersed myself in student life, triathlon, cross country running, rowing and partying. During these years I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do when my degree was done but I pushed the worries aside and carried on having a nice time. In my third and final year, we had a lot of ‘recruitment fairs’, where companies come and visit the university and try and enrol you on a course of inspire you into a job….mostly in London. Even though I was completely uninspired by this, I felt it’s what I ‘should’ be doing but never quite could bring myself to be interested at all. I watched many friends start applying for jobs…some applied for many at once…seemingly just happy to take whatever they could. I saw how stressful it was having interviews and disappointments and even though it was now nearing the end of final year with exams approaching, I don’t think I ever even looked on a job website. My heart just wasn’t in it and with that, I knew I wouldn’t get a job! I graduated from Durham and wasn’t getting too nervous with the knowledge I was off to New Zealand for 6 weeks where I could have a good think! When I returned it was crunch time! I had decided I wanted to be self employed, and definitely not join the corporate would but I just didn’t know what I wanted to do. I think it was my Dad who suggested fudge (partly for being low risk and having all my parents support and knowledge). Whilst I was at uni Dad actually sold the company but I had the opportunity to buy a franchise from its new owner. After a (small) bit of umming and ahhing, the decision was made. Now to find a place! I was happy to move anywhere in the country…my only ties were family and I knew they’d come and visit I did a lot of research looking for a good location and visited many places within 1 month. The hardest bit was finding a good shop with decent rent. Oh and I was adamant on a river and a triathlon club! Then we found Chester. And a shop. Everything fell into place very fast and I basically left home and moved to Chester where I didn’t know a soul and opened a shop all at once. Luckily it’s been a big success!! The self employed lifestyle has been brilliant for me. I love being able to dictate my own times and ride my bike, especially as Chester is busiest in winter, perfect for cycling in summer! The shop has gone from strength to strength and I have loved watching it grow. Being part of a franchise is really beneficial because you can all bounce ideas off one another and work as a big team under one umbrella but with the scope to add some individuality too. The franchise situation also helps at the start to give confidence that it’s something that is worth doing…look how many shops are successful now all over the place!! Gina’s case study was written when she had opened her first Roly’s Fudge Pantry in Chester. Since then she’s also opened a Roly’s Fudge Pantry in the heart of Keswick, Cumbria – and continues to ride her bike everywhere through the Lake District!