'I didn’t stand a chance': Independent sweet business forced to close Pontefract shop due to rising costs and ongoing roadworks

Michaela Heaps, owner of the popular Gillygate sweet shop, was forced to close last month due to the rising cost of living and a decline in customers..

She officially announced the closure on January 20 on social media, stating that the shop was “losing too much money”.

In response, customers shared their upset stating that the closure was ‘sad news’.

Owner Michaela, began the business during lockdown after she was forced to leave her job as a teaching assistant due to the ongoing pandemic.

However, during this time she started to sell and deliver boxes of specialised American sweets from her own home.

In 2022, she found a spot in Pontefract Market, providing the business with its first commercial space.

Michaela said: “I loved working there and the other traders became family but people only seemed to be coming in the Market Hall to use it as a cut through so footfall dropped in my second year.

"I had to look at improving my footfall and getting outside but as close to the market as possible, which is when I found 9 Gillygate – where I was welcomed by all the other shops on the row.”

Kayla’s Kandy proved popular among town centre visitors however, customers were unable to reach the shop once roadworks began.

"Business picked up again for around 12 months and then the council started doing road works and fixing the bollards so the footfall decreased and by the time they had stopped the roadworks on Gillygate people had stopped coming into town.” Michaela explained.

“The roadworks meant all entry’s into Pontefract town were backed up taking people twice if not three times as long to get places.

"That put people off venturing out then if they did battle the traffic they had the next battle of finding a parking spot close to where they needed to be as along of the disabled parking has also been removed or blocked in town.”

However, it was not just the roadworks that were affecting the business.

Michaela continued: "Alongside this, we had the rising living costs.

“People just can’t afford luxuries anymore and that’s what sweets are – a luxury.

"Gone are the days when you could pay for a mix up, a bag of crisps and a drink for £1.”

Numerous independent businesses across the country have faced closure due to the severe financial strain from the rising cost-of-living – which is primarily due to a vast increase in operating costs and reduced consumer spending.

"It’s just such a shame our little businesses are closing.” Michaela shared.

"People loved my little shop they just couldn’t afford to keep me in business with their own rising bills.

"Then you have the massive chain stores like Home Bargains and B&M who started selling American sweets and could undercut me.

"I didn’t stand a chance once they started stocking the unique stuff I had in.”

The closure however, is not the end of Kayla’s Kandy, with Michaela stocking her sweets in Phoebe’s Cafe, on Station Lane.

She will also have a stall at this year’s Liquorice Festival.