KAYLEIGH Sim is a self-confessed chocaholic and her dream was always to open a sweetie shop and now the 23-year-old has two.

Sweet Treats opened the doors to its treasure trove of tempting sweet delights at her new Saltcoats shop in Hamilton Street on Saturday.

She also has a shop in Dalry and has big plans to expand even further in the future.

It’s a far cry from her previous job working at an Arnold Clark showroom.

“I have worked in call centres and at Arnold Clark but last year I was facing redundancy and decided even though we were in the middle of a pandemic, now was the time to open a second shop in Saltcoats,” said Kayleigh.

“I had always been busy putting together sweet hampers and bouquets during lockdown and thought it would be a great way to have them all under one roof at a shop in the town centre.

“We have everything that you could dream of here, from old fashioned boiled and retro sweets to deluxe hampers, tiny treats and of course an amazing pick and mix where people can choose their own treats.”

Now, Kayleigh has 20 reps who all work locally for her, securing orders for the shops, she is also heading out and about with her sweet cart around Ayrshire having secured a contract for BPO call centre in Ardrossan where she will be able to sell her sweets exclusively to staff.

And it will be Sweet Treats who will be supplying their goodies at the Drive In Flix outdoor film screenings in Ayr over the next few months too.

“I have big plans for Sweet Treats,” explained Kayleigh.

“Securing the rights to sell at the drive-in movies is fantastic and we are also set to sell at BPO in Ardrossan, it’s great news.”

Kayleigh is supporting Ayrshire businesses and will be stocking the Cheesecake Guy from Kilmarnock’s cakes as well as produce from The Coo Shed.

“I feel it has been worth taking a chance, I want to support local businesses and spread the word too,” said Kayleigh.

“My friends call me Willie Wonka and I honestly don’t mind, I suppose I am.”