Hobby does pair a big business favour

The pair from Oldbury, who also make wedding stationery, say they are thrilled with the new contract at House of Fraser in Birmingham.

"Francesca is Italian and every year we go over to visit friends and family just North of Venis," says Della, 40, who is Francesca's daughter-in-law.

"At family get-togethers and parties it is a tradition for guests to receive five almonds – these stand for health, wealth, long life, fertility and happiness.

"Francesca and I had a look in the shop windows over there at their almond favours and we said to each other that we could do ones just as good, if not better."

That was in 1999 and from Della's home, just off the Wolverhampton Road, they produce hand-made items – and have a showroom in the garage.

Della says she started the hobby as a way of making a bit of extra money while staying at home with her sons Mitchell, aged 18, and Jordan, 16.

Francesca, aged 61, who used to work as a retail manager for Wallis, added: "While making the favours brides were asking us if we could produce matching stationery. We had advertised our rose favours in a wedding magazine and had a great response – but we were having to refer them to other people who make items like invitations and order-of-service cards.

"So three years ago we started making stationery and it has been very popular."

Francesca and Della, who call their company Belle Bomboniere – which, in Italian, means beautiful keepsakes, started going to wedding fairs and the NEC wedding show.

"It was a bridal fair organised by the wedding list department at House of Fraser that led to us being approached by their deputy site manager," says Della, who used to work for Mitchells and Butlers in their computer department. "We were showing off our items at the fair and he said he loved what we did and would we be interested in having our own section in the wedding list department.

"We stock items at Gadd's Cake shop in Dudley but we have a range at House of Fraser in Birmingham."

At the moment the business just involves Francesca and Della but with talks of their designs being stocked at other stores they have said they may look at taking on other people.

"At the moment we are just based at the Birmingham store but, if successful, the range will be spread out to other stores – with Wolverhampton being next on the list," says Francesca.

"If that happens then we would look at taking on workers to help out with big orders and we want to help people like mothers who want to earn a bit of extra cash while staying at home with their children."

Della says when they first started out they were putting in a few hours every day but now they can be working until 3am to complete an order.

"We have never let a bride down and we just keep on working until an order is completed on time," she says.

"It is best if we can have a few months to put stationery and favours together but occasionally we will receive a last-minute order, but we always rise to the occasion."

The first big order that Belle Bomboniere received was for a Greek wedding taking place in Wolverhampton where there were 1,100 guests joining in the celebrations.

Francesca says they had to make 550 rose favours and 1,100 cake boxes for the guests.

"We have also been asked to do the favours for La Senza's Christmas party and Next's 25th anniversary celebrations," she says.

"Even though we are now a business we still make the items sat together, nattering in front of the television, like we did when it was just a hobby."