WHEN Patrick Gillespie was made redundant from his job in the mobile phone industry he hit rock bottom.
He was 53, on his third pacemaker, out of work and his prospects looked bleak.
But ever the entrepreneur Patrick, now 55, dusted himself off, hooked up with pal Richard Baker, and launched an unusual gift service.
Now AdoptAJellyBaby.com, launc
hed in December, is going from strength to strength.
The quirky concept allows customers to choose a name and colour for their Jelly Baby which is then delivered in its own case, wrapped in a velvet pouch, and comes with its own adoption certificate.
Patrick said: "We wanted to create something different and fun as a gift so people can show they care.
"People have a strange affection for Jelly Babies, they want to look after them. They are silly, frivolous and cute - it's just a bit of fun."
The business is based at Patrick's home in Herringthorpe, Rotherham.
Richard, 44, said: "We've had orders from Aberdeen to the south coast. One customer ordered six - one for each of his mistresses.
"We've also had grandmas ordering them for their grandchildren and one man who wanted one for a terminally ill child.
"There may be a credit crunch but people are still finding time to send their friends and loved ones something amusing - a small token of affection."
The company also has an eco-friendly policy, and the majority of the product comes from sustainable resources or can be recycled.
The Jelly Babies are made by Haribo in Pontefract, the plastic dish used to house them is made from recycled material and, for every baby sent out, the company makes a donation to a tree planting scheme.
Log on to www.adoptajellybaby.co.uk to adopt your own.
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