Blackburn mum-of-three overcomes health and money problems by opening new vape shop

Jessica Roberts from Blackburn opened Lancashire Vapes on Whalley New Road in April, and says the success of her online store, teamed with the confidence she has gained over the last couple of years enabled her to pursue the venture.

Jessica Roberts and her partner Jason Hodge have opened Lancashire Vapes after setting up the business online during lockdown

The 28-year-old was diagnosed with Polymyalgia, an inflammatory disease which can cause the body’s own immune system to attack its connective muscle tissues, several years ago and said she would often spend days in bed due to experiencing extreme agony in her muscles.

She also suffered at the hands of an abusive ex-partner and the father to her 11-year-old child, a relationship she said only came to an end when he was sent to prison.

Jessica Roberts and her partner Jason Hodge have opened Lancashire Vapes after setting up the business online during lockdown

Struggling to survive on benefits for years and landing herself with a huge amount of debt, she lost all her confidence, but following a change in mindset during lockdown, and a determination to provide her children, aged 11, nine and seven, with better, Ms Roberts decided to drastically alter her life.

Jessica Roberts and her partner Jason Hodge have opened Lancashire Vapes after setting up the business online during lockdown

She said: "I've gone from being on benefits and severely in debt, struggling with life, to running a business and surviving from week-to-week instead of just hour-to-hour.

"Opening the shop just shows that if I can turn my life around, then other people can too."

Jessica Roberts and her partner Jason Hodge have opened Lancashire Vapes after setting up the business online during lockdown

Miss Roberts runs Lancashire Vapes with her partner of two years, Jason Hodge, 37, and says she's lucky to be working alongside him as if she ever feels tired, weak or in pain, she can leave and run the website from home while he takes care of things on the shop floor.

She said: "We started with just a website to keep things ticking over during lockdown as we were struggling a little bit for money.

"I was liaising with groups from all across the country, purchasing stock and dealing with customers.

"I went from being quite quiet to having to be 'out there'.

Jessica Roberts and her partner Jason Hodge have opened Lancashire Vapes after setting up the business online during lockdown

"The website then took-off and we thought, well, why don't we open a shop. So we found this place and have been open now for three months.

"The reaction from the community has been really good. There's nothing close-by like this so people have said it's nice to see a vape shop somewhere other than the town centre.

"It's been steady since opening but since we got the sign put up at the front business has really picked up."

Miss Roberts, who is in the process of setting up another online business dealing with fragrances, says she's had no financial support with her venture and the fact she is now running her own shop is only just sinking in.

Jessica Roberts and her partner Jason Hodge have opened Lancashire Vapes after setting up the business online during lockdown

She added: "I've gone from rock bottom to owning and running a business, and I want to let people know that anything can be achieved with a bit of perseverance.

"It's still sinking in at the moment but life is about taking chances and I feel very proud at what I've been able to achieve."

Lancashire Vapes is open Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm.

For more information visit www.lancashirevapes.co.uk