But that has not stopped the pair in their business endeavours, recently returning from the company's biannual national conference with a new regional award.

The pair were named franchisee of the year for the Tasmania, Victoria and ACT group - the second time they had picked up the nod.

"I honestly didn't think we would even have a shot," Ms Iles said from the Wellington Street store. "Because there's a lot of stores that are doing some exceptional stuff, and you know who's growing and who isn't."

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"We have grown the business and this is partly due to our customer service and the cakes that we do, also customer growth, community service and international services through my Rotary club."

The company has one other store in Tasmania, with a further 55 across Victoria and the ACT and 188 nationwide. The South Launceston store ranked 34^th nationally.

It saw sales growth of 6.99 per cent for the 2019 financial year, with a 0.23 per cent jump in customers.

Coming up up against Traralgon and Thornbury, both in Victoria, Ms Iles said she thought for sure the former would have won because of their "amazing growth".

Though the awards are judged on a number of criteria, including how deeply involved the store is with the community.

"So you don't have to be the best performing store but you do have to have that growth," she said.

The pair had won the award previously in 2013 after only three years in the store - which has been at the location for 22 years.

With Ms Iles having worked previously as a hairdresser and Geoff as a plumber, the two were on the lookout for a business they could run together.

When the franchise came up for sale, their accountant suggested it would be a good fit.

"This will have growth, you will be able to do something with it," she recalls them saying. "I had never decorated a cake in my life."

They then traveled to Sydney to be trained up on both the businesses and cake-making, which is all done in store.

But she said the success is a team effort.

"I've got great staff ... I think we all bounce off each other pretty well. I think we are lucky in that aspect," she said.

"And there is growth, I think customers are getting to know us and trust us."

The store continues its efforts to build that trust and community connection, including the contribution of cakes to groups in the community and supporting a junior soccer association.

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