ONE of the people behind a Dudley staple is gearing up to turn on the town’s Christmas lights - a gig that was landed thanks to community support on social media.
Old Tom’s Donuts is more than a favourite to the people of Dudley, with their 29,000 TikTok followers bringing customers from far and wide.
Famed for their elaborate flavours of donuts and signature ‘donut balls’, the business has developed a cult following from all across the UK.
Their supporters began rallying Dudley Council to let the face of the popular TikTok livestreams, Gary Bloomer, turn on the town’s Christmas Lights this year and, much to his surprise, the council came calling.
“I was over the moon when the council asked,” Mr Bloomer said. “I never even thought this would happen.
“I’m really proud to be able to do it.”
The owner of the business, Peter Westwood, had the idea to turn to social media for a boost following struggles resulting from the building work for Dudley’s new bus station.
Old Tom’s Donuts is not the only small business to have felt the impact of the ongoing works on trade, but has found more success than originally envisioned through the power of social media.
Mr Bloomer said: “Since we’ve been doing TikTok, it’s been amazing.
“We’ve met some really great people on there and we never thought it would be like this.
“We want to say a massive thank you to all our supporters, and everybody who comes down and supports us every day.”
Mr Bloomer said it is “incredible” to be turning on the Christmas lights of his hometown, following “hundreds” of emails to the local authority.
He added: “I’m a little bit nervous, but excited at the same time.
“I think it’s great because everyone on TikTok supported us and emailed the council, and I think that’s absolutely incredible.”
Mr Bloomer will be lighting up Dudley for Christmas tonight (December 6), with dozens of stalls, sellers and performers turning the town into a Winter Wonderland.
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