Member Article

North East company crafts new careers

A County Durham-based crafts supply company has grown its staff numbers by over 30% following increased consumer interest in the booming crafting industry.

Crafter’s Companion, which designs and manufactures craft-related products to enthusiasts across the world, now employs 45 people after adding staff to both its Coundon headquarters and its US operation in California.

The impressive growth follows the opening of a new warehouse facility in County Durham last year to support the increasing demand for its craft supplies, craft CDs and tools for card making and scrapbooking.

The growing company is run by award-winning businesswoman Sara Davies who is recognised as one of the North-East’s best young entrepreneurs. Now 28, Sara founded Crafter’s Companion in 2005, from her bedroom whilst studying at university.

Sara said: “With such a tough economic climate out there, I am delighted we’ve been able to steadily grow our company and provide career opportunities for people particularly in the region.

“Crafting is becoming more and more popular across the globe as people look for ways to recycle old materials, make time for a new hobby and be a bit more creative with things like gifts. If we can keep heading in the right direction then hopefully we can continue to create more employment opportunities in 2013.”

A global star in the crafting world, Sara regularly features on TV shows such as Ideal World and Create & Craft as well as equivalent shopping channels in the US, Canada and across Europe and was appointed as head of the board at the Craft Hobby Association UK (CHA-UK) in the summer.

Away from crafting, Sara takes an active role in helping other businesses and entrepreneurs. As a result, she recently took on a new role to work with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to inspire UK companies to grow internationally.

She added: “Following the success we have had with Crafter’s Companion both here and in the US, I am looking to share my experience and expertise with other companies to hopefully help them grow and create more jobs.”

At a time when traditional funding options are limited, Sara became an angel investor with investment firm Gabriel Investors to support growing businesses and is also a mentor for other entrepreneurs with the Entrepreneurs Forum.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jodie Balmer .