Member Article

Jobs Boost At Crafts Company

A County Durham based craft supplies business has grown its UK staff numbers by a third since the New Year after it acquired a high-profile trade team to further expand its retail presence.

Crafter’s Companion, which designs, manufactures and supplies craft-related products to enthusiasts across the world, has added 10 new staff. It now employs 40 people in the UK in addition to a further 20 staff at its US operation in California.

In the last week alone, the company has added six new industry experts from to form its own dedicated distribution division, which will be spearheaded by well-respected industry executive Simon Duncan.

Simon has been appointed European Commercial Manager at Crafter’s Companion’s and brings years of experience in the craft, FMCG and beauty sector. The retail team includes Janice Epsworth, Malcolm Langley, Jeanette Hallsworth, Mark Sharman and Lorna Horrocks, who are all well-known by craft retailers across the UK.

Headquartered in Coundon, Crafter’s Companion is run by award-winning entrepreneur Sara Davies who founded the company in 2005 whilst still at university. A global star in the craft sector, she regularly features on TV channels Ideal World and Create & Craft and is the current board chair at the Craft Hobby Association UK.

She said: “As part of our retail growth strategy, we’ve taken the decision to take on more staff and specifically bring in this team of dedicated experts to develop the distribution side of the business and improve our overall support package to our retail network.

“Attracting Simon to work for a North-East based company is a real coup considering his background, experience and credentials. Furthermore, his team has always been highly-regarded in our sector so will no doubt add a great deal of value to our company and to our trade customers.”

Its products are sold through retail outlets, online and TV shopping channels around the world. The main focus of the business is on the crafting tools it manufactures along with its own brand products. The company also distributes an array of third party brands and develops products with licensing partners such as Beatrix Potter and the Snowman.

Simon Duncan, the newly appointed European commercial manager at Crafter’s Companion’s, said: “The team and I are delighted to be joining Crafter’s Companion at such an exciting time for the business as our newly created distribution team hugely complements the existing manufacturing and consumer retail arms.

“We are really looking forward to hitting the road, meeting new and existing contacts and working in partnership with retailers to help grow the business.”

For further information, visit www.crafterscompanion.co.uk,

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