Member Article

NE events expert ‘simply’ celebrates with new announcements

An award-winning North East business is celebrating its fifth anniversary by announcing a series of new successes.

Simply Bows and Chair Covers, based in Unthank, Northumberland and established in 2008 by Sarah Pittendrigh, has launched its first franchise in Wales, been selected as a preferred supplier by two more top North East hotels and has been invited to a special business event by BBC Dragon’s Den star, Theo Paphitis.

In South Wales, Adele Green has become Simply Bows and Chair Covers’ 14th franchisee and will be working with exclusive venues across the Rhondda Valley at some of the most prestigious event and wedding locations in the Cardiff, Newport and Brecon Beacons areas.

Back in the North East Sarah, who herself operates the County Durham area franchise of her business, has secured preferred supplier status for two more of the North East’s most prestigious venues, Seaham Hall and Auckland Castle, adding to her already impressive list of clients which includes Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, the Royal County Marriott in Durham and Close House near Newcastle.

To add to the fifth anniversary celebrations, Sarah has also been invited to a special business event taking place next month in Birmingham. Dragon’s Den star, Theo Paphitis, has selected a small number of top entrepreneurs from around the UK to meet with him and discuss future developments. The star chose Sarah after naming Simply Bows and Chair Covers as one of his top small businesses in his ‘Small Business Sunday’ challenge, which he holds weekly on Twitter.

Speaking about her fifth year in business, Sarah said: “This is such a milestone not only for me but for my franchisees too. What started out as a small idea that I thought could work across the North East has turned into a nationwide operation. It’s quite overwhelming when I stop to think about it but I have tremendous support from the brilliant business community in the North East, the franchisees around the UK, wonderful clients and hotels and, of course, my family.

“I never expected to have been able to get this far so quickly and during a recession. Most people thought my plans were mad but the long hours and sheer determination are paying off. But I won’t be resting on my laurels as I have big plans to really grow the business in the next 12 to 18 months as we look to open in London and the south east- no mean feat!”

Speaking about their new partnership with Simply Bows and Chair Cover, Rebecca Coates, head of marketing and visitor services at Auckland Castle, added: “Simply Bows and Chair Covers is helping us to ensure that our events are really special and leave a lasting impression. We’re delighted that our opening is benefiting Sarah’s business as one of the castle’s key aims is to support entrepreneurship in this region. However, by the same token Simply Bows is enhancing our appeal, so it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Simply Bows and Chair Covers has evolved into a UK-wide franchise operation with franchises around Scotland, across the North East and Cumbria, in Yorkshire and as far south as Berkshire. The company hires made-to-measure chair covers, organza bows, opulent chair cover accessories and table linens all manufactured in-house and professionally fitted at each event.

Simply Bows and Chair Covers is the current holder of the coveted British Chamber of Commerce Most Promising New Business accolade and became a member of the British Franchise Association (BFA) earlier this year following a thorough assessment of its franchise model.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison Associates .