I grew up in a little pit village on the outskirts of Durham.

Sara Davies

Categorized in : Up Little Grew Village

I understand the highs and lows of building a global business from the ground and taking that initial product idea all the way to the market.

understand building business way

I've always been very passionate about investing time in and sharing my expertise with other entrepreneurs.

sharing always passionate time

Crafter's Companion started life as a big dream in my little university bedroom.

bedroom university dream life

I've always been creative - I baked, knitted and crocheted with my mum and grandma.

been always grandma creative

All the other students were going to flash firms in London, but I'm a real homebody and was determined to stay in the North-East.

stay london real students

That's what us northern people do don't we? Don't mince our words, just say it how it is.

words say how people

I have learnt this over time, that Peter Jones, you've gotta watch him.

over him you time

While we might now have expanded into the U.S.A. with our California office, I'm a Coundon girl born and bred and proud that Crafter's Companion is based in the North East of England.

born proud girl office

Someone suggested elocution lessons but there is no way I am changing my accent, I'm proud of my roots.

i-am proud roots way

A good 60 per cent of my time I spend travelling, mostly to the U.S., Canada and Germany.

good my-time canada time

Although I was not a crafter before starting the business, I find it relaxing.

find before starting business

Of course, juggling a career and a baby is tough but, as it's my business, I pick and choose.

choose tough business baby

The major gripe I heard was from people who made beautiful cards but couldn't find envelopes to fit them. I realised that if I could provide a product that would make envelopes in any size and out of any paper, I could hit the jackpot.

find beautiful cards people

It's a myth that you need thousands of pounds to start a business.

need start you business

There was no way I was going to have a baby and hand him over to a nanny.

going over baby way

Just because I'm a lot wealthier now doesn't mean I want my kids to grow up differently to how I did.

grow-up grow just-because want

I worked in my parents' decorating store from six. My mum would get me in every Saturday polishing the paint and straightening the wallpaper for 50p.

parents me saturday paint

We've had to be innovative, in terms of reaching the customer, and that's all been about making it an experiential shopping environment.

customer about shopping environment

I get people coming up to me and telling me that they are proud of me for what I've achieved. That is lovely.

me lovely proud people

Both my parents ran small businesses and it undoubtedly made me the person I am today because I've only ever known them work incredibly hard.

i-am me work today