Crafter's Companion entrepreneur picks up coveted international award

Durham-born Sara Davies, founder of manufacturing company Crafter’s Companion, has scooped a Silver Stevie® Award for Young Female Entrepreneur of the year at the annual ceremony held in New York City.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business is an international competition produced by the creators of the prestigious International Business Awards and American Business Awards. The Stevie is widely considered to be the world’s premier business award.

More than 1,200 nominations from organisations and individuals in 18 nations were submitted to the awards this year for consideration. The presentations were broadcast live across the U.S.A. by the Business TalkRadio Network.

Michael Gallagher, founder and president of the Stevie Awards said: “For 10 years we have been recognising the achievements of women in the workplace, and this year’s nominations were the most impressive class the judges have ever reviewed. We congratulate all of this year’s Award winners for their achievements.”

Crafter’s Companion was founded in 2005 by Sara and its products became an instant hit with crafting enthusiasts worldwide. Sara is now a global star in the craft sector, regularly featuring on TV channels Ideal World and Create & Craft demonstrating the range of tools the company now manufacturers.

On winning the award, the mum-to-be said: “I’m genuinely over the moon. I can’t believe I have won a Stevie award; they are world recognised and there was fiercely tough competition so I feel very privileged. It will definitely take pride of place in the awards cabinet in the office.

“I couldn’t have built Crafter’s Companion into the business it is today if it wasn’t for my family’s support and of course my fantastic team, so this one is for us all. I’m so proud of what we have achieved over the past eight years and I’m really excited about the future of the company.”

As well as running Crafter’s Companion, Sara is the current board chair at the Craft Hobby Association UK, an angel investor with Gabriel Investors and acts as a business mentor through Entrepreneurs Forum and UKTI.

Along with its site in County Durham, the company also now has sites in the US and mainland Europe. The business has had a stellar year, increasing its staff count to around 60 with the addition of a sales team based in Holland to cater for the Benelux region.

It has also seen its flagship product ‘The Ultimate’ being sold in stores across North America through the largest independent craft retailer. Earlier in 2013, an investment of £100,000 was made to improve Crafter’s Companion’s packing and distribution facility in Coundon to enable its expansion plans over the next five years after.

Crafter’s Companion’s products are sold online, through TV shopping channels and through retail outlets. Aside from crafting tools, the company also distributes an array of third party brands and develops products with licensing partners such as The Snowman.

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