Member Article

£100k investment plans set to be approved for Durham craft business

Crafter’s Companion has revealed its £100k investment plans to convert a former car showroom, based at Aycliffe Industrial Park, into its new corporate headquarters are set for approval.

The popular North East craft business required planning permission from Durham County Council to make the move, due to the ‘change of use’ to office space.

The company, which was founded by Sara Davies a decade ago, will also see the creation of several new jobs in the North-East. The firm has embarked on a recruitment drive to fill at least six imminent new posts in marketing, customer services and administration.

Located near the company’s existing packing and warehouse operation, the head office would provide the firm with new space to accommodate its near 50-strong team from March.

Crafter’s Companion specialises in manufacturing and distributing crafting tools and products, which are sold online via its website, on TV shopping channels across the world and by independent retailers.

Its new space would accommodate the company’s UK management team, sales, marketing, customer service, product development and design departments.

Excited by the prospect of the move, Sara said: “As we’ve expanded over the last 10 years, we’ve struggled to accommodate increasing staff numbers at our site in Coundon so it made sense for us to look for a new location nearby.

“Our new home will be a stunning, modern glass-fronted building that will no doubt feel huge to our team on day one but also gives us plenty of room for expansion over the next decade as the business continues to grow and recruit.

“The move forms part of our wider expansion plans to take the business to the next level in terms of new product development and international growth in the US and Europe.”

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