Craft Focus - Jun/Jul (Issue 73)

9 INDUSTRY NEWS Industry news SARA DAVIES JOINS DRAGONS’ DEN Crafter’s Companion founder Sara Davies MBE is set to join the BBC series Dragons’ Den. At the age of 35, she will become the show’s youngest ever Dragon. Sara established Crafter’s Companion from her university bedroom while studying for a business degree in 2005. She pitched an innovative prototype of what is known today as The Enveloper to TV bosses at the Ideal World shopping channel, who allowed her to present the product to their audience base. The Enveloper proved to be an instant hit and kickstarted the company’s overwhelming success. Today, Crafter’s Companion turns over more than £34 million worldwide, employing almost 200 people and exporting its products to Europe, Asia, South Africa and New Zealand. The specialist supplier designs and manufactures many of its own lines, and continues to grow through its TV shopping exposure, e-commerce platform and presence in retail stores globally. Sara, who is still a driving force within the business, is known for encouraging and supporting entrepreneurs, especially women. She has acted as an angel investor for many start-ups in the past. “I’m absolutely delighted to join the other Dragons for the new series of the show,” she explains. “I’ve always been very passionate about investing time in and sharing my expertise with other entrepreneurs and hopefully I’ll be able to help some of the contestants to really take their businesses to the next level. I’ve been a fan of the show since it started, and I was invited to pitch 13 years ago, so it feels like I’ve come full circle. It wasn’t all that long ago that I was in the position of the other contestants, so I really feel like I will be able to relate to their stories and their journeys so far. I understand the highs and lows of building a global business from the ground and taking that initial product idea all the way to market. I’m looking forward to getting started and hopefully being introduced to some great businesses that I can get really excited about.” Series 17 of Dragons’ Den is set to air in summer 2019. Go to crafterscompanion.co.uk for latest product news. Artist breathes new life into old bones Artist Emma Witter will present a series of new works in a solo show at the Sarabande Foundation from 18 th -22 nd September 2019. Featuring sculpture and special objects, Remember You Must Die will showcase pieces derived from bone alongside photographic prints and a site-specific installation. The series will focus on the flower motif, and Emma has created a number of intricate studies using tiny chicken bones. “I am intrinsically drawn to the inherent strength of bones, their lightness and their fragility,” she explains. “Through the ritual of sourcing, cleaning and categorising, the bones inform me and speak to me of sculpture and reinvention.” Emma is currently an artist in residence at the Sarabande Foundation, which was created by Alexander McQueen in 2007 as a community to support emerging artists. Visit sarabandefoundation.org Easy returns process a consumer must, says research An easy returns process is a must for consumers, with 84 per cent of shoppers stating they wouldn’t return to retailers if they have a poor returns experience, according to research by Klarna. Talking to 2,000 consumers in the UK this year against the same amount in 2017, the study showed the rapid normalisation of returns in the past two years, with 82 per cent of shoppers stating that returns are a normal part of online shopping. According to the study, retailers that offer a flexible payment and returns options are likely to trump competitors, with 84 per cent of consumers wanting the choice of whether to return online, in store or via pick up. Luke Griffiths, UK general manager, Klarna, said, “It’s no secret that for retailers, returns can be difficult to manage, and there is a common misconception that they’re bad for business. But retailers who aren’t prioritising their returns processes are damaging their business, losing sales and eroding customer loyalty.” Visit klarna.com for details. Latest news from the crafting industry 