Category: Media Releases

Almost one fifth of women are considering starting their own business, in a sign of a potential fresh wave of female-led start-ups that could help power the UK’s economic recovery.

Small Business Britain’s f:Entrepreneur campaign – which commissioned the research to mark International Women’s Day – has called for more support to unlock the opportunity of female-led businesses and greater recognition of this group’s powerful contribution to society, the economy and communities.

And the research found that two fifths of women (42%) were motivated to think about starting a business out of a passion – by far the biggest reason cited.

But the trend is also being driven by the impact of Covid-19 on the economy and jobs. Over a third (34%) of women are considering supplementing their income through a ‘side hustle’, whilst 10% were prompted by a job loss.

Reconsidering current employment as a result of the pandemic was also cited as a key factor by 17% of women, whilst 14% said they have been inspired to contribute to society.

“This research underlines that female entrepreneurship continues to grow and flourish in the UK,” said Michelle Ovens, founder of Small Business Britain and f:Entrepreneur.

“While 2021 will of course continue to be tough for small businesses, there are huge opportunities out there for women to grow and start their businesses. We saw a wave of start-up activity after the last recession, and with other figures sadly showing that women have been particularly affected by recent redundancies, I believe female-led businesses will be at the very heart of the UK’s recovery.

“We need to continue, and increase, our support for these incredible women and celebrate their amazing strength and success in the face of huge challenges.”

The f:Entrepreneur campaign was launched in 2017 to highlight inspiring female entrepreneurs that lead small businesses alongside a roster of other roles, such as volunteering, mentoring and community support.

This year it received a record number of applications from women to be part of its annual #ialso100 campaign, which showcases amazing female entrepreneurs from all over the UK, such as Susan Bonner, who founded The British Craft House in 2019.

“I started my business out of a passion for crafting and wanting to have the freedom to be more in control of my own destiny,” said Bonner.

“I now have almost 500 sellers on my website since I started out in 2019 and the support they offer each other is inspiring and refreshing to see. While the pandemic has been a tough time to be in business, I’ve learned so much about being resilient and by pivoting some areas have actually managed to grow a bit.

Bonner wants more women to take start a business, claiming there is a powerful network in place to advise and support these new ventures.

“Research tells us that role models are hugely powerful in empowering women to start and grow their own businesses, meaning it’s incredibly important that the stories of the inspirational women running brilliant businesses are told and shared,” said Tide’s Liza Haskell, which sponsors the f:Entrepreneur campaign.

“Tide is dedicated to championing small businesses and as part of this mission we have committed to supporting 100,000 women starting out in business by the end of 2023.”

Small Business minister Paul Scully added: “Supporting women entrepreneurs is essential as we build back fairer from the pandemic, levelling the playing field for people from all backgrounds in business and ensuring that Britain’s economy flourishes.”

“We have set the ambition of increasing the number of women entrepreneurs by half by 2030 and we are proudly backing the female business leaders of tomorrow.”

https://www.pressloft.com/app/press-office/thebritishcrafthouse/releases/44379

The British Craft House celebrates successful first year

On 1 November The British Craft House turns one! And what a year it has been. What started as a business idea on Susan’s run back in 2019 has turned into a platform of nearly 500 independent artisans working hard all over the country having sold thousands of products. 

We are not one to blow our own trumpet enough, but our birthday is a great opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved in just 12 months ….

– Sales have more than ten-doubled since we launched
– Site traffic is up by 1000 per cent
– We’ve tripled the number of high quality, independent, British sellers. More than 450 shops are live, supporting them all is a privilege.
– We’ve been featured in national, trade, regional and local media – from radio interviews to newspapers articles and seller products being featured in glossy magazines
– We are huge online and on social media – investing in Google advertising, gaining huge traction on social media with and our newsletter has over 6,000 subscribers
– We represent sellers from all over the country – from Lands End to the Shetland Islands
– Most of our buyers are British, but we’re seeing an increase in international sales such as America
– Our customers love our sellers – with more than a third of buyers coming back for more after their first purchase  

Our British Craft House community

“Summing up our first year is nearly impossible. It’s been blood, sweat and tears to get off the ground, but seeing the British Craft House grow so hugely in just 12 month fills me with such joy and pride. I knew there was a market for unique, independent, hand-made products, but the support has been beyond my wildest expectations. 

“Lockdown really elevated our sales, but what makes me the proudest is the support our sellers feel from our whole British Craft House community during this time. It’s given me a purpose and I love being able to fly the flag for independent British sellers,” Susan says.

Hundreds of sellers have contacted Susan over the past year thanking her for creating a site that ticks the boxes for their products. Many have been part of the journey from the start and have seen sales grow month on month.

“Susan has been great and I’ve loved being part of the British Craft House journey from the start. From being one of the first testers, to now having such a huge part of my business sales coming through the site has been fantastic. I’ve loved seeing it progress. It’s not just a site – it is such a supportive community and I’m so proud to have been part of it from the start,” Carolyn Ford from Silverbird Designs says.

What’s next?

Not one to rest on her laurels, Susan is working hard on next steps for the British Craft House. She is continuously investing in both the IT and marketing of the site, as well as the offering available.

“Quality is so important and we want to continue to offer the best of British independent hand-made products. We have recently expanded to include food and more back-office upgrades following input from our sellers. We have an app being built to reflect the fact that over 60% of our sales are made on a mobile. We have had more adverts going into national media this past month and traffic to the site keeps increasing. Christmas sales are already rocketing and who wouldn’t want a British Craft House purchased gift under their tree. I’m passionate to keep supporting our community and I can’t wait to continue our success,” Susan says.

To apply to be a seller visit: https://staging.thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk/sell-with-us/ 

To find the latest media coverage about The British Craft House visit: https://staging.thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk/in-the-media/ 

ENDS

Hampshire ex-Navy officer turns crafting hobby into new business

Having spent over two decades as an air traffic controller in the Royal Navy, Susan Bonnar from Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire has taken the leap turning her 15-year-long crafting hobby into a new business.

Susan Bonnar has just launched ‘The British Craft House’ – a website that only sells unique British crafts helping to support hundreds of local, regional and national small, hand-made, creative crafting businesses around the country.

Susan, who has already been acknowledged by ‘Dragon’s Den’ entrepreneur Theo Paphitis and has spent nearly 15 years crafting cards and bespoke albums herself, decided to turn her hobby into a business only five months ago.

“The British Craft House business idea was born on a marathon preparation run back in February. I’ve always been passionate about bringing together the crafting community, which essentially is small businesses so often working in isolation. After nearly six years of helping people online through social media, I got the idea for a new site that was different and could support businesses in a much better way than what’s already out there.  Within five months I’ve launched a completely new business in total contrast to my Navy career,” Susan Bonnar said.

Susan, who is originally from Plymouth and spent more than 22 years in the Navy, started making her own cards in 2005. She was at home with her small children while her husband, also a Navy officer, was at sea, often on long deployments and she wanted to create something she could post him every day.

“I never considered crafting could be my full-time job, but card and album sales took off in shops and online and by the time I had my third baby I decided to leave the Navy. My passion became helping others and bringing together people who spend hours crafting something unique and help them drive it into a business. The British Craft House site gives them that platform. I really want to help these people sell, to be able to give up their day job so they can pursue their passion. Make their dreams come true,” Susan Bonnar said.

Her dedication and drive have won her national accolades like ‘Small Business Sunday’ from entrepreneur and Southampton Solent University Chancellor Theo Paphitis twice. She has also launched the ‘Hampshire Crafters Network’ made up of crafters from Hampshire who meeting monthly discussing business and creative ideas and has since inspired similar set-ups across the UK.

“The British Craft House is all about making a difference for people. Both for crafters selling their passion, blood, sweat and tears, but also for people looking to buy something different. There is so much more value in buying something uniquely hand-made that you know is more sustainable and supports someone’s dream,” Susan Bonnar said.

The British Craft House website is the only one nationally that will offer curated, British, hand-made products making it stand out from competitors. Susan has involved hundreds of people in designing the site, which has been designed by local web agency Morph PR and Marketing Ltd. from Southsea. It has only been up and running for two weeks and already lists 170 businesses and 3000 products.

Find out more about Susan Bonnar’s new business on www.thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk