When I was a young, fresh-faced 18-year-old, I was making a little bit of extra money by selling my handmade cards at craft fairs around the Durham area. However, I was struggling to find images that I really wanted to use on my cards, so I decided to do something about it and I started drawing my own designs. People would compliment me on the designs and wanted to make their own cards using them, so, fresh out of college, I decided to give selling my designs as stamps a go. I managed to afford just a small run of 20 sheets of stamps, with the packaging done at home on my little inkjet printer – Chloe’s Creative Cards was born!

I just love crafting and being able to share hints, tips and ideas

True to their word, my customers bought the initial stamps I produced, so I was able to afford to get a few more done on the next run. Then a little bit more and more each time until I was producing a fair few in various designs regularly. The word soon spread, and before I knew it, I was selling my stamps on my own stand at a local papercraft show, hosted at the Rainton Meadows Arena near Durham. I couldn’t believe it when I had a complete sell-out! Something special happened at this show – it was where I met my first ever Design Team member, Barbara, who, funnily enough, lived just around the corner from me. Barbara is still very much an integral part of the Chloe’s Creative Cards family to this day – I’d be lost without her.

Our customers are at the heart of everything we do

I was still living in my family home at the time, and it was such a good job my parents were not only very understanding but also incredibly supportive too. There was stock everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE! The lead-up to shows was very interesting, and I did feel like I was pushing my luck sometimes as none of my family could move for all the boxes that would be littered about the place. Eventually, my mum let me gridwall the spare room to turn it into a mini-warehouse. It was small, but I was so proud of it – it felt like a huge step forward for me and that I was becoming a ‘proper’ business.

As I started creating a bit of a following, I felt ready to take the next big leap, so I took a big breath and contacted Create & Craft about showcasing my designs on TV. Fortunately for me, the buyers were interested and invited me to their studios in Peterborough for a screen test in December 2011. They loved my range and wanted me to go on air as soon as possible, so in February of the following year, I made my big TV debut.

Things went from strength to strength, and in spring 2012, my mum left her job to work alongside me full time. By this point, my little makeshift warehouse in the spare bedroom was bursting at the seams, so I decided to rent a unit. It was supposed to be purely for storage, but when my local customers found out I had this unit, they asked whether they could come along! So, once a week, on a Wednesday, the unit would open to the public as not just a shop, but also as a crafting haven too! Every week a group of local crafters would meet up and spend the day crafting and chatting.

From those very early days to what it is today, I take great pride in the fact that one main thing has never changed, nor would I ever want it to, and that is the ethos of Chloe’s Creative Cards. This ethos is to place customers at the heart of everything we do. We do
this by ensuring our focus is on delivering you the very best customer service, by creating innovative new products following the latest trends, and by inspiring you to get the most out of your crafting with a host of educational and aspirational projects and tutorials, through our online videos and this very magazine. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much
for being part of my journey – I can’t wait for you to walk along this fabulous, glitter-laden path with me!

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