NEWS
ADVICE
Crafter’s Companion founder and
Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies.
CRAFTER’S COMPANION SNAPS UP US CRAFT FIRM
US-based company, Totally
Tiffany, has been acquired by
Newton Aycliffe-based Crafter’s
Companion and will join the
retailer’s family of brands.
Totally Tiffany sells a wide range of
multi-use organisation and storage products,
which can be used to store a variety of
branded craft products, in addition to
household items.
The existing catalogue of Totally
Tiffany products complements Crafter’s
Companion’s extensive range of paper craft,
art and sewing lines.
Tiffany Spaulding, who founded Totally
Tiffany in 2003, will continue to be the face
of the company and will work closely with
the Crafter’s Companion team.
In addition to its portfolio of products,
Totally Tiffany provides a free virtual
classes on getting organised as well as free
inspirational online content.
Sara Davies, founder and creative director
of Crafter’s Companion, said: “Since the
company was founded, Totally Tiffany’s
has built a loyal customer base which has
been achieved through the engaging and
CRAFTER’S TV MARKS FIRST BIRTHDAY
Crafter’s TV, the digital channel
developed by Crafter’s Companion,
is celebrating its first-year
anniversary.
To mark the occasion, the platform gave
away up to £250,000 worth of products
during a series of celebrations in August.
Since it launched with three shows per
week last year, Crafter’s TV has increased its
schedule to seven days with an average of two
live shows per day.
To support its craft experts, Crafter’s
TV has welcomed three lead presenters in
educational manner Tiffany showcases the
company’s range of products.
“Crafter’s Companion and Totally Tiffany
operate in a similar creative landscape and
have natural synergies, therefore it made
complete sense for Totally Tiffany to join our
family of brands.
“The organisational products will
complement our existing range and the
transition will be seamless. I have known
Tiffany for more than ten years and I am
beyond excited to work with her and for
what the future holds for the Totally Tiffany
brand.”
Crafter’s Companion is a market-leading
craft retailer headquartered on Aycliffe
Business Park.
Founded in 2005, the company now
employs 200 staff and exports products to
more than 40 countries across Europe, Asia,
South Africa, Australia and North and South
America.
Having traditionally sold its products
online, through independent retailers and
on TV shopping channels across the world,
Crafter’s Companion opened its first three
UK stores between 2016 and 2017.
the last eight months and as the crafting
channel continues to grow, there will also be
opportunities to expand the production team.
Sara Davies, founder and creative director
of Crafter’s Companion, said: “Crafter’s TV
continues to be a very exciting venture for the
company.
“It’s grown phenomenally throughout the
past year, as people have been turning to
the channel for inspiration, education and
entertainment.”
The Crafter’s TV’s anniversary week ran
from August 24-30.
RECRUITMENT TIPS
IN COVID WORLD
Recruitment specialist Patrick
Lonergan with some useful advice
amid the Covid recovery…
The Covid-19 crisis means many people
are more uncertain than ever about
searching and applying for jobs.
It has shown that candidates now look
at not only the role but assess a business
on how well they look after their staff.
Your recruitment process needs to be
well defined – it’s not easy to impress
candidates when you’re still working
through problems.
Here are five recruitment tips to consider:
1. Define your business and values
Recruitment is about attracting and
keeping people who have compatible
values, attitudes and aspirations to work
in your business. The way that people
connect and interact with each other and
with the people they work for is critical
– it is a product of the alignment of
individual and collective values.
2. Have a detailed process
Hiring completely remotely is very
different. Make sure you have a system in
place and test ahead of time. Include all
necessary information, such as time, date
and who will call who. Provide a link and
tell them about your business and role
details.
3. A realistic offer
If things will change after the crisis, such
as the employee shifting to in-office work,
a permanent position or temporary,
ensure that they and you are on the same
page. Things are different now and may be
different after the crisis. Have clear plans.
4. Manage Wellbeing
If you cannot do face-to-face, you should
overcommunicate. Employee wellness is
more crucial than ever - send motivational
messages, hop on a 15-minute video
call, frequently ask your employees how
they’re doing. Seeing people’s faces calms
anxieties.
5. Learn
Rather than looking at the current
situation as unpredictable, take this
opportunity to learn, grow and challenge
old habits. Having the latest tools to
recruit effectively is key but having a
trusted recruitment partner that can
support you is invaluable.
Patrick Lonergan
Patrick Lonergan Recruitment
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 9