Businesses in Sutton Coldfield are being invited to hear from TV presenter and founder of Crafters Companion, in a free event organised to celebrate International Women's Day.
Sara Davies, entrepreneur, star of BBC's Dragons' Den and Strictly Come Dancing, will be speaking to local businesses at an event organised and funded by Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID, the town's Business Improvement District company which has been representing local businesses for 12 years.
The event, which will be held at BMET’S Sutton Coldfield College on Friday, March 8, from 5pm-6pm, is the second ambitious high-profile speaker organised by the BID, following a packed-out appearance by High Street guru Mary Portas last June.
BID Manager Michelle Baker said: “Sara Davies is a renowned entrepreneur and a highly respected supporter of women in business, so it’s very exciting to be bringing her to Sutton Coldfield for International Women's Day.
“The seminar we organised with Mary Portas last year was a huge success and showed that there is a real appetite among the Sutton Coldfield business community to hear from stand-out speakers. The event is free and open to BID members, and we expect tickets will go quickly so we urge businesses that would like to attend to get in touch.
“There are exciting regeneration plans for the town centre in the pipeline and considerable investment coming to the town, and the BID will continue to play our part and host events to boost footfall and support local businesses.”
Sara Davies was born in Coundon and growing up around entrepreneurial parents, showed an interest in business from an early age.
In 2005, Sara founded Crafter's Companion, a crafter’s supply company while studying at York University. While on a placement at a small craft firm, she spotted a gap in the market for a device that could create bespoke envelopes for handmade cards and, with the support of her retired engineer father, Sara designed and launched a ground-breaking craft product called The Enveloper.
Soon after, she launched The Enveloper on TV shopping channel Ideal World, selling 1,500 in the first ten minutes and 30,000 units within six months of the initial demonstration.
Today, Crafter’s Companion is a household name in the industry. It has expanded its range of papercraft products to include sewing and needlecraft items, in addition to its own brand of art materials, Spectrum Noir.
The company designs, manufactures and sells its craft-related products to customers across 40 countries and employs more than 220 people worldwide. It continues to celebrate its North East roots, with a head office, warehouse and store in County Durham, and has established stores in Chesterfield and Evesham. Crafter’s Companion also has a US head office and warehouse in Corona, California.
The entrepreneur is passionate about championing women in business, mentoring and the North East of England. In 2021, Sara became an ambassador of the dressing service and coaching charity, Smart Works Newcastle. The charity believes in the power of clothes and coaching to transform a woman’s confidence.
2019 heralded Sara’s first appearance as a Dragon on BBC2’s Dragons Den. The youngest dragon to ever enter the den, she quickly successfully invested in a multitude of businesses across various sectors. Her popularity caught the eye of Strictly Come Dancing and she entered as a contestant in 2021. Having loved the experience so much she went on to dance in the Strictly Come Dancing Tour in 2022.
Gracechurch Centre owners BPG and SAV have sponsored her appearance in Sutton Coldfield, while wealth management firm Robson Lister - a longstanding BID board member - has sponsored the buffet that will be provided at the College from 4pm-5pm, prior to the entrepreneur’s talk.
Sara Davies’s appearance will be followed by a business networking opportunity and drinks reception at The Townhouse, across the road from the College, from 6pm-9pm.
The Sutton Coldfield BID area covers the entire town centre including Lichfield Road, High Street, The Parade, South Parade, The Gracechurch Centre, Birmingham Road, Midland Drive, Coleshill Street, Duke Street, Newhall Walk, Maney Corner and Holland Street. Owners, managers, or representatives of businesses in the BID area who would like to attend the event should contact Hello@VisitRoyalSuttonColdfield.co.uk
Picture credit: Jade Mangles & Jodie Blackburn
