A CRAFT supplies firm, founded by a North-East entrepreneur in her bedroom, is targeting new market sectors to maintain its growth, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Crafter’s Companion, which designs, makes and supplies paper products to enthusiasts around the world, is branching into sewing and art-related goods as it looks to hit a £15m turnover target.

The company, based in Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was founded ten years ago by Sara Davies while she completed a business degree at the University of York, and is now relied upon by enthusiasts across the UK, the US, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.

To prolong its expansion, Mrs Davies says it is now eyeing other craft disciplines, revealing it has also put a board structure to drive its progress.

Mrs Davies also pointed to the company’s US base, in California, which she expects to grow significantly, allowing Crafter’s to tap into a near $30bn (£19bn) market across the Atlantic.

She said: “We have consolidated this year and want to diversify into other areas, such as sewing and art, which are still in craft.

“We’ve been going ten years and that has been in paper craft, which has given us the foundations to build upon.

“Those foundations are also in place over in the US, and we should really see it start to catch up to the UK business in the next two years.

“Europe remains a key market and we are doing more in Germany and Scandinavia too.”

Mrs Davies is known to millions of people thanks to appearances on TV channels such as Create and Craft and Made In Tyne and Wear, as well as stints on shows abroad, and said such exposure was really helping the business.

She added: “We get out to the craft enthusiasts; they invite us into their homes.

“They could choose to watch anything on TV but they have chosen us.

“I can reach out to million on the shows in one go, which builds the brand.”

Mrs Davies was speaking to The Northern Echo as the business, which employs more than 30 people in the North-East, last night (Tuesday, August 25) marked its tenth anniversary with an event at Ramside Hall Hotel, near Durham City.

The celebrations, taking place over two days, included invites for the company’s major retail partners, who were given demonstrations of new products to take back to customers.

About 40 women enthusiasts, who go out to stores to show off Crafter’s equipment and come up with ideas used in the company’s TV appearances, were also welcomed, as were stockists, Mrs Davies’ former university tutor and members of the business’ US team.