SIMPLY Bows and Chair Covers has blazed quite a trail in the last 12 months, picking up a string of awards and a great deal of new business.
In this month’s “Success” feature, owner Sarah Pittendrigh talks to Bryn Littleton of the NECC about the passion for quality that drives her business forward and the extreme circumstances that lead to its creation.
“My previous company had closed through impact of the 2008 economic downturn. I was on income support, I was divorced with a nine year-old son to look after and it was only a matter of time before my home could be repossessed!”
Not the inspiring words you might except from one of the region’s most celebrated entrepreneurs, but it was this set of desperate circumstances that would provide the catalyst Sarah Pittendrigh needed to launch her multi award-winning business.
The Simply Bows and Chair Covers owner is frank about how her lowest point inspired her to succeed in business and from the moment she sat down at her PC to devise the business plan for her new company in 2008, her life and fortunes began to turn around.
Simply Bows and Chair Covers provides the highest-quality table linen and chair covers to the region’s elite hotels for weddings, events and special occasions, as well as providing a bespoke service for private clients.
It may seem like a simple idea, but it is the company’s adherence to competing on quality over price that sets them apart from others operating in the field.
With 11 franchises and aspirations to take her business model into the international market, Sarah’s current success seems a far cry from the events that almost cost her home just four years ago.
“I was going through hell, there is not another word to describe what it was like,” she said. “My previous company had been closed down, nobody was recruiting in 2008, property prices were falling through the floor and the prospect of starting a company during such a severe recession seemed ridiculous.”
Sarah’s previous company, which organised events for blue chip companies across the UK, was an early victim of the onset of the recession in 2008.
Sarah said: “There came a point when I realised that I had to get a grip of the situation. It was difficult, but once I managed to remove the emotion it became clear that I had to pick myself up and move on.
“There was a realisation that I had been living quite a shallow existence, I had missed a chunk of William (Sarah’s son) growing up and I decided pretty quickly that despite everything (the economic crisis of 2008) I would start my own business on my own terms. I wanted to be around when my son went to school and when he came home and wanted to enjoy my life and get back to enjoying my work.”
The idea for Simply Bows and Chair Covers arrived following a frustrating experience with a company that supplied linen for weddings as Sarah helped her brother plan for his wedding.
“My mind kept going back to how my brother really struggled to find quality chair covers and table lined for his wedding,” she said.
“We were completely underwhelmed by the product and the company’s attitude seemed to be “well, this is what we have, take it or leave it” – which for my mind isn’t something you should be saying to people planning the most special day of their lives.”
Once the idea took hold, Sarah was convinced there was a market for high-end linen and chair covers and that venues would appreciate a company that took the hassle of fitting the linen and tying the bows out of their hands.
She wrote the business planover six weeks and after refining it, took it to Business Link, which supported her with initial funding and guidance and before long she was meeting prospective clients.
“It was like it was meant to be,” said Sarah. “The whole process was fluid and before long I was on the road meeting with hotels and venues who I thought might be interested in the service.”
And the vast majority were. Rockliffe Hall, Redworth Hall, Auckland Castle and Close House are just a few of the high-quality venues recognising the benefits of Simply Bows and Chair Covers’ unique offering.
Last year Sarah and her team dressed over 300 events in the County Durham area and will probably improve on that this year.
What sets the company apart from other linen suppliers is the firm’s adherence to quality over quantity.
Sarah added: “Many companies offer chair covers and table linen, but what we offer is a bespoke, high-quality service. We have a huge amount of stock, but can also produce bespoke, made to measure covers.
“We can match our linen to tie into the venue décor or the bride’s colour scheme, we don’t just deliver into to the hotel, we also fit it and make sure it is presented in the correct way with all the bows tied correctly and in the right place – everything we do is aimed at making someone’s special day as memorable and enjoyable as it can be.
“Weddings take a great deal of organisation, but once we know what fabrics and colours are required then we take that stress away from the bride and she knows that everything is in hand and will look spectacular on the day.”
Sarah held on to her Durham franchise - which she operates from her home in Unthank on the border of County Durham and Northumberland - but has sold others in Aberdeen, Dundee, Northumberland, Cumbria, Harrogate, Lancashire, Teesside, Newcastle, North Yorkshire and Berkshire.
She admits to nerves each time a franchise is sold. “You’re handing over something you have worked extremely hard to establish and so far I’ve been fortunate that everyone who has come on board has shared my views – we don’t compete on price, we compete on quality.”
Simply Bows and Chair Covers Durham branch employs three members of permanent staff and three seasonal workers. The firm also manufactures all of its covers in the North East.
“I am committed to helping other firms in the region. The eventual aim is to bring manufacturing in-house, but that will be in the North East and until then I will always use North East manufacturers and all of my franchises will too, as they buy their product through me.
“I also have plans for eventually expanding internationally, but for now I’m more than happy with the speed we are growing. I believe that small fires warm you, but large fires can burn you.”
And the philosophy appears to be paying off, the company has won a string of awards, most recently the British Chambers of Commerce Award for the Most Promising New Business.
Sarah’s professional resurrection coincided with an upturn in her personal life as she re-married husband Stewart and realised her aim of spending more time with her son.
She said: “It’s been a complete turn-around for all of us. I now get to spend the time with my son that we were missing out on. My husband, son and I travel all over the country while William competes in equestrian events.
“To be where I am now, enjoying life and absolutely loving my job is amazing considering how it all started – I honestly feel blessed.”
North East Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, James Ramsbotham, said: “Sarah has shown an immense amount of hard work and determination combined with a great idea can become a successful business.
“She rightly deserves a huge amount of admiration for what she has achieved. The level of her success is testament to her vision and drive and from that initial idea she has now gone on to support employment for dozens of people both in the North East and across the UK.”