I worked in my parents' decorating store from six. My mum would get me in every Saturday polishing the paint and straightening the wallpaper for 50p.
It's an amazing achievement to win a National Business Award and it recognises all of the hard work and determination of the team of people that have made Crafter's Companion the success that it is today.
That's what us northern people do don't we? Don't mince our words, just say it how it is.
I knew, back when I was starting up, that if I had something that could be developed for the mass market, I could really take it forward.
There's all these stores all over the country and a lot of them are small but they're like little Aladdin's caves full of exciting nooks and crannies filled to the brim with products. Then you've got Hobbycraft, which is like a supermarket for crafts. What we want to be is a hybrid between the two.
