From rescuing the company she founded, to her latest Dragons’ Den investment, to her new Saturday ritual – Sara Davies has opened up about her whirlwind start to 2025.
Two weeks after rescuing Crafter’s Companion from administration, the North East entrepreneur has given an insight into how her life has been turned upside down.
She said: “What a couple of weeks I’ve had. I mean, I thought I kind of knew what I was letting myself in for but, my word, nothing could have prepared me for this.
“It’s been the busiest most knackering time of my life but also the most exhilarating and probably the most exciting I’ve had in my 20 years in business.
“It’s been an incredibly exciting start to the year, and I’ve got a feeling that 2025 is going to be a good one.”
Crafter’s Companion, which has physical stores in Newton Aycliffe and Evesham, supplies crafting tools and supplies across the UK, Europe and US via its website.
The BBC reported over the weekend that the company had been forced to close its Chesterfield store as part of the ongoing restructure, with the loss of 10 jobs.
Davies, who hopes to save another 100 jobs at the Durham firm she founded as student two decades ago, also took time to thank people for all their messages of support.
“I’ve genuinely received an overwhelming amount of messages of support from the community and they’ve been genuinely heart-warming to read,” she said.
Sara Davies MBE worked to save Crafter’s Companion on Christmas Day
Last week viewers of Dragons’ Den also saw Davies invest £50,000 into Alex Street’s business Mystery Jersey King, which sells football shirts in ‘mystery boxes’, in exchange for 15 per cent of the business.
She also made a £100,000 offer for 6 per cent of Durham-based tech firm Choppity but was turned down.
In a lighter moment Davies took to LinkedIn on Sunday to share details of her new Saturday ritual.
“This morning I actually woke up BEFORE my alarm – first time in weeks,” she said.
“I’ve been properly on the hamster wheel just getting through from one day to the next and yesterday was my first proper full day off.
“Anyway I woke up feeling AMAZING – my mind was whirring twenty to the dozen with ideas and I felt ready to jump out of bed and crack on with the day
“So I’ve reflected on what I did yesterday to put myself in this space and when I look back I’ve done all the stuff to properly rest and set myself up for an amazing week ahead – the stuff weekend dreams are made of.
“I got up and went for a run – cleared my mind, got the endorphins flowing.
“Went to see my friend for a coffee and an hours catch up while the kids ran around playing – took my mind of everything work wise and had a good old natter.”
She said the mix of healthier eating and an early night had left her feeling revitalised.
“I’m going to make best endeavours to make this my Saturday ritual now when I can – because I feel great for it,” she said.