Sara Davies
Sara Davies | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sara Davies 23 April 1984 Coundon, County Durham, England |
| Alma mater | Derwent College, York |
| Occupation(s) | Businesswoman television personality entrepreneur |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Known for | Dragons' Den (2019–present) Strictly Come Dancing |
| Title | Founder of Crafters Companion |
| Website | crafterscompanion |
Sara Davies MBE (born 23 April 1984) is a British businesswoman, entrepreneur, and television personality. She is the founder and owner of Crafter's Companion, a company she started while a student at the University of York. In April 2019 it was announced that she would join the panel of the BBC television programme Dragons' Den for its seventeenth series, replacing Jenny Campbell who decided to leave the programme in early 2019.[1] In 2021, Davies was appointed the North East Ambassador for Smart Works Newcastle, a charity supporting unemployed women into work through clothing and coaching. In July 2024, Davies was appointed Chief Inspiration Officer for Avon UK.
Early life
[edit]Davies was born in Coundon, County Durham, England, in 1984.[2] She has a sister. She graduated from the University of York with a first class Business degree in 2006.[3] She was a member of Derwent College.[4]
Career
[edit]Davies founded Crafter's Companion, a crafter's supply company, whilst at university in 2005. During a placement at a small craft company she spotted a gap in the market for a tool that could create bespoke envelopes for handmade cards and, with the aid of a local carpenter, designed a product called The Enveloper which she launched on the TV shopping channel Ideal World, selling 30,000 units within six months. By the time she graduated, the business was turning over £500,000.
As of 2019, Crafter's Companion exports to more than 40 countries worldwide. The company has a UK headquarters in Newton Aycliffe, outlets in Evesham, Chesterfield and Colne, an office in Corona, California, and employs 200 people worldwide.[5] In 2018, the turnover of Crafter's Companion was said to be nearly £25 million.[6]
In her capacity as an entrepreneur, Davies helps women in business and offers support and guidance to businesses as part of her mentoring role with the Entrepreneurs' Forum.[7]
Television
[edit]In 2015, Davies hosted Local Television Limited's (formerly Made in Television) craft show, Be Creative.[8] On 23 April 2019, she joined BBC Two's Dragons' Den as the show's youngest ever female investor. Speaking to the BBC, she said "I've been a fan of the show since it started. I was even invited to pitch on the show 13 years ago, so it feels like I’ve come a full circle."[9]
From September 2021, Davies competed in the nineteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing where she was paired with Aljaž Škorjanec. They were eliminated in Week 8, after a dance-off with Tilly Ramsay and Nikita Kuzmin.[10]
In 2023, Davies was seen on BBC Four walking around Healey and the Swinton Estate in North Yorkshire in Spring Walks, a new spin-off from Cy Chadwick's Yorkshire Walks/Walking with... format.[11][12][13] Also in 2023, she appeared as a contestant on Richard Osman's House of Games.
She has also appeared as a guest in "Dictionary Corner" on Countdown, sitting with Susie Dent.
In July 2024, Davies was appointed Chief Inspiration Officer for Avon UK[14]
Publications
[edit]- We Can All Make It, Transworld Publishers Ltd, ISBN 9781529177244[15]
- Craft Your Year with Sara Davies The Crafting Bible, Transworld Publishers Ltd, ISBN 9780857505149
Awards and honours
[edit]Davies was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to the economy.[16]
Davies has been recognised with a number of awards for her work as an entrepreneur. In 2010 she was awarded the Ernst & Young Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award,[17] in 2013 she was presented with the Entrepreneur of the Year at the Shell Women of the Year Awards and she was listed in startups.co.uk’s Young Guns Entrepreneurs of the Year class of 2015.[18][19][20] She has also been the recipient of two Lloyds Bank National Business Awards: the Santander Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year award in 2010[21] and the Outstanding Contribution to British Business Award in 2019.[22] On 6 February 2024, Davies received an Honorary degree from the University of York business school.[23]
Personal life
[edit]Davies married her husband Simon in September 2007. The couple have two sons and live in Teesside.[2][24]
References
[edit]- ^ Ford, Coreena (23 April 2019). "North East entrepreneur Sara Davies joins Dragons' Den panel". Newcastle Chronicle. Reach plc. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- ^ a b Freedman, Joanna S (23 April 2019). "Dragons Den: Millionaire mum Sara Davies becomes youngest EVER investor". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- ^ Ling, Thomas. "Who is new Dragons' Den star Sara Davies? Meet the youngest ever Dragon". Radio Times.
- ^ Patel, Sarika (10 February 2024). "Dragons' Den star Sara Davies receives honorary degree from the University of York". The Tab. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Newton Aycliffe-based Crafter's Companion turnover at $40m". Darlington and Stockton Times. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ "Crafter's Companion's Sara Davies explains how she's grown her empire". Craft Business. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ Manning, Jonathon "Crafter's Companion founder Sara Davies rewarded with MBE" The Northern Echo, 10 June 2016. Retrieved on 10 June 2016.
- ^ Ford, Coreena "Durham entrepreneur Sara Davies stars in new TV show Be Creative" The Journal, 4 January 2015. Retrieved on 4 January 2015.
- ^ Chambers, Georgia (12 August 2019). "Sara Davies net worth: Who is the new Dragons' Den judge and Crafter's Companion owner?". London Evening Standard.
- ^ "BBC One – Strictly Come Dancing – Sara Davies". BBC. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ Jeffries, Stuart (6 February 2023). "Spring Walks review – not even a trampolining goat can save this feelbad TV". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ "BBC Four - Schedules, Monday 6 February 2023". BBC. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ "BBC Four - Spring Walks, Series 1, Sara Davies". BBC. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ Rodionova, Zlata (8 July 2024). "Sara Davies appointed as chief inspiration officer by Avon". Prima.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ York, University of. "Sara Davies MBE". University of York. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Hugill, Steven (9 April 2019). "Chloe's Creative Cards gets TV". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ Pyrah, Lauren. "Sara Davies: Showing how to craft a successful business | The Northern Echo". thenorthernecho.co.uk. The Northern Echo. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ Morrison, Sarah "Women of the Future Awards Full Shortlist" The Independent, 22 September 2013. Retrieved on 22 September 2016.
- ^ Hunsby, Megan "Sara Davies: Crafter's Companion" Startups, 17 September 2015. Retrieved on 17 September 2015.
- ^ Pyrah, Lauren Sara Davies: Showing how to craft a successful business The Northern Echo, 18 June 2012. Retrieved on 18 June 2012.
- ^ "Sara Davies, founder, Crafter's Companion" The Journal, 14 February 2011.
- ^ "The best of British business celebrated at glittering national prize reception" The Lloyds Bank National Business Awards, 13 November 2019.
- ^ “Honorary degree for University of York graduate and Dragons’ Den star” BBC News, 6 February 2024.
- ^ Wintle, Angela (15 September 2019). "Dragon Sara Davies: 'I don't know what the other Dragons are paid. It's not the sort of subject you bring up over lunch'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 September 2019.