about us

When I was a young, fresh-faced 18-year-old, I was making a little
bit of extra money by selling my handmade cards at craft fairs around the
Durham area. However, I was struggling to find images that I really wanted to
use on my cards, so I decided to do something about it, and I started drawing
my own designs. People would compliment me on the designs and wanted to make
their own cards using them, so, fresh out of college, I decided to give selling
my designs as stamps a go. I managed to afford just a small run of 20 sheets of
stamps, with the packaging done at home on my little inkjet printer! Chloe’s
Creative Cards was born!

True to their word, my customers bought the initial stamps I
produced, so I was able to afford to get a few more done on the next run. Then
a little bit more and more each time until I was producing a fair few in
various designs regularly. The word soon spread and before I knew it I was
selling my stamps on my very own stand at a local papercraft show, hosted at
the Rainton Meadows Arena near Durham. I couldn’t believe it when I had a
complete sell-out! Something special happened at this show – it was where I met
my first ever Design Team member, Barbara, who, funnily enough, lived just
around the corner from me.

I was still living in my family home at the time, and it’s such a
good job my parents were not only very understanding, but also incredibly
supportive too. There was stock everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE! The lead-up
to shows was very interesting, and I did feel like I was pushing my luck
sometimes as none of my family could move for all the boxes that would be
littered about the place! Eventually, my mam let me gridwall the spare room to
turn it into a mini warehouse. It was small but I was so proud of it – it felt
like a huge step forward for me and that I was becoming a ‘proper’ business!

As I started creating a bit of a following, I felt ready to take
the next big leap, so I took a big breath and contacted the TV shopping
channel, Create & Craft about showcasing my designs on air. Fortunately for
me, the buyers were interested and invited me down to their studios in
Peterborough for a screen test in December 2011. They loved my range and wanted
me to go on air as soon as possible, so, in February the following year, I made
my big TV debut.

Things went from strength to strength, and in the Spring of 2012, my
mam left her job to work alongside me full time. By this point, my little
makeshift warehouse in the spare bedroom was bursting at the seams, so I made
the decision to rent a unit. It was supposed to be purely for storage but when
my local customers found out I had this unit, they asked whether they could
come along! So, once a week on a Wednesday the unit would open to the public as
not just a shop but also as a crafting haven too! Every week a group of local
crafters would meet up and spend the day crafting and chatting!  

Unfortunately due to the Pandemic in 2020 we had to close the shop,
as we moved Chloe's Creative Cards fully online. During this time we took the
opportunity to start to develop our Facebook page and YouTube channel as a way
to share lots more crafty inspiration with you all.

From those very early days to what it is today, I take great pride
in the fact that one main thing has never changed, nor would I ever want it to,
and that is the ethos of Chloe's Creative Cards. This ethos is to place
customers at the heart of everything we do. We do this by ensuring our focus is
on delivering you the very best customer service, by creating innovative new
products following latest trends, and by inspiring you to get the most out of
your crafting with a host of educational and aspirational projects and
tutorials, through our online videos, our blog and our box kit magazines.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for being part of my
journey – I can’t wait for you to walk along this fabulous, glitter-laden path
with me!

Chloe xx