A unique Shropshire online company, which aims to inspire people to learn new crafts and hobbies while showcasing beautiful products for the home, is celebrating its first anniversary.
Launched by Shropshire couple Frank Wagstaffe and Rosie Beswick, Seek It Out has seen huge success – even attracting orders worldwide.
The husband and wife team, from Westbury, near Shrewsbury, went live in April, 2012, and cannot believe a year has flown by.
“It’s such an achievement. It’s a big milestone but one of many to come,” said Rosie.
“We have rewarded our followers with some special offers for our anniversary and we are building our lines with new products.”
With more than 25 years’ experience in business, Frank and Rosie decided to launch the company to encourage people to put their creative urges into practice.
“I’m a frustrated crafter,” said Rosie. “It’s all I wanted to do but I was made to qualify as an accountant, that was seen as a career, craft was not.
“We spent a long time looking for the right suppliers and visiting many trade shows and designers until we got to the point where we had a broad range of products.”
And the couple’s dedication to finding the right products for the site has made them extremely popular worldwide.
“Our first international sale was to a very prestigious address in Manhattan, which was fabulous.
“Since then, we’ve had orders from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the States, across Europe and even to a remote address in the Yukon.
“I think they love British crafts. Many say they have seen us in a magazine as they like looking at the British styles.”
The company has an international feel itself with its social media support based in Cape Town, South Africa.
“Social media was a recent export from Bishop’s Castle and our proofreader is an Australian living in Much Wenlock. Shrewsbury company Clear Design built the website and continue to support the site.
“We like to use small businesses to support our company, even if one is now based in Cape Town.”
The couple’s next plan is to expand their own special Inter Twine project bags, which are sold on the website.
The project bags, created by Rosie, give people the chance to make something handmade without having to source the materials, patterns and accessories.
“They are the jewel in our crown, proving a real hit with our customers,” she said. “The contents allow people to copy one or more of our free range of patterns, available on our website, or go wild and create their own masterpiece.
“It’s going to be a very important range in 2013-14 as we grow and evolve.”
Rosie put the company’s successful first year down to the huge rise in popularity of sewing and making craft items.
She said: “For many years, it was unfashionable but it has been brought on partly by the recession and partly by some great TV programmes.
“Sadly, many never learnt to sew or knit at their mother’s knee but now they want to know.
“That’s where Seek It Out can help. It’s crafts without tears, even if you’re totally terrified,” Rosie said.
Stitch Kits are another popular product on the website. They contain all the instructions people need, cleverly printed onto fabric, which in turn makes a needle case.
“It’s fabulous for learning different stitches,” said Rosie. “It’s a modern version of the traditional sampler. This up and coming UK designer has made it easy and fun for people to learn to stitch.
“We want to sell good quality kits aimed at adults and this type of kit can be hard to find. You could be a sewer wanting to knit or a knitter wanting to sew or you could just be starting out, we try to cater for all.”
The site also includes a directory for people to join and pay to list their courses or craft events as well as a section for people to share tips and advice with links to social media sites.