Well, this is not the sort of news that I ever enjoy writing about.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of watching the crafting industry grow, change, reinvent itself and, on occasion, go through some rather difficult times. I’ve met some wonderful people along the way, made lifelong friendships and seen first-hand just how much passion, determination and hard work goes into bringing the products we all enjoy to our craft tables.

So, hearing the news that the company responsible for operating Crafter’s Companion is entering liquidation is genuinely saddening. Not simply because another familiar name in our little corner of the creative world is facing an uncertain future, but because behind the headlines, the financial figures and the inevitable speculation are real people…

People with families, mortgages, bills to pay and plans for the future. People who have spent their working lives designing, demonstrating, packing, promoting and selling the products that have brought so much enjoyment to so many.

And today, I think it’s those people who deserve our thoughts more than anything else.

The News Nobody Wanted to Hear

On 23 October 2026, reports emerged that Cedarcrest Global Trading Limited, the company responsible for operating Crafter’s Companion, was entering liquidation, with manyemployees reportedly losing their jobs as a result.

For those unfamiliar with the company, Crafter’s Companion was founded by Sara Davies in 2005, beginning with The Enveloper. From those relatively modest beginnings, the business grew into an internationally recognised name, producing everything from paper crafting tools and stamps to dies, embossing folders, colouring products and the popular Gemini range of die-cutting machines.

For many crafters, particularly those who discovered their hobby through television shopping, Crafter’s Companion became a familiar and much-loved part of their creative lives.

Of course, this isn’t the first time the business has faced difficulties. In January 2025, the original company entered administration before a rescue involving Sara Davies and Modella Capital allowed the business to continue. There was another ownership change later that year to another company (which had Scott Stone from Gemporia/Hobbymaker and Sara Davies listed as some of it’s directors) and with that came renewed hopes for the future.

Sadly, it now seems those changes haven’t been enough to provide the stability everyone had hoped for.

A Statement from Crafter’s Companion

In a statement shared on their official Facebook page, Crafter’s Companion acknowledged the difficult and uncertain circumstances facing the business, its employees and its customers.

The statement began with an apology for the delay in communicating with their community, before confirming the news:

As you may have seen, the directors of Cedarcrest Global Trading Limited, the company that has been responsible for running Crafter’s Companion, have taken the difficult decision to place the company into liquidation.

It’s a terribly sad confirmation, particularly when you consider the people who have dedicated so much of their time, energy and creativity to making the business what it became.

However, there was also a glimmer of hope in the announcement. The company explained that the Crafter’s Companion brand is owned separately from Cedarcrest Global Trading Limited and that its future is currently being considered. Although there are clearly still matters to resolve, the statement emphasised that the brand and the community surrounding it remain important.

For customers concerned about outstanding orders, the website and forthcoming events, the company acknowledged those questions and said that confirmed information would be shared when available.

What particularly struck me, though, was the closing sentiment:

Thank you for your patience, your kindness and for continuing to support each other. It means more than you know.

And perhaps that’s the part worth holding on to. Whatever happens to a company, the community it has helped create doesn’t simply disappear. The friendships formed, the techniques learned, the projects completed and the inspiration shared are all very real.

I sincerely hope that the consideration being given to the brand’s future leads to something positive. But I also hope that, amid the discussions about names, ownership and commercial possibilities, nobody forgets the individuals whose livelihoods have been affected.

You can read the original statement from Crafter’s Companion on Facebook.

It’s the People I Think About

Having spent a considerable part of my own working life in the crafting industry, including my years producing television programmes at Create and Craft, I know just how much goes on behind the scenes.

The presenters and demonstrators are often the familiar faces that customers come to know and love, but they are only one small part of a much larger family. There are designers working away on new ideas, production teams preparing demonstrations, warehouse staff carefully packing orders, customer service representatives answering questions, buyers, photographers, marketers, technicians and countless others keeping everything moving.

And there is something rather special about the people who work in this industry. Many aren’t simply doing a job. They are crafters themselves. They understand the excitement of a new collection, the satisfaction of mastering a technique and the joy of helping someone discover a creative ability they didn’t know they had.

When a business like this encounters difficulties, those are the people who feel the consequences most immediately.

I sincerely hope that everyone affected finds their feet again very soon, whether that means returning to the industry they love or discovering a wonderful new opportunity elsewhere. There is a tremendous amount of experience and talent amongst these people, and it would be a great shame for the wider industry to lose that.

An Industry That Has Weathered So Many Storms

I must admit, recent years have made for some rather uncomfortable viewing for those of us who have been around the crafting industry for a while.

We’ve seen the upheaval surrounding Create and Craft, changes to the television shopping landscape, familiar businesses disappearing and others having to rethink how they reach their customers. And now this.

It’s tempting to look at these developments and conclude that the crafting industry itself must be in decline, but I’m not entirely convinced that tells the whole story.

Only recently, I attended the Creative Crafts Show at the SEC in Glasgow, and one of the things that genuinely lifted my spirits was seeing just how enthusiastic people still are about making things. There were busy stands, excited conversations, people discovering new products and that wonderful buzz you get when you put a group of creative people together.

The passion was still there, the curiosity was still there and, perhaps most importantly, the desire to create was very much alive and well.

Which leads me to wonder whether the difficulties we’re seeing are less about a lack of interest in crafting and more about the changing realities of running a business within the industry. There is, after all, a considerable difference between people loving a hobby and the businesses serving that hobby being financially sustainable.

Perhaps the Way We Buy Craft Products Is Changing

I remember a time when television shopping played an enormous part in the craft industry. A new collection would launch, a demonstrator would work their magic and thousands of viewers would be inspired to have a go themselves.

It wasn’t simply shopping. It was entertainment, education and a sense of belonging, all rolled into one. For many people, those broadcasts provided company as much as inspiration.

But the world has changed.

Today, crafters can discover a technique on YouTube, follow a designer on social media, attend an online workshop or purchase directly from a small independent business halfway across the country. There are more ways than ever to discover new ideas, and the relationship between creators, brands and customers has become much more direct.

That presents enormous opportunities, but it also creates challenges. Traditional routes to market can be expensive. Developing products requires investment. Stock has to be manufactured, shipped, stored and sold, often months after the original decisions were made.

Meanwhile, customers quite understandably want value for money, reliable service and products that genuinely add something to their creative lives. Finding a sustainable balance between all of those things can’t be easy.

I certainly don’t pretend to know the precise circumstances behind every business decision that has brought Crafter’s Companion to this point, and I wouldn’t want to speculate. But I do believe the industry as a whole is going through a period of considerable change, and perhaps some of the business models that served it so well in the past are finding it increasingly difficult to adapt.

Something Worth Remembering

One thing I would hate to see happen is for news like this to discourage people from supporting other craft businesses. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Our industry contains some extraordinarily talented independent designers, manufacturers, retailers, tutors and content creators, many of whom are working incredibly hard to keep their businesses going. Behind a beautifully designed stamp set, a clever cutting tool or a wonderfully inspiring workshop is usually someone who has invested a great deal of time, money and emotional energy into making it happen.

These businesses need our support. Not necessarily through buying things we don’t need — heaven knows most of us already have enough craft supplies to see us through several lifetimes!

Sometimes support can be as simple as sharing someone’s work, leaving a kind review, recommending a favourite independent retailer or engaging with the free tutorials and inspiration they provide. Those small gestures really can make a difference.

And perhaps, as customers, we also need to think a little more about what we value. Is it the constant arrival of new products? The biggest possible discount? Or is it originality, quality, good service and the confidence that the businesses we support will still be around tomorrow?

There’s no simple answer, of course, but I think it’s a conversation worth having.

A Little Hope for the Future

Despite everything, I don’t believe this is the end of crafting. Not by a very long way.

Crafting has survived changes in fashion, technology, shopping habits and the economy for generations. People have always found comfort, satisfaction and happiness in making things with their hands, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

If anything, in a world that often feels increasingly digital, hurried and disconnected, I think having the opportunity to sit down, switch off and make something beautiful is becoming more valuable than ever.

The challenge is finding ways for the businesses that support that creativity to thrive alongside the people who enjoy it.

As for Crafter’s Companion, I hope there is a positive future for the brand, even if that future looks different from what has gone before. There is a great deal of creative heritage associated with the name, and it would be lovely to see that continue in some form.

But whatever happens next, I hope the people who have helped build that heritage aren’t forgotten. Because businesses may change hands, companies may close and familiar names may disappear from our screens, but the friendships, knowledge, inspiration and creativity they have brought into people’s lives remain.

And Finally…

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my years in this wonderfully colourful, occasionally chaotic industry, it’s that crafters are a remarkably resilient bunch. We adapt, we improvise and we find another way. Quite often with a roll of double-sided tape, a pair of scissors and something rescued from the recycling bin!

But resilience shouldn’t mean that we become accustomed to seeing good people lose their livelihoods or watching businesses struggle.

So today, my thoughts are with everyone affected by the news at Crafter’s Companion. To the staff, demonstrators, designers and all those who have worked so hard behind the scenes: thank you for the creativity, inspiration and enjoyment you’ve helped bring to so many people. I wish you all the very best for whatever comes next.

And to everyone reading, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Do you think the craft industry is changing for the better, or are we losing something important along the way?

As always, I welcome a thoughtful conversation, but please remember that there are real people at the heart of this story, and kindness costs nothing.

Take care, and keep creating.

John

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Much love,

John.