Name: Simply Bows and Chair Covers
Location: Consett, County Durham
Website: www.simplybowsandchaircovers.co.uk
Simply Bows and Chair Covers was created by Sarah Pittendrigh in 2008 while she was a single mother and made redundant from her previous company.
During this time, Sarah identified two opportunities: firstly, that women were looking for flexible working conditions especially to fit around their family and secondly, that there was a gap in the market for high quality table linen and chair decor for weddings and events.
Sarah wanted to work from home so she’d be able to fit work around her young son, so she designed a business model that would do just that.
Once established, the company took off very quickly so Sarah decided to franchise the business in 2010 to other like-minded individuals. The company now has 11 franchises across the UK all headed up by women who are running the businesses with the support of their families.
In the last 12 months the company has really taken off. The franchisees are all becoming established within their own right and the group has dressed over 800 weddings across the UK.
Additionally, national PR has been phenomenal on the back of 16 business awards.
Sarah Pittendrigh is the managing director of Simply Bows and Chairs
