Whether you've been an avid customer at Chloe's Creative Cards for years or have just stumbled across us recently, there's a chance that you don't know anything about us or how we started. So we thought we'd put that right and tell you our story! So grab a cuppa (and maybe even a bickie or two as a treat) and settle down to read all about our humble beginnings.
It all started back in 2011 when the then 18-year old cardmaking fan, Chloe Endean, was selling her handmade cards at local (to her) craft fairs and markets. She struggled to find images she wanted to use on her cards, so she decided to draw her own designs. After receiving requests for them, Chloe turned her designs into stamps. At the time she had just left college and, as a recent student, couldn't afford a huge run on stamps, so she could only get 20 sheets of stamps produced, with the packaging done at home, printed off her inkjet printer! Chloe's Creative Cards was born!
Bit by bit, Chloe was able to both produce more stamps at a time, and also introduce more designs to the range as they grew in popularity. The word began to spread and Chloe was soon in a position where she was able to have a stand at a local papercraft show, hosted at the Rainton Meadows arena near Durham. Her designs were a huge hit and she sold out completely!
As well as being a good day sales-wise, this show was where Chloe met her first ever Design Team member, Barbara, who, funnily enough, actually lived just around the corner from her. Barbara is still very much an integral part of the Chloe's Creative Cards family to this day.
As is the case with lots of start-up businesses, to begin with everything was run from Chloe's family home. The lead-up to various shows got rather interesting in the house, and must have been a real test of their love and patience, as none of the family could move for all the boxes dotted about while packing everything up! Eventually, Chloe's mam, Corinne, allowed her to transform the spare bedroom into a mini warehouse, complete with grid-wall to help store and display the stamps.
It was during this time that Chloe felt she was ready to take the next step with the business, so she contacted the TV shopping channel, Create & Craft about showcasing her designs on air. The buyers invited her down for a screen test in December 2011 and loved her range so were eager to get her on straight away. In February the following year, Chloe made her big TV debut on the channel and proceeded to become a regular guest with her designs.
Things took off in such a big way for Chloe's Creative Cards that in the Spring of 2012, Chloe's mam left her job to work alongside her full time. By this point, they had completely overtaken the house with stock, so Chloe took on a unit. Initially, it was meant to be purely for storage but customer demand led to Chloe opening it up as a shop one day a week on a Wednesday. In fact, it became more than just a shop these Wednesdays; every week a group of local crafters would meet up and spend the day crafting and chatting!
With the business expanding in such a great way, it was only natural that our product range would too. Initially, Chloe added a beautiful collection of embossing powders to the product offering, including exclusive colours from WOW! that Chloe herself developed. Following the introduction of embossing powders, Chloe also added metal dies and Sparkelicious glitters. It became a real family affair, and Chloe's dad, David, volunteered to pot the glitters... not realising just how popular they would become!
The business then took another giant leap in March 2019 when Chloe went international, following an invitation to be a guest on the US TV shopping channel HSN, truly cementing both Chloe and Chloe's Creative Cards as a household name within the worldwide crafting community.
Throughout the growth of the company, one thing that has never, and will never, change is the Chloe's Creative Cards ethos; to place customers at the heart of everything we do. As a small team, we ensure our focus is on delivering you, our fabulous customers, the very best customer service, and by creating innovative new products following latest trends, as well as inspiring you to get the most out of your crafting with a host of educational and aspirational projects and tutorials, through our online videos and our kit-based magazines.
Thank you for being part of our journey!
27 comments
I love a success story…don’t live far & a friend & I visited your unit in the early days. Problem was, we visited on a Thurday not Wednesday.. lol Wishing you all the luck in the world…you deserve it xxx
Beautiful beginning. Beautiful story. I am so glad I found you and your designs. Always looking forward to the New collections you bring to us. So happy I can get your products shipped to the U.S. Continued success!
Hi Chloe, l just read your lovely story on how you become a crafter, l felt very emotional after reading it. You have made us all so excited making beautiful cards with your products and tutorials. I Just downloaded the Sparkelicious glitter colour charts and Wow! so many beautiful colours. l’m going to put them into a craft folder so l can see them. Thank you and your lovely family & team for all the beautiful creative cards you make xxx
Chole you just go from strength to strength. You never cease to surprise me with your products. Your products are always beautiful quality and when you demonstrate you always make it look so easy. Your quality of your products and the wounderful customer service is second to none. The girls are always very friendly and help in every way they can They always go that extra mile. Congratulations Chole on a fantastic,beautiful exceptional company. I dont buy anything else now.xx
This is lovely, to find out how it all came to be the wonderful brand that is Chloes Creative Cards. I too used to do craft fairs etc. You have all come so far and should be really proud of what you have achieved. Looking forward to more Chloe goodies for many years to come. I love the live demos on the Facebook group and all the inspiration from all the talented individuals you have working with you. I love that its still a family run business and that you care about your customers and always go that extra mile to make our experience so lovely. A few of the bigger brands should learn from you. Heres to many more years of Chloes Creative Cards. Thank you Chloe and family xx
I love everything Chloe! I don’t use it all but it looks so good in my craft room. Hope you carry on being you and that one day I will meet you. Thank you x
I started to craft about twenty years ago then I didnt know about Chloe craft. I have bought loads of craft that my craft room is like a craft shop . I have started to craft with Chloe items now for over six years .I always now use Chloe stamps and dies .I wish that I found her items before I bought all my others items, So Chloe thank you for the lovely items you bring to us x
I remember your first shows on Create and Craft all those years ago and the beautiful Christmas stamps you
I remember thinking your cards were the sort I wanted to make and I’ve followed and bought your products ever sinceshowcased especially the stocking and bauble.
First of all thank you for teaching me on this new journey of card making. Chloe you have such beautiful products and your videos and blog have help me as a 1st time card maker to achieve beautiful cards.
I’ve been a fan for a couple of years now and it’s great to hear how it all began. There is not one negative in all that you and your team do 🏆
I have followed Chloe from her very first appearance on TV in 2011. There are very few stamps or dies of Chloes that I don’t have. The customer service & speed of delivery is second to none. I hope you go on for many more years & continue to be a success x
I first got into Chloe’s stamp and dies about 5years ago when I sent for summer blooms edge set and it went on from there i now have a selection of dies and my cards have improved so much I love all of your products and the glitters are out of this world I am sight impaired with only tunnel vision in my left eye so sometimes find it difficult but love working with your products and your box kits I have managed to find 9just number 3 missing and watching for your next one keep up the good work and I hope things keep going well for you
Truly enjoyed reading your journey Chloe. You really are a true inspiration to so many of us. Your designs and products are so unique that they really do make your cards go to the next level. I really would not be half as good at making cards If it wasn’t for you, your family and your design team. Such a wonderful group to be a part of. From the bottom of my heart…. THANK YOU to each and every one of you, especially you Chloe. X
Chole this is such a fab story to read thankyou ur always the best customer service x
I have followed you from the beginning love your beautiful products the cards are spectacular
Xx
Such a lovely story Chloe, very inspiring, you got me into card making after seeing you on TV a couple of years ago. Your products are amazing & because of that I feel confident to run my 1st stall (at 51). All the best for the future.