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
Excellent products and speedy delivery of online orders. Also when the shop was open very helpful in choosing products. Congratulations on your achievements and good luck in the future
Have watched you from your first time on create and craft, I love your products and you, you are so infectious about crafting and it inspires us all, please never change you are so genuine and your service is second to none. I can’t tell you how many of your products I have but they are taking over my craft room, I have nearly every stamp ever made. Keep up the good work, wish you every success in the future.
I still have a stamp I use that I bought from Chloe’s stand at a craft exhibition in Glasgow at the SECC, she was just starting out at the time. I have bought many, many items over the years since then and watched the company grow but still manage to retain that exceptional customer service and also never failing to come up with something new that both new and experienced crafters alike can use. I love all the products, it’s like having a personal shopper for all your craft products, Chloe’s site is the first one I head to when I’m looking to add to my craft stash.
Hi Chloe,
I’m one of those new followers! Having given up crafting 15 years ago I recently returned yo papercraft and rapidly found your website. Your designs are lovely and really help me make stunning cards! Your stamos snd dies make up the greater portion of my stash. Thanks for all your hard work. I have come to it too late to catch you on TV but watch your YouTube demos. Are there any plans for you to appear on the shopping channels in the future?
What a beautiful story, i hope you grow and grow for many years to come, i love chloes, i love all of my products, and i wouldn’t be able to make beautiful cards without them. Thnk you chloe and your team x
Wonderful story Chloe may you continue to grow your products are simply beautiful!!
Well done to you and your family. Lots of hard work by all. Continued success for the future.
We came across Chloe and her mam when we went to what was the Happy Stampers Festival in Port Sunlight and were immediately hooked. Even arranged a visit to the shop when holidaying in the area as we live over a 3 hour drive away. The only regret when visiting the shop, was that their dogs were not in evidence !
How lovely to read your story Chloe. I’ve followed you since I first came across you at a few of the shows in 2011 and then on Create and Craft in 2012. Your work is very inspirational and I hope you go on from strength to strength. I’m sure you will succeed in everything you do. Your customer service and delivery times are exceptional and I for one look forward to using your products now and in the future.
What a lovely story to read you certainly have worked hard & it’s payed off your customer service is exceptional your products are a must have you certainly have been an inspirational person to me with my crafting so a big thankyou in all you do….. X
thankyou chloe for that wonderful story i wish you and your family the best and love seeing you on your you tube . lots of love xxxx