Craft Dee Designs

Posted on August 21st, 2024 in Harlow Business Case Study

Craft Dee Designs is a small home-grown business which specialises in bespoke clothing keepsakes, with the aim of giving back cherished memories. The keepsakes are made from clothing, which is transformed into cuddly bears, stuffed animals, blankets, cushions and so much more. A beautiful way to celebrate births, remember a loved one or even mark a new chapter in life.

The Harlow based business started eight years ago by Dee Davis, initially making sock monkeys by hand. Dee admittedly had never touched a sewing machine but became a self-taught professional using YouTube videos. After a strong start the business soon blossomed into making more and more products all from pre-loved clothing.

Each keepsake tells a story, over the years Dee has worked on some touching projects to commemorate the loss of a loved one. The keepsakes can include voice boxes, handwriting and even contain a small internal heart with ashes. Many customers are dealing with grief when ordering a keepsake, to support this Dee has recently completed bereavement and mental health training.

When asked why she is passionate about keepsakes Dee said:

“I love what I do and take pride in bringing joy and comfort to families when they are bereaved, celebrating the birth of a new baby or closing a chapter when their child moves schools. I want to be a trusted person, who will treat your pre-loved clothes with care and give back a moment you can cuddle.”

Craft Dee Designs has a loyal customer base with 55% of clients returning. Their customers come from across the country including Scotland, Wales and importantly the Harlow community. When asked about operating a small business in Harlow Dee said:

“This job has shown the amount of beautiful people in Harlow, they are so kind, caring and helpful. My customers are my family, and I have found Harlow is a community who comes together when needed”.

The future looks bright for Craft Dee Designs as they look to reach a wider audience and connect with local businesses. In addition to personal keepsakes, they can also create mementos for corporate events and businesses. Making keyrings, art, bears and more which can include company logos and tailored designs.

When asked about the future, Dee said:

“I am looking to widen my customer base in Harlow and beyond. I would love to work with local businesses like schools, care homes, bereavement organisations and more. Building on my reputation of having high quality items and low prices. But most importantly continuing to create cherished memories for my customers and putting smiles on people’s faces”.

Craft Dee Designs prides itself on service, quality products and care. A wave of positive online reviews shows the love and appreciation for this small business. Their future looks bright as they plan to branch out further and continue to grow their loyal following.

If you would like to find out more, please visit the Craft Dee Designs Facebook page. Or contact Dee directly at [email protected].