I'm an absolute sucker for a bargain. If I go into a shop and there's a sale on, I always head for the discounted stock.
I know exactly what it feels like to be an entrepreneur with everything riding on a sale.
I've been under-estimated myself quite often, and in some ways I quite enjoy it.
It's always good when you prove people wrong.
There's all these stores all over the country and a lot of them are small but they're like little Aladdin's caves full of exciting nooks and crannies filled to the brim with products. Then you've got Hobbycraft, which is like a supermarket for crafts. What we want to be is a hybrid between the two.
I just want the business to continue to grow and for our brand to become one of the most respected household names in craft, both in the U.K. and around the world.
I'm proud to say all our products are made in the U.K.
People forget we've got awesome entrepreneurs all over the country, especially in the North East.
By becoming an MBE, I hope it helps raise the profile of our sector and what a thriving industry it is. I also hope it inspires others entrepreneurs in craft to believe, innovate and put our industry firmly on the map.
I am incredibly passionate about craft but am just as passionate about supporting local craft companies.
I'm not a celebrity, but when I walk into Hobbycraft and someone comes up to me to tell me how great one of our products is, it's a bit of a surreal experience.
Right from growing up I always wanted to be a teacher, but my dad discouraged me.
I knew, back when I was starting up, that if I had something that could be developed for the mass market, I could really take it forward.
Having been a fan of 'Dragons' Den' since it first aired in 2005 I was absolutely delighted and proud to have the opportunity of becoming a Dragon myself.
When we opened our office in Santa Ana, California, in 2016, I could not have envisioned this level of growth, although I always knew our products would be well received by customers in North America.
The biggest challenge being an entrepreneur is knowing what you are good at and what you need to build on.
