C.H.M
Having spent over two
passion, and make their
decades as an air traffic
dreams come true,” said Susan.
controller in the Royal Navy, Susan Bonnar from Lee-on-
Susan’s dedication and
the-Solent in Hampshire has
drive has won her national
taken the leap turning her
accolades like ‘Small
15-year-long crafting hobby
Business Sunday’ from
into a new business. Last year,
entrepreneur Theo Paphitis
Susan launched ‘The British Craft House’ – a website that
CELEBRATING
Handmade
only sells British crafts, helping support hundreds of local, regional and national small, hand-made, creative crafting
Meet Susan Bonnar
businesses in the UK. “The British Craft House
who has created a new website, The British Craft House to promote and sell British crafts!
business idea was born on a preparation run for a marathon
and Southampton Solent University's Chancellor. She has also launched the ‘Hampshire Crafters Network’ made up of crafters from Hampshire who meets monthly to discuss business and creative ideas. The British Craft House website is the only one
back in February 2019. I’ve always been passionate about
“The British Craft House is all about
bringing together the crafting
making a difference not only for
community, which essentially
creative people that want to sell their
are small businesses that are
creations, but also for people looking
so often working in isolation.
to buy something different. There is so
After nearly six years of helping
much more value in buying something
people online through social
handmade that you know is more
media, I got the idea for this
sustainable and supports someone’s
new site, which could support
dream.”
small creative businesses in a much better way than what
by the time I had my third baby
was already out there."
I decided to leave the Navy. My passion became helping others
Susan, who is originally from
and bringing together people who
Plymouth, started making
spend hours crafting, drive it into a
her own cards in 2005. “I
business. The British Craft House
never considered crafting
site gives them that platform. I
could be my full-time job, but
really want to help these people
card and album sales took
sell, to be able to give up their
off in shops and online, and
day job so they can pursue their Silverbird Designs
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