Beth graduated in 2000 with BA Hons in Textile Design & Surface Decoration and ever since has been working in design and marketing. She founded Bunting & Bows in February 2009; Beth has a 2 year old daughter who inspired her to start designing children’s accessories after not being able to find good quality and unique personalised items for her daughter’s nursery. Beth is committed to designing and making high quality items for children to enhance their surroundings that are unique, for children to treasure for years and years. WowThankYou caught up with Beth recently to see how business is going.


Your products are fantastic. How did it all start?

I have always been very interested and passionate about fabrics , design and textiles (I have a BA Hons in Printed Textile Design) but it wasn’t until I had my daughter in 2008 that I started to look for unique items for her nursery. I found it hard to find things exactly how I wanted them so ended up making bunting and cushions for her room and then thought, why don’t I make these and sell them? I thought it would be a small hobby but it has grown into a business which I am very proud of!


How long has your business been trading?

We are very young still and have only been trading since March 2009.


Is Bunting & Bows your full-time job, or do you have other employment?

No I also work part time for a dance company and also look after my 2 year old daughter.


Where do you draw inspiration from for your designs and product range?

My main inspiration is my daughter – I look at the things she likes and things that grab her attention. I also look at nature, the seasons and pictures I have seen. A lot of my customers commission me to make pieces so they are the designer and I make the product for them!


Where do you source your wonderful range of fabrics?

I get some from various online shops but I also like to support my local area and there is a fantastic fabric store in Rochester called Hometown who stock gorgeous fabrics which I use to make my products. I also run a recycle service where customers can send me their child’s first dress or first shirt and I can turn that into a product for their nursery so sometimes the fabric comes from the customers themselves!


Do you work from home?

Our spare room is my workshop!


What do your friends and family think of your business and products? Do you take ideas from them as well?

My family and friends are very supportive and they are always calling me as they have thought of a new product for me to make!


Is Bunting & Bows just you, or have you got a team of helpers that you can call on?

It’s just me!


Have you made good friends and contacts within the wider crafting community? Do you attend craft fairs?

There is a big craft community on Facebook so I regularly chat to other ‘crafters’ on there and swap ideas etc. I don’t attend any craft fairs at the moment but it is definitely something that I am planning to do in the next 6 months.

Tell us about your best ever Bunting & Bows business day?

The day I launched my website, I found it all too exciting!


... Now tell us about your worst day?

The day my sewing machine broke down at a crucial moment when making a big order, I use my nan's sewing machine that she left me and its literally from the 1950’s; it’s a lovely old retro machine and I absolutely love it but as you can imagine it does play up from time to time! I refuse to use anything else but I know one day I will have to succumb and buy a 21st century machine!


Have you had any celebrity customers?

No, not unless they have gone incognito!


Where do you hope to be, business wise, 5 years from now?

I hope to have my products on the lips of every child/baby stylist and magazine editor and also to have my products featured in boutiques and retailers.