Sara Davies
{{Short description|British businesswoman (born 1984)}}
{{About||people named Sarah Davies|Sarah Davies (disambiguation){{!}}Sarah Davies}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sara Davies
| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Sara Davies
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|4|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Coundon, County Durham, England
| nationality =
| education =
| alma_mater = Derwent College, York
| years_active = 2005–present
| occupation = Businesswoman
television personality
entrepreneur
| known_for = Dragons' Den (2019–2025)
Strictly Come Dancing
| title = Founder and CEO of Crafters Companion
| website = {{URL|crafterscompanion.co.uk}}
{{URL|sara-davies.com}}
}}
Sara Davies {{postnominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (born 23 April 1984) is a British businesswoman, entrepreneur, and television personality. She is the founder and owner of Crafter's Companion, a company she started while a student at the University of York. In April 2019 it was announced that she would join the panel of the BBC television programme Dragons' Den for its seventeenth series, replacing Jenny Campbell who decided to leave the programme in early 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/north-east-entrepreneur-sara-davies-16167042|title=North East entrepreneur Sara Davies joins Dragons' Den panel|first=Coreena|last=Ford|date=23 April 2019|newspaper=Newcastle Chronicle|publisher=Reach plc|accessdate=23 April 2019}} In 2021, Davies was appointed the North East Ambassador for Smart Works Newcastle, a charity supporting unemployed women into work through clothing and coaching. In July 2024, Davies was appointed Chief Inspiration Officer for Avon UK.
Early life
Davies was born in Coundon, County Durham, England, in 1984. She has a sister. She graduated from the University of York with a first class Business degree in 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-06-30/dragons-den-new-dragon-who-is-sara-davies-bbc/|title=Who is new Dragons' Den star Sara Davies? Meet the youngest ever Dragon|last=Ling|first=Thomas|date=|website=Radio Times|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} She was a member of Derwent College.{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Sarika |date=10 February 2024 |title=Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies receives honorary degree from the University of York |url=https://thetab.com/uk/york/2024/02/10/dragons-den-star-sara-davies-receives-honorary-degree-from-the-university-of-york-34587 |access-date=10 February 2024 |website=The Tab}}
Career
Davies founded Crafter's Companion, a crafter's supply company, whilst at university in 2005. During a placement at a small craft company she spotted a gap in the market for a tool that could create bespoke envelopes for handmade cards and, with the aid of a local carpenter, designed a product called The Enveloper which she launched on the TV shopping channel Ideal World, selling 30,000 units within six months. By the time she graduated, the business was turning over £500,000.
As of 2019, Crafter's Companion exports to more than 40 countries worldwide. The company has a UK headquarters in Newton Aycliffe, outlets in Evesham, Chesterfield and Colne, an office in Corona, California, and employs 200 people worldwide.{{cite web|url=https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/17353548.newton-aycliffe-based-crafters-companion-turnover-at-40m/ |title=Newton Aycliffe-based Crafter's Companion turnover at $40m |newspaper=Darlington and Stockton Times |date= 12 January 2019 |accessdate=26 April 2019}} In 2018, the turnover of Crafter's Companion was said to be nearly £25 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.craftbusiness.com/editorial-blog/view/crafters-companions-sara-davies-explains-how-shes-grown-her-empire |title=Crafter's Companion's Sara Davies explains how she's grown her empire |publisher=Craft Business|date=24 July 2018 |accessdate=26 April 2019}}
In her capacity as an entrepreneur, Davies helps women in business and offers support and guidance to businesses as part of her mentoring role with the Entrepreneurs' Forum.Manning, Jonathon [https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/business/14550887.crafters-companion-founder-sara-davies-rewarded-with-mbe, "Crafter's Companion founder Sara Davies rewarded with MBE"] The Northern Echo, 10 June 2016. Retrieved on 10 June 2016.
In July 2024 Sara Davies was appointed as Avon UK’s chief inspiration officer in moves to help more women build and run their own businesses.{{Cite web |last=Ford |first=Coreena |date=2024-07-08 |title=Celebrity entrepreneur Sara Davies joins beauty brand Avon |url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/enterprise/celebrity-entrepreneur-sara-davies-joins-29497676 |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Business Live |language=en}}
=Television=
In 2015, Davies hosted Local Television Limited's (formerly Made in Television) craft show, Be Creative.Ford, Coreena [http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/durham-entrepreneur-sara-davies-stars-8372601, "Durham entrepreneur Sara Davies stars in new TV show Be Creative"] The Journal, 4 January 2015. Retrieved on 4 January 2015. On 23 April 2019, she joined BBC Two's Dragons' Den as the show's youngest ever female investor. Speaking to the BBC, she said "I've been a fan of the show since it started. I was even invited to pitch on the show 13 years ago, so it feels like I’ve come a full circle."{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/tvfilm/sara-davies-net-worth-dragons-den-judge-crafters-companion-a4211121.html|title=Sara Davies net worth: Who is the new Dragons' Den judge and Crafter's Companion owner?|last=Chambers|first=Georgia|date=12 August 2019|website=London Evening Standard|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
From September 2021, Davies competed in the nineteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing where she was paired with Aljaž Škorjanec. They were eliminated in Week 8, after a dance-off with Tilly Ramsay and Nikita Kuzmin.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/4b2qJH8RV0wFL3gbCbHpFRd/sara-davies |title=BBC One – Strictly Come Dancing – Sara Davies |website=BBC |access-date=16 October 2021}}
In 2023, Davies was seen on BBC Four walking around Healey and the Swinton Estate in North Yorkshire in Spring Walks, a new spin-off from Cy Chadwick's Yorkshire Walks/Walking with... format.{{Cite news |last=Jeffries |first=Stuart |date=2023-02-06 |title=Spring Walks review – not even a trampolining goat can save this feelbad TV |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/feb/06/spring-walks-review-not-even-a-trampolining-goat-can-save-this-feelbad-tv |access-date=2023-02-15 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |title=BBC Four - Schedules, Monday 6 February 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl6b/2023/02/06 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=BBC Four - Spring Walks, Series 1, Sara Davies |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001hyrj |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}} Also in 2023, she appeared as a contestant on Richard Osman's House of Games.
She has also appeared as a guest in "Dictionary Corner" on Countdown, sitting with Susie Dent.
In July 2024, Davies was appointed Chief Inspiration Officer for Avon UK{{Cite news|url=https://www.prima.co.uk/leisure/celebrity/a61529416/sara-davies-avon/|title=Sara Davies appointed as chief inspiration officer by Avon|first=Zlata|last=Rodionova|date=8 July 2024|work=Prima.co.uk|accessdate=9 November 2024}}
In March 2025, ITV announced Davies will host the upcoming game show Time Is Money.{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/itv-announces-brand-new-series-time-money-sara-davies-afternoon-game-shows-continue|title=ITV announces brand new series Time is Money with Sara Davies, as afternoon game shows continue to thrive|website=itv.com/presscentre|accessdate=4 March 2025}}
On 6 March 2025, Davies announced that she would be stepping away from filming the next series of Dragons’ Den “for now” to focus on her own business.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-07 |title=Sara Davies to 'step away' from Dragons' Den to focus on business |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c39vdg2xmdlo.amp |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb}}
= Publications =
- We Can All Make It, Transworld Publishers Ltd, {{ISBN|9781529177244}}{{Cite web |last=York |first=University of |title=Sara Davies MBE |url=https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/graduation/honorary-graduates/sara-davies/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=University of York |language=en}}
- Craft Your Year with Sara Davies The Crafting Bible, Transworld Publishers Ltd, {{ISBN|9780857505149}}
Awards and honours
Davies was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to the economy.{{cite news|url=https://www.https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/chloes-creative-cards-gets-tv-16102988|title=Chloe's Creative Cards gets TV|last=Hugill|first=Steven|work=Chronicle Live|date=9 April 2019|accessdate=9 April 2019}}
Davies has been recognised with a number of awards for her work as an entrepreneur. In 2010 she was awarded the Ernst & Young Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award,{{cite web |last1=Pyrah |first1=Lauren |title=Sara Davies: Showing how to craft a successful business {{!}} The Northern Echo |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/business/9768136.sara-davies-showing-craft-successful-business/ |website=thenorthernecho.co.uk |publisher=The Northern Echo |access-date=27 July 2023}} in 2013 she was presented with the Entrepreneur of the Year at the Shell Women of the Year Awards and she was listed in startups.co.uk’s Young Guns Entrepreneurs of the Year class of 2015.Morrison, Sarah [https://startups.co.uk/young-guns/sara-davies-crafters-companion/, "Women of the Future Awards Full Shortlist"] The Independent, 22 September 2013. Retrieved on 22 September 2016.Hunsby, Megan [https://startups.co.uk/young-guns/sara-davies-crafters-companion/, "Sara Davies: Crafter's Companion"] Startups, 17 September 2015. Retrieved on 17 September 2015.Pyrah, Lauren [https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/business/9768136.sara-davies-showing-how-to-craft-a-successful-business/ Sara Davies: Showing how to craft a successful business] The Northern Echo, 18 June 2012. Retrieved on 18 June 2012. She has also been the recipient of two Lloyds Bank National Business Awards: the Santander Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year award in 2010[http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/sara-davies-founder-crafters-companion-4439177, "Sara Davies, founder, Crafter's Companion"] The Journal, 14 February 2011. and the Outstanding Contribution to British Business Award in 2019.[https://www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk/news-1/the-best-of-british-business-celebrated-at-glittering-national-prize-giving-reception, "The best of British business celebrated at glittering national prize reception"] The Lloyds Bank National Business Awards, 13 November 2019. On 6 February 2024, Davies received an Honorary degree from the University of York business school.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-68215999.amp, “Honorary degree for University of York graduate and Dragons’ Den star”] BBC News, 6 February 2024.
Personal life
Davies married her husband Simon in September 2007. The couple have two sons and live in Teesside.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/dragons-den-who-sara-davies-14460031|title=Dragons Den: Millionaire mum Sara Davies becomes youngest EVER investor|last=Freedman|first=Joanna S|work=Daily Mirror|date=23 April 2019|accessdate=23 April 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/fame-fortune/dragon-sara-davies-dont-know-dragons-paid-not-sort-subject-bring/|title=Dragon Sara Davies: 'I don't know what the other Dragons are paid. It's not the sort of subject you bring up over lunch'|last=Wintle|first=Angela|date=15 September 2019|work=The Telegraph|access-date=16 September 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}