Episode #220: Stephanie Carswell of Hawthorn Handmade

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a craft kit business with my guest Stephanie Carswell.

Stephanie is the Founder and Creative Director of Hawthorn Handmade, a textile craft kit design company based in Dorset in Southern England. Hawthorn Handmade began in 2013 with a small range of needle felting kits, and over the last 9 years has developed from a small side business started in the back room of Stephanie’s previous business, a gallery and haberdashery/workshop space, to a well-known creative company selling their embroidery, cross stitch, needle felting, weaving and felt craft kits through almost 600 stores around the world including over 250 in the US.

Stephanie lives in a rural village nearby to their business unit with her rescue lurcher Clodagh and partner Owen, who is also Hawthorn’s website developer. When she’s not busy with the business she loves playing tennis, pottering in her garden, and crashing on the sofa in front of Netflix.

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This episode is sponsored by WARP+WEFT TEXTILES, an online fabric store operating on Coast Salish land. WARP+WEFT is a plastics-free business offering woven fabrics and independent patterns. As one of the few stockists of TAUKO Magazine, WARP+WEFT shares the quarterly sewing publication’s emphasis on climate, culture, and community. 

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To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.