Cotton Clara - Building a Global Craft Brand

Firstly, a quick explanation of how this works. You pledge for a reward, and we deliver it in the stated time frame. You will still get your reward if we don't raise the total amount of money....so you can pledge with confidence, you will receive your reward whatever the outcome but we think we're going to smash it!

An overview & why we're raising money...

We’re a small brand with BIG dreams. We started our craft kit business from the corner of our dining room in 2014 and we’ve grown into a brand that is stocked in some of the biggest and fanciest stores in the world. From Bloomingdales and Nordstrom, to Boots, John Lewis and Liberty (and some very exciting ones coming soon). We have never taken any investment and have built this business through passion and hard work, but we're at a stage where we need investment to grow.

We have a loyal community who love our modern embroidery & craft kits, that has grown to a following of over 125k on social media.

We’ve invested in our brand feel and developed some hero products, but we now want to take the next step in our growth. 

We have a massive collection of products that we’re waiting to bring to life and show to our customers, and the money we raise through this Crowdfunder will allow us to do this.

A little bit of history

I (Chloe) started the business from the side of my desk just after having my second child in 2014. I was working full time, but couldn't put down this idea of developing a more modern range of craft kits, because I could clearly see it was lacking from the market.

I worked every hour of the day for 3 years, trying to build something and focus down my ideas. In 2017 I invested a couple of thousand pounds in a laser cutter, that we installed in our conservatory! I started selling products wholesale, and on platforms like Etsy & Not On the High Street, and developing my style and brand using social media.

Business was going well, well enough to warrant moving the business out of the house and into rented premises, which we did in June 2019. 

In September 2019 I had a conversation with a buyer from Boots who'd seen our kits and wanted to stock them for Christmas. The order came through for an unfathomable amount of kits, due to be delivered in August 2020. This order was quickly followed by more large orders and things were looking like they were really building.

Then March 2020 came and the world went into lockdown.These two converging events (a couple of massive orders and boosted Covid sales) really launched our business during the crazy year of 2020.

Since then we've continued to grow and had some tough times adjusting to the rapidly changing economic climate. We've added wholesale clients, we've grown our audience of direct customers, and we've learnt A LOT. A lot about what people want, and what people love, and importantly WHY people buy our product.

We know people are attracted to our modern kits and design led approach, but we have discovered that what really keeps people coming back is the power of our kits to soothe, and relax and support positive mental health in our customers. Our kits help people to slow down, to calm anxious thoughts, and to stay away from their screens. And this has become the foundation of our business; we see ourselves as a wellbeing company, with a wellbeing product.

What we are building…

We are on a mission to bring crafting and making to a mainstream audience, to those millions of people who are tired of spending hours scrolling their phones, but haven’t been handed down the skills of crafting and making.

Our aim is to be the brand of choice for modern makers, who have discovered the positive mental health effects of having a creative, practical hobby and a way of detaching themselves from their screens.

This money would transform our business

There are three main things we need to finance to be able to grow.

New Product Development We’re currently only able to bring a few new products to life every year, but we have designs for so many more! We would use the money to bring a whole new range of innovative crafting and making products to life. Using the money to develop our ideas and invest in initial stock of these new products.

Product Development Team Bringing the above products to life will not only take the capital to buy the stock but also the capacity to develop our ideas to the point where we can get them made. We’d use the money to finance extra freelance workers to help us develop these products.

Marketing Once we have these new products, we will need to let the world know about them, so we would use some of the funding to pay for a trade show, and extra funds for digital marketing of our products.

How we're going to reward you!

So on to the rewards and how you can help! By signing up for these rewards you are helping us to further our mission as a business and build the dream of Cotton Clara.

£5 Digital Embroidery Patterns

In 2020/2021 there were two kits that we sold 1000s of, which really took over our lives - we still even sell a few of them today! Well, we've updated the designs so that they are undated, and you can get the digital pattern for both here. We'll send you a pdf with instructions on what fabric to use, what size hoop etc. and the two patterns that you can transfer and stitch yourself. (I'll post finished samples of the kits as soon as they are ready!)

£20 Home Sweet Home Embroidery Kit

Home Sweet Home Kit, based on our best selling design of 2020 but without the date and with an updated message. Suitable for beginners and available in two different colour-ways. This embroidery kit will come with full instructions and everything you need to complete it. Please add £10 for International postage.

£20 Adventure Awaits Embroidery Kit

Adventure Awaits Embroidery Kit, based on our best selling design of 2021 but without the date! This is a much requested update! Suitable for beginners and available in two different colour-ways. This embroidery kit will come with full instructions and everything you need to complete it.Please add £10 for International postage.

£30 Cotton Clara Baseball Caps

Beautifully embroidered in the UK, just around the corner from us. Support us, represent the brand, just get a cool new hat! Available in two colours. Add £10 for international orders.

£35 Digital Pattern Needlepoint Baby Blocks

A full colour, detailed tutorial and pattern for these needlepoint baby blocks that were one of the first products I designed when I was thinking about setting up my business. They are made using plastic canvas and tapestry wool. I'll include a video tutorial and full materials list.

£50 Exclusive 'Hobbyist' Sweatshirt

We have designed a sweatshirt, featuring our unique 'Hobbyist' design. I wanted to create a something for people like me who just love a good hobby, whether that's embroidery or cross stitch or reading or baking. For sizing details & extra info on fabric etc see our blog info page, we will contact you to ask what size you would like. Please add £10 for International Postage.

£50 Hoop Club Meetup

Come and meet other Hoop Club (our embroidery subscription box) members at this Saturday afternoon workshop. We'll stitch the current project (which will be the November box), and drinks and snacks will be provided plus a special Hoop Club goody bag! 2-4pm at our Loughborough Studio on November 23rd 2024. Ticket price doesn't include the Hoop Club kit, you must be a subscriber to attend!

£60 Christmas Punch Needle Workshops

A cosy christmassy evening at Cotton Clara learning the art of punch needle and creating some Christmas decorations. Come and visit our lovely studio, and learn this really addictive craft with me. Thursday 21st November 7.30-9.30pm 2024 at our Loughborough studio.

£100 90 Minute Zoom Call with Chloe

I'm opening my diary to anyone who wants to chat about anything, social media, building a brand, starting a business, dreaming big - let's chat!

£100 Large Laser Cut DIY Board Kit

This is a re-run of the large laser cut boards we used to sell a few years ago. There are 3 designs that we are bringing back for you 'We love the Trees & Mountains, Sea & Sky' 'Alphabet' and 'May Your Days be Merry & Bright' Unfortunately these are not available for International postage as they are so big!

£100 Morning Punch Needle Workshop at Cotton Clara

Come for a 3 hour workshop at our Loughborough Studio to learn punch needle and get access to a sample sale while you're here! 10-1pm at our Loughborough Studio on the 23rd November 2024

£500 VIP Experience @ Cotton Clara HQ

A one on one meet with me at the studio! Get a tour, we can go for coffee, we can chat about stuff, do some stitching? I did these for our Kickstarter two years ago and they were SO LOVELY. You can choose what we do, maybe learn punch needle? It's totally up to you and we'll book a date that suits you! 2-3 hours at the studio on a date of your choice.

£1,200 2 x Night Craft Retreat 

Located at the beautiful Bonnington Farm just north of Loughborough, this suite of 3 incredibly designed properties will be the location for the first Cotton Clara weekend craft retreat. Join us for amazing food, a packed schedule of crafting and making and use your free time to enjoy the sauna, hot tub, outdoor bath and beautiful surroundings! Capped at 12 people this will be a cosy, exclusive affair - proper luxury. Add £300 to buy two tickets to the retreat in a shared room. Date Friday 21st Feb - Sunday 23rd Feb 2025. 

£1,750 A year of Mentoring

A 1 hour a month zoom call (or in person if you're near!) with me. I'll mentor you for a whole year, starting whenever you want. If you're pledging for this reward, you'll know what my areas of expertise are...social media, building a business, taking risks etc! Can't wait to do this one! *price is INCLUSIVE of VAT

£2,500 Corporate Craft Workshop

I will come in and personally deliver a workshop for up to two hours for up to 25 people. I'll bring all the equipment needed and deliver an engaging, inspiring and informative workshop giving some simple projects that employees could carry on after the workshop. Craft has been proven to boost mental health and make people happier, so why not book us as part of your company wellbeing programme? Workshops can be bespoke and tailored to your needs. Extra costs may need to be added for travel expenses depending on location but please get in touch and we can chat. *price is INCLUSIVE of VAT