The UK craft industry is undergoing a period of sustained growth with the estimated number of contemporary craft making businesses totalling 23,050 and an estimated overall income of £457 million. Capitalising on this thriving industry is Crawley based entrepreneur Natalie O’Shea .
Natalie recently traveled around the West Caribbean on a cruise, a trip earned through her exceptional work as a demonstrator for global craft company Stampin’ Up! The 6 day incentive trip, aboard the Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Allure of the Seas, took in the sights of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Labadee, Haiti, Falmouth, Jamaica, and Cozumel, Mexico.
To win this trip, Natalie was scored on a number of factors such as sales, and her effort to recruit team members and support her team to grow. The arts and crafts enthusiast holds regular classes in and around Crawley showing people how to create cards and scrapbooks and sells products on behalf of Stampin’ Up! There are approximately 1,500 Stampin’ Up! demonstrators in the UK and Amanda has built a sizable team stretching across the country.
This is the sixth time Natalie has qualified for a free holiday since becoming a demonstrator eight years ago, and she’s visited Prague, Vienna and the United States in recent years.
When Natalie is not crafting, she works full time as an office manager at a solicitor’s firm in Haywards Heath.
Natalie said: “Having the chance to travel around the Western Caribbean on a luxurious cruise was a truly memorable experience. I never thought my love of crafting would lead to these types of opportunities; but through hard work and enthusiasm it really is possible to expand your hobby to new entrepreneurial heights.”
To find out more about being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator visit www.stampinup.co.uk