Fri, 30/09/2022 - 11:28
China Petals is a small independent business based at Banks Mill Studios. Diane Daley, the artist behind China Petals, uses broken, unwanted china and glass to create artwork and personal keepsakes. Diane launched China Petals just weeks before the first Covid 19 lockdown which significantly impacted her business. It was this that forced Diane to think ‘outside of the box’ and she created her mosaic kits which could be posted out to customers to complete in their homes. It also pushed her to launch a shop on Etsy, something she hadn’t thought about too much in the early stages of her business.
Since launching her first kit, Diane has appeared twice on the shopping channel Craft TV and was presented with a Small Business Sunday award by TV Dragon Theo Paphitis. This ultimately led to Diane winning a stand at The Spring Fair, due to take place at the NEC in February 2023.
Diane comments: “The kits were really popular, so I started to introduce a few more designs and I now have 13 to choose from and I’m constantly trying out new ones to add to the range.”
“It has been a dream of mine for a while to sell China Petals mosaic kits to independent gift shops, garden centres and organisations but I have always been a bit nervous about putting it into reality. I never in a million years would have thought that industry leaders would see the potential in my kits and give me a fantastic opportunity to meet potential stockists at the largest retail trade fair in Europe!”
Diane’s mosaic artwork and workshops have taken a back seat over the last couple of months while she prepares herself for things to come. Diane tells us: “Scaling things up takes a lot of work, research, and spreadsheets! Looking at costs to see if it is even possible to produce kits on a larger scale that would return me enough money to cover expenses let alone any profit has been the hardest bit. However, if my customers, The Spring Fair, Theo Paphitis and Create and Craft TV believe in my kits then I am determined to give it a go.”
Over the last couple of months Diane has added a wholesale section to the China Petals website ready for potential stockists.
Diane concludes: “I want to thank each and every one of my customers for their support over the years. They have helped make my dreams a reality and it is true every time you buy from a small business someone does do a happy dance. I know that I have many hours of hard work ahead of me but with the support of family, friends, and my customers, as well as my love and passion for mosaic, I am sure my dreams will continue to flourish.”
If you are interested in stocking China Petals mosaic kits then get in touch with Diane through her website or email [email protected] to find out more.