High Wycombe based business in line for National award after launching app to help promote creative businesses in the UK
With their emphasis to promote small businesses, Virtual Craft Fair has been shortlisted from a long list of nominations, for the Entrepreneurial Spirit category in the Regional Finals of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Their success recognises the drive to support small artists, crafters and other creative businesses across the UK. During lockdown, many felt it important to support local businesses to help them survive these challenging times. This inspired entrepreneur, Kat McFarlane, to create Virtual Craft Fair in March to help these types of businesses.
Unlike other platforms, any contact or sales via the Virtual Craft Fair app go directly to the crafter which allows them to maximise their profit and enables them to have that 1-2-1 personal experience with customers like they would over an actual craft fair stall. You can find a whole range of businesses on the app who produce their own products - this could be anything from cookies to jewellery, craft beer to photography prints or handbags.
Kat, 34, said; " Virtual Craft Fair started as a Facebook group at the start of lockdown. This was triggered by my desire to try and help the thousands of crafters who were losing a big chunk of income with craft fairs and non-essential shops closing. The Facebook group was great at bringing crafters together but lacking the real ability to showcase their makes effectively and giving consumers an easy way to shop. So, I went looking for an answer…"
Virtual Craft Fair is app based and available on both the Apple App and Google Play Store so customers can easily download and browse their local makers in a variety of product categories.
Kat added: "I was committed to finding a low-cost solution for crafters as well as providing consumers with a platform knowing they are browsing genuine small businesses who are not having to compete in an international marketplace."
Member of Virtual Craft Fair, Lin Harrison, who owns Blooming Lovely Occasions making soap flowers gift boxes said: "I am thrilled to be a member of Virtual Craft Fair, it has helped my small business enormously and it has been great seeing all the other talented crafter’s work."
Founded in 2013, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards acknowledges the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses in the United Kingdom. The Awards have celebrated some outstanding entrepreneurs who have gone on to become household names. Previous winners include the founders of BrewDog, Tangle Teezer, The LAD Bible, Clearscore & The Cambridge Satchel Company. This year, with face to face events challenging, the regional heats will be celebrated online on September 23rd.
Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca James, said: “Given what we’ve seen over the past few months, the 2020 edition of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards is arguably the most important. Now, more than ever, it is vital that we celebrate the achievements of the country’s entrepreneurs and their determination in the face of such adversity.
Virtual Craft Fair welcomes interested businesses to apply via their website, www.virtualcraftfair.co.uk