Bespoke Stokes

I am a real arts and crafts lover and often spend evening’s with my friends creating.

Since I left school I have always been very driven towards my career, spending year’s within the charity sector. The feeling at the end of a very busy day or night when I have reflected upon my day and to know that all my hard work changing lives was very rewarding and fulfilling.

In April 2012 I was blessed with the arrival of our beautiful child and I became a mummy, wow how my life changed! I thought I would take a year out from my career to concentrate on being a mummy and a great housewife! I soon realised that juggling child care whist living within the military community away from our families was going to be very difficult but I thought to myself I need a hobby, one that I can do during nap times and in the long evenings while the hubby is away.

I began looking at how I could make my love of arts and craft benefit my new family and I realised that during those few (seemingly far too short!) moments that I had free, that I could make bespoke items that other like minded mums would want to buy. So started the foundations of my business plan and it was not long before I was looking at how I could finance, market and produce the items that my close family and friends already cherished and loved every time they received one.

I took baby steps at first (quite apt for a nearly new mummy!) and in October 2013 I started personalising plates by hand so that they made wonderful Christmas gifts for family and friends. The response was incredible and before I knew it I was almost overwhelmed with requests for more and more diverse plates; I even had orders for Gaelic, Welsh and French language versions! It was not long before I had a local popup shop in Aldershot for 2 weeks in November 2013 and the reaction from the public was mind blowing!

It took off so well that once Christmas was over I was able to invest my profits to date and purchase a professional laser etching machine whilst, at the same time, develop a website that would bring my products to the wider public. I could finally make the items I had originally dreamed of and that you can find on my website today! 

My business is still young but I feel that I have already achieved so much in such a short space of time. However, I am by no means finished and with the loving support of my family and friends in the military community, I hope to increase my product range and give a warm 'Bespoke Stokes' welcome to all my new customers.  

10% DISCOUNT TO ALL GB MUMMYPAGES FANS ENTER CODE 23R1Z797MT06 WHEN PURCHASE OF ANY BESPOKE STOKES BOARD OR PENCIL BOX