Case Study
Lauren Rowland and Hannah Muir, founders of Craft + Common, a craft studio chain which has locations in Lancaster, Lytham St Annes and Lymm. Long-time friends Lauren and Hannah set up the first Craft + Common studio in 2023, with a mission to create a vibrant community space where people can socialise and have fun and have grown rapidly since then.
| Region/Nation | North West |
|---|---|
| Sector | Arts, Entertainment and Leisure |
| Programme | Start Up Loans |
| Partner |
Lauren Rowland and Hannah Muir, founders of Craft + Common, a unique all-in-one craft studio and bar. The pair had been friends since secondary school and had always dreamed of starting a business together despite working across a variety of corporate roles. Following the pandemic in 2023, they decided there is no time like
the present and launched Craft + Common in Lytham St Annes with a mission to create a vibrant community space where people can socialise and have fun.
To get their concept off the ground, Lauren and Hannah secured a total of £50,000 in Start Up Loan funding from GC Business Finance, split equally across the two founders Read footnote text 1 .
The business offers pottery painting and ‘paint and sip’ events in a fun, relaxing and social environment. It has grown significantly over the past two years, and Lauren and Hannah have since self-funded the opening of two additional studios in Lymm and Lancaster. This has allowed them to create more jobs and bring their creative, community-focused concept to more communities across the North.
Lauren and Hannah are looking to continue expanding the Craft + Common brand across the North, leveraging insights and experience gained from their first three studios.
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Return to footnote location
1
Each director has received £25,000, the maximum available per director from the Start Up Loans programme.
The past two years of growing Craft + Common have been incredibly rewarding, and I still can’t quite believe we’ve expanded to three studios in that time. A big part of this journey has been the support we received through the Start Up Loans programme, so Hannah and I are proud to be named the North West Ambassadors this year.
We’ve developed so much as business owners, and the support we’ve received from our local community and beyond has been amazing. I remember being sat in business studies classes with Hannah, and now we are running our very own successful business. We’re excited to share our story and hopefully inspire others to begin their own entrepreneurial journey.
- Lauren Rowland Co-founder of Craft + Common
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