Bronwyn, 14, turns ‘crazy’ dream into a business reality

AT just 14-years-old, Bronwyn Wilson can boast she is one of Hull’s youngest and most promising entrepreneurs. The youngster, from west Hull, set up her accessories business Crazy Critters last October.

She makes hand-sewn ornaments, frames, handbags and more from recycled materials and fabrics which are sold at The Art Box, in Newland Avenue, west Hull.

Bronwyn has now secured £750 from the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank to help develop her company. She hopes to use this money to set up a Crazy Critters website and clarify her stance with Trading Standards before producing more professional labelling for her products.

Bronwyn is self-taught in her crafts, although she learned the basics of sewing from her mother, Ruth. Her inspiration for Crazy Critters was sparked when she was given a craft book about making “sock monkeys” - small stuffed toys made from socks.

Bronwyn said: “I was given a book about making these monkeys and it had some designs in that were quite boring, but my imagination just went wild."Kirsty Burnell, who runs The Art Box in Newland Avenue, began selling the Crazy Critters merchandise last year. Mrs Burnell said: “Bronwyn approached me with some of her Crazy Critters and I thought what she made was going to appeal to a lot of people so I started selling them.

“People really fall for them - I don’t know quite what it is about them, she gives them character.” It was on the recommendation of Mrs Burnell that Bronwyn applied to the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank for a grant in March.

Two weeks later, she was informed she would receive a grant of £750 to help develop the business and that Maureen Foers OBE, and Yorkshire Women’s Enterprise Champion, had agreed to be her mentor. Charles Cracknell, Hull City Council’s youth enterprise manager, said: “Bronwyn showed initiative in contacting us. She so impressed Maureen and I that we decided to take the risk and give the full grant.

“Her story is snowballing, not just because she is so young, but because she knows what she wants.”

Bronwyn is home- schooled and able to fit her creative work for Crazy Critters around her education.

Mr Cracknell said: “Part of my job is to find entrepreneurial talent and Bronwyn is one of the youngest and most talented I have identified.” She is to be featured as a case study in Hull Youth Enterprise’s Global Entrepreneurship Week brochure later in the year.

Links

Hull Youth Enterprise

www.youthenterprise-hull.co.uk

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