Just a little about the SMEE Team 

REWIND back to November 2020

.... go to my back to work interview at VAX after having eryn. Even remember taking her in the pushchair with me haha. Sitting there with the section manager and setting everything up. Yep see you in a few weeks and off home i went, and spoke to my hubby Matthew Ragnar Pugh about what i wanted and needed to do for my own sanity.

I wasnt happy, something wasnt quite right, the atmosphere at VAX, the people, or just me but something was a little off.

So i slept on it a few days, still something didnt feel quite right, so i wrote my letter of resignation and off it went via email. And did not even get a response  just shows.

So i logged the laptop on and looked into self employment, i had the start off materials already from makign bits for the kids in lockdown, the laptop the cutter, the basic skills etc.

And set up SMEE Designs personalised gifts, you know the small crafty bits, bottles, soap honders, keyrings etc with vinyl.

After just a few weeks I was in love with what i was doing and started to spread my wings a little at a time.

Sooner rather than later, I had outgrown the corner of the bedroom and took over the whole room ( apart from the bed) most days haha.

Decided then i needed to seperate my work from my home life, so found a small office just ourside of town. And business started to boom a little more, at this point it was towards christmas 2021 and needed a litte help, so along came Danielle Louise Haste ( little did i know she was my saviour at this point)

She had little Beans and from 8 weeks old he was there in this tiny little office, boxes filled up in the doorway daily and balancing on my toes to get out of the room when needed.

After that, we wanted to go even further with the huge help from family Kate Pugh and Ken we purchased the BEAST (my 1st multi needle embroidery machine) and wow business took another turn and boomed.

The business name changed to SMEE Designs - Embroidery & Print

We soon outgrew that room ( within 18 months) and a double room came up in the same block so off we packed and moved in Nove 2022 to a slightly larger office with a partition so we could seperate the workshop from the customers.

And what a whirlwind of just 4 months that was  lets just say, the block didnt like the idea of machinery in the block as it was 'disturbing other businesses'.. even though we told them at every point what we were doing.

So in March 2023 we had to search, and quick for something else or SMEE was to close. and the lovely lot Matt Lingard Sarah Kennett at Physique Fitness had the perfect solution 

We moved mid March 2023 to out Unit on Berry Hill Industrial Estate next to the amazing Julie's cafè. We can not thank Matt and Sarah enough as it was the best move EVER for us.

We soon filled our room and buisness was picking up again. We upgraded to 2 emrboidery machines and then the great Chris Wright helped us out with our 3rd machine. Now all having names BEAST, BARBARA and BARRY they are working all day ever day on the orders.

We have a great reliable team of suppliers, an amazing support team of family and friends who share, love and follow us.

My dad is now our little handy man, the odd jobs do come round and he is always there, so i have to say thank you to you Tony Cartlidge

Our journey so far has been a rocky one, not one month has it been plain sailing but with determination, support and help we have made it into our 5th year of SMEE SMEE Designs - Embroidery & Print

Much love to you all, thanks for reading ( if you get this far) xx