A DENBIGHSHIRE business recently received a helping hand from one of the former stars of Dragons Den.

Marie Howarth, owner of Bodfari-based Willow & Ash Creative Crafts, recently Tweeted former Dragon Theo Paphitis about her business during ‘Small Business Sunday’.

To her surprise, she ended up being one of six weekly winners to gain a retweet by Theo to his near half a million Twitter followers.

The weekly initiative, set up by Theo in 2010, now has over 3,000 #SBS winners and supports small businesses in the UK.

Business and retail entrepreneur and self-confessed Shopkeeper, Theo re‐tweeted Marie’s message to his almost 500,000 followers and as a result, her online shops and social media accounts have gained more followers.

As well as that, extra orders have been placed for her personalised story cushions and newly launched personalised greeting cards.

She is also profiled on the #SBS website (www.theopaphitissbs.com).

Marie said “I began making things in 2016 as a bit of creative therapy, after the onset of debilitating ill health, which lead to me being diagnosed with a rare and chronic health condition. It helped me to start rebuilding my life after the sad and sudden end of my 35+ year career of working with children and families, managing Family Centres, Social Services and Fostering and Adoption Teams. Naturally, I wanted to continue supporting children’s development in some way and the idea of creating Story Cushions, including carefully curated and themed children’s books - including Welsh titles, was born.

"I have since developed other items and I am working on a range of co-ordinating Greetings cards and other children’s accessories to go with my 80+ Story Cushion designs. I have also started to make gifts for adults such as a Women’s Wellbeing Pocket Cushion Gift Set.

"Prior to the pandemic, with some support, I had managed to attend some local fairs, large events and had begun trading at Country Fairs and shows and was excitedly anticipating a Christmas season at Chatsworth House. Unfortunately, as for lots of other businesses, those opportunities disappeared, and I began to concentrate on online selling. Conscious Crafties in particular is a great supportive platform for people with ill health or disabilities, to sell their crafts.

"I also have an Etsy shop and am about to launch my own website. With the easing of restrictions, I have just managed to attend a couple of local Artisan Markets, which I hope to continue, health and restrictions permitting.

"It is great to have support from Theo because it’s been tough trying to raise my profile and grow my small business. Theo has recognised my hard work and helped spread the word about what I do to his following.”