Crohn’s sufferer under the wing of newest ‘dragon’ in TV den

BUSINESS: Angus man who built company from his back garden to be mentored by craft mogul Sara Davies

A Tayside man who put his health woes to one side and carved out a business in his back garden is being mentored by a Dragons’ Den TV star.

Craig Laird, 34, from Carnoustie, has battled against the odds since being diagnosed with the incurable Crohn’s Disease at the age of nine.

He was forced to miss much of his formal education through illness but worked hard at home to pass exams and gradually built up his own business.

Mr Laird, who used to work at the Co-op in Carnoustie, started making greetings cards as a hobby at a young age, and eventually made a studio in his back garden.

He would raise money for the National Association of Crohn’s and Colitis and the Dog’s Trust before his work led to an invite to demonstrate for Dawn Bibby, on TV channel Hochanda, last March.

Mr Laird’s product demonstration work was so impressive that he was head-hunted by Sara Davies, the new star of Dragons’ Den.

He got a job with Crafter’s Companion, run by Ms Davies, and will settle into a new life in County Durham after a farewell party in Carnoustie on Saturday.

He said: “I was so nervous when I first met Sara but she’s incredibly down-toearth. She’s an incredibly inspirational figure in business and to be mentored by her is a dream come true for me.

“I will be working very closely with Sara where she will help and guide me but to do this I had to relocate.

“I love Carnoustie but this was too good an opportunity to miss – who would say no to being mentored by a real-life ‘dragon’ from Dragons’ Den?

“I’ve had Crohn’s for 24 years and I have always been determined to work and to show that no matter how hard and tough life can be, keep following your dream and you can achieve it.

“I never in a million years thought I’d have the opportunity to work for the biggest craft company in the world but here I am living the dream and loving it.”

Mr Laird has been a regular face on TV shopping channels since he started working for Dawn Bibby and continues to demonstrate on UK crafting shopping channel Create and Craft TV which is part of Ideal World.

He also goes out to QVC Germany once a month to help set up the Crafter’s Companion TV shows.

Entrepreneur Sara Davies is the newest “dragon” on the popular BBC2 show, 13 years after she was first invited to pitch on the programme.

She is the founder of Crafter’s Companion, which she set up in her bedroom at university and she now turns over more than £34 million a year.

Craig Laird and Sara Davies.