Katy Sue Designs to create jobs as it acquires glitter and stamp brands

North East crafting supplies company Katy Sue Designs has acquired another UK craft brand and moved its manufacturing to South Tyneside.

The South Shields-based seller of cake decorating, card making and paper cutting products has bought the Cosmic Shimmer brand and Red Rubber Stamp production from Creative Expressions. The Kettering-based business is closing down and its glitters, polishes, micas and colour-rich materials have been sold to card makers and artists for some time.

Katy Sue has acquired the equipment to continue making the products, and is transferring production to South Tyneside where it already makes silicone moulds and paper craft products.

Sue Balfour, CEO of Katy Sue Designs, said: “We’re proud to be a British manufacturer. In 2024 we were highly commended in the UK Government’s 'Made in the UK, Sold to the World' awards. When we learned that Creative Expressions was planning to close, we stepped in, determined not to lose this incredible made-in-the-UK brand and the manufacturing capability that comes with it.

"All manufacturing will proudly stay in the UK—with more local jobs and new designs on the way."

The acquisition follows the return of full ownership of Katy Sue to Ms Balfour, who bought out the company's investor. The business was launched 30 years ago in partnership with her mother Doreen Thompson, when the pair started by creating miniature porcelain dolls on their kitchen table to sell to collectors.

Since then the firm has diversified into cake decorating, card making and craft supplies and its silicone cake moulds have appeared on TV cookery shows including The Great British Bake Off. Over recent years, Katy Sue is said to have experienced strong growth, with 20% of its revenue now derived from exports. The company has also been highly commended by the UK Government in the Department for Trade and Industries ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World’ Awards, recognising its excellence in exporting.

Coun Margaret Meling, lead member for economic growth and transport at South Tyneside Council, said: “This is fantastic news for Katy Sue Designs and South Tyneside. We’ve watched Katy Sue develop rapidly from a small homegrown start up into a fantastic award-winning business that has expanded rapidly and now sells products all over the world.