Sales bloom for university creative hub arrival

A mosaic artist based in a University of Derby hub for creative firms, who makes personal keepsakes from fine bone china, has reported strong growth despite the global pandemic.

Diane Daley, who founded China Petals, moved into Banks Mill Studios, in Bridge Street, shortly before the first lockdown, back in March, 2020.

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Due to the pandemic, she was unable to sell her products at events or have visitors to her studio – so she decided to offer mosaic kits.

Diane said: “My business plan totally changed. I had to think of new ways to sell my work.

“I quickly realised that people were craving creative activities to keep them occupied and help with their mental health so I developed my mosaic kits.”

The introduction of the kits steered Diane to look at selling on Etsy, which has enabled her to sell nationally.

Diane said: “I think if I hadn’t been part of this creative community then I probably wouldn’t have created my kits. And it was with the help of a fellow Banks Mill tenant that I decided to try doing online workshops.”