At the time, Chrissy worked as a buyer for a gift experience company, spending her days testing out everything from Ferrari driving and hot air balloon rides to spa days and photoshoots. Tough job, right? But someone had to do it!

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Always on the lookout for exciting new experiences, Chrissy discovered paint-your-own pottery at a ceramics café during a friend’s hen do—and she was instantly hooked! She loved how it was an experience everyone, regardless of age or ability, could enjoy.

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While chatting with the café owner about what a fantastic business it must be to run, the owner simply said, “You should start one yourself.” And with that, the lightbulb went off! Six months later, after plenty of planning, Crafty Monkey in St. Neots flung open its doors just in time for the summer holidays of 2010.

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Since then, Crafty Monkey has thrived thanks to the support of the St. Neots community and our amazing customers. The business has grown into a team of 5, with Chrissy now working behind the scenes while the team runs the studio and takes Crafty Monkey on the road, hosting pottery painting and clay workshops at various venues.

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Though we’re a business, we feel deeply rooted in the community. We’ve partnered with local schools, playgroups, nurseries, and have contributed to community projects like a tile mural in the library. Our collaboration with Black Cat Radio led to a fun mug-painting contest too! Many of our regular customers have become friends, and it’s been a joy watching children grow—from capturing their baby handprints to seeing them join us for work experience or even Saturday jobs.

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It’s been an incredible journey, and we can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes us! 🎨💖

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