Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis has given a self-employed designer from Thame a vital vote of approval on social networking site Twitter.
Sam Osborne tweeted Theo about her business during his weekly ‘Small Business Sunday’ initiative and he picked it out of hundreds of entries for a special mention.
Theo retweeted her message to his 316,000 followers and as a result her design business has 200 more Twitter followers and extra orders flying in to her online shop. Her site is also now featured on a website dedicated to Small Business Sunday winners.
Ms Osborne is a graphic and surface pattern designer who started her business two years ago designing branding for fellow small business owners, crafting wedding invitations, creating bold and bright pattern collections for licensing and commissions and running her own label selling prints, cards and homewares.
Ms Osborne said she was ‘overwhelmed’ to get Theo’s support.
She said: “Last Sunday was my two year self-employed birthday so thought that would be a great time to enter the Small Business Sunday contest but I didn’t really expect to be picked.
“To be chosen out of so many entries is a fantastic feeling and my website and online shop have been crazy busy ever since.
“It is great to have support from Theo because it’s been tough trying to raise my profile and Theo has recognised my hard work over the last two years.”
Anyone looking for a re-tweet from Theo should tweet him about their business on Sunday between 5.00pm and 7.30pm, including the hashtag #SBS.
To find out more about Ms Osborne’s business go to www.sam-osborne.co.uk and for more information on Small Business Sunday visit www.theopaphitissbs.com