A Cwmbran man who started a personalised sign and box business during lockdown has expanded into a unit in the town. Jordan Guy set up The Crafty Bonobo from his garage in Ty Canol with one printer.
The garage had to be extended when he bought a second machine. But now the move to five machines led to him taking on a unit on Forgehammer Industrial Estate two months ago.
Most sales have come from online but now the unit has space for a shop where customers can pop in and see his range before placing an order.
Jordan said he started with “one product” but now offers around “70 to 80” including all sorts of boxes, mirrors, and signs for homes and businesses lit by LEDs.
“It’s always been online. This is the first time where we are actually opening a physical shop [customers can visit his showroom and buy signs]. People kept coming in, it was like yesterday we had some food delivered and the guy come in and he was like ‘how much are they?’.
“So that’s why I said ‘why don’t we open it as a shop just until Christmas and see what people think of it? We’ll see what happens [if he keeps the shop part of his business open after Christmas].”
Debbie Guy, his mum (pictured), often appears on the business’ TikTok channel showing online customers their range of products and answering questions. She said: “Everybody wants presents for people don’t they? I think personalised is the best present you can have.”