An award winning wedding and events décor business built from the dining room table of a repossessed home into a national franchise network.
Simply Bows & Chair Covers was born from one of the most difficult periods of my life.
In 2008 my business partners and I lost a seven-figure event and leisure company during the financial crisis.
I found myself a bankrupt single mum with my home repossessed and no clear roadmap forward.
With a small start-up grant and a basic Co-operative Bank cash account, I began again from the dining room table.
In the earliest days I designed products, sourced manufacturers, marketed the business and personally delivered every wedding.
Within 12 months the business was approaching six-figure turnover and generating strong profit.
That early momentum allowed me to reclaim our family home and reinvest in the business.
As demand increased I trained team members personally, embedding the standards and attention to detail that would become the hallmark of the brand.
Strategic partnerships with boutique hotels helped accelerate growth while maintaining quality across every event.
As the company grew, I redesigned the original business model into a structured franchise system.
Every process, step and operational standard was carefully documented so the brand could scale while protecting consistency and quality.
Today Simply Bows & Chair Covers operates across nine offices in the UK, providing elegant table linen and chair décor for weddings and events of every scale.
Our professional franchise partners deliver each event with the same standards and care that were established from day one.
The business received significant recognition along the way.
I was honoured to be named NatWest Everywoman Aphrodite Female Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by the Daily Mail.
The company also won Most Promising UK Business at the British Chamber of Commerce Awards, alongside recognition at the WIN Awards.
Other national accolades included the Jacqueline Gold WOW Award and Small Business Sunday (SBS) recognition from Theo Paphitis.
“I’m very excited to be writing my book with Eleanor Mills, a former editor of The Sunday Times and The Sunday Times magazine, which tells the story from breaking down to breaking through, my journey from bankrupt single mum to multi-award winning entrepreneur.”
— Sarah Pittendrigh
A premium British wool fashion brand launching in 2026 celebrating craftsmanship, heritage and sustainable materials.
A multi seven-figure Northumberland farm redevelopment transforming historic stone steadings into executive homes.
In my book I share the story behind the methodology and the adversity that shaped it.
From bankrupt single mum to multi award-winning entrepreneur, the journey became the foundation of The I CAN Method.
The book reached number one across seven Amazon categories and continues to inspire leaders looking to rethink what is possible.
Private, strategic mentoring for founders and leaders who need space to think clearly, reset direction and move forward with confidence.
Experience-led keynote talks designed to inspire audiences with real stories of resilience, reinvention and practical mindset shifts.
