Susanna Freymark
Gary and Yvonne Smith’s shop is much more than a retail outlet for scrapbooking and crafts.
”We are more focused on always keeping this a safe space,” Yvonne said.
On any day Sensational Crafts in Barker Street, Casino is open there are usually several people gathered around a large table in the centre of the shop.
They’re crafting but they’re doing more than that — they’re chatting and connecting while they make a craft item for their grandchildren or themselves.
Yvonne is at hand to assist. She designs stickers that are cut by a machine in the shop while she chats.
Yvonne calls their shop a unicorn shop — that’s a way of saying it is rare.
Between Brisbane and Post Macquarie, we are the only retail outlet for craft and scrapbooking materials, she said.
Yes, you can buy what Sensational Crafts stocks online but then you miss out on the chat and connection.
Gary said he is driven to make Sensational Craft be more than a shop because of his “sense of social justice.’
Their approach has been recognised again and they are a finalist in the Australian Small Business Awards in the arts, crafts and gifts category.
About 8500 entries were received across the awards. Sensational Crafts was a finalist in 2024.
They don’t get much more than (another) trophy if they win but it is validation for what they do.
Winners are announced at two national presentation events at Sydney’s Star Casino on May 1 and 2.