Dragon's Den star Sara Davies to open Avon outlet in Newcastle and give away goody bags

Entrepreneur and TV favourite Sara Davies will be in Newcastle this week helping to launch another new business venture and she will be meeting and greeting shoppers who also have a chance to pick up free goody bags.

The award-winning founder of Crafter's Companion and star of BBC investor series Dragon's Den will be cutting the ribbon to open a new Avon kiosk in Eldon Square on Thursday evening and she also will be on hand to share some beauty tips with the public. Sara, from County Durham, is known as the 'crafting queen', having turned her company selling papercraft, art and sewing products into a global business.

She is also 'chief inspiration officer' at Avon UK and over the past year has been mentoring the long-established cosmetics company's famous 'Avon reps' and leaders through a series of masterclasses explaining how to build the brand and make it a success. Already the result has been an uplift in sales.

READ MORE: Dunelm Black Friday deal has £100 off 'luxurious' snuggle chair in 9 colours

READ MORE: NHS warning over 'tripledemic' of Covid, flu and RSV - how to spot signs of winter viruses

The new kiosk - which will be near John Lewis, in the lower mall of the city's shopping centre - will be the third in the North East to be owned and run by Gateshead couple Ashleigh Hammond and Dave Carter, whose others are based in The Galleries, Washington, and The Bridges shopping centre in Sunderland. Ashleigh initially joined the company as it offered flexible options around her eldest son’s health needs and she has gone on to be classed as one of the UK’s top 'sales leaders'.

Sara said she is "thrilled" to be opening the new kiosk "in a region that means so much to me personally" and she added: "I believe in the opportunity the North East holds for independent business owners, having grown my own multi-million-pound organisation in the region. Avon’s business model enables everyone to have greater choice, flexibility and freedom to take control of their finances and realise their potential."

The brand, which aims to offer "aspirational beauty at irresistible value" says its sales support women and it has millions of independent representatives worldwide selling its products. Sara said: "It’s easy to become a rep, leader or kiosk owner and start your own business.

"I am super-proud to be supporting women to achieve that.” The opening of the new kiosk will be on November 28 at 6pm and Sara will there to meet beauty fans until 8pm.

She also will be sharing her top product picks from the Avon range too. As a further treat, the first 50 customers will receive a free goody bag of beauty favourites worth more than £30.

Tracey Powers, sales director Avon UK, said: “Our retail kiosks provide the perfect complement to our core representative business. Having a kiosk in a prime retail location like Eldon Square means we can offer beauty advice and the personalised shopping experience we’re already known for in a different way to a new generation of beauty lovers.”

Olivia Telfer, marketing manager at Eldon Square, welcomes a brand she calls "both much loved and innovative" and she added: "This launch reflects our ongoing commitment to introducing brands that appeal to our broad range of shoppers.

"We’re proud to support Avon’s vision of empowering women entrepreneurs in the region and are excited to host this launch in the heart of the city centre.”