Introducing… Grace Gray!

Hello hello!

Thank you for joining me on my first EVER blog post. I certainly have some Clarity shoes to fill (we only have an award winning blogger in the family, no pressure!!)

I’m very excited that Clarity USA has officially launched. Considering that Claritystamp was actually dreamed up in the States over 25 years ago, it has been a long time coming.

Where it all began…

In 1993, my Mum/Mom was living in Northern California with 3 year old me, and my 1 year old brother, Mark. And we were so unbelievably cute that she unsurprisingly never wanted to leave us…

So… she started a company where she could work from home.

Little did she know, over the next 25 years, that company would blossom into such a successful one. We moved to England in 1995, and ClarityStamp began to grow from there.

Mum put us to work, as soon as we were able. I’ll never forget the evenings in front of the telly; her cutting out stamps, and handing them to young Mark and I, to bag up, label and price. Or the endless packing of the Project Club & New Design Club, with piles of envelopes to fill, growing by the month. My excited Mum regularly announcing that she’d just had a ‘few more‘ customers join her clubs. oh boy. I still have dreams about sticking photos to paper, and sealing everything with Clarity labels. 

Don’t forget the working on the register at craft exhibitions around the UK, taking customers orders on the phone between semesters at college and bringing my best friend in to help when it started to get busy. How things have evolved! Now Clarity has 40+ employees.

So… it’s about time we brought it back to where the creative ideas began… where, incidentally, Barbara’s now-almost-30-year-old-daughter lives (eeeesh!) 

I’ll be doing some un-boxing videos of the products we’re starting with Stateside, so keep an eye out for those!

In the meantime, Jordan and Simon have rustled up this little video of Mum & I, just before the festivities began for our Christmas Party. Please excuse the belated holiday wishes, but we wanted to keep this announcement secret till all our ducks were in a row 🙂

If you follow us on the Clarity US Facebook page, you may have already seen it, as we uploaded it there yesterday for those Clarity Crafters who’ve already found the page and given us a like 🙂

Click here is the official link to our Amazon USA store. Or alternatively for our full range of products (while we build our range in America) you can visit our website, which now takes dollars.

See you on Thursday, for my next blog post!

Lotsa Love, Grace xox

Clarity – The Home of Art, Craft and Well-being. 

36 thoughts on “Introducing… Grace Gray!

  • 7th January 2020 at 11:37 am
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    Hi Grace,
    What a lovely video! Just wanted to wish you all the best for the new venture. I’m sure that you and Mark will be a success over there in the US. Love Alison xx

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    • 7th January 2020 at 4:43 pm
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      Oh Grace how lovely to see you and your mum together. I bet the time flew by but I know you’ll both have made some very happy memories whilst you were over here!
      Good luck with the American side of the business… Not that you’ll need it…. I’m sure you’ll soon have orders flying out the door!
      And don’t worry about the age thing…. My daughter Amy did that one last year… She’s over it just about now!!!
      Great first blog BTW and looking forward to reading more from you!
      Love and hugs Xxxx

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  • 7th January 2020 at 12:46 pm
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    Hello Grace! Congratulations on the start of the new Amazon US shop. I really enjoyed the tale of the early days of Claritystamp. Your mum hasn’t changed a bit.

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  • 7th January 2020 at 12:57 pm
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    Welcome back. I recall you being on C&C many years ago. You can see how strong the connection is between you and your Mum (and how proud she is of you) as she watches whilst you speak. Wishing you every success in the Clarity USA venture.

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  • 7th January 2020 at 12:57 pm
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    Hi Grace,
    Many congratulations on setting up Clarity US! I’m sure it’s going to be a great success, particularly as it’s in such safe hands! You always were a busy and hard worker back in the early days of Clarity when I first met your Mum and I’m sure she couldn’t be happier that it’s you introducing our crafting friends across “the Pond” to the delights of all things Clarity!
    Have a great adventure!

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  • 7th January 2020 at 1:06 pm
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    Hi Grace, lovely blog post – I cannot believe you are 29 already where did those years go? I remember you on the till and helping out at craft shows when you were a youngster who was always happy to help.

    Loved the video yesterday seeing you two together talking and laughing and both of you excited about the opening of Clarity US and the new factory|

    I wish you all the very best with your new adventure and I am sure it will grow from strength to strength

    xxx

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  • 7th January 2020 at 1:40 pm
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    Wishing you every success t-other side of the pond Grace, just say you’re 29 plus change from now on, I’m 29 plus alot of change now (43) lol x

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  • 7th January 2020 at 1:51 pm
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    Welcome back on board the Clarity team, I am sure the US side will grow from strength to strength as the word gets round that the products are available over there & you raise the profile via Facebook. Loved hearing your view on how you & your brother Mark used to help your Mom back in the early days of Claritystamp. Look forward to reading more of your blogs here on Clarity matters. It looks as if 2020 is going to be a busy but exciting year for everyone involved at Clarity.

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  • 7th January 2020 at 2:52 pm
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    Brilliant first blog post Grace! I wouldn’t worry about the big birthday this year. I decided that I would only have a big birthday party in years when my birthday ended with 0 and started when I turned 30. It gives me something to look forward to lol. Best of luck with Clarity USA.

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  • 7th January 2020 at 3:02 pm
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    Hello Grace and what a fantastic first blog post. Times are exciting, so many changes, so much promise of wonderful things to come. And we are with you all the way. Congratulations to you and Mark and look forward to what 2020 brings xx

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    • 7th January 2020 at 4:10 pm
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      Welcome back to Clarity, I think you will be in your element. Hope the USA launch goes well with no hiccups. Xx

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  • 7th January 2020 at 3:11 pm
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    Good luck in the US Grace, I’m sure you will do well and Mum will support you all the way. I am a relative newby to claritystamp having only been introduced at the latter end of 2018 but boy is ii addictive. I have spent loads over the past 18 months and joined a really supportive friendly family! Enjoy the ride xx

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    • 7th January 2020 at 3:44 pm
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      That was a great first blog and just love the video of two wonderful lady’s your mum always speaks with. Such pride of you rightly so hopefully one day we will meet always feel know your already cause your mum is always talking adjust you all best over the pond lots love Joy xxx

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  • 7th January 2020 at 3:24 pm
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    Good luck Grace, follow in your Mum’s footsteps and you will not go wrong.
    Best of luck.xx

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  • 7th January 2020 at 3:28 pm
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    St. Louis here I am so excited about the USA branch !!! Groovi is my jam, but I do love it ALL !!! Enjoy the ride Grace 🙂

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  • 7th January 2020 at 3:29 pm
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    Good Luck Grace

    I’m sure you will go from strength to strength.

    Kim x

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  • 7th January 2020 at 4:35 pm
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    I watched the video yesterday afternoon, and loved it all, particularly the look of horror on both your faces at the mention of tiny feet! Good luck! xoxo

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  • 7th January 2020 at 4:40 pm
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    Wishing you every success with Clarity in the USA Grace!

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  • 7th January 2020 at 4:53 pm
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    Grace, I found your mom on Utube earlier last year (2019) and have ordered a few items so far. I love to watch her videos and have enjoyed learning techniques from her. I look forward to keeping up on all Clarity sites!
    Just a FYI for next years holiday message; it’s perfectly correct to wish Americans MERRY CHRISTMAS as well as happy holidays❣️

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  • 7th January 2020 at 5:33 pm
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    Such a beautiful post, Grace! So happy for you all, and for us in the USA too, LOL!

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  • 7th January 2020 at 6:07 pm
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    What a lovelty story and fab pictures…….wishing you well with the States Clarity Grace…Im sure you will do just fine…..and so proud of your Mum Barbara…

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  • 7th January 2020 at 6:30 pm
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    Great first blog, Grace! I hope there will be tiny feet at some point but for now just enjoy being 21 with a few years experience! Have fun building the business.

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  • 7th January 2020 at 7:38 pm
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    All the best Grace. I have loved watching your mum on uk tv and love clarity/groovi. All the best and hope 2020 is a fab year for you guys xx

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  • 7th January 2020 at 8:17 pm
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    Grace, a brilliant first blog, like you full of life. I loved the old pictures of you all. Good luck, I am sure with your determination it will be a massive success in America just like it is here in the UK. Your Mum is amazing and it is clear that you also have all of your Mums traits. Much love. Xx

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  • 7th January 2020 at 8:34 pm
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    Good luck Grace. You are your mother’s daughter so I’m sure you’ll be successful. I remember getting the design team leaflets with the stuck on photos. Little did we know that it was child labour. Clarity rocks!!! x

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  • 7th January 2020 at 9:40 pm
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    Lovely first blog Grace 💖. I am so happy for you and proud for you and for your Mum. Clarity has now (officially) come full circle! Maybe I will get to visit you at Clarity US one day. A visit to the Stardust Diner a must of course 😉. Love always R x

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  • 7th January 2020 at 10:47 pm
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    Loved you then, love you still; always have, always will xxxxxx Mum

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  • 8th January 2020 at 12:50 am
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    Great first blog post, I still have some of the early ‘club’ sheets complete with their stuck on photos – so thank you (and Mark) for your hard work back then.

    Smashing video, hope you enjoyed your lunch/party and I’m sure that Clarity USA is safe in your hands, look forward to hearing more as time goes on.

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  • 8th January 2020 at 7:10 am
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    What a lovely Blog Post Grace, seeing you with your Mum and sharing all the news is great. I still have plenty of my club projects with the photos stuck on. Take care and good luck with the US branch. Bx

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  • 8th January 2020 at 9:10 am
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    great to read your blog Grace. I first joined the New Design Club back in the day of the typed leaflets and photos, so want to apologise for adding to your workload!! it has been so good watching Clarity’s growth over the past years and I’ll be following the next stage with you at the helm with interest. I know it will be brilliant!

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  • 8th January 2020 at 12:01 pm
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    Hello Grace,
    I just wanted to wish you all the very best with this new venture. It’s plain to see from the lovely video of you and your mum how close you are. I’m sure that the values that are the foundation that Claritystamp is built on are a large part of what draws people to be inspired.
    Enjoy your new role x

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  • 8th January 2020 at 4:25 pm
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    I hope it is a resounding success for all of you – best of luck and Happy New Year too x

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  • 9th January 2020 at 1:15 am
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    Well Done Gracie. Lovely to see it’s all up and running. What a lovely video that was I realised at the end I was grinning like a Cheshire Cat all the way through it!!! What an exciting year this is for Clarity – and me personally in my Clarity venture too. Xxxx See you on FB USA. Xx

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  • 9th January 2020 at 11:32 am
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    Just caught up with your first blog Grace. Well done. Love reading about the background and seeing old photos – why are they so appealing. I am sure Clarity USA will be a great success with you at the helm. Barbara must be very proud of you and you of your Mum. xx

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  • 9th January 2020 at 4:02 pm
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    Congratulations Hope it all goes really well. x

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  • 23rd March 2021 at 4:07 pm
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    HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACIE XX

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