A County Durham business founded by Dragons' Den star Sara Davies has issued an update after staff were made redundant and the company entered liquidation.
Crafter's Companion released a statement after workers at the Newton Aycliffe company, were told the devastating news during a face-to-face meeting with the TV entrepreneur on Monday (October 19).
In a message to its "Crafter's Companion family", the company acknowledged uncertainty over its future and apologised for the delay.
The update said the brand's future is being "carefully considered".
It continued: "Crafter's Companion is so much more than a trading company. It's a brand built over many years, with an incredible community of crafters at its heart.
"The brand itself is owned separately, and its future is now being carefully considered."
The firm confirmed that the directors of Cedarcrest Global Trading Limited, which operated Crafter's Companion, decided to liquidate the business.
Calling the situation "heartbreaking", the company said it was especially painful for staff who had helped build the company.
The company said talks about the future are continuing and it would provide updates on orders, the website and events when it could.
It reads: "What hasn't changed is how much this community means to us, and how much we want to see Crafter's Companion have a future."
As reported, 42 staff at Crafter's Companion's Horndale Avenue headquarters in Newton Aycliffe and 16 at its Evesham store near Worcester were made redundant.
Dragons' Den star Sara Davies, who founded the business while studying at university in 2005, previously told The Northern Echo that the liquidation came after plans to merge Crafter's Companion with jewellery and craft retailer Gemporia.
Ms Davies said Gemporia's board decided the businesses could operate under one trading company, making the existing Crafter's Companion company unnecessary.
Speaking about the redundancies, she said: "It was heartbreaking to sit down with the staff at the company and give them the news.
"There's a lot of people who had been with us a long time."
Ms Davies said the brand and website would continue because the liquidation affects the trading company, not the Crafter's Companion brand.
The liquidation is the latest upheaval to hit the business.
Last year, Crafter's Companion confirmed the closure of its St Cuthbert's Way warehouse after moving a large share of its warehousing and fulfilment operations to the United States.
Read more
All staff lose jobs as County Durham firm founded by Sara Davies enters liquidation
UK plumbing company offering 24/7 service collapses into administration after 9 years
'Playful' North East business on Dragon's Den offers a modern take on fairground fun
Reflecting on the company's future, Ms Davies said she remained committed to the North East and proud of what the business had achieved in County Durham.
She said: "I'm proud of what I've created at Crafter's Companion, it's a North East company made great by North East people.
"So while it's very sad news at the minute, we'll see what the future holds."