2024, we're ready for you!

So let’s talk 2023!

Or perhaps let’s not!

It’s been a tough year, with some definite highs snd lots and one that I won’t be that sorry to say goodbye to!

Perhaps that’s why I was so keen to get our new 2024 diaries out on the shop floor.

We’ve got a great selection of diaries and calendars, from page a day, week per view for your pocket or your desk.

Or if you’re a family that needs a bit of organising then our Large Family Calendar is perfect for you, complete with stickers and a pocket for all the important things, lone party invites and receipts.

Be quick though, not they’re out in store (& online) they won’t stay there for long and when they’re gone they’re gone!

Happy 2024 (almost!)

Focus on ... Niccy from Type & Story

This month’s Focus on .. is Niccy the founder of Type & Story, a new card range we’ve just started to stock which is proving very popular in Chirpy

Here’s a little interview we did with Niccy to find out a little more about her.

Tell me a little bit about yourselves & your company

Hello I am Niccy and I am the designer / founder of Type and Story! Its rather cliche but I founded the business after having an identity crisis after having given birth to my son! I didn’t have a job to go back to as I was was a freelance graphic designer and felt completely lost in the patriacle world of demanding projects and inflexible timelines! Type and Story was essentially a passion project whilst my son slept and isn many ways was my personal exploration of desire to creatively explore this new identity that was emerging… it was less about what I was creating, more that I WAS creating.

How did you get into doing what you’re doing?

I had always worked in retail either on the shop floor or as a Visual merchandiser in head office. I grew up in London and worked at ‘aspirational’ department stores such as Liberty, Selfridges, Harrods etc. Despite the diabolical salary, I came out with unbelievable friends who I am still to this day 20 years on very close too. For all the hours I spent in these fashion houses, I developed a taste level for product, good design and colour which was undoubtably shaped by my surroundings.

What does a ‘normal’ day look like?

A normal day consists of 6.30am Yoga / run, school drop off, walking my dog, then 4 hours of working before I do the school run again! 

Biggest achievement to date?

My biggest achievement to date business wise was being awarded a golden certificate at my first ever trade show for my Planet Earth range at PG Live via Paperchase who went on to order 27,000 units. I was so shocked an in awe that my tiny little stand and small collection stood out enough in the crowd. Why this moment stands out for me is that it felt validating that my messaging on my cards that is direct and soulful and that is how I want to be spoken to yet no other cards at the time we’re offering that. So the approach to my cards was being noticed and that felt important.

Where can we find your cards?

Oliver Bonas, Anthropologie, Papersmiths and loads of aspirational independent shops, concept stores, museums and art galleries, florists bookshops and coffee shops!

Have you seen any changing card trends over the last 12 months?

I think there is a move away from the traditional rectangle card with more publishers moving towards die cut cards, mini cards and cards that are inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community.

Advice to someone looking to turn their hobby / talent into a business? 

Just get on with it. Ask your self why you are holding yourself back? Are you making excuses  and if so what are you really hiding from?   

 Check out Niccy’s Instagram here

It's beginning to feel a bit like ... Autumn!

Can you believe that we’re 3/4s of the way through 2023 already, the mornings are getting chillier, the nights are drawing in and everywhere seems to be decorated in pumpkins, including Chirpy!

Time to look back at the summer we almost had!

Best buying decision of July had to be stocking the wonderful Smiley umbrellas for what turned out ot be a very wet month. For those of you who know me well you’ll know it’s a bit ironic that I’m stocking these as I have a thing against emojis (long story!) but I couldn’t resist these, and neither could our customers! The other best buying decision was stocking ROKA bags, which have gone down a treat! Their great designs and vibrant colours fit in perfectly with the Chirpy vibe and they’ve proved very popular. Think they’ll be a best seller this Christmas. Retail really is affected by the weather though and July proved to be a challenging month, much quieter than last year, when we were baking in sunshine. I did also manage a little family trip to Scotland where it didn’t rain all the time and a visit to the Harrogate Trade fair which is great as it’s only a bus ride away & got lots of ideas for new season stock.

August saw a couple of new businesses open in Chapel Allerton, Paria and Bricklebanks. It’s always great to see new businesses pop up and keep our local high street vibrant and thriving. Paria does great coffee and pastries, have to admit I haven’t had a chance to try Bricklebanks yet but it’s on my list.

We launched the new Chirpy Workshop programme this month, with lots of new workshops and a few trusty popular ones too. It was great to get lots of bookings straight away, really helps us plan ahead. Talking of planing ahead we also opened our preorders for lots of new stock, including our Festive Papercut Baubles. The aim of this was also to help you spread the cost of gifting this year, help us manage our orders and cashflow and help our suppliers know what we’re going to order as soon as possible so a win win all round.

On a personal note I had a lovely couple of days beside the seaside with my mum for her 80th birthday followed by her garden party. Hope I’m as sprightly as my mum (with her new hip) when I’m 80! My daughter turned 17 too (don’t worry the roads are safe as she’s not learning to drive) and we had a great trip to London to see Cabaret which was amazing!

September, my favourite month, and the return of summer! The month had a busy start with Chapel Allerton’s annual festival and the monthly market - not particularly good for shop sales but great to see the ‘village’ so busy and what a lovely weekend for it. September also denotes the beginning of the festive season for me in retail with a visit to Top Drawer, my favourite tradeshow, where I order most of my Christmas stock. It was a great show, meeting some existing suppliers and finding some new ones too. We think you’ll love the things we’ve bought and the new pencil sets are already proving very popular.

This September we took part in ‘Thinking of You’ week and raised over £250 for Breast Cancer Now, with personalised cards, a raffle and a bake sale. We’ll continue to raise money over the next couple of months so still time to buy your raffle tickets - there’s some gorgeous prizes.

The workshop programme got off to a great start, having already hosted 5 workshops this month and lots more to come - don’t forget to book your places!

The shop is looking lovely and autumnal as we’re embracing Halloween. We’ll also be welcoming back My New Wardrobe for a pop up shop on 6th October and also planning for the MAGIC TENNER event which starts on 7th October.

We couldn’t do all of this without our wonderful Chirpy customers who continue to support us, buying gifts, booking on workshops or even just popping in for a card.

Now the fun starts … if you see me running around looking a bit stressed then that’s autumn for me!! Coffee always welcome!

Jo x

Focus on ... Liz aka Dicky Bird

This month’s Focus on .. is Liz, one of our favourite card suppliers Dicky Bird. Liz’s cards fly of the shelves in Chirpy and are some of the most popular we stock so we thought it was about time we shone a light on her

Here’s a little interview we did with Liz to find out a little more about her.

Tell me a little bit about yourselves & your company

Dicky Bird is me - Liz - a small studio based in South East London. My aim has always been to create cards which are elegant and classic but also contemporary and fun.

How did you get into doing what you’re doing?

I originally trained as a graphic designer at the London College of Communication but was always a fan of European illustrators such as Dick Bruna and Tove Jansson - as well as Japanese kawaii characters like Hello Kitty! A serial card buyer, I was always searching for simple, understated designs but could rarely find them.

What does a ‘normal’ day look like?

There are lots of different days really. As a one woman show you have to do everything! But I like that. I hop from new designs to accounts, trade fairs to product research, customer service to photography.

Biggest achievement to date?

Seeing my designs for sale in the Parisian boutique Colette, once described as ‘the trendiest store in the world’ by Forbes. What can I say?!

 Where can we find your cards?

Over the years, Dicky Bird cards have graced the shelves of Liberty of London, the Design Museum, The British Museum, Tate Modern & Tate Britain, The Designers Guild and The Conran Shop – but most importantly, many amazing independents – like Chirpy!

Favourite card you’ve designed / most popular card design?

That’s an impossible question! But I do really like the Black Cat design at the moment – it just reminds me of something from my childhood I think.

Have you seen any changing card trends over the last 12 months?

I honestly try not to look at what other card publishers are doing – I just like to keep in my own lane and do the things I like. Things I’ve liked lately though are toadstools, blossom flowers and nail art.

Why do you think sending cards is still so important?

It’s still a hundred times nicer to receive a card in the post than it is to get a text message or digital card. There’s just something a bit magic about it and I don’t think that will ever change.

Best thing about running your own business?

In a nutshell, being your own boss. It gives you freedom.

Advice to someone looking to turn their hobby / talent into a business?

If you think there’s a market for what you do, give it a go. I started off by producing a small collection and selling at fairs and markets – it gives you a good idea of what’s popular and what doesn’t sell. Remember it can be a bit lonely at times – and don’t forget you have to do the boring stuff too, like accounts!

Plans for the future?

I‘ve done some collaborations with other designers and companies in the past and I’d like to do some more of that. It’s nice to work with other people.

 Check out Dicky Bird’s Instagram HERE

And pop into Chirpy to buy Liz’s cards, but be quick as they sell out!

Thinking of Your Week 18th - 24th September

This year we’re celebrating ‘Thinking of You’ Week we’ve joined forces with Heyy Cards to bring you bespoke cards for you to send.

Thinking of You Week is the perfect time to send a card just to say you’re thinking of someone, drop them a note to let them know your news or just send a card to make them smile.

We’ll also be hosting a charity raffle with proceeds going to Breast Cancer Now with some great prizes.

Join us in store on Saturday 23rd September when Heyy Cards will be here printing bespoke cards. You can order them on the day or online prior to the event to collect on 23rd September or we can send on your behalf

Find out more and order your cards here

Focus on ... Millie Rothera

We’re delighted to welcome Millie Rothera to Chirpy in September to run her Lampshade Workshop. We’re also stocking her gorgeous textiles in Chirpy too, including tea towels and pouches

Here’s a little interview we did with Millie to find out a little more about her.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and what you do?

I’m Millie, a print designer working from my studio in Leeds whilst also working for the Gallery and Arts Program at Sunny Bank Mills. I’ve been running my business since graduating from Uni in 2019, developing my patterns through screen printing, mark making and digital designing, all to be digitally printed onto fabric and sewn into products.

How did you start doing what you’re doing?

During my time at Leeds College of Art I developed a love for pattern and screen printing, and later applied to the Surface Pattern course at the university. During my three years of Uni and extended Creative Residency, I pretty much lived in the print workshop. I developed my bright and bold colour schemes through mixing colours by hand and used play and modernist architecture as inspiration.

What’s the best thing about running workshops?

I loved the studio comradery and skill sharing element of Uni, and I was keen to be within a creative space with like minded people when lockdown ended. I find teaching creative workshops really rewarding as you see peoples confidence grow within the session and you learn new things from the participants too. All the workshops I run are suitable for beginners and I always stress on the fact that you don’t need any great drawing ability to get involved and create something beautiful.

 What’s the favourite thing you’ve designed / created / made?

After attending a beginners quilting workshop to create a small 30cm square quilt, my next logical project was to create a double bed spread quilt! Being new to quilting, the quilt was very improvised, a bit wonky but I love the mix of texture and colour. To make the quilt extra special I hand sewed all the binding around the edge over a number of evenings so I became quite connected to the quilt.

Is there a craft you’d like to try which you never have?

 I have just started to learn cross stitching. My Gran was a keen cross stitcher, designing very intricate motifs and scenes, often completing a piece as a memento to a life event. I wanted something to work on whilst I was sat watching telly on an evening instead of scrolling. Cross stitching seemed like the perfect fit because of the family link.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to try something new?

Just have a go. As adults I think we find it embarrassing to be bad at things even if we have never tried them before. Get yourself some cheap supplies to get yourself started, attend a workshop or buy a kit so you are learning the basics from an expert, and then develop from there.

You can book on Millie Lampshade Workshop on 24th September HERE

Welcome Back... My New Wardrobe! 6th October from 12pm

After a sellout event in May, we’re delighted to welcome Rebecca of MY NEW WARDROBE as she pops up again at Chirpy on Friday 6th October

Rebecca will be bringing her gorgeous selection of new Autumn season affordable womenswear for ONE DAY ONLY so why not pop along from 12:30pm on Friday 6th October

Watch this space for Rebeccas new season tips …

Check out Rebecca’s Instagram HERE

Pre Orders Available - helping you spread the cost of gifting

As we start thinking about the autumn (even though we don’t seem to have had a summer!) here at Chirpy we’re planning our new stock.

This year we’ll be offering lots of lovely products to PREORDER - helping you spread the cost of Christmas, us manage our order quantities and bring you lots of new stock to ensure you get the perfect gifts.

Check out the PREORDER section online - just place order and we’ll let you know as soon as it arrives to collect or when it’s on its way to you. If you’ve ordered gifts that need to arrive for a certain date then just let us know - we can always put a 'do not open until …_ message on the box!

Keep checking what you can Preorder as we’ll be adding more over the next few weeks.

Check out Preorder products HERE

Introducing... Zoe Spry

We’re delighted to introduce a new card supplier, Zoe Spry. Her gorgeous cards have just arrived and our Chirpy customers already love them.

Here’s a little interview we did with Zoe to find out a little more about her.

Tell me a little bit about yourselves & your company

I’m currently a one woman band creating fun paper goods and stationery based in Bristol. That means I do everything from designing, to social media, to sales, to dispatching. I’m hoping to get some help in the near future as the business continues to grow, I’m always very busy (which I’m very very grateful for!)

How did you get into doing what you’re doing?

I started making cards as a hobby when I finished my degree in Textile design. I licensed a few designs to publishers while gaining industry experience as a full time Children’s Book Designer. It wasn’t until I was made redundant from my studio role that I took the plunge into self employed life!

What does a ‘normal’ day look like?

Every day is slightly different but it always is based around the same sort of routine: emails, admin, designing, packing and dispatching orders, as well as doing freelance design work in between- it gets really busy but I love the variety.

Biggest achievement to date?

Putting myself out there to do trade shows has been a really big step for the business. It was really daunting at first but so good to meet people face to face!

Where can we find your cards?

You can find my cards in a number of fabulous independent retailers (including Chirpy..!) across the globe. I’ve recently started stocking Oliver Bonas and have a range of licensed designs in Tesco stores.

Favourite card you’ve designed  / most popular card design?

My most popular card is the ‘happy birthday letter candles’ card with gold foil finish. I think the bright colours and foil confetti make it a great all-rounder which is why it sells so well.

Have you seen any changing card trends over the last 12 months?

I’m noticing more and more shaped diecut cards. I think brands are constantly looking for ways to stand out and you can create some really exciting finished pieces via this method.

Why do you think sending cards is still so important?

In a world which is so fast paced with technology, it’s so easy to just send a text. I personally love the process of choosing a card and writing in it, as well as receiving a card in which the sender has taken time to consider what they think I’d like. It’s a more personal and more considered action.

Best thing about running your own business?

Watching something grow which started from a tiny seed. Being in charge of my own destiny is also very exciting!

Advice to someone looking to turn their hobby / talent into a business?

Keep practicing your skill to always get better! Be willing to learn from others and be kind to yourself.

Plans for the future?

To keep expanding our range of cards, do more trade shows and hopefully grow our list of amazing stockists :)

Check out Zoe Spry’s Instagram HERE

Introducing... Middle Mouse!

We’re delighted to introduce a new card supplier, Middle Mouse, who we met at this year’s Harrogate Tradeshow. Her beautiful cards have just arrived and we’re sure our Chirpy customers are going to love them - check out the extra treat on the back of some of them!

Here’s a little interview we did with Bec to find out a little more about her.

Tell me a little bit about yourselves & Middle Mouse?

I’m an illustrator and designer based in Lancashire, and work with my husband, Darren, who organises the orders and ships them out to our customers. Middle Mouse launched in 2018 and is named after a tiny uninhabited island off the north coast of Wales, visible from my favourite place in the world, Llanlleiana, Anglesey.

How did you get into doing what you’re doing?

I graduated from Manchester Met in 2005 and I’ve been illustrating ever since! I started in a tiny bookshop/studio in The Last Drop Village, Bolton with my best friend, where we sold children’s books and gifts whilst building our portfolio. We’ve worked with a range of clients from the BBC to the NHS, and in 2018, my Dad (a gardening and cookery writer, Paul Peacock) and I decided to start a greetings card company that gave people a little something extra, from recipes and growing tips on the back of the card, to little booklets packed with added content. Unfortunately Dad passed away just before we launched, so I carried on in his memory.

What does a ‘normal’ day look like?

I get up and take our studio dog, Pippin, for a walk, then have breakfast and get to my desk (looking out onto the Middle Mouse garden) for about 8.45. We do research, answer emails, put orders into production in the morning, then have lunch. I do my best creative work from about 1pm - 10pm, so the afternoons are usually drawing, designing and sending things to print, interspersed with a bit of weeding, dead-heading roses and another walk in the afternoon. In the evenings I usually draw on the iPad or read. Basically, work, work, work, but I love it!

Biggest achievement to date (personally or business wise)?

We were thrilled to get our first big stockist with Middle Mouse (Scribbler) and exhibit at our very first trade show. But I’m also hugely proud of a free app I’ve designed called FORM-AI, which shows people how to do over 1300 exercises and help people move better.

Where can we find your cards?

Our cards are available in over 150 shops in the UK, including Scribbler and Selfridges (coming this autumn), and also on our website www.middlemouse.co.uk

Favourite card you’ve designed  / most popular card design?

We love our Characterful range, especially the Blackadder cards, but my favourite cards are the Botanicards range, as they feature my mum’s recipes and Dad’s growing tips on the back!

Have you seen any changing card trends over the last 12 months?

We’ve noticed a big move away from secondary processes as this adds to the carbon footprint of the cards, with bolder, brighter designs taking over the impact of foiling and glitter.

Why do you think sending cards is still so important?

Each card is a tiny piece of art that wishes someone well. There are not many things in the world that are manifestations of goodness, so it’s an honour to provide people with something that helps them connect with someone and send some joy.

Best thing about running your own business?

The ability to drop everything and nip out for chocolate at a moment’s notice! That and having studio dog Pippin sleeping at my feet as I work, and meeting so many lovely people at trade fairs!

Advice to someone looking to turn their hobby / talent into a business?

Visit trade fairs, and talk to people as much as possible. The greetings card industry in particular is exceptionally friendly and everyone is happy to help you. Take risks and do things that scare you, but be kind to yourself too.

Plans for the future?

I’d love to write a picture book for children and maybe do some more study in literature, as well as continue to grow our greetings card ranges.

Check out Middle Mouse’s Instagram HERE