Our first LIVE Chirpy Shop

As many of you know I love going LIVE on Instagram, especially walking to work on a Saturday morning, chatting about the week, saying hello to the bin men and getting ready for the weekend ahead.

But tonight was our first Chirpy LIVE SHOPPING EVENT! I have to admit I was nervous - it’s funny just talking into the camera not really knowing if anyone’s listening!

The idea behind the LIVE SHOPPING is to show our followers our new products from the comfort of their own home. We’ve had a few deliveries this week of some gorgeous summery products which we’ve put together as a table display, hopefully to give our customers some inspiration on how to dress a summer table for alfresco dining. But not everyone gets a chance to pop in so this is a great way to show the products and share some ideas.

What’s more for the rest of the Bank Holiday, until midnight Monday, you can use the code LIVE10 to get 10% off on all the products shown. Just head to the *LIVE SHOP section in the STORE to check out the products included HERE

Now we’ve got the first nerve wracking LIVE out of the way I’m hoping to make this a monthly event. Let me know if there’s any particular themes, topics or type of products you’d like us to cover. As we’re heading to the National Stationery Show in a couple of weeks time then perhaps the next one at the beginning of June will feature the lovely new stationery we’re looking to source.

Thanks to everyone who joined the live, or watched it on catch up and happy shopping!

Don’t forget to tune in next month

SAVE THE DATE Sunday 2nd June 7:30pm

We're half way there ... an update on our charity fundraising.

Every year Chirpy does something to support a Breast Cancer Charity and this year is no different.

Having been accepted to do the Coppafeel Peak District Marathon Trek in September we’ve started to raise money to support this wonderful charity, which specialises in support younger people with breast cancer.

Earlier in the year we launched our charity products, in collaboration with Sarah Thornton Art, including tea towels, cards & prints, all designed exclusively for Chirpy. They’ve been selling well in store and online. With 20% of sales going towards Coppafeel we’ve reached half of out target.

We’d love to hit out target as soon as we can, and ideally smash it.

So on 24th May, we’re inviting our Chirpy customers to one of our evening shopping events, with £5 from the sale of each ticket being donated to Coppafeel. The other £10 will be redeemable against anything you buy in the shop.

What’s more there’ll be discounts, double points and of course goodie bags and fizz.

We’re also welcoming local boutique Katie & May as they’ll be popping up upstairs with a range of their summer fashion.

So if you’d like to support us and enjoy a great evening then grab a ticket HERE - be quick as there’s a limited amount.

If you’d like to support us buy buying any of our charity products then just check them out HERE

Thank you for all your support so far

Jo x

Leaving the shop door open with a Spring in my step ...

…looking back at the last 3 months

 Can’t quite work out whether the last 3 months have dragged on or flown by, can you? Easter seems to have come round so quickly and we’re definitely heading into Spring (well, most days!)

As ever, it’s been an eventful start to the year.  Even when it’s quiet in the shop there’s always things to do and plan so never really a dull moment, and when there is, there’s always a cup of tea and a local piece of cake to eat!

Our customers enjoyed our January Sale at the beginning of the year (in January in fact!) with lots of great bargains to be had. I decided not to go to my favourite tradeshow this January, heading for a weekend up north and a sea dip, though of course had FOMO watching everyone’s Instagram stories while they were there. Despite not going, it didn’t mean that we didn’t start to get lots of new stock for the new season. This year we are looking to collaborate with other small businesses too and in January we had our first meeting with local biscuit maker The Biskery to start hatching some plans for the rest of the year.

February saw a whistle stop visit to Spring Fair at the NEC (not helped by not charging the car the night before and having to get back to Leeds for 5pm) so perhaps need to plan better next time! We also held our first workshops of the year, including a lovely private birthday Jesmonite workshop. Our Chirpy customers showed a lot of love this February with a record breaking number of Valentine cards being sold. And I managed to grab a few days off with as little trip to London leaving Chirpy in the hands of my great team Jenna & Lizzie as well as new team member Hannah.

March started with a Double Points weekend in store to thank all our loyal customers for their support. The card revolution continued with Mother’s Day with another record breaking year of card sales (& customers on the Saturday before). We love the fact that hundreds of mums woke up on 10th March with a gorgeous card from Chirpy, including myself!

This month we were very excited to launch our 2nd collaboration of the year, this time with Sarah Thornton Art. Sarah has designed a bespoke Chirpy bird which we have had printed onto cards, tea towels and prints. As part of this year’s charity fund raiser 20% of the sales of each product goes to Coppafeel. They are proving popular and we’re well on the way to achieving our target (though would love to smash it!). The workshops this month have all been sold out and we launched lots more too – people really seem to be enjoying our Chirp workshops at the moment. Have you tried one?

So Easter has come early this year and Easter weekend falls in March. Traditionally Easter isn’t the busiest time for us, though our chocolate sales are usually quite good! We’re ending the month with another Double Points weekend, and Chapel Allerton is hosting its first Food market on Saturday as well as a Easter hunt for the kids, so here’s hoping that it might be busy after all. There’s a little Easter treat online too.

So what’s in store for the next 3 months? More new stock, more workshops, including some great new ones, a new stationery trade show to visit and the return of Magic Tenner in May. All whilst trying to navigate A level exams and then a trip to Paris to celebrate the end of 2 years of very hard work for my girl. 

Wishing you a very Happy Easter & don’t forget to turn your clocks back on Saturday night!

Jo x

The perfect Easter gift - made to order

Image : Sarah Thornton Art

Looking for a perfect Easter gift?

What better then a brightly coloured egg cup, perfect for your morning dippy egg? Or add a little chocolate treat to nibble on Easter morning!

Made of Jesmonite, an environmentally conscious, eco-friendly, non toxic safe lightweight product

Egg cups are made to order using Jesmonite and can be made in one plain colour or two colours to create a marble effect.

Egg not included

Click HERE to order

Order by Sunday 23rd March for them to be ready in time for Easter

Springing into March with a DOUBLE POINTS WEEKEND!

Can you believe it’s March already?

To celebrate the beginning of Spring (hopefully!) we’re rewarding our loyal Chirpy customers with DOUBLE POINTS all weekend.

That’s 2 points for every £ you spend.

Collect 100 points to get £5 off in store.

Just sign up in store and we’ll do the rest. No stamp card to carry around with you, our system will just remember you and reward you with every purchase.

What’s more you can even join two Chirpy accounts and collect points together making it twice as quick to reach your rewards.

So why not pop into Chirpy this weekend to start (or continue) collecting points.

This weekend we’ll be OPEN

Saturday 9:30am - 5pm

Sunday 10:30am - 3:30pm

So you’ve got more opportunity to collect to collect you points.

Thank you to all our wonderful loyal customers - hope to see you this weekend!

Jo & the Chirpy team

PS we’ve still got loads of Mother’s Day cards left!

Chirpy x Sarah Thornton Art - a charity collaboration

The collaborations continue this year and up next is a very exciting collaboration with Sarah Thornton Art.

Sarah has designed a set of products featuring our own Chirpy, which are now available in store and online. There's 2 tea towels and cards to choose from (or why not buy them all?), all designed by Sarah and printed in the UK.

20% of the sales of the products will be donated to COPPAFEEL, a breast cancer charity aimed epscailly at helping young people. This year i’m excited to be taking part in their one day marathon Trek in the Peak District in September and the products are part of my fundraising. Every year we raise money for a breast Cancer charity, last year raising enough to sponsor a Breast Cancer Now nurse for a year. So thank you to all our Chirpy customers as we couldn’t do it with you!

To support us and help us raise money just head to the products online here

Chirpy x The Biskery .... a sweet collaboration!

We’re delighted to announce our first collaboration of 2024 with …

THE BISKERY

The Biskery are a bakery based in Leeds specialising in branded & personalised biscuits. Female owned, co-founders Saskia & Lisa began with a mutual passion for tasty bakes and a desire to share what they made with the people around them. From small beginnings at the kitchen table, they now supply speciality biscuits to people and organisations across the UK and abroad.

Chirpy and The Biskery will be working together to support each other as local independent female run businesses to bring you …

A chance to win a great prize in time for Valentines Day … watch this space and keep an eye on both of our Instagram profiles @chirpystore @thebiskery

Join Chirpy at The Biskery on Tuesday 6th March for a Biscuit Decorating Workshop - come along with friends or on your own to make unique edible art in the shape of biscuits. Click HERE to find out more and book.

Coming soon … receive a treat from The Biskery with your Chirpy orders (while stocks last!) or enjoy one of their treats at a Chirpy workshop.

If you want to support another great independent business then use the code CHIRPY20 to get 20% off orders with The Biskery until 25th February. Check out all their biscuity products and services HERE

Finally I wanted to say a Thank You to another independent business Fowler & Powell who introduced us to The Biskery - the power of working together is strong in Chapel Allerton!

The year we all turn ...

Is 2024 the year you & your friends all turn 30?

Have you got lots of 40th birthday party in you diary?

Or are all you friend’s kids turning 18?

Then let us help you. Why not buy a bundle of adults age birthday cards so you’re always ready for the next one!

Just order a bundle and we’ll hand pick five great cards, all from independent UK suppliers for you.

Or let us know if you need a selection of ages.

A bundle of 5 cards is just £12.50, saving you £2

Click HERE to buy

The kids are alright!

Got lots of first birthdays this year?

Lots of invitations or 3rd birthday parties?

All your children classmates turning 6?

Then let us help you. Why not buy a bundle of kid’s age birthday cards so you’re always ready for the next one!

Just order a bundle and we’ll hand pick five great cards, all from independent UK suppliers for you.

Or let us know if you need a selection of ages.

A bundle of 5 cards is just £12.50, saving you £2

Click HERE to buy

So long 2023, it's been a year!

Where to start with 2023? At the beginning!

In January I sat down with a very fancy new Goal diary and a spreadsheet, determined to plan 2023 to the nth degree (and tame my impulsive side a bit!)

It started well, thanks to my Chirpy team, we came up with lots of ideas about what we wanted to achieve during the year, some new, some building on existing things and some old things which we knew worked well.

In January to March we got off to a flying start, with Workshops, Makers in Residence, Fiverfest, Chirpy Chats and even a stock room tidy. I was part of a Retail Event Panel meeting some great industry contacts too. I diligently filled in my Goal diary with what we’d achieved - quarter 1 done and dusted.

April - June, Q2, a bit like the difficult 2nd album! A slow start and a quiet Easter. But as Spring turned into Summer (and the Goal diary got lost under a pile of papers!) I was determined to turn it around. In May I was part of the Breast Cancer Wear It Pink Launch which kicked off our fundraising for the year. To make it easier to shop local we opened on the Bank Holidays (2 out of 3 were worthwhile) and on Sundays when the Chapel Allerton Market were on.

The highlight of June was attending a new trade show, finding 5 new cards suppliers and being asked to judge the Henries (the Oscars of the card world). Lowlight was loosing 2 friends to cancer so keeping busy was the best think to do. We ran 5 workshops, welcomed Annika for work experience and ran a busy double points event.

Summer arrived, or actually didn’t as July was cold and wet, not conducive to shopping unless you sell umbrellas (which we started to!) As our customers were off on holiday in August I went back to planning, launching our Autumn Workshop programme, stock preorders and even our Christmas baubles. Escaping for a couple of days I celebrated my mum’s 80th birthday by the sea.

The sun eventually came out for the Chapel Allerton Festival and stayed out for the rest of September bringing customers shopping. This year’s annual visit to Top Drawer to buy my Christmas stock proved very successful (& expensive) finding some great new suppliers. The Brick Vases and Sweary Pencils have proved a huge hit! Our collaboration with Heyy Cards to celebrate Thinking of You Week helped us raise £250 for Breast Cancer Now so all in all a successful end to Q3.

The golden quarter - October to December. With lots of new stock arriving and preorders proving a very successful strategy October proved to be a good month. Fiver Fest turned into Magic Tenner (blame inflation!) encouraging everyone to continue to support their local high street.

It seems that every year Christmas prep starts earlier, but we always kick off ours with our annual Chirpyversary. This year we celebrated 7 years with a great evening shopping event and busy weekend of offers. Our Chirpyversary, and the fundraising done at college by my daughter. helped us take our total to £600 which will allow us to sponsor a Breast Care nurse for the next 12 months.

Another month, another judging panel! In December I was honoured to be a judge for Gift of the Year and look forward to see who wins in 2024. Despite a little blip (no one wants a bad back in the busiest month of the year) December has proved another busy month. It was great to finally have a Late Night Shopping event with most of the other indie businesses in Chapel Allerton, hopefully an annual event and welcome lots of people to our Christmas workshops.

So what does 2024 have in store?

Will I try again with a fancy Goal Diary (wonder where I put it?!) or will I grab a nice notebook from the Chirpy shelves and scribble my ideas (disclaimer I’ve already started doing the latter) I’m playing around with collaboration ideas, bespoke products, better gift bundles and of course more fund raising ideas. I might even try and get a week in the sunshine (not just on the north east coast!)

If 2023 was a fair ground ride it would be the Pirate Ship (which I’m not a fan of) and I’m hoping for more of a Waltzer (my fave) in 2024!

But first up, better tidy that stock room again and have a bit of a January Sale …