Chirpy on Tour ... find us at the Eclectic Winter Market

We’re delighted to be taking part in the Eclectic Winter Market on Saturday 30th November at Northlights Art Centre in Chapel Allerton.

Come along from 12pm - 6pm for an afternoon filled with some of the best artists and makers in the region. With an enticing mix of art, ceramics, jewellery and textiles.

For a truly festive experience with a jazz band, DJs, mulled wine, it’s the perfect time to start, or finish, your Christmas shopping.

No need to book and it’s FREE ENTRY

See you there!

Focus on ... Ricicle Cards

This month we’re focusing on David from Ricicle Cards.I always look forward to seeing David at tradeshows and events, he’s a bit of a social butterfly!

To get to know David a little bit more, here’s a little interview we did with him…

Tell me a little bit about yourselves & your company

Hello! I'm David, the founder & proud small business owner of Ricicle. I love to create colourful, contemporary & beautiful greeting cards.

The name Ricicle comes from my married name. Before my husband & I married, he was Rice & I was Nichols - together, we are the Ricicles! I knew instantly that this would be the perfect name for the brand. While Steve, my husband doesn’t work with me and has his own job, he supports me at trade shows and at home during meltdowns, haha! 

I really enjoy designing my own cards, but I also relish in art directing. Putting together a brief for a new greeting card collection and finding the perfect artist to bring those ideas to life - it’s a really exciting process. Plus I get to play around with different print techniques too, whether it’s adding hot foiling or some die-cutting for extra pizzazz.

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

2024 marks my 10th year working with greeting cards! Prior to launching Ricicle Cards in January 2020, I worked in the greeting card industry on wholesale/client management, photography, creative design - lots of things! I knew I wanted to create my own collection, so I launched at Top Drawer January 2020 just before Covid hit.

I’ve always loved stationery and greeting cards - whether it was my school planner or thank you cards after Christmas and birthdays, it’s a true privilege to run a business based off a life-long passion.

Biggest achievement to date (personally or business wise)?

Becoming a Henries Award finalist three years running. I can’t believe it, really. My business is still quite young, so to be recognised among the greats of the industry as a finalist in these prestigious awards is wonderful and something I’m so proud of. I might not have won one yet, but I’m hopeful to one day!

Where can we find your cards?

Chirpy, of course! I’m so lucky to be stocked in some of the UK’s most wonderful retailers, whether they’re larger shops or small but mighty independent boutiques. I’m fortunate enough to partner with distributors in a couple of countries worldwide too, which is really cool.

Why do you think sending cards is still so important?

 I've always thought that a greeting card, whether it's a birthday card or one sent just to say 'hello', is like receiving a hug in the post. Surprising someone with a thoughtful gesture combined with a stunning greeting card design can spark so much joy - both for you and the recipient!

That's where my passion comes from - helping people enjoy these moments. We cover all milestone occasions & seasonal events, so you’ll never miss an opportunity to send some love in the form of a bright and colourful greeting card with a heartfelt message, printed on luxury card stock.

Best thing about running your own business? 

The community, absolutely. Whether it’s making friends with other greeting card publishers or building relationships that turn into friendships with my retailer customers, that’s the best bit. It’s one of the main reasons I love to do trade shows, I get to get out of my house and see lots of familiar faces that love greeting cards as much as I do.  

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

Success and growth doesn’t happen overnight. Building your brand presence takes time, sometimes a great deal of time. You need to be present at trade shows each year to be visible. Be consistent, communicate with your customers well and embrace the fact that you can’t do everything - you just need to make the best decisions you can at the time. Whenever I’m stressed about an order deadline or something goes wrong with a print run, I’ve learned to take a breath and say ‘It’s just cards. It’s not life or death’.

You can find a selection of Ricicle’s Christmas cards online and in store 

Chirpy celebrates turning 8 in November

This November we’ll be celebrating turning 8!

We’ve got lots planned to help you celebrate with us and to thank your Chirpy customers for all their support over the last 8 years

Friday 8th November : Join us for our annual CHIRPYVERSARY party.

Enjoy a fun evening of shopping with discounts, offer and double points. Upstairs we’ll be joined by a local artist creating unique gifts for you to take away to add to your goodie bag. Of course, there’ll be treats and fizz too.

Grab a £10 ticket HERE which is redeemable against your purchases on the night

Saturday 9th November : Shop in store and be in with a chance of winning

The celebrations continue on Saturday 9th November when we’ll be offering DOUBLE POINTS all day. What’s more, spend £30 or more to receive a mystery Lucky Dip envelope, each containing a prize. You could be in with a chance of winning a FREE Workshop place or a £35 Chirpy Voucher.

Shop & Save Online over the Chirpyversary Weekend

From 6pm on Thursday 7th until midnight Sunday 10th November use these codes to save money

8CHIRPYVERSARY10 to get 10% off when you spend £30 or more

8CHIRPYVERSARY15 to get 15% off when you spend £60 or more

8CHIRPYVERSAY20 to get 20% off when you spend £80 or more

Shop Chirpy online HERE

We’re so grateful for all the support we’ve had over the last 8 years - we really wouldn't be here with our our fabulous Chirpy customers so

THANK YOU!

We hope you can help us celebrate either in store or online this November

Jo & the Chirpy team x

CHIRPY GARAGE SALE

There’s nothing better sometimes than a good clear out so that’s what we’re doing!

Join us upstairs at Chirpy on Sunday 3rd November between 12pm - 3pm to pick up a bargain.

There’ll be end of line stock, brilliant stockrooms finds, a few fixtures and fittings and lots of bargains!

Most things will be priced under £5.

Please bring CASH on the day.

Chirpy will be Open as normal 11am - 3pm as it’s Chapel Allerton market day

See you then!

Focus on ... Katie Roe

This month we’re welcoming Katie Roe to Chirpy to run a NEW workshop to make your own Personalised Leather Bookmark and Key Ring Set

To get to know Katie and her business a little bit more, here’s a little interview we did with her :

Tell me a little about yourself.

I live in Meanwood with my husband & 2 little boys, we moved back to Leeds almost 9 years ago after spending 12 years living in America. I'm from Leeds originally so it's lovely to be back “home” raising our boys near family. I have always loved art and design and spent my school years putting all my energy into those subjects. I also love to run, running for me is an instant de-stress and time to escape the chaos.

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

I studied Fashion Design and after graduation I packed my portfolio &  jumped on a plane to New York in search of a job. I landed an assistant designer position at Abercrombie & Fitch. I went on to spend a big chunk of my 20s and 30s in New York working as a womenswear designer for various brands including American Eagle, Gap and J.Crew. When we moved back home I was craving a change, so I learnt the traditonal skills of hand leatherwork and set up Katie Roe Studio. I make leather accessories that combine traditional skills with a modern aesthetic and put responsible, sustainable design at the forefront of my work.

What does a ‘normal’ day look like?

 My week days vary, but always start in a rush with my boys school and nursery drop off. A couple of days a week I try squeeze in a run and then spend time in my home studio doing leatherwork - this can be anything from developing new ideas to making bags or prepping for workshops (the fun bits) to social media, catching up on emails or costing out new ideas (for me the less fun aspect).  My workspace is usually a mess when I’m desiging or making but I think that's often the case for creative people. Two days a week I head into Leeds Arts University where I lecture on the Fashion Design degree. This involves working in the studios with our students supporting them with designing, portfolios and making garments. I always get to spend at least a day in the week with my youngest before he starts school in September - this generally involves mud and a park!

Biggest achievement to date (personally or business wise)?

I think having my boys for sure. The transition into becoming a parent is huge and no one could have ever prepared me both mentally and phyically, so yes that definitely feels like my bigeest achievement.

 What do you love best about running workshops?

I love meeting new people and sharing my knowledge of both designing & traditional leatherwork. Helping people to design & create a leather case that they will own for years and that they are really proud of is extremley rewarding, especially if it is someone who has never picked up a sewing needle or is new to “crafting”. 

 Is there a craft you’ve not tried but would love to?

Oh I would love to try so many - anything that involves working with my hands and creating stuff! Pottery and carving would be high up on the list, glass blowing looks fascinating and when I was younger I always wanted to get into millinery (hat making). Basically I think I could give you a huge list if we had enough time!

 Why should people shop local and support their local indie businesses?

Shopping locally is putting your hard earned money into the livelihoods of an indie artist or shop owner that works so passionately and hard to do what they do - rather than giving your money to huge corporations that focus on mass production, often at the expense of quality and the impact it has on our environment. Shopping locally keeps our highstreets alive and really does mean the world to the artist and shopkeeper, plus you are guaranteed to purchase something that is more unique.

You can join Katie on her workshop on Wednesday 19th March at 7pm

Book your place HERE

IT'S BACK!! WIN A YEAR'S SUPPLY OF CARDS WORTH £180!

For the 5th year running, to celebrate our #chirpyversary we’re giving you the chance to win a Year’s worth of free cards worth £180!

That's 5 cards a month for a year!

All you need to do is buy a card bundle throughout October in store on online and you’ll be in with a chance of winning - it’s that simple! Every bundle purchased counts as an entry

Every month you’ll even be able to customise your card selection to make sure you have the perfect cards you need

Click here to buy a bundle

Sweeping the autumn leaves over the summer...

July’s usually a quiet month as everyone gets ready for the schools to end and holidays to begin, but thanks to our Chirpy customers we had a busy one.

We were also honoured to be a finalist at the RETA awards, the Oscar’s of the card industry. Even though we didn’t take away the prize it was a wonderful event to be part of such an amazing group of other independent retailers.

In the quieter moments I also  spent a bit more time working a little bit on the business rather than just in it, attending a great branding event workshop and behind the scenes I was crunching numbers thanks the The Resilient Retail Club & looking at our Christmas planning.

I also attended Harrogate Home & Gift Tradeshow, which I’m really lucky to have only a bus ride away (& perfect for a trip to the Turkish Baths afterwards)

Our workshops finished for the summer, ending with a a sell-out  Jesmonite workshop and hosting a birthday party for a customer’s daughter.

It seems like a long time ago, but the memories of 2 epic walks are still alive – what a month taking on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks and then Snowden. Definitely two of my highs of the year, quite literally.

And so to August when the summer finally arrived and everyone went away (except me!). Team Chirpy enjoyed a much needed team get together, a rare chance for use all to get together and catch up. Chirpy just ticks along in August but in home life things were much more exciting. With A level results and an 18th birthday to celebrate it proved to be an exciting month, if you include trips to Ikea to get the obligatory university essentials!

This year I actually got to enjoy the Chapel Allerton Festival, which we were happy to support by being a collection point for wristbands and offering customers wearing them discount in the shop. It was a great and busy event and something Chapel Allerton should be really proud of putting on each year.

I love September, when the light changes and you can feel the new season around the corner. Not so much a fan this year, as it’s quickly turned cold and rainy and the shop’s been a bit too quiet! But there has been good moments.

Our workshop programme has got off to a great start, with Colourful Weaving, Arm knitting,  Painting and Lampshade Making. We’ve launched all our autumn & festive workshops for the rest of the year and look forward to a welcoming lots of crafty customer upstairs. We also hosted 2 private Jesmonite workshops  for Leeds Society of Architects and a team building for Connective3 which saw amazing results. Love running these so always happy when people get in touch to ask about them.

Our favourite trade show, Top Drawer, did not disappoint this year and we can’t wait for you to see what we’ve ordered. PREORDERS are available now to help you spread the cost of gifting over the festive period and to guarantee that you get the products you’ll love.

September is the perfect time to get in touch with people during ‘Thinking of You’ week – this year we ran a competition every day and loved sending cards on behalf of our customers. Cards are so important to Chirpy, they literally pay our rent, and we love that our Chirpy customers appreciate the great ranges we stock. Watch this space for our annual Card Subscription competition which launched in October.

Finally September was a big month in our household too as my daughter went off to university, just a mere 350 miles away! Think we’re all adjusting but can’t wait to go and visit in October.

So as we enter the ‘golden quarter’ we’ve just launched a couple of exciting events. This half term we’ll be running some mini Jesmonite workshops, perfect for kids, Tickets are also on sale for this year’s CHIRPYVERSARY party on 8th November – come and join us to celebrate my 8th anniversary in Chirpy.

Here’s to a busy and successful autumn!

Jo x

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Kids Half Term Workshops

This half term we're bringing you a special mini version of our ever popular Jesmonite Coaster Workshop

In this mini workshop you'll make one coaster / trinket tray using a choice of premade coloured shards and a white jesmonite base.

You'll leave your coaster to dry and should be able to collect it later that day, or pop into Chirpy anytime afterwards to collect it.

This workshop is suitable for age 7+ however anyone under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. If ther accompanying adult would also like to make a coaster then please book an additional ticket.

Jesmonite is an environmentally conscious, eco-friendly and safe lightweight product which is perfect for creating beautiful design.

This workshop will run 3 times on Thursday 31st October

Booking is essential - please arrive on time as this is a short workshop

£5 PP + BF

Tickets available here

Another trip around the retail block!

On Friday 8th November we’ll be celebrating our 8th Chirpyversary - we couldn’t have don’t it without you so why not come and help us celebrate!

You know how much we love to party and this year will been exception.

There’ll be offers, discounts, double points and goodie bags. And of course fizz!

We’ll be celebrating from 6pm - 9pm with our wonderful customers and you could be coming. Just grab a ticket HERE - tickets are £10 which you will get back against your purchases on the night.

There’ll be lots going on during November to celebrate too.

There’ll be Double points on Friday 8th & Saturday 9th November, lucky dip vouchers when you spend over £30 including a £35 Chirpy Gift Voucher, workshop vouchers and free cards.

Throughout Ocotber when you buy a card bundle in store or online you’ll be in with a change of winning a years worth of free cards, that’s 5 cards every month for a year worth £180!

We hope you can help us celebrate!

Thank you for being part of the last 8 years

Jo & the Chirpy team x

Focus on ... Feel Good Supplies

This month we’re focusing on Gemma from Feel Good Supplies . I'm excited to meet Gemma for the first time on Monday at Top Drawer, my favourite trade show. Her cards have already become really popular in Chirpy

To get to know Gemma a little bit more, here’s a little interview we did with her …

Tell me a little bit about yourselves.

I’m Gemma, the founder of Feel Good Supplies, a stationery and gifting brand with a focus on positivity and things that make you feel good. I started the business in 2024 and currently am the wearer of all the hats when it comes to running the business.

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

I studied Graphic Design Communication at Chelsea School of Art and have worked in design and art direction ever since. I’ve been lucky enough to work with some of the biggest names in fashion like Rankin, Simon Emmett and Ellen Von Unwerth and am currently working for the BBC; creating campaigns for their new programs and have worked on shows such as Killing Eve, This Is Going To Hurt and Happy Valley. That does mean that my day-to-day is somewhat hectic! But really drove my passion for wanting to create something lasting for myself. So with a love of stationery (and a childhood obsession with smelly gel pens), I knew building a stationery and gifting brand was the right path for me.

What does a ‘normal’ day look like?

I love making a list! So my normal definitely follow a structure to help me with the admin side of the business. There’s a lot of checking in with printers, processing orders and speaking to customers; which I really enjoy. I love the design days, where I get to work on new product ranges. I block out a good amount of time to allow myself the ability to really get into designing and not be distracted by the outside world. I try not to force the process, I spend time researching and getting inspiration from galleries and exhibitions, then bring those references to the design phase.

Biggest achievement to date (personally or business wise)?

I get such a buzz when people buy my cards to gift to their friends and family. Knowing that something you have designed is being given to celebrate a special moment gives me tingles. That for me will always be something I’m grateful for.

Where can we find your cards?

I’m super lucky to be stocked in some incredible indie stores (obviously Chirpy being one of them) plus some larger nationals as well. It’s a growing list and I’m excited to see where the next 12 months takes me.

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

I really love the HITCHED card. It’s really bold, bright and colourful. A close second would be the NO SLEEP CLUB, again for the same reasons. I’m always drawn to big typographic moments, so those have a special place for me.

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

People are definitely on the lookout for something unique or that catches their eye. You can’t rely on doing the same as you’ve always done, you have to challenge your aesthetic to keep bringing newness to customers. Sustainability is also key and there’s been a real move towards cards without any packaging, which is something that’s been built into the Feel Good Supplies ethos from the start. But it’s important to listen to customers and find out what they value, so you can be as relevant as possible to them in such a saturated market.

Why do you think sending cards is still so important?

Cards are a moment to share how you feel about someone in a physical item. Sending a card to say you’re thinking of them in tough times or just to say how brilliant you think someone is; that physical connection is something that, on a human level, we all need. In a time where so much of our interactions are on our phones, it’s a moment to connect with one another via something as simple as a piece of paper.

Best thing about running your own business?

Getting to meet so many lovely people is a real positive for me. I’m able to discover new shops in new places and the brilliant people behind these stores. Another thing I like about running Feel Good Supplies is that I get to fulfil so many roles and really challenge myself. It’s made me grow so much as a creative and I’m always learning something new.

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

It’s definitely not an easy path and a lot of time and hard work goes into running a business. However, seeing the positive responses to your dedication and hard work makes it worth it.

Plans for the future?

My next twelve months is all about growing the business and trying to reach as many lovely shops as possible and connecting with new customers. Expect new designs and ranges and also developing the range into more homeware and gifting pieces as well!

To see Feel Good Supplies’ gorgeous cards then pop into Chirpy