and since I started the process something interesting has happened.

But let’s backtrack. I struggle with consistency, I always have. And the one thing social media needs is consistency. So I’m not surprised that TikTok hasn’t been that successful in driving customers to my online shop. Add to that the fact that there are no relevant categories for greetings cards and my videos are being shown all over the world when I’m trying to target a UK audience, which has meant it’s been a huge waste of time trying.

I’d been thinking about closing it for a few weeks and finally got the process started earlier this week. I didn’t expect it to be quite so drawn out, but they want you to have a store notice up for 30 days to warn ‘all your customers’ that it’s closing.

I’m pretty sure the threat of me closing my TikTok shop has triggered a surge in views from TikTok. My analytics show visitors from all over, mostly Malaysia, but I only post to UK addresses so while it’s lovely to have all this extra traffic it’s worthless to my business. I’m sorry TikTok, it’s not going to make me change my mind.

My website is staying open though, I’m not retiring yet! We will still be at our markets and have a few new events this year as well as our favourite summer events. It’s just TikTok shop that I’ve called time on.

Cari xx

A rare thing happened today.

I got an order through my website.

Woohoo!

I celebrated in the usual manner, happy dancing towards my stock tubs, but it led to me making a discovery.

My postage charge no longer covers what Royal Mail charge me (for the service I normally use).

So I had a choice, either downgrade the service or increase my postage charge. I feel like I have to maintain the good service my business provides, which also includes the delivery part even though I have little control once it leaves here. This is the reason I still use Royal Mail rather than a cheaper but inferior provider.

I hate asking customers to pay more. I’m going to trial an increase from next week (12th May 2025) and make a permanent decision after that.

So this is your one week’s notice – if you want to place an order before the postage charge increases please do. I will keep you updated on how it goes.

Cari xx

We’re well into Spring now, but even with the warmer weather and school holidays, I’ve been struggling. I can’t put my finger on why, maybe because my sickness enforced change of diet is finally wearing thin or because I’ve been running my business for Soooo many years and still just pootling along without the full time income I’d predicted all those years ago.

I know I need to be more visible, but as someone who is a people pleaser and introvert it’s quite hard making that adjustment. I have spells of feeling like I can take on the world and then quietly crawl back into my shell and hide.

Anyway, new birthday and greetings cards have arrived and I’m forcing myself to keep some to launch over the next couple of months rather than sharing them all at once. I quite like this play on words card, there’s a few more to come as well!

Here’s another card with a similar style to other cards we have in the emporium. They will be with me at Sheriff Hutton Village Market this weekend or you can pop over to my emporium and snap up your favourites.

I’ve been supporting other small businesses too (as I always do at markets). This lady is super talented and very lovely – she saw my profile pic of my dog and offered to add him to the picture – here’s the preview! I can’t wait to receive it!

Cari xx

Mother’s Day is something of a big deal in the UK. We spent a whopping £66 million on Mother’s Day greetings cards in 2023, so of course I was going to get some in stock. They will be with me at my markets while in stock, and are also on the emporium.

At the same time I also ordered cards for Father’s Day, which isn’t for a couple of months yet but I wanted to get organised. I will be sharing those a bit closer to the day.

Our monthly markets have started again, we were at Hovingham Village Market last weekend and while it was busy our sales were slow and steady – perfect for our first market of 2025. Now visitors know we will be there every month it should help them to stock up as and when they need to.

Our next outing is on 16th of March at lovely Sheriff Hutton Village Market. They have started to share details of all stallholders on their socials and it’s looking like a cracking line up – I can’t wait! Fish, cheese, cakes, scotch eggs, and much much more plus talented artists and crafters have already been announced. There’s nothing quite like the buzz of a local friendly market!

Our last market of March will see us back at beautiful Crayke, with the monthly market in the village hall on the 29th. This will be ideal for all those last minute Mother’s Day shoppers, or for anyone unable to visit us at Sheriff Hutton. These three markets are repeated every month, so hopefully we can say hi to you in person very soon!

If you visit us at Sheriff Hutton you may notice that I’ve also treated us to another display rack – while it will only hold a few cards I think it will be quite a useful addition to our display. I just hope it fits between the larger card stands or my husband will be telling me ‘I told you so’.

Our first market of 2025 is in just over a week. I can’t wait, it has felt like such a long time of reduced income (my business bank account is very depleted!). I am excited to show the new card designs to my market customers as not all of them follow us on social media. I wonder which designs will be popular?

We have managed to get all the new greetings cards priced up and packed, so I am ready for Hovingham Market on 1 st of March. I will just triple check I have everything I need as it all got a bit muddled up from the Christmas fairs. I dread arriving with no cash float or missing my card machine (or any other very important item). We have run out of paper bags before because I didn’t check, so it won’t hurt.

Events coming up

Aside from the all important birthdays, we have Mother’s Day (or Mothering Sunday as I’ve always known it) coming up. My next stock order will include appropriate cards but in the meantime we do have quite a few floral ‘blank inside’ cards that will be well received on this special day. It’s on 30th of March so make a note in your diary now. I should have the new cards for Sheriff Hutton on the 16th.

We are also heading into peak wedding season as the weather improves (hopefully!) and the days get longer. We will have a good selection of celebratory cards for you to choose from.

I hope to see some of you at markets soon, in the meantime please use my ‘emporium’ online for any birthday or occasion cards you need. As always, 5 or more cards are just £2 each plus flat rate postage.

Cari xx

I know for some January feels like the longest month, but it never has done for me. The early part of any new year sees the majority of our family birthdays, so each month is filled with celebrations and card giving.

February of course is best known for Valentine’s Day, and now we are getting a little sunshine here in the UK it feels like Spring is on the way. The mornings are getting lighter, it’s only just got dark when I drive home and I’m planning ahead for when I eventually get my greenhouse cleared.

I don’t have an allotment like the characters on this greetings card, but the raised beds and planters in my small garden give me enough space to grow a few vegetables and berries. This year I’ve even bought a patio orange plant, although I think it will be a few years before it’s big enough to fruit!

I would love to keep chickens like in this retirement card, but I think my Jack Russell would be too much of a threat for them. This year I’m going to grow cucumbers and tomatoes again, plus try a few other plants – any suggestions?

Cari xx