Category: Admin

Well, it’s about time isn’t it? Getting my business going again has been tricky, in particular managing cash flow. If I’m honest, I overstretched myself when investing in reduced price stock from Flamingo, so I didn’t have funds to buy anything new. However when we started regular markets again as an independent greeting card store, I was hopeful we would be able to buy some new designs. It’s taken longer than I wanted but finally I have new greetings cards to show you.

I’m pleased with the new humour range and want to add to it soon, but first these need to fly out! There’s only six of each design available so I don’t expect to have them for long.

If humour isn’t really your thing, we also have some cute animal cards for birthdays and other occasions. The animal cards we had from Flamingo have been very popular, we only have a couple left. Although these aren’t quite a replacement for those, I’m hoping they come close! Let me know what you think.

I can’t choose between this cute chap and the highland cow. There are more designs in the range that I wasn’t able to get this time round so if they prove popular I will expand the range!.

As always, if there are any designs you would like me to try and find please comment below or get in touch via social media.

Cari xx

I’m counting down the days until summer break at my ‘day job’ in a local school. I only work part time which gives me plenty of hours to spend gardening and running my businesses.

It doesn’t feel like a month since we first attended Sheriff Hutton Village Market, and here we are, booked in for the next three, with the first being this Sunday. It’s a welcome distraction from what is a difficult Father’s Day for me, with losing dad earlier in the year. I have my foodie wish list ready (we always support the food producers at these markets) as well as a stock and equipment wish list for my business. Will we be as busy as we were last month? I’m keeping my fingers crossed it’s a good day as the broccoli seedlings I have are desperate for a raised bed planter, plus as our joints are seizing up we really need this trolley to transport things.

If you haven’t been to Sheriff Hutton market before, it’s well worth a visit. This time they have a wide range of local small businesses attending, including alcohol, baked goods, meats, Homewares, clothing and many more. You can treat your dad to something special, including a bacon/sausage/egg butty from the cafe.

If you have other plans this Sunday, you can visit our stall at Crayke Market at the end of June.

Cari xx

Last year, when we found out Flamingo Paperie was closing, I thought long and hard about the future of my card business. I took advantage of the stock sales, but with no other suppliers and limited options, I honestly thought my business would go too. A lot of the team members around me decided to close, and I was sad thinking I would be doing the same. I didn’t want it to close but wasn’t sure I had the energy to work through all the problems.

2024 brought ill health and loss to my family, which left my business languishing with a quiet website and a pile of stock as I took time off. It’s been a tough job to get going again, but I’ve never been one to give up on something I really love. One monthly market led to two, with a possible third to follow (we will see how that one goes!)

A regular income means my ‘closing down’ stock is reducing rapidly – a lovely problem to have – and I have a couple of suppliers lined up, but not enough funds to invest as I need to.

If you don’t follow me on TikTok, you won’t have heard that at each market we attend we try to ‘pay it forward’ by supporting the food producers. Their stock doesn’t pack away until next month, so they need to sell out of everything they produce to avoid waste. This means that although we have sold at markets, a proportion of that goes to other stall holders. As a result we are growing slowly, but need to refresh our stock for the next few markets.

I have a wishlist of humour cards, occasion cards, and craft kits, so if there is anything you were thinking of buying please do so. Alternatively you can share our website with anyone who needs to stock up again on cards from Flamingo Paperie or Phoenix Trading (yes I still have a few gems from those days).

I’m excited to make this business truly independent and profitable, meaning we can give even more back to other small business owners in North Yorkshire.

Cari xx

I’m thrilled that I’ve been offered a place at another popular monthly market. I really feel like this is the way for me to grow my greetings card business again, and I’m hopeful that this one and Crayke will be enough to keep me ticking over until the Christmas events start.

I will be sharing more details soon, but for now I wanted to share the market offer. If you visited Crayke market at the end of April you may have taken advantage of the 5 cards for £10 offer, which will also be available at this new market.

I have plenty of floral cards and birthday cards in stock, and will be buying new designs as soon as I can (I’m as keen as you are to see them!)

I have lots of the amazing craft kits in stock too. These contain everything you need to create a card 3D animal character including glue and scissors. I’ve made the sheep and flamingo, and my children have made the llama and unicorn head designs. They will keep you busy for a few hours and at the end you will have a lovely display piece!

I hope to meet you at a market soon!

Cari

The beginning of the year is when all our family birthdays fall, so we usually have a flurry of gift giving. I’m always grateful for my card shop as I’m awful at remembering to get cards when we go shopping.

This year however has been difficult to celebrate. My dad was diagnosed with cancer in early January and we have just been given the news none of us wanted to hear. This means that my card shop has been at the back of my mind, and birthdays have been subdued. I am still sending orders out but they make take a little longer to pack as we try to spend as much time as possible with family.

I still need to update the stock on my website so please bear with me. If you order and I’m unable to send everything I will of course refund.

Thank you for your patience and understanding

Cari xx

I don’t know about you, but before I started my own greetings card shop I would try to get all my cards organised early.  As a family who’s events all fall into the first half of the year (mostly) it was important to keep on top of it.

Of course now I have my own shop, it’s not quite as important to be organised and we have fallen into the ‘last minute selection of cards’ on more than one occasion.  Thankfully with a new supplier I have some lovely new designs to choose from.  I will add them to the website when they arrive.

So, grab a cuppa (or something stronger) and write down how many cards you need this year.  Don’t forget engagements, weddings and new baby cards too!

Cari