Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - July/August 2020

47 COMPANY PROFILE When did you start up the company and why? I set up in 2004, after graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2000 with a degree in Textiles. After a few years of ‘R&D’ – travelling, working etc – I thought I’d have a crack at working commercially. How has the company developed over the years? Massively. It started out with just me in a rented house with friends doing a few craft fairs. I’m now renting an office, have six staff and am selling worldwide – things have thankfully, gone well. What challenges have you overcome? Learning how to turn a creative product into a sustainable commercial business is certainly something I wasn’t taught at University. Business wise, we’ve grown year on year – but the last five years have definitely been the most challenging/ rewarding in equal measure. Tell us about your product offering. I create greetings cards. Offering beautiful design-led products has always been our motto, with the occasional foray into gift wrap and various stationery projects. We launch around 3-4 new collections a year, from every day to children’s to christmas and everything in between. What are your most popular cards? Currently, ‘with sympathy’ and ‘thinking of you’ cards are easily our best sellers. Range wise, our Halcyon Collection has been in print for over three years now, with over 200 lines and counting, and is always well received.  A personal touch Laura Darrington explains how having a comprehensive business plan is key to emerging victorious in the saturated greetings card market