Retas finalist Rebekah Mudie reveals top sellers across cards, wrap and gifts
If you want to know what’s selling well in the greeting card industry, the best people to ask are the retailers – so PG goes straight to this invaluable resource each month, putting the “what’s hot?” question out there to find exactly what the customers are after.
Rebekah Mudie owns Daisy Daisy in Llanishen, and the popular card and gift shop just north of Cardiff has a stonking 4.8 average review rating on Facebook, and was one of the five finalists in inaugural Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer Of The Year – Wales category in this year’s Retas.
Here Rebekah takes a wander around her lovely indie store that’s at the heart of the community to pick out what’s hot across various greetings genres, as well as wrap and gifts…
Everyday
Paperlink’s Delphine and Lemon Sorbet ranges – “Our super sellers. Gorgeous, bright, floral and pretty.”
IC&G’s Pavilion – “Traditional with lovely inserts.”
Ling Design’s Curious Inksmith – “Classic, contemporary and edgy.”
Welsh Cards
Alff A Bett’s Vivien Thomas’ Welsh Landmarks – “Customers love the ones local to Cardiff.”
The Paintbox Company’s Welsh Woolies – “A cheerful fun sheep range.”
Relations & Occasions
Caroline Gardner’s Occasions – “Much loved modern on trend designs.”
Jonny Javelin’s Signature, Secret Garden and Velvet – “The traditional verses sell brilliantly with the older generations.”
Woodmansterne’s Quentin Blake – “Brilliant, witty humour.”
Woodmansterne’s Greenfingers National Trust – “Popular with the nature lovers.”
Humour
Paperlink’s Pixel, Funny Farm, Bowling For Soup, and Wrinklies – “All are faithful favourites.”
Pigment’s Cuckoo, Rif-Raf, and Rib Ticklers – “A good laugh all round.”
Rosie Made A Thing’s Gin & Frolics and Babble – “I love hearing our customers chuckle at these.”
Handmade
Ruth Jackson’s Pencil Shavings – “Cute quirky simplistic designs that incorporate a pencil shaving.”
Children’s
Jonny Javelin’s Twingles – “They cover relations and ages together and a rhyme.”
Paper Salad’s Kids’ Jamboree – “They really stand out with their striking bright colours.”
Rachel Ellen’s Jigsaw – “Great price for a card and gift in one.”
Adult Ages
IC&G’s Year You Were Born – “Especially good for male birthdays with brilliant facts.”
Ling Design’s Talking Pictures – “Great embellished, stand out cards with wide appeal.”
Paper Salad’s New Jamboree – “Fab – they catch the eye.”
Art
The Eco-friendly Card Company’s Kate Andrews, Manda Beeching, Janine Partington, and Billy Showells – “Lovely cards by different artists and environmentally-friendly.”
The Art File’s Sara Miller London – “Beautifully elegant designs.”
Mill House Fine Art Publishing’s Ann Cotterill – “These fine art floral masterpieces are great sellers.”
Ling Design’s Galleria – “Timeless classic scenes.”
Photographic
Museums & Galleries’ Natural History Museum and Wildlife Photographer of the Year – “Both ranges include simply stunning natural shots.”
The Eco-friendly Card Company’s Wildlife Trusts and Abacus’ BBC Countryfile and Poses & Petals – “Great sellers.”
3D & Pop-Ups
Paper D’Art (M&Q) generally – “Very special with amazing attention to detail.”
Tracks’ 3D – “The designs really jump out.”
Second Nature Pop-ups – “Great statement cards.”
Keeping In Touch/blanks
Eloise Hall (distributed by Holy Mackerel) Brights – “Striking colours with small simple gold natural leaf/floral detail.”
GBCC’s Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen – “Really sumptuous classic luxury designs.”
Giftwrap
Belly Button generally, Glick’s Salad, Deva Design’s Farmyard, and Penny Kennedy’s Emma Bridgewater – “All these companies have fab bright eye-catching collections for all ages and occasions.”
Gifts
Wilberry Toys’ Dressed Animals – “All are gorgeous.”
Crumble & Core Jewellery cards – “Sterling silver boxed jewellery with a pretty card.”
Peace Of Mind’s (POM) jewellery, socks, scarves, handbags – “Lovely gifts at a great price.”
Half Moon Bay’s RSPB, RHS, Kate Heiss, and Natasha Kirby – “Wonderful homeware gifts.”
Jellycat’s general ranges and Amuseables – “Wonderfully soft and fun.”
Wrendale’s stationery, bags and gardening items – “Countryside and animal lover appeal.”
These views also appeared in the September edition of Progressive Greetings magazine which can be read online here, or you can subscribe here to receive the magazine by post each month.
