Charity link is key as publisher brings her new rebrand to Top Drawer
After 20 years making greeting cards Judith Ong reckons she’s “an old lady managing a toddler” as she’s about to launch her FromJude brand at Top Drawer S/S.
And she’s really in the pink because the company has already raised £2,000 for a cause that’s very close to her heart – the Pink Ribbon Foundation which works with breast cancer patients, helping to advance understanding and early detection of the disease.
Judith has been creating cards since 2003 when she started the Jaab Design Company women’s project in Thailand, which grew to export designs all over the world, then she set up FromJude during the pandemic shortly after arriving back in the UK in 2020.
“It will be my 20th anniversary next year and my second year with FromJude – another duality, I’m an old lady managing a toddler!” Judith told PG Buzz as she put the finishing touches to her prep for Top Drawer, which opens on Sunday, 15 January, at Kensington Olympia in London, running through to Tuesday – to view the show’s online catalogue click here.
Among the highlights will be Heartfelt, her first handmade range of keepsake and frameable cards since rebirthing the business and rebranding, with 10% of all the company’s profits going to the Pink Ribbon Foundation where the publisher’s cards are featured on its website, and donated 300 cards for the charity’s Pink Ball goody bags as well as designing its 2022 corporate Christmas card, and donating £2,000 through sales in FromJude’s first 12 months.
Judith was just 17 years old when she lost her own mother to the disease and said: “They’re a small charity with a loud voice and the biggest heart ever, they are active and vibrant. They have some quite famous patrons including Jeff Banks, Joan Collins and Jerry Hall.
“I chose them because of the work they do, not just with breast cancer patients, but also for the help they provide for the children affected by it all. They provide funds for making memories in what is the worst time in their lives – I was once upon a time that child/teenager.”
Having launched during Covid, Judith acknowledges that it’s been a very challenging market, and is looking forward to her first trade show with the new company, which has been scoring some great successes already.
“The best news is that 95% of our customers have repeated orders, most multiple times,” Judith said. “Our record to date is Malarkey in Brighton who have bought from us 11 times in 12 months! French Grey in Malmesbury have placed four orders in four months, which is really encouraging too. Not bad in the grand scale of things!”
Top: Heartfelt is Judith Ong’s first handmade range as FromJude
