Paper Shed’s show business leads to Joe Davies’ giftware collaboration
Taking the leap into trade shows has really paid off for Paper Shed Design with the publisher’s first outing at PG Live leading to this month’s release of a licensed mugs range, with more gifts to follow.
Animals and wildlife are a passion for husband-and-wife team Dan and Jo O’Brien, with all their greeting card ranges reflecting this, and the Absolutely Barking collection caught the eye of giftware company EastWest’s director Terry Taylor, leading to the perfection of new artwork for the mugs.
After setting up Paper Shed Design following the pandemic in 2020, Jo took their designs to PG Live in 2021: “I had a great show and was delighted when Terry approached me – he immediately loved the range particularly the dogs in Absolutely Barking.
“Over the coming months as Dan perfected new artworks and I set to work building relations with retail outlets across country, the range grew and grew. Terry and I met regularly and gradually made the final artwork selections together for our first range of giftware products.
“This year EastWest was acquired by Joe Davies and their friendly team shared our enthusiasm for the range – now a few months on our first collection of quality china mugs are now available on the Joe Davies’ trade website. We’re delighted and coasters and notebooks will also be available soon.
“We’re excited about the future working with Joe Davies and we’re working to develop more beautiful product ranges with them.”
Absolutely Barking was firstly inspired by the couple’s own two naughty terriers who feature in a number of designs, with the collection expanding now to over 80 birthday, blank, occasion, relation, Christmas and spring titles.
Other ranges include cats, hedgehogs, foxes, badgers, squirrels and rabbits, and Paper Shed cards are now sold in retail outlets all over the UK, along with distribution across Europe and Australia.
PG Live 2023 will take place over 6-7 June at London’s Business Design Centre.
Top: Paper Shed’s mugs from Joe Davies
