Denise Laird, who co-owns Spirito, a popular greeting card and gift shop, located in the west Glasgow, with her husband Alan. Here, she shares a summary of the trials and triumphs of the last few months, as well as some of the store’s top sellers.
“We have been pleasantly surprised at how well trade has fared since we re-opened at the end of June. The first fortnight was exceptionally strong and sales have now levelled off around the volumes that we would expect to see at this time in a normal year despite limiting the number of customers in the shop at any one time and paring down the stock and displays to increase circulation space,” reveals Denise. “Also, we have at long last bit the bullet and launched a new e-commerce website. When lockdown happened we realised that without the ability to sell online we were completely unable to trade so commissioned a new site which we have been talking about doing for literally years and which has finally launched!”
Paying tribute to the creativity of card publishers, Denise says she has been blown away by the “fabulous cards” that she has been able to put on display since reopening. “Everyone has been so creative during this time. It is lovely to see so many beautiful designs across the various categories,” says Denise.
“I have also enjoyed looking through The Henries card entries. It was really nice to see so many cards as I have been seriously missing seeing them all at the trade fairs! It was so difficult to choose as so many deserve to win,” she adds.
Here are some of her ‘winners’ instore…
Everyday
Gold Lining, Word Up, Cut Out and Mix Up from Caroline Gardner
“Word Up range is such a lovely range with bold colours and the text is so contemporary. Cut Out is a great range with die-cut motifs, beautiful designs and great colours. Mix Up is such a playful range with fun letters making them so appealing and have a fabulous colour palette, while .
Piccolo and Luna from Rachel Ellen Designs
“Bright, contemporary and so cheerful.”
Humour
Gin & Frolics from Rosie Made A Thing
“Such a fun, clever, contemporary range.”
Thinking of You
Flora from Louise Mulgrew
“So pretty with soft watercolour brush strokes.”
Art
Cityscapes and Sara Miller London from The Art File
“Beautiful with rich colours, added textured foils and embossed lines.”
Giftwrap
Rollwrap from Belly Button Designs
Relations and Occasions
Everything from Rosanna Rossi
“Stylish, bright contemporary cards in a lovely colour palette.”
Self-purchases
Face coverings from Earth Squared
“Popular selection of floral, stripe and plain designs.”
Gifts
Plant pots and hanging candleholders from Parlane
“Homewares have been popular post lockdown.”
Vases from Coach House
“A Coach House vase was our first sale when we re-opened.”
