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‘A lot of plates to spin!’

As Rachel Ellen Designs celebrates its first quarter-century, MD Rachel Church reflects on the journey to becoming a leading supplier of children’s greeting cards, stationery and gift lines

About to celebrate the milestone of 25 years in business, Rachel Ellen Designs has forged a special place within the greeting card and gift industry. Founded in 1997 by MD and creative powerhouse Rachel Church, the company is now recognised as a leading supplier of children’s greeting cards and co-ordinated stationery and gift lines. Without a background in business or any formal art training, Rachel has relied not only on her obvious creative talent, but also on her gut instinct, absolute determination to both keep going and not run with the crowd, as well as a lot of help from some great people along the way, none more so than her parents.

“So much has changed in the last quarter of a century,” says Rachel. “I didn’t really have a business plan - I didn’t even have an email account for many years. I’ve had to learn along the way and it’s certainly been an amazing journey - some of which I wouldn’t really wish to repeat!” Now exporting to more than 30 countries and selling to many leading independent retailers throughout the UK, the company also has successful licensing agreements such as the one recently publicised with Thermos.

Rachel’s unique and quirky style is unmistakable and features across the children’s card ranges - for which the company is probably best known, but Rachel and her team of artists also have many beautiful ranges for adults. “Designing children’s cards is more by accident than design,” says Rachel. “My first card range reproduced a stained-glass look. I have a lot to thank that range for as its popularity was a real springboard in those early days. It was a real labour of love, screen printed on acetate with each sheet fed through the machine nine times! The scrap rate was enormous too, as print register was technically so difficult on an unstable material, but it was innovative and unique for the time.’’

As well as having to juggle greeting cards, a broad range of stationery for both children and adults and a wide selection of gift lines, Rachel Ellen is a design studio, a manufacturer (all cards, social stationery and notecards are made in-house), a wholesaler, a retailer through its own website, and an exporter – an awful lot of plates to keep spinning!

“The past few years haven’t been without their fair share of challenges, and despite the continued uncertainty we’re looking forward positively. We’ll just continue to do what we do best; after all, it’s all I really know!’’ Rachel adds. As well as Rachel’s unique artwork, the company is renowned for that point of difference, be that through multi-fold formats, the extensive use of die-cutting, going the extra mile to achieve the brightest colours, use of emboss, flitter and foil and the many hand-finished elements that the company’s in-house team of print finishers allow. “Having a great team around me means everything,” says Rachel. “I appreciate them more than ever, as I do our suppliers and, of course, our customers, without whom we wouldn’t have a business”.

To celebrate the milestone, the staff have plans for a high tea afternoon in a grand setting near Nottingham; an opportunity to reflect, reminisce and celebrate together. “A number of staff and agents have been with me for around two decades now,’’ says Rachel. “It’s incredible when I think about it, and I wonder where that time has gone!’’ 0115 970 0321 sales@rachelellen.uk www.rachelellen.co.uk

“My first card range reproduced a stained-glass look. I have a lot to thank that range for as its popularity was a real springboard in those early days’’