97-99_101_Anniversaries.qxp_Grid 20/01/2024 13:28 Page 97
Marking Milestones
Moments In Time
Being an industry whose very raison d’être is to mark all of life’s moments – not just hatch, match and dispatch – it is fitting to celebrate some of the notable company anniversaries which are happening this year. PG asked a handful of celebrators to share some of the significant moments in their business’ evolution as well as their plans to mark the milestone.
10th Anniversary of… Raspberry Blossom Rebecca Green, director of Raspberry Blossom is planning a lot of cake eating this year… Potted history: “I have always wanted to run my own design business, I had grew up with my parents running a jewellery design and manufacturing business so it was always something I aspired to do. After leaving university I bought the domain name ‘Raspberry Blossom.com’ with the intention to set up a company one day. Fast forward ten years of working in London in marketing agencies, about to turn 30 and settling down with my now husband Mark, I thought if I didn’t set up a company then, when would I? I have always loved stationery and greeting cards. I have a memory box from when I was a child and inside are greeting cards from special moments in my life. They have such meaningful messages and are written by my friends and loved ones. In the crazy modern tech world in which we live, the power of the handwritten note should not be underestimated. A folded piece of card has the power to bring a smile to people’s faces by spreading messages of love and joy and furthermore, create special memories and moments through the connection of people. So, in 2014 we launched Raspberry Blossom - the home of joyfulness!”
Top right: Rebecca and Mark Green kicking off Raspberry Blossom’s 10th anniversary celebrations. Above: The company’s Leamington Spa warehouse. right: Nurture is just one of the publisher’s new ranges.
Significant moments: “We will always remember our first large order in our first year of business - it was from Waterstones for just over 30,000 cards. Mark and I were still working full time then and I remember receiving the email from the buyer Claire [Quinn] and thinking how on earth are we going to fulfil that?! We roped in all members of my family and packed the cards on my parents’ dining room table (as our one bed studio basement flat was definitely not fit for purpose!) then had to get the pallet picked up at the end of my parents' pebble drive in the rain! It was a logistical nightmare, but it gave Mark and I the belief that we could make the business work. In 2017 both of us quit our other jobs and put everything into our business. It was also the year we got married so it was a crazy time in our life. Mark would take our cards on his bike around London to existing and potential stockists. Another significant step was getting our own warehouse and moving to Leamington Spa. We moved in just over two years ago and it has really focussed our business and allowed us to put a lot of structures in place for the future!” Marking the milestone: “We are inviting our customers to celebrate our 10th birthday with cakes and bubbles on our stands at trade shows this year. We are also going to feature a tombola where if you place an order at the show you get to spin and pick a colourful ball, which will be a number of free cards on top of what you have just ordered. Plus, we have over 100 new products launching at Top Drawer and Spring Fair, across five new everyday collections. We will also have lots more for our Summer launch at PG Live, ideas for which are already swimming around in my head! Not only is there growth with our greeting cards and stationery, but also with our licensing partners. Widdop & Co. launched the everyday home and giftware collection at Top Drawer of which I am super proud with more to follow. Penny Kennedy is our new licensing partner for giftwrappings, with the collection launching at Spring Fair and I have finalised Christmas 2024 which will be launching soon too. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE 97