Posted on 2 Comments

Is there room for more?

cards and gift wrap in the highlands and islands

I’ve just had a fabulous 2 days at one of the best agricultural shows in the UK, the Black Isle Show. While I do some of my business online, I think it’s really important to get these fabulous Flamingo cards and gift wrap in the Highlands and Islands.

Fireplace paperchainsDespite the rain, the footfall was good, people’s spirits weren’t dampened and everyone seemed impressed with my fireplace (held in place by some paper chains – just shows how sturdy they are!)

As they oohed and aahed over the cards, I asked quite a few customers, ‘Have you heard of Flamingo Paperie?’ and to my surprise many of them said, ‘No.’

Who is Flamingo Paperie?

Flamingo Paperie (formerly Phoenix Trading) have been going for 22 years. You can’t buy Flamingo cards in the shops. However there are 1000s of Partners across the country selling cards in workplace baskets, holding coffee, cake and cards in people’s homes, setting up stalls like mine. Ultimately these people become ‘The Card Lady’ (or man) to their friends and relatives.

Yet many have still not heard of Flamingo Paperie and don’t know a Flamingo Partner.

People want to buy these cards and gift wrap in the Highlands and Islands so we need more Flamingo Partners.

Do you love cards? Are you a stationery addict? Do you know even a small handful of people who would love to have access to good quality, reasonably priced, ethical, and charitable greeting cards? Would you like to make a little money selling these fabulous products? Would you like to be able to buy these cards and gift wrap in the Highlands and Islands?

If so, then you could be the next card lady (or man).

You can become a Partner from as little as £45 starting you off with cards, a
few brochures and some business stationery. These are at a high discount to get you started so if you’re a card lover you will save money whatever happens.

Perhaps you want something bigger than that?

Then start with the £200 business pack. This contains over £500 of cards and stationery, more brochures and plenty of business material to get you going.

Or if you’re somewhere in the middle then there’s a £95 pack too. Which ever pack you choose the start up covers stock, business materials and your first year registration fee. It also covers your public liability insurance (usually about £50 a year) and a free personalised ecommerce website.

Statutory Notice – It is illegal for a promoter or participant in a trading scheme to persuade anyone to make a payment by promising benefits for getting others to join a scheme. Do not be misled by claims that high earnings are easily achieved. The promoter of the Flamingo Partner scheme is Flamingo Paperie 60 High Street, Wimbledon Village, London, SW19 5EE

Start now!

Black Isle ShowBlack Isle Show

If you’re attending the Black Isle show this year I’ll be there in the craft tent. The Black Isle Show is always the 1st Thursday in August. So it’s 2nd August 2018. Pop by and say hello! Even if you need just a card (it’s never just a card!)

Posted on Leave a comment

Wedding superstitions

A137 The wedding car

I didn’t know until very recently that some people believe that whoever makes the first purchase following a wedding will be the dominant force in the marriage. So some superstitious brides will buy something from one of the bridesmaids immediately after the ceremony.

 

These gorgeous cards are available in my Phoenix card shop.

10 Activities to keep Children Entertained at your Wedding.

Posted on 2 Comments

National Stationery Week

Business Opportunity, cards, stationery, request a brochure National Stationery Week

The Power of the Written Word

Writing, and being able to write by hand matters and is as important as ever, even in an increasingly digital world. There are many reasons for this – it isn’t a question of just using one or the other. Click here to read the A-Z of why writing matters. According to YouGov research commissioned by National Stationery Week, 92% of adults think that writing by hand is important. While 97% think it is important for children to learn to write.

National Stationery Week celebrates the written word and all things stationery – the products which make it all possible, and give pleasure to so many people. You can never have too much stationery! Its aim is to get people all over the world talking and writing about stationery, and why writing by hand is important. And to send more letters and cards, and not just text or email.

2015 marked the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, and is a reminder of how handwriting has stood the test of time. It also saw the launch of the first #WorldStationeryDay in April, as part of National Stationery Week.

Let’s get more people putting pen to paper and writing more often – especially children. Let’s send more letters and cards, especially to those we care for, rather than just text or email.  It’s much more personal.

Source: National Stationery Week

birds and birdhouses note cards If you want to get started why not take a look at these handy note card sets. They come in packs of 10 with coordinating envelopes. Ideal to keep for when you want to send a quick note to someone. Why not challenge yourself to send 7 note cards or even the whole 10 on National Stationery Week?

My favourite design at the moment is the Birds and Birdhouses one, illustrated by Sue James.

Posted on 1 Comment

‘Fairy Door’ and more!

Fairy Door card, Phoenix Trading, phoenix cards

Ok – so I do need some serious help making YouTube clips but I couldn’t resist putting something together with the new sample cards that have just arrived.

Our March release includes the ‘Fairy Door’ card – released on March 1st and reprinted on March 2nd it is proving so popular! It’s one of Phlicity’s favourites (if you don’t know Phlicity she’s my fairy helper and is often on my Facebook page)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsJ0xagdtD8]

If you’d like a copy of the new brochure, or to find out more about Phoenix please ask me.

Posted on Leave a comment

10 people you could be Thinking Of this Week

thinking of you week

With Thinking of You Week just around the corner I thought it might be helpful to give some ideas of people you could send your 7 cards to.

1 – Your neighbour

Let’s face it you could send all 7 cards to people in your area and light up the whole neighbourhood with smiles. A little card to say, ‘Thanks for being a great neighbour’ would be lovely don’t you think?

2 – A family member

Who is special to you in your family but you never quite tell them often enough, or maybe they’re so special that you can’t tell them too often. How they’ll smile if you pop a card through their door this week.

3 – Work colleague

Who’s having a tough time at work? Who makes the office more fun and bearable and makes coming to work worthwhile? Send them a note to let them know that work wouldn’t be the same without them.

4 – Secret admiree

Who would you like to talk to but can’t quite pluck up the courage to do so? Or maybe you don’t get the chance without someone else around all the time. Why not send a card, they’ll feel very special and it might just break the ice.

5 – Someone bereaved

Who’s lost a loved one recently, or maybe it’s an anniversary of their loved one’s death? A card to let them know they’re thought of and cared for is a nice touch, especially if it’s a bit awkward to bring it up in conversation.

6 – Your bestie

I know you see them all the time, you talk and text on the phone regularly but I bet they’d love a card from you. It would be unexpected and special.

7 – Your postman

Well why not? They deliver all your mail, be nice if they got one to take home with them wouldn’t it?

8 – The Queen

Now Britain’s longest reigning monarch I bet she’d love a card for no other reason than to say ‘thanks, thought you might like this’.

9 – A celebrity

Well, when else would you have the excuse to send a card to George Clooney/Justin Bieber/Rihanna/Shakira?

10 – ‘Thinking of You’ surprise

You could be really daring and leave a card for someone to find! Check out Share the Love Letters for more on this.

The challenge is to send 7 cards over the course of a week, I’ve given you more than 7 possibilities in case some of the ideas don’t apply or appeal to you. Go on – send some smiles!

For more reasons to send cards read my other blog about being a Mad Hatter

Posted on 1 Comment

Thinking of You Week 2015

Send cards to 7 people during the week and make someone smile

11988353_10153109933959290_5541195894422836966_nSending smiles across the miles

Help to create a wave of love, caring and happiness during this special week by harnessing the power of sending and receiving greeting cards.

It’s been scientifically proven that receiving a handwritten card makes people feel much more special than receiving instant texts, emails or Facebook messages. And it feels really good to send them too!

This is all great for everyone’s health and wellbeing.

Cognitive neuroscientist, Dr Lynda Shaw, firmly believes that receiving cards helps to stave off feelings of loneliness and isolation, increases self-esteem and even wards off the early stages of depression.

So let’s all get happy by connecting in this most meaningful way!

What do I do?

Send 7 cards during this week and encourage your friends, colleagues and their families to do the same. Feel free to give them in person or pop one through a neighbour’s letterbox too!

Write a message just to say hello, to tell someone you love them, to make them laugh, be supportive in a time of trouble, wish them better, kiss and make up, or just to say…thinking of you!

Why buy this pack?

By buying this pack you are also supporting others who need to know someone is thinking of them.

£2 from every pack bought will go directly to Hebrides Alpha Project.

At Hebrides Alpha Project, we provide a service for persons aged 18+, seeking to recover from alcohol, drug, mental health or criminal justice related problems and to assist them to become confident, responsible and valued members of the local community. We offer an abstinence based Supported Accommodation service.

Thank you!

For more information about Hebrides Alpha Project contact:

Shona Macleod

Tel. 01851 820830

Email. enquiries@hebridesalpha.co.uk

www.hebridesalphahouses.co.uk

To order a pack of cards or find out more about Phoenix Trading, contact:

Janet Ross-Jordan, Independent Phoenix Trader

Tel. 01851 870932

info@janetscardsonline.co.uk

www.cardsandgiftwrap.co.uk

Posted on Leave a comment

Cards ‘can support mentally ill’

Fabulous greeting card

It makes sense that receiving a card will lift your spirits but it seems we struggle to send cards to do just that unless there is a visible physical illness. In September we have ‘Thinking Of You’ week and on October 10th it’s World Mental Health Day.

The following article is from BBC NEWS | Health | Cards ‘can support mentally ill’.

Patients rarely receive cards or flowers when they stay in a mental health unit

People should consider sending cards and gifts to friends and family suffering with mental health problems, experts say.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said cards and gifts were a simple way to support people with mental illness.

The college even said it may aid their recovery.

It made the plea after carrying out a poll of 131 mental health patients, which showed over half did not receive any gifts or cards when they were ill.

This compared with just a third who did not get presents the last time they were physically ill.

More than eight out of 10 of the people surveyed said receiving a “get well soon” card would help their recovery.

If anything increases feelings of isolation and unworthiness just when you’re at your lowest ebb, this does

The college is launching two of its own gift cards with the greeting: “Thinking of you at this time. Hope things improve soon.”

A spokesman said existing greeting cards often had inappropriate images and words that were not suitable for a mental health problem.

Dr Peter Byrne, chair of the college’s education committee, said: “I have worked in general and psychiatric hospitals for over 20 years, and there is no greater demonstration of the hidden prejudice against people with mental illness than the bedside lockers.

“In psychiatric units, there is barely a card or any other reminder that the outside world cares.

“People often don’t know what to do or say when a friend or relative is ill with a mental health problem – so they end up doing nothing.”

Trisha Goddard, a television presenter who has spoken about her battles with depression and breast cancer, said: “When I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, I was inundated with ‘get well soon’ cards all of which were really touching.

“If you’re thinking I only got those cards because I’m in the public eye, let me tell you this – when I lived in Australia, I was equally in the public eye and yet when news leaked out that I was in a psychiatric hospital following a breakdown, not a peep, no cards and certainly no flowers.

“If anything increases feelings of isolation and unworthiness just when you’re at your lowest ebb, this does.”

If you’re looking for an appropriate card to send then I suggest our ‘Stay Connected pack’, ‘Good Friends are Like Stars’ or ‘Under the Weather’ or any of our floral ones, all our cards are blank inside so you don’t need to worry about an inappropriate message.

Posted on 2 Comments

Are you a Mad Hatter?

Greeting cards and stationery for all occasions

In this era of social media, texting and instant messaging, here are 10 reasons to pick up a pen, stick a stamp and send a card. The Mad Hatter may have had the right idea.

10 reasons to be a Mad HatterTF11-Teacups-and-butterflies

Haven’t forgotten you

Good friends starsIt’s been a while since we last spoke, I’ve been busy and didn’t want you to think I had forgotten you. A handwritten card will forgive a lot more non-contact than a FB msg, take the extra minute to write a card.

Saw this and thought of you

Fun with gardening Your friend loves gardening and you saw this great card they’d love. Send it! Don’t just look and think “I know who’d appreciate that” because if you don’t send it they can’t appreciate it!

Just catching up

It’s time for a coffee and cake somewhere. Your friend will feel you really want to meet up if you write a note, with even a time and place suggested….trust me, much more meaningful than a text and they’re less likely to forget a card and more likely to reply.

Wanted to make you laugh

Laughter is truly the best medicine and whether someone is ill, having a tough time or not that you know of, a humourous card will brighten up their day….just like it did yours when you picked the card.

Remember when…

Pyjama party…we had that pyjama party years ago? Doesn’t the one on the left look like….

It’s National Clean up your room day*…

…and I wanted to give you advance warning. Or chocolate truffles, ice creams, save the whale etc. Your friend will love the thought and might even frame the card! (*It’s May 10th by the way if you need to know…)

I’m a bit of a Mad Hatter

Happy Unbirthday! At least 364 days a year you can send these cards and let’s face it most of us would love more than one birthday a year. Or if you really are a Mad Hatter and love tea, then I have the perfect card!

It’s been a year since…

Whether it’s been a year since you walked along that beach or since they lost a loved one, such a thought will either bring back happy memories or remind them they aren’t forgotten in their grief.

No flowers allowed

With many hospital wards not allowing flowers any more a colourful card goes a long way to brightening up the hospital bedside cabinet!

Phoenix Trading greeting cardJust because

If none of the above apply, well then just because it’s a thoughtful thing to do. Pick the right greeting card and it will look good and do good!

Go on, make someone smile today, send a card.

To stock up on cards visit my UK shop, if you’re outside the UK, visit International Enquiries to find out how to get hold of some fabulous greetings cards.