Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - May/June 2020

23 COMPANY PROFILE card and gift wrap range has been a big hit too, with a percentage of all sales going to help our local charity ‘Shepreth Hedgehog Hospital’. Then of course the most popular long running designs have been the ‘Cats in Christmas hats’ ranges, which never fail to win over cat lovers’ hearts with their disgruntled little faces over the festive period. Have any styles taken you by surprise with their popularity? Yes, I’m always surprised when certain designs take off, it’s typically an idea or design that I’m unsure of, or put together very quickly, rather than something I have been working on for a while. The popularity of the ‘Cats in hats’ and ‘Doggy Dress- up’ card ranges and their longevity has surprised me, but hey, what’s not to love about a drawing of a grumpy looking cat, or a cute pup being made to look ridiculous for our entertainment! How do you keep your designs fresh and current? Do you follow trends? I try not to follow trends, and I try to avoid looking at competitors too much as I want to try and be as original as I can. Of course, I must keep an eye on what’s ‘current’ at the moment and I’ll use it as inspiration but I’m not a slave to keeping up with the latest trend. I still draw by hand, I find inspiration from everyday life, people, conversations, animals, pets, bad jokes, puns and, of course, deep conversations with my little cat Daisy, who keeps me on my toes! What sets you apart from your competitors? I started my business as I meant to go on, by keeping our environment in mind and trying to cause the least impact on the planet possible. As a vegan I have always consciously chosen to use ethical products in the manufacturing and production of my cards, keeping production in the UK has always been an important part of my brand too. The greetings card products are manufactured using recycled board, vegan-friendly inks and eco-friendly packaging, with a choice of ‘naked’ cards or biodegradable cello, and always have been! We also plant ten trees with Eden Reforestation Projects for every wholesale order reaching the carriage paid threshold. If we are putting new items out into the world it only feels right to give something back. I would like to think my sense of humour, narrative and character design sets me apart, and hopefully leaves a good lasting impression on the viewer. I love to hear people laughing to themselves and reminisce about their beloved mischievous pets, much like some of my ‘naughty dog’ cards! How are you finding the current economic climate in the UK? Is it affecting business? That’s a difficult question at the moment as we’re currently doing our best to tentatively get through this terrible coronavirus pandemic. It’s very hard for everyone when our independent high street shops are closing down. Although people need to send cards more than ever – being away from loved ones for such long time it’s so important to still feel connected. Of course, this has affected all business globally in some way, but I’m hopeful for the future of my business, and remain excited to see what happens next once this strange period is over. Are you active on social media? How is this important for the business? Yes, I am active on Instagram and Facebook. I definitely get more customer engagement when regularly posting. It’s a great way to promote the brand to a wider audience, and also to connect with other designer business’ and it’s a good reference source for cat pictures too! Do you have any advice for new businesses starting out in the world of greetings and gift? Visit trade shows, talk to other small businesses about how they do things. Research the industry and envisage where your brand may fit into the market. Know what you are offering and what makes it special and unique. Never be afraid of asking questions or reaching out for help and advice and make sure you keep an open mind. Having a strong support network around is also so important, especially siblings who come and hang out with you at trade shows – they’re very useful for coffee breaks and getting the first round in, and it makes things so much more fun, thanks bro! Most importantly believe in your product, imagine where you would like to be, believe you can get there and enjoy yourself! What can we expect in the future from Jo Clark? It’s very difficult to predict in these uncertain times what the future holds, but I’m looking forward to creating some fresh new designs, and of course looking to keep the business running. Licensing designs, and working with other business, perhaps I will create another children’s book, who knows! But it will probably involve some cute looking characters wanting to make you smile! Jo Clark Design T: +44 (0)7886 193 734 W: www.joclarkdesign.co.uk I