July’s usually a quiet month as everyone gets ready for the schools to end and holidays to begin, but thanks to our Chirpy customers we had a busy one.

We were also honoured to be a finalist at the RETA awards, the Oscar’s of the card industry. Even though we didn’t take away the prize it was a wonderful event to be part of such an amazing group of other independent retailers.

In the quieter moments I also  spent a bit more time working a little bit on the business rather than just in it, attending a great branding event workshop and behind the scenes I was crunching numbers thanks the The Resilient Retail Club & looking at our Christmas planning.

I also attended Harrogate Home & Gift Tradeshow, which I’m really lucky to have only a bus ride away (& perfect for a trip to the Turkish Baths afterwards)

Our workshops finished for the summer, ending with a a sell-out  Jesmonite workshop and hosting a birthday party for a customer’s daughter.

It seems like a long time ago, but the memories of 2 epic walks are still alive – what a month taking on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks and then Snowden. Definitely two of my highs of the year, quite literally.

And so to August when the summer finally arrived and everyone went away (except me!). Team Chirpy enjoyed a much needed team get together, a rare chance for use all to get together and catch up. Chirpy just ticks along in August but in home life things were much more exciting. With A level results and an 18th birthday to celebrate it proved to be an exciting month, if you include trips to Ikea to get the obligatory university essentials!

This year I actually got to enjoy the Chapel Allerton Festival, which we were happy to support by being a collection point for wristbands and offering customers wearing them discount in the shop. It was a great and busy event and something Chapel Allerton should be really proud of putting on each year.

I love September, when the light changes and you can feel the new season around the corner. Not so much a fan this year, as it’s quickly turned cold and rainy and the shop’s been a bit too quiet! But there has been good moments.

Our workshop programme has got off to a great start, with Colourful Weaving, Arm knitting,  Painting and Lampshade Making. We’ve launched all our autumn & festive workshops for the rest of the year and look forward to a welcoming lots of crafty customer upstairs. We also hosted 2 private Jesmonite workshops  for Leeds Society of Architects and a team building for Connective3 which saw amazing results. Love running these so always happy when people get in touch to ask about them.

Our favourite trade show, Top Drawer, did not disappoint this year and we can’t wait for you to see what we’ve ordered. PREORDERS are available now to help you spread the cost of gifting over the festive period and to guarantee that you get the products you’ll love.

September is the perfect time to get in touch with people during ‘Thinking of You’ week – this year we ran a competition every day and loved sending cards on behalf of our customers. Cards are so important to Chirpy, they literally pay our rent, and we love that our Chirpy customers appreciate the great ranges we stock. Watch this space for our annual Card Subscription competition which launched in October.

Finally September was a big month in our household too as my daughter went off to university, just a mere 350 miles away! Think we’re all adjusting but can’t wait to go and visit in October.

So as we enter the ‘golden quarter’ we’ve just launched a couple of exciting events. This half term we’ll be running some mini Jesmonite workshops, perfect for kids, Tickets are also on sale for this year’s CHIRPYVERSARY party on 8th November – come and join us to celebrate my 8th anniversary in Chirpy.

Here’s to a busy and successful autumn!

Jo x

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