So we’ve waved goodbye to another 3 months of the year, Spring is behind us, we’re in the middle (!) of summer and half way through the year. Less than 6 months until Christmas - there I’ve said it now, promise I won’t mention it again!

So looking back at April, May and June it’s been a real mixed bag - typically Spring I suppose, with all retail seasons in 3 months.

After a busy March, April brought us back down to earth with a bang! Sales were 33% down from March and from April 2022, it was not to be a busy Easter! We were left wondering where everyone had gone to eat their Easter chocolate. We did however welcome Black Violet as she popped upstairs as our ‘Maker in Residence’ and hosted a fabulous Jewellery workshop. We also held our now monthly Arm Knitting Workshop with Mizz Knits which never disappoints with woolly fizz & laughter!

We welcomed May with the launch of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I was honoured to be featured in their ‘Wear it Pink’ Campaign - watch this space for more fundraising events in October as our chosen Chirpy charity. The news was full of how the numerous Bank Holidays would be good for retail businesses, so we threw open our doors to the cries of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’. The first one coincided with a very sunny Sunday and the new Chapel Allerton Market so as gluttons for punishment we opened then too! Think it might be a slow burn but Sunday openings when the market is on is here to stay for Chirpy. After 5 long years we were also delighted to welcome back My New Wardrobe with her pop up shop, which was a great success so we’ve got the next autumn date in our diaries (6th October is case you’re wondering) Another Arm Knitting and a Jesmonite Coaster workshop finished off what turned out to be an enjoyable and quite busy month.

June, my favourite month! And it did not disappoint! I have realised the busier I am, the happier I am and I think that reflects in the shop. 5 workshops, Double Points event, visited a new card tradeshow where I found 5 new suppliers, asked to be a judge for the Oscars of the card world, feature article in Gifts Today and welcomed Annika for a week on Work Experience. Another Chapel Allerton market day, where we were much busier and Shop Independent Day too. As well as my own birthday - a busy month which flew by!

So what does the summer have in store? As terms end and people go off on holiday July & August can be tough months in retail. We’ll be open as usual thanks tp my fabulous Chirpy team.

There's still time to grab those Teacher gifts, cards and vouchers. We’d like to think that the schools we support through prizes for Summer Fairs & Raffles support us by shopping local for their Class Collections (fingers crossed!)

We’ve got trade shows to visit with Christmas in mind (sorry, I said I wouldn’t mention it again!) and from September we’ll be back in full swing with lots of new Workshops.

I’m always amazed when I look back at what we’ve achieved at how much more there is to running a shop, no one told me that when I bought Chirpy almost 7 years ago. I’ll always strive to keep the stock, workshops and events new ands exciting for our wonderful customers and love to hear your feedback and ideas of what you’d like Chirpy to offer so don’t hesitate to get in touch here

Thanks for your ongoing support, have a wonderful summer and don’t forget us for all those summer birthdays!

Jo x