It's Official! We're Launching Something New!
I've been bursting to tell you about this for so long now, but after the shit-show that was 2024-2025, we've decided that enough is enough. We had two pretty rough years, and, if I'm being honest, I considered closing the business many times.
We have battled working from a condemned building (like, we literally had indoor guttering to catch the leaks, an outdoor toilet, and let's not mention the giant hornets coming through the ceiling. It's been demolished now though.) We had internet speeds worse than my dial-up in the 1990s. We struggled with GDPR, GPSR, tariffs, a failing postal system, Brexit fallout, the cost of living crisis, a crazy hike in energy costs and the paper mill we use going out of business. Everyone's costs have gone up and we've swallowed them as much as possible, but it doesn't leave a lot for us at the end of the day.
It's been a tough time to own a small business.
I think any sane small business owner would have thrown in the towel by now.
But our thoughts on this are- new studio, new us. It's a new year, we've moved, we've got a pretty cabin workshop in the woods, our new website is looking pretty darn lovely (even if we do say so ourselves) and our internet is not not just up-to-date speed, but it is now something called 'super-fast' - what a treat!
We are so over the whole pity-party that was last year. Plus, I'm freshly diagnosed with ADHD and I'm medicated now, so everything feels that little bit more manageable. The burnout is easing and the clouds seem to be clearing. Things just feel more positive. Quitting is not on my radar.
Quite frankly, it's just not my style.
So I made a decision, following a conversation with my wiser-than-her-years 13 year old, who said "if it's not 100% yes, then it's a no". So I'm feeling that vibe and rolling with it. I've made the decision to follow my heart and gut, and start doing more of what makes me happy.
Over the last 17 years as a laser cut card business owner, I've learned that best sellers are the things that I create with my heart. If I love creating it, it shows. If I create something and I'm not 100% invested in it, it's almost guaranteed to sit in the background and maybe sell once or twice if I'm lucky.
So 2026 shall be the year of creating from my heart.
And those of you who follow us on Instagram will know that I declared 2026 as the year of Whimsy. Yes, that is absolutely still true, and I'll get to that now. It's all relevant, I promise.
Whimsy is playful, joyful, quaint and fanciful, and lord knows this world needs more whimsy right now. So both can be true at the same time- 2026 can be the year of creating from the heart AND the year of whimsy. My laser cut greeting card designs have definitely become more whimsical in the last few months, and I'm not going to lie- I'm totally loving it.
Why I Love Stationery - My 'Almost-Was'
When I was choosing which university course to do, way back in two-thousand-and-ahem- something-that-begins-with-a-zero, I almost chose a book arts course in London. I was big-time into book binding and would make all my own sketchbooks. I used to take great pleasure in making the covers as unique and creative as possible, often cutting shapes from them and embroidering on the book cloth.
However, my love affair with books and bookbinding came to an abrupt pause when I visited Falmouth and fell head over heels in love with Cornwall. From that moment on, I was set on going to Falmouth College of Arts, so I plumped for a textile design degree and specialised in surface pattern design.
There was always a tiny piece of my heart that longed for a book-shaped career. I think it's partly why I fell into laser cut greetings cards- I mean, they are kind-of book-shaped if you squint, right?!
I've always had a massive soft-spot for all things stationery - not just notebooks and sketchbooks, but pens, paperclips, notepads and inks. I just can't help it - I blame growing up in the 90s.
As a kid, I'd get £2 pocket money and my parents would take me to the most amazing stationery shop (its sign was a giant yellow paperclip!), where I'd blow all my cash on pens and pencils- nothing could beat the pure joy of perusing the pencil aisle, carefully testing and curating a collection of colours, trying to get the maximum number of items for my £2. And if I was really lucky, I'd have 10p left over for 20 half-penny sweets!
I also had a Fun Fax (remember those?) - Like every kid in school, it was my pride and joy. And for the younger ones in the room, it was like a Filofax but fun. You could buy different booklets and sections to add to the binder and create your perfect organiser. There were stickers and calendars and tutorials and trivia. Then they upped the ante and released a spy-file - oh, my!
The Thing That's Been Missing From Pogofandango
I'm going somewhere with this, well done if you're still with me!
So a quick recap - the last two years of running the business have been tough (understatement of the century), and we've decided that's not how it's supposed to be. I want to find my spark again, feel excited and only make products that bring me joy. Of course, I will always love creating laser cut greetings cards, that will never change. Card making is one of my great loves. But I need more.
And I have often felt like I need to create more than just greetings cards. If you've been here since the early days, you'll remember some of my less successful attempts to create other things- there was a brief foray into pocket mirrors (eurgh), ceramic ornaments (cringe) and probably my least successful idea- 3D papercut baubles -although those actually sold really well, but they took about 8 hours to make and we were selling them for about £12.
I've always wanted to create a range of beautiful luxury stationery and gifts. I just never realised that I could. I'm not sure why- maybe I thought the laser cut greetings card police would lock me up for adultery if I dared look at creating a range of notebooks.
But the time feels right. 2026 is the year of the fire horse. That means it's a time for action, taking charge and following passions. So, here goes!
What's Coming in 2026 For Pogofandango?
The thing is, stationery doesn't have to be serious, grown up or boring. I want to bring back the child-like joy that came with opening a fresh box of crayons. I want the writing of a supermarket shopping list to become a fun activity. I love the idea of writing the most sensible and potentially boring lecture notes in the pinkest, prettiest notebook. I want adults around the country to find pure delight in breaking out their neatest handwriting to write on page one of their lovely new notebook- just like they did on the first day of term.
Let's make adulting that little bit less beige with fun stationery- because the world needs more whimsy!
So our first range of stationery will launch in a few weeks!
It's called "Whimsy" (obvs), and it is a collection of gorgeous, playful, fun notebooks, pens, notepads and other stationery items. I've had so much fun creating these, and honestly, I just want to keep one of each item, so I know you'll love them too.
If you want early access, sneak peeks and maybe even a cheeky discount, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter as we'll give our subscribers the VIP treatment.
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