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In conversation with... Raspberry Blossom
Juicy fruits Setting up your own business is a dream for many a graphic designer, and with an ingrained love of greeting cards Rebecca Green knew it was what she always wanted. After eight years of heading up Raspberry Blossom, she tells PG how it all happened and where it’s going especially at PG Live 2022. A little piece of art is how Rebecca Green sees greeting cards, and her love of the format led her to buy the Raspberry Blossom domain name when the idea of being a publisher was just a dream. Now head of creative design of her own company, with husband Mark and a team of five backing the business, that dream has very much become a reality, with years of marketing agency work, a wedding, two babies and a pair of relocations behind them, plus the fillip of a 2020 Henries Award and no less than three, PaperAwards to their name.
Top: Rebecca and Mark Green approve Raspberry Blossom artwork. Above right: Rebecca in the new warehouse. Above: The awards shelf still has room for more. Inset: Colourful designs.
Looking to the next big date in the diary, the PG Live location of the Business Design Centre in London’s Angel, Islington, is particularly familiar and special to Rebecca and Mark as it’s where they had their first flat together - and she designed the first Raspberry Blossom cards at the kitchen table just a minute’s walk from the BDC. Back for their third outing at the UK’s only dedicated greeting card trade show, Rebecca is in reflective mood as she looks back to the company launch in at Spring Fair 2014. “Everyone thought we were crazy launching at one of the biggest trade fairs,” Rebecca said, “but I’m from Birmingham and my dad ran a jewellery business for over 30 years and exhibited at the NEC. As a child I’d go to the NEC to see my dad’s stand and always loved looking through the greetings and gift halls, so it felt familiar and not too daunting.
“I went to a Ladder Club talk and also met with paper consultant Mark Jessett from G.F Smith to gain knowledge and insight into the industry - and then designed eight collections, with a total of 80 cards. “I’ve always loved paper and stationery items, especially greeting cards. I love how they are a little piece of art, where as a designer you can be so creative and use so many mediums too. Something as simple as a folded piece of card can bring a smile to people’s faces, create memories and moments in someone’s life and bring so much joy. I’ve always treasured receiving a card and have a little memory box of special ones that mean a lot to me. “After studying graphic design at university I bought the Raspberry Blossom domain name knowing I’d one day love to set
