orchardcards.co.uk

Livestock update

2009-08-22T19:49:00.004+02:00

Five christmas turkeys arrived today, neurotic as usual and rather small ... they've got a lot of growing to do over the next three and a half months!

Gorgeous new hand-finished cards in

2009-08-18T15:48:00.002+02:00

We've just taken delivery of some very original new stock from Joanne Wishart, an artist from the East-coast village of Tynemouth. All of British wild birds, they are printed on torn-effect paper and mounted on high quality textured board.

New Fine Art card collection arrives

2009-07-16T08:55:00.005+02:00

This month we have significantly boosted our range of art cards with a new selection from the Robertson Collection and we know you like them as they started selling the moment we added them to the site! Find them in Orchard's favourite "themes" of seaside, birds and Scotland, or type RC- into the text search box.

Nice Testimonial received 14-07-2009

2009-07-14T19:45:00.000+02:00

"Just to let you know, my order arrived this morning. Great cards and great service!! Many thanks and hope to see you again." J.H.

Four weeks old ...

2009-06-28T23:18:00.002+02:00

I'm always amazed by the rate at which the chicks grow, ours (see entry below) have at least quadrupled their birth weight in just four weeks. The gorgeous weather has meant we have been able to put them outside earlier than usual and they are loving the grass.

Nice testimonial received 22-06-2009

2009-06-23T23:25:00.000+02:00

"I received my order next day and was absolutely delighted with it. Many thanks for such an excellent service with such good quality cards. I will be back!" N.S.

Nice Testimonial received 17-06-2009

2009-06-18T12:59:00.002+02:00

"I notice your business seems to be expanding and I wish you all the very best of luck. Nice cards, nice people, reasonable prices and efficiency. Good site. What more could we ask?" Kind regards, Mrs J.B."

New arrivals at Mere House Farm

2009-05-30T17:47:00.000+02:00

We've hatched 15 chicks in the incubator today (from 20 eggs, which is a good hatching rate for us). They are terribly cute at the moment, but have been specially bred as free-range table birds so we mustn't get too attached!

Ayo Ghurkali!

2009-05-22T21:18:00.006+02:00

Thank goodness, something to make us feel good about being British at last, and how utterly courteous of the Ghurkas to thank us so sincerely after their long battle with the Government for justice (picture courtesy of The Telegraph).

New Gillian Pattinson greetings cards

2009-04-30T22:57:00.003+02:00

New in this month is a stunning range of cards illustrated with birds and Scottish landscapes by Gillian Pattinson. Gillian studied at the Byam Shaw School of Drawing & Painting in London, and after having her family, moved to Wester Ross in 1986. Gillian works fast in a variety of techniques including watercolour, acrylic and collage and mixed media. These are cards that cannot be found on the high street.

New gift selection online

2009-04-22T18:48:00.006+02:00

Having been selling cards for three years now, and feeling confident about our range, we've decided to add a new range of easy-to-post gifts to our website. They're mainly based on the kind of thing I'd give to Kate to take to a children's birthday party, or perhaps the kind of small token I'd take if I were invited out to lunch. We do hope you like them.

New card payment processor & Paypal

2009-03-06T10:21:00.005+01:00

We are pleased to have changed to a new payment processor, Protx, this week. We previously used HSBC to manage our card payments, but found that too many customers experienced difficulties or interruptions during the check-out process.

Protx appears to be working much more smoothly, and an added benefit is that customers now have the option of using Paypal to check-out, as well as credit or debit card.

Nice testimonial received 05-03-2009

2009-03-05T10:40:00.001+01:00

"Just wanted to say thank you for excellent service. My cards and my mum's (who lives next door to me) arrived the next morning and we loved the descriptions of the cards and easy to use website. Many thanks, J.H."

New stock in from Emma Ball

2009-02-18T21:02:00.000+01:00

Absolutely tons of new cards have come in over the past two months, but we are particularly delighted to have started stocking Emma Ball's cards. If you like her watercolour paintings, type "Emma" into our text search box, or look for her regional designs under [Theme] e.g. Cornwall, Scotland, Wales etc

Nice testimonial received 06-02-2009

2009-02-06T18:49:00.002+01:00

"Order arrived this a.m. Super service. Am delighted with cards. Hope you will have more Easter cards. I will be back. Many thanks. Mrs M.J."

Disaster in the orchard

2009-01-28T11:03:00.002+01:00

We have just lost all our hens to a fox - there was a powercut shortly after midnight (which we didn't discover till morning) and so the electric fence was off for most of the night. I have heard that foxes can be very persistent, and will check a hen house every night for months, just waiting for that one occasion when they haven't been shut in, and that seems to have been proved in this case. I'm just glad that I didn't send Kate and Charlie out to get the eggs today, as the fox only took one hen away, and left the other corpses scattered around the paddock (and one dead in the nestbox).

Cold snap

2009-01-06T23:00:00.005+01:00

The cold snap has made life a bit more difficult at Mere House Farm, providing extra food and water for the poultry and animals. However it has brought some more unusual birds to our feeders, and we've been really delighted to receive regular visits from a flock of long-tailed tits over the past few days, never before seen within the boundaries of the garden. Now they know we're here, we hope they keep coming when it warms up.

The "Violent Veg" have arrived

2008-12-15T16:38:00.002+01:00

We've been trying to get hold of these hilarious cards for months (it's a long story) but the Violent Veg range has finally arrived. Becky & I have never laughed so much loading them onto the site ... and they're flying off the shelves already!

New website goes live

2008-11-13T20:34:00.001+01:00

After months of hardwork, we have launched our upgraded website today. We hope you enjoy the slightly more modern layout and some extra search facilities. What a relief that it's working OK (although there are still a few wrinkles to iron out) but we're not quite sure why we thought it would be a good idea to changeover in the middle of our busiest week of the year!

Advent calendars & press coverage for orchardcards

2008-11-03T14:22:00.001+01:00

Our full range of advent calendars for 2008 are now on the website, and we are delighted to be featuring in the Advent round-ups in both the Telegraph Magazine (Sat 22nd November) and the Times Magazine (Sat 29th November).

Nice testimonial 25-09-08

2008-09-25T12:10:00.006+02:00

"Just received my cards only ordered yesterday. FANTASTIC selection. Thank you." Mrs J.B.

Island of Mull

2008-09-08T16:22:00.000+02:00

We've just returned from a magical holiday at Carsaig, on the south coast of the Ross of Mull. Everything about the week was brilliant ... the sun shone continually whilst the rest of the country was soaked, the house was gorgeous, the scenery and geology are stunning, and otters live on the beach below the house. Here are Kate and Richard, on the basalt columns outside Fingal's Cave on Staffa.

Nice testimonial 12-08-08

2008-08-14T12:33:00.000+02:00

"Thank you very much for, as always, super service. Delighted with my cards." Mrs J.M.

New member of the family

2008-07-29T22:11:00.001+02:00

Ness arrived on Monday, to live with us on loan, and I'm going to be able to ride regularly again for the first time in 20 years! As you can see, she's absolutely beautiful, 16.1hh, a thoroughbred/Irish Draught cross and about 14 years old ... I just can't believe my luck!

Karen Phillips wildlife artist

2008-05-21T10:31:00.004+02:00

Karen Phillips is our featured artist for May. Self taught, her only formal art training was to GCSE level art where she experimented with a variety of different media, before finding her real passion for graphite pencil wildlife art and animal art. She lives and works near Knutsford in Cheshire.

The swallows are here!

2008-04-03T18:13:00.006+02:00

The swallows have arrived today, it's uplifting to hear them twittering above the house again, truly the end of winter (although the forecast is for snow this weekend!). I think April 3rd is the earliest we have ever had them here in Baddiley.

Nice testimonial 08-03-08

2008-03-08T18:27:00.000+01:00

“I placed an order for 5 cards yesterday at 3:32pm and received them this morning! Thank you very much for your prompt delivery. They arrived in perfect condition thanks to the quality packaging. I will certainly use Orchard Cards again in the future.” LF

Easter is just around the corner

2008-03-01T19:12:00.003+01:00

Easter falls on 23rd March this year. This is the earliest date for Easter since 1913, and it won't fall as early again until 2160, so we probably won't be around to see that! For those requiring an intellectual challenge ... Easter falls the first Sunday after the Full Moon that occurs on or after the Spring Equinox on March 21 (if the Full Moon falls on a Sunday then Easter is the next Sunday). This means that Easter can be as early as March 22 or as late as April 25.

We have a good selection of Easter cards in this year, and cards with a religous theme continue to be popular. Our best-selling card has been a very pretty one illustrated with the first verse of the hymn "All things bright and beautiful".

Nice testimonial 29-02-08

2008-02-29T16:48:00.000+01:00

“I just wanted to thank you for the above order – I was so surprised to receive it this morning when I hadn’t completed the order until nearly four pm yesterday afternoon and I wanted to say how impressed I am with your service and how pleased I am to have recommended your site to friends and family.” JC

Growing old disgracefully!

2008-02-26T12:29:00.005+01:00

Boosting our ranges of funny birthday cards, we've just loaded two new lines onto the website "Growing Old Disgracefully" and "M.I.L.K." (which stands for moments of intimacy, laughter and kinship). I think they're going to fly off the shelves!

Mother's Day - Sun 2nd March 2008

2008-02-25T14:13:00.001+01:00

Somehow it seems just a bit too easy to pinch one of our Mother's Day cards out of stock for my own mum (and besides which, she's seen them all already), so this week I searched fruitlessly in Nantwich for something that wasn't too pastel or sentimental. I did however find a really gorgeous blank card illustrated with a watercolour of daffodils, which I hope she'll love.

Nice testimonial 23-02-08

2008-02-25T10:25:00.002+01:00

"Just to say very impressed with website, one of the best I've encountered while internet shopping. Does just what it needs to and no more, perfectly. Ended up buying more than I intended as so simple and quick to use." DK

New 3D seaside designs from Alex Clark

2008-02-19T19:11:00.005+01:00

The new Seaside range from Alex Clark Art is fantastic. The blank greeting cards have a 3D cut-out design (with three folds) to make them really unusual. We can't display them to their best effect on-line but we love them!

New stock - Sarah Gibb

2008-02-19T13:00:00.006+01:00

Following the roaring success of her fab card "It's OK, it's organic!" Sarah Gibb has extended her Eco-chic range of any-occasion greeting cards, and we've topped up with some new stock this month.

New stock - Printmakers

2008-02-19T12:51:00.005+01:00

Just in, a really stunning new range of nature-inspired greeting cards called Printmakers, these designs are all taken from lino-cuts or wood engravings by three artists: Angie Lewin, Robert Gillmor and Robert Greenhalf.

New stock - Emily Burningham

2008-02-11T13:35:00.001+01:00

Just in ... some stunning new greetings cards from designer Emily Burningham. Emily studied ceramic design in London and went on to build her own business designing greeting cards, ceramics and textiles. She is influenced by the history and culture of Japan, and the Arts & Crafts style of the 1920s and 1930s.

Nice testimonial 22-01-08

2008-01-22T20:36:00.004+01:00

"Thank you so much for such a quick turnaround! From ordering at about 4pm yesterday and the cards to be on the doorstep when I got home at 11am today is an amazing service … This is my second order and I will continue to recommend you to all I see. Best wishes from a very happy customer" SM

Milestones

2008-01-11T19:28:00.000+01:00

Kate started Kindergarten today, and absolutely loved it. I however need to improve my tie-knotting skills.

Recycle your old christmas cards

2008-01-08T12:39:00.000+01:00

Yes it is worth it ... last year the Woodland Trust's recycling programme collected around 93 million cards, and as a result it planted 22,000 new trees and saved 2,400 tonnes of carbon emissions. The Trust will have card collection boxes in branches of WH Smith, Tesco, Marks and Spencer and TK Maxx until the end of January.

Go to www.woodland-trust.org.uk for more information about its invaluable work.

Nice testimonial 20-11-07

2007-11-20T18:04:00.003+01:00

"I ordered some Xmas cards and advent calendar at lunchtime on Monday 19^th November. I ordered early as I thought they might take a few days as you must be very busy. To my surprise and delight they arrived this morning – Tuesday 20^th. This really is exceptional service and it will certainly encourage me to shop with you in the future. Many thanks." JB

Amazing starlings

2007-11-15T20:32:00.000+01:00

At the moment thousands of starlings are providing a breathtaking spectacle each afternoon at dusk, doing circuits of the farm in tight-knit but very fluid flocks. Luckily they don't roost on our patch (they're very noisy when they finally all descend into some poor tree) but for half an hour they perform unbelievable aerial acrobatics, like a big big shoal of fish in the air.

Nice testimonial 08-11-07

2007-11-08T17:59:00.001+01:00

"Dear Orchard Cards Team,
I would like to thank you for the cards and calendar I ordered last week. The order must have been processed very quickly because it was with me almost immediately! I am very impressed with the service I received and the quality of the goods I bought. Thankyou all for such prompt service; I shall use your company again and recommend it to friends. Best Wishes." JT

Redwings are here

2007-10-28T17:47:00.000+01:00

The first Redwings have arrived in Cheshire for the winter from Iceland or Scandinavia. Flocks of them are feeding in the fields around us and flying low over the hedges, their pale grey rumps make them easily identifiable in flight.

Postal strikes

2007-10-06T13:44:00.000+02:00

Apart from the obvious fact that industrial action by Royal Mail employees has a devastating impact on this business, I simply can't comprehend why the postmen seem intent on cutting off their noses to spite their faces, as every additional day of strikes must drive hundreds of businesses to other delivery companies. The shareholders at DHL must be rubbing their hands together with glee.

Phew!

2007-09-20T23:37:00.000+02:00

We have finished our office move today ... furniture, equipment and stock into new premises which have been converted specifically for us. The computers and telephones are installed (and nearly working properly!) and it's fabulous - it's been such hard work today but we can't wait to try it all out tomorrow!

Nice testimonial 19-09-07

2007-09-19T14:04:00.001+02:00

"Dear Orchard Cards
I would like to take the time to thank you for your excellent service. I ordered a selection of cards from your company yesterday afternoon at 1.30pm and received them this morning at 10.30am which is no mean feat considering I live on an Island. I think the reason I received my cards so promptly is mostly due to the fact that my order was dispatched immediately upon order - if only all companies were this conscientious! Thank you for this great service, I will be buying all my cards from you from now on and have recommended you to all my friends.
Kind Regards" TI (Orkney)

Autumn's on its way

2007-09-18T22:17:00.002+02:00

Large flights of Canada geese are beginning to move to and from the Mere. It's an amazing sight to watch (and hear - they're blooming noisy!) two or three hundred geese flying in formation only 50 feet or so above the barn, and a sure sign that summer is drawing to a close.

Back to the grindstone ... and new stock coming

2007-09-05T19:52:00.000+02:00

We're just back from our last of three short holidays in the UK over the summer. This time we have spent a week in at Wyvis Lodge in Inverness, a once-glorious but now slightly faded Victorian stalking lodge set in splendid isolation at the head of Loch Glass, a good ten miles (of bumpy driving) from the nearest pub or shop. It's been fabulous, no TV or telephones, but plenty of fantastic birds (ospreys, divers, ptarmigan etc) and lots of boozing.

Anyhow, I'm now back at my desk in earnest, with our busiest season ahead of us. We have nearly all this year's advent calendars loaded up (and yes, amazingly some people are already buying them) and we will have six or seven new ranges of cards coming into stock over the next few weeks, including a useful boost to our humour selection.

Another step along the learning curve

2007-08-07T14:58:00.000+02:00

The following is taken from an email I received today. In my ignorance, it simply hadn't occured to me how important the written card descriptions can be for some customers, and it will certainly influence what information we include in future.

"I would just like to thank you for the descriptions of your cards and gift wrap. My wife and I are both totally blind so really appreciate any details given. We have speech on our computer so we are able to browse at our leisure."

Card awards

2007-08-01T11:52:00.001+02:00

I spent the day in London yesterday, helping to judge "The Henries", a sort of of Oscar-type award for the Greetings Card industry. The panel of judges were drawn from a spectrum of card-buyers representing all types of retailer from the very biggest such as Tesco and Clintons down to small independents like us at Orchard. Publishers submitted entries for about 20 different awards, and there were up to 150 entries in some of the larger categories so it was hard work, but very interesting, and fascinating to talk to other buyers in the business.

Beautiful Scilly Isles

2007-07-30T18:36:00.000+02:00

Just back from a week in the Isles of Scilly, the idyllic unspoiled annexe of Cornwall. It was fabulous as usual - the sea was aquamarine, the deserted beaches sparkling white, and the wild agapanthus in the dunes on Tresco are in full flower now. Do go if you ever have the chance.

Baby owls!

2007-07-25T21:30:00.000+02:00

Our lucky neighbours have spotted two baby barn owls hopping up and down on a branch outside the nest! I'm so pleased that the owlets have made it to fledging, and hope the weather lets up so that they're not permanently wet as they learn to fly. On the other hand, one small advantage of all the rain is that no-one has been able to cut their hay yet and there's plenty of owl-friendly long grass in the fields nearby.

Bird trouble

2007-07-04T22:30:00.000+02:00

We've seen a lot of the Barn Owls this week. I think the wet weather must be making hunting difficult, as we've spotted them out and about as early as 5pm. They're nesting in an oak tree about 300yds from the house, and even when you see them every day, it still gives a thrill to spot them gliding silently over the (uncut) hay.

Late June and early July is always a difficult time with the hens - it gets dark so late that sometimes it's past my bed time when the chickens go up to roost. Consequently it's difficult to lock them up at night and we have lost three to a fox within a week - may be the same vixen, providing for cubs.

Never too late ...

2007-06-26T11:06:00.000+02:00

We've been absolutely amazed by how many Fathers' Day cards we've sold in the 9 days that have passed since the event! We didn't have this kind of late buying after Mothers' Day - perhaps because it's better known?

Growing up

2007-06-24T10:45:00.000+02:00

Back from Ascot, we had a fabulous day - great racing and hardly any rain. While we were away the baby swallows in Splodge's stable have fledged and are flying, quite expertly, in endless circuits round the garden. Also, the ewes were separated from the lambs yesterday. The lambs have remained in the field underneath our bedroom window and needless to say there was much plaintive bleating last night, though already this morning everything is quieter.

Big hats all round

2007-06-21T18:53:00.000+02:00

Aaagh, I wish it would stop raining ... we're off to Ascot tomorrow (never been before but managed to find a lovely old top hat for Richard on eBay!) and the forecast is not good. Never mind, the rain's not so bad when you have a glass of champagne in your hand I don't suppose!

Advert in the Times

2007-06-19T19:03:00.000+02:00

We're publishing an advert in The Times newspaper on Saturday (in the Web Directory). This is the first time we've ventured into newspaper advertising, as we currently get most of our customers from Google, and we've simply no idea what the response will be. I've been really busy all week stocking up on our most popular designs so we have a really good range of stock available, but I'm dubious about whether the ad will be effective or not ... we'll keep you posted!

Waiter service

2007-06-15T16:39:00.000+02:00

The woodpecker came to our peanut feeder again today - and brought its baby with it, something I've never seen before. The fledgling was almost as big as the adult, but fluffier and less colourful. It sat on the fence and received a most excellent waiter service from its parent, much the same as was going on in our kitchen at the same time!

Now we are two

2007-06-05T16:23:00.000+02:00

I’ve managed to find a really nice local girl, a farmer’s daughter, to help me on a part-time basis.

One of my biggest worries has been how to guarantee a reliable salary for an employee when I cannot predict how much work my business will generate on any given day. Some days we receive just a handful of orders, and on others there may be quite a number to pack and dispatch. I feel lucky to have found Becky so quickly, she seems both capable and good company (important when there are only two of you in the office), and she’s also willing to make up her hours on days when business is quiet by mucking in with the household chores - fantastic! Now, all I have to do is learn how to operate payroll, should be easy eh?

Big decisions

2007-05-22T16:17:00.001+02:00

Great decision made today. www.orchardcards.co.uk has been trading for just over a year and I’ve finally determined to take someone on to help me. It’s been a difficult call, as the business is not yet profitable, but turnover is growing quickly and I’m finding myself spending less and less time with my two beautiful children, Kate (3 years) and Charlie (18 months). In the end, maternal guilt sets a limit on the number of times you can flick the TV onto CBeebies with one hand whilst answering the phone with the other in order keep the kids quiet for a minute or two …