A mother who decided to quit her job in marketing to start her own business has revealed how her card company became a huge success.
Carly Brands, 41, of Colwyn Bay, North Wales, worked at a local marketing firm before launching the business, while her husband James, 44, previously held a job as a web developer.
Despite saying it was a ‘huge leap of faith’ to launch the naughty card business during the pandemic, Carly was quickly inundated with orders.
Her naughty cards quickly became a hit, with some saying ‘Office W***er’ and ‘Little D***’ across the front.
The business now sells more than 550,000 items every year – and now employs up to 10 full and part-time staff.
Carly Brands, 41, of Colwyn Bary, North Wales, has revealed how her card company became a huge success after she quit her job in marketing
Despite saying it was a ‘huge leap of faith’ to launch the naughty card business during the pandemic, Carly was quickly inundated with orders
Carly used her sense of humor to set up her own risqué card company – and now manages ten people.
She said: ‘When we launched it was a leap of faith as we had never done anything like this before.
‘But because our range was very niche it immediately captured the imagination and things really took off.’
One card is inspired by the hit television series Gavin and Stacey, and has an illustration on it which says ‘Oh! Happy birthday sugar t**s’ on it.’
Carly explained the business sales ‘went through the roof’ when the pandemic hit.
She said: ‘People were in lockdown, and we tailored a lot of merchandise around that, creating light-hearted bespoke cards and gifts – including mugs, pens, and balloons – which brought some light relief at a time when people really needed it.
‘I even wrote a little lockdown-related ditty for a greeting card, and we ended up selling more than 25,000 of them.
‘The response was phenomenal.’
Her cheeky cards quickly became a hit, with some saying ‘Office W***er’ and ‘Little D***’ across the front
The business now sells more than 550,000 items every year – and now employs up to 10 full and part-time staff.
The mother-of-three and her husband James are now celebrating plans to expand their business named Lima Lima.
Carly said: ‘We work with local companies and sell a lot of our items and cards directly, but also via some of the major online platforms like Etsy and Amazon given demand internationally.
The couple are preparing to move to a new larger HQ in the seaside town.
James added: ‘What was a big step for us both, starting our own company after years of paid employment, ended up being the best thing we’ve ever done.
‘Carly and I have so many ideas and are always thinking big, we are excited to relocate and to see how we can take Lima Lima to even greater heights.’
