The festive season starts early at the Hospice. Our Christmas Card team works all year round to provide new quality cards for our supporters to purchase for their family and friends in time for Christmas.

Sales of the cards bring in valuable funds for the Hospice. This year’s target is our biggest yet, but we’re hoping to beat it with our new designs. All cards and their packaging are recyclable, no glitter or plastic wrapping.

Leo, one of our valuable volunteers and a retired buyer for John Lewis, heads up the team, with Chris, Rachel and Jake supporting her when necessary. During a particularly hot and busy summer day, we caught up with them to find out how it all works.

How would you describe your role in one sentence?  

Leo: Creating own brand Christmas cards & Christmas tree decorations made by the Man Shed.

Rachel: Very varied, busy and exciting. 

Chris: varied, challenging and fun (sometimes) – no two days are the same. 

From L-R – Rachel, Chris, Leo and Jake.

What’s the first thing you do on a standard day? 

Leo: Check my emails as I only volunteer one day a week, catch up with the Hub team. 

Rachel: Open the Hub and read my emails. 

Chris: Make a cup of tea and ask if anyone else wants one. 

When do Christmas preparations begin for you?  

Rachel: This year it was as soon as I returned from maternity leave but it’s an all-year-round process. 

Leo: In November of the previous year. From then on, it’s weekly monitoring of what’s popular on the market and what the trends are, also monitoring which cards generate the most sales! 

Chris: When Leo begins discussing next year’s design of cards with me in November.

What’s your favourite task? 

Leo: Running the tender process with potential suppliers and selecting the best artwork and most cost-effective cards. 

Rachel: Getting the cards out of the warehouse which gives me much-needed space back for stock. 

Chris: Working with the rest of the team to pick and pack the cards for delivery. It’s hard work but as a team we make it fun too.

Which task do you dislike the most? 

Leo: E-filing! 

Chris: Creating the individual barcodes for each card. 

Rachel: Inputting each shops transfer onto the system as it takes forever 

What’s the most interesting thing about your job? 

Leo: Using my buying skills to create first choice ranges for the Hospice.

Rachel: tracking the sales for each week.

Chris: Probably working on designs for the signage and Price tickets.

What do you think other people would be surprised to know about your role? 

Rachel: How varied it is. No two days are the same.

Leo: How much research of competitors is required and the continuous attention to detail needed to ensure all runs smoothly up to launch.

Chris: How much we all do for such a small team, every step of the process. 

What’s your first Christmas-related task? 

Leo: Looking to see what’s popular on the market. Identify trends. 

Rachel: Inputting the designs onto the system

Chris: Counting the remaining stock from last year in our January stock take – it starts me thinking about the next year’s designs

What skills do you need to do your job? 

Chris: Patience is important.

Leo: Understanding what responsible sourcing is. Product design and selection, negotiation skills. Good communications to all parties. Planning the marketing. 

Rachel: Organisation, patience and a great sense of humour. 

Is there anything boring about your role?? 

Chris: Of course not!

Leo: Electronic Filing

Rachel: Every day is different so can never get boring 

What’s the last thing you do before you leave at the end of the day?

Leo: Do a job list for the following week. 

Rachel: turn off my pc and lock up the hub. 

Chris: Double check I have set the alarm!!