Rachel Ellen Designs

What Rachel Ellen Designs does

Rachel Ellen Designs is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of children's greeting cards, stationery, and gifts, headquartered in Nottingham. Founded in 1997 by Rachel Church, the company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at rachelellen.co.uk, complemented by a dedicated B2B trade portal at trade.rachelellen.co.uk for retailers, gift shops, and wholesale buyers. The product portfolio spans greeting cards, gift wrap and bags, colouring and activity books (including die-cut and scratch-art formats with stickers), notebooks, writing sets, soft toys, children's accessories (umbrellas, hair accessories, bags, money boxes), mugs, water bottles, party supplies, and themed collections such as Rainbow Unicorn, Cosmic, Fairy, Dinosaur, Farm, and Playful Pups.

The company makes money primarily through one-time unit-priced product sales, with individual greeting cards priced £1.38-£3.99, colouring and activity books at £2.50-£6.00, and children's accessories and gifts in the £5-£15 range. Promotional mechanics include Buy 6 cards get 7th free, 3 for 2 on gift wrap, and mystery bundles offering 52-60% savings. Shipping is free on UK orders over £30, with international delivery available to Europe, Switzerland, and the Rest of World. The customer base is split across parents and caregivers of children, adult gift-givers, schools and educators, and trade retailers/wholesalers. The brand is bootstrapped, founder-owned, and private, with no external institutional capital disclosed and headcount in the 11-50 range.

Name

Rachel Ellen Designs

Legal name

Rachel Ellen Designs Ltd.

Website

https://rachelellen.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rachel Ellen Designs is a UK-based, founder-owned designer and manufacturer of children's greeting cards, stationery, and gifts, selling direct-to-consumer online and through a dedicated B2B trade/wholesale portal to parents, gift-givers, and retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Greeting Cards and Children's Stationery

NAICS

Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (45942), Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (459420), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)

SIC

Greeting Cards (2771), Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Greeting Cards, Wrap & Party Supplies Retail (CRALAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seasonal & Holiday Gifts & Decor Retail (CRALAJAD), Stationery, Gifts & Greeting Value Stores (CRAEAGAI), Kids Crafts & Educational Craft Kits Retail (CRALACAG)

Keywords

• Children's greeting cards
• Colouring activity books
• Gift wrap stationery
• Children's themed gifts
• Party supplies uk

Headquarters

HQ city

Basford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: One-time purchase revenue from selling greetings cards, stationery, children's colouring books, accessories, and home gifts through direct e-commerce and trade channels. Individual product purchases with no subscription component.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rachel Ellen Designs designs, manufactures and sells colourful children's greeting cards, colouring and activity books, notebooks, writing sets, gift wrap and bags, party supplies, and themed children's accessories (umbrellas, money boxes, water bottles, mugs, soft toys, aprons, bags, jigsaw puzzles). Products are made in Nottingham, UK, organised around themed collections, and sold through its own consumer e-commerce site and a dedicated trade/wholesale portal for resellers.

Product overview

Rachel Ellen Designs is a UK-based manufacturer of children's greeting cards, stationery, and gifts headquartered in Nottingham. The company operates as a single unified product portfolio organized around themed collections and product categories. Core offerings include greeting cards (birthday, occasion, and seasonal cards), colouring and activity books (with and without stickers/scratch art), notebooks and journals, writing sets, children's accessories (umbrellas, hair accessories, tattoos), home and storage items (money boxes, mugs, water bottles), party supplies, and soft toys. Products are sold through the company's e-commerce platform with trade/wholesale options available. The company maintains themed collections including Rainbow Unicorn, Cosmic, Fairy, Dinosaur, Farm, Playful Pups, Under the Sea, and various seasonal lines. Promotional offers include Buy 6 cards get 7th free, 3 for 2 on gift wrap, and mystery bundle value packs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Greeting Cards Colourful greeting cards for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, baby celebrations, and other occasions, designed and manufactured in Nottingham, UK, and sold individually (single cards £1.38–£3.99) or in packs/bundles.
• Colouring Books Children's colouring books in themed designs (Jungle Animals, Fairytale Princess, Playful Pups, etc.) including standard colouring books and die-cut colouring books with stickers and gold foil detailing; priced £2.50–£6.00.
• Activity Books with Scratch Art & Stickers Children's activity books combining colouring, scratch art and sticker activities across four themes (Dinosaur, Fairytale Princess, On The Farm, Jungle) with gold foil stickers; for children aged roughly 4–10.
• Notebooks Notebooks in various sizes and bindings (A5, A6, A7 mini pads, shaped, perfect bound, wiro bound) for children and adults.
• Writing Sets and Secret Diaries Children's letter writing sets and themed secret diaries for creative writing and personal journaling.
• Sketchbooks Children's sketchbooks for drawing and sketching activities.
• Colouring Pencils Children's colouring pencils sold individually or as bundles with other stationery items.
• Stickers and Sticker Books Children's sticker books and scene books for imaginative play, featuring themed sticker scenes and colouring activities.
• Organisers and Journals Adult and children's organisers, journals, reward charts, address and birthday books, and password books for personal organization.
• Birthday Card Planner Book Floral-themed perpetual calendar and card keeper organiser for managing and storing birthday cards throughout the year, with gold foil accents; priced £15.00.
• Children's Umbrellas Colourful children's umbrellas in themed designs (Unicorns & Rainbows, Sun & Rainbows & Clouds, Love Bugs, Girl Power); priced around £12.00.
• Children's Accessories Children's accessories including temporary tattoos, hairbrushes, wash bags, sleep masks, keyrings, bag charms, hair accessories, glasses cases, and pin badges; priced £5.00–£15.00.
• Money Box Tins Children's money boxes and savings tins in over 20 bright designs including Rocket Space, Lion, and Dinosaur themes; from £5.00.
• Gift Wrap and Bags Flat gift wrap sheets, gift bags, gift tags, printed tissue paper, and printed ribbon for various occasions; currently offered on a 3 for 2 deal on flat gift wrap sheets.
• Party Supplies Party invitations, thank you notes, party bag fillers, and party decorations for children's celebrations.
• Mugs Ceramic mugs including bone china designs featuring children's themes (e.g. Dinosaur) and adult-themed designs.
• Water Bottles Children's steel water bottles with fun themed designs featuring the Rachel Ellen Designs branding.
• Soft Toys Children's soft toys including Butternut the Bunny and Suds the Mermaid characters, sold individually or with a free colouring book bundle.
• Children's Bags and Purses Children's bags and purses in various designs for carrying personal items.
• Children's Aprons and Tabards Children's aprons and tabards for creative activities and messy-play protection.
• Children's Jigsaw Puzzles Children's jigsaw puzzles featuring themed designs for educational and recreational play.
• Pencil Cases Children's pencil cases in various designs for storing pens, pencils and stationery items.
• Storage Tins Storage tins for organising and storing small items, featuring children's themed designs.
• Prints and Paintings Mounted limited-edition prints and paintings featuring Rachel Ellen Designs artwork for home decor.
• Card Bundles Pre-packaged bundles of greeting cards including Birthday Card Bundles, Classroom Party Card Bundles, and themed card sets at discounted prices.
• Mystery Bundles Value mystery bundles offering savings on stationery treats and themed items including Girls Theme and Boys Theme options with 7–8 items per bundle; 20–60% savings off original values.
• Peep Card Series Large-format greeting cards with peek-through window designs in themes including animals, fairy, ice cream van, big top, rocket, dinosaur, dogs, cats, and occasion-specific designs (new baby, anniversary).
• Notecards Packaged sets of notecards for casual correspondence, available in themed packs of 5, from £1.63.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Woodmansterne Publications: Woodmansterne is a UK publisher of art-led and photographic greeting cards with a strong wholesale trade business. Highly comparable in operating model (design-led, B2B trade distribution, UK-made) though with broader adult rather than children's focus.
• Moonpig: Moonpig is the UK's leading online greeting card retailer offering personalized cards, gifts, and flowers across occasions. Direct overlap with Rachel Ellen Designs in UK online cards and gifting, though Moonpig is heavily personalized-print focused versus Rachel Ellen's design-led children's niche.
• Card Factory: Card Factory is the UK's largest specialty greeting card retailer with a high-street store network and growing online presence. Directly competes with Rachel Ellen Designs in birthday and occasion cards, wrapping, and party-related gifting, albeit at mass-market price points.
• Scribbler: Scribbler is a UK-based greeting card and gift retailer known for quirky, design-led humor cards. Operates a physical store and online channel; highly comparable to Rachel Ellen Designs in the art-illustration-led card category targeting adults and children.
• Roger La Borde: Roger La Borde is a UK greetings card and gift publisher producing art-led designs for the trade and consumer markets. Comparable in design-led approach, children's and lifestyle range, and wholesale distribution model.
• Rosie Made A Thing: Rosie Made A Thing is a UK-based independent greeting card brand selling humorous, illustrated cards wholesale and direct. Directly comparable to Rachel Ellen Designs in business model, scale, and design-led approach within UK greetings.

Broad incumbents

• WHSmith: WHSmith is a major UK high-street retailer of stationery, cards, and gifts, including children's ranges. Overlaps with Rachel Ellen Designs in cards and stationery but as a multi-category retailer rather than a design-specialist.
• Hallmark UK: Hallmark is the world's largest greeting card manufacturer with a broad portfolio across everyday, seasonal, and licensed character cards. Operates as a broad incumbent offering overlapping capabilities but with mass-market positioning rather than Rachel Ellen's design-led children's niche.
• Paperchase: Paperchase is a UK stationery and gift retailer known for design-led products across cards, notebooks, and accessories. A broad incumbent in design-led stationery and greetings with overlapping product universe and target audience.

Emerging players

• East End Prints: East End Prints is a London-based greeting card and print publisher working with independent illustrators. Emerging player in art-led greetings with comparable illustration-led product approach and DTC/wholesale mix to Rachel Ellen Designs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJznLLXHNovYr0IrbmftHzw?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/rachelellendesigns
• Instagraminstagram.com/rachelellencard
• Xx.com/rachelellencard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rachel-ellen-designs-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rachel Ellen Designs