INSIDE THE ENVELOPE
With Oh Squirrel
Owner Katie Tasić pictured with her pup Ralph
Q: Can you give us a brief background on how Oh Squirrel came to be?
A: I worked in fashion but wasn't feeling fulfilled, so started to design and make cards in my free time to sell at local markets. Within a year I had regular customers and enquiries from potential stockists so I decided to take the plunge and have a go at doing it full time. I was 25 at the time and I'm so grateful to my younger self for believing in herself and taking the leap to change career. I've run the business full time for over a decade now and in the last year have opened a little shop in East London. I’m open to customers a few days a week, accompanied by my fluffy assistant Ralph the puppy.
Items that inspire the cards for Oh Squirrel
Q: What inspires your designs?
A: The brand is named 'Oh Squirrel' from my love of squirreling away vintage finds. Whether it be beautiful old tins with the fanciest lettering and colour combinations or wallpaper from the 1970s, I love not only the design but the nostalgia it provokes. I think my word has a nod to this, but then a modern update through the use of my handwriting on many designs, and fun biodegradable glitter on others.
Katie foiling cards with her press
Q: We are big fans of special finishes, what made you decide to include sparkles and foils to your cards?
A: The glitter was a happy accident. I was playing about one day and used some glitter that's usually for printing on fabrics (the ex fashion person in me there!) and wondered what would happen if I put it on card. The answer... instant bestsellers! I made the cards by hand for the first couple of years before partnering with a UK factory who would make them for me in biodegradable glitter. The foil came later when I bought a vintage foil press on a bit of a whim as I wanted a way to make my handwriting look even more special. The plates I print the cards from are created from my own original handwriting so it's such a lovely 'hands on' process.
Q: If you could go back to before you started your business, what is one thing you would tell yourself?
A: Enjoy the process and do it all in your own time. I started the business as I wanted to create a job for myself, rather than something to scale and become huge, and I'm really proud that I've stuck to my guts and maintained it at a level that gives me a wonderful creative job. When in the past, I've had outside pressure to grow in directions that don't necessarily align with my values.
During the pandemic, I sat on stock from my first ever litho run and thought it was game over, it was a massive loss of confidence which I've since got back by making sure everything I do and every stockist I work with I'm passionate about.
Vintage inspiration for the Oh Squirrel collection
Q: What is something you can’t live without as a business owner?
A: My network of other business owner friends. I'm really lucky to have met some incredible people over the years of doing this as a job, picked up from market stalls and trade shows! I have so many talented pals, ranging from florists to jewellery designers and not only are we each others' biggest cheerleaders, but having someone to show a new design to for a second opinion or ask a question about some design software or check in on some payment terms is absolutely priceless. No question is ever too small or too silly and we all celebrate each other's successes.
Q: Do you have any fun facts about your business that you can share with us?
A: I actually have very little interest in squirrels, in fact where I live in East London they're mostly viewed as pests rather than wildlife!
Collection of greeting cards by Oh Squirrel
Q: This is a tough one, but we have to ask! What are your top three favourite cards?
'Always and Forever Bow' - the simplicity of this design and how it works with my handwriting just feel so special. I absolutely LOVE bows, and am delighted they're currently so on trend. Back when studying my fashion design degree it was my default to stick a bow on everything!
'Lets Have a Birthday Boogie!' - I'm originally from Yorkshire so a lot of my turns of phrase are a nod to playing with phrasing and language, as Yorkshire folk are renowned for! I just love the joy this card suggests, and the colour combination of pink and green will always be a firm favourite.
'Happy Birthday Polka Dot' - So for years I stubbornly refused to design cards that simply said 'happy birthday' as I thought it would be a waste of a design! I'm really glad that I've since become a lot less stubborn, as of course a 'happy birthday' card will always be a best seller. The combination of my handwriting and a classic polka dot on this are a winning combination for sure, and I love printing these ones on my vintage press.
Figure 1: Always and Forever Bow
Figure 2: Let’s Have a Birthday Boogie!
Figure 3: Happy Birthday Polka Dot