Enliven the age-old tradition of card giving with Cards4all.
Contributed By Wilson Lim
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| CN PHOTO: Michael Chan |
Are you tired of receiving the same old boring greeting cards? Or are you feeling left out after sending so many cards, you have nothing left to remember the occasion by? Through an interesting combination of badges and cards, Cards4all has created a solution that puts smiles on both the sender and the recipient’s faces. City News talks to the duo behind Cards4all to know more about their unique cards and to uncover how their journey started from a desire to have their own business.
At the helm of Cards4all are Mikki Chen, 23, a marketing executive and graduate from the School of Graphics Design, at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, and Sheryl Chee, 19, a graduate of the School Of Theology in 2010, who is currently waiting to enter university. Chen’s creative card designs, together with Chee’s badge-making skills come together to form what they call a “one stop service offering a wide range of cards for different occasions.” They pride themselves on cards that are “infused with a distinct flavor to celebrate the uniqueness of every individual.”
Cards4all came about when Chee approached Chen to join Channel U’s new reality TV program, I Am Boss, in 2010. Hosted by Michelle Chia, it is a competition that aims to cultivate the spirit of entrepreneurship. Eight teams of two were given a capital of S$1,000, a shop front along Bugis Street and three hours of operation time to run their business. In each episode, two teams were judged based on their sales and creativity. The duo made a total of S$900 but lost to the opposing team which had an airbrush business.
Although the team did not advance to the finals, they found the entire experience highly rewarding. To Chen, it was “amazing” as it stretched them in their “capacity and strength” and allowed them to “discover each other’s strengths and weaknesses.” To Chee, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that made her aware of all the little details in running a successful business. To add to the pressure, they had to face various challenges in running a business under the constant scrutiny of the Channel U film crew and by extension, the entire nation. There were times where the duo held different opinions on issues but they thank their Christian beliefs as they learned to “seek understanding from one another first.”
To those aspiring to have their own businesses, the duo has something to share. Firstly, it is to dream big and Chee says, “If the dream itself has no ability to motivate and to urge you to start on something, it is probably not big enough.” They urge aspiring entrepreneurs to seize the moment with a quote from Walt Disney, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” The duo also shared the importance of not being “intimidated by your own dreams just because you start out small.”
Indeed, even though the competition has come to a close, the duo has yet to give up on their dreams. Chen and Chee are still selling their cards through their Facebook page and various flea markets. Their product range includes birthday, greeting, festive cards and cards with customized badges. Their cards come with a matching badge.
For cards with customized badges, you can choose to have your own photo printed on the badge. Their cards come in whimsical shapes of flowers or lollipops that will add a distinct style to your gifts.
The duo is currently working on more card designs for upcoming special occasions. Specially-designed notebooks are in the works as well.
For more information, visit their Facebook page, Cards4all or email cards4all.sg@gmail.com.
