Meet the Founders

Elise

Co-founder of The Black Card Company

Elise is the creative behind the empowering greeting card and gift brand Cinnamon & Brown, which is featured on this platform. Elise, who is Black British of Caribbean heritage, wanted to create contemporary Afrocentric greeting cards, art and gifts that represent the urban Caribbean diaspora. The Black Card Company is Elise's brain child, her passion for creativity and ideas is the reason it exists today!

Tanya

Co-founder of The Black Card Company

Tanya is the creative behind the beautiful handmade greeting card and gift brand Colourshot, which is showcased on this platform. Tanya, who is of African heritage, used her love of African fabrics to create contemporary African inspired gifting products using vibrant African fabric embellishments. Tanya is passionate about diverse representation.

Our story

Hello from Elise and Tanya!

We are both solopreneurs who have our own Afrocentric greeting card and gift brands with products we design ourselves. We are passionate about the authentic representation of our community and the celebration of our cultures and heritage.

” Different communities have distinct and unique representation needs, each requiring a thoughtful and tailored approach. We saw there was a gap in the market for diverse representation within visual arts and graphic design and The Black Card Company was born.

Our customers are drawn to our products because they don’t often see themselves or their culture reflected in art and design. Our products help them feel seen, represented and celebrated.“

We met years ago on the craft market circuit, often selling at the same cultural events. Time and again, we heard the same feedback from customers: ‘We love these products,’ ‘There’s nothing else like this out there,’ and ‘Where can we find you next?‘

So, we knew first hand that there was a demand for what we, and other creators like us, had to offer. There was just a lack of exposure and visibility. Different communities have distinct and unique representation needs, each requiring a thoughtful and tailored approach. We saw that there was a gap in the market for diverse representation within visual arts and graphic design and The Black Card Company was born.

Many underrepresented creators turn to the greeting card and gifting industry as an accessible and affordable way to express their creativity and share their stories. Our platform brings these creators together in one space, making it easier for customers to discover authentic, culturally rich products that celebrate community, identity and connection. Each design reflects the lived experiences and perspectives of the communities they represent, encouraging appreciation, inclusivity and meaningful representation.

Our customers are drawn to our products because they don’t often see themselves or their culture reflected in art and design. Our products help them feel seen, represented and celebrated. Authenticity matters for them. They value the authentic designs and knowing that the products are created by designers from the very communities being represented – not by brands following trends or exploiting cultures for commercial gain. We love seeing their faces light up when they discover themselves or their loved ones authentically reflected in our products.

As heart led, purpose driven founders of The Black Card Company, our mission is to provide a space for unique, well designed products, where diverse representation, both customer facing and behind the scenes, is centred.

What is The Black Card Company and why is it needed?

Established in 2020, The Black Card Company is a black-owned, UK based, online marketplace for diverse greeting cards, gifts, stationery and gift wrap. We are the largest platform of its kind in the UK and still growing. All of the products are authentically designed, by independent black-owned brands, for a multi-cultural customer base. The mediums our creators use on their products include paintings, drawings, digital art, illustrations, printmaking, mosaic art, paper crafts, textile art and typography.

Diverse world

We live in a diverse world but historically, diverse communities have been underrepresented or misrepresented in the visual arts and design space. By prioritising the authentic representation and unique cultural experiences and identities of underrepresented groups, we aim to challenge and disrupt the status quo. Everybody deserves to see themselves represented in all aspects of life. Representation matters because it not only reflects reality, it also shapes and impacts it.

Diverse creators

Diverse creators want to express their creativity authentically and without barriers to entry or design. Many outlets only accept a narrow and limited range of products with diverse designs, if any at all. The Black Card Company amplifies underrepresented black visual artists and designers and supports their creativity and cultural expression. By making space for authentic representation, we provide opportunities for diverse artists and creators to have their voices heard, their creativity appreciated and their narratives shared, ultimately enriching the artistic and creative space as a whole.

Diverse customers

Until now, the demand for a comprehensive range of authentically designed, visually diverse products has remained largely unmet. The Black Card Company bridges this gap by connecting customers with brands that genuinely celebrate and represent diverse people and cultures through art and design. The result is a collection of affordable, accessible products that combine authenticity, creativity, and inclusivity – a perfect match!

Circular economy

By shopping with us you are helping to build and recirculate wealth within under-represented and often lower socio-economic groups; groups who have not typically had the same access to resources or opportunities for wealth generation as others.

Some of our prices may be higher

Unlike the large multinational card platforms, we are not a single company. We are a marketplace hosting small independent businesses that are largely underrepresented in the mainstream. Large card platforms mass produce, process and print generic products that are distributed globally. Our small businesses produce their specialist diverse designs in small batches. They present you with unique, and sometimes bespoke creativity, and will process each order with a personal touch, but they don’t have the economies of scale to match the prices of a large multinational.