In Conversation with Siobhan Wauchope, Creative Director of Streetgreets and Naomi Nicholas, Managing Director of Streetgreets
October is Black History Month in the UK — a time to reflect, recognise and celebrate the contributions of Black individuals and communities across all sectors. At the GCA, we’re proud to spotlight the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of our Black-owned member businesses.
This Q&A series was launched by Sarah-Jane Porter, who now heads up the GCA Council Diversity & Inclusion Sub-committee, and continues to champion representation and inclusion across the industry.
In this edition, we’re joined by the founders of Streetgreets, to learn more about their journey, inspirations, and what’s next.
What’s the name of your company?
Streetgreets
When was the company first set up?
February 2017
Where is your business based?
London & East of England
Can you share a little about your background and who you are?
We are sisters who were born and bred in West London. Being 3rd generation Windrush, our Grandparents and Parents hail from Jamaica.
What first drew you into the world of greeting cards?
I (Siobhan) have always been very creative since early childhood, and loved doing arts and crafts. I used to love making Birthday and Christmas cards for our parents, so I am glad to share my passion with a wider audience. I love that Greeting Cards are like mini pieces of unique art that gives viewers a sneak peak into someone’s mind and creativity. And my Sis Naomi is the voice of reason and logic which keeps me anchored. (Sometimes!)
What challenges have you faced on your journey so far, and how did you overcome them?
We have faced many challenges and setbacks on our journey, including lack of financial support. But our biggest one has been remaining confident in an increasingly saturated market. When you create a very niche product which works, a lot of similar things pop up and not everyone is genuine. How we remain focused is by staying innovative, true to ourselves, unique, and positive about Streetgreets.
Looking back, what moment in your career has made you feel most proud?
Our proudest career moment was when we received an email from Sainsbury’s back in September 2022, asking to stock us nationwide in stores! I (Siobhan) was at work at the time and almost fell off my chair!
Where do you look for inspiration when creating new card designs?
Life!
What’s the most memorable card you’ve ever received?
The most memorable card that I (Siobhan) received was a Leopard print Greeting Card from a friend. I do love a good Leopard Print!
Do you have a personal favourite card you’ve designed? What makes it so special to you?
A favourite of both our ours by far is Backsiiide! It just encapsulates so much of our Caribbean Culture and its like you can hear the voice as you read it. A lot of our customers have said this too!
Who or what has had the greatest influence on your creative process?
We would definitely say our Mum. She has always been very artistic and creative from dressmaking to baking to painting. We’d like to believe her creativity and our Dad’s innovative mind, have definately trickled through to both of us.
What excites you most about your work and the business you’ve built?
What excites us most about Streetgreets is that the possibilities are endless! We’ve become more than Greeting Cards and we love that people associate us with positive vibes and bigging up Black-British culture authentically.
What’s next for Streetgreets?
Stay tuned!
Thank you to Siobhan & Naomi for sharing their story and creative journey with us. Check out their amazing designs on the Streetgreets website.
Stay tuned throughout October as we spotlight more incredible GCA member businesses and celebrate creativity during Black History Month.
