Tag: mental health

Introducing …The Smile Prints

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Hello – we’ve created something brand new!

Introducing …The Smile Prints

If you’re familiar with our parcels, you’ll know that we occasionally include colouring sheets along with the contents, as we like to give you an excuse to take a little time out for yourself, even if it’s just for a few moments.

We’ve also included two Smile Cards inside every monthly parcel since we began 4 years ago, one card has a short message for the recipient, and there’s one blank card, for them to write their own message or inspirational quote, to pass on to a friend, or maybe even leave somewhere for a complete stranger to find, to hopefully make their day a little brighter and make them smile.

So, we decided to design beautiful prints, and give you the opportunity to download your own, that you can even print out at home, whether you want to send a positive message on a postcard to a friend, leave a random act of kindness, do some mindfulness colouring, or add a framed smile print to your wall – we’ve got them all.

Every purchase from The Smile Prints will go towards continuing to create our parcels and will help us to reach a wider audience …and therefore, share more smiles – which means you’re pretty fabulous!

If you want to take a browse, you’ll find The Smile Prints here: https://www.thesmileprints.com which should (hopefully!) link you straight through to our new Etsy shop.

As always, thank you so much for your support.

Karen x

 

Quick 2020 Review!

Posted on by thesmileparcel

Hello!

I hope you’re keeping safe and well.

We’re reaching the end of the year, so I wanted to do a little round-up update post today!

We’re all sadly aware of the negatives and challenges, and for some, tragedies that 2020 brought, but I wanted to take some time to focus on some positives.

Firstly, lots of us had the opportunity to spend lots more time at home with family, something that we may not get to experience again and I know so many of you made the most of this time, and we were made so much more aware of the amazing work of our frontline workers and their dedication to help others – something that we are all the more grateful for and won’t take for granted.

The kindness that has been shown to others, by the majority of people, whether it be raising money for struggling charities, or helping neighbours, or even strangers in times of need.

On a personal note, we’ve been touched by the support you’ve shown The Smile Parcel during this time, and it’s been a pleasure to handwrite your lovely notes to go inside surprise pick-me-up parcels to send to friends and family.

This time enabled us to re-evaluate our goals, and so we saw the comeback of our letterbox friendly “The Smile Parcel Mini” gifts – which we love creating.

We also joined a new exciting platform, KINDpreneurs – kind shopping, an online marketplace to showcase small businesses and entrepreneurs using their business as a force for good, offering products with purpose that have a positive impact on people, the planet or animals.

You can find out more about KINDpreneurs here: http://www.kindpreneurs.com

We’re so grateful for your loyalty to The Smile Parcel, lots of you have been receiving our subscription parcels for a long time now and we appreciate every single order, as your purchases means we are able to create more parcels and reach a wider audience, to share a smile and a mental health boost to more people – which means you are pretty fabulous!

I hope you have a lovely Christmas and we’re keeping our fingers tightly crossed for a better 2021.

Karen x

September 2020 – Parcel Contents

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Hello Lovelies!

It’s almost at the end of September, which means it’s time for another parcel contents reveal…

Our theme this month was “Me-Time” and they contained products to give the recipient an excuse to take a step back and prioritise themselves for once!

September Contents:

Sleepy Sloth Mug –

After a very odd summer, this month we wanted to celebrate you, and remind you to simply take a little me-time, and this cute sleepy sloth mug was a must-have, as your first item.

Make sure anyone in your household, or even visitors, are fully aware that when the sloth mug is in use, you are not to be disturbed, as very important me-time is in progress!

Be Happy Tea Light Holder –

We wanted to help you to create a nice relaxing atmosphere while taking time for you, so we thought lighting a tealight sounded like a great idea. This “Be Happy” glass tealight holder seemed to be a perfect choice – we’ve included a tealight for you too, so all you need to do is find a lovely (and safe) place for it to sit, so you can watch the calming flame flickering.

Lucky Stars –

Now, these are very special “Lucky Stars” that have been carefully handmade by Ellesha from Craft Create Dream. Each of the 5 colourful paper stars contains a hidden inspirational message, just for you. Sometimes, when we’re feeling low, a simple pick-me-up and motivational quote can be enough to give us a little lift. You can find Ellesha over on Instagram or her Facebook business page.

I Can’t Adult Today Coaster & Tea Bag –

I think there are times when all of us are allowed a “non-adulting” day, and while having me-time, is definitely that time! Keep this coaster close to your sleepy sloth mug, and you’ll be ready to go. And, of course, we couldn’t give you a mug without including something to go inside, so we’ve given you a “Chocolate Flake” flavour teabag, to help you melt away…

 Stronger Than You Think –

We’ve included another postcard from Katie Abey this month, and this one is a reminder that you’re stronger than you think – the bunny says so! (P.S. These postcards look great in frames!).

Smile Cards –

As always, there should be a couple of these little cards in your parcel, I’ve written one for you, and the blank one, is for you to write a short inspirational or positive message, and give to someone you know, or maybe, leave somewhere for a complete stranger to find.

Parcel Assistant –

The Pom-Pom Parcel Assistant who helped (or hindered!) us with packing your parcel this month was, Colin.

 

Karen x

Have You Visited Us On Etsy Yet?

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Good Morning!

We’ve been super busy getting organised and adding to our parcel ranges at TSP HQ, so I thought I’d do a little update post today!

We first opened the Etsy shop last year, but due to lots of different reasons (and possibly a few excuses too! 😉 ) it, sort-off, well, was ignored and forgotten about!

But, this year we got ourselves organised and finally got it up and running properly.

You can have a nosey here: http://www.thesmileparcel.etsy.com

Over in the Etsy shop you’ll find our complete range of Smile Parcel’s, including our ‘Plus’ monthly subscription boxes – these are a ‘Plus’ because they contain all our usual monthly surprise contents, but also include a beautiful candle and 10% from each one is donated to mental health charity, Shout, which helps support those experiencing crisis, via a text messaging service.

Shout website: http://www.giveusashout.org

We have a range of ready-to-post parcels, each with set contents, so you know exactly what you’ll be getting with this range…

And finally, you’ll find our latest additions, which you are loving and we love making them just as much, our “The Smile Parcel Mini” letterbox friendly gifts – these offer our same mission of sharing a smile, inspiration and a mental health boost, but all neatly wrapped into a compact pick-me-up.

Our prices range from just £9.50, up to £24, all with free UK delivery.

As always, if you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we love chatting to you…

You can get in touch via the “Contact Us” page on this website, or find us over on Facebook or Instagram.

Karen x

August 2020 – Parcel Contents

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Hello Lovelies!

It’s almost at the end of August and so it’s time for another parcel reveal!

Our theme this month was “Homely Holiday” and they everything you need to take a relaxing holiday closer to home, whether that be a stay-cation, or in the back garden!

August Contents:

Retro Light Bulb Glass –

This time of the year is usually all about enjoying the holiday season and maybe even escaping away for a sunny break. But this year has been anything but ordinary and sadly lots of us have either had to, or chosen to, not go away on holiday this summer, so, we decided to bring the holiday vibes to you instead!

Your first item is this super cool retro drinking glass and stripy straw – and it even comes with a cocktail recipe! So, make your cocktail, add some ice, and relax on a poolside lounger (you may need to use your imagination for the last bit!)

Bunting –

This beautiful handmade bunting gave us all the vibes of a lovely beach hut – we love the nautical red and navy stripes. This has been lovingly handmade by Maria, over at Oscars Craft Store, who you can find on Etsy.

Notebook & Bee Pencil –

The strange situation we all find ourselves in at the moment, is only temporary and we will come through the other side. It’s a great opportunity to make plans for what we want to do when we are able to travel again, go abroad or have adventures further afield.

This notebook has been included this month for this very purpose – make lists, create goals, dream destinations, basically anything that helps you to look forward to the future and have something positive to focus on, which is so important.

We’ve given you a bee pencil and eraser too …for no other reason than it’s very cute!

Good Vibes Only –

This button badge from Colour Your Life Club is to pin on your jacket, bag, or anywhere else you choose, to remind you, and others, that you’re accepting good vibes only – other people can keep their negativity to themselves, we’re not interested!

 Yes, I Can –

Like a lot of us, you may have had plans for this year, that unfortunately had to be put on hold, postponed or even cancelled, but this postcard is here to tell you that, although things may not of happened just as you had planned, it doesn’t mean they won’t happen at exactly the right time that they were supposed to. No matter what gets in the way, it won’t stop you, repeat after me “Yes I Can”!

Postcard from Colour Your Life Club.

Smile Cards –

As always, there should be a couple of these little cards in your parcel, I’ve written one for you, and the blank one, is for you to write a short inspirational or positive message, and give to someone you know, or maybe leave somewhere for a complete stranger to find?

Parcel Assistant –

The Pom-Pom Parcel Assistant who helped us to pack your parcel this month was, Herbert!

Karen x

July 2020 – Parcel Contents

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Hello lovelies, it’s time for another parcel reveal!

Our theme for July was “Relax & Recharge” and they contained products all connected with giving you an excuse to simply pause for a moment, be mindful and, just like your phone, recharge your batteries.

July Contents:

Splendor Sandalwood Candle Jar –

Welcome to your July parcel and this month’s theme “Relax & Recharge”. Your first item is this lovely jar candle – when we think of relaxing, our first thought goes to lighting a candle, regardless of the time of year. The fragrance of Splendor Sandalwood is a calm refreshing scent and the perfect choice for this parcel.

Colouring Sheet & Twig Pencils –

If you’re a regular subscriber to The Smile Parcel, you’ll know that we’ve included a colouring sheet in previous parcels. Colouring for adults has become a popular hobby and is a great way of taking relaxing time out for yourself. A single colouring sheet can be great if you’re one of those who struggles to make time for me-time…there’s always something else that needs doing or someone else who needs our attention. You may initially think that colouring isn’t for you, but once you get started, it almost “forces” you to be mindful for a few moments, to take a breather and think of something else, even if it’s only for a short time. We included some super rustic twig colouring pencils to help you get started!

Bath Fizzers –

Now, you could probably smell the beautiful fragrance of these mini bath fizzers even before you spotted them inside your parcel. These have been made by Trishell at Bathing Beauties, who you can find over in her Etsy shop. The perfect excuse to run a bath, light your candle, allow yourself to unwind for a while and let the worries of the day drift away…

Bookmark & Snack Bar –

There’s no drama with this Llama and he’s keeping an eye on you …and your page! Reading can be the ultimate escapism, I find it difficult to switch my mind off enough to focus on a book, so I’m very jealous of those of you who can. If you are able to get lost in a book, this Llama has got your back! And, of course, it’s then time for the “Recharge” part of your parcel – a snack bar to help keep you refuelled, after all, all this relaxing can be exhausting!

 ‘Blank Canvas’ Postcard –

We love these postcards, they have a great message, a reminder that each day is a brand new shiny blank canvas, to start over. If yesterday didn’t go so well, try again today. Postcard from Katie Abey Design.

Smile Cards –

As always, there should be a couple of these little cards in your parcel, I’ve written one for you, and the blank one, is for you to write a short inspirational or positive message, and give to someone you know, or leave somewhere for a complete stranger to find – but this is of course optional, there’s absolutely no pressure to do this if you don’t want to.

Parcel Assistant –

Your Pom-Pom Parcel Assistant who helped us to pack your parcel this time was, Frank!

 

 

Karen x

 

 

What Makes The Smile Parcel Different?

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So, what makes us different? – This is an important question for businesses, especially small businesses and especially, at the moment.

So, I wanted to tell you a little more about us, what we’re all about, and what does make us different.

We don’t offer continuous subscriptions…

We decided when we created The Smile Parcel, that we wouldn’t offer a continuous subscription, as we know it can be off-putting to feel trapped in a long term subscription, so instead we offer just 3, or 6 month subscriptions (or one-off parcels) which naturally expire after your last parcel payment is taken, it’s then completely up to you, if you want to re-order again (lots of you do, thank you!)

We don’t have many offers or sales…

You may of noticed that we don’t have a lot of sales, discounts or offers at The Smile Parcel, as we wanted to ensure our customers knew they were receiving value for money, always.

We do occasionally have a one-off discount, to celebrate our birthday or an anniversary, for example, as we want to treat our lovely customers from time to time, but otherwise, our prices are what you see.

We don’t bombard you with emails!

We routinely send just 2 emails a month, one to let those of you who have placed an order, know when they are on their way, so you know when to receive them, and one as a little update, or maybe to share a mental health tip, to those of you struggling.

When you place an order, you’ll receive an email as a thank you and confirmation, but this will be a personal email, not an automated one, and if you decide to cancel your subscription, we won’t send you emails begging you to come back, as we understand there could be lots of reasons for doing this.

We have amazingly loyal customers!

Now, this may be controversial, but I’m going to say it anyway, I’m pretty certain that The Smile Parcel has the best customers in the whole world!

We have such fabulously loyal customers, some of which have received every single monthly parcel.

We’re fortunate to have a very low cancellation rate, I can count on one hand how many customers have cancelled their subscription early over the last 3 years, and one of those sent a lovely email to apologise and explain why she needed to cancel! (of course, she didn’t need to do this!)

Basically, you lot are amazing!!

We’re not all about growth and expansion…

This is a difficult one, as we are a huge supporter of small business, and growth and expansion are important to run a successful business. But, for us, we’ve worked hard over the last few years to build The Smile Parcel into where we are today, and it’s where we want to stay.

The next stage could be to hand over our packing to a fulfilment centre, or give the reigns of customer service to an agency, but this isn’t for us.

We want to keep all our packing in-house, so we know exactly what’s going inside your parcels, and I know I may sound a little odd in saying this, but talking to our customers is my favourite part of the job!

Our ambition now is to continue where we are, keep sending smiles, providing great customer service and of course, wrapping parcels!

Karen x

June 2020 – Parcel Contents

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Hello!

Right, I’m back on track this month and have remembered to show you this months parcel contents, on time…whoop! 😉

Our theme for June was “Step Outside” and they contained products all associated with making the most out of our time being outside, seeing nature and exploring the great outdoors!

June Contents:

Butterflies & Bees Welcome Here –

This month your parcel theme is ‘Step Outside’. Usually at this time of the year, we’d be encouraging you to get outside, see the countryside, visit parks and generally enjoy the great outdoors in every way possible. But, as we know, this year is a little different! Having said this, we can still enjoy being outside, within the parameters allowed, and hopefully we will be back experiencing it with friends and family soon. What we can do though, is enjoy being with nature, take in our surroundings and notice the butterflies and bees, whether that’s in our own gardens, or while taking a leisurely stroll.

Heart Decoration –

We loved the delicate design of this hanging metal heart decoration. Now it just needs somewhere lovely to hang, maybe in a window, on a door handle, or even as part of a gallery wall display.

Bee Wish Bracelet –

This lovely “Don’t Worry Bee Happy” wish charm bracelet has been lovingly handmade by Mermaid Marys UK, who you can find on Etsy.

The Law of Attraction is the ability to attract into our lives whatever we are focusing on, and using the power of our mind to translate whatever is in our thoughts, to materialise into reality. Now, I admit, this isn’t something we know a lot about, however, we do believe that positivity and focusing on our dreams and goals, is a great first step to achieving them!

Mini Rainbow –

“Be A Rainbow In Someone Else’s Cloud” – we loved the little gift bag alone, so when we discovered the cute resin rainbow inside, these were a must-have addition to your parcel this month. Rainbows have taken on a new meaning during the current pandemic, and we’ve become used to seeing them to support the amazing work of the NHS and our key workers. It’s understandable that some people will want to forget about this period in time when this is all over, but for others, they want to remember a time when they got to spend time at home with family. We decided to include the rainbow, so you can keep it as a memento yourself if you wish, or pass it on to someone who may be struggling, or maybe give to a much-valued key worker.

 The Tiger of Unapologetic Awesomeness –

Well, there’s not a lot we can say about “The Tiger of Unapologetic Awesomeness” apart from, well, he’s awesome?!

Postcard from Katie Abey Design.

Smile Cards –

As always, there should be a couple of these little cards in your parcel, I’ve written one for you, and the blank one, is for you to write a short inspirational or positive message, and give to someone you know, or leave somewhere for a complete stranger to find – but this is of course optional, there’s absolutely no pressure to do this if you don’t want to.

Parcel Assistant –

Your Pom-Pom Parcel Assistant who helped us to pack your parcel this time was, Kenny!

Karen x