Community, Connection and Cards: Brilliantly Brave's Debut at Scotland's Trade Fair

What an incredible few days we've had at Scotland's Trade Fair Spring 2025! Our debut at the SEC Glasgow was everything we hoped for and more, showcasing our mental health-focused greeting cards from our beautiful custom-built wooden stand (huge thanks to our talented cabinet maker from the Black Isle).

One of our highlights was participating in 'Nessies Den', pitching our purpose-driven model to an expert panel including Gemma McQue (National Trust for Scotland), Michael Apter (Paper Tiger), and Therese Oertenblad (Small Business Collaborative), with Mark Saunders chairing. Getting to share our vision for transforming well-wishes into wellbeing with such industry leaders was both nerve-wracking and exciting.

We were particularly touched to have Lorna from Business Gateway Moray join us at the show. Business Gateway, and especially Lorna, have been by our side since day one, offering invaluable support from initial business planning through to growth strategy. Their belief in our purpose-driven model has helped us develop from an idea into a thriving social enterprise.

The tartan theme proved popular, with Jean's custom-made skirts matching our Tartan Embrace card collection becoming quite the talking point! It was a fun way to showcase our Scottish-inspired designs while opening up deeper conversations about mental wellbeing and community support.

Throughout the show, we had meaningful conversations with retailers from across Scotland about mental health support and our mission. Every discussion reinforced that our approach resonates deeply with the Scottish market. We're delighted to welcome several new stockists to the Brilliantly Brave family - each partnership means more support for mental health initiatives in rural Scottish communities.

The show was also a wonderful opportunity to catch up with industry friends and make new ones. Chatting with old friends like Emma Ball and the team from Morrigan reminded us of the incredibly supportive nature of the greeting card industry. We've come away with valuable connections with fellow exhibitors including Forever Fizz UK, Whirlow Design, Mindful Art, Malmo Home, Emma Ball Ltd, and Shearer Candles.

We managed to pack up and head north just in time to beat Storm Éowyn - perfect timing to end a perfect show! Thank you to everyone who visited our stand, engaged with our mission, and shared their own stories about mental health and community support. Your enthusiasm and belief in what we're doing means the world to us.

About Brilliantly Brave
Brilliantly Brave is a purpose-driven greeting card publisher based in Moray, Scotland. Founded in 2024, the business creates beautifully designed cards that celebrate diversity, promote mental wellbeing, and directly fund community mental health initiatives. By channelling 100% of profits into local support services, we're pioneering a new model of social enterprise that proves commercial success and social impact can go hand in hand.