Our Story
What began as a conversation over tea has grown into a design-led greeting card business with a clear social purpose.
Brilliantly Brave was built on the belief that everyday products can do more than serve a single moment. From the beginning, the aim was to create greeting cards that felt thoughtful, modern and emotionally intelligent, while also building a business capable of giving something meaningful back. What started as an idea between two people with different but complementary experience has steadily become a brand with growing reach, industry recognition and a purpose that sits at the heart of everything it does.
Each milestone on this page marks more than progress in the usual business sense. Together, they tell the story of a young business finding its place, developing its collections, reaching new audiences, opening new opportunities and building momentum step by step. Alongside that growth has been a wider commitment: to help support mental health and wellbeing through the success of the brand itself.
This timeline follows that journey so far, from the earliest idea to the moments that have helped shape Brilliantly Brave.
The Idea
Brilliantly Brave began with a conversation over tea, but the thinking behind it ran deeper than a passing idea. Jean had spent decades working in mental health, seeing first-hand both the importance of support and the gaps that often exist around it. Stuart brought experience in branding, design and building creative products people genuinely want to buy and keep. Between us was a shared belief that business could be used more thoughtfully - not just to sell something, but to create something with wider value.
From the start, the aim was not simply to launch another greeting card business. It was to build a design-led brand rooted in real feeling, where modern design could sit comfortably alongside a clear social purpose: create products people would choose because they were well designed, well judged and emotionally relevant, then use the success of that business to help fund meaningful mental health and wellbeing support in the community.
Launch Party
Brilliantly Brave launched in February 2024 at Café 1496 in Forres. The event brought people together, sold hundreds of cards and raised money for local mental wellbeing initiatives.
Meeting Royalty
Just two weeks after launching Brilliantly Brave, we had the incredible honour of sharing our story with HRH The Princess Royal during her visit to Lossiemouth Community Hub.
Our First Trade Show
Progressive Greetings Live in June 2024 was Brilliantly Brave’s first trade show. It marked a major step from local launch into the wider greeting card industry. The show helped introduce the brand to buyers and stockists beyond Moray.
Six Nominations at The 2024 Henries Awards!
Brilliantly Brave received six Henries nominations across five categories. Within its first year, the business had already reached the shortlist for the greeting card industry’s Oscars.
Finalist at The Henries Awards!
Our Gratitude Galore range reached the final in the Best Contemporary Trend category, making Brilliantly Brave the only Scottish finalist that year. It was a proud moment, and one that helped place us firmly on the industry map.
Partnering with This Is Iris
In September 2024, we began our licensing partnership with This Is Iris. It marked an important shift - taking Brilliantly Brave beyond greeting cards and starting to build a wider product future around the brand.
Our First Brand Licensing Europe
Brilliantly Brave attended Brand Licensing Europe with This Is Iris. It was the brand’s first step into the licensing world in person.
The event helped open conversations that would feed directly into later partnerships.
Brilliantly Brave Granted Registered Trademark
Brilliantly Brave secured its registered trademark. It was an important piece of groundwork as the business grew its brand presence and licensing activity.
Licensing Partnership with Stickers4.com
Brilliantly Brave announced its first licensing partnership with Stickers4.com. It marked the moment Brilliantly Brave began to move beyond greeting cards and into a wider product space, with plans for peelable window films, wall decals, laptop stickers and water bottle embellishments. It was an early and encouraging sign that the brand’s design style, character and purpose could work well beyond its original format.
The partnership came through introductions made by Sarah Lawrence at This Is Iris following Brand Licensing Europe, and it quickly felt like a natural fit. Stuart having already worked with Stickers4.com through I Like Birds, there was an existing sense of trust in both the quality of their work and their approach to collaboration. Just as importantly, they understood the wider purpose behind Brilliantly Brave from the outset, making them a strong first partner as the brand began to expand into licensing.
UK Government Digital Development Grant
Brilliantly Brave was awarded a Digital Development Grant through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The funding supported the next stage of our digital development and gave us a stronger foundation for serving customers, stockists and the wider community.
Co-founder Named in f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100
Jean Pryde was named in the f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100 list for 2025. The campaign celebrates female business leaders across the UK who balance entrepreneurship with wider responsibilities. The recognition brought national attention to Jean’s work and to the wider model behind Brilliantly Brave.
Debut at Scotland’s Trade Fair
Brilliantly Brave exhibited at Scotland’s Trade Fair at the SEC in Glasgow. The show brought the brand to a wider Scottish retail audience at the start of a busy year. During the event, we were also invited to speak as part of “Nessie’s Den” in front of a panel of industry experts.
Scottish Parliament Celebrates Brilliantly Brave Co-founder
Jean Pryde’s inclusion in the f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100 list was formally recognised in the Scottish Parliament. The motion acknowledged her selection as one of 100 female entrepreneurs across the UK balancing business with wider responsibilities.
House of Lords Recognition
Jean Pryde’s selection for the f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100 also brought recognition at a reception at the House of Lords. The event formed part of the wider programme linked to the 2025 #iAlso100 campaign.
Women’s Enterprise Scotland Finalist
Brilliantly Brave was named a finalist in the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Business to Watch Awards. The nomination placed the business alongside other emerging Scottish enterprises, for the way it combines commercial growth with a clear social purpose.
SmallBiz100 Selection
Brilliantly Brave was selected as one of the UK’s SmallBiz100. It was also the only business from Moray, and one of only five from Scotland, included in 2025's line-up.
Invitation to the King’s Garden Party
The honour of being invited to the King’s Garden Party at the Palace of Holyrood. The invitation followed a year of public recognition connected to work with Brilliantly Brave.
Opticaid x Remaldi Accessories Partnership
Brilliantly Brave expanded its licensing through an accessories partnership with Opticaid for Remaldi eco wallets.
Small Business Sunday Winner
Brilliantly Brave named a winner of Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday. The award added to a run of 2025 recognition across small business, design and enterprise networks.
Scotland’s Trade Awards - Best Stationery
Won Best Stationery at the Scotland Trade Awards for the Stay Braw, Lad card from the Tartan Embrace range, in an award decided by public vote, with more than 20,000 votes cast.
Moray Chamber of Commerce - Most Promising Enterprise
Brilliantly Brave was named Most Promising Enterprise by Moray Chamber of Commerce. We also had the honour of the award being recognised in the UK Parliament.
