‘2020’ the year that shook the world…A virus, a pandemic, a worldwide crisis!

Like a tornado, the virus picked up pace and affected anyone in its path, turning lives and livelihoods upside down in a flash.

As a country, we closed our doors, shut the shops and confined ourselves away to 'stay safe'. Left with an uncertainty of the unknown and vulnerability at losing control of our 'normal'. 

In a state of crisis, it's quite easy to be swallowed up by the storm especially when change is enforced upon us unwillingly, but its within our power to decide how we move forward.

"If I can't control the situation then I'll control the way I deal with it"

The road ahead was not clear, it was not straight and was definitely not smooth. It had many bumps and pot holes with no directional signs in sight - so it was down to me to find the way. 

As the world stayed apart, many life events were spent separated from those we love so despite our physical store being closed as a result of national lockdown we continued to serve you from our website and social media platforms - Facebook and Instagram

My aim is to make a customer's life easier especially during difficult times such as this, so I adapted the website to incorporate an option for a

• Free personalised gift tag message with each gift in order to help your gift arrive in style directly to your loved ones.
• The products are also beautifully gift wrapped when dispatched direct to a recipient in order for them to experience the full gift surprise on opening the packaging.
• Greeting cards also have the option of a free inside message which allows for the cards to be shipped directly to the recipient with an accompanying personalised envelope.

I may be a small business but i'm one that has the biggest heart and appreciates every single purchase made through my store.

As the turbulent journey of 2020 continued, I was privileged to have helped so many customers near and far share their love to others using the power of a card or gift and I am forever grateful for that!

As the year came to a close, I received notification that Lu Lu's Personal Gifts had won an award for Best Gift Shop in Northern England.

The Corporate Livewire North England Prestige Awards recognise small and medium-sized businesses that have proven to be the best in their market over the past 12 months. The judging panel base their decisions upon areas such as service excellence, quality of the product/ service provided, innovative practices, value, ethical or sustainable methods of working, as well as consistency in performance.

A true honour to be recognised and awarded this title. I was elated, ecstatic and emotional washed down with a couple of gins that night. 

Then, like buses - another one comes along... Best Gift Boutique North East England - 2020 Northern Enterprise Awards.

'Stars can't shine without darkness' and I believe that in the hardest times we can all shine we just have to believe!

These two prestigious award titles which wouldn't be mine if it wasn't for my customers, so these are both for you! Thank you for shopping with Lu Lu's!

At Lu Lu's, our gifts are cleverly chosen to be treasured gifts that are hopefully kept for many years to come!

Wouldn't it be special if your birthday gift stood the test of time and was the one held onto by the parents!? I certainly think so!

Yes, it's probably easy to pick up a little outfit, a supermarket card or purchase the 'in' toy of the moment however as a Mum myself, those items for many reasons don't stand the test of time and can be a forgotten gift. View Lu Lu's top keepsake gifts for a FIRST BIRTHDAY here...

Valentine... Yeh or Neh?

Some do, Some don't? and that's ok!

We're all different people, living different lives with different priorities but the one thing we have in common is living in this very fast paced world.

Time passes by so quickly which is why I feel you can use Valentine's day as an opportunity to show your partner what they mean to you. Whether it's a novelty keepsake, sentimental keepsake or something that connects to your relationship, a gift on this day is sure to touch heart.

Here are my TOP 5 Valentine's gifts:

• the end of a school year!
• End of Term!
• The approach of the six weeks holidays!

Where does the time go??? It seems like only yesterday you sent them off to school on their nerve wracking first day, waving them off into their new class with their pristine school uniform all fresh and new and then 'BAM' in a flash you're faced with another year done, another year older and a child who is growing in front of your very eyes, with so much knowledge than they had at the beginning of the year and that's with thanks to your child;s biggest influence 'Their Teacher!'

I recently had an order request from a customer who needed something special for her friend who has breast cancer. I, of course was honoured that I was trusted to produce something for someone going through a very difficult time. A keepsake card was ready to be designed!

My first thoughts was the card needed to give the recipient

• Strength
• Positivity

How can one card do that? Simple! It's all about the words / quote... If we get that right it will touch the heart of the recipient and connect them together through this truly difficult time and without having to verbally say a thing!

In February, I had one of my lovely and thoughtful customers ask for my help in creating a Personalised Framed Photo Print for her mum who had her lost her husband - 'her father'.

We all have our own personal thoughts on what's after this life, where do we go?

I truly believe that our loved ones are not far from us, and do send us signs that they're there with us, whether it's a white feather, a smell of their perfume/aftershave and so many more if we of course have opened our minds to accepting the signs.

However, everyone is entitled to their own views but personally the feeling it brings to believe they are not too far from us is reassuring and comforting.

When we lose someone, we love, I know first-hand that grief is a rollercoaster of emotion. You may feel numb, in pain, angry followed by feelings of emptiness and a loss that sinks deep into the pit of your stomach and no matter how many times people say to you ‘it will get easier’ you have no idea how you’ll ever feel normal again or how you’ll get through the current day, or the next day and so on…