Writer’s block is real—or maybe it’s not even that. Maybe I just haven’t been writing much lately, so it feels like something it’s not. Either way, I’ve missed it. Blogs, chit chats, emails, and just creative writing in general have always been something I love to do. It’s the kind of thing I’ve naturally gravitated towards and spent loads of my free time doing.
Funny little fact: I actually sleep with a notebook tucked under my pillow. Sounds a bit silly, I know—but honestly, some of my most fun ideas (like O’bar) and product concepts have come to me in dreams. I’ll scribble them down half-asleep, and then later, we’ll reference those wild little notes during R&D sessions in the factory. That notebook has everything—goal setting, vision writing, stories, feelings, random fun new ideas. It’s not exactly neat or Pinterest-worthy, but it’s absolutely packed with magic.
Then there’s my floral wooden box. It’s so pretty—sort of vintage-looking—and I think it used to hold all my mum’s travel photos from when she ran off to see the world at just 17. I loved it when I was a teenager, and somehow it just ended up in my room instead of her office. She didn’t mind. I always tell Jamie that if the house were ever on fire, aside from grabbing the pets, that box would be the very first thing I’d save.
Why am I telling you all of this? Well, May was always going to be a funny kind of month. It’s the time of year when we focus on internal planning and growth—taking a step back to really look at the business. It’s also the one month where targets are generally a little lower, which gives us the space to dive into bigger picture projects. So if I’ve been a bit quiet over the past 30 days… that’s probably why!
Jamie and I also had a whirlwind of a time experiencing the hustle and bustle of in-person trade sales for the first time. We did four trade shows last month—back to back—and honestly, it was amazing!
We got to meet some potential big customers face-to-face. From Deliveroo (who we’re already working with—yay!) to the likes of Blue Diamond, Leonardslee, and even The Hollies Farm Shop. You know… the now viral farm shop since Molly-Mae mentioned that’s where she pops in for a quick cuppa!
Between all the planning, vision boarding, and scribbling in my scruffy notebook, these trade shows really hammered home just how important planning ahead actually is. And when I say planning ahead… you won’t believe it—we’re now working with people on projects for Christmas 2026. Not this Christmas. The one after that! I mean… what?!?
Growing a business, when you really strip it back, always comes down to the numbers.
If you're losing money on every product sold, well… the cash will run out pretty fast. You’ll be out of business before you've even finished packing up the last box of chocolates. That’s exactly why Jamie and I are laser-focused right now on keeping our running costs low. I know, it sounds obvious—but honestly, sometimes it takes a simple truth to really click.
The other day, we had a call about a local competition we’ve entered—it offers up to £50,000 worth of expert guidance and support. During the call, the man interviewing us was genuinely surprised when we told him we’ve grown Catherine’s Originals by over 100% in less than a year. He said it’s practically unheard of for startups like ours, especially in such a competitive space, with just two of us grinding it out day-to-day. He asked, “How have you done it?” And in that moment… I didn’t really know what to say.
Of course, once the call ended, I went straight into reflection mode.
Showing up every single day, setting good foundations. A motivated team. Sacrificing downtime, putting Originals first no matter what, being in love with what you do, not just loving what you do, offering something truly valuable—and refusing to compromise on that. That mindset of “anything is possible” has been everything. It’s made the long days worth it. And with just Jamie and I in the office, we’ve had to find ways to work smarter. Not cutting corners—just maximising our efficiency. Because the truth is, that’s what keeps margins healthy, overheads low, growth potential, new products and competitive prices for you guys.
My cousin once said the quote: “If there’s a really urgent task I need help with, I’d ask the busiest person I know—not the one with all the time in the world.” Because the busiest people? They’ve figured out how to plan, prioritise, and just get stuff done. I never heard that before. That advice rings so true in everything we do here. Another one of those simple little truths… that actually holds a lot of weight.
Amongst all the trade shows, new plans, and taking a step back to really analyse our growth… we also moved into our new office! I can’t actually remember if I mentioned that last time—but let me just say, it’s bloody amazing! Honestly, not having to pack up my entire workspace every time the team sits down for lunch is a total game changer. Goodbye, breadcrumbs in between my keyboard keys!
And then—because we like to keep things interesting—I had to whisk Jamie off on a very last-minute trip to Italy. Why? Well, our new wrapping machine (we’ve lovingly named him Bobby) has been sitting in our warehouse for nearly two months. We were sold on the fact that Bobby could wrap using a home-recyclable paper material. But plot twist… we hadn’t been able to find that material. So yes, there was a moment of panic where we thought we’d spent tens of thousands of pounds on a machine we couldn’t even use. 😅
But fear not! The Italy trip did the trick—we sorted it all out, Bobby is officially staying, and soon enough, Snap Me and The Cookie Muncher are getting a proper glow-up!
Oh, and the best part? Jamie came back from Italy a coffee drinker! Why does that excite me so much? Because it means I no longer have to go on coffee dates alone. Small wins, big joy.
We’re also launching a summer chocolate range… very, very soon! 🎉
The official go-live date is 9th June—mark your calendars!
I’ve already shared a few sneaky teasers (because honestly, why not get you all as excited as I am?), and so many of you have already guessed one of the products… so if you’ve made it this far into my little chit chat, I think you deserve the inside scoop. Ready?
We’ve got a Pistachio-Dubai-style vegan O’bar coming your way! 🙌
Of course, it’s completely Original in its own way—but oh wow, it hits different. And the best part? It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, and everyone gets to join in on the fun.
If you want to make sure you don’t miss out, you can pre-order the Summer Bundle now! The other two products in the bundle are just as dreamy—I pinky promise they won’t disappoint. 💕
We celebrated Jamie’s 24th birthday in true Originals style—smoothie bowls, a wonky buttons-themed cake and… a solid day of Jamie and me figuring out what had gone wrong in production. 😂
Not quite the relaxing birthday he might’ve imagined—but hey, it wouldn’t be a Catherine’s Originals celebration without a bit of chaos and chocolate involved!
The wind and rain seem to be back, but it did mean we finally got to see the new lights on our choco office all lit up—and that brought me so much joy.
Keep your eyes peeled, and come connect with me over on Instagram—that’s where we share all the day-to-day fun, and I’d love to hear from you. Write to me! Tell me what you think about our creations, what improvements we could make, or just pop in to say hi.
Honestly, it means the world to know who’s out there enjoying what we’re building. 💛
Stay original, stay sweet,
Catherine x