The Origins of Katchee Gifts
Katchee Gifts: from humble beginnings in a bedroom to reaching customers worldwide!
Welcoming to the Wild Venus gang, is Kieran of Katchee Gifts! Learn all about their journey from when and where they got started, to how they developed their products to where they are today!
How Katchee Gifts got Started
Hi! My name is Kieran, and I’m the creator behind Katchee Gifts, an independent gift business making joyful and funny button badges, enamel pins, patches, stickers, stationery and more.
Everything I make is designed to spark a smile, celebrate individuality and help people express who they are - or show someone they care with one of those “I saw this and thought of you” kind of presents.
Katchee Gifts began in my bedroom in Leicester in 2020, right in the middle of the COVID lockdowns. Like many people, I was looking for a creative outlet, something that could help me stay positive and connected while stuck indoors.
With the support of the Prince’s Trust (now The King’s Trust), I decided to take a chance and design a few stickers, get them printed and list them on Etsy. I honestly didn’t expect much to come of it, but then I heard that “ching ching” notification - someone had actually bought one! That small moment of excitement was the spark that started everything.
In 2021, I received further support through The King’s Trust Enterprise programme. Thanks to a COVID recovery grant, I was able to buy my first sticker-cutting machine and a hand-operated badge maker. These tools opened up a whole new world of possibilities. I began experimenting with designs, learning what people loved and discovering how to turn my creativity into real, tangible products. It was a year of trial and error, testing ideas, refining my style and slowly building confidence as a business owner and product creator.
Katchee Gifts Most Popular Products
In 2022, I took a big step forward by launching my first stationery line. It was a collection inspired by my two biggest influences; cats and neurodiversity!
My most popular product from that range was a cat-themed desk planner pad, designed especially with neurodiverse users in mind. I created it out of my own need for something that just didn’t exist: a single A4 pad that included everything I wanted, a water tracker, shower tracker, medication tracker, journal section, a list for every day of the week and even a doodle space for when my brain wandered during meetings.
To my surprise (and delight), the pad resonated with so many people. It became the product that really launched Katchee Gifts into the wider world, selling strongly both online and in person.
What's Happening Now and Next for Katchee Gifts?
My business has since grown into something I’m incredibly proud of. What started as a lockdown project has evolved into a brand that represents my experiences as part of the LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse communities. My goal is to design products that make people feel seen and celebrated, whether that’s through a pin that proudly shares who you are, a sticker that makes you laugh, or stationery that helps you stay grounded and organised in your own unique way.
I now live in Salford, Greater Manchester and Katchee Gifts has expanded far beyond my bedroom beginnings. I sell online across four different platforms and my products reach customers all over the world. I also love connecting with people in person, regularly attending Pride events, creative markets and independent fairs across the UK. These events are where Katchee Gifts really comes alive; seeing people’s reactions, hearing their stories and knowing my products bring them joy is the best part of what I do.
Running Katchee Gifts has taught me lessons no classroom ever could. I’ve learned by doing, by making mistakes, problem-solving on the fly, and pushing through the challenges that come with running a small creative business. Every new milestone reminds me how far I’ve come since those first Etsy sales in 2020.
Now, my focus is on growing Katchee Gifts even further by getting my products into independent retailers across the North West and Midlands, including amazing stores like Wild Venus.