We're still pinching ourselves!
LoveLossDiscoballs has been named Best Creative Business at the Merseyside Independent Business Awards, and honestly, it still feels surreal.
We've been lucky enough to be shortlisted for some brilliant awards this year. But these have always been our favourites. Here's why.
Recognised in the city we love
Liverpool is home.
It's where LoveLossDiscoballs was born, and it's a city that knows how to hold tough times and joy in the same breath. It knows how to turn up for people when things are hard, and still find a reason to dance.
So to be recognised here, by our own community, means more than we can put into words.
Awards with heart
These awards aren't just about numbers and turnover.
They're about stories. About independent businesses with heart, doing things their own way and making a real difference to the people around them.
That's exactly what we've always tried to be.
What we told the judges
When we put our pitch together, we kept coming back to one idea: modernising grief.
LoveLossDiscoballs came out of grief and some really hard times. Our cards exist because we believe loss deserves to be talked about honestly, and that the way we show up for each other in hard times really matters.
Grief doesn't have to be grey. We want to bring colour and hope to the moments people find hardest to put into words.
It's why the disco ball is at the heart of everything we do. Hundreds of pieces of broken glass, put together to form a magical ball of light.
Here's some of what we shared about the journey so far.
What Makes a Man
Our What Makes a Man range, created with Andrew "Bernie" Bernard (@whatmakesaman), is all about opening up conversations around positive masculinity, emotions and mental health. It's one of the things we're proudest of.
Suicide prevention and CALM
Rachel spoke at the North West Suicide Prevention Conference this year, and we're proud to support CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), the charity standing against suicide.
These conversations are hard. That's exactly why we want to be part of them.
On shelves near you (and soon, much further away)
Our cards are now stocked in Oliver Bonas and more than 100 independent shops, and every one of those stockists has helped get our cards into the hands of people who needed them.
And we're about to launch with a huge American retailer. We can't quite believe we're typing that.
What's next
Prints. T-shirts. New products.
Our goal is to grow LoveLossDiscoballs into a global lifestyle brand, one that helps people everywhere show up for each other with a bit more honesty, colour and hope.
Thank you
To the organisers and judges, thank you for championing independent businesses the way you do.
To every finalist and winner, what a room to be part of.
And to every stockist, every customer, and everyone who has ever sent one of our cards to someone who needed it, this award belongs to you too.
Here's to many more disco ball moments 🪩💜
Rachel & Warren x