Stib Meets...Sarah Laker

Meet stationery addict, Sarah Laker

We’re thrilled to be chatting to self-confessed stationery addict and judge at this year’s Stationery Awards, Sarah Laker! Sarah is the owner of Aladdin’s (stationery) cave, Stationery Supplies in Marple, and online boutique, Giraffe Gifts, where each item is handpicked and approved by the stationery nerd herself. In her website bio, Sarah admits that even as a small child, she loved nothing more than the aromas of ink and pencils, and spent all her pocket money on scented rubbers and novelty sharpeners. She even still has her very first Parker Fountain Pen! Read on to find out more about what inspires her, how she gives her self a confidence boost and her favourite Stib word.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child I always loved ‘playing shop’ and helping my parents to sell things at church fetes, but it took me until my 30’s to realise that it was what I really wanted to do with my life.

 What advice would you give yourself as a child?
I’d tell myself to take advantage of every situation, and not to think that I can’t do it or that it wasn’t ‘my thing’.

 What was your 'big idea' which inspired you to set up your business?
I trained as a nurse when I left school but after 17 years I wasn’t happy and I felt that I needed to do something that would give me more joy and fit in with my, then young, family. So I took the brave step of leaving a secure job to buy my stationery shop, I had no experience, I just took a leap of faith. 14 years later and I still wake up excited in the morning! I love stationery!

What do you say to yourself when you need a confidence boost?

I stop, take a breath and remember what my late dad would say to me ‘onwards and upwards’.

When my daughters need a boost we repeat Winnie The Pooh: You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.

What's your favourite Stib word and why?

Freestyler – I love the Oscar Wilde quote: ‘be yourself, everyone else is taken!’.

To browse the collection of super quality, individual, sometimes quirky and always fabulous stationery, gifts, cards and all sorts of knick-knacks visit www.giraffegifts.co.uk.

And follow Sarah on social media at:

https://www.facebook.com/StationerySuppliesOnline/

https://www.instagram.com/marple_stationery/

https://twitter.com/stationery_supp