After 10 years in business, and with its Sheffield production centre opening last year, online cards giant thortful says it has now paid out £14 million in royalties to artists and card creators on the platform.
In 2015, thortful was born to give people a glorious escape from aisle after aisle of generic, naff cards. Now, 10 years and over 37.8 million cards later, thousands of people have received life-changing money from their relationship with thortful, with £14 million worth of royalties paid out to creators to date.
Managing director Pip Heywood said: “10 years and £14 million quid! What began as a small idea to shake up the card industry has grown into a movement – a community of creators and customers who believe cards should mean & say a lot more than ‘that’ll do’. A decade on, thortful has paid out over £14 million in royalties to our independent creators – proof that creativity really does connect people. And what’s more, we’ve helped our creators pay off mortgages, pay for weddings, pay for IVF – we never knew, when we started, just how much of a positive impact our model could have.”
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As well as looking through a creative lens, giving card creators across the UK the opportunity to develop their own style, brand and business, thortful’s charitable and green initiatives align with their mantra of making the world a more ‘thortful’ place.
From partnering with Spread a Smile charity, donating £1 from every card pack to bring joy and laughter to seriously ill children and their families through in-person and virtual entertainer visits, family events, art initiatives and more. To working with Ecologi, which has resulted in 3,970 trees funded and the prevention of 550.03 tCO2e from being emitted through 10 verified carbon avoidance projects.
thortful’s independently designed cards are unmistakable to the brand. Its cards are bespoke to every person and every situation, leaning on personalised humour, sentiment and design. Face Swap cards were also launched in 2025 for a seamless image swap, making it easy for people to look like their favourite celebs in the ultimate funny design.
Along the way, thortful has also partnered up with the likes of Tony’s Chocolonely, Biscuiteers and Virgin Experiences to create the perfect gifting packages.
