Meet Anita Boole, local entrepreneur and founder of innovative cash-gifts business…
By: Step-Up Social
Tags: Women In Business, Small Business, Small Business Marketing, Gifts, Valentines Day

Meet Anita Boole, local entrepreneur and founder of innovative cash-gifts business https://money-kissed.myshopify.com/ – the brand that makes gifting cash really special. Intrigued? Read on!

I caught up with Anita in her studio just outside Cowbridge

This is her story

Making the gift of cash a special gift is such a great idea Anita, how did you come up with it?

Thank you, I’ve been having an amazing response! This new gift business, https://money-kissed.myshopify.com/, evolved out of my desire to have a more positive relationship with money: I was getting in a right old tizz about money a while back. I had all these negative comments going round and round in my head all the time. “I never have enough money!”, “It’s so hard to earn”, “I hate it!” etc. I guess we all experience this at times but it was constant and making me miserable!

So, given my arty background (Anita has worked as a Graphic Designer for 20+ years), I decided that a new perspective was what I needed. So I took a £10 banknote out of my purse and sat looking at it for a while. I decided to let go for a moment of all those unhelpful thoughts. I took myself back to basics and stripped away all those negative associations I’d built up over the years to do with money.

Star Decorations created using 5 x various denominations of notes

What I saw was all this wonderful iconic imagery with the Queen and Elizabeth Fry as it was on the old fiver. I saw a range of beautiful typography, incredible patterns and lines in the watermarking detail and an exquisite range of hues in the turquoise colouring. I also started manipulating the banknote in my hands, flipping it over and folding it.

I also started to consider all the positive attributes of money. The joy and freedom it can bring. That feeling of excitement you get when money comes your way. The opportunities it brings with it. I guess, the fun side.

And so that was the point at which I started exploring money more as an artistic medium and to explore my relationship with it in the process. To re-introduce myself to it, if you will, like a long lost friend.

Valetine’s Day Gift

How did you make the jump from that point to the concept of gifting cash?

It wasn’t such a huge jump really. Well, the idea was quick but, the development has taken me over a year. As soon as I started folding money, into different designs, such as a money heart, it just looked so inviting. Like something you’d want to show someone, to put a smile on their face. So, I started developing the concept of giving money in a fun and original way.

How would you describe your brand?

Well, I thought about this quite a bit when considering our strapline. We wanted something that encompassed what we do and what’s at the heart of Money Kissed. So I can say confidently, “It’s money with love xxx – that’s gifted!”

Ultimately, we’re a luxury brand that celebrates the fun of giving money and of course…receiving it too!

Congrats on Passing your Driving Test Money Gift

What problem do you think your product solves?

It solves quite a few I think. First of all, it’s quite hard to keep thinking of what to give your friends and family all the time. Obviously, I know my close family and friends really well but I still struggle with ideas of what to get them!

Secondly, if you do manage to think of what to get, you don’t want to give them something they don’t like, or worse, that doesn’t fit! It doesn’t feel great when you’re worried if they’ll genuinely like it or not or, or if they’ll end up re-gifting your present!

Thirdly, when you decide your next best option is to get them a voucher, you’re sat there wondering what store to get it from! I’ve used vouchers before, but this means they can only spend money at that particular shop, which can be quite limiting especially if there’s a time limit.

So, by this time, you’re panicking and thinking of just popping some cash in an envelope because you know they really would appreciate the cash gift but, and here’s the rub, it is so underwhelming. Even if you’re giving a handsome sum of money, somehow it just doesn’t feel enough – because it seems like no thought has gone into the gift at all.

This is where a gift from Money Kissed comes into play. You’re giving a cash gift that you know they’ll appreciate and they won’t be re-gifting, guaranteed! Also, our money gifts are folded origami-style so they can be unfolded and then spent towards whatever they want to spend it on and, it can be spent anywhere! We also add value to the money gift by presenting your unique gift so beautifully in a luxury gift box with your personalised greeting. It’s the complete package.

Mother’s Day Money Gift with Personalised Message

The lucky person receiving a Money Kissed gift, gets to feel touched by good fortune and treasured by you. It really is the most thoughtful and personal way of gifting money. And it’s great fun too!

How do you see the brand developing?

I have lots of ideas! First though, I’m really excited to be working on getting our full range of money gifts available online. We’ve just launched with our Christmas Collection for now, but we have money gifts for pretty much every occasion you can think of! We have these exquisite little Booties that we make with banknotes for celebrating new births. We also have a stunning Bride and Groom design that’s perfect for marriage celebrations and plenty more.

How do you juggle being a busy mumpreneur with a family of three?

Look, I have moments when I’m successfully juggling aspects of my life but plenty of times when I drop most, if not all, of the balls! I think everyone struggles with time-management or getting the right work/life balance.

I do consciously have to reign-in my aspirations sometimes though and remind myself I don’t have to do it all, right this minute! Having a dog to walk and children to nurture helps to remind me of that.

Do you have a favourite place to eat in Cowbridge? And shopping?

I absolutely love Arboreal, great food and wonderful atmosphere, Bar 44 for its delicious selection of tapas not to mention a cheeky cocktail or three! We really are so spoiled for choice in Cowbridge, every taste is catered for here!

There’s a wonderful array of independent shops too — The Pencil Case are great for my kids’ stationery supplies and Happy Days I love to browse and dawdle around in, just to name but two, oh, and as a chocolate lover I cannot leave out the delightful Coco and Co. for yummy treats!

How do you relax – if you do get any free time?

Well, I probably do one of two things. Either I sit at our piano in the hallway and play away to my hearts content, when no one is around to listen!

Or, once the younger ones are in bed, I do love to just slump in front of the TV watching films I ought to be embarrassed to admit to watching! I’m currently telling my two youngest kids it’s too early to get excited about Christmas. But then here I am spending my days making Christmas Trees, Stars and Presents out of banknotes, filling Baubles with snow, sparkle and money and then watching TrueXmas movies on the box late at night. What a hypocrite!

Thanks so much for sharing your story with me Anita

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