As I reflect on my 25 year journey with icandy (or my first child as I like to call her), it is incredible to see how far we have come!

By unexpected I mean it was not planned! I knew I wanted a career where I was doing something to help others but somehow with 2 degrees under my belt at the age of 30, I found myself entrenched in a corporate role that left me wholly dissatisfied.

Armed with my grandfather's antique guillotine I started making a few greeting cards on the side. I loved expressing myself creatively, and encouraged by some wonderfully supportive retailers, early in the year 2000 I took a leap into the unknown and founded icandy.

While my peers were scaling the corporate ladder, I embraced the role of a new parent, to a fledgling startup business. Like any parent, the journey was filled with hard work, challenges and triumphs, often marked by moments of uncertainty as I navigated this exciting new path. 

icandy has been a channel for my creativity and a reflection of my life's journey of loves, losses, life lessons and plenty of laughter. And while the creative process is cathartic for me, the most rewarding aspect is the customer feedback I have received over the years. People have expressed how they have connected with the illustrations and messages, which have in turn, provided them with the means they needed to express themselves to others.

icandy is now a 25 year old New Zealand business success, supplying greeting cards and gift products to hundreds of supportive retailers and thousands of loyal customers across Australasia. 

Looking back, I'm filled with gratitude for the path I chose - which now includes an amazing hubby, two children and two fur babies, who have grown up with icandy as part of their world.

At icandy we are dedicated to crafting fresh and relatable offerings, staying true to our 100% NZ-made commitment. On any given day you will find our hard working  team of elves, glittering up a storm and bringing these cards to life.

I sincerely hope they find their way into your hands and hearts, helping you connect with those you love. Lisa x