Ohh Deer

Ohh Deer, illustrated greeting cards and stationery from a British brand

Ohh Deer is a UK company dedicated to the design and sale of greeting cards, stationery and gifts, operating mainly online through its own shop. The firm was founded in 2011 by Jamie Mitchell and Mark Callaby, who met at Kingston University, where Mark studied illustration and Jamie architecture. The project began as a blog focused on illustration and art and later developed into a shop; its first point of sale was the Kingston alumni shop.

A card catalogue for every occasion

The card range is the core of the business and is organised by themes and celebrations: birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day, anniversaries, weddings, engagements, moving house, new job, new baby, congratulations, thank you, good luck, sympathy, encouragement, get well soon and messages of support. The offering includes pop-up and 3D cards, postcards and jigsaw-format cards.

Stationery, planners and gifts

The stationery section brings together daily planners, notebooks and tiny notes, in A5 and A6 formats, with hardback and paperback covers, as well as exercise books. Among the standout lines are the Cath Kidston, Laura Ashley and V&A collections. In gifts, the catalogue is organised by price range (under £5, £10 and £20) and by recipient, and includes hotel keyrings, mugs, felt keychains and sweet treats. It also sells gift bags, wrapping paper and art prints.

More than one hundred collaborating artists

The company states that its distinguishing feature is its roster of more than one hundred creatives from different countries, to whom it gives a share of the revenue generated by their designs. The corporate blog publishes content about these authors, with sections such as artist of the month, which has featured Julia Whitney Barnes, Meg Fatharly and Suzy Ultman.

Plastic-free production and emissions offsetting

Ohh Deer presents itself as the second UK company to completely eliminate plastic from its greeting cards. Its paper products use materials from sustainable sources and are printed by lithography, which according to the company reduces emissions and waste. In September 2021 it stopped making cards with adhesive closures. The wrapping paper is 100% recycled and recyclable again, and metallic foil elements do not exceed 30% so as not to prevent recycling. The company states that it avoids glitter and that, when it does use it, it is biodegradable. Its manufacturers are audited and recycle paper and cardboard waste daily, including envelopes and packaging.

Reforestation and donations

In collaboration with Treeaid, the company reports having planted more than 150,000 trees, with its own counter that at the time of analysis showed 153,033 trees planted and 1,912,913 of CO₂ removed. Throughout the year it works with charities and organisations to raise funds or give visibility to different causes: it has channelled donations during the checkout process for initiatives such as DEC Ukraine Appeal and SARI, and has donated thousands of cards to organisations so they can sell them in their shops.

Commitment to equality and workplace environment

The company defines itself as an LGBTQ+-led business and states that it integrates equality and diversity practices into all its activities, with the aim of offering an inclusive workplace regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation.

Promotions and wholesale

At the time of analysis, the site showed a promotion of 10% off cards with the code THINKINGOFYOU10, as part of the Thinking of You Week campaign, and an initiative called Lucky Dip that offered an item worth £7 for £1. The company also has a wholesale channel and a clearance section, and offers a date reminder service for registered customers.