div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 gap-3 [&_>_*:last-child]:mb-0 standard-markdown"> In February this year, Ananya Cards won Best Wedding Stationery at the UK Weddings and Honeymoon Awards. It was another in a long list of awards founder Vaishali Shah has won over 26 years in business. And it meant just as much as her first. In this episode, Debbie Gilbert chats to Vaishali, founder of Creative ID and Ananya Cards, sharing how she built her two businesses. She discusses balancing print and digital stationery, why entering awards helps founders clarify their message, and how networking and nurturing long-term client relationships have driven growth. As a judge for the Wedding Industry Awards, Vaishali explains why she pushed for greater diversity on judging panels and what makes an entry stand out. FInally, we get to hear some exciting plans for her businesses' future growth. About Vaishali Vaishali Shah is an award-winning entrepreneur with two brands: Creative ID, a branding and marketing consultancy, and Ananya Cards, a bespoke wedding and event stationery studio. She celebrated 25 years of Creative ID in 2025 and marks 20 years of Ananya Cards in 2026. Her work spans food, hospitality and lifestyle businesses, with clients including Michelin-starred chefs, international hotel groups and homegrown brands across the UK and UAE. Vaishali has been a mulitple award-winner for both her businesses. In addition, she has served as a judge for The Wedding Industry Awards for five years, evaluating entries with the same eye she brings to client work: the details, the consistency and the story a brand tells. A regular voice in entrepreneurship, branding and marketing conversations, Vaishali is a frequent podcast guest and speaker, with features in Forbes, the BBC, The Sunday Times, Brides, SheerLuxe and Stylist. {2:36} Starting out in branding and marketing. {4:20} Launching a luxury card brand. {6:36} How the wedding stationery business has developed and lasted. {8:29} Why VAishali began entering awards. {11:42} The wedding stationery market and how Ananya stands out. {14:18} How B2C strategy can mirror B2B. {15:22} Staying up-to-date with design trends. {17:12} Dealing with client requests that don't fit the brand or brief. {18:55} How Vaishali works with clients to refresh their branding. {20:57} The importance of networking to achieve business growth. {22:14} Being a judge for the Wedding Industry Awards. {25:45} Why diversity is so important in awards. {27:16} What makes a business stand out from an award entry. {29:30} Vaishali's plans for the next 5 years. Connect with Debbie at: https://thebusinessawardsshow.co.uk https://bestsmeawards.co.uk/ Connect with Vaishali: https://www.creative-id.com/ https://www.ananyacards.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativeid/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ananyacards/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ananyacards Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativeidsocial https://www.instagram.com/ananyacards TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ananyacards YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vaishalishah_creative Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/ananyacards/
