Illustrator and small sticker shop owner Christopher, aka Christophermerman, from Seville, Spain, tells us, “Since there's a lot of artists with very different art styles, people adore buying something that they can connect with.”

He mentions that stickers are a simple and adorable way to decorate, while their affordable nature allows the majority of people to purchase a product with a lot of personality. 

Another aspect that attracts people to them is nostalgia, says Christopher. “Especially among adults who grew up with them. From sticker albums to decorating school notebooks, for some, they bring back fun memories or childhood moments.”

Meanwhile, quirky, sarcastic, and sweary stationery store owner Linda Fairhurst from The Grumpy Tortoise believes that playful decals are a fun way for people to express themselves and their interests. And they have no age limit!

“Historically, they have always been seen as a kid’s item, but adults love them too! They are also an affordable way for people to show support to small businesses and artists,” she adds.

Linda is the sole person running the Grumpy Tortoise business. “It is however a family effort; Husband Nathan and Daughter Hayley can sometimes be seen helping at events,” she writes on her website. “Fur babies Cooper and Penny are on hand to provide moral support and doggy snuggles,” she adorably adds.

The name came about quite unexpectedly when the family was on holiday in Spain and saw a grumpy tortoise stuffed animal at a zoo they visited, which became the inspiration for it. The plushy toy sits on her shelf at the office, overlooking quality control. “I really should feature him more!” she said in her blog. 

When it comes to the creation of the stickers, Christopher usually bases the design on what he likes and what purpose they will serve, as some of them are meant to decorate books, while others are intended to be collectible pieces. 

While Linda gets inspired by her past experiences. “I keep a running notes app on my phone with ideas as they pop into my head,” she tells us.

We were also curious to know what the key elements of a quality sticker were. Christopher said that “the more simple they are, the better. You need to know how to transmit feelings with a simple drawing. Sometimes it doesn't need to be sentimental or dark. Sometimes it just needs to be a cute bug enjoying nature.”

Meanwhile, Linda believes it’s important to prioritize quality, fun designs and colors of the stickers. “Whilst stickers aren’t designed to last forever, you want a good amount of enjoyment out of them.”

Christopher concluded by saying that stickers are one of the best ways to let one’s personality shine, as they’re affordable and last a long time. Lastly, he wanted to add that “it's beautiful to see someone showing your art with pride, and it's heartwarming to see your design making people happy.”