2026 Finalists - Flow Consulting
Flow Consulting founder Jane Martin is passionate about creating space for more honest, meaningful conversations — with ourselves and with each other. Her How are you REALLY? Check-in Cards range, including the Menopause Edition and What are your VALUES? cards, has been named a Finalist in this year’s Gift of the Year awards, celebrating thoughtful products that support everyday wellbeing. We caught up with Jane to talk about the deeply personal inspiration behind the range, the power of purposeful gifting, and why these simple cards are making such a big impact.
Company Name Flow Consulting
Product(s) in the Finalist:How are you REALLY? Check-in Cards, How are you REALLY? (Menopause Edition) Check-in Cards, What are your VALUES? Check-in cards
Congratulations on being a finalist! How does it feel to be recognised in this year’s Gift of the Year awards? It feels incredibly special, and honestly quite humbling. These card decks were created from a very personal place, so to see them recognised at this level means a great deal.
Being named a finalist across multiple products also feels like a real validation that there is a growing appetite for more meaningful, thoughtful gifts - ones that go beyond the moment of giving and genuinely support people’s wellbeing - however they are feeling.
Can you tell us a little about your brand and the inspiration behind your successful product? The How are you REALLY? brand range is rooted in one simple idea: creating space for more honest, meaningful check-ins with ourselves and each other - helping people step off autopilot, become more aware of how they are truly feeling or what is important to them, and take small, supportive steps towards better wellbeing.
The original cards were inspired by my own daily practice of pausing to notice how I was feeling physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually (in its widest sense). Recently that small habit became incredibly powerful and it helped me recognise that something wasn’t quite right with my health, which ultimately led to the diagnosis of a benign brain tumour - before it caused serious health issues.
From there, the range has grown organically, including the introduction of the much-requested Menopause Edition, which directly supports this deeply personal and powerful time for women and which impacts all aspects of their wellbeing.
What Are Your VALUES? cards help people reconnect with what really matters to them so that they can make choices that reflect who they truly are.
Each product is designed to gently prompt awareness, provide prompts for education and reflection and supports early intervention.
What makes your product special, and why do you think it stood out to the judges? I think what sets the range apart is that it sits at the intersection of gifting and genuine wellbeing support.
These aren’t just “nice to have” products - they are practical tools that people can return to daily.
The design is intentionally simple and non-clinical, making it accessible whether someone is deeply engaged in wellbeing or just beginning to check in with themselves.
What is particularly unique is that the cards 'meet people exactly where they are'. Each check-in will look different depending on the day, the moment, or the individual - so the experience feels personal, relevant and supportive in real time.
From a retail perspective, they lend themselves to a wide range of gifting moments - from thoughtful, everyday gifts between friends and family to key life stages and corporate wellbeing - offering strong year-round appeal and versatility on the shop floor.
Ultimately, I think they stood out because they combine emotional resonance with real-world usefulness.
Who is your product designed for, and what kind of reaction have you had from customers so far? The cards are designed to be inclusive and adaptable - they can be used individually, with family, in workplaces, or in therapeutic settings.
The feedback has been incredibly moving. Customers often share that the cards have helped them articulate feelings they couldn’t quite put into words, start important conversations, or simply build a regular habit of checking in with themselves. Customers appreciate their accessibility combined with their ability to 'o deep' if they choose.
As one customer said..."Each card opens up space for honest conversation, helping my girlfriend and I understand how we’re both feeling and how we can support one another throughout the day. It’s such a simple but powerful idea, and it has genuinely helped us become more mindful of our emotions and more connected as a couple. A truly wonderful product that brings insight, reflection, and a little more kindness into everyday life.”
For retailers, that depth of impact also translates into strong word-of-mouth and repeat gifting.
What trends or themes do you think are shaping the gifting industry right now? There’s a clear shift towards more meaningful, purpose-led gifting. People are looking for beautiful, well-made gifts that feel thoughtful, useful and emotionally resonant - gifts that genuinely help and support others, with lasting value and repeat use.
Wellbeing continues to be a major theme, with a clear move away from luxury or indulgence towards practical, accessible products that support people in their everyday lives. There’s also growing demand for products that can be used beyond the moment of gifting - items that become part of someone’s routine or ongoing life.
Retailers are increasingly recognising the value of products that tell a story and create connection, which is exactly where these cards sit.
How has being shortlisted, and now being a finalist impacted your brand so far, and what do you hope to achieve from the awards? Even at the shortlist stage, it has already opened up new conversations with retailers and given the brand additional credibility.
As a small, independent business, that kind of recognition is invaluable. It helps build trust quickly and signals that the products have both emotional and commercial appeal.
From the awards, I’d love to expand stockists - particularly within independent retailers, as well as larger retail groups and corporate wellbeing spaces, and continue building awareness of how these tools can support early intervention and everyday wellbeing.
What exciting plans do you have for the future? There’s a real focus on growing both the product range and the support around it.
This includes developing additional themed decks, expanding further into workplace wellbeing with accompanying resources, and creating more guidance to help people use the cards confidently - whether individually or in groups.
Long-term, the vision is to position the brand not just as a product, but as a supportive framework for regular check-ins to support early intervention and more open conversations.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received (or given), and why? The most meaningful gifts, for me, are always the ones that create connection or shift perspective.
Looking back, many of those have been books - whether nature writing, practical guides or fiction - chosen thoughtfully and capturing exactly what I needed in that moment.
They’re the kind of gift I return to, and that stays with me long after it’s given.
That idea has very much shaped the How are you REALLY? range of products - I wanted to create something that felt personal, relevant and supportive, wherever someone finds themselves.
Find out more about Flow Consulting here - https://www.flowconsulting.co.uk/
