GCA news

GCA News Sarah Laker of Stationery Supplies will be helping publishers Slay the to Prepare to Slay The Dragon dragon! The Dragons Speed Dating event is always popular - and two more retailers have recently confirmed their attendance - greeting card retail chain Scribbler, and Presents, gift shops based in East Sheen and Barnes, London. They’ll be joining WHSmith, Stationery Supplies, Card Factory, and Tesco. The event, on March 2 at the Business Design Centre in London offers a good opportunity for established publishers to show new products and build on established relationships. New businesses can get feedback on designs and learn more about what buyers are looking for - and hopefully get some orders!

Publishers can also attend a zoom pre-meeting to help you prepare to Slay the Dragon on Tuesday 31 January 2023. Sarah Laker from Stationery Supplies and Giraffe Gifts will be joining the zoom to let you know what she’ll be looking for from publishers in 2023, and sharing her advice on how to prepare for, and get the most out of, Dragons Speed Dating. Carolyn Verderame, sales director at Caroline Gardner Publishing, will also be on hand to offer help and advice.

Members can find out more on the GCA website.

Seeing the wood through the trees

Following a meeting with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the GCA has produced a blog outlining the various requirements of FSC certification.

The Forest Stewardship Council is an organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.

To be able to use the FSC logo on products, companies must adhere to a strict set of guidelines; the card publisher does not have to hold its own certification, but to display the FSC label, it must use an FSC certified and be printing on FSC-certified materials. It is, however, according to recent research, worthwhile, as the public are now familiar with the certification.

Research conducted in 2022 on behalf of FSC UK, revealed that six in 10 people in the UK reported becoming more conscious of the sustainability of both products and packaging, with 35% saying they keep an eye out for certification labels when shopping for forest-based products. And 76% of people in the UK now recognise the FSC logo, while two thirds of those are also confident they understand, at least roughly, what it means.

Danilo’s Daniel Prince chairs the GCA Sustainability sub-committee. He told Greetings Today: ‘’The importance of sustainability work by the GCA cannot be understated. Today, more and more publishers are implementing sustainable practices for their business and their products. They are aware of the threats posed and want to make a difference.

‘’Additionally, pressures from retailers have increased due to growing sustainable regulations, buyer sustainability requirements and the increased demand for environmentally-friendly products and services.

‘’These pressures have begun to trickle down to greeting card publishers, leading to many becoming curious about how to transition to a more sustainable business, which the GCA is providing guidelines for.’’

For more see www.gca.cards/fsc-greeting-card-publishing

GCA continues fight to protect USO

GCA CEO Amanda Fergusson presented the card industry’s case in a high-powered meeting about Royal Mail’s threat to cut deliveries to five days a week. The Royal Mail’s USO (Universal Service Obligation) requires it to deliver letters to every address six days a week, however, the Royal Mail has requested release from the obligation.

With the current turmoil in government, and recognising that power may land with the Labour Party after the next General Election, Amanda met with Adam Terry MP, Labour’s head of policy department, as part of the GCA’s membership of the Independent Retailers’ Confederation.

Amanda told Greetings Today: ‘’We put the case to Adam Terry that we need to plan ahead and work the USO into Labour’s policy, so that there’s a chance of it being a focus in their general election campaign.’’

Adam Terry shared a letter written by Jonathan Reynolds (Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) to Business Secretary Grant Shapps, which was sent six days after the GCA had written to Reynolds with its concerns.

In it, Reynolds said: ‘’The ability to send and receive letters and parcels from any part of the UK for the same price is a public service we should rightly cherish, and one many members of the public and small businesses rely on. It is therefore important that your Department considers the potentially substantial implications for the taxpayer.’’

Amanda also received an email from Reynolds’ office, stating: ‘’We share your worries about the future of the USO. As well as being of crucial importance to sectors such as yours, the USO is vital for connecting local communities and is, for us, a key pillar of our union. We are in very regular contact with Royal Mail and CWU to monitor the situation and we can assure you that we will continue to press the Government at every opportunity to protect the USO.’’

Wonder wall

Spring Fair organiser Hyve has agreed to provide GCA members with a freestanding card display, in the entrance to the card hall, to promote and celebrate card sending - a great marketing opportunity to both direct buyers to your stand and promote card sending.

The large feature block wall will promote New Occasions and Diversity cards on one side, demonstrating to retailers the breadth and diversity available in the industry.

The other side of the wall will be devoted to Feel Good, general friendship, and Thinking of You, encouraging everyone to ‘send a card and deliver a smile’.

Members have been encouraged to contribute up to six cards, along with their company name and stand number, to direct show visitors to their stands.

The wall this year has been designed by Rebecca Green, creative director at Raspberry Blossom, and a GCA Council Member.

Dress for the seasons

The GCA offers toolkits that retailers can use to promote seasonal products - and at this time of year there’s plenty of events to plan.

The free toolkits have been designed by card publisher Raspberry Blossom, and you’ll find free-to-download social posts, bunting, posters and more to support your in-store marketing.

So whether you’re getting loved up for Valentine’s Day, egg-cited for Easter, marketing for Mother’s Day or firing up for Father’s Day, there’s free help available. Find links to them all at www.gca.cards/blog.