Greetings Today

Independently audited, ABC circulation of 6,089

The impartial voice of the greetings card industry Nov/Dec 2014 Issue 3 Volume 16

THE UK’S LEADING DESIGN-LED GIFT & FASHION ACCESSORY EVENT

Five Dollar Shake / Artebene / Gestalten / Caroline Gardner / Ohh Deer / Undercover / Urban Graphic and Hundreds More!

GIFT / FASHION / CHILDREN’S / STATIONERY&GREETINGS / WELLBEING topdrawer.co.uk

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Olympia, London 11–13 January 2015 Register for your free ticket TOPDRAWER.CO.UK

contents the team

Editor Tracey Bearton tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk Advertisement Enquiries Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk 01442 289930

Group Editor Mirella Cestaro mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk

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Group Advertisement Manager Ryan Horwood ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk Publisher Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

REGULARS 07 08

Leader

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It’s All About Sales Agents Alina Clark and new columnist Neil Anthony speak from the stores.

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Retail Talk Independent retail advisor Henri Davis tells all on her theories for the coming year.

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Frankly Speaking There’s nothing Bah! Humbug! about the sunny Sarah Porter.

News Exhibition, People, Supplier, Licensing and General, it’s all here - and there’s more on www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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Production Director Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

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Meet The Newbies Windles-sponsored focus on industry newcomers

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Your Shout

Managing Director Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk Circulation Manager Robert Thomas robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

Keep in touch - follow us:

Keep it local says Gemma Zaire of The Country House Gift Company.

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@greetingstoday

Spotlight & Gifts Spotlight A selection of this month’s latest releases.

https://www.facebook.com/ greetingstodaymag

John Ryan When is a trend worth following?

FEATURES 12

Talking Shop

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Paul Taylor on how he and partner Jo Hancock are growing their 84-strong Cardzone chain.

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Trends & Bestsellers

The industry’s trade association reveal their latest facts and figures showing it’s stll a good industry to be part of.

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What’s sold well this year, and which trends should you be watching?

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Distribution, Wholesale & Supply Focus Getting the product on to the shelves is a vital part of the greetings industry.

GCA Annual Market Report

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1 Church Gates, Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2UB

Telephone: 01442 289930 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Cute little Frank is the star of the show at The Art File.

At the heart of retail

Charity Cards

Greetings Today is independently audited with an ABC circulation of 6,089 (July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014)

Window On The World A tantalising glimpse at the goodies on offer.

ONLINE

Lema Publishing Ltd

Cover Story

Good for everyone, retailers, customers and helping some very worthy causes.

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PUBLISHING

Go to our website - www.greetingstoday.co.uk - for our special online features, this month we expand on Charity Cards and you can look back at our archive of previous features and issues.

Subscription per annum: UK £50 (free for people in the greetings industry), Europe £60, ROTW £70 A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 5

Products: Present Time, Burgon & Ball, J-Me, Suck UK, Present Time, Burgon & Ball

INSPIRING BUYING IN 2015 THE NEWEST PRODUCTS, INNOVATIONS AND TRENDS FROM OVER 3,000 EXHIBITORS. REGISTER FOR YOUR COMPLIMENTARY TICKET AT WWW.SPRINGFAIR.COM/GREETINGSTODAY

leader Editor Tracey Bearton

ALENDARS are a massive part of the greetings industry because everyone uses one to keep track of the dates they need to send cards – or with retailers it’s when they need to buy and stock product for the upcoming seasons.

Even in these days of electronic diaries, calendars are still a fantastic add-on sale around Christmas and the new year, as well as a neat and useful gift for businesses to send to clients – I have three of the A-frame versions sitting on my desk as well as a credit

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card-sized full-year one stuck to my computer, plus my 18-month paper diary as well as the one on my smartphone!

So I’m incredibly proud to have been asked, as Greetings Today editor, to sit on the judging panel for the National Calendar Awards 2015.

Having been to the awards ceremony for the past couple of years to report on proceedings for the magazine, I’m really looking forward to having a hand in picking the best of the fantastic designs on offer and seeing some of the latest ideas and innovations, especially from the student category.

As well as all the specialists, many publishers

have calendars as part of their offering so we’d love to see as many entries as possible – I wonder if the Warwick Rowing Club will be entering their naked version again? I’m only interested to know how much they raise for Sport Allies, honest!

The entry forms are available to download at www.ncawards. co.uk and the closing date is December 1 – hopefully there will be plenty to look through on judgement day.

It’s all about dates this time around as November 28 is coming up fast and that’s the GCA’s second Festive Friday event when everyone in the greetings industry is encouraged to spend and hour or two writing and sending their personal Christmas cards.

The idea is to get the festive sending season started with a bang and encourage the whole country to get in the mood too.

A free toolkit is available on the GCA website www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk to help retailers promote Festive Friday to their customers as an early Christmas sending event.

We’ll be joining in here at Greetings Today – just running through those finger-flexing exercises now, wouldn’t want writer’s cramp to kick in too early!

Send your views and submissions for the magazine to: tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk Tel: 01442 289930

Want to appear in ?

JANUARY FEATURES: Top Drawer Spring Preview Christmas Cards & Wrap Giving & Living Preview Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring Preview Wales Spring Fair Preview JANUARY COPY DATE DECEMBER 1

FEBRUARY FEATURES: Paperworld Preview Spring Fair Preview Wedding & Anniversary Cards FEBRUARY COPY DATE DECEMBER 14

WINDOW ON THE WORLD

● DISPLAY SPECIAL - SEE P32

THOUGHT and ingenuity means cards can become part of an innovative window display, as proven by Gill Wing Gifts in Upper Street, Islington.

Framed by the fabulous shop window that’s been untouched since built in the 1920s, owners Gill and Tim and their team showcased 4sided.co.uk’s designs for a Halloween feature.

The London shop was converted from an Edwardian hairdressers to sell the founders’ own ceramics including teapots and has expanded over the years to include other potters’ work, greetings cards, chocolates, clocks, toys, glass, clocks.

Displays are an important part of the philisophy with around 1,500 teapots on show around the store,

many made by Gill herself.

And the window displays are renowned within Islington for including as much product as aesthetically possible.

T: 020 7359 7697 www.gillwing.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 7

in the news Going back Stateside PAPERCHASE are going back Stateside having signed an agreement with stationery giant Staples to put a unique range of their designs in 1,200 US stores.

CEO Timothy Melgund (pictured) said: “As part of Borders, we successfully traded within 750 US stores achieving sales of $50million (£31.3m) a year. We are therefore delighted to be able to extend our reach back to those US customers.”

Meanwhile, the possibility of a £150m Paperchase sale hardened following a Sunday Times story, when the company confirmed financial advisors have been appointed after receiving several bid approaches.

Everyone’s watching TV IN A Card have launched a range of video greetings cards, showcasing the product with the Aldi festive advert, Everyone’s Coming To Us This Christmas, which aired on TV on November 6. The video cards will be available from January and will be showcased on Channel 4’s Gadget Man Christmas special.

Calendar girls THE female Warwick University rowers whose naked pics were branded too rude for Facebook are baring all for the third year running in a new calendar, to increase the £3,000 raised for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Royal links PRINCE’S Trust graduate Fay Martin has linked up with royalty again to unveil a Christmas product launch for Highgrove. The Fay’s Studio founder and designer has four festive card packs on sale at the stores where all profits go to the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation.

Gran gets 4,000 cards FOOTIE-mad great-great gran Betty Musker definitely doesn’t walk alone as fellow Liverpool fans have inundated her with more than 4,000 cards from around ahead of her 104th birthday.

Eat your words EATING your words takes on a different meaning with the eco-friendly concept from Seattle publishers Eat The Fine Print. Founded by sisters Mihkel Kryman and Frith Maier, they’ve come up with edible greetings that combine their two favourite things, sending and receiving cards and eating fresh fruit.

Latest link in new chain THE latest in Clintons’ push to have up to 18 of their new concept value stores open by Christmas came to Northampton on November 15 when Simply Clintons opened in the town’s Weston Favell Shopping Centre, adding to the Redhill shop opened in July, followed by Walsall and Rochdale at the end of September.

Lucky 13 STATIONERY heaven hit the Intu Centre in Watford in November as Blott founder Chris Manson expanded his store portfolio to lucky 13.

Evolution of a brand OPENING two flagship retail stores is how Caroline Gardner plans to move the brand forward and showcase her new CG label. The shops in top London shopping destinations Kings Road and Marylebone High Street are now open and stock predominately limited edition lines that she has designed for the new label.

Call for rates overhaul MORE High Street shops could be forced out of business without urgent action to help family firms and independent traders, the Local Government Association have warned as they called for English councils to be able to set business rates to reflect their local areas rather than operating to a Whitehall formula.

8 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Window art wins PORTFOLIO in London’s Golborne Road won the GCA’s National Thinking Of You best window display prize for their artistry.

The store is run by business partners Jayne Diggory and David Corner, and GCA CEO Sharon Little said: “The prize goes to Portfolio for a gorgeous display and the offer to pay the postage on any cards written in their shop.

“We really liked the way they used the promotional tools we provided in the National Thinking of You Week Toolkit to make a great display – excellent job, Jayne, Natalie and everyone at Portfolio!”

Lynn Tait won the best event prize for joining up two schools, a church and an old people’s home in her home area of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, to take part in the

initiative to boost greetings card sending.

The runner up in the best event was publisher Penny Lindop for her open invitation to her whole Norfolk village to come and write cards in her home, she provided the cards, tea and cakes and paid the postage for everyone who joined in.

“Penny also decorated and photographed local post boxes,” Sharon said, “and used this to promote National Thinking Of You Week brilliantly via Facebook and Twitter in the lead up to the event.

“She also played a part in making the event go global, with her daughter, who teaches in Taipei, Taiwan, joining in by teaching the importance of sending cards to her pupils.”

www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk

WH Smith vs Card Factory DESPITE increased trading profits, WH Smith are looking to follow value greetings retailers like Card Factory by launching their own standalone Cardmarket chain selling cheap cards.

The PLC, which comprises the Travel and High Street businesses, announced their preliminary results on October 16 for the year to August 31 which revealed a nine per cent increase in group pre-tax profits, up from £103million to £112million, although total sales were down two per cent, with like-for-like sales down three per cent.

The report explained WH Smith’s High Street side, which had a four per cent rise in trading profit from £55m to £58m, now operates in 604 stores having closed 11 over the past year, and announced the trial of the standalone Cardmarket greetings card chain.

The move means WH Smith will directly challenge Clintons new Simply Clintons concept and no-frills chain Card Factory that listed on the stock market earlier this year and has just announced they have identified sites to take their portfolio to 1,200 shops having opened 48 new stores since February to bring their total estate to 761. Card Factory also said revenue increased by 8.7 per cent at the same time thanks to like-for-like sales growth, new store rollout and further growth in the complementary online division.

Hello Henry TARTAN was the fabric of choice at the Henries Awards event which had a Highland Fling theme to announce the 2014 top greetings cards and publishers in the UK. More than 14,000 cards were entered in this year’s competition, with comedian Alun Cochrane hosting the awards ceremony at London’s Lancaster Hotel on October 9 attended by over 600 industry folk.

The Honorary Achievement Award was received

by Paperlink MD Louise Tighe, with the Henry Cole Classic title going to Woodmansterne’s Quentin Blake designs – also a finalist in the Best Christmas Box Or Pack category – and UK Greetings taking gold for best service to the independent retailer.

The full list of Henries Awards Winners 2014 is available on www.greetingstoday.co.uk

One, two, three!

ONE retailer’s keynote speech, two new committee members and three wise men were the main points of this week’s GCA AGM, along with the launch of the Annual Market Report.

And with the ups and downs revealed in both the speeches and the report, there were some mixed feelings among the audience of publisher and new associate members, who made up a record number of attendees for an AGM held outside London.

Held at the National Space Centre in Leicester on September 29, the AGM was opened by GCA president Chris Houfe who unveiled the annual UK Greeting Card Market Report.

My World’s Sarah Porter and Belly Button’s Rachel Hare were elected to the GCA council, Paul Taylor from 84-store retailers Cardzone gave the keynote speech and there was a chat show-style discussion (pictured) where Carte Blanche founder Stephen Haines interviewed industry stalwarts Duncan Spence, owner of Ling Design, Carte Blanche shareholder and

Moonpig investor; Simon Elvin founder and owner Simon Elvin, and Great British Card Company owner Peter Reichwald.

Both Chris and GCA chief executive Sharon Little mentioned the boost that allowing associate members to join had proven, with 40 suppliers and retailers helping it become more relevant to the wider industry and better able to fight their corner, as well as bringing in more cash to promote greetings cards.

Full details of the Market Report are on page 23, and a full account of the AGM and Paul Taylor’s speech is on www.greetingstoday.co.uk

www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk

SEE MORE NEWS ON www.greetingstoday.co.uk

in the news Silence of the stores IF A chain store closed 330 shops or opened 340 in a week it would be headline news in every form of media but independent shops did that for each of the first 26 weeks of this year to complete silence, as Michael Weedon, BIRA deputy CEO and communications director, has revealed. He said: “Since 2010 the number of empty shops has fallen, despite the closures of multiples. The simple reason, exposed by the latest analysis of Openings & Closings from the Local Data Company and BIRA for the first half of 2014, is that births of independent shops continue to outnumber deaths – and they more than make up for the deaths of multiples.”

Starring on canvas TATTY Teddy is all set to raise money for the Stars On Canvas art project in aid of the Willow Foundation thanks to the talents of head Me To You artist Steve Mort-Hill. His 20x20cm hand-painted piece goes under the hammer in the bi-annual charity auction of original artworks by well-known names including singer Robbie Williams, actor John Hurt and sporting hero Mo Farah.

Don’t believe what you read GIFTWARE Association chief executive Isabel Martinson has stressed that what the national media presents as the UK retail picture isn’t a true reflection.

She said: “It’s important to remember the surveys on which newspapers and broadcasters sometimes base their stories are not representative of the gift and home industry. There are strong sales for retailers who have an online element to their business and are prepared to go that extra mile by providing fantastic service and a memorable shopping experience. Many suppliers who are offering newness and well-designed and well-made products are growing their markets.”

SEE MORE NEWS ON www.greetingstoday.co.uk

licensing news

Go, go, go for Danilo THUNDERBIRDS Are Go for Danilo as they have signed up to produce licensed cards and a calendar for the relaunched action-adventure series which celebrates 50 years in 2015.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment announced the first licensing partners for the brand at Brand Licensing Europe where the classic show led their presentations with an exclusive sneak peak at the Thunderbirds Are Go digital hub which will become central to the franchise.

The first products are scheduled to launch at retail from autumn-winter 2015 and, as well as Danilo’s range of greetings cards and calendars, Kokomo will lead the personal care category with a range of toiletry items, Posh Paws will launch bags and backpacks in 2016 and Vivid Imaginations are the master toy licensees excluding US and Asia.

T: 01992 702900 www.danilo.com

License This! joins awards

Plans afoot for Blueprint for heritage brand future

THE Advanstar-organised licensing exhibition BLE has been announced as headline sponsor of the UK Licensing Awards 2015.

Brand Licensing Europe has its own License This! awards and event director Darren Brechin said: “We are delighted to become more involved with this key event in the licensing industry’s calendar for 2015 and hopefully years to come.”

The 2015 Licensing Awards will cover all aspects of the UK licensing industry with the winners announced on September 15.

BIG plans are afoot to re-establish and ignite heritage brand Forever Friends in the UK market which have begun with Hallmark’s agent The Licensing Company kicking off their recently-signed representation by signing Golden Bear as master nursery plush partner.

Golden Bear’s AW15 launch will encompass plush led baby infant toys including teethers, rattles, mobiles, cot and pram toys featuring the cute bear images that began life on Hallmark greetings cards.

www.thelicensingawards.co.uk www.brandlicensing.eu

T: 020 8222 6100 www.thelicensingcompany.com

KIDS’ hilarious insights on adult issues such as love, ageing and marriage will be hitting the UK stationery and gift market thanks to a new deal with Blueprint Collections.

Licensing agency JELC represent The Wisdom Of Kids, the award-winning greetings and gift range created by The London Studio founder Soula Zavacopoulos, and have announced the deal hard on the heels of the development of a new card range with Gemma.

www.blueprintcollections.co.uk www.theLondonStudio.com

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 9

in the news

Jobs to go at UKG

Pleased as Pudsey THE cash came rolling in for K2 Greetings’ raffle for the BBC’s Children In Need appeal with customers and suppliers coughing up a grand total of £1,380 – the full list of winners is available on www.greetingstoday. co.uk It was their second charity event in a month as they joined the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning to raise more than £100 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Doing it by the book MAKING sure all potential customers know what’s on offer is the challenge faced by retailers and Mantons Cards have decided to do it by the book – releasing their first-ever store catalogue. With a 100,000 print run Chris Beards, owner of the award-winning greetings and gift store in Port Erin, intends having the catalogue delivered to every house on the Isle Of Man twice.

Jail threat for copying A NEW law came into force on October 1 making it a criminal offence to intentionally infringe a registered design – and a company’s individual board directors will also be held accountable. A 10-year jail term is the maximum sentence for anyone found guilty under the new Intellectual Property Act, which follows a lengthy campaign by trade association Anti Copying In Design.

Jackie and Alan on top KENDAL independents Armstrong Ward were named Retailer Of The Year at the 2014 CN Group Business Awards. Owners Jackie and Andrew Ward, fought off both Celebrations and Dickinsons from Carlisle to collect the trophy on October 17, in the awards run

by Cumberland News publishers the CN Group. They were commended for their all-round unique offerings, customer service and community engagement, with the judges impressed by their marketing prowess.

Showcase your work WELL-KNOWN industry names are helping small publishers by setting up Showcase Greetings where they can have 18 designs with agents around the country and be represented at trade shows. The brainchild of Steve Pepper, he has set up Showcase with Felixstowe-based John Botting, of Colneis Cards and Colour House Graphics, having originally worked on the concept with The Brolly Group. They have been joined by Peter Fitzpatrick, formerly of GiftMateMisumaru, P&G Cards UK and Wishing Well Studios, and Design Hog publisher Nicky Dawson, and product will be printed on demand by the Imaging Centre.

Sugaring the sales AN AMSCAN Tropical Fish Cluster SuperShape balloon was the star of the first episode of the BBC’s latest series of The Apprentice, helping the men’s team secure a sale as the contestants vie to become Lord Sugar’s latest business partner.

Dragon’s heart of gold FORMER TV Dragon Theo Paphitis showed he has a heart of gold by allowing The London Studio designer Soula Zavacopoulos to sell her Wisdom Of Kids book in 98 of his Ryman Stationery stores to raise money for BBC Children In Need.

10 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

ALL manufacturing jobs at UK Greetings are to go as part of the market-leading direct-to-retail publishers’ “difficult decision” to outsource all print and finishing to the Far East and America.

But the manufacturing floorspace at their Dewsbury base is to be converted to warehousing and distribution and, along with the recently-acquired nearby Bretton Park facility, there will be some opportunities for staff affected to stay with the whollyowned subsidiary of American Greetings.

The plan, announced in October, is to cease the UK-based manufacturing operations over a phased period, expected to finish by August next year, with all production moving to the Far East and US operations.

As the biggest employers in the area, UKG are headed

by CEO Gary Rowley and have 1,000 staff split between the Mill Street head office (pictured) and the Cannon Way manufacturing plant, with another 2,500 staff across the country including in their warehouse, design studio, distribution centre, sales teams and merchandisers.

A statement issued by the company said: “UK Greetings operates in a highly-competitive market

sector and, as part of a global organisation, it is important the company continually reviews all its operations and available resources to ensure it is operating as efficiently and effectively as possible.

“Tests have shown that efficiency benefits will be achieved in the supply chain by following this course of action whilst maintaining our acknowledged high levels of customer service and product quality. Therefore, the company has taken the difficult decision to cease its UK based manufacturing operations over a phased period, likely to conclude in August 2015.

“From a strategic perspective, this means the company will now have a clear focus on its core business, which is the development of award-winning product ranges and the delivery of award-winning service levels to our customers.

In March this year UKG’s biggest rivals Hallmark announced the end of all manufacturing at their Dawson Lane, Bradford, base with the changes due to be complete by the end of December.

T: 01924 465200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk

exhibition news

Shows launch new brand THE original e-commerce zone at Spring Fair and Autumn Fair is set to become a brand in its own right as show organisers i2i Events aim to help retailers find new and innovative ways of trading online, enhance their customer experience and develop seamless multi-channel operations.

Exhibitors at the new Retail Shop, due to make its debut at Spring Fair at Birmingham’s NEC from February 1-5, will represent a multitude of products and services that are essential to successful multi-channel retailing, including in-store and online solutions, logistics and fulfillment experts, marketing platforms, payment

providers and specialists in packaging.

Retail Shop will provide a full-spectrum offering dedicated to cutting edge technology and retail sector solutions, aimed at ensuring i2i Events Group customers retain their competitive edge in a rapidly evolving global.

It has developed from the enormous success of the E-commerce Seminar Theatres and technology zones which debuted at this year’s Fairs, complementing the e-exporter programme launched

by UK Trade & Investment at Autumn Fair.

www.springfair.com

Stationery goes global Just weeks to new year LEADING brands Sheaffer, Maped Helix, Dodo-Pad, Kokuyo, Zebra and Nu: Notebooks are the sponsors of next year’s National Stationery Week and Get Britain Writing campaign which runs from April 27-May 3.

National Stationery Week has captured people’s imagination so April 29 has been designated World Stationery Day. The event is organised by the London Stationery Show, which is being held for the sixth year at the Business Design Centre in London, on April 28-29.

One in four exhibitors booked are new to the show including BrownTrout Publishers, The Art File, Portico Designs, Two Little Boys and Parax Paper.

www.stationeryshow.co.uk www.nationalstationeryweek.com

Back to business GETTING back to business as usual was the feeling from retailers north of the border following the independence referendum and Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn.

Exhibitors reported healthy orders from the September show at Glasgow’s SECC and Mark Saunders, of organisers Springboard Events, said: “Given the backdrop to this show with the referendum, it went well.”

T: 01877 385722 www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk

THERE are just a few weeks until Top Drawer Spring comes to London’s Olympia to kick off the 2015 buying year with the keenly-anticipated New Talents area debuting up on level one.

Organised by Clarion Events from January 11-13, the exhibition encompasses Top Drawer, Home and Craft along with a new floor devoted entirely to fashion accessories and jewellery so will showcase more than 1,000 exhibitors overall and span the four halls and two levels of the Kensington venue.

With five edited product sectors – Gift, Fashion Accessories, Stationery, Children’s and Wellbeing – this year the show is expanding over two levels, with more than 100 confirmed greetings exhibitors already including Alternative Image Company, The Art File, The Bees Knees, Blue Eyed Sun, Cath Tate Cards, Cinnamon Aitch, Dean Morris Cards, Laura Darrington Designs, Lesser Spotted Images Love From Lemonade and Velvet Olive.

Successful aspects of previous events will return, such as the Retail Masterclass programme of short, informative live presentations from industry experts with this year’s keynote speakers to include Heal’s chairman Will Hobhouse, designer Sebastian Conran and Trend Bible.

www.topdrawer.co.uk

SEE MORE NEWS ON www.greetingstoday.co.uk

people news

supplier news

Windles have Form

Goodbye to Bryan FULFILMENT services stalwart Bryan Hadfield has lost his battle with cancer, with his funeral held on November 5.

Bryan and his wife Jutta set up JBH Associates three decades ago in Coleford, Gloucestershire, to run the pick, pack and dispatch for many greetings publishers, including long-time clients Caroline Gardner.

With a view to retirement a few years ago, the couple took a step back leaving the business in the capable hands of Jan and Paul Harrison, while still remaining as directors. ● SELLING baby shower cards has proved prophetic for Velvet Olive founder and designer Kathryn Fletcher who gave birth to 8.13lbs Dinos on November 2.

“He was two weeks overdue,” Kathryn said, “well, his father is Greek!

He is beautiful and perfect in every way and we are beyond happy.” ● AMBER Hunter-Love has rejoined The Bright Group in the role of operations and commercial manager as the agency look to their next 10year growth plan. ● JEFF Moody, formerly of Polti and BDC, has joined BIRA Direct as managing director designate following the announcement of the planned retirement of current MD Paul Woolley.

Steve Akers has also been promoted to director of buying for BIRA Direct.

Create for a crate DESIGNERS have the chance to win a crate of champagne courtesy of Antalis’ Christmas campaign where they personalise 3D star decorations then tweet the image.

The campaign runs until December 10 and entrants will receive a mailer with die-cut star cards to decorate, punch-out and interconnect to complete the 3D effect.

By tweeting an image with the hashtag #followthestar, the top three picked out will each receive a crate of champagne.

The mailer is printed on Cocoon Offset and Silk 100 per cent recycled paper and features a twist on the carol We Three Kings, with the line: “Oh paper of wonder, paper so white, paper with recycled beauty and bright, environmental leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect printed sight.”

T: 01530 505150 www.antalis.co.uk

WINDLES Group have gone one better than last year’s finalists position by lifting the 2014 Print Week Social Stationery Printer Of the Year Trophy.

“Stunning precision” was the judges’ description of their cold-foil process and bold contrasting colours for a job for GB Eye, where they also used 280gsm board rather than the usual lighter weight paper.

Windles’ Michelle Mills said: “Posters are coming back into fashion again, now the gift and stationery stores can’t get enough of them.”

MD Bruce Podmore is pictured, right, with sales director Andrea Norcott accepting the trophy from awards host comedian Jimmy Carr at the ceremony on October 20.

The Windles team also delivered with the Form 3D range

by The Art File with formidably high manufacturing demands with the need for extremely precise die-cuts – and reprints were required within weeks of the launch.

Finalists The Sherwood Press Group – who won in the FMCG Packaging Printer Of The Year category – were highly commended for their Pop ’N’ Rock-Swing cards for client Santoro Graphics whose 3D interactive product is now sold in 45 countries. The judges praised the “excellent attention to detail and a real knock-out entry. Amazingly fine tolerances on cutting”.

T: 01844 201683 www.windlesgroup.co.uk

Double accreditation OFFSET Productions and Offset Group have achieved ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accreditation which the management team described as “a significant achievement for the group that will open additional business avenues”.

OPL are known to many card publishers for their high-quality printing, finishing and flexibility and the management team added: “With the achievement of two ISOs to add to our existing FSC and BRC accreditation, OPL’s customers know they are dealing with a professional team from start to finish.”

www.offsetproductions.co.uk

If you want that extra bit of magic, we have it all for you from foiling and die-cutting to varnishing and flittering. We also print very well too!

Contact us: telephone 01892 825 083 info@theimagingcentre.co.uk Follow us: www.theimagingcentre.co.uk twitter.com/ImagingCentre facebook/The Imaging Centre

SEE MORE NEWS ON www.greetingstoday.co.uk

tactile that is us.

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 11

TALKINGSHOP

Fit for the future

Setting up one successful business is pretty good going but Paul Taylor is now busy growing his second greetings and gift chain and will celebrate 10 years with fellow director Jo Hancock in 2015 as they look to build on their growth from a single store to 84 sites.

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OMBINING more than 80 stores into a cohesive whole is the challenge Cardzone directors Paul Taylor and Jo Hancock have set themselves for their upcoming 10th year celebrations.

Having started with a single shop in Sheffield the company have grown rapidly over the past nine years through a combination of opening new stores alongside acquisitions to currently trade under four names – Paper Kisses, Cardzone, Special Occasions and Card Centre – from 84 sites.

“As and when we refit stores,” Paul explained, “we’re turning them into Cardzone, apart from our ones in south Wales which are the value stores and we think we’re going to keep them as Card Centre.

“We’ve had three revamped in October, one is the new shop in Yate which has undergone a real transformation and trading is already up 15 per cent.

“We took out the old-fashioned wooden frontage and installed a modern glass one, that’s how we see the future. It’s an incredible change thanks to a lot of hard work and makes a massive difference.

“Our newest store was the Thorntons franchise in Worksop opened on October 25, which takes our total to 84.

“It was an existing Thorntons store which closed down a few months ago and the landlord approached us about it. We’ve taken it on and totally gutted and refitted it – I was very impressed.

“We’re going through quite an aggressive refit programme with Thorntons at the moment as 25 per cent of the estate is Thorntons, which we feel is a really good mix.

“Generally we close the store on a Saturday and refit it in a week then reopen the next Saturday so, when we’re refitting the Thorntons side, we take the chance to refit the rest.”

The business came into being when Paul bought Jo’s store having known her since she’d worked for him in his previous company The Greeting Card Store Group, which he helped grow from his original eight-strong Pillarbox chain of card and gift shops into more than 220 when sold to Clinton Cards in 1998.

12 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

● Pals and partners – Jo and Paul have been in business since 2005

‘

We recognise W we’ll probably get to 100 stores next yearr

’

Paul had been out of the greetings industry for seven years, working for discount retailers B&M Bargains before returning to his roots.

With their head office at beautiful Hexgreave Hall just north of Nottingham, Cardzone’s furthest north stores are York in the north-east and Widnes in the north-west, with shops as far south as Bristol in the west along with 17 in south Wales following an acquistion in June, while in the east they come down as far as Maldon, Essex.

Paul added: “I think I probably enjoy the growth element of the business the most, trying to take on board new sites and also new acquisitions as well.

“We can’t stand still, we recognise that if we stand still we’ll probably go backwards.

“There’s no set goal, we just want to keep growing and moving forward – and we recognise we’ll probably get to 100 stores next year.

“What we want to do is make the business a lot slicker and more professional which is what we’re doing at the moment.

“We do have some fabulous people working

for us, some great store managers and staff who are passionate about the business.

“Jo Hancock is the lady who started it all and really doesn’t get the recognition and praise she deserves – we simply wouldn’t be so successful today without her great input.

“Jo stayed when I came on board and we’ve slowly grown from there. She has been at the forefront of our success and now we’re planning some special events to celebrate 10 years in business.”

Having been successful first with The Greeting Card Store Group and now with building up Cardzone through the recent recession as well as under the towering shadow of Card Factory’s expansion into a publicly-traded business with 750 stores, the GCA showed their recognition of Paul’s achievements by asking him to be the keynote speaker at this year’s AGM. “I was very nervous,” he said, “but I actually enjoyed it, once I’d got over the nervousness of the build-up the whole experience wasn’t as tough as I’d thought it would be, and I’ve had some very pleasant comments as feedback.

“Since my speech in September more challenges have emerged for independent retailers as WH Smiths have moved on their standalone Cardmarket chain to compete with Card Factory and Clintons now have Simply Clintons as well.

“The impact of these is unknown – but we do know it’s going to drive down prices in the greetings card market which can’t be good for the industry.

“However, you’ve got to admire Smiths as their recent figures show profits keep going up while sales keep falling.”

Every Cardzone store has a manager who works under an area manager controlling up to 20 stores and, in keeping with their decision to become more corporate, they’re holding their first-ever management conference at The Belfry in Birmingham in mid-November.

Paul explained: “We can’t get all the staff together but we’re taking about 20 managers and having a management day where we’re putting them up overnight so we can spend quality time together, it’s a positive move.

“We were inspired by the Thorntons

TALKINGSHOP

● Up to date – the Yate store transformation is the look of the future that Paul and Jo intend to roll out throughout their growing chain

conference a couple of months ago where, for the first time, they allowed the store managers to stay overnight and, when we talking in the evening they were more relaxed, so we learned much more about them.

“We recognise that we need to become more corporate but within reason so we can still allow people to stamp their own flair and individuality on the stores, we never want to lose that if we can help it.

“We’re looking to bring on board a buying director with overall responsibility for buying product, we want someone with a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help take the company forward.

“As we get bigger, we realise we have to bring in product from the Far East so need someone with experience in that field.

“At the moment it’s just me and my assistant buyer Sally, we’re very lean and mean.

“We have thousands of SKUs and have regular meetings with the area managers so we get their opinion on products and do presentations of ranges at meetings with them.

“We do our own cards and gift dressings distribution from our two warehouses in Mansfield and Cardiff. It means we have control so can move stock around as it’s needed so there are some advantages but the cost is quite significant.

“When someone wants to pitch a product, generally they ring us up, then we ask them for a sample and if we like it we arrange a meeting, and it goes from there.

“I do feel trade shows are very important, we attend them all and spend quality time there because it’s easy to miss things.

“We tend to invite area managers and will probably have seven or eight people attending across the Spring and Autumn Fairs. We’ve had store managers there too, they can pick up on things we’ve missed.

“Harrogate is lovely and I like Top Drawer as well, it’s more premium but it’s a nice show.

“We’re always looking for new supply chains, we have to have new ones as we can’t

just keep selling what we have today. We need to keep up to date with trends and fashions.”

Most of Cardzone’s buying is done through their warehouse because it allows them to negotiate better rates but, with an approved list of publishers and gift ranges, managers are also able to order direct to store to allow for individuality as well as regional and customerbase requirements.

Paul added: “All our stores have cards and gifts, some do more of one than others, there’s no common percentage across the board.

‘

I was nervous but enjoyed my AGM speech and had good feedback

’

Sometimes we pull out card racks to put in more gifts, sometimes the other way around.

“Our value shops have an average price of 99p for greetings cards and we cap prices at £1.99, at our other stores it’s probably a £2 average with a top price of £4.99.

“Most of our gifts are under £10. We do sell licensed giftware like Willow Tree where they are over £10 and we do an element of licensed cards from Gemma in a handful of stores and have just committed to take Frozen with UK Greetings.

“We are very much traditional gifts, and price driven to an extent. We have middleof-the-road suppliers, Joe Davis, Widdop Bingham, and Lesser & Pavey who are very good so tend to dominate our core gifting.

“We deal with most of the High Street publishers, UKG, Hallmark, Great British Card Co, Carte Blanche, Nigel Quiney, Cherry Orchard, Grass Roots, Emotional Rescue, Great British Card Company, Words ’n’ Wishes – there are probably many others I’ve forgotten to mention!

“We deal with wholesale too like Simon Elvin

and Hambledon, which is part of Hallmark.

“We do have some of the smaller publishers, The Bees Knees we’ve been dealing with for two years and are in talks with them again, we’ve just taken on Janie Wilson, and have Cinnamon Aitch but we are more mainstream – Tracks, Quitting Hollywood, Paper Rose to name a few more.

“Much as we’d love to deal with more of the smaller publishers, it can be frustrating when they won’t let us put their product in some stores because they already have someone stocking them in that location.

“One way I believe independents can survive is to convert a percentage of their space to gifts because, when a Card Factory or Simply Clintons opens nearby, they may lose 30 per cent of their business.

“Also, there’s no national chain of gift shops so there’s a market for independents who can specialise or be known for certain products.

“With unlicensed gifting, people want to touch and feel it, while for licensed product there are always going to be sales online.

“With something like Willow Tree’s figurines we know they may be available online at a lower price but people can pick it up in-store straightaway.

“Yankee Candles are one of our strongest brands, we have trialled other candles and we launched Root, which are bigger in America than Yankee, in a new store last month where we’re not able to stock Yankee.”

Finally, the man running one of the UK’s largest independent gift and greetings chains admitted: “I do send cards to my wife Christine, although she tends to buy cards for the family – our eldest was 21 last month and it was Chris who organised the card!

“The last one I bought for her would have been a Hallmark one for our anniversary, and the last gift was probably a Yankee candle, the smells are incredible, it’s what sells them.”

T: 01623 882857

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 13

IT’S ALL ABOUT SALES

Going forward

Sales agents are often the people that retailers see the most of when it comes to the greetings industry so here at Greetings Today we’re expanding our links with these vital cogs and now have Neil Anthony from the north-west joining regular columnist Alina Clark from the north-east.

M

The woodland and wildlife theme is still growing in popularity, while cycling-based cards and gifts seem far from waning following the success of the British leg of the Tour de France this summer.

New home cards appear to have increased in sales too – the other week one of my retailers was I feel we’re coming to the end of the recession ordering all their cards in the usual quantity of six and the market is picking up with some pace now – big sigh of relief! but bought 18 of each new home card I sell!

This has bought with it a change in trends and Perhaps this is a good sign that the housing retailers’ focus on products market is picking up which, has altered over recent as we all know, translates to months. the rest of the economy too.

So what can we expect as I do believe the rise in the hot sellers in 2015? retail sales will continue in Now, I’m not claiming to the new year as the signs are be a fortune teller here and if I that trade is picking up with had a crystal ball that worked many new shops opening – I wish – I’d know exactly while existing customers what the top products would who have weathered the be and would give up being storm have created stronger an agent like a shot to live businesses. the millionaire life, sunning So let’s hope my fortunemyself on a yacht. telling skills are as good as Here’s my opinion, based my sales ones as I always on my industry knowledge, watch with admiration to customer feedback and see the Henries and winners perceptions on where I see each year and imagine our market changing. how great it must be to be The frilly and flowery honoured with an industry mend, make and sew look award. ● Honour – Alina with her award has grown a little tired and I know winning awards seems to have been replaced with cleaner lines and isn’t everything as our profits and day-to-day almost a smarter version of vintage. customer satisfaction are really the award, but I am It’s as though vintage has been replaced by totally chuffed that I recently won a sales award heritage, still with that essence of times gone by, for 2014! but a more contemporary and smarter version.

It was from one of my principals, Stoneglow Busy patterns mixed with flowers still seem very Candles, and I was presented with the award at prominent in designs, offering a fuller look which our spring-summer 2015 sales meeting in London can be perceived as showing value for money, as recently. consumers seem to be happy to pay a fair price as What a great way to end a great year. long as the product looks its value or more.

T: 07908 792420

Y GOODNESS, what a year 2014 has been, not only personally with the little matter of getting wed but, business-wise, it’s been one of my busiest yet.

14 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

W

HEN I first got the phone call to ask if I fancied writing a column for Greetings Today, I was shocked to say the least.

What could this little sales agent possibly have to say that might be of interest?

I was so flattered, however, I couldn’t refuse so said I’d give it a go.

I should probably begin with a bit about how I ended up in the greetings card industry – having worked in travel for 20 years, I was made redundant in 1997 so took six months out for a round-the-world trip.

On my return I decided I didn’t want to be sat in an office all day. Luckily someone I knew had been in the greetings industry for over 20 years and asked if I fancied being his sub-agent in the north-east.

Although I would ideally have liked to work where I live on the right side of the Penines in the north-west, it seemed like a great way to get into a new industry.

It was definitely a baptism of fire as he knew everything about greetings so worked at lightning speed with me chasing my tail to catch up.

But it was probably the best kind of training I could have had because what he didn’t know about greetings cards wasn’t worth knowing.

After just over a year he very kindly helped me set up as an agent in my own right in the ● All smiles – north-west, which I’ve Neil at Hebe in now been doing for five Uppermill, Lancs years.

There are a lot of similarities to the travel industry – you’re always forward selling, it’s a nice product that people usually want, and things seem to be all the rage for a while then it’s on to the next big thing.

When I started I did really well with a card range that was very detailed and had a lot of busy patterns, then the following year everyone wanted something simpler and less fussy.

Already I know I love this industry and will be one of those agents that carries on until I’m being put into my coffin.

Unfortunately for you, though, that means there’s a lot more of my ramblings to come! :-) Reil Agencies T: 07766 736254

N-ice one

TREND&BESTSELLERS

Eyes in the back of your head is a useful attribute for many reasons, not least when it comes to this time of year as businesses are looking forward to the new year at the same time as looking back at what they can learn from the old one.

● Amsc

an

otions

o Prom

Top sellers 2014

most popular being the New Home card.”

Over at UK Greetings they’ve seen a growth in the modern male category with increased demand for cards that cater for the man about town.

PR and digital marketing manager Lorna Bunnell said: “Inspired by fashion, popular culture and celebrity idols, young men are now much more self aware, taking pride in their appearance and how they express themselves.

“To fill the gap in the market UKG have introduced Collaboration, which is aimed at the male millennial; featuring bold lettering, retro styling, references to facial hair and, of course, partying!”

Velvet Olive found their baby shower designs by far their best seller, as account and marketing manager Christine Rapley explained: “The Pitter Patter range in general is doing very

ce

● Laura Sherratt

“The other range that featured quite strongly following its launch in May at the PG Live exhibition is Bell Jar, particularly the gorgeous butterfly design.”

With her Abacus hat on Bev added: “Our best-selling design changed from month to month depending on what had recently been launched.

However, the most consistent appearances in the monthly Top 50 were made by the designs in our children’s range 100% Kids.

“Aside from the first birthday cards, which are always the most popular, the boy’s age five design has been an unprecedented hit – with one customer claiming it was the best kids’ card they’d ever purchased!

“Other hits of 2014 included the introduction of occasion cards into our square format photographic range Rapture, with the

● Hallmark

● The London Studio

● Danil

● Alice Pala

● Simon Elvin

● Abacus

The Frozen calendar from Danilo is vying for the No1 spot in their top 10, with a couple of weeks still to go, and Amscan’s holographic foil balloons are also going great guns in greetings stores.

Danilo’s licensing director Trevor Jones said: ”Frozen, Minecraft and 5 Seconds Of Summer are all vying for top spot with One Direction, Despicable Me, Cliff Richard, Kelly Brook, Liverpool FC, Manchester Utd FC and The Great British Bake Off all chasing them strongly.

“On the cards front, the best-selling brand by miles has been Despicable Me with the Minions selling to all age groups, with Mrs Brown’s Boys and One Direction next in line.”

Charlotte Cox, Amscan marketing executive, added: “All of the Frozen balloons have sold extremely well, however the balloon featuring main characters Elsa and Anna has been the most popular of all.”

“We have more Frozen giftware arriving in store now,” said Paul Taylor, who runs the Cardzone chain of 84 shops, “as the products have been so strong.”

Over at Hallmark, PR and social medial manager Tamsyn Johnston-Hughes said: “It’s been great year for us here. We’ve launched a whole host of new ranges, from humour cards to our fabulous children’s ranges, with something for absolutely everyone!

“Our Warner Bros and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle licences have been a particular hit. They’re recognisable and sell really well, it’s great to be able to feature such well-known characters in our ranges.”

The biggest hit for Clare Maddicott was the reformated and rejuvenated Harold’s Planet collection which increased in distribution and sales and also won the Henries Award for Best Licensed Range.

“Designs from this delightful range always feature in the monthly Top 20 bestsellers,” said creative director Bev Cunningham, “and the most popular of late have been Don’t Grow Up It’s A Trap, Merlot Merlittle and Thinking Of You And Posting A Hug.

● Wrendale Designs

W

ITH licensed product a big feature of this year, Disney’s Frozen has been a storming success.

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 15

T

HE big media events of 2015 look set to drive retail sales in the forthcoming year, along with technology and added value.

● UK Greetings

Top sellers 2014

● Velvet Olive

● Glebe Cottage

well – lots of people are having babies including our very own designer Kathryn Fletcher, who’s just had a lovely little boy Dinos!”

Cinnamon Aitch’s Hello Sunshine range has been flying off the shelves since the launch in May so they weren’t surprised to find the best-selling card is their old favourite, the wise old owl.

Pooja Shah from multicultural specialists Davora said: “Our bestselling card has been a Chinese New Year card – ironically it was a Year Of The Horse card so we can’t sell it again for another 12 years!”

Simon Elvin revealed: “Isabel’s Garden continues to be one of the best-selling collections produced by ● Cinnamon Aitch Simon Elvin, as it has been for over 10 years now.

“Among the best-selling designs are Milestone Ages, of which the 60th birthday card proved particularly popular.”

Meanwhile, other bestsellers include Laura Sherratt’s Tag cards, the London Studio’s Cheers! Coaster Cards, the ● Davora cute little harvest mouse from Glebe Cottage’s Wildlife Trust collection, Alice Palace’s vintage-inspired Smiling & Happy birthday design and Wrendale’s friendly pooch.

● Clare Maddicott

16 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

“At cinemas look out for the latest Marvel movie,” said Danilo licensing director Trevor Jones, “the Minions have their own film in the summer, Ted 2 will have the very rude bear returning, Jurassic World will be an event of dinosaur dimensions and there is also a new Star Wars film, Episode VII: The Force Awakens – which may do well at the box office!

“Mrs Brown has another UK tour and The Vamps will be playing an arena tour as will 5 Seconds Of Summer to thousands of adoring fans.

“On TV there are some highly-anticipated new series including Thunderbirds Are Go!, while Monster High and Transformers have new episodes and My Little Pony will get even stronger at retail.”

Amscan predict the demand for Frozen is set to continue well into 2015 so will be extending their Frozen licensed collection with some exciting party accessories.

Marketing executive Charlotte Cox added: “Another huge trend expected to continue into next year is the Minions.

“Amscan have recently launched a range of foil balloons featuring the cheeky characters who will be starring in their own film next summer, aptly named Minions – also available in early 2015 will be a brand-new Minions party range including tableware and accessories.”

Lisa White is Homebuildlife’s creative director, part of leading trend forecaster WGSN, who has identified three macro-trends which she’ll be briefing on to visitors at Spring Fair in February.

She said: “The first one’s Data Divination and that’s really blending big data with intuition, so you see a lot of things that are mathematical and patterned, but at the same time things too that are more crafted and a little bit more wild.

“The use of colour is quite unusual. You get lots of deep, deep, dark colours, some amazing brights and neutrals at the same time. It’s pushing the envelope as far as colour is concerned.

“Our second macro-trend is Social Superheroes, that’s ● On trend quite an urban – Lisa White macro-trend – lots of darks, black is really trending in interiors, but then bright oranges, flame orange, graffiti brights as well too. That’s also things that are recycled in a really socially-

● Clare Maddicott

TREND&BESTSELLERS

● Danilo

constructive way, more community sourcing at the same time.

“The last macro-trend is Everyday Utopias, it’s about how people want to escape from everyday life.

“We’ve got so many things going on we have two different ways of escaping. One is just going online and surfing the internet – the colours are very flawless, greens and blues, the flawless metals of an Apple computer, that type of thing.

“The other way is just getting outdoors, and getting into the nitty gritty. The colours we have are really organic and saturated so it looks like it’s been made with fruit dyes and that type of thing.”

Zappar CEO and co-founder Caspar Thykier believes technology will really be coming to the ● Davora fore in greetings for 2015 as they’ve already begun working with Moonpig. He said: “Augmented reality has already begun to change the face of the greetings card industry and we can expect it to play an even bigger role in 2015.

“Zappar’s pioneering work with Moonpig, which brings customers’ photographs to life with their own personalised video messages, is only the beginning.

“Basic customisation has proven a huge success in the greetings card industry.

“With the increasing rise in popularity of mobile social messaging platforms and ever-more ways for creative self-expression – from Snapchat to Instagram, Bitsrips to Line – standard greetings need to offer new ways to personalise and engage users.

“Augmented reality lends itself perfectly to this, adding a completely new dimension to the greetings card and taking personalisation to new levels that go beyond customer expectation.

“It also gives a new outlet to the thousands of hours of video content captured on peoples’ devices to share with their friends and family: connecting physical and digital and offering a new product SKU and revenue stream for card sellers.”

With humour a perennial trend, Hallmark are launching Mish Mash, a fun pick ’n’ mix of unique and entertaining cards that are quick and to the point – written the way people text, talk and tweet today.

PR and social media manager Tamsyn Johnston-Hughes added: “They’re light-hearted and witty and we’re sure they’ll go down well with consumers!

TREND&BESTSELLERS

Ones to watch 2015 ● Abacus

● UK Greetings

“These expected top sellers have been created to appeal to a wide range of tastes, and are ideal for any age and gender and sending to any relation for any occasion – we look forward to seeing what success they bring to the brand next year.”

Following the success of their Chinese New Year cards, Davora’s Pooja Shah said: “We expect this growth to continue through 2015. We’re also listening to customer demand and launching a new range of Welsh cards in January too.

“Along with the steady demand of our core products in Eid, Diwali and Jewish occasions, which continue to go from strength to strength, we expect 2015 to be another strong year for the Ethnic and minor seasons category.”

Cinnamon Aitch’s Andree Walker said: “Animals, birds and especially owls seem to be perennial trends, although it’s important to constantly refresh and evolve the look.

“Enlarged imagery filling the card and interesting and clever silhouettes created from die-cutting have proved very popular.

“Fresh sunshiny bright colours, a surprisingly harmonious clash of patterns and textures create a refreshingly clean and contemporary card that stands out against the on-trend kraft paper envelope. These are trends Cinnamon Aitch will build upon for 2015.”

Alice Potterton at Alice Palace thinks flamingoes will be the big thing while Sue Morrish at Glebe Cottage added: “We think 2015 is going to be a really important year for photography – we’ll be getting back to our roots with lots of new and exciting photographic collections.”

Abacus’ creative director Bev Cunningham

agreed with Sue: “Amazingly, despite the overload of photographic images on the internet and social media, and the ease at which the general public can now take, manipulate and share their own images, photographic cards are still very much admired and in demand.

“Abacus have always offered a good selection of photographic ranges and will be increasing this offering with updates to existing ranges and the introduction of one or more new ranges.”

Bev has also seen the increasing use of special finishes on cards, adding: “I suspect this will continue as the trend for consumers sending fewer cards, but willing to spend more on those that they do buy, endures.

“Our recent launch of occasion and relation cards contained a high proportion of larger cards ● Hallmark

featuring more than one special finish – these cards have gone down extremely well with customers and so will be definitely be featuring even more strongly in 2015.”

And this is borne out on the Clare Maddicott side of the business where Bev explained: “As customers opt to spend more for a special card but consequently send fewer cards overall, the demand on the design of greeting cards to offer added value by either greater finishing or innovative design increases.

“Our Card To Treasure range offers cards that are more than just cards. The range contains wall friezes, height cards and cards mounted ready for framing and we plan on adding to this selection with the introduction of cards that unfold to be birthday

ratt ● Laura Sher

● Rose Hill

banners etc – so I forecast that added value cards will continue to flourish well into next year.”

For UK Greetings, the sharing of inspirational quotes, encouraging thoughts and friendship sentiment is a popular trend across social media and has lead to an increase in the sending of well wishes to brighten someone’s day.

PR and digital marketing manager Lorna Bunnell said: “In line with this, UKG have crafted two new ranges, carefully designed to create an authentic connection and a sense of belonging at times when you just want to remind someone you’re there.

“Sunny Skies from Gibson will warm your heart on the dullest day. The beautifully-written, heartfelt verses give this collection depth and meaning, while the bright, illustrative artwork is cheerful, eye-catching and has real rack appeal.

“Little Voice from Carlton is conversational and authentic, featuring a combination of simple statement and expressive prose, delivered through naïve, handwritten fonts, playful line work and complemented with pops of fluorescent ink and etched foil.”

“Everyone absolutely loves Percy Pug,” said Rose Hill, “pugs have been popular for a while now, and I honestly think people still love them.

For me it’s because of their funny little faces.

“I recently did a commission of an exotic shorthair cat with a little funny face, and I think he will be the new pug – grumpy cats are very popular and I think we’ll be seeing a lot of them in 2015.”

And finally, Laura Sherratt predicted the “continued popularity for our smaller cards and hope that the trend to buy British continues to grow, supporting publishers like ourselves who continue to produce our cards by hand in the UK”.

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 17

RETAIL ADVICE WITH HENRI DAVIS

S

O, HERE we are facing the end of 2014, I can’t believe it as it seems like only yesterday I was making my new year’s resolutions – which should have been don’t bother to make a new year’s resolution because, however good an idea they seem on January 1, I never stick to them because in all honesty I don’t really want to do them enough!

I often think we should make these resolutions at the end of August just as we approach our peak trading season of Christmas and head off for our last-minute top-ups at Autumn Fair and Top Drawer.

At that point we’ve traded for eight months of the calendar year and know exactly what we need to achieve in terms of trading to have a good Christmas.

With that in mind, it’s when we should resolve to do things that will make a real difference to our year and, goodness me, that would give you a good reason to stick to it too!

So what have I noticed going on in the word of greetings this year?

For me, there’s been a real shift in customers’ reaction to the price on cards, we’ve known for a while now that many customers would spend a bit more on a card for a special occasion from a publisher like Five Dollar Shake where there’s a high level of finish.

But I think there has been a perceptible increase in the number of customers who will spend that little bit extra for just the right card and the type of occasion they will spend it on.

I think the increasing availability of The Art File’s innovative and contemporary 3D Form range is a good example of this.

Likewise the fantastic growth of letterpress, where the quality of board and handmade nature of them, means they tend to be more expensive.

Innovation in greetings can come in other forms too and the sound cards from The Really Wild Card Company are a good example of this as the strong photographic images are supported by a really authentic sound when the cards are opened.

Sales of these cards have grown over the last five years despite the recession even though they sell at retail prices of between £4.99-£5.49.

Resolved to spend a bit more

New year’s resolutions come at the wrong time for Henri Davis, but one thing she’s noticed that’s right is consumers seeming willing to spend that little bit more for the right card.

It seems that in the quest to find something different, that’s just right for the recipient, customers are proving to be less resistant to this

Henri Davis is an independent retail advisor to businesses in the cards, gifts, stationery and heritage industries, combining 30 years of retail experience with her knowledge of trends and consumer motivation to analyse markets and identify new opportunities. Having worked at Habitat, Next, WH Smith and the National Trust, she now works with many small and medium-sized businesses, including multi-site retailers, national and international manufacturers and suppliers. www.henridavis.co.uk

18 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

level of pricing than previously.

What’s more, retail buyers are also recognising how commercial these more expensive cards are as both the Form and the RSPB ranges were shortlisted finalists at The Henries this year.

Christmas will be an interesting test of this theory of mine.

When people are generally having to buy so many cards, will they still buy these special single cards for that special person and pay a bit more, or will we see sales move into cheaper packs just because of the volumes they need?

If this trend does continue into 2015 I think it could be really exciting for some of the smaller, more innovative publishers in particular.

If their cards have that something special, a point of difference that can be perceived by the retail buyer and is wanted by their customers for that important occasion, then I think we could see some really exciting new ranges in the shops in the spring.

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DISTRIBUTION,WHOLESALE&SUPPLYFOCUS

On the he shelf Having the best designs and most innovative product is all very well but the most important part of the process for retailers is ensuring it’s in front of the customer as they can’t sell what they don’t have in store – and that’s where the distribution process comes into play.

I

F THE product isn’t on the shelves, the consumer can’t buy it – but how do all the greetings cards, wrap, gifts and party items find their way to the store to tempt people to part with their hard-earned cash?

That’s where distribution comes in, getting the product from the producer or supplier in to the hands of the retailer.

Savvy shopkeepers may already know about the different distribution methods, which have expanded from the original wholesale and DTR – direct to retail – methods, with the addition of online wholesalers and those with franchisees who deliver, brokerage, consignment, and buying groups plus various combinations of them all.

Gone are the days when the retailer just had to choose between a trip to the local cash and carry warehouse or picking out your stock and ordering it direct from the individual supplier, and it can be confusing for people just starting out running a store, or those who are looking to expand or modernise.

Simon Elvin, founder and chief executive of the company that bears his name, has been operating as a wholesale publisher for almost three decades – his signature appears on 100 million cards every year.

He told Greetings Today: “Purchasing from a wholesaler offers retailers the opportunity of buying a very extensive range of greetings cards, party goods, gifts and allied products, offering fantastic value and quality.

“Wholesalers trade in a number of different way – some will have their own sales force that will call on independent retailers and groups, taking their order and normally delivering the goods within one to two days.

“Cash and carries, with the extensive space they have available, can offer a huge range of product together with extremely keen prices that amply repays retailers’ time spent in travelling to the wholesaler to select the goods.

“Finally, van sales operators offer a service where they will call on individual retailers who can select whatever goods they require there and then, providing immediacy of supply.

“Whatever type of wholesaler is selected by a retailer, one of the very big plus points is that they will carry Simon Elvin’s range of cards, gift wrap, gift bags, social stationery and party goods, all designed to offer great design, great quality and great value.

“Individual retailers can then decide whether they retail the product at keen prices offering very good value to their customers, or whether they choose to sell the product at higher prices

20 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

to improve their profit margins in the present challenging retail marketplace.”

These days many wholesalers sell online, which reduces their overheads further to give retailers even better value, but people do need to be careful to ensure they find a reputable trader.

Remember to check the firm’s registration details or tax identity number and verify their company information through a national registry such as the UK’s Office Of Fair Trading or the Better Business Bureau in the US. In Britain, local council trading standards departments can also help flag up previous complaints about firms.

Check out all the contact details provided and also ensure you’re happy with the level of customer service

‘

● Different offers – Simon Elvin and a Waterwells installation

T They can decide to retail at keen prices to offer good value or higher to improve profit margins s

’

received during the initial enquiry stage before agreeing to do business.

Finally ask for references, which they should be happy to supply, follow these up and also carry out internet searches, looking at discussion forums and customer reviews.

Consignment is the service provided by suppliers such as Card Connection for retailers where cards are a very small portion of their sales mix and they want an easy life so they only pay for the cards that are sold, rather than on

each delivery.

There are also buying groups such as Cardgains and Bridewell UK which have retailer members and carefully select a broad spectrum of preferred suppliers so each has something different to offer.

The group negotiate preferential trading terms with the suppliers which allow the retailer to order direct but pay via a single monthly invoice to the buying group including an administration fee.

With brokerage, retailers are able to stock cards from a number of publishers which they source through one supplier – UK Greetings, Hallmark, Woodmansterne, Great British Card Company and Abacus are well-known brokerage houses which allow retailers to pick a full range or just a couple of designs from a publisher, which isn’t always viable under DTR. Brokers are generally happy to help with the planning and fitting out of the whole display from supplying card racks to advice on what designs to stock, although it can mean a loss of direct contact with the publishers as well as loss of access to the smaller and specialist designers.

Abacus sales director Alan Mawhinney said: “Like it or hate it, brokerage is now a significant supply channel to both multiples and, increasingly, independents and does constitute important distribution for us.

“We broker via all the usual suspects, sometimes reluctantly, but always try to adopt a pragmatic approach that offers us the greatest benefit.

“Not surprisingly, we’re delighted to participate in a retailer’s new plan if we have not previously supplied them – after all, this represents genuine additional distribution, albeit at reduced margins.

“Conversely, losing a good existing direct account to brokerage is painful and, even if we are included in the broker’s selection, we generally experience a reduction in pockets and, of course, margin. ”Undoubtedly brokerage suits some retailers and, on the surface, offers solutions where staffing and expertise are absent as it pretty much allows retailers to wash their hands of the greetings department if they wish, and have just one point of contact.

DISTRIBUTION,WHOLESALE&SUPPLYFOCUS “We believe there are other attractive alternatives to brokerage, which is why we introduced our Blueprint concept 18 months ago which allows independent retailers to retain control over the range composition and terms but relieves them of the detailed planning, re-stocking issues and constant updating of product.

“At the same time, they inherit a wonderful, custom-built bespoke display, personalised in-house colours and graphics, and it’s all fully funded by the participating publishers.

“It represents a very real and refreshing example of medium-sized publishers working closely together to formulate the best possible mix of complementary product.”

Chris Houfe is sales director of GBCC who have the Waterwells brokerage arm and explained: “Offering a choice of publishers from one source means you can plan in as little as one range from a publisher and it gets replenished with all the other cards.

“This means the retailer doesn’t have to worry about minimum order values and therefore overall stockholding is reduced. In many cases we’ve seen stock reduced by half with no impact on sales.

“Some of our customers use Waterwells for fulfilment purposes only but many call on our other support services such as merchandising and retail development.

“Our merchandising support is tailored to each stores requirements and additional support is offered for re-plans and seasonal activity.

“We utilise a real mix of fixturing depending on each customer’s requirements. This can be anything from standard racks to the latest innovative units.”

Unique business model ESTABLISHED in 1992, and a full and active member of the British Franchise Association since 1995, Card Connection are one of the UK’s largest card publishers and a market leader in the franchised distribution of greetings cards.

The unique model of consignment sales has resulted in a strong brand and established reputation as Card Connection last year celebrated their 21st year as a franchisor.

Card Connection are part of UK Greetings, a subsidiary of American Greetings, one of the largest greetings card publishers in the world.

“The longevity of Card Connection’s success is down to excellence in a number of factors,” explained MD Michael Johnson (pictured), “our consignment business model and franchise network are two key components.

“The consignment sales approach, where franchisees supply stock and display equipment FOC and the retailer only pays for what they sell, has stood the test of time and challenging market conditions, allowing hundreds of our franchisees to run successful businesses over the years.

“Through our franchisees we supply about 12,000 retailers throughout the UK including national accounts such as BP, Costcutter, Londis, Budgens, and Blakemore Spar.

“Card Connection’s quality range of greetings cards and accessories is supplied to UK retailers by our network of 68 franchisees – currently, we’re excited about our brand-new striking, bright-pink, POS roll-

out which will be complete before the busy Christmas buying period.

“The new POS communicates more quickly and clearly to customers, even in the most crowded of stores.

“With our brand new logo in mind, and making extensive use of Card Connection’s corporate pink, the new POS benefits from a clean, modern, round and friendly typeface, dropping the use of capital letters adds a relaxed, conversational feel, which is keeping with the personal sentiment involved when sending a greeting card.”

Scottish franchisee David Roseweir said: “Card Connection’s new POS is really innovative. The colour is bright pink so will appeal to our predominantly female market and will stand out a mile in-store.”

T: 01252 892300 www.card-connection.co.uk

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www.ukenvelopecentre.co.uk We will be delighted to help! www.greetingstoday.co.uk 21

DISTRIBUTION,WHOLESALE&SUPPLYFOCUS

Something for everyone NOW established for more than 23 years, and having supplied a wide cross-section of card retailers, both multiples and independent, Abacus have taken advantage of most routes to market, attempting to best match customers’ needs.

INDEPENDENT SECTOR By far Abacus’ biggest sector, in terms of distribution points, the Independent customers are primarily serviced by their 14-strong team of territory sales managers and sales agents.

Regular visits by the Abacus team throughout the year, often via confirmed appointments, provide each retailer with the very latest range of we try to be selective developments and a simple when agreeing support for order capture process using independents, to ensure the latest technology. we don’t upset loyal direct All the team are armed customers.” with iPad-based state-of-theMULTIPLE SECTOR art presentation and order Abacus supply a number systems, allowing the retailer of national and regional retail to quickly re-order their best groups directly and these sellers and access all aspects customers are looked after of our range, especially the by their senior management newest introductions. team who meet with their Alternatively, both Abacus buying counterparts on a and sister company Clare regular basis.

Maddicott can be ordered via Often delivery is direct to the internet by simply loggingbranch although sometimes on to the two customervia central distribution centres friendly websites. and, where required, they Sales director Alan offer direct branch contact Mawhinney said: “This is from the relevant Abacus becoming an important sales team member. order stream for us with a growing Although mainly supplying number of retailers regularly using their standard product to these this method to access our designs. customers, they do, on occasions, This facility is particularly beneficial create bespoke product to match a to retailers located in remote parts specific requirement. of the UK, where frequent visits from Alan explained: “There has been our sales team are more difficult. a big swing towards brokerage for “For those customers who have multiple customers and certainly, one of our stock ticket control plans if you want to supply the major in place, they can of course, send supermarket groups, brokerage is their ticket orders directly to our the only route.” sales office independently without SUPPLIERS TO THE INDUSTRY waiting for a rep’s visit and this Abacus introduced their own provides further insurance against version of brokerage with the out-of-stocks.

Blueprint concept around 18 months ago.

“We also offer a tele-sales service where It allows independent retailers the retailers, at any time, can phone our busy ability to retain control over the range sales office and place orders over the composition and terms while relieving phone. Emails are also a common and them of having to cope with the detailed growing method of placing orders. planning, re-stocking issues and constant “Trade shows act as a powerful vehicle updating of product. to put product in front of potential new Alan added: “At the same time, they customers and are yet another way for inherit a wonderful, custom-built bespoke the trade to access our designs – we’ll be display, personalised in-house colours and exhibiting at both PG Live and Spring Fair graphics, and it’s all fully funded by the in 2015. participating publishers.

“Another important component in “It represents a very real and refreshing reaching the independent sector is through ● All installed – Alana Interiors (from the top), Lurgan, Northern Ireland; Poplar Garden Centre, Marks Tey, Essex: Deans Garden example of medium-sized publishers via major buying groups.

Centre, York, and Longacres Garden Centre, Shepperton working closely together to formulate the “We have preferred supplier status best possible mix of complementary product. negotiated with Cardgains, Bridewell, Palmer Harvey, Costcutter, NUS “We now have more than 50 of these bespoke installations up and Shops, Savewell and Shakti Group, as well as the major garden centre running, all of which are producing really impressive sales results. buying groups which allows their respective members to access our “And we already have a further 10 Blueprint installations in products, and also provides our sales team with excellent prospecting production with an increasing number of enquiries asking for lists in the form of member directories. consultations, suggesting this is a very real alternative to brokerage.”

“Brokerage, when first introduced, was primarily aimed at T: 01638 569050 the multiple sector, but has now expanded quite rapidly into the independent sector. www.abacuscards.co.uk “While we do supply most of the major UK greetings brokers, www.maddicott.com

22 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

GCAANNUAL GCA ANNUALMARKET MARKETREPORT REPORT

Success story The GCA’s latest annual market report has good news for the UK greetings industry as was revealed at their AGM.

R

EINFORCING the great British success story is how the Greeting Card Association see their latest annual market report, which shows the public spent £1.29billion on single cards last year.

Parts of the report were revealed at the AGM by GCA president Chis Houfe, and the full version has just been released which confirms more cards are bought per person in the UK than in any other country – 884million single cards were bought from retailers in 2013.

In addition, an estimated 900m Christmas cards were sold in boxes and packs worth around £200m plus millions of cards were bought from online retailers such as Moonpig so the GCA estimate the total market now has a value of £1.6bn.

Chris said: “The UK greeting card industry continues to be vibrant, healthy and creative, the envy of the world. It is directly and indirectly responsible for the livelihoods of over 100,000 people in the UK, supporting artists, designers, writers, retailers, paper manufacturers, printers, envelope suppliers and many other trades.

“Despite living in an age when there is such a wide choice of communication media, tangible greeting cards remain the nation’s favourite way of showing someone you care.”

Badger Converters Ltd

The market report 2014 covers UK card sales for 2013 compared with 2012 and was commissioned by the GCA from market data firm Ebiquity, formerly Echo Research, to provide reliable figures for the industry for defined card categories based on association members’ sales in this country.

Ebiquity received 40 responses compared to 42 for the previous year including a comparable number of the largest publishers, and the figures are then extrapolated to give an estimate for the whole industry in the UK. The report stated: ”The results of this survey concur with both UK Greetings’ and Hallmark’s own assessments of the size of the market.

While all three sources have slightly different results, the overall picture is reasonably consistent with a combination of UKG and Hallmark views.”

The overview shows the total value of the sales of single cards in the UK stood at £1.289.9bn in 2013, with 884.2m single cards being sold against 2012’s £1,223.3bn and 893.9m, which is a 5.4 per cent rise in value while volume is down one per cent.

Everyday card sales account for 79.4 per cent of total sales, with an average retail price of around £1.44 compared to around £1.34 in 2012.

The overall value of everyday card sales stood at £1.02bn compared to £0.96bn in 2012, an increase of 6.1 per cent.

Christmas single cards account for 10.1 per cent of total sales, with ARP of around £1.48 compared to around £1.34 in 2012.

Spring seasons account for 10.7 per cent of total sales with a value of £137.7m while the ARP has decreased to £1.63 from £1.69 in 2012.

This 2013 Mother’s Day value was £50.4m with a £1.71 ARP, Valentine’s Day value was £40.2m with a £1.88 ARP, Father’s Day value was £35.6m with £1.53 ARP and Easter value was £11.5m with a £.13 ARP.

T: 020 7619 0396 www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk

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JOHN RYAN RETAIL ENVIRONMENT

Trend-spotting W on Quality Street HEN is a trend a real trend that’s going to set the tills ringing – and how do you know you should follow it?

The truth of the matter is that, like all bandwagons, if you can see it, then it’s already got several vehicles ahead and you’re getting on board something that will already be late for its destination.

On this reckoning, if somebody is telling you that something’s a trend, then it’s not but if you spot something that seems to be gathering pace, then it may well be.

But how to go about reading the runes? Should Finding out about the all-important trends is you be handing the greetings cards you’ve sold to something retailers really can do for themselves and your shoppers in an obviously-recycled paper bag?

Is there merit in pastoral scenes or verging-onit needn’t be complex, as John Ryan explains. the-obscene designs and should you be cladding café. From this vantage point it’s easy to look for one Holy Grail, then how come the same individuals the interior of your shop with wood or going for a thing – shopping bags. Check out which retailer’s are not doing this for themselves? nice, clean white box with shiny chrome mid-shop logo is appearing most on the bags that pass you.

Beware of men bearing market surveys, fixtures? Who knows?

There’s usually be a perfectly good reason they will almost invariably be peddlers of halfWell, the answer is, you probably do, or at least shoppers have gone to that store rather than others truths giving the same advice to all and sundry, you’re definitely capable of finding out. so the next thing is simple – go and have a look at irrespective of whether their victims are in the The smartest retailers, irrespective of what they the store that seems to be most in favour. business of selling greetings cards, grapefruit or sell, are those that spend a bit of time, just a little, Shoppers are a looking at people. canny bunch and People are shoppers know what they like. and the way they So whether it’s price, behave will have a very store environment, direct impact on how product or maybe your business thrives or service, there’ll be otherwise. something about the They need to be store that’s worth understood, their noting and, ahem, motivations analysed imitating or putting and the way in which yuour own spin on. they make choices You can turn your subjected to scrutiny. observations to your The problem is, how ● Watch the world – cafes are a great place to sit and spot the shopping trends advantage and, in to go about this? As doing so, will have done for yourself what those anti-gravity pills – care should be taken to keep mentioned in previous columns, there are a million fancy trend watchers do. your feet on the ground if the latter is the nature of and one – or so it seems – purveyors of snake oil your enterprise, by the way!

What makes it valuable from your perspective who will seek to tell you what’s what.

What’s required is to get out a bit more. Go But consider this – if the answer to successfully is that you will automatically spot the parts that are find yourself a seat in the public area of your local following a trend is no more than handing over a relevant to your store. shopping centre or sit in the window of a High Street sum of money in exchange for a glimpse of the The filter you’ve applied here is the one that shows what’s likely to work in your store John Ryan is Stores Editor at Retail Week where he’s worked for more because you know it inside out, and you will, along the way, have saved yourself a shedload of than a decade covering store design, visual merchandising and what consultancy money. makes things sell in-store. In a previous life he was a retail buyer.

Trends do exist and retailers are more than smart T: 07710 429926 enough to spot them for themselves – time to leave twitter: @newstores the shop and spend some quality time on the street.

24 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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Frank-ly my dear…

COVERSTORY

…they definitely do give a damn at The Art File where design and quality of products is key to their success. Here Greeetings Today discovers how the independent publishers are expanding further into complementary products under the watchful eye of Frank the sausage dog.

Y

OUNG Frank may be just five months old, but the little sausage dog is a vital member of The Art File’s team – even appearing in his own greetings card collection.

And, padding around their head office in the historic Lace Market district of Nottingham, Frank keeps a close eye on the goings on within the five-storey Victorian building that’s the centre for the creative team, customer service, sales and marketing and their very own retail store, Behind The Red Door.

The leading independent UK publishers moved to the city’s Weekday Cross two years ago and have expanded rapidly since, now employing 13 people along with a dedicated four-person team at their warehouse in Mansfield.

Set up in 1997, the design and quality of their products is key to The Art File’s success and they now have a team of six freelances working with their three in-house designers to produce a diverse portfolio of contemporary ontrend styles.

Ged Mace, MD and joint founder, said: “Creating stylish products and collections that are unique and, at the same time, commercial is vital to our continued success – it really is all about the product.”

A perfect example of this

26 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

philosophy is their new 3D pop-up range FORM which came about after researching the market for six months, with the help and guidance of Debbie Wigglesworth, a paper specialist with over 15 years’ experience in the industry.

Elod Beregszaszi is one of the leading foldesigners in the world, creating every design for the range from a single sheet of paper.

The detail and colour in each piece is breath-taking, with each card produced and hand folded in the UK leading to this hard work being recognised in October by being nominated for two Henries awards.

Over recent years The Art File have

‘

diversified into other products including photograph albums, notebooks, journals, scrapbooks, shopping pads, compact mirrors, and other gifts to complement their proven card ranges.

Believing they should produce as much as they can, as close to home as possible, The Art File produce almost 100 per cent of their cards in the UK, with the majority of the designs being printed in their home town of Nottingham.

And they’re becoming increasingly recognised for their design-inspired gift wrap and bags.

Designed predominantly by their in-house team, the principal elements on all their gift wrap designs are attention to colour, fun, and theatre – also recognised at this year’s prestigious Henries Awards by winning Best Gift Wrap Collection 2014 category.

Any visit to The Art File wouldn’t be complete without talking about sausage dog Frank, who makes cameo appearances at the office three days a week while becoming better known in the greetings world as the namesake of one of their key card and stationery collections Call Me Frank.

The mini-celebrity’s range now comprises more than 30 card designs and a full stationery offer, with more planned for 2015.

While Frank himself stays up in the offices – stairs are a bit difficult when you’re only a few inches tall – everyone who visits the downstairs retail store is familiar with him because all The

Creating C stylish products is vital to our continued d successs

’

COVERSTORY

Art File’s products are stocked in Behind The Red Door.

Run by co-founder Karen Mace as a showcase for the company, she does relent on the non-greetings card front to provide customers with a full selection of gifting items.

Commenting on the future of the industry Ged – current vice-president of the Greeting Card Association – added: “The UK has always stood at the centre of creative development of Greeting Cards, and this is recognised globally.

“As our economy continues to strengthen, we see huge opportunity for both The Art File and our industry as a whole.

“This is one of the most exciting businesses to be associated with, and we’re thrilled to be working with like-minded customers around the world.

“We will be launching over 150 new everyday designs for the New Year, as well as new stationery looks, together with new gift wrap and a brand-new Christmas offer for 2015 – we’re very excited about our plans for the coming year.”

T: 0115 850 7490 www.theartfile.com

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 27

BLEREVIEW REVIEW

Just st buzzing Licensing is an important aspect of the greetings industry and the biggest show around this side of the Pond is BLE which was buzzing when it hit Olympia this year.

T

HE largest Brand Licensing Europe show yet saw an impressive 28 per cent rise in retailers attending, according to official figures.

With LIMA UK’s latest fact sheet showing the thriving licensing industry is now worth an estimated £8billion in retail sales in the country alone, BLE event director Darren Brechin said: “We couldn’t be more thrilled with this year’s event – there was a buzz on the show floor from the minute the doors opened each morning until the lights went off and the show closed.”

The Advanstar-organised show at London’s Olympia on October 7-9 boasted 88 new exhibitors among the 306 taking up the most floorspace yet at 7,338sq m, with 7,164 visitors attending (subject to BPA audit) including an increase in overseas visitors, “Our key objective for 2014 was to deliver more qualified buyers,” Darren added, “and we were looking to increase retail visitors by at least 10 per cent, so to witness a staggering 28 per cent increase in retail attendees has surpassed all our expectations.

“We are in a fast-paced and exciting industry, and this year’s show was a true reflection with so many new properties, and many well-loved favourites, brought to market to explore the endless opportunities licensing offers. We’re looking forward to an exciting and busy year ahead.”

The Art, Design & Image zone saw an impressive nine per cent growth in exhibitor numbers, including a number of greetings card publishers and illustrators such as Moongazer Cards, Full Colour Black, April Rose Illustration and Two Little Boys.

This year’s Retail Mentoring Programme was also the biggest since its launch five years ago, attracting over 50 individual buyers from 10 of the major UK retailers, and now officially forms part of Tesco’s training programme for buyers.

Next year’s BLE takes place from October 13-15 at Olympia. www.brandlicensing.eu

RaNT-ing works wonders ADAM Bestwick’s fun and irreverent RaNT! character has something extra to shout about after picking up the License This! title on the last day of this year’s BLE show.

The loud creation by Adam, from Fourth Wall Brands, has plenty to say about the bits of modern life that really get on people’s nerves.

Ian Downes, director of Start Licensing and chairman of the judging panel, said: “License This! was a great competition to judge because it showcased the great diversity in licensing.

“RaNT! was a worthy winner from a strong field, and we felt its humour, topicality and visual identity made it a unique proposition.”

Adam said: “It’s been a mad journey, from creating the original RaNT! cards to judging consumer

28 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

reactions – we knew then that we could be on to something.”

The three other finalists were: Ailsa Black Artwork by Ailsa Black – work inspired by living in a rural area by the coast in Scotland; Chef And Sue

by Ann Edwards – a gentle satire of middle class foibles, and Give A Hoot created by Rowena Blyth at Fourth Wall Brands – a colourful, cute and timeless owl design concept.

Now in its fifth year, License This! offers new creative concepts the chance to break into the global licensing industry and is open to any new artwork, brand or character that has no merchandising deals.

Adam and RaNT! have won a fully furnished stand at BLE 2015, worth over £5,000, so that the property can be brought back to market next year.

FRANKLY SPEAKING WITH SARAH PORTER

Not-that-bleak midwinter!

I

DON’T know how it is for you lot reading this but, the moment people find out I work in greetings cards, almost everyone seems to assume that I must really, really hate Christmas.

It’s both surprising and a bit depressing – the words are barely out of my mouth before people are wincing and rolling their eyes sympathetically, saying things like: “Ugh, I bet you can’t stand this time of year, then!”

Um, yeah, totally. I hate seasonal goodwill. Bring back Cromwell, say I. I suppose it’s not an unreasonable assumption.

They’re basing it on the idea that, as a greetings and occasions publisher, I spend the entire festive period up to my neck in Christmas cards, churning out verses and flittering endless robins until the whole holiday shenanigans have comprehensively Scrooged me.

In reality, of course, it’s nothing like that.

Christmas is the least Christmassy time of the year for us – by November and December all the seasonal stuff has been over for months and we’ve moved on to something else.

The weird offset nature of seasonal trade can create its own problems, festive spirit-wise.

Working on new Christmas designs over the summer means Christmassy excitement peaks around mid-July and I start humming carols in the office and knitting on the bus.

By the time actual Christmas rolls around I’m working on the next batch of spring cards and my reaction is not so much “Bah, humbug”, as “Eh,

There’s nothing Bah! Humbug! about the generally sunny Sarah Porter who has to explain that publishers do Christmas at a totally different time of year to the snowed-under retailer drowning under a tide of tinsel.

what?” – ask me on the first of December to name a holiday and I’ll probably say Valentine’s Day. This twice-annual festive dose is a bit disorientating, but I still like this time of year; not just because it’s Christmas – duh – but because November and December are relatively calm months workwise.

Far from being snowed under and frantic, it’s actually our quietest time, giving us a chance to catch up and get a head start on the next year’s projects.

This feels only right. Years of reinforcement during primary school convinced me that the weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays should be about three per cent proper work, with the rest of

My World’s erudite PR, marketing and NPD manager, Sarah Porter has been elected to the GCA council. She’s known as Frankie outside work and blogs about the trials and tribulations of being a relative newcomer to the world of greetings card publishing at www.myworld.co.uk/blogs/news as well as compiling the regular My World newsletter.

T: 0191 305 5165

the time spent playing board games and watching The Muppet Christmas Carol.

So, no, my job doesn’t make me hate Christmas although I’ve developed the industry bad habit of immediately turning over any cards I receive and examining the information on the back before I bother reading the actual message inside, but that’s about as much effect as I’ve noticed.

The people I really feel for, the ones I think would have a legitimate reason for bah-humbuggery, are the retailers.

There’s a reason it’s quiet for My World and the majority of other publishers right now – most of our customers are just too damn busy to think about anything other than Christmas.

The few retailers I do speak to over the Christmas period sound distinctly harassed, their requests for a top-up order barely audible over the sound of toddlers merrily throttling each other with tinsel.

It doesn’t seem to be a case of just putting the Christmas stuff out on the shelves for these poor folk – entire shops get rearranged and redecorated, extra staff get taken on, mad-eyed customers in search of the perfect present must be satisfied. It looks bloody exhausting!

Not that this is a bad thing, obviously. It’s all very well for me to spend December pottering around feng shui-ing my filing system but for High Street shops, of course, it’s the busier the better.

I just hope the stress of it doesn’t make anyone hate Christmas the way people assume I do.

Love, joy, peace on earth, etc. Hang in there, everyone – next up, the January sales!

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 29

CHARITYCARDS

A helping hand Charity cards have something for everyone with the feelgood factor pervading as they boost the greeting industry while also allowing everyone involved in the process to know they’re helping others.

C

HARITY cards are a simple but effective way to raise money for good causes and one that goes right across the spectrum of publishers and designers.

It’s one of those win-win situations where everyone benefits – it’s a good product, the suppliers, retailers and consumers can choose which charity they want to support, senders bask in the warm glow of knowing some of their hard-earned cash is helping others, the recipient appreciates the sentiments conveyed, and the coffers of a deserving cause are boosted.

From the largest to the smallest, publishers are very willing to prove charity begins at home – UK Greetings’ Special Editions division has raised more than £2.25million since 2005 and now support Marie Curie Cancer Care, NSPCC, The Samaritans, British Heart Foundation, Oxfam, RSPCA, and Wallace & Gromit’s Children’s Charity; Abacus are using their Spring Seasons collection to help Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer UK, while newcomers Luck & Judgement have joined up with Headway Devon.

It’s also dear to the heart of the Greeting Card

Association where their Ladder Club doyen Lynn Tait has again coordinated the Christmas appeal to raise money for Action Medical Research.

The publisher and retailer, who runs the Lynn Tait Gallery in Westcliffe-on-Sea, asked 11 artists to join her in providing festive designs so the charity can fund research to help sick babies and children – last year’s appeal raised a whopping £13,000 and this year’s target is £18,000.

Rose Hill is one of this year’s designers, joining Alanna, The Bees Knees, I Drew This, Lorraine Stylianou, Mollie Mae, Olivia Goddard Designs, Perkins & Morley, Pink Pig Cards, Red Berry Hill and Trumpers World, and she said: “!’m so excited that every penny from every pack of Christmas cards goes straight to Action Medical Research.”

The designers can’t do it by themselves though, so the project has been seen through to completion with help from The Sherwood Press, GF Smith, Enveco, The Imaging Centre, PG Live and Visual Packaging.

The 160x160mm cards come in packs of five with red envelopes and cost £3.50 from The Lynn Tait Gallery or the charity’s website.

www.action.org.uk/christmas_cards

Established campaigns LONG-established social stationery company Collisons are preparing their Charity Christmas Collection for the new season following a successful 2014 campaign.

The West Yorkshire-based company, who have been producing Christmas cards for over 100 years, design and manufacture all their products to the highest quality in-house.

This year’s extensive range will once again cover all of the most popular themes including a fantastic choice of winter wildlife photography and some great traditional religious scenes the company have retrieved from their historical back catalogue of designs.

Collisons’ create your own range also allows charities to use their own images for totally bespoke designs, and charity buyers have the choice of a range of sizes and finishes including high-gloss varnish, embossing, flitter and various foils.

General manager Mike Lammas said: “Not only do we have firstclass production facilities, Collisons also have extremely experienced and knowledgeable sales and customer service teams who are able to make the ordering process hassle free.”

The 2015 range has great discounts for large volume orders and for those charities who order early, however Collisons are also

30 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

able to cater for volumes as small as 50 packs allowing the smallest of charities to benefit from selling cards to their supporters.

Mike added: “I’m hoping for another excellent response from this year’s collection which will be available in November.

“We’re also looking to introduce an everyday range of cards to the market in the new year which will further increase our presence within the charity greeting card market.”

T: 01274 714460 www.collisons.co.uk

CHARITYCARDS

Capturing the magic THE Special Editions 2015 Charity Collection captures the magic and meaning of Christmas providing something for every taste, while still supporting some amazing charities.

For 2015 Special Editions – the charity, own brand and Christmas packaged division of UK Greetings – have increased their line, now offering a selection of 81 great value boxed and cello-packed cards.

Full of seasonal spirit and joy, the Christmas portfolio delivers gorgeous festive artwork from classic Santa to religious scenes, iconic robins to bold typography, and winter landscapes to modern architecture.

The new luxurious collection features innovative packaging, quality design and brand new premium finishes such as laser die-cuts, 3D glitters, foils and stunning emboss.

Katie Dilnot, Special Editions Business Development Manager, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the 2015 range – it’s luxurious, festive, and really captures what is special about the season.”

With three advent calendars, ars, including high-end luxury offerings for the first time, the collections also includes 52 cello packs of cards, 29 boxed cards, fantastic new retro designs featuring the lovable Wallace and Gromit, along with coordinating money wallets, cardholders, paper chains and photo frame me cards, and RRPs from £4 to £10.

Special Editions are also proud to offer a fantastic 2ftt package, which comes with h 34 cello packs and a stylish, black lack FSDU, providing something for everyone; eryone; sophisticated, contemporary ry styling, merry and bright characters s and evocative traditional designs. ns.

Katie added: “We’ve looked closely at the market and consumer trends to make sure we’re offering fresh, innovative product at the best prices, while still supporting our amazing charity partners”.

Special Editions help raise muchneeded n ne eded funds for the seven major charities they work with – Marie Curie Cancer Care, C NSPCC, The Samaritans, British S Heart Foundation, H Oxfam, RSPCA, O Wallace & Gromit’s Wa Children’s Charity Chi donating more – do than £2.25million since 2005, with over £192,000 raised last £192,0 support from their year with supp retail partners and customers.

T: 01924 465200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk

For men and women THE Abacus 2015 Spring Seasons Collection includes the sponsorship of two very worthwhile charities Breakthrough Breast Cancer will benefit from the sale of four of the publisher’s luxury Mother’s Day cards and, not to leave out the dads, the entire 2015 Father’s Day range is being sold in aid of Prostate Cancer UK. It’s not the first time the publishers offered charity sponsorship via the sale of their Mother’s Day cards – back in 2004 they sponsored research into breast cancer via Cancer Research UK and repeated the exercise as a bespoke range for Tesco in

2005, raising more £31,000 for the charity.

Bev Cunningham, Abacus Cards’ creative director, said: “Most people, one way or another, have had their lives touched by breast or prostate cancer.

“So, what better way to make a contribution to these very worthwhile charities than via these special days that celebrate and remember those cherished men and women in our lives – mums and dads.

“We do very well with charity sponsorship of our Christmas cards and felt it was time to revisit sponsorship of Mother’s Day.

“Although breast cancer doesn’t exclusively affect women we didn’t wish to appear biased and so struck upon the idea to support the male population via our Father’s Day range by supporting Prostate Cancer UK. “Our charity partners are delighted as are our sales team and customers, all of whom have warmly welcomed these charity tieups.”

The Suffolk based publishers also have an exciting everyday charity range planned for the New Year, which they will be unveiling at the Spring Fair.

SEE MORE ONLINE AT www.greetingstoday.co.uk LING DESIGN, LUCK & JUDGEMENT, PENFOLD GIFTS

T: 01638 569050 www.abacuscards.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 31

Heart of

WINDOWONTHEWORLDSPECIAL

The eyes are the windows to the soul, the saying goes, with shops it’s the windows themselves that give tantalising glimpses of the goodies to be found inside, and greetings and gift retailers are pretty good at making their displays attractive.

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ITHOUT windows it’s hard for shops to show off their wares so these great expanses of glass are at the heart of the retail environment and experience.

Every issue, the Window On The World section on the Leader page in Greetings Today focuses on a store that’s working hard to make their displays interesting and inspiring – this time a number came in alongside the Caroline Gardner Best-Dressed competition so we’ve expanded it into a special feature.

Brian Park runs Chocolates & Cards in Birkdale, Southport, which has a huge advantage on the looking good front as it’s part of the distinctive Victorian terrace of shops that sit under a glazed wrought iron canopy.

Stocking numerous publishers, including Santoro and Five Dollar Shake, Brian produces simple, fresh, contemporary displays for his traditional greetings card and confectionery store that are all about the cards and sit well with the lovely older building.

Further east there’s The Butterfly Rooms run by Angela Walmsley in Saltaire where she specialises in gifts and greetings that are all made in the UK or produced ethically by fair trade organisations.

With three studios on the upper floors – Salt Pots paint-your-own pottery, SewYou madeto-order products, and David Starley in the only publicly-working artist’s space in Saltaire – Angela makes the building really earn its keep.

She likes to come up with appropriately-

● Traditional – Brian Park’s Chocolates & Cards 01704 564609

themed seasonal windows and her autumn version really caught the eye of sales agent Alina Clark who said: “I thought her autumn windows were just brilliant. I love the bicycle – you can almost imagine a witch sitting on it!”

Finally we come to the winners, runnersup and finalists in the latest Caroline Gardner Best-Dressed Window competition which, this time around, had the theme of Secret Garden.

From the entry of more than 30 stores, a short list of 13 was drawn up, out of which Hinckley’s Marmalade Meringue (T: 01455 637470, www.marmalademeringue.co.uk) and Tilly Mint in Crosby (T: 07979 143390) came out top, each winning a display unit of Caroline Gardner gifts, and the chance to work with their PR team.

Runners-up were

● Autumnal – Angela Walmsley’s The Buttlerfly Rooms 01274 581806 www.thebutterflyrooms.co.uk

32 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Swalk, of Lindfield, West Sussex; The Gift Box, Peebles, Tweeddale and Ludlow Plant Centre, Bromfield, Shropshire. Finalists were The Bottom Drawer, Portadown, Co Armagh; Box Of Delights, Flitwick, Beds; Chapmans, Southwold, Suffolk; Gift, Lindley, West Yorkshire; Hintons, Poole, Dorset; Jo Amor, Tiverton, Devon; The Lion Gallery, Penrith, Cumbria, and Original Card Company, Knutsford, Cheshire.

Amanda Fergusson, sales director of Caroline Gardner, said: “We’ve really enjoyed seeing all the lovely displays. We were overwhelmed by the quality of each window as well as the time and effort our customers have put in.

“They were all extremely innovative, taking on a different approach and style to the theme, making the judging particularly hard this year.

“We gave every entrant two fun posters, featuring our fabulous new gifts, that could be used in the display.

“There was a long discussion, and endless cups of tea, for all the judges before everyone could finally agree on the outcome – the winners showed a great level of creativity, innovation and interpreted the theme in a fantastic way.

“We really had to stick to the criteria, and decide whether the theme was reflected in the entrants displays, otherwise I don’t know how we would have chosen our winners!

“The level of effort, innovation and time put into the windows was amazing. Thank you so much to everyone who entered.” ● IF YOU’D like to see your store featured in Window On The World, or have any news and views that other greetings and gift retailers may be interested in, please email the Greetings Today editor Tracey Bearton on tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk

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meet the newbies Sponsored by Windles Group 01844 201683 www.windles.co.uk hello@windles.co.uk

Popping out all over

NEW MEMBERS THE latest publishers to join the Greeting Card Association include: LY BY DESIGN Lisa Youngjohns lisa@lybydesign.co.uk www.lybydesign.co.uk 07809 280046 JELLY N BEAN LTD Beech House, 15 Beech Avenue, Harrogate, Yorkshire, HG2 8DS James Greenwood office@jellynbean.com www.jellynbean.com 01423 871881 RELIEFPRINT PRESS CARDS London House, 11 Maengwyn Street, Machynlleth, SY20 8AA Claire Hughes-Thapa cards@reliefprint.co.uk www.reliefprintpress.co.uk 01654 700432 or 07731 782101

INTRICATE pop-up book publishers Sheri Safran and David Fielder have expanded into greetings by launching 2toTango Cards.

The new creators and publishers of high-end greetings cards produce intricate pop-ups for adults and children, cut-paper and other three-dimensional designs by some of the world’s foremost artists and paper engineers.

The cards have been developed from their novelty children’s books company, Tango Books, and among their most popular ranges is Simply A Rose by celebrated paper engineer David Pelham with two cards in red and pink which have removable gift tags so the designs can be framed.

Sheri said: “They’re perfect for any occasion from birthdays and e’’s Da Dayy an and d anniversaries to Christmas, Valentine’s Mother’s Day.” Also by David Pelham, they have 12 Animal Pop-Ups with state-of-the-art paper engineering for the £3.99 RRP designs which include

INDEPENDENT gift and card store The Country House Gift Company have been open since July 2013, working hard to have as many British products and local craftsmen’s work as possible.

The Winscombe company’s Gemma Zaire said: “Since opening we’ve found we’re particularly passionate about greetings cards and so are our customers.

“After listening to their feedback and ideas on cards we decided to have a go at publishing and, through our local community we contacted three local illustrators and one local photographer who agreed to work for us and design our very own card collection.”

The collection has 46 designs consisting of colourful acrylic characters from artist Carol Tratt, fine pen drawings from Paula Virgo, watercolour and collage from Nadine Wickenden and nature photography from Mark Taylor.

A successful launch was held at the store in September where local residents of Winscombe and the surrounding villages came to view the designs and meet the artists behind the work.

At the event Elaine Coles, proprietor of the Country House Gift Company (pictured), thanked the artists for all their hard work over the past five months leading up to the publication of the designs which are now for sale in the shop.

THE TEAPOT DUDE The Tea House, 69a Dee Banks, Chester, CH3 5UX info@theteapotdude.co.uk www.theteapotdude.co.uk 07826 843596 THE LITTLE SHED LTD Paul Storey hello@thelittleshed.com www.thelittleshed.com www.mrstorey.com 07869 145646 BLUE DUCK DESIGNS 14 Skipton Road, Embsay, Skipton, Yorkshire, BD23 6QJ Marianne Eyles-Smith marianne@blueduckdesigns.co.uk www.blueduckdesigns.co.uk 07912 627827

LORRAINE STYLIANOU Lorraine Stylianou lorraine.stylianou@live.com www.lorrainestylianou.com 07826 117938 PIPPI & ME 5 Sparrow Road, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5PR Jeannett Stevenson hello@pippiandme.com www.pippiandme.com 07540 637424 LIZZIE CHANCELLOR 19 Ansdell Road, London, SE152DT Lizzie Chancellor lizziechancellor@hotmail.co.uk www.lizziechancellor.com 07913 921282

34 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

T: 020 8996 9971 www.2-to-tango.com

Using local talent

CURIOUS PENCIL CARDS Sheleen & Simone Estridge info@curiouspencilcards.co.uk www.curiouspencilcards.co.uk 07971 334401 or 07813 452204

SCOTT & ROBSON Jo Scott jo@scottandrobson.com www.scottandrobson.com 07506 630626

R i d P i Owl, O l Reindeer, Penguin, Lion Crocodile, Li Crocodil dile Panda, Pand da Mouse, M Lion, Elephant, Zebra, Turtle, Frog and Badger.

T: 01278 751904 www.countryhousegiftcompany.co.uk

Fuelling a fetish SCOTT & Robson was formed just last month, October,

by Jo Scott to publish designs and illustrations she’s been working on for the past year or so.

She said: “I plan to launch at Spring Fair – stand 4F124 – I have an animal portrait range and an illustration range and a new landscape range all of which are being expanded in preparation.

“I studied art and design at art college in York and worked my way through to a masters degree in visual culture at Middlesex University.

“After several years working with computer software I've returned to painting, working to commission on animal portraits, houses and landscapes, illustrating children’s books and fuelling my stationery fetish by producing greetings cards.

“My first six ranges feature dogs quite heavily with the occasional cat – the 12 Dogs Of Christmas works with the idea of dogs replacing all the elements of the

traditional song. Today I Will Be is based on the idea of a dog’s diary, a glimpse into what's really going on in the minds of our canine companions.

“In all my work I try to capture a look or an expressive moment which I find animals in general are perfect for conveying these thoughts and emotions.”

T: 07506 630626 www.scottandrobson.com

meet the newbies Floating a good idea DOING exactly what it says on the tin is a good idea in business so David and Julie Grey’s new greetings card company Float A Boat means exactly that.

Inspired by the London Olympics sailing events, their cards transform into beautiful boats which actually float, and the husband and wife team from Newton Aycliffe, Durham, are hoping to make waves in the corporate market with ranges for cruise liners, ferries and special events as well as the main children’s range.

Aimed at three to eight year olds, the unique cards come in a range of colours and many designs including pirates for the boys and mermaids for girls and they double as a gift which the youngsters can have fun making as well as sailing on the water.

MD David said: “It was actually the Olympic Games in 2012 that inspired us to create these unique cards.

"Ben Ainslie had just clinched his fourth straight gold medal and it was summer, the weather was warm and the children were playing in the paddling pool.

“We decided to have our own Olympic sailing race with paper sailing boats but, after trawling the internet without much luck, I decided to design my own paper boats and this gave us the idea to turn these boats into greetings cards.

“Julie and I spent many months trying out new designs, researching and sampling coatings to get the cards to float and looking at ways to package the cards. We’ve done everything from start to finish and, after a lot

of hard work, we’re ready to go to market.

“We wanted to create something that had the wow factor – something unique which was much more than a card.

“We want it to be memorable and fun and to create something that would be treasured after the big day.”

Julie added: “So many people receive cards and then bin them or pop them in a drawer when the big day has gone.

“We wanted our cards to double up as toys so children could have fun transforming their birthday cards into boats and watching them sail. In this age of computer games and technology, it’s so nice to sit down with your child and make something.

“We’ve trialed our cards at craft fairs and other events and people love them so we are hoping they’ll really take off.”

T: 01325 300715 www.float-a-boat.co.uk

It’s about the men

Time for tea

NEWLY-launched greetings card company Alex Charles Design are specialising in cards specifically for men, even though they’re probably bought by the women in their life.

Founder Alex, who has a background in publishing, having worked as an art director, photographer and designer, said: “Having browsed card shops for a number of years I realised there was possibly a gap in the market for cards with strong, simple and bold styling.

“My first series of card uses cars a theme – everyone seems to have a car story, a personal response to cars that they’ve owned.

“I have found that people will often say ‘Oh I don’t know anything about cars’ but then they spot the little Fiat 500 or Citroën and gushingly tell you about how it was their very first car, or their dad’s pride and joy, a holiday they had in one – something about the cars I’ve chosen strikes a happy chord with so many people. “ My favourite car is the humble Citroën 2CV. I’ve used it in a few designs and its quirky looks always gets a very positive response at various one-man shows I have had.

“I must say joining the Greeting Card Association was the best thing I ever did, they’ve been very friendly and extremely helpful.

“Being quite new to the industry I’m learning all the time and, upon their advice, I am building a much broader portfolio of cards.”

START-UP business The Teapot Dude have launched their new collection of teapot/teabag gift and greetings card sets designed to add extra fun to special occasions, celebrating them with the nation's n s favourite cuppa..

Made in Britain, the he collection from founder Gill Riley ey includes Tash’tastic Tea, Tea’riffic Wedding Day, ay, Tea’licious Cuppa & Cake, Have ATea’riffic Birthday and Tea’lightful Cuppa Rosie Lee, plus the Christmas Festivi’teas set of teapots.

There are four teapots plus an envelope elope to each set, all held within a greetings card ready for a personal message.

Each teapot holds a teabag containing a traditional breakfast blend of 100 per cent black tea.

Whatever the occasion, they make a tea’riffic gift and greetings card in one.

T: 01440 707225 www.alexcharlesdesignshop.co.uk

T: 07826 843596 www.theteapotdude.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 35

Artists’ directory If you are an artist/cartoonist/illustrator/verse writer or image library and would like to be part of this feature contact 01442 289930 for more details.

AGENTs WANTED All areas of the United Kingdom

LittleWorks

Design Studio

Due to our continued success with our ranges of handmade unique greeting cards. we are now looking for agents to represent and work with us in partnership to sell our range of greeting cards.

For more information about this exciting prospect Please Contact Ian Basset

marketing@littleworks.co.za

36 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

+27 83 637 1333

www.littleworks.co.za

PRODUCT PRODUCT & & SERVICES SERVICES DIRECTORY DIRECTORY -GREETINGS GREETINGS CARD CARD PUBLISHERS PUBLISHERS & & PARTY PARTY PRODUCT PRODUCT SUPPLIERS SUPPLIERS To advertise To advertise call Ian MacFarlaine call 01442 289930 on 01442 289940

Keep it local With independent retailers often feeling the pressure from the big boys, Gemma Zaire of The Country House Gift Company in Winscombe, Somerset, has come up with 10 reasons to think local.

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HERE at Country House Gifts, we love everything local and we are local people.

As well as trying to buy only Britishmade products, we also support local artists and craftsmen by selling their work in our store, and supporting local charities by running special events is top of our agenda.

We’ve also just set up our own greetings publisher using three local illustrators and a local photographer.

How do you support your local community? Here are our top 10 tips.

Buy local – support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally-owned business, rather than nationally-owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms, continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community.

At www.ilsr.org/key-studies-walmartand-bigbox-retail there are case studies showing that locally-owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base.

Support community groups: Non-profit organisations receive an average 250 per cent more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses.

Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun, all of it makes our community into our home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Our tourism businesses also benefit. Richard Moe, National Historic Preservation Trust president, said: “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being some place, not just any place.”

Reduce environmental impact: Locally-owned businesses can make more local purchases

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requiring less transportation, and generally set up shop in town or city centres as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

Create more good jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community, so provide the most jobs to residents.

Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers.

Invest in the community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in the community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the its future.

Put your taxes to good use: Local businesses in town centres require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.

Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy: A marketplace of 10s of 1000s of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly-homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-akind businesses and distinctive character.

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T: 01934 842125 www.countryhousegiftcompany.co.uk

● All opinions expressed in Your Shout are the personal views of the named writer. We can’t promise to print everything we receive – especially n ot if it could land anyone in a libel court! – but we will read through everything submitted for consideration. If you have something to say please email your thoughts to tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 37

PRODUCT & SERVICES DIRECTORY GREETINGS CARD PUBLISHERS & PARTY PRODUCT SUPPLIERS To advertise To call advertise Ian MacFarlaine call 01442 on 289930 01442 289940

spotlight

A selection of this month’s latest releases

● CHARITY Christmas cards raising money for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund are now available using images kindly donated by artists.

The collection is available on the fund’s online shop with the 10-card packs retailing at £4.50. and images include the Snow King search and rescue helicopter, Spitfires In The Snow, Fuelling Around With Santa, and the Winter Ops tribute to Bomber Command.

www.rafbf.org

● ECO-FRIENDLY publishers Glebe Cottage have launched a new collection of spring- themed photographic cards, The Beauty Of Flowers, featuring text on the back of each design containing interesting information about the subject on the front.

There are also new spring landscapes and natured themed designs expanding the range by more than 30 blank cards with subjects including spring lambs, primroses, snowdrops and bluebell woods.

Coordinating notecards and occasion titles also available with the FSC certified cards measuring 153x153mm and supplied with textured 100 per cent recycled white envelopes.

● SPRING is in the air at Peartree Heybridge with their 47 occasions cards – and a special offer for orders of at least 120 cards received by November 21.

All the 2015 Easter, Father’s Day, Morther’s Day and Valentine’s designs have appropriate inside text, come wrapped and are priced at 87p plus VAT, £2.10 RRP. By quoting promo code SO15, orders of at least 120 cards, for delivery in December or January, will be carriage paid and 12 of the cards will provided FOC bringing the invoice value down from £104.40 to £93.96 – and if the invoice is paid on time, there’s full credit available for any unsold cards over and above the 12 free ones.

T: 01423 876311 www.peartreeheybridge.co.uk

T: 01626 369269 www.glebe-cottage.co.uk ● A NEW Christmas design has been added to Courgette Cards’ Collections Of Collections range – Xmas Puddings In Custard augments the seasonal offerings of baubles, clementines, Brussels sprouts and candles.

Each card is 135x135mm, comes with a suitably coordinated envelope and is supplied in a cello bag.

T: 0117 909 1864 www.courgettecards.com

38 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

A selection of this month’s latest releases

spotlight

PRODUCT & SERVICES DIRECTORY GREETINGS CARD PUBLISHERS & PARTY PRODUCT SUPPLIERS To advertise To call advertise Ian MacFarlaine call 01442 on 289930 01442 289940

● GREETINGS in 3D, dots and sparkles are the three new festive ranges from Hallmark which hit both the luxury and great value ends of the market.

The 3D luxury designs are the definition of mantelpiece magic while there are also the Ruby Frost engraved and embossed signature cards exclusive to Hallmark which come complete with Rudolph-red envelopes, and both are sold in boxes of five for £8 RRP. Razzle Dazzle is the shimmering new range of cards and gift wrap in glittering golds and reds that’s bursting with Christmas spirit with prices starting at £1.99 RRP. For those looking for great value cards that still send a special message, the Just Dotty range sends fabulously festive Christmas wishes from just 79p RRP.

T: 0800 902 0900 www.hallmark.co.uk ● VELVET Olive’s new spring cards are all printed on eco-friendly Favini Crush Ivory card, supplied by Fenner Paper, which is made using by-products of citrus fruits.

Produced with 100 per cent green energy, this shade contains corn giving a distinct texture and appearance that adds depth to the designs.

Foxlove is the Valentine’s Day range which features varying shades of pink contrasted with olive green, the Father’s Day collection is called Kings Of The Jungle and has everything from chainsaws to lions printed in mustard yellow, brown and grey-blue.

Magnamartahog is Velvet Olive’s Mother’s Day range the name comes from the Latin translation of Great Mother and this series of cards features flowers, hedgehogs and foxes all printed in complementary colours.

T: 01424 236222 www.velvetolive.co.uk ● ANIMALS are always on trend, particularly cats and dogs, and Pink Pig Cards have mixed fun graphic animal illustrations with contemporary florals into their eye-popping Flowery Critters range.

Rory the golden retriever and Clio the cat are among the 20 150x150mm designs which include more dogs, cats, and a few bunnies for good measure from illustrator Mabel Forsyth.

T: 07583 088596 www.pinkpigcards.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 39

PRODUCT & SERVICES DIRECTORY GREETINGS CARD PUBLISHERS & PARTY PRODUCT SUPPLIERS To advertise call 01442 289930

A selection of this month’s latest releases

spotlight

● CAROLINE Gardner have introduced a whole new style of card to their ever-expanding range with a dainty collection of cheery life quotes, brought to life with hand-painted flowers and wild grasses.

Inspired by the persisting trend in floristry for rustic bouquets and naturalistic garden schemes these 134x99mm cards are reminiscent of the rolling English countryside and conjure up images of walking through the flower-filled meadows on sunshine filled days.

They have a striking black glossy foil and embossed finish which adds a modern edge to this pretty yet punchy card range.

T: 020 8288 9696 www.carolinegardner.com Designs that will get your customers coming back for more!

Life quotes to make them laugh out loud

All our designs are tried and tested in an award winning store Ramblingmansion.co.uk contact@ramblingmansion.co.uk

● EARLYBIRD have just launched six new Popcorn cards featuring colourful 3D hand-drawn type to add to the 16 designs already in the range.

Due to good sales designer Dominic Early decided to add more and is happy with the results: “They’re quite bold, graphic card designs with a sprinkle of humour. I also think hand-drawn type is a rising trend so decided to extend this range now. I'm pleased with how they have sold and hoping these additions will be as good.”

T: 01227 765372 www.earlybirddesigns.co.uk

INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED

CIRCULATION 6,089

July 1, 2013June 20, 2014 40 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

● LITTLE Seashell Cards are expanding their popular patterned collections of sweet designs and clever ideas for the French and English holiday season.

Embellished with hand-applied glitter or crystal rhinestones to highlight the colours and details the Canadian publisher sells the designs wholesale at $2.38 (£1.33), RRP $4.75 (£2.66).

T: +1 416 236 9139 www.littleseashellcards.com

● FEATURING Father Christmas and his friends, latest festive cards from I Drew This are printed on gorgeous board, beautifully illustrated and printed in the UK. They are available to buy trade at 90p each, £2.25 RRP, and come cello wrapped with either a white or kraft envelope complementing each design.

T: 07813 005707 www.idrewthis.co.uk

gifts spotlight

PRODUCT & SERVICES DIRECTORY GREETINGS CARD PUBLISHERS

A selection of the latest gift releases and deals ● MAGNETIC musical mementoes for melodic musos with the midnight munchies are now available from My World.

Whether it's the food of love or the love of food, they’ve got you and your fridge covered with their gorgeous new high-gloss magnets.

Three intelligent and beautiful quotes, three extremely dodgy puns – come on, that's definitely a balanced diet.

These beautiful slices of magnetism are so new they're not in the catalogue yet, but they're available now in packs of 12 for £1.25 each.

T: 0191 305 5165 www.myworld.co.uk ● DUE to the success of the UK Word Map Art Print, Luckies Of London have taken the design – a collaboration between Alison Hardcastle and Snow Home – and put it on a 100 per cent cotton tea towel.

The 80x50cm design makes up the UK map by using typography words, such as cider for the Wets Country, to describe each area.

The trade price is £4.60, £10.95 RRP.

T:0845 230 3533 www.luckies.co.uk

INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED & LARGEST CIRCULATION To find out how can help you just call 01442 289930

Saunders Displays Point of sales display stands for every retail environment.

Tel: 0208 594 7221 www.saundersdisplays.co.uk

bags

● MCLAGGAN Smith Mugs have a colourful array with new and luxurious Brora cashmere and bright, bold animal linocuts from artist and printmaker Babs Pease, plus Samantha Morris’ festive typography while Dee Hardwicke’s love of the British landscape inspired her detailed holly design.

They’re also delighted to be debuting three original and delicate designs from textile and stationery designer Mei Fields and have six bright and bold Orla Kiely mugs for general release from January that were previously only available in the designer’s stores and John Lewis.

Trade prices start from £3,90 plus VAT, all designs are screen-printed and transferred on to fine white bone china mugs in the UK.

T: 01389 755655 www.msmugs.com ● BRAINBOX Candy are excited to announce the launch of their Wildstyle gift collection following on from the recently launched and very successful card range.

There’s iPhone cases, cushions, coasters, notebooks and much more are now available in this fabulous furry world of fun.

T: 01702 716643 www.brainboxcandy.com

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paper and board suppliers

Export Management

cards, bags, wrap and party products

42 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

envelopes

gift manufacturers

print services

print services

INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED & LARGEST CIRCULATION To find out how can help you just call

01442 289930

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 43

my inspiration

Lively, multi-faceted and full of inspirations – that’s Paperworld, the showcase of the paper, office supplies and stationery sector. For retailers and trade buyers it’s the most important platform for finding out about new products, discovering the latest trends and forging contacts with industry colleagues.

Make sure you’re here in 2015!

info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83

aperworld: s around P w e n t n a rt o s All the imp rt.com/new ssefrankfu e .m d rl o rw pape