Greetings Today

Independently audited, ABC circulation of 6,089

The impartial voice of the greetings card industry September 2015 Issue 1 Volume 17

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contents

REGULARS 07

Leader

the team

32

A look at seasons and how they affect the industy, plus Window On The World.

08

News

14

48

Vox Pop Publishers are at the heart of the industry, hear their opinions on current issues.

50

Talk Of The Town The voice of the people who matter, greetings retailers tell it like it is.

John Ryan Selling out of season isn’t such a bad idea, says John.

Retail Advice Independent retail advisor Henri Davis looks at handmade product.

Meet The Newbies Windles-sponsored focus on industry newcomers.

31

Blame it on the weather, Neil gives his take on the sun and retail.

34

People, Exhibition - including the Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn Preview - Licensing, Supplier and General, it’s all here and there’s more on www.greetingstoday.co.uk

It’s All About Sales

54

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

● Jo Barber’s On The Shop Front returns next month

FEATURES 16

Cover Story

Autumn Fair Preview

38 44

It’s the show for all seasons as buyers and

Company Profile – Cinnamon Aitch Twenty years has flown past and the founders share memories and love of Tunnocks Teacakes!

ONLINE

01442 289940 (direct)

Group Editor Mirella Anstey mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk Group Advertisement Manager Ryan Horwood ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk Publisher Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk Production Director Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

Top Drawer Autumn Preview Design-led show has new Academy featuring seminars to help retailers.

Circulation Manager Robert Thomas robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

Multicultural Cards

Keep in touch - follow us:

Pride in your heritage is a great reason to celebrate noisily and in style.

want to stock up for Christmas and beyond.

36

Advertisement Manager Gareth Liddiatt gareth@lemapublishing.co.uk

Managing Director Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

Nostalgia is great business and RetroCo are masters of the art.

18

Editor Tracey Bearton tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk

52

@greetingstoday

Artists’ Quarter Greetings Today cartoonist James Whitworth draws on his dad’s legacy.

https://www.facebook.com/ greetingstodaymag

Go to our website - www.greetingstoday.co.uk - for all the up-to-date news where you can also look at our archive of online features.

HOTSPOT

NEW ranges abound but there are many long-standing collections that are always hitting the hotspot and deserve recognition. In our new hotspot section Greetings Today will feature some of these each issue.

Helen Sellwood, buyer, Westmorland Ltd, Orton, Penrith, Cumbria: “The Cornflower range from Cinnamon Aitch is a great addition to our offer. It’s doing extremely well and I think this is down to the bold graphic designs which are a refreshing change to many cards that are available at the moment. Many of the designs are unisex which also appeals to our customers. We do very well with CA and I think it’s great to see they’re doing something that’s very different to their other collections.”

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PUBLISHING

Lema Publishing Ltd 1 Church Gates, Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2UB

Telephone: 01442 289930 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

At the heart of retail Greetings Today is independently audited with an ABC circulation of 6,089 (July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014) Subscription per annum: UK £60 (free for people in the greetings industry), Europe £80, ROTW £100 A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 5

leader Editor Tracey Bearton

T SEEMS that no sooner have we hit the summer – if the downpours and sunny spells we’ve had this year actually count as that season – than autumn creeps up on us.

As I write, Autumn Fair is just a couple of weeks away, yes, you heard that right, Autumn Fair, followed by Top Drawer Autumn and Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn.

I’ve not even had my summer holiday yet but I’ve just written autumn five times in this piece alone and goodness knows how many times in the show previews inside the mag – on pages 18, 38, and 11 respectively.

It only seems a few weeks ago we were walking the aisles at the NEC for Spring Fair, but we’ll be back again before we know it as the year seems to have flown by.

Until I started in trade magazines I’d never truly appreciated how skewed the retail calendar is, apart from the general consumer moans of the Back To School signs just as the long summer holidays begin and the difficulties of buying clothes for the season we’re actually in.

When the real brass monkey weather hits in mid-January, you try finding a warm winter coat among the racks of skimpy bikinis and summer tops!

I now know that greetings folk have to concentrate on Christmas at least twice a year.

The first one is when they’re planning and getting the new designs ready then there’s the real one on December 25 – oh, I forgot the launch of the ranges to the retailers, so that’s three.

In fact, the continual “and have you got your festive orders in” refrain to customers means reindeer, snowmen and robins are near-constant companions.

Selfridges’ opening of their Christmas store way back on August 3 is proof of this, apparently the first shop in the world open for this coming festive season, perhaps unsurprisingly as there were still 143 shopping days to go at that point!

This is only the start though as the second phase of

● Cartoons by James Whitworth T: 07872 013943 – jameswhitworth@mac.com www.whitworthcartoons.com

I

the shop’s will be in the autumn proper, when the floor space devoted to all things festive will be more than doubled to 60,000 square feet, with more than 60,000 baubles, over 120 cracker options, and more than 1,250 different cards and wrapping paper designs.

It’s a phenomenon that’s not going unnoticed as our columnist and retail expert John Ryan covers the subject of how selling items out of season can give you an edge in his article on page 31.

Having bought my Christmas cards numerous times as soon as they hit the shops – admittedly my local supermarket because I used to have to send so many when my kids were at school and for the different organisations I was involved in – to get the best choice and so it was another item off a lengthy to do list, or I’d scoop up armfuls in the January sales, I can certainly see how stocking some for much of the year could be a good move.

Even traditional spring seasons, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentines, might not be such a bad idea as there are plenty of consumers who will buy because they find the right card at the right price, even if it’s not technically the right time of year. Although remembering where you put it for safekeeping when it comes to writing and sending the card is another matter entirely!

Of course, while the advent of digital printing allows publishers to store their designs on computer and print on demand, for retailers there is always the issue of space both for storage and display. If you do have enough room, maybe a regularlyrotated “out of season” rack is the answer, with a sign saying to ask for other occasions.

With the current penchant for spreading the cost of Christmas, festive cards would probably be a good one to keep out.

Having said that, I’m now wondering if that was a real fully-antlered stag I saw in the middle of the road as I drove home through the woods last night or simply a reindeer mirage as a side-effect of being involved in the greetings industry!

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

Want to appear in ?

OCTOBER FEATURES: BLE Preview Licensed Cards & Associated Products Mother’s Day & Feminine-Themed Cards Hand-finished Cards OCTOBER COPY DATE – SEPTEMBER 9

NOV/DEC FEATURES: Bestsellers & Trend Forecasts Occasions Cards Suppliers To The Greetings Industry Distribution Focus Charity Cards NOV/DEC COPY DATE – OCTOBER 20

WINDOW ON THE WORLD WHEN Tewksbury-based Cherry Orchard launched their Shop of the Month competition, they did a doubletake at the lovely entry from Cherry Cards in Upminster.

“The window display looked fabulous,” said Cherry Orchard owner and co-founder Jackie Collins (pictured right), “but for a minute I thought my brain was playing tricks on me when I saw the cherry logo.”

Cherry Cards owner Debbie Davies was delighted to win the publishers’ first SOTM competition run via Facebook.

Having owned the business since May 2014, Debbie and daughter Amy (pictured left), stock a selection of Cherry Orchard ranges, and also sell a

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag eet etin ngs gsto toda to daym da ymag ym ag @g @greetingstoday @gre re ee

wide range of cards, accessories and gifts, as well as their own handmade cards.

She said: “I recognise how important a selling tool the windows can be, and change them with every calendar event – also they’re checked weekly and cleaned, balloons refreshed and so on.

“If you can entice more people into the shop it can only have a positive effect on sales and also for the card suppliers too. We work hand in hand so a competition like this is such a positive one.”

Cherry Cards T: 01708 607070 Cherry Orchard T: 01684 295500 www.cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 7

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in the news

Ann and Andrew take over

news in brief Lasting devotion DEVOTED Mick and Sue Plant have exchanged the same cards for 36 Christmases and Hallmark have now given them a lasting copy of their messages of love. Daughter-in-law Andrea works at Hallmark and told them of the festive cards that have been exchanged since 1978 and are now becoming full and worn. Hallmark CEO Steve Clarke (back left) and Keith Chapman of printers Herbert Walker (back right) are pictured presenting Sue and Mick with precise replicas and new versions of the same cards so they can keep the tradition going.

Jill’s a hero JILL Stephens has been nominated for the Welsh Government’s High Street Heroes Awards for her great customer service at Best Wishes card shop in Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taff. Her name was put forward

by Cherry Orchard’s Area Sales Manager Derren Seal in recognition of the fact she knows all her customers by name and always offers a chair to elderly shoppers while helping them choose suitable cards and gifts.

AGM diary date DOMINIQUE Schurman, CEO of Clintons, is the main speaker on at the GCA AGM on Wednesday, September 30, in the Altitude 360 venue on the 29th floor of London’s Millbank Tower. Wrendale Designs’ Hannah Dale will also be giving a presentation, as well as Sanderson Jones, the founder of Sunday Assembly, the worldwide movement for positive change. The AGM starts at 10.30am with the speakers, followed by lunch, then mini-sessions with industry experts.

Dresses on the cards GREETINGS cards are the unusual material given to designers in the latest episode of US fashion reality show Project Runway – wonder if they’ve been to PG Live and seen the girls’ dresses there? The 16 would-be fashion designers had their first unconventional materials challenge in the second episode of series 14 called It’s All In The Cards, which aired on the American Lifetime channel on August 13 and should appear on Sky in the UK. The winner was Edmond with his wedding dress (pictured).

All the fun of the blog BALLOON and party supplies giants Amscan have signed up as expo partners for the upcoming FunFest Blogger Summit on September 12. Their products will be on display on the delegates’ tables and they’re hosting a spook-tacular Halloween room displaying their partyware and balloons, and they will also be showing off their new life-size Star Wars Storm Trooper balloons. Amscan are also seeking new brand ambassadors at the one-day event for parenting and lifestyle bloggers at Whittlebury Hall, Northampton.

8 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

LONG-TIME Deva Designs staff members Andrew Maddock and Ann Rogers have bought the Chester company from founder Derek Bell-Jones, who has now retired at 76.

“The deal was only completed a couple of weeks ago,” Andrew told Greetings Today on August 12, “and Ann and I are delighted to have purchased Deva Designs.

“We’ve both worked at Deva for over 10 years and look forward to not only securing our future as an independent company, but building on our success and being the first choice for design-led gift wrap in the UK. “Derek set up Deva 23 years ago and, although he retired from the day to day business six years ago, he continued as chairman. We have 15 staff based here in Chester and a team of lovely agents and everyone at Deva would like to thank Derek for all his tireless efforts, vision, support and energy.”

Andrew will continue as MD, the role he took over when Derek first stepped down, while Ann is administration director at the premium giftwrap company, which also incorporates Deva Debut.

T: 01244 390191 www.devadesigns.co.uk

Fulfilling feedback promise ONE consignment and a single invoice is the offer to Carte Blanche customers after they celebrated the official opening of their new-style fulfillment operation.

Independent retailers knew something was about to happen after receiving a letter from CEO Alister Marchant in July revealing reductions in the Wishing Well brand prices and an apology for not keeping to their own high standards.

Making the most of the summer, Chairman and Founder Stephen Haines held a barbecue for staff at the company’s Chicester base and enrolled longest-serving Fulfillment Centre Team member Simeon Furniss to help.

Stephen is pictured, left, with Simeon, who has been with CBG for almost 18 years, and Tatty Teddy as they cut the aptly-coloured blue ribbon at the centre to welcome the team to tours of the new operation.

From September 1, orders for plush, gifts and greetings cards across Carte Blanche’s broad portfolio, including Me To You, Hotchpotch and Wishing Well Studios, will be fulfilled from one location so customers can have their goods delivered in one consignment and with a single invoice.

Carte Blanche have also invested in new fulfilment partners, DPD and Interlink Express, in a move that Customer Relations Manager Chris Barrett said will significantly improve service to independent retailers,

including scheduled one-hour window delivery times.

This investment is just one part of Carte Blanche’s ongoing commitment to provide an industry-leading service which was demonstrated by last month’s open letter where Alister showed how the firm are actively responding to feedback.

Alister has assumed personal responsibility for CBG’s independent customers, and the letter confirmed reducing their Wishing Well pricing is the first of a number of issues that have been addressed since mid-May. They have also increased levels of training for staff, reviewed the structure of territories and call cycles, and are developing exclusive ranges of product and promotional campaigns for the independent channel.

The letter also mentioned the exciting improvements in how products will be dispatched, which have now be revealed as the new fulfillment centre.

Alister ended by requesting more feedback and said: “I accept that we have made mistakes in the past and know that empty promises count for nothing but hope you will take this letter as it is intended, it is an honest apology and an ongoing promise to build a successful Carte Blanche business together.”

T: 01243 792600 www.cbg.co.uk

Henry picks this year’s best MORE than 14,000 entries to the Henries Awards have been whittled down to 114 finalists in 19 categories by the panel of judges from leading multiple and independent retailers.

In the organisers’ largest survey yet, across more than 1,750 independent greetings outlets, 12 publishers are contenders for the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in the Best Service To The Independent Retailer category.

The award is sponsored by Cardgains although the survey included retailers who don’t belong to the buying group, and any supplier can be nominated.

Topping the finalists’ list are Pigment Productions with no less than six nominations in total, while Woodmansterne, UK Greetings and Belly Button Designs are just behind with five, Ling Design have four, Hallmark three.

Two nominations puts newcomer Bex Hassett of Bexy Boo (pictured) – also shortlisted in the Business Start Up award at the Cheshire Business Awards – in illustrious company along with bigger names including Think Of Me, The Art File, Paper Salad, Five Dollar

Shake and Words ’n’ Wishes.

The judging took place in London on July 30 where more than 40 buyers from names including Paperchase, Clintons, John Lewis, Tesco, WHSmith, The National Trust, Asda, Waterstones, Longacres Garden Centre, Funky Pigeon, M&P Cards, House Of Cards, Foyles and many independents are pictured at work.

The list of finalists is on www.thehenriesawards.co.uk, and the winners will be announced at the gala evening at the Lancaster London Hotel on Thursday, October 8.

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Have you sorted your Christmas out yet ?

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Extensive range of licensed calendars & diaries...

Stock and exclusive ranges, managed programmes, displays, advice and sales support from the industry experts.

For all categories of calendars, see our brochure – The Great Big Calendar Collection.

Wide range of formats available

Other great licenses include: > Where’s Wally? > Forever Friends > Madeleine Floyd > Help for Heroes > RSPB > Betty Boop > Country Companions > The Times plus many more...

www.carouselcalendars.co.uk Telesales enquiries – Cheryl Castleton National accounts – Andy Bissell

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ccastleton@carouselcalendars.co.uk abissell@carouselcalendars.co.uk

01603 677 315 07980 767 783

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 9

licensing news

in the news news in brief Taylor’s a real card TAYLOR Swift has been outed as a champion of the greetings card with the pop star admitting to Vanity Fair magazine she always carries a stash in her handbag. The worldfamous singer is the cover girl for the lifestyle mag’s September issue and told them: “I have a lot of birthday cards because you never know when you’re going to run into somebody and it’s their birthday, and then you can be just like, ‘Oh, wow, you gave them a birthday card five minutes later’.”

Go behind the scenes AN EXCLUSIVE Retailer Insider networking and seminar event is being held at The Mall in Luton as part of the Retail Trust’s education programme for retailers to find out about shopping centre management. The free event, on September 23, will be hosted by the retail charity in partnership with the Oxford Summer School, retail property agency Capital & Regional. the parcel collection service Collect+, and The Mall. Places can be booked at http://retailerinsiderluton.eventbrite.co.uk/

Have your say on Sundays THE Government have launched their consultation on Sunday trading which is open for anyone to respond at https://www.gov.uk/ government/consultations/devolving-sundaytrading-rules. The consultation question is: “We’re seeking your views on whether the Government should devolve Sunday trading rules to local areas, such as cities run by elected mayors and/or local authorities. This would give them greater control of their local economy and improve the wellbeing of local citizens.” Christmas Day and Easter Sunday are exempt from any changes.

Cyril’s seminar success SOCIAL media is all the rage these days and over at Cardgains mascot Cyril Service has definitely got in on the act as the buying group held their first seminar last month where specialist social media expert Jason Squires set suppliers on the road to understanding the phenomenon and how it can help their businesses. To take part in future seminars email cyril@cardgains.co.uk

800 not out TOTAL sales growth of 8.0 per cent and 36 new stores opened are the highlights of Card Factory’s latest trading update which saw them hit 800 outlets with their latest one in Reading, and relaunch an enhanced transactional Card Factory website.

Expansion continues with the report stating: “We remain on track to deliver approximately 50 net new stores in the current financial year.”

Moonpig ‘£400m sale’ PHOTOBOX, the owners of online greetings card pioneers Moonpig, are on the verge of being sold to a powerful private equity firm for between £350million and £450million. The current venture capital owners of Photobox, run by former AOL executive Stan Laurent, hired Goldman Sachs bankers earlier this year to work on a disposal of the firm.

10 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Bing and pals are all wrapped up WOODMANSTERNE have joined the select group of companies who are now partners for the award-winning pre-school television property Bing.

The Licensing Company announced on August 18 that the Watford-based publishers have signed a deal to launch a range of greetings cards, sheet giftwrap, gift tags, note cards, thank you cards and an advent calendar featuring the characters from the Acamar Films’ show.

Rainbow Productions have also signed up to create Bing and Flop character costumes which will be making special guest appearances at leisure attractions, retail outlets, holiday parks, airports and private parties.

The companies already committed to taking Bing to a children’s audience beyond the TV screen include Harper Collins for publishing; Ravensburger for games; Studiocanal for home entertainment, and FisherPrice have just launched the first wave of toys at retail. Emma Benfield, Woodmansterne’s Rights Licensing Coordinator, said: ‘Bing struck a chord with all of us at Woodmansterne, we’re thrilled to be able to bring him and his friends to life through our quality launch range of greeting cards so children can enjoy Bing on their birthday.”

T: 01923 200600 www.woodmansterne.com

‘Amazing’ response to museum appeal THE British Museum have declared they are “amazed and impressed” at the quality and quantity of the response to their call for the provision of licensing agent services.

The call came with the museum’s June announcement of a global licensing campaign to build on their strengths as a unique institution with strong marketing potential that has attracted a wide range of respected industry names with experience in all areas of licensing and promotion.

Tom Costello, Head of Retail at the oldest public museum in the world that is also the UK’s most popular visitor attraction, said: “There has been an amazing response to our call for licensing agent services.

“We have now begun the work of selecting a licensing partner or partners that will play a pivotal role in communicating the Museum’s values to a wide audience.

It won’t be an easy decision, nor should it be, but the sheer quality of the applications makes this a welcome challenge.”

www.britishmuseum.org

Danilo make the stationery shortlist A JUDGING panel of top retail buyers has drawn up the shortlist for the 2015 Licensing Awards, with Danilo, Hallmark and Pyramid among those competing in the stationery category.

Almost 5,000 licensed products were entered into the 12 categories in the Product Awards this year, and the winners will be announced along with the Retailer Awards at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on September 15, 2015.

The Judging Panel comprised almost 100 top retail buyers and the full list of finalists is available on www. thelicensingawards.co.uk

Growing strong TREMENDOUS growth has seen Carousel Calendars’ licensing programme increase over the past two years, giving them 22 per cent more licences.

The total number of licences held for 2015 titles was 92, having risen, 75 in 2013, and they have seen an increase of 14 per cent in sales revenue with an 11 per cent increase in royalties paid compared to 2014.

Initial sales figures for the 2016 collection, available, August, show all their new licences – which include Beryl Cook, Sooty, Little Else, Matt Sewell, WWF, Katarina Sokolova and the RSPCA – have been very well received.

Plus they recently signed a two-year deal with The National Trust, who have not licensed for several years, with current forecasts looking extremely positive particularly for their range of regional recipe calendars.

Carousel are constantly working to increase their selection of licensed products, and are already progressing with an extended range of titles for 2017 including calendars and diaries for British lifestyle

brand Tottering-By-Gently. Martin Rees-Davies, Head of Licensing for Carousel Calendars, said: “The strong growth in our licensed revenues, royalties and brand partners is a real endorsement of Carousel Calendars’ approach to licensing.

“Detailed strategic plans and excellence in design, along with close and effective retail relationships in all channels, is driving us forward and opening many more opportunities with new and existing licensors.”

T: 01603 677315 www.carouselcalendars.com

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exhibition news

Time to buy WITH a show how ho w da date te eo off Se Sept September p em pt e ber 20-21, Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn is the last buying o opportunity in the year for retailers to source both new p products and to order from existing lines in time for Christmas.

GREETINGS EXHIBITORS Babs Pease Design – Stand A4 Chloe Gardner – E30 Claire Baird Designs – LG14 Cockadoodle Design – K2 Diana Wilson Arcana – G28 Embroidered Originals – E20 Giftelope – F30 Hallmark – N10 Helen Russell Creations – C11 Lighthouse Designs – H22 Lomond Books – J16 Periodic Society – B4 Pigment Productions – K12 Snappy Crocodile – N2 Truly Trossachs – I42

The show runs over Sunday and Monday at Glasgow’s SECC and provides a carefully-balanced selection of 160 companies exhibiting p homeware, textiles, jewellery, fashion accessories, clan products, beauty h and bath products, stationery and general giftware. a The show typically sees around 1,750 trade buyers from department sstores, multiples, mail-order, online, tourist attractions and independent retail outlets. re Well attended by Scottish and northern English retailers who need more stock before the festive rush, The Launch Gallery has a line-up of 15 young original companies including Claire Baird’s stationery and cards, Stripykat’s fashion accessories, Pop Up Designs quirky gifts and Angel Wire’s jewellery.

Established exhibitors will be showcasing their latest ranges including Hallmark, Cockadoodle Designs and Pigment Productions.

Mark Saunders, MD of show organisers Springboard Events, said: “Many retailers like to wait until the summer season is over before ordering Christmas stock. This show is the perfect last opportunity to find new gifts, place festive orders without filling vast stock rooms and see what will be in trend.

“The focus of many exhibitors is for impulse purchase, well designed and commercial gift ideas which are perfect for small presents and stocking fillers, as well as larger Christmas presents.”

Fiona Fabian, from Papyrus Gifts in Glasgow, added: “We have found quite a few of our suppliers at Scotland’s Trade Fair and are always on the lookout for niche companies that perhaps don’t show at bigger shows down south. We find customers are increasingly asked for Scottish or UK-made products and it’s at this show, and the spring one, where we can source these products.”

T: 01877 385772 www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk

● COCKADOODLE Design are gearing up for another cracking show at Scotland’s Trade Fair where they will be showing off the new Christmas and everyday designs for Autumn 2015. Everything is still 100 per cent handmade, still as quirky and 3D, definitely just as cheeky but even bolder and brighter.

Stand K20 – T: 07792 862140 www.cockadoodledesign.co.uk

● EMBROIDERED Originals’ best-selling range of Scottish designs is being re-branded as Wee Wishes keepsake cards with each one being finished with rich, hand-painted detail in dimensional paint. They’ll be showcasing the latest additions to the Christmas card range for 2015 with six new titles including Fairy Lights and Holly so please stop by for a closer look.

Stand E20 – T: 01333 423985 www.embroideredoriginals.co.uk

● MCLAGGAN Smith have a colourful array of mugs including new and luxurious cashmere designs from Brora and bright, bold animal linocuts from artist and printmaker Babs Pease.

The festive typography from Samantha Morris continues to be a best seller and Mei Fields’ delicate designs capture the essence of Christmas. These designs sit well together or as individual gifts.

All their designs are screen-printed and individually transferred on to fine white bone china mugs in the UK.

Stand B10 – T: 01389 755655 www.msmugs.com

The SPLiCE of life BLE HAS teamed up with The Society Of Product Licensors Committed to Excellence (SPLiCE) to present a new series of panel discussions in the Licensing Academy this year. The three panels will address Anti-Counterfeiting; Social Accountability and Direct To Retail and are breaking new ground for Brand Licensing Europe with the discussion of issues that affect both consumers and licensing professionals.

It’s the first time the trade association have brought their insights to the UBM Advanstar-organised event that takes place at London’s Olympia from October 13-15.

Kimberly Kociencki, CEO at SPLiCE, said: “For years now we have been sharing best practices in the US. It’s a significant pleasure to be opening up the floor at BLE and to the European licensing Industry.”

Darren Brechin, BLE Event Director, added: “We are delighted that SPLiCE are bringing such eminent speakers and lively debate to Europe. The topics are new for BLE and we can look forward to top level discussions that will offer a new level of insight and expertise for our visitors.”

www.brandlicensing.eu www.thebleblog.com

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 11

people news

supplier news Smooth operators

Ballooning team TWO new sales consultants have joined Pioneer Europe to sell their Qualatex brand by developing new business, supporting existing customers and meeting training needs for retailers.

Alan Macpherson (above right) will handle Qualatex sales in Scotland and Ireland, while Charles Dyson (above left) will look after the north-east.

Brett Smith, commercial manager for Pioneer Europe, said: “The skills both Alan and Charles bring will benefit the business greatly, and I’m sure we’ll teach them a few new balloon tricks along the way!”

Both Alan and Charles plan to go through the Qualatex Balloon Network programme and earn their Certified Balloon Artist designations in the near future.

T: 0800 281215 www.qualatexeurope.com

● GLICK director Becky Dobson has given birth to her second child with Ronnie Thomas Dobson Brown arriving at 10.20pm on July 29. Little Ronnie weighed in at 8lbs 15oz, and is pictured with big sister Brooke. Mum Becky (inset) will soon be back at the helm of the giftwrap specialists.

T: 01274 655980 www.glick.co.uk

Newport newbies CARD Connection franchisees for Bath, David and Helen Rabaiotti have now bought the Newport territory.

Former dairy farmer David and ex-postmistress Helen (pictured) will now supply 230 retailers with the UK Greetings subsidiary’s range of cards and accessories from their new Abergavenny base.

“I’ve enjoyed running the Bath territory for five years,” David said, “however, when the Newport/South Wales region became available I was keen to take on the larger franchise.

“I’ll employ two new part-time helpers to prepare the boxes of greetings cards ready for delivery and Helen will also become much more involved.”

“However, this now means the Bath area is for sale and it is a great business for someone looking for a fulltime franchise in this established sector.”

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

12 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

THE LUXURY spa accommodation promised may not have materialised for the 20-strong Budget Greeting Card team working on their latest branch in Dunstable – but they still got on with the job of turning an empty warehouse into a fully-functioning 83,000 sq ft cash and carry inside eight weeks.

The Bedfordshire project is the northern wholesalers’ first foray into the south-east market so retailers can access their full range of greetings, party, paper and gift products from leading UK importers.

BGC MD Paul Lavery said: “I’m proud of the team’s achievement in getting the store ready so quickly. It was a smooth and slick operation by our talented and dedicated staff.

“We’re excited that customers in the south-east will be able to work with us at last – and being so close to Luton and Heathrow airports also makes us better able to serve our many export customers.”

Paul had promised the travelling team, drawn from BGC’s seven other branches, “luxury spa accommodation” but they ended up in the more modest surroundings of the University Of Bedfordshire’s halls of residence in nearby Luton.

Project manager Richard Lee and his team worked around the clock to fit out the store which includes product from BGC’s wholesale operation and highly-

successful design studio, the new cash and carry carries a huge range of balloon and party products, and a complete collection of cards and stationery – if laid end-to-end, the racks of cards they erected would stretch five miles.

There’s also the new Xquisite range of bespoke gift dressings as well, which offers everything from gift bags and gift boxes to giftwrap and roll wrap.

The opening takes the BGC portfolio to eight branches – Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Dublin, Dunstable, Gateshead and Manchester – with Laimonas Navickas moving from the Manchester flagship after 10 years to run the new cash and carry.

Fellow BGC stalwart Gary Leonard, a branch manager for more than 20 years, will now be responsible for the company’s operations in the southeast and possible future expansion of their “direct to retail quality at wholesale prices” offer.

T: 0161 871 4452 www.budget-greetingcards.com ww.bgcstudios.co.uk

All that glitters

On the move

SPARKLES and glitter are paying off for specialist greetings cards manufacturers Loxleys who recently spent £1million on a state-of-the-art B1 flitter machine.

The purchase is the first of its kind in the UK market and means the group now offer the largest independent flitter capacity.

The continued popularity of flitter-finished designs and publishers’ desire to add more value through the use of special finishes led Loxleys to invest in the machine to complement and boost the existing array of single-card flittering facilities at their Sheffield site.

Commercial Director Tony Lorriman said: “Over the last couple of years flitter has been a bottleneck finish across the greetings card industry therefore we felt that it was strategically important to significantly increase Loxleys’ capacity in this area in order to both maintain our service levels and give us scope for growth.”

PURPOSE-built, comfortable and spacious offices have been the new home for greetings card digital print specialists The Imaging Centre since August 3 as they’ve moved – and have a different phone number too.

And there’s an open invitation for people to visit the new premises at East Peckham in Kent, just a few miles from their old home near the Whitbread Hop Farm, to see how greetings cards are produced – contact them to arrange to look around.

As part of the move, the Imaging Centre have also installed a brand-new, stateof-the-art HP Indigo 7800 A3 sheetfed press, and invested in additional finishing equipment which will lead to better turnaround times.

Company director Bob Short said: “Over the past nine years that we’ve e been at Hawkwell Businesss Centre, your loyal support has helped us grow and now we e need more space to serve our customers better.

We have been looking g for a new home for the past few months happy tto iinform th and d are h f you we found it.”

The new premises have been purposely designed to allow Bob and his team to continue to develop their services to the greetings card industry.

The Imaging Centre’s phone number is now 01622 871449, and the address is Unit 8, Archers Park, Branbridges Road, East Peckham, Kent, TN12 5HP. The email and website addresses remain the same.

T: 0114 250 1150 www.loxleys.co.uk ● ELLE Media Group have invested in a Kora Packmat wrapping machine for their Basildon, Essex, factory.

Sales Manager Tim Johnson said: “While we can single wrap cards, our packing line has now been designed to also wrap multi-card and giftwrap packs including up to two labels per pack. We produce millions of packs of cards and wrap a year and believe, through this commitment, we can offer an unrivalled in-house facility.”

T: 01268 413611 www.ellemediagroup.co.uk ● GREETINGS cards producers PJ Print have improved production flows and reduced noise after buying a Polar RA-4 jogger to replace an older RA-4 they got secondhand that had begun to need constant maintenance. The new cutting machine runs at the company's base in Acton, west London, where the nine staff make 40 million greetings cards a year.

T: 020 8993 5160 www.pj-print.co.uk

T: 01622 871449 www.theimagingcentre.co.uk

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FOIL&EMBOSS&FLITTER&DIE-CUTS &VARNISHING&FOLDING&FINISHING & ALL OF THE OTHER MAGIC WE BRING TO YOUR CREATIONS WWW. THEIMAGING CENTRE.CO.UK

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 13

meet the newbies Plenty of tea required LIANNE Harrison is an illustrator, who creates intricate collages using a combination of collected paper, scissors, glue, and plenty of tea.

The name Paperwhale came from a love of paper and a love of nature and, after developing a range of artist and occasion cards, Paperwhale Greeting Cards were born.

Lianne said: “I love the way combinations of unique patterns, hand-drawn and painted textures allow me to create illustrations with a contemporary style and a hint of nostalgia and narrative.

“I’m also very inspired by nature and I often look upon my wildlife and botanical antiquarian books for inspiration – at the moment I’m working on illustrations of insects.

“Having worked as an illustrator for five years, working for magazines, books and more, a year and a half ago I decided to

delve into making a career as a greetings card publisher. Having moved from a busy life in London to a (slightly) quieter life working from my studio by the sea in South Wales, I was able to spend more time concentrating on my freelance career.

“This lead me to develop a range of greetings cards. The main reason for going in this direction was purely a love of cards. I love seeing my work in print, for people to pick up and enjoy.

“My aim is to make designs that take you to another place, using collage full of detail, texture and playful characters. So far my designs are stocked in boutique gift stores, galleries and bookshops throughout Wales, Bristol and London.”

Having recently launched some new designs and a larger collection of birthday cards, more artist cards and a new pocket range of bright,

Colours are part of the family JAMBO Cat greetings cards were born from a love for all things bright, colourful and fun. Following the birth of their daughter, creators Paul Cherrill and his wife Minoti Balraj felt there should be more than just the overwhelming mix of baby blues and pinks filling the shelves of children’s gift shops, so they set about doing something about it.

Drawing on Paul’s experience as a children’s book designer and illustrator and Minoti’s creative fun-loving nature, this colourful brand aspires to appeal to both children and adults.

Inspired by the activities enjoyed as a family, such as music, food and games, Jambo Cat cards and prints feature cheeky yet endearing characters, each with their own name and personality and humorously illustrated with expressive line, vibrant colour and textural elements.

Paul’s distinct and quirky illustrative style is also evolving within the world of children’s book publishing and his latest book is Loo In the Zoo, a cheeky novelty board book that came out in July 2015, published by Scholastic, to make potty training fun Jambo Cat will soon be celebrating their second birthday and have grown to become a big part of the family for Minoti and Paul.

T: 07866 490933 www.jambocat.com

WHAT’S NEW AT WINDLES? Thinking Of You Week – Fully supporting the greetings card industry, Windles Group have been busy producing 28,000 flyers for Thinking Of You Week and sent them out to distribution houses to be forwarded to retailers.

So we hope you have your copies on display already to get as many people as possible taking part in the second worldwide event organised by the GCA to create a wave of love, caring and happiness by sending a card to a different person each day during the week of September 21-27.

14 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

patterned cards perfect for little notes, birthdays and occasions, Lianne added: “My ambition is to expand into producing giftwrap and other products such as tea towels.

“I can’t wait to start thinking of new ideas to collage for these new collections – and I may even try out my first trade show soon!”

T: 07960 812279 www.paperwhale.co.uk

meet the newbies KEEPING UP THE PROGRESS

BIGGER and better premises are always great for a business, and everyone within Windles Group is looking forward to the move to the new building that’s under construction.

It may physically be just two miles away from Windles’ current home, but the purpose-built, environmentally-sustainable factory is our biggest achievement yet and a world away in terms of the advantages it offers to the whole team and all our wonderful customers.

This amazing adventure began some time ago when MD Bruce Podmore realised the company’s steady growth meant more space was needed, and he was determined to combine that with his environmentally-friendly principles, efficiency savings and keeping prices extremely competitive while still offering innovative and cutting edge processes.

Carefully-considered planning over the past three years saw Project Evolution begin in reality when preparation started on the new site on the edge of Thame with ecological assessments, the re-homing of the resident bat colony so they wouldn’t be disturbed during construction, and the relocation of a badgers’ sett.

The 45,000 sq ft new premises may be almost twice the size of the current 26,000 sq ft that’s spread across four units, but the operational cost per square foot will be significantly reduced from the current figures – so at Windles we believe we can’t afford not to do it in order to remain technically leading in the marketplace as well as competitive.

We’ve managed to achieve a “very good” BREEAM rating for our plans, which is the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings where Energy, Health & Wellbeing,Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land use, Ecology and Pollution are all assessed.

Having learned a lot about how we can improve ourselves environmentally, it’s great to have the opportunity to implement all these initiatives in our new home – work areas planned to maximise natural lighting, insulation techniques, glazing to keep heat out during summer and in during cooler

months, bio-mass boiler to optimise pallets-to-pellets-scheme, provision for solar garden to yield solar energy, forced air recirculation tunnels and air vents, heat exchangers, installation of off-grid solar lights for illumination and car park lighting, water usage monitors, rapid roll doors maintaining heat, and free-span engineering ensuring there are no columns within the building so optimising air circulation for less energy consumption as well as more efficient work flow.

Windles Group recognise that businesses have to live within the local community so we’re making sure they’re involved – the local schools are helping with the selection of the artist who will be creating the public art for the site, and our whole team, who all live within a few miles, have been involved in every stage of the process too.

Things are moving very fast now with the end date very close as Project Evolution is ahead of schedule, so the Windles team are getting stuck in to the details for a smooth transition between the two sites.

With a Christmas shutdown already scheduled, the plan is for Windles Group to be up and running fully in Thame from the start of 2016, so we are working with customers already to discuss production requirements for their January,Top Drawer Spring and Spring Fair launches.

These are exciting times for the Windles Group and our team, the relocation will bring efficiencies, increased capacity, and the space to progress – especially for the powerhouse of ideas that is our founder Bruce.

He’ll have plenty of room to come up with even more innovative and fantastic ideas like Creative Cold Foil, holographic varnish, deep texture varnish, Colourise and Retropress, as well as training future generations of the Windles team.

This incredible move is a fantastic progression for us, our customers, our suppliers, and our industry, as well as the environment.

Showing some great success BRIDNORTH-based card illustrator is hailing her first-ever trade show, Home & Gift Harrogate, a huge success both for herself and her fledgling illustration business.

Having only been trading as a card illustrator for a few months, Meg Hawkins recently signed her first major deal with card and gift retailer Roobarb and LoveRoobarb.co.uk and had a huge amount of interest at the show along with many more confirmed orders, some from major High Street retailers.

The mum-of-four is a full-time photographer, specialising in weddings, who has branched out into illustration and started producing greetings cards after friends and family said how much they liked her work.

She has developed ranges with wild animals including stags and owls, quirky characters like Strawberry and Willow, the Young Dreamers collection and illustrations of angels.

Meg said: “This was our first big show and we worked really hard to make sure we stood out from the crowd.

“It’s difficult to know when you have limited space, what to show off and what to keep back, but we believe we got it just right.

“From our traditional illustrations of cows and stags to our more quirky illustrations, we had a huge amount of interest in them all. We decided to also show our new range of illustrated cups and mugs which were received really well.

“Our four days at the show was a real family affair on our stand including my son Liam (pictured with Meg at the show) and husband Ade, who closed a few deals for me. But now the hard work starts with fulfilling all the orders and follow ups, so the photography may have to take a back seat for a few weeks.”

Meg is already considering her next move and looking at which trade show to do next and looking at potential licence deals. meghawkins@btinternet.com www.meghawkinsillustrations.co.uk

Sue is winging it with her fairies FLICKER Wings are a newly-established greetings cards company created by Sue Coleman, who hails from the small town of Barnsley in South Yorkshire and is also a wife and mother to two children.

“My passion for painting and drawing began at an early age,” Sue said, “and has always been present and persistent within my life. Over time, I built up an extensive collection of fairy and angel a watercolour paintings and p

went on to create the Flicker Wings range of greetings cards from them.

“On their completion I decided they could be better and enhanced by adding delicate flick-out wings, creating a unique and original design.”

Each 150x150mm card is lovingly handmade to include their own delicate, flick-out wings and the use of high-quality board, glitter and a diamante contribute towards ensuring a premium quality and finish.

T: 01226 728616 www.flickerwings.com

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 15

COVERSTORY

The next Boldly going where no publishers have gone before, RetroCo have reinvented themselves and evolved their offering by homing in on their areas of expertise to produce a unique range of greetings cards that also at a ls double as a gift. audited,

Independently of 6,089 ABC circulation

The impartial voice

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September 2015

ELL, if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good enough for Captain Kirk then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good enough for RetroCo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they really are the next generation in more ways than one.

After a successful evolution from The CDCard Company at the beginning of this year, the new company are boldly going where no company have been before (ok, enough of the Star Trek references).

But seriously, it really is encouraging when a greetings card company have

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Issue 1 Volume 17

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them to the next level. The result is a unique range of greetings cards that also double as a gift.

The Story Of Your Year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Booklet & Music Download is a 4-in-1 card and gift and, at ÂŁ9.99 RRP, really does represent outstanding customer value with the booklet itself being a fantastic step back in time to the yyear of birth with fun facts and vvintage adverts.

There are currently 36 years â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1950 through to1985 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and six milestones in the range. range When RetroCo pulled up Today editor Greetings T Beartonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tracey B year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1960 since ask! â&#x20AC;&#x201C; she you a was thrilled know that to k Maybelline M Ma were w er advertising a dv ttheir hei New Automatic Auto Magic Mascara, Magi was in the Elvis w and that a charts a pint of milk cost 3.3p, pre-decimal or 7d in the pr around back money that was still ar then. booklet is a fun Each bookle read thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s full of warm nostalgia, and we all know that nostalgia sells.

And this range keeps on giving as thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a 15-track CD of original hits so Tracey was able tto pop the CD which, incidentally, looks like a vintage LP, into the car player on the way home from work and listen to Elvis, Roy Orbison and lots of others, to help continue the sentimental journey.

To cap it all, and bring the product

The booklet is a fantastic step back in time with fun facts and vintage adverts

the confidence to reinvent themselves in the face of current market challenges and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what RetroCo have done.

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve homed in on their particular areas of expertise â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in this case year-based and milestone products together with vintage music â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken

18 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

generation

COVERSTORY

right up to date, they’ve also added a download code so you can add the tracks to your own digital music collection – now that’s what you call really covering all the bases.

It’s a card. It’s a booklet. It’s a CD. It’s a download. Pretty clever!

As a customer, this product is delivering on all fronts; quality, design, value and content. It’s even got longevity, as it’s hard to resist listening to the CD again and again!

But the proof of the pudding is in the eating so what matters is how the public are responding to the new concept.

“We’re absolutely over the moon with sales so far,” said Sian EllisThomas, RetroCo Head of Sales and Marketing, “the sell-in has been great and, more importantly, the sellthrough has been even better than we expected.

“The range took a long time to put together but it’s really been worth the effort and we’ll be adding another 14 different years to the range in the spring.”

That says it all. The new concept is working, which goes to show that customers really are open to new card innovations and paying a little more to

get more, which has got to be good news for the retailer.

And on the back of the early success of the new Booklet-Download, RetroCo have now decided to add the download element to all their music products starting with The Big Milestones, a range of eight cards which do exactly what it says on the tin – they celebrate the big milestone birthdays.

These have been completely redesigned and now feature new music as well. They’ll be launched at Autumn Fair where RetroCo will be showing them along with The Story Of Your Year Booklet Download and all their new products in the Cardgains Village.

Autumn Fair Stand 4E20-F21 T: 020 8993 5966 www.retroco.com

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 19

AUTUMNFAIRPREVIEW

Show for all seasons Tis the season to be buying – and that’s just what Autumn Fair is all about, ordering new and extra products for Christmas to make sure your store offers exactly what the customer wants for the big festive push, while also finding those extra and unsual items to stand out.

G

IFTWRAPPING expert Jane Means is one of the top speakers announced for the seminar programme at Autumn Fair.

Jane will be speaking on Retail Presentation And Giftwrapping To Boost Your Business in the Ecommerce Theatre on the second day of the i2i Events’ organised show, which runs from Sunday to Wednesday, September 6-9.

Other big names include Emma Bridgewater, founder of the eponymous lifestyle homewares and gift brand, and The Cambridge Satchel Company CEO Julie Deane, who are both appearing in association with the UK Trade & Industry Association.

Greetings Today columnist and Giftware Association vice-chairman Henri Davis, a renowned independent retail advisor, will also be holding seminars at the show, on Setting Up In Independent Retail, On The High Street Or Online.

Four key trends for autumn/winter 2016-17 – Artisan, OffBeat, Elemental and ReMaster – are being introduced at the show by global foresight business WGSN, and they also have a video showing the Christmas 2015 trends.

The schedule can be found on the show website for the full programme each day of Autumn Fair at Birmingham’s NEC, with three venues – the Ecommerce Theatre, Fashion & Accessories Catwalk and UKTI International Business Theatre.

The speakers and seminars are aimed at helping businesses compete online and with social media, as well as advice from the UKTI for anyone looking to export, and chances to see the latest looks and trends.

Autumn Fair has 13 sections – Contemporary Home & Gift: Gift, Home; Volume Gift & Home; Greetings, Gift & Craft; Children’s Gifts, Toys & Gadgets; Body & Bath; The Summerhouse; Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories; Retail Shop; Brands Of China, and The Light Show.

The Greetings, Gift & Craft category will once again be presented in Hall 4 with more than 85

‘

UK and overseas publishers of greetings card, stationery, craft items, gift wrap and related giftware presenting their new product launches and seasonal ranges.

The roster for the largest European new product presentation taking place in the second half of the year includes names such as RetroCo, who are exhibiting at the event for the first time, along with The Art File, Glick, Penny Kennedy, Blue Eyed Sun, Berni Parker, My World, Pyramid International and GB Eye. Exclusive to Autumn Fair this season will be the Cardgains Village, where a broad array of the buying group’s suppliers will offer their latest must-have products and promotional deals.

Cardgains suppliers already confirmed to participate include Ling Design, Talking Pictures, Creative Party, Grass Roots International – who are celebrating 21 years in business at the show – History & Heraldry, House Of Sarunds, IC&G, Is It Art, Misumaru, Paper Island, Peartree Heybridge, Second Nature, RetroCo, The Great British Card Company, Cherry Orchard, Pioneer, UK Greetings, Mint Publishing and Carte Blanche Group.

Craft companies participating in this year’s show include Corrine Lapierre, Krasnaya Nesting Dolls, House Of Crafts and The Crafty Kit Company.

With around 60,000 new products being launched by 1,400 exhibitors across 13 different product sectors, Autumn Fair offers great crossover buying opportunities for retailers seeking to refresh their shelves before the crucial Christmas trading period.

Sharing Hall 4 with Greetings, Gift & Craft will be Fashion Jewellery & Accessories – together with the fantastic Fashion Accessories Catwalk - and Contemporary Gift, a sector which also occupies most of Hall 3.

Adjacent in Hall 5 is the UK’s largest seasonal presentation of general Gift, Children’s Gifts, Toys & Gadgets. www.autumnfair.com

Broad array B of suppliers offering latest must-have products and promotional ona deals s

18 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

’

WHAT THE RETAILERS SAY

Sean Austin

Austin & Co, Malvern “I have been favouring smaller shows like Top Drawer, PG Live and the London Stationery Show but I don’t want to miss Autumn Fair. I hope to find something new that has not existed elsewhere.

“For me I’m always looking for anything made of paper – greetings cards, stationery. I’m particularly keen to increase my area of paper gifts, ie items that are actually made of paper.

“I try to get to my current suppliers to touch base with them and see what they have. Once I get the Little Black Book through I make a list from that. Gone are the days when I just went in and was like a magpie walking around and seeing shiny things that distracted me.

“It’ll be mostly topping up for Christmas at Autumn Fair, see what gaps I’m missing.”

GREETINGS, GIFT & CRAFT EXHIBITORS’ LIST Advent Gift Boxes 4B35 Alex Clark Art 4B21 Allpack 4B23 NEW Alston Craig4C20NEW Ambiente Europe 4C02 The Art File4E01 Balmoral Cards 4B07 New Berni Parker Designs 4E19 Blue Eyed Sun 4D03 Brainbox Candy 4D41 Cardgains 4E20-F21 Carte Blanche 4E20-F21 Cherry Orchard 4E20-F21 Club Green4E18 Cog Marketing 5M39 Colcards4F40 Corinne Lapierre 4B36 Crownn4D31NEW The DM Collection 4C10 NEW Dialectable4D45NEW Easypack 4A68 Elecosy 4E12 Flower Burst Candle 4A51 NEW Forever Handmade Cards4C21 GB Eye 4F19 Glick4F01 Grass Roots 4E20-F21 & 4D19 The Great British Card Co 4E20-F21 The Handcrafted Card Co 4B32 NEW History & Heraldry4E20-F21 House Of Crafts 4C48 House Of Sarunds4E20-F21 Hype Associates 4F12 International Cards & Gifts 4E20-F21 Is It Art 4E20-F21 Jelly And Bean 4A05 Jodds 4F08 John Austin Postcards4C04 Julia Hook Designs 4B06 NEW Kate Wrigglesworth4C44NEW Kerry Lyons 4A31 King Cole Ltd4D40-E41

Krasnaya Nesting Dolls 4C40 Laura Darrington Design 4C15 Ling Design 4E20-F21 Little Snoring Cards4F06 Look What I Found 4C24 NEW Madame Treacle4A03 Martin Davis Agencies 4C38-D39 NEW May Arts4C30 Misumaru UK 4E20-F21 Morrigan 4A36 My World 4F32 Neon Magpie4D35NEW Oyster Retail Packaging 4A15 Paper High4A20 Paper Island 4E20-F21 Paper Salad 4C18 Peartree Heybridge 4E20-F21 Penny Kennedy 4F03 Pipkits 4B44 Portfolio 4E02 Precious Thoughts Gravecard 4D05 NEW Pyramid International4D30 Quotable Cards 4A40 Really Good4A01 RetroCo 4E20-F21 NEW The Ribbon Printing Co 4B30 Robert Frederick 4F17-E16 Rockoff4D38-E39 Sandscript Cards 4A07 Santoro 4A02-B03 Seedlings Cards & Gifts 4C22 NEW Silk Hat Greetings4D06 Soul 4A08 The Square Card Co4B31 The Steel Rooms 4D24 NEW Studio 194E20-F21 Tomcat Cards 4D21 UK Greetings4E20-F21 Urban Graphic 4A11 Viridian Distribution 4A49 Wax Lyrical 4E20-F21

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Spring has landed

Come and see our new Spring Seasons offer for 2016 along with all the other Art File collections at the Autumn Fair r Hall 4 Stand E01

www.theartfile.com

T 0115 8507490 F 0115 9413411 E sales@theartfile.com

@The Art File The Art File

AUTUMNFAIRPREVIEW

Decoupage, updates and additional artist HOLY Mackerel are always delighted to be able to announce the addition of a new designer to their stable, so they’re over the moon to have launched a brand-new range by artist Kate Brazier.

Kate’s beautiful watercolour images already have a loyal following, and the team have worked closely with her to create a gorgeous 150x150mm collection of 3D decoupage cards which come cello-wrapped with a colour coordinated envelope – making a great splash in any display.

Holy Mackerel are also launching Small Fry, a new range of mini-cards featuring a wonderfully eclectic mix of artists and styles, including animal designs by best-selling artist Erica Sturla – from ring-tailed lemurs to flying pigs – as well as funky embroidered designs and photographic images.

Sized at a cute 100x100mm, these bright and contemporary designs make a superb splash of colour in any display, and are a great add-on to gift purchases. There are 38 designs in the range so far, with more on the way, and Holy Mackerel have display units too to show them off in all their glory.

Stand 4F20 – T: 01297 33899 www.holy-mackerel.co.uk

Perfect place to make some noise UK GREETINGS have launched a brand-new look for From The Heart, designed specifically for independent retailers as part of their retail development proposition and the Cardgains Village is the perfect place to make some noise about this fresh new look.

The initiative is a fabulous retail proposition that reflects today’s trends and is in keeping with the FTH rationale to offer a retail programme that not only gives retailers a comprehensive product mix and unique POS package but also offers a bespoke solution to suit all requirements and budget – whatever the size, scale or stage.

UKG have the knowledge and experience and will work with individual retailer’s concepts, planning and implementation, from beginning to end. The initiative provides various programme categories to suit individual business needs.

For more information and to talk to one of their experts visit the Cardgains Village where you’ll be invited to take a look for yourself and ask the sales team any questions about the various packages available.

Stand 4E20-F21 – T: 01924 465200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk

Variety of designer ranges IN VISITING the Penny Kennedy stand at the Autumn Fair buyers will appreciate the great variety of designer ranges that make up this year’s collection.

Firm favourites are the two Christmas ranges, Joy and Snowstorm by well-known designer Emma Bridgewater. Also on show will be the Henries-nominated range Alice Scott.

Stand 4F03 – T: 01322 665566 www.pennykennedy.co.uk

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6-9 SEPTEMBER 2015 Hall 5, Stand C10/D11 Sheaffer 100 Series

Equilibrium Sentiment Bangles

snoozies!® Artisan Knit

Equilibrium Leather & Sparkle

Leonardo History Mugs

Equilibrium Blanket Scarves

Warm Glow Lanterns

Over 2000 brand new gifts 7500+ lines to choose from Only £100 minimum order FREE Next Day Delivery ‘Little & Often’ Ordering System Award Winning Customer Service Progressive Gifts Greats Awards 2015

13 times winners

Best Service to the Independent Retailer

Light-up Butterfly Sentiment

Woodland Fox Message

Joe Davies Limited 149 Broadstone Rd, Reddish, Stockport SK5 7GA Tel: 0161 975 6300 Fax: 0161 975 6301 Email: sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk

AUTUMNFAIRPREVIEW

Extra spring in their step LING Design and Talking Pictures will have an extra spring in their step – wrong season we know – as they will be proudly showcasing a small range of card designs on the gorgeous Penney Kennedy stand.

Among the ranges on display will be those recently shortlisted as Henries finalists – More Than Words, Rainbow and Beautiful – not forgetting to mention the Best Service To The Independent Retailer nomination too.

Offering a very personal message

Stand 4F03 & 4E20-F21 - T: 01892 838574 www.lingdesign.co.uk

Pop along to the Village MANY of the Cardgains suppliers will have their best product on display as part of the Cardgains Village at Autumn Fair for retailer members and independents to peruse and place orders.

Joint MD Chris Dyson said: “There’s something for all Cardgains members and visitors with a great mix of cards, gifts, balloons, gift bags, candles and chocolates.

“The show will hopefully demonstrate the mix of great products available via the Cardgains portfolio offering product and display options for card shops, gift shops, Post Offices and garden centres.

“Our team will once again be demonstrating the Cardgains supplier webshop to members and potential members live on the stand, while offering registered members the opportunity to actually place an order live at the show.

“Our friends at Pioneer will be doing some fantastic demonstrations on balloon decorating as well as offering advice on optimising your balloon offering instore – it’s easier than you think, so come along and have a go with trained supervision.

“We caused quite a stir in the aisles last year and we won’t mind if you pop a few!”

Those joining the village this year include Carte Blanche, Cherry Orchard, GiftMate, Grass Roots, History & Heraldry, IC&G, Is It Art with Blue Mountain Arts, Emotional Rescue, Danilo, Gemma, Ling Design, Paper Island, Peartree Heybridge, Pioneer, RetroCo, Sarunds, Studio 19, Talking Pictures, The Great British Card Company with Avanti, Medici Cards, Paper Gallery, Paper House and Almanac Gallery, UK Greetings and Wax Lyrical.

CHERRY Orchard will be exhibiting three brand-new ranges on the Cardgains Village at Autumn Fair along with the addition of 14 open birthday age cards added to their very popular Lola range.

This extension adds a new selection of cute feminine designs, with ducks, kittens and puppies peeping out from unexpected places, with pretty floral designs for an on-trend vintage feel.

There are 190 brand-new Minor Titles designs too, in a range designed by Kingfisher Cards that offers a very personal message, with the cards having captions for a wide range of relations and ages, including Great Great Grandma, Godson And His Bride and cards for Page Boys and Bridesmaids.

The cards have a wide range of designs and are printed on quality board with foil design and colour inserts.

Cherry Orchard are also extending their very popular Down Memory Lane range of cards to mugs with 24 male and female milestone age designs which are all available with boxes and display stands, and can be ordered ready for December delivery.

Distributed in Eire and NI by K Kards T: 07788 820057

Stand 4E20-F21 – 01684 295500 www.cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

Stand 4E20-F21 – T: 0845 166 2054 www.cardgains.co.uk

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AUTUMNFAIRPREVIEW

You can’t miss them THE ART File stand is going to be the place to be for all things spring as they’ll have their completely updated Spring Seasons 2016 collection on show at Autumn Fair.

They have more than 50 new designs available across Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Easter – including a rather cheeky Valentine’s Day collection from their successful Rock On range.

Alongside their new spring collection, The Art File’s recently-launched Roar collection has been receiving great feedback from customers who ordered at Home & Gift Harrogate and will, of course, be on show.

On top of this, a fantastic collection of their award-winning everyday greeting cards and stationery will be available on the stand right at the front entrance to the hall this year so you can’t miss them!

Stand 4E01 – T: 0115 850 7490 www.theartfile.com

Relaunching innovative selection SEEDLINGS Cards & Gifts have had a makeover and are relaunching their beautifully-selected collection of handcrafted products at Autumn Fair.

From their innovative range of seed cards to their garden-oriented gifts, there’s something of interest to everyone.

Seedlings’ new range of products has a fresh design-led approach with black and white vintage-style illustrations by designers adorning seed packets, cards and more.

The designers behind the range are husband and wife team Sarah-Jayne and Joel Mercer who lovingly handprint their designs from Joel’s original pen and ink illustrations using time-honoured traditional methods.

Among the new ranges are the Say It With Flowers card range with focuses on the sentiments and meaning behind flower varieties, and the Home range including printed textiles.

Stand 4C22 – T: 01684 491275 www.seedlingscards.com

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Introducing a beautiful new release from our best-selling collection Come and see us at the NEC Autumn Fair Hall/Stand No. 4F01

Tel: 01274 655980

sales@glick.co.uk

www.glick.co.uk

GLICK The Gift Wrap Division of Nigel Quiney Publications Ltd. Unit 1 Allenby House, European Industrial Park, Knowles Lane, Bradford BD4 9AB

AUTUMNFAIRPREVIEW

Going hell for leather NO MAN-MADE material can beat the touch, feel and prestige of real leather and leather gifts and fashion accessories are still viewed as a luxury item.

Joe Davies offer some fantastic and very commercial leather gifts as part of their successful Equilibrium Collection of jewellery and fashion accessories.

Leather gloves have always proven strong sellers for autumn-winter and since they have been presented in smart, branded Equilibrium boxing sales have soared.

The gloves are joined by lovely boxed leather purses and smart, fashionable wallets for men so retailers can present a comprehensive leather collection.

Scarves from Joe Davies’ Equilibrium collection are proven top sellers in the run up to Christmas. This year to make their popular scarves even more desirable as a gift many come in smart, branded Equilibrium boxes just perfect for Christmas gifting.

The new scarves are joined by smart boxed gloves, hats and men’s scarves too. All are complemented by hundreds of new jewellery pieces from the Equilibrium Collection.

The popularity of soft furnishings in the home, in particular throws and cushions, has made them into very suitable gifts.

Joe Davies have picked up on this trend and are having huge success with their quirky Visage Cushions featuring striking, hi-res photographs of 14 of the UK’s favourite dog breeds, plus some gorgeous cats too.

The cushions come in four sizes and are made of a lovely, soft tactile fabric that reproduces the photographs perfectly.

All the cushions are available to buy in small quantities so you can buy a nice series without breaking the bank. Don’t miss Joe Davies’ Visage doorstops, clocks and paperweights too.

Snoozies! are Joe Davies’ best-selling line so far and the Bling range is the best of the best! – available in six jewelled sequin colours and, for Dorothy fans, are also available in red only. There are lovely Tween Bling Snoozies! too to fit kids and teenagers.

With six new Snoozies! ranges being introduced at Autumn Fair, Joe Davies have negotiated the price down so Bling will now retail at a market-beating £7.99.

Buying from Joe Davies is easy and inexpensive as their minimum order is just £100 and delivery is free nationwide.

Stand 5C10/D11- T: 0161 975 6300 www.joedavies.co.uk

Tottering along nicely FOR over 20 years, Annie Tempest’s Tottering-By-Gently cartoon strip has appeared in Country Life magazine.

The Tottering characters are endearingly absent-minded and tipsy, surrounded by Labradors, horses, guns, AGAs and endless bottles.

Her most iconic images are reproduced in a new collection of open and occasion cards published by Peartree Heybridge which can be seen at Autumn Fair on the Cardgains Village.

Retailing around £2.10, the cards are cello wrapped and supplied with a burgundy envelope.

Stand 4E20/F21 – T: 01423 876311 www.peartreeheybridge.co.uk

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AUTUMNFAIRPREVIEW

Launch of a new brand EYE-CATCHING new product will be on view at The Great British Card Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s display on the Cardgains stand including ranges from an all-new brand The Paper Gallery which features three very individual looks such as the stunningly contemporary Scandi designs.

Also featuring will be the exquisite handmade offer, cards which are beautifully crafted and available in a careful selection of special occasions and family celebrations.

A new range of Paper Gallery giftwrap papers will also be launched by GBCC, reproduced with a mixture of effervescent colours and traditional hues.

The superb designs have been created out of rich and enlivening patterns, with an offer which goes from gorgeous floral influences to male-based colours and styles. All wrap designs will be available either as flat sheets, or in a folded pack containing two sheets with matching gift tags.

T: 01452 888999 www,greatbritishcards.co.uk

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Impressed by four new ranges BLUE Eyed Sun are launching four lovely new ranges of Valentines cards at Autumn Fair, Knit Wit, Cutie Pie, Pincushion and Impressed.

Knit Wit – based on original hand-knitted artworks by textile artist Jo Corner, this colourful, eye-catching new range includes eight Valentine designs that come wrapped with a 130x179mm red envelope and cost 83p each, RRP £1.99.

Cutie Pie – featuring adorable, cute, handcrocheted characters by Jo Corner, this fun new range is printed on beautiful thick board, and includes nine Valentine designs, which all come with a red envelope at £1.04 each, RRP £2.25.

Pincushion – based on original handstitched artworks and all lovingly handfinished with jewels, the range includes 18 stunning deigns with a 165x165mm red envelope at £1.25 each, £2.99 RRP. Impressed –a delicate new range of cards that are handmade with love and clay in the UK. There are 11 delightful Valentine designs that all come wrapped with an 102x147mm envelope at £1.25 each, £2.99 RRP. All of Blue Eyed Sun’s cards are printed on high-end boards from

sustainable managed forests and are blank inside, cello wrapped with an envelope and sold in sixes.

Blue Eyed Sun’s cards are available to order through their easy-to-use, trade only website, their 2016 Spring brochure and they also have a team of sales agents across the country.

Stand 4D03 – T: 01273 823003 www.blueeyedsun.co.uk

Bubbling with excitement

We’re all going to the t zoo tomorrow GIVING youngsters a zoo experience without stepping foot out the door, Apples To Pears’ new Zoo In A Tin from the acclaimed Gift In A Tin range makes a great gift this Christmas.

From perky penguins with their own pool, to cheeky monkeys swinging on a zoo sign, big cats padding about their enclosure and even a zoo keeper to keep everyone in line, the set will engage youngsters in hours of interactive play and story-telling games.

Suitable for four years upwards, the SRP is £9.99 of the 50-plus Gift In A Tin and the chunky wooden play pieces evoke nostalgic memories for adults, and double as handy colouring-in shapes for added entertainment.

Stand 3T01 – T: 01453 826759 www.applestopears.com

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THE Square Card Company have come up with something they think is a totally new idea – Bubbles is a card range that can be personalised by a store’s customers so they can write any message for any occasion in any language.

Having been nominated for a Henries Award this year for their Animal Transport range, illustrator Kali Stileman has developed a collection of 32 designs they hope will appeal to adults as well as children and there are another 32 waiting in the wings that have a more adult slant.

These cards have been printed on top quality bumpy watercolour paper so the colours really zing and they come with a crisp white envelope in a silver-foiled cello bag which tell the customer to ‘write your message here’.

Kali and her team are hoping people will really have fun with the messages and they’re putting together a campaign to get people to send in pictures or tweet images of their funniest slogans – the sky’s the limit!

Stand 4B31- T: 01305 848899 www.thesquarecardcompany.com

Something different HAPPY birthday Beer Mugs from Lesser & Pavey cover lots of special occasions - 18th, 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th or just Ice Cold Beer, Beer O’Clock, and a firm favourite will be Free Beer Tomorrow.

Lesser & Pavey bring something different to the male gift market in the form of beer gifts which includes these as well as toppers, and the large standing version that comes in three designs - Beer O’Clock, Free Beer Tomorrow and Ice Cold Beer.

Blue and white willow patterns enter the ranges of fine chinaware at Lesser & Pavey.

The range consists of sets of four fine china mugs with lap trays, canisters, cake tins, cutting boards, cup and saucer, jugs, teapot, tea for one, cake stand, trays, coasters and matching placemats, knives, spoons, fork, as well as a cake slice.

Stand 5E02-F03 – T: 01322 279225 www.leonardo.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Pair of pretty pooches MEET Fritz & Dina – this pair of pretty pooches adorn a new range of gifts from Soul which uses Victorian engravings of real dogs of the era.

The palette of colours features as a background to these highly intricate original engravings, and perfectly modernises this exquisitely endearing range. From notebooks to dog bowls, this charming collection contains a gift suitable for anyone.

Stand 4A08- T: 01235 537816 www.souluk.com

Group highlights include 3D designs HIGHLIGHTS at the show for Carte Blanche will be the many new designs across the group portfolio which include new Hotchpotch age range, phase three of the stunning Morello cards, Wildthings and Popsicle.

Their 3D range on show will include Photo Finish, Wishing Well, Up Close and Hotchpotch National Gallery, while there will also be Father’s Day 2016 ranges from the Carte Blanche signature brand Me To You as well as Violent Veg, Wishing Well and Hotchpotch.

Stand 4E20-F21 – T:01243 792600 www.cbg.co.uk

CODE 60

E-mail: sales@writefromtheheart.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Plethora of gifts SUNNY salutations and vibrant stylised lettering feature in this fantastic stand-out stationery gift range from Really Good.

With a plethora of gifts to choose from, there’s something beautifully befitting for any occasion, be it a birthday gift or a treat for yourself.

The range is gloriously glamorous and uses bright bold colours set against monochrome backgrounds, creating a vibrant and fun collection.

Stand 4A01- T: 01235 537888 www.reallygoodtrade.com

R.S.P £1.89

Web: www.writefromtheheart.co.uk www.greetingstoday.co.uk 29

AUTUMNFAIRPREVIEW

Going for gorgeous glitter AT THIS year’s Autumn Fair Glick are introducing a selection of fabulous new designs, including Elemental glitter bags supplied in a variety of beautiful colours, including gold, silver, fuchsia and lime.

These designs are simply stunning as they’re finished with organza bow handles and complementary glittered gift tags.

Also being released are the latest in a long line of beautiful Pizazz bags, with designs featuring dahlias, butterflies and sweet peas. All of the bags have pearl or cerise foil finishing and are stunning floral designs.

Stand 4F01 – T: 01274 655980 www.glick.co.uk

Getting on with loving life BERNI Parker continues to enhance and refresh her major ranges with new additions to her Ladies Who Love Life, the couples’ Loving Life Together and her Whispers On Wings fairies.

They have also been supplemented with additional stationery and giftware with new notebooks and gift bags as well as the soon-to-follow tea towels, aprons and clocks.

At Home & Gift Harrogate recently a beautiful new occasions range From The Heart was launched, created in a refreshing new style with soft three dimensional images.

These are proving to be extremely popular and are going to be extend to cover further titles – so check out the designs at Autumn Fair.

T: 01299 406098 www.berniparkerdesigns.com

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JOHN RYAN RETAIL ENVIRONMENT

Yule love it T

HINK back to the day when winter or summer sales lived up to the name – in January you’d queue up to buy things that had been a lot more expensive just 10 days before and, if you were lucky, you’d get something you actually wanted.

Of particular interest for some were the greetings cards as canny shoppers would snap up cut-price Christmas cards on the “why pay more” logic.

Meanwhile, the grasshoppers among us were obliged to go through the usual card-buying rush in the run-up to the season of goodwill.

And sensible shoppers snapped up cut-price swimsuits and shorts to store for the next trip abroad leaving the less savvy desperately searching among the new stock of winter coats and woollies in midAugust for their upcoming break.

This means two schools of consumer thought – on one side there are the judicious and ideal homemaking types while on the other there are the feckless and thoroughly irresponsible though perhaps more fun.

All of which is of little consequence in these days of discountt card shops and online greetings cards, if the latter is your thing.

That said, there is something to be said for aseasonality – the idea of selling things when others might not deem it necessary to do so. Spreading the cost of Christmas might be what this is about, but appealing to those who are only around for a short time might equally be important.

Perhaps with this in mind, Selfridges opened their Christmas shop with 143 days still to go to the big event…just in time for summer.

The idea, apparently, is that a dedicated space in the retailers’ London store will cater for the tourist trade – all of whom will be champing at the bit to stuff their suitcases with some good old British Yuletide decorations, naturally.

It’s a counter-intuitive idea that will probably bear fruit for the department store – look at the

‘

Doing the unexpected is a good way to get attention and for retailers this could mean selling items out of season – following Selfridges’ lead with their Christmas shop opening at the start of August. John Ryan examines applying the principle to greetings stores.

The less T savvy desperately search among new winter stock for swimsuitss

reams of press coverage the launch garnered in The Guardian, Metro, Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Huffington Post, Independent, Belfast Telegraph, Retail Week, Retail Gazette, Retail Focus, BBC, ITV, Greetings Today, etc, etc – so it might be worth wondering whether the same principle could be applied to greetings cards.

As a sector in retail that’s characterised by very distinct peaks c and a almost as deep troughs, it could make sense to allow careful shoppers m to indulge their good husbandry and to turn a few pennies while doing so.

This would, of course, mean putting merchandise out ahead of the season or occasion for which it would normally be displayed and might involve a range that’s different from the norm, or maybe a measure of margin sacrifice to hit some appealing price points.

’

John Ryan is Stores Editor at Retail Week where he’s worked for more than a decade covering store design, visual merchandising and what makes things sell in-store. In a previous life he was a retail buyer.

T: 07710 429926 twitter: @newstores www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

The reward would be to steal some market share from your rivals and still get the usual fodder out in time for the moment when there’s goodwill aplenty for all men and women.

This might be wishful thinking – surely there are better uses of space than displaying stock people don’t want at that moment in an industry that’s generally posited upon so-called distress purchases where people are buying because they have to and should have done so earlier?

Perhaps but, as you sit there in your store willing somebody to come though the door and lighten the load, might it not be a good idea to provide a few left-field reasons to get potential shoppers to cross the threshold?

The answer is almost certainly yes – the reason it probably doesn’t happen is inertia. Many shopkeepers don’t do things not because they’re a bad idea but rather because it’s easier to sit in a store with nothing to do and accompanied by an unwillingness to do anything about this, other than the occasional low-key whinge.

So here’s a proposal for this month. Take a look at things you have been doing and consider whether tackling them is a different way might be more productive.

This doesn’t have to mean stocking unseasonal ranges, but there will generally be something that might help which you’re not currently doing.

Sales don’t just happen – they have to be made.

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IT’S ALL ABOUT SALES New – V&A Bookmarks:

New – V&A Gift Tag & Parcel Sticker Sets:

Tel: 01373 462165 Email: sales@mgml.co.uk

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Blame it weather O

KAY so the north-west isn’t well known for its great weather at the best of times, but this year has definitely been one of the strangest.

When I set off to my appointment this morning it was glorious sunshine and then by the time I got to Cumbria it was bouncing down with rain!

It seems to have been like that for most of the summer – and I use that in the loosest term.

We haven’t really had weeks or even many consecutive days of good weather. It can be raining all week and then suddenly a day of blistering heat in the middle of the week followed by another few days of wind and rain.

This roulette weather has definitely had a knock-on effect on customers in the north-west. I can’t vouch for other parts of the country but many of my retailers tell me that it’s been a strange year so far and unusually quiet.

My theory on the reasons for this are that when you have a proper summer where it’s nice for weeks on end, people get used to the sun after a bit and then go back to their usual routines.

They get bored of the novelty of that big glowing yellow thing in the sky, forget that they usually don’t see it for months, and start to complain about how warm it is.

But when it’s only one day in the week that’s nice, people want to make the most of it – if it’s anything like where I live and work, they either head to the garden centre, start weeding or light the barbecue at the first hint of sunshine.

When it then rains for the rest of the week they’re thinking back to how nice the sunshine was and don’t want to get the brolly out to go shopping on any of the other days.

We seem to have had quite a few of these weeks this year where there has been a random day of sun in the midst of all the wind and rain, so people take every opportunity to get out in the sun and do fun things while it lasts.

And the weather doesn’t always play ball when the forecast says it’s going to be sunny for a few days, so the last thing people want to be doing when the sun does shine is walking round shops as it might go back to the usual rain the next day.

Maybe when it’s sunny and people take a trip to the garden centre, they’re also stocking up on greetings cards since most now have racks of designs. These

Neil Anthony (Reil (Reil Agencies, T: 07766 736254) and Alina Clark (T: 07906 792420) are experienced independent greetings industry sales agents in the North West and North East of England respectively. Each month they share their experiences of life on the road. www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Latest Additions!

on the man

‘ ● Sunny smiles – Neil with Stephanie at Carnforth Books in Carnforth

When only one day in the week is nice, people want to make the most of it

’

are sales that would normally have gone to the independent retailer.

For some reason rain in the winter months doesn’t seem to have the same impact. I think people are just grateful it’s not snowing so just get on with it – let’s face it, if you stayed in every time it rained in the north, you’d rarely go out, LOL. The recent Home & Gift Harrogate show is always subject to weather, if it’s too sunny people don’t want to be cooped up in halls and marquees all day. If it’s raining they don’t want to be wandering round in the rain. I guess the ideal weather would be dry but overcast?

Perhaps independent card shops will have to start selling umbrellas and bedding plants to cover all the bases themselves. :-) ● Alina will be back next issue with her view from the north-east

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RETAIL ADVICE WITH HENRI DAVIS

I

’VE WRITTEN a number of articles this year about different aspects of the greetings card market but the one constant thing is that growing sales is dependent on creating a point of difference between your products and your competitors’ – handmade cards are a really good example of this.

What’s meant by handmade varies depending on who you talk to as the growth of scrapbooking and quilling, both trends that came to the UK from the US about 15 years ago, led to a huge growth in handmade cards as people turned to these crafts as hobbies and started to make cards at home for pleasure and then began to sell them at local fairs.

Interestingly, if you read the packaging of Christmas cards sold in many of the big multiples and the supermarkets they’ll often be described as handmade.

Technically that may be true as the jewels, sequins and other tip-ons may have been applied by hand but there are likely to be many hundreds of thousands of each card so they’re actually mass produced, which rather misses the point of being ‘handmade’.

I have seen some wonderful handmade and hand-finished cards this year.

For me the definition is driven by practicality – if a range is popular therefore big volumes are being produced, it’s more likely that cards will be handfinished rather than handmade.

Regardless, I’d hope they are being printed and finished in the UK because, given the strength of our card and printing industry and the cost prices available, there’s little reason not to these days.

Handmade and hand-finished cards allow a designer to show some real imagination in their designs because they are combining their graphic and illustrative styles with other elements. As with all cards the end result must be of a good quality, relevant to the target recipient and priced at a realistic level so the purchaser will actually buy it.

One of the new ranges I saw at Home & Gift recently was Impressed from Blue Eyed Sun, a delightful new collection where each card has a lovely clay icon which carries a word that links to the occasion.

There are Valentines, Mother’s Day and everyday designs with shapes like house for new home, heart for love or star for happy birthday, and they’re all handmade in the UK using high-quality board from sustainable managed forests.

Before deciding to launch this range 100 cards

‘

A handy tale Handmade and hand-finished cards really do add that something extra and help create a point of difference for retailers, Henri Davis takes a look at the genre.

were sent through the post as tests, there were no breakages and they all fit through the Post Office sizing detector for standard postage costs – something that can be a real issue under the PIP regulations.

Blue Eyed Sun MD Jeremy Corner believes retail customers are happy to pay slightly more for a good quality, hand-finished card as long as it still represents good value for money (right).

A favourite publisher of my mine is Bexy Boo who uses vintage wooden letter tiles combined with other elements like ribbons, bows, sequins or pom poms to create innovative designs. Her most recent success is her Scrabbley Neons range. (top picture) And it’s not just me who likes them as they’ve been shortlisted as a finalist in this year’s Henries Awards Best Handmade Or Hand-Finished Cards category –seriously impressive when you consider designer Bex Hassett only launched her first range at PG Live last year!

Ruth Jackson’s pencil shavings range is very clever, combining a range of fabulous line work images with pencil shavings ensuring the colour of the shaving is appropriate to the image (right).

The result must be of a good quality, relevant to the target recipient and priced realistically

’

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 and is currently vice-chairman of the Giftware Association, the first woman to hold the post. www.henridavis.co.uk

34 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

White Cotton Cards offer a sophisticated neon range that has evolved over the past year, creating eye-catching contemporary handmade cards that appeal to teenagers and those in their 40s with hand-applied neon glitter colours and diamonds added for extra sparkle.

Creator Georgie Palmer said: “It’s intended to be a fun, yet sophisticated range of cards, with bright images that are really different to everything else around. We add three to four different colour neon glitters by hand to make the cial. cards extra special.

Who doesn’t love glitter and sparkle!” (right) Laura Sherratt is another designer who specialises in handmade cards and this Christmas her new Penguin Playmates range features fun and quirky characters embellished with playful pom poms, google eyes, gems and packed with red envelopes to make sure they stand out on the shelf.

Laura wants her cards to be eye-catching and different without making them much more pricey than printed cards as she feels it’s important her cards are special to both buyer and recipient and offer real value for money (right).

As you can see handmade cards are a vital part of the greetings market and can make a big difference to the range in store.

What I especially love is the variety available and the imagination of their creators who are constantly striving to offer something unique and different.

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Your platform for trends, new ideas and innovations

THE HEART OF THE BUSINESS from 30. 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2. 2. 2016 in Frankfurt am Main

Book your ticket now and discover all the latest product developments in the paper, ofďŹ ce supplies and stationery sector: paperworld.messefrankfurt.com/tickets info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83

COMPANYPROFILE COMPANY PROFILE

How time T

WENTY amazing years in business is the celebration for Cinnamon Aitch this month, as founders Sara Burford and Sarah Danby mark their meeting of similar tastes, talents, outstanding creativity – and shared love of the Tunnocks Teacake.

Originally an embroidered textile design company designing for high-end markets, since Sara and Sarah decided to go into business together, back in September 1995, their focus has always y been to create contemporary and innovative design.

A trip to Paris was the unlikely starting point for the business, based in the heart of the Midlands, as the Cinnamon Aitch founders met at Nottingham University where they graduated in textile design, then popped over to the French capital to knock unannounced at fashion houses showing their embroidered wares.

Having secured commissions from the likes of top-class design house Chanel, the pair decided that Sarah should make tracks south from Wakefield, as Sara’s home town of Birmingham was the perfect spot to set up shop, with opportunities for training courses, funding and the opening of the inspiring Custard Factory arts complex.

Working in their glass-fronted studio, beautifully lit with sunshine and showers as the backdrop, it may explain why the girls are so obsessed with the weather as they have evolved their contemporary greetings card designs.

The move to designing greetings cards and stationery after five years proved to be a market where their ethos could truly shine as they effortlessly transferred their skills to pour the detailed craftsmanship and innovation into the creation of exquisite hand-embroidered cards.

Over the past two decades there have been many gorgeous card ranges designed from their sunny studio, slap bang in the middle of the famous Brum cityscape, where the designers have immediate access to the streets and shops for inspiration and research.

Once an explosive industrial society, the city is now a vibrant, bubbling community with a reputation for influential music, arts, literary and culinary scenes.

From the Pre-Raphaelites to the Baskerville

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‘

Th i gl Their glasslass fronted studio may explain why the girls are so h obsessed with the weather

’

typeface and the Bullring to Spaghetti Junction, it’s the birthplace of heavy metal and culmination of many ideas and designs that have grown up in this city’s canal-lined neighbourhoods.

On the food front, many delicious things have been invented here including Bird’s Custard, HP Sauce, Typhoo tea and Cadbury chocolate.

Sara remembers studying in Bournville with the sweet smells filling the air – it’s said it was possible to tell if it would rain based on changes in the chocolatey aromas!

“At Cinnamon Aitch, we’re following in the footsteps of these great inventions,” said Sara, “and making our own creations every day.

“The creative community here is a huge influence for us as, believe it or not, is the rural skirt of this city.

“Birmingham is surrounded by hills, parks and wildlife sanctuaries and our Hello Sunshine range, with its gorgeous animals and patterned landscapes, reflects that as well as our interest in the weather!”

Styles may have changed in 20 years, trends have come and gone, but one constant

● Teacake fans – Sara Burford, left, and Sarah Danby

is their commitment to providing the highest quality in design, product and service; with each card lovingly designed, made and handfinished in their entirety in the UK. Cinnamon Aitch have enjoyed enormous growth in sales since their early days and currently supply more than 550 independent shops and high-end retailers, with over one million cards sold in the last year alone.

Currently the Sara(h)s and their studio team work with nine agents across the UK and Ireland and they also have distributors worldwide.

Sarah said: “We’re doing what we love and believe in our company’s future.

“With a fantastic reputation for unusual and innovative designs, the 20th anniversary will mark not only the sustained success and growth of the company, but also a time for reflection on the journey.

“And of course, to all those who have supported Cinnamon Aitch over the last two decades we have to say a huge thank you.”

Top Drawer Autumn Stand N46 T: 0121 773 6833 www.cinnamonaitch.co.uk

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flies…

COMPANYPROFILE

...when you’re having fun! And that’s what the Sara(h)s of Cinnamon Aitch have been doing for 20 years now, since setting up their greetings and stationery company fuelled by plenty of delicious Tunnocks Teacakes. ● Totally glassy – the Custard Factory area that’s an inspiration

● Then and now – initial designs, above, and the new Hello Sunshine range, below and left

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www.greetingstoday www.greetingstoday.co.uk .co.uk 37

TOPDRAWERPREVIEW

Seminal seminars The design-led exhibitors at Top Drawer Autumn are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the airy halls of Olympia where there’s also plenty going on as far as education is concerned with the new Academy designed for the retailer.

GREETINGS & STATIONERY EXHIBITORS’ LIST 1973 Ltd – Stand Q31 2 To Tango – L23 7321 Design – Q18 NEW 9Seven2 – Y38 NEW Abrams & Chronicle Books – M31 Allie Fisher Design – R35a NEW Alljoy Design – M24 Allport Editions – Q42 NEW Amy Beth Designs – N40 Archivist – Q24 Art Angels Publishing – Q25 Arthouse Meath – Q38 Ashley Thomas – P19 NEW Beamers – K45 Big And Bonkers – P40 NEW Birds In Hats – R19 NEW Blue Island Press – Q35 Bluebell 33 – Q11 Bobalong – R15 NEW Bread & Jam – M35 NEW Buddy Fernandez – P36a The Butterfly Story – P41 NEW Caroline Gardner – F19 Chase And Wonder – L24 Chau Art – P38 NEW Chinlun’s Things & Bandon Warehouse – Q43 NEW Cinnamon Aitch – N46 Claire Bramwell-Pearson – Q18a NEW Clear Creations – P47 Coles Pen Company – P11 Cracker Cards – R21 Dean Morris Cards – P25 Dear To Me – N19 Dippy Egg – M46 The DM Collection – P33 Duke & Rabbit – P36b NEW The Dybdahl Co – M38 Eleanor Stuart – P37 Elena Deshmukh – Q45 Eloise Hall – N20 Elspeth Thomson – P45 Emma Kate – N44 NEW English Graphics – Q51 Esme Winter – P20 Evermade – M37 Ezen Designs – N34 Flame Tree Publishing – R13 Flytrap – N13 Forever Handmade Cards – N11 Freya Art & Design – M14 GMC Distributiion – R25 HartDeco – P15 Have A Gander – J36 Hello! Lucky Europe – N38 HelloMarine – P22 NEW HKTDC – R51 Holly Francesca – M40 Hype Associates – N47 James Ellis – M20 Jane Means – N32 Jen Rowland – P14 Judy Lumley Print – N45 Julie Bell – N31 Kate Guest – N41 NEW

Katie Leamon – N18 Kerry Lyons – P16 NEW Lanther Black – Q38a Lesser Spotted Images – N35 LH Design – R39a NEW Linda Wood – N15 Lip International – R47 The Little Gallery – Q53 NEW Lola Design – Q39 NEW Louise Tate Illustration – P17 Lucinda Denning P40 NEW Made By B – M32 Marby & Elm – N12 Megan Claire – P46 Miss Magpie Fashion Spy – Q20 NEW Moo – Q1 Morse Toad – R37 Mr Boddington’s Studio – R43 My Design Company – R21 Nancy & Betty Studio – N23 Nocturnal Paper – Q41 NEW Noi Publishing ,Stand Q32 Notable Designs – Q16 Ohh Deer – R11 Ola – P44 Originaliart – R39 NEW Pango Productions – M42 Pearl & Black – N22 Peas In A Pod – SP3 NEW Polite Company – M18 The Pop Out Card Co – Q40 Prey UK – N24 Proud Couture – Q37 Publishers Group UK – P24 QuiteGoodCards.com – P36 NEW Quotable Cards – P32 Re-wrapped – N33 NEW Redback Cards – N16 Roisin Cafferty – Q47 Rose Hill Designs – P13 Rosie Made A Thing – N39 NEW Ruth Jackson – P23 Sarah Hurley – R34 Scamplet and Bee – P18 NEW Scissor Monkeys – N21 Sloane Stationery – M34 Stephanie Dyment – R41 Stone Marketing – Q21 Stormy Knight – N14 Studio Curiosity – Q44 Studio Scrase – P43 NEW SuperLdN – M44 NEW Susan O’Hanlon – M16 Temporary Measure – K32 Tosh Products – H32 Turnaround – K16 Two Little Boys – R35 Velvet Olive – P39 Veronica Dearly – N37 Vintage playing Cards – K25 Welly’s Wonders – R23 Witshop – P42 Wrap – P31 Wraptious – P35 NEW YCUK – Q46

38 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

A

NEW seminar programme has been announced as part of the largest edition of the joint Top Drawer Autumn and Home shows to date.

The joint design-led gift and greetings trade event is organised by Clarion Events and takes place at London’s Olympia over three days, from September 13-15.

Arranged in five different product sectors – Gift; Greetings & Stationery; Fashion Accessories; Children’s and Wellbeing – Clarion aim to facilitate an enjoyable browsing experience where buyers can easily locate the products that will make their stores stand out.

Spread across four halls on two levels, the light and airy space at Olympia will house the expansive range of products from more than 1,000 UK and international brands – with more than 120 exhibitors in the Greetings & Stationery category.

The success of last year’s inaugural autumn edition sees Home return alongside Top Drawer to make the joint design destination the biggest yet.

The new seminar programme will see some important and seminal topics coverd, been specifically designed with the retailer in mind where The Academy will feature presentations from some of the biggest experts in the retail industry across all three days, and has been working already with a number of posts on the website. So far online The Academy has covered: ● Buyers need to combine creativity with a strong business mind, by Skandium’s Head Buyer Lucio Longoni. ● From a chicken shed in Essex to global online retailer, by Amara. ● Focus on your mission and don’t veer off that road,

by Aria. ● Visual marketing with Instagram: quick and easy steps to success ● Running a family business, clear separation of roles needed, by Steamer Trading ● Styling trends for autumn: bringing the outside in, by Emily Chambers ● Where the slow life meets 21st century, by Pedlars. ● Show Preview: Industrial Design. ● Five essential tips for local PR. ● Confessions of a design geek, Scandi style trends by Katie Treggiden.

For every Top Drawer, both Autumn and Spring editions, organisers Clarion invite TV presenter and environmental champion Oliver Heath to lend his support and expertise with their Eco Trail.

‘

Top Drawer is the fantastic way for you to join this revolution

’

– Oliver Heath, TV presenter & environmental campaigner

Byy nom nominating exhibitors that hold both B nomina inatiting e xhi hiibit h biitors bit ors th att h he e ffeels eels ls h hol olld b oth tth h moral and ethical beliefs, Oliver provides buyers with the opportunity to select only those products they feel to be of ethical value.

Oliver said: “With our passage out of recession we’re seeing positive shifts in the expectations of how and where we should spend our money.

“Just look at the success and raised awareness of Small Business Saturday, recent street markets in Downing Street, online ethical campaigns and the fair trade movement. There’s a growing swell of real human sentiment.

“It’s clear that consumer ethics and the environmental concerns are back on the agenda with a desire for authenticity, transparency and a greater respect for the people and places affected by what we buy. It’s a trend led by the independents and envied by the slower-to-adopt larger retailers.

“Top Drawer is the fantastic way for you to join this consumer revolution. Follow my Eco Trail and meet the retailers who are making, importing and lovingly creating collections with people and the planet in mind.

Hear their stories, find out what makes them ‘better’, be impressed by their design, style and sophistication, and never look back. People power and the planet are making their move.” www.topdrawer.co.uk www.home-london.net

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TOPDRAWERPREVIEW

Take a sneak preview REDBACK Cards are launching a range of high-end products to sit alongside their greetings cards – here’s a sneak preview!

Visit their stand at Top Drawer Autumn to see the full collection of products alongside their refreshingly original, wonderfully funny and slightly rude card collections that include Argyle Sweater, Bright Lights, Good Things, Hand Animals and Rough Cuts – the designs these coasters are taken from.

Stand N16 – T: 0845 257 0455 www.redbackcards.com

Celebrating with a top secret Xmas release TOP Drawer Autumn marks five years in the greetings industry for Roisin Cafferty and to celebrate she’ll be filling the stand with fresh new ranges.

The first of these is the bright and cheeky Just Saying, then there’s the hilarious Absolutely Historical which features wonderful old book illustrations plus there’s a top secret new Christmas range – you’ll have to visit her stand to find out more about that. There’ll also be a free spinner up for grabs on certain value orders.

“Five years already,” Roisin said, “time flies when you’re having fun! 2016 will be a big year for the company with a refresh of the website and many new ranges in the pipeline.”

Stand Q47 – T: 07742 983044 www.roisincafferty.com

Inspired by fashion MISS MAGPIE Fashion Spy are launching their first collection of fashion-inspired illustrated greetings cards at Top Drawer.

Designed by founder Niki Groom, the range comprises handillustrated litho-printed greetings cards with the innovative Tear And Share range having a perforated edge and printed postcard inside.

This means the recipient can send the card on should they wish – Niki likes to think of it as stationery’s version of a retweet!

The unique and contemporary range features the same whimsical hand-drawn artworks and trademark style that led to Niki’s growing success as fashion blogger Miss Magpie on Instagram and Twitter.

T: 07918 191819 www.missmagpiefashionspy.com

Drawing up fun SKINNY Sketchers is a range of kits for budding artists, devised by mum and architect Gillian Logan, featuring a variety of topics to capture children’s interests and get them drawing.

Aimed at children age seven and over, the kit includes everything needed to produce fabulous freehand sketches with simple step-by-step drawing instructions, tracing paper and a mechanical pencil.

Skinny Sketcher teaches children how to structure a drawing by tracing easy-to-follow, simple steps as even the most reluctant of drawers can trace so quickly gain in confidence with their new-found skill.

The range includes Capture The Castle, Architecture, The Fast And The Curious, Dinosaurs, Butterflies & Blossoms, and London Flavour, and each kit is £5.99 RRP.

Stand T41 – T: 0141 255 1988 www.skinnysketcher.com

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ANIMALTHEMEDCARDS AN NIM I AL LT TH HE EM MED DCA CARDS

Quirky and typically Caroline CAROLINE Gardner have some fantastic new occasions cards in their recent product launch.

There are designs from the quirky Sketchbook range, such as new baby boy and girl, and thank you cards and a traditional anniversary card, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s typically Caroline Gardner. Kaleidoscope sees some additions in the way of age cards, covering key ages such as 30th, 21st and 18th birthday.

The bestselling Folklore range has a gorgeous new home card, with perfectly complementing colours in decorative designs encompassing the cut-out paper style.

Stand F19 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; T: 020 8288 9696 www.carolinegardner.com

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Hip, hip, hooray!

CINNAMON Aitch have reached their 20th birthday and, in celebration, they are launching 166 fantastic new designs at Top Drawer Autumn.

Everything is coming up roses with the stylishly modern Cornflower range, with the addition of 42 stunning new designs to the collection.

Blooming with elegant embossed finishes, message tags, nickel eyelets and natural yarns, titles will now also include occasions, relations and ages In perfect contrast, the elegantly black and white Piccadilly range will feature 24 new and delicate hand-drawn illustrations for birthdays, occasions and female relations.

Small floral photographic details add a hint of colour, while shimmering silver gems, dainty black bows and silver foiled lettering complete the sophisticated, soft and feminine look.

Both ranges are 130x130mm, individually cello wrapped and sold in sixes at £1.25 each

RRP £2.99.

The distinctive graphics and stylised botanicals of the Cornflower range are just the thing for six new little notebook designs and six gorgeous new little card packs. The sophisticated, bold colour palette makes a striking statement, perfect for jotting down a statement or two of your own.

The 75x140mm Notebooks have 40 blank pages, are wrapped in a printed belly band and are sold in sixes at 83p each, RRP £1.99.

Little card packs consist of five blank 89x113mm cards with envelopes, cello

Designs are considered INSPIRING design company Velvet Olive have been 10 years in the making and today sell beautifully-creative cards to homes and major retailers all around the world.

Originator and design director Kathryn Fletcher creates a product lovely to have and to hold, with the quality of the recycled board both rich in texture and weight harmonising with her warm and elegant approach to print.

Her company statement “Endeavouring never to offend your eyes” means the designs are considered with people’s reactions to them in mind and the homes they will live in. Velvet Olive is a company that cares about the products, how they are made and the team that produces them and is a firm supporter of Made in Britain.

T: 01424 236222 www.velvetolive.co.uk

42 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

wrapped in a custom header bag, and are sold in sixes at £1.17 each, RRP £2.75.

As if that wasn’t enough there will also be sunshiny new additions to the Hello Sunshine range, and new fairytale-like designs for the Sascalia range, not forgetting a whole new spring collection for 2016, bursting with Valentines, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Easter greetings.

So much to see, so why not come down and celebrate – three cheers for Cinnamon Aitch!

Stand N46 – T: 0121 773 6833 www.cinnamonaitch.co.uk

Delivery hand-finished luxury LUXURY card and stationery brand Katie Leamon have a design studio in the heart of London, and a family-run production studio in the English countryside.

They design, create and deliver beautiful, hand-finished collections of original paper products which will be on show at Top Drawer Autumn.

All of their products are proudly made in England with incredible care and attention at every stage of their journey.

Stand N18 www.katieleamon.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Gemma’s brand under one roof ALL OF Gemma Correll’s work will now be under one roof after an exclusive deal was signed with Ohh Deer to develop the brand with an ever-growing collection of products.

Gemma’s current contracts with other companies will be coming to an end, making Ohh Deer the only place to buy her work and the new range will officially launch at Top Drawer Autumn with old favourites and brand new hilarious designs.

Ohh Deer customers will be able to see the entire collection before anyone else – though there’s a sneak peak here – as the range is on sale exclusively to them before being opened it up for general release.

Ohh Deer have also worked hard to create new designs within their normal collection that will also be launching at the show.

From mild to wild!

THERE’S loads of stuff to have a good old laugh at on the new-look Dean Morris Cards stand of pure pleasure at Top Drawer.

With more than 30 new everyday cards and gifts ranging from mild to wild and everything in between, there’s also plenty more seasonal, including new Christmas, Valentines, Mother’s and Father’s Day. Dean will also be launching lots of new coasters and six cheeky new mugs to place on those coasters. Time for that brew!

Stand R11 – T: 01509 812075 www.ohhdeer.com

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Stand P25 – T: 01902 560247 www.deanmorriscards.co.uk

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MULTICULTURALCARDS

Loud and proud Britain is a multicultural nation and the heritage, culture and festivals of the different peoples who make up the country all need to be celebrated so ethnic cards are an important market that Rajeev Arora and his Davora are very proud to have been part of for a decade.

W

HEN you have a proud heritage, there’s no sense celebrating quietly, loud is definitely the way to go, as absolutely everyone heard at PG Live early this year.

The pair of Punjabi drummers who made their mark on the normally calm and tranquil atmosphere of the specialist greetings card show ensured Davora’s 10th anniversary definitely didn’t go unnoticed.

One of the industry’s success stories of recent times, Davora founder Rajeev Arora looked to his roots to make his ethnic greetings card business blossom, and has since grown his ranges to cover many different cultures.

To celebrate a decade in business, Raj brought Drummers Delight to the show to make sure everything went with a bang and they really put on a show of sound and dance.

Raj said: “In the Eastern culture you have to celebrate loudly and colourfully, so we did just that with Drummers Delight, the Punjabi drummers who opened the show.

“Everyone said it woke them up and we had a lot of comments about it being better than a strong coffee and helped drum up business!”

Even if you haven’t tapped into the demand for ethnic cards in your area yet, there’s no doubt about the growth in demand for multi-cultural designs across the UK. You only need to look at the differences in the 2001 and 2011 UK censuses to see the trend – the total population of the UK is now 64.6million, with the census showing 56.1m in England and Wales having increased by 3.1m in 10 years with 55 per cent of that rise attributed mostly to net migration.

The multicultural population across the whole UK is 7.5m with five million of those from outside

44 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Europe and there’s been an increase across all the minority religions with Islam up by 2.1 per cent, Hindus up by 0.5 per cent and the Jewish population is steady at 0.5 per cent of the whole.

This has been a positive driving force of the rise in demand for cards for occasions of Eid, Diwali, the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah and many more.

“But it’s not only the ethnic populations themselves that are buying our festival cards,” said Raj, “the change in demographics across the UK has resulted in many more inter-cultural relationships being developed, whether that be through friendships, work colleagues or neighbours.

“People buy cards for people they know who celebrate these occasions – it’s a great example of the very British culture of sending cards, permeating into other communities.”

While still a niche sector, ethnic cards do get mainstream attention with all the major multiples, supermarkets, print-on-demand suppliers, wholesalers and even some garden centres stocking these designs in selected stores, based on demand in their area.

Even Card Factory have joined the party with the introduction of Eid cards in their 800 stores this year.

Raj added that independent shops who take on ethnic cards see wider benefits too. By stocking cards for ethnic occasions, with a wellpositioned poster to shout about it, they attract customers into their stores who may otherwise have walked on by.

‘

business ● Drumming up vora team Da – Raj and the eir moves show off th

If you’re still not stocking ethnic cards, here’s the basics you need to know: Eid – celebrated by the Muslim community across the globe. The date changes each year according to the phases of the Moon, this year it was on July 17. There’s also a second Eid later every year, coming up on September 23 for 2015.

Diwali – also known as the Festival Of Lights, this is the most popular annual festival in the Hindu calendar, and is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. Again, the date changes each year, but always falls around October/ November. This year it’s on November 11.

Jewish New Year – the main festival in the Jewish calendar, this year Rosh Hashanah falls on September 14, you’ve guessed it, the date varies year-on-year! It’s the largest Jewish card sending occasion of the year.

Hanukkah – also known as the Festival Of Lights, this is an eight-day Jewish festival falling around November/December and is on December 7 this year. This occasion performs well in areas of high Jewish populations, but can compete for shelf space with Christmas.

Jewish Everyday – if you have a large Jewish population in your area, then stocking Jewish everyday cards is a must. Bar Mitzvah needs coming-of-age cards for 13-year-old boys with Bat Mitzvah cards for girls reaching the age of 12 and are the most revered celebrations – you can’t have a Jewish range without these two occasions.

All other major life occasions, births, marriages, birthdays and sympathy also form the mainstay of a respectable Jewish range.

The change in T demographics across the UK has resulted in many more inter-culturall relationships s

’

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On top of the World TAMARA and David from Flying Twigs believe that travel destinations are just too good an opportunity to miss for new cards for their World range and the more exotic the destination the better, including a freewheeling and dramatic trip across northern India.

They arrange their trips themselves and go where the fancy takes them rather than joining tour groups.

Jerusalem is another destination they like and one that speaks to a lot of people, and nowhere more so than the Western Wall where they had a chance to watch visitors put their prayers into cracks between the huge blocks of stone that make up the Wall.

A little-known fact is that when prayers fall out of the overstuffed cracks in the walls, they’re not thrown away. As a mark of respect the religious authorities store the notes permanently, along with old prayer books.

T: 07790 459290 www.flyingtwigs.com

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Filling a quirky niche THE Playful Indian have their niche focusing on Indian cards and gifts which combine quirky and unique designs with an Asian twist.

The newest range includes six Diwali cards for the Indian festival that occurs each year – November 11 this year – and, just like Christmas, is celebrated by millions across the world and symbolises the festival of light, joy and prosperity.

The colourful designs and heart-warming quotes send out messages of good tidings and bringing light and happiness to families and friends – and they’ll brighten up any mantelpiece in their beautiful bright colours.

Other card ranges include The Hungry Indian which combines food-based sayings with cute little foodie illustrations and have been popular since day one, and they also a new FoodBrights range with food illustration and cheesy sayings – who doesn’t love a bit of cheesy humour!

T: 07973 493579 www.theplayfulindian.com

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MULTICULTURALCARDS

Ethnic calendar has plenty to go IT MAY be two thirds of the way through 2015 – yes, already – but the ethnic calendar still has plenty to see everyone through the rest of the year.

First there’s Diwali, the Hindu Festival Of Lights, on November 11 – the occasion is now so popular that the Lord Mayor of London celebrates it in spectacular style in Trafalgar Square and, not to be outdone, the Prime Minister also hosts a Diwali reception at Downing Street each year too.

In the same month there’s also Thanksgiving on November 26 and St Andrew’s Day for Scotland on November 30 before you hit the Christmas rush.

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights finishes the ethnic calendar on December 7.

But wait, there’s more! Nearing the end of this year, you need to keep an eye on what’s just over the horizon in 2016 – Chinese New Year.

It’s the Year Of The Monkey in 2016 – people born in the Year Of The Monkey are witty with a magnetic personality, but also a bit mischievous.

Davora’s new cards will be available from mid-October, but get your orders in early, as they usually sell out every year.

On the subject of next year, keep an eye out for

Davora’s brand new Jewish cards which will be launched at Spring Fair. If you already stock Jewish cards, you won’t want to miss these.

T: 0845 299 0186 www.davora.co.uk

Colourful cards for a colourful world NYHA Cards’ fun, bright and multicultural designs are all original, distinctive pieces proudly showcasing all shades of the skin-tone spectrum.

The latest Office For National Statistics figures indicate Britain’s population is more multicultural than ever before – in big cities such as London 40 per cent of the population is considered to be of ethnic background so to keep High Street gift shops relevant the multicultural market shouldn’t be ignored.

Londoner Naomi C Robinson introduced her cards at PG Live 2014 and strives to meet this growing need for more culturally-diverse designs, especially for Black, Mixed Race and Asian children who are not always represented in publishing or the media.

The expressive 125x175mm range features cute, whimsical character-based designs, including birthday, other occasions and blank, with a £1.99-£2.99 RRP.

T: 07940 372 853 www.nyhagraphics.co.uk

Appreciation of different cultures GLOBAL influences through increased travel continue to create an appreciation and fascination with different cultures and Ananya interpret the rich heritage of different cultures with a contemporary twist into their designs.

This raises awareness of important multicultural festivals such as Diwali, Eid, Jewish festivals and the Chinese New Year.

Ananya’s Vaishali Shah said: “2016 is the Year of the Monkey in the Chinese calendar.

We expect the influence of the monkey will sneak into various aspects of the fashion and lifestyle world.

“Their playful and curious nature is sure to

46 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

be captured and interpreted in clothes, accessories, home décor and stationery.”

Full of colour and vibrancy, and printed on high quality metallic cardstock, Ananya’s cards are eco-friendly and sourced from sustainablymanaged forests.

T: 020 7242 1877 www.ananyacards.com

Addressing blossoming market SHOWCASE Greetings offer 18 multicultural, Afro-centric and Christian designs specially created by Josie Fadlin of Ma Nubiah.

“We were very keen that our range included cards that addressed this blossoming market sector,” said Marketing Director Peter Fitzpatrick, “Showcase is the perfect platform for fresh new talent and Josie’s work is bright and uplifting. It looks great alongside our more conventional designs!

“We offer some great captions including baby boy and baby girl so, for retailers with a multi-cultural customer profile, Ma Nubiah is a must stock brand.”

T: 01394 271668 www.showcasegreetings.co.uk

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Kingfisher Blue 100gsm quality colours… don’t settle for less Over 32 colours ALWAYS in stock 6 stock sizes of Envelopes & Cello Bags Stockists of Fleck Kraft 110gsm Bespoke sizes & printing available

Contact our Sales Team on 01274 518 890

www.yorkshireenvelopes.com Supplier of the year 2015 Manufacturing envelopes for over 30 years

IMPACT

Part of the Pukka Pad Group

VOXPOP

Publishers are right at the heart of the greetings industry, designing and supplying cards for everyone to enjoy.

Greetings Today chats to a few to hear their opinions on issues of the day.

Katie Meeke, Director, Holy Mackerel

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T: 01297 33899 www.holy-mackerel.co.uk

How would you sum up the attitude in the greetings card industry at the moment?

Really creative! There are so many exciting new ideas out there, and we’re seeing lots of brilliant new product coming out of the card industry – you only have to walk past a wellstocked card shop window to see how much choice there is for buyers, and how well-designed and beautiful much of it is. It’s really inspiring us to keep on the move design-wise, to keep seeking out new artists, and to keep challenging ourselves to develop new ranges.

Is there any occasion or category that is currently seeing growth?

Humour just keeps being key for us. Even when a card doesn’t have a caption, if it’s a little bit tongue in cheek or has a bit of a twinkle in its eye then it’s going to sell all the better! One of our favourite humour ranges is Wry Smile by David Fawcett, so we’ll have some new designs from him at Autumn Fair and, if you’ve ever wondered how referees chill out, or what Dad gets up to with the Hoover late at night, then they’re the cards for you. Occasions are always good sellers for us, and this year the one that’s taken us by surprise a bit is the baby shower card by Erica Sturla we launched in spring – it’s punching well above its weight as an occasions card. And it came from a customer suggestion, so it just goes to show it’s always well worth listening!

With Autumn Fair, Top Drawer Autumn, and Scotland’s and’s Trade Fair Autumn all happening this month, whatt season or product do you expect retailers and buyers yers to be ordering at these shows?

We love the autumn shows, and we’ll be at Autumn Fair air again this year. We always like to have new products on the he stand, and this year is no exception with lots of new launches. ches.

But in general our experience is that buyers are there to stock tock up, fill some gaps, and top up their Christmas range, so they’re very much there to buy rather than to browse what’s at’s new – they’re saving that for January. It’s one of those shows where we usually get a much higher ratio of orderss to leads – fingers crossed for this year!

Do you carry any designs or captions that could be classified under the Multicultural Cards genre - if so, how popular are they and what’s trending there?

We don’t have any ranges that we’ve designed p our specifically as multicultural cards, but we do try to keep ranges inclusive. In particular Erica Sturla’s clay figures give us huge flexibility to include characters from all walks off life, and her Remember When range is especially good,, the best-seller being Hot Flush.

Describe Holy Mackerel in three words.

Prone to giggling.

Aliso Butterworth, MD, Alison Nigel Nige Quiney Publications T: 0179 01799 514122 www.nigelquiney.com

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T: 01243 837300 www.tomcatcards.co.uk

How w would you sum up the attitude in the greetings gr reetin card industry at the moment?

Retailers and publishers alike are cautiously Retai in the short term, but the longer term view opt optimistic more problematic. We’re all working harder than is mo ever before to get that sale. Retailers who attract ev lloyal customers and understand their needs are able to stock the right product and be more a ssuccessful. NQP are seeing a growth in sales – we’re listening to our customers and investing in w tthe product.

‘

Is there any occasion or category that is currently seeing growth? c Milestone birthdays, anniversaries and birth congratulations are growing caption areas for us. c With Autumn Fair, Top Drawer Autumn, and Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn all a happening this month, what season or h product do you expect retailers and buyers p tto be ordering at these shows?

There will be Christmas ordering, spring ordering and top ups for everyday.

’

Describe Nigel Quiney in three words.

Quality and value!

32 3 2 www.greetingstoday.co.uk ww w ww w..gr .gre grree g eettiin ng gst stoda

’

Lynne Thomas, Owner, Tomcat Cards

How would you sum up the attitude in the greetings card industry at the moment?

We’re finding it to be quite buoyant.

Is there any occasion or category that is currently seeing growth?

Orders for our everyday cards are growing and demand for our snowy cats is gaining momentum as Christmas approaches.

With Autumn Fair, Top Drawer Autumn, and Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn all happening this month, what season or product do you expect retailers and buyers to be ordering at these shows?

Hopefully our Christmas packs, more snowy cats and our two A4 wall calendars.

Do you carry any designs or captions that could be classified under the Multicultural Cards genre?

Not at the moment, but we’re thinking about it.

’

Describe Tomcat Cards in three words.

Bloody Hard Work or Open All Hours!

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag tingstodayma ag a g@ @greetingstoday @g gre ree ree etti tiin ngs gstto oda oday da da

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TALKOFTHETOWN

Talk of

Neil Burden & Paul Gibbs, Humbugs Of Towcester & Cardstop, Queensway, Bletchley

‘

HAVING run Humbugs Of Towcester for just over two years, owners Neil Burden and Paul Gibbs opened a second store in the nearby town of Bletchley in Milton Keynes in June with both stores offering cards, gifts, party, foil balloons and gift wrap. Neil said: “The chap before us had been running Humbugs for five years.

When he took over it only had two card racks and half of it was a café. He closed the café and put in more card racks with the sweets, now we’ve put in even more cards. Our new shop used to be a Simon Lawson shop and years ago was a Celebrations, and we’ve taken it over. Card prices start from 50p in Towcester and 55p in Bletchley and we do an offer of value cards at four for £1.”

After the vandalising of meters in Cardigan led to free parking, local independent shops saw more people visit and sales rise by up to 50 per cent, would cheaper parking fees help you?

It is free parking in Towcester but about two months ago they moved the district council offices in to the town centre so there’s nowhere for shoppers to park now. They are building a new car park but they’re putting it on a flood plain right by the river so there’s a bit of an uproar about that. We have asked if the council will make that the long-stay car park and the ones in the town short-stay so the shoppers can use them. They’ve said it will still be free parking but we don’t know if they’ll stick to that. It’s also free parking in Bletchley.

With Autumn Fair and Top Drawer Autumn on the horizon, are you attending either?

We only go to Spring Fair because it’s at the right time of year for us to look and it’s also the biggest one. Because we’re a local shop we get lots of repeat

customers so we have to change our designs and get something new in regularly. Forty per cent of our cards are Noel Tatt and they change quite regularly, we do UK Greetings, K2, Abacus – we’ve just got some new ones in from them this week, they’re very nice – we do a little IC&G, and Talking Pictures, Great British Card Company – we do their humour range, it’s the only one that sells here. We’ve tried everything else here but the cards just sit there. GBCC’s Eric The Penguin, Young At Heart and Two Fat Gherkins all go well here. The chap before had Avanti cards and we’re thinking about

getting them again now GBCC have the licence.

Currently which is your top-selling design, publisher or genre?

The top seller in humour is Eric The Penguin, otherwise our bestsellers are Noel Tatt, then UKG, and then K2. We’ve had Brainbox Candy here but our customers don’t like too near the knuckle. We do a lot of general cards, Yours Truly, Cherry Orchard – I’ve pre-ordered their Memory Lane mugs for when they’re released in December. The Memory Lane cards we

can’t get enough of them. I’ve seen the RetroCo ones and may well be taking a closer look next time I see the rep. Budget Greeting Cards we use for our value ranges, we also have Abacus, Talking Pictures Words ’n’ Wishes and Carte Blanche. We have a good mix of age ranges using both stores.

If you had £1,000 to spend on improving your shop, what would you spend it on?

More card racks to get more cards in. In some areas we have choice but not enough choice so I could do with more. We’re 70 per cent cards, 15 per cent party – we do all the Simon Elvin, the whole party range. We have three spinners of foil balloons alone. The rest is gifts and wrap, mainly Budget Greetings wrap and Simon Elvin rollwrap and bags. In both stores we have planned sections but we keep 10 per cent wild for us to get either cash and carry stock or any new or deals from suppliers.

Which publishers do you stock for Multicultural Cards, and how big is the genre as part of your offer?

Multicultural isn’t very big for us at all as we’re a very traditional area but Easter cards we just can’t keep up with them and actually ran out this year so I had to go round looking for more. Because we have an older generation of customers and quite a few churches around they’re just so popular. We had 10-foot of Easter cards out and still couldn’t keep up. I’ve been in cards for about 10 years and in all that time I’ve never seen anything like it. We’re hoping that will happen in Bletchley too as they have quite a large Irish community with a big Irish club.

’

Of all the publishers you stock, which card would you like to receive for your birthday?

I’d probably say anything from Talking Pictures because they do some really nice ones.

Dawn Styles, Buzz Bees, Home Lane, Bedford

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BUZZ Bees opened in 1987 as a family-run business and Dawn purchased it in 2007, before moving into a larger unit around the corner two years later. In 2014 she moved the shop two doors down to a much bigger unit with a much busier footfall and now runs the business with her son and two staff members.

After the vandalising of meters in Cardigan led to free parking, local independent shops saw more people visit and sales rise by up to 50 per cent, would cheaper parking fees help you?

Parking charges are a big issue in town. The council are helping by offering the first two hours of parking on a Saturday free of charge and this has made a big difference to traders.

With Autumn Fair and Top Drawer Autumn on the

50 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

horizon, are you attending either?

I only choose to go to the Birmingham NEC show in February, it’s the best time to buy for me.

Currently which is your top-selling design, publisher or genre?

My two top sellers are UK Greetings and Noel Tatt with cards, and Yankee Candle and Joe Davies for gifts.

If you had £1,000 to spend on improving your shop, what would you spend it on?

I would look into personalised gifting.

Of all the publishers you stock, which card would you like to receive for your birthday?

I’d like to receive a Noel Tatt card, they are beautiful designs.

’

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the town

TALKOFTHETOWN

The voice of the people who matter, greetings retailers tell it like it is.

Denise Pitch, Gossip High Street, Great Wakering

‘ Teresa Mills, Bourton News High Street, Bourton On The Water

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PHIL Ralph has own Bourton News for three years, but Teresa Mills has worked in the store for 21 years and is now manageress. She said: “I’ve lived in the village for 38 years and the shop has been here as long as I know. It’s a traditional newsagents but we sell everything from papers to bread. We sell quite a lot of greetings cards, we have eight spinners with cards on and then we have five sides of racking full too. Cards are quite a big seller for us.”

After the vandalising of meters in Cardigan led to free parking, local independent shops saw more people visit and sales rise by up to 50 per cent, would cheaper parking fees help you?

For the locals parking can be awkward. There’s free parking down the High Street but you only have an hour and a half with no return within two hours. Most visitors have to pay for the car parks. I’m not sure free parking would work here because it’s a tourist area.

With Autumn Fair and Top Drawer Autumn on the horizon, are you attending?

It would be my boss who goes to the shows but he hasn’t been for the past couple of years.

We have the agents and reps come in to the shop and order what we need from them. We do Noel Tatt, Country Cards, we have a couple of local artist that we have racks for.

We have Original Poster Company, Nigel Quiney, Cherry Orchard too.

Currently which is your top-selling design, publisher or genre?

I’d say Noel Tatt is our top seller. We have quite a lot of their cards – we had their rep in today and placed our order, we always need to top up.

Everything sells well, all occasions and captions.

If you had £1,000 to spend on improving your shop, what would you spend it on?

I’d probably spend it on something to help with the display of stationery because we could do with displaying it better.

Which publishers do you stock for Multicultural Cards, and how big is the genre as part of your offer?

We don’t do any multicultural cards that I can think of – I don’t remember ever being offered any.

’

Of all the publishers you stock, which card would you like to receive for your birthday?

Probably a Noel Tatt one, I think they’re all quite nice.

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GOSSIP has only been going for 16 months after Denise Pitch decided to set up her own card and gift emporium with tea shop. She said: “We opened because I used to work in a Crown branch Post Office and my back went so I couldn’t work. After I’d been out for three years, I really wanted to do something but, if I was working for someone else, I wouldn’t be able to walk around or sit down when I needed to, so Gossip was born because I can work as I need to. It’s a nice village, we have the Co-Op and the Post Office where they do a few cards but we’re the only card and gift shop here.”

After the vandalising of meters in Cardigan led to free parking, local independent shops saw more people visit and sales rise by up to 50 per cent, would cheaper parking fees help you?

We haven’t got any paid parking here, it’s all free, but there are only limited spaces so that’s the problem we have sometimes – though there is the Co-Op car park that people can use but we don’t like to advertise that!

With Autumn Fair and Top Drawer Autumn on the horizon, are you attending either?

I can’t go to Autumn Fair this year because my daughter is about to have a baby so I’m not going anywhere! It’s my first grandchild so I’m definitely going to be around for that. We did go last year, in fact, we’ve been going to Spring Fair and Autumn Fair since before we opened, and we went to Top Drawer last year. I might be able to get to Top Drawer depending when the baby arrives. We just have a wander around at the shows to see what we like because we’re looking for something different. People come in to the shop and say our cards are lovely and they’ve not seen them anywhere else. I don’t know why because they’re good cards – hopefully it’s because I’ve got good taste.

Currently which is your top-selling design, publisher or genre?

We have such a big range it’s hard to say which are the top sellers, especially as we’ve not been going very long yet.

Jonny Javelin is probably our top seller – he’s such a nice man and always has time for you at the trade fairs. It’s still early days for us. We do a lot of cards from the wholesalers BGC, and Yours Truly go very well, they’re by Second Nature and very good value at 99p each.

If you had £1,000 to spend on improving your shop, what would you spend it on?

I’d probably get someone in to see about redesigning the store. We could do with utilising the space better. My husband and I did it ourselves and we’ve

never done this sort of thing before. We’ve changed it about three times since we opened and it would be nice to know if we’ve done it right or how it could be improved.

Which publishers do you stock for Multicultural Cards, and how big is the genre as part of your offer?

We stock Davora for multicultural but we are looking for others so it will be great to read the feature in the September issue. We have tried some of the other ethnic cards they do but no one came in for them so the Jewish ones are what we stock now as people know we have them here.

Of all the publishers you stock, which card would you like to receive for your birthday?

I’d probably say Jonny Javelin actually, their Velvet range is nice and does very well.

’

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 51

ARTISTS’ QUARTER

Drawing on dad’s legacy G

ROWING up with a newspaper cartoonist for a dad, James Whitworth has always been surrounded by the tools of the trade and, perhaps unsurprisingly, now draws for a living himself.

As Greetings Today’s resident cartoonist, James’ work appears on the Leader page each issue with his humorous take on the subject matter of one of that month’s editorial features.

“Some of my earliest memories are of me drawing,” James said. “I like to think of it as expressing my burgeoning creative side, whereas my parents thought of it as me drawing all over their new living room curtains.

“My father was a newspaper cartoonist, so I grew up surrounded by tools of the trade.

Around the age of nine I created my first set of characters and drew storybooks with them fighting the evils of going to bed early or eating too many vegetables.

“It was at university that I started to draw regularly and, a few years later, I began to slowly realise that what I really wanted to do with my life was be a cartoonist.

“But, unlike hundreds of careers from accountancy to bricklaying, there was no recognised route into the profession. The only option was to draw, draw again, and then draw some more.

“The following years were spent dealing with more rejection than a meat feast pizza at a vegetarians’ dinner.

“But finally the day came when I sold my first cartoon. I’m now a daily newspaper cartoonist, and my

work has appeared in everything from Private Eye and The Jewish Chronicle to Hi-Fi News.”

James’ dad was the well-known cartoonist Ralph whose Whitworth On… drawings appeared daily in the Sheffield Telegraph from the late 1950s to its closure in 1986, then joined the weekly Telegraph in 1989 until his death in 1998, and the newspaper paid tribute to his work with a 20th anniversary supplement in 2009.

His son has followed in his footsteps, making newspapers and magazines his natural habitat but, every year, he breaks free from the printed page to hold an exhibition of his work.

He also works with business and corporate clients providing a bespoke service for company newsletters, calendars, inhouse journals, promotional gifts, advertising and unique greetings cards – and he’s open to offers from publishers interested in using his work on cards.

James added: “Along with my father’s drawings, I’m influenced by strip cartoons such as Peanuts, The Wizard Of ID, and Andy Capp – I still love their economy of line.

“Sadly, my father died before my first cartoon was published but I like to think he may have seen evidence that his cartoon legacy would continue in those initial sketches on the living room curtains.”

T: 07872 013943 jameswhitworth@mac.com www.whitworthcartoons.com

‘

I had more rejection than a meat feast pizza at a veggie dinnerr

’

If you’re an artist or illustrator who’d like to be considered for inclusion in Artists’ Quarter please email tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk 52 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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If you are an artist/cartoonist/illustrator/verse writer or image library and would like to be part of this feature contact the Gareth Liddiatt on 01442 289930 / gareth@lemapublishing.co.uk for more details

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Artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; directory

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 53

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spotlight

A selection of this month’s latest releases

● WITH the release of their 2015 autumn range, Simon Elvin have shown just why they have stayed on top for some 30 years.

This outstanding British publishers generate no fewer than six major range releases every year, all with fresh designs, aimed at the independent sector, priced to allow retailers a good margin – and, if sales at retail level are anything to go by, all as eagerly awaited as ever.

The same success story is to be found in the company’s delightful lines of social stationery, gift wraps, tissues, ribbons, gift bags, party ranges and helium balloons.

Simon himself continues to oversee every aspect of his company’s output, and is as committed as ever to supporting independent retailers.

He told Greetings Today: “The last few years have been very tough for the independent, so we’ve been heartened by the tremendous loyalty they’ve still shown to our cards and other lines.

“I think it’s all about value for money.

Independents have to be able to offer the same quality levels as multiples, at prices that produce decent margins yet still attract customers. Delivering that value-for-money is at the heart of everything we do.”

A key part of his support for independents is Simon’s commitment to making ranges available exclusively through specialist wholesalers. “They are,” he said, “ideal for independents to find the stocks they want, and then to take them in the quantities they need and at the times they want them.”

It’s clearly a formula that works, as the current year has seen even higher numbers of retailers taking the wholesale route to find Simon Elvin stock to generate fresh displays, at the right prices, on a regular basis.

With his new autumn range, Simon is in no doubt of its importance to retailers – both specialist card shops and the many who also sell cards as part of a wider retail offering: “At this time of the year, with Christmas now on the horizon, it’s tempting to sit back and wait for the annual sales boost it should bring.

“The truth, of course, is that there is still a very good market for everyday cards among UK consumers, right through the autumn and into early winter, but you do need to freshen up your racks. You need to find stock that pleases existing customers, but is also going to attract new ones with its quality and cost.”

And, with the wide range of sending occasions covered by the new autumn range, it seems Simon and his very bright design and production teams have done just that.

T: 01628 526711 www.simonelvin.com

Make every occasion count with greeting cards from Abacus Cards Limited, The Studio, Oaks Drive, Newmarket, Suffolk,CB8 7SX t: 01638 569050 f: 01638 569051 e: info@abacuscards.co.uk w: www.abacuscards.co.uk

54 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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A selection of this month’s latest releases

spotlight

Product & services directory greetings card publishers & Party product suppliers To advertise call Gareth Liddiatt on 01442 289940

● DAZZLING indulgence from the court of Louis XVI is the inspiration behind Pigment’s latest 120x170mm HI/55 price code open release Let Them Eat Cake.

Adorned with harps, culottes, goblets, banquets and titillating titbits 13 exuberant designs inspired by Marie Antoinette, 17th century French fashion and, of course, Elton John – let’s face it, we all love a whopping big wig!

Peep at the naughty courtiers celebrating love, dance and drink with gay abandon all with intricate gilt finishing on luxury artboard with kraft envelopes.

T: 01423 520098 www.pigmentproductions.com

● GOLDILOCKS Designs’ Greeting Cards and The Stories Behind Them is a unique vintage-inspired range distributed in the US and Canada.

Now being offered in the UK, these beautifully-designed cards are an eclectic mix of vintage ephemera and photos from old family albums which utilise quotes from notables as varied as Kierkegaard and Einstein.

Printed on a heavy 5x7 satin matte card stock and greeted inside the range is sold in sixes with rack programmes available.

allison@goldilocksdesigns.net www.goldilocksdesigns.net ● EARLIER this year Noah’s Ark Ink were challenged by an established cycling store to design a range of greetings cards focused on the cycling community. Well, this was no easy task!

After embracing the grubby, dirty and slightly greasy world of cycling they are very excited to launch 15 A6 everyday cards based on strong cycling-themed images, messages and humour.

Available from September, the designs are bright, funny – and unlike anything you’ve ever seen!

T: 07810 751760 www.noahsarkink.co.uk

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 55

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

spotlight

A selection of this month’s latest releases

● AMSCAN have increased their offering of Star Wars foil balloons with six new additions to the collection in collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm.

The new range features classic characters from the movie franchise including a Storm Trooper AirWalker measuring 177cm high, Chewbacca SuperShape, R2D2 multi balloon, and multidimensional Orbz, Cubez and Diamondz options. The new designs complement the existing range that includes a combination of classic Star Wars characters and designs relating to the CG animated series Star Wars Rebels.

Amscan also have plans to launch an additional range of balloons especially for the new movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens which will be out in cinemas this December – but retailers have to wait until the embargo is lifted on September 4 for the designs to be revealed.

T: 01908 288500 www.amscan.co.uk

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

56 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

● SABIVO Design have expanded their spring seasons range and added 24 new designs across Valentine’s, Mother’s Day, Easter and Father’s Day. Their contemporary cards combine hand-lettering with delightful illustrations and pops of neon pink or red and are designed and printed on hammered board here in the UK. Feminine captions are hand-finished with polka dot cotton bows and cup flower jewels.

T: 0116 225 8 255 www.sabivo.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

gifts spotlight A selection of the latest gift releases and deals

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

INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED

CIRCULATION 6,089 ● A BOOKMARK gives an attractive and personal touch to a book gift – Museums & Galleries launched their bookmarks range last year and have rapidly increased the design options as demand has soared.

Made of a durable plastic material with a coordinating ribbon, the bookmarks retail at a very affordable £1.49, and M&G can supply a wire frame counter display for hanging up to 12 different designs, with 12 per design.

Just in time for this autumn’s gift buying season, M&G have added 12 brand new designs exclusively from the design archives of the V&A museum – stunning and richly coloured, these offer a choice suitable to all tastes and books!

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T: 0116 230 4197 www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

● THE 2015 edition of Yankee Candle’s traditional fragranced advent calendar has been released alongside their fun new festive fragrances for this coming winter.

The new limited edition Advent Calendar Carousel follows on from the overwhelming success of last year’s Advent House and is decorated to sit within the new Baby It’s Cold Outside…And Cosy Inside festive collection, which also has the Yankee Candle collectable bauble.

The new collection has four enticing fragrances, Winter Glow, Bundle Up, Cosy By The Fire and Berry Trifle, and there are 12 additional Christmas accessories collections, including Snowflake Ceramic, Santa Sleigh, Deck The Halls, Starry Night Ceramic and Silver Ceramic Trees.

T: 0117 316 1200 www.yankeecandle.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

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

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 57

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DAZZLING INDULGENCE FROM THE COURT OF LOUIS XVI

13 DESIGNS, 120mm x 170mm, HI/55.

I N T R I C A T E G O L D F O I L S TA M P I N G , L U X U RY A R T B O A R D , K R A F T E N V E L O P E .

F O R A F R E E S A M P L E P A C K P H O N E S A L LY O N 0 1 4 2 3 5 2 0 0 9 8