Progressive Greetings August 2020

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Made in Great Britain

Made in Great Britain

Beautiful new British made Christmas stock available now!

Place your orders for guaranteed delivery

Order online www.piccadillygreetings.co.uk

Made in Great Britain

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Piccadilly Greetings Group Ltd 4 Horizon Point, Swallowdale Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 7FZ T: 01442 215500 E: sales@piccadillygreetings.co.uk www.piccadillygreetings.co.uk

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From The Editor

ON THE CARDS I remember back at the start of ‘this time’ feeling excited (and a bit nervous) about my first Zoom meeting, waiting to ‘be admitted’ as though I was auditioning for a part in Star Trek. We have all learned a lot of Zoomster tricks since then (though my good intentions to smarten up my messy bookshelf that appeared in my background have gone by the wayside and I remain in awe of tidy, stylish people, aware I will never be one!), weeks upon weeks have been punctuated with these virtual meetings, adhering to the rules on etiquette. I don’t think I have had to put my hand up to speak as much since primary school!

Don’t get me wrong, these virtual meetings have their place and in some ways have facilitated ‘meet-ups’ that would probably never have happened - the global gathering of cardies from all over the world being a case in point - but by the very fact that they are ‘virtual’, there is a disconnect. Somehow this seems even more poignant in the greeting card industry, where our essence is based on real connections with people.

For this reason I was buoyed up hearing from Scottish agent, Lucy Sharp (someone I remember coming into the trade over 20 years ago!) about the Sharp & Easy Pop-up showroom she is creating in a hotel in Edinburgh later this month with her industry chum and fellow agent Darran McBride, which retailers will attend ‘in real life’ and see and hold physical products from the card and gift companies they each represent (see news page 19).

www.max-publishing.co.uk THE HOME OF MARKET LEADING TRADE MAGAZINES

EXHIBITIONS

@Prog_Greetings

Above: A PG Greeting Card Global Zoom Meet-up. (Top left-right) Ton Hollander (Artige, from Holland), Jakki Brown (PG, UK), Jenny Cummins (McMillan Cards, Australia), Suzanne Mizzi (Paperworld, Malta), Vanessa Harnik (Notes & Queries, US), Olivier Draeger (Draeger, France), Stefan Hermann (Taurus Kunstkarten, Germany), Alan Harnik (Notes & Queries, US), Amanda Fergusson (GCA, UK), Furio Cecliato (Origamo, Italy) and Markus Keller (Cart, Switzerland).

Below: Oh for real get togethers…The opening of PG Live last June. A very real, wonderful moment. Bring them on!

Likewise, I loved hearing from Paul and James Taylor, the father and son duo at the top of Cardzone about their plans to open another 25 card shops before the end of the year, taking over 20 of the units that Clintons had no plans to reopen (see page 7). Like all of us, Paul and James do not have a crystal ball of what the future holds, but they have a real commitment to this sector and their investment will ensure that more real greeting cards will be out there, helping to forge real links in people’s relationships.

I am still gutted that PG Live couldn’t happen this year, and equally so that The Retas won’t go ahead either, but am crossing my fingers that The Henries, now scheduled for December 10 will really happen. If not, we’ll all be dancing to ‘who’s Zooming who?’ in our respective messy book-shelved rooms while the awards are unveiled digitally. Reality may not be perfect, but I’d have it any day over anything virtual.

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AUTUMN

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What’s Inside?

CONTENTS 20

27

33

7-19 News

29-31 Innovations

All the latest happenings and developments in the trade.

Publishers have been busy coming up with a whole raft of new ranges.

20-21

33-35

Over The Counter

Industry Issue

In Two Minds About Bifurcation

Diversity Matters

David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland considers reveals his conflicting thoughts about what path to take in these tricky times.

With the formation of the first ever GCA Diversity Sub-committee, retailers and publishers share developments and hopes on the important issue of improving diversity in our industry.

22-23 Cardsharp

A V-Shaped Greeting Card Recovery PG columnist’s views on the which aspects of the trade have fared ‘the least worst’ over the last four months.

25-27

29-31

Viewpoints

Whole Lotta Thinkin’ Goin’ On Card retailers and publishers share their plans for this year’s Thinking of You Week.

37 Art Source Kate Heiss is the ‘artist in focus’ this month.

38-39 What’s Hot? A quad of great retailers share their best sellers of the last month.

41-42 Jeremy’s Journal

In Step With The New Normal Blue Eyed Sun’s Jeremy Corner on how while currently challenging, new opportunities will open up.

43-55 Sources of supply

Subscribe to Progressive Greetings from £60 (UK) to £90 (International).

You can organise this quickly and easily online at our secure site: Max-Subscriptions.net For assistance, please email maxsubscriptions@marketingreinforc ements.co.uk or call 0207 700 6740.

Jakki Brown

Warren Lomax

Ian Hyder

Tracey Arnaud

Editor/Joint Owner

Joint Owner

Joint Owner

Sales Manager

jw@max-publishing.co.uk

warren@max-publishing.co.uk

ianh@max-publishing.co.uk

traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

Use your smartphone app to scan the QR code to visit our website.

Copyright© 2020. While every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of publication, the publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers nor any organisation mentioned in the text. Views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.

PG is the official magazine for the Greeting Card Association GCA: Amanda Fergusson 020 7619 9266 Email: hello@gca.cards www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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NEWS TOP STORY

No physical Top Drawer this September

Opportunity Knocks Cardzone to open in 20 former Clintons’ shops The last few weeks has seen Cardzone open three new card shops, with the retailer on course to open 25 new stores by the end this year. This will mean the Nottinghamshire-based specialist group is likely to be trading from 160 stores this Christmas.

Of these, around 20 stores are expected to be in former Clintons’ units.

“Prior to lockdown, we had been looking to expand and had been talking to landlords in various locations. So, when we were informed that Clintons was planning to exit some stores, this presented opportunities for us, as being able to open in locations which already had a customer base for a good card shop was obviously beneficial. We are also pleased that we have been able to take on some of Clintons’ staff, thereby safeguarding their jobs,” James Taylor, trading director of Cardzone told PG. The first of the new stores have now opened in Macclesfield and Belfast (Forestside shopping centre) and there is a relocated store in Crystal Peaks shopping centre, just outside Sheffield.

The new store in Macclesfield was the first to feature a fresh, more upmarket Cardzone branding and colourway while also making a virtue of the company’s heritage. The new Belfast store however, is to trade under the Hallmark brand.

These new openings will bolster Cardzone’s presence in other geographical areas, most notably in the South of England. “The new locations are pretty well spread, including one store in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, with the remainder in England. This allows us to strengthen our presence in the South of England, where traditionally we have been weak,” said James, confirming that

The Top Drawer Autumn/Winter 2020 trade show will not take place as planned this September (13-15). However, organisers Clarion are to launch a digital version of the exhibition at that time.

Likewise, London Stationery Show, (owned by Ocean Media Group), which was due to take place on Friday 11 September this year (a reconvened date from its original April timeline) is also not going ahead.The next edition of London Stationery Show will now take place on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 April 2021.

‘Bojo’ card causes media flurry

agreements have been reached for stores to open shortly in Maidenhead, Hornchurch, Rayleigh and Bexleyheath.

Also, as many of the units are larger than Cardzone’s existing estate, it will mean the retailer will be offering an expanded selection of greeting cards as well as its own mix of gifts.

The main control is to be equally split between Hallmark and UKG, with many other publishers’ designs pepping up the enlarged displays.

“Up until now, our store in Locks Heath was our largest, at 2,500 sq ft.

The Belfast one that we have just opened, for example, is 3,500 sq ft. This extra space means we can take our greeting card stock control to a new level,” James pointed out.

Commenting on the new stores joining its portfolio, Paul Taylor, md of Cardzone said: “We’re excited by this opportunity and hope the industry sees it as good news too. Admittedly the timing and conditions could have better, but you can’t stand still.”

Commenting on the current level of trade and how Covid-19 is impacting on sales, James said: “Performance is mixed. While sales in shopping centres and city centres are well down, thankfully we have many stores in market towns which are faring OK. Overall, we had forecast trade to be far worse, so are relieved to some extent, but it clearly needs to pick up!”

While Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, have been at loggerheads over a number of issues ever since he became Prime Minister, Bojo featured prominently at the SNP leader’s 50th birthday celebrations last month - with a Twitter post from her husband Peter Murrell, which focused on a birthday card featuring a caricature of the PM, sparking a huge wave of interest in the media.

The birthday card, by Scottish card publisher The Grey Earl, includes the message 'I've hired a first class clown for your birthday' with the central design being a nod to moment during the 2012 Olympics when Boris, then the Mayor of London, appeared on a zipwire waving Union Jacks.

The card (part of the Bojo collection) and the story behind was featured in the Daily Mail, Daily Record, The National, Mail Online, The Scottish Sun, Edinburgh Live, The New European and The World News.

Jon Bishop, founder of The Grey Earl revealed that the coverage has had a positive effect on sales. “There’s been a pleasant little spike and interest from some new stockists. At present I have no plans to do any designs featuring Nicola Sturgeon, but she's probably due at least a thank you card and a high five from me, what with all this press!” he quipped.

Above right: The Grey Earl card that was sent to Nicola Sturgeon for her 50th birthday which sparked the media interest.

Below: Jon Bishop and daughters Averie (left) and Summer.

Above: At the opening of the Macclesfield store which features the new branding.

(Left-right) Cardzone’s Nicola McAlpine, Andy Hicks and Lou Owen.

Left: Cardzone’s new store in Belfast’s prestigious Forestside centre has a Hallmark fascia.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Card Factory’s Five Year Plan Future growth to be largely through retailer partnerships Card Factory has unveiled its ambitious five-year strategy, with a stated intention of becoming the “world’s best greeting card retailer.”

At a virtual Capital Markets Day briefing, the Card Factory senior management team presented the key elements of the retail group’s growth plans and cost efficiencies.

As part of a mission, which the team believe will see Card Factory increase its UK market share of the everyday card market to 45% (by volume) by 2024, (up 11% on its current position), and

31% by value, (up from the current 20%), the retailer will look to open a few more stores, but largely, the growth will come from building its online presence as well as forging retail partnerships with other brands, such as it currently enjoys with Aldi.

However, Card Factory’s ambitions on the retail partnership front go way beyond UK shores. Citing its arrangement with The Reject Shop in

Australia as a prime “case study”, which Card Factory supplies with a branded selection of cards, the Wakefield based business is to foster relationships with other retail players all over the world. As part of this, it has set its sights on securing a 10% share of the everyday card market in the States.

Having previously stated that its ceiling for company-owned stores was 1,200, the retail group’s new fiveyear plan is to operate from around 1,100 of its own stores, but secure an additional 4,500 ‘distribution points’ (UK and international) through various retail partnerships.

While the full extent of Covid-19 is still to play out, Paul Moody boldly stated that Card Factory’s like-for-like sales will increase 3% by 2023.

In pursuit of improving efficiencies and reducing lead times, investment has been made in the retailer’s UK print business, Printcraft, which will result in 75% of all Card Factory’s cards for its stores being produced in the UK, bringing a big slug of manufacturing back to the UK. This important presentation comes at a time when Card Factory shareholders are seeking reassurance after a plummet in the share price and the departure of ceo Karen Hubbard.

Happy Days kicked off Home & Gift Virtual While Covid-19 precluded the annual summer ‘pilgrimage’ to Home & Gift, Harrogate, show organisers Clarion instigated a programme of digital activities. These included a series of Shoptalk seminars and trend talks from experts as well as product launches (both live and via pre-recorded video) from several greeting card and gift companies who were due to exhibit at the show. The companies participating include Belly Button Designs, Caroline Gardner, Toasted Crumpet, Coulson Macleod, Wrendale Designs, Wild & Wolf, Bomb Cosmetics, The Somerset Toiletry Company, Talking Tables, Portmeirion and Repeat Repeat.

Above right: Trials have been underway to increase prices slightly in Card Factory.

Above left: Card Factory’s growth will largely come through retail partnerships, such as it has with Matalan.

Hallmark and Co-Op’s thank you month A month-long initiative, spearheaded by the Co-op grocery retailer in conjunction with Hallmark to say a big thank you to local heroes, has just drawn to a close.

As part of the Co-op’s Thank You campaign, a dedicated shipper featuring 12 different Hallmark card designs (as well as some confectionery products) was prominently displayed in the grocer’s stores throughout the month of July.

All profits from the sale of the cards are being donated to The National Emergencies Trust (NET), providing funds to be used to support communities made the most vulnerable by the coronavirus outbreak.

Commenting on Hallmark’s involvement, commercial manager Katie Robinson told PG: “We are immensely proud to support Co-op on their ‘Thank you to your Local Heroes campaign’. Now, more than ever, we feel it’s important to share kindness and appreciation to those who have worked so hard to serve us through the most challenging of times. Co-op’s generosity in donating the proceeds of this campaign will support those who truly need it the most at this time.”

Above: The shipper of Hallmark cards in a Co-op store.

Belly Button Designs was first off the blocks, with Rachel Hare (founder, md and creative maestro of the business) and Michelle Hindle (the company’s head of sales) using the opportunity to launch its major Happy Days collection. While Rachel Hare conceived the idea for this extensive collection (comprising 109 card designs, with gift bags, stationery and mugs to follow) prior to lockdown, its community vibe, ripples of humorous positivity and dashes of popular culture references certainly chime with the tastes of today.

While Rachel and Michelle gave a ‘live’ welcome to viewers, a pre-recorded video, shot in Belly Button’s studio, allowed Rachel to give a personal tour of the collection and the rationale behind the designs as well as explaining how the range debuts a brand new recycled board from GF Smith, 40% of which is made from recycled coffee cups.

Above: Belly Button Designs’ Happy Days range was launched at Home & Gift Virtual.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Enthusiastic Henries’ Retail Judges Virtual judging underway, new later date for the event With The Henries’ entry deadline now passed, the judging panel’s work is now underway, with December 10 unveiled as a new date for the awards event. Thousands and thousands of designs from over 250 different greeting card publishers were entered.

Meanwhile, as PG went to press ,The Henries 2020 judging panel - comprised entirely of leading greeting card buyers and retailers from across the spectrum are scrutinising these publishing gems.

And there’s more good news - a new later date of Thursday 10 December has been secured for The Henries 2020 actual awards event, to be held in its ‘spiritual home’ of the Royal Lancaster Hotel, opposite London’s Hyde Park.

Previously, The Henries were due to take place on 8 October 2020.

“The passion, creativity and true grit of the UK greeting card industry is so evident in the response to The Henries this year, not only in the quality and sheer number of entries, but retailers’ enthusiasm in wanting to join the judging panel as well as our sponsors’ ongoing commitment, all of which collectively ensure these important accolades will be awarded,” stated Jakki Brown, joint managing director of Max Publishing, which owns and organises The Henries.

“We really hope that by pushing the date of the awards event back two months

Above: All entering for The Henries this year has been done digitally.

Below: (left-right) Sarah Moughtin (John Lewis and Waitrose) and Steph Lloyd (Utility) are among the judges for The Henries 2020.

we are in with a chance of being able to all get together physically. But whatever the scenario, The Henries 2020 will happen!” added Jakki.

Buyers from John Lewis, Utility, Paperchase, Card Factory, Blue Diamond, Sainsbury’s, House of Cards, Postmark, Zo&Co, as well as many leading independents, were among the first to enthusiastically commit to joining The Henries 2020 judging panel.

Sarah Moughtin, partner and junior buyer of John Lewis & Partners and Waitrose for stationery, partyware, giftwrap and greeting cards, along with her colleague Chloe Cartwright, buying assistant, were “delighted” to be on the judging panel. “The Henries is the one event that grabs the attention of retailers! It’s a great opportunity to see all the talent together, which is brilliant, and I'm always on the lookout to see if we've missed a trick!” said Sarah.

Adding his view, Nigel Williamson, partner of House of Cards, who has been a judge for The Henries ever since they started, said: “The whole world has changed, but at least The Henries will still be going ahead. We have all missed out on so many things in the past months.

With no more trade shows, all the judges will be looking for inspiration!”

UK publishers shine in the US Louie Awards The creative prowess of Ohh Deer, Paper Salad, Santoro and Little Posy Press shone out brightly across the Atlantic as these four UK publishers won Louie awards, the US equivalent of The Henries.

Organised and owned by the US GCA, due to Covid-19 restrictions, The Louie awards ceremony was ‘virtual’ this year, with publishers, retailers and trade suppliers buying tickets to view the announcements.

Despite the time difference, Mark Callaby and his partner Jamie Mitchell of Ohh Dear stayed up late to watch the presentation - and it was not in vain, as the Loughborough publisher won in two categories. A design from its Twin Pines range triumphed in the Baby ($5 and below) category, while its Most Magical Friend design, from its You’ve Earned It collection, (which includes a woven patch), won the Friendship/Encouragement - Humorous (above $5) award.

“We’re delighted,” said Mark. “This means we now have a collection of seven Louies!” having been awarded another five Louie trophies over the years.

Paper Salad co-owners Karen Wilson and Claire Williams entered the competition for the first time this year and won an award.

A design from the publisher’s Jamboree range clinched the Children’s category.

“A great pity we could not be there in San Francisco - where The Louies were originally due to be held - to collect the award in person, but it is still great news,” said Karen.

Above: The Twin Pines design from Ohh Deer.

Below: Paper Salad’s Jamboree design.

Paperchase’s standalone Dublin debut In line with its stated plan, Paperchase has re-opened almost all of the stores in its estate, with the last remaining handful set to re-open as PG went to press.

“We have re-opened a further 40 stores in the last week, which leaves us with only six stores which remain closed, but these are due to re-open during August,” confirmed Joe Guest, senior buyer at Paperchase at the start of August.

In addition, the specialist card and stationery retailer has opened its first standalone store in Dublin, Eire, in the Dundrum shopping centre.

“It’s great to have our own standalone store in Dundrum. We had a concession in the House of Fraser in the centre, but as that has not re-opened it made sense to safeguard our presence with our own name above the door,” Joe told PG. Paperchase’s product director, Frances Burkle, said that its re-opened stores have been “trading ahead of expectations.”

Above: The new store in Dublin’s Dundrum centre is Paperchase’s first standalone store in the Republic of Ireland’s capital.

Above: Joe Guest, senior buyer of Paperchase.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Cardies Welcomed Clarity Compulsory face mask wearing sees a surge in PPE sales Greeting card retailers and gift shops were not only relieved that clarity was eventually given by the Government on making the wearing of face coverings in shops compulsory, but are also benefitting from the surging sales of reusable facemasks, with demand outstripping supply for many retailers.

Some retailers, such as House of Cards have made mask wearing a stipulation of entering its stores since they re-opened.

“The safety of our team and other customers has been paramount. If people do not have their own masks we have provided disposable ones for them. The vast majority of customers have accepted this, but it will make it easier now we have the Government ruling,” said Miles Robinson, co-owner of the Home Counties retail group.

Up in Scotland, where mask wearing in shops has been compulsory since July 10, Fiona Fabian, owner of Papyrus in Glasgow believes that while having to wear a face covering may have dissuaded some customers it has to be balanced with safety and the soaring sales of the products in store are a benefit.

“I was wary that compulsory masks in shops would affect footfall as they can be pretty claustrophobic. Supermarkets can’t be avoided as we have to buy food to eat, but would customers still want to come and browse in a card and gift shop?” wondered Fiona.

“Mask sales have been an unforeseen but welcome trend! The public are just getting used to mask wearing

and those not wearing them make a beeline to our masks and buy one.”

Nik Gornall, owner of Romantica, Bristol, said he “welcomed the news and questioned why it wasn't mandatory from the 15 June. I believe it will reassure the majority of people, but as with any social rule, there will be a minority who will react adversely either as a point of principle or because they don't believe the science.”

Sharing his soaring sales of masks, Jon May, co-owner of Mooch Gifts & Home in Bewdley and Stourport on Severn said that as soon as the announcement was made that face coverings would be mandatory, its online store “went into meltdown, with people waiting outside to buy when we opened the following morning, meaning we sold out in minutes. We then had a large delivery but 90% immediately sold online.

I really do think it’s a positive move to help boost the confidence of shoppers, although actually policing and enforcing it shouldn’t really be the job of shop staff, so let’s hope we see a more physical presence of the police on our high streets.”

Serge Summerling of Nor, Norwood, added: “Face masks should have been compulsory in shops from the moment we were allowed to re-open.

Once again, this useless government is two steps behind the more competently run nations. We are selling lots of masks though… buying direct from Turkey - our own ones and some from Portugal, as well as some from ArtWow.”

Doing more than just thinking Card Factory, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Paperchase join Cardzone, Royal Mail, UKG, Carte Blanche, Cherry Orchard and Corniche in committing to Thinking Of You Week initiatives for the GCA-instigated card sending event this year (September 21-27).

“The level of engagement for Thinking of You Week is unprecedented, such is the poignancy of sending greeting cards to show you care and appreciate having people in our lives in these challenging times,” commented Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA. Included in this edition of PG is a TOYW sticker and flyer that has been kindly printed by Abbot Print.

(For more Thinking of You Week activity see pages 25-27).

Above: Retailers can use the stickers to highlight the event in their stores.

Above: There has been a bit of dilly-dallying by the Government on the face covering issue, but PM Boris Johnson is now ramming home the message that wearing them will help in not spreading Covid-19.

Left: Papyrus’ Julie Wayt sporting a tartan mask design from Euro Stick.

Below left: Little Paperie’s Heidi Robinson and Lucy Sticka.

Card agent Neil Greenwood serves 39,000 customers North West agent Neil Greenwood is now adapting to serving his retail customers the other side of the counter, having been ‘a virtual bar owner’ during lockdown. Well known for his interpersonal skills, when lockdown happened, north west sales agent, Oldham-based Neil (one half of Reil Agencies with Rachel Williams, which represents Cinnamon Aitch, Caroline Gardner, Giftwrap UK, The Handcrafted Card Co, Laura Darrington, Museums & Galleries and U-Studio), was never going to become a hermit.

Joining forces with his bestie pal Lorraine Robinson (an independent travel consultant), they set up ‘The Virtual Tavern’ on Facebook, which has taken off big time.

From quiz nights and live acts to DJ sessions and bingo, the Tavern now has 39,000 punters worldwide in over 76 countries and territories, with some of Neil’s retail customers among its ‘regulars’. The Tavern even has its own merchandise!

“I have missed the human contact with my customers, but the interaction through the Tavern has kept me going. The appreciation of greeting cards has also come through strongly as we have included a handwritten greeting card with every merchandise order thanking them for their support and that has gone down incredibly well,” said Neil.

Above: Neil Greenwood’s virtual landlord days (seen here with landlady Lorraine Robinson) will be juggled with his ‘day job’ serving his retail customers.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Cards Galore’s Cry For Help Card multiple highlights the plight of retail businesses in city centres “Dear customers, I face ruin, please come back” was the urgent message from Rumit Shah, co-owner of Cards Galore that BBC News has shared with millions of people recently, highlighting the plight of retailers in many UK cities.

Coinciding with Prime Minister Boris Johnson sending out his message urging people to get back to work to help kickstart the economy, the BBC was quick to respond to an open letter sent to them

by Rumit, in which he detailed in no uncertain terms the retailer’s dire situation

caused by so few workers having returned to their offices due to Covid-19.

Film footage, broadcast on TV as well as hosted on the BBC News online site features Rumit (and his uncle Rajesh, who started the retail business which now comprises 60 stores some 30

years ago), reading out the letter they sent to the BBC).

“Unfortunately, Covid-19 has brought us to our knees. Central London is a ghost town,” said Rumit. “Even though non-essential shops have been allowed to re-open, there is absolutely no trade. We cannot open the vast majority of our shops as it is not economically viable to do so.”

As he pointed out, there are no office workers, commuters or students around, plus the railway and underground stations where Cards Galore has some outlets are largely devoid of people.

“We understand the practical challenges faced, however, until cities like London are back up on their feet and running, the country will continue to struggle,” Rumit stressed on air.

He shared his belief that homeworking is only efficient for so long. “After a while, it is detrimental to society in a lot of ways. Just as it is essential for children to go to school, the same is true for adults.”

Ending on a plea for all retail businesses, restaurants and bars located in the nation’s empty city centres, Rumit said: “we all need customers to survive. Please help.”

Tineka Smith, founder of the Huetribe card company, was voted in as vice chair of the newly formed GCA Diversity subcommittee at the end of last month, but that is not the only news from the publisher.

The last two months alone has seen Tineka (a communications consultant for the United Nations, as well as a diversity expert for the BBC), speak out on BBC 5Live and have an extended article published in the Independent. She is also this month’s ‘Face behind the cards’ on Scribbler’s blog and has clinched a significant book deal.

This month sees a PR campaign get underway for Mixed Up, the book Tineka cowrote with her husband Alex Court about what it means to be an interracial couple.

Tineka explains that the book (which Audible, the audiobooks company that is part of the Amazon group, has acquired the rights to for the English language version), reflects the “ethos behind Huetribe,” of recognising and celebrating diversity, addressing the gaps in racial, cultural and sexual representations in the industry.

(See pages 33-35 for more on diversity in the card industry)

Above: Rumit Shah (right) and his uncle Rajesh, who founded the 60-store chain 30 years ago, and employs 200 people, outside one of its many stores in the London’s City centre.

Top: Huetribe’s Tineka Smith and her husband Alex Court. (Photo courtesy of Suzie Hopper).

Above: A design from Huetribe’s new Diversity Matters range.

“It’s pants out there” “It’s pants out there,” exclaimed a frustrated Brent Milburn, who has owned Newframes, a greeting card and framing shop, located very close to London’s Carnaby Street, for the last 20 years, with the lack of tourists (both domestic and overseas) and people working from home, resulting in very little footfall.

While Brent is happy for his indie retail counterparts located in city suburbs, provincial market towns, or areas supported by a local community - who are managing to adapt to the new normal, for those like him in city centres, he says it is dire and feels something drastic needs to be done to support them.

“We are experiencing the same as Rumit of Cards Galore. Our turnover is 93% down. Many stores that did open near us on June 15 have now closed, placing notices on doors saying they will not open until footfall returns,” Brent told PG. As he sees it: “Life will never be the same again and as a retailer we need to adapt. I really hope our landlord reduces our rent permanently to enable us to be viable. In the meantime, we are looking to see what opportunities there are in other locations. Onwards…and hopefully, upwards!”

Above: The welcoming fascia of Newframes in London’s West End. Left: Newframes’ Brent Milburn.

Book deal and PR profile for Huetribe founder

GCA Licensing & Copyright Seminar The GCA has joined forces with leading law firm (and longstanding GCA member), Briffa, IP specialist law firm, to host a Licensing & Copyright Seminar. The seminar, which is free for GCA members to attend, will take place virtually using Zoom on Wednesday 12 August, starting at 2.30pm and last around an hour. After this slides will be available in the Members’ Library.

William Miles, partner of Londonbased law company, Briffa is heading up the seminar on the legal front while GCA Council members, Daniel Prince (md of Danilo), Rachel Hare (md of Belly Button Designs), Mark Callaby (md of Ohh Deer) together with Amanda Fergusson (ceo of the GCA) will form a panel to answer questions.

FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT PGBUZZ.net PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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03/08/2020 11:51

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NEWS Scottish agents ‘keep it real’

TOP STORY

Changes At GBCC Chris Wilcox to leave, IG exec Andy Kemmett joins “It is very nearly a year since SMPC [Swan Mill Paper Group] acquired the assets of GBCC and there has been a lot of change as we continue to strive to ‘make GBCC great again’ which was what I set out to do at the start,” said David Byk, ceo of Swan Mill (which includes Ling, GBCC and Penny Kennedy) addressing the GBCC team a few days ago. “None of us could have dreamt that we would need to deal with the current epidemic, but we are seeing positive signs from our customers as we build ourselves back up again despite the tough economic backdrop with new accounts being opened, new designs getting great traction, listings in majors going up again and underlying performance getting a positive run rate.”

David has also announced some significant personnel changes at GBCC as it gears up for future challenges and opportunities.

Having been heavily involved in the running of GBCC for 30 years (since its original incarnation of Paper House), Chris Wilcox, who has been managing director for the last three years is preparing to leave the business, though the exact date of his departure has not been defined. Paying tribute to Chris’ “knowledge and enthusiasm”, David also thanked him “in advance for his assistance with this transition and also the engagement of ‘Newco’ behaviours.”

In the interim, David is to take over the role of ceo of GBCC, as well as of Ling, while assuring that both brands will

continue to be run “as two separate entities with two different offers.”

A key appointment is Andy Kemmett, who has joined GBCC as head of operations. While Andy has worked for GBCC previously, he joins from IG Design Group where he was operations manager for its card division and also instrumental within IGDG’s wrapping paper and card merchandising businesses.

“Andy brings a wealth of expertise in cards, manufacturing, operations and distribution to help the GBCC team deliver improvements in productivity and supply at a crucial time when we are about to deliver Christmas which we must get 100% right. All Christmas is now in stock in Gloucester and we must hit all targets and deliver it on time for the first time for many years,” said David.

Christina Milstead has also been appointed GBCC’s head of commercial in addition to her Ling and GBCC export responsibilities.

Above: David Byk (right), ceo of Swan Mill with Chris Wilcox, md of GBCC, on the company’s stand at February’s Spring Fair.

Above left: Andy Kemmett has joined GBCC as operations manager.

‘Eat Pray Love’ author partners with Abrams & Chronicle Abrams & Chronicle has a good story to tell about its latest Emily McDowell & Friends greeting card collection, a collaboration with best-selling Elizabeth Gilbert, well known for her books Eat Pray Love and Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert earned the hearts and souls of many millions with Eat Pray Love, her true tale of self-discovery. The book has now sold well over 13 million copies with the blockbuster film, starring Julia Roberts, becoming a fave ‘feelgood’ movie.

Now, Elizabeth Gilbert’s personal take on philosophy is being shared with the world on a range of greeting cards and stationery, being published under the Emily McDowell & Friends brand, and distributed in the UK by Abrams & Chronicle.

Left: Author Elizabeth Gilbert selects one of the Abrams & Chronicle card designs.

With no physical card and gift trade shows taking place this Autumn, and retailers readily admitting how much they are missing them, Scottish card and gift agents - Sharp Stuff’s Lucy Sharp and Easy Agency’s Darran McBride - came up with a solution for their customers. They are creating an Autumn/Winter ‘Sharp & Easy Pop-up’ showroom (with pre-booked appointments) at Edinburgh’s Apex Grassmarket Hotel from August 17–27, involving a stellar lineup of card and gift brands.

“When Home & Gift, Harrogate, was cancelled, Darran and I began discussing how we could team up to offer an alternative. I have always been a ‘face to face’ person and conversations with our customers during lockdown reinforced how important seeing people and having the opportunity to show physical products is,” explained Lucy.

While Lucy is the Scottish sales agent for Caroline Gardner, Roger la Borde, Redback Cards and Brainbox Candy on the greeting card front, Darran represents U Studio and Flame Tree Publishing. Other gift, stationery and homewares brands in their portfolios include Kikkerland, Broste Copenhagen, Black Ginger, Scentchips, Swig, Talking Tables, Abrams and Chronicle, Edelman and Paperblanks. All of these brands’ products will be on show at the Sharp & Easy Pop-up showroom.

“It is becoming more and more apparent that while trade websites/digital catalogues and Zoom meetings are all very necessary, there is still a huge want and need for that personal relationship that adds so much extra value to everyone's business.”

The idea has gone down well with Scottish retailers. “Hats off to Lucy and Darran for taking the initiative and trying to find new ways to adapt to the current situation,” commented Denise Laird, coowner of Spirito of Glasgow: “I am really missing the shows. It will be great to see some lovely new products.”

Adding her endorsement, Fiona Fabian, owner of Papyrus in Glasgow, was “delighted” to hear about the Sharp & Easy Pop-up. Buying online is very convenient and definitely has its place, but my much-favoured method of buying new products is at shows - where I can see the product as well as assess the quality of design and manufacture.”

Above: Lucy Sharp and Darran McBride.

FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT PGBUZZ.net PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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OVER THE

COUNTER

In Two Minds About

Bifurication Are we ready? Will there be enough customers?

Should I open? Can I justify the fixed costs?

Should I stay closed? How do I best protect the long-term future of the business? How long should I use the furlough scheme? Should we wait for the distancing to change?

Bifuricate is not a word any of us would use every day. It is however how my brain feels. The word literally means ‘to split into two branches or forks’ and certainly sums up my torn thinking of many, many days of late.

On July 20 we re-opened our Elgin store.

This came a week after I re-opened our Buckie stores meaning we now have four businesses running with two more to go.

Scotland opened up to non-essential retail on Monday 29 June, and part of me felt we needed to stand loud and proud that day and be open to the world…or at least to those that could and would travel up to the five permitted miles in Scotland. No Barnard Castle eye test appointments here thank you!

The other part of me thought that the right decision was that I should carry on solo working as I had been doing in our newsagency business. Somehow this felt safe though not in a physical ‘avoid the virus way’ but in a ‘no costs, only me to worry about’ kind of way. In reality, customers accepted that I was doing my best to keep a business alive.

I went back and forth on that 29 June date, right up till the night before. I was so torn as to what to do, but I had chosen a path some weeks before to tie in bringing staff back to work. That plan was to simply align with the monthly pay date (13 July) and protect the business from the wage bill coming straight off the shutdown, so I stuck with it.

So, was I right? Well I do not feel vindicated that I managed those last two weeks on my own. I just did it because I believed that until more businesses were up and running, until customers had more confidence, until people could move about with a little more freedom that the financial risk of being open was not worth the 20

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

potential return. Now a week after our Buckie stores being open and our Elgin store having opened today, I am not really any further forward in my thinking.

I have seen the social media posts proclaiming fantastic days, but I am afraid I find this hard to believe. Keeping up that bravado, that ‘face’ is all important to some, but for me now is the time for honesty.

Honesty with your staff, your customers and most importantly yourself.

I sit here not elated, but not discouraged.

I sit here hoping for a better day, but expecting a ‘maybe not so good’ a one.

I sit here torn looking at numbers that I could confidently predict this time last year to the £1 being all over the place - and I know I am not alone.

Above: These Covid times have caused David and others to question whether to branch off or stick to the main trunk road.

Above right: David did a great deal of research into finding visors for his team that were comfortable yet not covered in bright colours that scare the customers and make them feel that they are being served by nuclear scientists.

Below: New ways of working. David and Linda on a Zoom meeting with Jellycat.

I have heard stories of many Londonbased retailers’ takings being 15% of their normal take and shops in other city centres being bereft of footfall, with their takings down 65/70%.

Of course there are some winners, whether they be garden centres, farm shops, out of town destinations and hopefully lots of indies in market towns.

There are places people feel happy to go to, but much of the established trade has changed, quite possibly forever.

I am letting the numbers do the talking - with weekly analysis of staff costs to turnover and then reacting in order to protect the business. While this may not be overly popular, it is the right thing to do.

We have attempted to minimise hours and staff as we get going again. We have kept those members of our team who are at risk, with childcare or family issues furloughed and have tried to give those coming back

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OVER THE COUNTER more than 80% of their normal take home pay so they feel there is a little reward.

Rotas have become a week-to-week thing and the hours of training, discussion and preparations to make sure things were right for re-opening have been huge.

It may be that the problem is not the feared second wave of Covid-19, but the fact that people just don’t want to really shop in store now and may be worried again in the near future.

The public are spending more of their pennies online. Some four months of people doing something is more than enough time to change their cognitive behaviour. The study in 2012 in the European Journal of Social Psychology proclaimed that it takes an average 66 days for an action to become a habit. Well sadly the public has had plenty of days to form a stronger online shopping habit for small ticket items as well as those items they shopped for digitally before.

As the 80s rock band Chicago sang about, habits are hard to break, but the last four months have thrown everyone’s routines and lives up in the air. We have new places to buy things and while we will crave certain places and people, we have found places to get what we need. Sadly, this has been to the internet’s benefit.

Other barriers are of course in our way too. Scotland introduced the mandatory wearing of masks in shops to coincide with opening up of non-essential shops with England following suit a few weeks later.

While I agree that this is sensible in an effort to eradicate the virus and push the R rate down further it does not make for a relaxing shopping experience if everyone is masked/covered up. The welcoming smile between shop assistant and shopper is now redundant with listening to and discussing anything instore becoming a real test.

Above: David has invested in remodelling the coffee shop within the Bijou store in Elgin.

Below: Paper Tiger’s Michael Apter talking on BBC News about the necessity of a balanced ecosystem for retailers to prosper.

Below right: Rock band Chicago had a hit in the 80s with its ‘Hard habit to break’. Will the surge in online shopping habit stick?

For this reason, and the fact we have a lot of older customers with hearing impairments we opted for a very high quality visor for our team.

The staff now are running around like extras from Star Trek but at least they all feel safe with them.

Restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and numerous other indoor businesses in Scotland were given the go ahead to reopen on 15 July. However, many retailers are still not trading. Our newly renovated Elgin store opened with a remodelled coffee shop and with electric doors installed among many other changes. Is this where I should have spent my money? Again, I have been conflicted in my thinking.

Offices are standing almost empty with a huge amount of people now working from home so no popping out to grab a sandwich for lunch, picking up that card or gift while they are at it. This is a massive problem throughout the UK and no amount of encouragement from the PM is resulting in a rapid return to the daily commute.

One of my peers, Michael Apter, owner of Edinburgh-based Paper Tiger mentioned the word “ecosystem” when he spoke out on BBC News the day of Scotland’s nonessential retailers re-opening - and I think he nailed it.

An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life.

As Michael highlighted, high streets and shopping centres cannot exist without a diversity of business which drives footfall - the ladies having lunch before a hair or beauty appointment, the man running out of the bookies to get his wife a card and a bottle of perfume for her birthday, the friends meeting up for a few early evening cocktails straight after work. Until all this is going on again the ecosystem will be out of kilter.

So, can we survive? Will trade come back? Will the public keep supporting local retailers or will the new habit of buying online continue?

I am conflicted as to what is right and what is wrong. What do you do or what do you leave well alone?

It is true that the furlough scheme saved a mass cull and various other schemes have helped to some extent, but ultimately we, as retailers do face making our decisions alone.

A town or city centre is a made up of mutually interdependent species living in one habitat and it is this diversity of retail coming together that makes an area a vibrant place to come out and enjoy.

Within all ecosystems the inhabitants must adapt to new species, new challenges, the weather and so many other variables. Of course some will flourish forever while others come and go.

It will of course be the survival of the fittest in that fight to not become extinct. I am not an indecisive person, but quite simply right now there is no right or wrong.

You can follow the numbers; you can follow your head; you can follow what others tell you, but simply you need to follow what you truly believe in yourself.

You can’t do any more. Bifurcation has a lot to answer for!

To contact David email: jppozzi@btconnect.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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cardsharp

A V-Shaped Greeting Card

Recovery As life slowly returns to the ‘New Normal’, whatever that is, Cardsharp looks at who in the greeting card industry has fared better (or should that be ‘the least worst’) from the last five months’ of turmoil and wonders what the future holds in store for us all.

It has been a tough few months, but with the push to return to work and the pubs now fully open, things are sort of starting to get going again, thinks Cardsharp optimistically.

Whatever your views on the measures that have been or are being taken in the battle to control the coronavirus Cardsharp tried to make sense of the facts. As PG went to press, the fatality rate in the UK from Covid-19 is close to zero for those under 40 years old, less than ½% for those aged 40 to 50 and then rises to about 15% in those over 80 years old. So, Cardsharp reflects, the younger generation have arguably had their lives effectively put on hold and in many cases their future blighted for an illness that has been deemed by many to have few lasting ill effects on them.

To Cardsharp’s mind, the measures to counter the risk of spreading Covid-19 - eg complete lockdown, social distancing, restrictions on mass gatherings - admittedly to safeguard lives, have had a severe effect

22

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

on, not just the greeting card industry, but the whole UK economy.

As we slowly emerge with the easing of the lockdown, clear patterns are starting to become apparent. While online traders (such as Moonpig, Thortful and Funky Pigeon), a few supermarkets and some convenience stores have really benefitted from the whole experience so many more have suffered and will continue to, some more than others.

The online operators have had a veritable boom time, and the royalties resulting from the spiralling sales have no doubt been a godsend to many

Above: Cardsharp hopes that there will be a Winstonlike ‘V for Victory’ recovery for the card sector.

Below left: Cards Galore’s Rumit Shah and his uncle Rajesh Shah (who founded the retail business 30 years ago on BBC News.

Bottom: The pure play online operators, such as Thortful, as well as many retailers who have upped their web presence have fared well.

publishers. It will be certainly be interesting what the online operators market share of the greeting card market will stabilise at after this is all over. Cardsharp suspects it may be a lot higher than the estimated 6% it was before lockdown.

What has become clear since the opening up of non-essential retailers, is that ‘shopping local’ has undergone a massive renaissance, boosted by so many people either furloughed or working from home. This, along with the business rate holiday and grants from Rishi Sunak, has given a much-needed boost to many independent retailers.

Social distancing remains a problem, but it is encouraging that in many areas people are rediscovering or even discovering their local independent shops.

The problem some indies are reporting is a lack of response or communication from many publishers who have furloughed their reps or have had their own production issues resulting from lockdown. This has in turn transmitted down the supply chain, with another previously beleaguered sector, the wholesale one, enjoying something of a revival as affected indies have looked to wholesalers to fill pockets previously taken by direct to retail suppliers, but even then some wholesalers have reported a shortage of stock bought about by the interruption of production during the lockdown.

Cardsharp read recently that some town centres, like Chatham in Kent, Southend in Essex, and Burnley in Lancashire are actually experiencing a 20% increase in shopping footfall over the corresponding week last year. Good news indeed for the type of larger provincial

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towns that have had a tough time of it in recent years.

But the downside of this is the terrible time our major metropolitan centres are having. Central Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow are reporting footfall numbers, down around 40% from the norm, while Central London numbers are estimated to be only 23% of what they would be expecting at this time of year.

Offices are closed and empty as people are working from home and major rail hubs are desolate as those that do travel into the ‘smoke’ are now doing so by car. Add to that, the almost complete absence of overseas visitors and you have the perfect storm. Cardsharp’s heart goes out to Rumit

Shah and everyone at Cards Galore, whose impassioned plea for customers on BBC News must have moved everyone in the trade. Cards Galore has 11 stores in the ‘Square Mile’ of the City alone as well as myriad outlets in the major transport hubs of the metropolis. With so many of the major banks and institutions mothballing their offices and ordering employees to work from home at least until the new year, there is no apparent end to their misery in sight.

And it’s not just Cards Galore that must be really feeling it. Scribbler, with so many central London locations must be having a hard time, along with lifestyle retailer Oliver Bonas and of course Paperchase. Many suppliers have voiced concerns about Paperchase. Having undergone a Creditors Voluntary Agreement (CVA) at the beginning of last year, and with its owners being a private equity business, there is a degree of nervousness around the chain despite assurances from the top, not helped by suppliers having been asked to take a financial ‘haircut’ over historic debt.

And even previous City favourites like WHSmith are being hit from all angles. Its travel business, previously one of the most profitable operations in UK bricks and mortar retailing, has been destroyed as a result of deserted railway stations and airports.

And it’s not just big players like Cards Galore who are feeling it. Brent Millburn owner of long-established indie, Newframes in London’s Soho, revealed in PG Buzz that his takings are down 93%! It’s a truly catastrophic situation, reflects Cardsharp.

Clintons’ situation is just as opaque as ever. As PG went to press, news came that Cardzone is taking over the sites of around 20 Clintons stores. The deal was not actually done with Clintons itself, but with the respective landlords, with Clintons apparently having indicated that they were not planning to reopen these stores post lockdown. From Cardzone’s point of view this is a good opportunity to grow, enabling it to gain a presence in number of new geographical areas, such as the home counties, where it previously did not really operate, inheriting established card and gift shop locations.

The bulk of Cardzone’s stores are primarily in local shopping areas rather than large city centre locations, so with the chain now over the 150-store mark, it has become a true prime player in the greeting card market. Being a family-owned company that has a love of the greeting card industry and very high set of business ethics, this must surely be a good thing for the industry.

But what of Clintons muses Cardsharp? It went into a creditors voluntary agreement (CVA) last December and was allegedly in the process of some pretty hard ball negotiations with landlords over rents when the crisis hit in March. And now the question to Cardsharp is how many of the remaining estate will reopen and also how deep is the owners of Clintons’, the Weiss family’s financial commitment to the chain?

Above: Supermarkets such as Asda have done well on the card front during lockdown.

Below ledft: Carnaby Street in London, round the corner from indie Newframes is deserted compared to what it is like usually.

Bottom: Some of Clintons former sites (this one not included) have been taken over by Cardzone.

Card Factory is another interesting one.

Without a chief executive and a depressed share price, the publicly-listed company has been under a bit of a cloud, though its recently unveiled five year strategy caused a few eyes to blink, such are its ambitious growth plans - to aim for 5,600 ‘rooftops’ worldwide, largely through partnerships with other retailers. Cardsharp’s view, for what it is worth, is if Card Factory can overcome some of the operational inefficiencies (like the ones it experienced last Christmas), it could bounce back quite strongly. Most of its company-run stores are not in major metropolitan centres or transport hubs or even shopping complexes. And its value offering will certainly be appealing to many cash-strapped family households as the financial effects of the end of furloughing and the inevitable rise in unemployment take effect.

The big grocers have undoubtably benefitted from the crisis. Particularly Sainsbury’s and Asda, who were quicker than their competitors to get their racks restocked and merchandised. Cardsharp has heard that some suppliers have been reporting a significant increase in sales levels compared to pre-lockdown levels.

The most positive thing from Cardsharp’s point of view is that during the most challenging period in our history, the UK public has demonstrated their love of greeting cards big time, something which we all in the industry should see as reassurance of the product’s continued relevance.

Cardsharp hopes this is enough to avoid our own greeting card recession and we have a ‘V for Victory’ shaped recovery.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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VIEWPOINTS

Whole Lotta

Thinkin’ Goin’ On

Above: There is a whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on around Thinking of You Week this year!

Below: This edition of PG includes a POS sticker and A5 poster (kindly produced by Abbot Print) that retailers can use to promote Thinking of You Week, which harnesses the emotional power of sending greeting cards, creating a wave of love, caring and happiness.

Just as Jerry Lee Lewis went down a storm in the ‘50s with Dave ‘Curlee’ Williams’ song ‘Whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on’, this year the GCA looks set to have a hit on its hands with its Thinking of You Week campaign as widespread engagement from retailers, publishers, press and consumers has already sent it soaring up the popularity charts.

With many weeks still to go until the official event (September 21-27), PG checks in with some of those who have put their thinking caps on to make the most of this allembracing greeting card sending initiative.

Amanda Fergusson ceo of the GCA: “The level of engagement for Thinking of You Week this year is unprecedented, such is the poignancy of sending greeting cards to show you care and appreciate having people in our lives during these challenging times.

It is really exciting not only to have so many leading retailers and publishers already pledging their support to the campaign, some for the first time ever, but also how the activity has already cut through at press and consumer levels too. This is evidenced by the thousands of visits to our new, more consumerfacing Thinking of You Week website, for which we are indebted to Karen Wilson and Claire Williams, co-founders of Paper Salad (for the on-trend branding) and Davora’s founder and owner, Rajeev Arora for the website build.

With Royal Mail having committed to a dedicated Thinking of You Week stamp cancellation mark; an impressive mix of specialists and grocers already on board (including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Paperchase, Card Factory and Cardzone); card

publishers large and small forging links between their retailer customers and the end consumer as well as the interest we are generating in the media and education circles, Thinking of You Week 2020 looks set to be one to remember - and there’s still time to get involved!

We are putting the final touches to a competition template that retailers will be able to adapt for their customers while Abbot Print has kindly produced free Thinking of You Week stickers and posters (distributed in this edition of Progressive Greetings magazine) which can be used on card racks or around the shop, to make it even easier to indies to put some action behind their thinking!”

Above: As well as including wonderful feelgood stories of how greeting cards have come to the fore during lockdown, the Gallery section of the Thinking of You Week website showcases over 230 different greeting card designs for ‘thinking of you’ sends.

Left: Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA (right) being interviewed by Lauren Hall of ITV News, resulting in widespread coverage across the ITV network, sparked by Thinking of You Week.

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VIEWPOINTS Grace Elphinstone marketing manager of Carte Blanche Greetings:

Jo Bennett studio director and Charlotte Holdsworth, marketing co-ordinator of Card Factory: “We are thrilled to be supporting the Thinking of You Week campaign this year, in our retail stores, online platform and via our social media channels.

The vibrant creative of TOYW 2020 will stand out in our shops and we truly believe our customers will really resonate with the campaign – particularly with everything that has been happening over the last few months.

We know that a small gesture, like sending a card, can really put a smile on someone’s face and make them feel valued and loved. This year, more than any, has really highlighted how much our friends, family, neighbours and people in the community mean to us.

Our support includes creating a special spinner header featuring the TOYW branding which will sit above our display of sentiment cards and gifts, a title finder which will sit near our open cards and an epos screen which will be on display at our till points.”

Above: Some of the Card Factory PoS it is creating in support of TOYW. Left: Some of the cards which will be displayed near to the TOYW signage in Card Factory.

Below: Cardzone is getting behind Thinking of You Week for the first time this year.

“As all of us in the industry know, greeting cards have an incredible power in being able to lift a person in a way that a text message or call simply cannot. In the current times in which we find ourselves, where people are isolated more than ever and mental health is being challenged, card sending really has come into its own which makes Thinking of You Week all the more important and relevant.

Testament to this is the recent uplift in sales of open cards that send simple messages of love, thanks and thinking of you (which prompted us to include thank you and open caption designs in our Me to You New Beginnings range, developed to help consumers reach out to friends and family).

As part of our involvement with Thinking of You Week this year we are to provide five free packs of cards to all UK independent retailers who place an order for over £150 with CBG in August (shipped by the end of the month). The idea is these free packs of cards (which include designs from Me to You, Wishing Well, Hotchpotch, Emotional Rescue and Blue Mountain Arts brands) can then be used for their own initiatives.

We hope retailers will use these to offer a free card (while stocks last) to anyone buying one of our cards during Thinking of You Week with the idea that this card can then be sent with the card the customer purchased to encourage the recipient to ‘pay it forward’ and send the free card to another friend or loved one. We really hope that this initiative will spark a wave of card sending and offer another reason for customers to shop locally and to send cards.

We fully expect that this year’s Thinking of You Week initiative, that has been going from strength to strength each year, to really come into its own this year and cement itself into the nation’s psyche as an annual celebration.”

Above right: CBG’s Grace Elphinstone with the company’s ceo Alister Marchant on at the Spring Fair.

Above: Some of the free cards that CBG will be giving to customers as part of its TOYW activities.

Paul Taylor managing director of Cardzone, a specialist multiple retailer with 150+ stores: “We are backing Thinking of You Week for the first time ever, recognising that the card sending initiative event is on course to resonate with the general public like never before.

One of the upsides of Covid-19 lockdown has been a greater appreciation of those in our lives, something reflected in the healthy level of greeting card sending over the last four months.

We made the commitment to supporting TOYW back in June when we contacted our card publisher suppliers asking them to send us samples of their Thinking of You or similarly captioned designs so that we could create a display of relevant cards that we will put into our stores.”

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VIEWPOINTS Carly Pearson

Jackie Collins

senior buyer of greeting cards, giftwrap and stationery for Sainsbury’s:

owner and co-founder of Cherry Orchard Publishing: “During the weeks of lockdown I had so many wonderful chats with our retail customers. It was so lovely to reconnect with so many of them; to share experiences and concerns, not just on the business front but personally too. It made me realise how much friendship and support makes such a difference especially when we’re going through troubled times. I really feel that Thinking of You Week will be extra poignant this year as people look for a way to say thank you for being there.

The GCA has done wonderful work in promoting the merits of card giving and Thinking of You is very much part of this.

Both the lockdown experience and Thinking of You Week inspired us to create a special friendship collection of cards (comprising 40 designs) that let people show how much they care and appreciate the support that we can all give one another.

Coinciding with this we are launching a Thinking of You Week Window Competition, starting on 7 September and running right through to the end of the Week (on September 27), offering a prize of a £250 M&S voucher for the winner.”

“Deciding to participate in Thinking of You Week this year was always on the cards especially with the last few months having been a very difficult time for our customers. During this period, as the growth in our card sales indicate, customers have had a desire to reach out and connect with friends and family and let them know they are thinking of them, knowing how receiving a card can be supportive to the recipient in difficult times. Anything we can do help make this easier has to be seen as a positive thing.

We initially tested take up with a half bay of Thinking of You, Miss You etc captioned cards in 70 of our stores, which formed a good testbed to gauge customer interest in these sorts of sending occasions from a noncard specialist like us!

The positive results to this will see us installing a shipper (featuring GCA Thinking of You Week branding) into our top 200 stores from midAugust with plans to keep it in stores across right through to the end of Thinking of You Week.

The display will accommodate around 50 greeting card designs from publishers including Belly Button Designs, Lucilla Lavender, Oh Deer, Rosie Made A Thing, Sooschichacha, Stormy Knight and UKG.” Above: Carly Pearson, senior buyer of Sainsbury’s.

Left: The top 200 Sainsbury’s stores will each have a dedicated TOYW shipper installed in August and will remain in place until the end of September.

Top: Cherry Orchard’s new range of friendship designs span 40 designs in a range of styles, sizes and price points.

Above: Retailers can enter the Cherry Orchard competition by sending photos of their windows to helen@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk or through social media on Cherry Orchard’s Facebook page. The winner’s name will be chosen on 30 September.

Left: The new Thinking of You Week website (www.thinkingofyo uweek.cards), went live right at the start of lockdown and is constantly updated.

Tools of the trade Joyful new livery for this year’s Thinking of You Week (ToYW) was created by Paper Salad’ founders Karen Wilson and Claire Williams. Including the GCA’s tagline, ‘#Send a card, deliver a smile’, the livery is available from the dedicated Thinking of You Week website.

Explaining the inspiration of the new look, Karen said: “We wanted the new Thinking of You Week artwork to be fun, generic and reflect all the ‘diversity’ in the world.”

In a case of perfect timing, the branding includes a rainbow element, which has been adopted as the symbol of hope to help stem the spread of the coronavirus. “Rainbows spread happy, positive vibes, that the world needs more than ever today! You could say that it was a fluke (or sub-conscious designers’ instinct) that it turned into the perfect logo for the GCA Thinking of You Week! Its launch coincided perfectly with thousands of children painting rainbows and placing them in windows. We feel really pleased that it has already had such a great reaction,” added Claire.

Kate Whatmore owner of Corniche: “I love the concept of Thinking of You Week as I don’t think any of us tell people enough that we care for and appreciate them. Last year, to tie in with the campaign I decided to not only send cards to people who I felt would appreciate knowing I was ‘thinking of them’, but also bring into play a ‘pay it forward’ element.

I just didn’t want my sending of a card, that meant something to me and hopefully the recipient, to just end there. So, to keep it going I also included a copy of the downloadable GCA Thinking of You Week flyer that explains all about the campaign as well as an extra unwritten card for them to send on to someone else.

The response last year was fantastic, and from a social media point of view it was great as I was then tagged by the recipients and then their recipients - it was I really fun and hugely appreciated by everyone involved.

I will be doing it again this year and plan to send even more cards than I did in 2019.

Admittedly It takes a bit of planning, but it’s worth it. I will decide who I am going to write to the week before, prepare the cards and then will post cards every day that week. I highly recommend all greeting card publishers and retailers to give it a go” Above right: On the back of her experiences last year, Corniche’s Kate Whatmore is well geared up already for her plans to mark the event in September.

Above: A Corniche card design that lends itself to being sent during TOYW.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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28/07/2020 17:51 03/08/2020 12:10

PG Innovations .qxp_38-39/40-41 05/08/2020 15:53 Page 1

Some wonderful new launches to pep up retailers’ greeting card displays

Spring loaded

Signs of the times

Dandelion Stationery has loads of new designs available for Spring Seasons 2021. Among these is its Tahiti Collection which has a completely different vibe from products the publisher has created before. This super bright and colourful collection comprises 16 cards, predominately for mums and Mother's Day. Inspired by botanical, tropical patterns and animals from different fabrics and wallpapers, this collection is printed on luxury 300gsm FSC-certified board. It features metallic gold foiling and is supplied with rustic kraft envelopes.

Dandelion Stationery 01332 504940 dandelionstationery.co.uk

Woodmansterne’s The New Normal?! card collection gives a light-hearted take on the strange new world we find ourselves. The range incorporates designs from its Quentin Blake, Hysterical Heritage, Fred, Off The Leash, On the Prowl, Fred, Livin’ It and Shadbolt ranges.

Woodmansterne Publications 01923 200600 www.woodmansterne.com

People power Among Lagom’s flurry of latest launches is a collection based on the art of South Philadelphia-based Molly Egan. Inspired by folk art, ephemera and contemporary culture, Molly’s joyful designs embrace bodies of all sizes and celebrate people of all colours. She creates her images using paint, pencil and print.

Lagom Design 03331 230101 www.lagomdesign.co.u

More eureka moments Deckled Edge’s rainbow piñata llama is sure to get the party started! Jam-packed full of colour, this is one several new designs to join the publisher’s Eureka range, which now comprises 27 designs.

Featuring drawings by artist Janna Cossenttini, the cards measuring 124 x172mm are printed on thick tactile FSC 350gsm board and come with matching sparkly metallic envelopes. Retailers can choose to have the cards wrapped or nested with an envelope.

Deckled Edge 0800 771 0771 www.decklededge.co.uk

Friendly notes Alice Loveday's Notes to Friends range celebrate fun and friendship through playfully illustrated comments on life's strange and wonderful moments. Aimed at bringing people together with the humour, compassion and honesty only found between true pals, the 14 card designs cover many life events. The cards measure 105x150mm and come with a kraft envelopes, card clasped.

Alice Loveday 07575 356596 www.ailceloveday.com

City highlights Njeri Illustrated has launched a new Love Your City range. With everyone stuck at home during the lockdown and missing city life, in response to requests the publisher has included designs of favourite areas in various necks of the woods. These blank greeting cards lend themselves to being used as Thinking of You, Remembering Good Times and Missing You sends.

Njeri Illustrated 0781 456 3610 www.njeriillustrated.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PG Innovations .qxp_38-39/40-41 05/08/2020 15:53 Page 2

Some wonderful new launches to pep up retailers’ greeting card displays

Word to the wise Lucilla Lavender’s latest Life Lines collection features copy-led designs using fun quotes that will raise a smile, with the subject matter based around booze and sweet treats. The large, playful typography gives emphasis to certain words and phrases, enhanced by beautiful blends of colours. Distinctive, simply painted illustrations complete the look. There are eight cards in the collection, and the envelopes are white to complement the designs.

Lucilla Lavender 0203 405 1410 www.lucillalavender.com

Good relations

Happy disasters

Purple Tree Designs has expanded its Statement collection to include relations, such as nephew, niece, uncle and aunt to allow customers to let even more people know they are damn awesome in these weird times. The new additions means the range now spans 21 blank designs covering different occasions. Each card in the range is 150mm x 150mm, printed on FSC certified card, and comes with a recycled kraft envelope.

Purple Tree Designs 07803 591927 www.purpletreedesigns.co.uk

Redback has given a warm welcome to a fun new licensed range, Near Modern Disaster. With 42 colourful designs to choose from, this versatile collection covers everyday sends and occasions, with a signature light-hearted humour.

With a contemporary typographical style combined with quirky illustrations and pattern, the 120mm x 170mm cards feature a soft touch finish and are supplied with a kraft envelope.

Redback Cards 01752 830482 www.redbackcards.com

Nature’s way 1 Tree Cards’ Bloom collection mixes bold text with classic floral images. The collection includes 12 blossoming designs with positive messages, such as ‘Here for You’ and ‘You've Got This’. With the enclosed flower seed token and pledge to plant a tree for every card sold, they make a great send for green fingered bee-lovers or those wanting to mark a special occasion in a planetfriendly way. All cards are 100% recyclable and come either naked or in a compostable sleeve.

1 Tree Cards 07484 694 951 www.1treecards.com

Taking a bow Sweet is a brand new range from Stop the Clock Design. The contemporary collection features bold patterns, bright colours and lots of quirky characters to make you smile. All cards are printed on 350gsm FSC-approved board. They are all hand-finished with bright yellow or pink bows and come with aqua or bright pink envelopes.

Stop the Clock Design 01457 763335 www.stoptheclockdesign.com 30

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Birds of a feather During lockdown Clemency Bunn, founder of Citrus Bunn took part in a ‘100 days of watercolour birds challenge’. While the creative project was tough - and a lot of feathers! – it has resulted in a new card range, Winging It. Lots of lovely new feathered friends now have been adorned with party hats and the such like to appear on the card designs!

Citrus Bunn 07746324124 www.citrusbunn.com

PG Innovations .qxp_38-39/40-41 05/08/2020 15:53 Page 3

Some wonderful new launches to pep up retailers’ greeting card displays

Shout about it Kali Stileman’s marvellous new Mouthies children’s card collection looks like it can speak for itself! Each of the designs in the range features a laser-cut mouth for little fingers to play with. The designs are based on Kali’s illustrations for Make Believe Ideas, and include a fluffy and formidable yeti, a delightful dinosaur, a growly tiger, among others. Printed on matt board in an array of muted bright colours, each comes with bright red or pink envelope.

Kali Stileman Publishing 01305 848899 www.kalistileman.co.uk

Botanical beauties Apple & Clover has just launched its new Eco Floralia collection, featuring arrangements of flowers and foliage with a vintage feel. The 10 designs are printed on 100% recycled board using various coloured foils. The cards measure 144mm x 162mm, come with brightly coloured envelopes and are packed cello-free.

Apple & Clover 07790 900976 www.appleandclover.com

Responding to type Hot off the press from Abacus is Presswork, a colourful, retro-inspired typographical range.

Combining bold foiling, debossed lettering and quirky, eclectic birthday messages, the range is likely to appeal to a wide, masculine audience.

Printed on smooth board, these striking designs are presented in a 5” x 7” format, the cards are accompanied by white cartridge envelopes.

Abacus Cards 01638 569050 www.abacuscards.co.uk

Mellow yellow At a very strange point in our lives, when we can't all be together, when some are feeling unwell and completely isolated, and when a card can say it all, Wendy Bell Designs has created Liquid Gold, a collection of 20 new greeting card designs with a nod to lockdown.

Sentiments include love, encouragement, support and five birthday designs among others. Each design is 105mm x 150mm, blank inside, printed onto a heavyweight card stock and supplied with a canary yellow envelope, cards naked, cello wrapped or with a smart seal.

Wendy Bell Designs 07803 609902 www.wendybelldesigns.com

Festive treats Inspired by frosty woodland walks and designed in collaboration with the National Trust, Toasted Crumpet’s Explore & Treasure Christmas cards combine the publisher’s favourite botanical repeat patterns with pops of colour from some best loved winter animals. Each 150x150mm design is printed on a luxury textured card stock, with luxe gold hot foiled highlights and is accompanied by a crimson envelope and neatly held together with an eco-clasp (cello-free).

Toasted Crumpet 01372 635359 www.toastedcrumpet.co.uk

Annual events In reaction to the positive response to its Wee-Nipper age relations collection, Cardigan Cards is launching a children’s age range under the same brand. The bright, colourful 24 designs cover ages 1-12, both for boys and girls. The tall slim cards measure 133mm X 235mm. As with all Cardigan’s cards, they are printed with vegetable inks on board produced from sustainable forests. The cards are supplied naked range of cards and as such are fully recyclable.

Cardigan Cards 01785 250511 www.cardigancards.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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The GreATesT COLLeCTiOn OF GreeTinG CArDs in The WOrLD The international greetings industry will be reuniting at PG Live 2021, with hundreds of card publishers and retail buyers coming together to refresh their ranges and reconnect with friends.

The FuTure OF GreeTinGs Book your free tickets now www.progressivegreetingslive.com

32_PG_August 2020.indd 1

PG Live 2021 Tuesday 8 - Wednesday 9 June Business Design Centre, London +44 (0) 1635 297070 www.progressivegreetingslive.com @PGLiveLondon #PGL2021

04/08/2020 16:19

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Industry Issue

Above: The first meeting of GCA Diversity Sub-committee attended by (left-right, top row down) Amanda Fergusson (GCA), Jakki Brown (PG), Mark Callaby (Ohh Deer), Darren Cave (UKG), Nicola Lespeare (Nicola Lespeare Cards), Therese Laverton (YOUnited Cards), Sarah Coombes (Karmuka), Jenny Baker (Out of the Box Designs), Tineka Smith (Huetribe), Grace Adisa (My Ethnic Cards), David Falkner (Cardology), Georgina Fihosy (AfroTouch Design) and Dayo Williams (Dayo’s Cards).

Below left: An AfroTouch Design card.

Below right: Georgina Fihosy, founder of AfroTouch Design sees Waterstones’ decision to stock her cards as a good step towards diversity being recognised by major retail names.

Diversity Matters “I am so glad this is happening - you are all making history, not just for the GCA, but the whole industry,” stated Dayo Williams, founder of Dayo’s Cards at the first ever GCA Diversity Sub-committee meeting last month.

“We’re moving in the right direction, but now need a work plan,” added Georgina Fihosy of AfroTouch Design as to how improvements can and should be made in the greeting card sector on the diversity front, both within companies’ own recruitment policies as well as on retailers’ card racks.

PG shares some of the recent developments on this front as well as shining the spotlight on several card publishers which have diversity at their hearts.

Waterstones’ AfroTouch Design Debut

Leading book retailing chain Waterstones is initiating changes to its greeting card selection to make it more diverse, with the introduction of a number of designs from black-owned publisher, AfroTouch Design into some selected stores being the starting point.

“As an industry I really believe we all need to work together and the responsibility lies with both publishers and retailers to make changes,” believes Hazel Walker, senior buyer for cards, wrap and stationery for Waterstones.

Inspired by reading a news item on PG Buzz (the digital newsfeed connected to this magazine), about the frustration Georgina Fihosy (founder of publisher AfroTouch Design) felt about there not being proper representation in mainstream retail of card designs that reflect the black community, Hazel wasted no time in making contact.

Hazel has since placed an order for a selection of AfroTouch Design cards, which are now to be trialled in 12 of its stores, including its flagship in London’s Piccadilly, plus on its online shop.

“We’re really keen to improve the diversity of our card range and plan to build on this,” underlined Hazel, seeing the order with AfroTouch as just being the start.

For Georgina, being stocked by Waterstones fulfils one of her personal goals: “to see my cards available from a major respected retail outlet”. As Georgina added “I have always wanted to partner with stores that were open to providing a buying option for the black community and POC [people of colour]. We live in such a diverse world and representation of all communities is really important to me. I hope through this partnership with Waterstones other major retail outlets will take a look at their product offering and review whether they are truly representing the population that they serve.”

The book retailer revealed that it is also planning to introduce designs from black-owned publisher KitsCH Noir and is also reviewing ranges from its existing publishers.

As Hazel added: “We’re always mindful of diversity when making selections, but historically have found it a challenge with not that many suitable designs being submitted - that’s why we’ve been more active in seeking out publishers like AfroTouch Design.”

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Industry Issue

Publisher Spotlight: Karmuka

Card Factory’s creative commitment

“Too often inclusion in the card industry is seen wrongly as catering for niche audiences, but celebrating and promoting diversity enriches us all,” points out Sarah Coombes, founder and director of Karmuka.

“Children want and deserve to see themselves, and their wider community, in the cards they send and receive. Our children’s birthday cards are for anyone living in an ethnically diverse area, who would like to give a fun, beautifully illustrated, culturally appropriate card which truly reflects their environment,” she adds.

Explaining her motivation as a publisher, Sarah shares her belief that “inclusion is the way forward” underlined by how the company works with a diverse range of artists. “Our mission is to make diversity the norm not the exception,” she adds.

Card Factory, the UK’s largest greeting card retailer has committed to improving its representation of diversity within its greeting card selection.

Jo Bennett, studio director of Card Factory underlined the retail business’ commitment on this front at the recent GCA Diversity in the Greeting Card Industry meeting (which led to the formation of the distinct sub-committee).

Jo was keen to attend the meeting on Card Factory’s behalf, especially as it coincided with the company’s internal discussions about how best to address its current paucity of greeting card designs which cater for the BAME community.

“We have 1,000 stores and have over 10,000 people working in them,” relayed Jo at the meeting. “We have had a lot more people coming forward, our work colleagues as well as Below: This Karmuka design resonates with black children due to the unicorn’s afro hair. customers, saying that we do not have cards to represent black and ethnic minorities. This is something we are very keen to address,” Jo added.

Giving her assurance that this is something “we will action,” Jo cited the example of how the retailer has upped its game over the last few years in catering for LGBTQ community by including greeting cards which recognise these card sending needs.

With Card Factory’s online side becoming more active, Jo highlighted this channel as one strand that could easily lend itself to making diverse designs available to all, inviting the many black-owned card publishing businesses attending the meeting to make contact with her.

On Card Factory’s instore representation of diverse cards, Jo explained that the “commercial side” as well as the logistics of running 1,000+ stores presented challenges, but not insurmountable ones, highlighting how the retailer’s selection is tailored to the sociodemographics of the stores’ location, by accommodating regional differences on the Publisher Spotlight: YOUnited Cards captioning front, for example.

It was Therese Laverton’s own lifelong personal experiences, While recognising how a decision to initially of her mother and her husband having had to resort to colouring create a display feature instore of diverse cards in the faces on cards so that they match her skin tone as cards (something that is logistically easier for Card featuring black people are not widely available in shops, that led Factory to execute than integrating designs into her to set up YOUnited Cards. the planned displays) could be misconstrued as “I want to help represent all ‘tokenism’, Jo also stressed the point that this people who feel unrepresented would be a way of “advertising” to customers that and be as inclusive as I can with the cards were in stock. my designs,” says Therese.

“I think we have to start somewhere,” says “Retailers, buyers and even Jo. “It would signal a ‘look they’re here’, after publishers should try to be more which we could then look at integrating in certain open to inclusivity for all races designs into the main displays.” As she stressed: and/or marginalised groups. As a black-British woman “We are very glad to be part of this discussion growing up in North London I have always known and had and play our part in making real change.” connections with people from a multitude of backgrounds Top: Card Factory has promised to initiate change in the and my work stems from that.” retailer’s card selection on the diversity front.

Above: Weddings is one area where it is most likely to feature figurative illustrations. Card Factory recognises it needs to include more skin tones.

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Above: Therese Laverton Right: A YOUnited card design.

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Industry Issue

Scribbler’s SupportBlackDesigners Campaign This month marks the launch of Scribbler’s first ever SupportBlackDesigners campaign, conceived to support the black card publishers it currently stocks, highlight the retailer’s diverse offering to customers as well as to encourage other black artists to get in touch.

In addition, the retailer has made a conscious decision to feature more diversity in its banners, on social media posts and the emailers it sends out to the public.

While Aisling Crosland, head of design at Scribbler explained that the retailer has been working with diverse designers for some time, “recent events have definitely been a catalyst for us to review what we are doing and push to do more.”

Having attended the recent GCA Diversity in Greeting Cards meeting and listening to the many black publishers sharing their frustrations at the difficulties of finding cards that cater for the black community in mainstream retail, Aisling realised “it isn't enough to just have the cards, we also need to be making a conscious effort to promote them!”

Scribbler’s SupportBlackDesigners campaign involves the retailer promoting black-owned publishers, including Kazvare Made It, Huetribe, KitsCH Noir, Pearl Ivy among others.

“We want to give these designers a platform to have their work seen, let customers know the we have these cards (not just having them buried away somewhere) and to encourage other black designers to know they can send their work to Scribbler and if it's right for our customers it will be accepted,” explains Aisling.

Using Scribbler’s ‘print on demand’ facility, as well as paying the designers a royalty rate for the designs, the retailer is to donate the profits from these cards to a charity selected by the designers themselves.

The retailer is also using its online presence to share more ‘face behind the cards’ stories of the publishers to inform the public of the cards on sale in Scribbler’s physical stores via its POD model. This worked well with its activity to support Cherelle Brown, founder of KitsCH Noir’s #CelebrateBlackMen campaign in the run up to Father’s Day.

Left: Scribbler got behind Cherelle Brown of KitsCH Noir’s #CelebrateBlackMen campaign.

Below left: There will be more posts and emailers that will reflect Scribbler’s commitment to diversity.

“As we are limited for space in stores we want to use our site to make sure everyone is given a fair chance for their cards to be seen and ultimately make it into store and increase the diversity and number of black designers represented in our stores,” states Aisling.

“We want to make seeing diversity on our cards just part of the norm rather than the anomaly,” says Aisling.

Publisher Spotlight: Nyha Cards Nyha Cards launched at Progressive Greetings Live in 2014. The collection of black and multicultural greeting cards has now grown to over 100 designs, all created by illustrator, designer and author Naomi C Robinson. Naomi says her brand “aims to rebalance and reflect a culturally diverse world, one card at a time”. As part of its inclusive approach, the portfolio (which comprises four adult ranges and a large children’s collection) showcases all shades of the skin tone spectrum, from dark to light.

Publisher Spotlight: Nicola Lespeare Greeting Cards “It's great to see diversity on the GCA agenda and a committed focus to lead change,” Nicola Lespeare, founder of Nicola Lespeare Greeting Cards told PG. Founded in 2016, Nicola’s card company was born out of her mission to counter the paucity of visible representation of black character cards in the UK greeting card industry.

Nicola describes her company as an aspirational brand specialising in stylish, illustrated celebration cards inspired by fabulous afros and deep skin tones.

“It’s encouraging to see the GCA taking steps to influence change in an effort to initiate more inclusivity in the greeting card industry and gain wider representation of cards that reflect the diverse UK population. I’m really excited that black greeting cards are being amplified in an important shift towards re-shaping the commercial greeting card landscape. Key to creating a framework for meaningful inclusivity action is retailers, buyers and trade influencers making an invested commitment to finding solutions that drive lasting change, supported by measurable practices to chart progress,” says Nicola.

Left: Nicola Lespeare Greeting Cards is an aspirational brand specialising in stylish, illustrated celebration cards inspired by fabulous afros and deep skin tones.

Nyha Cards is stocked in stores such as Morleys department store in Brixton as well as a handful of independent shops. “I have had more engagement from buyers since speaking out about my experiences on my Instagram page, which urged my customers to directly make their local stores know that they want more diverse cards available in stores. I believe change must come from the agents and buyers directly assessing their ranges.”

Above: A Nyha design.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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ART SOURCE

Tess Recordon

Charlotte Cornish

TO APPEAR REGULARLY IN THE

Karen Frances Eng

ARTSOURCE SECTION OF PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON 01234 740 051

36_PG_August 2020.indd 72

Katrina Wilkie

an exciting new range of fine art landscapes and abstracts from a stable of talented British Artists all greeting cards printed in the uk licensing available 07566 742677 hello@iArts.co.uk www.Greetings.Gallery

03/08/2020 12:30

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Art Source PG helps to paint a picture of artists’, designers’, verse writers’ and photographers’ worlds, helping them to promote their talents to card publishers and in doing so, help publishers to source new designs for their ranges.

ARTIST IN FOCUS

Kate Heiss

Above right: Kate’s artwork features in The Art File’s Nature Trail (top right) and Museums & Galleries’ Art of Print collection (centre top).

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

"I've always loved being creative.

When I was little, I was in awe of my older cousin who wanted to go to art school. She was always sketching and painting and her dedication and passion definitely influenced me. When I was at school I used to spend most of my lunchtime in the art department. It was where I was happiest.

I studied at the Royal College of Art, graduating with an MA in Textile Design in 1997. I then worked as a textile designer across a wide range of fashion brands, including Fenchurch, Miss Selfridge and the Japanese fashion designer, Michiko Koshino.

I have lectured in Japan and was a visiting tutor at Central St Martins College of Art and Design and Buckinghamshire New University.

When I had my son we moved out of London.

Wanting to try something creative that would work within the school run while allowing me to be creative, so started printmaking.

In 2011, after receiving a Certificate of Printmaking with distinction from the prestigious Curwen Print Study Centre, I set up my own printmaking studio. It's about ten steps away from our family home and overlooks our allotment and garden. It's my haven.

My approach to design and printmaking stems from my love of florals, geometric patterns and the bold colours often found in textiles.

I'm inspired by where I live; by nature, birds, flowers and the countryside. I gather inspiration by

foraging for things on walks and then sketching them in preparation for designing a new print.

I admire printmakers Edward Bawden, Matt Underwood and Hannah Forward. I also love the way William LaChance, Alex Hense and Kirra Jamison create lots of energy with intense colours and abstract shapes.

All my work is on paper, but I use a variety of techniques including linocut, screenprint, Chine Collé, collagraph and collage.

I have been fortunate to have had my work published by a number of leading brands, including The Art File, Amber Lotus Publishing, Art Angels, Athena and Museums & Galleries.

If I had to pick three words to sum up my design style, they’d probably be ‘vibrant’, ‘illustrative’ and ‘quirky’.

My mantra, based on advice from my husband, is: "Do interesting things and interesting things will happen to you".

Kate is represented by artists’ agency, Jehane. l Email: jehane@jehane.com l Telephone: 01273 557888 or

07703 185413 l Website:www.jehane.com

If you are an artist, photographer or verse writer and would like to be considered to appear in Art Source, please contact PG’s Emma Cain on emmac@max-publishing.co.uk. This is an editorial feature and as such is free of charge.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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WHAT’S HOT? PG ASKED A SELECTION OF CARD RETAILERS FOR THEIR ‘HOT’ CARD SELLERS Sally Matson, owner of Red Card in Petworth, West Sussex.

A true retailing beacon in the Petworth community.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Lucilla Lavender

Anna

Thinking of You

Rosanna Rossi Woodmansterne

Fiori Rosa Quentin Blake

Counting Stars

Daydream Believer

Cardmix (Woodmansterne) Dandelion Stationery Ohh Deer Rosie Made A Thing Green Pebble

Off The Leash

This flies out - simple graphics and to the point!

Gorgeous colours and printing.

The lockdown range is fab - iconic artwork and a wide range of sentiments.

A beautiful range has lovely lockdowninspired thoughts.

Rupert Fawcett’s designs have been huge sellers with the dog brigade.

Our bespoke card has done especially well.

Amazing foiling, embossing and fun words.

Belly Button Designs Deva Designs The Art File Counting Stars, Eco Chic, Lua and two local companies Powder

Giftbags Stop the Clock Designs Rollwrap Face masks

Humour

Art Giftwrap

Ancillary

Self-purchase

Words of Wisdom The Social Type Everything!

Chris Williamson

Perfect scenes with dogs; could be anywhere around Petworth.

Really beautiful and eye-catching bags.

Top: One of the lovely designs from Rosanna Rossi’s Fiora Rosa range.

Above: A Chris Williamson design from Green Pebble.

I am forecasting face masks being the biggest stocking filler purchase.

Sunglasses

Victoria Robinson, owner of Wishes Cockermouth.

A specialist card shop in a market town with a loyal local customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Positivity

Hammond Gower

Piano

Male Birthday

UK Greetings

Geo

Everyday Birthday/ Occasions

Dandelion Stationery

Words of Wisdom

Paper Salad

Jumbo Jamboree

Relations and Occasions

IC&G

Across the board

Humour Art/Blank

Pigment Hallmark

Across the board CupCycling

Lola Design

Wildlife

Jonny Javelin

Velvet

Hallmark

Glimmer Shimmer

Eye-catching postcards with messages of friendship and support. In the run up to lockdown customers bought them in handfuls to ‘have in’.

The cards are a great size, price point and just hits the spot for an open male birthday send.

We bought a spinner full of a mix of different titles at Spring Fair and it has become a destination spinner with our customers.

Customers like the larger size option and bright colours, and of course Paper Salad’s beautiful envelopes!

Such brilliant everyday sellers for us across all titles and ranges. Beautiful cards with the perfect balance between traditional and looking fresh with a nod towards trends.

A card for all different kinds of humour.

Every day customers comment on how great this range made from recycled takeaway cups is.

Animals and wildlife are very popular with our customers, and these are just stunning.

A range we wouldn’t Top: A new Funny Works design from Pigment.

Above: Hallmark’s CupCycling range is printed be without. on board made from recycled takeaway coffee cups.

So sparkly and bold!

Adult Ages

38

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Jo Sorrell, owner of Cardies in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

A beacon indie, which is at the heart of the community in the old town’s high street.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Nigel Quiney Publications Cherry Orchard Publishing Tracks

Pizazz

Both of these ranges were popular during full lockdown and still are!

Rosie Made A Thing, Dandelion Stationery and Redback.

Woodmansterne Tracks Rosie Made A Thing Dandelion Stationery

Across the board

Adult ages

Wendy Jones-Blackett Belly Button Designs

General General

Contemporary relations

Molly Mae

Porcelain Breeze

Children’s

Kali Stileman Woodmansterne Publications Tracks Life Charms

Tiddly Widdlies Quentin Blake

Male

Humour

Art Thinking of You/support

Ancillary

Year You Were Born General

National Trust Art Gin and Frolics Words of Wisdom

Fluff Bracelets

The photographic designs are easy choices, particularly for the designs featuring cars, bikes, golf, football, gardening, beer and countryside scenes.

They are just great!

Lovely designs.

Both publishers are in touch with the general mood of the nation, something that was evident during lockdown and now going forward into ‘the new normal’.

These really score on key milestones, such as ‘Wife on 50th’, ‘Daughter on 40th birthday’ etc. People like to have something a bit special for their loved ones’ landmark birthdays; even more so at the moment.

A good selection of relation cards that are harder to find, such as ‘little brother’ or ‘big sister’.

These three ranges are all great for kids sends.

Top: Tracks’ art cards do well in Cardies.

Above: A Kali Stileman Tiddly Widdlies design.

Easy pick-ups for gifts and to treat yourself.

Liz Killick, co-owner of Calladoodles, Carshalton, Surrey.

A much loved retailing ‘hub, that has just been revamped, in an attractive high street.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

The Art File

Vertigo and Nature Trail

Thinking of You/lockdown

Dandelion Stationery

Words of Wisdom

Woodmansterne

The New Normal

My go-to card company. Always something fresh and appealing, a wealth of choice, excellent quality and well priced.

Unique, thoughtful, utterly reliable, but never dull.

I really like the Fred designs and joyful new Quentin Blake designs - even managed to incorporate TikTok! Rosie has a style like no other which appeals to both old and young alike.

Humour

Relations and Occasions

Art

Adult Ages Children’s Giftwrap

Rosie Made A Thing Ohh Deer Dandelion Stationery The Art File, Belly Button Designs, Claire Giles, Hotchpotch, The Curious Inksmith (Ling) and Woodmansterne.

Ling

Gemma Correll Words of Wisdom Across the board

Museums & Galleries Woodmansterne Judy Lumley The Art File Real & Exciting Rachel Ellen Designs Lucilla Lavender Think of Me Judy Lumley Glick

Across the board Quentin Blake Across the board I Like Birds Panache and Neon Generally Just Animals The Yoga Girls and Lemons patterns

William Morris

Above: One of the many great designs in Dandelion Stationery’s Words of Wisdom range.

Right: A cheeky monkey from Lucilla Lavender’s Just Animals range.

These are proving popular as there is an Arts & Crafts Movement link locally.

The London Transport Museum collection is especially popular.

Definitely my kind of ‘art’!

Just beautiful.

Deceptively simple designs with real impact.

So much to choose from. A firm favourite with our customers.

Simple, broad brush animal images.

High quality paper and fresh modern designs.

Good mainstream well-priced papers.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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03/08/2020 12:06

41-42.qxp_Grid 04/08/2020 12:29 Page 1

JEREMY’S JOURNAL

BUSINESS BLOGGING BY PUBLISHER JEREMY CORNER OF BLUE EYED SUN

In Step With The

New Normal Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun and distributor of BambooCup and Bioloco, shares his take on the new normal.

“Greeting card sales are keeping us going.” This is the feedback I’ve been hearing recently from retailers and it’s certainly true for Blue Eyed Sun of late. All things considered, our card sales have continued to be in line with forecasts and more stores have been ordering since they reopened their doors in June. Our international business and white label production orders have also been picking up, but who knows what is going to happen!

Cautious Steps While it is still early days, like many fellow business owners, I have been cautious about bringing back members of our team until we are busy enough to have sufficient work for them. Our order book has picked up with several larger orders due to be delivered in the next three months so more of our team will have returned by the time you are reading this. The tricky part is trying to predict who will be needed. It’s a delicate balance between keeping the company profitable and preparing for what may come, while taking into account seasonal fluctuations.

Matters are further complicated by one of our team retiring in October and another taking maternity leave later in the year. With the furlough scheme ending soon decisions will have to be made by businesses across the country regarding redundancies. I’m not sure that the Chancellor’s bonus payment will be enough for many to keep staff on. If sales have reduced for a business and team members are not required, then the £1,000

Left: Like other enclaves of business, the greeting card community is taking cautious steps in adapting to the new normal.

Right: Jeremy and some of the Blue Eyed Sun team at last year’s Festive Friday celebrations when social distancing wasn’t a ‘thing’.

Below: The GreenMagpie.net site that is driving sales of the BambooCup products, Jeremy distributes.

sweetener is not really going to alter the reality of what needs to be done.

Unless something drastically changes (and let’s face it, anything could happen this year) the UK can expect to see a wave of redundancies to start soon and peak in the run up to Christmas.

Regardless of the size of this wave, this will very likely affect everyone’s Christmas sales. I think many of us are aware of this and lots of retailers have been holding back on their ordering as a result. I also suspect there will be more last minute

ordering and an increase in ordering little and often as we close in on the key shopping season of the year.

The shifts in consumer behaviour for High Street retailers cannot be ignored.

Online ordering has clearly accelerated. The courier companies are a good indicator of this.

Hermes, for example, is creating 10,000 new jobs.

Supermarkets have also done well on card sales during lockdown as consumers had limited options for places to buy cards. There was a correction in our multiple sales when independents reopened so there is a still a lot of love out there for PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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JEREMY’S JOURNAL these retailers in their communities. The question is how can small businesses best adapt to the new normal?

Adapting I’ve been speaking about the Digital High Street at events like Spring Fair for a number of years now, encouraging retailers to get online and to use tools like social media and email lists to boost their sales. One of the good things about the pandemic is that it forces us to make changes that we may have previously put off.

Retailers who haven’t adapted yet, still have a short window to get themselves digitally sorted for the all-important Christmas shopping season. A good way to get started is to build your email list and social media following at your tills so that you can keep in contact with your customers and encourage them to engage with you both online and offline. I’d also choose simple, low-cost software like Shopify to create an online store that serves your customers’ needs.

To be fair, several of our retailers have been doing this and we regularly receive requests for images and product data to help them get started. Selling online feels like a lot of work and in many ways it is.

Running an e-commerce website is like setting up another business. The key difference is it can be accessed 24/7 and is not limited to one geographic location.

We receive orders from all over the world each week on our consumer website at GreenMagpie.net. The downside is, nobody knows you are online until you start driving traffic to your site. I have written whole blog posts and articles about this and I always recommend starting with your core customer base. You know who they are and can enrol them in spreading the word about your online venture.

The pandemic is forcing many of us to adapt. Blue Eyed Sun is now emailing statements instead of posting them and it’s been just as effective. We’ve also produced our last two brochures in PDF format only instead of printing them. While this has been driven primarily by cost savings, we’ve found that it has enabled us to try new things. For example, our Summer 2020 everyday card brochure now also has a large section organised by occasion. This mirrors our website and allows customers to choose from 24 different Baby Boy cards, for example. A printed brochure like this would be 42

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

prohibitively expensive so we used to only categorise cards by range. There’s no extra cost to add a few pages digitally though, so now we can do both.

My next project will be to automate my bank reconciliations with my accounting software. I’ll also need to figure out how to sell more to retailers online to replace the new business we usually pick up at trade shows, which will inevitably have a 12-18 month hiatus. After exhibiting at over 100 trade shows we have built a sizeable email list of buyers to keep in touch with.

All of these adaptations have saved money, time and resource. They also enable us to do new things, like share our products with a wider audience. We can get our brochure out to even more people than before and they can share copies more readily with others. I’ve previously been really wary of doing this, because the card industry can assimilate artwork quickly, but this open way of selling is part of the new mode of being. It will no doubt take us to places we have not been before with our previously closed and protective approach of qualifying all prospects first.

Personally, I am not excited about this aspect of the ‘new normal.’ On a recent visit to my hairdresser, I disliked having my temperature checked and my address details taken down. Nor did I enjoy being clad in plastic and a face mask as I sat between two vertical sheets of plastic. My hairdresser was similarly donned in plastic and wore a visor.

Aside from the huge amount of plastic waste (which is already causing more environmental issues) I miss the little things about the human interaction we usually have. The smiles, the laughter and the relaxed nature of hair cutting were all stilted by the PPE. It’s just not relaxing attire. It reeks of fear. I’ve decided to wear my hair long this year to minimise these unpleasant experiences.

To my mind, the masks are likely to perpetuate this feeling. On the other hand, their use will reassure other shoppers when out and about. More importantly, they may limit the spread of Covid-19.

Time will tell I guess.

Covering Up The new safety regime is another big change that we are all having to adapt to. The government recently introduced mandatory face coverings in UK stores. According to our Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, the Covid-19 related death rate of sales and retail assistants is 75% higher among men and 60% higher among women than in the general population. Retailers have gone to great lengths to reopen the stores as safely as possible. How keen consumers will be to visit them clad in personal protective gear remains to be seen.

Top: Health Secretary Matt Hancock urging everyone to wear masks to stem the spread of Covid-19.

Above right: Jeremy believes there will be a ‘new wave’ of creativity, compassion and ingenuity, we just don’t know what it will look or feel like for sure.

Left: Jeremy, post haircut at a GCA Council meeting, but he is aiming long from now on!

Changing Times With no more trade shows scheduled for this year and a load of stock to shift before Christmas, many of us will have similar challenges adapting to the new normal.

We’ll also all have to have more hand sanitiser, social distancing and even PPE in our businesses. Even the layout of our workplaces will change.

On the plus side, we will discover new ways of working. New systems that are safer, more efficient and cost less. It’s the nature of this time for us to adapt. New businesses and opportunities will emerge and the new normal will create a new wave of creativity, compassion and ingenuity for us to look forward to.

Read more on Jeremy’s blog at www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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To appear in the Product Directories email Warren Lomax warren@max-publishing.co.uk or Tracey Arnaud traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

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020 7700 6740 or email warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact

Tracey Arnaud

07957 212 062

or email traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

Publishers of quality blank greeting cards Tel: 0115 929 4776 enquiries@bugart.co.uk Order Online

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Family-safe

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Products: Everyday cards - birthday, blank & occasions, charity Christmas cards, gifftt wrap, bags, tissue, ribbon, hankies, napkins, paper plate, candles, placemats, crackers,invitations, placecards, notecards,diaries, address books, journals, advent calendars and bridge gifftts.

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Warren Lomax warren@max-publishing.co.uk or

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WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS

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Marina B Designs from me to you with love

UK

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Great brands, Great service Bespoke planning We can help with all your bespoke planning requirements.

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p p paperlink... the home of fabulous cards!

356 Kennington Rd London SE11 4LD T 020 7582 8244 info@paperlink.co.uk k www.paperlink.co.uk Paperlinkcards

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7RPFDW &DUGV Products: Greetings Cards, Gift Wrap, Gift Bags, Social Stationery, Partyware

Brands: Blossom & Bows Card Essentials Greetings Impressions In Touch Isabel·s Garden Planet Happy Sentiments With You In Mind Word Play

To appear in the Product Directories contact

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or email warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact

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A Cards e Art Botanical Fine

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Vibrant and nd elegant gree greeting cards A fr freshly modern perspective on nature

Method of Sale: Direct to Retail Orders can be placed on our trader site

www.cbgtrader.co.uk or call our customer services team on

+44(0)1243 792600

Call Now 075 7700 1145 www.zaquarella.co.uk info@ zaquarella.com

EUROPE’S LEADING GREETINGS CARDS, PARTY PRODUCTS, GIFTS, CANDLES, TOYS, STATIONERY AND FLORIST SUNDRIES DISTRIBUTION CENTRE 75000 SQ FT BESCOT CRESCENT, WALSALL, WEST MIDLANDS. WS1 4NG 01922-646666 www.greetingshouse.co.uk info@greetingshouse.co.uk MON,WED,FRI 8.00am-4.45pm TUES,THURS 8.00am-7.45pm SAT,SUN 8.00am-1.45pm

To appear in the Product Directories email Warren Lomax warren@max-publishing.co.uk or Tracey Arnaud traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALE

CLASSIFIED

l CLASSIFIED BAGS

Polypropylene & biodegradable bag specialists

GREETING CARD

Over 40 years quality service to the trade Hotfoiling also available

T 01206 396209 E sales@badgerconverters.co.uk www.badgerconverters.co.uk

BAGS We’ve been producing p bags of high clarity and high quality q for over 30 years.

01274 220 220 www w.wrapid.co.uk sales@wrapid.co.uk

BAGS

GIVE E YOUR

Manuffacturers of high quality fllexible packaging 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE - QUA UALITTY Y SERVICE EXTENSIVE STOCK RANGE - QUICK DE ELIVERY ASSURED

- HEADER BAGS - WA WALLET BAGS - ZIPPER BAGS - FLEXOGRAPHIC, HOTFOIL & THEERMAL PRINTING www.transrappackagin ng.co.uk sales@transrap.co o.uk

CALL US TODA AY

01773 5378 810

V VIP

TREA AT A TMENT HIGH CLARITY L TY Y BA AGS FOR R GREETING G ET T NG CARD DS, CALEND EN N ARS ARS AND AND D ARTW TWORK WORK ŏ ŏđŏ

ŏ

FOIL LB BLOCKING NG G EXTE XTENSIVE NSIV VE RANG V R RA ANGE OF S ST TOCK SIZES SIZ ZES AND BES AND BE ESPO OKE KE MANUF KE MANU UF FACTU TUR TURE T U E AT TED D WRAPPING SERVICE NEW AUTOMA

CALL CA CAL C LL US ST TO ODAY OD

0122 1228 228 2 28 8 5605 56 60 052 26 6 www.fful ulcrumfilms. ulcrrum mfillm ms s co.uk uk

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CLASSIFIED

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ENVELOPES

l CLASSIFIED

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ENVELOPES

FOR ALL YOUR ENVELOPE NEEDS! Largest range of in-stock colours Over 400 Bespoke Envelope Sizes 8 Sizes Permanently in Stock RECYCLED

PAPER

100% Recycled Paper Available Stock & Bespoke Cello Bags Peel & Stick Envelopes Bespoke Service on Request

ORDER ON LINE AT: www.regentenvelopes.com 01274 583000 sales@regentenvelopes.com

W W W. EN VE CO .CO .U K

01 90 83 78 86 6

FLITTERING

IN FO @E NV EC O. CO .U K

‘we we make Envelopes and Stationery’

MOREE THAN 50 COLOURS 6 POPULAR GREEETINGS CARD SIZES 50+ WH HITE SIZES IN STOCK BESPOKE ENV VELOPES AV AVAILABLE PEEL A AND SEAL CLOSURE RECYCLED / KRAFTT / 140GSM / 120GSM 11 SUPER BRIG GHT NEON COLOURS BESPOKE NOTEBO OOKS & STATIONERY

PLEASE GET IN TOUCH FOR TARY RY YOUR COMPLIMENTA ENVELOPE OR NOTEBOOK WATCH PA PACK SWA

FOR ALL YOUR FLITTER REQUIREMENTS

ABL Foil Ltd Unit 1, Industrial Estate East Hanningfield Chelmsford Essex, CM3 8AB

Contact DAVID JIGGINS Tel: 01245 400104 Email: david@abl-ltd.co.uk

PRINTERS

SPECIALISTS IN SHORT RUN MULTI IMAGE PRINT s Foiling Services without the need for dies s Wiro bound notebooks, no minimum quantity s In House Fulfilmment Services

T 01274 305832 E info@hellocards.co.uk www.hellocards.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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CLASSIFIED

l CLASSIFIED PRINTERS

l CLASSIFIED

l PRINTERS

l CLASSIFIED

l PRINTERS

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PJ PRINT LONDON The Capitals Only Specialist Greeting Card Printer All Industry Finishes Available In-House Including Laser Cutting

The simplest way to order your greetings cards

The Print Works Colville Road, Acton, London, W3 8BL

Powered by

Unit 8, Archers Park, Branbridges Road, East Peckham, Kent TN12 5HP www.theimagingcentre.co.uk Email: info@theimagingcentre.co.uk Tel: 01622 871449

we print

we finish

we pack

we deliver

E-mail: sales@pj-print.co.uk Tel: 020 8993 5160 www.pj-print.co.uk

Your saf ep ai

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s for Far E and as fh t o r

Outstanding, cost effective and efficient production of Greeting cards, Packaging and Social stationery, ideal for intricate and hand finished products.

• Over 15 years experience providing high-quality printed products direct from the Far East • Trusted and financially stable, UK owned by The Sherwood Group • Socially responsible manufacturing: SMETA, ISO9001, ISO14001, FSC certification • Full product prototyping in the UK for competitive speed to market requirements

To find out how we can benefit your business, contact Derek Lam +00 (852) 3527 3471 / derek@sherwood-press.com or The Sherwood Group Head Office Hong Kong Office: 13/F, Kam Chung Commercial Building, 19-21 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong

www w..sherwoodgroupuk.com

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CLASSIFIED

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l CLASSIFIED

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l PRINTERS

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Social Sta tationerry Printer of the Year

Award winning U UK & Global specialist manufacturer ffor the greeting card industry fo or over 40 years To discuss how we can worrk together, contact Richard Bacon: Tel 0115 928 7766 Email ric chard.bacon@sherwoodgroupuk.com

www.sherrwoodgroupuk.com Hadden Court, Glaisdale e Parkway, Glaisdale Drive West, Nottin ngham NG8 4GP

WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

Same day order turna around Accurate fulfilment Value added only as you sell the product

THE SPECIALIST GREE ETINGS CARD PRINTE ER

Exclusively Greeting Cards Dedicated Account Managers

Litho Print

Die-cutting

Digital Print

Flittering

Foiling

Packing

Embossing

Distribution

With an excellent reputation we work as an integral part of yourr team bringing QYGL QSVI XLER JYPǻPQIRX 4YV GSWXMRK WXVYGXYVI MW WMQTPI ERH XVERWTEVIRX ;I ; I GEVV] SYX EPP EWTIGXW SJ LERH ǻRMWLMRK ERH EWWIQFP] ERH TVSZMHI [LEXIZIV EHHMXMSREP WIVZMGIW ]SY RIIH 4YV WIPIGX XIEQ SJ SYX[SVOIVW GEVIJYPP] LERH [VET ER] WM^I SV JSVQEX SJ GEVHW YVKIRXP] 4ZIVRMKLX ;I GEVI EFSYX ]SYV TVSHYGX EW QYGL EW ]SY HS &XXIRXMSR XS HIXEMP 6( .WWYIW ;I

Tel:0127 e 4 4531828 Email: info@herbertw o alkers.co.uk

www.herbertwalkers.co.u uk

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Classified Complete 2020.qxp 03/08/2020 12:50 Page 55

APPOINTMENTS

l APPOINTMENTS

l APPOINTMENTS

l APPOINTMENTS

SALES AGENT Established eighteen years and best known for our Alison’s Animals card and gift range, we publish several humour ranges and have new products ready to be released are soon as trading conditions allow. See www.splimple.com

MIDLANDS We need a new sales agent for our Midlands territory – and may appoint two people to cover this sprawling area from Herefordshire in the west to Lincolnshire in the east – and Wolverhampton in the north down to South Gloucestershire. Contact Stuart Caldwell on 07973 110324, or email stuart@splimple.com (ps – we could use someone in central London too!)

Say it how you like.

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact Warren Lomax on: 020 7700 6740 or email on warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact Tracey Arnaud on: 07957 212 062 or email on traceya@max-publishing.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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30/07/2020 16:26 03/08/2020 12:14