Progressive Greetings Worldwide - December 2017

We did it again!

And it’s all thanks to you!

2014

BRONZE

2015

SILVER

2016

GOLD

2017

GOLD

Voted “Best service to the independent retailer” progressive greetings awards

FC_PG December 2017.indd 1

Gold winner 2017 22/11/2017 12:54

IFC_PG December 2017.indd 1

22/11/2017 12:00

3_Grid 23/11/2017 09:03 Page 3

Leader

On The Cards

CONTENTS

So the crucial final countdown to Christmas is underway, and, like all retail sectors, we in the greeting card trade need this year’s festive season to be a good one.

It is the season to be jolly, a time of giving and sharing, but when there is so much riding on something, these important sentiments can be lost.

As this month’s clutch of PG news illustrates perfectly, the industry’s charitable contribution to the greater good is immense whether it is indie retailers getting involved with their local causes, multiples pulling out the stops with major fundraising events, publishers raising £thousands for many worthwhile charities through card sales, and generous donations (of time, products and money) – and not forgetting that PG’s Warren Lomax and Paperlink’s Bill Greeno slogged it out on the tennis court for almost five hours in a charity challenge in honour of Lynn Tait!

It is however, incredibly frustrating that every year our trade, that does so much for so many, comes in for some very unfair criticism.

Only a few days ago, together with Tricia Corner, the card buyer of Cards Galore, we found ourselves arguing the industry’s case with a journalist for a national newspaper group. The feature writer already had the framework of her damning article in place - ‘greedy publishers and retailers give paltry amount to charities through Christmas card sales’. As PG went to press nothing had as yet appeared in the newspaper. My hope is that the written and verbal pleas that both Tricia and I made about how this industry should be applauded, not criticised, for the huge sums it raises for charities through the sale of

@Prog_Greetings Left: PG’s Warren Lomax (centre right) and Paperlink’s Bill Greeno after their marathon match with supporters (far left-right) Danilo’s Daniel Prince and Paperlink’s Tim Purcell and (far right-left) PG’s Gale Astley and Jakki Brown.

Christmas cards alone, has hit home. We made the point that the charities are delighted to receive these sizeable risk-free sums, and they appreciate the awareness generated by the cards featuring their logo being stocked in high street retailers.

The oft-spouted quote is that ‘charity begins at home’, but the home of greeting cards certainly does a great deal for charities. This is a good thought to remember in the next few weeks when nerves will be frayed, pondering if the Christmas tills will jingle loudly!

Merry Christmas from everyone at PG! With :

sue this is ON S U FOC ARDS C KIDS’

29-35 Innovations 36-37 In Conservation with... IC&G Golden Moments 38-39 Jeremy’s Journal Looking Back 40-41 International Focus A Taste Of The Orient

5-17 News 20-21 Over The Counter Read All About It! 22-23 Cardsharp Clintons’ Half Century 25-27 Viewpoints Making Connections

42-43

Independent Retailer Focus

Going For It 45-47 Art Source 48-49 What’s Hot? 50-62 Classified 63 Appointments

Progressive Greetings is a monthly business magazine.

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

UK subscription:

One year £50 Two year £85 Three year £110 Overseas subscription: One year £75 Jakki Brown

Warren Lomax

Gale Astley

Michelle Board

Editor

Advertisement Director

Deputy Editor

News Editor

jw@max-publishing.co.uk

warren@max-publishing.co.uk

galea@max-publishing.co.uk

michelleb@max-publishing.co.uk

Copyright© 2017. 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.

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

EXHIBITIONS

SUBSCRIPTIONS ENQUIRES: maxsubscriptions@marketingreinforcements.co.uk Tel: 020 8943 9541

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

PG is the official magazine for the Greeting Card Association GCA: Sharon Little 020 7619 0396 Email: gca@max-publishing.co.uk www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk

THE HOME OF MARKET LEADING TRADE AWARDS

Max Publishing Ltd, United House, North Road, London N7 9DP Tel: 020 7700 6740 Fax: 020 7607 6411 www.progressivegreetings.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

3

Check out our

progressive greetings awards

Gold winner 2017

New &Updated Designs available now!

Don’t miss our brand new

"year you w ere born"

cards

packed w ith interesting facts about the year you w ere born.

s a m t s i r h C 2017

don’t forget that our Christmas cards are in stock all the w ay up to Christmas Eve.

004_PG December 2017.indd 1

22/11/2017 12:55

5_7_9_11_13_15_17_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 23/11/2017 08:58 Page 5

NEWS TOP STORY

Reacting To Public Backlash Paperchase apologises for Daily Mail promo What started out as a bit of seasonal marketing for Christmas giftwrap, ignited a social media furore attracting masses of media coverage and dividing opinion. After running a ‘free giftwrap promotion’ in the Daily Mail on Saturday 18 November, Paperchase publicly apologised on the following Monday morning in response to negative feedback it had received from the public. The retailer stated on Twitter that it will not work with the newspaper again ‘lesson learned’, it wrote.

The retailer made the Twitter post ‘having listened’ to hundreds of complaints it received online from members of the public. Many were responding to action by campaign group, Stop Funding Hate, that has taken issue with some of the ‘divisive stories’ that have appeared in the Daily Mail, including recent ones concerning transgender people.

The BBC, Guardian, Times, Huffington Post and Press Gazette were among the media to have picked up on the story,

Card Factory sales up 6.7%

some questioning whether Paperchase did the right thing in responding as it did.

Paperchase will have to live with losing Piers Morgan (TV presenter who also writes for Daily Mail online) as a customer over the issue. The commentator tweeted: “I hope @FromPaperchase understand that British people don’t like snivelling little cowards who let themselves get bullied into virtue-signalling bulls**t. I’ll buy my cards from @ClintonsTweet in future.”

The Daily Mail, the UK’s second most read newspaper, has issued a statement saying it found it “deeply worrying” that Paperchase had been “bullied into apologising - on the back of a derisory 250 Facebook comments and 150 direct tweets - to internet trolls orchestrated by a small group of hard left Corbynist individuals seeking to suppress legitimate debate and impose their views on the media.”

Above: The Daily Mail banner head promotion that sparked the reaction.

Left: Paperchase sent out an apology after receiving feedback on social media.

The power of the pooch Hundreds of consumer journalists and high profile bloggers flocked to Paperchase’s Spring Launch a few weeks ago, but the ‘real’ attraction at the event was a pack of super cute friendly dogs.

The dogs and their handlers brought Paperchase’s ‘Puppy Chow’ collection to life. The quirky cute dog-centric range encompasses greeting cards, wrap, stationery, gifts, homewares and fashion accessories. Scented giftwrap also features as part of the line up, but the smell is of cherries, not dogs! Above: Paperchase’s senior buyer Nicola Shaw (left) “It is the first time we have had live animals at any of our press with PG’s Jakki Brown and some doggie chums. launches, but they have certainly been a big hit,” commented Bex Ohta, Paperchase’s marketing manager.

Next year is the ‘Year of the Dog’ which looks set to further build on the UK’s continued love of ‘man’s best friend’. lCredit card company, American Express is tapping into the strong pull of pooches with its #PawsOnThePayroll marketing initiative which forms part of its #ShopSmallUK campaign. As part of this campaign to support and celebrate independent retailers, the #PawsOnThePayroll initiative revolves around featuring photographs of independent retailers which have ‘shop pets’. Playing a starring role in the social media campaign is Nessa, the lovable Labrador who is a main attraction at greeting card indie, Austin & Co in Great Malvern.

Card Factory’s trading update for the nine months ending 31 October showed a sales growth of 6.7%, compared to 4.4% for the same period in 2016. Interestingly though, the majority of this sales surge was not from cards, but from growth in non-card products (such as gifts and giftwrappings) which offer a lower margin.

While the trading statement concentrated on sales and not the profit position of the value retailer, it remains buoyant about the future growth for the business.

The UK’s largest greeting card retailer, which claims to account for a third of all greeting cards sold in the UK, remains on track to open 50 new stores in the current financial year, with 38 opened so far, eight in this last quarter. This meant that as of 31 October, Card Factory was trading from 903 stores.

Summing up, Karen Hubbard, Card Factory’s chief executive officer, said: “We have had good third quarter sales, continuing the momentum seen over the first half of the year, with strong growth in revenue from lower margin non-card categories, such as gifts and dressings.”

However, she admitted that trading conditions are not without challenges. “The business faces on-going external pressures, such as foreign exchange and the national living wage, which will continue to impact our margin for the remainder of the year and into FY19, despite the mitigation initiatives we have put in place.”

Above: Card Factory is on course to open another 50 stores within its financial year.

Scribbler opens in Newcastle Scribbler opened its first store ever in Newcastle at the end of November.

“Newcastle has been in our sights for some time, but we waited until a store became available, which we felt was correctly suited for our profile,” said Jennie Procter, co-founder of Scribbler.

The new 580 sq ft shop unit, in Grainger Street, opened the same day as the city’s Christmas market.

The new store, “filled immediately with shoppers,” explained Jennie.

Below: Tynesiders have responded well to the Scribbler product selection.

Left: As Austin and Co’s Nessa demonstrates, having a pet in a shop has been proved a benefit to a retailer’s attraction to customers.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

5

every picture

the award winning contemporary quotation cards designed by

see the entire collection at www.icon-art.com

006_PG December 2017.indd 1

21/11/2017 16:57

5_7_9_11_13_15_17_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 23/11/2017 08:59 Page 7

NEWS If you’ve got it, haunt it

TOP STORY

Marathon Match

Below: PG’s Warren Lomax (right) in Borg mode with Paperlink’s Bill Greeno in McEnroe garb at the start of the match.

Warren and Bill’s lengthy game raises £3k for Lynn’s charity Paperlink’s sales director Bill Greeno and PG’s co-owner Warren Lomax battled it out on the tennis court for almost five hours in a charity challenge in the memory of Lynn Tait, the founder of The Ladder Club who died in June.

It was not only tennis shots that Warren and Bill smashed in their mega match, as the tenacious duo exceeded their fundraising target three times over, raising over £3K for charity Myeloma UK, the blood cancer that caused the untimely death of lovely Lynn.

As PG’s Warren Lomax explained, “Lynn was as fanatical about tennis as Bill and I. Unfortunately she passed away during the French Open. So, Bill and I thought a fitting challenge would be for us to play a match and attempt to break the Paris Open final match record length of four hours 42 minutes, that was between Mats Wilander and Guillermo Vilas in 1982 – and follow Lynn’s great example and raise money for charity in the process.”

As a nod to the tennis heroes of the early 80s, Warren and Bill ‘became’ McEnroe and Borg to start the early

morning match, but soon ditched their wigs and got down to business in a gruelling six set match, which involved many long rallies and stunning shots from both players.

Although Bill officially won the match, five sets to one, he was gracious in his victory: “The only true winner today is the charity.” Bill not only used to partner Lynn on the tennis court when they were both youngsters, but he was also the last person to play her before she retired from tennis.

While not a major greeting card sending event in the UK, unlike it is in the States, nonetheless a growing number of card and gift retailers dabbled in stocking Halloween cards this year as well as related gifts and novelties.

‘Creep it real’ and ‘If you’ve got it… haunt it’ were the messages on the ‘A’ boards positioned outside Cards Galore’s 50 stores in the lead up to Halloween, with its windows liveried up with graphics of pumpkins and ghouls.

“We always stock a fairly large selection of Halloween gifts as well as a small selection of Halloween Above: Cards Galore’s witty PoS has helped to attract cards, though there aren’t attention for the event. many publishers that publish Halloween cards,” revealed Rumit Shah, director of Cards Galore. Just as Valentine’s Day sales are affected by the actual day the event falls, so the same is true for Halloween. “We always do better when it falls towards the end of the week when customers buy last minute bits on their way home from work.”

Lynn Tait Gallery to close at Christmas In a heartfelt post on social media, Andy Tait (the husband of industry legend Lynn Tait who died in June) announced that The Lynn Tait Gallery is to close its doors permanently on Christmas Eve this year. The card and gift shop, The Lynn Tait Gallery in Old Leigh-on-Sea, in Essex, has been part of the fabric of this seaside village for over 30 years, drawing in locals and tourists alike.

Lynn’s late husband, Andy, made the announcement on Facebook, saying, “the heart has gone out of the business.”

Lynn founded the business in the early 80s and the first shop opened at 59 High Street in Old Leigh. Having dipped her toe into the water, the shop moved to the present site where a derelict foundry was transformed into the current idiosyncratic shop.

“It is with great regret, we have decided to close the shop in its present form on Christmas Eve,” says Andy. “This has been the most difficult of decisions, but as the weeks have passed since Lynn died, it has become inevitable. We hope that all our past customers and visitors will come (hopefully many times) to see us before we close. This is a desperately sad time, but we will go out on a high, just as Lynn would have wanted.”

Above: The Lynn Tait Gallery will close at Christmas.

Manchester Stationery Show Manchester Stationery Show, held in Old Trafford, made its debut at the end of October, run by organisers Ocean Media Group, who also owns the London Stationery Show. “The stationery industry is a creative and fashion-led sector. We want to tap into this creativity and stage events that inspire and inform,” says the show’s marketing director Vanessa Fortnam. “We are already planning how to encourage more suppliers to take advantage of this new industry event to network with customers and new contacts in 2018.”

With 40 exhibitors representing 70 leading stationery brands, the new show attracted buyers from independents and multiples, including TJX Europe, Accessorize, Paperchase, notonthehighstreet Above: Kirstie Gilleade from Mayblossoming was one of the Launchpad winners at the show. and Sainsbury’s.

Caroline Gardner gives back to the community For the second year running, greeting card and lifestyle brand company, Caroline Gardner is running its Give to Give campaign which will help to stave off loneliness among the elderly this Christmas by harnessing help from schoolchildren.

Partnering with AgeUK Westminster and local school St Paul’s on their long-standing Christmas lunch delivery scheme, Caroline Gardner is gathering over 400 Christmas messages for personal Christmas cards to an elderly person.

This year’s activity follows on from the success of the trial campaign in 2016, and Caroline Gardner is keen to engage help from those in the card trade too this year.

“We are appealing to Caroline Gardner customers once again to give a message so we can give a Christmas card to an elderly person this Christmas,” urged Luca Bridges, senior sales and marketing coordinator for Caroline Gardner.

Above: The handwritten cards will be delivered to lonely old people together with their Christmas lunch by school children and volunteers.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

7

December Ad 2017.indd 1 0008_PG December 2017.indd 1

23/11/2017 09:37 23/11/2017 10:14

5_7_9_11_13_15_17_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 23/11/2017 08:59 Page 9

NEWS TOP STORY

Industry Condemns Modern Slavery Publishers and GCA reacts to modern slavery case ‘Greetings card slave worker kept in Nottingham loft’ was the shocking headline that broke on the BBC News channel at the end of last month.

Edward Zielinski admitted two counts of modern slavery and was given a jail sentence of three years and four months

by Nottingham Crown Court. The Nottingham-based 42 year-old man had kept two Polish immigrants locked in a loft, forcing one of them to work 20 hours a day (from 8am-4am) making greeting cards and using violence if his output was not high enough.

Above: Justice was done in the Nottingham Court in the modern slavery case.

While there was no mention of the brand of greeting cards or where the cards were destined, the case still cast something of a dark shadow over an industry that prides itself on its very high moral and ethical standards.

As Ceri Stirland, now president of the GCA, and director of marketing of UKG, said: “Slavery is horrific wherever it occurs and for whatever reason. Thank goodness that in this case justice has been done.

As an industry we care hugely about our social and environmental impact,” highlighting that all major UK card publishers adhere to strict Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) regulations, one of the most widely used ethical audit formats in the world.

Ged Mace, managing director of The Art File (and immediate past president of

the GCA), was among those who were swift to respond to the “despicable case”, made all the more sordid as it happened in the same city as the publisher is based. It took immediate action to flag up its total commitment to high ethical and CSR standards. The Art File wasted no time in adding a statement to its website to underline how it “completely condemns any misuse of human rights, slavery, and anything else under these topics in the workplace, domestic or any other place. It has no place in the world we live in.”

The UK Greeting Card Association also moved swiftly in offering advice to its members, urging them to state their ethical procedures on their websites.

As Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA highlighted: “This was a horrific case which had the potential to seriously damage our industry’s reputation.” In order to protect the UK greeting card industry’s high ethical and moral standards, Sharon strongly urges: “That all publishers with employees are up to date with their ethical obligations with regard to their supply chains.”

HR:4UK, a highly respected HR and employment support company, which has affiliations with the GCA (offering preferential rates for members), has provided a suite of documents which includes guidance notes and statements (covering anti-slavery and human trafficking assurances) which GCA members can feature on their websites.

“As this is the first time in living memory that greeting cards being made in the UK have been implicated in this way, it is vitally important that the whole industry’s high ethical credentials are safeguarded. The GCA will be doing its utmost to help members in this matter,” Sharon assured.

Get card writing on Festive Friday Now in its 5th year, Festive Friday, 1 December 2017, is the special day for everyone - those in the card industry and all card senders - to start to send their Christmas cards. Instigated by the GCA, the idea is to create a great first wave of wonderful cards arriving in early December Above: Artwork for Festive Friday created by Jack to get the nation in the Christmas card-sending mood.

Carter courtesy of The Art File’s design team.

Sharon Little, the GCA’s ceo, said: “This is a fun event with a serious mission – to get the country behind sending more Christmas cards. The more cards we can send as an industry, the better our great first wave of cards will be, prompting the public to send their cards too.”

Sharon encourages publishers and retailers to get creative and organise Christmas card-sending events for staff and customers in the lead up to or on the actual day itself.

A downloadable toolkit as well as lots of ideas of how to get involved in Festive Friday are on the GCA website.

The Art File’s charity haul Nottingham-based greeting card company, The Art File (and its retail customers) are continuing to change lives as a result of sales of its cards. The Art File has just presented a cheque for over £22,000 to CLIC Sargent charity, meaning that over the last eight years the publisher has raised a staggering £127,620 in total for the charity.

The publisher, which publishes 33 Christmas designs for CLIC, donates 48p from every sale of its Christmas charity pack to the charity.

In a message to its retailer stockists, Ged Mace, managing director of The Art File said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank our fantastic customers for continuing to support this great cause through our Christmas charity packs. Lives are being changed because of you.”

Above: Tracy Burns and Amy White from CLIC received a cheque from Ged and Karen Mace of The Art File.

WHS £215k charity ball WHSmith has showed time and again how adept it is in achieving impressive figures, with the retailer’s charity fundraising at its recent 225th anniversary event continuing this trend raising over £215,000 for its Stand Up To Cancer campaign in conjunction with Cancer Research UK. The greeting card industry put in a good show at the high street retailer’s Charity Ball, with those from Abacus, Arabesque, Danilo, Emotional Rescue, GBCC, Hallmark, Ling, Mint Publishing, Paperlink, Paper Rose, Pigment, Portfolio, UKG and Woodmansterne among the 900+ audience at the extravaganza which took place at London’s Evolution (formerly home to Battersea Power Station).

The event that was hosted by comedian Alan Carr, also included performances from Kaiser Chiefs, Olly Murs (pictured above), magician Dynamo and author Sir Jeffrey Archer.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

9

010_PG December 2017.indd 1

23/11/2017 10:19

5_7_9_11_13_15_17_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 23/11/2017 08:59 Page 11

NEWS Christmas cards for inmates

TOP STORY

Improving Well Being IC&G shares the spoils of its success IC&G has always been very quiet about its charitable actions, but those living in a remote village in Burkina Faso are making a lot of noise about the publisher - as for the first time they are enjoying fresh, clean water from a properly built well that has been funded by the Dorset-based card company.

Working through respected charity, Myra’s Wells, this important lifeline has been donated by IC&G as part of company’s Christian beliefs to help others.

“We all have so much compared to so many others,” says Simon Wagstaff, joint md of IC&G. “It is only right that we share some of our good fortune with others who are less fortunate.”

In addition, the IC&G team have also just sent 120 ‘shoeboxes’ full of essentials as well as a few treats for children in Africa as part of the Samaritan’s Purse charity’s

Below: IC&G has just paid for a well to be installed in a village in Burkina Faso via Myra’s Wells charity.

‘Operation Christmas Child’ initiative.

The company has also just printed 50,000 pocket bibles in China where Christianity is the country’s fastest growing religion. Working closely with The Bible Society, IC&G directors Simon and Ian Wagstaff have had to cut through a lot of red tape in order that the bibles will be received by those who want them.

(See pages 36-37 for more on IC&G)

UKG gears up for next Christmas UKG is already geared up for next Christmas as it puts the finishing touches to its Christmas counter card, boxed cards and ancillaries collections that will be revealed at its January Christmas Showrooms, which will be installed in eight different venues over the course of three weeks.

Kicking off in Ashford on January 10, Christmas Showrooms will also be erected in London (Jan 15 and 16), Southampton (Jan 17 and 18), Gatwick (Jan 23), Norwich (Jan 23 and 24), Haydock (Jan 24 and 25), Sheffield (Jan 30) and Bristol (31 Jan and Feb 1).

Retailers are urged to book their place early at these exclusive events by calling UKG’s customer care team on 01924 465200 or email independent.customercare@ukgreetings.co.uk.

The publisher is also planning to kick off the 10th anniversary Above: UKG is to erect Christmas showrooms in eight UK venues in January for retailers to visit. celebrations for Booofle at the showrooms.

On The Ceiling range fills the pages

Below: The double page spread in the Daily Mail.

Bottom: The new Wit and Wisdom books comes out in time for Christmas.

Emotional Rescue’s best-selling humour range received some amazing publicity last month, when the brand was the focus of a double page editorial feature in the Daily Mail, which the newspaper’s 1.5 million readers could not have failed to notice.

Under the headline ‘Battle of the Sexists’, the visual editorial spread highlighted the publication of six new Wit and Wisdom books, which have just been published

by Kings Road Publishing (through a licensing agreement with Emotional Rescue). The two page editorial featured large depictions of 12 On The Ceiling artworks that appear in the books (and have also appeared as greeting cards) with the introduction reading: ‘Yes these pictures are so politically incorrect, but we defy you to look at them without laughing.’

“We have a very defined plan for the development of the On The Ceiling brand,” Martin Nevin, managing director of Emotional Rescue said.

“We have entered into licensing arrangements with partners Danilo (for calendars and diaries) and Expressions 4 U (for gifts including mugs, glasses, composite sets, chocolates and plaques), and, as per the Daily Mail article, a range of six gift books, produced by Kings Road Publishing.”

A group of undergraduates at Leeds University are writing hundreds of Christmas cards to inmates of two female prisons in Yorkshire, as part of a campaign to reduce self-harm and suicide among inmates.

The Leeds University Prison Reform Society recently received the go ahead from the prison Governor of HMP New Hall and HMP Askham Grange for an initiative, which will involve Leeds university students sending a personalised handwritten Christmas card to every inmate of the two prisons – making good use of cards that have been donated by a number of UK greeting card publishers (following a plea from the GCA).

As someone with a criminal record himself (before turning his life around and going to university), Liam Knights, president of the Leeds University Prison Reform Society explained: “From my own previous experience in prison, the main issues I faced were that of loneliness and isolation.”

Above: Liam Knights (centre) with Society members (right) Beth Poynton and Charlotte Manning.

Danilo bangs the drum Danilo has once again delivered a surprise video to promote its products in a fun, unexpected way. This year’s upbeat creation, which has already attracted hundreds of views on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, hits the high notes in an inventive music-themed mini-film.

Filmed in Danilo’s Hertfordshire warehouse, the video features a ‘band’ of people who effectively ‘play’ a series of calendars, highlighting ‘that exciting feeling’ when you receive a Danilo calendar or card to suit the person.

Claire Bates, Danilo’s marketing manager (who appears in the video) revealed that the inspiration for this video came about from “watching musicals such as STOMP as well as innovative music bands such as Walk off the Earth which uses everyday objects to replicate the music. We thought it would be fun and engaging to use Danilo’s official products in a similarly creative and musical way,” says Claire.

Above: Filming the Danilo upbeat video.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

11

PG AD NOV 2017.indd 1 012_PG December 2017.indd 1

21/11/2017 15:41 21/11/2017 17:02

5_7_9_11_13_15_17_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 23/11/2017 12:56 Page 13

NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

TOP STORY

A ‘Really Good’ Move

Below: Lisa Marcuccio leaves Really Good/Soul to join Wrendale Designs.

Lisa Marcuccio joins Wrendale Designs as its first head of sales After 13 years with Really Good/Soul, its sales manager Lisa Marcuccio is leaving the company to join Wrendale Designs as it gears up for further growth.

Commenting on her career move, popular industry exec Lisa said she is leaving the Oxfordshire-based Really Good and Soul after so many happy years to take up the “fantastic opportunity” and embrace the challenge of joining Wrendale Designs, as its first ever head of sales. Lisa, who joins Wrendale in the new year, will work alongside the company’s co-owners Hannah and Jack Dale, drawing on her 18 years’ industry experience and knowledge “to help build on Wrendale’s continued success.”

Lisa said it had been an absolute pleasure to be part of the Really Good/Soul team for so many years. “I’ve learned a great deal. I will always hold fond memories of my time here.” She said she would always be eternally grateful of the support and friendship from the company’s founder/owner and general manager David Hicks and Lisa Shoesmith, but that the move made sense for her personally.

Paying tribute to her long-term colleague, Lisa Shoesmith said: “We are sorry to see Lisa go, but wish her the very best in her new role and understand that having been at Really Good for over 13

years, that she needs to spread her wings.”

For Hannah and Jack Dale, co-owners of Wrendale Designs, the addition of Lisa Marcuccio to the team in the newly created position of head of sales for the fast growing card and gift company is being welcomed with open arms.

Hannah, the company founder and creative maestro said: “We are delighted that Lisa is going to be joining us at Wrendale - as a relatively new company, the experience she will bring with her will be invaluable to us. We've got lots of exciting new product ranges in the pipeline and we're really excited about getting Lisa on board to help us deliver our message to the independent gift sector in the UK and beyond.”

A new path for Abacus’ Bev Cunningham Bev Cunningham has taken voluntary redundancy from Abacus, where she was creative director for many years.

“After 25 years with Abacus, now is the time for me to explore new avenues of opportunity, but hopefully I will retain my links with the greeting card industry that I love so much,” Bev told Progressive Greetings.

Nick Carey, md of Abacus, was full of thanks for everything Bev has contributed to the company.

Looking back at the last quarter century with Abacus, Bev said: “It has been wonderful to be part of building the company, being involved at such an exciting time of the greeting card industry’s evolution.”

Of the many card ranges that she has been involved in bringing to market, Bev says that Posies and Petals will always have a special place in her heart as it was very the first ranges that she created and some of the photographic images remain in the company’s best sellers to this day.

“I also enjoyed being at the forefront of the wave of male card ranges, with Locker Room and then Graphite,” said Bev. Bev is currently considering a number of business ideas, including pursuing her own photographic and styling skills.

Above: Bev Cunningham (right) at The Henries Awards, with Progressive Greetings’ Jakki Brown.

Left: One of the first ranges Bev launched at Abacus was Posies & Petals.

l Flame Tree Publishing, which has exclusively published Russian-born French artist Erté’s art as calendars, diaries, stationery and illustrated books since 2001, gave retail stockists the rare opportunity to see some of the original works up close by inviting them to a private view of his artwork.

During the month of November a range of works from Erte (born Romain de Tirtoff in 1892) were on display at the Grosvenor Gallery. He designed Harper’s Bazaar covers from 1915 to 1937 and leaves a prolific body of work. l Having enjoyed great success for the past few years, British stationery designer, Eloise Hall, has diversified as part of building her brand. The new range includes therapeutic room diffusers and hand-poured, natural wax candles. Eloise has carefully curated a true retreat for the senses, using the finest essential oils to create these three unique moods: optimism, contentment and pause.

Above: Candles to build the Eloise Hall brand.

l Pioneer Balloon Company (the US manufacturers of Qualatex balloons) has taken over Northstar Balloons.

“We’re excited to be adding Northstar’s products and capabilities to the Pioneer family,” said Ted A. Vlamis, president of Pioneer. “They have developed a unique product personality and sharp sense for trends, and their line further strengthens our complete product offering.” l A Scottish artist had pictures of her hand-painted Christmas cards banned from Facebook as they were deemed to be ‘too sexual’. Jackie Charley tried to post the pictures of a robin, a stag and a squirrel several times on her Facebook page getting an error message: ‘It looks like we didn’t approve your items because we don’t allow the sale of adult items or services (eg: sexual enhancement items or adult videos).’

The artist had no direct response from Facebook, and has since had the ban of her images lifted.

Above: Jackie Charley’s ‘banned’ robin illustration.

l Founder of Rose Hill Designs, Rose Hill, has started a fortnightly blog to share some of the lessons she has learned/continues to learn in business.

The start of Rose’s blogs coincides with her becoming a mentor as part of the British Library’s mentoring programme. “I’m really enthusiastic about helping people become the best they can be. It can be a lonely place owning your own business.” Read Rose’s blogs at www.rosehilldesigns.co.uk.

Above: New blogs on Rose Hill’s website.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

13

NEW DESIGNS FOR 2018

• Made in Britain to ensure continuity of supply • Stunning new designs with personalised heartfelt verses • Direct to Retail product available from leading Wholesalers • Premium quality • Codes 50/60 & 75/90

BEST WHOLESALE RANGE

All enquiries to Paul Yates M: 07538 916617 Office: 01442 215532 E: pyates@regalpublishing.co.uk

010_PG December 2017.indd 1

Made in Great Britain

23/11/2017 10:17

5_7_9_11_13_15_17_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 23/11/2017 12:57 Page 15

NEWS PEOPLE

TOP STORY

Making Black Friday Bright Card retailers find their own route through the discount day Over the past few years Black Friday has become much more of a ‘thing’ in the UK, and has spread from the traditional electrical/technology sectors where it started, to nearly all consumer categories. But research this year from Retail Week showed that the consumer appetite for Black Friday bargains might be starting to wane, with only 19% of consumers looking to take advantage of Black Friday promotions, down from 21% last year.

While many indie retailers have latched onto the Black Friday activity, not everyone has embraced it. Mark JansonSmith, managing director of London-based Postmark shops says: “We don't personally get involved in Black Friday and find the whole thing a little crazy. Footfall does definitely seem to fall a little bit on the day but we don't worry too much. I certainly wouldn't want to be a big ticket retailer on this day as the pressure to reduce prices must be much bigger to compete and at such a vital time of year.”

Other independents have their own take on Black Friday. In Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, home of Retas-award winning Dragonfly Cards & Gifts, local

Left: The Bright Friday poster that Knaresborough’s Dragonfly Cards and Gifts is a part.

Below: The Indie Friday poster designed by Angela Chick.

Below right: Lots of Twitter action using #JACIndieFriday.

retailers have got together to launch Bright Friday. Coowner, Rachael Barnes explains: “I think everyone is starting to get fed up of all the hype with Black Friday. It has now turned into Black Friday week, rather than just a day, which is a bit much. In Knaresborough we have Bright Friday instead, where we have late night opening, a lantern procession followed by the turning on of the tree lights, music and entertainment. It's a lot less commercial than Black Friday, but we find it gets everyone feeling festive, and starts to focus their thoughts to all things Christmas without seeming so money grabbing.”

Banging the drum for independents was also the Just a Card campaign with its alternative to Black Friday - Indie Friday.

Twitter was positively humming on Black Friday with a raft of independent artists, designers and retailers using Indie Friday graphics designed by card publisher and illustrator Angela Chick and tweeting using the hashtag #JACIndieFriday. l Also look out for Small Business Saturday on Saturday 2 December. Last year customers spent £717m with small businesses on Small Business Saturday, an increase of 15% on 2015 spending. Over 140,000 tweets were sent on the day reaching 130 million people, trending on Twitter in the UK and globally. Find out more at smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com. l The Just a Card project was awarded one of the coveted Aviva Community Fund awards. Over 6,000 community projects race to be the first 200 to win 1000 votes and therefore £1000.

Knight in shining ‘amour’

Left: Sarah Knight's graphic for the NOTHS Shop Small campaign.

Sarah Jackson, illustrator and founder of Stormy Knight, has designed a new graphic for Holly Tucker’s (founder of NotOnTheHighStreet.com) ‘Shop Small’ campaign. The campaign runs up until Christmas and is encouraging people to think about where they spend their cash and to buy from independent shops and makers. “I am really excited to be involved and to see my design starting up the campaign on Holly’s Instagram. I've seen it shared so many times and it's great to see that so people are getting behind the campaign.”

l Martin Parks (right), one of the industry’s creative stalwarts, has set up a new company to give expert sales-building help and advice to businesses in the greeting card industry. His new company, Loupe Greeting Card Consultants, calls on Martin’s experience, firstly at Paper Rose (where he was studio manager for five years), before spending the last 15 years as art director of the Original Poster Company. l Tim Fairs (right), vp of marketing and eCommerce at Clintons, is joining the McColl’s Retail Group as customer director at the end of January. Of his move Tim said:“I have really enjoyed it here, but this is a great opportunity at a larger listed company.”

SAD GOODBYE Copywriter and digital artist Phillip Parr, the original creator of one of the industry’s best-selling and longstanding humour ranges Virtual Safari (from Emotional Rescue) has sadly died. He leaves behind a 25 year-strong legacy in Virtual Safari, which continues to be a successful, instantly recognisable brand on the UK high street.

Everyone at Emotional Rescue was shocked and saddened at the news of Above: One of the many Phillip’s sudden passing. Jennie designs from ER’s Virtual Rutter, creative director said: “He Safari range. was a lovely, kind and gentle man who had the prolific ability to write and design cards that were clever, commercial and extremely funny. Our hearts and thoughts go out to Phillip’s family at this time. He will be sorely missed.”

GBCC involved in Widdop and Co’s January Show The Great British Card Company (GBCC) and Xystos are set to join Widdop and Co in its January Show at its north east Manchester showrooms. The event runs from Tuesday 2 January to Wednesday 24 January, though GBCC and Xystos will only be showing during the first half of the show (from 2 -12 January).

Kick-starting the buying season, Widdop and Xystos will be showcasing their new respective spring/summer launches while GBCC will be launching its 2018 Christmas card collections, backed up with exclusive promotions.

As Stephen Illingworth, director of product development for Widdop and Co, explained about the plans for the 2018 show: “The show will offer the ultimate buying experience with hundreds of inspiring gifts and greeting cards across all of our unique brands.”

Bookings for the show are already being taken and anyone wishing to attend is encouraged to book their place early by visiting www.widdop.co.uk/events.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

15

016_PG December 2017.indd 1

21/11/2017 17:04

5_7_9_11_13_15_17_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 23/11/2017 08:59 Page 17

NEWS Moonpig is all Smiley thanks to PG Live

TOP STORY

A Century Wrapped Up Hallmark to celebrate 100 years of giftwrap Hallmark has pulled out all the stops for its new giftwrap collection, and with good reason – as the range marks the 100th anniversary since the company invented giftwrap as we know it. The company is credited with founding the modern-day giftwrap industry in Kansas City during the Christmas season in 1917.

Hallmark has just sent out goody boxes of giftwrap to multiple retail customers to fanfare a new collection, which launches officially in January to celebrate the 100th anniversary of giftwrap. The new everyday range has a re-energised creative direction covering all occasions, with female, male and juvenile designs. The foiling, flittering and funky designs have come a long way since a then ‘new card publisher’ and retailer found themselves with an unfortunate ‘out of stock’ situation which called for an entrepreneurial solution.

“Giftwrap, or gift dressing as it was called, in the early 20th century was very simple,” reveals Samantha Bradbeer, historian of Hallmark Cards. “People often used brown packaging paper or newspaper to wrap their gifts. Retailers, like Hallmark, sold green, red or white tissue paper, and if there were designs, they were simple festive icons such as holly or wreaths.”

Below: One of Hallmark’s original tissue paper designs from a century ago.

However in the run up to Christmas in 1917, Hallmark sold out of the traditional tissue paper at its Halls store in the heart of Kansas City in America. So, Hallmark Founder J.C. Hall’s older brother searched the company’s manufacturing office and found some recently imported French envelope liners that were brightly coloured and highly stylised. The company then sold these liners as giftwrap for 10 cents apiece (for five sheets) and quickly sold out. The following year, Halls stocked up heavily and sold out once again.

The brothers knew they had a hit on their hands, so they began designing and manufacturing their own giftwrap shortly thereafter. This means that giftwrap was the first diversification from Hallmark outside of greeting cards.

Learn and look at Christmas roadshows

Below: The Hallmark roadshow coming in January.

Hallmark is offering free masterclasses on social media, visual merchandising and trends for 2018 during its Christmas roadshows in January. The free masterclasses will take place at three of seven roadshow events being held in Manchester (15, 16 January), Dublin (22, 23 January) and Borehamwood, Herts (25 January). The other roadshow venues are Edinburgh (11 Jan), Birmingham(23 Jan), Belfast (10 and 11 Jan) and Cork (16 and 17 Jan).

Visitors to the Hallmark roadshows will be among the first to see the company’s newest products, including Christmas 2018 cards and giftwrap, the latest Itty Bittys, as well as the new gift presentation range launching in January. Full details of all the masterclasses and other roadshows the publisher is instigating can be found at www.hallmark.co.uk/roadshows.

Happy Jackson’s colour explosion relaunch Pigment’s Happy Jackson range has been given a ‘colour explosion’ facelift, the first major change since the card range launched five years ago. Cocreators of the leading brand, Heather Flynn and Giles Andreae have worked closely with the Pigment team to ensure that the new look remains true to the essence of the brand while taking the designs on, creating a new vibrant colour palette and introducing different design treatments (pictured left).

“We knew we wanted to take Happy Jackson on, but we were also determined that it would remain true to the upbeat voice of the brand,” said Giles, while Heather reveals that she must have looked at “over a thousand different colours and numerous design ideas,” before deciding on the new look that has debuted on 18 new open birthday designs. Around 40 relations and occasions designs will follow in the next few months.

As Martin Powderly, creative director of Pigment recognises: “There’s always a risk in meddling with something that isn’t broken but together we felt it was time to explore what a reboot.”

To celebrate Happy Jackson’s new look, Pigment has sent out ‘Hello you lovely person’ goody boxes.

A conversation at PG Live in June has resulted in Moonpig’s launch of a greeting card, mug and t-shirt collection based on the original Smiley brand. Geoff Sanderson, design director of Moonpig, said he went to PG Live “with a very open mind”, his eyes open for new concepts that would expand the online operator’s personalisation offering. One stand in particular put a smile on his face - that of SmileyWorld!

“Driven by the universal popularity of the emoji as a design icon, our customers have been increasingly asking us for smiley designs. So, having started the conversation at PG Live, we are now partnering with the most recognised and original brand in the market,” said Geoff.

Above: One of the new Smiley cards from Moonpig.

Working with the Smiley Company, the Moonpig design team has created a number of different looks for 14 greeting cards, four mugs and four t-shirts based on the long-standing SmileyWorld brand, from a contemporary graphical treatment to photo uploads, floral depictions to emoticon phrased designs.

Smiley joins Moonpig’s ‘whole world of happy’ approach that was conceived by Sarah-Jane Porter, Moonpig’s head of licensing (and GCA council member) in response to the current urge for positivity amid unsettling times.

Moonpig’s triumvirate of ‘happy’ brands are Happy Jackson, The Happy News and now Smiley. “The three brands work really well together as they offer different values of emotional connection through positive words, authentic messaging, and emotional icons,” says Sarah-Jane.

Hugo’s fame spreads Hugo (below), a cockapoo owned by Ali Kittermaster of greeting card company HH Designs, has done it again! Last month’s PG covered Hugo’s rise to stardom with the lovable pooch appearing in adverts for Pets At Home among others. Now the canine supermodel is appearing in a new coffee table book ‘This is Britain’, which is being sold to raise money for Children in Need.

The project was organised by PhotoBox and features 300 photos of life in Britain all submitted by members of the public. Renowned photographer John Rankin was on board to choose his favourite photos for the book from over 11,000 submitted.

The book is being sold for £25 from thisisbritain.me.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

17

Glorious Greetings Get wrapped up in the newest cards, stationery and paper goods at the UK’s largest gathering of greetings and gift suppliers.

The market is open for inspiration.

Our carefully curated show sectors: Beauty & Wellbeing • Children’s Gifts & Toys • Christmas Gifts, Floral & Seasonal Decorations • Contemporary Gift • DIY & Home Improvement • Fashion, Jewellery & Luggage • Gift • Greetings & Gift • Home • Kitchen, Dining & Housewares • Retail Solutions • The Party Show • The Summerhouse • Volume Gift & Home and Glee at Spring Fair

Get your free ticket now at springfair.com

SS002373 SF CRAFT FOCUS PRESS AD 210X297.indd 1 014_PG December 2017.indd 1

08/11/2017 16:50 22/11/2017 11:47

CREATE AN IRRESISTIBLY UNIQUE EDIT FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS FROM OUR CURATED SELECTION OF 1,500 DESIGN-LED BRANDS

Register at topdrawer.co.uk

019_PG December 2017.indd 1

PRODUCT CREDITS (Clockwise from top) LONETREE / KATIE HOUSLEY / KATIE LEAMON / PORTICO DESIGNS

DEFINE YOUR STORY

S/S 18

14—16 JANUARY 2018 | OLYMPIA LONDON

21/11/2017 17:05

20-21_Grid 21/11/2017 10:46 Page 20

OVER THE COUNTER

Read All About it!

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, reviews some recent headline news.

‘Bill Greeno qualifies for Wimbledon 2018.

Andy Murray reportedly worried at the new UK tennis threat.’ ‘Clintons in rumoured takeover of Card Factory wants to form largest card chain in UK history’. ‘Garfield car window plush outselling Moz the Monster and Paddington as the fastest selling soft toy of Christmas 2017’. ‘Footfall on Britain’s high street at its highest level since figures began’.

‘Retail businesses the easy option for young entrepreneurs’.

So you have read these headlines, perhaps with a little shock, surprise, and I dare say a few of them may have made you smile wryly. In reality they are of course great examples of what is now commonly called ‘fake news’.

The term ‘fake news’ has been around for many years, but it’s usage has only recently become mainstream because of Donald Trump when, in his speech to the media, he accused, rightly or wrongly, the American press of creating and manipulating stories about him.

Now the fake news headlines I have created have little or no truth in them, well accept for the tennis story! So what is the point in them at all? Simply, my headlines are a bit of light relief, but they cannot mask the real story that shouts out daily – ‘Retail is becoming a difficult business’.

On Saturday 11 November the Daily Mail’s headline reflected this: ‘Christmas Sales on already! As high street retailers hit panic button’. This of course does not help anyone.

Would I go as far as to say it is a fake headline?

Well maybe not. But it certainly does not encourage the public to go out and buy.

Consumers are uncertain as it is with the introduction of Black Friday and Christmas promotion days. They question themselves, whether they should wait before purchasing?

20

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

It is of course human nature to try and get the best price, but for retailers it means a delay in people starting their Christmas spending.

Us retailers are all sitting with our shops literally bursting at the walls with a great and varied selection of Christmas cards, gifts, chocolate and jewellery. We are literally waiting for that Christmas uplift that seems to come later and later each year.

The BBC published an article online last month entitled ‘5 ways to fix our High Street’ and I, like many retailers, couldn’t wait to read what the new revolution would be for 2018.

These were the five points: Footfall - Everyone’s favourite topic. This is universally accepted as being down on the high streets, and unless we go to a major city I think that this has to be pretty much expected.

I was in London for three days at the beginning of November and the hustle and bustle on the streets was quite magical. All the shops (sweeping generalisation) seemed and felt busy and the atmosphere meant that you really enjoyed just being out among the buildings and among the people. The store displays were really quite inspiring and I really wanted to be there. I enjoyed my time there.

Contrast this to when I have been in other town or city centres recently, and there simply is not this excitement or interest. This isn’t to say that there are not good shops in other towns or cities, the problem is there is not enough of them set together to peak interest and encourage park and pay. To almost confirm this, it was interesting to note that out of Retail Week’s top 25 stores in the UK based on design, 22 of them were in London.

The BBC report goes on to interview a BID manager from Blackburn who said that they were changing perceptions with their events to help year round footfall. As chair of our local BID I would agree that events do help, but the bottom line is the shops and shopping has to improve and masking it with a great carnival or light switch-on does Above: Is Paperlink’s Bill Green a threat to Andy Murray? Bill battled PG’s Warren Lomax for almost five hours in a tennis charity challenge.

Left: This year’s tropical themed Christmas lights on London’s Carnaby Street.

20-21_Grid 21/11/2017 10:46 Page 21

OVER THE COUNTER not help for the rest of the year if the diversity of local shops and business is not there.

Footfall is driven by variety and choice and a really great shopping experience.

More than shops - The perception would be that shop closures are also up across the country. Research from the Local Data Company showed that 14 shops closed every day in the first half of the year, which is actually the lowest level in seven years. In our own town centre we have halved shop vacancy rates from 70 available to just 32 (from 2015 to 2017).

However, a survey carried out for the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘You and Yours’ discovered that from the 12 government funded Portas Pilot towns, nearly 1,000 shops had disappeared in five years again. I don’t see Mary shouting about that on BBC2!

What the Local Data Company didn't say is that a great deal of these buildings may have been replaced by coffee shops, beauty salons and ice-cream parlours as these are all businesses on the rise - bubble waffle cone anyone?!

Shops are not shops any more. The big word for 2018 is ‘experiential’, but basically the high street is and has to keep changing to reflect people’s lives, and in truth it has always done that.

What we bought five years ago is not what we buy now. People are far better travelled and they want to see their own high street represent this and give them a little bit of theatre and wow.

Offline meeting online - Another easy headline is ‘internet killed the high street store’. Now this is certainly true to a point as we can all get access to so many more things so easily now.

A few years ago the headlines were ‘Online can’t cope’ and ‘Parcels wont be delivered’. Those days have gone now so retailers can’t rely on parcel delivery problems or the weather to scare people out onto the high street and into our stores. As retailers we

Left: Experience Apple’s 'town square' on Regent Street.

Below left: The rise of the coffee shop continues, taking many of the empty shop units on the high street.

Bottom: Wizardry and magic, don’t believe all that the papers say.

literally have to go out there and get them in ourselves. Obviously, we can’t physically push them in but we can entice them with a great website or social media.

Rumours of a website that really works to link indie stores within different industries and allow them to showcase their products continue to circulate. I am keeping a close eye on how Trouva is developing, for example, as this is one of the best I have seen.

FarFetch has done this very successfully for clothes, bringing over 400 indie stores together and letting them use the FarFetch front faced website to sell their goods - for a commission of course.

That said, much of what works so well for us indies is that our personality shows through in our stores. The big problem for us is that what we sell is far more universally available and that is why indie retailers have really struggled to make a mark online. We don’t really sell anything that is unique or different and we really have to face up to that. Our only true point of difference is our service.

In-store experience - As well as great service the customer is looking for more; that step further beyond expectations. What they describe are in-store DJ’s (Niketown), ambitious window displays and of course above and beyond service. If we look at Apple, it has stopped calling its shops ‘stores’ and they are now called ‘town squares’ - so the shops are meeting places rather than somewhere to just buy Apple product.

Apple also talks about knowing its customers by name (something we have always done) and having multi-use stores - ie coffee shops within stores (something we now do).

The fact, quite simply, is that the BBC in its article, and Retail Week in its recent one, are not telling us anything we have not

tried, want to do or indeed are doing anyway.

Plea bargain - The BBC article ends with a plea for lower rates and more support and here is where another major sticking point is.

Councils and government look on business, especially those in the middle ground, as cash cows. Instead of offering discounts and incentives for indies and entrepreneurs to expand they keep the costs high.

Councils, with their revolving door of representatives, grant more and more permissions without looking at the consequences. Our own council has been changing industrial land into retail but its review of high street parking charges are so far two years in the making. It’s been totally disregarded for an increase and a quick buck.

Another headline in November, which should perhaps give us some hope, is Card Factory’s sales are up 6.7%. However, to my mind, Card Factory is an anomaly. For most of us we are all struggling to come to terms with what is actually happening in business and no one really knows what is the truth or not. To my mind it feels like a big game of dare. Do we show our hand? Dare we tell people that we are ok or are struggling?

My belief is that you really can’t compare yourself to anyone. Your shop will have a different history, location, shape and customer.

Media headlines are a whole breed unto themselves and it is as much about the tease and capture as it is about reflecting the story.

Headlines are designed to gain your attention, nothing more and nothing less, and the truth is that we must see beyond them to really get to the heart of the story. Quite simply, don’t believe all that you read.

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

21

22-23_Layout 1 21/11/2017 16:42 Page 22

CARDSHARP

Clocking Up A

Half Century

Cardsharp notes that 2018 will mark two significant milestones for the UK greeting card industry - both Paperchase and Clintons will mark their 50th anniversaries.

And for Clintons, next year brings not one, but two significant markers. Cardsharp takes a look back over the years of the Essex-based business.

A younger generation bought up on the rise and rise of the likes of Card Factory, Paperchase (under its current ownership), Scribbler and Moonpig might not realise, but Clintons Cards, or Clintons as it is now known, was something of a generic for greeting card retailing. And 2018 sees the chain celebrate two significant anniversaries. It was 50 years ago in 1968 that the son of a chimney sweep, Don Lewin, opened his first Clinton Cards shop in Epping in Essex, named after his young son, Clinton. Then, 20 years later in 1988, Clinton Cards was one of the first companies to be floated on the newly deregulated London stock exchange, with 77 stores. The second of these two events has had a profound effect on the whole UK greeting card industry right up to the present day.

With the Clintons’ chain now down to a rump of 380 stores, and now no longer a plc, but owned by massive global publishing concern American Greetings, Cardsharp thinks both anniversaries provides a great opportunity to look at the history of this iconic card retailer.

When Don Lewin opened his first Clinton Cards greeting card store in Epping in Essex in 1968, Cardsharp wonders if he ever envisaged that one day he would have over 1,000 stores, would make £millions, and

22

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

be the dominant retailer in greeting cards on the high street for over 25 years. And then, subsequently see it all go pear-shaped in 2012 after 45 years.

But the rags to riches story is fascinating for anyone involved in the greeting card trade.

Although Don did not invent the specialist card shop, he saw the potential for an efficiently run high street chain in prime high street positions that was not dependent on any single supplier. The initial growth was slow but steady, and by 1987 he was ready to take the momentous step of launching as a plc. This was a bold move but Don was savvy enough to retain a good percentage of his shares. This meant for the next 25 years Clintons was a hi-bred plc. Its

Above: One of the early Clintons Cards stores with a very young Don Lewin on the right.

Below: The old Clintons Cards fascia.

shares were listed on the stock exchange but the Lewin family always retained enough stock to effectively retain control.

Don was also shrewd enough to see that the major card publishers of the day, Hallmark, American Greetings and Fine Art Developments (which no longer exists as a card publisher) were all finding being both a publisher and a retailer, a real conflict of interest. All three had acquired, often by default, considerable portfolios of card shops which they were desperate to offload. It meant that Clintons could cut a very favourable deal in exchange for supplier agreements.

In 1994, it acquired 83 shops from Hallmark. A year later 112 from American Greetings. Then, in 1998 it acquired Greetings Store Group (GSG), the 212 store group that was owned by a consortium of venture capitalists (with Paul Taylor, now owner of Card Zone a GSG director and shareholder).

The high street then was healthy, card sales were growing and Clintons was booming, with Don Lewin regularly appearing in the Sunday Times’ Rich List on the basis of the value of his shareholding. However, it could be argued that a certain hubris crept into Clintons after a time, and although the City was happy when the profits were

22-23_Layout 1 21/11/2017 16:42 Page 23

CARDSHARP pouring in, there was a sense of unease at the Lewin’s family’s dominance in senior management positions. Cardsharp recalls suppliers who visited the Loughton headquarters were escorted from the premises if they were not wearing a tie.

And woe betide any supplier arriving in a flashy car!

Clintons was the number one shopping centre tenant and even opened a massive Clintons ‘superstore’ with great fanfare in London’s Oxford Street, but the latter closed pretty soon after.

Ironically though, reflects Cardsharp, the seeds of Clintons’ decline can be traced back, to what at the time, seemed the moment of the Lewin’s family highest achievement. In 2004 Clintons acquired the ailing Birthdays chain, which took the Clintons’ portfolio over the 1,000 store mark.

But pretty soon Birthdays became an albatross around Clintons’ neck! Having bought it, they did not seem to know what to do with it, and it ended up dragging Clintons down in the process. The plc was illequipped to deal with the rise and rise of Card Factory and the recession following the financial crash of 2008.

In 2009 Birthdays went into administration, although Clintons bought the better stores out of administration. And then in 2012 the whole Lewin regime came crashing down when American Greetings, who were owed £36 million, called in the debt and acquired Clintons from the administrators. Hundreds of stores were closed and the Birthdays brand was consigned to history. No place was found for any of the Lewin family in the new regime.

So, what of the future? Since the administration in 2012, and the AG takeover, Clintons has suffered mixed fortunes. Post 2012 for three or four couple of years, it is arguable that the senior management tried to impose too much of a formula that may have worked in the United States but was

“

Ironically though, reflects Cardsharp, the seeds of Clintons’ decline can be traced back, to what at the time, seemed the moment of the Lewin’s family highest achievement.”

less appropriate over in the UK. In hindsight, some of the decisions taken seemed a bit odd to Cardsharp. The shiny new red fascia format stores that now consist of around half the portfolio, looked nice on the surface, but to Cardsharp’s mind it was brave to jettison the word ‘Cards’ in its name, especially given that Clintons has been so synonymous with greeting card buying for over 40 years. Kicking out the top selling plush lines and replacing them with a lot of gifts and stationery which, to Cardsharp’s mind anyway, looked more suitable for the US market rather than UK tastes, seemed rather hasty too.

And with greeting cards being one of the major analogue retail drivers in the high street in these digital days, the decision to move greeting cards towards the back of many of its stores seemed a little odd To Cardsharp.

There is also a question of the opaqueness of its financial performance. On the surface, in the last couple of years, Clintons’ financial figures, (reported under the company name of AG Retail) have been pretty grim. The last set of annual results showed a near £20 million loss on a turnover reduced by £10 million from the previous year. But with holding company, AG’s UK publishing company UKG, being the supplier of perhaps as much as 80% of the card displays, this probably in turn amounts to approximately 40% of Clintons’ turnover. So, knowing the true financial position is a matter of pure Above: A fresh and contemporary new look Clintons store.

Below: Don Lewin in his later years.

conjecture. Obviously, UKG would make a hefty profit on this level of distribution, which would imply the results are not nearly as bad as they appear on the surface.

But this opaqueness also leads to speculation. A Sunday Telegraph story in January this year wrongly predicted that Clintons were to close 120 “loss making” stores in a strategic review. In fact, Cardsharp suspects Clintons were just playing hardball with landlords, using the threat of closure in order to re-negotiate rents, as so many of the stores leases were coming up to renewal after five years since AG acquired it. And indeed, there have been no mass shop closures in 2017.

The decision of chief executive Dominique Schurman to return to the US, after five years at the helm, has led some to believe that a retail big hitter might be bought in to give the chain a new ‘oomph’ and direction, but the decision to appoint the top job to Eddie Shepard, Dominique’s long-term number two, indicates a ‘steady as you go’ approach.

As Clintons approaches its 50th Christmas season, it may turn out to be the most difficult yet. Tough Christmasses tend to separate the men from the boys. With inflation outstripping wages at present, all retailers face a challenging festive period.

The last two year’s Christmas seasons have been relatively benign with wage increases running slightly ahead of inflation, yet anecdotally (Clintons didn’t release details of its 2016 Christmas sales performance) those conditions did not exactly inspire a fantastic performance. Clintons’ marketing and ecommerce vp Tim Fairs, expects the chain to serve eight million customers in the festive run up, and is hoping that the average spend per customer will go way beyond the £5 mark. Cardsharp thinks it will need to deliver on the festive front if it is to prosper as it enters its second half-century of existence.

And if to rub salt in the wounds, Card Factory, the company that arguably has done more than any to contribute to Clintons’ woes, recently opened its 900th store. And guess where? Only a few steps from Clintons’ HQ car park OUCH!!! The history story continues...

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

23

WISHING ALL OUR CUSTOMERS A

from the

Merry Christmas New Year AND A PROSPEROUS

from

GRASS ROOTS INTERNATIONAL Thank you for all your business and support during 2017.

We are looking forward to presenting our fantastic Christmas Collection and New Product for 2018.

Come and see us at the NEC Spring Fair 4th-8th February 2018, Cardgains Village Stand Hall 3 Stand L10-M11

16TH February 2018

Greeting Cards & Money Wallets

CALL 0161 641 0

655

TO ORDER NOW !

OR order on our NEW WEBSITE!

024_PG December 2017.indd 1

BRAND

NEW!

allets

Money W

22/11/2017 12:44

25-27_Grid 21/11/2017 16:49 Page 25

VIEWPOINTS

Making Connections Life as an independent retailer can be a lonely one, though many indies are finding huge benefits in joining forces with fellow retailers and other local bodies for mutual advantage.

PG taps into the experiences of a trio of retailers who have done just that.

Far left: Chris Fox delves into some Father’s Day offering at Wishes of Cudworth.

Bottom left: Wishes of Cudworth has nearly 5,000 Facebook followers, one that speaks ‘Pirate’.

Left: Wishes of Cudworth kicks-off its ‘Cudworth is Cool!’ local shop campaign.

The hub of the matter Chris Fox’s brainchild is giftshophub.co.uk, a friendly online marketing resource for independent shops, small businesses and artists. As also the digital content manager for greeting card shop Wishes of Cudworth in Barnsley (run by his life partner Julia Keeling), Chris explains how forming the Cudworth Businesses & Community Together (CBCT) has helped to build a better Cudworth for retailers and residents.

“How many ‘likes’ does your Facebook page have?

I only ask the question as it seems many people judge success on their total ‘likes’. Business owners can be distracted trying to gain more social media followers while ignoring their Facebook pages’ daily interactions from its current ones. Would it not be better to judge the success of our digital marketing by daily comments, shares and enquires?

We may aim for thousands of Facebook followers but is it the correct philosophy for a small independent shop?

If you don’t sell online then surely the goal is to connect with your local area? That it’s more about quality than quantity of digital interactions?

As the digital content manager of greeting card shop Wishes of Cudworth, I’ve always had one simple goal: To get people in to the shop. Whilst researching this column I decided to review our Facebook stats for our shop. It made for an interesting read.”

Demographic dissection “We currently have just under 5,000 Facebook followers, with 4,711 based in the UK, which is good news. However, we do have followers in the US, India, China, Tunisia and Iraq. When we dig deeper, just over half our followers live in Barnsley where our shop is located.

Sure, there is a good mix of followers in the surrounding areas like Sheffield, Rotherham plus Doncaster, but there’s plenty in London and further afield too.

The outcome is that, if anything, our shop’s digital reach is too big.

That sometimes we are failing to connect with our local community. We know our customers and it’s not the ‘Pirate’ speaking fella who lives in China! He’s a good chap but he’s not popping into Wishes anytime soon.

To combat this digital disparity we’ve recently started a new community association called Cudworth Businesses & Community

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

25

25-27_Grid 21/11/2017 16:49 Page 26

VIEWPOINTS Together (the CBCT to use our much trendier acronym). Run by local retailers, our aim is to build a better Cudworth by putting on events, combating anti-social behavior and yes, engaging with the people who live in our area.”

Go with the flow “A wise Irish man once sang “Life is a Rollercoaster”, and a few months into running our new community association I have to agree. There have been ups and downs. Twist and turns. Screams and joyous whoops. It’s been a giddy mix of triumphant highs and stomach churning lows. I’ve written lots of articles about the various promotions we’ve run for our shop and I’ve always had two principles: be positive and be truthful in what I say, which, to be honest, is not always easy when writing about our new association.

Another word of warning: as well as a thick skin, you’ll also have to put a lot of work into the association. Time is always the shopkeeper’s sworn enemy. For myself, it’s taken me off many of my own projects and my 'sitting on the sofa watching Netflix' hobby is now severely limited. Still, your hard work will pay off, and the small god of shopkeepers will reward you if you stick with it.

Working with other local businesses just makes sense. You can keep it simple and work with a select few businesses to expand your customer base. It’s common for coffee shops to display local artists’ work or sell craft items. Why not do some real world networking and drop off leaflets at each other’s shops? There are also opportunities to link up at seasonal times producing combined giveaways, offers or gift vouchers. As a greeting card shop, it can only help to team up with the cake baker, the wedding dress designer and the jewellery store owner, as the products we sell are often interlinked.”

Santa is coming to town “I’m currently on the phone to Santa working on our Cudworth Christmas Fair, an event that should draw in customers into the village. It’s a health and safety headache, and public liability insurance doesn’t come cheap, but with local authorities often not able to put

26

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Left: There is the opportunity to send a postcard to Santa at this year’s Cudworth Christmas Fair. Wishes of Cudworth’s owner Julia keeling is getting hers in early.

Below left: Chris Fox (second left) at the recent GCA AGM with (right to left) Second Nature’s Chris Bryan and Tim West with Peter Fitzpatrick (of Giftisimo).

Below middle: A meeting agenda for CBCT. Bottom: A meeting of minds - the Cudworth Business & Community Together (CBCT) association of local retailers.

on their own events, brave businesses have to step up.

The CBCT is also swapping tips about repeat crime offenders and building links with the local police and council. There are a few delightful individuals in our village that engage in regular anti-social behavior, so the association can provide support, information and encourage the reporting of low-level crime to the correct authorities. In our meetings we can exchange tips on how to make our shops more secure and look into preventative measures like the creation of a shop watch scheme, campaign for more CCTV and introduce public hangings (a suggestion I think was a joke!).”

The bottom line is that the CBCT is building a solid base for our future projects. If we can pull off our Christmas Fair with style then we can use it as an example and marker for the next event. A community association can open doors to new contacts and introduce businesses to the wider community, connecting with the local papers, schools, clubs, council and everyday people who really care about where they live.

The best independents are driven by ideas and the desire to improve, and run and staffed by people who give it their all. There are some good eggs in Cudworth, and at each meeting, as we sit around the table, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride - thankful that Cudworth does care and Wishes is supporting its local area and working with other high street heroes to make sure ‘Cudworth is Cool’ - and that thanks to us all, Santa is coming to town!”

25-27_Grid 21/11/2017 16:49 Page 27

VIEWPOINTS

Man-ning up The Metaphysical poet John Donne wrote ‘No man is an island’ - and certainly Chris and Debbie Beards, co-owners of indie card, gift and toy shop have turned their island location to their advantage, having received plaudits galore, including bira retailer of the year and being a UK leading light in the Small Business Saturday campaign.

Chris Beards, partner of Mantons, Port Erin, Isle of Man: “We are a British Independent Retail Association (bira) member and have benefitted from its services, including legal advice and training.

As well as bira conferences, I have also attended the bira owned Oxford Summer School and came back with a vast amount of knowledge to help improve Mantons in our community.

We have a chosen local charity that all our fundraising efforts go into (currently Crossroads Care) and have raised over £18,000 since we took over Mantons nine years ago.

This puts us at the heart of the community we serve. We currently have

A Stow away in Hull Being located in a suburb of the city of Hull has not stopped plucky retailer Love Letters punch above its weight, amplifying the ‘City of Culture’ rally call to Anlaby where the shop is based.

Janet Stow, partner of Love Letters, Hull: “Although Hull is the City of Culture this year, and although there have been lots of activities going on in and around Hull, it hasn't really given us as a greeting card and gift shop the opportunity to join in, in fact it probably has had an adverse effect because the activities going on are in the town centre so people have been shopping there a lot more. However, with the shop having Creation Express I was able to make a couple of bespoke items to celebrate the fact that we are City of Culture 2017.

We featured the cushions in the widow these have generated a lot of interest. I was also able to pick up a couple of extra sales of these items, I also had cards made from Bluebell 33 promoting Hull.”

Although we didn’t have the opportunity to directly partake in the City of Culture activities, we have however been very active with the community as we get asked to 'take the shop' to lots of charity events. Our first one this year was in support of our local primary school back in March; it went so well we where asked back to their Christmas fair in November.

In May we attended a Relate charity function, and on the back of this w were asked to attend Brestival in aid of Breast Cancer in July. May and September saw us supporting our local library to help raise funds to keep it open, and in October we

Above: Chris Beards hands over another cheque to charity Crossroads Care.

Left: Manton's customers have supported the store while the road outside has been closed.

a Mantons Christmas Pop Up Shop in the Crossroads Care Store as one of our fundraising initiatives which further helps our links with the local community.

The biggest problem we have had as a retailer this year is the road directly outside our shop being shut for six months, which had a massive effect on footfall. The local government did absolutely nothing to help, but the support of our regular customers was amazing.”

Left: Love Letters' Janet Stow is very active in her local community, taking the shop to charity events.

Below: Bringing the Hull, City of Culture to Love Letters with personalised Bluebell 33 designs and Creation Express items.

supported Life for a Kid, which helps children with severe disabilities.

We have just attended the Christmas fair for Humber Rescue, lifeboats who help save lives on the Humber estuary, this is a charity close to our hearts, and December sees us taking the shop to the local Spire hospital to help those busy nurses who just don't have the time to shop and the patients who may find it difficult getting out to do their Christmas shopping.

We also donate items to local churches, groups and care homes (I think they all come to us because they know they are going to get a lovely good quality donation) and I also offer a discount scheme to local groups with membership as well as veterans (both me and my husband are veterans), and seeing as we sponsor a player at our local rugby league club we offer a discount to anyone associated with the club.

All these events we have attended have had a positive effect on the business, they have brought us lots more publicity and has put our name out into the wider community, which is bringing a lot more customers through the door. We have a very good reputation and this shows in our profits, which are up 25% up on last year!

So with all that said, I think it's been a very good year and we are looking forward to what 2018 has to offer!”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

27

PG adverts march.pdf

1

16/02/2017

15:20

What ever sheet size you require, we can print.

DIGITAL

FLEXI

B2

B1

windles.co.uk hello@windles.co.uk 01844 201 683 windlesgroup

01924 950500 The perfect solution for all of your Greeting Card Software requirements Enquiry Hotline

CARD manager

Ready-made WEBSHOP

for Customer and Salesforce Orders

Salesforce MOBILE Ordering

using iPhone, iPad, Tablet, etc. incl. Consignment and Van Sales Email us at enquiries@exponential.co.uk or visit our website at www.card-manager.com

UK- 01924 950500 / USA- (617) 8618-517 / Australia- (0432) 846546 Exponential Limited Suite 37 Charles Roberts House Charles Street Horbury Wakefield West Yorkshire WF4 5FH

028_PG December 2017.indd 1

21/11/2017 17:18

29_31_33_35_38-39/40-41 21/11/2017 10:52 Page 29

Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

Leader Of The Pack Candid Coupons is a brand-new range of cheeky gift-voucher-inspired greeting cards from new humour card company Pack a Punch Designs. There are nine cards in the range, all 6” square, printed onto high quality hammered cardstock and supplied with a kraft style envelope.

Pack a Punch Designs 07903 571104 www.packapunchdesigns.co.uk

Cut To Size Horace & Nim is adding a series of Pattern cards for all occasions to its range of cute animal greeting cards, featuring Horace Mouse, Nim Hare and their friends, Miss Edie Duck, Little Piglet Kay and Polecat Mac. The cards are beautifully designed and illustrated by Chantal Bourgonje using pen, ink and watercolours.

These enchanting 150mm square cards are printed on responsibly sourced, high quality gloss varnished card and sold wrapped with a crisp, white envelope.

Horace & Nim 01380 816004 www.horaceandnim.co.uk

A Matter Of Taste

Manual Setting Awright Mate! When you’ve finished tinkering wiv’ yer motor, ‘ave a gander at Haynes Explains...

Emo’s new card range based on the iconic Haynes manuals! This is its first trip round the block and is bound to bring a smile to any car-mad lad’s or dad’s face! All the cards are sized 6” x 9”. Give ‘em a honk!

Emotional Rescue 01684 272370 www.emotionarescue.com

The Taste Buds is expanding its eponymous range to include character cards with comical one-liners, sure to make any age laugh, but usually for very different reasons. There are 12 A6 designs in the range, all suitable for any occasion, sold wrapped with a kraft envelope and also available as personalised A4 prints.

The Taste Buds 07906 367663 www.the-taste-buds.co.uk

Felt So Good Bringing In Spring The beautiful Halcyon Collection from Laura Darrington has now been expanded for Spring Seasons 2018, with new captions for Valentine’s, Mother’s Day and Easter. All the designs are sold wrapped with a custom printed envelope.

Laura Darrington Design 0116 2849660 www.lauradarrington.co.uk

Lucy Ledger Studio is launching the Feltboard Collection, a fun range in the style of retro felt letterboards, with 12 designs each for men and women, pink for the girls and grey for the boys.

All the cards have contemporary and humorous captions, are 150mm square and come wrapped with recycled rustic brown envelope.

Lucy Ledger Studio 0114 438 7569 www.lucyledger.com

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

29

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

PG_Half_page_advert.pdf

1

03/03/2017

08:03

IC Advert Panel A5 Landscape.indd 1

09/06/2017 12:01

Envelope Your Cards In Luxury ROSE GOLD & COPPER, NEW FROM ENVECO

Enveco Ltd Sunrose Place Michigan Drive Tongwell Milton Keynes MK15 8HQ 01908 378866 www.enveco.co.uk info@enveco.co.uk

030_PG_December 2017.indd 80

21/11/2017 17:21

29_31_33_35_38-39/40-41 21/11/2017 10:52 Page 31

Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

Untamed Beasts ‘Into The Wild’ is a new signature range of wildlife cards created by Claire Louise. With a contemporary look and feel, and using a sophisticated colour palette, the cards are size 155mm x 155mm, blank inside, and each card comes cellowrapped with a grey envelope.

Claire Louise 07715 373344 www.clairelouise.eu

Hip Hip Hooray!

For The Girls

Due to popular demand Tigerlily is extending its Hip range, which focuses on modern day urban lifestyles with titles including ‘Besties', 'Beard Gangs', 'Gin Buddies' and other hashtag worthy occasions. There are 12 150mm square designs in the range, supplied wrapped with a brown kraft envelope.

Tigerlily 07835 893775 www.bytigerlily.co.uk

Desito’s Charlotte Says range is a bit of fun from the female perspective featuring lose pen and watercolour illustrations and humorous text.

Focusing on girl to girl topics, there are 18 blank designs, all 150mm square and sold wrapped with a purple envelope.

Desito 01959 534852 www.desito.co.uk

Ink On Paper Paper Heron from Mia Hague features her unusual images of dogs, birds, cats, zebras and whales simply designed with ink and brush, using just one or two splashes of colour and hand-stamped text. There are 20 A6 designs, all printed on recycled kraft board and sold wrapped with recycled brown kraft envelopes.

Funny, sweet and subtle.

Mia Hague 07803 781 983 www.paperheron.co.uk

Out Of Africa The Thought That Matters Introducing Words ‘n’ Wishes’ stunning updated Loving Thoughts collection, now presented in a new Z-fold format! The range comprises seven traditional designs using contemporary eyecatching artwork and extended heartfelt sentiment, covering major male and female captions. The cards are sized 230mm x 152mm and presented wrapped with a white envelope.

Words ‘n’ Wishes 01942 233201 www.words-n-wishes.co.uk

New designs added to the Live in Colour collection from Special Touch Designs feature beautiful silhouettes hand-finished with real African wax print fabrics. There are 60 vibrant bold and beautiful cards, sized 150mm square and sold wrapped with white envelopes.

Special Touch Designs 07984 652962 www.specialtouchdesigns.com

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

31

bags envelopes print print finishing wrapping

At the heart of the Greetings Card Hub since 1978.

01274 220 220

www.wrapid.co.uk

sales@wrapid.co.uk

8850_Wrapid Hub ad 90x135.indd 1

Polypropylene bag specialists

01/03/2016 06:45

Over 40 years quality service to the trade Hot-foiling also available

GREETING CARD

Unique cards inspired by the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum

FRIENDLY, EXPERT ADVICE DEDICATED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE TEAM FAST AND EFFICIENT SERVICE HIGH QUALITY FILM BAGS

Please contact your agent or request a brochure for more information:

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

032_PG December 2017.indd 1

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

21/11/2017 17:15

29_31_33_35_38-39/40-41 21/11/2017 10:53 Page 33

Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

Watch The Birdie Fifteen lovely cute new designs have been added to the Heartfelt range by Paper Bird embodying celebration and sending love.

Titles include 'Monsieur et Monsieur' and 'Madame et Madame', all are available this December. These 150mm square cards are printed on luxurious board and come cello wrapped with white envelopes.

Paper Bird Publishing 07766 164 807 www.paperbirdpublishing.co.uk

I Got The Music In Me Close To You

Moments In Music is a new range of retro music themed cards from Honovi, created with images from salvaged 35mm photo slides dating from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. There are 21 blank cards aimed at music lovers of all ages, all sized 150m square and sold with a brown recycled 125gsm envelope.

Honovi 07885 026138 www.honovi.co.uk

Brand new to Pigment is Funny Works, a contemporary humour range that combines Pigment’s classic humour with original twists and a fresh, fun look! The off-square cards, which cover all the main ages, relations and occasions, are finished in a variety of gold, silver and copper foils, giving the whole collection a beautifully unique look.

Pigment Productions 01423 520098 www.pigmentproductions.com

A Girl Called Maria Really Good is launching Lady Birdy, a range of 21 blank/birthday designs by artist Maria Cox found by Really Good’s top talent scout at Spitalfields Market. With a popular retro feel, the cards are blank, sized a dinky 105mm x 135mm and supplied wrapped with a white envelope.

Really Good 01235 537888 www.reallygoodtrade.com

Peak Fitness A new companion range to Tess Cards’ Yoga Poseurs, is #fitspo, a range featuring 12 cartoons with funny captions aimed at gym goers and exercise addicts – as well as those of us with good intentions but zero willpower. With eight designs for men and four for women, the cards are all sized 120mm x 170mm and come with white envelopes.

Tess Cards 01892 533413 www.tesscards.co.uk

Making The Cut Spring is springing in the Bexy Boo studio with the launch of the brand new foiled Spring Font Fancies card range. Beautiful brightly coloured designs are carefully hand-finished with cut-out shapes, sparkles and lots of love. This new sunshiny range of 42 designs is sized 150mm square and sold wrapped complementing coloured envelopes.

Bexy Boo 01565 830 546 www.bexyboo.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

33

GB

removable sew-on patch!

The stationery trends.

Today at Paperworld, tomorrow in your product assortment. Experience the world’s largest offering for personal paper, stationery and school supplies.

And discover the colour and material trends of the coming season. New perspectives await: paperworld.messefrankfurt.com/tickets Are you aware of our Business Matchmaking?

The ideal service to help you plan your visit effec­ tively – completely free of charge once you buy your ticket! info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83

(t) 0116 230 4197 (f) 01536 401 031

(w) www.mint-publishing.co.uk

034_PG December 2017.indd 1

65776-008_PW_Stationery_BM_ProgressiveGreetings_91x271_GB • FOGRA 39 • CMYK • jw: 21.08.2017

Hello new perspectives.

DU:06.11.2017

27. – 30. 1. 2018, Frankfurt am Main

21/11/2017 17:07

29_31_33_35_38-39/40-41 21/11/2017 10:58 Page 35

Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

Pretty In Pink Glick is launching a beautiful new Paper Salad range of bags and wraps. Using vibrant neon print and copper foil, these are aimed at both male and female markets with designs for all tastes. There are 12 bags across five designs in small, medium, large and bottle sizes, five flat wraps and two matching tissue papers.

Glick 01274 655980 www.glick.co.uk

Creature Comforts

Talking The Talk

A new Little Creatures range of super cute children’s cards is being released by Pippi & Me. Covering ages 1-5 for boys and girls, the cards feature adorable animal characters holding birthday goodies and a shiny sparkly holographic balloon. All the cards 130mm square in size and come wrapped with a coloured envelope, pink for the girls and blue for the boys.

Pippi & Me 01803 865557 www.pippiandme.com

Fifth Avenue is a brand new range of 12 open designs from Talking Pictures – all gorgeously vibrant, making perfect use of the cold foil process, with a twist. The imagery is created in on-trend tones of dusky pink and grey and enhanced with embossing and shiny hot foil too!

Talking Pictures 01892 838574 www.lingdesign.co.uk

Bedecked And Bejewelled Expanding from The Silver Studio is a range of cards with beautiful Sterling silver jewellery attached, a card and gift in one. There are now 30 designs in the range featuring either a necklace or earrings, all sized 135mm square and sold wrapped with pastel coloured envelopes.

The Silver Studio 07934 314099 www.thesilverstudio.co.uk

Heavy Petting For people who love their pets more than anything, Rose Hill is adding to the hugely successful Make Your Pet Famous range with 12 new designs. With Rose’s classic colour, pattern and illustration and popular 150mm square size, the cards are sold wrapped with a yellow envelope or red for Christmas and Valentine's Day. Rose Hill Designs 07742 347603 www.rosehilldesigns.co.uk

A Bit Of Ruff The Great British Card Company is very excited to launch Ruff Stuff, a new range from perennially popular artist Peter Cross. This range features twelve doggy themed cards, all beautifully printed on embossed watercolour board and presented with brown kraft envelopes. You’d be barking mad not to pick them!

The Great British Card Company 01452 888999 www.greatbritishcards.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

35

36-37_Grid 21/11/2017 11:06 Page 36

In Conversation with... IC&G

Golden Moments

Left: There are high hopes for the new Christmas range, which include many double captions.

Below: It was definitely a ‘golden moment’ when it was announced that IC&G had won the Gold Best Service to the Independent Retailer award for the second year running. Simon (holding the trophy) went on stage with his brother and co-md Ian (far right), joined by their father Clive (next to Simon), Ian’s wife Claire (far left) and other members of the family company Below left: IC&G is broadening its portfolio to incorporate more contemporary designs.

Bottom: Having fared well with its flower months range, IC&G has launched a ‘year you were born’ range, the tri-fold cards incorporate facts and trivia about the year featured.

Hard to believe that it is only six years since IC&G came into the mainstream greeting card world and, testified by its recent win at The Henries, where it was awarded the Gold trophy for Best Service to the Independent Retailer for the second year in succession, its impressive upward trajectory continues.

PG popped in to see Simon Wagstaff, who together with his brother Ian, runs the Dorsetbased publisher to find out what’s on the cards for the coming year.

Uber did it to black cabs, Airbnb did it to hotels - they disrupted the market with an alternative to the norm, which had the customer at heart. To some extent IC&G has done the same in the traditional greeting card scene, coming in from the left flank and trouncing more established players.

And winning the ‘Gold’ Best Service to the Independent Retailer award at The Henries, for the second year in succession at the event in October, shows that it is not losing its lustre.

IC&G has not upset the status quo by offering a radically different new product. In many ways, especially when the company was starting out, the designs it proffered were not as sophisticated as those already in the market.

Yet the team listened hard, learned fast and delivered even quicker. And where it has really scored, day by day, month by month, year by year is in its steadfast customer service to independents. Any indie ordering by 3pm have come to know that, exceptions aside, they will receive their stock the very next day.

36

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Moreover, requests retailers make to any of the publisher’s long serving agents for specific captions are not only fed back to IC&G HQ, but more often than not will make their way into the line.

By going against the industry norm, in that it has always printed virtually all of its cards in-house, IC&G has been able to respond to requests for double captions (eg Grand-daughter on her 3rd birthday) that would just not be economical or practical for many other publishers to be able to offer.

However, rather than being cock-ahoop over The Henries win, Simon Wagstaff, who shares the managing director role with his brother Ian, said it was an “overwhelming feeling of relief” rather than sheer jubilation when it was announced that IC&G had triumphed in the coveted Best Service award.

“Nothing is guaranteed. We were up against companies that are far larger and more experienced

than us,” says Simon, with a humility that he and Ian inherited from their parents Clive and Glynn and the Christian beliefs they all share and upon which the company is run. (The company still publishes pocket bibles and is involved in many charity initiatives).

The win does however reinforce the pattern of growth the company has enjoyed pretty much since the day it entered the sector, redirecting their skills from publishing bibles and products for the Christian market to the secular.

In the first year of trading, IC&G came 5th in the poll for Best Service, the next year it was ranked 4th, then 3rd, then 2nd, before reaching the pinnacle of first place in the whole industry in the 2016 Henries. “ We were very fortunate that we were able to secure some really good agents to represent us right at the start. And then, a year in, we joined the Cardgains buying group, which was another important step in our growth,” says Simon looking back. “Independents have

36-37_Grid 21/11/2017 11:06 Page 37

In Conversation with... IC&G

always been very much our main focus.

Giving them the best service and the best service possible was our remit on day one and is still today,” Simon sums up.

While the remit has remained constant, the growth has necessitated a few changes, not least the physical expansion of IC&G’s HQ. The company doubled its capacity in 2013 and then doubled it again in the last two years to mean it now trades from four adjacent factory units (24,000 sq foot), employing 35 people to enable it to serve its 1,300 retail customers.

“From here our studio creates the designs, we print them, process the orders, pack them and send them out. We are also now doing away with outworkers and bringing that element in-house to make it more streamlined. It means we have

close control at every stage. It seems to work,” says Simon.

The company’s growth has brought about some changes and opportunities. “We have gone from being a small family business to one that is a bit bigger – but one that now has a bit more structure,” sums up Simon.

Part of this evolution was bringing industry stalwart Tony Roberts (who had been with UKG for many years) on board as Above: Tony Roberts made his official IC&G debut as its director of sales on the publisher’s stand at PG Live in June.

Right: Mini pocket bibles have been a mainstay of the company since way before it went into secular greeting cards. IC&G is supplying 50,000 to China in response to the growth of Christianity in the country.

Left: Simon (right) and Ian Wagstaff share the running of the Ferndownbased company, with Ian overseeing creation and production and Simon dealing with the other aspects.

Below: For Simon, live music and a pint of Guinness in Dublin is a fave escape route!

Up close and personal Simon Wagstaff, joint managing director of IC&G, is put on the spot to share some personal revelations… l As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?: “A teacher - because you get lots

of holidays.” l What are the best lessons you have been taught about business?: “Always look after your

customers and watch the pennies.” l If you had a magic wand what would you change about the greeting card industry?: “I would

get rid of SOR.” l Who do you admire and why?: “My friend Shirley who passed away recently from cancer - she

was always so happy, lived life to the full and was a beautiful person inside and out.” l What is your guilty pleasure?: “Chocolate and wine!” l A magic carpet is waiting... where do you want to go?: “Dublin – there’s nothing better than a

live band and a few pints of Guinness!” l What are your hopes and dreams for IC&G?: “To be

the best at what we do, support charities and make sure every employee enjoys working for us.” l What motivates you?: “Building a future for my family.” l What gets you down?: “Watching the news.” l If you had a magic wand what would you change about the world?: “I would find a cure for cancer.”

director of sales last June. “We needed somebody to help me on the sales side so that I could spend more time on improving the business generally. Tony is the ideal person, we are very lucky to have him as part of our team - he has great relationships with retailers, knows the card trade inside out and seems to enjoy the quick decisions that you can make when you are a family business,” Simon revealed.

The company is holding what Simon describes as its “first real sales meeting” in the middle of December at which it will be launching its largest and most varied ever Christmas range as well as sharing a sneak peek into the plans to further expand on the everyday side.

“The coming year we are putting a lot more effort on the product front, without of course losing our grip on the service front,” reveals Simon. “Just as our Christmas range includes an increased number of design styles, so we are looking to broaden on the everyday side, with our plans to launch into cute and humour hopefully coming to fruition,” he revealed, with the company’s Year you were Born milestone years range being something of a marker in the sand.

This is something of a follow on from its successful birthday month floral range, which includes facts about the flower that is linked to each month.

Simon is under no illusion as to the challenges UK independent retailers are facing – the fact that his wife Claire runs independent card shop, Reflections, based in Wimbourne, provides a realistic window on their world.

As he says, “The rising cost of rents, rates, staff and the march of the multiples do not make it easy for indies, so we’re just doing our bit by producing cards that we hope the public like and delivering them to our customers as efficiently as we can. Without our customers and their customers we are nothing - something we remind ourselves of every day, with or without a shiny trophy.”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

37

38-39_Grid 21/11/2017 11:19 Page 38

JEREMY’S JOURNAL Business blogging by publisher Jeremy Corner of Blue Eyed Sun.

Looking Back

Below: Jeremy’s has nearly completed his The Greeting Card Project challenge.

Below middle: Send a smile by posting more cards - a design from Marina B. Bottom: Overcome that first step to sending more cards in 2018 by joining The Greeting Card Project’s Facebook page.

Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun, looks back at a year of sending more greeting cards.

On Sunday 31st December I will post my final video on YouTube.com/ TheGreetingCardProject on a personal quest that has taken me far and wide as I have explored the magic of greeting card sending each week this year.

At the start of the year I confessed to the world that, despite having published cards for the last 17 years, I didn’t actually send that many greeting cards myself. My New Year’s resolution for 2017 was to change and send more cards. I also pledged to document my experiences on video and share them on YouTube and social media each week.

Why? At the start of the project I wanted to explore how it would change me and how it would affect my relationships. I also wanted to explore the nature of giving cards.

It has been quite a journey. I’ve been through all sorts of ups and downs on the project. I’m proud to have nearly completed it and I’m pleased that it’s also inspired others to send more cards, create their own videos and to be more supportive online.

I am hugely grateful to everyone who has contributed to the videos with video replies and helped, to those who let me film in their stores and to everyone who shared the content online. I’m indebted to my 10 year-old son, Sam, whom I dragged around post boxes and shops when I needed help filming. Mostly I am grateful to all of you that take the time out of your busy lives to watch my short films. Thank you.

The stats This year I have purchased and sent over 250 cards from over 150 different publishers in 52 different stores in the UK and Europe. I’ve 38

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

spent around £250 on postage, £750 on cards and £600 on travel to complete the project with a total cost of £1,600.

Creating and sharing the videos online has taken approximately 400 hours of work this year (interestingly, the total watch time for the videos will have been over 400 hours).

The videos on YouTube will have had over 10,000 views by the year end, with an average view time of around 2 minutes.

Halfway through the year, I started testing the videos on Facebook and other platforms and I believe the total views of the videos will end up being almost double this across all social media platforms.

I’m really pleased with these stats. I never expected the channel to go viral and this wasn’t my intention anyway. I wanted to create something that was of interest to our community and to people who love cards. While I’d love to have done more with the format,

I was restricted by the time I could dedicate to the project (around 6-8 hours per week).

For the time, budget and resources I feel the project has been a success for me. More importantly, it’s changed me personally as I’ve grown from the experience.

How I’ve changed When I started my first video I was pretty nervous. The first shot on Brighton beach took me about 50 takes. I felt so self-conscious walking and talking to my phone as passers by looked on. My face felt tight (although it was pretty cold on the day!) and the more takes I did, the harder it was to stay relaxed.

I’ve got a lot better at this and now feel very at ease in front of the camera.

It’s actually a lot of fun.

Over time I got more organised. I didn’t plan the project particularly well. I thought of a format that I could achieve and that I would find interesting and then went for it. I’m writing this mid November, knowing that I only have two videos

38-39_Grid 21/11/2017 11:19 Page 39

JEREMY’S JOURNAL left to shoot and how and where I’m going to do them. Being ahead is a lot less stressful than shooting, editing and uploading all on the same day (yup, I did that twice).

The biggest shift for me personally is the discovery that the real pleasure comes from buying and sending the cards, not the reciprocal receipt of any cards. It’s like sending rays of sunshine off into peoples’ lives. I love it and I love that I don’t rely on replies to feel happy or content within. That said, it is lovely to receive cards too and I’ve loved every one of the half a dozen or so that have come through my door this year.

Left: Ohh Deer has a sensational digital marketing strategy - a card from the publisher’s range.

Below: A Christmas card writing hour at Blue Eyed Sun’s HQ. Bottom: A Blue Eyed Sun team member is seen sniffing out the mince pies.

share your stories using #TheGreetingCardProject on social media. You don’t have to make videos each week.

You can simply share a photo or write your greeting card story. The only rule is: friendship first, no selling.

I do hope that you will get involved and look forward to hearing your experience.

Join the Facebook Group to get started: www.facebook.com/groups/TheGreetingCa rdProject.

Five favourites on TGCP My relationships The quality of our relationships comes down to the quality of our communication. While greeting cards will never be a panacea for fixing relationships, I do believe they can really help us to communicate and to connect powerfully with one another. Card sending is an act of service, a gift, a way of spending quality time with another, they’re tactile and they often contain words of affirmation and affection. They can light up a person’s day in a way that is uniquely wonderful.

The biggest change for me has been a personal shift within what has come from spending more time thinking of others and more regularly feeling grateful for my friends and loved ones. It’s been a challenging year for me personally and this practice has been invaluable to my sense of well-being. I have experienced and changed so much I can’t even begin to tell you about it all. I also can’t honestly tell you if I am actually closer to my friends or to anyone else in my life as a result of sending more cards. I do feel better for doing it though.

What I've discovered is that the real moment is here and now. When I choose a card for you, and I hand write a message to you, I am with you in this moment - even though we may be many miles apart. Even if we are the best of friends or we hardly know each other, I am here with you. Thinking of you. This is the real gift - presence.

What next?

I need your help to send more cards and deliver more smiles in 2018. Are you up for it?

The mission, should you choose to accept it: Agree to send at least one card a week every week during 2018 and to

I tried to always buy different publishers’ cards each week to get a nice spread of different style cards across the project. The truth is that I have my favourites and, if I didn’t have this rule, there are ones I’d most often choose:

Sara Miller - The Greeting Card Project would have been in danger of becoming the Sara Miller show if I only chose my favourite cards in shops I visited. I love the work she’s done with both The Art File (also a favourite of mine) and Portfolio (Jaz&Baz).

Redback - These guys create some hilarious cards. It must be one of the fastest growing humour card companies in the UK. I bought its cards on more than one occasion and its captions made me smile more than most.

Ohh Deer - This company does an incredible job with both its giftware and its

cards. A fantastic success story, with fast growth and sensational digital marketing strategy, that reaps big dividends with both its B2B and B2C customers.

U Studio (previously Urban Graphic) The publisher I’d most often find myself choosing more than one card from in shops this year. The company does amazing trade show stands and its offering is eclectic but very much on the money commercially.

Five Dollar Shake - I love buying Five Dollar Shake cards. Uncompromising in its attention to detail, its designs are beautiful and its understanding of sentiment on cards is second to none.

I’ve learnt so much from The Greeting Card Project and built some great connections with retailers who kindly took part in my mission over the past year and those who’ve supported me. Taking the time to choose and send a message in a greeting card to individuals I know has made me slow down for a moment and contemplate the people in my life. I highly recommend it.

l Recently at Blue Eyed Sun we've been getting into the Christmas spirit early and held a 'Christmas card writing hour' for our team to write and send cards to our loved ones to support the GCA’s Festive Friday 2017 campaign.

We managed over 203 Christmas cards between us.

Please get involved in this initiative and have a very merry Christmas!

Read more on Jeremy’s blog at www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog Watch The Greeting Card Project weekly videos at www.YouTube.com/TheGreetingCardProject PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

39

40-41_Grid 22/11/2017 11:37 Page 2

International Focus

A TASTE OF THE Trading is improving on the Nikkei exchange in Tokyo, which bodes well for UK greeting card publishers! “We always know that when the Tokyo stock exchange is up then sales of greeting cards from UK publishers will increase too,” reveals Kayoko Kubo, general manager of Toy Symphony, a leading distributor of UK publishers in Japan.

PG enjoyed a whistle-stop tour of some key greeting card retailers in Tokyo to give a flavour of the Japanese market.

If you were beamed in to the ground floor of the flagship branch of Itoya (a nine storey emporium dedicated to greeting cards and stationery), or found yourself in the middle of the card and stationery department of upmarket department store Isetan, or even descended into the top floor of the National Azabu supermarket, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Japanese public are as keen on UK greeting cards as they are on sushi and green tea.

As soon as you walk through the door of Itoya, a fabulous store which celebrates all things stationery, you are greeted with leading ‘familiar faces’ - including The Art File, Ling and Five Dollar Shake - as well as cards from niche players, such as Louise Mulgrew Designs, Lola Designs and Rose Hill Designs.

In fact, it is not until you reach the floor above that many Japanese cards are featured, and then they tend to be elaborate ‘wallet cards’ designed specifically to hold money with designs catering for weddings, funerals and new baby.

If Itoya is the Japanese equivalent of Paperchase, then Isetan department store is right up there at least on a par

40

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Below: The front of the nine storey Itoya flagship in Tokyo’s Ginza area.

Below middle: So many UK greeting card publishers’ designs are on sale in Itoya.

Bottom left: Part of the greeting card department in an Isetan upmarket department store Bottom right: Young Japanese women in their hired kimonos ready for a day out in Tokyo.

with Harrods, Fortnum and Mason and Selfridges.

There, displayed on polished wooden fixtures that few retailers could ever deem to afford, the ‘great and the good’ of Tokyo can take their pick from the foiled delights from Belly Button Designs, Wendy JonesBlackett and Sara Miller collections, among others.

Elsewhere, UK card publishers receive a good airing too – including in branches of Maruzen, a WHSmith equivalent. Even here, amidst a much stronger showing from Japanese publishers (the designs of which at present show a distinct leaning to celebrating autumn) are plenty of designs from UK publishers, including Paper Rose, Second Nature and Noel Tatt.

And in some ways, National Azabu, a boutique supermarket group that sees itself as the Waitrose of Tokyo, takes its support of UK greeting cards even further, being one of the few retailers in the country to stock a wide selection of ages and relations captioned cards.

But before card retailers start planning a mass exodus to open branches in the pearl of the Orient, and card publishers book their first class flights to the land of the rising sun, Kayoko Kubo, general manager of Toy Symphony, a leading distributor of UK publishers in Japan, puts it into perspective.

Having worked for the company for over 25 years, and together with the company founder Hiroshi Kawamura,

40-41_Grid 22/11/2017 11:37 Page 3

International Focus

Personal Revelations Hiroshi Kawamura, founder and chairman of Toy Symphony, reveals a few of his favourite things about the UK, as well as his business and life philosophies. l What do you like best about UK greeting card publishers?: “That they continually bring out new designs and invest in new ideas.”

placing orders with a wide selection of UK greeting card publishers, Kayoko is mindful that the market for UK greeting cards is not as large as it may appear – partly to do with the inherent costs and partly to do with culture of card sending in Japan.

As Kayoko explains: “The Japanese economy has been through some tough times, but things are gradually starting to improve now. Our greeting card sales are very much linked to this. The cards that we distribute from the UK now appeal to the high incomers, which represent about 5% of the Japanese population,” which, based on its 127 million inhabitants means around 6.3 million people. “ This sector of the population can afford the £5-£7 cost of UK greeting cards, appreciate the English text and love the elegance of the designs,” says Kayoko.

As well as travelling to the UK three times a year (to visit Spring Fair, PG Live and Harrogate Home and Gift), Kayoko also visits the

The ‘Waitrose’ of Japan

l Other than UK cards what else do you like about the UK?: Food: “Marks and Spencer’s sandwiches, afternoon tea and cakes at Betty’s in Harrogate and ice cream at Fortnum and Mason.”

Investment opportunities: “I have shares in Marks and Spencer and Tesco.”

Above: Toy Symphony’s Hiroshi Kawamura and Kayoko Kubo with PG’s Jakki Brown and Jim Bullough in Japan.

Left: Toy Symphony’s Kayoko Kubo with the special 20th birthday design from Hammond Gower, in an National Azabu store.

l Where did you get your business inspiration from for Toy Symphony?: “From staying in the best hotels like the Ritz and Claridges where elegance is everywhere - the furniture, the furnishing, the people who work there. If you want to buy quality products you have to fully understand and appreciate the attention to detail.” l What is your business motto?: “Honesty is always the best policy.”

l Still working at 79 years old, what do you put your continuing good health and verve down to?: “Lots of sleep, no alcohol, minimal stress and regular trips to the UK to eat Marks and Spencer sandwiches!” l What concerns you?: “I am worried about the loss of cultural appreciation from the younger generation. They seem to be ignoring the value of art, history, as well as the simpler pleasures like going camping. It is all too much about technology these days.”

Above: Intricate laser cutting on a card by Sanrio, the Japanese company that owns Hello Kitty.

Left: An example of an ornate ‘wallet card’ that people put money in and give for weddings, new birth or death.

National Azabu is Tokyo’s equivalent to Waitrose, and the independent supermarket group sees part of its mission as being to encourage the buying and sending of greeting cards.

Located in upmarket areas of the city, where British and US ex pats live, National Azabu’s store manager Dale Toriumi goes so far as to claim:“We have the widest selection of British greeting cards in the whole of Japan,” being one of the few that stocks a breadth of relations and occasions, age cards and supports all the seasons.

“We are always looking for ways of promoting card sending – encouraging people to see the value of taking the time and trouble of doing it the ‘old-fashioned’ way.”

The retailer has had some success with Valentine’s Day and Christmas, neither of which are big card sends for Japan, but as a result of PG’s visit the retailer is seriously interested in looking at how it can translate the GCA’s Above: Japan’s Waitrose equivalent is keen to grow its card sales.

Thinking of You Week initiative into its stores.

“We have a real opportunity to also promote greeting cards as a great way for the Japanese to learn and improve their English, a quest for many aspirational Japanese people,” says Dale.

“I also think that, wherever you are in the world, be it in Japan or the UK, people would respond to constant reminders of events that are upcoming by better signage above or close to the card racks detailing the dates. There are always opportunities to improve, wherever you are in the world.”

company’s 200 retail customers in Japan twice a year, which enables her to keep track of trends, changing tastes and nuances.

“At the moment we are doing well with cat and dog designs,” says Kayoko, citing the fact that it is the ‘Year of the Dog’ next year as one reason for the uplift, but also as the Japanese are obsessed with their pets, as evidenced by the presence of cat cafes and dog diners.

There are also some encouraging areas of growth, male cards, for example. “These never used to be at all popular, but sales have expanded recently,” says Kayoko.

As Kayoko explains there are some idiosyncrasies in Japanese card buying linked to the culture that Toy Symphony’s selection reflects, such as designs featuring owls and foxes, which have special significance in Japan.

“Also, in Japan reaching the age of 20 is seen a special birthday, but as this is not the case in the UK, Hammond Gower produced a design specifically for this age for us,” says Kayoko.

However, it is the British design style that Toy Symphony customers respond to. “It may well be only 5% of the population in Japan that are buying our cards”, says Kayoko,“But they love and appreciate them. Thank you UK publishers for doing what you do. Keep doing it!”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

41

42-43_rev.qxp_Grid 21/11/2017 16:38 Page 42

Independent Retailer Focus

Going For It “As an independent retailer, you can’t just sit back - so we just decided to go for it,” is the philosophy which has seen Paul Carter and his wife Zoe invest in a radical overhaul of their Cheshire and Manchester-based card shop group.

With all four of the Carter’s stores having now undergone the transformation into the new Zo and “No one will ever see an improvement in their business by just sitting back and moaning about trade and all the difficulties of being an independent card retailer – you have to grab the bull by the horns,” believes Paul Carter, who co-owns the Zo and Co group of card and gifts shops based in Cheshire and Greater Manchester with his wife Zoe. A great example of independent card retailers fighting back in a tough retail climate, October saw the completion of the Carter’s ‘grand plan’ – as their Marple store was totally transformed in recent weeks, bringing it in line with their other three Zo and Co stores.

Card retailing stalwarts, with 20 years’ trading under their belts, Paul states that the introduction of their new Zo and Co look

has been “the most significant development for our business since we started 20 years ago, but the positive reactions from customers are worth it alone, let alone the improved trading.”

Having traded as Hallmark Gold Crown retailers for years, it was when the opportunity to acquire an existing card shop in Knutsford (due to the former owners retiring) that sparked the idea for a new approach.

“As soon as we clinched the deal on the Knutsford site we felt the town would suit a 42

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

very independent, rather than a corporate, approach,” explained Paul.

The new concept debuted in their Knutsford store last November - which went on to win a Retas award in July.

“We have never rested on our laurels, but it was when we found out that we had been nominated for The Retas that it did give us an extra burst of confidence,” admits Paul.

Buoyed by this and the customer response to the Knutsford store, the Carters plumped to give their Didsbury store a similar makeover in June.

Then their Cheadle branch underwent a transformation in September, and latterly the Marple branch’s makeover completing the set.

A far cry from the stores’ former look, all the Zo and Co shops have a contemporary grey frontage, wood flooring, ‘floating shelves’, modern card fixtures and curated feature gift areas.

“Zoe has always been very creative so we knew that she would be able to create some

Above: Paul and Zoe Carter with their Retas award that they won in July.

Left: The Cheadle Zo and Co store.

Below left: The contemporary interior of the Cheadle store.

Bottom: A curated collection of gifts, anchored from Widdop and Co.

fabulous displays and also bring in more upmarket brands,” said Paul.

A fundamental thrust of the Zo and Co offer is a new approach on the greeting card front, for which Paul is full of praise for Chris Houfe, sales director of GBCC. The discussions with GBCC began when Paul and Zoe took on the Knutsford store and were looking for alternatives that they felt would match the local clientele’s tastes.

“Chris immediately got what we were hoping to achieve,” says Paul. “We have handpicked lots of fantastic designs from lots of lovely publishers that are new to us, which are then supplied to our stores via GBCC’s Waterwells’ division,” he explains.

Another key trade partner in Zo and Co coming to fruition is gift company Widdop

42-43_rev.qxp_Grid 21/11/2017 16:38 Page 43

Independent Retailer Focus

Below: Some key brands highlighted on the outside wall of the Marple shop.

Below right: Jellycat plush unicorns are attracting Christmas custom.

Bottom: Zoe’s creative skills are being put to good use in the new set up.

and Co, with Stephen Ilingworth, the company’s product development director having been instrumental in the whole approach of the display execution.

“Like many card retailers we had ordered bits and bobs from Widdop and Co over the years, but with Zo and Co we have made more of a commitment to certain branded ranges,” explains Paul, making reference to the Amore, Bambino, Impressions, By Appointment and Emporium ranges. These products are often displayed alongside the associated brand graphics “which certainly helps to attract the public’s attention,” adds Paul.

In addition to the instore graphics, Zoe has also highlighted certain company brands that she feels chime with the consumer - such as Wrendale Designs,

Party on and chocs away

Below: Thorntons continues to perform well for Zo and Co.

Two key elements have made the crossover into the new look from the former reincarnation is having a Thorntons area and a Qualatex balloon section in each store.

“We have become known for our balloons and this side now accounts for 15% of our business as we take on balloon decorating commissions for weddings and parties,” says Paul.

On the Thorntons’ front, Paul explains that while he and Zoe were very keen to introduce lots of new products and ideas, “we just would not be without Thorntons, as seasonally it sits very well with what we offer.”

Caroline Gardner, Rachel Ellen, Jellycat, Glick and Katie Loxton - featuring them on the shops’ outside walls where possible.

“The new look lends itself to many brands that would not have been appropriate before and customers are willing to accept products that have slightly higher retail prices than previously,” he adds.

While Paul admits that the pace of the transformation of all the shops in quick succession has made for a rather “frantic year”, but says that he and Zoe are in no doubt that it has been “well worth it.”

It is not just the improved trading that has given the Carters’ the reassurance, but the feedback. “It has been so lovely to hear customers’ comments.

And it is not just our previous customers’ comments that are

so positive, but the new look has attracted additional customers that previously walked past our shops,” he said.

Although the drive (and considerable investment) for the change has come very much from Paul and Zoe, they say that they would never have contemplated embarking

on such an upheaval without a special group of people. “None of this would have been possible without the support of our really good staff. All retailers need good staff and we are very lucky to have a very strong team of people working with us.”

With the whole Zo and Co team’s focus now on ensuring that the stores deliver strong Christmas sales, Paul has a twinkle in his eye that suggests more expansion could be on the cards next year.

“Zoe and I strongly believe that if you want to survive and prosper as an independent retailer in the current climate you have to commit to being that little bit different and continuing to push things forward,” says Paul with an infectious optimism that shows no sign of losing its potency.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

43

044_046_PG_December 2017_Art Source 22/11/2017 12:46 Page 44

ARTSOURCE

TO APPEAR IN THE ARTSOURCE CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON 01234 740 051

TO APPEAR REGULARLY IN THE

ARTSOURCE SECTION OF PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON

01234 740 051

45_47_49/51 21/11/2017 16:34 Page 45

ART SOURCE

PG helps to paint a pretty picture of freelance artists, designers, verse writers and photographers’ worlds in order to promote their talents to publishers and, conversely, make it easier for publishers seeking artists.

ARTIST IN FOCUS

Janna Krupinski I am a freelance illustrator based in Hamburg, my lovely hometown in the north of Germany. Coming from a crafty household, with my mom being an art teacher, I was always encouraged to be creative. After graduating as a graphic designer, I worked for several years in a German advertising company as art director and later as creative director. Five years ago I decided to freelance and started drawing and painting regularly again. I also started my blog ‘Tabula Rosi’ as a playground for my creative endeavors where I share all sorts of DIY projects.

Since I took the leap towards freelancing, the focus of my work has slowly but steadily shifted from advertising towards illustration. As an illustrator I am now working with German greeting card companies and book publishers, had my work featured in FLOW Magazine and have also licensed my designs to US clients like Design House Greetings and Demdaco.

I like painting with gouache, and sometimes watercolours, but also work digitally and often combine both. I love doing lettering designs as well as folk inspired work and fun characters. And I love when

an illustration also tells a little story that puts a smile on people’s faces.

I never would have thought that one day I would actually work as an illustrator. During my years at university I was told by the professor of the illustration department that I was pretty good, but would probably never make it as an illustrator. But anyone can make a mistake - even a professor.

Bottom line: Don’t give up and never stop dreaming! l Jennifer’s Agent: Jennifer Nelson l Email: jennifer@jennifer-nelson-

artists.com l Web: www.jennifer-nelson-artists.com l Tel: 781-643-2002

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

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

45

044_046_PG_December 2017_Art Source 22/11/2017 12:46 Page 46

ARTSOURCE

TO APPEAR REGULARLY IN THE

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

Quality Bespoke Envelopes!

From 5,000 quantity to many millions we can produce excellent quality envelopes for you.

Plain, printed, coloured & textured finish.

100% recycled & FSC available.

Please call us on 01274 581327 with your enquiry or email us on joanne@ukenvelopecentre.co.uk

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

45_47_49/51 21/11/2017 16:35 Page 47

ART SOURCE Lucinda Merriman

From an early age I loved listening to stories and verse, a favourite was Rose Special Birthday wishes Fyleman’s ‘Summer Morning’, which I’m sure my mother must have loathed, Every year you have a birthday, today bearing in mind how many times I asked her to read it to me! you have one too, of all the things most Graduating to reading myself, I quickly devoured every book I found wonderful, I wish them all for you.

C.S Lewis, Dodie Smith, Tolkien, Richard Adams and of course Roald Dahl – all Walking in the sunshine, singing in the rain, holding hands with the one you were a revelation to my romantic and curious mind. love, making daisy chains.

Keen on sport but not convinced study was in my best interests, I can’t Catching warm birthday wishes, holding honestly say that I always applied myself at school, especially when happiness in your hand, embracing attending a maths lesson. But I always tried hard and joyful moments, will make you excelled in my English classes. ) understand, how sending across all my card y path sym h (Wit son Your love and wishing you the perfect day, ce horizons A successful career in marketing, on both the A golden child emerging from distan will happen every year I think of you, in agency and client side, has led me to write creative borne on waves of expectant adoration. to find this very special way.

Cast afloat from his maiden moorings copy for a diverse range of companies and products s. heart t’s paren loving his in d lodge r shelte across all channels - B2B and consumer led.

- a beam of Shining brightly, warming all he met Editorials, features, articles, blogs, advertisements, optimised web copy and press releases of gilded sunshine clearing stormy days love. al dition have all helped to shape and develop my versatile writing style. uncon and loneliness; bringing hope rays itive inquis his t, sunse and Realising my dream at last, I am currently working as a freelance writer on many projects, e sunris Your pools, touched the world, cascading into rock which include creating verse, and I hope to be able to bring my own alternative viewpoint and hidden alighting on butterflies and revealing slightly off-centre approach to creating poetry that’s traditional with a contemporary twist. aled. conce once s moments, in place Greeting cards reflect the times we live in - I adore the sentimentality of Victorian t in a brigh Momentarily passing behind a cloud the nate greeting cards with their twee, moralistic verse and enjoyed the pumped-up padded cards of illumi will ce blue sky, his precious radian in our deep tly, brigh glow s alway the 70’s with their staccato rhymes. and ns heave hearts, lighting us from within.

Words mean everything; they are beautiful, engaging and shocking – taking you alone, He will never be forgotten or left to shine anywhere in a moment. A greeting card has a limited amount of space to project its message life a rate celeb will our love and memories and to have an effect, as does this bio - let’s hope they both find their mark. hed and treasured; always. cheris

l Email: lucinda.merriman@talktalk.net

Ian Gillibrand Since graduating from art college I have enjoyed a long and varied career in the greeting card industry, spending over 20 years as an in-house illustrator/designer for Hambledon Studios and then Hallmark. There I was involved in new product development and gave successful watercolour painting workshops, with the participants’ results featured in several new ranges. I was very involved in mentoring younger artists too.

I love working in watercolour, it’s so accidental and spontaneous and the results can be so beautiful. I still work traditionally in watercolour and gouache and scan the results in to play around with on my Mac, but I’ve also embraced new digital painting mediums and enjoy working in both Painter and Photoshop. Having used traditional mediums for many years it gives you an eye for how the digital painting mediums should look, but the results are quicker to achieve - no more waiting for underpainting to dry or the worry of fixing pastels!

Inspiration comes from anywhere really, especially the beauty of nature and the outdoors, old books and photographs, art, fashion, interiors, museums and exhibitions. It’s also about being aware of the changing world around us and responding to those changes. I’m lucky to know a lot of other artists working in the greetings industry so I’m constantly inspired and challenged by their work too. The internet has brought the world to our doorstep and is a constant source of inspiration.

I work across a variety of styles and have been lucky enough to work on single designs and full ranges for a wide variety of clients from around the world. l Tel: 0207 3269140 l Web: www.brightgroupinternational.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

47

48-49.qxp_46-47 21/11/2017 16:55 Page 48

PG asked a selection of card retailers for their ‘hot’ card sellers.

Laura Kitching, director of Brambles Gift Shop, Saltburn-by-the Sea A small family-run gift and card shop in a seaside town with a thriving local customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Dandelion Stationery

Words Of Wisdom

Cute

Stop The Clock Design

Burst My Bubble

Humour

Redback Cards

Liz Climo

Contemporary

Louise Tiler

Gold Floral

Art

Wrendale Designs

A Dog’s Life

Children’s

Rachel Ellen

Wonky World

Ancillary

Wrendale Designs

Luxury writing sets

Perfect cards for those moments when you’re just not sure what to say.

Fun and adorably unique designs suitable for both men and women.

Heart-warming cartoons suitable for all ages - these always bring a smile!

Stunningly designed cards with simple and beautiful messages.

As a town with a lot of dog owners these gorgeous illustrations are well-loved!

Bright, colourful and fun kids love them!

Lovely illustrated writing paper and envelopes, perfect for a small gift!

Top: A stunning Gold Floral design from Louise Tiler.

Right: A Dog’s Life from Wrendale Designs has a whole kennel of different dog breeds.

Roger Eames, partner of Celebrations, Stourbridge, West Midlands A medium shop in a large town with a local locals customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Woodmansterne

Across The Board

Cute

UKG

Boofle

Humour

Pigment

General

Photographic

Woodmansterne

Art Contemporary

Paperlink The Proper Mail Company The Art File

National Trust and NGS Lacie General

Modern classics - the designs have a contemporary but timeless feel… they’re beautifully presented too.

Boofle, the character himself, works and the captions are good.

The knitted pup also has a strong following; people come in and ask specifically for him.

Slightly quirky designs with a cheeky humour that’s not rude.

Often customers have visited the places on the cards and Woodmansterne supports the charities through the sale of the cards.

Delicate laser-cut designs that are a bit different.

Contemporary, clean and uncluttered fun designs.

Sara Miller London

Traditional

Carlton (UKG)

General

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Hearts Designs Rush Design

Mad Dots General

Absolutely stunning and selling very well. The colours are vibrant and the designs are lovely.

Good quality cards with a good insert and lovely words; something a little bit special.

Sophisticated and sparkly quality product.

A wide offering, in different sizes, covering special occasions and relations designs.

Above: A card for Dad from Rush Design.

48

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

48-49.qxp_46-47 21/11/2017 16:55 Page 49

Steve Simkiss, owner of Church Gallery, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria A large shop in a picturesque rural town with a loyal locals and visitors customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Alex Clark

Sparkle

Humour

Pigment

Across The Board

Photographic

Clive Nichols

General

Art

Artists’ Cards

Arcadia

Wrendale Designs

General

Contemporary

Wendy Jones-Blackett

Quicksilver and Fresco

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Eloise Hall Hearts Designs James Ellis

General Mad Dots Shakies

Children’s Ancillary

Paper Salad Lily Flame

General Scented Candles

The animals have sweet little faces and the designs appeal to a wide variety of people – there’s something for everyone.

We have three spinners of Pigment cards and people buy them by the handfuls. You can’t beat them!

A great variety of stunning images of flowers, trains, pets and farm animal and wine etc that appeal to our slightly older rural customers.

I’ve recently found this range.

Its printmakers style designs are of country settings.

The artist’s illustrations are very popular, the cards are nicely presented and it has a great trade website. Also its dog range has a wide variety of breeds.

A nice size card, the colours are right, and every six months the publisher brings out new designs that work! And there are plenty of different occasions captions. Fresco, in a larger format, has some great male designs too.

Tasteful, simple floral illustrations that are nicely done.

Beautiful designs - the ladies just love them!

We’ve only had this range for two weeks and it’s selling like hot cakes. They are sparkly, unusual and well designed.

Lovely and bright and good themes for kids.

These go down a storm! With lovely cubes of colour on the top of the candle (like sweeties), they also burn for ages with beautiful scents.

Above: Like a snow-globe in a card, a Shakies design from James Ellis.

Right: A beautiful rural scene on an Artists’ Cards’ Arcadia design.

Helena Ingleton, card buyer for Diss Publishing Bookshop, Diss, Norfolk An independent book and gift store in a market town with a loyal locals and visitors customer base, with country and arty interests.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Woodmansterne

Across The Board

Cute

The Almanac Gallery (GBCC)

Jess Grant Coloured Joys

Humour

Paperlink Woodmansterne CardMix

A Colourful Mind Punch and Telegraph’s Matt Irene and Gladys

Contemporary

Paperbird

Across The Board

Art

Art Angels

Across The Board

Green Pebble The Art Group

Across The Board Designers Guild

Museums and Galleries

Classics and V&A

Always reliably good designs to suit all tastes.

Beautiful sentiments and whimsical designs, just right for thoughtful messages.

Simple, punchy humour.

Great humour on current affairs and life in general.

Lots of giggles around the card stand; the humour has a down to earth approach to life.

Quirky, humorous designs, great for birthdays and occasions, appealing to all ages.

Beautiful images from local and famous artists on quality board for the discerning customer.

An amazing range of unusual arty cards, appealing to all ages.

Exquisite embossed and detailed cards that are perfect for special occasions.

A fabulous range of classic arty cards to Above: A dreamy scene - Winter Star Tree from Green Pebble. suit the traditional customer.

Traditional

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

49

50-57_Product Directory NEW 23/11/2017 10:24 Page 50

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

!" " # $%

" & "

" & "

'''

Abacus Cards Limited t: 01638 569050 e: info@abacuscards.co.uk w: www.abacuscards.co.uk

To appear in the Product Directories contact

Warren Lomax

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

Tracey Arnaud

07957 212 062

or email traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

Ä?,Ä? -+1

To appear in the Product Directories contact

()7-+2 0)( +6))8-2+ '%6(7

+-*87 83 79-8 %00 3''%7-327

Warren Lomax

=)%6 3* &-68, +6))8-2+ '%6(7 )0)+%28 '328)1436%6= %2( 6)863 +-*8;%6) %'')7736-)7

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

Tracey Arnaud

07957 212 062

or email traceya@max-publishing.co.uk 50

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

[[[ VIXVSGS GSQ GEXEPSKYI MRJS$%VEFIWUYI*'+ GSQ )<'097-:) (-786-&9836

50-57_Product Directory NEW 23/11/2017 10:25 Page 51

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

A

NEW SPRING 2018 AVAILABLE NOW Publishers of quality blank greeting cards

bexyboo.co.uk 01565 830546

enquires@bexyboo.co.uk

www.cathtatecards.com

Caspari C aspari Ltd Ltd Linden Linden House, House, John John Dane Dane P Player layer C Court ourt

Witty, gritty, switched on humour.

Cards and gifts with a real difference.

Unit 1, 45 Morrish Road London SW2 4EE Tel: 0208 671 2166 Fax: 0208 678 1119 info@cathtatecards.com

East E ast S Street, treet, Saffron Saffron Walden Walden E ssex, C B10 11LR LR Essex, CB10 T el: 01799 01799 513010 513010 Tel: 01799 513101 513101 F ax: 01799 Fax: Email: info@caspari.co.uk info@caspari.co.uk Email: w ww.CaspariOnline.com www.CaspariOnline.com

PProducts: roducts: Everyday Everyday cards cards - birthday, birthday, blank blank & occasions, occasions, charity ch harity Christmas Christmas cards, cards, gift gift wrap, wrap, bbags, ags, ttissue, issue, rribbon, ibbon, hankies, hankies, napkins, napkins, paper paper plate, plate, candles, candles, placemats, placemats, crackers,invitations, crackers,invitations, placecards, placecards, notecards,diaries, notecards,diaries, address address bbooks, ooks, jjournals, ournals, advent advent calendars calendars and and bridge bridge gifts. gifts.

Method M ethod of of Sale: Sale: D Direct irect to to Retail Retail

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

51

50-57_Product Directory NEW 23/11/2017 10:25 Page 52

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

The UK No. No. 1 in The Licensed Greetings Greetings etings Licensed

Colour House Graphics

Over Overr 30 licenses Ov licens nses ses including: includin ng g: g: D Disne y, Peppa Peppa Pig Pig, Disney, He Kitty, Kitty Kitty, Mr Men Men Hello a d Angry A Birdss and Birds

York House, 2-4 York Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7QQ T: 01394 271668 F: 01394 275114 E: colourhousegraphics@hotmail.com Online Shop www.colourhousegraphics.co.uk

t: +44 + (0)1264 388400 e: enquiries@gemma-international.co.uk co.uk enquiries@gemma-interna national. ti w: gemma-international.co.uk gemma-international. ona co.uk

CARD CARDS S â&#x20AC;˘ WRAP â&#x20AC;˘ PARTY PARTY â&#x20AC;˘ GIFTS GIFTS

TM

www.decklededge.co.uk janna@decklededge.co.uk

0800 7710771

GRASS ROOTS

INTERNATIONAL

G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL A U.K owned Greeting Cards Publisher.

Our everyday ranges for all occasions and relations include traditional, contemporary, cute, humour and photographic designs. We also have a full range of Christmas and Spring Seasons.

All products are designed and printed in the U.K on the finest quality board.

BRANDS â&#x20AC;&#x153;Write from the Heartâ&#x20AC;? brand includes; Corsage, Sentiments, Champagne, Celebrations and Jelly Beans.

M ETHOD OF SALE Direct to Retail

G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL

Welsh and English cards

Units 4 - 4A Valentines Buildin g Ra cec our se Bus in ess Par k Aintr ee, Liver poo l, L9 5 AL Tel: 0151 52 3 9600 Fax : 015 1 523 494 9 e-m ail: s ales@ writefr om th ehear t.co.uk

from the

Lovely greetings cards & other paper stuff dandelionstationery.co.uk dandelionst ationeryy..co.uk info info@dandelionstationery.co.uk @dandelionstationeryy..co.uk

www.draenog.com Ç&#x2C6; 07815 153582 -Ѳbvv||v r;1b-Ѳbv| 7v "r;1b -uu7v " ࢟m]] ;;;࢟ u;;࢟m 1 u |_mbb1 u |_m

S end i n g YOU Y YO O OU U

WISHES

Diwali

agents wanted

A w o n d e rf u l id!

E id Eid

High Quality Greeting Greeting Cards, Cards, Gift Bags, Gift Wrap Wrap & Tags Tags a for every occasion. occasio

Colneis Marketing

Ch nese Chinese HE IS

*GCF 1HĆ&#x201A;EG * GCF 1HĆ&#x201A;EG +353 (0)404 20528 Email info@garlanna.com www.garlanna.com .garlanna.com www

THE

WAY

THE AND TRUTH THE

LIFE

York House, 2-4 York Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7QQ T: 01394 271668 F: 01394 275114 E: colneiscards@btconnect.com

Jewish

_ubv࢟-m

Welsh

Online Shop www.colneisgreetingcards.com

Beautiful greeting cards from contemporary British artwork

Polish P olish o sh

and more!

Tel: T Te e el: 0161 1 64 641 641 0655 0655 06 Email: sales@davora.co.uk Email: m sales@davora.co.uk sales@da 135 13 1 35 H Heaton eaton ea on M Moor oorr Rd Rd | Stockport S Sttockp ock o kpo port ort SK4 4HY 4 4H HY

52

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

www.dryredpress.com T +44 (0) 1273 241210 E info@dryredpress.com

50-57_Product Directory NEW 23/11/2017 10:25 Page 53

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

)

CHARITY GREETING CARDS One of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading publishers of Charity Greeting Cards.

Impress offers a wide collection of images, including fine art, graphic, photographic and cute.

We also offer a bespoke design service for bulk orders and/or mail order fulfilment.

Eye catching, luxurious Gift Wraps, Gift Tags, Gift Bags, Roll Wrap, Tissue Papers & Ribbons for all occasions

Impress Publishing Appledown House Barton Business Park New Dover Road Canterbury, Kent CT1 3TE Tel: 01227 811 611 Fax: 01227 811 618 email: info@impresspublishing.co.uk

Glick, Unit 1 Allenby House, European Industrial Park, Knowles Lane, Bradford BD4 9AB Tel: 01274 655980 email: sales@glick.co.uk www.glick.co.uk

ARTISTS AR RT TISTS C CARDS ARDS g glebecottage.co.uk lebecottage.co.uk 01626 369269 E Established stablished 1993

Market leaders in Humour, Art, Photographic, Occasions and Relations cards offering a full planning service with merchandising and retail development opportunities.

www.greatbritishcards.co.uk WATERWELLS DRIVE, GLOUCESTER GL2 2PH UK TEL: 01452 888999

PHO PHOTOGRAPHY TOGRAPHY g glebecottage.co.uk lebecottage.co.uk 01626 369269 E Established stablished 1993 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

53

50-57_Product Directory NEW 23/11/2017 10:25 Page 54

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

LING DESIGN

60 years

Yo our N Number b O One S Supplier li off Numerals, Name, Relation & Age Labels for Greetings Cards.

Huge selection with immediate delivery y. Buy direct or from your wholesalerr.

Listan Labels 3 Isis Court, Wyndyke Furlong, Abingdon Business Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire Oxfordshire OX1 5JN Tel Tel e 01235 465489 Fax 01235 532118 www.listanpublications.co.uk www.listanpublications.co.uk sales@listanpublications.co.uk

The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading privately owned publisher of Greetings Cards and Stationery. ...The home for and

Products: Greetings cards for all occasions, Christmas and Spring Seasons cards, gift wrap and bags, charity cards, social stationery.

Bespoke service for charities and other fundraisers.

Ling Design Ltd 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BE Tel: 01892 838574 enquiries@lingdesign.co.uk www.lingdesign.co.uk

Daschund through the Snow...

Agents Wanted

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact Warren Lomax

AG E N T S WA N T E D : Æ« Æ«Ä&#x2018;Æ« Æ«

Æ«Ä&#x2018;Æ« Æ«

Æ«Ä&#x2018;Æ« Æ«Ä&#x2018;Æ«

on:

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

Tracey Arnaud on:

07957 212 062

Silk Screened Retro, Pop & Classic Cards

or email on tarnaud@btinternet.com

TRADE WEBSITE:

Ä&#x2039;

Ä®

Ä&#x2039; 01780 763 368

Inspired by Music and 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s American Advertising.For all Vinyl & Rock nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Roll lovers

L E T U S TA K E YOU BAC K

Products

For further details please get in touch.

info@vincentmcevoy.com

+44 (0)7779 578340

An exciting and innovative range of quality Birthday, Relations, Special Occasions, Art and Humorous greeting cards. Full range of Christmas and Spring Seasons merchandise. Comprehensive collection of handmade cards.

Pizazz Gifts.

Brand Names Pizazz, Pizazz Gallery, Pizazz Jewell, Pizazz for Men, What a Picture, Time Out, Bon Bon, Marshmallow Cloudesley House â&#x20AC;¢ Shire Hill â&#x20AC;¢ Saffron Walden â&#x20AC;¢ CB11 3FB T: 01799 520200 F: 01799 520100 www.nigelquiney.com

54

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

50-57_Product Directory NEW 23/11/2017 10:26 Page 55

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

Design-led Stationery, Gifts, Calendars, Diaries and Cards

originalposter.com

Brands Laura Ashley, Roald Dahl, Lily & Val, Vintage Ladybird, Caroline Gardner, Monsoon, Born to Shop, Flash Gordon, Boofle and many more.

All our cards are supplied on consignment, so you only pay for what you sell.

Our In-house design studio and established supply chain enables us to offer bespoke services.

We also supply card fixtures and spinners free-on-loan.

tel: +44 (0) 1225 329494 email: sales@porticodesigns.com website: www.porticodesigns.com

We replace slow sellers and damaged stock free of charge.

We merchandise regularly, so you don’t have to.

THAT’S WHY WE’RE ORIGINAL!

01932 267 300

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

356 Kennington Kennington Rd London London SE11 SE11 4LD 4LD T 020 7 7582 582 8244 info@paperlink.co.uk www.paperlink.co.uk www.paperlink.co.uk P Paperlinkcards aperlinkcards

@paperlinkcards @

Exquisite Design, Beautiful Cards Key brands include Marzipan, Portobello, Mosaic, Daisy Patch, Aquarupella and Designers Guild, plus many more.

Uk publisher of Greetings Cards with an extensive range of quality Birthday, Relations, Occasions and Seasonal product... available from

LING DESIGN

Tel: T el: +44 (0)115 986 0115 Email: info@paperrose.co.uk www.paperrose.co.uk www.paperrose.co.uk www.artgroupcards.co.uk www.artgroupcards.co.uk PaperRoseCards TheArtGroupCards The_Art_Group

Our Brands: Laughter with Animals, Sporting Fun The Funny Side of Life.

Method of sale: Direct to Retail 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BE Tel: 01892 838574 enquiries@lingdesign.co.uk www.lingdesign.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

55

50-57_Product Directory NEW 23/11/2017 10:28 Page 56

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

PG LIVE STAND ª 684

greeting cards & contempoRary gifts www.redbackcards.com e: info@redbackcards.com t: 01803 712793

T: 07767 896807 info@stationerytraffic.co.uk stationerytraffic.co.uk

2@= 29KL= M<K

Products: TM

Greetings Cards, Gift Wrap, Social Stationery, Gift Bags, Keepsakes, Partyware.

Brands: Designer Collection, Feelings, Impressions, Inspirations, In Touch, Isabel’s Garden, Paper Wishes, Planet Happy.

Method of sale: Wholesale Distributors

Greeting Cards that are unique & special with creative wit.

Looking for top-notch agents to join our expanding team.

rosierobins.com 01992 536461

?=FLK O9FL=<

Simon Elvin Limited Wooburn Industrial Park, Wooburn Green, Bucks HP10 0PE Tel: 01628 526711 Fax: 01628 531483 www.simonelvin.com mail@simonelvin.com

Just food and their friends...

Foody puns and wordpla y on greeting cards and gifts. www.the-taste-buds.co.uk info@the-taste-buds.co.uk 07906 367 663

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

56

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Sensations International Ltd Unit 6, Quad Road,East Lane Business Park,East lane, Wembley,MIDDLESEX HA9 7NE Tel. 0208 3854470 Fax: 0208 385 4471 Email: sales@sensationsinternational.com PRODUCTS: World’s leading publisher of high quality plastic greeting cards. Also an extensive range of quality greeting cards covering Everyday, Occasions, Christmas and Spring seasons.

BRANDS: Cherished Thoughts, Sweet Sentiments, Buddies Always, Symphony, Thinking of You, Style, Special Wishes, Special Times, Young Editions, Groove Sensations, Forever Blessed, Grey Skies, Classics.

METHOD OF SALE: Direct to retail.

The UK’s leading publisher of highest quality handmade Greetings Cards.

Products: Greetings cards for all occasions, Christmas and Spring Seasons. Spinners and other retail displays available.

Talking Pictures Cards Ltd 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6BE

Tel: 01892 838574 enquiries@talkingpics.co.uk www.talking-pictures.co.uk

50-57_Product Directory NEW 23/11/2017 10:28 Page 57

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

Wee offer W offfer f a COMPREHENSIVE COMPREHE

range of high hig quality Greeting Cards for Greeting Ca ALL

Occasions, Occasions,

CHRISTMAS AS and Spring Seasons. easons.

www.tomcatcards.co.uk w: www .tomcatcards.co.uk e: tomcat@tomcatcards.co.uk t: 01243 837300

Method of Sale: Dir Direct ect to Retail R

Email: il: info@words-n-wishes.co.uk inffo o@words-n eb: www w..words-n Web: www.words-n-wishes.co.uk

Tel: T el: e 01942 01942 233201 233201

DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT

Market Leaders in

Verse

& entimen TEL: 01480 435562 FAX: 01480 450599 www.tracksltd.com UNIT 2, 12 BLACKSTONE RD, STUKELEY MEADOWS IND EST, HUNTINGDON, CAMBS, PE29 6EF

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact

Warren Lomax

an extensive range of superior quality,

design-led Greeting Cards for all occasions, Spring Seasons & Christmas.

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

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

Top-notch British Greeting Cards for Thoughts that Count

01923 200600 | www.woodmansterne.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

57

58_Wholesale Directory October 2017_whole sale dirSeptember 2004 22/11/2017 11:12 Page 58

DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS

l

DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS

NATIONWIDE

MERSEYSIDE

WALES

UNIT 4, THE ARGENT CENTRE, SILVERDALE ROAD, HAYES, MIDDLESEX, UB3 3BS TEL: 020 8573 2975 / 1768 FAX: 020 8561 2349

MERSEYSIDE GREETING CARDS LTD

Merseysideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Largest Greeting Card Distributor

Email: info@abbeycards.com

Due to our massive buyer power, we are able to offer you the best prices and also take a pride in our friendly service.

LONDONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NO 1 GREETING CARDS STATIONERY PARTY AND BALLOON CASH & CARRY

Greeting cards â&#x20AC;¢ Gift ranges â&#x20AC;¢ Pocket money toys â&#x20AC;¢ Balloons â&#x20AC;¢ Badges â&#x20AC;¢ Banners â&#x20AC;¢ Soft toys â&#x20AC;¢ Stationery â&#x20AC;¢ Collectables , including dolls â&#x20AC;¢ Photo frames

Trading Hours Our Opening Hours are: MON, TUES,WED & FRI 9.00 - 5.30pm THURSDAY 9.00 - 8.30pm

Always something different Check us out now!!!

Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri 9.30 till 4.30pm Thursday 9.00 till 7.30pm Sunday 10 till 1.00pm Tel: 0151 227 2555 Fax: 0151 227 2556 mgconline@hotmail.com 25 Dickson Street, Liverpool L3 7EB

HERTS & LONDON

SUMAN BROS

To appear in the Wholesale Directory simply contact

Warren Lomax 020 7700 6740

Stationery and greeting card wholesaler

Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL

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

magnus RUPERT

T: 01923 200 900 F: 01923 200 909

Just off the M1 Junction 5

EUR EUROPEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ROPEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LEADING LEADING G GREETINGS REETINGS CARD CARDS, S, PARTY GIFTS, IFTS, PAR ART TY PRODUCTS, PRODUCTS, G CANDLES, CANDLES, TOYS, TOYS, STATIONERY STAT TIIONER RY AND FLORIST SUNDRIES FLORIST S UNDRIES DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTIO ON CENTRE 75000 SQ FT

TRADING

LONDONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NO 1

Great deals Great location Plentiful parking

WEST MIDLANDS

GREETING CARDS STATIONERY PARTY AND BALLOON CASH & CARRY

Trading Hours Our Opening Hours are: MON, TUES,WED & FRI 9.00 - 5.30pm THURSDAY 9.00 - 8.30pm SAT CLOSED SUN 10.00 - 4.00pm UNIT 4, THE ARGENT CENTRE, SILVERDALE ROAD, HAYES, MIDDLESEX, UB3 3BS TEL: 020 8573 2975 / 1768 FAX: 020 8561 2349 Email: info@abbeycards.com

Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL Tel: 020 8993 2231 www.rupertmagnus.co.uk

BESCOT CRESCENT CRESCENT, T, W ALSALL, WALSALL, WEST MIDLANDS. WS1 4NG

Wholesale and direct-to-retail greeting cards, gift wrap, gift bags, social stationery, partyware and gifts.

01922-646666 www .greetingshouse.co.uk www.greetingshouse.co.uk info@gr eetingshouse.co.uk info@greetingshouse.co.uk

Great range, competitive prices, excellent service.

MON,WED,FRI 8.00am-4.45pm TUES,THURS 8.00am-7.45pm SA AT,SUN , SAT,SUN 8.00am-1.45pm

NORTH WEST

& $ 3 6 &DUG 3DUW\ 6WRUH /WG ZZZ FDUG SDUW\ FR XN 1(: ,03529(' ZHEVLWH IRU DOO \RXU (YHU\GD\ 6HDVRQDO &DUGV DQG 3DUW\ 3URGXFWV 6DYH 7LPH 2UGHU 2QOLQH ,W V 6R (DV\

Your One Stop Shop 0DQFKHVWHU 5RDG %XU\ %/ 6: 58

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

BLACK COUNTRY GREETINGS LTD â&#x20AC;¢

â&#x20AC;¢

â&#x20AC;¢ â&#x20AC;¢

Unit 16 Maple Leaf Industrial Estate, Bloxwich Lane , Walsall WS2 8TF.

â&#x20AC;¢ â&#x20AC;¢

Wholesale Greeting cards Gift wrap Gift bags Stationery Banners Badges Balloons Helium cylinders

â&#x20AC;¢

â&#x20AC;¢

E: bcgreetings@outlook.com T: 01922 610190 www.blackcountrygreetings.co.uk Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9am to 5pm Wednesday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9am to 8pm Sunday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8am to 1pm TRADE ONLY

59-64_Classified 2017_Layout 1 22/11/2017 11:21 Page 59

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

BAGS

l

CLASSIFIED

BAGS

Polypropylene bag specialists

GREETING CARD

Over 40 years quality service to the trade Hot-foiling also available

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

GIVE Y YOUR OUR

BAGS

Manufacturers Manuf facturers of hi high igh qua quality lity fflexible l xible pac le packaging kaging 30 YEARS EXP EXPERIENCE PERIENCE - Q QUALITY UALIT A T Y SER SERVICE VICE EXTENSIVE EXT TENSIVE STOCK STOCK RANGE R - QUIC QUICK KD DELIVERY E ELIVE RY ASSURED

- HEADER BAGS WALLET -W A ALLET BAGS - ZIPPER BAGS THERMAL PRINTING PRINTING - FLEXOGRAPHIC, HOTFOIL & THERMAL www.transrappackaging.co.uk www.transrappackaging.co.uk sales@transrap.co.uk sales@transrap.co.uk

VIP

CALL ALL US TODA TODAY AY

TREATMENT TREA ATMENT T

01773 0 1773 7 537810 5378 810

HIGH CLARITY BAGS FOR GREETING CARDS, CALENDARS AND ARTWORK

ENVELOPES

ŏ ŏđŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ FOIL BLOCKING EXTENSIVE RANGE OF STOCK SIZES AND BESPOKE MANUFACTURE WRAPPING SERVICE AUTOMA ATED T WRA PPING SER VICE NEW AUTOMATED

CALL US TODAY

01228 560526 www.fulcrumfilms.co.uk

FOR FOR ALL A LL Y YOUR OU R ENVELOPE EN V ELOPE N NEEDS! EEDS! L argest range range of Largest iin-stock n- stock ccolours olours Over 400 Bespoke Envelope Sizes 8 Sizes Permanently in Stock RECYCLED

Available v 100% Recycled Paper Available

PAPER

Stock & Bespoke Cello Bags Peel & Stick Envelopes Bespoke Service on Request

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

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

01274 220 220 www w.wrapid.co.uk www.wrapid.co.uk sales@wrapid. sales@wrapid.co.uk co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

59

59-64_Classified 2017_Layout 1 22/11/2017 11:21 Page 60

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

ENVELOPES

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

PRINTERS

Quality Bespoke Envelopes!

From 5,000 quantity to many millions we can produce excellent quality envelopes for you.

Plain, printed, coloured & textured finish.

100% recycled & FSC available.

Please call us on 0843 5066684 with your enquiry or visit our website

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

FLITTERING

LITHO OR DIGIT DIGITAL, DIGITA GIT TAL, WINDLES LES GR ROUP R O GROUP ALWAYS MAKES AL LWAY AYS M AKES THE RIGHT GHT HT PRINT IMPRESSION. RESSION. RE

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 WWW.WINDLESGROUP.CO.UK WWW W.WINDLESGR W OUP P.C . O.UK

PRINTERS

PJJ Print P Print would would llike ike ttoo w wish isshh oour ur clients clie nts aand nd colleagues c o l le a g u e s iinn tthe hhee greeting gre eting card card industry industry Merry Christmas Christmas Merry and a vvery ery and Happy New Ne w Year Ye Happy The Pr int Works Colville Road, Acton London W3 8BL tel 020 8993 5160

W We ea are re proud proud to to be be recognised recognised as as the the specialist specialist U UK Ka and nd g global lobal manufacturer manufacturer for for the the greeting greeting ccard ard iindustry ndustry for for over over 40 40 years years

To discuss how we could work with you, contact Simon King 0115 928 77 66 sales@sherwoodgroupuk.com www.sherwoodgroupuk.com www w..sherwoodgroupuk.com

Hadden Court, Court, Glaisdale Glaisdale Parkway, Parkway, Glaisdale Glaisdale Drive Drive West, West, Nottingham, Nottingham, NG8 4GP

e-mail sales@pj-pr int.co.uk www.pj-pr int.co.uk 60

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

59-64_Classified 2017_Layout 1 22/11/2017 11:22 Page 61

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

PRINTERS

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

Introducing a joint venture from

The home of greeting cards eting e r g adinugrer e l s ’ K ct The Umanufa card

Following new investments estm in our digital printing facility we can help you with short run prints, rapid stock replenishment, market testing, design sampling and promotional products.

Our expert digital printing, finishing and packing facilities allow us to provide

150 50 1 .uk

Our specialist services include:

• high quality • fast turnaround • competitive pricing

Digital and personalised greeting cards Short-run print Flitter, foil, emboss, die-cut finishes Bespoke gifts including mugs, coasters, notepads and much more

2 .co 011es4@loxleys

Promotional items Marketing literature

sal

Exhibition graphics /stands Stationery any more ribution

If y you ou w would ould li like ke to disc discover over h how ow w wee could help y you, ou, please contact our sales team:

0114 250 1150 •

07974 133735 • sales@digitalhubuk.com

YOUR MANUFACTURING PARTNER FOR VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS English speaking production team, prices quoted in sterling... and only 3 days delivery to THE UK...

Really... and there s no VAT to pay or customs procedures either...that's a great deal!

• Hand made and hand finished greeting cards • Boxed sets and acetate packs of cards / envelopes • Giftwrap and tag packs • Individually open and closed wrapped cards • 'Pop up' and cardboard engineered products • Notelets and social stationery • Specialised printing on plastics & lenticular For production enquiries, estimates etc., please contact our UK Agent:

Rob Pearson 07710 132 232 rob@solutions-polska.com FSC accredited (BV-COC-002485). Audited member of SMETA. Printing to ISO12674-2 standard.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

61

59-64_Classified 2017_Layout 1 22/11/2017 11:22 Page 62

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

PRINTERS

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

We specialise in providing high quality print for short to medium runs, incorporating multiple images. Go to our website for prices, alternatively call or email us for a bespoke quote.

T

01274 305832

E

info@hellocards.co.uk

W

www.hellocards.co.uk

Same day order turnaround Accurate fulfilment Value added only as you sell the product Exclusively Greeting Cards Dedicated Account Managers 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 GEVV] SYX EPP EWTIGXW SJ LERH ǻRMWLMRK ERH EWWIQFP] ERH TVSZMHI [LEXIZIV ; 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 EHHMXMSREP WIVZMGIW ]SY RIIH 4YV WIPIGX XIEQ SJ SYX[SVOIVW GEVIJYPP] LERH [VET ER] WM^I SV JSVQEX SJ GEVHW YVKIRXP] 4ZIVRMKLX [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 ERH .8 WYTTSVXIH F] E GSQTVILIRWMZI TETIV XVEMP JSV EPP WXSGO QSZIQIRXW EVI SYV LEPPQEVOW 4YV GER HS ETTVSEGL QIERW [I EVI LETT] XS WSPZI ]SYV TVSFPIQW 4YXWSYVGMRK ]SYV [EVILSYWMRK STIVEXMSR VIPIEWIW ]SYV XMQI XS 4YXWSYVGMRK ]SYV [EVILSYWMRK STIVEXMSR VIPIEWIW ]SYV XMQI XS CREATE/MARKET/SELL/ CREA AT TE/MARKET/SELL/ MANAGE/GROW MANAGE/GROW THE BUSINESS BUSINESS =SYV FYWMRIWW MW SYV FYWMRIWW TPIEWI ZMWMX SYV [IF WMXI ERH WII [LEX SYV GYWXSQIVW WE] XLIR XS ǻRH SYX QSVI GEPP Ly ynda Raymond ERH TIVLETW [I GER EVVERKI XS QIIX ERH HMWGYWW ]SYV RIIHW . EQ WYVI XLEX [I GER LIPT

LB W Warehousing arehousing 9 RMXW Ȧ ȶ ȴ ;E]WMHI ;EVILSYWIW 8SWIPERH 9RMXW Ȧ ȶ ȴ ;E]WMHI ;EVILSYWIW 8SWIPERH 3 IEV X 3ISXW (EQFVMHKIWLMVI 5*Ȧȟ Ȱ7< 3IEV X 3ISXW (EQFVMHKIWLMVI 5*Ȧȟ Ȱ7< Te l ȉȦȏȁȉ ȁȁȉȁȉȉ Fax ȉȦȏȁȉ ȁȁȉȟȉȉ Mobile ȉȮȁȁȟ ȴȟȟȴȏȦ Tel ȉȦȏȁȉ ȁȁȉȁȉȉ Fax ȉȦȏȁȉ ȁȁȉȟȉȉ Mobile ȉȮȁȁȟ ȴȟȟȴȏȦ PP]RHE%PF [EVILSYWMRK GS YO ]RHE%PF [EVILSYWMRK GS YO

62

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

59-64_Classified 2017_Layout 1 22/11/2017 11:23 Page 63

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

DISPLAY AND SPINNERS Tel: 01929 550085 Email: sales@westminsterwire.com Web: www.westminsterwire.com

Home of the Wire Spinner Stand

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

APPOINTMENTS

FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY! PROFESSIONAL SALES AGENTS REQUIRED

The Wire Spinner is proven to be the most cost effective method to display and enhance products.

We also offer sheet metal, wood, acrylic and cardboard solutions or a combination of materials.

COUNTRYWIDE

cardovation@btconnect.com TEL: 01954 260728 BON BON Publications Ltd CAMBRIDGE UK

To appear in the Classified pages simply contact

Warren Lomax 020 7700 6740 or email on warren@max-publishing.co.uk

APPOINTMENTS

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

63

CHRISTMAS 2018advert.pdf

1

22/11/2017

16:12

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

y r u x u l l a n o i t p e c x e r u * o n o h i t t i c e W l l o c d r a c x o b e d a m d n a h 8 201 * Available for preorder now SECONDNATURE.CO.UK OBC_PG December 2017.indd 1

23/11/2017 10:13