Progressive Greetings Worldwide June 2017 by Max Publishing: Print, Digital Media + Events (London)

June

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2017

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Leader

On The Cards “Are you in this crafts business then?” someone asked me, looking to start a friendly conversation at an Artists’ Open House event recently. I hesitated for a moment before giving my response: “Yes, I feel very fortunate to be involved in two of the UK’s biggest crafts – greeting cards and retailing.” They looked a little bemused, perhaps having expected me to go into intricate detail of my approach to glass etching, freehand embroidery or up-cycled sculptures. Don’t get me wrong, I love this kind of thing, my home is full of it, but sometimes we forget that we are part of an incredible craft. Just because the greeting cards featured in Progressive Greetings and will be on show in their thousands at the imminent PG Live show have been produced for a commercial goal, it does not take away from the fact that their creation has required particular skills, from the designer who came up with the initial idea to the printer who turned them into the end product. Likewise retailing. Accompanying this edition is a booklet fanfaring The Retas 2017 finalists. Each and every one of these greeting card retailers has proved their craftsmanship; their ability to not only select products for their customers, but also present them in a way that means that they stand out from the crowd. It takes a special skill to be able to do that, and yet this industry is well blessed with those who really do have it down to a fine art. I do love going to Artists’ Open House events, especially the one I visited on Saturday as it was held at Sarah Hamilton’s home, author of House of Cards, the recently published wonderful hard-

Above: Bentalls’ buyer Jenni Taylor (left) is definitely passionate about her ‘craft’, seen here with PG’s Jakki Brown near a new standalone fixture. Right: Sarah Hamilton, author of the House of Cards book with PG’s Jakki Brown at an Artists’ Open House event. Below: Really Good’s David Hicks (second left) was recently presented with a Honorary Achievement award at The Greats gift retail awards. Seen here at the event with his co-director Lisa Shoesmith (second left) and PG’s Ian Hyder and Jakki Brown.

backed book (of which I was honoured to write the foreword). The book includes some great greeting card projects using various mediums by leading artists and designers (Jessica Hogarth of Jessica Hogarth Designs covers digital illustration with great aplomb!) Meanwhile, never one to shy away from an opportunity to promote our industry, Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA, secured some great coverage in Crafts Business magazine recently, inspiring the nation’s amateur card makers out there (and there are thousands as card making remains the UK’s number one craft pastime) to get crafty. So, with the imminent PG Live exhibition coming up on the horizon (June 6 and 7) I look forward to seeing you all my fellow craftsmen and women at our industry’s very own ‘Artists’ Open House’!

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Contents

What’s Inside

h ed wit Includ issue:

this ETAS 017 R S 2 E H T D AWAR URE H C O BR Within This Issue: SPOTLIGHT ON CUTE CARDS

107

101

7-21

News 23-25 97-101

Over The Counter

Rising To The Challenge Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, highlights the challenges of redesigning his store.

26-27 Cardsharp

Spotlight On Cute Cards

75-77

News, views and fresh ranges ‘straight from the heart’ of the Cute Cards market.

Retailer Face To Face

Some Fine Tayloring Jenni Taylor, card and wrap buyer for department store Bentalls in Kingston, shares with PG her passion for card retailing.

Just One More ‘Waffer’ Thin Mint

79-83

Cardsharp muses over topical events happening in the industry.

Best Of British

British Design A Brit-pack of card publishers impart why they believe British creativity and design is possibly the envy of the world.

29-33 Viewpoints

Casting Votes

85-87

In the run up to the General Election, indies state one thing the elected PM could do to help the greetings industry.

Jeremy’s Journal

Big Magic Blue Eyed Sun’s Jeremy Corner has been rediscovering his creative self.

35-39 PG Live 2017

40-41 Retailer Face To Face: Card Factory

Keep Calm And Karen On Karen Hubbard, ceo of Card Factory, reveals to PG some of the multiple’s plans for the future.

PG Live 2017 Innovations

Gift supplier Widdop and Co reveals its first ever greeting card ranges at PG Live this month.

107-109 In Focus… Designers Guild

Pioneering Design Tricia Guild, OBE, founder of Designers Guild, shares how the well-known lifestyle and colourful patterns brand first started.

115-117

What’s Hot?

Discovery Channel Some newbie card publisher launching for the first time in Springboard at PG Live 2017, share their adventure into the card industry.

121-123 Lynn’s Lines

Lesson Plan

125-138

Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys

Classified

Embracing Past Wonders

43-73

A Gifted Storyteller

Art Source

Springboard Focus – PG Live 2017

The ‘Nuts & Bolts’ of this year’s PG Live.

In Conversation With… Widdop And Co

111-113

89-93

Nine Lives

103-105

Debbie shares her latest paper art discoveries.

139

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

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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.

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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 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

70 Beautiful new cards with high quality finishing Competitive RRP s

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NEWS TOP STORY

The Full Works Dean Hoyle employs ex-Wishing Well studio team Retail chain, The Works, whose chairman is Dean Hoyle (founder of Card Factory), has employed the former Wishing Well Studios design team, led by creative director Nikki Harrison. Coinciding with this news, Dean, who has been non-executive director of Card Factory since it became a plc in May 2014, has severed links with the value card chain, “as there is now a conflict of interests.” Dean moved swiftly to secure the employment of Nikki and her studio team when Carte Blanche Group announced last month that it had closed down the Wiganbased Wishing Well studio, relocating the creative facility to the publisher’s Sussex HQ, and making all staff from the northern studio redundant. Dean, who also owns Huddersfield Town FC, describes the agreement with Nikki and her studio team using a football analogy: “In football terms this is classed as the perfect free transfer,” Dean told PG. Commenting on her ‘transfer’, Nikki said: "Love him or loathe him... when the opportunity arose to join Dean at The Works and, after hearing the exciting next phase of growth, I knew this was the right move - I can't wait to get started”. The Works currently trades from 400 stores, but Dean (who acquired a 30% stake in 2015) has made no secret of his ambitions to expand the varietal value chain quickly. While it currently stocks some greeting cards, its product mix is very diverse.

Below: It is likely that greeting cards will feature more prominently at The Works in the future. Below middle: Dean Hoyle. Bottom: Nikki Harrison.

Inking in a point

“I have had to make the sad decision to leave Card Factory after 19 amazing years. I have left on good terms but this was inevitable,” he told PG. Dean refuses to be drawn as to what products the studio will be developing, but having given ‘conflict of interests’ as the reason for stepping back from Card Factory completely, it would suggest that greeting cards will be part of the remit. When PG interviewed Dean in October 2015, when The Works was trading from 300 stores, he admitted: “Greeting cards account for, at most, only 5% of The Works’ sales. I was informed, however, at one of the first management meetings I attended at The Works that greeting cards and giftwrap were performing badly in our shops. I do think it is a situation I should be able to rectify!”

UKG’s parent company, American Greetings is well-known for its inventive adverts, but it marked this year’s Mother’s Day (which takes place in May in the States) in an indelible way. The viewer sees a girl nervously getting her first tattoo, a scripted message ‘Keep shining’ on the inside of her wrist, writing in the same style as her mother’s handwritten message inside a card she is holding. The tattoo takes on a special poignancy when the girl says, “I think she would have liked it”, highlighting that her mother has passed away. The film ends with the message "a card is just a card. But in the right moment it means everything." Very heartfelt. Above: A still from the American Greetings’ advert.

Predicting card growth Karen Hubbard, ceo of Card Factory, is keen to spread the good news about the state of the greeting card. “The market for single greeting cards is well-established, robust and resilient; it continues to show modest growth in value terms and remains stable in terms of volume, supported by a growing and ageing population - this trend in volume and value is forecast to continue,” Karen states.

Adele buys entire stock of ‘her’ greeting card Singer Adele was so tickled by spotting her likeness on a Tache Crafts’ greeting card while shopping in John Lewis’ Peter Jones store in London’s Sloane Square that she bought the whole the entire stock in the department store. The Sun newspaper broke the story on 27 April (but it then ran riot across many media channels) that while shopping in Peter Jones, Adele spotted the card. The newspaper reported: “Adele walked right up to the shelf and took the lot. She found it hilarious. The staff couldn’t believe she was in there, let alone her choice of purchase. She said she was going to send them to all her friends.” She was also heard to joke that she would sue the card company for using her image. Frank Nicholls, managing director of Tache Crafts, publisher of the card commented: “What a great story in The Sun - we’re absolutely Above: Tache Crafts’ Adele card. thrilled that Adele loves her Famous Faces card so much. And buying all of Peter Jones’ stock to send to her friends, that’s wonderful - we’ll have to send some more stock in as a matter of urgency! Famous Faces has been a really popular range for us and is growing all the time. In fact, we are set to launch a number of new ‘faces’ at PG Live in June, along with a fabulous and fun new feature across the whole range – all will be revealed at the show!” As far as Adele’s joke about “suing” for the use of her image, she was of course joking. “Everything is of course fully above board on that front, as you would expect,” assured Frank.

Research undertaken by OC&C on behalf of Card Factory predicts that the UK greeting card market is on course to grow by 1.2% in value between now and 2019, and volume looks stable. Additional research, also commissioned by Card Factory, shows that, contrary to concerns, there is no meaningful shift in digital substitution of people sending electronic messages rather than greeting cards. In 2017, OC&C’s findings show that 18% of people will send digital messages rather than a greeting card to mark life events, whereas back in 2012, some 25% of people said they would send a digital greeting in place of a card. In 2017 some 64% of card senders will also be sending digital greetings, admitting they send digital in addition to physical cards. This is up 2% on 2016 and 13% on the 2015 level. (See pages 40-41).

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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NEWS TOP STORY

The Final Countdown Only days away from PG Live The world of greeting cards will converge at PG Live 2017, which takes place on Tuesday 6 June and Wednesday 7 June at London’s Business Design Centre. “The line-up for this year’s show is incredible,” commented Warren Lomax, co owner of PG Live. “We have 280 exhibitors – from the largest card publishers right down to brand new start-ups and everything in between – all collectively launching thousands of never seen before products. There are heaps of show only offers, competitions and unexpected extras that look set to make the ninth ever PG Live really one to remember,” he added. The show will be officially opened by a strong posse of leading greeting card retailers and distributors who have come from all over the world, not just the UK, to be at this special dedicated greeting card exhibition. Renowned saxophonist, Graeme Airth (of Curiosity Killed the Cat fame) will provide an aural fanfare to the opening, setting the tone for an upbeat show, which will celebrate the greeting card industry. As well as the wealth of products on offer, the popular

extras, such as the tea trollies, free lunch, an opening night party, will all add to the high notes and convivial atmosphere of the show. As Eliot James, buyer of Scribbler summed up: “PG Live is by far the best show for us in terms of the variety and quality of the exhibitors. It’s great to be able to see big, established publishers under the same roof as publishers who are completely new to the industry, and everybody in-between”. To register go to www.progressivegreetingslive.com or call (0)1635 297070 (See pages 35-39 for more information about the show; see pages 29-33 for retailer comments; see pages 89-93 to see some Springboarder’s card journey, while to see just some of the products being launched at the show see pages 43-73).

#Your industry needs you! Vote now

Above: PG Live will be a celebration of greeting cards; even the meeters and greeters will be suitably attired! Left: One of the 85 new designs that will be on show on Wendy Jones-Blackett’s stand.

Widdop and Co unveils cards at PG Live PG Live sees Widdop and Co (stand 436) surprise visitors, not only by its presence at the show (having not exhibited there for seven years), but also by what it will be showcasing – inaugural ranges of greeting cards based on its highly popular Bambino new baby brand (that has scored well on the gift front) as well as a wedding collection under its Amore brand. Having launched giftbags at Spring Fair for the first time, under these brands, PG Live will be the official unveiling of a collection of 12-18 Amore wedding cards and 12-18 Bambino baby-related cards. The cards, which are being printed by UK printer Loxleys, reflect the sophisticated design style and subtle foiling that is evident on the established gift items. These launches will be followed in the summer by a card collection based on Widdop’s Reflections of the Heart sentiment range and then, at the start of next year, its Signography brand will be translated onto cards too. “By spring next year we will have published between 200-300 greeting cards, all helping to tell a story,” says Stephen Illingworth, director of product development at Widdop and Co. ”We want to support our retail customers so that their customers who are buying, say a Bambino baby gift, can also buy a matching gift bag and card to go with it.” A major focus on the stand will be the Studio Oh! collection of stationery and cards that Widdop and Co is distributing in the UK from the US company. (See pages 103-105)

Forget the General Election on 8 June, the one ‘election’ you don’t want to miss voting on is the GCA Tagline Challenge at PG Live! The GCA has put the call out for ideas for a new tagline that could be used across the industry – by retailers, designers and publishers – for something short and sweet that sums up the importance of the emotional connection that greeting cards make. The GCA has received 132 suggestions from 55 publishers, retailers and specialist suppliers, via email and Facebook, and this has been whittled down to a shortlist. Now visitors to PG Live (June 6 and 7) are being urged to cast their vote in a secret ballot in a GCA area in the entrance to the lunch hall. “I had every faith in the creativity of our members, and have been blown away by the wonderful phrases they have come up with,” said Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA. “It will be a hard job to get it down to a shortlist of 10.” Top: A Bambino baby card design from Widdop. (Russell: please Among the current contenders currently are: crop into just one card) l Brighten someone’s day... send a card l Sign it, Seal it, Send it - Smile! The GCA will be showing at PG Live and will be l Pen to card to heart on hand to help answer any queries which may l A card through the door means so much more arise from exhibiting GCA members, as well as to l A card in the post shows your love the most encourage more retailers to join the association. l Send some love, send a card Commenting, Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA l A card means more than ever before said: “Membership is incredibly reasonable for l Say it with a card retailers – only £10+VAT. There are loads of l Sent with Love benefits of membership. Having more retailers as l Send a card deliver a smile members means we really can speak for the l A first class cuddle whole industry, which means we will be better placed to promote and protect l Send a smile greeting card sending to the public”. Right: The GCA is looking for a tagline to sum up of the feeling of giving and receiving a card.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Friendly Research Celebrating 30 years by helping those to ‘bear’ their souls As part of its year-long 30th celebrations for Forever Friends, Hallmark has released a new report looking at the changing face of friendship. The findings in the Forever Friends Friendship Report highlight that 41% of people questioned said they would prefer to have a few close friendships rather than lots of friends. It has also discovered that while over half of people (53%) agree that social media makes it easier to stay in touch, it gives a false sense of connectivity, with 1 in 10 admitting to not having any ‘close’ friends. The publisher has enlisted psychologist and relationship expert Sam Owen to explain how and why friendships have changed: “As a society we have chased technological advancements, often without thinking about their long-term consequences until we notice the repercussions. Given how busy we are in the modern day, we can have this false sense of ‘we’ve connected’ when we use social media or other electronic text communication but we’ve not truly connected with our energetic signature, in that there is no real emotion or energy attached to it. We have gone from personal to impersonal – but we still yearn for that personal touch in a friendship.” When it comes to keeping in touch, the research shows people think the best way to nurture friendships is through regular get togethers with friends (47%), while phone calls (17%), text messaging (14%) and social media (13%) all trail behind. Sam says of the findings: “You should aim to remain in frequent contact with

your friends and if you can’t see each other in person, you can aim to connect in other meaningful ways. For example, sending a handwritten card is more meaningful than sending a message on social media. It takes effort and time to buy, write and send a card and that speaks volumes for how we feel about someone. Writing a card means you also leave a little bit of you on the card, with your handwriting, which in this day of increasing distance, is intimate, warming and powerful.” Backing up Sam Owen’s analysis, earlier findings from Hallmark as part of their ‘Thinking of You’ research, found that two thirds of Brits say that receiving a card or letter conveys the most thought when it comes to showing we care (66%). Tamsyn Johnston-Hughes, nationals business partner Hallmark, said: “It’s clear that the way we nurture our friendships has changed a lot since the creation of the Forever Friends brand 30 years ago, but it’s nice to see that the core values of the brand remain significant today, with people placing an importance on having a few close friends.” As part of the 30th celebrations this year, Hallmark has released a limited edition range of 52 Forever Friends cards with a fresh new contemporary look and style guide, which will all be on display at PG Live. In addition, special Forever Friends artwork will be gracing the PG Live keepsake cloth bags that will be given out at the show. Above: Part of the front cover of the Forever Friends Friendship Report, which forms part of the 30th anniversary celebrations.

WHS cardies in the running A trio from the WHS High Street greeting card team of Claire Castle (senior buyer greeting cards), Andrew Gunnell, (cards distributor) and Chrissi Bee (cards distribution admin) took part in a special WHS Race for Life run to raise money for Cancer Research UK on May 19 in Swindon. This is part of a larger fundraising effort to raise £2m for three charities: Cancer Research, National Literacy Fund and Mind, during WHSmith’s 225th anniversary year. There have already activities around World Cancer Day, with store teams dressing in pink and doing a whole host of fun activities in store; in May the company marked Mental Health Awareness Week for Mind, and in the autumn, WHSmith will be one of the official partners for Cancer Research’s Stand Up to Cancer campaign. In September, there is a national Three Peaks challenge event open to WHSmith employees and suppliers, which Claire Castle encourages card publishers and suppliers to join up for. Commenting, Claire Castle told PG: “As part of the fundraising events, it would be great if we could have some teams from card publishers to join our Three Peaks event in September. Steve Clarke (ceo) and Phil McNally (commercial director High Street) are leading teams and I know they’d really appreciate any key suppliers getting involved!” Above: (Right-left) Claire Castle, Chrissi Bee and Andrew Gunnell from the WHS card team who ran for charity.

You’ve got to be in it to win it! Don’t miss out on the chance to win some fantastic prizes at PG Live. Over the course of the show’s two days any visitors to Hallmark (stand 416) will have the opportunity to pick one of the numbered balls for the chance to win everything on its stand, including the Forever Friends 30th anniversary collection, Itty Bitty FSDU with over 280 Ittys, the exclusive-to-independents Handpicked Kit and 2ft Disney plan. Another prize is for a weekend away for two with Handpicked Holidays, staying at one of its hotels in the UK. l Tracey Russell Design (stand 241) will be launching a fresh portfolio of handmade cards, tin candles and other gift products. Everyone who places an order will go into the draw to be in with a chance to win their total order for free. Other exhibitors offering prize draws for product include: Jessica Hogarth (stand 105) – spend over £100 and go into the draw to win £50 worth of cards and Paper Sole (stand 774) – a chance to win £100 of product. l In keeping with its Yorkshire theme, LS20 Letterpress Studio (stand 860) is giving away a luxury Betty’s of Harrogate hamper to one lucky customer who places an order with it at PG Live. Customers just need to pop their business card into the draw for the chance to win. Above: You could win all the products on the Hallmark stand including 280 Itty Bitty plush. Left: Win a luxury Betty’s hamper on the LS20 Letterpress Studio stand.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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NEWS TOP STORY

iCandy Crushed

Below: Ilford’s iCandy store. Below middle: Clinton Lewin in iCandy.

Clinton Lewin’s card and gift chain goes into administration Almost five years to the day of Clinton Cards going into receivership (before being bought out by American Greetings), its namesake, Clinton Lewin’s next greeting card retailing venture - iCandy Cards & Gifts - has also fallen on tough times, with the administrators having been called in. Card publishers and gift suppliers are reeling from the debts that the business failure has left in its wake. Clinton had joined the Clinton Cards’ card retailing business, that had been founded by his father Don Lewin, as soon as he left school over 30 years ago. He remained a director of the company until it went into administrative receivership and was acquired by American Greetings in 2012. Badly affected by the company’s demise, he considered doing something other than cards, but realised that “it was in his blood” so started iCandy Cards & Gifts. Clinton had grafted hard to build up iCandy Cards & Gifts to a group of 14 card and gift stores that traded in the south-east, in Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk. However, facing no other option, he was forced to call in the receivers in early

May. As a result, four of the 14 iCandy stores were closed immediately, resulting in 22 job losses. At the time of PG going to press, the remaining 10 stores (and 80 jobs) were still open with a buyer actively being sought for the business. Clinton Lewin opened the first of his iCandy stores before Christmas in 2012, positioning them as a middle-upmarket retailer. The product mix and pricing went down well with customers and the business expanded to 14 stores over the next five years.

The Greats and the Really Good David Hicks, founder of Really Good and Soul, has been honoured for his contribution to the retail gift sector at The Greats gift retailer awards organised by PG’s sister magazine Progressive Gifts & Home. David received the Honorary Achievement Award at a ceremony, held at London’s Grosvenor House at the start of this month. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Really Good and the 20th anniversary of Soul. David started the Really Good Card Company (as it was known) in 1987 with £200 and a stack of black and white postcards, travelling around the country and selling cards from the boot of his car! In the 90s, when the company was hit by the demise of a major customer, the business turned its spotlight from cards onto gifts, as reflected in the shortening of its name to Really Good. In 1997 David launched Soul, which has earned a strong reputation for its design-led, contemporary greeting cards and giftware ranges. Commenting, shortly after receiving his award, David confessed to PG: “I was utterly gobsmacked to be honest. I didn’t really listen to the first part of the introductory speech, but then I slowly thought how interesting it was that someone else in the room had a similar background! I was making a mental note to chat to whoever it was, when it slowly dawned on me. I actually feel humbled.” Above: Really Good/Soul’s David Hicks was almost lost for words when he was presented with the Honorary Achievement Award at The Greats. Left: Between the Lines’ co-owner Florian Kleinlercher with The Greats trophy for Best Multiple Retailer of Gifts.

Cardies limber up for the Seaside Shuffle Over 30 industry colleagues are taking part in the Cardgains Seaside Shuffle – a 25 mile walk from Whitby to Scarborough on 22 June. This year the event is raising money for Guide Dogs UK – the Cardgains charity for 2017. Cardgains is sponsoring a puppy called Cyril, a black Labrador who was born in February. He has now entered his 6-8 week initial training and has been placed with puppy walkers in Rotherham. “We have quite a few people doing the Seaside Shuffle who’ve undertaken our previous walks, so we must be doing something right,” says Penny Shaw marketing director of Cardgains. “I’m sure they would all recommend it and say how much fun they had! Training is always hard, luckily we’ve had some great weather recently so I hope everyone has found some time to get their walking boots on.” Above: Cyril, the puppy sponsored by Cardgains, is off to puppy school!

Success for National Stationery Week

This year’s National Stationery Week campaign reached 12.5 million people in print or via online coverage in The Sun, Metro and Daily Express, to name a few. And over 35 million listeners heard about it on the Christian O’Connell Breakfast Show and Andy Bush Lunchtime show on Absolute Radio, as well as several mentions during the week from Simon Mayo on his Drivetime Show on BBC Radio 2. Social media was also abuzz with stationery fun, as #NationalStationeryWeek and #WorldStationeryDay trended throughout the week with tweets from John Lewis, WHSmith, B&M Stores and CBBC’s Hacker T Dog. Those not tuned in or logged on didn’t miss out on the campaign either, with homes worldwide receiving letters and parcels franked with the National Stationery Week logo sent via the Royal Mail during the week of the campaign. Stationery also continued to rule the high street, with a record-breaking 97 national, international and independent retailers signing up for access to Top: The National Stationery Week postmark. the free POS pack that featured in store Above: Window display at windows and on websites throughout the UK Marple Stationery Supplies in Marple, Cheshire, using the 2017 and overseas, including Paperchase, Pen National Stationery Week POS. Chalet, NotOnTheHighStreet and Smiggle. Tim Willoughby, managing director of Ocean Media Group, organisers of National Stationery Week said: “The campaign was a hugely successful one and we’re proud to have enjoyed such great coverage across so many formats, with details of coverage still coming in. National Stationery Week 2017 really captured the attention of so many people, both online, offline and in stores.” PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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NEWS Rich pickings for cardies

TOP STORY

By George! Asda totally overhauls its greeting card offer Representing one of the most significant changes to Asda’s greeting card offer in many years, the major grocer has totally revamped its greeting card approach. In the space of two weeks last month, a brand new selection of greeting cards, including many George-branded designs, a different pricing strategy and new display mechanics, including specially designed PoS, were installed in 600+ stores. In what must be one of the biggest greeting card installations in UKG’s history, the publisher who is Asda’s category partner for greeting cards, has worked closely with the supermarket over the last two years to develop the ‘Design For Real Life’ concept. Immediately evident is the prominence of a wide selection of own brand George

Below: UKG’s new greeting card display in Asda stores.

greeting cards which builds on the success of the ‘shop n go’ George card range that was introduced as a small signature range a couple of years ago. While the majority of the new George cards have a retail price of £1.50, there are cards retailing at 50p within the range. A ‘link save’ offer of ‘3 cards for £3’ is heavily promoted to encourage multiple buys.

Dearly beloved… PG Live is well-known for its quirky promotional stunts, and this year will be no different, with vicars giving out postcards highlighting a new range on the Giftwrap UK stand (232). But don’t let your eyes deceive you, it really is Pete Goodman of HA&D and Mike Apicella from Sales Management Solutions (SMS) dressed up to market the new Vicar of Scribbly range. The Vicar of Scribbly is a new humorous range of 15 everyday designs and eight Christmas designs. The vicars will also be giving out postcards about the new Ladies What Do range, launching exclusively at PG Live with eight designs. And don’t be surprised if you come across a wedding reception on the Rush Design stand (166) as Midlands sales agent Ian Bradley and publisher Lorraine Rush are celebrating their recent nuptials. While the couple got married in secret at Gretna Green earlier in May, “we wanted to hold a wedding reception party for all our industry friends and customers - and they’ll all be at PG Live, so what better place to celebrate!” commented Ian Bradley. Above: Look out for Pete Goodman (right) and Mike Apicella (left) promoting the Vicars of Scribbly range. Left: The happy couple after their wedding, then there’s an industry wedding reception!

Coulson Macleod rewards those who take its cards on their travels Design-led greeting card publisher, Coulson Macleod, has launched a new social media campaign urging people to photograph one of the cards from its Quoted range while they’re on their travels. Everyone who uploads their photo to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using #cmexplorer will be sent all six cards from the Quoted range. “We were inspired by Danielle (our studio assistant and product photographer) who sent us a photo of herself in Norway with one of the Quoted cards in front of the Aurland fjord,” says Hannah Macleod, co-owner of Coulson Macleod. “We just thought it was the best shot of our greeting card EVER. Which got us thinking, wouldn’t it be great to get people to photograph this card on their travels so we end up with lots of lovely backdrops. The card is a quote from Mark Twain and part of it says: ‘Catch the trade winds in your sails, explore, dream and discover’, hence the hashtag #cmexplorer. Everyone who uploads a photo using that hashtag will get all six cards from the Quoted range.” Left: Danielle’s photo in front of the Aurland fjord in Norway inspired the give away.

The greeting card industry, although highly competitive, is perhaps not the easiest way to become super rich. But The Sunday Times Rich List – the definitive guide to the wealthiest 1,000 individuals in the UK – included three representatives from the industry in its line-up this year. The first entry was Dean and Janet Hoyle, founder and previous owners of Card Factory, who featured at 411th in the list with an estimated wealth of £284 million. Dean bought a greeting card van business in the early 1990s and Above: Dean and Janet Hoyle make the Rich List at number 411. with his wife Janet opened their first Card Factory shop in 1997. They subsequently netted £250 million from its 2010 sale, plus £46 million from its £766 million float. Dean now chairs the discount chain, The Works and owns Huddersfield Town football club. It is a long time since Andrew Brownsword and his wife Christina were involved in the greeting card industry, as for the last 20 years Andrew’s main business interest has been in upmarket hotels. But it was in greeting cards that he made his initial fortune, selling his eponymous company to Hallmark for an estimated £165 million in 1994. This year Andrew and Christina appear at number 415 in the list, with an estimated wealth of £272 million. A surprise new entry for this year is Swedish-born Anders Hedlund of The Design Group, formerly International Greetings, appearing for the first time at number 946 with an estimated wealth of £114 million.

Take a note, it's better In new research, commissioned by Sainsbury's Home, almost 7 in 10 (68%) Brits said they prefer to receive a handwritten letter or card rather than a less personal email or e-card. A whopping 74% of 16-24 year-olds would prefer to receive a handwritten note from friends rather than a typed note, busting the myth that young people have moved on from writing by hand. And it seems that we like sending handwritten cards and letter too. Only 1 in 10 Brits (11%) said they have not sent a handwritten card/letter in the past five years. Above: Some 70% of Brits prefer a handwritten letter over an email.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Which? Is Best

Below: Card Factory fared best for greeting cards on the high street.

Over 10,000 consumers reveal the best and worst high street shops DIY store Toolstation and sound system and TV retailer Richer Sounds have been hailed as the UK’s joint-top high street retailers, but Card Factory is not far behind them in the popularity stakes, according to a survey of over 10,000 consumers, by consumer champions Which? Of 100 high street brands, Card Factory ranked joint 9th in the survey, which asked consumers about their shopping experience at major retailers. In addition to Toolstation and Richer Sounds, John Lewis, Waterstones and Harvey Nichols made up the top five, the latter three having the same number of votes. On the specialist card retailer front, while Card Factory was in the ‘top ten’, Clintons (admittedly with less than half the stores of Card Factory) was towards the bottom of the league table, ranking 88th, alongside Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Paperchase came in 32nd place, three positions above Marks and Spencer. Other notable inclusions were Fenwick (18th), Asda (67th), WHSmith (99th) and Morrisons (100th).

Richard Headland, editor of Which? magazine, said: “The best retailers, Richer Sounds and Toolstation, continue to strike the right balance by selling quality products at reasonable prices. It’s a simple formula, but that’s why they consistently score well with shoppers in the Which? survey.” The ranking is based on 10,214 responses from the public about their previous six months’ in-store shopping experiences. Which? asked about overall experience and shopping for different products. The customer score is based on satisfaction and the likelihood of recommending each shop.

Farewell to Ray Molekamp Well-known industry stalwart Ray Molekamp (below), who worked in the greeting card, publishing and print business for 30 years, sadly died of a brain tumour in his homeland of Holland in early May. Ray’s career in the greeting card industry included working for Athena, The Art Group (before it was acquired by Pyramid and Paper Rose took on the cards side) and was also involved as a consultant to ArtPress Publishing in its early days, having worked alongside owners Linzi Russell-Watson, Janie Markham and Anne Vine at The Art Group. l Linzi Russell-Watson director at ArtPress commented on behalf of the team and said: “We are all at a loss because Ray was such a special person, foremost as a friend, a mentor, a bon viveur and a lover of the arts, he certainly lived life to the full and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.” l Martin Nevin, owner of Emotional Rescue and Is It Art, who worked with Ray at Athena, is another big fan of the man: “Ray was the most charismatic and inspirational person I have ever worked for.” l Stuart Williams, who heads up Quire Collections UK, but worked with Ray both at The Art Group and Athena, summed up the ebullient Dutchman as, “A truly larger than life character”. l Nigel Willcock, sales and marketing director of Paper Rose, worked with Ray for many years at The Art Group. Nigel said of his former colleague: “He was a great guy, very good to me and probably the most inspiring fun guy I ever worked with. I will miss him.”

PG Live NIBS l With over 50 paper folds and cuts per card, Second Nature’s Pop Ups range continue to amaze. PG Live sees this stalwart range (that was launched almost 30 years ago) receive a complete overhaul, with 35 new designs, new packaging and new captions - and all still at the same RRP as they were when they first launched - £4.99. See them on stand 117. Right: One of the new Second Nature Pop Ups designs. l Did you see Pennychoo’s Jazz Cat Sailor print as Coast magazine's ‘Find of the Month’ in the June/July issue? Pennychoo (stand 170) will be returning to PG Live after a break of five years. It will be launching new ranges with a 10% discount on any orders placed at the show. l Coulson Macleod (stand 112) is going back to its roots with a new wooden card range. The company made wooden prints before moving into greeting cards so the new range combines the best of both worlds. There will be seven new wooden card ranges at PG Live, all made from 3mm thick birch plywood. Any orders over £250 at PG Live will receive a free set of six wooden cards of their choice. Left: A wooden card from Coulson Macleod. l Have a go at origami on Made by Man (stand 156), where the company will be showing its origami card range featuring the 12 animals of the Chinese/Japanese zodiac, such as the tiger, pig, snake, rabbit, dog, sheep, monkey, dragon, horse, ox and mouse. Right: Have a go at origami at Made by Man. l Paul Thurlby’s work can be seen across John Lewis stores this summer in the National Treasures campaign. Lagom Design (stand 225) publishes Paul’s work on greeting cards and will be showing his new postcard collection at PG Live. Left: One of Paul Thurlby’s cards for Lagom Design.

A real Carey on at Abacus Cards Nick Carey (right) has taken over as managing director at Abacus Cards/Clare Maddicott as his father Brian Carey steps down from the day to day running of the company. Nick, currently commercial director, freely acknowledges: “I’ve got big shoes to fill, but I’m thrilled to be taking over as managing director of Abacus Cards and Clare Maddicott, we have great customers, great products and a great team. In a vibrant market I can see the only way is up as we grow and expand,” adds Nick. Brian will still have an active role in the company he founded in 1991 with Jeff Fothergill, taking on the role of executive chairman of the group that also includes Mr Fothergill’s Seeds. “This is certainly not a ‘swansong’ on my part as Abacus and of course Mr Fothergill’s Seeds form part of my DNA,” said Brian. “But going forward Nick will call the shots, ably assisted by Bev [Cunningham, creative and marketing director] and the team”. Brian assured he will still be in the background, “offering views and opinions and no doubt making the odd coffee!”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Spreading The News Below: Nicky Goodman (third from the right) and the team from Paddock Wood Cards.

Something to Retas home about The finalists of The Retas 2017 greeting card retailer awards have wasted no time in spreading the good news of their stores being hailed as among the best retailers of greeting cards in the UK. Now in their 13th year, The Retas (organised by PG) are dedicated annual awards that recognise and reward UK greeting card retailers right across the spectrum for their activities in the last year. As soon as the finalists were announced at the end of April, many emailed and tweeted about their delight at being shortlisted. “I was parking the car at the time (when I heard) but went straight to the PGBuzz website to see if it was true,” said Mark Janson-Smith, co-owner of Postmark, London. “It was and we were delighted, even my daughter, who was in the passenger seat looked excited! The team were immediately told and everyone is very much looking forward to the awards ceremony on 12 July!” For Rak Vasani, owner of Hallmark, Hornchurch, the news came out of the blue. “Wow what a surprise! Both Michelle and I are so excited and proud to have been selected as finalists. It is fantastic that all the hard work the two of us, along with all our valuable staff members, have done has been rewarded in this way.” Nicky Goodman, owner of Paddock Wood Cards, Tonbridge exclaimed: “OMG I can’t believe we have been nominated again. Thank you so much! I’m so excited, proud and thrilled to get this far. I’ve rung all the staff as they have helped the shop all the way.”

l A good spot on ITV’s TOWIE – a Ling Designs get well soon card appeared on the 23 April episode. Above: Ling’s get well card on TOWIE.

And in an interview with the local newspaper The Isle of Man Examiner, Chris Beards, owner of Mantons said: “After winning the award for the best greeting card shop previously, everyone at Mantons is delighted to once again be named as a Retas finalist. This is welldeserved recognition for all our team’s hard work and commitment to help our customers, which is something all of us at Mantons take pride in.” Commenting on The Retas, Warren Lomax, joint managing director of Max Publishing, which owns PG and the awards said: “We had hundreds of nominations this year, so all retailers who have made it into the finals have every right to feel be extremely proud about being one of the best greeting card retailers in the UK.” The finalists are all featured in a publication which is distributed with this edition. The Retas winners will be unveiled at an Enchanted Tails-themed afternoon event at The Dorchester Hotel on July 12, that will be attended by 400 retailers and publishers. For tickets to this lavish networking event contact Clare Davies at Createvents on clare@createvents.co.uk or 01183 340085. Tickets are £178+VAT.

Seeds planted from GCA Speed-dating Leading garden centre retailer, Frosts of Woburn Sands, has introduced a new greeting card display feature as a direct result of the GCA Speed-dating with Dragons initiative, incorporating cards from 12 publishers who participated in the event back in February. Alexis Hayward (left), head of group buying for Frosts Garden Centre, and her colleague Karen Verrell, card buyer, were two of the ‘dragons’ at the GCA event. They were so impressed with some of the publishers’ ranges that they saw (both in person and also from the samples in the goody bag they were given) that they have been introduced into the garden centre’s flagship Woburn Sands centre. “We are so excited about the opportunity for us to showcase new suppliers within the range of cards offered at Woburn Sands,” says Alexis. “We have just re-planned our Woburn Sands store layout to allow us to install additional fixtures on which to house a ‘new’ card offering, which means customers can see that there are some new designs on offer. We have selected a small number of SKUs to start with and if the new supplier is successful we will roll it out to the other three shops and add SKUs to the range”.

l Moonpig has launched a new range of personalised invitations with a selection of nearly 100 designs. The range features favourite kids’ characters, including Frozen and Winnie the Pooh, to contemporary design from the Natural History Museum, as well home grown designs created by inhouse team of designers. l Ocean Media Exhibitions, owners of the London Stationery Show, will launch a new stationery trade show in Manchester this year. The new Manchester Stationery Show will run for two days on Tuesday, 31 October and Wednesday, 1 November. It will be a specialist writing and paper products show, focused on design-led and fashion-forward product.

l Creation Express has launched a new range of personalised greeting cards and banners for its retailers. Creation Express, an instore franchise, is now in over 250 greetings card and gift shops and allows personalised gifts to be made in store in, in seconds. Above: Personalised cards from Creation Express.

l The organisers of GIFTAG - the new trade fair for British-made gifts and homewares – have launched a new website (www.giftag.london) enabling exhibitors to book space at this trade event. Only exhibitors who manufacture home and giftware in the British Isles will be able to exhibit at this event. GIFTAG will take place on Sunday 10 September through to Tuesday 12 September at The Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London. l Giftware importer, distributor and exporter, Joe Davies has donated £21,462.50 to two forcesrelated charities, Scotty’s Little Soldiers and Soldiers Off The Street, all thanks to gift and greeting card retailers selling its Equilibrium Poppy Jewellery. For each piece sold, Joe Davies donated 50p to charity. Right: Earrings from the Joe Davies Equilibrium Poppy Jewellery range.

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OVER THE COUNTER

Rising To The

Challenge Right: Rise to the challenge: A card from Raspberry Blossom. Below left: The Pozzi newsagents before its revamp. Below right: JP Pozzi in Buckie is within a 112 year old building.

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, discusses the financial and personal challenges of redesigning his newsagents store.

Challenging yourself is essential to improve and make you better at what you do. And the challenges for me in 2015/16 were without doubt the most difficult I had ever set myself in my business life. But for me, this is what it is all about, identifying your weakness and working hard to improve or change it completely. But often your heart can rule you. It can make you feel resistant to change. There are many examples of businesses that did not change or move with its core customer then simply died away. So when being faced for the first time ever with a falling turnover in our newsagents store, and a product that was proving to be less and less popular (news/magazines/office stationery), I had to have the courage to change and move things on; Yet, I could not abandon it completely as we still sell and deliver a lot of newspapers, and we still sell the Lottery and local books. So when we decided to redesign our newsagent shop we wanted to build this part of our business in to the overall design. This made the challenge even more difficult as we were attempting to

keep the essence of the building too; its history and soul, but also reimagine the space as something entirely new. It was quite a big project and when dealing with an old building around 112 years-old you never know what you may find along the way. It is 30 years in June since my dad bought the shop and started us on a journey that none of us could have imagined. I wrestled with the decision of whether it would be better to sell the original store as I had a number of people that would have taken it as it was. Financially this made sense as I could have then reinvested elsewhere, but somewhere inside me simply couldn't do it. Was it my heart ruling the head? It has been a labour of love. I have worked on the store’s design for over two years, looking at every element from the paint, flooring, seating material, lighting, and all the points in-between. We’ve used good companies along the way to support us in certain sections, but primarily the redesign is my mum and I’s. We are invested in it. We believe in it and we are committed to it.

Currently, our restaurant and food businesses is thriving and growing so we decided to add this to our redesigned store, but with the focus more on ‘food to go’ with seating for around 20. We then felt that if we changed this front part of the store to something that was very modern then the rear card/gift/jewellery section had to change as well, moving the jewellery further forward for extra wow factor. We also introduced a brand new giftwrap room off the cards section and made a conscious decision to have no spinners. The idea is people can browse the cards in peace and quiet and really enjoy finding the right design/wording to suit the occasion. I also worked closely with Axiom on a brand new flat card wall with LED lighting to really highlight small publishers. Time will tell if this amount of space really pays, but it looks special and showcases the amazing card publishers’ designs brilliantly. The plan was to split the building work into three sections: storage/office in January; kitchen/backrooms in PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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OVER THE COUNTER Far left: A food business was added to the redesigned store. Left: To the rear of the shop is the card section complete with LED lighting, a quiet area for customers to browse. Below middle: David's previous bank's computer said "no" to completely funding the Pozzi store's building work. Below: When the building work began David and his workmen were onsite for 15 hours each day for 29 days!

February and then a 28 day build on the actual store itself. We would be closed for 15 days in the card end of the store and eight days completely, which is unheard of. So with the plan in place, the main part of any project is to then find the funding. It is, in truth, where most projects fall down and often the business owner receives one or two rejections and then that is it. So where do you start? Like many business people the idea was always that my parents would sell the building to fund their retirement, so there were no pots of money lying around to simply dip in to. I speak to many people and they say the lack of backing/funding from the banks are holding many businesses back; Quite simply, you can’t let it. You have to explore any and all options, whether it is crowd funding, bringing in an investor, lease finance or family help. What you have to do though is cost it properly, and if you believe in it with all your heart commit to it. You must also have a contingency of a minimum of 10%. The first port of call though is of course your bank. Having been with the same bank successfully for over 29 years and having it fund work on our business to this point, I thought that it would be glad that I was being pro-active and addressing a situation before the continual slip carried on. This was the first challenge. My old bank would back us but only to a certain point. After a long and frustrating exchange with them, wasting months, I missed my building starting date, which was originally January 2016, and eventually left the bank as I was so angry. There were many twists and turns to this senario, and honestly it shocked me as my experience with my bank had previously only been one of support. I know I push boundaries, as I had done 5/6 years earlier with our Bijou store during the recession, but this time I was greeted with The Little Britain quote – ‘computer says no’!

So change bank it was. I went with HSBC who I found to be exceptionally supportive. This was not an overnight process, and it took a good six months, but I am delighted I did it. HSBC put in place the funding for a great deal of the building’s alterations and allowed a degree of flexibility. It also understood that we are working on long-terms goals and investments, not quick fixes. This was backed up with a 15 year term, which can be adjusted as we move forward.

Changing your business’ bank is complicated and expensive but ultimately it may need to be done. The key is to speak to as many banks as possible and find someone, or a way of working, that you are happy with. Despite this new deal I still didn't have quite enough as I had to find external funding for all the equipment I needed and I did this through lease financing. In truth these were complex deals and had to be worked at. I have been building my contacts and attending various meetings about funding for many years and I urge fellow retailers to do this by having as many face to face interactions as you can. The other key person at this stage is your accountant who can help you plan what you can and cannot afford. Many people view their accountants like their dentist - get in and out of the chair as quickly as possible and be relieved of what feels like a large amount of money. But proper planning of any projects to benefit you in terms of where costs are placed and how you can use investment against VAT

commitments and Corporation Tax is essential. These are not to be considered at the end. These need to be planned for fully and honestly so you can maximise your money. So financially we were sorted and we began. I am not going to go through the actual build as that would be boring. Suffice to say it was 29 straight 15 hour plus days and I would hope that the results speak for themselves. There were many highs and lows along the way, from collapsed floors, drains and fireplaces to the wrong colour of windows (companies fault). One point I should make is it is crucial that you look at planning and building warrant implications as they must be correct. It was and has been a crazy year. I would probably do it all again but would certainly need a break first, but the reaction to the new look of the building has been amazing, with everything from shock, compliments and people not believing it was the same building, to people saying I have ruined it! But at the end of the day it only really matters what my family thinks, what I think and of course that the shop is busy, which it is. We have changed the whole focus and the new building allows for extended opening hours, and hopefully a whole new

generation of people to enjoy the new building for years to come. I have already seen a definite increase in a younger generation using the store and ultimately that is what needed to happen. But I am proud of the building. I am proud that one guy who really knows retail said to me it is seamless. You need to love your shop or business as you are in it day in day out, and quite simply I am proud that I have got there! To contact David email: jppozzi@btconnect.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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CARDSHARP

Inset: Mr Creosote ate ‘Just one more wafer-thin mint’.

Just One More

‘ Waffer’ Thin Mint Cardsharp, in his more reflective moments, has started to wonder whether Amazon and Facebook and their ilk are rapidly destroying the very things that we all hold dear in the greeting card industry – namely sentiment, artistic creativity and bricks and mortar retailing. And are we are all unwittingly helping them do it? Older readers may remember the classic Monty Python sketch from the film The Meaning of Life featuring the grotesquely obese Mr Creosote. If not look it up on YouTube (that’s an ironic Cardsharp joke!). Mr Creosote sits in a restaurant and gorges himself on every portion of food offered until his girth takes up virtually the whole room. Eventually sated, he is persuaded to partake of “one last little ‘wafer’ thin mint”, by the obsequious French waiter, which on consuming, Mr Creosote literally explodes, leaving the half digested contents of his stomach all over the walls. Mr Creosote has literally gorged himself out of existence and in effect done it willingly! And now there is nothing left of him. Funny, but sickening!

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Cardsharp ponders whether we in danger of doing the very same thing in the greeting card and retailing industry assisting our own downfall? To Cardsharp’s mind, the prime culprit is Amazon. In its wake it has already left a trail of boarded-up book shops and music retailers. By making the high street a less attractive place, it has no doubt contributed, partially if not completely, to many of the retail chain business failures this year by reducing consumer footfall. Even in our sector we have already had Cardland, M&P’s Occasions and most recently, Clinton Lewin’s iCandy to name a few. If Amazon had not dented retail footfall so badly would some of these still be going concerns?

And yet Amazon, founded and run by Jeff Bezoz, has managed to avoid paying taxes globally. Its employees, in its massive warehouse fulfilment centres, work in near Victorian factory conditions. And because in the UK bricks and mortar retail premises are taxed at a much higher rate than warehouses, good traditional businesses that actually care for their community, pay their dues and provide decent employment for local people are being destroyed. Jeff Bezoz is a selfconfessed libertarian who believes government and taxes are bad and believes his only obligation is the maximisation of sales and profit. But this guy, along with the likes of Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Larry Page of Google, through lobbying and utilising their huge profits and monopoly powers, have hitherto avoided much regulatory global government scrutiny about their abuses of monopoly power. Then, reflects Cardsharp, there is Facebook, which has an incredible two billion global users, 32 million of them in the UK - half the total population. Facebook quite rightly claims that it has transformed

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CARDSHARP

the way we stay in touch, which is true, but then through its phenomenally complicated algorithms, which are a closely guarded secrets, it tracks our lives and everything about us. It then uses that information to sell us everything, sucking up a huge percentage of global advertising budgets. It has turned us into human barcodes. It uses the content we, as users, put on there, and indirectly sells it back to us at a profit through renting it out to advertisers. It creates virtually no content of its own, and, like Google, publishes other people’s intellectual and artistic content without even paying a royalty. And yet so many creatives and artists, who earn their income in the greeting card trade, and who are normally paranoid about people copying their work, willingly allow their content to be viewed and plagiarised for free. It makes artists so vulnerable to the power of a powerful Facebook patron! The UK is facing huge challenges in bricks and mortar retailing. Although internet sales are an important factor in this, government policy and the weakness of the £pound are also contributing parts that are aiding the likes of Amazon. But, if you think things are bad here, Cardsharp begs you to look across the Atlantic to the US where bricks and mortar retail sales are in meltdown. A sales tax on average of 10% on

bricks and mortar sales gives Amazon and internet traders a huge unfair competitive advantage and Amazon there is now the US’ biggest single retailer, even bigger than Wallmart. Amazon has an amazing 350 million customers. Shopping malls are closing and this has affected the big two US greeting card publishers (American Greetings and Hallmark), who have had to make considerable economies. Cardsharp is well aware that we in the greeting card industry have often consoled ourselves that retailers need greeting cards in order to draw punters into their store, but if there are no stores left, where are we going to sell those cards? And yes, reflects Cardsharp, we all have to do the best for our own businesses, so yes, as a publisher or a retailer you have to make the most of the opportunities presented by Amazon in particular. Logistically it does a great job and has really enhanced many suppliers’ revenues. And there is no denying as a retailer using Facebook and Twitter are great ways of engaging with customers. But does that make it right, ethical or moral in the long-term? All this has happened in the last 10-15 years. Could we all wake up to a world in another ten years where national boundaries mean nothing and we find our whole life is controlled by a triumvirate of Facebook, Google and Amazon, who pay little in taxes, have unlimited monopoly power and have killed off all diversity. No greeting card shops, no independent retailers and the last bricks and mortar retailers are either Amazon-owned or beholden to Amazon. Is Cardsharp being overly hysterical? Perhaps, but remember Mark Zuckerberg, the $multi-billion founder of Facebook, who also owns YouTube and Instagram, Top: Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezoz. Above right: Founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg. Left: Amazon is now even bigger than Walmart in the US.

was just a geeky college student 12 years ago. And now look! Well does Cardsharp practice what he preaches? Or is he just a hypocrite? He is reminded of the famous Groucho Marx saying: “I have a set of principles, and if you don’t like those, I have another set here”. But seriously, Cardsharp tries to avoid using Facebook, but then from his own personal business point of view it is not essential, and also he tries to avoid its associated companies Instagram and YouTube, with its business models totally based on appropriating intellectual and creative content, or using users’ contributions to make billions of dollars to sell things back to those same users. Twitter, not a chance! Google is a difficult one, but Cardsharp uses Yahoo as a search engine, which operates in a similar way to Google, but it is owned by Microsoft, who at least pays its taxes and was founded by Bill Gates, who genuinely

tries ‘To do good’. As for Amazon, Cardsharp would only use it when every conceivable other option had been explored and never on the basis of price. It is difficult because the reason these tech companies are so successful is because they are so convenient and easy and so efficient. But ultimately, Cardsharp’s view is that if we are not careful, we could sleep walk into a situation where our only choice online, or instore (if there are any physical greeting card stores left), for entertainment, goods, experiences and life choices, will come from these companies (Facebook, Amazon or Google). Some will say, so what if that makes our lives easier? But you can bet every ‘users’ bottom dollar that these new digital robber barons will exploit that power ruthlessly! Cardsharp concludes, we are not just ‘users’ in the literal sense, but we are being USED! PS. For further reading, Cardsharp recommends Jonathon Taplin’s excellent recent book ‘Move Fast and Break Things.’

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Casting Votes In the final run-up to the General Election, PG asked a ‘constituency’ of retailers what one thing would they like the elected Prime Minister to do to help the greeting card industry. Plus, with PG Live taking place the immediate two days before the Election, before casting their votes as to who they would like to see running the country, retailers share their show ‘manifesto’ about what they are hoping to find among the 280 exhibitors ‘on the hustings’.

Claire Fitzgerald buyer - cards, giftwrap and calendars for Waterstones:

Sonya Haandrikman-Sibbald co-owner of Celebrations, Carlisle: Prime M’s Scream: “I would like to see more grants for retail businesses. There are many successful greeting card retailers out there that have the potential to develop and expand, but there is no government support for this. There's lots of funding for other sectors but as soon as you mention “retail” on any grant submission the answer is “NO”! I see a lot of grant funding being given to new start-up companies in our geographical area, many of which have a very slim chance of surviving, yet they have access to finance just because they happen to be starting up in a sector where funding is available. I implore the Prime Minister to issue government grants for successful retailers who can demonstrate real development and growth opportunities. Surely that would be a win/win for every one. It's tough for independent businesses on the high street so a little business boost from the PM would encourage retailers to reinvest in their businesses and hopeful see them flourish.”

Prime M’s Scream: “In an ideal world I would like the PM to freeze stamp prices. Sending cards is the most personable way to send a message to family or friends and it would be good not to deter anyone from sending them due to continual stamp price rises.” PG Live Manifesto: “We are looking to refresh some areas within our everyday cards range this summer so it comes at the perfect time to look for exciting and original new product. PG Live really is the best event for finding a diverse range of card publishers all under one roof. It brings everyone in the card world together and is a great opportunity to showcase progression within the industry- it’s in the name after all!” Above: The rising cost of stamps, Claire Fitgerald believes is dampening card sending’s potential. The new PM should look to reduce the cost. Below: Waterstones is set to refresh its card displays after a visit to PG Live.

Above: Sonya and her business partner/mother Tanya (second and third right) with Paperlink’s Bill Greeno and Louise Tighe at PG Live. Left: Sonya urges the PM to consider making development grants more available to independent high street retailers, like Celebrations.

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Eliot James buyer of Scribbler:

Sue Butcher co-owner of Present Boutique, Edinburgh: Prime M’s Scream: “The beauty of this industry is its diversity and it is a fact that independents continue to thrive in towns across the country because they put thoughtful choices together for their customers. However, the whole rates debacle has recently been a thorny issue for many small businesses even though they are promised help with any increases, the time scales have a huge impact on cashflow. Therefore we'd like to see the government speeding up the implementation of any appeals/discount schemes so that small independent retailers can continue to plan ahead with confidence.” PG Live Manifesto: “We were so delighted to be awarded The Retas award for Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer Scotland last year and as part of this we are excited to be taking along our Golden Ticket to spend. We are well known locally for our quirky and original card selection and so we will be heading straight for the Springboard section of the exhibition to seek out anything new, and then we are looking forward to catching up with our regular suppliers. We love the fact that this event is dedicated to just cards. It has a really different feel from all the other trade shows. Maybe it's because it is jam packed with talented artistic people, but the whole space has such a great energy about it. Mix this with the free refreshments, and even lunch, and that's the day sorted - it feels like a real celebration of the industry.” Top: Sue Butcher (second left) and her daughter Ellie Butcher was presented with The Retas trophy by (far right) Simon Wagstaff, md of IC&G, sponsor of the category at the awards event that was hosted by Tim Fitzhigham.

Chris Beards co-owner of Mantons, Port Erin, Isle of Man: Prime M’s Scream: “My wish is for the next Prime Minster to abolish VAT on greeting cards and invite me to Downing Street. I was invited by the Chancellor a couple of years ago, but the venue got switched to the Treasury because of security concerns, so I still Above: Chris Manton got close haven't been to put my views across!” to Number 10 when he was PG Live Manifesto: “I love the part of the Small Business general atmosphere of PG Live, Saturday initiative that was catching up with my existing suppliers held in Downing Street. and meeting new exciting designers in Springboard. And of course the free cloakroom, coffees and lunch etc all add to the enjoyable experience.”

Prime M’s Scream: “My plea to the Prime Minister is not really specific to card retailers – but if she could lock all shop landlords in a room with the business rates bigwigs, and not let them out until they’ve come to their senses, I think we’d all appreciate it. Estimated probability: 0%.” PG Live Manifesto: “Principally we are going to PG Live to find new ranges and publishers, but also to try to get around the show in time… it’s a great opportunity for networking and catching up with current suppliers, but without an eye on the clock it’s easy to suddenly realise that it’s lunchtime, and we’ve only managed to get through three aisles. PG Live is by far the best show for us in terms of the variety and quality of the exhibitors. It’s great to be able to see big, established publishers under the same roof as publishers who are completely new to the industry, and everybody in-between.” Above: Eliot James (far right) with Scribbler directors John and Jenni Procter (far left) spending their Golden Ticket at last year’s PG Live with Rosie Made A Thing founder Rosie Harrison. Left: Eliot’s wish for the PM is about as likely as the Queen driving Peppa Pig and chums around in a red double decker past the Houses of Parliament!

Sally Booth md’s assistant for Cardzone: Prime M’s Scream: “With the dilemmas on the high street at the moment, we need the Prime Minister to offer more support to drive customers back, things like free parking and better support on business rates.” PG Live Manifesto: “PG Live is a great Above: Sally Booth with Cardzone md Paul Taylor event and it’s fantastic news that it is a sell (left) with Grassroots’ Doug Maurice at PG Live. out. Having rejoined Cardzone recently, I will be attending, and have a few meetings already arranged for while I’m there.”

Paul Jarman owner of Creased Cards, Brighton:

Below: Creased Cards is set to expand in June.

Prime M’s Scream: “With such a high concentration of smaller, independent retailers in our industry we need lower business rates. They are such a significant part of our expenses – and I don’t think there is parity between us smaller businesses and the bigger chains.” PG Live Manifesto: “This year is even more exciting than normal for me, as we are about to expand our store footprint in Brighton. As anyone who has visited us will know we are ‘bijou’ and struggle to fit everything we want into our lovely little shop… so this summer sees the first step in the growth of Creased with a move to a PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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VIEWPOINTS much larger premises (just a few doors away). So, at PG Live, I am going to seeking out new product like never before… the show is perfectly timed for us! First and foremost, I’ve always loved PG Live because of the dedication to the card industry. It’s relative lack of ‘scope creep’ means Above: Paul Jarman pointing out Creased Cards on the Retas Wall of Fame at PG Live that I am assured that all alongside Sarah Marsh of The Gorgeous Card and Gift Company Biggleswade. but a small part of the show is very relevant to Creased. The Springboard section is a really important part for us too; we like to grab new trends and innovative product as they hit the market and so this section is a great place to find this. Throw in a lovely lunch, teas all day, and a few (free!) beers at night… and what more can you want from a trade show?”

Liz Killick owner of Calladoodles, Carshalton: Prime M’s Scream: “I'm no economist so I don't know how to achieve it but I would very much like to see home-grown designer-maker businesses financially supported and mentored. There is a huge resource of talent in this country of which we should be very proud and seek to nurture it.” PG Live Manifesto: “As ever I will head to Springboard for new ideas and suppliers, as it is always interesting and rewarding. I am looking forward to catching up with existing suppliers too, seeing new ranges and maybe even having a delicious lunch! PG Live always delivers on its promise of a very wide and varied range of exhibitors, from the fledgling businesses to the 'big boys (& girls)'. It gets my vote every time!” Above: Liz Killick (centre) with members of the Calladoodles team outside the shop, as featured on the retailer’s website.

Sean Austin owner of Austin and Co, Malvern: Prime M’s Scream: “If there's one thing a future Prime Minister could do for small independent greeting card retailers and publishers, it would be to raise the VAT threshold to at least £100K a year.” PG Live Manifesto: “Call it bad planning on my part, but I will be missing PG Live for the first time in six years. I do have a good reason though in that I'll be in New York getting married and I was very much reliant on the Queen Mary sailing dates out of the UK. So, I will be 'voting' by postal vote and making full use of Progressive Greetings magazine, the website and PG Buzz to keep me informed of what I'm missing out on.” Left: Sean Austin of Austin and Co, with his good friend Jo Barber of Stationery Boutique, Ampthill at a Henries judging day.

Lesley Dunne owner of Feathering Your Nest, Rayleigh: Prime M’s Scream: “The one thing I would ask the PM to do is lower VAT. It affects all of us, the industry through to our customers at the end of the line... wishful thinking!” PG Live Manifesto: “Lisa [Dean, shop manager] and myself will be at PG Live looking for a new range of humour cards. We need something fresh, girlie and fun. I'm also excited to see the new Proud Couture, Hearts Designs, Lagom and Megan Claire collections and place orders. I love the enthusiasm of the artists in the Springboard section, it's got a real buzz to Above: (Left) Lesley Dunn and colleague Lisa it. I shall definitely be looking Dean at last year’s PG Live with Sue Marks (of PG’s sister publication PG&H). for something different. What's not to love about the show! With so many card exhibitors and talent under one roof we are really spoiled for choice. It's such a sociable show with teas, lunch and drinks, us hard working retailers can feel not only feel a little pampered but appreciated too. And I love the location!”

Rohit Patel owner of Paper Art, Finchley: Prime M’s Scream: “I think the best thing that the new government can do for the card retailers is to impose a special 20%25% tax on anything bought online. This will not only help us card retailers, but also significantly help revive our high streets.” PG Live Manifesto: “The main reason for me to visit PG Live is to source for both new suppliers and new ranges from our existing suppliers. PG Live is a ‘must visit’ show for all greeting card retailers as most of the card publishers exhibit their products under one roof. One can just concentrate on cards without being distracted. The ambience there is both colourful and very friendly and the most delicious lunch on offer is a real bonus.” Above: An online sales tax Rohit feels will help bricks and mortar retailers. Left: Paper Art is a leading light on London’s Finchley Road, flying the flag for indies. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PG Live 2017

Nine Lives

Above: The Business Design Centre is home to Progressive Greetings Live. Below: Jacqui Parr, marketing manager of PG Live (fourth from the right) with the rest of the PG Live team (left-right) Tracey Arnaud, Warren Lomax, Jakki Brown, Simon Boyd, Clare Davies and Ian Hyder.

There is an ancient proverb that claims: ‘A cat has nine lives. For three he plays, for three he strays and for three he stays.’ However, most of the time it is our feline friends’ incredible dexterity that enables them to always land on their feet that gives rise to the ‘nine lives’ myth. There is nothing mythical about the ninth ever PG Live (June 6-7), however the 280+ exhibitors at this year’s show are living proof of the creative dexterity in the greeting card industry. PG Live’s marketing manager Jacqui Parr, shares nine ‘purrfect’ reasons why retailers and overseas distributors will feel like ‘cats that got the cream’ after a visit to the show.

Tickets Galore

Thousands Of New Designs “New designs are the lifeblood of the greeting card industry and with more exhibitors than ever before at PG Live - over 280 companies - there will be thousands and thousands of brand new designs for retailers and distributors to feast their eyes on,” confirms Jacqui. As well as major launches from leading brands - it will be the first time anyone will see Five Dollar Shake’s Christmas collection and it will be the only chance to see the lovely new creations from Wendy Jones-Blackett, for starters – there are 160 new and emerging companies all waiting to be discovered in the Springboard and Springboard Extra areas. Adding to the diversity, and continuing the show’s international flavour, this year’s PG Live includes exhibitors from all over the world. These include Artige from Holland, Affirmations from Australia, fotoeigenArt from Switzerland, Pabaku from Austria and Maarit Kontianen from Finland for starters.

“There will be even more whoops of joy as there are lots of different specially produced tickets and vouchers for retailers to spend at the show this year,” explains Jacqui. The most famous of these are the Gold and Silver Tickets (issued to winners and finalists of The Retas 2016) that are worth £150 and £75 respectively when they place an order at the show. For the first time, the recently announced finalists in this year’s Below: Bob Short, md of The Imaging Centre, has once again been PG Live’s ‘Willy Wonka’, not only producing the Gold, Silver and Sunshine Tickets, but also printing over 21,000 postcards for exhibitors to promote what they will be showcasing at the exhibition. Seen here with his print ‘oompa loompas’ Andy Churchett and Andrew Chapman.

Above: Austrian publisher Pabaku is bringing its own style to PG Live. Left: Postmark’s Mark Janson-Smith delighted to be shown new designs at last year’s show.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PG Live 2017

Retas will be arriving brandishing a bright yellow Sunshine Ticket, worth £75 to spend at the show. Meanwhile finalists and winners of The Greats (gift retailer awards) have also been sent a £50 Special Voucher to spend, while every single Cardgains members will also have a £30 Voucher about their person, looking to spend it with any of the exhibiting Cardgains’ suppliers. In addition, other vouchers have been specifically produced as extra incentives to Toymaster members, cookshops that reached the finals of the

Excellence in Housewares Awards as well as selected party retailers (through PG’s sister publication, Progressive Party) to attend. “It is not just the retailers who love the special PG Live Tickets and Vouchers, exhibitors do too as they are immediately reimbursed by us, the PG Live organisers,” adds Jacqui. “Definitely a win win.” Above: (Left) Sally Matson of Red Card, Petworth loved spending her Silver Ticket with Dandelion Stationery at the show last year.

The Icing On The Cake “The incredible smorgasbord of publishers exhibiting may be the main reason why people visit PG Live, but there are so many other ingredients that will make this year’s show especially tasty!” says Jacqui. Setting the tone are the ‘meeters and greeters’ who will be suitably attired in ‘greeting card dresses’ (made from exhibitors’ cards) who will hand visitors a limited edition cloth keepsake goody bag (which will contain the full colour catalogue) which this year is being produced in partnership with Hallmark. Keeping visitors fed and watered is done with great aplomb at PG Live. This includes the legendary tea trollies and ‘tea and coffee spot’ on the Gallery, sponsored by Instawrap, that will be pouring delicious tea and coffee in ‘proper cups’ free of charge. Having built up an appetite after a morning’s buying and selling, everyone will be able to enjoy a fabulous two course lunch in a super stylish way thanks to Lagom Designs, which is sponsoring the lunchroom as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations. Saxophonist Graeme Airth (of Curiosity Killed the Cat fame) will be there to add to the atmosphere. Having feasted their eyes on the delights in the upstairs Springboard section, The Springboard Lounge is a great place for visitors to catch their breathe at any time (sponsored by GF Smith and The Imaging Centre), while downstairs The Henry Cole Lounge (with free Wifi, kindly sponsored by Skylight Media) is a great place for a cuppa or a meeting. And everyone attending on the first day of the show should stay for the Opening Night Party that kicks-off straight after the show when the Gallery Hall (where the lunches are served) will be transformed into the party room - and the drinks are free! Above: The meters and greeters will be suitably attired in dresses made from exhibitors’ cards. Right: Pinkies at the ready for your free cuppas, either from the tea trollies or the coffee spot (sponsored by Instawrap) at the top of the stairs, near the entrance to Springboard.

People Matters “The key is in the name of the show, it is really where the greeting card industry comes alive. The buzz of banter is incredible,” says Jacqui. “It really is testament to the belief that ‘people do business with people’. It is great to see retailers giving feedback to publishers, agents catching up with their principals, overseas distributors investigating export opportunities and suppliers responding to a myriad of questions that come up over the two days.” The relaxed atmosphere of the show provides the ideal opportunity for retailers to enjoy talking to the people behind the brand, be they the directors of leading companies down to the myriad of plucky newbies who are debuting at the show. Publishers and retailers will also have a great time to catch up at the networking party at the end of the first day of the show, just as the Dean Morris, Cinnamon Aitch and Belly Button gang did last year (pictured left-right). Above: PG Live is where business really does mix with pleasure. Left: The compact size of the show means people have more energy for chatting!

PG Live At A Glance When: Tuesday 6 June and Wednesday 7 June 2017 Opening Times: 9.30am to 6.00pm on Tuesday 6 June 9.30am to 4.30pm on Wednesday 7 June Where: Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1 0QH l Leading brands can be found on the main floor and the Village Green of the show, while new and emerging publishers will be found in the Springboard section on the Gallery level and in the Springboard Extra section on the left-hand side of the Village Green. The Retas and Greats Wall of Fame will be upstairs in the first Gallery bay in the right hand corner. l To register for PG Live, visit the show website: www.progressivegreetingslive.com, email: info@progressivegreetingslive.com or call: 01635 297070. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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We are 10 years old! To celebrate, we are launching Floral Fizz at PG Live. Join us for a glass of bubbles at stand 114! 50 new designs covering all occassions inspired by catwalk 2017 colours. Foil, embossing, and coloured Swarowski crystals compliment our trademark detailed illustrations.

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A Wonderful Venue “With its high curved ceiling and sunny airy feel, the Business Design Centre, in the heart of London’s Islington, just doesn’t feel like an exhibition venue, and its colourful history adds to its appropriateness as ‘home’ to PG Live,” points out Jacqui. When it was built, back in 1862, The Royal Agriculture Hall (which became the BDC) was one of the largest exhibition Above: The BDC has hosted lots of great events over halls in the world, with its proximity to the Smithfield meat the years – PG Live 2017 continues this legacy! market meaning it was perfectly located to host agricultural events. The first Smithfield Show (in 1862) welcomed 134,669 attendees! In 1879 the Agricultural Hall attracted huge global attention when it became the venue for the International Pedestrian Match for the Championship of the World. This extraordinary event saw competitors line up for the 1am start on the Monday and walk around the Hall for six days, with the winner being the one who had walked the furthest by the time the whistle blew at 10.30pm on the Saturday night! Among the building’s other claims to fame include that it hosted the Royal Tournament from its inauguration in 1880 until the early years of the 20th century; it was also used for a number of sporting events including six-day cycle races (the first of which took place in 1878), plus it also hosted the first ever Crufts dog show in 1891! l The BDC is very easy to get to, nestled in a vibrant area of London surrounded by lovely shops, restaurants and bars. The nearest underground station to the BDC is Angel, on the Northern Line, which is just five minutes walk away. Angel itself can be reached in a matter of minutes from either Euston or Kings Cross mainline stations (via the Northern Line), while Liverpool Street, Waterloo and the West End are just a short journey away.

Not Just Cards “While greeting cards are the main focus of the show, we also have a great array of allied products this year,” explains Jacqui. These range from an impressive array of giftwrappings from leading brands to pioneering balloon and party products, as well as a smattering of gifts. Below: Among the non-card products on show at PG Live will be giftwrap from Glick.

Extra Reasons To Celebrate “Some exhibitors have extra reason to celebrate as the show provides a great opportunity to toast their companies’ significant anniversaries,” reveals Jacqui. Marking milestones this year in various ways on their respective stands are Clear Creations (10th anniversary), Lagom Designs (10th), Soul (20th), Carte Blanche Greetings (30th anniversary) and Forever Friends (30th anniversary). Above: Lagom will be marking its 10th anniversary, not only by sponsoring and decorating the lunchroom, but it will also be giving away a limited edition print by revered designer Ryan Chapman to selected retailers.

Have Your Vote “The day after PG Live is the General Election, but there is another important vote taking place before the, at the show,” says Jacqui, referring to the GCA Hashtag Challenge. To get visitors and exhibitors in practice for deciding who they would like to see running the country, the GCA will be asking everyone to vote for which tagline they feel best sums up the important role greeting cards place in society today. The ballot box and voting slips for the 10 phrases that are ‘up for election’ will be in the GCA area, just outside the Gallery Hall where lunch will be served. Above: While last year saw visitors write cards for the Queen for her 90th birthday, this year the GCA is asking attendees to complete a ballot paper and vote for the tagline that best sums up the important role of greeting cards in life.

Going For Promotion “Over 21,000 promotional postcards (kindly printed by The Imaging Centre) have been making their way into the market from a multitude of exhibitors, which fanfare just some of the great promotions and competitions that will add extra pep to the show,” says Jacqui. Hallmark will be running a competition which offers retailers the chance to win a great weekend away or all the products on the stand, while Abacus/Clare Maddicott is adding to the fizz by giving all retailers placing £350 orders three bottles of Prosecco. Meanwhile there are lots of other ‘show only’ offers, from 10% off orders to free biscuits, cuddles and kisses! Above: Bold competition from Hallmark – either a weekend away or all the stock on its stand at the show! Right: Exhibitors will be offering a host of show only promotions at the show. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Retailer Face To Face: Card Factory

Keep Calm And

Karen On Karen Hubbard, now over a year into her role as ceo of Card Factory, has done a lot of looking, listening and asking. Now, having completed an extensive strategic review and having immersed herself in the findings of a major research project that delved deep into the UK card buyers’ psyche, you get a feeling she is ready for a bit of action. PG ventured into the headquarters of what is now not only the UK’s largest specialist greeting card retailer, but also arguably the nation’s biggest card publisher too, to meet ‘the mummy’ of the business. Card Factory fared well in the recent Which? League table, which ranked the UK’s favourite 100 shops. It came in 9th as the store that the 10,000+ consumers who participated in the research company’s survey, when asked about overall experience and whether they would recommend the store. It was a long way up from Clintons (who ranked 88th) and even Paperchase (which came in at 32nd place). Karen Hubbard, ceo of Card Factory has a cupboard-full of recent reassuring research findings, but will welcome the endorsement from Which?, recognising it will have a smidgeon of sway with the City analysts who are ever keen to knock-down the share price of companies that operate in what they may class as ephemeral sectors. They invariably struggle with retailing, let alone greeting cards! As the UK’s only specialist greeting card retailer plc, the industry needs Card Factory to turn in decent results, and Karen Hubbard in her first year in the hot seat did not come in for any criticism. The results reported a 4.3% increase in group turnover (to £398.2 m), its like-for-like sales were only a nudge up (0.4%), but it got away 40

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

with it as other indicators looked OK - and the encouraging noises about the future were accepted. Ever since it started (under the stewardship of Dean and Janet Hoyle) Card Factory has been a disruptor and no mistake, but one whose tenacity and continued beating of its own drum has, over time, seen even the toughest of its early critics accept its place in the greeting card landscape. While there are many indies who have seen their sales go into a downward spiral upon the arrival of a Card Factory store in their vicinity, there are many others who have girded their loins, and created a differential enabling them to

Above: Karen Hubbard, ceo of Card Factory has now completed a detailed strategic review of the business and remains steadfast about the growth potential of the business and the future of greeting cards. Left: Card Factory’s Trafford Centre store is where the retailer has been trying out new fixtures and ideas. Below left: The move into more contemporary trends has fared well in store and in PR.

co-exist with the value giant. Timothy Melgund, ceo of Paperchase, whose own card and stationery chain has prospered in tandem with Card Factory’s exponential growth, openly airs the view that Card Factory has in many ways safeguarded the card sending tradition in the UK in that it has ensured a high presence of low cost greeting cards. As someone with who sees merit in positive PR (as oppose to her predecessor Richard Hayes who actively avoided a public profile at all costs), Karen Hubbard is of the predisposition to amplify Timothy’s views. As she points out, irrespective of where you sit in the sector, the UK greeting card industry has “a resilience and robustness”. And it is this that gives her the reassurance to make the most of her commanding position of the retailer who now accounts for a third of all greeting cards bought in the UK (32.6%) and 17.5% of the money spent on them. Talking candidly to PG about the business for the first time since she took over as ceo, Karen said that in order to create her vision for the group she first needed to “understand the market and the card buying consumer”, which in turn would enable her to form of a view of where Card Factory would be five years hence.

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Retailer Face To Face: Card Factory

The results of a major research project by OC&C came back loud and clear that the UK greeting card market is on course to grow 1.2% by value until 2019 at least, with volume remaining steady. To Karen’s mind, the findings reinforced just how “deeply engrained card sending is in the UK” and she feels that as long as there are affordable options out there that the public will continue to use them to celebrate and mark “all of life’s moments”, from the birth of a child, to the taking of exams, through setting up home, getting married through to the final chapters of life and everything in between. “I really do not see any indications that the tradition of card giving is dying, unless of course there are no good quality affordable options out there. You are unlikely to ever send a child to another’s child’s birthday party without giving them a card to take.”

Karen’s mission now is to ensure that it will be a Card Factory card that is in more children’s and adults’ hands, marking more life moments. She believes this will partly be achieved through Card Factory further improving the products on offer “to appeal to more of our customers’ card buying wallets”, created largely by its own in-house studio (see below) as well as through opening more stores and, to a lesser degree, development of its online operations.

Karen is not only confident that Card Factory can achieve its long stated mission to grow to 1,200 stores in the UK, but has the locations already earmarked. “We might not know which unit, but we know the towns or the shopping precincts,” she admitted. Retail parks have also been cited as an area for growth for Card Factory. It currently trades from 48 retail park stores, but more are on the cards. “A customer will only go so far to buy a card. If they have other more convenient alternatives they will shop there. We recently opened stores in retail parks in Preston and Durham, where we also have high street stores, but sales were unaffected,” reveals Karen. She says that it is landlords changing their attitudes to now accommodating smaller units that means Card Factory can now join the likes of Costa Coffee, Holland & Barrett and the phone shops to offer shoppers more of what they want.

Above: Card Factory scored well in the Which? Report into the nation’s best loved stores, coming in at ninth place, way above Paperchase and Clintons. Right: Although not crucial to the business, the online side of Card Factory is promoted instore on PoS.

Finding The Middle(ton) Ground Stuart Middleton is the Willy Wonka of Card Factory. People know he exists - he has been in the greeting card trade for 30 years, having started as a rep with Hanson White before moving to Carte Blanche, before setting up his own company Excelsior Graphics, that was in turn part of a share swop with Dean Hoyle, founder of Card Factory, which safeguarded the growing retailer with a supply of greeting cards when other suppliers turned their back. Stuart, still creative director of the business, is now the largest individual shareholder in Card Factory. Having started the studio with three artists (who are still with the company 12 years on), the studio has grown to a team of 60, who between them create the 4,000 card designs that are sold in Card Factory. “We now sell 200 million cards a year, it’s incredible,” says Stuart. “And 99% of them are created here,” he says, surveying the retailer’s Wakefield studio. The remaining 1% are licensed and humorous designs that are produced by other publishers, often in special formats, in order to meet Card Factory’s value needs. When asked what motivates him, Stuart points to one of the many mottos that adorn the walls ‘Accept nothing that is nearly right or good enough.’ “I have learned that no business can afford to be complacent, it is easy to get comfortable, but that is when you can lose what made you good,” he says. Stuart is steadfast that Card Factory will resist the temptation to push up its prices.“I have seen this being the downfall of Birthdays and Card Warehouse.” Left: The Card Factory studio at the retailer’s headquarters now employs over 60 designers, but 12 years ago it was just (second right) Stuart Middleton (who is still creative director), Daniel Sykes, Ian Wakinshaw and Sarah Northfield, all of whom are still very much part of the team.

Another area of likely growth in the not to distant future is Ireland, where Card Factory has set its sights on opening 100 stores. “It has always been a priority, but it was just that we had ten other priorities so see to first,” admits Karen. However, rather than jumping in head first, she is mindful that Card Factory will need to carefully consider the product selection, the caption mix (considerably upping the choice for Confirmation, for starters) as well as adapting the pricing strategy to take the euro into account. Having come to Card Factory, latterly from varietal value store B&M, Karen is well aware that there could be a tendency to diversify, either on the product front or chase different segments of the market through launching different formats. “We are clear what our customers want and where the growth is - we will be sticking to our knitting!” she said, ending on a ‘purl-er’! PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of Animal cards on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

ANIMAL MAGIC

Pets Win Prizes The latest new range from Scott & Robson is Pampered Pets, a set of 12 dog and cat portrait designs covering everyday and occasions designs including thank you, thinking of you, love and just because titles. The cards are all sized 150mm square, printed on soft white board and supplied wrapped with a bright yellow envelope. Scott & Robson Designs 07506 630626 www.scottandrobson.com Springboard Extra Stand 95

Sugar And... Like A Charm New to PG Live, Maurice and Maude is excited to present its portfolio of distinctive greeting cards alongside newly launched giftwrap and art prints. Among the new ranges on display will be the Wild Thing collection of six charming and glamourous animal illustrations - fresh from the big skies of Norfolk. Maurice and Maude 01379 652242 www.mauriceandmaude.co.uk Springboard Stand 822

Purring Along Well, preparation is all, they say, and one of the stars of Miko Greetingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new Cat Range is still applying makeup, perfume and champagne before making her first public appearance! The range will cover birthdays and everyday celebrations all in Mikoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature pen and ink artwork. The cards are sized 135mm x 185mm and sold wrapped with white envelopes. Miko Greetings 020 86931011 www.miko-greetings.com Springboard Stand 736

Hare Today

Portfolio will be launching its brand new range of brightly coloured cards called Spice. Based on henna style and jewelled colours and finished with embossed gold foil, these cards will certainly add a splash to any display. There will be 16 designs in the range, size 125mm x 175mm, printed on FSC textured board and individually wrapped with a white envelope. Portfolio 020 8960 3051 sales@portfoliocards.com Mezzanine Stand 321

Debuting at Springboard is Jupp Illustrations, launching its new ranges of cards taken from the paintings of artist Liz Jupp. There are 12 cards in the Wonderland range featuring owls, hares and other wildlife from Britain and beyond. The cards are all blank inside and available across two sizes of 155mm square and 133mm x 184mm. Jupp Illustrations 07534 026761 www.juppillustrations.co.uk Springboard Stand 874

Wonderfully Wobbly A first for Stripey Cats, and being unveiled at PG Live, is Wobbly-Eyed Wordies, a brand new range featuring adorable animals all with googly eyes and witty words! There are eight designs - from flamingorgeous flamingos to Hygge hedgehogs, all sure to be a firm favourite this coming season. Stripey Cats 07866 713 826 www.stripeycats.com Springboard Stand 732 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

New Designs!

PG Live 2017 6-7 June Stand 330 We look forward to meeting you! Artige BV • www.artige.com • dorothe@artige.nl • T +31 314 378788 ArtigeBV_adv.indd 1 044_PG_June 2017.indd 1

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of Bird designs on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

FEATHERED FRIENDS

If One Can... Jungle Tumble is a bright and playful new everyday range from Louise Mulgrew. Inspired by all the colours and characters of the rainforest, this joyful collection of celebratory cards is perfect for any special occasion. There are 12 designs in the range, sized 150cm square, and sold wrapped with a brown kraft envelope. Louise Mulgrew Designs 07810 304414 www.louisemulgrew.com Springboard Stand 704

Joy Of Life

Cockatoo-dledoo!

I Drew This is excited to be releasing new additions to the sweet range Little Tweets, taking the number of designs in this range to 36. The cards feature beautiful birds and flowers and now covers relations, wedding and everyday occasions. There are also slightly larger cards measuring 130mm x 178mm along with the original 155mm x 107mm format. All the cards come with a recycled kraft envelope. I Drew This 07813 005707 www.idrewthis.co.uk Springboard Extra Stand 92

Lola Design is extending its Wildlife Botanical range, adding a further six designs especially for PG Live. This latest release is focused on beautiful birds ranging from red-tailed cockatoos to colourful love birds. The Wildlife Botanical range now comprises 30 designs in a 150mm square format with portrait options also available for export. Lola Design +44 (0)1904 675514 www.loladesignltd.com Mezzanine Stand 335

Indigo Dreams Originaliart is expanding its popular quirky Inky Bird Collection, bringing the range to 10 cards, all created by Alison Finch in pen and ink and indigo watercolour. There are cute robins for Christmas and baby thrushes and nests of fluffy baby birds for the summer. The 120mm square blue and white cards sold wrapped with a kraft envelope. OriginaliArt 07973 158123 www.originaliart.com Springboard Stand 808

World Of Wonders Kleeli The Best! Catherine Kleeli is adding six new designs into her Henries Awards Best Art Card nominated Animal range. Derived from Catherineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautifully handcrafted and stitched animal collages, the 177mm x 127mm designs are printed onto gorgeous heavyweight board and supplied wrapped with a brown ribbed envelope. Catherine Kleeli 07814 293155 www.catherinekleeli.co.uk Springboard Stand 764

Tropical Wonders of Nature from Decorque Cards comprises six tropical themed designs with decorative imagery inspired by exotic animals and birds in their natural habitats. These vibrantly detailed designs are sized 155mm square, blank inside, and are sold with black square envelopes. Decorque Cards 01865 841689 www.decorquecards.com Springboard Stand 800

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of Children’s cards on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

JUST KIDDING

Star Spangled Stars & Stripes is a new birthday range for children from Just A Little Note. Based on Helen Morgan’s watercolour and ink drawings, this range of 10 cards is bright, fun and full of unicorns, dinosaurs and of rainbow coloured animals. All the cards are sized 150mm square, printed and come wrapped with matching envelopes. Just A Little Note 07786 682381 www.justalittlenote.co.uk Springboard Stand 788

Just Too Excited! Just Jemma One of Jemma Banks’ new ranges launching at PG Live is Animals For All Ages. The designs initially feature birthdays from ages 1-10 as well as milestones for adult ages 18-30. This range is bursting with cute and whimsical animal characters and incorporates Jemma’s signature soft colour palette. All 14 designs are sized 7”x 5” and include a pastel blue or pastel yellow envelope. Jemma Banks Design 07747 033129 www.jemmabanksdesign.com Springboard Stand 742

Away With The Fairies

There’s an exciting new kids’ range on the block from Tillovision called Very Excited About This! And yes – they’re very exciting! The range features excitable balls of brightly coloured plasticine getting very very excited about the things that everyone gets excited about - fizzy pop, crisps, videogames, cake, and of course, birthdays! There are 13 cards in the range, including ages 4 to 9, all with simple, fun captions, big impactful text, and massive amounts of... excitement! Tillovision 07934 430029 www.tillovision.com Springboard Extra Stand 97

A greeting card and a book in one, Cardooo’s Birthday Fairy Story range boasts 14 well-known fairy stories with a modern twist, each with twelve beautifully illustrated pages bound within their greeting card cover. Illustrated by Kate Ware with lovely covers finished with foiled lettering, embossing and flitter detailing – the cards are perfect for bookworms everywhere. Cardooo 020 3167 1800 www.cardooo.com Mezzanine Stand 305

All Of A Flitter

Disney Delights

The latest range from April Rose is The Fairies of Foxglove Dell, a delightful children’s range by artist Siobhan Harrison, all hand-finished with flitter for the girl who likes a bit of sparkle. The cards are sized 150mm square, printed on quality watercolour board and wrapped with a lovely pink envelope. April Rose 07957 738711 www.aprilroseillustrates.com Springboard Stand 854

Honeycomb Princesses is a new Disney collection from Hallmark featuring core characters Belle, Ariel and Elsa. These die-cut princesses have skirts which open to form a beautiful freestanding 3D honeycomb with a stage and backdrop to really bring the characters to life. Hallmark UK 0800 90 20 9000 www.hallmark.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 416 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of Christmas cards on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

FESTIVE FAVOURITES

Comfort And Joy New from Paper Salad is the Treetops Glisten range for Christmas 2017 making its debut at PG Live. There are 48 cards with softly painted naive artwork, all hand-finished with gorgeous sparkly gems. The cards are sized 175mm x 125mm and accompanied by a lovely bespoke patterned envelope. Paper Salad 0161 427 0001 www.papersalad.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 207

Pick Up A Penguin

Festive Treat

Kate Guest will be launching her brand new 12 card Christmas Jumpers Collection at PG Live, combining Kate’s classic design style with foiling and Christmas colours. Also on show will be six new Christmas designs in the Black & White Originals Collection, and everyday additions to both the Originals and the acclaimed Typewriter Collection. Kate Guest 01279 214304 www.kateguest.com Springboard Stand 702

For PG Live, Rose Hill will be show-casing a brand new range in a completely new style called One Stop Parent Shop, inspired by her best collaboration to date: her baby, Summer. With 12 new designs, this range covers Christmas, children's birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Valentine's Day. In a new size and shape 170mm x 120mm - the cards are sold wrapped with colour coordinating envelopes. Rose Hill Designs 07742 347603 www.rosehilldesigns.co.uk Springboard Stand 662

To The Letter Inky Jingles is an exciting new Christmas launch from Bexy Boo. There are 24 fresh and fun designs, all with contemporary captions covering all relations as well as more unusual titles such as ‘wine, wine, wine and more wine!’. This range is printed and hand-finished in the UK with an acrylic letter and lots of lovely sparkles. Bexy Boo 01565 830456 www.bexyboo.co.uk Springboard Extra Stand 106

Grand Designs Fresh for PG Live is Charming, Blue Eyed Sun’s latest Christmas range. Based on original watercolour artworks by textile artist Jo Corner, these 30 new designs are all handmade with decoupage mounted elements and handfinished with jewels. These distinctive original cards cover lots of relations titles including grandma, granny, nan, nana and nanny captions. Blue Eyed Sun 01273 823003 www.blueeyedsun.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 524

Shakin’ All Over PG Live is the only place this year that you can see over 80 completely NEW Christmas designs from Five Dollar Shake. The Rubies and Snowfall range sees 22 magical new designs with delicately frosted illustrations, printed on gorgeous bespoke board. Five Dollar Shake 01424 434062 www.fivedollarshake.com Mezzanine Stand 425 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Take another look at WIDDOP and Co. Well known for our sentiment and occasion gifts, 2017 sees the launch of greeting cards and stationery. All on show at PG Live together with our leading baby and wedding brands, Bambino and Amore.

6-7 June

STAND 436

Business Design Centre, London The International Greeting Card Show

register at www.widdop.co.uk/events T: +44(0)161 688 1226 I F: +44(0)161 682 6808 I sales@widdop.co.uk I www.widdop.co.uk

Broadgate, Broadway Business Park, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 9XE UK

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of Floral cards on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

BLOOMING MARVELLOUS

A Little Gem Paper Petals is a gorgeous new range from Georgia Breeze created from original handmade paper flower wreaths with a range of captions to cover both everyday and occasions. There are 10 cards in the range, all sized 150mm square, hand-finished with gems and sold wrapped with a brown kraft envelope. Georgia Breeze Designs 07966 932059 www.georgiabreeze.co.uk Springboard Extra Stand 99

Bijou Blossoms

Eco World

Paper Bird has some lovely additions to Plumette, its range of little cards. There are 22 hand-painted designs covering florals and an array of endearing birds and beasts. This range of 120mm square cards is printed on a subtly textured board and sold wrapped with white or kraft envelopes, sold singly and in packs of eight. Paper Bird Publishing 07766 164807 www.paperbirdpublishing.co.uk Springboard Extra Stand 88

Flower Power

Blank Inside is launching the new Wildflower range of eco cards that contain wildflower seeds, in collaboration with The Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Each card contains a seed packet with bright and beautiful native British and non-native flowers attractive to bees and butterflies. There are six A6 sized designs printed on 100% recycled board and sold wrapped with a 100% recycled printed envelope. Blank Inside 07730 617264 www.blankinsidedesign.co.uk Springboard Stand 716

Maisey Daisey is a new friendship and support range of 29 cards from Lovelyday.gallery featuring artist Anna Lovedayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stylised designs of Cornish hedgerow wildflowers. All the cards carry positive and empowering messages in simple upbeat words and picture language. Maisy-Daisey cards are sized 150mm square and printed on a satisfying linen-feel textured board, supplied wrapped with a white envelope. Lovelyday.gallery 020 8877 0361 www.lovelyday.gallery Springboard Stand 721

Floral Fantasy Relative Values Sarah Kelleher is expanding her popular Inky Range with new relations titles. This vibrant floral range covers almost every occasion and now has titles for all the Grandma variations including Granny, Nan and Nannie. Sarah Kelleher 07768 123957 www.sarahkelleher.co.uk Springboard Extra Stand 98

Clare Maddicott will be unveiling new additions to its popular Lemongrass range at PG Live. There are four new birthday and four blank cards featuring delightfully rich, summery illustrations by artist Linda Edwards, all blank, sized 140mm square, printed on art board and finished with delicate foil details. Clare Maddicott Publications 01638 569050 www.maddicott.com Mezzanine Stand 300 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Mint presents Two brand new ranges for PG Live 2017! Stand 217 We are excited to launch our collection of 24 contemporary Christmas cards called The Inky Jingles. Hand ďŹ nished with an acrylic litter and sparkly crystals.

See you at PG LIVE. STAND 106

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

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

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Visit: bexyboo.co.uk Call us on: 01565 830546

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of Hand-finished cards on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

HAND ON HEART

Handmade Heart Fluffy animal friends, jewelled metallic embroidery and hanging decorations are the theme for latest ranges of unique embroidered greeting cards from Elspeth Thomson. There are new handmade everyday and Christmas designs featuring removable ‘pins’, with some hanging from ribbons, all hand-glittered and embroidered in Lancashire. Elspeth Thomson 01254 54383 www.elspeththomson.co.uk Springboard Stand 706

Button It!

Repeat Pattern PG Live sees the launch of the gorgeous summertime range Cherry Blossom from Cinnamon Aitch, with pretty floral prints and sweet tags all tied up with a decorative cord or ribbon. There are 20 summery C6 designs to choose from, all hand-finished with love and made entirely in the UK. Cinnamon Aitch 0121 773 6833 www.cinnamonaitch.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 231

Talking Buttons, the popular range from Laura Sherratt, is growing with 10 new designs including Valentine's Day for 2018. Some of the latest designs feature stamped black ink lettering and all have been embellished with a shiny heart shaped button. Each cute 120mm square card comes wrapped with a colour coordinated envelope. Laura Sherratt Designs 01538 384566 www.laurasherrattdesigns.co.uk Springboard Stand 405

Touchy Feely Wendy Jones-Blackett is launching occasions and relations designs into its Paper Diamonds Bijou range! Initially launched with open birthday designs at the start of the year, there will be 60 new hand-finished designs launching at PG Live, all sized 165mm square and wrapped with a grey envelope. Wendy Jones-Blackett 0113 2888468 info@wendyjonesblackett.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 235

Bauble Heaven Chocos Away! Chocogreetings is launching its new Sweet collection with 16 designs as well as adding plenty of designs to other collections. Each card has a square of milk chocolate attached, made in UK with an 18 month shelf-life, and is sold wrapped with a complementing envelope. Chocogreetings 07437 480552 www.chocogreetings.co.uk Springboard Stand 768

ZZ Designs is adding five new BaubleZZ into this popular Christmas range. Each of the cards has a detachable gift that can be displayed and hung on your tree long after the card has been recycled! All BaubleZZ are made from laser-cut Perspex in ZZ’s London workshop and then finished with a multitude of effects such glitter, felt, foil, paint or vinyl. ZZ Designs 020 88822511 www.zzdesigns.com Springboard Stand 670 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

PG june advert FINAL2.pdf

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CMY

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of Humour cards on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

RIB TICKLERS

A Bigger Bubble Dean Morris Cards is as pleased as punch to be launching lots of new designs at PG Live, including many in the popular Bubbles range. Featuring lots of cheeky humour from nice to naughty and fantastic retro images, this range is always a best seller with new designs added every season. Dean Morris Cards 01902 560247 www.deanmorriscards.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 438

Funny Girl Phone Home

A comedy writer whose books include the mash-up Fifty Shades of Mr Darcy, Tess Harbinson has drawn on her love of puns, parody and bad poetry to create new humour card company Tess Cards. Among the five ranges she is launching at PG Live is Little Ditties, ‘silly Victorian-style verses with a modern twist’. The 16 designs are all sized 120mm x 170mm and come with white envelopes. Tess Cards 01892 533413 www.tesscards.co.uk Springboard Stand 676

Gift of the Gab from Go La La comprises 12 humorous cards designed to appeal to those working in the emergency services, call centres or who otherwise use the phonetic alphabet. Blank inside and suitable for many occasions, these retro feel cards say what people really think but are unable to utter in these lines of work. Go La La 01458 830913 www.golala.co.uk Springboard Stand 826

Naughty But Nice Hot Flush is a brand new Meany-Bo-Beany humour range launching at PG Live. The designs, inspired in part by romance magazines from the 1950s, provide the vehicle for some gently naughty, seaside postcard influenced innuendo. There are 14 120mm x 170mm cards in the range all sold cello-wrapped with a kraft envelope. Meany-Bo-Beany 01237 420427 www.meany-bo-beany.cards Springboard Extra Stand 132

World Domination

Giving A Toss

Donald Trump has given the Fluff, the latest launch from Tracks, his presidential seal of approval. He says: “You’re really gonna love it it’s great! It's the biggest and it's the best and it’s really gonna make cards great again!” There are 48 designs in the range, all with googly eyes and their own bit of real fluff placed in strategic places. Tracks 01480 435562 www.tracksltd.com Mezzanine Stand 401

Modern Toss will be introducing new, brightly coloured cartoon designs to its well-established humour range, lifted from its popular comics, the Guardian Guide and Private Eye. Topics covered include getting wound up by chilling out, saving money in a Tardis, celebrating milestone birthdays and offering insights into honest relationships. Modern Toss 01273 689599 www.moderntoss.com Springboard Stand 842 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Available to Order From

**NEW** DESIGNS

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For further details contact our Customer Service Team on:

Tel: 0151 541 0448 E-mail: sales@writefromtheheart.co.uk Wedding Ad PG June 17.pdf

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Web: www.writefromtheheart.co.uk

PG LIVE

6-7th June 2017 Stand No.312

17:13

PG Live Stand 526

Love is definitely On The Cards!

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of Male cards on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

MAN KIND

In The Light Mr Sunshine is a new range of cards from Ivorymint aimed at the male market. Comprising 24 cards covering open male birthdays and Father’s Day, these groovy cards are printed on super stylish (and eco-friendly) grey board, sized 125mm x 175mm, and are sold wrapped with a thick red envelope. Ivorymint 02921 660807 www.ivorymint.com Springboard Stand 832

Paper Play

Dedicated Definitions

In a modern day reflection on hash tags and fashion, Hip, the latest range from Tigerlily, offers nine cards of office banter, the hip commuter, some mojitos and a few Beardy Mcbeardysons – all created out of hand-cut paper art. This urban lifestyle range brings you friendship, happiness and laughter and a fun spin on modern day relationships. Tigerlily 07835 893775 www.bytigerlily.co.uk Springboard Stand 766

New for PG Live, Toasted Crumpet launches Country Gent, its first male range of everyday cards focusing on the sophistication and style of the true country gent. Each card combines a watercolour based design with a playful definition full of charm and flattery. There are 12 150mm square designs, printed on textured board, sold wrapped with a kraft envelope. Toasted Crumpet 01372 635359 www.toastedcrumpet.co.uk Springboard Stand 804

To Boldly Go Bold as Brass is a brand new male range from Abacus Cards. This text based range picks up on the urban trend of industrial metallic elements, using foil and embossed details. Printed on art board and presented in a 5” x 7” format, the range comprises 14 birthday cards just for men. Abacus Cards 01638 569050 www.abacuscards.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 300

Shout It Out Shouted is a debut range from new publisher Studio Spilsbury. These speech bubble cards are designed for those who like to express their emotions in a very excitable manner, using one or two word phrases such as ‘Party’ ‘YeeHaa’ ’Surprise’ and ‘WooHoo’. The words in the bubble are accompanied by a crazy, energetic, humorous Spilsbury character illustration, encapsulating all the sender wants to say. Studio Spilsbury 07772 701194 studio@spilsbury.co.uk Springboard Stand 857

Owlsome! Owl My Love is flying in with some fresh new Rock'n'Rowlers - punny music based cards to perch on your shelves. This range is getting bigger and louder, from Slash sliding in with Sweet Child’Owl Mine to Marley and his Three Littlowl Birds and The Owlmighty Beatowls with Owl You Need Is Love. There are six new designs, bringing the range 14 designs. Owl My Love 07837 630053 www.owlmylove.co.uk Springboard Stand 665 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Progressive Greetings - Second Nature - size A4 - June 2017 issue.pdf

15/05/2017

16:50

are in

! m o o l b uf ll

Introducing our

new collection

for 2017/18

35 brand new designs being launched at

PG inLiveLondon

(Business Design Centre, Islington) 6-7 June 2017, Stand 117 ou r

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If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it to London, please get in touch as weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love to hear from you. T: +44 (0) 1983 209 590 hello@secondnature.co.uk secondnature.co.uk

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of Photographic cards on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

PICTURE PERFECT

Super Cuties Pippi & Me is delighted to be back for its third year at PG Live where it it’s launching a brand new Little Creatures Relations Range. There are nine super cute designs, perfect for wishing Happy Birthday to special family members. The cards are sized 125mm square and sold wrapped with white recycled envelopes. Pippi & Me 01803 864109 www.pippiandme.com Springboard Extra Stand 154

In A Galaxy Nearby Let’s Do It Again! Someone has obviously been taking the Tardis for a joy ride! See what happens when the best inventions of the 1970s are introduced to the conservative folk of the 1870s (doesn’t Horatio look positively thrilled to be on his Space Hopper?). Time Warp is a tongue in cheek mash up range published by ArtPress featuring eight blank everyday notecards, each including people from the Victorian era embracing the groove. ArtPress 020 7231 2923 www.art-press.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 306

What A Feeling! Planet Feel Good is adding 12 new designs into its Joy Shine range of photographic images which highlight the beauty, joy and magnificence of our planet. The cards are sized 160mm square and sold wrapped with a joyful bright sunflower yellow envelope. Planet Feel Good 07964 282 483 www.feelgoodimages.com Springboard Stand 750

Peak Of Perfection

Some new looks for UKG’s Hanson White Star Wars range are launching at PG Live! There are designs featuring your favourite figurines in funny situations, while others featuring contemporary vector artwork offer a cool collectable option. There are also additions to the core Star Wars offering featuring timeless villain Darth Vader and one for the girls who like to ‘party their buns off’ featuring the classic heroine Princess Leia! UK Greetings 01924 4665200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 240

Introducing a new range, Captured Calm from The Peakridge Photography Company. There are 12 very relaxing peaceful designs in this beautiful photographic range, designed bring a sense of calm in our busy and turbulent world. There 12 designs are printed on a textured soft white board for a premium finish and sold wrapped with a white envelope. The Peakridge Photography Company 07887 665431 www.peakridgephotoco.com Springboard Stand 723

Born Free New publisher, Wildcards, will be launching over 120 new photographic designs at PG Live, including a lovely and unusual range of hi-key sepia prints of landscapes and floral designs, as well as several outstanding ranges of African wildlife. All the cards are sized 150mm square and sold with 100% recycled envelopes. Wildcards 07525 785961 www.wildcardgreetings.co.uk Springboard Stand 810 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of Typographic cards on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

JUST MY TYPE

Back Handed At PG Live for its third year, Objectables will launching two new ranges as well as extending its really successful Favourites range. Having had such a great response to this bright and forthright range there are now 10 more funny back-handed compliments and the odd smattering of kindness. The cards are all sized 175mm x 125mm and sold wrapped with white envelopes. Objectables 07838112076 www.objectables.co.uk Springboard Stand 658

Heart To Heart Cardigan Cards’ brand new Open-Hearted range features heart-felt verses and die-cut hearts for all the top selling everyday captions as well as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Christmas. There are 14 initial designs, all with delicate encapsulated glitter finish, as well as full colour printing on both the front and inside covers and on the four-fold insert. Cardigan Cards 01785 250511 cards@cardigancards.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 310

Wisely Said Just ready for PG Live are 12 new cards for Dandelion’s Words of Wisdom card collection, winner of the prestigious Henries award 2016 for Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments. This collection now boasts over 350 designs covering all occasions. All the cards are sized 114mm x 162mm, hand-finished with subtle sparkles and supplied with a rustic brown kraft envelope. Dandelion Stationery 01332 695359 www.dandelionstationery.co.uk Springboard Stand 820

My Chickadee! Making her debut PG Live appearance, Angela Chick is launching new designs into the everexpanding Angela Always range, as well as new additions to the Congratulations and Birthday ranges. All the cards measure 127mm x 177mm and come wrapped with a white envelope. Angela Chick 07828432859 www.angelachick.com Springboard Stand 778

Arabian Nights

Sunshine Of My Life

Elaara Islamic Greeting Cards will be showcasing its new range Let’s Celebrate at PG Live. The range comprises 12 modern and contemporary cards that can be given to loved ones to celebrate special occasions with a Muslim twist. Each card measures 150mm square and is supplied wrapped with a white envelope. Elaara Islamic Greeting Cards 0800 246 1382 www.elaara.com Springboard Stand 758

PG Live will witness the launch of Fizz Bang Pop fresh from Brainbox Candyland and all embossed to the eyeballs and with enough flitter to make Abba jealous. This range of 12 everyday, age and mixed occasions cards feature vivacious captions and perky colours that will ensure your shelves shine bright like a diamond! Brainbox Candy 01702 716643 www.brainboxcandytrade.com Mezzanine Stand 334 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of new ranges on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

No Cats Were Harmed… Designer Reeya Patel’s cats are the inspiration behind Meow-A-Days... a brand new (mew) and totally 'punny' range from Pickled Cat, featuring 12 playful designs ranging from naughty to nice. The cards are 105mm x 150mm in size, printed on high quality board and sold with brown ribbed envelopes. Pickled Cat 07739 042653 www.pickledcat.co.uk Springboard Stand 726

A brand new set of Tiddly Widdly cards is being released by Kali Stileman. There are 50 designs in this brightly coloured range, covering cards for grown-ups, cards for kids and Christmas thrown in too! Some with super-duper special gold foiled writing! You’ll love them! Kali Stileman Publishing 01305 848899 www.kalistileman.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 162

Into The Woods Alljoy Design is launching its new Love Wood range at PG Live. There are 48 new designs, printed on heavy textured paper, all with beautiful wooden elements on the cards. The cards are all sized 105mm x 148mm and sold wrapped with a brown envelope. Alljoy Design +353 (0)1 630 1213 www.alljoydesign.com Springboard Stand 770

Not Just For Tiddlers

Sn ap ca t

All That Glistens Starlight is a brand new special milestone age range from Saffron, taking inspiration from copper trends seen in fashion and interiors. Beautiful penny copper glitter and foil is used to create a truly sophisticated range of 12 luxurious cards, all printed on linen board and sized 160mm square. They can be seen sparkling for miles on displays! Saffron Cards 01932 888338 www.saffroncards.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 204

Green Fingers A Splash Of Paint Katie Phythian Design is excited be adding over 20 new designs to the Paintbox range at PG Live. A joyous range of soft deep colours, the cards are made with paintings created by Katie in her Cheshire studio, printed on textured board, hand-finished with sparkling gems and sold wrapped with a crisp white envelope. Katie Phythian Design 07900 431825 www.katiephythiandesign.com Springboard Stand 720

Plant Life is a brand new range from Nicole Orsi at Red Berry Cards. Taking her love of watercolour and collage she has produced some fresh new designs with the on-trend ‘greenery’ theme. There are 30 120mm x 170mm designs, 15 blank and 15 with a mix of captions, including Happy Birthday, just for you and thank you, printed on a crisp white board and sold wrapped with a copper metallic envelope. Red Berry Cards 07815 811158 www.redberrycards.co.uk Springboard Stand 700 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of new ranges on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

Blooming Marvellous Debuting at PG Live is Amy Louise Design, launching Floral, a brand new range of 20 designs. Clean clear designs and delicate painted flowers cover everyday and occasions titles all enhanced with a gold foil finish. The cards are sized 120mm x 170mm and sold wrapped with a colour co-ordinated envelope. Amy Louise Design 07815 573311 www.amylouisedesign.com Springboard Stand 740

Tootle Pip(it)

Hot Shot

Bounce is a playful range of simple slogans and pop colours with some serious 90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vibes from Paper Pipit. Design-led and unique, Bounce comes with colourful envelopes and an eyecatching rounded corner making them truly stand out. There are 24 cards, covering birthday and a wide range of occasions, all sold wrapped with complementing envelopes. Paper Pipit 07964 786439 www.paperpipit.co.uk Springboard Stand 818

Glick is showcasing its new range of nine hot foil stamped flat wraps for Spring/Summer 2017. The style is very contemporary and on trend with beautiful coral, monochrome and kraft, finished with matt gold foils to make any giftwrap display look stylish. Glick 01274 655980 www.glick.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 424

The Glow Of Love Blush is the latest range of 12 open birthday designs from Noel Tatt, all created by the talented Jo Spicer. All with lovely messages finished with beautiful rose gold foil, there are lots of lovely embellishments, embossing and delicate flitter. The cards are sized 6â&#x20AC;? square and sold wrapped with white envelopes. Noel Tatt Group 01227 811600 www.noeltatt.com Mezzanine Stand 301

Lovely Louise Penny Kennedy is thrilled to be showcasing a brand range from its latest collaboration with award winning designer Louise Tiler. The range includes wrapping paper, gift bags and boxes as well as luxury gift tags, with modern florals in eye-catching colours incorporating luxurious gold foil finishes. Penny Kennedy 01892 838574 www.pennykennedy.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 318

Pattern Book Jessica Hogarth is launching the Mosaic range, a 12 card collection featuring pretty hand-drawn patterns and a caption. This 120mm x 170mm range covers everyday occasions, including birthday, sympathy and retirement, and comes wrapped with white envelopes. Jessica Hogarth 07786 906648 www.jessicahogarth.com/trade Springboard Extra Stand 105 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of new ranges on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

Concertina Concerto Due to popular demand Coulson McLeod is expanding its rose-gold Concertina range with new Love You and Congrats cards. This ‘small card with a BIG message’ opens out into a beautiful shiny 70cm banner card. A table-top point-of-sale unit holding 16 of each design (80 cards in total) is available. Coulson McLeod 01536 419944 www.coulsonmacleod.com Springboard Extra Stand 112

Modern Life Seven-T-7 is the new humour range being launched at PG Live by JellynBean. There are 20 open humour cards and 10 caption cards, including milestone ages in a very simple and succinct style designed to capture modern life situations. The cards are printed on a high quality textured board and sold wrapped with complementing envelopes. JellynBean 01423 871881 www.jellynbean.com Mezzanine Stand 441

Inspired From Above Jusna Ahmed is releasing the Bouquet Collection at PG Live as part of its Islamic Inspirations brand. There are 21 designs covering major Islamic occasions such as Weddings, Umrah and Hajj, as well as Spring Seasons and congratulations designs, some of which are hand-finished with pearl hearts and diamantes. All the cards are sized 150mm square and sold wrapped with a gold or silver envelope. Jusna Ahmed Designs 07949 572 340 www.islamicinspirations.co.uk Springboard Stand 828

Roll Up Roll Up

Joy Of Life Lucilla Lavender is launching Animates, a fun illustrated range of 12 cards in a stunning array of colours, with bold black line work and humorous captions. Each card shows a different animal getting up to entertaining antics, celebrating birthdays with a drink or making the point that you’re never too old to have fun. There’s something for all ages and genders! Lucilla Lavender 020 3405 1410 www.lucillalavender.com Mezzanine Stand 520

The circus is in town! Expect lions, elephants and strongmen in this fun filled retro inspired juvenile range from Paper Rose. Illustrated by talented artist Eleri Fowler, there are eight cards all in a bold colour palette, sized 120mm x 170mm and sold wrapped with complementing envelopes. Paper Rose 0115 986 0115 www.paperrose.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 325

London Pride The Art File is launching three new collections at PG Live including a collection called LONDON featuring the beautiful artworks of London based artist Anna Hymas. Celebrating the landmarks of our beautiful capital, there are 10 designs including Piccadilly Circus, The Mall and Tower Bridge, all in Anna’s unique contemporary style. The Art File 0115 8507490 www.theartfile.com Mezzanine Stand 200 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of new ranges on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

Clear As Crystal Floral Fizz is a new summer 2017 range from Clear Creations launching at PG Live. The bold colour palette is inspired by the 2017 catwalk, while keeping its customary detailed illustrative style. This 30 card range covers ages, everyday and blanks all foiled and embossed and finished with sparkly coloured Swarowski crystals. Clear Creations 020 8885 0009 www.clearcreations.co.uk Springboard Extra Stand 114

Underwater Adventure Deckled Edge will be expanding its Prancing Myth range with glittering new sea-creatures: Merhorses and Mermaids will open up the current trending, popular unicorn and Pegasus designs. There will be 22 new open birthday designs, all sized 150mm square, printed on lovely white textured board dotted with sparkling holographic foils, and sold wrapped with pearlised envelopes. Deckled Edge 0800 771 0771 www.decklededge.co.uk Springboard Extra Stand 85

Across The Universe Alicorn Cards is launching Space Age, an adult range covering ages 18, 21, 30 and 40 as well as two general birthday and celebration cards. Designed by Laura Frame, the cards are inspired by Russian space dogs and all things galactic and are finished with a striking holographic foil border. Alicorn Cards 07855 295434 www.alicorncards.com Springboard Stand 799

By The Sea Fresh, fabulous and utterly charming designs feature in The Beach Hut Buddies Range from new publisher My Greeting Card. Designed by Margate artist Willow Cairn, there are 36 cards covering birthdays, Christmas and Valentine's. The cards are printed on a luxury canvas textured board and supplied with brown striped envelopes. My Greeting Card 01843 826075 www.mygreetingcard.co.uk Springboard Stand 852

Big Impression Garlannaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new colourful and quirky Little Moments range is a collection of 64 contemporary designs celebrating all of life's moments, big and small. Featuring simple illustrations with a distinctive colour palette, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lots of lovely embossing and fluted foil details. Each 155mm square design is sold wrapped with a coordinating custom designed envelope. Garlanna 00 353 404 20528 www.garlanna.com Mezzanine Stand 229

Monster Mash The OddBods family from Best of Wishes is growing and growing! These cards feature funny, friendly little monsters for any occasion, and are all high quality photographic prints of handmade models by well-known children's author and illustrator, Jo Litchfield. Not only has the main Oddbods range expanded to include new characters, but brand new ChristmasOddBods will be launched at PG Live. Best of Wishes 0115 9604041 www.bestofwishes.co.uk Springboard Extra Stand 103 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of new ranges on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

Heart Of Gold New occasions designs will be on show in the award-winning Colour Me Happy range from Stephanie Dyment. The range features bold florals in a pretty on trend colour palette of delicate pinks, cool aqua and emerald green with beautiful metallic wording. The cards are sized 140mm square and supplied wrapped with an ivory textured envelope. Stephanie Dyment 07948 408401 www.stephaniedyment.com Mezzanine Stand 430

Sweet As Candy Butterscotch is a new contemporary and fun typography range from Megan Claire comprising 14 handwritten designs finished in a luxurious gold foil on a soft luxury cream board. The range covers occasions and birthdays and is complemented with a luxury cream envelope featuring a pretty gold dot pattern on the envelope liner. Megan Claire 01536 560345 www.meganclaire.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 504

Bring Me Sunshine Earlybird is expanding its Sunflower Bill range for PG Live with eight new occasions cards. Along with new home, baby, thank you and congratulations, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a very cute gender neutral baby sun card on offer. Also on display will be eight new Ink Sandwich Christmas designs. Earlybird Designs 01227 765372 www.earlybirddesigns.co.uk Springboard Extra Stand 111

First Buds The super Rawsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rise is being launched at PG this year by Marina B. This 12 card range focuses on intricate floral and outdoor hand-drawn elements providing a cute picturesque image. These cards cover be for all occasions and printed on 350gsm board all wrapped. Marina B Designs 01858 434462 www.marinab.co.uk Springboard Stand 661

By Moonlight

We Donut Approve

Always Sparkle is launching Luna, a range of 18 designs covering birthdays and occasions. The Luna range features contemporary abstract paint patterns with silver foil detailing and an array of beautiful colours. All the cards are printed on textured white board and come wrapped with silver envelopes. Always Sparkle 07940 726842 www.alwayssparkle.co.uk Springboard Stand 148

Unknown Ink is excited to be officially launching at PG Live with a shiny stand full to the brim of newness! Real Life Lines is just one of 11 everyday ranges being launched and some lovely seasonal ranges too. This range of 14 designs welcomes you to a cute, funny little world where the most unexpected things come to life! Unknown Ink 01702 815016 www.unknownink.co.uk Springboard Stand 862 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

PG Live

A showcase of new ranges on display at PG Live, 6-7 June 2017 at the Business Design Centre, London.

Let It Shine! Twelve new Cloud Nine designs are being added by Redback into this popular humorous range. Very shiny metallic foil wording is set against brightly coloured backgrounds ensuring these cards brighten any display. This 150mm square range is printed on great quality board and comes wrapped with a premium white envelope. Redback Cards 01803 712793 www.redbackcards.com Mezzanine Stand 421

Kind Heart Attached To You

Animal Kind is the latest release from Soul, with fun colourful artwork by Helen Russell. There are 17 square cards in the range, which are sold wrapped with a pebble coloured envelope and are left blank inside for your own message. Soul UK 01235 537816 www.souluk.com Mezzanine Stand 320

Block Party

The iconic Mr Men and Little Miss characters are getting a trendy makeover from Carte Blanche, with a lovely enamel pin badge character attachment. This year has seen a resurgence of the enamel pin and these all-time classic characters are sure to be a must-have accessory. There are 12 cards available across two sizes 157mm square and 170mm x 122mm - and all come wrapped with coloured envelopes. Carte Blanche Greetings 01243 792600 www.carteblanchegreetings.com Mezzanine Stand 122

Letterbox from Stationery Traffic has a vintage feel and features children’s alphabet and picture blocks from the 1950’s to help spell out particular occasions. There are 12 designs to choose from - from celebrating the birth of a new baby to ‘Home Sweet Home’. All the 155mm square cards come with a complementing hammered ivory envelope. Stationery Traffic 07767 896807 www.stationerytraffic.co.uk Mezzanine Stand 684

Cutting New Shapes Shapeshifters is a new range of 12 cards created by Richard and Saskia Smith of new publisher Aloha Calling. Bold copy, pattern, typography and a contemporary colour palette work with lovely tactile paper fibres to go ‘pop’ on the shelves. This 137mm x 185mm range covers everyday, occasions and seasonal and is sold wrapped with a white envelope. Aloha Calling 07989 595279 www.alohacalling.co.uk Springboard Stand 866

Bright And Cheery Lorna Syson is expanding her Birds collection to cover even more popular birds. These are paired with colourful backgrounds to make for a set of cheery cards suitable for all occasions. There are now 22 120mm x 160mm cards in the range, all printed on high quality recycled board, and sold wrapped with a brown envelope. Lorna Syson 020 84659819 www.lornasyson.co.uk Springboard Stand 762 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Retailer Face To Face

Some Fine

Tayloring

The middle of May saw Bentalls’ greeting card department being ‘put out to grass’ as part of the Kingston department store’s themed Summer Garden Party. While the tops of its fixtures were ‘laid out to lawn’ (the grassy tops attracting attention from the thousands who make their way down to the department in the atrium on the lower ground floor), Jenni Taylor, Bentalls’ card and wrap buyer, made the most of its new free-standing feature areas, by creating a floral ‘bouquet’ of products. PG enjoyed some ‘summer loving’ in this Retas award-winning everblossoming card department. For many people, a ‘Monday morning feeling’ is not something they necessarily look forward to, but for Jenni Taylor, card buyer of Bentalls department store in Kingston, it is a highlight of her week. The reason being that this is when she hot-foots it to the card and wrap department to see how the new designs that are always put on the racks at the end of the previous week had fared over the weekend. “I love the fact that we can respond so quickly, but then so do our customers,” says Jenni. “We stock cards from over 100 different greeting card and wrap companies, but I am always open to new ideas, be it on the

design or caption front, as our customers expect it from us.” New card collections, in drops of eight cards, are introduced into the card racks several times a week, but it only takes Jenni a few days to gauge their success. “Our customers have an uncanny knack of knowing where the new designs are. As I am driving to work on a Monday morning, I can’t wait to find out how many of the new designs have sold. I go straight to the department and then up to the office and order more of the designs that have done well. It is a great feeling to know that you have understood the tastes of your customer,” admits Jenni. Although she only took on the role as Left: Jenni Taylor, card buyer, with one of her current favourite cards, a fashion design from English Graphics.

card buyer for the venerable department store two years ago, Jenni is no stranger to the store or its greeting card department. She has been working at Bentalls for 16 years, having joined as a part-time sales assistant while still a student. She worked her way up from the shopfloor, latterly managing the greeting card department, before moving into buying, initially china and glassware. Then, when the previous card buyer went on maternity leave, Jenni applied for the job and has not looked back since. “I love it; it’s my baby. I want to stay buying cards and wrap forever,” she says enthusiastically. She has little understanding why department store buyers generally see it as a progression into buying fashion clothing. “I just don’t get it. Greeting cards are fashion, but fashion with a heart,” she says philosophically. Bentalls has long held a strong reputation for its card department. Part of the Fenwick group (since 2001), in keeping with the other stores, Bentalls buys independently. Not just independently, but fiercely so, with no intention to move to brokerage or a publisher planned display model. “It’s our job to find the cards our customers would like and create a Above: Bentalls began as a drapery shop in 1867. Inset: Able to be seen by every customer using the escalator, the greeting card and stationery department is a popular department on the lower ground floor.

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Retailer Face To Face

Left: In addition to the backlit display of giftbags and wrap, Jenni is also introducing wrappings onto standalone curated feature areas. For Mother’s Day this year, the store offered a free giftwrapping service, and as a result wrapped over 200 gifts! Below middle (left-right): Jenni has high praise for the clever captioning from publishers such as Slice of Pie for weddings; Hammond Gower’s Privee for support sends; Dandelion Stationery for occasions and Two Beans for thank you sends. Bottom left: Department assistant Carol Craggs has returned to Bentalls, having worked in Just Cards, Sheringham for seven years. One of her favourite cards stocked by the department store is the National Trust design from Woodmansterne which features a train on the Poppy Line in North Norfolk.

department that they enjoy shopping in,” says Jenni, who is at lengths to point out that it is very much a team effort. As reflected when Bentalls was awarded the Best Department Store Retailer of Greeting Cards trophy at The Retas awards last July, Jenni was accompanied by colleague Louise Clausen, brand manager, onto the stage, but she is at pains to point out that the dedicated shopfloor staff are also vital in ensuring that the department ticks both on the

Up Close And Personal Bentalls’ card buyer Jenni Taylor reveals a bit more about herself! l Guilty Pleasure: “I have a crush on

donkeys! My boyfriend adopted one for me as a birthday present.” l Three Words That Your Best Friend Would Choose To Describe You?: “Funny, outgoing, passionate.” l What Would You Do If You Were Not A Card Buyer: “I would cry! This department is ‘my baby’. However, when I was young I always wanted to be a midwife.”

product and service front. Setting the tone for a very much curated approach, customerfriendly headers above the displays signal not only the ‘send’ ie ‘For Him’ or ‘Just to Say’, but also, in some sections, the types of cards, including ‘Animals’, ‘Floral’ or ‘London’. Within these sections invariably there are two facets to the display, to accommodate Bentalls’ diverse customer base. “Our card buying customers fall into two main camps – those who are a bit older and love a more traditional approach and those who are younger and are looking for a trendier, more fashion-reflective card. So, within each sector, we try and create areas on

the racks that cater for both. And it seems to work,” says Jenni, using the Florals area as a case in point. “We have here the new handmade Liberty print cards from Pearl & Black and new Matthew Williamson designs from Museums & Galleries, whereas Nigel Quiney and aspects of Paper Rose’s collections cater brilliantly for the expectations of the more traditional customer,” explains Jenni. “It seems to work as we often have customers who come to the till, especially on a Saturday, with stack of 15 cards, spending £40 at a time,” she adds. While a tad concerned that high street

retail generally is being hit by a downturn in footfall, she remains very optimistic as to the continued relevance of greeting cards, both to Bentalls as well as to the public. “Greeting cards are very important to Bentalls, the department is an anchor destination on the lower ground floor. It is very visible from those on the escalator whether going up or down, and being located next to the Café Nero works very well,” she says of the role of cards in the store. “Nothing will ever replace the feeling you have when you receive a card,” says Jenni. “We are though only as good as the designs that publishers are creating - and there are some wonderful collections out there. And I am so looking forward to finding even more at PG Live!” Roll on more Happy Mondays!

A Historical Shopping Spree Kingston department store, Bentalls began as a drapery shop, founded by Frank Bentall in 1867. The company was formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange, but since 2001 has been owned by the Fenwick group. The principal buildings of the Kingston store were completed in 1935, designed by architect Maurice Webb and inspired by Christopher Wren's design for Hampton Court. The stonework on the façade was the work of Eric Gill. Between 1935 and 1976 it was the UK's largest department store outside central London. The facade of the original store (a Grade II listed building since 2011) has been retained as part of the Bentall Centre shopping mall that opened in 1992. Among Bentalls’ claims to fame are that it stars in the Ladybird Books’ In A Big Store title; Petula Clark gave her first public performance as a child at the store. Plus, it is mentioned by the character Chubb in the Anthony Blunt episode (A Question of Attribution) of the stage play Single Spies by Alan Bennett – and of course the store won a 2016 Retas award as Best Department Store Retailer of Greeting Cards. Right: Among Bentalls’ claims to fame is that it is featured in the In A Big Store Ladybird Book. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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British Design

Left: Part of an Art File card design. Below left: WHSmiths’ Designed In Britain concept in Harrods.

‘Designed In Britain’ is emblazoned across the new greeting card display concept introduced last month within WHSmith Travel’s flagship store in London’s Victoria Station; echoing WHS’ Harrods’ concession in the iconic London department store, unveiled in April. WHS is not only flying the flag for great British design but also fanfares the names of the UK publishers whose designs feature on the new unit; and celebrating ‘It’s a London thing’, a number of publishers are also showcased in a Hello London display. It’s no secret that British creativity, innovation and quality is arguably the envy of the world, with much of that design talent showcasing their card design agility at PG Live this month, so PG asked a Brit-pack of WHS’ ‘Designed In Britain’ publishers, and a set of publishers spotlighting London icons on cards, plus retailer John Lewis, why UK design is so great. A Creative Historic Hub

Below: Creative and cutting edge, a card from Hammond Gower.

Nicci Gower, founder of Hammond Gower, believes creativity is an important part of our history and it's the reason the UK plays a huge part in the design industry today. “The Olympic Opening Ceremony is a prime example: this unique and iconic event sparked the world’s imagination and shows that Britain is one of the most influential creative hubs in the world. The UK is also home to designers who celebrate cutting-edge techniques just as much as skilled craftsmanship, which is why we have had such a global impact. Look closely, anywhere in the world where something creative is taking place, there will be a British person involved! We print and produce our cards in Britain because it is renowned for high-quality design, and is part of one of the most well-respected creative industries in the world. We take great pride in making things in this country and the UK has a long history of craftsmanship - we’ve always been good at making things by hand or by machine in order to create exceptional things! To lose this tradition in the UK would be a huge loss, so we are very keen to contribute to keeping British manufacturing alive today.”

It’s A London Thing Ezen Designs’ cards are produced and printed in the UK. David Wertheim, director for Ezen, states, “It’s one of the things that I wanted to ensure when I created the company. For me it's a personal ethos to make sure our designs are created, printed and packaged from our London studio to guarantee the absolute quality of our greeting cards. Sending greeting cards is so ingrained in the British culture that I felt that for Ezen they would be made in the UK. I wanted to keep them British made, that’s why I have added a Union Jack on the back of each card.” Right: A Queen’s Guard blows a kiss on an Ezen card.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Immerse yourself in the greeting card world PG Live 2017 is an unmissable celebration of the exciting greeting card industry, with over 280 exhibitors showcasing thousands of original designs and exciting card collections. With two jam-packed days of spotting trends and making friends, PG Live 2017 will be the most exciting trade show you visit this year. We can’t wait to see you there!

“We love PG Live! It’s our favourite show, we wouldn’t miss it. The whole atmosphere of the show is great; it has a real buzz about it. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves and it’s great for meeting new people and catching up with familiar faces.” Lucy Sticka & Heidi Richardson, Little Paperies, Ashbourne

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British Design

Waving The British Export Flag Jeremy Corner, md for Blue Eyed Sun, thinks the fact that we Brits love greeting cards, and send more cards per head than other country, drives our insatiable appetite for a good range of card designs. “Britain is well-known for its high standards of design, so it's a natural fit that our card designs should also be the envy of the world and lead to so many international distributors sourcing product from our UK trade shows. Blue Eyed Sun has been very fortunate to work with some of the best distributors in the world and our export sales have grown massively in recent years. So much so, that we were lucky enough to win a Queen’s Award for International Trade last year. We’re very proud to fly the flag for British exports and hope to continue doing so for many years to come.”

Above: Jeremy receiving his Queen’s Award For International Trade last year. Left: An iconic London scene on a Blue Eyed Sun card. Below: The National Treasures window display in John Lewis Oxford Street.

Capital Show Nottingham-based publisher, The Art File was thrilled to received the official news last month that it had been awarded a 2017 Queen’s Award for International Trade. The company’s sales coordinator, James Mace, who was integral in applying for the awards, shares his views on why London iconography on cards is a firm favourite for customers both home and abroad. “London is not only our great capital city, it’s also an iconic city on a worldwide stage, with so much incredible history attached to it. Thousands of people from all over the world visit London, hence why The Art File released its FORM London skyline card - one of our bestselling designs to date. We worked on the FORM range with the incredibly talented Elod Beregszaszi, one of the world’s leading fold designers. And each design is hand-folded here in the UK. With the UK's creativity and design possibly the envy of the world, I feel is it important to fly the flag for British export. Not only does the UK have some of the most unique and talented design resources on the planet, our printing and finishing industry is like no other. The world certainly looks to the UK for these things; hence why large distributors such as Notes & Queries in the US, and Simson Cards in Australia come to Britain for cards! It’s tremendously important for the country’s Top: James and Ged Mace from The Art File are proud to hear that they have economy to export our product overseas. We’re been awarded a 2017 Queen’s Award all incredibly fortunate to work with such talent in for International Trade. Above: The London skyline on a FORM this country. The world wants it. The hard part is card from The Art File. finding them!”

Treasure Chest National Treasures is a summer long campaign that was launched recently by John Lewis, celebrating the nation’s favourite things, pastimes and quirks. The well-loved UK department store will be shining its own sunny spotlight on the best of British life, design and culture in one of its biggest ever programme of customer activity, which will include a ‘Summer Season’ series of events and workshops with over 100 of the nation’s best-loved home-grown brands. National Treasures has been brought to life across all of John Lewis’ 48 stores and its website by award winning British illustrator Paul Thurlby, who has transformed the windows and shop interiors for the campaign with a collection of illustrations that epitomise the customs, spaces, places, people and habits that we hold dear as a nation. In addition, 220 life size characters will be a central feature in the Oxford Street store’s atrium. Mandy Pursey, communications manager corporate for John Lewis, elaborates on the National Treasures concept: “There’s nothing quite like the Great British Summer. It’s a time when everything feels a bit more special, and we want to celebrate that in a fun, humorous campaign about all of our favourite things, focusing on the things we all love about summertime.”

Fish And Chip Summer Lisa Rutherford, card and stationery buyer of John Lewis, deems, “British card design is going from strength to strength and there are some great new platforms for new designers. Greeting card techniques and designs being used are constantly evolving and we continually look for ways to offer the latest innovations to our customers, with the view to bring a little personality and emotion into the retail environment.” And Lisa’s British summertime favourite? “For me nothing epitomises summer like indulging in seaside fish and chips on the South Devon coast,” PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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British Design

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Home Grown Talent Matt Genower, co-founder and managing director of Five Dollar Shake, believes that “primarily, when it comes to style, Britain has a strong identity. Whereas many of our European neighbours have an approach that is sourced from many continental influences, Britain stands alone. Style-wise we’re known throughout the world for a ‘Britishness’ in what we do. This is quite desirable as we set ourselves apart from many other countries. If you can make a living out of it why wouldn’t you want to keep it local! Principally though, we print and produce our cards in Britain because we trust our UK suppliers ability. Their strength also lies in their perception of our needs. Sometimes this does not translate well thousands of miles away!” Below: Unique and stunning, a design from Five Dollar Shake.

Tracks Publishing will be launching a London collection of card designs at PG Live, featuring stunning unique photographs and illustrations of the UK capital’s iconic landscapes and buildings. Ben Fidoe, art director for Tracks, explains why he feels British design is regarded so highly around the globe: “London cards have always been a great seller for us at Tracks. We felt it time we built upon that with additional photography of famous London landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace, and some stunning bird’s Above: A bird’s eye view of London eye views of the Thames and all its surroundings. For this range we worked alongside a number of art and photography licensing agencies. on a new Tracks design. I think we are very lucky to have so many talented creatives in the UK. I feel our culture, humour and passion for creative thinking in this country culminate across so many mediums. I believe this is why we are so highly regarded in the world. We are very lucky to have a country with so much inspiration. And it is natural that the British culture of greeting card sending should have such amazing creativity. With such a vast and strong array of talent at PG Live, it inspires and creates healthy competition. This helps to keep pushing the greeting card market constantly forward, looking for newer and more creative ideas than ever.”

Sound And Vision London is one of the most important destinations in the world, with many iconic locations, buildings and noises! So Really Wild Cards’ managing director John Wignall felt it was time to capture the sights and sounds of the UK’s capital on a range of sound greeting cards, that will be launched at this month’s PG Live. With such a fantastic choice of great London images available, the challenge was to match and source high quality audio to bring the images to life. John explains his phonetic journey of London: “No, it wasn't me outside Big Ben, waiting for it to chime, with a tape recorder and microphone! Similar to sourcing images, I spent hour upon hour trawling search engines and the major sound libraries to find matching sounds that were not only suitable but were copyright/royalty free. The problems encountered were, for example, with some London landmarks such as The London Eye, Tower Bridge and even the Tower of London, all iconic buildings but not with any real associated sounds so had to be pretty creative to find an atmosphere to relate to. So I chose the sound of a generic Afro-Caribbean steel band playing on the South Bank for the London Eye; simple lapping of water and a ship’s siren in the distance for London Bridge, and finally a genuine extract (cut and edited) to represent the nightly Key Ceremony at the Tower of London. On the fun side, with actual sounds such as Big Ben, we just had enough space/memory available on the sound chip to get the hourly ring and then two chimes, but I couldn’t get an image with the clock showing 2 o’clock so had to air brush out the big hand and reposition it! Finally, I spent many more hours researching fun and interesting facts about each of the places featured on the London cards.” Above: Really Wild Cards’ new London range looks and sounds like the UK’s capital.

Brit Pop

Right: All of Soul’s cards are made in the UK.

Soul is showcasing its luxury stationery range, Kingdom at PG Live for the first time - all gorgeously designed and made in the UK. David Hicks, md of Really Good and Soul, testifies that, “we've always printed our cards in England. We didn't jump ship when others did, and have always liked ourselves for keeping them British. The Brits have always been good at design and engineering. I travel a lot and see a lot of very good design around the world, but I think there's always been an attitude in British design that is hard to pin down. Look at out music scene I guess, varied to say the least! It natural that the British institution of greeting card sending should have amazing creativity, BUT, I'm often disappointed by some new designers. There's too many ‘me too’ as oppose to doing something genuinely new and exciting. There is the odd one of course, and they go on to make the industry different and exciting. Even so, we are still the envy of the world when it comes to cards, but nobody should sit back and accept it. Always move forward and challenge accepted norms.” PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

Big

Magic

Below: The inspiring Big Magic book by Elizabeth Gilbert. Below right: Gilbert believes that creativity is a force of magic – a card design from Pigment. Below left: Do not allow fear on your 'creative road trips' - a card from The Alternative Image Company (c. Topfoto).

Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun, looks at creativity. This year I’ve been rediscovering my creative self via my YouTube channel: The Greeting Card Project. It’s got me thinking a lot about creativity. I recently devoured a fantastic book on the subject. I found it refreshing, life affirming and incredibly inspiring. In fact, I loved Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert, so much that I thought I’d share my key learnings from it with you:

Fear There are many ways we can be afraid to live a creative life. You can be afraid that you have no talent. Afraid that there’s no market for your creativity. Afraid that other people are already better. Afraid that the greeting cards you create are not original. Afraid that you’ll embarrass yourself. Afraid that nobody will be interested in what you make. Afraid you’ll waste your time. The list is endless. It’s terrifying. Fear is boring. It stops you from living. You must be brave.

Courage Being brave is not the same as being fearless. Being creative requires courage, the courage to bring forth the treasures within yourself.

Acknowledge your fear and allow it to join creativity and you on your road trips. Just don’t allow it to make any decisions - and definitely don’t let it drive!

Magic Creativity is a force of enchantment, like magic. Elizabeth Gilbert believes that the planet is inhabited by ideas that are disembodied, energetic life-forms looking for places to manifest by collaborating with a human partner. If you don’t pursue an idea it’ll leave and resurface somewhere else with someone else (I’ve seen this happen with card range ideas we never pursued).

Ownership Ideas don’t belong to any one person, they are born out of collaboration with the creativity of people. Ideas can collaborate with more than one human and arrive in similar forms. This is an artistic form of multiple discovery - a term used in the scientific community whenever two scientists from different parts of the world come up with an idea at the same time; a common occurrence throughout history. In the end, it’s all just flowers seeking light.

Torment You don’t have to be a tormented artist that brings forth ideas at a cost to your relationships and yourself. In the end it’s all about the work, not the suffering. A different way is to cooperate fully, humbly and joyfully with inspiration. You can support other’s

creativity. Measure your worth by your dedication to your path of creating beautiful cards, not by successes or failures, wealth or fortune.

Genius Unlike us, the Romans didn’t believe that a gifted person was a genius. They believe they had a genius, like a sort of spirit guide. This psychological construct is useful to keep the artist’s ego in check by distancing them from taking the glory or blame for the work. That way they are not burdened by the reaction to anything they create. It’s useful to think of your creative talent as separate from you, so you don’t beat yourself up when your latest card range flops in the marketplace.

Making Space You have to make space for the work, setting aside time each day or week. Creative work is labour, like farming. It’s not a never-ending PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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JEREMY’S JOURNAL series of enlightened moments. It’s hard. Forces of inspiration cannot be seen, proven, commanded nor understood. Yet they are relied upon in our industry as a way of generating income for tens of thousands of people. Be disciplined with regular design time.

Left: Curiosity and inquisitive journeys can open up new paths, and you may meet new people. Below: A design from one of Icon's top ranges (and a Henries award winner) Life Is Sweet. Below left: Children make and create all the time.

Curiosity Forget about your passion, follow your curiosity instead. Rather than waiting for passion to strike or deciding which passion to pursue, be inquisitive about things; it may lead you somewhere, it may not. Following it opens up things.

Permission You don’t need anyone’s permission to live a creative life. You don’t need to do a course or get a certificate. We are inherently creative beings. The earliest example of human art is 40,000 years ago, 30,000 years before the earliest evidence of human agriculture, which means we were more interested in creating than regularly feeding ourselves! Give yourself permission to create.

Originality I remember my high school art teacher telling me that nothing is original. Try not to get hung up on this. Most things have already been done - but they have not yet been done by you! Say what you want to say with all your heart. If it’s authentic it will probably feel original.

Stop Complaining The world is busy. Nobody wants to hear you complaining about being an artist or that it’s difficult. Get on with it. Stop getting in your own way. The commercial results of your work don’t have a lot to do with you as creator. Your job is to produce the work itself, that job is tough enough. This is where it helps to have a business partner who focuses on selling and marketing your greeting cards as a separate job. It’s tough doing both.

Failure The Paradox Art is absolutely meaningless. It’s also incredibly meaningful. Sending someone a card is the same. It can be completely meaningless, it can be incredibly meaningful; it needs the freedom to be both. We need to be able to throw away what’s not working and start afresh when creating.

You will fail. It sucks, but it’s true. Creative risks won’t always pan out. Sometimes your work fails on your own terms, sometimes it fails to connect with anyone when you put it out there. That’s the nature of creativity. Nobody simply designs a best selling range of greeting cards, it happens outside of them. Successes are rooted in the manure of failures. When you fail, let it go. Forgive yourself.

Suckage Everything sucks some of the time. What are you passionate enough about that you can endure the most disagreeable aspects of the work? Similarly, you will never find all the hours you need for your creativity. You have to find ways to fit it in.

Perfection

Child’s Play

Don’t worry about what other people think either. Other people are mostly thinking about themselves and not you. Remember that done is better than good. I’ve found this with The Greeting Card Project, some videos are better than others. 22 videos done is better than trying to make one good video.

Children make up things all the time, they aren’t burdened by being artists or by the work. They create and toss their creations out like paper airplanes. Relax. Enjoy creating your card designs. Be light. Have fun with it.

Creativity is a chore. If it’s too painful, you may want to quit. Life is short and should be enjoyed. Take up a new hobby, travel, spend time with friends. After a while, if you find yourself drawn back towards creating because nothing in life brings you the same pleasure, then you will have no choice.

Criticism

Playfulness

What people see in your work has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them. People make all sorts of connections and assumptions driven by their own emotional stories all the time. Don’t get caught up in this, your focus is on the work.

Be a trickster with your work, not a martyr. Have fun with it. Make it work for you. Be playful. Your work is not your baby. Let it go. If you have to cut it or adjust your new card range to make it happen in the world then do so.

A Chore

Top Dog How do you top a best selling range of cards? This assumes that reaching the top and staying there is the only reason to create. If anything it’s a hindrance. The mysteries of inspiration do not operate on the limited human scale of commerce and reputation, of units sold and markets won. If you only have one designer in your business, it’s important to acknowledge the commercial limitations of this and not put pressure on your creativity.

Summary Be sure to live a life driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear. A creative life is an amplified life, where Big Magic is to be found. Time marches on. Look within to unearth your creative treasures. We don't have the time anymore to think small. Read more on Jeremy’s blog at www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Springboard Focus - PG Live 2017

Discovery Channel It will be a voyage of discovery for many at this year’s PG Live. Retailers will discover publishers’ magical and creative card ranges being freshly launched at the show, new visitors will discover what the only UK dedicated greeting card trade fair is all about, and then, there will be the innovative firsttime exhibitors making their debut in the Springboard zones. PG asks a number of these newbie publishers to 'unearth' their adventure into cards and what they hope to gain from showcasing their designs at PG Live 2017.

Inset: It's time for new ventures and adventures for a number of new publishers at PG Live. Below: Barley Bay’s Trevor and Myra Hutton, plus Rollo the assistant, in the studio. Below left: An embroidered age card from Barley Bay’s Floral Numbers range.

Trevor and Myra Hutton, founders of Barley Bay: Life Before Cards: “From very different professional backgrounds, we have collaborated in art for many years. Myra, a textile artist, trained in textile art and education, and having taught at various schools is best known as a Maker of large handmade felt landscapes; she has curated many Makers shows and champions her ‘Best Made Local’ brand with pop-up galleries. I (Trevor) have spent decades in the IT industry, from coding radar systems to securing banks, but I have always been a keen photographer. Merging this into digital art and composition led to selling my own art work.” Design Development: “Right from her earliest textile work Myra has always produced greeting cards that proved popular. As we have become increasingly aware of what makes a good greeting card and honed our technical and graphical skills we now produce work specifically with greeting cards in mind. We now concentrate on an end piece of art or sentiment that we can be confident will appeal to many.” PG Live Opportunities: “At PG Live we aim to build on our recent success at the British Craft Trade Fair and introduce our brand to many more great retailers. We have lots of new designs and plenty in the pipeline and we’re always willing to discuss new ideas with our customers.” Barley Bay, Stand 872

Catherine Phelps, founder of Cats & Roses: Life Before Cards: “I am a graphic designer and illustrator, starting first in London in the music business, then Madrid, (where I counted the Spanish Mint, The Ministry of Trade and the flamenco dancer Antonio Canales among my clients) and now I have my studio in Bath. Always an image maker, I was becoming tired of sitting in front of the Mac on my own and thought that launching a publishing company would get me out in the world, meeting people and sharing my work. How right I was, it’s hard work but varied and often fun.” Design Development: “I crowd funded the company’s launch by selling reproductions of my linocut Christmas cards to friends and family last November through social media. They proved so popular that I decided to launch them commercially this year at PG Live. Left: Catherine Phelps, founder of Cats & Roses.

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Springboard Focus - PG Live 2017

I cut and hand-print the designs, then choose the most successful print from a short run. This is a hard decision because each individual print has its own character. Once decided on, the print is carefully scanned so that it retains all the charm and irregularities of the original.” PG Live Opportunities: “Well at the risk of stating the bleeding obvious, new retailers! I have worked out roughly that out of every 10 shops I approach I get two to stock my cards (not everybody has exquisitely good taste). That’s a lot of leg-work, so I am hoping PG Live can expose my work to a lot of stockists in a short time.” Right: Along with Cats & Roses’ Linocut Cats & Roses range, Linocut Christmas Cats & Roses, Stand 863 will also be launched at PG Live.

Andy Cordina, owner of Bettie Confetti:

Above: Bettie Confetti’s founder Andy Cordina. Above right: A 40th birthday design from Bettie Confetti.

Life Before Cards: “I've been in marketing for the last ten years and recently left my full-time job marketing in the education industry to work on my brand full time.” Design Development: “After I got married in 2014, I had some serious wedding blues. My weekends and evenings were no longer filled with making origami flowers, tissue paper tassels or hand-punched confetti and I was at a bit of a loss with what to do with all my spare time. I started hand-making cards and popped them on Etsy… and boom! it all took off from there. I've been completely overwhelmed with the response so far to my brand. I've just recently had to quit my day job so that I can focus on it full-time and really grow the business.” PG Live Opportunities: “I'd really like to meet new potential retailers that can see the point of difference in my products. I've been working with a number of independent retailers and that really works well with my brand. I'd also really love to get more into exporting my range and working with retailers outside of the UK to expand even further.” Bettie Confetti, Stand 871

Sai Pathmanathan, creative director for The Taste Buds: Life Before Cards: “I used to be a neuroscientist and moved into science communication, mainly working with school children. I’d show young people and their families how amazing science is through hands-on activities, and how science is everywhere, from our gadgets to our food... and even in the animated cartoons we watch.” Design Development: “I’ve always loved comics and cartoons and anthropomorphising foods. My work as a science education consultant (which I still do!) had become very cross-curricular and I was running workshops with young people on arts, literacy and the sciences. Children learn about homophones and rhyme in grammar, but rarely link this to the funny jokes they adore. This naturally led to me making cards with the children, allowing them to create their own puns and comical characters. This was so much fun that I started playing around with my own food-based puns on social media. And so The Taste Buds was born. I’m thoroughly enjoying the experience and am meeting so many fascinating people and organisations.” PG Live Opportunities: “I’m so looking forward to my first PG Live, not only to showcase a hilariously musical range but to meet other newbies and entice some brave people to our stand to find out if they’re a supertaster!” The Taste Buds, Stand 830 Above: Creative director for The Taste Buds, Sai Pathmanathan. Left: Some great vegetable puns feature on The Taste Buds’ cards. Continued on page 93 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Springboard Focus - PG Live 2017

Galina Pagliaro, creative director for Kapelki Art:

Above: Galina Pagliaro, creative director for Kapelki Art, whose grandfather was a famous Russian artist of fairytales. Right: One of Yuri Vasnetov’s (1900-1973) artworks reproduced on cards by Kapelki Art.

Life Before Cards: “Born in beautiful Saint Petersburg, I spent my early working life as an English teacher, later also in the Czech Republic. Five years ago my life changed, when becoming a full-time mum and focusing on my naughty, but gorgeous kids.” I remember my first Christmas in England, being so impressed with the array of greeting cards at my in-law’s that I fell in love with the British tradition of sending greeting cards. A long-held dream to share my family’s artistic heritage with the world first took wing.” Design Development: “Like so many Russian children, I grew up immersed in the fairytale world created by Yuri Vasnetov (1900-1973), my grandfather! In his studio and surrounded by his paintings, I would while away the hours listening to my grandmother reading his letters and telling her stories. Now, creating cards by focusing on my favourite details has been amazing in itself, but seeing these unusual designs becoming so popular among newcomers to Vasnetsov’s art is incredible.” PG Live Opportunities: “My dream is to introduce my grandfather’s art to the world through the tradition of sending greeting cards. I’m looking forward to meeting more retailers, learning more about the industry and bringing Kapelki Art cards to more stockists so that they can be found by future fans.” Kapelki Art, Stand 797

Lauren Jackson, founder of Boggy Made This: Life Before Cards: “Probably the more appropriate answer here is what didn’t I do! From time at a call centre as a far-too friendly (and so entirely useless) debt collector, to waitressing in restaurants and an appearance as an extra on Neighbours, my stream of past jobs have been pretty varied. But following a ‘grown-up’ role as an easily distracted copywriter, I decided to combine my love of language, wit and illustration into one and give the greeting card market a bash.” Design Development: “It began because I couldn’t find cards that made light of certain situations in a way that made me laugh. So I came up with some of my own. They’re direct and tongue-in-cheek designs but also warm and endearing – as when it comes to friends, I think humour not flattery is often most appreciated. Luckily, my experience so far has shown that many others think the same.” PG Live Opportunities: “I’d love to meet people in the industry, make a few sales, and in general, get my cards out there for plenty of others to enjoy. I’ve come to the safe conclusion now that it’s not just my mum who likes them, so the more people they make laugh, the better.” Boggy Made This, Stand 652

Above: Founder of Boggy Made This, Lauren Jackson. Left: Tongue-in-cheek humour from Boggy Made This.

David Bridgewood, managing director, and Karin Littlewood, marketing director, of Thingmeabob:

Above: Meet at PG Live David Bridgewood and Karin Littlewood of Thingmeabob. Right: A New Home design from Thingmeabob.

Life Before Cards: “So, ‘The Thing Is’, (or ‘Here Is The Thing’ for those of you in the USA), it all started when my girlfriend and I started a sweet shop named Sweet Things. It had some Monster Things images on the shop signage and children customers wanted to know the names of these Monster Things. I instinctively called them “Thingmeajig” and “Thingmeabob”. From there I knew I had ‘Some-Thing’ and that ‘NoThing’ was going to stop me developing this idea into a greeting card range. So I designed a limited range of cards, which sold like ‘NoThing Else’ from the sweet shop.” Design Development: “Now I have put ‘Every-Thing’ to the side and developed a full range of characters and cards. From ‘Sexy-Thing’ (she can turn on a sixpence and even the Christmas lights) to ‘Thing-King’ (he formed a group called Thing-King Aloud) - this card range is designed to let you say what you need to, with a smile.” PG Live Opportunities: “We are launching this whole range at PG Live 2017 in Springboard, and we have great hopes that it’s going to be ‘Some-Thing Big.’” Thingmeabob, Stand 867 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys

Embracing

Past Wonders By paper passionista Debbie Wigglesworth, founder of The Paper Collaborative and co-founder of The Paper Library.

Debbie Wigglesworth has been marveling at those who are keeping the old arts alive, including hand-marbling and bookbinding. The future will always be a reflection of the past and paper is very much part of both. Opening The Door To Translation Hand-marbled papers have been used for centuries to cover books and end papers. Many centuries old unique marbled papers feature among the eclectic mix of archaic books that adorn the shelves of the impressive Portico Library in Manchester. Having visited the space several times over the past few months I have learnt of its incredible history and recently attended the exhibition launch of Made in Translation, a collaborative project with MMU. The Portico Library was born out of a group of Manchester's Enlightenment Thinkers' desires to pool resources and share knowledge, adventures and opportunities offered by books and journals - a natural evolution of the coffee houses, book clubs and commercial libraries of the 18th century town. The library has survived until the present day and it is a sheer joy to witness the look on visitors’ faces when they enter the spectacular building for the first time. Manchester Metropolitan University's newly combined Arts and Humanities faculty has recently embraced a collaborative initiative which spans both disciplines to respond to a chosen text within the library. From Captain Cook's travels to the

Some Binding Secrets While I was at The Portico Library recently, the lovely Aoife who works there was carefully parceling up a book badly in need of being lovingly restored. She was taking it to Downie Allison Downie Bookbinders in Glasgow where she was also to attend a bookbinding workshop to help her learn how to restore these precious books. It takes a rather special company and their dedicated craftsmen to offer a service as specialised as archival book repair restoration. Downie Allison Downie Bookbinders in Glasgow are masters of their craft and their workshops in bookbinding and box making enable their knowledge to be shared. Techniques taught include paper repair, remounting of original book spines and applying new end papers. The next available workshop dates are Saturday 21 October (Book Repair) and 23 September (Box Making). Left: Some of the stunning work by Downie Allison Downie Bookbinders.

Shaker movement, hot air ballooning and fern collecting, The Portico has provided a rich source for the creative responses. Through The Paper Library I assisted with the paper selection for a rather spectacular open spine stitched artist book catalogue for this significant Made in Translation project. The book, featuring all the artists’ and writers’ work and documentation of their research was sponsored by GFSmith paper company. l Many books have been within the collection from the early 1800's and are in need of repair. Anyone can help preserve the unique collection of rare and important books by supporting Portico's 'Adopt a book' initiative sponsoring the restoration of a personally selected book from the library. Left: Mark Stansfield of The Paper Library and Lucy Biggs senior lecturer BA Graphic Design MMU, and contributor to the exhibition, discussing paper at The Portico. Below left: The Made in Translation open stitched spine catalogue/book that was beautifully designed by Jonathan Hitchen and includes Munken, Plike and Colorplan papers by GFSmith. It is available to buy for £14.95 from Portico Library.

Don’t Lose Your Marbling I was surprised to hear recently (as reported by The Heritage Craft Association) that handmarbling was among a number of ancient crafts that is deemed to be on the decline and in danger of extinction. However I actually very much doubt that hand-marbling will ever fade and die, especially seeing as marbling is one of the key fashion trends at the moment. I know a number of specialist hand-marblers, including Victoria Hall who, for the past three decades has been perfecting her craft with a particular expertise in replicating historic antiquarian marbled papers used for restoration work. In addition, she is constantly creating new richly coloured contemporary work and inspiring others to try their hand at marbling a sheet of paper. The patterns are made by floating watercolour paints on a slightly viscous liquid prepared from carrageenan (a seaweed extract, used as a thickening agent in food) and then dragging a marbling comb or rake (the latter having wider spread teeth) through the floating paint. Then, a sheet of paper is laid on the surface of the liquid in order to transfer the patterned colour onto the top surface of the sheet of paper, giving a unique result every time. Victoria's next workshop, An Introduction to Paper Marbling, will be held at the inspiring Burlingham Hall in Norfolk, on 9 and 10 November 2017. Above: The fruits from a Victoria Hall workshop - hand marbled sheets hanging to dry.

If you are interested in any of the features in Paper Journeys contact Debbie Wigglesworth email debbie@thepapercollaborative.com or call Debbie on 07718619521. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Cute News

Irresistible You Bonnie bears, playful pups and other adorable small creatures in PG’s spotlight on the current news and recent range releases within the cute card market will make our hearts melt and sigh ‘ahh’.

Forever Friends Celebrates 30 Years

Below: Forever

Many cute card characters have come along, burned Friends is 30! brightly the flame of irresistible popularity, then disappeared from furry or doe-eyed view. But the Forever Friends cute bears, since first sketched by artist Deborah Jones in 1987, have not only remained in the public’s hearts for 30 years, but have also become a well-loved brand. And from that first day the bears were ‘born’, one thing that has never changed is their dedication to helping people express love and friendship; later becoming known as ‘a hug in an envelope’. From the moment card publisher Andrew Brownsword first saw Deborah’s bears over a quarter of a century ago he loved them and put them on his cards; the bears became an instant cute hit, loved by young and old alike, but it wasn’t until 1989 that they became known as ‘Forever Friends’. Then, 13 years later, Deborah Jones handed the Forever Friends reins to the Hallmark team of illustrators, who introduced a new, fun-loving cheeky side to the bears’ personality. Now, to celebrate 30 years of Friendship with Forever Friends, Hallmark has commissioned a report to really look into what friendship means today, delving into these findings with a well-known psychologist to help analyse modern friendships. There will also be celebrations of friendships across the nation in all their individual glory across key times in the year to mark the release of Hallmark’s new contemporary style Forever Friends collection of 30th Anniversary cards in 2017. To see the full collection, and help celebrate 30 years of friendship, visit Hallmark at PG Live on stand 416.

Puppy Power! Sadly, in November last year, Nicholas Child and his partner Ross, of cute pooch card publisher The Grumble & Co, lost one of their dogs; Tilly, the little black pug. This was an extremely sad time for them until they had the chance to rehome a beautiful two year-old black boy pug called Boo. He came to join TG&C and has so much love to give! TG&C’s name derives from the term given to a group of pugs - ‘a grumble’ - and now happy in his new ‘grumble’ family, Boo will debut at this month’s PG Live, featuring on the company’s new card illustrations - his first outing as a member of TG&C! Right: The Grumble & Co’s new member Boo the pug, and a card featuring… himself.

Baby Bibs Licensing Boost In her first foray into licensing her adorable illustrations, publisher Laura Skilbeck has been working on an exciting new collaboration with House of Bibs, a company who produce beautiful quality babies and toddlers’ bibs. With the new collection just about to launch, Laura says, “I'm really pleased with how they've turned out, and I love that House of Bibs is an independent and ethical company. I'm excited about the possibility of putting my illustrations on other products and working collaboratively with other companies in the future.” Above: A gorgeous Laura Skilbeck baby bib from House of Bibs.

Woofing Wonderful, Boofle Goes Virtual UK Greetings is excited to reveal ‘Boofle’s Home’, a virtual reality experience and a first for a greeting card character to enter into this 'new' hi-tech world! After the phenomenal success of the virtual reality experience on DRi’s stand at Brand Licensing Expo, UKG decided to launch the experience on VR platforms Viveport and SteamVR. The experience allows users to join super cute pup Boofle in his virtual world where they can explore his home and engage in interactive activities like watering flowers and catching butterflies. Above: UKG’s Boofle dons his Jill Alexander, marketing headset to enter his own virtual world! communications director for UKG says, “The reaction has been really positive, we didn't know what to expect really as this is a complete new area for us and the Boofle character. Users have been making videos and recommending the experience to others; which is just fabulous for the brand profile which knows no boundaries!”

Cute Thoughts… When Jeanette Stevenson, founder of Pippi & Me, began photographing her friend’s handmade cute creatures to feature on cards, she thought the public’s passion for her cute designs would fade. Above: A Pippi & Me design. “When I first started making cute cards, about four years ago, I thought it might just be a short-lived trend thing… but no, a lot of people love cute designs, people of all ages, and men love a bit of cute too!” PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Cute New Launches

Sweet Tasters There’s lots of fresh and adorable sweet treats instore from card publishers’ newly launched cute card ranges. l Made from 100% love and cuddles, lots of wool and a little button, UKG’s Boofle has quickly become a star of cute greetings, and this June he has a contemporary new look! There are 64 brand new birthday and friendship designs, plus key captions in adult ages, life’s events and female. The designs feature fun new formats, pop-ups and topical imagery, but with Boofle’s loveable personality at the heart of every design. Additionally, UKG’s Lots of Woof has been charming card buyers for almost ten years with his cheeky antics and adorable sentiment! And 2017 is set to be no different as the cute puppy has been given an exciting upgrade. Featuring fresh colour palettes, fun fonts and bespoke envelopes, UKG can’t wait to share its 26 new designs with you! l Horace & Nim is an

expanding range of cute greeting cards for all occasions, featuring Horace, Nim and their animal friends. 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 card and come wrapped with a crisp, white envelope.

l The Grumble & Co. will be debuting its new fabulous new surface pattern collection at PG Live. Continuing with its love of illustrations for animals, TG&C has created a 16 piece collection of fabulous new colourful surface patterns, including its much-loved pugs, miniature schnauzer's and bears! The cards are blank inside, wrapped, with a brown kraft envelope.

l Rebecca Harrison Designs’

range for 2017 focuses on adorable animals with super cute expressions, all presented in a distinctive hand-sketched, personal style. The evergrowing collection features animal designs ranging from farm to woodland, safari to Arctic and most recently a 'woof' series. Keeping the range classic in black and white but with a contemporary, on-trend grey background, the animals pop out and will grab your attention with their delightful characteristics! Instagram - @rebecca_m_harrison l The hedgies are here! With the hedgehog voted Britain's most loved animal, Desito was keen to add a prickle to its endearing Whimsical range. All the Whimsical characters (featuring mice, dogs, cats, sheep and now hedgehogs) are handmade with wool, thread and lots of patience. There are 20 new designs being released, covering ages, birthday and some occasions and relations. The cards are 150mm square, printed on FSC board and come cellowrapped with a white wove envelope. l It doesn’t get much cuter than a teddy bear, and Cherry Orchard has lots of lovely cute designs in its new 5” x 7” range of cards, with open birthday captions and relations and occasions. At price code 45, these pretty foiled cards with a variety of different finishes on white backgrounds are part of a collection of a very popular range which also include designs taken from Carnival Celebrations, making them perfect for any occasion. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Cute New Launches

l These adorable super cute characters are a wonderful addition to Paper Rose’s Born to Stitch range. Each character is lovingly stitched by hand with beautiful detailed finish. The designs are carefully targeted to create that ‘ahh factor’ for retailers and recipients alike. A truly gorgeous must have range of 6” x 6” cards, framed with a white envelope. RRP £2.10. l Penguin Parade designs and produces quirky greeting cards featuring cute penguins by artist Ruth Mutch. The publisher has over 100 adorable designs covering most occasions including ages. The cards are 100mm x 150mm, come with a white envelope and cellophane and costs 95p, RRP £2.25. There are more designs on its website where you can also find out more about the artist Ruth Mutch and download a brochure www.penguinparade.co.uk. l Pippi & Me has

designed cute cards for about four years now and people seem to be loving the cute more and more! As well as bringing out more new cute designs to add to its existing Little Creature ranges, Pippi & Me will be launching a new little range at PG Live: cute Happy Birthday for the lovely family relations.

l Following on from the popular Woodland, Jungle, Dino and Doggie ranges, Helen Wiseman Illustration has created a new set of card designs featuring cute and quirky farmyard animals range, plus a farmer and his tractor! Simple, colourful and full of character, the Sheep, Pig, Goat, Cow and Sheep Dog will excite young and old alike. High quality, 14.5cm x 14.5cm square cards with a brown kraft envelope are supplied packaged and ready for sale. l Animal Fun is a new

range from illustrator card publisher Sarah Ray. The designs feature endearing animal characters illustrated by Sarah, each giving a fun message. Filled with humour, they’re quirky and cute. There are currently four designs in the range. Each card measures 140mm x 140mm, comes with a recycled brown envelope and wrapped in a cello-bag. l Laura Skilbeck’s new range combines three of her favourite things - birthday candles, bunnies, and gold foil, all in her own hand-drawn style. These landscape cards are proving popular already, and come in size A6. They are 100% recycled, die-cut by hand and printed in the UK, and packaged in biodegradable sleeves. l Jelly Armchair’s Ear for

l Cute, small and woolly -

that’s what you get from Penny Lindop Designs. The publisher’s range of small gift cards grows all the time and now has around 200 designs to choose from. Described by one stockist as ‘like sweeties at the till’, these small cards, each hand-finished with real sheep’s wool, are irresistible; customers seem unable to buy just one!

You cards are the perfect way to send a little smile to someone who needs your support. The publisher wanted to create a design that works as a sympathy card but still includes a pun! The cards are blank inside, so can be adapted to many circumstances. The designs are illustrated by Cat, in watercolour and dip pen and ink, before being printed onto FSC certified board.

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In Conversation With... Widdop And Co

A Gifted Storyteller

‘Take another look’ is the new motto of major gift company Widdop and Co, and with good reason. Launching at PG Live is Widdop and Co’s first ever greeting card ranges that are being published by the north Manchester-based business - and this is just the start. PG found out from Stephen Illingworth, director of product development at Widdop and Co, that this move into greeting cards and stationery is just part of the company’s “story telling”. PG Live sees Widdop and Co surprise visitors, not only by its presence at the show (having not exhibited there for seven years), but also by what it will be showcasing – inaugural ranges of greeting cards based on its highly popular Bambino new baby brand (that has scored well on the gift front), as well as a wedding collection under its Amore brand. In addition, the Widdop stand will be fanfaring its new distribution agreement with US lifestyle stationery and greeting card brand Studio Oh!, as well as other ‘boutique’ collections. There is no denying Widdop and Co’s strong heritage; its origins date back to 1883. This is a family business extraordinaire - five generations and counting with an impeccable business pedigree, but it is a company that is definitely not shackled by its past glories. This is evidenced in so many ways – of which its move deeper in to the greeting card sector is very much a part. Its bold

Below: Widdop and Co is now taking its popular Bambino baby brand into greeting cards for the first time, launching at PG Live.

Above: Stephen Illingworth, director of product development, with Rosanna Bowles, the founder of the Seattle-based gift and homewares company that Widdop and Co is now distributing in the UK. Bottom left: Rachel Ellen Designs is another greeting card publisher with whom Widdop and Co has forged a licensing relationship.

decision to ditch the historic Widdop Bingham company name and traditional livery with great fanfare last year, superceding it with the fresher Widdop and Co branding, that is more reflective of the company today, percolates throughout the business. The Widdop product portfolio has changed incredibly over the last few years – and you get a feeling there is a lot more to come. Widdop has always been a mainstay in the gift arena, both for product and the

service it offers, the latter underlined on May 4 when the company won the Gold award in The Greats gift retailer awards (organised by PG’s sister magazine, Progressive Gifts & Home) in the much coveted Best Service category. It is just that what the company is now offering to retailers on the product front is dramatically different to even five years ago, something that is reflected in the altering shape of its changing customer base, with more upmarket boutiques, department stores and garden centres responding to what it has to offer. “Five years ago, we launched 4,000 skus a year, 98% of which were bought off the shelf in the Far East. Now, we launch 4,000 new skus a year, 85% of which are designed either by our in-house design team, designed specifically for us or part of a licensing or distribution agreements,” explains Stephen, who joined the business nine years ago, continuing the family tradition (his father Stuart is md, and uncles Andrew and Chris are sales director and ops director respectively). “We are now, in effect, a storytelling business. We take themes or a brand and create collections around these,” says Stephen, its impressive showrooms and large PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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In Conversation With... Widdop And Co

stand at the recent Spring Fair echoes this ethos. “It is now all about telling those stories better,” Stephen adds. The company is no stranger to the greeting card industry, it spotted the potential of tapping into the design prowess and retail profile of greeting card publishers around eight years ago, when it first produced a range based on Talking Pictures, through a licensing agreement with Ling. Since then, more collaborations have been forged with UK card publishers, including Paper Salad, Wendy Jones-Blackett, Rachel Ellen Designs, Laura Darrington, Pigment Productions, Grass Roots and Velvet Olive, for starters. Taking the essence of the brands, and working closely with the publishers in question, Widdop has created gift collections that bring mutual benefits to both parties. Through licensing the card publishers have been able to extend their reach at retail at no risk (and being paid for the privilege) while Widdop has been able to leverage the trade and consumer following for the brands. While collaborations with publishers through licensing will be an ongoing part of Widdop’s approach, it is also keen to extend the ‘story’ of some of its own successful brands into greeting cards and other paper products. “We have huge success at retail with our own brands. My initial thought, going back

five years, was that we could licence our brands to card publishers for them to produce cards and wrap. But I got fed up waiting so decided to do it ourselves,” reveals Stephen. The initial focus is on two brands, Amore and Bambino. Having launched giftbags at Spring Fair for the first time under these brands, PG Live will be the official unveiling of a collection of 12-18 Amore wedding cards and 12-18 Bambino baby-related cards. The cards, which are being printed by UK printer Loxleys, reflect the sophisticated design style and subtle foiling that is evident on the established gift items.

These launches will be followed in the summer by a card collection based on Widdop’s Reflections of the Heart sentiment range and then, at the start of next year, its Signography brand will be translated into cards too. “By spring next year we will have published between 200-300 greeting cards, all helping to tell a story. We want to support our retail customers so that their customers who are buying, say a Bambino baby gift, can also buy a matching gift bag and card to go with it,” says Stephen. The Widdop and Co bijou stand that will take its place at the imminent PG Live will be telling a very different story to that which Widdop Bingham’s stand told at one of the very first PG Live exhibitions. And this story has many chapters left to run. “Right now I’d say that we will never be a major greeting card publisher,” says Stephen, before mischievously adding, “but never say never!” Top: Widdop enjoyed great success with its Paper Salad Mother’s Day gift range that was produced under licence. Far left: The new Charlestone range of figurines from Widdop and Co is based on a licensing agreement with Grass Roots greeting card company. Left: The Amore wedding gift range will now also have cards that echo the design style and tone. Bottom left: The distribution tie-up with Studio Oh! sees Widdop and Co tap into the giftable stationery trend.

Home And Away

Andrew Illingworth, sales director of Widdop and Co loves to go shopping. “It is only by going out to visit customers that you get a real feel for their business, consumer tastes and changing buying habits,” he told PG recently, his first day back in HQ after a major ‘shopping spree’ that encompassed a lot of the UK. “Retail is tough, but there are lots of retailers doing great things. I am so impressed by the new Fenwicks of Colchester store, what is happening on the garden centre front by the likes of Garsons and Frosts, plus in the independent sector with new concepts such as Zo & Co in Knutsford,” said Andrew, giving a snapshot of his recent mission. The tables are very often turned as Widdop and Co is effectively a ‘department store’ for retailers - its themed showrooms at its 120,000 sq Above: Andrew Illingworth, sales director of Widdop and Co foot premises is a cornucopia of different looks and products. with marketing manager Susan Grant on the company’s stand Adding extra facets to its ‘homegrown’ ranges are some standout at the recent Spring Fair where it launched Studio Oh!, the US stationery brand it is now distributing in the UK. brands that are now being distributed by Widdop and Co. There are a trio of notable distribution deals that have been secured recently with leading brands from the other side of the Atlantic, namely Studio Oh! stationery and card line, the design-led gift and homewares brand Rosanna, and the Lucky Feather jewellery brand. “We had picked up on the trend of giftable stationery, and then Stephen [Illingworth], when out at a trade show in California last June, met up with Studio Oh! and we were delighted to secure a distribution deal,” explains Andrew about what has been the company’s first stepping stone into stationery and cards. The Rosanna range, though closer to Widdop’s gifting homeland, tells a strong fashion story, while the Lucky Feather tie-up adds a credible jewellery gifting option. “I have meetings with several more companies lined up to visit this year so we are likely to see other brands joining our portfolio through distribution agreements in the future,” reveals Stephen.“They bring something extra for us and our customers.” PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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In Focus... Designers Guild

Pioneering

Design “Strange to think, but at that time I started my shop on the Kings Road there was really no concept of ‘lifestyle’ as we know it today,” Tricia Guild, OBE, the founder of Designers Guild and doyenne of pattern and colour told PG.“I had this idea to present a lifestyle that could offer a sense of informality with a contemporary yet decorative look - I always think it is so much easier when people can see the evidence of how something works visually by touching and feeling the products.” With both The Art Group and Deva Designs premiering new Designers Guild collections at PG Live this June, PG joins in the visual and tactile celebrations for this world leading design brand. One swipe of the Designers Guild Facebook page gives just a flavour of the huge international reach of this significant design and lifestyle brand. There is founder Tricia Guild with celebrity Anneke Rice planning the garden for RHS’ Chelsea Flower show in London, a stunning showpiece at Moscow’s MosBuild/WorldBuild exhibition, a fabulous display of its fabrics in Milan’s Erba Italia, spring wallpaper launch in Malmo, Sweden, plus screengrabs of features galore from design and lifestyle magazines all over the world. It might have started in 1970, but Designers Guild shows no signs of losing its vibrancy. In tandem with the ‘mothership’ (which comprises two shops, the wallpaper and fabric collections) there is a growing licensing programme with carefully curated licensees, including The Art Group, Deva Designs and Blueprint, who all share the brand’s ethos. Above right: Just two of the female relations designs in The Art Group’s Designers Guild new mini collection that is being launched at PG Live in June. Right: One of the designs in Deva Designs' Aubriet collection. Left: Tricia Guild, OBE, the founder and creative director of Designers Guild.

Blueprint Collection’s Designers Guild gift stationery range was awarded the accolade of Best Brand Licensed Gifting Product or Range in the recent prestigious industry Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards (organised by PG’s owner Max Publishing). Deva Designs, one of the early licensee pioneers of the Designers Guild, is enjoying great success having rejoined the programme, while The Art Group hails the launch of its inaugural Designers Guild greeting card range (at the recent Spring Fair) as one of the most successful in the company’s history. Reggie Pugh, creative director of The Art Group, is in no doubt as to what makes the brand stand out from the crowd. “Designers Guild has something that no other design brand can touch. It has stood the test of time by constantly moving forward. Collection after collection, the colour work and patterning is amazing.” Reggie was never in any doubt as to how the PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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In Focus... Designers Guild

Pioneering words

imagery could be translated from wallpaper and fabric onto cards. “Designers Guild’s breadth of style, as well as the immaculate finishes on the wallpaper designs, really lends themselves to greeting cards.” Having received such positive feedback to the inaugural range from retailers and their end consumers, PG Live sees The Art Group unveil two additional Designer Guild card ranges, a wedding collection (of 10 designs) as well as five female relations designs. While Reggie explains that The Art Group’s first collections are based on Designer Guild’s current collections, the publisher is itching to delve back into the archives, which Above: One of the designs in Deva's Delahaye collection. Right: Some of the items in Blueprint Collections’ award winning gift stationery range. Below: The Art Group is now building on its inaugural Designers Guild greeting card range by adding wedding and female relations designs. The cards come with a bespoke Designers Guild marbled envelopes and include various finishes such as multi-level embosses and metallics.

Tricia Guild, OBE, the founder and creative director of Designers Guild, started something very special back in 1970, but what is even more special is how the brand, which began as a few products, has gone on to make such an impact on our aesthetic appreciation. Providing inspiration to everyone who has a dream, Tricia tells her story:“I began with just a few items that I put together. It was a small business with a small amount of money, but so rewarding when I found that it seemed to work for people and I realised that I had found my passion and drive. I then started researching textiles to use in my shop and for projects I was working on, but felt so frustrated at the lack of designs that I felt inspired by. This led me to designing the first collection, which was a set of Indian block prints, and I have continued from that point to where we are today.” The company’s international expansion did not really take off until 16 years later when Tricia’s brother Simon Jeffreys joined the company. “This enabled the business to progress further and today we have grown into an international, luxury lifestyle brand – available in over 50 markets worldwide, producing everything for the home – from fabric, wallpaper and paint, to furniture and home accessories. But although we have grown in size, the vision remains the same – to create beautiful products that are innovative and of the utmost quality,” assures Tricia. While forever steadfast in steering the creative direction of the business, Tricia is also very supportive of the licensing activity and sees this as amplifying the brand’s presence in people’s lives such as through greeting cards, giftwrappings and stationery. “Our customers are thrilled that our business is expanding into many avenues and that our products are even more accessible to have in the home. Our lifestyle designs enable us to work across many platforms and we love to work with new licensees, and we are always looking to broaden our licensing range,” she says. she believes “really do chronicle the trends of the day, in so many ways these trends were in fact set by Designers Guild.” While The Art Group is new to the Designers Guild licensing programme, Deva Designs has archives of its own! The giftwrapping company’s collaboration with Designers Guild dates back to the 1990s, when the wrappings company tapped into the potential for Tricia Guild’s bold and sophisticated designs for giftwrap and accessories.

Guilding More Of The Lily In addition to The Art Group, Deva Designs and Blueprint Collections, an active licensing programme, being driven by Libby Grant (of We Are Bloom), is continuing to blossom. On top of kitchen accessories from Ulster Weavers, bedding from Bedeck, fashion accessories from Quintessential, there is also a collection of products from British soap company Heyland and Whittle. Right: A couple of the products from the Heyland and White Designers Guild collection which launched exclusively in John Lewis and the Designer Guild shops.

And now, almost three decades on, and the Designers Guild brand features strongly once again in Deva’s 2017/18 portfolio. Having just launched the new collections to its salesforce, Deva will be premiering its new Designers Guild array, based on Designer Guild’s Aubriet, Issoria and Delahaye design concepts, at PG Live. “It’s not just the fabulously original handpainted artwork that sets Designers Guild apart. It’s their attention to detail with the juxtaposition of contrasting colours and patterns, and such considered details of the embellishments,” elaborates Andrew Maddock, managing director of Deva Designs. Summing up the aesthetic prowess of the brand, he added: “As ever, Designers Guild doesn’t follow the trends it sets them!” PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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110_112_PG_June 2017_Art Source 16/05/2017 14:47 Page 110

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

111_113_49/51 12/05/2017 15:50 Page 1

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

Samantha Neville Ever since I was really young I have loved drawing and painting, and I could always be found with my head in a sketch book. I generally love anything 'crafty' and will have a go at anything to keep my work fresh and new! I attended art college, where I initially studied fashion and textiles, but I soon found my passion for illustration and design when I went to university, so I decided to specialise in that discipline for my degree. I grew up in beautiful North Devon, and last year I moved back after many years of working as a professional artist, illustrating for Christmas and Everyday product, as well as gift packaging and social stationary, which luckily have sold all over the world. Over the years I have illustrated and published many greeting cards and I still love it! It’s lovely to spot them when I'm out and about in the shops! I love working freelance and love the relationship I have with my art agency and its belief in me as an artist. I especially love

painting in watercolour; it’s so accidental and beautiful to paint with. I love scrapbooking too... I think there’s something really charming about keeping things that inspire you over the years, from pieces of fabric to old scraps of paper, even if it’s just the colour of a button or an old stamp to inspire me. I have old suitcases full of hundreds of things I have collected! I am very lucky to work from home - painting and sketching ideas everyday - whilst trying to keep my two cats from stepping in my paints... I'm sure they would like to have a go too! l Contact: Anne at Image Source -

Art Licensing l Email: anne@image-source.co.uk l Web: www.image-source.co.uk

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

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ARTSOURCE

TO APPEAR REGULARLY IN THE

ARTSOURCE SECTION OF PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON

01234 740 051

What ever sheet size you require, we can print. DIGITAL

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

FLEXI

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ART SOURCE Rae Ritchie

I am an illustrator and pattern surface designer based in beautiful Minneapolis in the United States. My work, focused on flowers, ferns and star-filled skies, aims to capture the magic and wonder in every day. Fond memories of being raised by a musician father and a photographer/gardening fanatic mother created an environment conducive to a career in the arts. I studied Apparel Design & Development at University of Wisconsin - Stout. Then, working for nearly nine years in the fashion industry, I designed women’s and kid’s fashion accessories, but found the most joy in creating prints and graphics for these products. Always painting on the side, I decided to start picking up freelance clients in the fabric and gift industries, working towards a full-time business. It felt like a leap of faith, but it ended up being one of the best decisions I have made. My watercolour and gouache creations are greatly inspired by the lushness of nature, classic children's books and old photographs. I also find great inspiration from antique packaging, slightly macabre children’s media (such as the film Coraline and books by illustrator Edward Gorey), and antique botanical illustrations. Working in a sunny, plant filled room in my home, I create work mainly used in bolt fabric and the gift industry. Hand-lettering is becoming a personal favourite to work into my nature-focused works. My favourite clients include Dear Stella Design, Design House Greetings, Workman Publishing, LA Times, Sellers Publishing and Creative Apparel Concepts. When not creating art, I spend my time growing flowers, running along Minnehaha Creek and appreciating nature. l Contact: Rae’s agent Jennifer Nelson l Email: jennifer@jennifer-nelson-artists.com l Web: www.jennifer-nelson-artists.com

Jo Spicer Three years ago I made the leap from working as an in-house studio designer to becoming freelance. With over a decade of experience working in various in-house roles - as a studio manager for a giftwrap company and as a greeting card design manager - it was time for a change, and I haven’t looked back since. With a degree in textiles and fashion, specialising in surface decoration, my love for pattern, surface markings and delicacy comes through in my art. Inspired by textiles old and new, lace, art, jewellery, fashion and interiors, I combine my love of pattern with my interest in colour, always developing my art with different points of interest. Over the past year since joining the fabulous team at Bright I have been able to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of working as a freelance artist, with the positive support from my agents and the loyal clients I work with. Most of my work is now created by hand, which is where my training started, using watercolours, inks and drawing in pencil and pen, then scanning and using the complimentary tools of the Mac. The variety of work that I cover keeps my creative brain ticking. Being freelance allows me to have time away from my desk, to visit places to stimulate my imagination for new ideas as it is ever a challenge in such a highly competitive arena. In-house training was hugely beneficial to me in the first part of my career, and has enabled me to work commercially from my own studio at home, giving me the flexibility I need to maintain a fresh approach to my work and keep me happy in what I love to do. l Contact: Hannah at the Bright Agency at Hannah@brightartlicensing.com l Tel: 0207 326 9140 l Website: www.brightartlicensing.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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S TE P HA N I E

D Y M E N T

see you there! P U B L I S H E R S

O F

B E A U T I F U L L Y

F I N I S H E D

C A R D S

N EW DES I G N S L AU NCH I NG AT P G L I V E | S TA N D 4 3 0 studio@stephaniedyment.com | 01494 581775 | www.stephaniedyment.com

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PG asked a selection of card retailers for their ‘hot’ card sellers. Janey and Will Apps, partners of Paper Turtle, Lewes A small boutique card shop in a country town with a local and tourist customer base. Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Humour

Rosie Made A Thing

Gin And Frolics

Cath Tate

History Notes

Art

Louise Mulgrew Designs

Across The Board

Contemporary

Dandelion Stationery

Words Of Wisdom

The Art File

Sara Miller London

Ruth Jackson

Pencil Shavings Cards

Artebene

Across The Board

'Spot on' humour - told just 'as it is' - quirky and different. Very up to date - The Fruitcake in the White House title has been great. Gorgeous inky wash drawings featuring clever occasions ideas - the Lobster Wedding card and the New Baby Turtle card are my particular favourites. A range like no other covering occasions with Above: Louise Mulgrew's adorable Lobster card couple. unusual words and thoughts. Customers are particularly loving The Piccadilly Set range bought out this year - art with subtle humour combined. They are also a great size and price point. People are always amazed that they feature 'real' pencil shavings! The New Baby Chick card was the first to sell out - adorable. Excellent quality roll wrap and sheets - the plain kraft paper rolls are particularly popular.

Handmade/ Hand-Finished Giftwrappings

Savita Marsh, co-owner of Northwood Cards & Gifts, Northwood, London A medium shop in a small town with a loyal locals customer base. Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Carlton (UKG)

Percy and Peggy

Humour

Paperlink

Bottomline, Sassy, Wrinklies

Pigment

Etched

Above right: Gaia is a beautiful floral range from Almanac (GBCC). Right: Pigment's Etched range is stylish and funny!

Berni Parker Designs

Ladies Who Love Life

Art

Medici Cards (GBCC)

Blue Label

Almanac Gallery (GBCC) Ling

Gaia Galleria

Paperlink

Mimosa

Nigel Quiney Five Dollar Shake

Wendy Jones-Blackett

Pizazz Gold Dust, Moonbeams and Butterflies, One for the Boys Quicksilver

We love these new cute colourful cards covering occasions and relations. We have one stand dedicated to Paperlink humour and we are constantly reordering! Customers can always be heard laughing out loud. These cards are so stylish - in black and white designs - yet funny without being too rude. A quirky funny range that’s been very popular with our older bridge and golfplaying customers. After all this time still a consistent sellers with our older customers. Beautiful flower art for any occasion. Classic stylish Ling’s designs in a new square format with a white border. A favourite with all our customers. Particularly strong for us in ages and occasions. The male Pizazz are proving top sellers for us! There’s still a huge following for these beautiful hand-finished cards after all these years.

Belly Button

Paloma

Paperbird

General

Contemporary

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Children’s

For those who like a small card, simple age designs or pretty designs for females, but also good male designs. They work well on a spinner. Simple, stylish with classy colours. They new Engagement design is one of my favourites in the shop at present! Particularly funky, simple and colourful kids’ designs. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Rush Design half pagePG 2017.pdf

10/05/2017

16:48

CMY

Fossil Collection Just a little note

Info @rushbylorraine.co.uk greetings cards www.rushdesign-uk.com 01788 521745

Just a little note Just a little note

PG LIVE 2017 Stand 166

greetings cards

come see us at PG LIVE 2017 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Stand 788 contact IAn Morgan +44 77 8668 2381 email Enquiries@justalittlenote.co.uk

www.JustalittleNote.co.uk

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Colin Cramb, co-owner of Coles of Sidmouth, Sidmouth, Devon A small shop in a seaside town with a loyal locals, tourists and destination shoppers customer base. Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Paper Rose

Lovelily

Humour

Twizler

Taking the Michael

Paper House (GBCC)

Animalfunction

Paperlink Dog’s Paw

Sassy Up Your Street

Photographic

Cudz

Hosiere

Handmade/ Hand-Finished Children’s

Second Nature

Buttoned Up

Hallmark

Disney, DC, Marvel

Ancillary

Hallmark

Itty Bittys

Timeless and elegant designs appealing highly to our age demographic. Very popular. Not too rude. Many customers stand and giggle at this quick selling range. The use of modern scenarios where wild animals act like humans provides many laughs. Women love these and send them to girl pals. Above: A Wonder-Woman Itty Bitty from Hallmark. Quirky humour with a local bias make these cards extremely appealing to our local customers. Combines local photography with a touch of humour and cartoon characters. This range constantly and quickly disappears to locals and tourists, who buy them by the handfuls. A fantastic new range using sequins and buttons. Glitzy and popular, the finishes attract the eye. The comic characters strike a chord with adults and kids. Highly connected to popular TV and film. Cute, cuddly, trendy, well-made and hugely appealing to everyone, as well as collectors. And there’s a tight link to the children's licensed cards.

Georgia Dorling, marketing manager for The Alphabet Gift Shop, Burton-On-Trent and Mickleover, the Midlands Two large gift and card shops specialising in personalised gifts, in historic towns with a loyal locals customer base. Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Hammond Gower

Piano

Cute

Think Of Me

Wish

Humour

Rosie Made A Thing

General

Contemporary

Belly Button Designs

Copperfield

Art

Real & Exciting Designs

Children’s

Think Of Me

Panache By Sarah Curedale Ink-Ages

Giftwrappings

ArteBene

Circus

Customers give these small A6 size cards as a kind gesture for friends, even when there isn’t an occasion. The funny sayings are relatable and customers often buy multiples of them. The bright watercolour effect imagery and thoughtful messages mixed with a touch of gold foiling is eyecatching for customers and offers something extra special. Cute illustrations with relatable and funny quotes – with customers finding the ‘perfect one’ that fits their friends! The natural board mixed with bright 3D copper print and contemporary brush script are very on trend. The watercolour floral designs mixed with 3D copper wording gives a traditional style card a modern and fresh look which customers love! The simple stripe design mixed with a glittery 3D effect giant number, is simple yet striking, perfect for marking the important ages as little ones grow up. The black and white print mixed with neon oranges is eye-catching and different to any other giftwrap we have on offer. The random collage effect of real and drawn animals is great for animal lovers and the random effect of the imagery mixed with the neon colours makes it great for all occasions, any gender and any age.

Above right: The stunning ArteBene Circus giftwrap collection. Right: A design from Real & Exciting's gorgeous Panache range.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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LYNN’S LINES

Lesson Plan

Lynn Tait, philanthropist, innovator, creative, greeting card sage and charity fundraiser, has been a huge support to fledgling card publishers with her wise words, encouragement and advice - and many late night telephone calls and emails - for many years, and was the pioneer and instigator, along with PG’s Jakki Brown, of The Ladder Club. As Lynn is rather poorly this month, PG asked some Ladder Clubettes to impart the best lessons they have learned from this special industry 'fairy godmother'.

“

Lynn has taught me about how friendly the greeting card industry is. She is also such a fantastic support to The Ladder Clubbies, always commenting and liking posts on the Club’s Facebook page, and she stops by everyone's stands at the trade fairs to see how we're going. Lynn you are one in a million, I hope you feel better soon!" Lizzie Chancellor, founder of Lizzie Chancellor

“

Lynn is amazing and is always happy to offer help, advice and support! She gives great encouragement to new publishers, which helps build your confidence. When I think of Lynn I always think of her saying, “Never display your cards in cellobags at a trade show.” This always makes me chuckle when I think of it as I did this when I first started out but have never done it since hearing Lynn's words of wisdom! Thanks for being amazing Lynn!” Alexa Stretton, founder of Always Sparkle

This is a photo of me wrapped in polythene. Which didn’t quite work out as well in practice as it did in my head, but the reason behind it is that Lynn always says not to display your cards at a trade show in their cellobags as you and your potential customers can’t see the cards properly. So now, following her advice, we don’t. Lynn was right. We were wrong. So here I am holding one of our unwrapped cellobags, which you can see clearly, and me in a cellobag, to make the point!” Mark Coulson and Hannah Macleod, co-owners of Coulson Macleod

“

A lesson to learn from Lynn would be to just keep at it. Lynn’s stoicism and strength of character is to be admired, not to mention her amazing efforts with charity work, enjoying her grandchildren and running a business all at the same time! I first met Lynn at The Ladder Club back in 2011, a seminar which ultimately inspired me to pursue my journey into the greeting card world. Since then, Lynn has always been on hand for any advice or to answer any questions (even if it is at 3am in the morning!). I think it’s an amazing achievement by Lynn to build such an extensive learning hub for newbies into this industry and she is always very encouraging no matter what stage you are at, because ultimately she wants everyone to succeed." Megan Purdie, founder of Megan Claire

“

One of the many wonderful things Lynn has taught us over the years is to be unique; to stand out from the crowd and not go down the same road as everyone else. She made us think outside the box and that’s something we have designed our business around! Lynn encouraged us to conquer our fear of public speaking by getting us up on stage at The Ladder Club… and now she can’t get us to stop talking! Thanks for being such an inspiration to us and the industry! ( Ps Claire was on holiday when the photo was taken)." Karen Wilson and Claire Frost, founders of Paper Salad

“

Lynn has been a massive help to us over the last couple of years, right from the first moment we we met her. She has always looked out for us and her wealth of knowledge has been so extensive, we just wouldn’t have got to where we are now without her mentoring. To invest so much time into nurturing new publishers is a selfless act. Lynn is one of kind." Amanda and Frank Mountain, coowners of Lola Design PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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LYNN’S LINES

“

The Day One Ladder Club I attended in 2014, when just starting out, was the most helpful, inspirational and meaningful seminar I've ever attended in terms of advice, relevance and fraternity - in large part thanks to Lynn for her generous, unstinting support and advice to new publishers. In particular, I took on board Lynn's advice, from a retailer's perspective, to design cards in the same format, be that landscape/portrait/square, so that this lends cohesion to a display either in a shop or at an exhibition." Catherine Kleeli, founder of Catherine Kleeli

“

Thanks so much Lynn for being so caring and inspiring. I only first came to The Ladder Club last November, but since then I have learned so much about the greeting card industry and have found a wonderful, supportive network through the Club and its Facebook page. I love your energy, enthusiasm and the genuine care you express for us all. Thank you so much!” Sarah Lovell, founder of Sarah Lovell Art

I met Lynn for the first time four years ago at The Ladder Club and was completely bowled over by everything she has done for newbies like me starting in the industry! That first Ladder Club kicked me into starting my card company, and it's the best thing I ever did! My hubby, Gordon is now also on-board helping me out too, and I can honestly say we have a new life we really love, and this is all because of you Lynn! You are an inspirational woman. A huge ‘THANK YOU’ from both of us, and wishing you well as soon as possible" Mabel Forsyth, founder of Pink Pig

“

“ “

Dear Lynn, we send our best wishes to you all the way from the North, we hope you're feeling better soon. Having met you only twice you have certainly made your mark on us, whether it be your incredible energy for everything or invaluable Ladder Club advice, we just want to thank you.” Katie and Mike, co-owners of Katie Phythian Design

Thank you Lynn for your encouragement and wise words, but mostly for your personal touch, having time for everyone, even ringing me when I most needed advice. Your input has made a huge difference to my business.” Sarah Kelleher, founder of Sarah Kelleher

“

As a relative newbie on the greeting card scene, it was quite daunting not really knowing anyone, or the dos and don’ts of the industry. But having been to my first Ladder Club seminar last year and joined the Facebook group, it’s been so reassuring to hear Lynn’s words of wisdom and her constant encouragement to share stories and questions and interact with the rest of the ever-so friendly community. She’s like a guardian angel over us all, with a genuine will for everyone to succeed. Thank you Lynn!” Lucy Player, founder of Hoppy Bunnies

“

My favourite tip from Lynn, which is a real bugbear of hers, is: "Don’t display your cards with cellobags on them at trade shows, because they give off a lot of glare from the lights and are difficult for buyers to see. I love Lynn dearly and am so grateful to have had the privilege of serving her Ladder Club community for 14 years this year.” Jeremy Corner, md of Blue Eyed Sun

“

Lynn has been so supportive to me and Wraptious, not only in offering words of encouragement while we were starting out, but continued support and advice. No question and request has been too much trouble for Lynn, and it's been an absolute joy meeting her, with her boundless energy, at all the shows. Thank you so much.” Simon Wadsworth, founder of Wraptious

“

Within half an hour of each other, I got my first big sale or return order and another order from an export distributor. It was a month after my first trade show and I completely panicked! I almost signed a deal that would most likely have broken my business, or at least given me severe cashflow issues, but 30 minutes on the phone to Lynn soon put me right! Lynn’s advice was spot on - I was too small and it was too soon to be dealing with brokerage. In the end, I managed to negotiate. I had fully intended to walk away if necessary, purely because of the words of wisdom from Lynn. Huge, huge thanks!” Penny Taggart, founder of Bonnie Blackbird

“

I just want to say a few words in gratitude to you Lynn. From The Ladder Club I attended in 2014 to where I am today, none of this would be have been possible without your words of encouragement, wisdom and kindness, and the constant input on The Ladder Club. You're such an inspiration! My love to you." Gabrielle Izen, founder of Gabrielle Izen

Lynn started as a customer and has become a friend. As a customer she is just so encouraging and complimentary that you want to pull out all the stops! Since becoming involved with The Ladder Club I have been blown away by how this also translates in helping so many new publishers with their businesses and ideas - always encouraging, always positive, always there to reassure and work through their anxieties. She truly is one in a million! We have everything crossed for her.” Wendy Jones-Blackett, co-founder of Wendy Jones-Blackett PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

123

on to Su lin the bs cr e n at ew ib PG s e Bu flas zz h .n et From the team behind Progressive Greetings Worldwide, PG Live, The Retas and The Henries, PGBuzz.net has launched as the new online central resource for the greeting card sector online... ●

Twice weekly newsflash delivered to over 9000 inboxes

●

Regularly updated jobs-board

●

The very latest news, views, articles and analysis

●

Digital issues of Progressive Greetings Worldwide

News, Editorial and Content Opportunities: Jakki Brown Joint md & editorial director jakkib@max-publishing.co.uk Michelle Board News editor michelleb@max-publishing.co.uk

Advertising, Recruitment and Sponsorship Opportunities:

●

Dedicated pages for the GCA and The Ladder Club

Warren Lomax warren@max-publishing.co.uk

●

Up to date information on PG Live, The Retas, and The Henries

Tracey Arnaud traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

News • PG Worldwide • Interviews • PG Live • Newsflash • Events Gallery • Jobs • Ladder Club • GCA 124_PG_June 2017.indd 1

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125-132_Product Directory June 2017_v2 16/05/2017 12:43 Page 125

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

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

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Emscote Mill, Wharf Street, Warwick, CV34 5LB Tel: 01926 747935 www.isitart.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

Acting as the exclusive, direct-to-retail, UK Independent trade distributor for five market leading greeting card & gift publishers: Blue Mountain Arts Emotional Rescue Gemma Danilo Promotions Saffron Cards & Gift Our portfolio of product covers all genres including sentiment, contemporary art, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;off the wallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; humour & licensed juvenile characters.

or email traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

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Tracey Arnaud

07957 212 062

or email traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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A Hi

NEW CHRISTMAS 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

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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, wrap, bbags, ags, ttissue, issue, rribbon, ibbon, cards, gift gift wrap, 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

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WISHES

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

Diwali

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

A w o n d e rf u l id! Eid

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

Eid

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

Online Shop www.colneisgreetingcards.com

Ch nese Chinese

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

HE IS

THE

WAY

THE AND TRUTH

LIFE

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Welsh TM

GRASS ROOTS

INTERNATIONAL

G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL

Polish P olish o sh

and more!

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.

Tel: T Te el: e 0161 1 641 64 641 0655 0655 06 Email: sales@davora.co.uk E m mail: sales@davora.co.uk sales@da

Colour House Graphics

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

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

M ETHOD OF SALE

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

Direct to Retail

G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL 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

Happy Birthday

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; STAND 85

Have a hound of a time!

PGLIVE

Greeting cards â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NEW DESIGNS

from the

Have a purr-fect day!

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

0800 7710771

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

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

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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)

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.

H OTC H P OTC H PUBLISHING

L U X U RY C A R D S P R O U D LY M A D E I N T H E U K

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

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Order s can be placed on our trader site

w w w. c b g t r a d e r. c o. u k or call our customer ser vice team on

+44(0)1243 792600

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Silk Screened Retro, Pop & Classic Cards Inspired by Music and 1960’s American Advertising.For all Vinyl & Rock n’Roll lovers

L E T U S TA K E YOU BAC K

For further details please get in touch.

info@vincentmcevoy.com

+44 (0)7779 578340

LING DESIGN

60 years

Products 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.

The UK’s leading privately owned publisher of Greetings Cards and Stationery. ...The home for

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

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

Brand Names

Rawson Rise launching at

PG LIVE Stand 661

Pizazz, Pizazz Gallery, Pizazz Jewell, Pizazz for Men, What a Picture, Time Out, Bon Bon, Marshmallow Cloudesley House • Shire Hill • Saffron Walden • CB11 3FB T: 01799 520200 F: 01799 520100 www.nigelquiney.com

www.marinab.co.uk marina@marinab.co.uk Agents Wanted

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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paperlink... pap erlink... the home of fa fabulous bulous cards!

356 56 Kennington Rd London SE11 4LD T 020 7582 8244 info@paperlink.co.uk @paperlink.co.uk www.paperlink.co.uk

Suppliers of humorous & contemporary Birthday, Christmas, Spring Seasons, Occasions & Relations cards

originalposter.com

All our cards are supplied on consignment, so you only pay for what you sell. We also supply card fixtures and spinners free-on-loan.

Brands include: Bottomline, Bestie, Wrinklies, Hat Trick, Route 69, Bangers & Flash, Humdingers, Lacie, Sassy, Stay Wonky, Patisserie, Tinklers, Made With Love, and many many more! Method of Sale: Direct P Paperlinkcards aperlinkcards @paperlinkcards @ paperlinkcards

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

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact

Warren Lomax on:

020 7700 6740

Design-led Stationery, Gifts, Calendars, Diaries and Cards Brands Laura Ashley, Roald Dahl, Lily & Val, Vintage Ladybird, Caroline Gardner, Monsoon, Born to Shop, Flash Gordon, Boofle and many more. Our In-house design studio and established supply chain enables us to offer bespoke services. tel: +44 (0) 1225 329494 email: sales@porticodesigns.com website: www.porticodesigns.com

130

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

Tracey Arnaud on:

07957 212 062

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

125-132_Product Directory June 2017_v2 16/05/2017 12:44 Page 131

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

LING DESIGN

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

Greeting Cards that are unique & special with creative wit. Looking for top-notch agents to join our expanding team.

rosierobins.com 01992 536461

Products: 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

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

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.

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 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 UNIQUE UNIQ QUE U PERSONALISED PERSONALISED CARDS

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

Wee of W offer ffer f a COMPRE COMPREHENSIVE HENS

range of high quality qua Gr eeting Car ds ffor o Greeting Cards ALL Occasions Occasions,, CHRISTMAS HRISTMAS and Spring Seasons. Seasons Method of Sale: D Direct to Retail

Market Leaders in

Verse

& entimen

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

Tel: T e el: 01942 01942 233201 233201

an extensive range of superior quality,

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

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

DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT

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

TEL: 01480 435562 FAX: 01480 450599 www.tracksltd.com

Top-notch British Greeting Cards for Thoughts that Count

UNIT 2, 12 BLACKSTONE RD, STUKELEY MEADOWS IND EST, HUNTINGDON, CAMBS, PE29 6EF

132

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

01923 200600 | www.woodmansterne.co.uk

133_Wholesale Directory June 2017_whole sale dirSeptember 2004 16/05/2017 12:28 Page 133

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

To appear in the Wholesale Directory simply call Warren Lomax on

25 Dickson Street, Liverpool L3 7EB

HERTS & LONDON

SUMAN BROS

Stationery and greeting card wholesaler

020 7700 6740

Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL

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:

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;¢

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 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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CLASSIFIED

BAGS

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 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

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

PAPER

134-138_Classified June 2017_Layout 1 16/05/2017 12:26 Page 135

CLASSIFIED

ENVELOPES

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, LES GROUP GR ROUP R O WINDLES 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

PJ Print (London) The Capitals only Greetings card printer You name it what ? We can do it. With probably the most comprehensive range of card finishing in the

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

UK card market PJ Print The answer to all your card production needs

PJ - PRINT E-mail: sales@pj-print.co.uk The Print Works Colville Road, Acton London W3 8BL tel 020 8993 5160 www.pj-print.co.uk

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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CLASSIFIED

PRINTERS

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.

136

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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CLASSIFIED

PRINTERS

CLASSIFIED

WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

The Professional and Caring Approach..

... to 3rd Party Warehouse, Distribution and Hand Finishing needs. With over 25 years experience in the Greeting Card and Gift Industry, we specialise in providing a very fast yet efficient and friendly service to all of our customers. Our close links to the port of Felixstowe allowing excellent access for both UK and overseas business.

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

info@hellocards.co.uk

www.hellocards.co.uk

We would be happy to talk to you and provide further information please contact either: James Smithies on 01449 778360 e: james@setinhand.com Tracy Davies on 01449 778363 e: tracy@setinhand.com Please visit our website at www.setinhand.com for further information.

Your Success Is Our Success

LB Warehousing (Women in Transport & Logistics Finalist) • LITHO PRINT • DIGITAL PRINT • FOILING • EMBOSSING • FLOWRAPPING

• DIE-CUTTING • FLITTERING • PACKING • DISTRIBUTION • INSERTING

S AME DAY order turnaround A CCURATE fulfilment and same day turn round V ALUE ADDED only as you sell the product E XCLUSIVELY Greeting Cards D EDICATED Account Managers With an excellent reputation we work as an integral part of your TEAM bringing much more than fulfilment. Our costing structure is SIMPLE and TRANSPARENT. We carry out ALL aspects of hand finishing and assembly and provide whatever ADDITIONAL services YOU need Our select team of outworkers carefully hand wrap any size or format of cards urgently, OVERNIGHT! We CARE about your product as much as you do. Attention to detail, QC Issues and IT supported by a comprehensive paper trail for all stock movements are our hallmarks. Our CAN DO approach means that WE solve your problems. Outsourcing your warehousing operation releases your time to CREATE/MARKET/SELL/ MANAGE/GROW THE BUSINESS

Tel: 01274 531828 Contact Chris Sharman. Email: chriss@herbertwalkers.co.uk

YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS, please visit our web site and see what OUR customers say, then to find out more call Lynda Raymond and perhaps we can

www.herbertwalkers.co.uk

arrange to meet and discuss your needs I am sure that we can help. LB Warehousing, Units 1, 2 &3 Wayside Warehouses, Toseland, Near St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. PE19 6RX Tel 01480 880800 Fax 01480880900 Mobile 07889 399341 lynda@lb-warehousing.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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CLASSIFIED

DISPLAY AND SPINNERS

CLASSIFIED

DISTRIBUTORS REQUIRED

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

Home of the Wire Spinner Stand

CALLING PROFESSIONAL GREETING CARDS DISTRIBUTORS Our constant stream of new products continues to present outstanding oppo unities for well-established distributors. This is a superb oppo unity to link with a quality publisher of greeting cards and allied products. For fu her information please email us and we will respond immediately.

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. To appear in the Classified pages simply contact

Warren Lomax 020 7700 6740

NEXT EPISODE PUBLISHING, CAMBRIDGE Email: cardworkstrading@btconnect.com

Immerse yourself in the greeting card world

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

APPOINTMENTS

Production Manager

BRAINBOX CANDY NEEDS YOU!

originalposter.com

At OPC we publish and distribute over seven million cards every year in eight countries through our Franchise network. We have a vacancy for an experienced Greeting Card Production Manager. You will be responsible for ordering all greeting cards, gift wrap, gift bags, envelopes and displays. High standards and an eye for detail are essential. You will also be expected to manage multiple projects at the same time. Ideally you will have 5 years experience in a similar role within the industry. This role may provide an opportunity at a later stage to support production tasks for other companies in the Cathay Investments Group. Contact Sarah Brown sarahb@originalposter.com

Hello! We are looking for a Sales Manager and also additional Agents to work with our ever-growing award winning ranges and customer base in the UK. Candidates must have a proven track record in the greeting card industry. To appear in the Product Directories simply contact

Sales Manager position will ideally be based DW RXU KHDG RIĂŚFH LQ /HLJK RQ 6HD (VVH[ Contact: mark@brainboxcandy.com

Warren Lomax

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

Tracey Arnaud

07957 212 062 or email on traceya@max-publishing.co.uk 138

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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