Progressive Greetings May June 2020

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From The Editor

ON THE CARDS

CONTENTS

Welcome back! As you read this, no doubt many of you will be keenly anticipating opening up again whether as a retailer, a publisher, a wholesaler or a manufacturer. It’s certainly not going to be a return to business as normal and there will be many challenges ahead, but at least we’re getting back in the game.

Every one of us has no doubt endured some level of business pain and discomfort and we all know there are going to be some very difficult times ahead, but the 160,000 cards sent to Colonel Tom are a fitting testament to how important the greeting card industry is to the UK public.

Like many of you, we (at PG) have had some tough decisions to make as well as accept that some situations are out of our control. Not least has been the postponement of PG Live until September 2-3, and, for the first time since Warren and I first started publishing Progressive Greetings almost 30 years ago, we had to miss a month and combine the May PG with the June issue, but the fact that we have been able to publish this joint issue, with a rib-tickling Humour supplement to

5-17 News 20-23 Viewpoints The Lockdown Afterlife

Above: PG’s Jakki Brown (bottom second left) was among the cast of 30 on the ‘Send a card, deliver a smile film’.

With This Issue

Focus On Humour Cards boot, is thanks to so many friends and supporters in the trade.

I would also like to extend a big metaphysical hug to all those of you have contributed to our PG Buzz enewsletter over the last 11 weeks, all who have provided so much to talk about in our regular Zoom get togethers and not forgetting my fellow cardie ‘cast’ of the wonderful ‘Send a card, deliver a smile’ instigated by the GCA, superbly written and produced by Lanther Black’s Jack and Dominique. As an industry sticking together, and giving to support to friends, suppliers, customers and competitors, we have done ourselves proud!

29-31 Innovations New products set to pep up those dusted down card racks.

32-33 Jeremy’s Journal Costing The Earth

Members of the greeting card community reveal all!

24-25 Over The Counter Thank God For Cards And Netflix

@Prog_Greetings

PS… With the disruption caused by Covid-19 we have just made the decision to change the entry and judging process for this year’s Henries to be totally online. We are fast tracking the new website as quickly as we can, but wanted to let you know.

Blue Eyed Sun’s Jeremy Corner on how to be a sustainable retailer.

David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland looks at what he has learned over the last few months.

34 What’s Hot? A duo of retailers share their best sellers online during lockdown.

26-27 Cardsharp Time To Roll Our Sleeves Up PG columnist’s musings on the ‘getting back to work’ process and gives thanks to our industry heroes.

35-47 Sources of supply

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

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

Tracey Arnaud

Jakki Brown

Warren Lomax

Gale Astley

Ian Hyder

Editor/Joint Owner

Joint Owner

Deputy Editor

Joint Owner

Sales Manager

jw@max-publishing.co.uk

warren@max-publishing.co.uk

galea@max-publishing.co.uk

ianh@max-publishing.co.uk

traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

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

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

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NEWS TOP STORY

Re-Opening For Business Cardies’ disappointment as Govt pushes date back Card retailers in England were disappointed to learn that, as ‘nonessential’ retailers they would have to wait until June 15 to re-open - a full fortnight after the anticipated June 1 date that had been mooted as likely.

“I was very upset and disappointed to hear the news - as it means all us indies will majorly miss out on Father’s Day sales, another lost Spring Season!” said a frustrated Mark Janson-Smith, md of Postmark summing up the views shared by many thousands of fellow indies.

At least card retailers in England have something to work towards, which is more than can be said for those playing the waiting game in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as no concrete reopening dates have been given there, though there are plans in place.

Having seen June 1 as their goal, many card retailers in England have worked incredibly hard over the last month to make their shops compliant with the Government guidelines readying for reopening - from social distancing requirements, hand santiser provision and PPE for staff and customers to considering opening hours, staffing levels, supplier contact and signage.

Among these are leading indies, Chris and Tracey Bryant, the husband and wife team who own Expressions (in Swindon), Cats Whiskers (Bishops Cleeve) and Polkadot (in Keynsham), who got on the case early, kitting out their stores in readiness.

“It’s not going to be easy, on a personal, operational or financial front, but we are retailers and want to be back trading as soon as we can. We have so missed it,” said Tracey.

Chris explains that the ‘refurbishment’ has been something of a collaborative effort. “My good friend Tom McKenzie (of Quay Imports) made the Above: Chris Bryant behind the new screen at the till point in Expressions in Swindon.

Left: A sight many are hoping to see back on card retailers’ doors soon.

screens, the social distancing tape was supplied by Mike Ball and our good friends at The Card Shop in Portishead, with whom we have been working to procure PPE for our team and customers and we downloaded some signage from Morplan.”

Like so many others, Chris and Tracey are planning for the staged opening, trading on reduced hours initially.

As Miles Robinson, partner of the Home Counties-based House of Cards group said during a PG Buzz-hosted Zoom meeting recently: “The ‘new normal’ will be how unprofitable can we afford to trade, governed by the number of customers you can safely have in your shop,” says Miles.

“We reckon four people will be the maximum for our shops and no merchandising or tidying up will happen while the shops are open for safety reasons. Thankfully people are used to queuing and we are coming into summer, but not until there is a vaccine or the virus dies out will things really revert to ‘normal’,” he believes.

Five Dollar’s signs of the times add glamour Five Dollar Shake’s idea to design some glamorous social distancing and hand-sanitising posters featuring its distinctively styled illustrations for retailers has gone down a storm with re-opening indies.

Bringing some unexpected joy in the arduous ‘return to work’ effort, Five Dollar Shake surprised its customers by creating some glamorous posters that cover social distancing and safety messages in an attractive way which is in keeping with the surroundings of a card and gift shop, using its distinctively styled illustrations. The images can be downloaded and printed by retailers at any size themselves or they can ask Five Dollar to print them and post them out.

Louise Bawcutt of The Present in Barnet said it was “joyous to see Five Dollar Shake’s beautifully artistic posters as all the others I’ve seen available were very stark, industrial, factory-like and not in keeping with our pretty gift shops!”

Louise is planning to feature them in her shop’s window for people to see outside before they enter.

“I will limit the amount of people in store to three or four and am going to insist on everyone using hand sanitiser on entering the shop. I will have a small table just inside the door with hand sanitiser with the lovely Five Dollar Shake hand sanitiser poster next to it. It’s seems a gentler way of insisting!”

Sharing her joy, Savita Marsh, co-owner of Northwood Cards and Gifts, Northwood said: “I had been looking into printing some posters but they were far from as beautiful! We had realised on the day we received the lovely email from Matt [Genower, co-owner] how emotional we felt as there will be a ‘new normal’ in retailing for a while with screens, masks and gloves being new necessities.”

Penny Crook, owner of the Card and Gift Boutique in Southport said: “They are so beautiful and make the necessary task much more eye catching. I am also going to give some to my sister to put up in the doctor’s surgery she manages. I really can’t wait to re-open and I have put everything in place including a one way system, two till points and two displays of Father’s Day to help with any social distancing.”

Another retailer keen to put the posters to good use is Shona Notman of Xpressions Gifts & Cards in Shoreham

by Sea. “Shopping will undoubtedly change for a while and I personally feel that we need to give our customers confidence to shop in our Independents again and by putting all of these things in place, hopefully our regular customers will return to the High Street again,” she said.

The posters are available for all retailers, not just Five Dollar Shake stockists.

Above: Social distancing Five Dollar Shake style.

Left: The message is clear, but stylish.

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NEWS TOP STORY

An Industry PR Blockbuster Colonel Tom’s 100th, ITV News and new film stars In what has been a ‘purple patch’ for the greeting card industry on the PR front, following hot on the heels of the high profile of the 160,000 cards Colonel Tom Moore received for his 100th birthday, millions saw ITV News’ extensive coverage on the sector last month (see below) at the same time that a new ‘Send a card, deliver a smile’ film was going viral across all social media channels.

Momentum is still growing like topsy for the greeting card industry’s own ‘blockbuster’, entitled ‘Send a card, deliver a smile’ that was released on YouTube and other social media channels a few weeks ago achieving thousands of shares in the first few days alone.

Instigated by the GCA, but written and produced by Lanther Black’s talented duo Jack Parker and Dominique Miranda, the film stars 30 members of the greeting card community (publishers, retailers, agents and trade suppliers) superbly relaying in verse the important role greeting cards play in connecting people and showing you care for them.

As GCA president Rachel Hare, managing director of Belly Button Designs summed up: “A huge thanks has to go out to Dominique and Jack of Lanther Black for writing and producing this wonderful celebration of the power of

greeting cards. We should all be very proud to be part of an industry whose product plays such an important part in building relationships.”

The poem covers self-isolation, social distancing, Colonel Tom Moore, saying thank you to key workers and importantly ends by encouraging everyone to send cards to those they miss or are grateful for having in their lives, echoing the GCA tagline ‘send a card, deliver a smile’.

Having invited all GCA members to participate, over 30 came forward, with the cast including retailers Leona Janson-Smith (from Postmark), Jon May (from Mooch) and Deborah Tingay (Southbourne Cards), individuals from 17 different greeting card publishers, printer Adam Short (of The Imaging Centre), agent Rosie Trow as well as the GCA’s Amanda Fergusson and PG’s Jakki Brown.

“At first, the thought of working with a cast of nearly 30 people was a little daunting, but the way everyone came together in support of the project is testament to just what a wonderful and creative industry we are a part of,” said Dominique Miranda.

Top: Lanther Black’s Dominique Miranda at the start of the film.

Above: The whole nation was touched by Colonel Tom Moore’s incredible efforts, as reflected in the sea of 160,000 cards he received for his birthday.

Windles’ PPE ‘War Effort’ Well-known for coming up with inventive solutions within the greeting card trade, when the Coronavirus hit, the Windles team diverted its attentions towards helping in the fight to stem the spread of Covid-19. And in doing so have not only manufactured PPE Medi-Visors for healthcare workers, but are also providing protection for those on the frontline of greeting card retailing and merchandising.

The PPE visors are being sold at cost, with not one penny of profit going to Windles.

The inspiration for the PPE face visors, which have been manufactured at a rate of 2,000 a day by the Thamebased printer, came from its sales director Andrea Norcott.

“We had a job finishing printed, foiled acetate sleeves for a prestigious perfumier brand,” Andrea said, “and I thought we could look at adapting the process for the much-needed face visors that workers on the frontline were crying out for.”

In addition to having supplied UKG and Hallmark with Medi-Visors for their respective merchandising teams, a raft of leading independent retailers and agents have also placed their orders for the protective face masks.

House of Cards, Postmark, Smart Ideas, All Wrapped Up, Serendipity, Celebration Store, Mooch, Southbourne Cards and Churchs Newsagents are among the card retailers to have provisioned themselves with the visors.

Above: Yvonne Dobbins, one of UKG’s regional merchandise manager in her Windles-manufactured Medi-Visor.

ITV News tuned into cards Greeting cards made the news big time last month as ITV News dedicated a sizeable chunk of a prime time evening news programme to greeting card sending.

“The coverage ITV News gave us was beyond our wildest dreams,” said an ecstatic Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA who worked with the ITV journalist Lauren Hall on the filming and ideas for the programme. “As far as we can tell every ITV region outside London featured a tremendously positive piece incorporating regionally-relevant elements.”

The key message of the news item was to show the important role card sending is playing during the Covid-19 lockdown, and how the sending of cards is helping to raise morale among the general public. The programme championed how there has been a strong wave of card sending as the nation has turned to cards to say thank you to our everyday heroes, reassure the vulnerable that we are thinking of them as well as tell our loved ones, we have been unable to see in person during lockdown that we care, by writing it in a card.

Reporter Lauren Hall also reflected on the positive impact card sending had played during wartime, leading to greeting cards being declared “essential to the war effort” during WW2 and escaping rationing.

An interview with a postman talked about the increases the Royal Mail are seeing in social mail post, a care home manager spoke about the joy for residents of opening cards while many consumers were also featured sharing their joy in receiving cards in these testing times.

Lauren also visited greeting card printer Windles, which is manufacturing PPE alongside greeting cards during this lockdown (see separate story, above).

Above: ITV journalist Lauren Hall relaying the significance of card sending.

Left: The sea of cards Colonel Tom Moore received for his 100th birthday.

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NEWS TOP STORY

An Unsprung Spring

Below: So many indies’ Easter displays were never really seen by customers as lockdown was imposed on March 23.

Publishers’ pragmatic approach on indies’ Easter cards While the jury is still out as to how many Father’s Day cards will actually be sold by card shops this year, given the June 15 re-opening date for ‘non-essential’ retailers in England (and Scotland, Wales and N Ireland still to hear), the last month has seen card publishers firming up on their policies for indies on this year’s Easter returns of card stock. Many have taken a pragmatic view, allowing retailers to keep the cards for next year and pay for them then.

With official lockdown coming into effect with little warning the day after Mother’s Day (23 March), Easter cards had been delivered to stores, but not been given any prominence. In fact thousands of these cards still remained in stock rooms in unopened boxes.

“How to approach this year’s Easter stock has posed a real dilemma for publishers, but so many have taken a generous and practical approach so that both sides know where they stand on this,” said Chris Dyson, joint managing director of Cardgains, the buying group whose members account for 1,000 independent shops. The Cardgains’ website has hosted publishers’ respective approaches to 2020 Easter returns as and when they were announced.

IC&G, Second Nature, Nigel Quiney, Noel Tatt and Paper Rose have been among those to join Carte Blanche Greetings in ‘freezing’ invoices for 2020 Easter stock, telling indies to keep the cards for next year and pay for them then.

Echoing the views of other publishers Simon Wagstaff, IC&G’s joint managing director said: “While some post offices, newsagents and convenience stores who

have been able to continue to trade sold a lot of Easter cards, so many other shops had no choice but to close. The simplest solution for all, and the least wasteful on the environment, is for the retailers to keep these designs until next year.”

Other variations include Cherry Orchard extending credit until the end of December this year while Words ‘n’ Wishes is giving its 2020 Easter cards ‘free of charge’ to Cardgains members with stock

at trade value being given in exchange against a future everyday order once the restrictions are lifted. Abacus Cards has said that once lockdown is lifted its territory managers will be prepared to swap Easter stock for everyday cards.

As Cardgains’ Chris Dyson added: “While this is the right decision, it needs to be recognised that publishers are taking the brunt on this. Hopefully the shops re-opening shortly will signal a return to happier days for all, personally and businesswise.”

Santoro’s Second Queen’s Award For Enterprise In a wonderful fillip for the whole UK greeting card industry, Santoro, one of the longest established greeting card publishers has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the UK’s most prestigious accolade of international business success. This follows on two years after the company, founded in 1985 by wife and husband Meera and Lucio Santoro, was recognised in the 2018 Queen’s Award roll call. This continues the line of UK greeting card companies which have been decorated with this award in recent years, including Blue Eyed Sun, The Art File and Wrendale Designs.

Rather than languishing in the glory of their award, Meera and Lucio Santoro used their media connections to send out the message on behalf of thousands of UK companies on how the effects of Covid-19 have pushed entrepreneurs to the brink of collapse, and how financial help was badly needed quickly.

An extended article, which centres on Santoro as an example of the pandemic’s impact on business, entitled: ‘The half a trillion dollar British money transfusion that may not be enough’ put out through the Reuters news channel became one of top ten read articles globally. It clinched coverage far and wide including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post.

Above: Meera and Lucio Santoro, co-owners of Santoro.

Card Factory Secures Extra Funding Card Factory sent out a positive message to the media, investors and the City last month that it has accessed additional funding and pulled right back on unnecessary expenditure to put it in a strong position to ride out the effects of Covid-19 on the retail business.

In an ‘operational and financial update in response to Covid-19’ Card Factory’s ceo Karen Hubbard detailed that the company had secured a Covid Corporate Financing loan (CCFF). This is in addition to the £200 million revolving facility it already has in place with its banks.

While all of Card Factory’s 1,000 shops have remain closed, sales via its online platforms have been well up. Albeit from a low base, Karen revealed that sales from Card Factory.com were up 267% since lockdown and its more mature personalised gifting site, Gettingpersonal.com is up 57.5%.

Contrary to its historic practice of opening 50 shops a year, the Wakefield-based retailer has scaled this right back, saying it will only be opening the seven stores it is legally committed to in this coming year.

As part of cost saving measures, the company has re-negotiated rental payments and is having ongoing discussions with landlords to reduce rents.

Karen assured that having taken prudent measures she and the board remain “confident that the group has access to sufficient liquidity, even in the event of a prolonged store closure period.”

She also signalled on a PG Buzz-hosted Zoom meeting that she is anticipating a bumper Christmas as people make up for missed time together.

Left: As part of its support for the NHS, Card Factory launched a charity fundraiser for NHS Charities Together, which involves aiming to produce the world’s largest thank you card with signatories donating to the cause.

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NEWS TOP STORY

John Lewis’ Lockdown Report Card, wrap and stationery sales soar online during lockdown

doubled the usual rate, and have remained at this level ever since, as people send more cards and letters to keep in touch with loved ones.

“While no-one could have predicted such seismic shifts to all aspects of our daily lives, one thing we’ve noted across this unprecedented period has been an increase in kindness and compassion,” says John Lewis & Waitrose director Rupert Thomas in the introduction of the report.

Sarah Moughtin, junior buyer for greeting cards, stationery and wrap for both John Lewis and Waitrose confirmed that despite John Lewis’ branches being closed, that “greeting cards are performing well online” with occasions cards “having a stand out performance” with Anniversary,

Open door policy John Lewis is to begin to reopen its shops for customers as part of a gradual approach from Monday 15 June. It will start with its Poole and Kingston department stores, followed by 11 others on Thursday 18 June. More shops will open throughout the summer. The plan is for John Lewis to initially open just under a quarter of its shops as part of a steady, gradual approach. Branches selected to open have been chosen primarily because of their accessibility by car.

New Baby and Get Well providing the biggest growth.

As she summed up “I think we all know that in this tough time, the sending of a greeting card becomes even more important as we reach out to friends and family to let them know we are thinking of them and celebrate occasions from afar.”

Card sales are also on the up at Waitrose stores too. “With the reopening of Hallmark [which is category manager until September 1] we have seen Waitrose delivering positive week on week sales.

This is again driven by Anniversary, New Baby as well as Birthday designs,” says Sarah.

On the wrappings front, Sarah highlights how “roll wrap is the star of the gift wrap show” with online sales up an incredible 900% “and increasing week on week.” Stationery too is performing well online with sales of notebooks up 800%, home office items up 550% and artist materials up a soaring 3000%.

Partyware has also performed well, with online sales up 94%, “with people creating visual backdrops to their virtual calls, celebrating at home and decorating their windows with rainbow displays in support of the NHS and key workers.”

Hallmark is giving away half a million greeting cards across the UK to help the UK public show gratitude and appreciation for the everyday heroes in our lives doctors, nurses, care workers, postal service workers, teachers, supermarket workers, cleaners, caretakers, delivery drivers and many more, who do the jobs that have been keeping the nation going.

The greeting card publisher has partnered with Royal Mail for the UK initiative, who is collecting, posting and delivering the cards on Hallmark’s behalf.

As well as promoting the giveaway (a pack of three cards) on its website (www.Hallmark.co.uk/careenough) and via social media, the company has also made a special film, entitled ‘Say Thank You to the Heroes in your Life’ which is hosted on YouTube which highlights how “a word of thanks, can make a world of difference.”

As Amanda Del Prete, md of Hallmark UK stresses: “Now more than ever we should take the time to connect and show how thankful we are to those who truly are going above and beyond providing essential care, deliveries, food, education and more.

We hope our half million card giveaway will allow people to show the gratitude we know many are feeling right now - and to ensure those receiving the cards know just how much they’re appreciated.”

Above: In the run up to VE Day John Lewis saw strong sales of Talking Tables’ Union Jack range.

Above: The trio of cards in Hallmark’s gratitude pack giveaway.

Hallmark’s great card giveaway

The Retas 2020 move to November The Retas greeting card retailer awards event will now take place on Wednesday 11 November 2020, having been postponed from the original date of Wednesday 8 July 2020.

The popular afternoon industry event, which shines the spotlight on the best UK greeting card retailers of the last year, will take place in the Ballroom of the Grosvenor House Hotel, as originally planned.

Commenting, Jakki Brown, joint managing director of Max Publishing said: “It would be a great shame to miss out on applauding and acknowledging the strength of so many of our sectors great retailers. By moving The Retas awards event to November will mean, all being well, the industry can look forward to celebrating together.”

While all entries and nominations received are still valid, TRY FO ate the entry deadline has been extended until August 11. A rds that celebra ard The only awa tailing in the UK reta rd re revised entry form for retailers is now available to download ng card from the website (www.theretasawards.co.uk), while entries YOUR SHOP NOW! ENTER YO can also been made by email. Retailers should email their submissions to Jakki Brown on jakkib@max-publishing.co.uk The finalists will be announced in September with a full list published in the October edition of Progressive Greetings.

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES For full details on The Retas 2020 head to the website TUESDAY 11 AUGUST 2020 (www.theretasawards.co.uk) This year, greeting card retailers from the UK are invited to self-nominate th for The Retas 2020. s Don’t be shy about entering! The Reta a great opportunity for you as a reta your shop(s) and staff recognised and

Paperwhale www.paperwhale.co.uk Illustrations generously donated by

Whether it has been joining Joe Wicks for his 9am workouts, digging deep in the garden, shaking up the cocktails with chums on Zoom or getting arts and craftsy with the kids, the wide ranging effects of how lockdown has impacted on our lives and minds like no other period in history are captured in a ‘Britain Through The Lockdown Report’ that was published recently by John Lewis and Waitrose and greeting cards feature positively in this.

The report highlights how by week four of lockdown stamp sales had

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Left: The entry form has been updated showing that retailers now have until August 11 to enter The Retas 2020.

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NEWS PEOPLE

TOP STORY

Sainsbury’s Greeting Card Refresh Sustainability remains very much a focus “A sure sign of the importance of greeting cards to the public is how our card sales have shown double digit increases, both in volume and amount over the last eight weeks, despite not yet being up to full availability,” said Carly Pearson, senior buyer of Sainsbury’s, during a recent Zoom webinar (which was hosted

by PG Buzz, supported by the GCA and Skylight Media) that was open to all Sainsbury’s existing card suppliers as well as publishers not currently supplying the supermarket.

“These are unprecedented times and we all need to find new ways of working together – and I would encourage anyone with any ideas of how we can improve what we do to get in touch,” she implored,

citing discussions about publishers swapping in alternative lines to ensure availability as a case in point.

She confirmed how the changing patterns of our lives had caused some shifts in customer’s card buying habits.

“General birthday sales have been fantastic, but kids and occasions have been a bit tougher, which is not unexpected with the way people’s lives

have changed, with no children’s parties or weddings. Sadly, sales of sympathy cards have really grown for us, while Thinking of You cards are performing well as people use the sending of cards as a personal way to reach out to one another.”

She also clarified how, as the full buying team has been working (all from home) during lockdown, that it remains committed to a full refresh programme of all card areas. The only exception to this is the Thank You Teacher card selection refresh which, due to schools not fully opening for all until September, will skip a year.

Carly underlined how Sainsbury’s drive on the sustainability front, is even stronger now than it was pre-Covid.

“The impact of the virus on the environment has not gone unnoticed and while the outcome has been far more positive environmentally globally, we need to consider how we don’t lose the momentum we were gaining in the card sector as a result of this,” said Carly. “We expect to be glitter-free instore on our everyday ranges by mid-year and this Christmas as our first event,” she revealed.

Above: Sainsbury’s has experienced double digit increases in card sales in volume and average spend on cards.

Above left: Carly Pearson, Sainsbury’s senior card buyer in full flow.

Elle Provides Hope Over The Rainbow Basildon-based charity card publisher, printer and creative agency, Elle Media Group has been providing comfort to those in need during the Covid-19 crisis with Bright Rainbow, a new not-for-profit initiative.

With the tagline line ‘Help those that help others’, it has been offering comfortable ear protectors and other frontline PPE as well as a whole host of card and gift products in support for carers and healthcare workers in NHS, care homes and hospices, from the new site (www.brightrainbow.co.uk). Proceeds are be distributed to the partner charities on this project which are NHS Charities Together, Hospice UK and National Care Association.

Above: One of the card designs in Elle’s Bright Rainbow range.

l In an amicable split, Nick Adsett (right), creative head of GBCC left the company at the end of last month but is hoping to remain in the industry. and is looking for a new creative challenge within the industry. “I enjoyed 12 good years at GBCC, but now’s the time for me to take on a new creative challenge,” said Nick. (Nick can be contacted on nickadsett@mac.com or 07500 526818) While Claire Twigger will continue to have overall group creative responsibility for GBCC, Ling and Penny Kennedy, a new head of design for GBCC is to be appointed, enabling the company to maintain its own creative flavour.

l Seth Woodmansterne has taken over as managing director of Woodmansterne Publications, the third generation Woodmansterne to hold the position. His father Paul, previously md, is now chairman.

“We have been planning this for a long time, it has been a smooth gradual handover of the day to day leadership,” said Seth. “I will come in as and when needed!” assured Paul.

Above: Paul (right) and Seth Woodmansterne.

Sad Loss l Greeting card retailing stalwart, Tony Saunders, owner of The Card Market trio of shops in the Blackpool area has sadly passed away, with Covid-19 having claimed his life. He was only 57 years old.

Paying tribute to his friend, Ged Cleary, agent and card publisher consultant described Tony as “A wonderful man and friend to all his suppliers; everybody loved him”.

Having started out initially selling greeting cards from a stall on Blackpool Market, Tony went on to open three specialist card shops in Blackpool, Lytham and St Annes-on-the-sea on the Fylde coast of Lancashire, all of which traded as The Card Market.

Above: Tony Saunders, sadly no longer with us.

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We are open for business with full stock availability and 24-hour despatch on all orders O rd e r o n l i n e a t

www.regalpublishing.co.uk and from all good wholesalers including

www.jacksons-crs.co.uk

www.crosswear.co.uk

www.northwestgreetings.co.uk

w w w. r e g a l p u b l i s h i n g . c o. u k Made in Great Britain

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NEWS TOP STORY

Scribbler Expansion

Right: A card design from Scribbler.

Multiple resurrects plans to supply other retailers Greeting card retailer, Scribbler is planning to expand the reach of its own brand greeting cards, the majority of which are created by its in-house studio, by exploring the options of supplying a select number of other retailers on a wholesale basis.

The retailer, which trades from 37 shops as well as from a very active online platform, has been publishing in-house designed card ranges for over six years, with increasing success.

“Having a strong online platform where we can test reaction to designs gives us an immediate gauge as to how successful the cards are likely to be if we introduce them into the shops,” explains John Procter, co-founder of the company. As he points out, “We have a great number of designs that have only seen the light of day in our shops and on our webshop. As so many have been very successful we feel it is

logical to explore sharing them with a wider audience by supplying select retailers,” he adds.

The retailer started exploring this option a couple of years ago but stalled the plans while it concentrated on a print direct to store mechanism, further developing its web presence as well as building on the strong consumer following for the Scribbler brand.

Scribbler has developed hundreds of own brand designs over the last six years, which it has released on a continuous basis.

Sales from the company’s webshop during lockdown have been “phenomenal; up five-fold,” reveals John. “There is certainly no dampening of the consumer’s appetite for greeting cards.”

Harvesting rainbows Inspired by the rainbow paintings affixed to windows, card publisher Sarah Kelleher launched a children's greeting card competition on the theme. Sarah has published four of the lovely designs onto cards which she has sold in aid of the NHS and Cancer Research charities. The overall winner was a lovely unicorn design, by fouryear old Flo Collins. The other three designs that have been published are ‘A butterfly means I love you’ by six-year old Theo Cook; ‘Be happy like a donut’ by Vivi Caplin (pictured) , also aged six and ‘A friend is a special thing’ by five-year old Rose Pickersgill.

Dutch courage brings attractive protection Anticipating a longer term need for the general public for personal PPE items, TMS has been quick off the mark to come up with a range of attractively packaged disposable facemasks.

As Vincent Schumann, md of the Dutch-based publisher pointed out: “We are now living in a time in which the wearing of a facemask is becoming a daily reality, across the globe.

The necessity to protect ourselves and others has become the utmost priority.”

The company, which started producing its own face masks in January, in order to protect its staff and their families, recognised that, if presented in attractive packs, each containing five facemasks, it would present an opportunity for retailers to stock them. The initial batch includes plain masks, but patterned masks are soon to follow. The company is also producing them on a bespoke basis for publishers with their own designs. (See Innovations page 29).

Above: The TMS retail display unit showing its facemasks.

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VIEWPOINTS

The Lockdown

Afterlife

Inset: The trade’s lockdown is set to ease with nonessential shops able to reopen from June 15.

None of us will ever forget this period and the upheaval it has caused to our personal and business lives, from our mental wellbeing to our financial woes.

While ‘it’ is far from over yet, as PG went to press lockdown was easing and card shops were thinking through how to re-open safely and viably.

Members of the greeting card community shared glimpses into their lockdown life and their plans for the afterlife.

John and Jennie Procter co-owners of Scribbler: Lockdown life: “Personal: Great - it’s the sabbatical we have always promised ourselves!

Business: Obviously incredibly challenging, but we must remind ourselves that retail was not in great shape before all this happened and if we come out of it with more realistic rental levels then, who knows, maybe things could improve.”

What has been the worst thing about it?

“The inevitable job losses throughout all industries and the conditions that so many families have had to endure during lockdown.”

What has been the best thing about it? “Bizarrely I think we are all communicating more with work colleagues and family via Zoom etc and are realising that we can work from home really efficiently. Sir Colonel Tom was pretty impressive too!”

What role do you think greeting cards have played in this period?

“Thankfully there has been a huge uplift in online sales as people realise what a great communication tool cards are - let’s hope this sentiment persists! We were delighted to support key workers and the NHS and sent out 15,000 cards free of charge.”

How are you approaching the loosening of the lockdown, business wise? “We are planning to open 7-10 stores initially and base the rollout on their performance. We have bought loads of PPE and, lots of Scribbler style messages are being created for our PoS.” What do you think the ‘new normal’ will be like in the coming months for our sector - the key challenges and opportunities? “We are predicting trade to be around 40-60% of previous turnover levels and are basing our staffing and suggested rental levels on this. We could, of course, be way off!

Father’s Day sales will not be great instore as we may only have just opened but they should be strong online.

Rents will have to be based on a percentage of turnover for a sufficient period to then establish a new level, based on current trading conditions. It is VITAL that landlords understand that the world has changed.”

Top: As part of its support for key workers, Scribbler gave away 15,000 free cards.

Above: John and Jennie Procter, co-owners of Scribbler.

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Wendy and Steve Jones-Blackett co-owners of Wendy Jones-Blackett Life in lockdown: “We’re enjoying being at home very much. It’s a gorgeous time of year so we’ve been doing lots of dog walking and working in the garden. It has become increasingly hectic over the past four weeks though and so we’re juggling jobs we haven’t had to do for 15 years - picking orders, arranging couriers, making the handmade cards - as well as working out the furloughing details, accounts, brokerage and customer services! Add in home schooling/keeping everyone fed and you get the picture. Thank goodness for a nice glass of wine in the evening!”

Below: Photo of the Jones-Blackett family that was taken by Willie Runte, a dog-walking professional photographer friend as part of his ‘dog walkers during lockdown’ project.

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VIEWPOINTS What has been the worst thing about it?

“The first four weeks were very stressful for everyone I think, we had no idea exactly how bad we were going to be hit as a country. Worrying about friends and family getting sick was definitely the worst.”

What has been the best thing about it?

“Being at home and spending time as a family has been great.”

Do you have any new-found skills/guilty pleasures? “Star Wars!!! Wow, who knew? We have been watching an hour per night with our youngest son. The early ones have been remastered and look phenomenal!

Loved them all. Kylo Ren and Rae are Above: Wendy Jones-Blackett has worthy characters to been super active on Instagram rival Vader and Luke! throughout keeping spirits high A skill we need to and connectivity alive. work on is hair dying. Nobody needs to know we dyed our son’s hair blue as well as half the bathroom do they?!”

What role do you think greeting cards have played in this period? “The sending of cards has been SO important! On a tiny level We’ve been sorting neighbours out with emergency deliveries via our WhatsApp group.

Sending cards nationally has increased but it’s where people are getting their cards from with shops shut that’s been the burning question. We decided early on not to sell direct to the public as it’s not our forte and we would have had to keep staff at the office to keep this going, as well as invest in a new website. Luckily, a lot of our customers have an online presence and they’ve seen a huge increase in traffic there. Social media has been great too in enabling shops to sell cards and we foresee the Facebook Store as going to be huge, as payments can be taken digitally too.”

How are you approaching the loosening of the lockdown? “We will unfurlough staff as we need them, depending on orders coming in, which echoes the approach our retail customers are taking - this is new territory for all of us. Planning for Christmas has had to be based on guesswork rather than actual orders so we’ve no idea yet if we’ll have stock left over or will run out by October. We are cautiously optimistic though!”

What do you think the new normal will be like in the coming months for our sector - the key challenges and opportunities?

“Challenges will be footfall-based, opportunities will be in working-from-home based customers for shops. The jury is out on city centres.

Greeting cards will thrive but how and where they are purchased will be the big question.”

Paul Woodmansterne chairman of Woodmansterne Publications: Life in lockdown: “Lockdown life at home in probably the kindest Spring we’ve ever known. It has meant supporting my wife’s gardening obsession, while eating far too much chocolate from M&S. Helen (our finance manager), Seth [Woodmansterne, managing director] and I spent much of March persuading the bank to lend us eye-watering sums of money to keep the business afloat. We’ll all be working tireless for at least a decade to service the debt!”

What has been the worst thing about it? “Putting on much of the weight I’d managed to lose last year through Slimming World.”

What has been the best thing about it? “Having the time to really get into my cello-playing. It’s like falling in love again.”

Do you have any new-found skills/guilty pleasures? “On a private boat trip up The Nile in February (guests of a very generous friend), I started sketching faces for the first time. During lockdown I’ve been attempting more of friends and workmates.”

What role do you think greeting cards have played in this period? “Online sales of cards have rocketed, and those few retailers that have been allowed to open and keep their card aisles stocked remind us how much people value keeping in touch in the very special way we understand. You’d expect that it is sympathy that is required, but most people seek relief from boredom and isolation with a cheery smile and a bit of a laugh.”

How are you approaching the loosening of the lockdown business wise? “We have kept a skeleton crew throughout to support those retailers who can sell, and we’ve been continuing to print Christmas cards in Croxley (in the hope that “there’ll always be a Christmas!”). Now, we’re just watching to see who’s opening and gradually unfurlouging staff when needed. We so admire Windles’ initiatives to make PPE. Well done Bruce!”

What do you think the new normal will be like in the coming months for our sector - the key challenges and opportunities? “It will be long; it will be hard; and far slower than people imagine.

Browsing has become a taboo, which is the whole point of shopping isn’t it? Retailers need to remind government that the spirit is as health-critical as the body.”

Top: Paul Woodmansterne’s cello playing during lockdown has been one of the pleasures.

Above: A sketch Paul has done of his son Seth.

Right: A Woodmansterne card.

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VIEWPOINTS

Leona Janson-Smith who co-owns Postmark with her husband Mark: Life in lockdown: “The first week or two of lockdown we took it easy after quite a stressful build-up to the decision to close our doors. It was actually a really lovely time, but at the back of your mind you're always thinking about how the business was going to cope and how we would reopen. Once we got our heads round the situation and sales started picking up online we both pretty much went back to work. At first we were processing orders every two days but that became six days a week as online sales went up massively. Most days Mark heads off to our East Dulwich store where he picks and packs all the orders. He hand delivers all orders in or around Dulwich and Balham on his way home and we post the rest. Our local customers have really appreciated how fast we have been getting their orders to them. For us it's been about keeping up those positive feelings toward our business that will help us when we reopen.

We've also been running some virtual shopping events and then deliver the orders or organise collection the same day. We've used Facebook Ads which is something we would never have done before lockdown and I've been engaging with local parent networks. Our customers have also been shouting about us on forums like 'Nextdoor' which has been really helpful.”

What has been the worst thing about it? “Professionally, trying to prepare to reopen. Personally, homeschooling, I am not a natural teacher...and who knew there were so many ways to divide and multiply!”

What has been the best thing about it? “Spending lots of time together as a family. And getting our new kitten, Ritzy!”

Do you have any new-found skills/guilty pleasures? “Drinking wine a skill and a guilty pleasure!”

What role do you think greeting cards have played in this period? “I think they've been massively important. Sending a card to someone to just let them know you're thinking of them or missing them has such an impact, especially during this period. We've got the kids into sending cards and letters to their grandparents which has gone down so well.”

How are you approaching the loosening of the lockdown business wise? “Reopening is going to be much more stressful than closing. We've had to work out how many staff we can have in the shop at the same time as we want to keep customer numbers as high as possible, in the safest way.”

What do you think the new normal will be like in the coming months for our sector - the key challenges and opportunities? “I think the first couple of weeks customers will want to see clearly what we're doing in terms of cleaning and PPE, but once things calm down there will be less interest. Taking deliveries is one of our main concerns as currently they arrive into the shop during open hours. With social distancing rules this is going to be difficult to manage and we may need to have everything sent to one location and then disperse it ourselves. We're also looking into offering ‘Click & Collect’ and speedy local delivery options so that customers can shop with us in lots of different ways. While these things are challenging it is also an opportunity to reconnect with our customers and build brand confidence.”

Top: Postmark’s online orders and virtual shopping has kept Mark and Leona busy.

Right: Mark's lockdown haircut. Luckily Leona’s brother is a barber so he guided her on video call.

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Rosie Trow agent in the South West: Lockdown life: “I’m not really a ‘stay at home’ person, so this has been my worst nightmare. My home office has seen a lot of overdue shredding and file tidying! I have had a mass clear-out, the box loads of samples that I have stored in my garage have never looked so tidy - nor ever will again I am sure!”

What has been the worst thing about it? “The worst thing for me was not being able to spend time with my brother when he passed away during this time, and not having family and friends close by when you most need it.”

What has been the best thing about it? “Although Zoom has given us a chance to enjoy family quizzes and cocktails with friends it’s no substitute for the real thing. I do also know I am not ready for retirement!”

Do you have any new-found skills/guilty pleasures? “I have discovered a guilty pleasure in doing Wentworth Puzzles.”

What role do you think greeting cards have played in this period? “During lockdown I have used hundreds of my samples to keep in touch with customers, colleagues and friends for no reason, even if it’s just to say hello, it’s much nicer to receive, to hold and read than to click and open an email, which is why all the work on promoting Thinking of You Week is great.”

How are you approaching the loosening of the lockdown? “I bought a new refill for my Filofax as it was easier than the amount of Tippex I would need to re-invent my diary for the month ahead. I am delighted to hear from some customers that they are readying their ‘open’ signs as soon as they can in mid June. I have ordered PPE visors from Windles and have shared some with some of my retail customers.

As an agent, initially selling will not be easy instore at counter level, samples will probably only be held by me, and catalogues will be more needed that imagined.

The two metre distancing means that some shops will have to reduce stock or number of spinners to comply with the rules, which won’t be easy.”

What do you think the new normal will be like in the coming months for our sector - the key challenges and opportunities? “The biggest challenge in the high street for retailers will be to synchronise their opening times with the rest of their town, with many planning to open later and close earlier as this will only be attractive if they can all work together so the consumer has a reason to be there.

I am very much used to having appointments before shops open and after they have closed, which will become the norm.”

Top: Rosie Trow on a special postcard she created and sent to her customers.

Above: Rosie working al fresco with Jake.

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VIEWPOINTS

Anne Barber

Below: The rainbow window at In Heaven at Home.

owner of In Heaven at Home, Market Harborough:

Life in lockdown: “I feel very lucky to be living in the Yorkshire Dales through lockdown. At Pigment we have been working remotely with a tiny ‘SWAT’ team, and everyone has been incredible, working long hours to keep things going.”

What has been the worst thing about it? “The pub being closed!”

What has been the best thing about it? “As there are so few of us dealing with the day-to-day running of the business it has been like going back to the old days and alongside the camraderie we have all been noticing how complicated we have made some things.”

Do you have any new-found skills/guilty pleasures? “I have learned a lot about working remotely from the office and I think this will help with quality of life in the future.”

What role do you think greeting cards have played in this period? “With the new world of digital communication, we have defiantly picked up the powers of people sharing emotions with their good oldfashioned handwriting. Receiving letters and cards in the post has really become a powerful thing.”

How are you approaching the loosening of the lockdown business wise? “We are gearing ourselves up with the appropriate PPE kit and are just waiting for the stores to open. We recognise there will be some nervousness in the early days about seeing travelling salespeople, but knowing how people like people, we hope this will only be for a short time. A lot of customers are good friends with our sales guys and I’m sure there will be plenty of gossip to be catch up on face-to-face!”

What do you think the new normal will be like - the challenges and the opportunities? “Obviously the high street is going to take another hammering over this, and the already changing high street will continue, but that change will be faster than predicted. We feel the quality of retail is going to increase incredibly and greeting cards will still be a huge part of our culture, arguably becoming even more valuable in the future.”

Lockdown life: “Businesswise - It was entirely the right thing to do but so sad to close the shop on the 7th anniversary of me opening it. However, I have been very busy working on our website and helping customers directly with virtual shopping and personal card writing services which have been so much more successful than I could ever have imagined.

Personally - Lonely but thankful for friendship, Zoom, WhatsApp video and FaceTIme, which have allowed us all to keep in touch and given us a reason to dress up.”

What has been the worst thing about it? “Hearing the heart-breaking stories of families who have lost loved ones.”

What has been the best thing about it? “Talking to customers and helping them choose cards then writing messages for them - I‘ve found this just a wonderfully happy thing to do. It has been my personal saviour.”

Do you have any new-found skills/guilty pleasures? “I have loved bringing my calligraphy back to use.

Guilty pleasures - Normal People on TV and Magnum double salted caramel ice cream.”

What role do you think greeting cards have played in this period?

“In the absence of being able to see family and friends, sending cards with a heartfelt personal message has become a special way to show people you care. It’s a way of reaching out and sending a little bit of love in an envelope directly to someone to brighten their day. “ How are you approaching the loosening of the lockdown business wise? “We will only open when it is as safe as possible to do so for our customers and team. I have been planning re-opening since we closed, using this opportunity to re-think and re-merchandise the store so that it is fresh and new when the doors re-open. I have installed a one-way system utilising our back door as an exit and 2m social distancing floor stickers to ensure customer safety. We will be asking all customers to utilise our anti-bacterial hand-washing station before entering the shop and we will be wearing masks and, where appropriate, gloves. At our till point I have installed a wide Perspex protective screen.

We will also be using a contactless thermometer to check that our own temperature is normal each day before the shop opens. The shop will be deep cleaned prior to re-opening.

And we are launching a special VIP customer appointment booking service for individual out of hours shopping.

I will definitely continue to offer my personal calligraphy card writing services and virtual personal shopping as everyone loves it.”

What do you think the new normal will be like in the coming months for our sector the key challenges and opportunities?

“Customers are telling me that they have missed our traditional high street independent shops and are looking forward to visiting again, but I don’t think retail will ever be quite the same. While bricks and mortar are the lifeblood of the high street we will need to embrace new ways of shopping - Click and Collect, virtual shopping, appointments, as well online shopping. Personal assistance will be even more valued. Ongoing financial help and support from landlords and local councils will also be required.

Top: Steve Baker with Snozzle Face (left!).

Above: A Pigment design that Steve Baker says sums up lockdown.

Above: Anne Barber’s calligraphy skills have come to the fore in the personal card writing service she offers.

Steve Baker sales and marketing director of Pigment

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OVER THE

COUNTER

Lockdown for everyone has been a different experience. Independent retailer David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Buckie and Elgin opens his heart and mind as to how this period has impacted on his outlook to business as well as what he is looking forward to in whatever the ‘new normal’ dishes up.

What have you learnt in lockdown?

Well, depending on how you want to answer that it may be some/all/or none of the following… l How lucky I am to live where I live. l How skilled I am at navigating my way through the entire Netflix stream. l How much I suddenly enjoy cooking/tidying /juggling (check out Mollie King my personal Insta fave). l How we actually really miss the people we work with. l How we actually struggle to be with our partners/family 24/7. l How much physical contact such as a hug matters. l How little we really need in order to be happy in our lives. l How going for a coffee is one of life’s greatest things. l How life may never be quite the same again until we kinda forget this all happened in a few years.

For me ‘work’ has never stopped in fact it has increased as I have had to keep our core newsagents business going on my own.

As it was not financially viable or socially acceptable for us to be open for a full day we chose a short three hour window from which to trade which thankfully has proved worthwhile doing it on my own. It also seems to have been viewed as the right decision by the wider community.

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Thank God For Cards...

And Netflix

Above: Netflix’s Tiger King has been a phenomenal hit during lockdown.

Below right: Perspex screens add to the customer safety in JP Pozzi.

Bottom: David has seen a big upsurge in its newspaper delivery service.

I fully admit it has been a bit challenging for me personally what with a 5.30am start to sort newspapers; then a drive around dropping off deliveries to the paperboys before rushing back to sort the shop before opening it from 10am-1pm.

The rest of the day/evening I seem to have spent on various grant and CBIILS loan applications, building a website and communicating with numerous staff.

On top of that I have been constantly watching over my mum (and business partner) as she has been incredibly brave and lonely after fully locking down for the entire period.

I have also learnt that my wife is even more tolerant of my working schedule than I could ever have hoped for as she has been home most of the day herself and has been very understanding as I bolt into my home office like a rabbit fleeing down into its burrow.

So this has been my day, at that pace, since March 23 and I have been very lucky that our paperboys and their families have supported me and let me at least keep that part of the business as close to normal as it can be.

Newspapers still matter and getting them delivered to people has been a lifeline to many. The written word, this mag included, helps to shape opinion and communication and now more than ever we need that. We need to read and discuss a way forward as ‘the plan’ will come from lots of different experiences.

A real saving grace during this period has been the customers that have been coming into the shop. Socially distanced behind a screen it has been good to see that we as a retailer still matter and people still want to come in.

I hope ‘people still wanting to come in’ will be the case across all retailers when we can open more fully, because we will need every last bit of support as we come out of this.

These last eight weeks of daily interaction have served to remind me how much I enjoy people - their little foibles, their traits, the things that make us all individuals and why stores like ours and other indies matter.

I have also learned that with Zoom how you can have a great meeting with people all over the world in the time it would take me to drive to an airport and check in.

The PG Buzz Zoom Meet-ups have been very informative which I have enjoyed participating in as well as reading the reports.

Looking specifically at the part greeting cards have played in all of this it has been fascinating to see how much they matter to our town. For the first few weeks people assumed that we were only open for newspapers, lottery tickets, sweets and tobacco and as soon as I brought greeting

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OVER THE COUNTER Left: David (left) with life coach George Hendrey on one of the Made in Moray podcasts.

Below: The Bexy Boo and Tracey Russell cards that David has sent to almost 40 key workers in the area together with some Clarins products.

cards through into the main store suddenly we were inundated with requests.

We brought five card spinners through into the shop from our gift department which sparked everyone wanting access to our full range which we have managed to do whole will still complying with the social distancing rules.

Soon it became…“It is my daughter’s 18th,do you have a card?”, “My son has graduated virtually online, do you have a card?”, “It is my neighbour’s golden wedding, do you have a card?” and there has been a string of requests for sympathy cards, goodness me, sadly, we have sold so many sympathy cards.

After a request specifically for almost £100 of Johnny Javelin cards I decided to dedicate one spinner to the publisher’s cards, necessitating our first card order during lockdown.

On the sympathy front, Hallmark’s Code 15 pansy wheelbarrow card is still as popular as ever, in fact I have exhausted all our three shops’ supplies while the publisher’s higher end £3.49 white elegant sympathy design has sold through time and again.

UKG’s Simply Trad and Men’s collections still sell daily and can pretty much cover all eventualities and of course the handmade offerings from White Cotton, Five Dollar Shake, Wendy Jones-Blackett, Belly Button Designs are all ‘go to’ for those special occasion cards.

Woodmansterne cards, with their ‘Smart Seal’ clasp, have also sold consistently well and has prompted me to dedicate more space to this publisher.

Large cards also appear to sell much better from a spinner as evidenced by Five Dollar Shake’s new spinner which arrived mid lockdown and has seen an excellent sell through.

That said if there was one range that I have sold more of than any other in the handmade category in these last ten weeks

it would have to be the Picadilly collection from Cinnamon Aitch.

So much so that this was the first one we have put on our website and it has sold in both sizes, in every occasion and relation caption.

I feel I must also pay tribute to the publishers who have produced quirky lockdown cards, from the humorous to the sentimental ‘miss you’ sends I have loved the Emotional Rescue designs, which have hit the humour nail squarely on the head as always.

In terms of the more bespoke cards my two personal faves have been Bexy Boo’s ‘Nurse’ card and Tracey Russell’s ‘Because you are key’.

We have sent out almost 40 of these Bexy Boo and Tracey Russell cards (together with some Clarins products) to acknowledge nurses and other key workers in our area. While we did not do this to big ourselves up, the sending of these cards was a social media success and I would like to thank both Bexy and Tracey for supporting us in this way.

I really feel I have a real handle on what is selling right now and I have also learnt more about my card girls and how they run their departments stock wise. All of this has proved invaluable learnings and has highlighted a few areas where things can be improved.

What it has also reminded me is that we are currently operating in a ‘purple patch’ of card design where the UK is without doubt the leading card designer in the world. Let’s hope PG Live (in September 2-3) can flourish and highlight

the excellent work of many publishers this year again.

I don’t think it is dramatic to say that greeting cards really matter - good cards that is - and a good indie card store offers the best selection. I lost count of the times in these last few weeks that customers have said to me “I got a card from the supermarket but it wasn’t the same as buying one from you.”

Is this disrespectful? Not really as supermarkets have been one of the few card retailers open - but, to my mind, a good indie card shop will always trump a non-specialist because of service we can offer.

As many other indies have done, we have also been selecting/writing/delivering and sending cards on behalf of those in the community. In this process lots of card images have been sent over social media but as that is not always possible I have had to resort to doing a little quiz? Do you like modern or traditional designs? Do you like a verse? What is your price range?

I happy to say that I have mostly got it right - it’s great when you help that person find the right card, whether it is in person or over the phone.

There are of course lots of things I don’t like about this Covid-19 time. I miss our team and I miss seeing the agents and reps who used to call regularly. Of course I miss family and friends and I miss simply being ‘properly open’. The streets still have an eerie feel, a bit like a zombie film, but hopefully this will all pass soonish and the ‘new normal’ everyone speaks about won’t be too bad.

PS... As you all know I love to talk and write so in lockdown I was able to do my first series of podcasts which have been fun, challenging and has made me realise that I fidget way too much, that I badly need a haircut and to get back to my boxing asap top get my body back in shape!

The podcast is part of a series of extended interviews by Graham Hendrey, a really interesting life coach.

We have covered many topics, from ‘do businesses have a soul?’ to ‘how can we compete with the big retailers?’. Should you find you have an hour to spare please give it a listen and send me some feedback. The podcast is available on Made in Moray on all the usual channels (easiest is just to tap ‘Made in Moray’ into YouTube) and if you don’t find it interesting, I blame Carole Baskin!

So looking to seeing you all in person...

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

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cardsharp

Time To Roll Our

Sleeves Up! By the time you read this, card and gift shops as well as others selling ‘nonessentiaI’ items, will be on the verge of opening. Not before time, reflects Cardsharp as he turns his thoughts to how long it will be before ‘the new normal’ phrase becomes an annoyance as people just want to get on with things.

As Cardsharp writes this he is listening to the Radio 4 Today news programme and getting increasingly annoyed. Dominic ‘Cumminsgate’ seems to be the only topic of discussion, while a much more important issue to his mind has hardly had a mention.

This was the announcement that nonessential shops would now not be allowed to open until June 15, not June 1 as was widely anticipated. This will mean that card and gift shops will be open for business a full month after garden centres and DIY stores, and incredibly two weeks after car showrooms open! Where is the logic in that? Are shiny new cars considered more essential than the everyday greeting card, ponders Cardsharp? Or is it that the mediocre middle-aged male politicians that seem to dominate the cabinet see new cars as a symbol of the UK economy’s virility, while greeting cards are viewed as a bit ‘girly’?

26

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Once again, to Cardsharp anyway, this reflects a serious lack of joinedup thinking. Most garden centre greeting card displays and departments are even more tightly packed in than many a card shop, so where is the difference on a public health and safety issue.

Having had the major Spring Season greeting card buying event of Mother’s Day almost destroyed by the lockdown and Easter card sales were decimated, many card retailers were quite rightly hoping that a June 1 opening would at least give them a decent three week run up to Father’s Day on June 22. With the re-opening deadline pushed back a fortnight to June 15, how do card retailers respond? Is it worth putting together window displays and lots of Father’s Day stock out, if the majority of

Above: Just as David Low emptomised in his historic cartoon during the Second World War, now’s time for us to roll up our sleeves and get on with it.

Below: Social distancing outside a Sainsbury’s store at a time when the elderly are given priority.

the sales will have been snapped up already by the supermarkets, CTN’s and garden centres?

Cardsharp accepts that we can’t expect the government to shape their policy to suit the greeting card industry, but given the positive role played by greeting cards during the crisis (just think of the 160,000 cards sent to Colonel Tom for his 100th birthday, for starters) it would have been gratifying to receive some acknowledgement and consideration..

We, in the greeting card industry and in retail are certainly going to need some joined-up thinking in the months to come from Government. Firstly, Cardsharp is completely baffled by some of the five tests for lockdown. The Government seems to be hiding behind ‘scientific evidence’ to evade responsibility for some of its decisions. But scientists can’t seem to agree on anything more than the politicians can? Although most seem to think there is little scientific basis for the two-metre rule, this seems to be the one thing the Government seems to be resolutely sticking to!

Every retailer Cardsharp has spoken to has said that the two metre rule is unworkable in most shops. The cost of staff monitoring entry and the amount of transactions that can be done, with so few

26-27.qxp_Layout 1 28/05/2020 16:58 Page 3

people allowed in the store at any one time, is making many retailers reluctant to reopen properly until the two-metre rule is relaxed.

Let’s hope, by the time you read this, the Government will have seen sense on this matter at least.

The lockdown has been a disaster for the greeting card industry, in particular on the publishing side. Many multiple retailers having furloughed many of their staff, and emptied what was in their tills at lockdown, have also received government grants and business rate exemptions. Most publishers have received nothing. Many of their goods sold in the store in February and March have not been paid for by some of the larger retailers, and they have found getting invoices paid a near impossibility. To Cardsharp’s mind many larger retailers need to recognise that they have a moral and economic obligation to settle these outstanding invoices.

The greeting card industry desperately needs to get back to doing what it does best; creating world leading designs and retailing them in a manner that has kept our industry the envy of the world. The £1.7 billion it generates in sales, contributes greatly to the tax wealth of the nation. Because of the sector’s preeminent worldwide position, it also makes a healthy contribution to our exports.

Taken to the extreme, all of this helps pay for the NHS, which we have come so heavily to rely upon. It seems a shame that so little consideration has been paid to its importance by this government.

Cardsharp’s view is that now the worst of the pandemic is well and truly over, the Government really needs to change the emphasis to getting the country up and moving as quickly as possible. It seems that a legacy of the success of getting everybody to accept lockdown, is a society

that is now racked by fear and caution, whereas, in Cardsharp’s view the health crisis has now well passed its peak.

He believes that if we are not bold now, the toll will be of lost production and massive debt. There will be a huge rise in unemployment, and a large increase in poverty, suicides, drug addiction, alcoholism and mental illness. Not to mention many more deaths from missed appointments for cancer and heart disease. And of course the ruining of the lives of a younger generation who are not believed to be at high risk from exposure to the virus. Are we going to keep our lives on hold for a vaccine that may never be discovered? Cardsharp hopes not, for the future of our great greeting card industry and the greater good.

Lockdown Heroes Arise Cardsharp feels at times like this we should accentuate the positives. In keeping with the Thursday night chorus that has punctuated lockdown.

So, let’s bang a big saucepan for some of our greeting card heroes…

Paul Taylor - Owner and founder of Cardzone, who continues to put many large retailers to shame, by treating people and suppliers fairly and with consideration, in these oh so difficult times.

Inspiring indies - from their inventive ways of keeping in contact with customers, from virtual shopping events to handwriting and delivering cards, from fast-tracking the expansion of their online offer to altruistic community initiatives.

Sainsbury’s - For totally outclassing other supermarket chains in keeping its greeting card displays almost fully stocked throughout the crisis. Credit must go to the Sainsbury’s buying team who communicated with suppliers so effectively, the broker UKG, the participating publishers and of course the merchandisers who must have braved difficult conditions to keep displays stocked.

Online suppliers - For effectively filling part of the gap left by the shops being closed. Thortful and Scribbler, in particular, seem to have gained real traction in this crisis. The real question now, is how much of the online operators’ massively increased market share will be retained as lockdown comes to an end?

Colonel Tom - For not only for generating an extra 160,000 greeting cards being sent, but for being responsible for getting cards on the front page of virtually every newspaper in the UK on his 100th birthday.

The GCA - for banging the drum loudly about the power and wonders of greeting cards. For turning negatives into positives, securing a sizeable slug of ITV evening news nationwide and of course instigating the wonderful collaborative Send a Card, Deliver a Smile film, made by Jack and Dominique of Lanther Black.

And finally… to all of the hundreds of talented UK creatives who have come up with so many fabulous imaginative greeting card designs, to reflect the tragedies and difficulties of the pandemic and the lock down. To Cardsharp’s mind, their talent and inspiration will help us through the challenging times to come.

Top: A design Dandelion Stationery created exclusively for Thortful during lockdown.

Above: The front page of The Times was anchored by the sea of cards Colonel Tom received.

Right: A Virtual Safari card from Emotional Rescue.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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26/05/2020 19:21

PG Innovations Normal May_June.qxp_38-39/40-41 30/05/2020 13:11 Page 2

Some new products to pep up a retailer’s selection.

Big hearted Artige has come up with an innovative approach to send some love through the letterbox. As the range name suggests, the Hearts range comprises different designs of die-cut heart shapes each of which include an integral stand and come with envelope.

There are 28 small hearts (which fit into a 146 x 146mm envelope) and 10 larger ones (envelope measures 218 mm x 218 mm).

There are several designs in English covering birthday, sentiment and new baby, plus some designs that are text free.

Hearts by Artige (+31) 314 378788 www.artige.com

Going wild Wild Thing is the latest range addition to Kingfisher Cards’ fast-growing portfolio.

This new collection spans 36 designs covering a number of relations and age captions, each featuring some wild and funky characters celebrating their birthdays with abandon. The cards, which each have a full colour insert, are printed on a beautiful soft touch board and include a black thermographic finish.

Kingfisher Cards 01245 327226 www.kingfishercards.co.uk

Decorative protection With the wearing of face masks set to become commonplace for members of the general public, TMS has launched its first of several ranges of decoratively packaged disposable face masks. Each of the initial six designs come with five plain masks inside. A counter display unit (that holds 60 packs) is also available. Work is well underway on a second collection which will feature patterned masks.

Bespoke packaging options are also available.

TMS (+31) 180633400 www.tms-inter.com

In the frame Poet and Painter says it has dipped its “grubby summer toes into the world of old school glamour”, adding a distressed gold frame to each design in its new Glitzy range, making it the publisher’s first foray into incorporating recyclable foiling. Also new, is Studio, a typically eclectic Poet and Painter collection with a polaroid style frame round each design which wonderfully combines an off-beat palette with hand-penned illustration.

Poet and Painter 07779 064894 www.poetandpainter.co.uk

Crystal clear

Blooming lovely

Apple & Clover has launched a small collection of five rainbow-themed cards with 100% of profits generated from their sale to be donated to NHS Charities Together. Designer Jo Hawkins felt compelled to support the amazing NHS heroes. The cards, 155mm square, are hand-embellished with coloured crystal and bows.

Apple & Clover 07790 900976 www.appleandclover.com

Tapping into the soaring interest in gardening as well as the sheer beauty of the natural world, Zaquerella’s new Roses card collection features elegant watercolours of various roses covering both general birthday and female relations. Printed on eggshell white board, slightly textured 350gsm board, the look is sophisticated and modern. Blank inside, each is supplied with a pink envelope.

Zaquerella 075 7700 1145 www.zaquarella.co.uk/

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

29

ART SOURCE

Quirky Family-safe Humour A new, ever-growing range of designs covering Occasions, Oddballs, NHS, Dogs, Food, Wine and more, all available to trade or licence

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27/05/2020 12:32

PG Innovations Normal May_June.qxp_38-39/40-41 30/05/2020 13:12 Page 1

PG showcases a selection of new product launches

Coming up Rosie Rosie Made A Thing has launched a new Isolation card range to coincide with the gradual reopening of the high street.

Celebrating the highs and lows of lockdown and beyond, the 12 designs cover relevant themes for our current predicament and are aimed at those of us who are missing birthdays, hugging and pubs!

Rosie Made A Thing 0116 4062000 www.rosiemadeathing.co.uk

Put a gin in eve every ry roo m, get get dresSed ed up and go on y your our very very own ow wn pub crawl

Domestic bliss

Not surprisingly, the creative maestros at Emotional Rescue have crafted a rich offering of new humorous card designs that tap into the current situation – with abundant jokes about hand santisers, bad hair and other observations about lockdown life. However, the publisher has also developed a rich collection of nonhumorous designs across a number of design styles (including the featured Snuggle Bumkins design) that delve into the essence of connectivity at this tricky time, as the featured.

Emotional Rescue (+44) 01684 272370 www.emotional-rescue.com/

Margo is a brand new contemporary range from Cinnamon Aitch. The contemporary collection of 34 designs features the antics of adorable animals around the home, using bold pattern, punchy colour and modern design to add to the allure. The cards are printed on beautiful heavyweight FSC board and made entirely in the UK. Cinnamon Aitch 0121 773 6822 www.cinnamonaitch.co.uk

Bearing up Created in lockdown is Crumble & Core’s delightful new Bear range. Featuring the delightful artwork by Jilly Mercer, the collection centres around a lovable bear character in different situations coupled with uplifting handwritten sentiments, such as ‘We grow through what we go through’, ‘be kind to yourself’ and ‘have courage’.

The luxury square cards are on textured 300 gsm white board, hand-embellished with gemstones. They come with a brown ribbed kraft envelope.

Crumble and Core 07887 650491 www.crumbleandcore.com

Topical sentiments

Frontline support A Million Little Things is a brand new card range from GBCC which has been launched in partnership with NHS Charities Together. Initially comprising 12 designs, a full 10% of the RRP is being donated to the charity. The initial collection encompasses birthday, just for you, thinking of you, thank you and support designs featuring a fusion of illustration styles and techniques, each incorporating a rainbow image or colours that symbolises hope and motivation to support every one of us through this pandemic.

GBCC 01452 888999 www.greatbritishcards.co.uk

Just purrfect Further building on its pedigree for superb cat-related cards, Tomcat Cards has recently introduced 33 designs featuring Lisa Marie Robinson’s whimsical paintings of cats. All of the cards in the Lisa Marie range are 6” square and come with a 100gsm white envelope wrapped or unwrapped.

Tomcat Cards +44 (0)1207 775987 www.tomcat.cards

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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32-33.qxp_Grid 28/05/2020 15:37 Page 2

JEREMY’S JOURNAL

BUSINESS BLOGGING BY PUBLISHER JEREMY CORNER OF BLUE EYED SUN

Costing The

Earth

With lockdown heightening sensibilities and appreciation of the natural world - from the green shoots in our own back gardens to reduced air pollution due to the grounding of aeroplanes - Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun and distributor of BambooCup and Bioloco, shares some advice on how to be a sustainable retailer.

Left: The extreme emissions of CO2 gases are melting the polar ice caps.

Below: Data from Wynes, Seth, and Kimberly A Nicholas. 2017.

‘The Climate Mitigation Gap: Education and Government Recommendations Miss the Most Effective Individual Actions.’

Environmental Research Letters.

Image credit: Catrin Jakobsson.

As we all tentatively make the move to come out of lockdown, our attentions will be diverted in a number of different directions, with caring for the environment being one of them. But just how can one be a sustainable retailer? I mean, really. Retailers trade in ‘stuff’. Stuff which takes more stuff to be manufactured (up to 70 times more, according to StoryofStuff.org). It’s also mostly stuff that’s shipped halfway round the world burning carbon producing fossil fuels that pollute our planet and produce CO2.

Increased CO2 levels are leading to rising temperatures, melting polar ice caps and creating higher sea levels. The stuff we sell also tends to be covered in plastic throughout the supply chain. Plus, there’s going to be more plastic involved with PPE, hand sanitisers and packaging as shops reopen with the easing of the lockdown.

Plastics take a very long time to break down and much of it ends up polluting the environment.

Increasingly, retailers and suppliers alike are keen to manage the balance between meeting all our desires to live more sustainably and the need to remain profitable. The question is how?

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Where to start?

How can we be more sustainable in retail?

What are the actions we can all take?

According to one study, there are five key things we do that have the highest impact on reducing CO2 levels. Regardless of our place in the supply chain to consumers, each of these five actions could reduce at least 0.8 tonnes of CO2 from our personal output per annum:

1. Have Less Kids This sounds a bit drastic, but the biggest single action (by far) that the world’s population can take going forward to reduce global warming is to have less children. If you look at future emissions of descendants based on historical rates, having one fewer child saves around 60 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

2. Drive Less Transport is responsible for nearly 30% of the EU’s total CO2 emissions, of which 72% comes from road transportation. A lot of this is in our supply chain of lorries moving our stuff around. It’s also in the cars we drive and the public transport we use.

The ideal scenario is to ditch your car altogether and use public transport. This isn’t always practical for us though, especially in the current times. Another alternative is to car share; again not an option in these ‘social distancing times’, but it won’t be like this forever. Using more environmentally-friendly electric vehicles will also help to slash your C02 output.

Cutting CO2 from our supply chains is trickier. Ideally orders should be consolidated to have less deliveries (and therefore less miles used). With electric trucks currently already available, we will need to encourage our carriers to start switching to these or hybrids.

Something more consumers are now considering is whether they really need the ‘stuff’ they are buying or not, a challenge for us in the card and gift trade admittedly. This could be the reason for the rise in food gifting and certain fashion items remaining strong for certain retailers.

We all need to eat and be clothed. Make sure you have products in your offering that people can’t do without.

3. Fly Less While air travel is not really an option right now, it will be interesting to see what patterns emerge following Covid-19. A Above: Stormy Knight’s Rubbish cards are made from 100% post-consumer waste.

32-33.qxp_Grid 28/05/2020 15:37 Page 3

JEREMY’S JOURNAL transatlantic round-trip flight can release 1.6 tonnes of CO2 per person. This is as much as the average yearly emissions for one person in India. Most of us who fly are polluting the planet for the rest of the global population.

The amount of CO2 released is up to nine times higher if you fly first class (because of the extra space in the premium section of the plane). Even local flights to and from Europe can add up to half of ton of CO2 per passenger. Carbon off-sets should be made mandatory on all plane ticket purchases to help plant tress and support projects that reduce CO2 to offset flight pollution.

If your products are shipped by boat or produced locally it stands to reason the CO2 produced from your supply chains will be reduced over those that are air-freighted.

Buy local seasonal fruit and veg to reduce air miles in your daily diet.

Environmental Campaigns like Plastic Free July, Plastic Free Lent and #PlasticFreeFriday are great ways to engage your team, community, suppliers and customers. It’s tricky ditching plastic and you learn loads doing it.

Opportunities

Above: If cattle were their own nation, they would be the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after China and the USA. Below left: Summerlane Studio uses elephant dung board, flower seeded and recycled card for its greeting cards.

Below right: In front of the monitor showing the ecofriendly products Blue Eyed Sun now stocks, Jeremy at the recent Spring Fair, on the Inspiring Retail Stage where he talked about ‘How you can become a sustainable retailer’.

With more people avoiding single-use items, products that help with this are on the rise.

Reusable bags, lunchboxes, water bottles and reusable cups are obvious easy wins to stock.

With cards, it’s important that publishers include their FSC credentials on their products. FSC means that the supply chain is monitored to ensure that the paper used on our cards comes from sustainably managed sources.

to make a difference. You can halve your environmental impact by eating less meat and dairy.

What else?

4. Buy Clean Energy Switching to green energy supplier, Bulb, saved me three tonnes of CO2 last year and reduced my energy carbon footprint by 25%. You can save up to £247 off your bill and get up to £50 credit if you sign up using my referral link at www.bulb.me/jeremy8434. Bulb is the UK’s biggest green supplier, but other specialists are of course available.

These five actions have the biggest impact.

There are also loads of smaller changes you can make. These include recycling, washing clothes in cold water instead of hot water, hang drying clothes instead of tumble drying and upgrading your lightbulbs to energy efficient LEDs instead of tungsten bulbs.

Many of these smaller changes can easily be actioned in the workplace.

What about plastics?

5. Eat Less Meat Beef production requires 20 times more land (and water) and emits 20 times more greenhouse gas emissions per unit of edible protein than common plant-based protein sources like beans, peas and lentils. If cattle were their own nation, they would be the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after China and the USA. The methane that cows produce is 30 times more potent than CO2 as a heat-trapping gas.

With developing nations eating more meat, the world needs to cut back on meat consumption. It’s just not sustainable. You don’t have to become vegan or vegetarian

Even before the Coronavirus, over 6% of UK consumers said they prefer to buy from retailers that are reducing their use of singleuse plastics. They also want greater transparency in how companies source their materials. In 1950, the world’s population of 2.5 billion produced 1.5 million tons of plastic.

In 2016, a global population of more than 7 billion people produced over 320 million tons of plastic - and this is set to double by 2034.

In 2015 an estimated 55% of global plastic waste was discarded, 25% was incinerated and 20% was recycled. That discarded waste becomes plastic pollution that causes serious issues with our wildlife.

At current rates, 99% of seabirds will carry plastic in their guts by 2050. Plastic is choking our wildlife to death.

What can retailers do?

Be aware of the core sustainability issues and do your best to move in the right direction to create and support change.

Communicate these changes to your customers and involve them in your journey.

It’s also essential that publishers ditch plastic wherever possible. Almost 70% of greeting cards sold in the UK are now plastic-free after changes were made by multiple retailers. PLA compostable alternatives are a good interim measure for independents, but long-term, consumers may want to see PLA reduce too.

Sustainable focus The key to becoming a sustainable retailer is to make your own changes personally first.

Then, from there, build environmental awareness and sustainability into your business so that it’s more than just lip service. It makes it much easier to talk to others about changes that you have made yourself. It’s also more inspiring and it has a more powerful effect. Why not commit to taking part in #PlasticFreeJuly this year?

The other important thing to do is to communicate these changes to your customers and community, so they can hear and see how you are taking steps in the right direction. It’s not about being perfect.

It’s about taking action and sharing it.

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

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WHAT’S HOT? WHILE THEIR STORES HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY SHUT, SO MANY INDIES HAVE BEEN ‘OPEN ALL HOURS’, SELLING VIA THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, VIRTUAL SHOPPING SERVICES AND BY PHONE. HERE TWO RETAILERS SHARE SOME OF THEIR RESPECTIVE TOP SELLERS DURING LOCKDOWN. Tracey and Chris Bryant, co-owners of Cats Whiskers (in Bishops Cleeve), Expressions (in Swindon) and Polkadot (in Keynsham) have beefed up their website incredibly during lockdown and sales have increased incredibly.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Humour

Cath Tate Cards Dandelion Stationery Tracks The Eco-friendly Card Co (Glebe Cottage) Rosanna Rossi Woodmansterne Publications Cath Tate Cards Crumble & Core

Photocaptions General Father’s Day Fluff Single cards and the packs of notecards Across the board Emma Bridgewater

Woodmansterne Publications The Art File The Somerset Toiletry Company Michel Design Works

General

We all need cheering up and these humorous cards and our customers have loved these.

Lovely designs and sentiments - and eco-friendly to boot!

Rosanna Rossi’s designs just ooze quality while Emma Bridgewater has a good following as a brand.

The popularity of gardening has grown while people love the ideas of getting a card and gift in one with the earring cards.

We are in the process of broadening our children’s cards, but designs from these two publishers do well.

Hand creams from all Right: The Somerset Toiletry Company’s ranges are doing well. Naturally European

Art Contemporary

Thinking of You

Children’s

Gifts Above right: Seed Cards from Cath Tate have sold well on the Cats Whiskers’ site.

Powder Designs

Seed Cards Earring cards

General Naturally European (Verbena especially) Foaming Hand Soap (Lemon especially) Hairbands

collection has sold well for Chris and Tracey’s customers.

There is a lot of unruly hair out there!

Rachel and Paul Roberts, co-owners of Mooch in Northampton, Olney and Towcester started their business online before moving into bricks and mortar, so not surprisingly www.lovemooch.co.uk was ready for the upsurge in online ordering.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Humour

Redback

Cloud Nine and Holy Flaps

Art

Clare Maddicott/Abacus

Lemongrass

Contemporary

Lagom

Mini Cards

Thinking of You

Janie Wilson

Silver Leaf

Children’s

Wendy Jones-Blackett

Quicksilver Ages

Giftwrappings

The Art File

Across the board

Gifts

Sienna Glass One Hundred Stars Bespoke cushion

Bird feeders Kimonos and scarves Handmade

These have been brilliant - humour has definitely been a bigger category for us during lockdown. We’re increasing our range of humour for when we reopen.

The bright colours and striking images make them stand out on the web. We also have two local artists who produce cards for us with local scenes on which have also been best sellers.

These have been the single biggest selling range for us online. Customers tend to buy more than five at a time. A great option to send to their pals.

We’ve offered a ‘write and send’ option for customers during lockdown and Thinking of You is probably one of the biggest categories (after humour) and this range has been super popular. And the cards are beautiful to write on too!

These have been huge sellers during lockdown, especially the older children’s ages (9-16).

Stunning, great quality paper with beautiful designs. We’ve been doing a lot of gift wrapping for our online customers and this is a Top: Clare Maddicott’s delight to wrap with!

Lemongrass range has done We have had a big hit with a bespoke well for Mooch.

Above: The interest in our cushion (made locally) we created to raise garden has been reflected in money for our local theatre (charity) - the the sales of Sienna Glass’ bird feeders. response has been phenomenal.

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Classified Complete 2020.qxp 27/05/2020 18:18 Page 35

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

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To appear in the Product Directories contact

Warren Lomax

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

Tracey Arnaud

07957 212 062

or email traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

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

www.bugart.co.uk

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

01565 830 546 | bexyboo.co.uk @BexyBooLtd

BexyBooLtd

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

@BexyBooLtd PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

35

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

PRETTY ELEGANT DESIGNS | LONDON

Available online Wholesale & Licensing

LOTTIE COLE

Beautiful, Soulful Cards www.lottiecole.com info@lottiecole.com lottiecoledesigns hello@emmabryan.co.uk www.emmabryan.co.uk

Caspari Ltd

AGENTS WANTED

Linden House, John Dane Player Court

SALES AGENTS WANTED

East Street, Safffrron W Waalden Essex, CB10 1LR Teel: 01799 513010 T Faax: 01799 513101 F Email: inffoo@caspari.co.uk ww ww w.CaspariOnline.com

www.cathtatecards.com

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

Method of Sale: Direct to Retail

Witty, gritty, switched on humour.

Cards and gifts with a real difference.

made with great imagination

@thecuriousinksmith

01892 838 574

sales@thecuriousinksmith.co.uk

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

One of the UK’s leading suppliers of Greeting Cards since 19995

Family-safe

HUMOROUS CARDS

Products: High quality greetin ng cards with superb finishes. All maajjor and minor titles, covering traditio onaall to the latest in innovative design, n both Everydaayy and Seasonal. Providing an all NEW selection of Muggs and Notebooks. k Brands Include: Down Memory Lane, Wo Wot A Mug and Tw Twist & Shout

NEW DESIGN

S

07566 742677 74267 77 hello@Chiz.ink www.Chiz.ink

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

A w o n d e rf u l Eid!

Ch C hin nese ese

To appear in the Product Directories email

Warren Lomax

THE

WAY

THE AND TRUTH THE

LIFE

Desiggners welcome contact beverley@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

ORDER A TRAD E PACK

WISHES

HE IS

Methods of Sale: Direct to retail

36

S end i n g YO Y OU OU

and poster Occasions Oddballs Dogs Food Wine Humerus (NHS) and more

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Unit 10 Duddage Business Park Brockeridge Rd Twyning Tewkesbury GL20 6BY 01684 295500 info@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk www.cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

Polissh Po h

warren@max-publishing.co.uk or

Te T el: 0161 1 64 641 0 06 655 Email: m sales@da sales@d avora.co.uk av

Tracey Arnaud

135 Hea 13 135 eaton Moorr Rd | Stockp ock kpo port ort SK4 4HY 4 4H HY

traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

Classified Complete 2020.qxp 27/05/2020 18:21 Page 37

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY .6-5*3"$*"- and -(#5 (3&&5*/( $"3%4

• UK Market leaders with humour, art, photographic, contemporary and traditional occasions & relations cards, plus seasonal.

• 2΍HULQJ D IXOO SODQQLQJ VHUYLFH with merchandising and retail development opportunities.

Hue tribe

• Specialists in garden centres and the independent trade.

www.huetribe.com t: +44(0) 7943416562 e: info@huetribe.com facebook: www.facebook.com/huetribedesign

CPNF TFF PVS OFX JMMVTUSBUJPOT PO 45"/% 41 BU 1( -*7& % OFF ALL SHOW ORDERS

)

CHARITY GREETING CARDS

High Quality Greeting Cards, Gift Bags,

One of the UK’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.

Find The Great British Card Company on:

Gift Wrap & Ta Tags for every occasion.

Hallmark Cards PLC Dawson Lane, Bradford, BD4 6HN

*GCF 1HƂEG +353 (0)404 20528 Email info@garlanna.com www.garlanna.com

UK&NI: 0800 90 20 900 SUPPLIER

www.greatbritishcards.co.uk Waterwells Drive, Gloucester GL2 2PH Tel: 01452 888970

ROI: 012 480 104 customerqueriesUK@hallmark.com

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

frrom the

Including firm favourites and brand new designs Brands include: Keepsakes, Words of Love, Jelly Beans, Bella Rose, Champagne and many more

Innovative high quality gift wrap, gift bags, tissue paper and accesssories galore for all seasons and occasions.

0127 74 4 655980 sales@glick.co.uk www.glick.co.uk Teel:: +44 (0)115 986 0115 T customer t ser vices@paper i @ rose.co.ukk www.writefromthehear t.co.uk

Glick, Unit 1 Allenby House, European Ind. Park, Knowles Lane, Bradford BD4 9AB

@glickgiftwrap

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

37

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

+

60 years

Your Number One Supplier of 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 OX1 5JN

LING DESIGN

Te T el 01235 465489 Fax 01235 532118 www.listanpublications.co.uk sales@listanpublications.co.uk

originalposter.com

Great brands, Great service Bespoke planning

www.lingdesign.co.uk

01892 838 574 information@lingdesign.co.uk

We can help with all your bespoke planning requirements.

From smaller displays to redeveloping complete card departments

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.

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

@NoelTattGroup 01227 811 600 sales@noeltatt.co.uk www.noeltatt.co.uk

WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS “Art that tells a story…”

Marina B Designs from me to you with love

UK

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

B rand N ames a

Happy Mother’s Dayy D

Love Country

by Sarah Reilly www.marinab.co.uk mar in a@ m a rinab. co.u k Agents wanted

M

38

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

ad

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

Cloudesley House, Shire Hill, Saffron Walden,, CB11 3FB

T: 01799 520200 F: F: 01799 520100 www.nigelquiney.c w ww.nigelquiney.com ww om

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

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

K

Tel: 07735 918118 sarah@lovecountryuk.co.uk www.lovecountryuk.co.uk

Pizazz, Pizazz Gallery, G Pizazz Limited Edition, E Pizazz for Men, Doodle, D A of Nature, Whatt a Picture, Art Designers Corner

e in the U

Paperlinkcards

@ @paperlinkcards

Classified Complete 2020.qxp 27/05/2020 18:22 Page 39

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

Send Love e ( all year round )

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY Uk publisher of Greetings Cards with an extensive range of quality Birthday, Relations, Occasions and Seasonal product...

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

available from

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

t: 0208 6138 085 paperbirdpublishing.co.uk u

Exquisite Designs Beautiful Cards Key br ands include: Wr ite from the Hear t Ar tisan, Marzipan, Capisco Designer s Guild, Clare Tupperr Lucy Ledger plus man y more

LUXURY GIFT PACKAGING

Tel:: +44 (0)115 986 0115 Te customer ser vices@paperrose.co.uk www.paperrose.co.uk www.ar tgroupcards.co.uk

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

raspber r yblossom.com hello@raspberryblossom.com 020 3723 5405

PURPLE TREE DESIGNS ICONIC LICENCED BRANDS

Awesome cards & gifts inspired by life

01892 838 574 www.pennykennedy.co.uk To appear in the Product Directories contact

Warren Lomax 020 7700 6740 or email

warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact

Tracey Arnaud 07957 212 062 or email

traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

purpletreedesigns.co.uk info@purpletreedesigns.co.uk

greeting cards & contempoRary gifts www.redbackcards.com e: info@redbackcards.com t: 01752 830482

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

Products: Greetings Cards, Gift Wrap, Gift Bags, Social Stationery, Partyware

t. 07779 654 694 e. info@ruby-tuesday.co.uk www.ruby-tuesday.co.uk

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

To appear in the Product Directories contact

Warren Lomax 020 7700 6740 or email

warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact

Tracey Arnaud 07957 212 062 or email

traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

Method of sale: Wholesale Distributors DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT

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

AGENTS WANTED

6 Heron Trading Estate Alliance Road, Park Royal, London W3 0RA T: 0208 385 4474 F: 0208 385 4471 E: info@Xpressyourselfcards.co.uk

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

WWW.XXPRESSYOURSELFCARDS.CO.UK

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

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.

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

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

METHOD OF SALE: SENSATIONS – Direct to retail XPRESS YOURSELF – Now one of the leading wholesale publisher suppliers in the UK

UNIT 2, 12 BLACKSTONE RD, HUNTINGDON, CAMBS, PE29 6EF

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

www.tracksltd.com STUKELEY MEADOWS IND EST,

7RPFDW &DUGV

40

TEL: 01480 435562 FAX: 01480 450599

Classified Complete 2020.qxp 27/05/2020 18:26 Page 41

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

WHOLESALE

We offffer a We COMPREHEN

range of high Greeting Cards f ALL Occasions,

CHRISTMAS an Season f Sale:

mail: inffo o@words-nWeb: www We w..words-n-wishes.co.uk

Tel: 01942 233201

view by rufus designed in thames ditton

Verse

& entimen

an extensive range of superior quality,

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

... and if we fall into the ountain, we will just prosecco ffo ha av ve to drink our wa ay y out!

topdog@view by rufus.com 020 8972 9706

Method of Sale: Direct to Retail

viewbyrufus.com

Orders can be placed on our trader site

register ffo or a trade account: www w..viewbyrufus.com/b2b

or call our customer services team on

www.cbgtrader.co.uk +44(0)1243 792600

A Cards e Art Botanical Fine

Market Leaders in

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

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

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

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

41

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DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALE

CLASSIFIED

l CLASSIFIED BAGS

Polypropylene & biodegradable bag specialists

GREETING CARD

Over 40 years quality service to the trade Hotfoiling also available

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

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

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

BAGS

GIVE E YOUR

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

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

CALL US TODA AY

01773 5378 810

V VIP

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

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

CALL CA CAL C LL US ST TO ODAY OD

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

42

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Classified Complete 2020.qxp 27/05/2020 18:26 Page 43

CLASSIFIED

l CLASSIFIED

l CLASSIFIED

ENVELOPES

l CLASSIFIED

l CLASSIFIED

ENVELOPES

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

PAPER

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

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

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

01 90 83 78 86 6

FLITTERING

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

‘we we make Envelopes and Stationery’

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

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

FOR ALL YOUR FLITTER REQUIREMENTS

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

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

PRINTERS

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

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

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Classified Complete 2020.qxp 27/05/2020 18:27 Page 44

CLASSIFIED

l CLASSIFIED PRINTERS

l CLASSIFIED

l PRINTERS

l CLASSIFIED

l PRINTERS

l CLASSIFIED

l PRINTERS

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

The simplest way to order your greetings cards

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

Powered by

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

we print

we finish

we pack

we deliver

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

Your saf ep ai

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

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

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

www w..sherwoodgroupuk.com

44

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

000510

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CLASSIFIED

l CLASSIFIED PRINTERS

l CLASSIFIED

l PRINTERS

l CLASSIFIED

l PRINTERS

l CLASSIFIED

l PRINTERS

Social Sta tationerry Printer of the Year

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

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

WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

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

THE SPECIALIST GREE ETINGS CARD PRINTE ER

Exclusively Greeting Cards Dedicated Account Managers

Litho Print

Die-cutting

Digital Print

Flittering

Foiling

Packing

Embossing

Distribution

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

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

www.herbertwalkers.co.u uk

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

45

Classified Complete 2020.qxp 27/05/2020 18:27 Page 46

CLASSIFIED

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Classified Complete 2020.qxp 27/05/2020 18:10 Page 47

APPOINTMENTS

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

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

Say it how you like.

To appear in the Classified Pages simply contact

Warren Lomax: 020 7700 6740 warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact

Tracey Arnaud: 07957 212 062 traceya@max-publishing.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

47

Give someone a

BIG HUG . .by sending a card

it’  mean more than you can imagine

OBC_PG_May June 2020.indd 1

29/05/2020 17:54