Progressive Greetings November 2024

ON THE CARDS

The last month has most definitely been full of highs and lows, thankfully the former have balanced out the latter.

On the mega joyful front, The Henries awards event really was a stonker of a night, not just for the winners, but for all the 500 members of our community who attended. It just had such an upbeat feel. This year there were more indie retailers in the crowd who always add to the atmosphere, the Ancient Rome theme was enthusiastically embraced (the Brainbox Boys once again stole the show!), but it was the cheers from all over the room as publishers’ finalists ranges went up on the big screen, that brought to life the mutual respect which binds this sector. (see pages 22-65 to get a flavour of The Henries and see the winners).

On the back of this, it really was a kick in the stomach to discover the widespread blatant copying of so many publishers’ designs on Temu, the Chinese online platform. It is wrong, wrong, wrong on every level that there is even one instance of such theft, having the audacity to offer publishers’ well crafted artistry for a few pennies when they have no right to do so is unacceptable. The fact that mass stealing machine of Temu has got its clutches into so many of our wonderful creatives IPs is a modern day atrocity. The backing of McDaniels Law, who took on the issue on a pro bono basis as a case study has already resulted in Dandelion Stationery’s designs being removed from the site, and Thortful has also stepped in with support and advice on stamping out this pernicious practice.

On a positive front, collective action of a Christmas kind was evident all over social media this morning, as day one of the Cardmitment Challenge saw retailers and publishers galore post their respective spoof videos based on Gavin and Stacey’s Pam’s practice of sending all her Christmas cards on November 1 so people can enjoy them for a full seven weeks. Now, it would be marvellous if there were more Pams in the world, but this charge from all Cardmitment musketeers I am sure will have a positive effect in reminding people of the joy and importance of sending and receiving cards, be it for Christmas time or any reason.

The last couple of weeks has seen the passing of two notable Dons, who each made an immeasurable mark on our industry – Don Lewin OBE, the founder of Clinton Cards, which in many ways forged the path for specialist multiple greeting card retailing and Don Hall Snr, the son of Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark Cards, who was a visionary of the business and great spokesman for the industry.

@Prog_Greetings

One of his great quotes is: “I’ve said many times, I’ve never seen a greeting card sent in anger. It’s marvellous to be in a business where your sole efforts are directed at improving somebody’s feelings.”

While another is: “Trying to make someone else feel better is a joy, and I think we should never lose sight of that in our business. Our products might change a great deal, the methods of delivery might change, certainly production and all manner of things will change over this next century. That’s a thing that will not change, the need for caring for other people will always be a constant.”

The legacy will continue, but hopefully without copycat designs on Temu.

Left: (right-left) PG’s Warren Lomax and Jakki Brown at the Windles reception at The Henries with Mark Callaby (Ohh Deer), David Byk (Ling/GBCC), Rebecca Green (Raspberry Blossom) and Sarah Jackson (Stormy Knight).

Below: PG’s Jakki Brown (left) behind the counter at the new look Postmark store in Kings Cross with supervisor, Frankie Hyde. Below left: Pam (centre) would be proud that her words have kicked off the Cardmitment Christmas campaign, with spoof videos posted by many indie retailers and publishers (The Art File, left and Cath Tate, right) included.

CONTENTS

6-13 News

All the latest happenings and developments in the trade.

14-15 Talking Shop

Words Do Come Easy…

David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi reflects on the last 17 years of his PG column.

16-17 Cardsharp

The Evil Claws Of Copying

Cardsharp delves into the Temu online platform, which is jabbing its poisonous copying claws into our greeting card industry.

19-21 Viewpoints

The Christmas Tingles Indie retailers share their Christmas trading hunches.

22-24 The Henries Caught On Camera Veni, Vidi, Vici

66-67 Industry Opinion Budgetary Measures

78-87 Sources of Supply 16 14 22 19 68 55

A whopper of a party saw 500 cardies celebrate in Ancient Roman style at The Henries.

25-65

The Henries Winners 2024

Jakki

Members of the greeting card community share their thoughts on the recent Budget.

68-71 Focus on…Pet and Animal Cards Absolutely Paw-some

PG looks at the latest animal trends and the evergrowing popularity of to and from the pet cards.

72-73 Innovations

A host of new ranges and designs.

55 Art Source Taylor Made Artist and illustrator Suzy Taylor shares her creative story.

76-77 What’s Hot?

A trio of retailers lift the lid on their best-selling ranges.

Tracey Bearton

TOP STORY

Temu’s Copying Scandal

McDaniels,

Thortful and GCA

McDaniels Law, Thortful and the GCA have joined forces with aggrieved publishers to battle against Temu, the online marketplace which has ripped off a great number of card publishers and are selling copies of their designs on the platform.

join battle to protect publishers

Sarah Ray and Paper Shed among many more.

Kelly Hudson, managing director of McDaniels Law, had no hesitation in getting on board pro bono as a case study and to provide guidelines for affected publishers.

Adam Dury to leave Cardfactory

Adam Dury, who has been the trade-facing frontman of the Cardfactory business since he joined the retail group over five years ago is to leave the retail group in December to take up what he describes as “an incredible opportunity” as chief commercial officer at the fast-growing pet retailer, Jollyes

Thea Musselwhite, founder of Bold and Bright, together with Jo Wilson, founder of Dandelion Stationery have led the charge to stop this pernicious practice.

“This is a scourge of our time. Our designs are our property and they are being stolen with no thought to the blood, sweat and tears that goes into their original creation. The UK leads the world in greeting card design, but it is wrong, wrong, wrong that this creative pre-eminence is being preyed on by unscrupulous thieves,” stated Thea. “I was alerted to it by Frankie of You’ve Got Pen On Your Face, who told me some of my designs were on Temu. However, when I started searching on the platform, I was appalled at just how many fellow publishers’ designs featured too,” she added.

Among the other publishers designs Thea spotted on Temu included those from Paper Plane, Rosie Made A Thing, Bewilderbeest, Studio Boketto, Redback Cards, Klara Hawkins, Mungo and Shoddy, Emma Ball, Modern Toss, Brainbox Candy, Off the Leash,

“As IP infringement is one of McDaniels Law’s specialisms, when we learned from PG’s Jakki Brown just how many publishers are being affected by Temu lifting their designs without consent, we felt compelled to act. The UK greeting card community is revered for its world leading creativity. It is simply wrong that publishers’ best assets are being plundered with no retribution,” stated Kelly. Meanwhile, Thortful, the UK-based online greeting card marketplace is also determined to stamp out this copying on behalf of the artists, designers and publishers that sell through its platform. MD Pip Heywood took to social media posting the company’s stance: “We won’t stand by and let our creators be exploited… When fast consumer marketplaces like Temu take designs from our site, it undermines our creators. They’ve dedicated countless hours to develop their ideas, only to see them sold at low prices with no compensation.”

Thortful has worked with its legal team at Cripps to develop a template and stepby-step process for its creators to pursue a copyright claim directly as IP owners.

PG Live 2025 opens for registration

It’s all systems go for Progressive Greetings Live 2025 as registration has gone live for the show, which takes place Tuesday and Wednesday, 3-4 June, at Islington's Business Design Centre in the heart of London,

“Over 160 fabulous exhibitors have already booked their stands for PG Live 2025 – with loads more in the pipeline,” said Warren Lomax, co-owner and show director. Among the latest companies to book their stands for the June show are Studio Boketto, Molly Mae,

Partisan Products, Noel Tatt and Go La La, to name a few. These join an incredibly strong line-up that already includes a host of great names such as Abacus Cards, Alljoy Design, The Art File, Belly Button Designs, Brainbox Candy, Danilo, Emotional Rescue, Five Dollar Shake, Hallmark, Ling Design,

Using his greeting card prowess will not be part of his new remit, “initially at least, but you never know!” teased Adam, who acknowledges that some of Cardfactory’s best selling cards have been to and from the pet.

“I love the greeting card industry, it has been very much part of my life for the last 25 years, and I will miss it very much,”

Adam added, who prior to joining Cardfactory was involved in greeting cards during his 13 years at Tesco, as well as the six years prior at Marks & Spencer

Adam has not only been integrally involved in major developments at Cardfactory, including a total store look revamp, expansion into London locations, acquisitions of South Africa Greetings and Garlanna, but has also been very supportive of industrywide activities.

Of his time at Cardfactory, Adam said he was “hugely proud to have been a part of the Cardfactory team. It will always be a business I will hold dear to my heart, and I am still a shareholder so will still retain that connection, as well as the many friendships I have forged.”

Museums & Galleries, Stormy Knight, Ohh Deer, Paperlink, Paper Salad, Pigment, Quitting Hollywood, UK Greetings, Unique Paper Company, Wendy Jones-Blackett, and Woodmansterne as well as many innovative growing brands.

There’s also a host of exciting newbies and brand-new sparkling start-ups in the expanded Upper Village and Springboard areas. www.progressivegreetingslive.com

Above: Adam Dury. Below: Adam is to join fast growing Jollyes.

Above: Dandelion Stationery is one publisher whose designs have been ripped off by Temu. Below: Publisher Paper Plane is giving it to Temu straight on social media and its website.

Left: Plans for PG Live 2025 are well underway.

TOP STORY

Swan Mill Has Acquired Gifted Stationery

Stationery and calendar company joins Ling, GBCC and Penny Kennedy group

Swan Mill Group, which includes Ling Design, GBCC and Penny Kennedy, has acquired The Gifted Stationery Company, but it is to continue to trade as a separate company with its own sales team.

The Bath-based business, known as Gifted, produces gift stationery, calendars, diaries and also includes Hey Hugo, a new sibling kids’ lifestyle brand.

The company has been solely owned by Nigel Parr since 2018, who is to remain with the business for the next 15 months at least and the company will continue to be run from its Bath premises, with its own team of sales agents.

“This is a really exciting step for Swan Mill Group,” commented David Byk, ceo of the Swan Mill Group. “Nigel and I have known each other since 2019 and always knew that Gifted would be a business we should buy if he ever decided to sell. I’m really excited to welcome the Gifted team to the group and look forward to the continuation of what is a very successful company. It is a great acquisition for us, within our wheelhouse, but expanding into new areas too which ties excellently into our customer base, skill set and knowledge base.”

While calendars and diaries, of which Gifted has a 500-plus range, are new to the group, stationery is an area in which GBCC is gaining traction in the premium sector.

“This acquisition will broaden that offer for the group as a whole” while the Hey Hugo offer is “a really exciting opportunity” believes David. “I’m really pleased Nigel is staying with the business and will be key to its ongoing success. We will continue to run Gifted as a standalone business in Bath with Nigel in charge and he will be able to lean into the rest of the group where necessary.”

From Nigel’s perspective, he admits that he’s been contemplating retirement for a while, but said that a “huge part” of the process was finding the right home for Gifted, one that could take the business to the next level and beyond and have financial strength to do so.

“I’ve known David for a few years now, and we have a joint ethos in our approach to business and one that will serve Gifted well in the future,” said Nigel. “I look forward to staying with the business, working with the team and running the mix between business as usual and reaping the benefits and possibly some challenges of a larger group supporting us.”

Dobbies to close 17 sites

Postmark has debuted its new look in its London’s Kings Cross railway station store as well as in a brand new store in Liverpool Street station. Postmark’s London Bridge store will be revamped in early January 2025.

The new look in Kings Cross transforms the greeting card and stationery store which Postmark took on as part of its takeover of five former Paperchase sites in Network Rail sites as well as several other locations in March 2023. Up until now, the Kings Cross store has traded as Postmark, but utilising the former Paperchase fixtures and fittings.

Of the new look store Mark Janson-Smith, managing director of Postmark told PG that he was mightily relieved and feels “very pleased” with the transformation. “I admit I was absolutely terrified as it represents a large investment, but it is also the exciting next step in the company’s evolution.”

With a contemporary ‘wooden tree’ providing a central focus as soon as you enter the Kings Cross store, the light wood flooring, fixtures with a pale turquoise accent colour, illuminated card genre signage and repositioned till area creates a warm welcome into the card and stationery emporium.

A wide selection of greeting cards flank the back wall while standalone fixtures are used to great effect along the curved shopfront and in the main body of the shop to showcase various stationery ‘stories’ from a vast array of suppliers.

Jai’s on the home stretch

Lil Wabbit’s captain Jai Whitehouse is on the home stretch in his incredible 12 marathons in 12 months endeavour, raising money for the publisher’s chosen charity of StreetVet. Making the feat all the more admirable, Jai was not a marathon runner before he committed to the physical ordeal.

Having already got 10 26.2-milers under his belt, Jai is going all out for the final two events on 23 November in Battersea Park and 22 December in Portsmouth and so really wants to push the fundraising to hit the £10,000 mark before the end of January.

Lil Wabbit founder and director of happiness Georgi Doig and partner Jai already work with StreetVet as their most popular collection features paintings of the charity’s real patients with a photo and paragraph on the back outlining each animal’s story and the care received.

Through sales of its cards since 2021, Lil Wabbit has already donated almost £10,000 to StreetVet, but the hope is to double that through Jai’s marathon efforts.

Above: The curved outside fascia of Postmark’s Kings Cross station store.

Below: The inside of Postmark’s new Liverpool Street store.

Above: Marathon man Jai Whitehouse.

Top: David Byk (right) and Nigel Parr. Above: Calendars and stationery are a big part of Gifted’s offer. Below left: The Gifted Stationery stand at the recent Top Drawer.

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Triumphs And Togas

Like Rome, The Henries 2024 winners weren’t built in a day

The winners of The Henries 2024 greeting card industry awards were announced at a fabulous awards event, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London recently, hosted by comedian George Zacharopoulos.

The industry’s big night, now in its 29th year, took on a magnificent Ancient Roman theme and was attended by 500 members of the greeting card community who shared in the joy as the publishers of the UK’s most innovative greeting card ranges and suppliers who had gone the extra mile on service made their way to the stage to be crowned as winners.

Moving and shaking

There’s a whole lot of moving and shaking going on in the greeting card industry on the people front.

At Sainsbury’s Claire Fountain joins the team as buyer for cards and wrap, having previously been in the retailer’s Habitat Home team, while Shar Grothier steps into a new role as buyer for party, which is still part of the cards, wrap and party team, and senior buyer Sanjit Dool is back from maternity leave.

Organised by Progressive Greetings, The Henries are the ultimate accolades in the greeting card industry. As Warren Lomax, director of Max Publishing said: “This year, we had the largest battalion of entries ever, from more publishers than ever before, judged by the most extensive retail senate in Henries history, made up of over 100 retail buyers from right across the spectrum to arrive at an incredibly impressive legion of finalists’ ranges.”

As ever, the announcement of the Best Service to the Independent Retailer awards were eagerly

awaited, with Words ‘n’ Wishes clinching the Bronze, IC&G took the Silver and UK Greetings was presented with the Gold.

As an uplifting finale to the official ceremony, the Honorary Achievement Award was presented to Miles Robinson and Nigel Williams, coowner of House of Cards.

Honouring this dynamic retailing duo, Jakki Brown, editor of PG told the audience that for almost 35 years, “They have led from the front, done things their way, seen the big picture as well as the importance of the finer details, building a rock solid business that truly cares for its team as well as those in the greeting card community at large.”

Wrendale’s Hannah Dale in 10 Downing Street

Wrendale Designs’ founder Hannah Dale made the most of an invite to 10 Downing Street, using the opportunity of having the ears of the Chancellor and top politicians to raise the impact business rates are having on retailers.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds – who has responsibility for Royal Mail as part of his remit – was at the recent entrepreneurs’ reception hosted by Chancellor Rachel Reeves at the Prime Minister’s residence, which Hannah attended following an invitation from His Majesty’s Treasury.

Hannah said: “I went armed with a list of things I was hoping to raise –in the end I had to pick my highest priority, so I made a plea on behalf of our retailers.”

(See pages 22-65 for a Henries extravaganza)

A well-known industry face is now part of G.F Smith’s team as Simon Davis has joined the paper merchant as insights advisor greetings. Simon was previously with Abbotprint as its sales executive, prior to this he was new business development manager for The Imaging Centre

At WHSmith Stephanie Bastin has moved from the retailer’s Curi.o.city store gift concept brand where she had been a buyer for 18 months, to become international buying manager general merchandise for the main business where she was previously the stationery and card buyer.

Martin Parks has returned to Paper Rose as a part-time consultant. He spent five years as studio manager at the company, before moving to The Original Poster Company as art director and production manager for 15 years, then set up his own greeting card consultancy, and most recently was operations manager at The Art File for four years.

Over at retail chain Scribbler, junior buyer Izzy Doyle has moved responsibilities to party, packaging and stationery, working up from assistant buyer for cards after joining the business in 2021.

After nine years at Clintons, head of gift and buying manager Gabbie Peters has moved to Marks & Spencer where she is now a buyer. Gabbie previously spent five years as the buying manager cards at Tesco, and her first 18-month stint at Clintons as 3D gift buyer, following eight years at Woolworths where she was a buyer for kids’ arts and crafts and stationery.

She stressed the pressure retailers are under with increasing costs and the burden the current business rates system is putting on them, impacting bricks-andmortar retailers disproportionately. “Labour has made promises to overhaul this system to help the High Street and I wanted to reiterate how important this is to our industry and advocate for the urgency of reform given how much pressure retailers are under.”

(For comments on the recent budget see pages 66-67)

Above: All The Henries 2024 winners with host George Zacharopoulos and PG team mates on the front steps.

Below: House of Cards’ Miles Robinson (left) and Nigel Williamson try and take in the good news.

Above: Sainsbury’s Shar Grothier and Sanjit Pooni.

Below: Hannah Dale and the iconic doorway into the Prime Minister’s residence.

Above: Simon Davis. Below: Stephanie Bastin.

Above: Martin Parks. Below: Gabbie Peters.

Cards Are For Keeps

58% of Brits have kept cards for over a decade TOP STORY

Fresh research findings from Moonpig underlines huge importance greeting cards play in people’s lives with almost two thirds revealing they have cherished a card for more than a decade.

The study, undertaken by OnePoll, unearthed that a staggering 58% of people have kept a card for over 10 years, with women (67%) more likely than men (47%) and non-binary people (40%) to squirrel them away. The findings showed that 29% of Brits have kept more than 20 greeting cards, compared to only 14% of whom have kept none at all.

Moonpig’s global design and licensing director, added: “There are many reasons why we keep cards given to us by specific loved ones. Whether that be because we value the relationship that we have with that person or because they are no longer with us. Either way, greeting cards are always bought with the recipient in mind, and many of us treasure our cards because we know how much consideration has been put into them.”

Just A Card Crowdfunder launched

The message that buying just a card is how many independent retailers and creative businesses will survive is as relevant now as when Just A Card was launched almost a decade ago – but the campaign behind it is now at make-or-break point.

To ensure grassroots campaign Just A Card reaches its 10-year anniversary of championing support for supporting independent retailers, publishers and creative businesses by inspiring the public to show their allegiance to indies, it has launched a crowdfunding campaign.

Above:

Taking a deep dive into who is most likely to keep cards, the research found women are more than twice as likely (42%) to keep over 20 cards in comparison to just 15% of men, while half of non-binary people have kept more than 20 cards.

Moonpig found that 66% of people choose to keep cards because they were sent by a loved one, while 54% said it was because of the message inside, and for 45% it was because they’d received the greeting to celebrate a milestone.

Sarah-Jane Porter,

Women were found to be more sentimental than men, with 71% admitting they’d keep a card because it was sent by a loved one in comparison to only 58% of men – but, at 12%, the guys are more than twice as likely than women (5%) to keep a design because it features a favourite hobby or interest.

The research involved speaking to 2,000 respondents of all ages in the UK, with 82% of women stating their love of receiving greeting cards, in contrast to 58% of men and half of non-binary people.

Fashion combo for AfroTouch

Looking at the reasons why Brits enjoy receiving cards, 68% said it shows a personal touch from the sender, while 43% appreciate the designs of the greetings given to them and 40% enjoy the celebration it represents.

Greeting card company AfroTouch Design teamed up with African clothing business Cumo London to mark Black History Month with a special collaboration.

“We created a limited-edition greeting card that says I See You & Appreciate You, a message that celebrates the beauty of African culture, diversity, and appreciation,” explained AfroTouch founder Georgina Fihosy.

Both Georgina and Cumo offered 15% discounts across their websites as part of the celebration, and she added: “Let’s celebrate diversity, shop with purpose, and make an impact together this Black History Month.”

Georgina also took part in the UK Black Business Week events along with fellow publisher Sylvia Prince

The event, at London’s ExCeL, involved a series of talks and speakers including boxing legend Chris Eubank Sr, entrepreneur and TV Dragon

Stephen Bartlett, author, journalist and TV presenter Candice

Below: A supportive post from Wink Design.

“The time has come for some honesty,” founder Sarah Hamilton said. “Passion alone doesn’t pay the bills – our campaign is very costly and time-consuming to run.”

Sarah started Just A Card after hearing how a gallery owner had said if customers had bought “just a card” each time they told her how much they loved her store, she wouldn’t have had to close the business.

The pledges start with a three-month listing on the Just A Card website at £30 or for £50 there’s a directory image and listing, £100 buys an Instagram post and directory listing, and for £250 there’s a directory listing and newsletter feature – full Crowdfunder and donation details are on the website (www.justacard.org).

Above: Moonpig’s research show how cards are memory makers and relationship keepsakes.

Below: Sarah Jane-Porter (right) at the recent Winston Wishes’ workshop she instigated with the GCA into what bereaved children want to see in a card.

Over 17,000 shops across the globe already have Just A Card window stickers.

Braithwaite, former athlete Tessa Sanderson, and TV property expert Stuart Douglas.

Above: Georgina Fihosy collaborated with Cumo London to create a limited edition card.

Tribute To Don Lewin OBE, Founder Of Clintons

Loss of the ‘cardfather’ of multiple greeting card retailing

Don Lewin OBE, the founder of Clintons and titan of the greeting card industry, died peacefully at home recently, aged 91.

Laurence Prince, chairman of Danilo and longtime friend of Don Lewin, commented: “The industry has lost a true stalwart; someone who shaped the industry and elevated the important role greeting cards play in our lives.”

The son of a chimneysweep, Don’s entrepreneurial drive showed itself at an early age, selling toy soldiers on a market stall aged only 10. However, it was 16 years later when he started selling greeting cards as a freelance salesperson that he spotted the true potential of making his mark on the retail front.

When Don opened the first Clinton Cards shop in 1968, named after his son Clinton, it was to mark the start of a pioneering charge in the UK greeting card industry’s history, creating what went on to become a household name, setting the benchmark for quality greeting card retail execution as well as expanding card sending occasions.

orange and brown fascia started to appear in high streets and shopping precincts all over Britain, buying up both mini and major card chains and quickly ‘Clintonising’ them. The 1990s were really the boom years for Clintons with Don being dubbed ‘The King of Cards’ by the national press, reflected in him being awarded an OBE in 1996, and on the purchase of rival chain, Birthdays, Don achieved his personal goal of trading from 1,000 stores.

Don’s mantra: “You can’t sell sentiment cheap” saw many supplying publishers benefit from Clintons’ retail pricing strategy for greeting cards as the retail group grew steadily over the 1970s and 1980s, branching out from its Essex heartland.

In 1988 the company launched on the stock exchange to become a plc. It was from here onwards that Clinton Cards (as opposed to Clintons as it is called today) started its phenomenal growth spurt with Don Lewin as its figurehead, supported by his son Clinton, daughter Debbie and respected management team.

Clinton Cards’ then distinctive

Very much the showman, Don hosted lavish industry parties, sent Christmas cards with recordings of himself singing while his autobiography, Think of a Card, published in 2008 chronicles the heydays of the business.

Don remained involved in the business until 2012 when Clintons went into administrative receivership and was bought by the Weiss family, who owned it until March this year when it was acquired by Pillarbox Designs, parent company of Cardzone

Paul Taylor, ceo of Cardzone, paid tribute to the brand’s ‘cardfather’:

“There is no denying that when Don Lewin started Clinton Cards, it was to change the shape of greeting card retailing, becoming synonymous as a specialist retailer renowned for quality cards. We are now the proud custodians of the Clintons’ brand and will do our utmost to continue its strong legacy.”

Sad death of Hallmark’s majority owner, Don Hall Snr

Hallmark Cards’ chairman emeritus and majority owner Don Hall Snr, son of the company’s founder JC Hall, died at the aged of 96 recently.

Described as “a true forefather of our beloved industry,” Don served as ceo and president of the USheadquartered greeting card giant, guiding the company through what it calls its “greatest period of growth”.

Don Hall began his career with the company aged 17, working a sales territory while studying economics at Dartmouth College before serving in the US Army for three years, and returning to Hallmark in 1953.

Mike Perry, Hallmark Cards’ president and CEO, said: “Don Hall was a visionary whose influence will forever be felt across the Hallmark enterprise. He was a constant source of encouragement for all Hallmarkers: to think bigger, to always innovate, and to stay focused on the Hallmark mission of helping to bring people together and put more care into the world. We will miss Don so much, but we’ll always marvel at how he grew Hallmark into the company we are today.”

Don became administrative vice-president in 1958, and president and chief executive officer in 1966, when his father JC retired. In 1983, he moved to become chairman, and in 2016, he became chairman emeritus.

Don Sr once told Hallmark employees: “I’ve said many times, I’ve never seen a greeting card sent in anger. It’s marvellous to be in a business where your sole efforts are directed at improving somebody’s feelings.”

Loxleys’ 170th birthday celebrations

The Loxleys team has been busy celebrating this month as the Sheffield-based specialist greeting card printer marked 170 years in business.

Having survived various conflicts including the two World Wars, two factory fires, and endless market changes along the way, it’s all going well at the company that started life in 1854 as a printer, bookseller and stationer in the city centre.

And it has just wrapped up the birthday celebrations with the Sheffield Star including an article on the company as well as party fun for staff and publisher customers could join in too, with an Instagram competition to win free printed greeting cards.

““The business has seen a lot of changes throughout my 27 years here,” said MD Tony Lorriman, “including our management buyout in 2022. Carrying 170 years of heritage is huge achievement and a huge responsibility, as the board of directors we are the current custodians, and our primary objective is to ensure Loxleys’ longevity long into the future.”

After well over a century and a half, Tony is proud that three things have remained the same – the place they call home as they’re still working from their Victorian building originally used as a skating rink; their flexibility of consistently evolving to meet the needs of their customers; and their dedication to print.

Above: Don Lewin (centre) with his son Clinton and daughter Debbie, who were company directors in the heyday of Clinton Cards.

Above: At its peak, through Clinton Cards and Birthdays, the group was trading from 1,000 stores.

Above: Don as a young salesman for the family business and in the official company portrait.

Right: Loxleys’ main building and the former city centre store.

Words do come easy…

that seem to breed each night when you have a toddler! Up in our loft were large piles PG magazines, so I made it my mission to retrieve my column from each edition and file them in order.

In the process, I couldn’t help indulging in some reminiscing about the industry developments over the last 17 years since I first put pen to paper for this esteemed organ.

I first put my thoughts down in PG back in October 2007 so I have been writing for 17 years. With that the case I am very nearly an adult with just 10 months to the milestone 18th birthday!

Call it ego, call it pride but for me this magazine has been a huge part of my working life and I am proud to have played a small part in what I see as the leading voice in the card and gift industry.

My very first column was written in a diary style, detailing my visit to Autumn Fair. I remember writing it with a bit of trepidation and have to admit cringing a little having reread it!

I was probably a bit afraid that people wouldn’t read it or that I would offend or that it would be boring! I also wrote it thinking that people would want to read about the day in a life of a cardshop owner rather than actually writing from a place of truth, about a subject that I wanted to have my say on.

The column has evolved from a single page near the back of PG beside the wonderful Lynn Tait (sadly no longer with us) to now spanning two pages the front of the

magazine. Judging by the varied comments from industry stalwarts and fellow retailers I know, thankfully the column has hit the mark more often than missing it.

maintain margins, competition, trade shows, relationships, notable company happenings, card trends, threats and many more.

Paperchase, Birthdays, Thoughts, Occasions are just some of the chains that have come and gone while some large characters have also disappeared from our industry.

The passing of Clintons’ founder, Don Lewin OBE in recent weeks also marks the end of an era. He was the man who took quality cards to the masses. A don in the mafia is the boss and in many respects he was an industry forerunner and visionary, so his first name was very apt. I remember I upset him once over some comments I wrote about his Inverness store and I was never a fan of the orange colour scheme, but there is no doubting the influence he had on our sector.

My November 2010 column detailed the Halloween horrors of dealing with big landlords and the dreaded dilapidation. That feels like yesterday and probably spoke more to my naivety than anything else. It was the first and last time I ever rented a building and only time will tell if owning my own property will return a reward.

Another column criticised the use of really crude/bad language on some cards - today I don’t think anyone would bat an eye.

Back in Feb 2008 I wrote about the heavyweight fight between Hallmark and UKG and in keeping with typical boxing tradition, if Hallmark can get its stuff together in 2025 we may get something similar again.

Inset: David Robertson has written well over 400,000 words for PG over the last 17 years.

Top: Just some of the PG magazines that David has got down from his loft,

What was also interesting is that some of those that are now at the top of the game have got there quietly, building in the background without fanfare.

A fellow business owner recently pointed me in the direction of a book entitled: ‘The First Rule of Mastery. Stop worrying about what people think of you’.

FOPO - Fear of People’s Opinions - is covered in depth and indeed a huge amount of the issues in life is simply taking that first step and being brave enough to believe in what you are doing.

FOPO shows up almost everywhere in our lives - and the consequences of letting it affect you can be huge. If we let it take control, we can react by playing it safe and being afraid of what could happen.

When challenged, we can sometimes surrender our viewpoint, trading in authenticity for approval. We please rather than provoke, but we have to remember it can be easy to be like this if you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It is also easy to be like this if you have started to have a degree of success.

While the nice comments and praise I have received about my columns have been great, what I like more is the honesty and indeed criticism that have come my way as a result of what I have penned. Having a viewpoint and being prepared to articulate it will invariably elicit a response and you will never please everyone!

One theme which is more than frustrating which seems to have taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks is copying, with many publishers being tested to the limits as their work and designs have been so blatantly stolen. I was so upset to read about companies such as Dandelion and Bexy Boo having their work copied directly in an inferior way on Temu.

I have also spoken with other publishers who have grown tired of their work being ‘interpreted’ by others, even within our industry.

of my own personal lowest ebbs.

Back in 2012 I had a bout of depression where my columns took on a very dark tone. I appreciated the sheer volume of readers who reached out to me as they could tell through my words that I was not in a good place.

How should publishers deal with this? Well, it is easy for me to say they should rise above it. In the case of companies ‘interpreting’ styles or colours it is hard to prove, but in cases when designs are being stolen verbatim, this clearly needs to be stamped out. This lack of moral compass is without doubt a downfall of our modern world.

I can remember believing that I could make anything work, but as you get older and have more knowledge and experience it can be difficult to practice what you preach. Your responsibilities invariably change and one of the largest pressures I feel is to safeguard our team and family.

Being an employer is not easy and having listened to our new Chancellor and indeed Prime Minister I think that they forget that many employers are actually small business working class people themselves. We all want to reward, but within the limits of what the business can afford.

I know for a fact that that column helped several people in our industry open up about their own mental health struggles. It was not as common back then to discuss openly the many struggles that we face, but I am glad I did.

• Some 77% of men polled have suffered with symptoms of common mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress or depression.

• Some 40% of men have never spoken to anyone about their mental health.

• Some 29% of those say they are "too embarrassed" to speak about it.

• Some 20% say there is a "negative stigma" on the issue.

The second column was written in March 2019, days after my father passed away. At the time we had received over 450 cards and ended up with over 700. This was a very difficult period for us as a family and I have shared in many sorrows with colleagues and friends.

I realise looking back at the archive of my columns that it represents a reflection of life and indeed the reason we have an industry. Greeting cards at their core allow us to share every type of feeling or emotion. There really is a card for everything whether it is a sad or happy occasion or just to give a word of thought or encouragement.

Simply in terms of opinions and thoughts, you have to forget those you will never please, focus on your people who value you and your business and speak to them. Give them the stock and service they want and let your passion and energy sparkle like the best-selling Joma bracelet!!

The two columns that had the biggest impact were written probably during two

In that March 2019 column, I wrote: ‘the power of a proper written word and the emotion that such a thing can still bring even in an email heavy, tweet-filled world cannot be underestimated’.

Arguably, in the 400k words I have written for PG, this is one of the most powerful sentences of them all.

l To contact David email: jppozzi@btconnect.com

Above: Linking life in the greeting card trade with popular culture has been a recurring theme for David, with his hero Bruce Springsteen cropping up from time to time.

Above right: David with his mum Lynda and his Dad, who passed in 2019. Below: A book that David thinks many would benefit from reading. Bottom: Could 2025 see a rematch of the heavyweights?!

cardsharp

Who first uttered the immortal phrase ‘The unpleasant and unacceptable face of capitalism’, Cardsharp asks? Well, believe it or not, it was coined in 1973 by a Conservative Prime Minister, Ted Heath, (he of the first major national miners’ strike) to describe the corrupt practices of a rogue corporation called Lonrho.

This phrase came to mind when Cardsharp examined the activities of the Temu online platform, which is jabbing its poisonous, evil claws into our greeting card industry.

A bit of research by Cardsharp indicates that online platform Temu makes the Sicilian Mafia and Mexican drug cartels look like the Women’s Institute. And at present Temu is threatening to do as much damage to our greeting card industry as the aforementioned organisations have done to Sicily and Mexico.

Temu has recently been responsible for blatantly copying hundreds of greeting card designs, not even bothering to even slightly change the image! When challenged to remove the images, in many cases the Chinese online platform blatantly ignores the plea, or if it does take these designs down, they just add more copies from the same publisher invariably under a different seller on the platform. Getting the designs taken down is both time consuming and tedious, but Temu knows this. Its reach is broad as testified by the myriads of design-led publishers have been copied in some shape or form, so it is spread betting that not every publisher will take action.

prices of around £1 for a greeting card tarnishes our sector’s legitimate economy.

So, who is Temu and how does the organisation get away with it? Having done some delving Cardsharp’s discovered that Temu was only founded in 2022 by a certain Geoffrey Wong, and is in fact owned by PDD holdings, a Chinese e-commerce company. While its principal office is in Dublin, it is registered in the Cayman Islands (the archetypal ‘sunny place for shady people’) and now operates in 49 countries, but ships direct from China.

From the outset it has been marred in controversy. For most of its existence it has been in a series of legal battles with another unsavoury Chinese company, Shein. Cardsharp thoroughly recommends viewing the Channel 4 TV documentary, ‘Inside the

Temu is a direct-to-consumer platform that is gaining traction by extensive online advertising. Unfortunately, adding insult to injury, the public will think that these designs are actually originals and the ridiculously low

Shein Machine: Untold’ which is still available on catch up. The spat saw Shein, certainly no paragon of virtue, claiming that it had identified thousands of instances where Temu sellers had copied its listing photos. And as recently as this August, both Shien and Temu were both citing copyright infringement lawsuits in the US courts.

In addition to this, Temu has had multiple adverts banned for making false statements. There has also been a huge volume of complaints against the company regarding product discrepancies, mysterious surcharges and unresponsive customer service.

Even more worryingly there have been many recalls of products with numerous products not meeting EU safety standards. Highly toxic kids’ clothes and toys would you believe? Add to that there have been myriad complaints about its handling of private data.

Temu has also been criticised for having products on the platform that have been manufactured using Uyghur forced labour from Western China.

And it has been accused of operating the now supposedly outlawed 996 working hours system. This means workers are made to work 9.00am to 9.00pm, six

Above: Temu has got its claws into the greeting card industry with its widespread copying.

Below middle: Ted Heath first coined the phrase ‘the unpleasant and unacceptable face of capitalism’ which Cardsharp borrows to describe Temu’s copying. Bottom: Shop at Temu, you risk buying an illegal copy.

days a week. Not surprisingly, with employees working a minimum of 72 hours a week, workplace deaths are a common occurrence.

Cardsharp does not need to emphasise from all this what kind of a despicable low life platform Temu is, but what can we do about it?

The whistle has been blown loudly by Bold & Bright, You’ve Got Pen On Your Face, Dandelion Stationery, PG and the GCA. As a result McDaniels Law, the NE law company that specialises in intellectual property taking it on as a pro bono case study for the industry.

Thortful too has come out in support of its contributing designers in tackling the

blatant copying and plagiarism. In addition, the GCA has made representations to those in government on the matter in the name of protecting one of the UK’s leading creative industries.

It certainly feels mighty frustrating for our greeting card industry that we can’t do more, reflects Cardsharp. Even after 25 years, the internet is still effectively lawless, just like the Wild West (or perhaps it should be the Wild East?!) and Temu is just one very egregious example. And there are plenty more

Not Such A Trump Card

unscrupulous business platforms out there doing similar things. Is there anything we can do personally concludes Cardsharp?

Only in a small way perhaps. Just don’t be tempted to buy clothes, toys, gifts, cosmetics or anything from any of those these charlatans when you go online. If an item is ridiculously cheap, there will be reason for it, and you will know in your heart, it is not a good one!

Cardsharp turns his attentions from the East to the West and the US presidential elections.

By the time you read this, the US elections will have happened, and we might perhaps sense who the new US President is likely to be. While preparing for the worst, Cardsharp expects months of legal challenges against whoever technically ‘wins’ on election day, hoping there is no bloodshed.

How does this affect our greeting card industry? Well, Donald Trump has recently pronounced that “Tariff is the most beautiful word in the dictionary!” and he would activate a huge programme of them if he was re-elected.

His analysis is one of the most ignorant economic statements ever uttered by a politician, but let’s face it there have been plenty of them. Global tariffs and protectionism in the 1930s led to the world economic depression, the rise of fascism, Hitler and ultimately the Second World War.

In fact, a recent economic report made the claim that a ‘Trump trade war with China could be worse for the UK economy than Brexit’.

Trump is threatening to place a 60% import tax on all imports from China. But also worryingly is his plan for a 10% to 20% tax on all other imports, including those from the UK. So much for the ‘Oven Ready’ trade deals with the US that Boris Johnson promised us during the EU referendum.

So, what though you might ask Cardsharp has that to do with our greeting card industry? Well firstly a lot of economic experts think that if The Donald pursued this policy, he could push the world economy into a severe recession, which would affect us all.

And more pertinently, it could have a severe effect on one of our greeting card industry’s key export market.

Since Brexit, it has been much harder for British greeting card publishers, to export finished product or licensed designs to the Eurozone. But many have compensated to that with a big increase in sales to the US.

There are reasons for that. The higher prices charged in the US for greeting cards

meant that margins have been attractive for British publishers while the poorer quality of so many US produced greeting cards make UK-manufactured greeting cards very attractive. Added to this, the development of heavily subsidised platforms like Faire made direct export to American retailers a lot easier. And many UK publishers have used distributors, notably Notes & Queries, Calypso and The Nelson Line to gain access to the US market. And the expanding empire of TK Maxx in the States (where it trades as TJ Maxx) has seen that this retail group has had a voracious appetite for quality British greeting cards. Trump tariffs or even increased protectionist policies under a Harris Democratic administration could really have a detrimental effect on this.

It is often stated that the UK leads the world in greeting card design, but as Cardsharp concludes, if we can’t export our greeting cards because of an escalating global trade war, breaking supply chains and ruining export markets, that hegemony will mean nothing.

Left: Thea Musselwhite, founder of Bold & Bright quickly adapted one of her Jeffrey & Janice designs to suit the Temu case.

Left: May the best woman win! Above: Tariffs between the world wars led to the great depression and indirectly to the rise of Fascism and Nazism.

Above: As PG went to press Donald Trump was in full US Presidential Campaign mode.

DESIGNER CARDS WITH DISTINCTIVE STYLE

Matthew Williamson is a British design house renowned for its use of kaleidoscopic colour, intricate patterns and designs inspired by nature and travel.

Please contact us or visit our website for more information.

The Christmas Tingles

remains at the forefront of our minds.

PG checked in with some members of The Cardmitments WhatApp indie retail group to get a gauge of their Christmas hunches.

Jo Sorrell,

owner of Cardies, Stevenage

Christmas Hunch: “We sense many people are preferring to start their buying early so that it spreads out the cost of Christmas. We’ve also had one lady who bought all of her Christmas cards recently, saying that as her eyesight is deteriorating with age, so it takes her longer to write her cards and prefers to have plenty of time.

I am heavily involved in the town’s Christmas lights switch on and am running a poster competition so we will be revving up the festive feeling.”

Playing Your Cards: “We start our Christmas trading season at the end of September/beginning of October when our deliveries start arriving. The boxes and packs of Christmas cards were the first to go out, mainly because we don’t have space in our stock room for them. Our main display of individual Christmas cards went out in early October.

Sometimes we hear people comment that it’s too early for Christmas cards to be out, but then in the next breath they are coming to the till with a load of Christmas cards!”

Matt Simpson,

owner of The Letter Arty, Manchester

Christmas Hunch: “The signs are pointing towards an improved Christmas trade at The Letter Arty, with the shop having been established for over a year now, it's the go to destination for cards for an increasing number of regular customers and online is looking pretty healthy too.

While people have probably whittled down their Christmas card list, this just means they are spending more on the individual cards that they do buy.”

Playing Your Cards: “The temptation to put this year's festive offering out was too much and I put most of the Christmas cards out in early October, and I'm gradually adding a few more here and there, and ramping up the decorations and displays as the big day gets ever closer.

So far for our customers it's all about Christmas card packs, with gorgeous illustrated packs from Emily Nash and Jade Fisher flying out the door, while my lucky dip mystery Christmas card packs are proving popular too. With individual cards, customers seem to be buying less, but buying better. Cards that are more than just a card are popular too - I'm sure that people will keep the concertina fold out Christmassy scenes from Raspberry Blossom and Zoe Spry and bring them out with the decorations year after year. I also have a selection of beautiful handprinted letterpress cards from Studio 55 and Princetown Press that are at a higher price point, but customers really appreciate the quality and craftsmanship that they offer.

I will be participating in Cardmitment Challenge week, kicking off a series of Instagram posts and reels focusing various different ranges and styles of Christmas card and gift ideas.”

Dear Santa: If Father Christmas could somehow stop planet-destroying big businesses such as Temu and Shein stealing designs from the UK's amazing and talented card designers and publishers, then I would definitely believe in him again! Not that I ever stop believing of course...”

Above: Cardies’ main Christmas card display was all out by the beginning of October. Right: Cardies’ Ponks are always ready for Christmas.

Top: Matt Simpson did an Instagram Live reel to share some of the Christmas cards in stock.

Above: Emily Nash’s Christmas packs are flying out, while Matt’s mystery bags (bottom left) are also selling well.

Aga Marsden,

owner of Highworth Emporium, Highworth

Christmas Hunch: “I feel super positive about Christmas this year. Since June, trade has been really strong and customers were openly saying in July that they had started Christmas shopping. Hallelujah!

I am really excited that we managed to secure Scout Stamps this year, which allows for cheaper Christmas card delivery in the area. This gives us an extra argument to encourage people to buy Christmas cards, despite Royal Mail’s first class stamp price increase. We have bought a real size post box for this occasion and I am convinced it will prompt people to buy some cards as well. And of course we will be joining in with my fellow Cardmitment members in The Cardmitment Challenge, something I am looking forward to; it should be fun!”

Playing Your Cards: “Christmas card wise we usually do our displays in three phases. We put our boxes and charity packs out on display in mid September, followed by a small selection of special title cards at the end of September leading to our Christmas display being in full swing by end of October. Normally it works well, but this year our customers have been super organised. If I had a penny for every time we were asked when we would have our full Christmas

Jo

McBeath, Chirpy, Chapel Allerton

Christmas Hunch: “This year it feels like people are starting their Christmas shopping later. Not sure if the October budget made people a bit more nervous. I’m confident that November and December will be busy as usual, I think we just might have the rush a bit later this year.”

Playing Your Cards: “We sold a lot more packs of cards last year, so I’ve stocked up this year and hope that happens again. We start selling our Christmas cards in store from the beginning of November, which coincides with the anniversary of my owning Chirpy, so we have lots of celebrations and it's a great time to launch more festive stock and put some decorations up. Christmas cards have been available at Chirpy online for some time and I’ll also be doing some supplier Focus on… activity on my website and social media, including makers of Christmas cards and featuring them as my Card of the Week, starting at the beginning of November.

Our Christmas window will be launched mid-November, after our birthday celebrations in time for our village light switch on –and that’s when I start to feel festive.”

cards offer out, I would now be a rich girl!

So, we brought our plan forward so that all our Christmas cards were on offer by the third week in October and they are selling really well. I have a feeling that single cards will perform better this year than boxes. A trend that started last Christmas, I feel there will be less cards bought, but more special cards. Added to that sales of charity packs are ticking along nicely.”

Dear Santa: “My wish for Father Christmas would be for him to tell our customers to put the greeting cards back in the pocket they belong in and not mess up the envelopes, otherwise they will be on a naughty list! Seriously though I wish Father Christmas has the heaviest and the most generous bags of cards and gifts to deliver this season! I feel that would make him, all the Elves and us retailers happy.”

Kaye Thurgood, owner of Sincerely Yours, Hornchurch and Shenfield

Christmas Hunch: “I am very positive about Christmas trade this year, probably the most upbeat I have felt for years. Early trade for us is strong - we went out fully with our Christmas cards and gifts on 23 September (a number of customers had been asking for it) and very few customers have moaned about seeing the cards out on display so early.

We’ve had our busiest October on record so far and a lot of that is down to early sales of gift lines for Christmas presents, as I think people are looking to spread the cost. A lot of customers are coming in to buy gifts and then shop for Christmas cards as they see them there.

We will be taking part in the GCA Cardmitment Challenge starting on 1 November. This is a fantastic way to engage with our customers to drive home the positives of card sending at Christmas.

I do feel that the Cardmitment messaging is having an all year round impact, as I have found that our everyday card sales have been stronger than ever all year.

We will continue to focus on the positives of card sending in relation to the Royal Mail. Any mention of stamp prices from customers our response is always to encourage them to send early by using second class post while reinforcing how lucky we are to still have a reliable postal service.”

Playing Your Cards: “So far, it’s the traditional Christmas card designs that are selling stronger than ever. Large single captioned cards are very eye catching and again early sales are exceptionally good.

Sales of Christmas card boxes are ahead of this time last year, but small charity packs are slow which I think is down to perceived value as the cards are smaller.”

Dear Santa: “I would like Santa to bring record numbers of customers to us up until 5pm on Christmas Eve, and then let me put my feet up for a few days with precious family moments.”

Above: Aga Marsden, owner of Highworth Emporium senses the trend of more special Christmas cards will continue this year. Above right: To fuel customers getting into the festive spirit Highworth Emporium promoted Wrendale’s Christmas planner on its social media and in store.

Above right: Jo McBeath is feeling ‘Chirpy’ about Christmas. Right: An Ohh Deer Christmas design that went on sale early on Chirpy’s website.

Above: An Abacus Christmas box that Sincerely Yours has been promoting on its social media channels.

Below right: Kaye Thurgood with her local mp Alex Burghart who she enlisted to help promote Christmas card sending last year.

Heidi Early,

co-owner of Earlybird, Stoke Newington

Christmas Hunch: “I feel quite optimistic about Christmas. Every other occasion this year has traded up compared to 2023, so I think that’s a good sign. And starting the Cardmitment festive activity on 1 November I feel like we’re getting a head start on our marketing. It’s great to have the camaraderie with other retailers too when it can be quite a stressful time. We’ve organised our local business association community festive event for November 30 so that gives us a full four weekends of festive trading before Christmas, plus a few extra days, which can make a big difference.”

Playing Your Cards: “I think the trend for a higher spend on single Christmas cards will continue - and funny Christmas cards always sell out the fastest for us. We still do very well with Christmas charity packs, but are finding that the ones we publish in-house for local charities are definitely the most popular.

We have been drip-feeding our single Christmas cards out as we had a few customers requesting them at the beginning of October, the earliest we’ve ever had. We bring Christmas stock out gradually otherwise a lot of customers get grumpy about it, but all our packs are put out in the last two weeks of October.

Our Christmas window will go live at the beginning of November, and this year’s is definitely a nod to the Cardmitment campaign.

We bought a bulk load of first class stamps before the price rise so we’re keeping the old price for customers for as long as our stocks last, but we’ll really be promoting 2nd class for as long as possible.

We’re holding a Sarah Laker inspired Write Before Christmas event in November for our mailing list customers.”

Dear Santa: “My wish to Father Christmas would be that every person who can write in the UK sends a Christmas card this year. If everyone wrote just one Christmas card, can you imagine the impact that would have?”

Miles Robinson,

Caroline Ranwell, owner of Hugs & Kisses, Tettenhall

Christmas

Hunch:

“I am feeling really positive about Christmas this year and am expecting our trade to be slightly up on last year. Customers were asking for Christmas cards and gifts even earlier this year which is really positive. Our customers seem to want to shop local and support the small independent shops which is wonderful.

We will be involved in the Cardmitment Instagram challenge to help promote the sending of Christmas cards which is so, so important. It’s all about reminding people about how wonderful it is to send and receive cards and how much it can mean to people to receive them.”

Playing Your Cards: “I always put my Christmas cards out early September, despite the moans and groans from many customers, for three reasons:

1. Older customers ask for them as they like to start buying early to spread the cost.

2. As I plan my card displays myself and stock so many publishers it takes a long time to get the display exactly right, so early is good.

3. Christmas cards are on sale very early in town centre retailers so we really need to do the same.

While we have our Christmas cards on display in September, our Christmas window doesn’t go in until November 1 as soon as Halloween is over. Our window is then transformed to a winter wonderland!

Single Christmas cards, particularly relations titles, are our strong point and are such huge sellers. However, every year the sales level of open Christmas cards shocks me as we sell so many. Boxes of Christmas cards definitely don’t sell the way they used to, we still offer a good selection, but probably a third fewer than we did 10 years ago. Charity packs now sell much better for us than boxes.

Here, it’s traditional Christmas cards that are the top sellers. However, our contemporary hand-finished cards are huge sellers too, hence the reason we have a big spinner of hand-finished larger cards .”

Dear Santa: “If I had one wish for Christmas it would definitely be a reduction in the price of postage!”

co-owner of House of Cards, seven stores in the Home Counties

Christmas Hunch: “My gut feel for Christmas is that it will be an OK one and probably a little better than last year due to price increases and cost-of-living pressures easing. We’ve had some good early sales, but it’s a bit mixed and as ever the weather and Royal Mail will play a big part

Last posting dates are not brilliant this year, but that reflects where RM is with its business. I feel it will be last minute as usual, meaning there will be limited time to react to top sellers so for us it will be key to try to have the right stock in the right place!”

Playing Your Cards: “Single cards will be the star again as boxes will come under pressure again no doubt, partly in reaction to Royal Mail stamp price increases (even though 2nd class is still only 85p, the damage is done).

I think charity packs will hold up well and we’ll see moderate increases, especially as pack sizes are more relevant to a lot of today’s Christmas card buying consumers. Traditional always wins at Christmas, there are some beautiful designs this year with rich greens defo on trend; The Art File luxury boxes are stunning! Humour has been very strong in the past few years and we see this continuing this year.

We will run our Festive Friday Friends and Family evening as we did last year and are expanding this with another exclusive evening for local traders, (both with wine!). We will have various other initiatives running for our branch teams such as window display competitions, Christmas jumper day, highest sale, upselling etc.”

Top left: Heidi Early, leading of The Cardmitments Whats App group will be pushing the message of sending Christmas cards second class again this year.

Above: A special charity Christmas design by Hackney artist Dave Buonaguidi aka Real Hackney Dave, which will see 25% of the sale price from Earlybird donated to Hackney Night Shelter.

Above: Caroline Ranwell in sparkling mood at The Henries recently.

Below right: Hugs & Kisses’ Christmas window last year.

Right: Miles Robinson is full of praise for The Art File’s luxury Christmas boxes.

A whopper of a party saw 500 cardies celebrate in Ancient Roman style at The Henries 2024, that was hosted superbly by comedian George Zacharopoulos at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel recently. PG shares a photographic flavour of the historically memorable greeting card community’s ‘big night out’.

Veni, Vidi, Vici

Top: Brainbox Candy’s (left) Ben Hickman and Mark Williams did themselves proud with their homemade reclining Emperor Phallus Maximus and Emperor Biggus Dikus outfits.

Above: (left-right) Heyyy Cards’ Dan and Yvette Clarkson with ‘Cleo’ Lizzie Parker (Penguin Ink) and Jane Buurman (Jane Buurman Handmade) in the N Smith photo op activation.

Left: (left-right) Hugs & Kisses’ Caroline and Jon Ranwell with Wendy Jones-Blackett’s Jacqui Godlove and Presentation’s Andrea Pinder.

Below: UKG’s Rachel Wood sporting her Ancient Roman-themed airbrush tattoo from the evening.

Right: (left-right) Stormy Knight’s Sarah Jackson, Raspberry Blossom’s Rebecca Green, Emperor David Byk of Ling Design/GBCC, Ohh Deer’s Mark Callaby with PG’s Jakki Brown and Warren Lomax.

Below: Cardgains’ Penny Shaw (third left) certainly looks interested in what Graphite Creative’s Mark Steel has under his toga! Averting their gaze (right-left) Expressions’ Chris Bryant, Cardgains’ Charles Dyson, Collectables’ David Lewis, Cardgains’ Helen McManus and Collectables’ Dawn

Above: As ever the Windles pre-reception party got the networking off to a fizz-popping start. (Left-right) Windles’ Bruce Podmore and Nicky Marshall with Words ‘n’ Wishes’ Jill and Carl Salt.

Above right: The N Smith maestros of cardboard engineering, who also made the amazing stage structures, (left-right) Nigel Reynolds, Kerry Tyers and Steve Wilkinson.

Right: The ‘higher or lower’ elimination Ancient Roman-themed quiz, sponsored by Pigment was a great ice-breaker.

Johnson.

Inset: A big cheers from Hallmarkers (left-right) Rachel Goodman, Amanda Foster, Kristian Jones, James Mallinson, Graeme Karavis, Laura Brunton, Laura Manley, Chris Thiede, Rachel Walker and Holly Ismail.

Below: Comedian George Zacharopoulos’ observational humour went down really well with the audience.

Above: As winner of the Higher or Lower competition, Redback Cards’ md Chris Stanley was presented with the prize of a Horrible Histories boardgame, magnum of champagne and hotel stay by Lynsey Burbidge, md of Pigment.

Below: Living up to their company’s name Matt and Katie Nguyen looked Jolly Awesome.

Bottom left: Obelix aka PG Live’s Jim Bullough with Cath Tate Cards’ Rosie Tate (right) and Amy Woodrow.

Above left: (right-left) Cardfactory’s Charlotte Green, Adam Dury, Cheryl Sandbach, Sonia Soares and Sarah Williams. Above right: There were plenty of high rollers at the casino tables.

Left: Drag queen Ruby Violet not only sang, but had some impressive costume changes too.

Right: GF Smith’s Simon Davis and Gareth Davies were flashing the House of Cards cash!

Below right: (left-right)

AfroTouch’s Georgina Fihosy, Raspberry Blossom’s Rebecca Green, Stormy Knight’s Kelly Knight and Sarah Jackson with Emily Nash of Emily Nash Illustration.

Below: DJ Freight Train entered into the Ancient Rome theme.

Bottom: Forget lion slaying, Alpha Colour’s Luke Ostle (left) challenged Abacus Cards’ Nick Carey to an arm wrestling challenge.

Right: Some dancefloor moves from (left-right) Nigel Quiney’s Carl Pledger, Jenny Weare and Paper Rose’s Alana Rouke.

Most Promising Young Designer

Open to: This special award category recognises and rewards the wealth of young creative talent that we have in the UK. This award was open to all designers and artists (employed by a publisher or freelance) aged 35 years or under on 1 July 2024.

Emily Byrd founder of Bird & Co Studio

Initial Reaction: “I think my reaction said it all! When my name was called, it didn’t feel real. I was totally blown away. When you leave a steady pay check to pursue a dream and start a company, it’s a huge leap of faith. I’ve worked so hard this year, so to have that recognised with such an amazing award, and to be on that stage among industry legends and incredibly talented creatives - it means the world to me.

I’m so grateful to the PG and GCA teams, my lovely stockists, suppliers and to this wonderful community of people that have helped support me this last year where I’ve gone from a Ladder Club rookie to a Henries’ award winner! I’m so excited to see where this incredible journey will lead me and what the next year has in store for Bird & Co Studio.”

Above: What a great start to the awards ceremony! Emily Byrd fought back tears of joy as she was presented with the first trophy of the evening by Postmark’s Mark Janson-Smith (right), sponsor of this category, while it gave host George Zacharopoulos a taste of the high regard The Henries awards are held.

Emily Byrd, director and founder of Bird & Co Studio

Left: It was a mighty emotional evening for Emily Byrd, in a good way!

Right: Mark Janson-Smith, managing director of Postmark, sponsor of this award, was in a great mood as he announced the winner.

Best Diversity and Inclusion Range

Initial Reaction: “Our initial thoughts were shock, quickly followed by joy. We were honoured to be in a category with great talent such as Georgina Fihosy from AfroTouch, who is also a strong voice for industrywide change. This award means a lot to us personally, You Go Girl! started out as a passion project just before the pandemic, with a small number of designs and has grown to a fierce collection of empowerment, friendship, diversity and inclusivity, ultimately showing that no matter who or where you are…You Can Go Girl. My colleagues – Perlina and Alana – who joined me on stage, have been huge advocates of this successful range, as have the wider Paper Rose team. Our many thanks go to all the retail judges who showed love for this range and believed in its message as much as we do.”

Open to: All greeting card ranges (humorous and nonhumorous) that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024 that reflect diversity and inclusivity. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

You Go Girl! from Paper

Sarah Tanser, studio manager of Paper Rose

Above: As sponsor of this award, Cardzone’s head of buying, Sam Ody (second right) presented the trophy to (second left-right) Paper Rose’s studio manager Sarah Tanser, Alana Rourke, production and inventory manager and (far right) Perlina Pierre-Davis, the publisher’s international sales and licensing director.

Category Sponsor

Rose

Below: All smiles from Paper Rose’s (left-right) Sarah Tanser, Alana Rourke and Perlina Pierre-Davis.

Above: As a first time Henries sponsor, Cardzone’s head of buying, Sam Ody opened the gold envelope and announced the winner.

Best Humorous Range

Open to: All humorous greeting card ranges that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs which had been launched during the aforementioned dates should be entered.

Gin & Frolics

from Rosie Made A Thing

Initial Reaction: “Woohoooo! Really so excited to win the Best Humorous Range

A huge thank you to everyone who voted for us – it really does mean the world. Ah what a fabulous night!

just gets better every year!”

Above: Rosie Harrison, founder of Rosie Made A Thing was delighted to go on stage and collect the award from (right) Chris Sharman, sales executive of Herbert Walkers, sponsor of this category.

Left: Rosie Made A Thing’s founder and director, Rosie Harrison was as sparkling as her trophy.

Right: Chris Sharman, sales executive of Herbert Walkers, sponsor of this award category, did the honours at the lectern.

Henries award!

It

Rosie Harrison, director of Rosie Made A Thing

Entertainment or Character Card Range

Open to: All greeting card ranges that are published under licence (based on entertainment properties or character brands) that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs which had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Peter Rabbit from Hallmark

Entertainment or Character Card award for our Peter Rabbit range. After securing the licensing rights a year ago, this partnership has gone from strength to strength, and so it was such a proud moment for us when Hallmark's name was announced. The feedback on all our cards and gift packaging product has been amazing, and this win was the perfect icing on the cake!”

Holly Ismail, head of licensing for Hallmark

Below: Cardfactory’s chief commercial officer, Adam Dury (far right) presented the winning trophy to Hallmark’s art director Amanda Foster (second left) and Holly Ismail, head of licensing.

Above: Adam Dury, chief commercial officer of Cardfactory, sponsor of this award category did the honours.

Below: Happy Hallmark duo, Holly Ismail (right) and Amanda Foster.

Licensed Heritage, Lifestyle, Art or Design Card Range

Initial Reaction: “Jamie [Mitchell, co-founder] and I are thrilled to have won with our Cath Kidston range. Earlier this year we underwent a massive overhaul of our Cath Kidston range where we injected a mix of new designs with their traditional ones and then embellished them with additional finishes to really make them sing. Hayley Bassett, who came up and collected the award with us was instrumental in delivering this award-winning range.” Mark Callaby, md and co-founder of Ohh Deer

Open to: All greeting card ranges that are published under licence based on heritage, lifestyle, art or design properties that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs which had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Above: (second left-right) Ohh Deer’s product coordinator Hayley Bassett, co-founders Jamie Mitchell and Mark Callaby were presented with the trophy by John Skeet, director of Skeet Print, the sponsor of this award category.

Cath Kidston from Ohh Deer

Left: John Skeet, director of Skeet Print, sponsor of this award, did the honours at the lectern.

Open to: All Christmas single card ranges that had been launched to UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. These could have been be branded, own brand or charity products.

Initial Reaction: “We are absolutely thrilled for our Storybook Singles collection to have won this very competitive award category. Storybook has been a sensational collection for us since its launch, and deserves industry recognition for its unique and colourful styling.

We have so much more planned for this collection in both Christmas and everyday going forward, so watch this space!”

James Mace, sales and marketing manager of The Art File

Above: James Mace, sales and marketing manager of The Art File (centre) was delighted to be presented with the trophy by (right) Bruce Podmore, managing director and owner of Windles Group, the sponsor of this award category.

Left: As Windles Group is the sponsor of this award category, the print company’s managing director and owner, Bruce Podmore announced the winner.

Right: A rightfully proud James Mace.

The Art File

Christmas Box Best

Initial Reaction: “We couldn’t quite believe it when it was announced that we had won the Best Christmas Card Box or Pack award. I had to drag Erin [James, co-founder] up from her chair to go up on stage - I think she was in shock! It feels amazing to be recognised by such a prestigious bunch of buyers and retailers. We couldn’t stop smiling :)”

Kathy Harrington, co-founder of Stop the Clock Design

Open to: All Christmas boxes or packs that had been launched to UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. These could be branded, own brand or charity products.

Above: Christmas has come early for Stop the Clock Design’s co-founders Kathy Harrington (second right) and Erin James who received the trophy from Gould Paper’s managing director, Nick Henry (far right).

Below: Nick Henry, managing director of Gould Paper looking his usual dapper self as he announces the winner.

Category Sponsor

Fa La La Packs from Stop the Clock Design

Right: Stop the Clock Design’s cofounders Erin James (left) and Kathy Harrington were delighted with their win.

Open to: All cute greeting card ranges that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs which had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Rouge from Little Roglets

Initial Reaction: “When I heard Little Roglets announced, all I could hear was my sister screaming, and I just looked at her and said “Noooope! Surely not?!” It took me a good few moments and for a few people to say “Lex, get up”, until I realised I had indeed heard correctly. I am truly, truly honoured and delighted with the recognition and winning so early on in my journey. As my first year of entering too, and being up alongside so many big names, it feels even more special. Thank you so very much to all that were involved!''

Lex Rogy, founder and artist of Little Roglets

Above: (second right) Lex Rogy, founder of Little Roglets couldn’t have had a wider smile on her face as she was presented with the trophy by Alpha Colour Printers’ managing director Amy Muldrew (second left) and reprographics director Luke Ostle (far right).

Below: Rising to the occasion from sponsor Alpha Colour Printers, managing director Amy Muldrew and reprographics director Luke Ostle in toga-ed to announce the winner.

Above: Little Roglets’ Lex Rogy (right) shared the joy with her sister and colleague, Olivia Rogy.

Contemporary Words and Sentiments Range

Open to: All contemporary ‘words and sentiments’ greeting card ranges that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Just Because from Eleanor Bowmer

Initial Reaction: “I felt elated and proud to have won The Henries 2024 Best Contemporary Words and Sentiments Range award.

I have worked in the publishing industry for 15 years, designing cards for some of the biggest retailers and not forgetting our amazing independents. I feel like this was such a significant achievement for me, especially considering the competition involved.

This award highlights both my design approach and my commitment to the greeting card industry. It’s really been a dream come true and I’m still on a high from the most incredible night!”

Eleanor Bowmer, founder and director of Eleanor Bowmer

Below: Having won an Excellence in Housewares’ award the evening before Eleanor Bowmer (second right) continued her winning streak at The Henries at which she was presented with the trophy by Designer Greetings’ president Steven Gimbleman (second left) and the publisher’s vp business development, Andy Meehan (far right).

Below: Having flown over from the States, (left) Steven Gimbleman, president and Andy Meehan, vp business development of Designer Greetings Inc, sponsor of this award category shared the honour of announcing the winner.

Inset: Eleanor Bowmer has a Henries’ trophy to add to her collection.

Sentiments Range

Initial Reaction: “We were delighted to win the Best Traditional Words & Sentiment Range award with Scene It at this year’s Henries. After a very difficult few weeks at Emo, it was good to have something to celebrate. We said we wanted to win one for Toni [Cresswell] and we were so pleased that Traditional Words & Sentiment was the one!”

Jennie

Rutter, creative director of Emotional Rescue

At

Open to: All traditional ‘words and sentiments’ greeting card ranges that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Scene It from Emotional Rescue

Above:

what is a tough time for the Emo team, due to the recent loss of much loved colleague Toni Cresswell, the winning of the award was seen as a tribute to her. The trophy, presented by Skylight Media’s managing director, Simon Pyrce (far right) was collected by Emotional Rescue’s creative director Jennie Rutter (second right) and managing director, Brett Smith (second left).

Below: Simon Pryce, managing director of Skylight Media, sponsor of this award category did the honours in announcing the winner.

Sponsor

Right: All smiles from Emo’s Brett Smith and Jennie Rutter.

Open to: All art (fine art, contemporary and illustrative, but not photographic) greeting card ranges that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Offshore

from James Ellis

award makes it extra special. We were particularly pleased to win the Best Art Range award and it's great to know that the judges liked the range as much as we did. Hearing our name called out was surreal and I've had a spring in my step ever since. It's been hard to get the image of Brainbox Candy's chaise longues out of my mind though!” James Stevens, director of James Ellis

Above: James Ellis’ venture into art cards has got off to a winning start. Founder of James Ellis, James Stevens (centre) was delighted to be presented with the trophy by Graphite Creative’s business development manager, Andy Potton (right).

Below left: Popular man, Andy Potton, business development manager of Graphite Creative, sponsor of this category, received a huge cheer as he went on stage to present the award.

Below: Crowning glory for James Ellis’ James Stevens.

Photographic Range

Initial Reaction: “Supporting a talented and authentic photographer like Jesuso Ortiz means the world to us, especially now, when AI is reshaping the landscape of art and photography.” Ian Blake, art director of Woodmansterne Publications

Above: (second left-right) Ian Blake, art director of Woodmansterne Publications and (centre) Soula Zavacopoulos, director of The London Studio, which represents photographer Jesuso Ortiz went on stage to collect the award from Scribbler’s head of product Tori Heath-Smith (second right) and head of creative, Aisling Crosland (far right).

Below: With Scribbler being the sponsor of this award category, the company’s head of creative Aisling Crosland (left) and its head of product, Tori

right: And

Open to: All photographic greeting card ranges that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Jesuso

Ortiz from Woodmansterne Publications

Heath-Smith shared the pleasure of announcing the winner.

Below

it was a thumbs up from The London Studio’s founder Soula Zavacopoulos while Woodie’s Ian Blake looks rather overwhelmed.

Children’s Range

Open to: All greeting card ranges aimed at children that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Sunshine from Paper Salad

Initial Reaction: “Just because we have won this award in previous years doesn’t make it any easier when the winner is announced; in actual factual fact it makes it all the more trepidatious, so rays of joy emanated from us when Sunshine was called out!”

Below: A triumphant moment for (second right) Karen Wilson, owner and creative director of Paper Salad and company co-founder Claire Williams (second left) who were presented with the trophy by (far right) Tony Lorriman, managing director of Loxleys.

Below: A happy moment for Paper Salad co-founders Claire Williams (left) and Karen Wilson.

Below left: Tony Lorriman, managing director of Loxleys, sponsor of this award category had the honour of announcing the winner.

Karen Wilson, owner and creative director of Paper Salad

Contemporary Trend Range Best

Open to: All greeting card ranges which demonstrate a current trend, be it in subject matter, terminology or production technique, that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Lost Plots

from Cath Tate Cards

Initial Reaction: “We’re totally over the moon at Cath Tate towers after our Henries’ win. I almost fell off my chair when they announced our name as the winner! Lisa, the artist we work with on the range has a really unique style and she’s also one of those unbelievably cool people, so some of that must have rubbed off on us! Thanks to all the retailers who voted and bring the cards into the real world for people to enjoy, use and send to people!”

Rosie

Tate, director of Cath

Cards

Tate

Above: (centre) Rosie Tate, director of Cath Tate Cards had most definitely not ‘lost the plots’ as she was presented with the winning trophy from The Imaging Centre’s customer services manager, Alan Miller (right).

Below left: Alan Miller, customer services manager of The Imaging Centre, sponsor of this award category announced the winner.

Below: A happy, shiny moment for Cath Tate Cards’ Rosie Tate.

We are over the moon to have won Best 3D,Handmade or Hand-finished Range with our Message in a bottle pop up cards.

A big thank you to everyone who voted for us, as well as all our fantastic customers. A huge thank you

Best 3D, Handmade or Hand-f inished Range

Initial Reaction: “It is an incredible honour to win a Henries award. When our name was called, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to be part of this wonderful greeting card industry. I’m immensely thankful to the whole team, whose hard work and dedication made this achievement possible, and to our amazing customers for their constant support from day one. A big thanks to Jakki, Warren, and the whole team for their dedication in promoting the industry and helping everyone in this industry move forward together. We will continue try our best and keep creativity going.” Lingxiao Ji, director of Alljoy Design

Open to: All greeting card ranges which are either completely handmade or include 3D or handfinished elements, that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Message in a Bottle from Alljoy Design

Above: (right) Chris Sandwell, sales and marketing director of sponsor EBB Board presented (centre) Lingxiao Ji, director of Alljoy Design with the trophy.

Below: Chris Sandwell, sales and marketing director of EBB Board, sponsor of this award category did the honours in announcing the winner.

Right: Lingxiao Ji, director of Alljoy Design letting the good news of the win sink in.

Open to: All non-humorous greeting card ranges aimed at male recipients that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Taking Shape

from Heyyy Cards

Initial Reaction: “We were just so overwhelming to be taking a Henry trophy home with us again this year! We had THE BEST night as you could probably tell from Dan’s reaction, even if he did elbow me in the face celebrating on stage (I forgive him!). It’s an absolute honour to be part of this amazing industry, and to see so much talent, determination and hard work be rewarded. An absolute highlight of the night was seeing Emily Byrd’s reaction to win the Most Promising Young Designer award, it really did bring it home what this award means to us all - well done Emily!

Thank you to everyone who hosted, contributed and sponsored the night, what an amazing family of creatives we are!!”

Yvette Clarkson, co-founder of

A beautiful moment for

Above: (left) Dan Clarkson, creative director and Heyyy Cards’ co-founder Yvette Clarkson were clearly over the moon at winning the award, having received the trophy from (far right) Adam Turley, director of McDaniels Law.

Below:

Dan and Yvette Clarkson, co-founders of Heyyy Cards.

Heyyy Cards

Above: Adam Turley, director of category sponsor McDaniels Law announced the winner.

Relations and/or Occasions Range Best

Initial Reaction: “We were still on cloud nine having won the Best Children’s Range award when the all-important Relations and Occasions award was announced. Fleurescent is one of our personal favourite ranges, so we were felt euphoric when it triumphed in what is such a cornerstone industry award.”

Karen Wilson, owner and creative director of Paper Salad

Open to: All relations and/or occasions greeting card ranges that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Fleurescent

Above: (second right) Karen Wilson, owner and creative director of Paper Salad went on stage with the company’s co-founder (second left) Claire Williams to be presented with the trophy by (far right) Keith Riley, UK sales manager of Fedrigoni UK, sponsor of this award category.

Below: Keith Riley, UK sales manager of Fedrigoni UK, sponsor of this award category announced the winner.

Below: It was a second win of the night for Paper Salad co-founders, Claire Williams (left) and Karen Wilson.

from Paper Salad

Best Spring Seasons Range

Open to: All Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter and Father’s Day greeting card ranges that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024 could be entered. Entries had to be event-specific, ie publishers submitted a separate entry for Valentine’s Day, a separate entry for Mother’s Day etc.

Shiny Valentine

from Stormy Knight

Initial Reaction: “The pressure was on... we were up for five Henries awards (the most we'd ever been up for!), and we hadn't been lucky enough to win the first four announced. So, when our name was called out for Best Spring Seasons range - our last shot at taking home a trophy - I was over the moon! This one means a lot toowe've put a lot of work into completely overhauling our Spring Seasons collections this year, so to have that recognised with this award is really amazing.”

left: A magnificent

Above: (centre) Sarah Jackson, director of Stormy Knight was delighted to be presented with the trophy by GF Smith’s national sales manager Gareth Davies (far right).

Below

moment for the wonderful Sarah Jackson, director of Stormy Knight.

Below: Gareth Davies, national sales manager of GF Smith, sponsor of this award category was delighted to announce the winner.

Sarah Jackson, founder and director of Stormy Knight

Open to: All greeting card ranges sold via the wholesale distributor/cash & carry channel that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Isabel’s Garden

from Simon Elvin

Initial Reaction: “Thrilled to bits!!! Wooooohooo! We are delighted that our iconic range Isabels Garden, designed by the talented Claudine Rose, has succeeded again!! Thank you so much to the judges and to Jakki and Warren for another fantastic night!”

Above: A beaming smile from (centre) Sarah Vockins, art director of Simon Elvin, having been presented with the trophy by David McKee, head of sales for Tiger Feet, sponsor of this award category

Inset: Sarah Vockins, art director of Simon Elvin proudly holds her

Sarah Vockins, art director of Simon Elvin

Above: David McKee, head of sales of Tiger Feet, sponsor of this award category, opened the gold envelope to announce the winner.

Initial Reaction: “My first thoughts were… unbelievable, how have we managed to clinch the award again!? I was absolutely thrilled to be sitting beside Stephanie Dyment herself when the award was announced!”

Giftwrappings Range

Open to: All giftwrapping ranges (either ranges of sheet wrap or collections of co-ordinated wrappings such as boxes, bags, ribbons etc) that had been launched into UK retail (bricks and mortar and/or online) between 15 June 2023 and 14 June 2024. In the case of an ongoing range, only designs that had been launched during the aforementioned dates could be entered.

Becky Dobson, managing director of Glick

Above: (second right) Becky Dobson, managing director of Glick went on stage with designer Stephanie Dyment (second left) to collect the trophy from Spring Fair and Autumn Fair’s event director, Soraya Gadelrab.

Below: Soraya Gadelrab, event director of Spring Fair and Autumn Fair, the sponsor of this award category did the honours in announcing the winner.

Below: Glick’s Becky Dobson (right) and Stephanie Dyment are very happy to have clinched another Henries’ win.

Glick

We’re absolutely thrilled to have won the prestigious Henries Award for Best Gift Wrapping for the 10th year running!

This years winning designs from our stunning Stephanie Dyment collection.

Here’s a look back at our past winning collections...

2023: LOUISE MULGREW

2022: PAPER SALAD

2021: PAPER SALAD

2020: PAPER SALAD

2017: STEPHANIE DYMENT

2019: PAPER SALAD

2016: PAPER SALAD

2018: STEPHANIE DYMENT

2015: PAPER SALAD

More newness launching for 2025, available to pre-order now!

01274 655980 sales@glick.co.uk

glick.co.uk trade.glick.co.uk

The Henry Cole Classic Award

Open to: All greeting card ranges that have stood the test of time, having been published for at least the last eight years were able to enter this award. The range had to have been on sale in some shape or form for this period. Ranges can only win a Henry Cole Classic award once. All winners join the Henry Cole Classic ‘Hall of Fame’. Previous winners include: Bestie from Paperlink, The Bright Side from Really Good; Camilla & Rose from Peartree Heybridge; The Country Set from Wrendale Designs; Eric the Penguin from GBCC; Forever Friends from Hallmark; Giggles from UKG; Ink Press from The Art File; Me to You from Carte Blanche; Medici Cards Blue Label from GBCC; On The Ceiling from Emotional Rescue; Photocaptions from Cath Tate Cards; Pizazz from Nigel Quiney Publications; Pop-Ups from Second Nature; Quentin Blake from Woodmansterne Publications, Rainbow from Ling Design and Virtual Safari from Emotional Rescue.

Quicksilver

from Wendy Jones-Blackett

Initial Reaction: “I’m still reeling here from our win at The Henries - what a superb night that was!! I was already having a great time with an excellent table of industry buddies (we were placing bets on the winners and I was £20 up) when it was announced we’d won the highly coveted Henry Cole for our Quicksilver range! It genuinely hadn’t gone through my mind that we’d actually win it. I’m always relieved just to be a finalist to be quite honest as the competition across all categories is immense, we’ve such a bucketload of talent in the card industry. Quicksilver is the range I’ve been reinventing every year for the past 18 years and thankfully our customers love them and keep on re-ordering so I just keep going with the colouring-in - we’ve got another 40 designs coming out in November!!

Honestly I can’t thank the judges enough for voting for us. It’s our 10th Henry and they are all cherished dearly but this is THE BIGGIE! Steve [Wendy’s husband and business partner] is completely delighted too, he missed the evening as one of us had to stay behind for parenting and dog duties - luckily I’d already bought an outfit so I got to go!”

Wendy Jones-Blackett

with her lovely colleague Jacqui Godlove (second left), the company’s independent account manager to collect the trophy from (far right) Richard Hall, The Sherwood Group’s sales and marketing director.

Left: Wendy JonesBlackett (right) shares the joy with fellow award winner, Erin James, cofounder of Stop the Clock Design.

Right: Richard Hall, sales and marketing director of The Sherwood Group, sponsor of this award opened the gold envelope and announced the winner.

A MASSIVE

BRONZE WINNER 2024

To all our VALUED CUSTOMERS from all at Words `n´ Wishes who voted for us ! BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE INDEPENDENT RETAILER

Take advantage of our ' THANK YOU ' rewards launched alongside over 200 New Designs. Available from October 1st to December 20th 2024 .

Service to the Independent Best

Initial Reaction: “On hearing the announcement that we had won the Bronze award I was delighted and my initial thoughts were of great pride in the whole Words ‘n’ Wishes’ team for this great achievement. It also came as a bit of a shock after 13 years of providing what we thought was exceptional service and being in the coveted top 12 nominations for many years, but not quite managing to get on the podium.

Rod [Brown, co-founder] and I are so pleased for everyone at our head office, in our studio, warehouse and salesforce out on the road, who all made this happen. Finally, we would like to thank all our customers for their votes and continued support.”

Carl Salt co-owner of Words ‘n’ Wishes

Below: Penny

Open to: This award recognises the pivotal role publishers play in providing a good service to independent retailers. The finalists in this category were arrived at as a result of an exhaustive poll, involving 1,750 independent greeting card retailers, who were each asked to nominate their top three card suppliers on the service front over the last year. These responses were then correlated, awarding three points to all first choices, two points to those mentioned as second choices and one point for all third choices. These points were then totalled to arrive at the 12 finalists. There are three awards in this category – a Bronze, Silver and ultimate Gold, that are presented to the top three scoring suppliers in the retailer poll.

BRONZE WINNER

Above: (second right) Words ‘n’ Wishes’ co-owner Carl Salt went on stage with his wife (second left) Jill, warehouse supervisor for the publisher to accept the Bronze trophy from Penny Shaw, managing director of Cardgains.

Shaw, managing director of Cardgains, sponsor of this award category announced all three winners for this prestigious award category.

Inset: A happy night for Words ‘n’ Wishes’ Carl and Jill Salt.

Service to the Best

SILVER WINNER

Initial Reaction: “All the team at ICG were thrilled to be even nominated, and when the time came for the results, the nerves kicked in as the winners were announced.

To gain Silver in this very sort after industry award is truly humbling, it’s all down to our internal teams from customer care, accounts, production, studio, and our professional sales team that represent us in stores throughout the UK and Ireland, and of course not forgetting our two owners, Simon and Ian [Wagstaff].

When we sat back down after accepting the award I suddenly thought “We are going to need a bigger cabinet ”. Looking back over the last 10 years, we have been fortunate to win eight Henries Gold awards and two Henries Silver awards. We must be doing something right, no magic, just do what we say we will do, deliver in a timely manner and constantly refresh our product line Simples .

However, we wouldn’t win anything without the amazing support of our independent trading partners, thank you so much, bring on 2025.”

Allen Taylor, sales director of International Cards & Gifts

Above right: (far right) Penny Shaw, managing director of Cardgains, sponsor of all three awards in this category presented the Silver trophy to (second left) International Card & Gifts’ Allen Taylor, sales director and (second left) Simon Harper, regional manager.

Below: IC&G’s Allen Taylor (left) and Simon Harper enjoy the glory.

Initial Reaction: “It was a privilege to attend The Henries awards and receive the hotly contested Gold Best Service to the Independent Retailer award. This is a fantastic achievement and testament to the hard work that goes into looking after our customers, both within our Dewsbury teams and those out in the field. It is an outstanding result to be recognised by our customers in this way. I’d like to pass on my own personal thanks to everyone who contributes so diligently to ensure we’re delivering a fantastic experience to our customers.”

Matt James, head of independent sales at UK Greetings

Initial Reaction: “I’m so pleased to win the award for Best Service to the Independent Retailer.

This award is voted by our customers, so it means so much that we are consistently recognised in this important category. Thanks to all who contributed. It’s a real team effort!”

Darren Cave, customer and channel director of UK Greetings

GOLD WINNER

Above: Cardgains’ managing director, Penny Shaw presented the ultimate Gold service trophy to Matt James, head of independent sales of UK Greetings.

Below: A Golden moment for UKG’s Matt James.

The Honorary

A excerpt of the citation delivered by PG’s Jakki Brown on the night…

“There is no scientific formula as to what makes people great, they just have an alchemy all of their own. With this award we not only honour someone who is great at what they do, but has also how they have contributed, having been at the heart of our greeting card family for over three decades.

They have led from the front, done things their way, seen the big picture as well as the importance of the finer details, building a rock solid business that truly cares for its team as well as those in the card community at large.

Just as Rome was not built in a day, the business they started at the start of the 1990s has grown steadily, but with flair, the firm foundations of relationships, sound commercial sense and product nous being the bedrock of what has become a multi-award winning retailer.

But while entrepreneurs through and through, and tough negotiators to boot, their gaze has always been broad, recognising that by joining with others, embracing industry initiatives, making time to support those just beginning their journey, brings benefits to all.

They were there at the start of The Ladder Club, have been a judge at every Henries, were early adopters of Festive Friday, Thinking of You Week and steadfast champions of the Cardgains buying group.

It has been to our industry’s massive benefit that in a street in Berkshire there was a greengrocers and a newsagents. As one went to the other to buy his apples and pears, the other returned the favour buying his newspapers and chocolate. A friendship was quickly forged between these two young chaps which then developed into them joining forces to tentatively open their first greeting card shop. They need not have worried as it was a resounding success from day one, and the subsequent 34 and a half years has seen this grow into a magnificent seven store group, revered for the quality product offered, retail environment created and high level of service from their very motivated, loyal team, whose contribution they never take for granted.

Warren and I have had the good fortune to have known this dynamic duo since the start and have never heard a bad word said about them.

Tonight we shine a light on these retailing emperors and the solid house they have built on such firm foundations.

It gives me enormous pleasure to announce that The Henries Honorary Achievement Award 2024 goes to Miles Robinson and Nigel Williamson, the co-founders and owners of House of Cards.”

Left: Joanne Davis, director of UK Envelope Centre

to the dynamic duo.

Miles Robinson and Nigel Williamson

Initial Reaction: “There I was having a lovely evening at The Henries and so happy that Wendy Jones-Blackett had won the Henry Cole Classic award for its Quicksilver range. I turned my chair round to listen carefully to Jakki doing her lovely speech for the Honorary Achievement award… Three decades. Tick 1990. Tick Multi award winning. Tick

Judge at every Henries. Wow, I know there is only one team that has done that, so from that point on everything was a bit of a blur and not because of the wine!

It felt like so many people were congratulating us as Miles and I made our way to the stage; it was somewhat overwhelming in a nice way.

I’m so glad Miles could say a few words on stage, but that’s normal as he can normally talk for England!

I’m not sure the smile has left my face since, I’m still in shock to be recognised in this way. Imposter syndrome has kicked in more than a few times.

I’m so proud of being a part of this great industry and thank you Jakki and Warren for bringing everyone together with all the amazing work they do in the greeting card world.”

Nigel Williamson, co-founder of House of Cards.

Above left: Joanne Davis, director of UK Envelope Centre, sponsor of this special award, presented the trophy to House of Cards’ co-founders (second and third right) Nigel Williamson and Miles Robinson.

Inset: Miles Robinson (left) and Nigel Williamson, co-owners of House of Cards letting the news sink in.

presented the trophy

BUDGETARY MEASURES

shoulders, delivering the first Autumn Budget under a Labour Government for 14 years, but it was never going to be an easy ride.

As always with politics, opinions and views differ from person to person, depending on their respective beliefs and circumstances. PG treads the rocky path and shares some of the views on the Budget from those in the greeting card community.

While a penny off a pint down the pub went down well, and few in our sector have been clobbered with the rise in taxes for private jets, many in the greeting card industry have blasted the Autumn Budget, hailing the £40billion tax raid as anti-High Street and anti-small businesses.

While some aspects, such as the move to tackle the surging level of shoplifting were welcome, the hike in employers’ national insurance contributions and reduction in the level at which it kicks in, minimum wage increases, and delay in the retail business rates overhaul not surprisingly came under fire.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ defence of claims that £25bn will be raised by the NI increase, has already been shot down by the Institute For Fiscal Studies think tank which says businesses will scale back wage rises: “It will result in lower wages, reducing the amount raised from employer NI and reducing employee NI and income tax revenues. That takes the net revenue down to some £16bn.”

British Independent Retailer Association ceo Andrew Goodacre said: “This budget betrays every independent retailer who has

fought to keep their business alive through recent challenges. It's not just disappointing –it's potentially catastrophic for Britain's High Streets.”

Indie retailer and PG columnist David Robertson, who runs the family business JP Pozzi in Buckie and Elgin, pulled no punches in his assessment: “For me a budget should be about give and take. There should of course be some things that challenge us but, overall, we should feel positive it is not going to seriously affect our business. Sadly, this budget leaves me with little to be enthusiastic about and a real worry about where we find the money to pay all these increases. To me this feels very much like an anti-High Street and anti-small business budget – quite simply we are left with little positives to cling to.”

Referring to the important issue of business rates, David elucidated that “in Scotland we’ve had not had any discount from the Scottish government anyway so the fact that England continues to get a discount even at 40% is without doubt an unfair, uneven playing field.”

However, getting to the bit which really will impact on his cost base, David is outraged by “The rise in NI and the drop in threshold alongside another larger increase in minimum wage are three real body blows which will hurt us greatly. It’s a 15% increase in two years to the minimum wage rate and I don’t see the government giving this to any of the doctors or teachers.”

As he points out: “The Govt says that they want to support small business, but this is nothing more than lip service as they neither understand nor care about the working man who incidentally owns or

a

business.”

has built

small

Above: Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first Autumn Budget did not grant wishes.

Below middle: BIRA’s Andrew Goodacre called it the “worst budget” for indie retailers.

Bottom: Rachel Reeves in full flow.

David predicts that these measures will force many businesses “to make difficult decisions about staff, hours and indeed if they want to continue. I know personally I need to look at everything very carefully and have already started to do so.”

GCA CEO Amanda Fergusson only recently signed the Independent Retailers’ Confederation’s (IRC) letter to the Chancellor begging for the small business rate relief and the 75% retail, hospitality and leisure rate relief levels to be kept, but the retail discount is to be cut to 40% from April.

She recognises that the increase in employers’ NI to 15% from April 2025, and the reduction £9,100 to £5,000 in the threshold at which businesses start paying NI on an

of consumers. All this creates further detrimental effects on our economy and especially on sales of discretionary items such as greeting cards and gifts.”

As David stated, “The UK tax rate is set to take on a historic high, and real disposable income per person is forecast to fall, which is not what the working people, however Labour attempts to define us, expected when voting them in.

“I understand the need to raise more money through taxes, but these short-term extreme measures which they say could not be prevented are bad for business, commerce and, as a result, the country as a whole.”

And Jerry Brown, who co-owns First Class Greetings & Post Office in Hadleigh and has been heavily involved in the Post Office Horizon scandal, pointed out the £1.8bn allocation for postmaster compensation mentioned in the budget “isn’t really new”.

employee’s earnings “will have a huge impact” on business owners across the country.

“It is also really disappointing to see the reduction in the business rates cap, from 75% discount to 40% (capped at £110,000), as this cap has been a lifeline for small businesses across the country,” acknowledged Amanda. “The GCA joined with colleagues at the IRC and wrote to the Chancellor last month highlighting the importance of this cap, particularly to independent retailers. With over 80% of greeting card sales in bricks and mortar stores, thriving High Streets are vital for our industry and communities across the country.”

Sharing his view from a publisher perspective, David Byk, ceo of Ling Design, GBCC, and Penny Kennedy said he felt “really disappointed in the short-term view the Chancellor has taken and the damage this will wreak on businesses up and down the country.”

To his mind over-inflationary increases on national insurance and minimum wage “pushes up the cost of employment and makes it harder for us to employ people. In addition, all this is inflationary and we can see that interest rates are now forecast to come down at a slower level plus more people being dragged into tax brackets which reduces the disposable spend

He commented: “We know minimum and living wage going up to £12.20ph and a huge increase in employers’ NI will have a severe impact on profitability and viability of independent small businesses.

“The government also seems to be struggling on its definition of working people –small business owners don’t seem to be part of their definition despite the fact that we all work very long hours often for very little reward. Many small business owners are often paying their staff more than they earn themselves.”

BIRA has condemned the announcement “as the most damaging for independent retailers in recent memory,” saying it had a triple blow of doubled business rates, increased National Insurance, and higher minimum wage costs “threatening widespread High Street closures”.

Andrew Goodacre, ceo added: “This is without doubt the worst budget for independent retailers I have seen in my time representing the sector – the government's actions show complete disregard for the thousands of hard-working shop owners who form the backbone of our High Streets. Small retailers, who have already endured years of challenging trading conditions, now face a perfect storm of crippling cost increases. Their business rates will more than double as relief drops from 75% to 40%, while they're hit simultaneously with employer NI rising to 15% and a lower threshold of £5,000, down from £9,100. Add to this the minimum wage increase to £12.21, and many of our members are telling us they simply cannot survive this onslaught.”

Stressing his point further the Bira boss emphasised that for all “the government's rhetoric” about supporting small businesses and revitalising High Streets, their actions do precisely the opposite. “These punishing measures will force many shop owners to make heart-breaking decisions about their businesses' future,” he believes. "What makes this particularly bitter is that these are family businesses, often built up over generations, run by people who work incredibly long hours to serve their communities. They're now being asked to shoulder an impossible burden while trying to compete with online giants who face none of these cost pressures.”

His damning conclusion of Rachel Reeves’ grand fiscal plan is that: "This is clearly an antiHigh Street Budget. I can only assume the government is happy for working people to shop online and buy cheap imports. This government has shown complete disregard for the local businesses that create jobs and maintain vibrant communities.”

Anyone fancy a pint?!

Above: David Robertson is not impressed by the budget. Left: The Houses Of Parliament where the £40bn tax raid was unveiled.

Below: At least we save a penny off a pint down the pub!

As a nation of animal lovers, publishers can’t go wrong if they keep our furred and feathered friends on greeting cards. Here PG looks at the latest animal trends, the most unusual characters, and the evergrowing popularity of to and from the pet designs.

There’s a serious business going on with animal cards. And while it is ‘reigning cats and dogs’, animals of all shapes, sizes, and breeds, domesticated, farm or wild, are joining the menagerie in the card racks.

But it is a peculiarly-British trait, as Bug Art’s bunny-obsessed founder Jane Crowther explained: “While rabbits are a popular UK pet, they’re not commonly kept elsewhere. Most of our sales are non-UK so pet animals such as cat and dogs do better abroad, where people aren’t generally so animal obsessed.

“Cats are still by far the most popular –as cat lovers aren’t breed specific, we have lots of customers who buy every cat design we do. Recently though we’ve noticed a lot more Highland cows on product, also there’s been a big surge of fox designs.”

Paper Shed’s Jo O’Brien agrees with the cow trend: “After the launch of our

“Our from the dog and from the cat captions are really popular. We started them in general birthday designs but, due to demand, have included this caption in our Christmas and spring ranges too with from the dog achieving the strongest sales”.

To and from the dog and cat cards are big at Paper Rose too, where senior designer Jazmine Carter said: “It’s a caption we’ve started introducing more and more into our collection, as we’ve noticed people getting closer with their pets, including us.

“So many of our team have such wonderful pets who get involved in our day to day. We often see a fluffy tail swish past while chatting on Zoom and even have an office dog who tries to stop everyone for belly rubs on their way for a cuppa. Pets really are part of the family, no wonder more people are now sharing cards and gifts with their pets when they really do help to brighten our days.”

For UK Greetings, anything that involves furry friends is always likely to be a winner, so two new from the pet cards were launched earlier in the year.

Communications manager Gabriella Peace commented: “But, rather than featuring just one dog or cat, we decided to include a whole adorable litter of different breeds –hopefully allowing customers to see their own pet in the designs!

Buttercup Farm range early this year the cute Highland cow design has rapidly become a bestseller.

Above: Jinx and Digger get out on the water with Brilliantly Brave’s Jean Pryde – and her partner Stuart Cox laughed: “As us and the mutts live in the north of Scotland there's plenty of opportunity for them to get out and about. We've got three, sometimes five, occasionally six, depends on what Jean’s daughter Charlotte is up to.”

Above right: A design from Dandelion Stationery. Right: Bug Art loves rabbits.

PUBLISHERS’ PET PARADE

Below (l to r): See what Bramble has to put up with in the storeroom at Grace Jackson Design; Albie is the star of owner Heather Trefusis’ bestseller. Adorable staffy Keo is Heyyy Cards’ mascot and helps co-owner Dan Clarkson with designs; Paddy loves nothing more than getting on the bike to ride into

work with owner and James Ellis’ founder James Stephens; French bulldog Raffy is a big inspiration for Matt Nguyen at Jolly Awesome; There are 12 pets among Jonny Javelin’s head office team, including dogs, cats, a horse, guinea pigs and rabbits, while office dog Boo lets owners Jonny and Mandy Spears and their family share her too.

“From party-hatted St Bernards to giftgiving ginger toms, UKG wanted to showcase all the fun, silly and wonderful things that make our pets such an important part of our lives and families.”

Grace Jackson has expanded this trend, offering New Paw-rents designs, explaining: “I think it stemmed from a lot of my friends having babies, you send a card and a gift then, so when my brother and sister-in-law got a puppy, I wanted to send them a gift but didn’t know what card to send so that’s how it became a reality.”

At Lil Wabbit dogs are the favourite, but artist Georgi Doig also covers other animals, including a snail, sloth, racoon and mouse.

“Pet’s birthdays and gotcha days are events people genuinely celebrate with pupcakes, presents and cards. Our happy woofday card was one of our first ever cards and has been so popular since we launched it.” Georgi said, and she now offers cards for both Mother’s and Father’s Days as well as a new bespoke dog Christmas card service.

Fields & Fathoms is the Ailsa Black range from Holy Mackerel that features captivating landscapes and enchanting animal scenes, and co-owner

Sarah Hopkins said: “One of the biggest head turners in is the relatable Pep Talk, featuring a man and his companion sharing a moment together by the seaside, which perfectly illustrates the strong bond between humans and their pets.”

Inspired by…

Cards inspired by personal pets is a big theme in cards, with Tache’s five cavapoos owned by founders Pennie Bryant and Frankie Nicholls all having featured, as well as their cat Tache who also inspired the company name.

At Jolly Awesome, it’s French bulldog Raffy who Katie and Matt Nguyen have included, while the definitive dachshund range is The Art File’s Call Me Frank, featuring managing director Ged Mace’s very own sausage dog.

Back with a brand-new look, the range has a blue and orange palette and debossing – and is also available in gift wrap and bags to order from December.

Wrendale founder Hannah Dale has featured her dog Elvis on a Christmas card, while for Little Roglets’ Lex Rogy it’s her house rabbits like Pickle in the Yoga Bunnies range.

Delightful Dolly the pug puppy is behind the upcoming range from Bexy Boo, all set to launch in the new year, and it’s back to sausage dogs with Claire Louise’s Louis inspiring the Animaux À La Maison range. Birthday Kisses is a consistent bestseller for Heather Trefusis which came from a painting she did of her dog Albie: “It's funny to think he's helped so many people and animals celebrate their birthdays – I just hope the fame doesn't go to his head!”

does go out in nearly every order to retailers, and is very popular under the mistletoe and also with a fun Santa hat. We have also added our Christmas design – To the Purrfect Cat Mum and Cat Dad.”

Dogs are the winners at Libra Fine Arts, but co-founder Katherine Khangurra added: “Our peeking cat

Rather than follow the trends, Katherine is sticking with expanding its four-legged friends collections but did pop a capybara in there after a special request from a zoo, and she laughed: “Our shark actually sells very well! That was quite unusual when so many bunny, hedgehog and hare cards sell too.”

There’s also a capybara at Stripey Cats, going by the

name of Cara, with co-owner Jonathan Crosby commenting: “We’re not sure what the next animal craze will be but, with over 100 animal designs in the range, we’ve hopefully got it covered!”

A cute capybara is waiting in the wings at Dandelion Stationery too, set to expand the animal coverage even further, with crocodiles, bears, walruses, and highland cows, as well as the Four Legged Friends collection of mainly dogs and cats but also hamsters, rabbits, birds and even a chameleon.

It’s canines for Wendy Jones-Blackett who loves going out walking and meeting lots of other dogs and

to Bewilderbeest’s Iain Hamilton, while cat Colonel Mustard

PUBLISHERS’ PET PARADE

Below (l to r): Abacus managing director Nick Carey with jack russell Pip and border terrier Rex; Gorgeous cavapoos Billy, Boux, Bambi, Freddie, and Pumpkin make a busy household full of love for Tache’s Pennie Bryant, and there’s

also Tache the British shorthair cat and the inspiration behind the company name; Frank is the star of The Art File MD Ged Mace’s favourite card and wrap ranges; Ajax is tall, skinny and a bit thick “and dogs are like their owners” according

likes drawers.

Top: Cavapoos by Tache.

Above middle: Jolly Awesome’s Raffy. Above: Elvis is on the Wrendale card.

Below: Yoga Bunnies from Little Roglets. Below right: Bexy Boo’s delightful Dolly. Bottom left: Louis by Claire Louise. Bottom right: Heather Trefusis loves Albie’s kisses.

Above: Lil Wabbit’s cute artwork. Above right: The Highland cow is growing for Paper Shed.

Right: Libra’s peeking cat. Far right: Stripey Cats’ capybara.

people: “Without doubt the dachshund lends itself most beautifully to greeting card designs as it’s the right format, being long and very distinct in shape.

cards for 2025!

“Dogs can be trickier as people tend to be drawn to specific breeds rather than general dog cards. I keep getting asked for horse cards – but that's mostly by my mum as she's horse-mad! I personally think the guinea-pig might have a resurgence, they're cute, fluffy and entertaining. We'll have to see.”

Ohh Deer’s top seller in the States is the guinea pig card from Cath Kidson, but the publisher also features all kinds of animals on cards, such as donkeys, flamingos, lions, goldfish, snakes, frogs, seagulls, sloths, skunks, rats, raccoons, alpacas, and even tarantulas!

“People tend to be more fussy with dogs, they want to see their particular breed on the card which makes it more difficult. Our bestselling overall range is Ken The Cat –everyone knows a sassy cat.”

It’s the same at Earlybird where co-owner Dom Early admitted: “Our Buddy & Betty range has plenty of dogs and cats, and more general animals, However, as much as we love dogs it’s definitely cats that steal the top sellers’ award so, I love dogs in the flesh, but cats for the sales!”

“We have a new anniversary card in our Quicksilver range and the dachshund stole the day yet again when I was trying out different dogs during the creative stage. We first launched a sausage dog design in 2017 and I can’t believe it’s still trending!”

At Rosanna Rossi cats and dogs are continuously among the top sellers, as co-owner Anna Nelson said: “We can all relate to them. We’ve released a whole array of different dog breeds as part of one range, and a cute miniature pony and toucan within other ranges. Including animals is a staple part of our design theme.”

Nigel Quiney has risen to the challenge with its new Fluff range of playful cats and loveable dogs in a bright palette set in contemporary lifestyle homes, with funky chairs and leafy plants to create a vibrant playground for our most-loved pets.

Stormy Knight’s founder Sarah Jackson said: “I really don't think you can go wrong with cat cards – we see trends for other animals but cat cards are consistently popular for us. In fact, we’re planning a new collection of cat

Despite being a canine chap himself, and offering from the dog, from the cat, and from the fur babies designs, as well as a sympathy design for people who have lost a pet, Ohh Deer’s managing director Mark Callaby agrees cats are the card-world winners: “They’re much easier to sell over dog designs!

With a name like Kitty Kenda it’s no surprise felines are the favourite for this publisher, but her dog and cat shaped cut-out designs are almost equal in popularity, although the From One Cat Person To Another is an allyear-round good seller.

PUBLISHERS’

PET PARADE

Extending the Minnows birthday range means James Ellis now covers the everyday from dogs to horses through to the wild and exotic with gorillas and red pandas – and the publisher’s key account manager Louise Amesbury admitted it’s the guinea pig that does it best too.

Above left (clockwise): Miggy the cat is the ceo at Kitty Kenda; As head muse, Taika is a big part of Lil Wabbit with key responsibilities including posing for watercolour painting sessions, chewing socks, and stealing envelopes. He’s in the studio offering company and inspiration to artist Georgi Doig, or paddleboarding with captain Jai Whitehouse; Tiny the tortoise has been the model for one of Ling Design’s cards and is currently keeping owner and marketing manager Astrid Cooper company as big sister Timmy has already gone into hibernation for the winter; Pickle is Lex Rogy’s fluffball who inspired Little Roglets’ Yoga Bunny with his now sadly- departed fellow house bunnies.

in the Claire Louise

“It’s the most popular design, modelled by Lemon the guinea pig,” she said, “these cute little creatures are very popular with kids as they make great first pets. Our cat design is a close second, modelled by handsome Ralph the cat.”

An armadillo is the most unusual animal on a Little Roglets card, after artist Lex Rogy randomly painted one, “it was too cute not to include and filled a gap just perfectly”, while for Lucy Maggie’s Lucy Nicholson it’s an anteater – and her Christmas guinea pig card does very well too, although she’s seeing a surge in the

and Toby love getting involved

enamoured!

Below (l to r): Bexy Boo’s Bex Hassett (right) has Eby, who loves snuggling up with pug puppy Dolly, daughter Amelie’s 21st birthday gift; Rabbits are Bug Art founder Jane Crowther’s favourites and Truffle and Daisy roam freely around her house and studio, helping with orders; Office dog Lucky has been helping Cardology’s David Faulkner with the new Battersea ranges;

Claire Hill loves miniature dachshunds and little Louis has been keeping her company

home studio since lockdown; Ted

at Dandelion Stationery with owners Jo and Paul Wilson; Cockapoo Buddy inspired owner Don Early’s bestselling Buddy & Betty range for Earlybird – although neighbour’s pooch Betty isn’t quite as

Above: A Paper Rose dog design. Above right: Something different by Grace Jackson.

Right: Man’s best friend at Holy Mackerel. Below: Sausage dogs from Wendy JonesBlackett.

Above: Fur babies rule for Ohh Deer.

Below: James Ellis’ gorgeous guinea pig

popularity of frog cards.

Animals are the cornerstone of many IC&G ranges, from the new Fluffs cards for dog lovers to the quirky charm of llamas and sloths and exotic appeal of zebras, giraffes, and tigers.

“These creatures have an uncanny ability to evoke emotion and bring joy,” said studio artworker Kathryn Coyle. “We even celebrate hedgehogs in a wedding and anniversary range, their spiky yet lovable nature beautifully symbolises the complexities of relationships – where love is about embracing quirks and imperfections.”

Pets are so popular at Jonny Javelin that 11 new puppy and kitten designs have recently launched in its Velvet range and there’s a carolsinging dogs design coming out for Christmas 2025, with from the cat and dog cards in Fudge & Friends.

PUBLISHERS’ PET PARADE

Co-owner Jonny Spears said:

“Animals feature large within most of our ranges, including dogs, cats, rabbits, hares, horses, reindeer, mice, camels, sheep, cows, polar bears, as well as pheasants, hummingbirds, doves, penguins and many other birds!

“Probably the most unusual animals are bulls, which take centre stage on a new male birthday card to be released in January.”

Woodmansterne ensures the more unusual animals are covered in its comical Natural Yoghurt range, by Lee Fearnley, including kangaroos and gnus, while other collections feature a laughing llama and hebra – a horse with a zebra hip replacement!

The Wildlife is Ling Design’s main animal range, where head of design Clare Twigger knows it’s important to cover both pets and wild animals, and added: “We’ve also developed a number of designs with a younger and more fun appeal by characterising the animals with props or clothing to help convey the message the card is aligned with, as well as capturing the more mischievous and adventurous side of the creature.

“The popularity of different breeds has changed over time, with cavapoos and cockapoos being the very popular dogs post-Covid. On the whole, for us dog designs outsell cat ones, but all pets sell really well and you’d be surprised by the thousands of cards featuring cows and hens we sell too!”

The signature Battersea range is being expanded at Cardology, along with brand new advent calendars, and pet adoption and sympathy ranges, the most unique pet designs come through commissions featuring the Original Stormtrooper licence.

Co-owner David Falkner laughed: “The fun part of this brand is exploring what the Stormtrooper does on his days off, so it’s fitting he’s befriended one of the King’s jack russells, themselves both Battersea rescues, and north of the border, his companion of choice is none other than Nessie.”

With the Paw Prints perennial pet collection as well as the new Oh My Dog and Nine Lives ranges, Abacus Cards knows what to do on the animal front, and md Nick Carey laughed: “It’s always dogs that come up top trumps with our customers.

Below (l to r): There are plenty of pet lovers among the Woodmansterne team including retail display planner Caitlin Brown and her Frenchie Bruce, designer Danielle Everson and puppy Pepper, warehouse operative Julie Hollinshead and her black cat, senior designer Paula Reece and cat Nelson, and head of warehousing and distribution Steve with his much-loved shadow Snowy, who he sadly lost recently. There are Ptolemy and Brio, who are Seth and Cassandra

“The most unusual animal that’s proved a success for us is the otter, which closely pips a seal – and we have some great selling pig cards too!”

With cows, hedgehogs and rabbits included, keeping it British is the aim of GBCC’s Animalia range where cards featuring animals always do well. As its head of design Lucy Ledger explained: “Half the UK population have a pet so there’s a huge market to tap into. Animalia was beautifully hand illustrated by our senior designer and perfectly captures the personalities and quirks of each animal. As the range has a mix of domestic animals and British wildlife, it’s a hit with a variety of customers.”

To round off the genre, it has to be Alex Sharp as the photographer boasts the biggest collection, with over 200 dog cards alone – plus cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, lions, foxes, harvest mice, Sally Lightfoot crabs, sea lions from Antarctica, and equestrian cards.

Alex said: “I have many animals in my card collection from travelling to over 100 countries. I’ve brought in extra dog breeds, elephants, penguins at customers’ request –we have cockerels on Christmas cards, flamingos, I even have Jed and a few of my other pet sheep.

“I have whale blows in the sunset enroute to Antarctica with icebergs in the distance on Drakes Passage, and I got asked for puffins on cards, so I took myself off to Skomer island and photographed puffins, they’ve been hugely popular!”

Those animal instincts remain ever strong!

Woodmansterne’s lagottos. Seth said: “Ptolemy received a good luck card –published by Robert James Hull – on the eve of competing at Crufts, where he won an admirable 2nd place at just 15 months old! And Brio, the true worker, is pictured proudly wearing her Woody lanyard in the studio at Watford. Both crazy and wonderful in equal measure, they most enjoy being sent on a search around the house for hidden carrots!”

Below: There are pets galore at IC&G with studio artworkers Dave and cat Chicken and Kathryn with doodle Evie, rescue dog Toby and his prepress production human Jason, Jayne in customer services has dog Buddy, and canines win for Dave in logistics with Ernie.

PUBLISHERS’ PET PARADE

Above: UKG’s latest pet trends. Below left: Jonny Javelin has canines carolling.

Some fabulous fresh designs and ranges have been launched recently. Just take a look…

Metallic Magic

Paper Salad has gone to town with its new Alchemy range. All the 29 designs, which span birthdays and occasions, feature the publisher’s signature neon colours as well as detailed embossing that is lavishly finished with foil to make them super shiny.  The cards, all 125mmx175mm, come with a brand new patterned envelope. They can be supplied naked or with recyclable bands.

Paper Salad 0161 4270001 www.papersalad.com

Sporting Chances

A Maize-ing

And now for something completely different from Wendy Jones-Blackett. Popcorn is its brand new contemporary sentiment collection, with not a classic caption in sight. Instead, the designs embrace the younger generation’s needs for card sending (and receiving), covering diversity and inclusion, mental health as well as general friendship.

Wendy Jones-Blackett  0113 2888468 www.wendyjonesblackett.co.uk

In Just Sport, Claire Louise has crafted 12 new greeting cards that celebrate beloved sports, from horse racing to Formula One racing. Using watercolour pencils and ink, Claire has created artistic scenes on the 155mm square cards. All blank, each is accompanied by a white envelope and cello wrap.

Claire Louise 07715 373344 www.claire-louise.co.uk

Child’s Play

Get Deco-ed Out

Paradiso, Stephanie Davies’ latest collection merges the glamour and sophistication of the 1920s Gatsby era paired with exotic, brightly painted animals, cocktails and other vintage imagery. The inaugural collection of 12 designs, which feature intricate gold detailing, hot foil and some are handembellished with crystals, evoke the opulence of the Roaring Twenties while adding a lively, modern flair. Stephanie Davies info@stephaniedavies.co.uk www.stephaniedavies.co.uk

Purr-fect Additions

Bug Art has expanded its Black Kitties collection with some adorable new designs. Each card features embossed gold foil detailing, adding a touch of elegance and charm. These are blank inside, making them suitable to send to a cat lover for almost any occasion. They measure 167mmx118mm and can be supplied naked or wrapped in a biodegradable bag, accompanied by a textured white envelope.

Bug Art 0115 9294776

www.bugart.co.uk

Emily Nash Illustration has really beefed up its children’s card offering of late, encompassing an extensive collection of Kids Multipacks of assorted designs. Printed in the UK on high quality FSC certified board and nested with a 100% recycled kraft envelope, the cards come in smart, branded stack pack boxes which can be displayed in piles or hung using the euro slot on the reverse. Emily Nash Illustration 07891 339686

www.emilynashillustration.com

Some fabulous fresh designs and ranges have been launched recently. Just take a look…

Case Studies

Elevate your everyday essentials with Grace Jackson Design's new pencil case collection. In nine different colours and patterns, in two sizes, these complement the company’s Swishes and Tiled Sentiments card ranges. All handmade in Scotland, the lined pencil cases (available in slim or medium formats) are crafted from 100% organic cotton, featuring a durable YKK zip with a leather pull.

Grace Jackson Design 07902 875014 www.gracejacksondesign.co.uk

Spring Loaded

As an extension of its best-selling range, Earlybird has launched a Super Fab Spring Seasons 2025 collection. The range includes eye-popping neon hearts for Valentine’s Day, super cool mum designs for Mother’s Day and neon farting capybaras for dads for Father’s Day, all printed on textured recycled board with embossing and a spot UV finish.

Earlybird Designs 01227 765372

Ball Games

Bare Cards is tickling the funny bone with its new humour range, Giggle Balls. The new collection spans a number of different polished looks with funnies that tap into our modern lives. There are 13 designs in this inaugural collection, and in keeping with the company’s USP of an integral fold, no separate envelope is needed..

Bare Cards 07968 042892 www.bare-cards.co.uk

Loving It

Lil Wabbit has doubled the size of its Henries-feted All Dogs, Great and Small collection. The range now consists of 40 different dog breed designs, each of which is hand-painted in watercolour and based on a dog the publisher’s founder Georgi Doig has known! New additions, which include Bijoux, a miniature poodle and Nanna, a Burmese mountain dog, all sport a contrasting but complimentary background.

Lil Wabbit 07825 127775

www.lilwabbit.co.uk

Garden Pleasures

The Regency Gardens Collection is one of Toasted Crumpet’s new collections for Spring Summer 2025. Spanning over 130 new products, it’s the company’s largest and most colourful range to date. Inspired by walks around some of Britain’s most famous flower shows and the joys of afternoon tea, this collection introduces gorgeously bright colour combinations across cards, stationery, gifts and homewares.

Toasted Crumpet 01372 383436 www.toastedcrumpet.co.uk

Lucy Maggie Designs has released a collection of diverse and inclusive love cards for the upcoming Valentine's Spring season. Featuring 23 unique designs, the A6 cards, all printed on high quality textured board, cover all types of relationships and so there's something there for everyone. All cards are packed plastic-free supplied cellowrapped..

Lucy Maggie Designs 07763 239731

www.lucymaggiedesigns.co.uk

Art Source

Taylor Made

Suzy Taylor is a folk artist and illustrator, originally from London, but is now loving living in rural mid Devon with her husband, 17 year old daughter and four cats.

Art Source shares some snippets from Suzy’s colourful creative life.

For 10 years I worked as a paper-cutting artist, creating designs for all sorts of products, from playing cards to gin bottles. The designs led to a brilliant commission for colouring books – the most successful one being The Colour of Love. I lost count of all the foreign editions! However, the intensive work took its toll on my eyes and I needed to find a new way of working.

I then switched to working digitally, creating repeating patterns on Adobe Illustrator. Now, however, I produce all of my digital work using Procreate on my iPad Pro. I produce all of my patterns and digital illustrations this way as it’s so flexible and I can take it anywhere. Working on the iPad is so intuitive and has enabled me to increase my workflow. I enjoy the drawing apps and the beautiful textures that can be created.

I love my job and am constantly working on new ideas. I have licensed designs for greeting cards, gift wrap, two quilting fabric ranges, cross-stitch and tapestry kits, phone covers, and colouring books - all drawn on my iPad.

Of my recent ‘claims to fame’ I was thrilled when Oxfam selected my cat images for its 2025 slimline calendar. I always enjoy including cats into my work. I like to convey their personalities and I hope that the end result has a little

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

taste of narrative, something that is always effective for greeting cards. The designs selected include many portraits of cats we have owned, which gives added meaning to me.

During Covid I set myself the task of learning how to paint with acrylics. Physical paint had always scared me and it took me two years to get the courage to come out of just working in a sketchbook.

Having recently moved into our country cottage some of my first paintings were decorative designs using the house as a canvas. Now I’m confident enough to paint canvasses and sell my work to the public. And I’m exhibiting at my first art show on Dartmoor at the beginning of November, which is an exciting step for me!

In my acrylic work I create colourful abstract patterns as a base and then paint over the design, creating images from the negative spaces.

As a folk artist I don’t feel I have to limit myself to just drawing or painting. More recently I have been learning freestyle embroidery and punch-needle embroidery. I enjoy translating my work in different ways. All my work, whether it’s digital, painted, sewn or embroidered is always inspired by nature and the beautiful place that I’m lucky enough to call home. You’ll almost always find folky birds, flowers and patterns in all my designs.

I’m very fortunate to have a beautiful airy studio in my home. If you were to visit, you’d find me working on multiple projects from painting, to quilting, to embroidery - whatever I’m inspired to do. I like to keep things varied as I find more inspiration that way and often an idea from one medium will find its way into another.

Licensing my designs for greeting cards remains a source of real pleasure. I always get a big kick out of walking into a shop and seeing my artwork on card display!

l Suzy Taylor is represented by Sue Bateman at Yellow House Art Licensing.

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

Above left: Suzy Taylor in her studio.

Above right: The front cover of Oxfam’s 2025 slimline calendar featuring some of Suzy’s cat designs.

Below right: Some quilting fabrics based on Suzy’s designs.

Right: An example of Suzy’s acrylic work which involves underpainting.

Below: Folkloric styling from Suzy.

Below right: Suzy’s designs lend themself to being translated onto all manner of products and substrates.

ASKED A TRIO OF RETAILERS FOR THEIR BEST SELLERS

Janet Ross-Jordan, owner of Cards And Gift Wrap, Outer Hebrides

There’s always plenty going on in Janet’s wee shoppie in her garden on the Isle Of Lewis.

The Eco-friendly Card Co

Wrendale Designs

Lilac Tree Designs

Woodmansterne

Lilac Tree Designs

GBCC/Paper House

The Eco-friendly Card Co

Lilac Tree Designs

Citrus Bunn

The Eco-friendly Card Co

Santoro

Roger La Borde

Wentworth

Advent calendar cards

Birthday general

Sympathy Sympathy

Pun Fun

Julia Crossland

Adam James Severn

Baubles

Pigeon Loft Christmas packs

Christmas Dioramas

Wooden puzzles

“Packs are already selling, including my own Gaelic Christmas cards!”

“A new range from Lilac Tree is doing well.

Tim Mason's designs from both publishers are always popular – his sheep in woolly jumpers from Woodmansterne flies out.”

“We have customers who buy 20 birthday cards at a time, these sell really well.”

“I have people who buy loads of sympathy cards at a time. Claire Henley and Rachel Toll’s designs from Eco-friendly go especially well as do my own Gaelic sympathy cards.”

“These birthday humour pun cards are great. The 'Please send all cake to the lab for testing' is a top seller currently. They fly off my stall at the recent Outer Hebrides Comic Con.”

“Julia’s autumn-themed designs and Adam’s mixed media wildlife illustrations have been very popular.”

“They come with an envelope so can be sent as a card, and there’s a wee gift tag on the bauble to write the message, and then can be hung on the tree. Just fabulous.”

“I put these together to show what they look like. They come flat, and are easy to gift or post.”

“Can’t beat them! They do small 40-piece ones which are great little gifts. Its bottle of gin design is brilliant.”

Pigeon Post letter packs

“Really popular for stocking fillers. So pretty and well presented.”

Right: Janet’s Gaelic Christmas cards are selling well.

Above middle: Citrus Bunn’s puns raise a smile.

Right: Popular art cards from The Eco-friendly Card Co.

Sally Matson, owner of Red Card and now also Little Red in Petworth, West Sussex

International Focus

An award-winning card and gift shop has recently welcomed a new ‘sibling’ in the town.

Category Name of Publisher

Everyday Relations & Occasions

Humour

Children’s

Adult Ages

Art

Cute

Photographic

3D/Pop-Ups

Gift Wrappings

Gifts

Louise Mulgrew

Molly Mae Redback Cards

Woodmansterne

Rosie Made A Thing

Museums & Galleries

Little Roglets

Paperlink Paper D’Art

Glick

Lua

Product/Name Range Comments

Bijou mini cards

General

Zeppelinmoon

Quentin Blake

Gin & Frolics Ages General

“We have a beautiful floorstanding spinner of them and people buy them in handfuls.”

“Such pretty cards and especially good for sympathy/thinking of you.”

“Off-the-wall humour that people love - the Christmas range is brilliant!”

“Always a favourite with grandparents.”

“If I could only stock one age range, this would be it.”

“Just a great mix of modern and classic art.”

“Such beautiful illustrations on lovely card –my favourite new company.”

Salad

Velvet purses and glasses cases

“It has to be these guys, especially their amazing Christmas cards.”

“Absolutely gorgeous!”

“Luxurious jewel colours and great quality.”

Julia Keeling, owner of Wishes Of Cudworth

“Men’s square cards that have black and white photos with bright colour writing over the top – they’re great!”

A long established card and gift shop that is at the heart of the community in the South Yorkshire village.

Category Name of Publisher Product/Name Range Comments

Bestseller

Everyday

Relations & Occasions

Humour

Children’s

Adult Ages

Hallmark Cardigan Cards

Cherry Orchard

Words ’N’ Wishes Paperlink Kingfisher Cardigan Cards

Happy Birthday From The Dog

Grace; Grayson

Serenade

Wrinklies

Funtazia

Loving Words Shimmer

“These captions are a big success and it would be good if more card publishers did them!”

“Good for ladies with fine taste.”

“Contemporary, but with a verse. The slightly larger card makes them good value.”

“Featuring older characters and funny puns/play on words. A great giggle.”

“A great price point.”

“Scalloped-edged card with beautiful inserts. Combine an age and caption, with great verses, which are popular in our area.”

Art

Cute

Photographic

Gifts

Nigel Quiney Publications

Words ’N’ Wishes Abacus Aromatize

Pizzaz

Hartley

Posies & Petals

Three Wick Candles

“Good for both ladies and gents.”

“A cute little hedgehog who gets up to all sorts of fun.”

“Wonderful photos of flowers and gardens. Popular with my green-fingered customers.”

“A wide range of scents make these a fantastic gift. The three wicks give a level burn.”

Right: Five Dollar Shake’s Stargazing.

Right: Fun photographic from Paperlink.

Above: Festive laughs from Redback.

Right: Little Roglets’ cuteness.

Right: Wrinklies’ humour is a giggle.

Right: Cute Hartley from Words ’N’ Wishes.

Above: Green-fingered customers love Abacus’ Posies & Petals.

PRODUCT DIRECTORY l PRODUCT DIRECTORY l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

CHARITY GREETING CARDS

PRODUCT DIRECTORY l PRODUCT DIRECTORY l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

To

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

WWW.XXPRESSYOURSELFCARDS.CO.UK

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.

Products: Greetings Cards, Gift Wrap, Gift Bags, Social Stationery, Partyware Brands: Blossom & Bows Card Essentials Greetings Impressions In Touch

Isabel s Garden Planet Happy Sentiments With You In Mind Word Play Method of sale: Wholesale Distributors

Simon Elvin Limited

Wooburn Industrial Park, Wooburn Green, Bucks HP10 0PE

Tel: 01628 526711 Fax: 01628 531483 www.simonelvin.com mail@simonelvin.com

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

BRANDS: Cherished Thoughts, Sweet Sentiments, Buddies Always, Symphony, Thinking of You, Style, Special Wishes, Special Times, Young Editions, Groove Sensations, Forever Blessed, Grey Skies, Classics. METHOD OF SALE: SENSATIONS –Direct to retail XPRESS YOURSELF –Now one of the leading wholesale publisher suppliers in the UK Enquiries: warren@max-publishing.co.uk or Tracey Arnaud traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

To appear in the Product Directories contact

Tracey Arnaud T: 07957 212 062 email traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

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

APPOINTMENTS l APPOINTMENTS l APPOINTMENTS

WE’RE HIRING! F/T EXPERIENCED UK KEY ACCOUNTS MANAGER

We are a multi award-winning gift packaging publisher supplying high quality retailers worldwide. We have a unique opportunity to bring a highly experienced and inspirational Key Accounts Manager to our team, who can help continue our growth on this exciting journey.

We are looking for an individual that can develop account strategies, nurture existing client relationships, develop new client relationships and assess ongoing performance, driving the overall business’ continued growth in the UK. The successful candidate will be highly motivated, dynamic and confident with strong negotiation skills; a model communicator with killer presentation skills.

Key Objectives

Increase sales by nurturing existing client relationships, establishing a strong basis of trust with the businesses most important clients

Acquire new clients and build long term relationships

Develop effective customer strategies to achieve sales targets, owning the growth and profitability of the client portfolio

Manage multiple client relationships and projects, juggling many moving parts, keeping strategic plans aligned to the critical path

Essentials

A proven track record of successful account management, minimum 3 years

Strong negotiation skills

Experience of working within the Gift Wrap, Greeting Card or Gifting sector would be advantageous

Salary negotiable with performance based bonus, added perks and company car

For full job description or to apply, please email Becky Dobson, Managing Director quoting ref KAM1809: becky@glick.co.uk

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