Progressive Greetings Worldwide September 2017

September

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Leader

On The Cards Speaking to Sainsbury’s card buyer Carly Pearson the other day, who came into our industry a little over a year ago, having bought the latest gadgetry for the supermarket and for the same sector for Amazon prior to that, she left me in no doubt that she relishes the heritage of greeting cards. The card trade is a far cry from the ups and downs and fast ins and outs of the worlds of tablets, Kindles and TV technology that are out of date as soon as they are launched.

I love that this industry has such heritage, that some ranges have really stood the test of time - Giggles and Forever Friends are two that spring to mind as they are both celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. I also love that it is an industry where friendships are formed that last for many years; Warren and I are still in regular contact with other ‘young turks’ (that we all thought we were in those days!) when we bought PG over 26 years ago.

But for all these strong links and history, I am also well aware that this industry, like mankind’s progress, is based on evolution.

I was talking to John Procter, co-founder of Scribbler, only this morning about his plans for his speech on Day 2 of The Ladder Club (September 20). “The thing is that things are so different these days, our overheads for next year look like they are going to go through the roof. We are going to have to adapt our model slightly. I

@Prog_Greetings

Above: PG's Jakki Brown with Sainsbury's Carly Pearson in one of the supermarket's store.

Left: PG's Warren Lomax (right) and Jakki Brown with GF Smith's Ben Watkinson in its 'World's Favourite Colour' Pop-Up shop in Hull, that has now transferred to the paper company's London Showspace.

Below left: Lunch after The Henries judging. Retailers (right) Savita and Steven Marsh of Northwood Cards and (left) Pauline Gillett and Emma Rogers, both of Special Occasions, Castle Bromwich, with PG's Jakki Brown (centre).

don’t want it to come across negatively,” he said. I reminded him of a meeting that he convened at the bar next to our offices well over a decade ago, involving a group of London agents, at which John said he could not see a way that Scribbler would be able to progress beyond its eight stores, given the rents, landlords’ attitudes etc. Look now, Scribbler has 37 stores, with more in the pipeline!

Just as retailing is ever changing, so too is the publishing aspect. The Henries 2017 roll call is testament to this. Yes, there are some great established names in there, but these are joined by an encouraging number of newbies.

So here’s to heritage and here's to evolution!

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

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Contents

What’s Inside

7-19 News 20-21 Over The Counter

Ringing In My Ears…

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, discusses visualising your goals.

22-23 Cardsharp

A Tale Of Two Retailers Cardsharp muses over topical events happening in the industry.

25-28 Viewpoints

Spring Loaded?

Retailers, buyers and publishers air their concerns over the future of the Spring Seasons.

The Henries 2017 Judging Process

The Entente Cordiale The background behind this year’s Henries Awards judging.

THE HENRIES FINALISTS 2017

32-35

88-89

Retailer Revelations

Jeremy’s Journal

Les Grands Fromages

Instagram Party!

This year’s Henries Awards judges share their retail plea to the UK government and their French fancies.

Blue Eyed Sun’s Jeremy Corner takes to the dance floor at the hottest party on social media, Instagram.

37-71

91

The Henries Awards Finalists 2017

Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys

Find out who made it into The Henries finals this year.

Debbie shares her latest paper art discoveries.

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95

In Conversation With… Sainsbury’s

Up Close With… James Hearne

Greeting Sainsbury’s Face On

The Hear(ne) And Now

The Architecture Of Paper

With Sainsbury’s upping its commitment to greeting cards, PG went to meet its senior buyer of cards and wrap, Carly Pearson.

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29-31

Within This Issue:

87

29

Talented artist, James Hearne, celebrates creating his 2,500th greeting card and wrap artwork.

97-99

Art Source 100-101

Innovations A showcase of some new greeting card product at Autumn Fair and Top Drawer.

What’s Hot? 102-114

Classified

87 Special Agent Report

A Bonnie Bag

115

PG has a wee blether with Scottish agent Grant Gibson.

Appointments

Progressive Greetings is a monthly business magazine.

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Editor

Advertisement Director

Deputy Editor

News Editor

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Copyright© 2017. While every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of publication, the publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers nor any organisation mentioned in the text. Views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.

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

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every picture a new range of contemporary quotation cards designed by

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

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NEWS TOP STORY

Ooh La La, Finalists Announced!

Over 50 card retail buyers scrutinised the 14,000 products entered Whoops of joy, both audible and readable, percolated throughout the greeting card industry on Friday August 4 when the news broke of which ranges have made it into the finals of The Henries 2017 greeting card industry awards.

Over 50 top greeting card retail buyers scrutinised 14,000 of the best greeting cards and wrappings in the world at the judging for The Henries greeting card industry awards last month to arrive at the potent set of finalists.

“Never in The Henries’ long history have we ever had such an extensive, distinguished and knowledgeable judging panel of retail buyers as you collectively form,” said Warren Lomax, co-owner Progressive Greetings, that organises and owns The Henries, as he welcomed the judges. “It’s a good job you know your stuff though as you have an incredible number of cards and wrap to judge today!”

The judging panel included buyers from Paperchase, WHSmith, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Scribbler, Waitrose, Klondyke, Moonpig, Fenwick, Funky Pigeon, Barkers, Longacres and National Trust and indies.

Reflecting the diverse make-up of the card publishing sector, the finalists range

from the major players to newbie start-ups.

In addition to respected brands of UKG (who earned five finalist places), Woodmansterne (who received six), Abacus (who received four), several respected specialist brands also fared especially well.

Belly Button Designs has reached the finals in three categories, as has Janie Wilson, Lagom, Pigment and Stop the Clock.

The Simon Elvin group (which includes Simon Elvin, Paper Rose, Nigel Quiney and Glick) clinched seven of the coveted slots.

It is also a great year for the smaller publishers to receive recognition, with

newbies such as Bettie Confetti, Flying Teaspoons and Pack a Punch Designs, being among those to break through, beating many other established names.

The winners of all categories will be announced at an Ooh La La Henries Ball on Thursday 5 October, which this year will take on a Parisian theme. For tickets contact Clare Davies of Createvents on 0118 3340085 or email on clare@createvents.co.uk (See pages 29-71 for the judging process and the finalists. www.thehenriesawards.co.uk)

Busy Henries Traffic When the news broke of which ranges had achieved the highest number of votes from the Henries Judging Panel, many of the 80 different publishers feted took to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to spread the good news.

“Woohoo! This has made my week/year!” was the enthusiastic response from Jenny Morrison, founder of newbie publisher Paper Sole as soon as she learned that her Little Monsters range had made it into the finals of the Best Cute Range category.

Meanwhile, Jo Wilson, founder of Dandelion Stationery (whose Words of Wisdom range reached the finals in the Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments Range category) proclaimed: “I am sat here with a humongous smile on my face, chuffed to bits!”

Another ‘Jo’, namely Jo Clarke, founder of Toasted Crumpet, who has reached the finals in the Best Male Range, proclaimed: “Brilliant! We're over the moon!!”

Someone who would have been ‘over the moon’ to see so many small publishers in The Henries finalists roll call was Lynn Tait (owner of The Lynn Tait Gallery and co-founder of The Ladder Club, who passed away recently). In honour of Lynn, and with total endorsement from category sponsor Paperchase, the award category that celebrates the young creative talent in the industry has been rechristened The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer or Artist Award.

The Henries Twitter feed is #Henries Right: YTR was among the publishers who took to social media to spread the good news.

Views from the judges Commenting on The Henries Judging Day, Kerri Sorbie, buyer for Klondyke Garden Centres, who had travelled down from Scotland to London to participate said: “It was definitely worth the trip! It has been like an intensive buying experience – and I definitely want to follow up on several ranges that I saw with a view to introducing them into our card selection.”

Katherine O’Connor, card buyer for the National Trust, a ‘first timer’ Henries’ judge, summed up the Day as a “fabulous experience.

There were so many cards and ranges that I have never seen before - I will be contacting the publishers concerned when I am informed of their identity,” she said in reference to that fact that all the entries were displayed anonymously, with the brand’s identity concealed to mitigate against any preconceived ideas.

Hazel Walker, senior card buyer of Paperchase said The Henries Judging Day was “like a fast track trade show, but one where you see all the comparative cards together in their distinct categories. It was also so encouraging to see so much fresh new talent entered into the renamed The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer or Artist award category.”

For Savita Marsh, coowner of Northwood Cards & Gifts, being part of the judging panel was invaluable in that “while it gave me an endorsement that we are on track with the card selection for our customers it also made me appreciate that some ranges have a great crossover potential - some ranges that I stock in my art section were entered into humour and vice versa, for example.”

Top right: National Trust’s Katherine O’Connor enjoying the judging.

Above middle: Members of The Henries Judging Panel considering the entries in one of the categories.

Above left: The Paperchase team ready for Henries’ action! (Rightleft) Emma Clooney, Ellie Smith, Hazel Walker and Megan Douglas.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Giggles Galore Heaps of fun to mark UKG’s evergreen brand’s 30th anniversary UK Greetings has a great excuse to have a right laugh over the coming year – the 30th anniversary of Giggles.

The publisher is firming up a fun-filled smorgasbord of events, initiatives and promotions aimed at consumer, trade and UKG staff to mark the momentous milestone of this evergreen range.

“So many card ranges come and go, but Giggles, at 30 years old, is still packing a punchline,” sums up Ben Whittington, senior creative manager for humour and Disney at UKG. Ben was very proud to go on stage to collect the Henry Cole Classic award (for ranges that have stood the test of time) for Giggles at The Henries in 2015 as one of the custodians of this stalwart humour brand.

Ben says that while the essence of the range remains “quintessentially Giggles”, the range’s longevity - and ‘must have’

status for so many retailers is due to its evolution, rather than revolution. “We do of course tweak the design styles, add contemporary references, and ensure there are new funny punchline jokes introduced to keep it as fresh and relevant as it was when Giggles first burst on to the card racks in 1987,” says Ben. As part of a full programme of events to mark Giggles’ 30th anniversary, this October will see ’30 Days of Giggles’, an extended social media campaign which will bring the essence of Giggles to life though multi media activity, including posting jokes and humorous videos in all manner of channels. In preparation of this, the ‘Giggles humour team’ took the ‘Giggles joke shed’ on the road recently, installing it at The Great Yorkshire Fringe festival in York, inviting people into ‘The Giggles joke shed’ to tell their favourite joke which were then videoed.

“It was great fun and very shareable.

We’re looking forward to taking the ‘Giggles joke shed’ on many more outings planned for the coming months, so get your jokes ready!” says Ben. Top: One of the promotional messages that will be used throughout Giggles’ 30th anniversary year.

Above: The reference to Game of Thrones will appeal to the masses of fans of the series. (Inside, with illustrations reads ‘Slow down! You bloody maniac! That’s not music! That’s just noise!’)

Left: UKG’s Ben Whittington with the trophy for the Henry Cole Classic Award that was awarded to Giggles in 2015.

Argos trials greeting cards Argos has introduced greeting cards into some of its stores. As part of a trial (made easier due to it now being owned by Sainsbury’s which is on a growth curve with its greeting card sales), free standing display units, accommodating 24 designs of single everyday cards, as well giftbags, have been introduced into 10 selected Argos branches.

“The aim of the exercise is to gauge the appetite for greeting cards being sold in an Argos instore environment,” Carly Pearson, senior buyer of cards and wrap at Sainsbury’s, told PG. “It is about looking at how we maximise the opportunities of the two retail brands,” she added.

The greeting card FSDU has been introduced in Argos branches in England, Scotland and Ireland, namely in its Ellesmere Port, Enfield, Guilford, Horsham, Inverurie, Irvine, Newtonabbey, Perry Bar, Shrewsbury and Thurrock stores.

Right: Giftbags are affixed to the side of the greeting card FSDU, as depicted in Argos’ Shrewsbury store.

Paperfest returns to Top Drawer Paperfest and a Thinking of You Week display are just two of the elements of Top Drawer, which opens its doors at London's Olympia from September 10-12. The Autumn/Winter edition of the show will be presenting new launches across Greetings/Gift, Home, Fashion and Craft.

PaperFest, sponsored by papersmiths GF Smith, will be returning to Top Drawer along with the PaperAwards, which will be reimagining what is possible with paper, print and creativity. PaperFest will be holding talks, panels and clinics to stimulate ideas, and there will also be a display area highlighting the best of greeting cards and stationery.

In addition, the show will also include an inspiring collection of cards to collectively form a Thinking of You Week display, organised in conjunction with the GCA (which takes place Sept 25-1 Oct).

Among the greeting card exhibitors showcasing their wares at the show will be Art Angels, Chase and Wonder, Hazel Bee, English Graphics, Hype, Imogen Owen and Katie Leamon.

In addition, Spotted, curated by journalist Charlotte Abraham, will be returning to shine a spotlight on emerging new talent.

A diverse range of top name speakers will also be sharing their expertise with visitors.

Among them will be Holly Tucker, co-founder of notonthehighstreet.com, Eleanor Gregory from Selfridges and Rina Bhansali from Harrods.

Trails at the show include Men Only, UK Debut, Product GB and Eco. Across the board, some 1500 top brands and new talents will be unveiled. Visit: topdrawer.co.uk.

Pabuku’s global growth Austrian-based card company Pabuku – The Queer Paperie - is continuing its globetrotting! Having made its UK debut at PG Live, the company is again returning to UK shores to exhibit at Top Drawer, but the team and their cards have made a few diversions en route!

As a result of showing at PG Live the publisher now has Affirmations as its distributor for Australia and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the company was absolutely delighted to be presented with a prestigious GOLD CardCouture Award 2017

by Fedrigoni, at a ceremony that took place at the stunning St Pauli football stadium in Hamburg (Stand X35).

Above: Pabuku co-founders Ulla Klopf and Ute Baurecker with (right) Astrid Reiner of printer 1. Aichfelder Druck with the Gold Fedrigoni award.

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The Original

Starlight Bottles Beautifully coloured bottles with twinkling stars that light up heart-warming sentiments and celebratory ages.

Exquisitely Designed For Those Extra Special Occasions

ng Weddin Desig s s Gift Per fect As le Or Tab ns Dec oratio

Beautiful wedding and new baby designs compliment our occasion titles, celebratory ages, love & friendship designs and relation titles.

Come and see our full range of Starlight Bottles at the

Autumn Fair Hall 5, Stand A10

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NEWS TOP STORY

Shepherd guides Clintons’ flock Changes at the top of specialist card multiple Eddie Shepherd has replaced Dominique Schurman as chief executive officer of Clintons.

Eddie is certainly no stranger to Clintons, nor the greeting card industry.

Eddie has been general manager of Clintons since 2012 (the year the company was acquired by American Greetings, US parent company of UK Greetings). Previous to joining Clintons, Eddie held senior management positions at Watermark Publishing and Birthdays Group (the latter going back to the time it was owned by its entrepreneurial founder, Ron Wood).

The change allows Dominique Schurman, who was brought in by American Greetings when it acquired the UK specialist chain in 2012, to concentrate solely on her US-based responsibilities, running her own company, the Schurman Retail Group (SRG) which includes card shops that trade under Papyrus, Niquea.d and Carlton Retail.

In a statement, Clintons officially thanked Dominique for “her years of service.”

Dominique frequently joked that she had something of a hefty commute – making references to her transatlantic responsibilities of running Clintons in Essex as well as the SRG business, based in California.

Commenting on his new position, Eddie said: “I’m delighted to be offered the

Blooming Marvellous

opportunity to lead the Clintons team through this next phase in our story.”

Giving his assurance of the future of the retail group, he said the plan is to “renew our focus on offering our customers a great value card assortment, including new, exclusive and differentiated ranges.”

As part of this Clintons is to strengthen its gift, wrap and party ranges as well as align its store portfolio, which currently comprises 380 stores, “to profitable markets”.

This development comes shortly after Clintons issued a trading statement to counter its 2016 financial results, which showed a £19 million loss that was covered in PG Buzz recently.

Giftwrappings company Deva Designs thought up a ‘blooming marvellous’ way of continuing the celebrations of the company’s 25th anniversary year.

The Deva team, headed up by coowners Andrew Maddock and Ann Rogers, travelled to Shropshire to witness the harvest of the stunning delphiniums that are used to make the company’s natural petal confetti.

“I have lost count of the number of packs of the petal confetti we have sold over the years as it’s now in the tens of thousands,” said Andrew. “However, it was a great excuse for a team day out to watch the delphiniums being handpicked. It was a great day, the sun shone and we all loved every minute of it!”

Above: The Deva team in true petal heaven celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary.

Above: Dominique Schurman outside the first ‘new look’ Clintons store (in London’s St Paul’s) that she spearheaded as soon as AG took the chain over in 2012.

Autumn Fair's seat of learning As well as being able to feast their eyes on a diverse range of gift and greeting card products at Autumn Fair (Sept 3-6), retailers will also be able to feed their ‘grey matter’ too. The Inside Retail Theatre at the show, which takes place at Birmingham’s NEC, will offer an impressive line-up of speakers that includes Jeremy Corner, owner of Blue Eyed Sun (and PG columnist) who will be addressing retailers on the first day of the exhibition about making the most of social media and digital marketing on the high street.

His talks, entitled ‘The digital high street is approaching; how to future-proof your business’, will take place 12.15pm-12.45pm in Hall 5 (Stand 5B80-C81).

Another speaker who is well versed in the ways of the greeting card industry is Simon Pryce, director of Skylight Media, which has designed websites for over 30 different greeting card publishers.

Simon will be involved in three sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the show on: My website - why isn't it selling?; New website? How do I get what I want this time? and Google AdWords - Am I wasting money?

Forecasters WGSN will also be revealing what will be trending over the coming months.

There will be 1,300 UK and international exhibitors at Autumn Fair with Cardgains, The Art File, Paper Salad, Brainbox Candy and GBCC among the greeting card exhibitors in Hall 4. The Volume sector opens on Saturday September 2.

Visit: www.autumnfair.com Left: Skylight Media’s Simon Pyrce will take to the stage at Autumn Fair!

Indie creates PR beauty As part of its ‘school holidays programme’, Card and Balloon House in Makerfield in Ashton, created a ‘Come and meet Belle Day’, which was attended by over 200 children and their parents, having publicised the event instore and in its local press. Owner, Richard Aylett and his team, built on the popularity of the Beauty and the Beast film and huge interest in the Disney Princesses.

As Richard told PG, “The big players will always be there and hopefully will always keep us on our toes, constantly challenging us to make the high street a better place, and to look at our business time and time again. This really does us a favour as it's making us focus even more on what we do and inspire us to do it better!”

Richard has promised to send a bottle of his favourite wine to the first six indies who appear in their local press from now as a result of issuing a press release. (Contact: jakkib@max-publishing.co.uk).

Above: Belle meeting some of the ‘princesses’ in The Card and Balloon House shop Makerfield in Ashton.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Thinking And Springing GCA gears up for ToYW and the Spring Seasons As the countdown to Thinking of You Week starts with earnest (falling this year September 25-1 October) retailers, publishers and organisations are finalising their plans to build momentum and further awareness of this card sending initiative, instigated by the GCA, to encourage people to create a wave of love, caring and happiness by sending cards.

This year Waitrose is really getting behind the initiative, which is perfectly timed to coincide with its brand new greeting card selection going into all its stores.

“We have secured a full page editorial in our Waitrose Weekend magazine, which has the same circulation as the Daily Telegraph, for the second week in the September edition, which will include details all about National Thinking of You Week,” confirmed Kirsty Hicks, greeting card, wrap and stationery buyer of Waitrose.

The GCA ‘toolkit’ now also has another set of ‘tools’ in it, as a brand new suite of PoS for the Spring Seasons has just been uploaded onto the website for retailers to download free of charge right up until the 2018 events.

The new artwork, which has been created specifically by the UKG creative studio, includes posters as well as imagery suitable for social media purposes, for each of the four Spring Seasons events. This initiative was first instigated

More card diversity needed

last year by buying group Cardgains in an effort to offer support to independent retailers who were bemoaning the lack of suitable promotional items to enable them to wave the flag for the Spring Seasons.

“It is great that we can look to build on the success of last year’s toolkit with this gorgeous new artwork that has been so generously created for everyone

by UKG,” commented Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA. “And, for the first time, the PoS also incorporates the new greeting card industry tagline - 'Send a card, deliver a smile' - which won a landslide victory at our polling station at PG Live.”

(See Viewpoints for comments on Spring Seasons pages 25-28).

Top: GCA’s Sharon Little next to the Thinking of You Week banner at Harrogate Home & Gift.

Above: Posters have been developed in landscape and portrait, plus artwork for social media and email footers is also included in the toolkit.

Research by Huetribe, a multicultural and LGBTQ greeting card publisher, has found that nearly half of Brits are still struggling to find the right card to suit the occasion.

Among the disappointing findings of the recent research are: l 73% of Britons say minorities are excluded from greeting cards. l 83% of LGBTQ people feel excluded on greeting cards. l 52% of people of colour also feel underrepresented on greeting cards. l 47% of Britons say the LGBTQ community is the most underrepresented.

Drilling down further into the results of the survey, of all the minority groups, it is the lesbian and gay community that feel most aggrieved by the lack of choice, with 47% of those canvassed saying their needs are under-represented on cards. This group is followed closely by the disabled (33%), people of colour (27%) and interracial couples or people (26%).

Tineka Smith, founder of Huetribe comments: “Nothing says I’m thinking of you or I love you more than a card – but it can be hard to find cards which truly represent modern day society - whether you are gay, straight, bisexual, black or white.”

(Top Drawer, Stand SP106).

Top: A Huetribe design that caters for multi-racial relationships.

GCA AGM and Conference keynote speaker line-up Waitrose card buyer Kirsty Hicks, Bank of England economist Glynn Jones and Sarah Hamilton, founder of Just a Card campaign top the agenda as the keynote speakers for the GCA AGM and Conference, which takes place on Tuesday 24 October at Birmingham’s Council House. Above: The trio of keynote speakers. (Left-right) Glynn The trio will be delivering the ‘big picture’, the ‘retail picture’ Jones (Bank of England), Kirsty Hicks (Waitrose) and Sarah Hamilton (Just a Card). as well as the ‘pretty picture’.

Hot on the heels of Waitrose’s new approach to greeting cards going into its stores in September, Kirsty Hicks, the grocer’s well-respected card and wrap buyer, will be sharing her passion for the sector as well as its ambitious plans.

Want to know how the ‘greeting card economy’ is likely to fare in the future economic landscape?

Glynn Jones is one of the Bank of England’s official ‘eyes, ears and voices’ across the UK, collecting information about trends and business developments.

Sarah Hamilton, the talented artist, author of the recently published House of Cards book and founder of the Just a Card campaign, will share her infectious enthusiasm for celebrating what is great about cards as well as the importance of fighting to protect the independent retail sector.

In addition to the keynote speakers, the event will also include an inviting workshop programme, which offers attendees the opportunity to participate in some group Q&A sessions that are being led by industry experts.

These include: l Agents with Rosie Trow, SW Agent and Robin Hill, NW Agent l Brokerage with Chris Houfe, sales director of The Great British Card Company l Business Strategy and Planning with Nigel Willcock, sales and marketing director of Paper Rose and The Art Group l Copyright with William Miles of Briffa LLP l Creative Development with Rachel Hare, founder of Belly Button Designs l Export with Ged Mace, md of The Art File l Social Media for Retailers with Chris Fox of Gift Shop Hub l Websites and ecommerce with Raj Arora, md of Davora l The cost for the Conference (11am-4pm) is just £62.50 + VAT for the full day’s event including lunch.

Her Nibs Owners of the London-based greeting card and stationery company Betty Etiquette have turned its hand, quite literally, to the world of publishing with its new book Modern Lettering.

The beautiful hard-cover workbook has been a half-year labour of love for husband and wife team, Rebecca and David Cahill Roots, and is sub-titled ‘A Guide to Modern Calligraphy and Hand Lettering’. It promises to bring together all the ‘best bits’ of the brand’s calligraphy, brush script and modern lettering workshops.

Rebecca is also fronting a series of creative workshops this summer and autumn at a number of venues.

Visit: www.bettyetiquette.co.uk.

Above: Rebecca Cahill Roots at a launch event for her book at Honeybourne’s in London’s Ladywell.

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new

‘badge of honour’ cards

Top Drawer

September 10th - 12th stand F19 Olympia, London come and visit us to see our latest card ranges, aw17 stationery and accessories plus handbags, gift bags and wrap.

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NEWS TOP STORY

A Gifted Approach House of Cards directors reward their “best assets” It is not every day that a group of part-time workers in a specialist card shop go into work to be presented with a gold bracelet, a shiny bicycle, a suite of garden furniture or £400 worth of theatre vouchers – and then are treated to a slap up lunch. But this is precisely what happened recently to four members of the House of Cards team.

“Our staff are undoubtedly our best assets, without them we would not where we are today. They have enabled us to grow the business, serve our customers well and pay our suppliers in good time.

We do not take their loyalty and hard

Below: Jacqui Colquhoun with her new bicycle presented in recognition of 10 years of working for House of Cards.

work for granted,” said Miles Robinson, who co-owns the Home Counties-based group of six shops, with Nigel Williamson.

Far from being hollow words, Miles and Nigel have made sure that every employee – full-time and part-time who has worked for the company for 10 years receives a sizable gift of their choice to mark their milestone.

Last month, from its Thatcham branch, Jacqui Colquhoun received a new bicycle, while Pat Rampton received an engraved gold bangle.

Meanwhile, Caversham branch’s Jayne Manning received a £500 Wyevale voucher that she wants to spend on new garden furniture and Jean Allridge was granted her wish for £400 of theatre vouchers.

Other gifts that have been presented to House of Cards’ store managers and staff to mark their respective 10 years with the company, include tickets to the Monaco Grand Prix, a Fiat 500, some posh Italian furniture, a trip to New York, a Mulberry handbag, and tickets to see Cliff Richard.

Card Factory reveals a 3.1% sales surge like-for-like Card Factory recently issued a trading update which revealed that its like-for-like sales were up 3.1% for the six month period to 31 July.

The value retailer reports a “good sales performances across all parts of the Group”, namely its store network as well as its online businesses of cardfactory.co.uk and getting personal.co.uk. Sales from its Getting Personalised site increased by 5% over the most recent period, with plans to double this to 10% by the year end.

It has opened an additional 30 stores in the six month period and is on course to open its targeted 50 additional stores by its year end, with its expansion into retail parks faring well.

Last month saw the opening of Card Factory’s first store in the Republic of Ireland, with additional sites having now been secured to enable the trial in Eire to continue with its performance being monitored through to its next financial year.

Karen Hubbard, Card Factory’s chief executive officer, said: “It is pleasing to report that the strong sales performance highlighted in our Q1 announcement has continued into the second quarter, delivering a very good first half both in terms of overall and like-for-like store sales.

Our store expansion programme remains on track and we are pleased with the performance of this year’s openings, including strong sales from the increased proportion of openings in retail parks.”

Hoyle fellow well met Just as few could have predicted the heights that Card Factory has reached in the card industry, there were more doubters than believers when Dean Hoyle, founder of the value card chain, fulfilled a boyhood ambition and became chairperson and majority shareholder of Huddersfield Town FC in 2009 with high aspirations for the club.

But with ‘Town’ riding high, the story attracted the attention of The Times. While Dean shied PR opportunities when he was surfing the waves in the greeting card trade, he shared many intimate details of his formative years with the newspaper’s journalist Henry Winter.

With the attention grabbing headline of ‘I was going to be adopted but Mum kept hold of me’, the double page spread shared an insight into what gave Dean the fight to succeed against the odds, first in greeting card retailing and now in football. “When I was born in ’67, my mum was a single parent. I have never known my dad. He was a married man.

Never seen him, don’t know his name, never asked,” said Dean.

The article goes on to explain how Dean’s mum had the Card Factory-founder in a ‘mother and babies’ home in Halifax. “It was prearranged that I was to be adopted by a doctor in Edinburgh. But because my mum was 27 she had the willpower to keep hold of me.”

As The Times’ article highlights, Huddersfield FC’s persistence echoes Dean’s own tenacity. “I left school with no qualifications and started as a labourer. My first boss said: ‘Dean, if you sweep the floor for a year, and you do it well, I might think of an apprenticeship’. So I swept well for a year.”

After four or five years of working in a factory “with no windows” Dean knew that he wanted a better life, which led him into greeting cards, first with Card Factory, now with The Works (in which he has a 35% stake).

(See Cardsharp pages 22-23).

Top: Dean Hoyle.

Above far left: Jean Allridge and Jayne Manning with their gifts with (right) Angela Stargatt, manager of House of Cards’ Caversham branch.

Above left: Some of new personalised gifts and cards that Card Factory is offering online.

Left: Card Factory’s ceo Karen Hubbard at The Retas with retail operations director, Ian McEnvoy.

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NEWS ‘Apple for Teacher’

TOP STORY

Best Friends Forever Cards mark friendship’s memories Hallmark’s research reveals Never judging you, keeping your secrets – and sending each other cards, are some of the top traits of a best friend, according to findings of a brand new research study commissioned by Hallmark Cards as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of its Forever Friends brand.

The findings of the survey, conducted

by OnePoll involving 2,000 people, were revealed to coincide with Friendship Day (Sunday August 6).

While traits built on trust (such as never gossiping behind your back or not going after each other’s ex partners), not surprisingly scored highly as tell tale signs of a true buddy, exchanging greeting cards was also deemed one of the top 30 indicators, coming in at 16th place.

According to the research findings, a third of people ensure they keep the greeting cards that they are given by a best friend.

“We often hold onto keepsakes of all kinds to mark memorable times in our lives.

Cards carry emotion and capture a moment in time, so can almost act as a type of diary of your lives events, which is why so many of us keep hold of them, so it does makes sense that we see them as being woven into the fibres of friendship in many cases,” points out Tamsyn JohnstonHughes, marketing business partner at Hallmark Cards.

This ‘best friend’ survey forms part of Hallmark’s wider Friendship Report, a research project that delves deep into

understanding what friendships look like today.

In addition to raising awareness of the Forever Friends through consumer press coverage of the research findings, as a gesture of friendship to indies, any independent retailer who placed an order on Hallmark’s webstore between 6 - 13 August was automatically entered into a prize draw to win a £50 restaurant voucher to treat their ‘best friend’ to a meal out.

According to the research, the average UK adult has 13 friends - two of which they consider to be ‘best friends’, showing that our friendships are changing from the traditional view of having only one best friend.

The average Brit met their best friend while they were at school together, while work is the second most likely place to forge a bestie relationship, followed by through other friends or at college or university. More than one in five still have the same best friend they had as a young child.

Some 84% believe a best friend is someone you can go weeks or months without seeing, with one in ten admitting that a few months can pass between conversations. But when they do see or speak to each other it’s like they’ve never been apart.

As part of its year-long 30th celebrations for Forever Friends, Hallmark has released a limited edition range of 52 cards with a fresh, new contemporary look and style guide.

Above: To mark Forever Friends’ 30th anniversary, Hallmark has embarked on a year long programme of celebrations.

Left: Making your best friend laugh is one of the most important traits. Hallmark’s trade marketing and events manager, Ellen Harrison (left) appeared in a video to promote the findings with her best friend.

Top signs of a ‘BF’ Some of the top signs that someone is a true best friend: l 1st They never judge you l 3rd You don't need to talk to each other every day to know you are there for each other l 13th They say “yes” to helping you before even knowing what you want their help for l 16th Always sends a birthday/Christmas card l 17th Never goes after your ex-boyfriends/girlfriends l 30th They would never put an unflattering picture of you on Facebook without your approval

Rachael Barnes, who co-owns Dragonfly, Knaresborough, with her mum Rita Knibbs instigated a Thank you Teacher campaign that involved inviting local primary school children to collect an apple template from the shop which they then decorated and stated who they thought was the best teacher and why.

“We had a great response, involving children from six different schools. The ‘apples’ adorned our shop windows for a couple of weeks, which created a lot of attention, and we received brilliant coverage on social media Above: The ‘apples for too, with lots of teachers teacher’, created by the school children adorned tagging each other in posts,” reveals Rachael. the shop’s window in the run up to the end of term.

The winning entry was from seven year old Scarlett Jenkinson of St John’s Primary School who praised her teacher Mrs Eckard “for making learning so easy.” On the last day of term Mrs Eckard was presented with a gorgeous balloon bouquet (provided by Dragonfly) while Scarlett received a large Beanie Boo as part of her prize.

Great strides l North West agent, Robin Hill certainly lived up to his surname recently, making light work of running a tough 50 mile route over hill and dale in just 11 hours and 50 minutes. Robin and some chums put themselves through their paces to raise money for his local St Mary’s Hospice, raising £4,500 as a result of their efforts.

Above: Robin Hill as ever, in good spirits.

l Cherry Orchard’s Jackie Collins (md) and Beverly Fisher (creative director) also rose to great heights recently, having completed their Three Peaks Challenge raising over £3k for the WellChild charity, in pretty wet conditions!

"We would both say that it’s been the most gruelling and brutal challenge we’ve ever experienced,” said Jackie and Bev, but added that, “the physical and mental challenges were far outweighed by the camaraderie of the people involved and the satisfaction of knowing the monies raised are going to such a good cause."

Above: Jackie Collins (right) and Bev Fisher braving the weather.

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NEWS Royal Mail keeps us posted

TOP STORY

Make It A Date To Enter The Calies Plans come together for the inaugural calendar and diary awards As announced in last month’s PG, the UK Calendar Industry Awards, to become known as The Calies, are to make their debut this year. The website for The Calies, that hosts the downloadable entry form, has now gone live, with the deadline for entering Monday 11 September.

These significant new awards, being launched by Max Publishing (owner of PG), will recognise excellence in the calendar, Advent calendar and diaries sector, including retail, charity and corporate (B2B) titles.

The Calies are being well supported by a group of leading calendar publishers, diary manufacturers and dedicated trade suppliers.

Calendar Club and Carousel Calendars, Danilo, Eight Days A Week and Rose Calendars are the headline sponsors for The Calies 2017. In addition, there are also a growing number of official supporters, which include Andrews McMeel Publishing, Avonside, BrownTrout, Flame Tree Publishing, Graphique de France, Pomegranate, Portico, Pyramid, Tallon and TeNeues.

“We have made entering The Calies as easy as possible - and free of charge - with the downloadable entry form for all

Above: (Left-right) Nigel Green of Eight Days a Week and Michael Rose of Rose Calendars, two of The Calies headline sponsors with PG’s Warren Lomax and Jakki Brown at planning meeting about The Calies.

categories on the website,” says Warren Lomax, joint md of Max Publishing. The retail entries will be judged by a panel of knowledgeable retail buyers, while the corporate (B2B) categories will go under the scrutiny of industry and design experts.

The winners of The Calies will be unveiled at a memorable afternoon/early evening awards event to be held on Wednesday 29 November 2017 at the historic Stationers’ Hall in the City of London. l The Calies are the successors to the National Calendar Awards (NCAs), which have been running for the last decade (that in turn were a progression from the National Business Calendar Awards which initially only recognised business calendars).

Royal Mail’s MarketReach arm has commissioned two wide-reaching studies, looking at how we respond to different types of mail at different stages in our lives.

The MarketReach’s research – carried out by Quadrangle and Trinity McQueen – makes for interesting reading.

It’s based around the assumption that how we respond when opening a card, letter or circular depends very much on what we’re doing at that time. So, for example, a 26-year-old living at home with their parents will perhaps have a very different perception to a piece of mail than someone the same age with a young family.

The research found that younger audiences, also known as ‘the selfie generation’, are more likely to trust print information over digital, as well as Above: Royal Mail has made it being twice as likely its business to understand how to provide personal we respond to receiving post, be details to companies. it greeting cards or junk mail.

When it comes to couples, 26% have bought or ordered something as a result of receiving addressed mail, while 62% of young families have a specific place in the home where they keep letters.

‘Empty nesters’ – that is people whose children have now left home – spend on average 18 minutes reading their mail.

Meanwhile, and encouraging for greeting cards, some 72% of older retirees love receiving mail if the content is relevant, hence a big thumbs up for greeting cards.

Love Island winner and Donald Trump battle it out As the deadline looms to enter the new calendar awards The Calies, there looks like being a couple of last minute contenders - neither of which would ever have been in the fray a year ago.

Danilo swooped in to sign Kem Cetinay, the winner of the runaway success reality TV series Love Island, with the race now on to produce the calendar by October.

Commenting on the latest signing, Daniel Prince, operations director of Danilo, told PG: “There has been no escaping the huge popularity of Love Island over the summer, this, coupled with the likability of Kem among girls/ladies made him a strong calendar contender”. Daniel also suggests that there is “room in the male glamour market for a new pin-up and we are confident Kem is going to be a big star.”

As the Danilo social media campaign is being meticulously planned by the company’s marketing maestro Claire Bates, so fellow calendar publisher BrownTrout is riding on the back of PR of a different kettle of fish entirely.

Already causing quite a stir among retail buyers is Andrew McMeel’s Trumpisms day-to-day desk calendar that has been launched

by BrownTrout.

Explaining the rationale behind the title, Jack Straw, md of BrownTrout said: “We had great success with ‘Bushisms’ 10 or so years ago and sold 3 million calendars worldwide. We never thought that this could be beaten…. and then along came ‘The Donald’. The man is on fire, so we had so much material so quickly and he is working on future year’s calendars already – he never stops!”

Above: Danilo is to publish an official calendar for Love Island winner Kem Cetinay.

Right: Every day philosophies of ‘The Donald’ could greet you every day on this Andrew McMeel/BrownTrout day-to-day calendar for 2018.

Selfridges targets early Christmas shoppers Selfridges had the distinction of being the first department store in the world to open a dedicated Christmas Shop during the summer, with early Christmas shoppers coming through the doors in London, Manchester and Birmingham on July 31. A 10 day Let’s Make Merry event will be held in store at the end of November, taking the theme With Love From… with all stores unveiling exclusive creations ranging from home and technology to beauty and fashion.

Additionally, the London store will also be launching new destinations, to include the Selfridges Corner Shop, which will be opening on October 31.

Above: Selfridges on London's Oxford Street launched its Christmas Shop at the end of July.

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OVER THE COUNTER

Ringing In

My Ears...

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, talks about cutting through the noise and visualising on your goals.

A low hum... a feeling that there is always something constantly on in the background, that is what I have been experiencing these last few months. I put it down to lots of things, going to concerts maybe, but suffice to say it is tinnitus.

You don't really notice it at first, especially if there is chat or a TV on in the background, but when there is silence it is unmistakable.

My ears are also ringing with the huge amount of noise that is engulfing us in our industry at the minute.

I haven’t mentioned cards much lately in my column. This is real a shame, as despite the economy, Brexit, the dollar’s rate and all that other ‘noise’, I think our creative industries have never been stronger.

I haven’t mentioned the amazing new Wendy Jones-Blackett Bijou range or that my pal over at Bexy Boo now has her cards in Paperchase. I haven't mentioned the 30 years of quirky product that Really Good has contributed to our industry or the fact that Second Nature has redesigned its everpopular Pop Up range.

I haven’t mentioned the spin on Clintons’ retails figures and the company’s supposed new direction (again), or The Art File going all royal on us, or UKG going all environmentally green on us, or in fact that the king of wholesale, Simon Elvin, has created a whole new range of premium 'in stock' wholesale cards.

I haven’t mentioned The Henries’ Most Promising Designer award being renamed as The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer 20

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Above: American jazz musician, Chet Baker.

Left: A The Bright Side design from Really Good, a company offering quirky product for over 30 years.

Below: Visualisation is key when reaching your goals.

or Artist Award (brilliant and so right) and the huge amount of artists who previously worked for large publishing group breaking out on their own and succeeding; Louise Tiler, Louise Mulgrew and Sarah Knight to note a few.

In among all this ‘noise’, this constant industry hum, I also want to highlight what should be the loud crash of The Light Fund.

This charity, set up by the people behind this very magazine, has now raised well over a £million for lots of charities and groups that are perhaps not as well-known. That is a noise worth shouting about!

Now we also have PG Buzz, which creates an even louder twice weekly hum in this already noisy world of paper and flitter.

However, the simple fact is that we can’t be distracted with all this background noise. Us retailers need to focus on our business and our four shop walls, not to the point of ignorance but just purely as a matter of importance.

I don’t know about you but I feel swamped.

Swamped with information.

Swamped with challenges.

Swamped with a list of things to do that never gets shorter.

Business is tough and it seems that we just keep getting new challenges thrown our way. The noises screaming for our attention just keep getting louder: increases in the living wage, rates, pension schemes, and so many other new costs, along with the continued struggle for high street footfall, has put us under even more pressure.

Life and work are so busy for me in fact, that I often hear the same phrase from staff, customers and friends, “I have No idea how you cope.” It got me thinking. I was so busy doing. So busy reacting. So busy reading. So busy working that I had forgotten to look at what has happened over the last few years. To look back on my journey... but then who really has time for that?

Receiving a Retas award last month is always a nice reminder of how you are thought of in the industry, but although people say to me all the time ‘look what you have achieved’, somehow I can’t quite get my head around it.

So just how have I ended up here? What was my aim? Well, the answer to that has always been for me to be the best that I can be. I am sure your answer will be similar.

Being successful of course brings other perks, whether it be the feeling of self achievement, cold hard cash, the opportunity to create jobs, and even to

20-21_Grid 11/08/2017 12:18 Page 3

OVER THE COUNTER inspire others, but I didn't initially go ahead with these in mind.

I wanted my stores to look the best that they could, for me to feel proud of them and for them to be stocked with different products, with a team of staff that have good knowledge and care to help people. I believed if this was the case then it would work.

My way to do this is simple, it is to set goals. Goal setting I find works for me in many ways. It works in terms of my daily tasks and the lists that I create, and it works long-term with the larger overall aims of my career.

I find that lots of people have goals but they are quite scared to discuss them or to commit to them. This I feel is key to them actually happening. You have to vocalise them out loud then they are there and people start reminding you!

This visualisation of your goals can really start to give them and you some traction. I also imagine what is going to happen. What will work, how I will change the buildings and the business around me.

Just now, for example, the long-term goal is all about my restaurant and I have set myself the date of 2020 for the development and extension of that building.

I find that I need these vocal commitments. I find that they are an unwritten contract with myself to do the following: 1. Focus my attention on a task - so I don’t deviate as much.

2. Sustain and build momentum as progress is addictive. The flow then seems to motivate and empower.

3. Promote self-mastery, or in other words self-discipline, and strengthen your character and personality.

Remember for the goal to really work you need to be able to measure it and manage it.

The feeling of progress and achievement, even if it is scoring off a simple phone call, matters. It really matters. It is these little wins or small gains that really keep us going.

A good acronym that I came across recently is be S.M.A.R.T. with your goals: l Specific l Measurable l Attainable l Relevant l Time bound If you think SMART goals all the time I don’t think you will go far wrong.

Above: Just like Wile E Coyote are you always chasing your goals but never reaching them?

Below: A teenage Springsteen dreamt he played to a big audience.

What is also interesting is as the whole goal setting visualisation thing becomes the norm (trust me, you start to do it automatically) your thinking about it changes.

Brian Chesky is not a name everyone will recognise but he is the guy who founded Air BnB. Chesky starts every day like me writing down a big list of things to do. He uses the phrase 'exhaustive list'! He then groups similar ones together and asks himself what one action can take care of all of these. In his words it is a case of ‘leverage’. He then repeats and refines his list until he has only two or three big tasks to do. He believes that when you do those few big things that the other 20 or 30 points will happen as outcomes or results of those big tasks. Another American entrepreneur, Barbara Corcoran does the same yet grades things A-F. She then only works on the A’s!

Both of these techniques are things that I want to try. It is going to be hard as I have been used to micro-managing too much. So the plan is to write the big list last thing and refine when I’m fresh in the morning when the brain is more likely to disregard and group properly.

Another new train of thought comes from James Clear, an American photographer, author and weightlifter! He is well-regarded in Time and Entrepreneur magazines, and his take has changed also. He now believes that goals can be detrimental to your motivation and persistence; a bit like Wile E Coyote chasing the Road Runner. If you are always pursuing and never really catching it gets a bit frustrating.

Clear highlights the need for process, and that being most important. The best way

to describe this succinctly is using the football Premiership. All the teams want to win but only one can so all you can really do is train and plan properly every day and the big goal will hopefully happen if those elements are right.

He believes that the more fixated you are on the goal the less you enjoy the experience and what you actually get from it. So just relax, repeat the process and enjoy working and staying on schedule. The rest should then fall into place.

Goal setting and visualisation have always been the norm, the difference now is we vocalise and give it a name. Really it has been happening all our lives and happens to everyone all around the world, from all cultures, creeds and backgrounds.

Currently I am reading Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography. It says that when he was a young teenager, starting out in the various high school bands he played in, that he had a recurring dream. He speaks about a dream where the Rolling Stones turned up to play Asbury Park and Jagger gets struck down on the day of the gig. An SOS is put out into the crowd and a young local lad, by the name of Bruce Fredrick Joseph Springsteen, steps up and the panic eases as Bruce belts out the lyrics of the Stones’ hits.

The words are appropriate 50 years on…

‘When I'm drivin' in my car And that man comes on the radio He's tellin' me more and more About some useless information Supposed to fire my imagination I can't get no, oh no no no Hey hey hey, this what I say I can't get no satisfaction I can't get no reaction’ Ignore the useless and focus on what matters... and always pretend that you are the leader of your own rock n roll band.

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CARDSHARP

A Tale Of

Two Retailers

Charles Dickens wrote his A Tale of Two Cities novel in 1859, based on the plotline of changing life and circumstances in Paris and London in the run up to and during the French Revolution.

Re-reading the first part of the book’s opening sentence, ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness…’, Cardsharp’s thoughts turned to Clintons and Card Factory, both of whom have both been in the news recently for differing reasons. This led Cardsharp to reflect on their contrasting fortunes in this ongoing ‘greeting card retailing revolution’.

Making a mental scan of the multiple card retailing landscape, Cardsharp reflected that if you discount Paperchase (on account of the fact that it is a bit of a hybrid); Scribbler (which, although very successful, is still essentially something of a niche player); Cards Galore (predominantly London-based) and Cardzone (still much stronger in the Midlands and North), Card Factory and Clintons are the only two major national specialist greeting card chains left in the UK. So, their fortunes are closely linked to the health of the whole greeting card industry.

Card Factory is clearly still on a crest of a wave. Its like-for-like sales were up 3.1% for the six month period to the end of July, no mean achievement given the flat at best retail environment. In the same period, it opened an additional 30 stores, and is on course to open its targeted 50 stores by its year end, taking it to over 900 stores. It continues to expand into retail parks and is also targeting Ireland. A year or so ago, Card Factory experienced its first slowdown in

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like-for-like sales, but under newish chief executive, Karen Hubbard, who with her experience in value retailing at B and M, and with her love of greeting cards, it seems to have regained its momentum. Even its online businesses, Getting Personal and cardfactory.co.uk, which had struggled in the last couple of accounting periods, increased by 5%.

In addition, in a poll conducted by consumer group, Which?, Card Factory was voted to be the ninth most attractive retailer to visit in the UK. It also won the Best Specialist Multiple category at The Retas this year, where Karen Hubbard insisted that a host of Card Factory area managers joined her on stage to accept the trophy.

There is no doubt, whatever your view on Card Factory and its effect on the industry, that the

Below: The film Carry On... Don’t Lose Your Head was ‘loosely’ based on A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

value player has exploited its unique vertical supply model superbly, much to the understandable chagrin of indies who feel aggrieved that they cannot match the low prices and have lost custom as a result.

Cardsharp has also noticed in recent months, that although Card Factory still has keen prices and some ridiculously cheap front of store offers, the overall quality of the cards is going up and there does seem to be more higher price points, the vast majority of which are created in its in-house studio that now employs over 60 designers.

Licensed products are also more in evidence (sourced from established publishers who have the licensing agreements), along with ranges that look suspiciously like they could well be created by publishers ‘anonymously’.

By contrast, Clintons does seem to be facing quite a few challenges.

The 400 strong chain has been owned by American Greetings (UK Greetings’ parent company) for five

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CARDSHARP years now, ever since its business failure under the previous Lewin regime. AG has always, to Cardsharp’s mind, been a reluctant owner of the retailer. The publisher took control to protect its distribution and business, in what was then, probably its second largest customer after Tesco. And the industry jungle drums a couple of years ago were rumbling with rumours of Clintons being off loaded to a third party with a supplier agreement in place. Then, when the Tesco business went to Hallmark just over two years ago, these rumours seemed to abate, but there is no doubt that in a highly challenging retail market, Clintons faces unprecedented challenges.

Clintons’ financial figures are reported under AG retail and for 2016 these showed a decrease in turnover of £6 million to around £200 million and a net loss of £19 million, up from a £9 million loss in 2015. Although these figures may not be as transparent as they look because they are probably clouded to some degree by intercompany transfers and exchange rate changes within the AG group, they certainly don’t look that pretty. The Sunday Times back in January reported erroneously that Clintons planned

to close half of its 400 stores. Nature abhors a vacuum even in business and the retailer’s low media interaction probably contributed to a story like this being published. Perhaps, with expensive leases up for renewal Clintons was just playing hard-ball to get the best deal and this was picked up by a journalist who put two and two together and made six! But since then Clintons has been much more open and public relations friendly, perhaps sensing a bit more openness was needed with the trade and the wider business community to stop negative publicity emerging.

After five years of commuting from California to Essex every month or so, Dominique Schuman, who has been the ‘big cheese’ at Clintons, has relinquished her role as chief executive and the baton has been passed to her long serving number two, Eddie Shepherd. Under her tenure, the retailer’s portfolio has been extensively refashioned with the new red fascia and certainly the majority of the stores look so much more attractive than they did previously. But Cardsharp is not convinced all the decisions made in this regard were right. To his mind it seems strange to move

More signs of The Times

greeting cards towards the back of the store when it is cards you are known for. Some other retailers, like John Lewis and Sainsbury’s, are moving greeting cards to the front, recognising that it is one of the few retail categories where most customers prefer not to buy online and so are a real draw for the customer to enter the store. It seems to Cardsharp somewhat counter intuitive for Clintons to move them away from view. And in marked contrast to Card Factory, the same Which? survey that showed the value player in such a favourable light, poor Clintons was relegated to right near the bottom.

However AG, the US-based owner of both Clintons and UK Greetings, is an amazingly successful business. Shrewdlyrun and effectively managed, Cardsharp’s US moles tell him that AG has been performing brilliantly in its home market since the Weiss family bought the business back into family ownership from its PLC status four years ago. Cardsharp suspects that AG will not let Clintons just drift. He is not sure ‘what the Dickens’ is going to happen next, but there are plenty more chapters in this ‘tome’ to read!

Below: Dean Hoyle has come from difficult circumstances but now shares his success with his community.

As Cardsharp penned this article on a Saturday evening in the middle of August, the news came through that Huddersfield Town Football Club, having won its first game of the season 3-0 away, were sitting proudly at the top of the Premiership, the richest, most watched, written and talked about sporting league in the world! The victory put the little ‘Terriers’ above the Chelseas, the Arsenals, the Liverpools and the Manchester Giants. It might only be a fleeting moment, but what a golden fleeting moment for Dean Hoyle and for Huddersfield, that small West Yorkshire ex-mill town.

This really reasonated with Cardsharp, as that very morning in The Times’ sports section he had read an interview with Card Factory founder and former owner, Dean Hoyle, now the sole owner of Huddersfield Town FC that was not only fascinating, but inspiring, humbling and motivating in equal degree. As stated previously, Dean did not ‘invent’ the value greeting card retail market, but just found the best business model for profiting from it, and unlike so many other greeting card chains, from Birthdays to Card Fair to the Greetings Store Group and even Clintons, Card Factory never went bust owing suppliers money.

In the interview, Dean talks about his difficult upbringing. Born illegitimately, to an unknown married father 50 years ago, he was going to be adopted, but his mum had the willpower to keep hold of him. He left school with no qualifications, working in a factory for the first year just sweeping the floor, before graduating to a labourer, but he knew he wanted a better life. He told The Times, “I came across an industry, greeting cards, where I could be successful. When I first started Card Factory, we had one shop in Wakefield. At that point Clinton Cards plc had 1,200 shops. Now 20 year’s later, Clinton’s have 300 stores, after administration, and Card Factory have 900.”

What was even more inspiring to Cardsharp, was proud though Dean is of his incredible achievements as owner of the local football club and the custodian of the fan’s dreams, he works tirelessly for an area that is very blighted in parts. He talks of community spirit and bringing people together in the wider Kirklees area, which is among the most divided communities in the UK. He has also completed nine charity cycle rides raising funds for 24 breakfast clubs in nearby schools. He gives free Huddersfield Town tickets to seven year-olds at schools, and a player presents the kids with a free replica shirt. He sees the football team as a fantastic opportunity to bring all parts of the community together.

No one should begrudge Dean his success, both with his beloved Huddersfield Town or Card Factory. Cardsharp thinks that it is fantastic that a boy who was born and bought up in such difficult circumstances and then who made his huge fortune in the caring sentiments greeting card business, should give so many good caring sentiments back to the world!

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VIEWPOINTS

Spring Loaded?

There are concerns being aired surrounding the future of Spring Seasons – some publishers have decided not to produce cards for some or all of the spring events for 2018, while others are not keen to supply brokers on financial grounds.

PG asks what we, as an industry, can do to better promote and protect these important card sending events?

Mark Janson-Smith co-owner of Postmark, The Retas’ award 2017 winning group of four London card shops: The bigger picture: “For a huge number of people sending a card is linked to an event, particularly those big spring moments like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day, prompted by a reminder that it’s an ‘occasion’.

For retailers, like us, these ‘occasional’ customers are a vital source of income so we always go out of our way to encourage them to send a bit of happiness through the post, even if it is only a couple of times a year.”

The SOR conundrum: “The rumours that some publishers are considering halting production for a number of these Spring occasions is hugely worrying. While the more profitable Mother’s Day event seems ‘safe’ there is a fair amount of talk of publishers dropping out of producing cards for the Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Easter events.

The reason? They feel they just can’t make any money from these poorer performing Spring occasions (due to SOR and/or the brokerage costs).

This sounds like a sad state of affairs for the industry as a whole and is something we all urgently need to Top: The GCA’s Spring Seasons point of sale from its online toolkit.

Above right: Mark in front of Postmark Greenwich’s Mother’s Day display with Paper Salad’s Karen Wilson (right) and Claire Williams.

Right: It is irresponsible and unethical for retailers to not even open boxes of cards sold in on SOR, thinks Mark Janson-Smith.

address. A halt in production for these occasions will have a huge knock-on effect for us all. Great designs are likely to dry up or the choice will be narrowed, making it impossible for independents like us to build an appealing collection and entice the card buying public. This in turn could run the real risk of pushing these vital occasions off the calendar, taking with them much needed revenue.

Or, if they do survive, it may only be in niche channels, such as Etsy, where cottage industry publishers can offer customers the most precise caption and a depth of offer that a traditional store like us just will not be able to offer.

Looking objectively, SOR is a strange state of affairs.

I can’t think of any other financial interaction where the burden of financial loss is shared so very unequally among those involved.

On paper, as a retailer, SOR seems like a no brainer.

If you have a box of cards that are on firm sale and a box of cards on SOR, it is obvious which cards will receive prime shelf space. I’ve heard horror stories of entire orders on SOR being returned unopened or of retailers blatantly over ordering to ensure their shelves are full until the very last minute - at publishers’ cost. To me, these buying practices are unacceptable and makes some of the publishers’ decisions to pull out of these seasons understandable.

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VIEWPOINTS Of course SOR gives retailers a degree of comfort, a safety net that one bad decision won’t end up in piles of dead stock. However, us retailers have to take responsibility for how we use SOR and the impact it is having on our industry, not just where the Spring Seasons are concerned but across the whole year.

We’ve recently started to move away from asking for full SOR, instead agreeing an upfront percentage of sale or return with our publishers, where we can.

For me, this is a much fairer system for everyone involved. The Above: Crafting a strong Father’s Day collection of publisher knows where they stand cards by buying designs his customers will love has from the outset and what their paid dividends for Postmark. maximum liability could be. Moreover, the orders are likely to be of a slightly higher value as buyers can be slightly more bullish given they still have something of a buffer.

Of course you have to try and work out your numbers beforehand, but isn’t that the ‘fun’ of being a buyer?

Right now the Spring occasions are looking much more important and attractive for us retailers than they do for publishers.

They entice people into our shops and keep the wonderful gesture of giving a card at the front of people’s minds, so it is really in our own interests to keep them alive.”

More spring in our step: “There is definitely a better way forward and I believe we can all work together to find it. We need publishers and publishers need us. Without each other, the industry simply won’t work, but for Spring Seasons to work properly it simply has to work better for everyone involved.”

Jeremy Corner managing director of Blue Eyed Sun: The bigger picture: “The GCA is doing a great job of creating POS for shops and is working on a social media programme to promote specific occasions. It would be great if more retailers downloaded the PoS from the GCA website to print out and put up in their shops. I do believe that if everyone in our industry shared the GCA content on social media, to remind people of the dates, awareness of the events and a reminder to engage by buying and sending/giving a card would increase.

Publishers can help by listing the web URL of the GCA Spring Seasons resources in their catalogues (along with the dates for Festive Friday and Thinking of You Week) to get the word out there. We can all support campaigns like #JustACard on social media and The Greeting Card Project on YouTube to encourage people to send more cards. I’d like to see more retailers taking part in Postmark’s Feelgood Friday campaign too.

Finally, I believe those in our industry need to get more proactive about sending cards ourselves, by more of us making it habitual within our life and business to send more cards.”

The SOR conundrum: “On the SOR Above: One of Blue Eyed Sun’s issue, our business doesn’t offer SOR due to a Mothering Sunday designs. number of problems with it. Firstly, and crucially, there is no real incentive for buyers to limit the amount of returns. It’s hard for buyers to know exactly how well certain designs will sell and shops don’t want to be under-stocked either. Publishers need to be more ruthless about only selling designs they love rather than overloading their offering. I think quality trumps volume of designs any day. There’s a lot of wastage otherwise. Looking holistically, consumer choice will be affected if more publishers shy away from the Spring

Ged Mace managing director of The Art File and president of the GCA: The bigger picture: “I am commenting wearing two distinct ‘hats’ – one as president of the GCA, that looks to protect the health of the industry as a whole, and the other, as md of a card company who is looking to grow its business by producing attractive greeting cards that deliver for both us and our customers.

The GCA has recently made it a key priority to safeguard these important and historic card sending events as they are cornerstones of the consumer’s card sending year.

In response to the concerns about their continued development, the GCA has formed a 'sub-committee’ in order to formulate a plan to gain more traction through to consumers for these events. It helps massively that the GCA now has so many retail members that we can pool our thoughts and ideas.

Creating ‘reminders’, if not awareness, of the specific days of the events is so important at consumer level, hence the reason that the specifically designed free of charge downloadable POS kit for retailers (instigated by Cardgains in association with the GCA and generously developed by UKG) is being made available to all for the second year running.”

The SOR conundrum: “As a nation we love sending cards for the Spring Season events and the card still acts as the focal point alongside other gestures, such as flowers, chocolates, a meal or a gift. Spring Seasons aren’t the issue here, it’s the system that has been adopted by some major retailers and larger publishers that must be addressed. The SOR arrangement, when abused, only results in a loss for everyone, as well as devaluing greeting cards as a whole. Just think of a situation where firm sale ruled. Better buying, better product, better margins for all.”

More spring in our step: “The Spring Seasons give us, as consumers, good reasons to celebrate, yet the ‘greeting card publisher economics’ behind them at present are not giving publishers as much cause to celebrate as they would like. We collectively need to, and will, find a way to up the celebratory feeling.”

Above: Ged Mace giving a speech at the ceremony last month which saw The Art File receive its Queen’s Award for Export.

Right: An Easter card from The Art File. The Easter bunny could have more ‘spring in its step if the ‘greeting card economics’ can be sorted for Spring Seasons.

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VIEWPOINTS Seasons because of SOR. Lack of good product and good choice for consumers will inevitably cause an insidious problem for us all.

Ultimately, this could lead to the demise of key occasions and a chain Above: Jeremy’s Greeting Card Project of weekly reaction that leads to the demise of videos has covered all manner of card sending events, including the Spring Seasons. the card industry. I do think the issue Above: The Just a Card campaign makes consumers is a very important for major retailers aware of the importance of supporting independent shops and galleries, by just buying a card. and publishers to try and resolve.”

Changing habits: “From a consumer point of view the actual day that February 14 (Valentine’s Day) falls has a significant effect on sales. Retailers and publishers need to factor this in. We are noticing more friends buying Valentine’s cards for one another (a different kind of love). We’ve also seen an increase in sales of the ‘Mothering Sunday’ caption in recent years, as well as more interest in captions for grandparents on both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.” More spring in our step: “Personally, I like it that Valentine’s Day is big for couples as I think it’s important for us all to remember to be grateful for our relationships with our loved ones. I wouldn’t want the passion to disappear. Having said that, it’s lovely for more friends to send Valentine’s Day cards to one another and spread love around the world. Promoting Valentines as a ‘friends’ card sending event has big potential, but may suffer the cost of losing couples. Babyboomers love cards and many of them have grandchildren and in some cases great grandchildren. I’d like to see these captions pushed more across the seasons. Encouraging more card sending to and from people who love cards is the low hanging fruit option in my opinion.”

Carly Pearson senior buyer of Sainsbury’s: The bigger picture: “Like all events, Spring Seasons buying is getting later and later, which means that there an unavoidable element of wastage, which is a concern for us as it is for the industry as a whole.

These are a really important set of events and we have been having meetings with our brokered publishers to look at how we can do them better.

One way we have been able to reduce this is by introducing some card designs that are highly relevant for the events, but do not feature specific captions. This means that these products can then be filtered into the everyday displays. For example, a card that says ‘No 1 Dad’ is great for Father’s Day, but also relevant as a Dad birthday design. We have also done this on some of our gift bags, by introducing designs in spring colours that can be featured as Mother’s Day and Easter products, but can be used for general sales.

This approach is not confined to the Spring Seasons as we did the same in our ‘Thank You Teacher’ display, whereby we included general thank you designs that we will then flow in to our general display.”

Above: Sainsbury’s buying approach has seen it introduce more ‘general’ designs into its Spring Seasons events to reduce wastage.

Miles Robinson partner of House of Cards, six card shops in the Home Counties: The bigger picture: “Out of the Spring Seasons, the one suffering more than most is Valentine’s Day. The others are influenced more by the weather and length of selling period (in the case of Mother’s Day in its proximity to Valentine’s Day) and I think these events are holding up relatively well. That said, with more and more types of retailers stocking Spring Seasons cards the specialist card shop has lost out to supermarkets, garden centres, bookshops etc. We can all help by making sure we personally continue sending/giving cards for each season. I question, for example, whether all of us in the trade send Valentine’s Day or Easter cards?”

The SOR conundrum: “Personally we think the SOR arrangement is detrimental to the Spring Seasons events. Although we do enjoy SOR from some suppliers, more and more of our stock is being bought on firm sale. It is not that difficult to work out how many and which cards you sold for any given season/event, and this should be the basis for any retailers buying the following year, so barring any disasters, SOR should not be a problem.

If publishers stopped offering it as an option then this would help somewhat, but I also think so called ‘packages’ are also detrimental as it means retailers have to agree to take what many would predict would be the worst sellers alongside decent sellers and will run out of the best sellers, leaving only the worst sellers.”

Changing habits: “Later, later, later!! has been the buying pattern for the Spring Seasons in recent years as consumers leave it later and later to do their buying. This in turn makes it harder for us as retailers to react, in fact, it’s neigh on impossible. Over the years we have reduced the number of designs, but increased the quantity of those we think will be the top sellers and in most cases this has worked well.”

More spring in our step: “The potential to grow the Spring Seasons as card sending events is to concentrate on the winning designs. During the final week of each Spring event we always double or even triple face many designs and fill an extra card rack or two. There is a market for ‘captions’ on all of the events and this is slowly growing for all bar Valentine’s Day’s (which has been damaged by social media to a great extent). Overall though, I think the way to make all the Spring Seasons more successful is to produce less choice and for us retailers to sharpen what we buy!”

Above: Miles Robinson (left) with his business partner Nigel Williamson (right) at PG Live with the three Ladder Club publishers the retailer worked with on a sympathy card project.

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VIEWPOINTS

Chris Houfe sales director of GBCC:

Below: M&S and the main supermarkets certainly have upped their game on the Spring Seasons front.

The bigger picture: “The retailers who are really thinking about how they can compete are still scoring on the Spring Seasons front. They invariably give greater thought to their window displays and internal displays to ensure they are enticing the customer to buy. They have the right mix of gifts at relevant price points, which don’t have to be specific to the season. As consumers tend to leave everything until the last minute, the retailers that are winning in the Spring Seasons ‘game’ are those who are engaging with their customers, and asking them if they’ve ‘bought a cards for their mum?’ etc.”

The SOR conundrum: “It’s so difficult to know what to do for the best. If you sell on firm sale or cap returns you’re then going to affect your sales and the customers’ offer the following year. It’s about understanding your numbers to ensure you’re creating the right type of product and then shipping the right volumes to each of your customers.”

Changing buying habits: “To some extent the supermarkets have stolen the Spring Seasons. They have the space at the front of their stores for cards, flowers, gifts etc. They are often open 24 hours a day with easy free parking, making it an ideal destination for these seasons. As our shopping habits change and we tend to leave everything to the last minute, it is playing into their hands.”

Emma Roberts partner of Special Occasions, Castle Bromwich:

Below: Emma Roberts (left) with her mum and business partner Pauline Gillett.

The bigger picture: "Spring Seasons are very important to retailers, especially to independents, and SOR makes a big difference. One thing that retailers can do is not to abuse SOR by over ordering just because stock can be returned. Back in the day when there was no SOR and stock had to be carried over, is not something we would welcome back.”

Changing buying habits: “Customers' buying habits have changed over the years with the growth of supermarkets who have upped their card space and are selling Spring Seasons designs cheaper.

Plus, the value chains are killing the Spring Seasons.”

More spring in our step: “Publishers could improve sales by thinking about affordability on these seasons. While we have no problem selling higher code cards (code 375) for Mother's Day and Valentine's Day designs, this is not so on Father’s Day, so lower some codes please.

We all think our industry is amazing, but we all need to work together. However, we are sure that no one would like to lose the SOR arrangement and go back in time."

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Steve Jones-Blackett director of Wendy Jones-Blackett:

Below: New 2018 Valentine’s design from Wendy Jones Blackett.

The bigger picture: “I’ve found that the really big companies who brokerage, such as Hallmark and UKG, have such fantastic algorithms and enormous amounts of sales data that they can forecast the following year’s Spring Seasons events and they tend not to over order.”

The SOR conundrum: “I would argue that it's actually some independents who tend to over order Spring Seasons on SOR. We have taken the view that if a retailer returns lots of Spring Seasons cards to us then we won't offer them to that retailer the following year. In fact, we now do limited print runs on Valentine’s and Mother’s Day designs and won’t sell them on SOR because any Spring Seasons cards sent back to us we have to throw in the bin.”

More spring in our step: “We realise there’s a short selling window between Valentine’s and Mother’s Day where the retailer has to change its Spring Seasons displays, and it's the cardinal sin to have empty pockets, but a good retailer will know the forecast of its sales of every line in their shop.

It seems the publisher is taking 100% of the liability. Publishers, agents and retailers, every stage of the supply chain, have to make money, if one of the trinity is not then it’s not business.”

Laura Darrington director of Laura Darrington Design: The bigger picture: “Sales on Spring Seasons cards have definitely slowed down over the past few years, particularly for the independent retailers, which does make you question as a publisher whether valuable design time should be spent developing everyday product or seasons, which do perform better.

Only several years ago it was common to have full carriage paid orders on Spring occasions, however now Spring Seasons products tend to be tagged on to everyday orders. This in turn makes it financially risky for a publisher to produce and hold stock in advance of the season due to declining sales and unpredictable buying patterns.

It’s a very uncertain time for Spring Seasons product and we are focusing on having a smaller but more focused range for retailers.”

Above: Laura Darrington with one of her lovely Easter cards.

Paul Woodmansterne managing director of Woodmansterne Publications: The bigger picture: “The retailers tell us every year that they really need publishers to make them new and exciting Spring Seasons product, but with the terms they demand I do not know a publisher that does not lose money on these events. We may only serve them loss-making products if they allow us margin on other business to make up for it.

But the dominating American brokers leave so little space to play in, who’s going to do that?”

Above: A Quentin Blake Easter design from Woodmansterne.

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The Henries 2017 Judging Process

THE ENTENTE CORDIALE This year’s Henries awards will take on an Ooh La La Parisian theme.

PG joined la crème de la crème of top retailers who formed this year’s Henries judging panel to gain a ‘behind the scenes’ view of the judging process for The Henries 2017 and to witness how the finalists are arrived at.

Who Judged The Henries?

The entire responsibility of judging the product entries to this year’s Henries lay in the collective hands of the judging panel, made up entirely of retailers. The judging panel comprised over 50 leading greeting card retail buyers, from right across the retail spectrum. The panel included buyers from leading independents, department stores, large specialist chains, medium-sized groups, supermarkets, garden centres, bookshops, varietal stores and online operators.

The Henries 2017 Judging Panel

Below left: Red Card’s Sally Matson (right) with PG’s Gale Astley.

Below right: Celtic Company’s Ros Jones (left) and Viv Thomas give consideration to their judging forms.

l l l l l

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Jade Logue, owner of SWALK, Lindfield Savita Marsh, owner of Northwood Cards & Gifts, Northwood Steve Marsh, owner Northwood Cards & Gifts, Northwood Sally Matson, properietor of Red Card, Petworth Brent Milburn, director of Rhymes With Orange, Marylebone and Soho (two stores) Katherine O’Connor, buyer for the National Trust (200+ stores) Amanda Oscroft, owner of Love It, Stamford and Bury St Edmunds Will Oscroft, partner of Love It, Stamford and Bury St Edmunds Carly Pearson, senior buyer for Sainsbury’s (1,500 stores) Andrea Pinder, owner and sales director of Unit 7 Cards and Gifts, Party Planet, Presentation Cards and Gifts, Manchester, Birmingham and Barrowford (four stores) Sarah-Jane Porter, head of licensing of Moonpig Tim Reynolds, retail manager of Medici Gallery, Kensington Fiona Robinson, director of Wishes, Cockermouth Victoria Robinson, director of Wishes, Cockermouth

l l l l l l l l l l l l

Emma Roberts, owner of Special Occasions, Castle Bromwich Katy Sales, buyer of Supersales, Belvedere Ellie Smith, assistant buyer of Paperchase (200+ stores) Kerri Sorbie, senior buyer for Klondykes Garden Centre (22 stores) Nicola Stevenson, partner of The Tutbury Present Company, Tutbury Viv Thomas, creative director of Celtic Company, Welshpool (2 stores) Anna Tink, assistant buyer of The Card Centre, Felixstowe Mark Turner, deputy general manager of Fenwick, Colchester Hazel Walker, buyer of Paperchase (200+ stores) Nicky Westgarth, buying assistant for Waitrose (350+ stores) Sue Williams, card buyer The Hollies Farm Shop, Lower Stretton Nigel Williamson, partner of House of Cards, Home Counties (six shops)

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(In alphabetical order by surname) l Jo Barber, managing director of The Stationery and Gift Boutique, l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Ampthill (two stores) John Barratt, director of Card Centre, Felixstowe Becca Belfield, owner of SWALK, Lindfield Katie Briggs, junior buyer of WHSmith (300+ stores) Debbie Brown, owner of First Class Greetings and Plum Green, Hadleigh Jerry Brown, owner of First Class Greetings and Plum Green, Hadleigh Claire Castle, senior buyer of WHSmith High Street (580 stores) Emma Clooney, assistant buyer of Paperchase (200+ stores) David Colman, director of The Only Place for Pictures, Islington and Palmers Green Teresa Colman, director of The Only Place for Pictures, Islington and Palmers Green Stuart Delahoy, owner of Set Design, Leicester Megan Douglas, buyers’ admin assistant of Paperchase (200+ stores) Megan Eyles, director of Peppertrees, Northampton Sara Gibson, senior buying manager cards and wrap of Tesco Stores (2,500 stores) Pauline Gillett, owner of Special Occasions, Castle Bromwich Nicky Goodman, owner of Paddock Wood Cards, Paddock Wood Rochelle Grant, assistant buyer of WHSmith/Paper + Script + Funky Pigeon (600+ stores) Pete Hall, owner of Halls Bookshop/Halls of Llandaff, Cardiff Kirsty Hicks, buyer for Waitrose (350+ stores) Eliot James, buyer of Scribbler (36 stores) Claire Jarvis, owner of The Tutbury Present Company, Tutbury Lydia Jeffers-Phillips, business administrator of The Stationery and Gift Boutique, Ampthill (two stores) Ros Jones, director of Celtic Company, Welshpool (2 stores) Kim Lewis, card buyer of Longacres Garden Centre (four stores) Sarah Lishman, buyer/manager of the card department for Barkers, Northallerton

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The Henries 2017 Judging Process

Which Ranges Were Eligible To Enter?

Entering The Henries 2017 was open to all UK publishers, as well as UKbased distributors of card publishers from overseas.

Publishers were invited to enter ranges that had been launched since August 1 2016 or new designs that had been added to ongoing ranges.

The Henry Cole Classic award is slightly different in that this is for ranges that have stood the test of time and therefore the onus is on the heritage and evolution of the brand rather than just the new designs in the range.

Publishers could enter as many categories as they wished, with as many entries in each category as they wanted.

The Preparation Throughout June and July, PG’s offices are deluged with boxes, Jiffy bags and envelopes, boldly marked ‘The Henries’.

Together they created a mountain of packages containing over 14,000 greeting cards, sheets of giftwrap and giftbags, submitted from some 200 different UK publishers.

All greeting cards submitted for The Henries 2017 are treated equally, whether they are sent in by a multinational company, a new start-up one-man band publisher and everything in between. The Henries are free of charge to enter meaning it is open to all.

Each entry is logged onto the computer and assigned a number. One card design from each entry is retained for archive purposes while the other cards in each submission are mounted onto their own large display board. A label is affixed to the top of each board that prominently features a distinct entry number as well as the RRP(s) of the mounted cards.

To overcome any preconceived ideas judges might have had of publishers, the brand and company name of each submission for the product entries are concealed.

In the case of The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer or Artist category those entering were invited to submit their own ready-mounted boards if they wished.

For the Henry Cole Classic award, publishers were asked for some substantiating text, which demonstrates how and why the range has stood the test of time.

Above: As sponsors of the rechristened award, The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer or Artist, the Paperchase team took extra interest in the entries. (Left-right) Emma Clooney, Hazel Walker, Ellie Smith and Megan Douglas.

Below: Medici Gallery’s Tim Reynolds (left) confers with John Barrett (of The Card Centre).

Right: Paddock Wood Cards’ Nicky Goodman scrutinising the entries to the Best Christmas Box or Pack category.

The Judging Process The judging for all the product categories, as well as Most Promising Young Designer or Artist, took place on a single day, in offices, theatre rehearsal rooms as well as The Depot Bar, all of which are adjacent to PG’s London offices.

The criteria for judging were: l Quality of Design l Quality of print, production and manufacture l Appropriateness for the market sector at which it is aimed l Value for money All entries were put on display category by category. The judges considered all entries in each category, individually selecting the five entries they deemed to be the best in each category.

Judging forms were completed by writing the corresponding entry numbers, in order of merit, in the relevant boxes on the form. Points were then awarded accordingly by the adjudication team; five points being assigned to the entries each judge felt was the best in the category down to one point for the fifth choice. The points from all the judges’ forms were then correlated to arrive at the winner and five other finalists. l The winners will only be revealed at The Henries Ooh La La Parisian awards will be an evening event taking place on Thursday October 5 at the Lancaster Hotel in London.

Above: With so many judges and large number of categories the counting of the votes was a lengthy process for Stacey Jones (left) and Emma Cain of the PG team.

Right: Swalk’s Becca Belfield and Jade Longue get up close with the entries into the Best Giftwrappings category.

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Retailer Revelations

LA CRÈME DE LA CRÈME In keeping with the Parisian theme of The Henries Awards this year, greeting card retailers and buyers who formed this year’s Judging Panel were up for sharing a soupçon of French flavouring.

Napoleon famously referred to the UK as a nation of shopkeepers. With this in mind, The Henries’ judges were asked what plea they would make to the current UK government to improve the plight for greeting card retailers. Plus, for a bit of fun, they also revealed what French delicacy would represent them?

Jade Logue, owner of SWALK, Lindfield: S’il vous plaît: “There should be more incentive to keep the high streets of Britain independent and full of personality, ie affordable.”

Qui moi?: “I would be a mini bottle of Dom Perignon’s fifth vintage Champagne - fruity, bright and full of bubbles.”

Left: Swalk’s co-owners have a fortifying cuppa before getting going on the judging.

Below: Colourful and delicious macaroons.

Becca Belfield, owner of SWALK, Lindfield: S’il vous plaît: “The current government could assist in making rents and rates cheaper to enable independents to trade on the high street. And to ask local councils to assess what is needed on the high street.”

Qui moi?: “If I was a French delicacy I would be a macaroon - bold in colour and a treat with a gooey soft centre.”

Debbie Brown, owner of First Class Greetings and Plum Green, Hadleigh: S’il vous plaît: “A cut in business rates would of course help, but it’s up to us to make our own success. Perhaps Mrs May could come and be a guest speaker at PG Live.”

Qui moi?: “I would be Champagne, I have expensive taste!”

Right: Debbie and Jerry Brown (First Class Greetings) are ‘bubbly’ characters themselves.

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Eliot James, buyer for Scribbler: S’il vous plaît: “Sort out business rates – it’s a tragedy to see some great retailers hammered flat by ridiculous commercial costs.”

Qui moi?: “Champagne - although I am neither bubbly nor expensive.”

Brent Milburn, director of Rhymes With Orange, Marylebone and Soho: S’il vous plaît: “Rent monthly not every quarter; reduce rates; tax online.”

Qui moi?: “Moules Marinière! I love mussels and garlic with some fresh French baguettes to dip in the juice. Yum.”

Top: Scribbler’s Eliot James (right) with Brent Milburn (Rhymes with Orange) enjoying some refreshment at the end of the judging.

Above: A tasty bowl of moules marinière.

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Retailer Revelations

John Barratt, director of Card Centre, Felixstowe: S’il vous plaît: “Cancel Brexit.”

Qui moi?: “A chocolate éclair – I’m a bit mushy.”

Right: Stalwart Henries’ judge John Barrett (Card Centre) with his colleague Anna Tink.

Left: The Henries’ French theme will be magnifique!

Below: Something to sink your teeth into, a chocolate éclair.

Jo Barber, managing director of The Stationery Boutique, Ampthill: S’il vous plaît: “Reverse Brexit!

Corporation tax reversal too!

Rates – online verses bricks and mortar needs addressing.”

Qui moi?: “Tarte tatin – sharp, difficult to replicate, but thoroughly enjoyable at the same time.”

Claire Castle, senior buyer for WHSmith High Street: S’il vous plaît: “Review corporation tax for retailers and don’t have any car parking charges in the high street.”

Qui moi?: “I would be a French cheese as I improve with age.”

Below: WHS’ Claire Castle (left) is clearly amused by what PG’s Warren Lomax has to say, her colleague Katie Briggs less so!

Left: Jo Barber with an energising strong brew.

Pete Hall, owner of Halls Bookshop/Halls of Llandaff, Cardiff: S’il vous plaît: “Sort out commercial rates. Perhaps the odd bit of free parking too.”

Qui moi?: “I’d be ‘cock-au-van’ because I have a van and my mates sometimes call me a ‘cock’.”

Right: It was a bright and early start for Pete Hall who travelled from Cardiff to participate in the judging.

Below: Chic Chanel nail polish.

Sally Matson, proprietor of Red Card, Petworth:

Right: Red Card’s Sally Matson takes a photo of a board she is especially interested in so she can contact the publisher later once she finds out their identity.

Kerri Sorbie, senior buyer for Klondyke Garden Centres: S’il vous plaît: “Reduce VAT and postage costs.”

Qui moi?: “A bottle of Chanel ruby red nail polish – shiny and hard to ignore.”

S’il vous plaît: “Stop allowing high street banks to close - many small/ medium towns no longer have banks and it’s a disaster!

Make car parking in small/medium towns free.”

Qui moi?: “Champagne – bubbly and the real thing (I am not as cheap as Prosecco!).”

Nicky Stephenson, partner of The Tutbury Present Company, Tutbury: S’il vous plaît: “Renovate and improve high streets rather than allowing new shopping centres to be built around the towns.”

Qui moi?: “I would be frogs’ legs as I am always jumping from one thing to the next.”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Retailer Revelations

Sue Williams, card buyer The Hollies Farm Shop, Lower Stretton:

Nigel Williamson, partner of House of Cards, six shops in the Home Counties:

S’il vous plaît: “Award everybody three birthdays four if you’re a farmer.”

Qui moi?: “A loaf of pain de campagne – rustic, as a farm shop buyer should be, but tasty none the less!”

Right: The Hollies’ Sue Williams’ pen is poised to make a final judging decision.

S’il vous plaît: “Get the EU members to send lots of ‘sorry you’re leaving’ cards to the UK government.”

Qui moi?: “A snail – slow and steady.”

Below: (Right) Katy Sales of Supersales enjoyed swapping notes with Nicky Goodman of Paddock Wood Cards.

Above: A steady snail.

Right: House of Cards’ Nigel Williamson with Barkers’ Sarah Lishman.

Below: Peppertrees’ Megan Eyles was the ‘lady in red’ at the judging.

S’il vous plaît: “Reduce postage stamp costs, and have internet companies on the same tax rate and work practice policies as high street stores.”

Qui moi?: “Macaroon – crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and in pretty colours!”

Katy Sales, buyer of Supersales, Belvedere:

Nicky Goodman, owner of Paddock Wood Cards, Paddock Wood: S’il vous plaît: “Reduce the price of postage stamps, and cap prices on rents – or reduced rates for independents.”

Qui moi?: “A bottle of Chanel no.5 – subtle on some occasions! And sophisticated on even fewer!”

Megan Eyles, director of Peppertrees, Northampton: S’il vous plaît: “Sort out business rates.”

Qui moi?: “Sauvignon blanc – a better way of eating grapes.”

Below: Andrea Pinder loves The Henries’ Judging Day.

Andrea Pinder, owner and sales director of Unit 7 Cards and Gifts, Party Planet, Presentation Cards and Gifts, Manchester, Birmingham and Barrowford: S’il vous plaît: “Abolish business rates, or at least be more realistic, also car parking charges are far too high in the city: Saturdays and Sundays no charge please.”

Qui moi?: “A Macaroon, bright and colourful.”

Lydia Jeffers-Phillips, business administrator for The Stationery Boutique, Ampthill: S’il vous plaît: “Reverse Brexit, empower the £pound.”

Qui moi?: “Snails – a little scary and great with a glass of Champagne.”

Right: Lydia certainly didn’t go at a ‘snail’s pace’ when she was judging The Henries.

Emma Roberts, owner of Special Occasions, Castle Bromwich: S’il vous plaît: “Reduce VAT for small businesses to grow. Stop increasing minimum wage and holiday entitlement as we already know the value of good staff.”

Qui moi?: “A French fancy - sweet and delicious; frog legs - I’m full of get up and go; very expensive Champagne – because I’m a bit of a tart; and snails – because I’ve got a hard outside, but a soft middle.”

Right: The newly married Emma Roberts (Special Occasions) views wedding cards with an extra critical eye these days!

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Retailer Revelations

Mark Turner, deputy general manager for Fenwick Colchester: S’il vous plaît: “I believe that now we are negotiating leaving the EU a swift Brexit deal is essential to put the last year behind us. Help to new businesses is essential for independent card shops who are needed to give choice to the consumer and challenge the supermarkets.”

Qui moi?: “Some days I’d be a sparkling ‘Veuve Clicquot’, however, these days are becoming fewer and fewer with age!”

Nicky Westgarth, buying assistant for Waitrose: S’il vous plaît: “The government should cap the number of outlets which can be opened under one retailer, to cap the domination of the likes of ‘card factory’.

Qui moi?: “I’d be a bottle of Veuve Clicquot vintage – mature, but sparkly and bubbly.”

Right: Waitrose’s Nicky Westgarth (left) with her boss Kirsty Hicks.

Will Oscroft, partner of Love It, Stamford and Bury St Edmunds:

Below: The Henries judging definitely received a ‘Love It’ thumbs-up from Amanda and Will Oscroft.

S’il vous plaît: “Less VAT, strict shop opening times, and it’s the law to smile at your customers.”

Qui moi?: “Steak tartare – it’s a ‘love hate’ thing.”

Carly Pearson, senior buyer for Sainsbury’s:

Amanda Oscroft, owner of Love It, Stamford and Bury St Edmunds:

S’il vous plaît: “Lower business rates for small businesses.”

Qui moi?: “A horse burger, because I’m a fine filly!”

S’il vous plaît: “Reduce the cost of stamps – the cost is outrageous at the moment; stop the 24 hour opening times for supermarkets.”

Qui moi?: “A bottle of Moet – expensive (ask my husband), bubbly (my blood type is white fizz) and always comes out at do’s/events (I’d go to the opening of an envelope).”

Above: Mark Turner (Fenwick Colchester) with Sainsbury’s Carly Pearson.

Left: A sparkling treat, Veuve Clicquot.

Kim Lewis, card buyer of Longacres Garden Centres: S’il vous plaît: “Cheaper stamps at Christmas.”

Qui moi?: “I would be Camembert cheese - soft and squidgy and always better when left out in the warm.”

Right: Longacres’ Kim Lewis taking the weight off her feet after a frenetic morning of judging.

David Colman, director of The Only Place for Pictures, Islington and Palmers Green: S’il vous plaît: “Cancel Brexit!”

Qui moi?: “Kronenbourg – I feel like I was born in 1664!”

Left: The Only Place For Pictures’ David Colman enjoyed the al fresco judging for the Best Christmas Box or Pack category.

Claire Jarvis, owner of The Tutbury Present Company, Tutbury: S’il vous plaît: “Reduction of business rates.”

Qui moi?: “Merlot - smooth and cheeky - or camembert - soft when I warm up!”

Savita Marsh, owner of Northwood Cards & Gifts, Northwood:

Below: Savita and Steve Marsh, co-owners of Northwood Cards.

S’il vous plaît: “To be happy to let everyone who wishes to stock greeting cards to do their thing! And ban all traffic wardens and let our customers park!”

Qui moi?: “I would be a very expensive bottle of French Champagne! Sleek and calm, but once opened full of bubbles and fun!”

Below: WHS’ Katie Briggs (left) with colleague Rochelle Grant.

Kate Briggs, junior buyer for WHSmith: S’il vous plaît: “Reduce business rates and also promote the high street; No parking charges on the high street; Treat bricks and mortar and online retailers the same.”

Qui moi?: “Champagne – always striving for something I can’t offer!”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

35

Special Guest Rosanna Bowles, President of Rosanna will be joining us at the Autumn Fair.

She will be with us Sunday and Monday promoting the collection and signing copies of her new book.

All visitors on our stand will be entered into a prize draw giving you the chance to win ÂŁ500 RRP of Rosanna gifts!

3-6 SEPTEMBER 2017 NEC BIRMINGHAM

HALL 4 STAND N06 - N20 0161 688 1226 | sales@ widdop.co.uk | www.widdop.co.uk

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

THE LYNN TAIT MOST PROMISING RD A W A T IS RT A R O R NE G SI E D Y O U NG Open to: This award was open to all greeting card designers and artists (employed or freelance) under the age of 35 on August 1 2016.

FINALISTS l l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Elliott Bennett, designer and owner of Hearts Designs Laura Clamp, founder and designer of Flying Teaspoons Catherine Faulkner, founder and designer of Jelly Armchair Sarah Jackson, founder and designer of Stormy Knight Louise Mulgrew, founder and designer of Louise Mulgrew Designs Emma Pearce, senior designer for Hotchpotch Louise Tiler, founder and designer of Louise Tiler Designs

Elliott Bennett, designer and director of Hearts Designs: “A luxury hand-embellished collection of heart-warming sentiments with a contemporary feel, my stand alone concept named ‘Mad Dots’ was first launched at PG Live 2015 with a small collection of 22 cards. Since then we have been continuously adding new designs and titles by popular demand, bringing the current collection of Mad Dots to over 160 designs. I have also been fortunate to have a gift licence on my designs with Lesser & Pavey.”

Laura Clamp, founder and designer of Flying Teaspoons: “I have been designing cards since November 2015 after becoming part of the Wraptious portfolio of artists. Following the cards’ success, I set up my own card publishing company, Flying Teaspoons, in July 2016.

My work is made from collaged magazine cuttings and a steady hand to create quirky artwork depicting some of Britain’s favourite wildlife, which are then combined with humorous captions bringing a smile.”

Catherine Faulkner, founder and designer of Jelly Armchair: “I co-founded Jelly Armchair at the age of 23 with my sister Liz. Now 25, and having been in the greeting card industry for just over 18 months, I have well over 160 designs to my name and so many more I want to get down! I am inspired by silly humour and thinking up puns, along with a love of traditional illustration techniques. I make sure that there’s always an extra surprise for the audience, be it the extra pun/illustration on the back of the card or sneaking funny scenes in to my A2 crowd scene poster wraps.”

Sarah Jackson, founder and designer of Stormy Knight: “I have been designing cheery pun-filled cards for over four years since launching Stormy Knight, and it is now a wellrecognised brand stocked by the likes of Paperchase, Scribbler, Selfridges, Oliver Bonas, and some of the UK’s most exciting independents. ‘The sun may be fun, but storms are more exciting…’”

Louise Mulgrew, founder and designer of Louise Mulgrew Designs: “I launched my brand in 2016 and have since built up a wonderful customer-base of more than 400 independent stockists in the UK, Japan and Australia, and I translate my cards and distribute them in Germany, Switzerland and France. As a massive animal-lover, most of my designs feature a furry friend or two in my whimsical, pen and inky style and I hope they will prompt a smile.”

Emma Pearce, senior designer for Hotchpotch: “I’m an endless silly pun maker, lovely letterer, quirky character creator and greeting card geek. I’ve been designing cards for eight years and I’ve worked all over the world as a freelance designer for some of the top card companies and created artwork in-house for Artwrap in Australia and International Greetings in Wales. Now, I design inhouse for Hotchpotch and I love the creative freedom of working on the innovative and trend-led collections.”

Louise Tiler, founder and designer of Louise Tiler Designs: “I am an independent surface pattern designer and greeting card publisher.

I’ve received both national and international recognition for my design work, and I’ve also freelanced for some of the UK’s top card companies. Thereafter, in 2014, I started my own publishing company. I have a real love for colour, florals and detailed artwork, combining traditional drawing techniques with modern digital processes to create my vintage inspired contemporary greeting cards.”

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A4 Henries Finalist 2017d.pdf

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST CHILDREN’S RANGE Open to: All children’s greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Animal Magic from Janie Wilson Ingela Mini Cards from Lagom Just A Number from Just A Little Note Lollipop from Second Nature Quicksilver from Wendy Jones-Blackett Stormy Kids from Stormy Knight

l Just A Number l Animal Magic

l Ingela Mini Cards

l Stormy Kids l Lollipop l Quicksilver

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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2017 Finalists_Grid 17/08/2017 12:05 Page 4

The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST CHRISTMAS COUNTER RANGE Open to: All Christmas counter greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Christmas Edged In Gold from Five Dollar Shake Christmas Gin & Frolics from Rosie Made A Thing Flair from Hotchpotch Forget Me Not from Janie Wilson Velvet Wishes from Jonny Javelin Winter Park Life from Rocket68

l Christmas Edged In Gold l Christmas Gin & Frolics l Flair

l Forget Me Not

l Velvet Wishes CATEGORY SPONSOR

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

l Winter Park Life

2017 Finalists_Grid 17/08/2017 12:05 Page 5

The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST CHRISTMAS BOX OR PACK Open to: Any Christmas box or pack that has been launched since August 2016. This award could be for a specific item rather than for a range.

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Cats In Christmas Hats from Jo Clark Design Christmas Box For Oxfam from Special Editions (UKG) Paloma Christmas Box from Belly Button Designs Poppy Reay Christmas Box from U Studio Premium Box Christmas from Noel Tatt Sara Miller London Christmas from The Art File

l Cats In Christmas Hats

l Paloma Christmas Box l Christmas Box For Oxfam

l Poppy Reay Christmas Box l Sara Miller London Christmas

l Premium Box Christmas

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2017 Finalists_Grid 17/08/2017 12:05 Page 6

The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST TRAD IT IO NAL WORDS & SE N T I M E N T S R A N G E Open to: All traditional words and sentiments greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Everlasting from The Handcrafted Card Company Heart Story from Hallmark Keepsakes from Grass Roots International Letterpress from Words ‘n’ Wishes Made With Love for Tesco from Hallmark Perfectly Said from UK Greetings

l Everlasting l Keepsakes l Perfectly Said

l Heart Story l Letterpress

l Made With Love CATEGORY SPONSOR

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

2017 Finalists_Grid 17/08/2017 12:06 Page 7

The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST CONTEMPORARY WORDS & SE N T I M E N T S R A N G E Open to: All contemporary words and sentiments greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

l Botanical

FINALISTS l l l l l l

Botanical from Stop The Clock Design Cloud Nine from Redback Cards Every Picture from Icon The Happy News from Pigment Mimosa from Paperlink Words Of Wisdom from Dandelion Stationery

l Cloud Nine

l The Happy News

(in alphabetical order)

l Every Picture

l Mimosa l Words Of Wisdom

CATEGORY SPONSOR

Here for you from thought to ďŹ nish

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

43

henries finalist 2017 –– best children’s, best contemporary trend, best relations & occasions.

it's

OK to

excited when the Screwfix catalogue

get

there is a name for people who like Mondays... they are The Retired

arrives there are only a few friends who are able to make you laugh just a little bit louder, and who often make you smile just a little bit brighter and generally make your life a little bit better just by being in it.

here's hoping your birthday is filled with glitter, sparkles, rainbows and magic... *and possibly the odd

unicorn

DO NOT TOUCH

Get in touch

dandelionstationery.co.uk info@dandelionstationery.co.uk 01332 659 359

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST CONTEMPORARY TRE N D RANG E Open to: All contemporary greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

l Alice Scott

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Alice Scott from Pigment Charmed from YTR Design Cherished Mini Cards from Lagom Fancy Pants from Hammond Gower Flair from Hotchpotch Gold Dust from Paper Salad

l Charmed

l Fancy Pants

l Cherished Mini Cards

l Gold Dust

l Flair CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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2017 Finalists_Grid 17/08/2017 11:37 Page 10

The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST HANDMADE OR H A N D -F I N IS H E D R A N G E Open to: All handmade or hand-finished greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Embroider Doodles from Stop The Clock Design Fabric Envelopes from Pearl & Black Gold Leaf from Janie Wilson Magic Box from Forever Cards Scrabbley Neons from Bexy Boo Woodland Farm from English Graphics

l Fabric Envelopes

l Embroider Doodles l Gold Leaf

l Magic Box

l Scrabbley Neons l Woodland Farm

CATEGORY SPONSOR

46

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

2017 Finalists_Grid 17/08/2017 11:37 Page 11

The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST PHOTOGRAPHIC RANGE Open to: All photographic greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

1000 Words from U Studio B&W Photo from The Proper Mail Company Exposure Colour from Icon Javier Peréz from ArtPress Loose Leashes from Woodmansterne Water’s Edge from Wildcards

l B&W Photo

l Exposure Colour

l 1000 Words

l Water’s Edge l Javier Peréz

l Loose Leashes

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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We are thrilled to BE FINALISTS at The Henries AWARDS 2017!

BEST CONTEMPORARY WORDS & SENTIMENTS RANGE BEST HUMOROUS RANGE

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST HUMOUR RANGE Open to: All humour greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Blunt As A Spoon from Pack a Punch Designs Cloud Nine from Redback Cards Favourites from Objectables Gin & Frolics from Rosie Made A Thing Hysterical Heritage from Woodmansterne Launch Range from Bettie Confetti

l Cloud Nine

l Blunt As A Spoon l Favourites

l Gin & Frolics

l Hysterical Heritage l Launch Range

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

49

GB

Unique cards inspired by the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum Please contact your agent or request a brochure for more information:

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

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The stationery trends.

The visionary office.

Open up new perspectives for your business – at the leading international trade fair for paper, office supplies and stationery. Make sure you’re here: paperworld.messefrankfurt.com/tickets Are you aware of our Business Matchmaking?

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

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DU: 17.08.2017

27. – 30. 1. 2018, Frankfurt am Main

17/08/2017 14:49

2017 Finalists_Grid 17/08/2017 11:45 Page 15

The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST ART RANGE Open to: All art greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Inspired By CR Mackintosh from Forever Cards Jungle Tumble from Louise Mulgrew Designs Landmarks from I Drew This Lino Print from UK Greetings Toby Sketchbook by Stephen Hanson from GBCC Stick And Stitch from Catherine Kleeli Cards

l Jungle Tumble l Inspired By CR Mackintosh l Landmarks

l Stick And Stitch

l Lino Print

l Toby Sketchbook by Stephen Hanson

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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The world of TM

01992 702 900 |sales@danilo.com | www.danilo.com Independent retailers contact: Is It Art: 01926 747935

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/DaniloCalendarsUK

@CalendarsUK

©201 20017, 7, Hodde o r & Stou odd toughto ghto ghton ton LLimite Limite m d. All right mi right gh s rreserv ervved. edd. All Al imag images ees copyr o igh opy ight ht © Ladyb ht y ird Book ookss Ltd, 2017 2017 ©201 0 7 and TM - David Wal Walliam liams/Ha liam s/Ha /Ha H rrper rpee Col Coo lins lins Pubblish l ers Ltd/ lilis Ltd/Tony Tony Ros R s/Qu Quenti Qu entinn Blake enti a

15/08/2017 16:18 16/08/2017 15:04

2017 Finalists_Grid 17/08/2017 11:45 Page 17

The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST LICENSED CARD RANGE Open to: All greeting card ranges involving a licensing agreement that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

l Beatrix Potter

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Beatrix Potter from Hype Associates Disney from The Hallmark Studios Happy Jackson from Pigment Ladybird Books for Grown-ups from Danilo Quentin Blake from Woodmansterne Royal Horticultural Society Collection from UK Greetings

l Happy Jackson l Disney

l Quentin Blake

l Ladybird Books for Grown-ups l Royal Horticultural Society Collection

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

53

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST G IFTWRAPP I N GS RANGE Open to: All giftwrapping collections that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016. Entries could either be a range of giftwrap sheets or a collection of wrappings (eg co-ordinating wrap, bags, boxes, ribbons etc).

FINALISTS

(in alphabetical order)

l Deco Range from The Unique Paper Company l Designers Guild Chinoiserie Flowers And Plum Blossom from Deva Designs l Jaz & Baz from Portfolio l Pink Champagne Dots from Belly Button Bubble l Sara Miller London from Penny Kennedy l Stephanie Dyment from Glick

l Deco Range

l Designers Guild Chinoiserie Flowers And Plum Blossom

l Sara Miller London

l Jaz & Baz

l Stephanie Dyment

l Pink Champagne Dots

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Spring into action The Art File’s Spring Seasons 2018 collection.

See it first at Autumn Fair, Hall 3 Stands Q01 and R01.

T. 0115 850 7490 F. 0115 941 3411 E. sales@thear tfile.com

W W W.THEARTFILE.COM THE ART FILE

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@THEARTFILE

@THEARTFILEOFFICIAL

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2017 Finalists_Grid 17/08/2017 11:50 Page 21

The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST MALE RANGE Open to: All greeting card ranges aimed at men (non-humour) that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

l Bold As Brass

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Bold As Brass from Abacus Cards Country Gent from Toasted Crumpet Designs Geronimo from The Art File Just Josh from CardMix Mad Dots - Black Tie from Hearts Designs Mr Sunshine from Ivory Mint

l Country Gent

l Geronimo

l Just Josh l Mad Dots – Black Tie l Mr Sunshine

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

57

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST WHOLESALE RANGE Open to: All greeting card ranges (of any design type) that are distributed via wholesale distributors or cash & carries that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Everyday Male from Simon Elvin Keepsake Treasures Sympathy from Xpress Yourself Opacity from Xpress Yourself Ritzy from Simon Elvin Special Thoughts from Regal Publishing Stitched With Love from Simon Elvin

l Keepsake Treasures Sympathy

l Everyday Male l Opacity l Special Thoughts l Ritzy

l Stitched With Love

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST RELATIONS & O C C A S IO N S R A N G E Open to: All relations or occasions greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Boulevard from Think Of Me Favourites from Objectables Indigo Blue from Stephanie Dyment Life and Soul Occasions from Abacus Cards Postco from Lagom Vintage Love from Tracey Russell

l Boulevard l Indigo Blue l Favourites

l Life and Soul Occasions l Vintage Love l Postco CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST SPRING SEASONS RANGE Open to: Greeting card ranges for the Spring Seasons occasions that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

l All My Love Valentine’s

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

All My Love Valentine’s from Stop The Clock Design Breton Collection Easter from Laura Darrington Designs Father’s Day from Bettie Confetti Grin & Tonic Father’s Day from Brainbox Candy Mother’s Day from Roger la Borde Paloma Mother’s Day from Belly Button Designs

l Breton Collection Easter l Father’s Day

l Paloma Mother’s Day

l Grin & Tonic Father’s Day l Mother’s Day

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Rosie Made A Thing Papery lols

BEST HUMOUR RANGE

BEST XMAS COUNTER RANGE

FIZZ

Award-winning cards to make you lol.

Delighted to be in the Henries finals for the 3rd year in a row!

w: rosiemadeathing.co.uk e: office@rosiemadeathing.co.uk t: 07971 426556

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST CUTE RANGE Open to: All cute greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2016.

FINALISTS l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Crumb from Paper Bird Publishing Jungle Tumble from Louise Mulgrew Designs Little Creatures from Pippi & Me Little Monsters from Paper Sole Lottie & Bear from The Grumble & Co. Stripey Dogs from Stripey Cats

l Jungle Tumble

l Little Creatures

l Crumb

l Lottie & Bear

l Little Monsters

l Stripey Dogs

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Award winning Pizazz Classic and Pizazz Male styling Age 40 and 50 male and female milestone ages Excellent quality rigid box presentation packaging Competitive price ÂŁ8.99 RRP Cloudesley House Shire Hill Saffron Walden Essex CB11 3FB t: 01799 520200 f: 01799 520100 www.nigelquiney.com

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

THE HEN RY COLE C L ASS IC AWA R D Open to: This award is for ranges that have stood the test of time. The winner will join The Henry Cole Classic Hall of Fame with the previous winners which are Bestie from Paperlink, Eric the Penguin from GBCC, Forever Friends from Hallmark, On The Ceiling from Emotional Rescue, Me to You from CBG, Medici Cards Blue Label from GBCC, Second Nature’s Pop-Ups, Quentin Blake from Woodmansterne, Giggles from Hanson White (UKG) and Rainbow from Ling Design.

Découpage from Noel Tatt The inspiration for a multi-layered greeting card came about in 1996, when a Noel Tatt customer said that a much loved range called Honeywood Village would look great in a 3D format. That comment sparked some skilful work with a scalpel and foam pads. Following from which the first test samples were created. Such was the positive reaction to them that production started immediately.

And 20 years later, the range remains as popular as ever with both UK and overseas customers alike. Key to the longevity of the range is its constant evolution and release of new designs and also it’s great value for money.

Harold’s Planet from Clare Maddicott Publications Harold's Planet is one of Clare Maddicott’s best loved ranges and was conceived and created by husband and wife team Lisa Swerling and Ralph Lazar while living on an island in the Seychelles in 1996. Since then, Harold's Planet greeting cards have sold worldwide in the millions.

First published in the UK by Clare Maddicott in 2001, the range today consists of just under 100 designs covering birthdays, blanks, occasions and milestone age birthdays. The softfooted, bobbly-nosed character’s obsession with wine, chocolate, books and yoga persists today, although pilates and Prosecco have been added to the list of subject matter in recent years! The presentation of the cards has changed slightly over the years but the essence of the character and appeal of the range remains very much the same.

Marzipan from Paper Rose Marzipan continues to be one of Paper Rose’s bestselling ranges since its launch in November 2004. It has definitely stood the test of time, evolving through several formats, including mega cards, pop-ups and googly eyes, and it is also licenced onto several products.

FINALISTS l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Découpage from Noel Tatt Harold’s Planet from Clare Maddicott Publications Marzipan from Paper Rose Pizazz from Nigel Quiney Publications Wrinklies from Paperlink

Created by artist Beverley Edge, each model is lovingly crafted using intricate patterns in polymer clay, six colour print and detailed embossing. Marzipan Toybox was introduced in August 2009. The big characters ooze personality and are cheeky, charming and just so cute. Winning three Henries awards over the years, Marzipan has proven widespread appeal and is loved by kids and adults alike.

Pizazz from Nigel Quiney Publications Pizazz is a classic, award-winning brand that everyone recognises. In the last 11 years it has been NQP’s most successful range. The range was launched in August 2006 and quickly achieved record breaking sales.

This brand appeals to a wide age range, although predominantly female, the design style and content is sophisticated, elegant and aspirational.

It has a beautiful, loose watercolour illustrative style, which reflects a contemporary lifestyle, image and surroundings. Ultra white backgrounds and glitzy flitter help to define the look and boost design impact.

Wrinklies from Paperlink Cartoonists Hugh Silvey and Wally Jex manage to get us laughing about the aging process rather than fearing it in the Wrinklies range, published by Paperlink! There is a positivity about the Wrinklies designs that are heartwarming. They are naughty and irreverent in places, but its success is in showing us not to be afraid to go there.

There are still not that many funny ranges featuring senior people as it can be a fine line to tread, but Wrinklies’ continued success proves Hugh and Wally have managed to get the balance just right; no-one is offended and everyone is giggling!

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

BEST SERVICE TO THE I N D E P E N D E N T R E TA I LE R The finalists in this category were arrived at as a result of an exhaustive poll involving over 1,500 independent card retailers. The retailers were invited to nominate which companies they considered to be their top three card suppliers on the service front over the last year.

The response was amazing - service being a key issue to retailers.

The responses were then correlated, awarding three points to all first choices, two points to those mentioned as second choices and one point to all third choices. These points were then totalled up to arrive at the 12 finalists.

There are three trophies in this category, the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards which will be presented to the top three scoring suppliers in the retail poll.

FINALISTS l l l l l l l l l l l l

(in alphabetical order)

Abacus Cards Cherry Orchard Publishing IC&G Jonny Javelin Ling Design Nigel Quiney Publications Noel Tatt Paperlink Pigment Productions UK Greetings Woodmansterne Publications Words ‘n’ Wishes

Other serious contenders: The following publishers polled well but not quite well enough to make it into the finals.

13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th

Carte Blanche Greetings Second Nature Wendy Jones-Blackett Grass Roots International Paper Rose/The Art Group Dandelion Stationery Hallmark Cards Tracks Publishing Belly Button Designs Five Dollar Shake Cardigan Cards The Great British Card Company The Art File

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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GREETINGS! (FROM AUTUMN FAIR)

Discover the latest and greatest cards, wrapping, notebooks and all things paper for your store. Your customers will be sure to take note.

Get your free ticket today at autumnfair.com #autumnfair

HOME | CONTEMPORARY GIFT & LIVING | THE LIGHT SHOW | FASHION, JEWELLERY & ACCESSORIES THE SUMMERHOUSE | BODY, BATH & HOME FRAGRANCE | GIFT | CHILDREN’S GIFTS, TOYS & GADGETS | GREETINGS BRANDS OF CHINA | RETAIL SOLUTIONS | VOLUME & HOUSEWARES Copyright of Ascential Events Ltd | Products shown in this image are proprietary to Kerry Lyons

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The Henries 2017 Finalists

HONORARY ACHIEVEMENT AWA R D This prestigious award is presented to an individual who has contributed greatly to the UK greeting card industry. The winner can come from the retailing, publishing, wholesaling or the supply side of the trade.

Nominations are sought from the entire industry for this special award.

Who will this year’s winner be?

The previous winners of this award are: 2016 - Gary Rowley (ceo of UK Greetings) 2015 - John and Jennie Procter (founders and co directors of Scribbler) 2014 - Louise Tighe (founder of Paperlink) 2013 - Beth Genower and Matt Genower (founders of Five Dollar Shake) 2012 - Lynn Tait (former owner of The Lynn Tait Gallery and founder of The Ladder Club sadly now deceased) 2011 - Giles Andreae (creator of Purple Ronnie, Edward Monkton and co-creator of Happy Jackson) 2010 - Timothy Melgund (chief executive of Paperchase) 2009 - Keith Auty (former marketing director of UK Greetings) 2008 - Mike Bugler (former managing director of Clinton Cards) - Dennis Podmore (chairman of Windles sadly now deceased) 2007 - Clinton Lewin (former group managing director of Clinton Cards) - Debbie Lewin (former product development director of Clinton Cards) 2006 - Chris Dyson (joint managing director of Cardgains buying group) 2005 - Duncan Spence (business angel with an investment in Carte Blanche Greetings and Moonpig) - Stephen Haines (founder of Carte Blanche Greetings)

2004 - Peter Reichwald (founder of The Great British Card Company) 2003 - John Charlton (former chief executive of UKG and senior vice president of American Greetings) - Stuart Mackay (former managing director of UKG and former managing director of Birthdays, but currently chairman of Paper Rose and director of Simon Elvin) 2002 - William McCracken (former GCA special advisor, former managing director of Ling Design and founder of one of the four first specialist card chains) - Paul Woodmansterne (managing director of Woodmansterne Publications) 2001 - Simon Elvin (founder of Simon Elvin, and owner of Nigel Quiney, Glick Designs and Paper Rose) 2000 - Andrew Brownsword (founder of Andrew Brownsword Collection and former owner of Gordon Fraser) 1999 - John Condon (former director of Clinton Cards) - George Pomphrett (former director of Clinton Cards) 1998 - Don Lewin OBE (founder and former chairman of Clinton Cards) 1997 - David Hicks (founder of Really Good and Soul) 1996 - Stewart Stott (former managing director of Nigel Quiney - sadly now deceased)

CATEGORY SPONSOR PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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In Conversation With... Sainsbury’s

GREETING FACE ON Sainsbury’s is seriously upping its commitment to greeting cards - and it’s working. It has revamped almost its entire greeting card selection of 3,500 skus, adopted a ‘horizontal’ approach to its card displays and instigated a trial of new fixturing, which features all the cards full facing.

PG was ‘sent to Coventry’ to Sainsbury’s buying office to catch up with Carly Pearson, the supermarket’s senior buyer of cards and wrap, who is on a mission to maintain the “newness”.

It is all go in the supermarket world. While sadly Tesco and Sainsbury’s are currently both working through the consultative process of how to cut jobs in their respective businesses, things are hotting up on the grocers’ card racks.

Asda’s new streamlined publisher portfolio is bedding in, Waitrose is gearing up for a totally overhauled card selection to go into stores next month, while Tesco is understood to be preparing to roll out the new greeting card approach it first debuted last autumn. Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s has gone about it in a different way. Instead of a big ‘reveal’ it has stealthily introduced what Carly Pearson, senior buyer for cards and wrap, sums up as “newness” right across its greeting card portfolio of 3,500 designs, by overhauling each section in turn, improving the design potency and product relevance for its customers.

Concurrent with all this, a trial is now well underway in 130 of its stores, which has seen

Above: Sainsbury’s stocks greeting cards in 1,600 of its stores.

Left: In its largest stores, Sainsbury’s offers up to 3,500 different greeting card designs from over 40 different publishers.

Below: Own brand designs, which are now sub-branded as part of Sainsbury’s Home selection, account for 20% of the displays.

Bottom left: Carly Pearson (left) at PG Live with buying colleague Naomi Boards (right) and UKG’s Amanda Scrivener (second left) and Clare Cheng at The Retas Champagne reception.

new aisle end fixturing introduced that allows cards to be shown full facing, thereby making the shopping experience for the customer easier.

Carly, who only took on the role of senior buyer for cards and wrap in June 2016, wasted no time in getting under the skin of the supermarket’s greeting card offer, its relationships with suppliers, the commercial and ethical aspects of the business, as well as the future strategy. With the support of her ‘right hand women’, Caroline Hawkins and Naomi Broad, Carly says it has enabled her to concentrate more on the strategy and commercial aspects of the department.

Sainsbury’s commitment to greeting cards, as part of its ‘Paper Shop’ department, has never been under question, evidenced by the prominent position the card and wrap displays command, very often right near the front of the stores. When you take into account that Sainsbury’s serves 26 million customers a week, that means a lot of people are reminded of their greeting card needs when they pop into the grocer!

After five years working for Sainsbury’s (buying technology, sound and vision products), and prior with Amazon buying PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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In Conversation With... Sainsbury’s

sports equipment and Argos buying homewares, Carly not only understands Sainsbury’s customer base, but also is well aware of the need to respond to fast moving market conditions and consumer tastes.

“I have always been a greeting card fan on a personal level. Having seen the rise and fall of so many products in the ‘new technology’ field, it is great to have a role that is in such a robust product area, but where there is still growth potential,” says Carly.

Carly’s working experience prior to joining Sainsbury’s and Amazon was with Fogarty’s, responsible for the bedding account with Marks & Spencer, which also gave her an insight into life as a supplier to a major retailer.

“We couldn’t have done what we have on the cards and wrap front in the last year let alone what we have planned for the future - without the support of our suppliers,” says Carly honestly. Top of the tree on the support front is UKG, which not only acts as broker for the grocer, but also develops a lot of the bespoke created cards that now come under its Home brand.

“Our relationship with UKG is not replicated anywhere else in our business. It has to be a partnership, helping us to provide the best designs for our customers, including through bringing in cards from the vast array of fabulous publishers out there too,” says Carly.

UKG branded cards account for around 30% of the card displays in Sainsbury’s, but this means that, on top of the 20% for its own ‘Home’ brand, half of the 3,500 different

Above: Aisle end displays that have been introduced into 130 stores allow the cards to be shown full facing to attract the shopper’s eye and make it easier for them to shop.

Right: Sainsbury’s higher age cards are performing very well, helped by its horizontal linear approach to the display, rather than adopting the industry norm of vertical drops.

everyday card designs it offers are sourced from up to an additional 40-50 different publishers.

Prices range from 99p up to £6.00, but the bulk fall into the £2.00-£2.50 price bracket.

Carly does not foresee that this breakdown will change, viewing the designs from other publishers as “absolutely vital” to Sainsbury’s continued growth on cards. “It is important that we offer our customers a broad range of designs and styles which can only be achieved by having the relationships with a large number of talented publishers,” she sums up, citing the recent additions of smaller publishers, such as Tache and Saffron as helping to further improve the mix.

Taking pride in diversity Sainsbury’s has won the respect of the gay community through its commitment to celebrating diversity in the UK community – something that has extended to its card racks too.

The grocer, which officially sponsors and supports many Gay Pride events, received plaudits in the press for introducing some same-sex Valentine’s Day cards for the first time this year.

James Brown, director of commercial for Sainsbury’s, said: “Choosing the perfect Valentine’s Day card is a personal and sentimental experience, which is why we’re pleased to offer new same-sex cards and give all of our lovestricken customers the ability to choose the card that’s right for them.”

This support of the LGBT community echoes Sainsbury’s aim to become “the most inclusive retailer, where people love to work and shop.”

Above: Sainsbury’s sponsored Pride in Leeds again this year.

Left: Two Sainsbury’s Valentine’s Day cards aimed at a same sex send.

It is not just the actual selection that has been improved – with 70% of designs having been refreshed over the last year – but also the balance and the way in which they are displayed.

Flouting historic practice of displaying cards in a vertical ‘drop’, instead Sainsbury’s has instigated a horizontal approach with similar styled designs sitting alongside each other.

“This may not be the norm, but this cleaner approach means that customers can more easily scan the racks for the types of cards they like,” explains Carly, revealing that the results have been especially encouraging for high age cards, an area of growth for Sainsbury’s.

The full facing fixtures which are now installed in 130 stores as a trial bring the added benefit of reducing wastage, with the displays accommodating fewer designs, thereby focusing more on better sellers.

“We take our responsibility for waste and being fair to our suppliers very seriously,” says Carly, something which is also reflected in its introduction of more general cards in its Spring Season and other timed occasions, that can then be filtered into the main display after the event has taken place, thereby reducing the returns.

Fielding the question about whether Sainsbury’s growth and future expansion on the greeting card front will take business away from independents, Carly is in no doubt that there is room for all.

“We might have 26 million transactions in our stores every week, but they are not all buying greeting cards, far from it!” says Carly with a smile. “Our customers buy their cards from many different places. I personally am a big supporter of independent shops, they offer something different to us. The British public spent £1.7 billion on cards last year – there is room for us all. The main thing is that the consumer is offered a fabulous selection so that they will carry on this great British tradition.”

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Innovations

Autumn Fair A selection of cards launching at Autumn Fair, 3-6 September 2017, NEC, Birmingham

Love A Duck Marina B is extending the hugely successful Duckberry Place Collection. There are six new designs incorporating new home, sympathy, new arrivals and plenty more. All the cards are 150mm x 150mm, printed on 350gsm board and sold wrapped with a French grey envelope.

Marina B 01858 434462 www.marinab.co.uk Hall 3 Stand 4A09

Call Of The Wild

Gone To The Dogs

Moongazer Cards is expanding its Wildlife range by artist Sally-Anne Lambert to 12 designs at Autumn Fair, with new designs including this majestic Red Stag. All the 150mm square cards are blank inside and suitable as a Christmas card or for any winter celebration.

Moongazer Cards 077454 81411 www.moongazercards.com Hall 4 Stand A49

It had to happen, didn't it? Tomcat Cards has finally… gone to the dogs! Its new Pedigree Chums collection comprises 18 blank cards based on the work of American artist and graphic designer Stephen Fowler. Well-known for the vintage/retro feel of his work, Tomcat is pleased to be working with Stephen and to be launching these cards at Autumn Fair. The range is made up of 12 everyday and six Christmas cards, all 150mm square and blank inside.

Tomcat Cards www.tomcatcards.co.uk 01243 837300 Hall 4 Stand F40

Stone The Crows!

Best known for her Camilla & Rose range, Sarah Boddy has now created Cronies, a new range for Peartree Heybridge featuring a flock of crows and expressions of love and friendship all wrapped in gentle humour. There are 19 5” x 7” cards in the range, covering open and everyday occasions, supplied wrapped with orange envelopes.

Peartree Heybridge 01423 876311 www.peartreeheybridge.co.uk Cardgains Village Hall 4 Stand D40 - F41

Vintage Christmas

Dressed With A Zing

Jupp Illustrations features the work of talented painter and illustrator Liz Jupp and focus on the popular vintage theme and striking depictions of animals in nature. A range 10 brand new Christmas cards is being launched at Autumn Fair, perfect for customers who want something eye-catching and completely out of the ordinary.

Jupp Illustrations 07973440248 www.juppillustrations.co.uk Hall 4 Stand F87

Paper Salad is going mad for Spring Seasons at Autumn Fair, with a dazzling display including its new Blossoms range, all bright and colourful and finished with sparkly champagne flitter! The 12 cards are printed on textured board to give a lovely feel, sized 175mm x 125mm, blank inside and sold wrapped with a pink envelope.

Paper Salad 0161 427 0001 www.papersalad.co.uk Hall 4 Stand B01 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Coming soon !

(W) www.mint-publishing.co.uk (T) 0116 230 4197 (F) 01536 401 031

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Innovations

Top Drawer A selection of cards launching at Top Drawer, 10-12 September 2017, Olympia, London

I Know What Girafter!

Card Nest is extending its Animal Kingdom range, with three new designs launching at Top Drawer, bringing it to six designs in the range.

The cards all feature charming character illustrations and are perfect for kids, big and small. All the designs are sized A6 and come wrapped with a matching envelope.

Card Nest 0117 325 0369 www.cardnest.com Stand ZA28

Lost For Words?

Bearing Up Making its very first trade fair debut at Top Drawer, Arch & Ivy is launching Wonderful Woodland, a bold contemporary range from Lara Burrows. There are 12, A6 sized cards featuring charismatic and loveable inhabitants of the woods. The range covers birthday and occasions captions, including new home, get well soon, bear hug and thinking of you. The cards are sold wrapped with kraft envelopes.

Arch & Ivy 07786 031141 www.archandivy.co.uk Stand Y36

Coulson Macleod is launching a new gold-foiled Wordsearch range. There are six cards in the range, each with a different coloured background and a gold foil wordsearch puzzle with the word highlighted. All the cards are sized 155mm x 109mm and supplied wrapped with a textured ivory envelope.

Coulson Macleod 01536 419944 www.coulsonmacleod.com Stand J32

A Modern Story Award winning Pabuku presents new quirky designs within its Fabulous range - magical occasions and modern message cards, topped with striking neon orange accents. Presenting storytelling as an invitation to think outside the box and giving a flip-side-surprise on the back.

All the cards are blank inside, sized 120mm x 169mm, and sold wrapped with matching coloured envelopes.

Pabuku – The Queer Paperie +43 664 88226655 www.pabuku.com Stand X35

Dog’s Dinner Cheeky Mutt is a bright, fun and cheeky new range of 12 cards for dog lovers from Sally Scaffardi. Covering everyday, birthday and occasions, these 150mm square cards are guaranteed to make any dog lover smile. All the cards are sold wrapped with white envelopes.

Sally Scaffardi Design 07747 032505 www.sallyscaffardidesign.co.uk Stand X32

Bring Out The Chicken Soup!

Bella Jacob is proud to be launching a new collection of 14 A6 cards to its product portfolio at Top Drawer in the ‘Spotted’ section. Playing to its strengths of originality and design the new range includes Bar & Bat Mitzvah cards, wedding, engagement and Mazeltov cards with a special card for our Undisputed Queen of the Friday Night Dinner.

Bella Jacob 07787 564 324 www.bellajacob.com Stand SP230 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

Top Drawer A selection of cards launching at Top Drawer, 10-12 September 2017, Olympia, London

Box Of Delights After winning a Gift of the Year award in February for this range of innovative and interactive cards, My Design Co has launched a set of new Magic Box designs for Christmas and for everyday, bringing this range to seven Christmas and 15 everyday designs in total.

Listen to the music and watch the character dance!

My Design Co 020 7729 8731 www.mydesigncollections.com Stand ZA15

Sausage Sandwich Forever Funny is expanding everyone's favourite Christmas Sausage Dog range. This adorable range features dachshunds at Christmas time in different fun and hilarious situations - stuck in Christmas jumpers, tangled in fairy lights and many more. The cards are all sized 105mm x 150mm and sold wrapped with bright red envelopes.

Forever Funny 07512 304391 www.forever-funny.com Stand ZD16

Ohh Yes! The Ohh Deer Christmas collection, new for 2017, features the work of top illustrators, including Gemma Correll, Allison Black, Kong Yew Wong and Rebecca Cameron. Expect everything from hot-foiled gold lettering, stand out neon designs, delicate debossed elements and classic Ohh Deer humour! New card sets and lovely giftwrap will also be on display.

Ohh Deer 01509 812 075 www.ohhdeertrade.com Stand ZB21

Play Time Party Animals is a brand-new colourful collection of children's age cards from Old English Company. The range has mix of vibrant colour and fun illustrations on bright white card and pressed with gold foil. The A6 cards come wrapped with an accompanying dark grey envelope.

Old English Company 01780 763368 www.oldenglishcompany.com Stand ZB15

'Tis The Season

Bow Wow Wow Hipster Hounds is a range of eight cards from Jo Clark Design featuring different pooches adorned with their very own handmade bowtie, a gift for your dog to wear on their collar!

The bow-ties have been made by Buster & Lou, a UK pet accessories designer, using fabrics designed by Jo Clark. A great gift this Christmas or for a pet’s birthday or adoption day.

Jo Clark Design 07886193734 www.joclarkdesign.co.uk Stand ZD32

More is more when it comes to the holidays! And Nocturnal Paper’s Christmas 2017 collection sees 25 new Christmas designs bringing some Christmas cheer to our favourite celebs, fluffy pom pom embellishments for Rudolph and a mini envelope for a secret message full of colour and celebration!

Nocturnal Paper 07557352159 www.nocturnalpaper.com Stand ZA35

Bee In Her Bonnet Hazel Bee returns to Top Drawer to exhibit 120 new designs - more of her usual dry sarcastic humour, with new characters (unicorns, cats, seahorses, zebra bums and pregnant buffalos) with bold frank messages on ethically sound and sustainable materials. The new size A6 selection includes birthday, festive and Valentine’s, and is sold wrapped with kraft envelopes.

Hazel Bee 07707 736456 www.hazelbee.co.uk Stand ZC15 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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A brand new range of 12 everyday and 6 Christmas cards launching at Autumn Fair

Tomcat Cards

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At the heart of the Greetings Card Hub since 1978.

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Innovations

Autumn Fair A selection of cards launching at Autumn Fair, 3-6 September 2017, NEC, Birmingham

Dotty About Dots New from Lesser & Pavey is Baby, the latest addition to the ever-popular Mad Dots range licensed from Hearts Designs. This range in pastel blue and pink includes fine chinaware mugs, feeding gift sets, tooth and hair curl trinket box, moneybox, photo-frames, storage boxes and matching gift bags. Each piece comes beautifully gift boxed and can be seen at the Autumn Fair this September.

Lesser & Pavey 01322 279225 www.leonardo.co.uk Hall 5 Stand E02-F03

That’s Rich!

The Maid Made It!

Sally Rich creates beautiful vibrant floral designs using swirls of colours and pattern. With her initial six designs for Glebe Cottage quickly becoming best sellers, four new designs and a notecard wallet are being added to the collection. The greeting cards are printed on a beautiful uncoated paper made from 50% recycled coffee cup waste and packed with 100% recycled brown ribbed envelopes.

Glebe Cottage 01626 369269 www.glebecottage.co.uk Hall 4 Stand F63

A Made Hand, the super stylish, gorgeous card company, is extending two best-selling ranges for Autumn Fair. The range called Top Drawer will have 40 new designs and there will be 25 additions to Eternity, its well-established large card range. Both ranges are printed on the highest quality board and most are hand finished with diamantés.

A Made Hand 01756 748972 www.amadehand.com Cardgains Village Hall 4 Stand D40-F41

Hicks From The Sticks Olivia Hicks was one of the winners of Wraptious’ design competition earlier this year with her stunning animal portraits, inspired by her love of the British countryside. Now all ready to be launched at Autumn Fair, there are six designs, sized 150mm square, and sold with a choice of kraft or silver envelope.

Wraptious 0161 221 0109 www.wraptious.com/pages/trade Hall 4 Stand F80

You Can Fly! Sabivo Design is expanding its popular Fly range with 30 open and occasion captions cards for Christmas. This bird inspired range has a modern take on the traditional watercolour and features popular forest and field birds, on-trend hand-lettering, and handfinished with gold dots and silver snowflakes for a contemporary and modern feel. All the cards are sized 145mm square, wrapped with red festive envelopes.

Sabivo Design 01858 433716 www.sabivo.co.uk Hall 4 Stand D71

Wooden Tops Alljoy Designs is launching a range of Wooden Ornament Christmas cards. There are 24 designs, all with wooden Christmas ornaments attached onto beautiful shimmering board with silver foil details. The cards are sized 135mm x 185mm and come wrapped with a cream envelope.

Alljoy Design +353 (0 1 6301213 www.alljoydesign.com Hall 4 Stand D67 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

Autumn Fair A selection of cards launching at Autumn Fair, 3-6 September 2017, NEC, Birmingham

A Dog And Cat’s Life Up to Scratch is a cute new range from Holy Mackerel, featuring artist Erica Sturla’s take on our pampered pooches and cossetted cats!

Gorgeously glossy, the cards are sized 150mm square and come with a contemporary grey envelope. There are 12 designs so far in the range, with lots more pets on the way!

Holy Mackerel 01395 578571 www.holy-mackerel.co.uk Hall 4 Stand F20

Let’s Celebrate!

Proudly designed and hand-finished in ‘The Potteries’, Confetti is a beautiful foiled and embossed range from The Handcrafted Card Company covering birthday, wedding, anniversary and thank you. With a soft pastel colour palette, these contemporary designs are hand-finished with sparkling crystals. Each card measures 150mm square and is teamed with a soft grey envelope.

The Handcrafted Card Company 01782 639733 www.thehandcraftedcardcompany.co.uk Hall 4 Stand A30

Funny Ha Ha

Give Me An A! This September at Autumn Fair Alphabeti Yeti will launch a brand new range of Christmas Alphabet cards, all designed by Shelli Graham.

Celebrating all things festive, the cards are sized 105mm x 148mm and are sold wrapped with metallic gold envelopes.

Alphabeti Yeti from Shelli Graham 07905 224248 www.shelli.graham.com Hall 3 Stand Y49

The Art Life New from Natural Partners is a range of cards featuring the charming illustrations of Durhambased artist Sarah Campbell. Sarah enhances her work with the strategic use of colour as she evokes memories of happy childhood days and the whimsical imaginings of children. The 14 designs in the range are all 155mm x 155mm and come cello-wrapped with a white envelope.

Natural Partners 07714 768956 www.naturalpartnersart.co.uk Hall 4 Stand F48

Dean Morris Cards is launching lots of new designs at his first ever visit to Autumn Fair. His ever-popular Fabulous range now has over 150 designs notched up over Dean’s ten years of making people laugh. The cards feature the usual Dean Morris fantastic retro images, bold colours and funny captions. All the cards are sized 5” x 7” and come wrapped with complementing envelopes.

Dean Morris Cards 01902 560247 www.deanmorriscards.co.uk Hall 4 Stand F61

A Stitch In Time New at Autumn Fair from Blue Eyed Sun is Sew Delightful, a range of 60 cards based on original embroidered artworks by award winning textile artist Jo Corner. All embossed and hand-finished with jewels, this 160mm square range includes best-selling everyday captions and occasions as well as Mother’s Day. Blue Eyed Sun 01273 823003 www.blueeyedsun.co.uk Hall 4 Stand R02 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Ho Ho From the team behind Progressive Greetings Worldwide, PG Live, The Retas and The Henries, PGBuzz.net has launched as the new online central resource for the greeting card sector online...

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

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Regularly updated jobs-board

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The very latest news, views, articles and analysis

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Digital issues of Progressive Greetings Worldwide

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Warren Lomax warren@max-publishing.co.uk

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SPECIAL AGENT REPORT

A Bonnie Bag

Inset: Not a bad route to work! Though retailers are rather spread out in some areas of Grant’s territory, such as here alongside Loch Fyne in Argyle.

Below: Grant Gibson (left) with fellow agents (rightleft) Karen Ford, Andy Fletcher and (second left) Adam Lawrance as well as retailer Mark JansonSmith (Postmark) at The Art File’s recent Queen’s Award presentation.

Below left: Grant in a meeting with the buying team of the Glasgow Galleries with Lucy Callender (left) and Catherine McGurk.

Below right: Floyd, Grant’s beloved four-legged friend guarding the samples.

Bottom: Gibsons, the shop run by Grant’s wife Joanne, is looking forward to gearing up for Christmas.

Grant Gibson is a rare breed. Not only as he is a relatively ‘new’ sales agent, but also one that has extensive first-hand retail experience.

With the whole of Scotland as his sales territory for the card companies he represents, PG crossed over Hadrian’s Wall to have a ‘wee blether’ with him.

What’s in ‘your bag’?: “The Art File, Canns Down Press, James Ellis Stevens, Lagom Design, Lola Designs, Louise Tiler, Pulp and Thomas St Candle Company.”

Your life before becoming an agent?: “I opened my first gift shop, in Haddington in East Lothian, in October 1996 with my Dad that we imaginatively called Gibsons. I was only 19 at the time. I worked there for a couple of years but had an urge to go and see a bit of the world and so headed for Australia and spent an amazing year there.

When I came back to the UK I took on a few sales jobs until I decided to open my own shop in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh that I called Gifted.

The business was very successful, so much so that in 2013 we decided to sell the business to help towards the cost of purchasing my family’s business Gibsons in Haddington. We then gutted this shop, gave it a new look by adding lots of new products, and it has been a big success ever since. My wife Joanna joined the business in 2009, which is what cleared the way for me to do something else - and become an agent.”

What gave you the idea to become an agent?: “I had always fancied getting ‘out

and about’ and was confident that our retail business was where we wanted it to be and heading in the right direction, so in 2014 I took the plunge to become an agent.

What gave me the idea was that I was dealing with agents daily in the shop and I recognised that a lot of them were nearing retirement age. It struck me that there are so many great companies out there and as time went on there would be opportunities arising with some leading companies for me to become their agent. I think a lot of people are put off becoming agents as they probably think that with more and more companies using websites etc that the future role for agents is not guaranteed.

However, I believe that retail customers still want to see and feel the products (that agents bring into their shops), and also if companies are looking to grow their business then using an agent is the best way to open new accounts.”

Take us on a tour of your territory: “I cover Scotland, which is a challenge as it is a country with a small population spread out over a huge land mass, meaning there's a lot of ground to cover, often with four hour drives to get to a customer. As that can often be your only appointment of the day you have to try and make the most of each call.

At the moment there is a big contrast between areas within Scotland.

Edinburgh, for example, is booming; the visitor numbers are through the roof this year, probably due to the weak £pound, while in many other areas business can be much more challenging.”

How is the year panning out?: “My customer base is growing all the time and this has been my best year yet, and I feel there is room for further growth.”

What do you love about your job?: “I really love my job as it’s in the industry that I've known all my working life, and at the ripe old age of 40 I feel that I've got plenty of years ahead to really build up a successful business. It was tough to begin with, and still is, but it has been worth persevering.”

How do you switch off?: “I switch off by spending time with my wife, kids and my boxer dog Floyd. My son is a keen footballer so I seem to spend alot of my time standing on the sidelines watching him training and generally being his taxi driver! He and I both have a season ticket at Hibernian FC in Edinburgh so we go to all the home games.”

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

Instagram Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun, takes a snapshot of the hottest party on social media: Instagram.

Despite being an avid user of social media for many years I’ve been relatively late in joining the Instagram party. I registered my account names early on, but it’s only been this year that I’ve actively started using what for many in our industry is a daily habit.

When YouTuber, Noodlerella, recently told me that Instagram was essential to the growth of her YouTube channel I realised I could ignore it no longer. I set up @JeremyCorner on Instagram the next day and grew my followers to 150 within 24hrs. What shocked me most was that my first post gained likes from over a third of these. This level of engagement is massive compared with other social platforms.

What’s been particularly interesting is the number of retailers and publishers actively using Instagram. It’s massively popular and reminds me of Twitter in 2009 when it was the hottest party in town and the posts were fresh, fun and interesting. It also felt more like a community than a load of broadcast noise.

I think one of the reasons I didn’t rush into Instagram (launched in 2010 and acquired by Facebook in 2012 for $1 billion) is that I felt over saturated with social media platforms at the time. I’d also spent a while experimenting with various tools and you don't always know which ones are going to workout (I’m thinking of Google+, Perscope, Blab and Snapchat). The key thing to note is who is actively using them and whether they matter to you and your industry. If they do, then it’s worth testing them for your business.

For you and I in our industry I can tell you that Instagram matters. It’s visual, it’s active, it’s accessible and it dovetails into retail very well.

With a fast growing active user base that’s twice the size of Twitter and three times the size of WhatsApp and Facebook 88

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Above: Join the Instagram party! A card from The Alternative Image Co © Topofoto.

Left: The place to be to market your wares, Instagram.

Below: Facebook is one of the top five most used social media platforms. A design from Paper Rose’s Cats & Dogs range.

Messenger, Instagram is crushing it in the greeting card industry right now. A lot of users are having fun using Boomerang effects, Filters, Emojis and even creating Instagram Stories.

As with greeting cards, Instagram is particularly popular with women who make up 56% of UK users. It’s a brilliant visual tool for people looking for new products, experiences and places.

Retailers that are constantly hunting for great new products for their customers love it.

Consumers too can discover new things online and even order by messaging the retailer directly. It’s also a great way for retailers to connect with their suppliers and for them to cross promote one another’s businesses.

For greeting card publishers it’s a way of showing the personal story of their brand and sharing their ideas and talents with a wider audience. One that more often than not includes retailers and buyers.

The whole industry benefits from a thriving networking of interconnected business people. Those that aren’t using Instagram are missing out on this great opportunity.

With technological changes like the internet, and faster payment services affecting footfall on the high street, retailers need to take action to replace lost customers. Consumers are now navigating digital high streets daily to explore new products and discover new experiences.

On average we now spend over four hours a day on our phone or mobile devices. That’s one out of every six days! The majority of this time is spent using these top five social media platforms: YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter. Importantly, 82% of users turn to their mobile devices to help them make a product decision!

If you are not engaging on these platforms you are missing out.

Want to learn more about The Digital High Street and how to future-proof your retail business? Then don’t miss my talk in the Inside Retail Theatre at Autumn Fair on Sunday 3 September from 12:15-12:45pm.

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JEREMY’S JOURNAL The Instagram facts

Below: Instagram has approximately 400 million daily users.

Bottom: Share images of your wares on Instagram, but don’t actively sell.

l 37% of all UK internet users are on Instagram l 700 million monthly active users l 400 million daily users l 80% of users follow at least one business on Instagram

l 30% of users have purchased a product they discovered on Instagram l 7 out of 10 Hashtags are branded l 250 million use Instagram Stories daily l Geo-tagged posts get 79% more engagement l Engagement is higher on weekdays l Photos generate 36% more likes than videos l 15 Million business profiles l Photos with faces get 38% more likes l 59% of 18-29 year olds use Instagram l 61% of UK Instagram users are 18-34 years old l 70% of Instagram posts don’t get seen

personal account too as it broadens your reach outside of business. This also hedges against changes in the algorithms for business accounts to favour advertisers.

Tag others You have the option to tag other users. This alerts them to your photos and can increase engagement. For example, I tag all of the publishers and retailers that feature in my latest video when I post an image from The Greeting Card Project. People will get annoyed and unfollow you if you do this to them all the time. You can also use the @ symbol to mention people and notify them when you post.

l 40 billion photos shared to date l Instagram Influencers charge up to £80,000 for a sponsored post

Getting started How to kick-start and maintain your Instagram platform for your business.

Post daily Post regularly on Instagram. Don’t post too often though or you can get penalised by Instagram’s algorithm. Once a day is generally best. You can post multiple images in the same post. As with all social media, consistency matters most over time.

Image matters Your Instagram images have to look good.

Make sure they are in focus. Don’t post blurry images. Use the filters in your phone’s app to help jazz them up a little. Try to keep a consistent visual look and feel to your account. Retailers should try and replicate the special visual experience of their shops.

Publishers’ accounts should mirror their unique brand story.

Engage Follow others and engage with them by liking and commenting on their posts in order to grow your following. You can double tap images to like them. Chip away at this regularly to grow at a steady rate. The Instagram algorithm takes past page engagement into account when prioritising content for other users. So keep engaging.

Bio Make sure you write a good bio using key words that matter to you, your suppliers and your customers.

Make it fun and enticing. Hyperlink to your most important website as

this is the only link you’ll post on Instagram that’s actually clickable. Mine directs my Instagram followers to www.youtube.com/thegreetingcardproject.

Use #hashtags Instagram posts with at least one hashtag have 12.6% more engagement than those without. Although you can add up to 30 hashtags per post, only use ones that are relevant to the image you post. I usually hashtag publishers, retailers, card recipients and the cities where I’ve shot my YouTube videos when I post on Instagram eg. #Harrogate

Don’t sell Actively selling on social media is a real turn off for followers. Decide on your brand story and share it through strong images. People want a visual sense of your business and what it is so that they can choose to engage.

That’s not to say you can’t share your wares.

Think show, not sell. Test calls-to-action that your followers will enjoy.

Instagram direct Keep an eye on your direct messages on Instagram as some people like to contact you privately. I get this from new customers and people who have questions. Check in daily so that you can respond quickly or turn your Instagram alerts on in your phone.

Comments Business or personal?

All social media is personal really. Having said that, it helps to set up your brand with a business account on Instagram. You get a load of metrics and can project a more professional image. It’s useful to have a

I find with most social media accounts that responding quickly to comments keeps the posts higher up other people’s feeds. I’ll often like the comments straight away and then reply with a message at busier times so that the posts are boosted and stay up longer.

Utilising Instagram as a marketing tool can bring customers knocking on card retailers’ ‘virtual’ shop door and build awareness of their brand and bricks and mortar store. While, for card publishers, harnessing Instagram can grow recognition of their designs and allows people to get to know the creative story behind them. It’s a free promotional platform so c’mon! Join the Instagram party!

You can follow me on Instagram and Twitter via @JeremyCorner Read more on Jeremy’s blog at www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys

The Architecture

Of Paper

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

In the last few weeks, ‘paper passionista’ Debbie Wigglesworth, explains how she has been enjoying adding new ‘tomes’ to The Paper Library; commissioning new form to the BDC; been inspired by the Paper City created by GF Smith, as well as adding The Calies as a new date in her calendar.

Visits to the library I felt incredibly privileged to exhibit alongside some of the UK’s leading creative lights and establishments at the recent New Designers Part 2 (Graphic Design and Illustration) exhibition to share what we are doing with The Paper Library, the paper resource for educational establishments that I co-founded with my business partner Mark Stansfield.

New Designers took place at London’s Business Design Centre, which is also, of course, home to PG Live every June.

It has been wonderful how more educational establishments are recognising the merit of having The Paper Library on campus, providing both inspiration and education in equal measure. We are already up and running in four colleges, but, partly a result of interest

Left: Paper fold artist Elod Beregszaszi with Debbie Wigglesworth on The Paper Library stand at the New Designers show with the specially created piece of paper art, based on the Business Design Centre, using Antalis Curious Matter and Curious Translucent Colours paper.

from the show, this is due to expand to 12! So, we now have our work cut out with a busy and exciting national programme of installations and paper workshops that will see us showering many educators and students with paper goodness as they join the paper fold!

And talking of ‘paper folds’, the organisers of New Designers and management of the BDC building were so impressed with the limited edition pop-up piece based on the distinctive building that we created specially for the show, that they insisted on displaying it in the reception to welcome visitors. The piece was created by paper fold artist Elod Beregszaszi, and everyone who visited our stand and signed up to The Paper Library newsletter watched with delight as Elod folded their free copy of the creation.

In the heart of culture

Making it a date with The Calies

In celebration of Hull's City of Culture, the birthplace of GF Smith and still the home to its

I’m so honoured and excited to be invited to be part of judging The Calies (Max Publishing new UK calendar awards), most specifically for the corporate B2B categories.

My introduction to the world of paper 30 years ago coincided with the introduction of Papierfabrik Scheufelen’s very first calendar in 1987. This spectacular calendar, created to promote Scheufelen's paper to its creative clients, was my 'armory' to promote the exquisite beauty of one of the world’s finest coated art papers (then known as Skyesilk, sold by McNaughton Paper) manufactured by the German mill. Its huge format A1 size calendar dwarfed any other at the time - along with its world class design, photography and print.

Some 30 years on, the company’s calendars are still sought after by creatives across the globe and have won several prestigious awards over the years, including Gold in 2017 at Gregor international calendar awards.

The closing date for entries to The Calies is September 11. The categories cover both retail and corporate (B2B) calendar titles.

headquarters today - the creative paper company rose to the challenge by hosting the largest of public artworks being displayed throughout the 365 day programme of cultural events in the celebrated city. The spectacular world class 10 day ‘Paper City’ event took place in July celebrating colour and the freedom to play with the most fundamental creative material - paper.

Eight world leading artists demonstrating exciting creative minds from the world of contemporary art, design and architecture created formidable installations made specifically for Hull's public places and spaces using the specialist coloured paper Colorplan, offering a different way to experience the city in the aptly titled event 'Paper City'.

It is good to see that some of these impressive and joyful creations (as well as its World’s Favourite Colour Pop-Up shop) have now been transferred to central London, to be shared with others at GF Smith’s Show Space until the end of September.

Above: Apeiron Flow is an sculpture by architect Adam Holloway, one of the inspiring exhibits that formed part of GF Smith’s Paper City installation.

Left: Made Thought’s piece, entitled The Fabric of Hull, is a nine metre long tapestry of interwoven paper strips which showcased at Paper City.

Above: One of the ‘pages’ in Scheufelen's 2017 Matters of the Heart calendar. This one is entitled Challenge – depicting how we experience the greatest moments of happiness when we have successfully managed difficult or extraordinary tasks in life.

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

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Book your tickets now!

You don’t need to buy a table. We welcome singles, doubles or any number of guests up to 12. And if you do come on your own we will make sure you are on a table with some great greeting card people.

Price includes Cocktail Reception, Dinner, Awards Presentation and Dancing (drinks at table – extra) Please reserve ……….. tables of 12 at £2,736.00 per table inc VAT Please reserve ……….. tables of 10 at £2,280.00 per table inc VAT Please reserve ……….. place(s) at £228.00 per place inc VAT I enclose my cheque for £ ……………………………. PAYABLE TO: Max Publishing Ltd Debit my Access / Visa (Please delete as necessary)

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Up Close With... James Hearne

The Hear(ne) And Now

For some the very idea of coming up with just one great design for a greeting card would be a pipedream. But James Hearne, one of the talented artists represented by artists’ agency Image Source, has just celebrated creating his 2,500th greeting card and wrap artwork.

As the latest clutch of James’ creations debut within his online portfolio in good time for publishers to see them at Autumn Fair, PG persuaded him to turn his attentions from the visual to the literary and share insights from his life and loves.

Above: James Hearne with the 2,500th artwork he has created.

Far left: Reaching such an impressive artistic milestone is cause for celebration, with a James Hearne artwork of course!

Left: James is well respected for the cheery Christmas images he creates.

Take us back to your creative beginnings…

“I have always loved drawing for as long as I can remember, I even managed to sell my first piece of art to some German tourists at my grandma's hotel when I was 6 or 7 years-old for 50p, which was a king’s ransom at that age. I guess that feeling must have stuck with me!”

What inspires you?

“I love creating something from nothing but a spark of an idea and then having people actually want to use it. I am always on the lookout for new and interesting looks for my character driven art. This helps keep the creative juices flowing. I also enjoy painting fantasy and Science Fiction miniatures as a hobby, which helps fuel my love of art.

My family are always great cheer leaders, which really helps through those uninspired days.”

Right: James’ artwork featured on Image Source’s 12 Days of Christmas promotional campaign last year.

Below: Penguins, Santas and vibrant scenes are a James Hearne speciality.

What drew you to designing greeting cards and giftbags?

“I was driven by all the possibilities art offers for commercial applications, which eventually led to me to studying surface decoration at university; I sort of fell into being selfemployed and the greeting card and giftbags business. A friend from university got me a job as an in-house illustrator for a big high street brand working on greeting cards. Then, after moving away, I worked from home with them as my first client until I branched out with my agents.”

What is your favourite time in a design’s creation?

“The initial sketch, when I first put down what is in my head onto a screen (what happened to paper?). It is the most creative moment for me, after that it is just sweat and tears to getting it done.”

Is there something you can’t live without in your studio?

“I absolutely love my Wacom Cintiq, being able to draw directly on the screen is fantastic. The only down side is it needs fairly low room lighting to work comfortably. This, paired with the fact that my studio is in the basement, means I do feel like a cave troll from time to time. This leads me to my second favourite thing, my iPad Pro coupled with an iPencil and, one of the best ‘bang for your buck’ apps, Procreate. This gem lets me work from coffee shops in the full light of day!”

Do you ever think of doing anything other than creating art for a living?

“I have been doing it for so long I can't imagine doing anything else. I grumble about it at times (even hate it at times), but I always rediscover it again and love it like I always have. And, admittedly, the money also helps…” l James Hearne’s artworks (as well as those from other artists) can be viewed on Image Source’s stand at the Autumn Fair (Hall 4, Stand D58) as well as on its website (www.image-source.co.uk) PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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ARTSOURCE

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

TO APPEAR REGULARLY IN THE

ARTSOURCE SECTION OF PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON

01234 740 051

97_99_49/51 14/08/2017 14:54 Page 97

ART SOURCE

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

ARTIST IN FOCUS

Jennifer Orkin Lewis I am an artist, illustrator and author who works in a lovely attic studio perched atop a very colourful house right outside of New York City. I have been obsessed with painting from an early age, I was always making art and creating something new. I am known for my daily sketchbook paintings which I have been doing for over four years. Every day, weekends and vacations included, I paint for up to 30 minutes for personal satisfaction, the things that inspire and surround me; it has become a visual diary of the moments that pass by, sometimes unnoticed. It might be a high flying bird, a field of weeds, a broken teacup or details in a large crowd of people, to the little things I do that take up a day, such as gardening, a bike ride or a visit to a museum.

My paintings are primarily gouache and watercolour, but also include ink, pencil and the occasional marker.

Besides the sketchbook, I have worked with clients such as Anthropologie,

Abrams Books, Chronicle Books, Flow Magazine, Kate Spade, Seal Press, TeNeues and many more.

My first book was published last year with Abrams books. It is a creative guided journal that helps encourage people to find a bit of daily inspiration and develop a daily drawing habit. There are currently two more books in the works that will be out in 2018.

I also teach painting classes on Creativebug, as well as workshops and retreats. I spent many years after graduating from RISD as a textile stylist designing prints for children's clothing and lingerie. l Jennifer’s Agent: Jennifer Nelson l Email: jennifer@jennifer-nelson-

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

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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ARTSOURCE

TO APPEAR REGULARLY IN THE

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

What ever sheet size you require, we can print.

DIGITAL

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

FLEXI

B2

B1

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ART SOURCE Danielle Noakes

I am a designer and illustrator currently based in Northamptonshire, England. With a background in textile design and greeting cards I have been fortunate to create designs for the international market in homewares and paper products. Past clients include The Company Store, Next, American Greetings, Noel Tatt and Paperchase.

I love drawing, painting, colour and pattern, and I enjoy working in different styles/techniques, depending on the client’s needs and design brief. I particularly like the combination of lose line work with splashes of colour, however I enjoy creating graphic, digital and painterly artwork too, building up a varied portfolio and appealing to a wide range of clients.

My inspiration comes from so many places, and it doesn't take much to spark off a new idea. From spending time in nature, walking through the park, to homewares products, such as ceramics, as well as colour inspiration from WGSN and fashion... the list goes on!

Great artists such as Elizabeth Blackadder, Pierre Bonnard and beautiful Chinese brushwork have always inspired me to draw and paint, with their use of colour, technique and composition.

In today's world, with the internet, social media, and amazing design-led magazines such as Frankie, I try not to be too influenced by what is out there already, but at the same time paying attention to current/up and coming trends and colour palettes.

Future projects I would love to work on are children's books, as well as working with new clients within homewares and paper products. If you would like to see more of my portfolio or would like to consider working with me on a project, please contact Hannah and Fiona at Bright Art Licensing, and they will be happy to discuss your requirements! l Tel: 0207 3269140 l Web: www.brightgroupinternational.com

Alan Lathwell I’m a freelance illustrator based in the UK and from as early as I can remember my ambition was always to be an artist… and like so many other artists, I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil.

I’ve worked on a very wide range of subjects to date and my religious artwork has been published around the world for greeting cards and many other products too.

I like to use a mixture of traditional hand-drawn and painting methods and digital techniques to create my paintings as I feel it gives my work a unique multi-faceted quality. Capturing the perfection of the old masters use of ‘light’ and the classical portrayal of love between ‘Madonna and Child’ has been a great challenge and learning curve for me over the years and happily they have been my most successful pieces to license to date.

My passion and interest in the Pre-Raphaelite and Old Masters work offers me a constant source of inspiration and has always been such a strong influence in my more celestial works depicting Madonna and child, angels and many other beautifully allegorical biblical scenes.

To see more of my work you can view my online portfolio at Image Source. l Email: anne@image-source.co.uk l Web: www.image-source.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

Jinnie Baker, owner of PaperWorks, Totnes, Devon A small art materials, Japanese papers and card shop in a Tudor town with a loyal locals and tourists customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Horners

Sally Anderson

Cute

Pippi & Me

Little Creatures

Photographic

The Alternative Image Company

General

Contemporary

Claudia Schmid

Across The Board

Art

Caroline Barker

General

Traditional

Paula Cloonan

General

Giftwrappings

Lagom

General

A local artist who paints charming oil/acrylic landscapes, seascapes and figurative images that are quirky and fun. They’re great everyday cards, with a particularly good wedding and Christmas selection.

Adorable photos of sweet handmade animal creatures in various poses. Very endearing, heart-warming cards, suited to many occasions.

Funky black and white photos of kitsch, nostalgic and funny images.

A great contrast to other art cards and they sell really well.

A Totnes-based artist who creates pen and ink/oil images of imaginary people and creatures that are very popular for all occasions. These cards speak to you on a poignant, heart-felt level.

Beautiful lino-prints and collographs of local scenes and images that have caught Caroline’s eye. Really, really good printmaking.

Great watercolours using a bright, lively palette. The landscapes, seascapes and figurative images capture a moment in time perfectly. Great for all occasions.

Very lovely wrapping paper with a matt finish, vibrant colours, and great images of birds, flowers, wildlife and pattern. Well worth stocking; it sells extremely well.

Right: Poignant images feature on cards from Claudia Schmid, a Totnes artist.

Below right: A beautiful print (on a card) from Devonshire artist Caroline Barker.

Denise Ballard, owner of Fourteen Lifestyle, Stroud, Gloucestershire A medium shop in a picturesque market town with a varied customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Rosie Made A Thing

Gin & Frolics

Humour

Redback Cards

Wulffmorgenthaler, Cloud 9, Good Things

Brainbox Candy

Across The Board

Photographic

Mint Publishing

A Dog Named Jimmy

Art

Wild Flower Cards

General

Contemporary

1973 Petra Boase

Letterpress Iron On Patch Cards

2 To Tango

Pop-Ups

Quirkily cute characters without being too sickly sweet… and just hilarious.

So funny and very different from other humour ranges, and not too in your face with swear words.

We offer a mixture of designs from all the ranges and they constantly sell.

Basically, a very clever idea. I always tell my customers the story behind Jimmy Choo, an English Bull Terrier, and his Brazilian owner.

Flora and fauna in vibrant colours created in an unusual way.

The slightly retro colours and designs appeal and they look classy.

The iron-on sweet embroidered patches attached to the Above: A Dog Named Jimmy from Mint. design create a gift and card in one.

Stunning three-dimensional cards that come to life as you open the card. The floral one is perfect as a Get Well card as you often can’t take flowers into hospitals.

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Jo Sorrell, owner of Cardies, Stevenage Old Town, Hertfordshire A small shop in a historic high street with a loyal locals and tourists customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

The Little Dog Laughed

digs&manor and It’s a Good Sign

Humour

Rosie Made A Thing

Gin & Frolics

Paperlink

Across The Board

Photographic

Tracks

General

Contemporary Traditional

Hearts Designs Nigel Quiney

Mad Dots Pizazz

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Wendy Jones-Blackett

Across The Board

English Graphics

Glitter Dogs & Cats

Children’s

Words ‘n’ Wishes

Giftwrappings

Glick

Unique Personalised Caption Cards Pizazz, Stephanie Dyment, Paper Salad and Wendy JonesBlackett Plush Alphabet Coasters

One of our favourites! Wonderful pooch and feline imagery and the publisher gets the captions just right… for cats and dogs.

This range is just romping away in popularity. It’s on the ball and up to date on current topics, such gin and Prosecco.

Consistently bringing out new designs, which is very important to keep the racks fresh for our regular customers.

A lovely company with lots of great quirky designs. They even print cards for us featuring our four Labradors who are the ‘meeters and greeters’ of our shop.

Beautifully simple and classy.

Florals with glitz designs that appeal to our more mature customers.

The company keeps moving with the times and the ranges are always beautiful.

There’s a quirky look to the animals and a tiny touch of sparkle brings the designs alive.

Pop-out cardboard ages and relations captions that look nice when added to the card; it’s our best selling kids’ cards range.

Good quality wrap and bags that complement our card ranges.

Jellycat Bluebell 33

Ancillary

Top: English Graphics’ Glitter Cats and Dogs has a touch of sparkle.

Above: Glick’s Paper Salad giftwrap collection includes some magical unicorns.

They’re as soft as a Labrador’s ear!

Scrabble letter tile coasters that are a great pick up gift that can be popped in with the card.

Frances Emerald, owner of Calneva, St Leonards On Sea, East Sussex A small vintage shop in a seaside town with a loyal local customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Humour

RetroCards

Across The Board

Contemporary

Pennychoo

Mind The Gap, Matchbook and Honey, I’m Home!

Visoni

General

Lip International

Picturama

RetroCards

General

These are hilarious! I can hear customers having a good old snigger when looking at the cards. There are also some famous faces from the past, and the gay designs are especially popular for people to send to their friends.

Nearly a third of my card designs are from Pennychoo. The vintage matchbox ads inspired designs and London Transport signs are fab, as is the new 1950 Americana range featuring 20th century domestic objects.

Reproduced 20th century travel posters on cards showing glamorous faraway locations and romantic modes of transport.

American retro images that are slightly kitsch. The favourite, a space boy with a butterfly and a ray gun, has sold out.

Really good, quality wrap, that gives a nice fold, featuring images such as pinup girls, old film stars, 60s comic ads and retro vinyl record sleeve designs.

Top: Pennychoo’s 'Honey, I’m Home!' range features 50s Americana.

Right: Vintage cameras on quality giftwrap from RetroCards.

Traditional

Giftwrappings

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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To appear in the Product Directories simply contact

Warren Lomax on:

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

Tracey Arnaud on:

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

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

102-109_Product Directory September 2017 17/08/2017 13:45 Page 103

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NEW CHRISTMAS AVAILABLE NOW

Publishers of quality blank greeting cards

bexyboo.co.uk 01565 830546

enquires@bexyboo.co.uk

www.cathtatecards.com

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

Witty, gritty, switched on humour.

Cards and gifts with a real difference.

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

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

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

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

S end i n g YOU Y YO O OU U

WISHES

Diwali

A w o n d e rf u l id!

E id Eid

The UK No. No. 1 in The Licensed Greetings Greetings etings Licensed Over Overr 30 licenses Ov licens nses ses including: includin ng g: g: D Disne y, Peppa Peppa Pig Pig, Disney, He Kitty, Kitty Kitty, Mr Men Men Hello a d Angry A Birdss and Birds t: +44 + (0)1264 388400 e: enquiries@gemma-international.co.uk co.uk enquiries@gemma-interna national. ti w: gemma-international.co.uk gemma-international. ona co.uk

Ch nese Chinese

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

HE IS

THE

WAY

THE AND TRUTH

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INTERNATIONAL

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Polish P olish o sh

and more!

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

Colour House Graphics

135 13 1 35 H Heaton eaton ea on M Moor oorr Rd Rd | Stockport S Sttockp ock o kpo port ort SK4 4HY 4 4H HY

A U.K owned Greeting Cards Publisher.

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

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

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

M ETHOD OF SALE

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

Direct to Retail

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

from the

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

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

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

Beautiful greeting cards from contemporary British artwork

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

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102-109_Product Directory September 2017 18/08/2017 16:11 Page 105

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact

Warren Lomax on:

020 7700 6740 www.greatbritishcards.co.uk WATERWELLS DRIVE, GLOUCESTER GL2 2PH UK TEL: 01452 888999

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

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

Tracey Arnaud on:

07957 212 062 or email on traceya@max-publishing.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

L E T U S TA K E YOU BAC K

For further details please get in touch.

info@vincentmcevoy.com

+44 (0)7779 578340

LING DESIGN

60 years

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

Pizazz Gifts.

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

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

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

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

106

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

and

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

Bespoke service for charities and other fundraisers.

Brand Names

With Love

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

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

Agents Wanted

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

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

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

originalposter.com

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

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

Brands include: Bottomline, Bestie, Wrinklies, Hat Trick, Route 69, Bangers & Flash, Humdingers, Lacie, Sassy, Stay Wonky, Patisserie, Tinklers, Made With Love, and many many more!

Method of Sale: Direct P Paperlinkcards aperlinkcards @paperlinkcards @ paperlinkcards

We replace slow sellers and damaged stock free of charge.

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

THAT’S WHY WE’RE ORIGINAL!

01932 267 300 Exquisite Design, Beautiful Cards Key brands include Marzipan, Portobello, Mosaic, Daisy Patch, Aquarupella and Designers Guild, plus many more.

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

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact

Warren Lomax on:

020 7700 6740 Design-led Stationery, Gifts, Calendars, Diaries and Cards Brands Laura Ashley, Roald Dahl, Lily & Val, Vintage Ladybird, Caroline Gardner, Monsoon, Born to Shop, Flash Gordon, Boofle and many more.

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

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

Tracey Arnaud on:

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

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

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

TM

l PRODUCT DIRECTORY

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact

Warren Lomax

LING DESIGN

on:

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

Tracey Arnaud on:

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

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

Greeting Cards that are unique & special with creative wit.

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

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

rosierobins.com 01992 536461 Products: Greetings Cards, Gift Wrap, Social Stationery, Gift Bags, Keepsakes, Partyware.

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

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact

Warren Lomax on:

Method of sale:

020 7700 6740

Wholesale Distributors

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

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

Tracey Arnaud on:

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

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

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

METHOD OF SALE: Direct to retail.

PG LIVE STAND ª 684

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

T: 07767 896807 info@stationerytraffic.co.uk stationerytraffic.co.uk 108

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading publisher of highest quality handmade Greetings Cards.

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

Talking Pictures Cards Ltd 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6BE UNIQUE UNIQ QUE U PERSONALISED PERSONALISED CARDS

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

Wee of W offer ffer f a COMPRE COMPREHENSIVE HENS

range of high quality qua Gr eeting Car ds ffor o Greeting Cards ALL Occasions Occasions,, CHRISTMAS HRISTMAS and Spring Seasons.

Seasons Method of Sale: D Direct to Retail

Market Leaders in

Verse

& entimen

Email: info@words-n-wishes.co.uk inffo@w o ords-n-wishes.

Web: W eb: e www.words-n-wishes.co.uk www w.w . ords-n-wishes.co

Tel: T e el: 01942 01942 233201 233201

an extensive range of superior quality,

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

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

DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT

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

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

+44(0)1243 792600

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

Top-notch British Greeting Cards for Thoughts that Count

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

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

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110_Wholesale Directory September 2017_whole sale dirSeptember 2004 16/08/2017 15:50 Page 110

DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS

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DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS

NATIONWIDE

MERSEYSIDE

WALES

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

MERSEYSIDE GREETING CARDS LTD

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

Email: info@abbeycards.com

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

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

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

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

Always something different Check us out now!!!

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

HERTS & LONDON

SUMAN BROS

To appear in the Wholesale Directory simply contact

Warren Lomax 020 7700 6740

Stationery and greeting card wholesaler

Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL

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

magnus RUPERT

T: 01923 200 900 F: 01923 200 909

Just off the M1 Junction 5

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

TRADING

LONDONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NO 1

Great deals Great location Plentiful parking

WEST MIDLANDS

GREETING CARDS STATIONERY PARTY AND BALLOON CASH & CARRY

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

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

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

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

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

Great range, competitive prices, excellent service.

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

NORTH WEST

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

Your One Stop Shop 0DQFKHVWHU 5RDG %XU\ %/ 6: 110

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

BLACK COUNTRY GREETINGS LTD â&#x20AC;¢

â&#x20AC;¢

â&#x20AC;¢ â&#x20AC;¢

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

â&#x20AC;¢ â&#x20AC;¢

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

â&#x20AC;¢

â&#x20AC;¢

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

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Polypropylene bag specialists

GREETING CARD

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

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

GIVE Y YOUR OUR

BAGS

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

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

VIP

CALL ALL US TODA TODAY AY

TREATMENT TREA ATMENT T

01773 0 1773 7 537810 5378 810

HIGH CLARITY BAGS FOR GREETING CARDS, CALENDARS AND ARTWORK

ENVELOPES

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

CALL US TODAY

01228 560526 www.fulcrumfilms.co.uk

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

Available v 100% Recycled Paper Available

PAPER

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

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

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

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

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Quality Bespoke Envelopes!

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

Plain, printed, coloured & textured finish.

100% recycled & FSC available.

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

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

FLITTERING

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

FOR ALL YOUR FLITTER REQUIREMENTS

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

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

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

PRINTERS

PJ Print (London) The Capitals only specialist Greetings card printer

Take the time to give us a call

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

you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t regret it.

E-mail: sales@pj-print.co.uk The Print Works Colville Road, Acton, London W3 8BL tel 020 8993 5160 www.pj-print.co.uk 112

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

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

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Introducing a joint venture from

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

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

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

150 50 1 .uk

Our specialist services include:

• high quality • fast turnaround • competitive pricing

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

2 .co 011es4@loxleys

Promotional items Marketing literature

sal

Exhibition graphics /stands Stationery any more ribution

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

0114 250 1150 •

07974 133735 • sales@digitalhubuk.com

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

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

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

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

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

T

01274 305832

E

info@hellocards.co.uk

W

www.hellocards.co.uk

• LITHO PRINT • DIGITAL PRINT • FOILING • EMBOSSING • FLOWRAPPING

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

Same day order turnaround Accurate fulfilment Value added only as you sell the product Exclusively Greeting Cards Dedicated Account Managers With an excellent reputation we work as an integral part of yourr team bringing QYGL QSVI XLER JYPǻPQIRX 4YV GSWXMRK WXVYGXYVI MW WMQTPI ERH XVERWTEVIRX ;I GEVV] SYX EPP EWTIGXW SJ LERH ǻRMWLMRK ERH EWWIQFP] ERH TVSZMHI [LEXIZIV ; I GEVV] SYX EPP EWTIGXW SJ LERH ǻRMWLMRK ERH EWWIQFP] ERH TVSZMHI [LEXIZIV EHHMXMSREP WIVZMGIW ]SY RIIH 4YV WIPIGX XIEQ SJ SYX[SVOIVW GEVIJYPP] LERH EHHMXMSREP WIVZMGIW ]SY RIIH 4YV WIPIGX XIEQ SJ SYX[SVOIVW GEVIJYPP] LERH [VET ER] WM^I SV JSVQEX SJ GEVHW YVKIRXP] 4ZIVRMKLX [VET ER] WM^I SV JSVQEX SJ GEVHW YVKIRXP] 4ZIVRMKLX ;I GEVI EFSYX ]SYV TVSHYGX EW QYGL EW ]SY HS &XXIRXMSR XS HIXEMP 6( .WWYIW ERH .8 WYTTSVXIH F] E GSQTVILIRWMZI TETIV XVEMP JSV EPP WXSGO QSZIQIRXW EVI SYV LEPPQEVOW 4YV GER HS ETTVSEGL QIERW [I EVI LETT] XS WSPZI ]SYV TVSFPIQW 4YXWSYVGMRK ]SYV [EVILSYWMRK STIVEXMSR VIPIEWIW ]SYV XMQI XS 4YXWSYVGMRK ]SYV [EVILSYWMRK STIVEXMSR VIPIEWIW ]SYV XMQI XS CREATE/MARKET/SELL/ CREA AT TE/MARKET/SELL/ MANAGE/GROW MANAGE/GROW THE BUSINESS BUSINESS =SYV FYWMRIWW MW SYV FYWMRIWW TPIEWI ZMWMX SYV [IF WMXI ERH WII [LEX SYV GYWXSQIVW WE] XLIR XS ǻRH SYX QSVI GEPP Ly ynda

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

Raymond ERH TIVLETW [I GER EVVERKI XS QIIX ERH HMWGYWW ]SYV RIIHW . EQ WYVI XLEX [I GER LIPT

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

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

Home of the Wire Spinner Stand

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

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

To appear in the Classified pages simply contact

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

APPOINTMENTS BUSINESS FOR SALE

RETIREMENT SALE Greetings Card publishing business based in Devon.

Owners moving to France Currently run part-time from home with annual sales of £60k and nett profits of over £30k.

Majority of sales are from ‘on consignment’ selling in Devon and Cornwall but also 4 agents covering UK areas. Established 1991.

Plenty of scope to increase sales if required.

All products are printed in the UK. Stock of £28000 includes cards ‘on consignment’.

Thousands of images are owned and others are licensed on a royalty basis.

Sale includes all software, licensing agreements, images and goodwill.

Full e-commerce internet shop.

This is an ideal business for a couple to run from home and make a nice living from a combined 5-6 days per week.

Further details and current accounts available to all genuine enquirers.

Tel: 07977551287 or 07585442628 for details PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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contact your rep/agent call us or go online:

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