Progressive Greetings April 2016

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Leader

On The Cards With, amazingly, a third of 2016 gone already perhaps it is worth reflecting on what has been a reasonable start for our industry.

True there were no sales records broken for the first two of our Spring Seasons, Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. But given that Valentine’s Day fell on the worst possible day for retail trading on a Sunday and that Mother’s Day this year was just about as early as it ever falls, many independent and multiple retailers were reasonably relieved at their cash take. Even more so when BRC figures for the last few weeks have indicated a pretty poor time for bricks and mortar retailing generally.

This follows a similar pattern for Christmas trading. Now the dust has settled it has been confirmed that most sectors had a pretty lousy Christmas, yet for the majority, after a very slow start, Christmas card sales were pretty healthy.

We must be doing something right as an industry and it looks like, barring unexpected disasters, we will all be able to see our careers out in cards should we want to of course, something perhaps the doubters were not so sure of eight or so years ago!

Of course that is as long as bricks and mortar retailing is given the freedom to survive and prosper. The challenges faced by retailers (not only cardies) just seem to get ever more onerous by the year. And many of those, such as the increase in the National Living Wage, the new employer pension obligations, business rates and parking charges, are a result of misguided and damaging policies introduced by local and national government. Cardsharp vents his frustration at this lack of understanding from the very people who should be

Above: PG Live will be the next great excuse for the world of greeting cards to get together.(Right-left) Eric Zilberman and Tatiana Schelkova from Russian distributors ZPR Greetings with GBCC's Chris Wilcox, Peter Reichwald, PG's Warren Lomax and GBCC's Nick Adsett on the GBCC stand at Spring Fair.

Left: What a talented husband and wife duo Wendy and Steve Jones-Blackett are. Wendy's was on TV recently talking about Mother's Day while hubby Steve wowed the audience at the recent GCA seminar on licensing (catch him on the YouTube GCA Clips – he's going viral!)

Below left: Thousands and thousands of new look Tatty Teddies made their way into Clintons' stores on Easter Monday with the new gift concept going into indies soon. CBG founder Stephen Haines (right) with Me to You master artist Steve Mort-Hill with PG's Jakki Brown at the launch party on its stand at the recent Spring Fair.

defending independent retailers’ interests in his column this month (see pages 24-25), while retailers understandably vent their spleen in news about the business rate let down in the Budget.

But enough negativity and let’s get back to what we all love about being in this business - the product! Let’s delight in the thought of all the spectacular new greeting card ranges that are going to be launched at PG Live, which takes place at the Business Design Centre in London (May 10-11), in just over a month’s time. If you are one of the few greeting card and gift shops who have not visited what now is the largest dedicated greeting card exhibition in the world, please do start making your plans to visit, and like the thousands who do attend PG Live every year, we guarantee you will be hooked for life!

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

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Contents

Within This Issue:

What’s Inside

FOCUS ON MALE CARDS

41

31 11-21

33-39

51-53

News

Innovations

Focus On Male Cards - New Launches

22-23

41-43

Over The Counter

Retailer Face To Face

Tinder Talk...

The Go Getters

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, examines how to find the perfect employee match.

Go getters, Andrea and David Pinder, co-founders of Unit 7, Presentation and The Party Planet, get talking to PG.

Rugged Roundup Some new male ranges flexing their muscles on the market.

55-57

Art Source 58-59

45

What’s Hot?

24-25

Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys

Cardsharp

A Paper Frenzy

61-63

A Nation Of Ex-Shopkeepers?

Debbie shares her latest paper art discoveries.

Lynn’s Lines

Cardsharp muses over topical events happening in the industry.

46-47

64-74

Jeremy’s Journal

27-29

Exclusively Yours

Classified

Viewpoints

Blue Eyed-Sun’s Jeremy Corner discusses exclusivity for card retailers.

Spring Fling Card retailers and distributers share their spring ‘barometer readings’ on their businesses and the forthcoming PG Live show.

Spring Has Sprung

75

Appointments

49 Focus On Male Cards - Trending

(Super)Hero Worship How the superhero theme is currently ‘awesome’ on male card designs.

30-31 Industry Developments

The Personal Touch The latest personalised greeting cards and gifts systems for retailers.

Above: Blue Eyed Sun proudly present its new men's range of sixty In the Frame greeting cards.

Progressive Greetings is a monthly business magazine.

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

Warren Lomax

Gale Astley

Editor

Advertisement Director

Deputy Editor

jw@max-publishing.co.uk

warren@max-publishing.co.uk

galea@max-publishing.co.uk

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

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

Copyright© 2016. 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.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PG A

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Quality blank greeting cards Tel: 0115 907 8420 Fax: 0115 943 0342 enquiries@bugart.co.uk

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NEWS Mums Face Up To It

TOP STORY

Motherly Instincts Condensed Timing To Milk Mother’s Day Sales It was always on the cards that the first two Spring Seasons 2016 events were going to be challenging, with Valentine’s Day falling on a Sunday and Mother’s Day following very swiftly after on the early date of March 6. “The trend of shoppers leaving their purchasing later and later shows no sign of slowing down, and with such a condensed run up to the events this year this has been

Continuing a successful partnership, South London retailer The Dulwich Trader, Ed’s and Tomlinsons engaged with the Dulwich community through a tie-up with local schools with children being asked to paint pictures of their mothers. These were then put on show in the shops.

Hundreds of entries were received for the annual competition, leading owner Katharine McLaverty to quip: "The paintings took over our stores!"

Below left: The Mother's Day window in Red Card, Petworth.

pushed even further and will likely remain so; it is all about the week leading up to the event,� commented Frances Burkle, head of buying at Paperchase.

Indeed, this ‘later buying’ caused online retailer Moonpig to be inundated with last minute orders, crashing its system and prompting a national apology that was lapped up by the media.

Leading retailing regional groups admitted that the Mother’s Day timing certainly didn’t help sales. “Our Mother’s Day sales were 2.5% down on last year - with it being so early it must have affected people’s buying patterns and it certainly doesn’t feel very spring-like at the moment!� commented Mark Rees, md of the Penmark group.

(That said, the Midlands-based retail group was up 1.8% on Valentine’s Day sales.)

Below: The Mother’s Day window in the Dulwich Trader, London.

Teacher’s Post

Views On The News: Far from it all being doom and gloom many greeting card indies enjoyed a much better than expected Mother’s Day trading period: � "No matter how many Mother's Day cards we order we never seem to have enough," comments Alison Douglas, co-owner of Daisy Chain in Histon. "We upped our last year's order and still sold out!

Our card designs and captions went across the board, but Think Of Me's cards were especially popular."

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� Mike Rodgers, owner of More Than Just Cards, Chapletown, Sheffield said: “Mother’s Day went very well! Like everything else these days it started slow and built up. I gauged it quite well as I’ve only a few cards left. Designs from IC&G, Words ‘N’ Wishes, UKG and Jonny Javelin were the most popular sellers.� � Mary Singleton-Jones, owner of Panda Cards, St Albans, was even more enthusiastic: “It was absolutely fabulous... across the board. I’m always stunned at how late people leave it, but the few days leading up to Mother’s Day were pandemonium in the shop!

I feel that people are listening to the more positive economic news in the media and are being driven by what they hear.� � Jane Rodgers, partner of Gorgeous Gifts & Cards, Birkenshaw, Yorkshire, said: “We’re delighted with

Mother’s Day this year. It was fantastic! We’ve only been open just over two years, but this Mother’s Day was our second record week since we began.

We had amazing comments about our gift and card offering from our customers too.

Woodmansterne’s cards sold very well and Stoneglow Candles flew out.�

For The Love Of Lucy Adriana Lovesey, founder of greeting card company Mrs Lovesey, has recently launched a card range called Lucy, to show her great love for her best friend Lucy, who has been battling ovarian cancer for seven years.

"The colour theme that runs throughout my designs is teal, which is the symbolic colour for this illness," Adriana explains. The range features inspirational quotes aimed at empowering women. "Lucy is truly one of the most amazing and inspirational women I know. So much so that I named my son Lucien after her," highlights Adriana who designed the range. All cards are embellished with genuine Swarovski crystals and a paper-cut butterfly.

To help raise awareness, Adriana will be donating 20p from the sale of each card to Target Ovarian Cancer, which is Lucy’s chosen ovarian charity.

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Above: Lucy, designed by Mrs Lovesey, will be raising money for Target Ovarian Cancer.

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Day and Mother's Day and Easter, she did "very well with the large premium Mother’s Day cards from publishers, that included Belly Button and Five Dollar Shake." also citing a trend for captions including 'Step Mum', which are becoming more mainstream, with the cards from Bluebell 33 doing very well.“Customers are definitely prepared to ask for something specific that is not necessarily the norm," says Sally.

+

â—? At Red Card in Petworth, owner Sally Matson said despite overlapping Valentine's Day and Mother's

Making or buying their mums a Mother's Day card is a rite of passage for most children, with Royal Mail’s Teacher’s Post online magazine really

getting behind the

largest of the four Spring Season card

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! sending events this year. Barry Wiles, Royal Mail's education manager for Teacher’s Post, collaborated with Sharon Little, chief executive of the GCA, to produce a two page news feature for school teachers, bursting with facts, trends and traditions.

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Above: The Royal Mail newsletter that the nation’s teachers received in advance of Mother's Day.

Cards Do It For Gifties Greeting cards are still holding their sparkle for independent gift retailers – 61% of the respondents to the latest Progressive Gifts & Home Retail Barometer saw an increase in their greeting card sales in 2015.

Findings from this annual survey into the health and wealth of the independent gift sector, undertaken by PG’s sister publication, reveals that sales of greeting cards had grown more than any other product area in 2015, compared with the year previous. Other top performing areas were fashion accessories (grew 55%), home fragrancing (grew 49%) and jewellery (grew 47%).

The full results are published in the March/April edition of Progressive Gifts & Home (also available online from www.progressivegifts.co.uk).

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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NEWS TOP STORY

PG Live-ing And Breathing Gearing Up For A Bonanza With little over a month to go before PG Live (Tuesday May 10 and Wednesday May 11), the 260+ exhibitors are working furiously to ensure that they collectively put on a world beating showcase of new greeting card designs for retail buyers and overseas distributors.

“PG Live really is the Royal Ascot of trade shows!” summed up Andrea Pinder, co-owner of Unit 7, Presentation and The Party Planet. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

The sell-out show brings together all the leading card publishing names as well as a host of brand new start-ups debuting in the Springboard area.

Work is also underway on the special features of the show – with the ‘costumes’ in the making for the special meeters and greeters dresses that are

Measuring Up

Left: Getting ready to welcome visitors to PG Live.

Above: A card design from Soul to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday.

being created by theatrical costumier Sharon Harvey using exhibitors’ actual card samples.

Meanwhile, publishers have shown their creative prowess with the wealth of bespoke 90th birthday cards for the Queen that will be on display at PG Live before making their way to Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace.

To register for the show go to www.progressivegreetingslive.com or call 01635 297070.

Prized Thoughts PG Live exhibitors are putting the finishing touches to their stands and adding extra incentives for the show’s visitors, including tempting offers and some great competions.

Miko Greetings will be inviting buyers to name one of the company's colourful My Fine Feathered Friends prints. Visitors will be asked to write their name suggestions on the back of their business cards to be in with a chance of winning a signed framed glicee print. There are two prints up for grabs, with a print presented to the winners on each day of the show.

Following on from the success of its competition at the show last year, Pippi & Me will be running a competition on the company's stand (in the Springboard area). Prizes include one-off tiny versions of the cute felt characters for which the publisher is famed and giclee prints. Winners will also reap the benefit of having free cards added to their order.

Above: A Miko Greetings My Fine Feathered Friends print: A Wonderful Day. Right: Pippi & Me invites PG Live visitors to take part in a competition that will be held during the show.

Winning Watercolours The latest winner of the Wraptious art competition - held twice a year by the company - is Liz Chaderton, a recently retired artist. "She created stunning watercolours that are very on trend at the moment," comments Simon Wadsworth, founder of Wraptious, which launched four years ago. "We love them and we are very excited that her full range of 21 designs will be on show at PG Live."

The Wraptious competition invites artists to upload three pieces of work to the company's retail site, which are judged online and via social media. The shortlisted entries are then viewed by a panel of judges who decide on the winner. "It's a little scary, but we genuinely have no say in who wins. However, we have faith in our customers and followers to choose our artists for us," says Simon.

Left: Artist Liz Chaderton's watercolours for Wraptious.

From understanding why a rigid ruler beats a spirit level hands down, Velcro reigns supreme when planning an exhibition stand and why having a mouthful of doughnut can hamper sales, PG Live exhibitors made their way to the Business Design Centre for a ‘dry run’ of the show.

All 260+ PG Live exhibitors were invited to a ‘Be Prepared’ seminar, which covered everything from the practical aspects of the show through to inspiring marketing ideas.

Concluding the morning meeting, Warren Lomax, one of the co-owners of the show said: “PG Live 2016 is the big one! The omens are looking good, and we want it to be the best for you and our visitors. As an exhibitor, the more you put into your preparation, the more you get out of it. This really is a fantastic opportunity to impress both the best retailers and overseas distributors - so go for it!”

Above: “Have your masking tape ready and measure from the top of the stand down, not from the bottom up,” was tips from PG Live’s Jim Bullough (third right), seen here in a mock stand with (left-right) Joe Groombridge of Munkychip, Matt Brookes of Lucy Truman Illustration and Ann Worship of oi Doris.

Sentimentally Speaking In a first for Widdop & Co, the gift company (and major supplier to card and gift shops) will be launching a Focus on Sentiment show from April 4-8 at its North Manchester showrooms. Each visitor will be offered a free pack of Widdop's best selling sentiment product to take away, giving them the opportunity to trial the company's leading sentiment brands such as Amore wedding gifts or Bambino baby lines.

There will be a special focus around Father’s Day, Graduation and Thank You Teacher, with 'show only' promotions for every occasion, and tips on simple ways of creating eye-catching sentiment displays in store.

To book a place, call the sales office on 0161 688 1226.

Up, Up And Away For the first time at PG Live, Pioneer, well-known for its Qualatex latex balloons, will be holding balloon displays and demonstrations at the show. The company will be showing retailers all the latest tricks of the trade on the Gallery level.

The company has recently become the UK distributor of the Procos range of licensed party tableware, including Disney designs. Procos is Europe’s largest manufacturer of party products. The Procos Disney tableware range will complement Pioneer’s popular Disney latex and Bubble balloons.

Above: A Frozen plate which is now available from Pioneer.

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a little too much birthday cake is just about right.

Life is Sweet greeting cards designed by icon order online: www.icon-art.com telephone: 01242 679800 / email: info@icon-art.com

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NEWS TOP STORY

Winning Windows

£7bn Business Rates Tax Cut Mixed Reaction From Indies Following an initial thumbs up to the Chancellor's March Budget, which raised the threshold for small business rate relief from £6,000 to £12,000, it seems it was good news for some independents greeting card retailers included - but not such good news for others.

"It's great to see more help for small businesses," enthuses Mark Janson-Smith, who has three Postmark shops in London. "Our customers are always telling us how much they value their local high street and this further reform of business rates should, hopefully, help more independents like us to thrive and grow."

However, Mark's positive viewpoint was not shared by everyone. "While the raising of the zero business rates threshold and the proposed further changes will be welcome to some, it fails to address the issue of increasing costs for many like Fresh that have a higher

rateable value and cannot claim any business rate relief," says Paul Hobbs, coowner of Fresh in Witney, adding: "The differential will be further imposed, I expect, after the VOA review in 2017.

Aside from receiving no comfort from the Chancellor's plans, due to the end of local discounts for small businesses, plus the yearly increase, the rates bill for 2016/17 will be 20% higher. As we trade in the PM's constituency, that makes for an even more bitter pill to swallow."

Also disappointed by the rates reforms was Miles Robinson, co-owner of seven House of Cards in the Home Counties. "The devil is in the detail as always," he states. "The average shop rateable value in the UK is £27K, so well

Left and below: The Chancellor's March Budget has come in for a lot of criticism, with a mixed reaction to his business rate reforms from high street retailers.

over any threshold for rate relief. The announcement that SBRR will now apply to properties up to £51K rateable value sounds a good headline, but the difference is about £200 on a £10K rate bill, so 2% or less and neither here or there. Also, very cleverly, this change doesn't take effect until next April by which time there will be a business rate revaluation, which is expected to hit London and the South East particularly hard, so I'm fully expecting our business rate bill to increase substantially again next year."

Adds Miles: "The government has also been really sneaky in postponing the valuation from what should have been April 2015 to April 2017. If kept as 2015, it would have been based on rental values at April 2013 - probably the lowest point in the last several years. Instead, they will be based on values at April 2015, which could be significantly higher."

The government is claiming that over 600,000 small businesses will pay no business rates at all from next April. The threshold at which companies pay higher business rates has risen from £18,000 £51,000, benefitting some 250,000 businesses who will now come out of the higher rate.

George Osborne also confirmed that revaluations will also be more frequent every three years - and that, for larger businesses, he will be linking the business rates multiplier from the Retail Price Index (RPI) to the lower Consumer Price Index (CPI) from 2020.

The British Independent Retail Association (bira) welcomed the key announcements in the Chancellor's statement. Ceo, Alan Hawkins, said: "These changes go a long way to alleviating that pain in the longer term and bira welcomes that. But the world of retail is still changing at a breakneck pace, so we believe that we must look beyond 2020 and create a tax system fit for the next decade and further.”

The winners of the recent Caroline Gardner window competition were Tilly Mint (below) in Liverpool, and POD, which has shops in Bristol, Clifton and Oxford. Runners-up were Red Card in Petworth, On The Green in Chalfont St Giles and The Lion Gallery in Penrith. "All the windows were really striking and of great quality," comments the company's senior sales and marketing coordinator Luca Bridges.

The winners of the two top prizes will receive a £200 Caroline Gardner gift voucher, and the three runners-up will each receive a £50 Caroline Gardner gift voucher, which can be spent on their next trade order.

Entrants' windows will also be featured on the company's social media activity.

The #StationeryChallenge With the countdown to the London Stationery Show (April 26 -27, London’s Business Design Centre) now in full swing, the organisers are challenging buyers not to find at least one great new product when they attend this month’s event!

Dubbed #StationeryChallenge on social media, exhibition director Chris LeonardMorgan says, “The London Stationery Show, the venue for the annual Stationery Awards, has nearly 70 new exhibitors to date who weren’t at last year’s show, as well as 80 returning ones, and two thirds of exhibitors haven’t been seen at any other UK trade show this year. We’re super confident all buyers will see new products and new suppliers when they visit.

Expect the unexpected!”

The exhibition is also adding #StationerySurprises and #StationerySpecials into its social media campaign as more details emerge from exhibitors about their planned product launches and special show promotions, who they hope will issue the same challenge.

“We already know that well over half of our exhibitors are intending to launch new products at the show and that over 30 have special deals lined up for visitors - and that’s just the ones we know about!” says Chris.

“We’ll be making sure buyers are made aware of these over the coming weeks with #LondonStationeryShow the hashtag to use."

The 2016 London Stationery Show is the biggest yet, comprising over 150 stands. (Visit: www.stationeryshow.co.uk and www.nationalstationeryweek.com) Above: Chris Leonard-Morgan, organiser of National Stationery Week and the London Stationery Show, at last year's exhibition.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Growth On The Agenda GCA Seminar Covers Export And Licensing Islington’s Business Design Centre became a seat of learning for a host of card publishers who attended the GCA seminar, Growing Your Business, which concentrated on licensing and export. Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA, brought together a strong lineup of speakers who gave both invaluable practical advice and insights.

All the talks were filmed by GCA Council member Jeremy Corner (of Blue Eyed Sun) and have been uploaded to the GCA YouTube channel YouTube/GCAClips .

Kicking off with licensing, Kelvyn Gardner, md of LIMA UK (the licensing industry’s trade association), set the scene as to what constitutes licensing, the interrelationship between licensor (IP owner) and licensee, the key benefits of buying in a licence as well licensing out, plus the likely costs/remunerations.

Proving himself to be a natural and commanding speaker, Steve Jones-Blackett, co-owner of greeting card publisher Wendy Jones-Blackett, revealed the highlights of the company’s successful expansion into licensing over the last three years that fittingly began in the BDC where the seminar was staged.“It all began at the PG Live drinks party on the Tuesday night when I had a chance conversation with Becky Dobson, md of giftwrap company Glick,” he recounted. Fast track to today, and Glick has a range of 200 Wendy Jones-Blackett lines in its portfolio as a result of a mutually beneficial licensing partnership. Added to this, Wendy Jones-Blackett also has a licensing partnership with leading giftware company Widdop & Co for a range of

Below: (right) Steve Jones-Blackett (of Wendy Jones-Blackett) with LIMA’s Kelvyn Gardner and Briffa’s Margaret Briffa.

Back To His Musical Roots

giftware, as well as a number of licensing agreements with overseas card publishers to produce the card designs in different formats and translated into the local language.

As Steve explained: “Our experience of licensing has been overwhelmingly positive. It has allowed us to develop our brand without having to take on the risk of upfront investment, and issues of storage and carriage, that going into manufacturing other products brings. It has introduced an additional revenue stream that is almost all profit. Yes, there are potholes, it is important to be sure that the end product is what you like and where it is going to be sold.”

Margaret Briffa, md of law firm Briffa, demystified the legal aspects of licensing using case law of Deakin v Card Rax as a salutary lesson for greeting card publishers considering a deal to licence out their artwork, urging them to agree terms on payment, territory, as well as what happens on termination of the agreement if things go wrong.

Looking Further Afield The second half of the seminar focused on export, spearheaded by Ged Mace, president of the GCA and md of The Art File.

Leading from the front, Ged shared juicy nuggets from The Art File’s overseas distribution - from its very first order ever (from a company that is still its distributor in Canada) some 19 years ago to today where the publisher exports to over 25 territories.

Ged implored publishers to be prepared for the types of questions they may face when contacted by overseas distributors at trade shows. He explained that overseas Above: UKTI’s Deborah Lynch distributors (and overseas retailers) will expect to buy at 50% of the trade price.

Doyle (pictured above second “Be prepared with your export price list and payment terms,” suggesting left) with the GCA’s Sharon Little (right), The Art File’s Ged Mace that new publishers should insist on pro-forma payment and ex works (ie the and PG’s Jakki Brown. distributor covers the cost of shipping).

Amplifying the advantages exporting can bring, Deborah Lynch Doyle of the UKTI made attendees aware of the wealth of support and opportunities offered to all UK businesses by the UKTI, urging attendees to watch one video in particular featuring none other than Jeremy Corner of Blue Eyed Sun, ironically the man beyond the camera filming all the other speakers!

Eddie Macdonald is a familiar face to many in the greeting card industry, as the official photographer of PG Live, The Retas and The Henries for many years.

However, what may not be so familiar is that Eddie was also a founding member and co-writer of the internationally acclaimed rock band The Alarm.

Going back to his roots, the multitalented Eddie has recently formed a new band called Smalltown Glory and has cowritten a collection of new songs – his first musical offering in over 25 years which has been released as an EP. So will he be laying down his camera for a life on the road?

"No way am I deserting you and the team," he told PG. "But I'm so glad I picked up the plectrum again!"

Smalltown Glory’s debut CD, The Tenement Commandments Vol. 1, is now available. www.pledgemusic.com/projects/smallt ownglory.

Top: Eddie Macdonald and his Smalltown Glory bandmates.

Above: The Tenement Commandments EP.

A 'Colourful' Show Adult colouring is set to be a continuing strong trend at the 70th National Stationery Show (NSS), which takes place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York from May 15-18.

According to show director Patti Stracher, what started as a few stress-relieving colouring books for adults has turned into a global phenomenon ranging from journals and colouring cards to posters, calendars, greeting cards, tea towels, colour-in pillows as well as an array of art tools.

Highlights at the show include colouring activities, workshops, giftwrapping demos, buyer 'finds' and photo opportunities, as well as award winning displays to include The Strathmore Archive exhibit from Mowhawk Fine Paper. It features rare, historic printed materials displaying a century of graphic design, type, printing methods and fine papermaking.

Over 800 companies representing 50 states will be exhibiting this year. (Visit: www.nationalstationeryshow.com) Above: One of the many adult colouring books that will be showcased at the National Stationery Show in New York.

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NEWS TOP STORY

A Wing And A Prayer

A Perfect 10 Dragonfly Flies High For Anniversary Dragonfly Cards & Gifts in Knaresborough, run by mother and daughter Rita Knibbs and Rachael Barnes, is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the shop's 10th anniversary this year. Staff were presented with bespoke commemorative glasses handpainted with dragonflies and the years 2006 - 2016, with Rita and Rachael planning 10 months of celebrations around the number 10. "There will be 10 giveaways in total to include the 10th of the month, at 10am, to the 10th customer of the day, to the 10th person to 'Like' a Facebook status and so on," explains Rachael. "There'll be no doubt how many years we're celebrating!"

Generous suppliers who come in for special thanks include Nigel Quiney who donated tins (the company also celebrating 10 years of its Pizazz range which Dragonfly has stocked from the very beginning and which, Rachael says, is still one of the shop's best sellers); Carte Blanche Group for supplying Tatty Teddies, and to numerous publishers for the cards they have generously donated.

"We are also very grateful to Tony Roberts and his team at UKG who were very

Below: Dragonfly's Rachael Barnes is celebrating the shop's 10th anniversary.

much an integral part of our launch in 2006 and to this day remain our main supplier," Rachel adds. "By having a yearlong celebration we are hoping it will keep bringing customers back in to the store in the hope of being a lucky winner.

It also gives us increased opportunities in the local press and on social media."

Looking back over the shop's first decade, Rachael says Dragonfly's proudest moments have been reaching the finals of The Retas awards five times. "Our win in 2013 was the icing on the cake," quips Rachael. "Let's hope we qualify for more cake this year!"

Coming Full Circle When sisters Giannina Antola and Livia Antola Lovell were schoolgirls, little did they think that the greeting card ‘company’ they set up when they were very young would turn into a viable business when they grew up. But that's exactly what's happened, with the sisters delighted to be unveiling their range of Aardvark Press greeting cards at PG Live next month.

"We have been making cards since Giannina was 11 and I was 14," explains Livia. "I would draw them and Giannina would do the colouring in. At that time we were living in Peru where you could never find pretty cards, which is how it all started. As we have always loved cards, we started making them and sending them out, then doing them on request for friends, and very soon we couldn't keep up with the demand as we were still at school!"

Livia describes their style as quite whimsical. "It was only after we won the National Gallery Christmas Card competition last year that we thought we would relaunch our old Aardvark Press and embark on this new venture," she continues. "We're now doing what we love best which is to make drawings that bring a smile to your face."

Above: PG Live’s Jacqui Parr (centre) with sisters Giannina Antola and Livia Antola of Aardvark Press.

Left: Retail Therapy: among the whimsical designs from Aardvark Press.

Showing tremendous stamina and dedication to her art, Image Source artist Charlotte Duffy set herself a challenge to paint 100 birds in 100 days – and she did it.

“Painting is my meditation, my daily practice, and the time spent drawing and painting is when I feel most relaxed, happy and Above: Charlotte Duffy's bird focused," comments painting on day 13 of her personal 100 day challenge.

Charlotte. "Day 29 was my toughest, but I decided giving up was not an option. I wanted to prove to myself that I had the commitment and patience to reach my goal, so I kept painting and I made it to day 100. I’m thrilled with the outcome!"

Commenting on Charlotte’s achievement, Image Source’s sales and creative manager Emma Gray said: "The results are truly amazing and commendable. The process has honed Charlotte’s painting and observation skills and taught her a lot about her own abilities and staying power."

Charlotte’s artwork can be viewed for licensing opportunities at www.image-source.co.uk.

OPC Celebrates 25 Years As OPC (Original Poster Company) celebrates its 25th anniversary, founder Simon WarrenGash looks back on the franchise publisher’s first quarter century.

“The business is now very different to what it was in terms of product ranges, stores supplied, distribution, but the fact that we are still here is due to the efforts and loyalty of our staff and franchisees. We all look forward to the next 25 years," he says.

The early days weren't easy, he admits.

"OPC was undermanned and undercapitalised," he recalls. "The business didn't come with a handbook and inevitably mistakes were made in the quest to make OPC as good a business as we could.

However, today, the current OPC is a much more efficient and streamlined operation."

Total sales of OPC products at retail over the years are calculated to be around £500 million; an estimated 250 million of its cards have been sold through retail outlets; hundreds of jobs have been created globally and, whenever economically possible, OPC’s cards have been manufactured in the UK. Above: Simon Warren Gash, founder of OPC.

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NEWS PEOPLE

TOP STORY

Good Reason For A Party Abbey Cards’ Continued Diversification West London wholesaler Abbey Cards has a good reason to party – and it now has all ingredients under one roof!

Well-respected for his entrepreneurialism, Harry Rai, md of the business, has never been afraid to invest and change in order to keep the company moving.

While it started out following a traditional greeting card wholesale model many decades ago, Abbey Cards’ latest development, the launch of a sibling online B2B party resource, under the banner of The Party Wholesalers, takes its evolution another stage further.

Its brand new Party Wholesalers website went live last month offering retailers a wealth of party related products from a number of suppliers.

As Harry explained: "The dynamic of retailing is changing at a great pace and frequent requests by customers for the facility to order online brought about the web’s launch.”

Below: Abbey Cards' new Party Wholesalers website.

Below middle: Harry Rai.

Abbey Cards is not new to offering a B2B website, having successfully launched its Spot On Gifts brand in 2007 (meeting a demand for sportsmerchandise).

“We wanted to be absolutely confident that our new party website was robust enough to provide a good customer shopping experience.

Hence it has been two years of hard work behind the scenes at team Party Wholesalers," explained Harry.

The dual websites www.spotongifts.net and www.partywholesalers.net gives customers the facility to order from one source via two totally different websites.

"This gives retailers opportunities to explore new business with minimal investment," Harry confirms.

All major brands and suppliers’ products are available from Party Wholesalers, from balloons and tableware to favour boxes.

Keeping You Posted The Imaging Centre, the leading digital greeting card printer, has been even busier than usual.

It has printed over 19,000 bespoke postcards for PG Live exhibitors for them to use to invite buyers to visit them at the show.

As part of this special marketing, exhibitors are able to personalise the front of the postcard, while Above: The front of Sarah Kelleher’s PG Live postcards. the rear includes details about the show.

Added to this, it is completing the trials of its brand new Simplicity service which will allow publishers a ‘web to print’ option which could change the way cards are ordered in the future.

“We first thought of the concept over two years ago after receiving feedback from many of our customer on issues they had in ordering their cards most effectively. We have invested a significant amount of money, time and effort over this period creating a brand new software. We feel that Simplicity will solve all of these publishers’ issues and others they didn’t even know they had,” commented Adam Short, sales manager of The Imaging Centre.

Simplicity will be on demonstration on The Imaging Centre’s stand at PG Live.

Picture Perfect Publicity shy photographer, ‘Villager Jim’, known as the 'Banksy' of the photographic world, has thanked greeting cards for helping him to achieve his two year goal of gaining 100,000 followers on Facebook.

The elusive photographer contacted Nick Adsett, group product director of GBCC, which publishes a range of Village Jim cards, to say “Thank you so much for all your help in getting us there, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The photo that changed Villager Jim’s life was one of his dog Dilly, which went viral and is now claimed to be one of the most viewed photos of Labradors in the world.

Above: Dilly, now the most famous Labrador in the world, was asleep when her owner, known only as Villager Jim, took this shot.

● The ever exuberant Bill Greeno has even more reason to be cheerful as he has been appointed sales and marketing director of Paperlink. Bill joined the card publisher four years ago as business development manager. He takes over the role Above: Tim Porte (left) and Bill Greeno. from Tim Porte who is semi retiring. Tim, who has played a leading role in the Paperlink senior management team for 24 years, will continue as commercial director of the company until he embraces retirement fully in a year’s time.

Commenting, Bill said: “I was absolutely delighted when Louise [Tighe, md] offered me the opportunity to become sales and marketing director.

Paperlink is such an exciting vibrant company of which to be a part.” ● Cardzone has strengthened its buying team with James Taylor having joined the company to be involved in the gift buying. James, who formerly worked for toy company HTI, is the son of Cardzone owners Paul and Chris Taylor. James joins Alice Bartlett on the team, who is now assistant buyer for the retailer. ● After 33 years in being involved in retailing greeting cards, Wendy Hunter (right) has retired to the sunnier climes of Spain. Wendy, who latterly was part of the Greetings Galore team (shops in Gloucester and Bristol), has also worked for Clintons, Hall of Cards. Birthdays and Special Occasions. In true cardie style, she postponed her retirement until after Mother’s Day.

Sadly Missed...

Very sadly, Neil Walker, founder of Eden Design and a key player in the senior management of The Sherwood Group has died suddenly and without warning of a heart attack, aged 44.

Simon King, sales director of The Sherwood Group, pays tribute to his colleague: “Neil was a private and very special person. He worked at Sherwood Group for over 20 years in several roles and departments.

His work touched all points of our business and we would not have enjoyed the successes we have had without his expertise and creativity. His ‘to do’ list was always impossible, but he had time for everyone and would say – “just leave it to me and see what I can do” – and you knew it would be done.

However, he was also a very private person, and would be horrified if he knew his photo was going into PG, so out of respect for you Neil, no photo.

You can’t replace people like Neil, and we won’t forget him, but the work he did and many foundations he laid will mean he leaves a lasting legacy within Sherwood for a long time to come. He was also just a really great bloke.”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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The LargesT CoLLeCTion of greeting Card Publishers in The WorLd “PG Live gives us the opportunity to focus on greeting cards and opens doors to up-and-coming designers. We are a sociable industry and PG Live celebrates this in style!”

Sonya Haandrikman-Sibbald, co-owner, Celebrations.

Focus On Cards With over 250 publishers and artists to explore, free refreshments, lunch and opening night party, you’re free to focus on the cards.

Order Your Copy Of The Free Show Preview Now! Pg Live 2016 is proud to present the largest collection of greeting card publishers in the world, with thousands of original designs, fabulous new ranges and exclusive show offers. Book your tickets now at www.progressivegreetingslive.com to receive your copy of the free show preview.

Pg Live 2016 Tuesday 10 - Wednesday 11 May Business design Centre, London

20_PG_April 2016.indd 1

Book Your Ticket now! +44 (0) 1635 297070 @PgLiveLondon www.progressivegreetingslive.com

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NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

TOP STORY

Great Expectations UKG Invests Heavily Into Consumer Insights

Below: The latest UKG ‘Expect More…’ message.

He promised that the ‘Expect more…’ is the latest new structure “will tagline from UK Greetings, safeguard the vital promising that it can deliver ‘the Expect the perfect card from elements of our service to perfect card’ for consumers. The retail partners – from our major publisher makes this bold investment into consumer claim following what Jill insights, product Alexander, the company’s trade leadership and supply marketing manager, sums up as chain excellence.” a “huge investment in both Elucidating as to what insight and product the consumer insights research has specification, which is evident in the new involved, Karen Skipper, product product flowing through.” development director of UKG, said the News of this increased investment into findings have allowed them to properly consumer insights comes at a time when understand aspects such as “what the the company has completed a restructure, consumer perceives ‘good value for money’ which has included Jayne Myers (formerly to mean – whether this is a £2 card or a £5 md of Paper Rose) rejoining UKG as commercial director. card. We’ve been exploring the importance of producing a good quality, beautifully Speaking about the new shape of the crafted card. Using this knowledge, UKG has business at the end of last year, James honed and improved its specification and Conn, group sales and marketing director approach to ensure consumers can always of UKG, told PG that the new “go forward ‘expect the perfect card.’” strategy is designed to support the longUKG will be unveiling its latest collection term future of the business for our of perfect cards at PG Live next month. employees and our retail partners."

Swansong Figures For Card Factory’s CEO Richard Hayes, Card Factory’s outgoing ceo, delivered an impressive set of trading figures (for the year January 1 2015 to December 31) that were in line with the Board's expectations, but it was particularly strong sales of the non-card products that pushed the group’s like-forlike sales up.

It said growth for the 12 month period was driven by a combination of like-for-like sales growth, new store roll outs and further growth in complementary online activities.

He said it was “pleasing” to report that Card Factory continued to “perform well through the important and competitive Christmas trading period.”

He anticipates maintaining the same sales growth this year as last.

Some 50 (net) new Card Factory stores were opened in the period, bringing the total estate to 814 stores at 31 December 2015.

Looking ahead to Card Factory's next financial year ending 31 January 2017, the Group has a strong pipeline of additional new store opportunities, remaining confident that it will continue its historic opening Above: Card Factory continues its growth. rate of approximately 50 (net) new stores each year. ● Karen Hubbard, who joined the Board as ceo designate on February 22, succeeds Richard Hayes as ceo in mid-April. Richard will retire from the Board and leave the Group at the end of June 2016.

A Little Bird Reminded Me A spike in sales of one particular wren greeting card design made the sales team at The Robert Fuller Gallery so curious that they decided to delve a little deeper when the next customer ordered.

“It turned out they were all Wrens who served on HMS Nuthatch in 1947 and wanted to remind one another of their time,” explained director Victoria Fuller. “It just goes to show how greeting cards are still such a powerful way to communicate.

People think that emails and text messages will replace cards, but you can’t beat sending someone a picture that means something specific to them.”

Next year it will be 100 years since the inception of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS), or the Wrens, as the women’s branch of the Royal Navy as it is affectionately known.

Left: The Robert Fuller Gallery's nuthatch design that prompted an upsurge in sales.

● Spring Fair has joined together with The Guardian to create two master classes to enable retailers to hone their social media skills. Classes take place at The Guardian, Kings Place London on April 4 (social media) and April 11 (blogging). Email: events@springfair.com. ● Danish homewares multiple, Søstrene Green has opened its first UK store in the Intu Victoria Centre in Nottingham. The store stocks kitchenware, furnishings and home accessories as well as stationery, gifts and toys. ● Paper Rose held a Bake Off sale to raise money for Sports Relief. The company tweeted images of its tempting array of cakes to its many followers.

Right: Hard to resist: Paper Rose's Bake Off cake sale for Sports Relief.

● John Lewis has recently reported pre-tax profits of £305.5m for the year to January 30. This represents a 10.9% decline on the year previous. Charlie Mayfield, chairman of John Lewis Partnership, explained the drop is “entirely due to higher pension charges arising from volatility in the market-driven assumptions, and lower property profits.”

This year will see JLP open stores in Leeds and Chelmsford, as well as two major distribution centres in Milton Keynes. ● Greeting card publisher Olive & Belle recently collaborated with Stoke-on-Trent ceramic company Hudson & Middleton. The company has produced a range of eight fine bone china mugs based on Olive & Belle's popular Pickles & Pip range, along with a set of fine bone china mugs and matching teapot featuring the company's Bordeaux range. ● Three design students, Simon Scherer, Ilonka Baberg and Carolin Konrad, won first, second and third place respectively, and received prizes worth €1,500, 1,000 and 500, at the Paperworld awards ceremony held during the fair in Frankfurt. Over 700 entries were received, with visitors voting for their favourite entries. ● Senior management changes at the Taylor Bloxham Group will come into effect on May 1.

Robert Lockwood, currently Taylor Bloxham’s financial director, will assume the role of ceo following the departure of ceo Chris Bowen, who is leaving for personal reasons.

Right: The senior management team at Taylor Bloxham. From left to right: Robert Lockwood, the company's new ceo, April Moss, group executive chairman, and outgoing ceo Chris Bowen.

● Autumn Fair has been shortlisted for Best Trade Show in the Exhibition News Awards. Autumn Fair 2016 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from September 4-7.

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Over The Counter

Tinder Talk...

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, coowner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, discusses how to find your perfect employee match.

‘I’m new to this so here goes... Never thought I would be on here but really wanted to meet new people and try new things... My life is great, I just need someone to share it with...’

Online dating is without doubt one of the phenomenal successes of the internet.

Some 17% of UK couples that have recently married met online and there are now over 15 million singles in the UK registered on over 1,400 dating websites. It is a £150 million business and the companies will tell you that it is now thought of as a science. The algorithms that match people can be extremely complicated or it can be as simple (and brutal) as Tinder, a phone app which has uploaded photos of people that you swipe right or left to see if you match, and then you can decide if you would like to engage in a chat with that person.

Tinder is seen as a very modern way to date and it is fascinating to see how the principal is being used for lots of other apps.

Mallzee, for instance, uses the same principal for clothes shopping. If I was a bit cleverer I think that this would work very well as part of online greeting card websites. Simply type in your key words, ‘Mum - 50th – birthday’ for example, and up pops all the different designs. Then swipe left to disregard and right to keep. Review all your ‘Likes’ at the end of your session and purchase your card. Should be quick and work very well… but hopefully not too well for us bricks and mortar retailers!

Matching your business with the right people is perhaps one of the most crucial decisions that you make as a retailer. Picking the algorithm that you as a small to medium sized business use to select staff is a Top: Tinder is a phone app to greet people in your area with a view to meet.

Right: How your staff member interacts with customers is important to your business.

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

minefield. Do you go based on experience?

Do you create a matrix to score each candidate fairly? Or do you simply do what most small businesses do and that is make a decision based on gut feeling and how that person comes over to you in an interview? There is of course no right or wrong answer, but you have to be aware that your staff are the public face of your business. They have to carry the ethos of your store and how they engage with the public is crucial. With all the external pressures of online shopping and everything else, how they interact and the advice they give is the difference perhaps in gaining a long-term customer or indeed losing that customer altogether.

You also need to be sure that you are comfortable in their company. Many of you reading this will be part of a small team of people and so appreciate how, if you choose the wrong person to join your team, the way you feel about your business can change dramatically.

Traditional routes of finding staff have all but disappeared. Newspaper ads are expensive and ineffective, while the Job Centre seems to not give you the quality of

candidate you expect. We make sure that we advertise all our jobs in-store to hit not only our customer base but also our own staff. It is also a good idea to advertise where your ideal candidate may work or hang out. So if you are looking for a web/social media person make sure the GAME store or an electronic store has your ad, if they can accept it.

We do use online job agencies to match us with suitable candidates, although I don’t think their algorithms are quite as advanced as Match.com and the other online dating websites. Recently though, social media seems to have worked best to advertise a job position as invariably the people who see it like your store and that is a good starting point.

Job ads and dating sites have a lot in common in so much as they are trying to match two people together, often with the use of clichéd phrases. Realistically, they are all a little ‘smoke and mirrors’ as invariably they only highlight the positives because of course people want to make a good impression. You do though need to find a way of cutting through this. You need to find your perfect match.

Identifying the correct person to your job position is becoming more difficult and with the ever-increasing costs of wages and pensions, which can affect a retailer’s bottom-line greatly, the decision has to be right. You have also got to be aware that you may need to molud your new employee and change them to really deliver on your expectations. This can take time and a great deal of effort, especially if they are used to working elsewhere or have picked up certain habits.

So if recruiting from the employment pool is proving difficult and nothing is

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Over The Counter

jumping out at you in the pile of CVs, what are your other main options?

Obviously going out there and head hunting is something that is definitely open to you. Equally, reshuffling and looking to promote and change from within is well thought of, but ultimately you may simply need another person. The final option, and one that we have now tried, is to invest in younger people to bring them into your business early and coach them about your business. A young workforce brings with it a unique set of positives and problems. It would be wrong for me to pigeonhole all young people, but in general they are perhaps a little less reliable.

Their methods of interaction needed to first secure the job advertised and then create a constructive dialogue, can also be challenging.

The younger generation communicates a lot of the time through social media, connecting through Emojis/tweets and photos, but this does not necessarily translate into direct conversations. So it maybe that you will have to teach your young apprentice how to interact with the public. Also their life experience and understanding of such things as good service may well be limited. This can be an advantage as hopefully they are like a sponge and soak it up. But these issues and many others can be overcome so don’t perceive them as negative, just be aware that they will need more guidance. In general, young staff also bring with them an energy and enthusiasm which can only be a positive.

This option of working with younger staff is one that we have undertaken in recent years. Currently, I now have two workers fulltime who are also studying on college courses and that I have secured funding for. In both cases they are eager to learn and keen to do well, but I have to allow for mistakes and I have to give extra guidance. Younger people can also change their mind as to the direction of their life very quickly.

The other huge attraction of younger staff is the cost saving. With the introduction of the new Living Wage the impact can and will be dramatic. With 18-20 year-olds costing £1.90 an hour less than someone over 25 you can see why a young workforce would be attractive in many ways.

You can of course take the negative view and say that what skills do you really need to be able to work in retail anyway? Well my reasons are probably too many to list. Good retailers and their floor staff are not simply zombies behind a till.

They should be chatty, informed and helpful, while always trying to maximise the sale in the correct manner. They also need to be pretty switched on to be able to keep your social media up to date, make sure the proper pricing structures are applied to products, listen to your customers and feedback what they are looking for, and many other things.

What you can’t simply expect from young people, or indeed any staff member, is for them to read your mind and get it right from day one. You have to be clear about what you expect and try and get that across in a productive way that doesn’t scare them.

The final argument is that simply people don’t have the skills required to really excel in retail work when they leave school. I feel this is a generalisation too far, but it is acknowledged that the UK does not turn out so many driven young business people as other parts of the world.

Reacting to this, our local government has identified this skills gap and that a crucial dialogue between schools and employers is missing. To act on this, it has bought together all of the local schools, 60 businesses and some key speakers in this field (oh and me!) to discuss and try and encourage creativity skills.

Creativity skills are what all parties have identified as the key issues with Below: The processes to encourage staff to develop new skills:

Above: The perfect match, Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise.

Below left: The younger generation have a lot to offer an employee. A card from Icon's Life Is Sweet range.

young employees. Basically it is split into four sections: curiosity, open-mindedness, imagination and problem solving.

The interesting part for me is that it actually applies to all ages of staff, not just young people. If we could find a way of instilling these points in our employees we would be able to achieve a lot more I suspect than at present.

Typically the belief is if you can nurture an employee, make them feel valued and that they are contributing you will get a lot more out of them. If you are both trying to succeed you can drive one another on and hopefully raise the bar. So constant staff dialogue is essential. Giving them the opportunity to participate in different tasks/roles within the store. Use questions and role-play to foster these skills. Set them tasks with achievable goals that they can succeed and gain confidence from. Gradually increase the difficulty of the task and allow them to take ownership of it and responsibility for it. Peer instruction is also crucial. Allow staff to teach one another and to work hard and openly with each other. Work with them and talk to them rather than at them.

Just make sure that they don’t like to travel, as after you found them you certainly don’t want to lose that perfect match!

To contact David email: jppozzi@btconnect.com

Curiosity Being curious Make use of previous knowledge Research productively Formulate good questions

Open-Mindedness Use lateral thinking Use divergent thinking Hypothesising Explore different viewpoints Be flexible, adaptable and function well in changing circumstances

Imagination Generate and refine ideas Invent and suggest solutions

Problem Solving Understand and define the problems Craft and deliver solutions Demonstrate initiative, discipline, persistence and resilience Evaluate impact of decisions and solutions PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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CARDSHARP

A Nation Of Ex-Shopkeers?

Cardsharp recalled it was the French General turned dictator turned emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte who, in the height of his titanic struggle with Britain just over 200 years ago, accused the British of being a ‘Nation of Shopkeepers’. And although this was meant as an insult it didn’t have much of an effect as Bony eventually got his comeuppance from us shopkeepers (and to be fair the Prussians as well!) at Waterloo in 1815.

So, what made Cardsharp flick back to the annuls of history? The latest battle cry from Chancellor George Osborne in the recent Budget.

Ever since Napoleon coined our retailing moniker us Brits have worn that badge with honour. Our Victorian forefathers developed modern retailing, (as testified by TV series like Mr Selfridge) and we exported our prowess all around the world. Indeed, having exported retailing, our own UK retail scene received a welcome shot in the arm in the 1980s and 1990s, when a generation of new Asian descent immigrants arriving, mainly from East Africa, bought new energy and vigour to our retailing landscape.

In the early days of retailing there seems to have been a healthy respect from government, and in particular Conservative governments, for retailers both large and small. The original WH Smith, who founded his eponymous chain, became a Conservative minister. Neville Chamberlain, more famous now as ‘the

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Inset: Napoleon Crossing the Alps, romantic version by Jacques-Louis David in 1805.

Prime Minister of Appeasement’ to Hitler, was a great defender of the interests of small businesses and retailers in particular.

Margaret Thatcher was the daughter of a Grantham grocer, the Alderman Roberts, and she would instinctively refer to shopkeepers as ‘Our People’.

And indeed the satirical magazine, Private Eye, ignored the usual ‘Iron Lady’ descriptor, instead preferring to refer to the Conservative Prime Minister as ‘the Grocer’.

It is for these historical reasons, and also because of the free market

values to which the Conservative Party have always laid claim, that Cardsharp suspects that many small retailers probably voted Conservative in the General Election last June.

Cardsharp reflects, bricks and mortar retailing has been in need of a lot of tender loving care in recent years. Having been hit by the worst recession in living memory, and the rise and rise of unregulated and, in many cases, untaxed internet retailing, the retail sector is still struggling to keep its head above water. In February for instance, overall retail sales figures were 1.1% down on the previous year, but these figures were masked to a certain extent by a 2.5% increase in sales in retail parks. The high

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CARDSHARP street figures were actually 2.9% down.

Despite the economic recovery, there was a net loss of 500 shops in 2015 following on from a net loss of 1,000 shops in 2014.

On top of this, it was only a few weeks ago that the British Retail Consortium warned that 900,000 retail jobs could be lost by 2025. If ever there was a sector of natural Tory supporters who needed help it is the UK’s beleaguered shopkeeper.

The recent Budgets though set Cardsharp thinking. Does the current Conservative government, and indeed the previous Conservative-led coalition government, really have any affinity any more with this key group of their voters? It does not appear to as it has treated small retailers’ problems with indifference and at

Above: The grocer's daughter and 80s PM, Margaret Thatcher.

Right: The TV series, Mr Selfridge, shows how British retailing really took off in the early 1900s.

worse seems to have treated retail as a lucrative cash cow to be milked at will.

Take for example the recent Budget.

The headline grabbing Chancellor George Osborne, blew his trumpet that 600,000 small businesses would pay no Business Rates from April 2017. All sounds very good, until you work out the math and find that for the average size shop, especially in the Home Counties, the rateable value is well over any threshold for rate relief. A retail chum of Cardsharp’s said for him the difference would be about £200 on a £10,000 rate bill, a measly 2%!

And Cardsharp also suspects that many of those very small retailers that on paper will benefit will find that landlords use this an excuse to put the rent up, so the Government may well find that the only people that really benefit from this initiative is a group of people who have already done pretty well in the last few years - commercial landlords.

Cardsharp thinks the Government has been equally remiss (or perhaps just plain sneaky!) in its retail rates review. The review

should have happened in 2015, which would have meant that it would have been based on 2013 retail values. This was at a point when rental values were at their lowest point for several years. By postponing it to 2017 it will be based on the much higher rental values of 2015. This will hit retailers particularly in London and the South East, where rents have risen a lot in the last two years, with the result being that they could see their rates bill rise substantially.

And then there is more, mused Cardsharp. The increased taxation of dividends will hit many smaller struggling retailers, who rather than taking much of a salary, have taken their money to live as dividends, if and when they could afford it. The new requirement of the self employed to file tax returns quarterly rather than annually will add another level of red tape to a group that is already suffering from the burden of too much already. All this at a time when, as has been well documented, major internet retailers are paying little on no tax in this country.

And don’t even get the average independent card shop going on the increased Minimum Wage and National Living Wage. As outlined in last month’s PG, this is going to be a real problem, and yet because of the way the Chancellor plans (sneakily again!) to implement it, many of the recipients of the increased hourly rate, after deductions, will be very little better off. The big losers will be their retail employers who end up in effect paying an additional amount of tax. And of course many retail employees working in small shops may well lose working hours as owners act to mitigate this increased cost and spend more time behind the counter themselves.

On top of this there is another whammy on the horizon with the introduction of the Workplace Pension.

This will load another layer of costs to many greeting card retailers.

How have we got to this, asks Cardsharp? Why has the political party that previously championed the entrepreneurial retailer become so indifferent, or some would say, hostile, to its interests. The easy answer is the ‘Big D’ - the deficit. With such a big black hole to fill, and with so many areas ring-fenced, the Chancellor has tended to go back again and again to easy targets like small retail businesses.

But, reflects Cardsharp, it goes deeper than that. In the present generation of

government ministers there is virtually no one that has had any real business experience, let alone any retail experience.

There are no Michael Heseltines who had become self-made millionaires before they even entered Parliament. There is no one in government, Cardsharp suspects, who has ever had to get up at 3.00 am on a freezing night to attend to an alarm going off after a yob has thrown a brick through their shop’s front window.

Most of the present crop of politicians have never had a ‘real world’ job in their life, having started as political advisors or in political spin straight from university. Any advice they get on retail tends to come from the likes of Sir Stuart Rose, formerly of Marks and Spencer, or Terry Leahy, formerly of Tesco, both good operators in their own right, but hardly at the sharp end of indie retailing.

And when the trials and tribulations of retailing do come into the Government’s orbit, as it did a couple of years ago, it wheels out Mary Portas, the self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Shops’, as a publicity stunt. What ever happened to her plan to revitalise the high street?

Having said all of this, Cardsharp is not on some kind of party political mission. He is sure things would not be that much

different under a Labour Government, although having said that everyone did pretty well under the now much maligned Tony Blair. No, it is more to make the point that these days the UK independent retailer is pretty much on his/her own, and can’t expect much help (more likely hindrance) from governments of any persuasion.

Perhaps, concludes Cardsharp, it has always been thus, and all that has happened is that the pretence of the Tories being the retailer’s friend has been blown away. Cardsharp wonders what old Bony would think?

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The London Stationery Show makes stationery buying a pleasure with hundreds of great brands and thousands of products from around the world, all in one place.

Beautiful pens… wonderful wrap… stunning notebooks and diaries… gorgeous gift and social stationery… stylish storage… this is where fashion meets function! Be part of it.

Register now at stationeryshow.co.uk for free entry

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VIEWPOINTS

Spring Fling With spring now underway, the days getting brighter and the checks and balances being done on the Chancellor’s Budget, PG took an ‘optimism reading’ of card retailers and distributors.

Plus, with PG Live now an imminent marker in the spring diary (May 10-11), they share their expectations of the upcoming greeting card show.

Tom and Maureen O’Connell owners of Just Cards, St Ives, Cambs: Spring Feeling: “We're cautiously optimistic for the future, having invested in our business in recent months with a complete upgrade of all our card racking and an overhaul of our suppliers - we've got rid of the major players in card publishing and now focus on smaller companies and more contemporary designs. The year has been good so far with card and gift sales in ten of the first 12 weeks showing an increase over the previous year.

The cuts in National Insurance and increases in tax thresholds should mean our customers have a little more money in their pockets, so we're feeling reasonably upbeat. Unfortunately, the cut in business rates won't affect us, while the so-called Living Wage and Workplace Pensions are great big dark clouds on the horizon.”

PG Live: “We're great fans of PG Live and wouldn't miss it. The show can be covered in a day and we believe is a must for all card retailers.

It's a really good chance to see many card publishers whose budgets probably don’t stretch to the larger trade fairs. It's compact, easy to reach and there’s the very good (and free!) lunch!

Debbie and Jerry Brown owners of First Class Greetings, Hadleigh: Spring Feeling: “We are bouncing into spring showing about 10% increase in sales YTD. We are hopefully just about to complete on a new shop so we feel there are still opportunities at retail.

Unfortunately though, the Chancellor has not been kind to us on the business rates front as the rateable value for both shops is above the threshold, however this will not dampen our enthusiasm for the future.”

PG Live: “What's not to like about PG Live? It's the show we look forward to the most. It has just the right combination of purchasing, networking and socialising.

This year we will be having a good look around Springboard for interesting and unique cards and gifts for Plum Green (our new shop).”

Top: 'A dog in Bluebells' on a card from Heart of a Garden.

Above: (Left to right) Jerry and Debbie Brown with colleague Jacqui Payne at last year’s PG Live.

Right: PG Live has the right combo of purchasing, networking and socialising, according to Jerry and Debbie Brown.

We're hoping to find a few more small and quirky publishers with something different on offer.

Last year at PG Live we found Daniel Mackie, among others, whose cards are simply brilliant. In the past we've found Dandelion Stationery, Hannah Dunnett and many others who offer us a different perspective and an edge over the competition.”

Above left: Tom and Maureen O’Connell, owners of Just Cards, St Ives enjoying the hospitality of last year’s PG Live.

Left: National Living Wage and Workplace Pensions have added black clouds to the horizon for the O’Connells.

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VIEWPOINTS

Kirsi Ala-Kurikka

Amanda and Will Oscroft

sales manager of Putinki Oy (retailer, publisher and distributor) in Finland:

owners of Love It in Stamford and Bury St Edmunds:

Spring Feeling: “We feel very optimistic at the moment. Springtime is the ‘high season’ in Finland for graduation, school endings and confirmation occasions, and it’s also a nice start for the spring and summer festive season.

Consumers are still very eager to buy nice greeting cards and are willing to pay even higher prices.”

PG Live: “We like the show as it’s an effective two day event that is dedicated to cards. It means we are able find all the important suppliers at one show.

Like every year we will be pleased to meet all our current suppliers and see their new selections. We will also be very happy if we find something new and exciting, even though we are not constantly looking for new suppliers.

This show is also a good way of exploring what is going on in the card business generally and what ‘the big thing’ is this season.”

Spring Feeling: “You have caught us just basking in the glow of optimism!

We have had our best ever Christmas and with the first quarter of 2016 nearly over, we are on another upward trend. I would like to put it down to our huge talent and sparkling personalities, but seriously, the mild winter has helped bring customers out in huge numbers. We are feeling very positive about the next few months and Above: Amanda and (left) Will Oscroft, owners of Love It in Stamford and Bury so it seems are our suppliers as the sheer St Edmunds, spending their £50 Greats number of fantastic new ranges being voucher with Special Delivery Cards at PG Live 2015. launched is amazing.”

PG Live: “We are very excited about PG Live – it’s a chance to visit our wonderful capital and pretend its work work work. It actually never feels like work as it really is business and pleasure!! We love meeting the young and talented artists/designers and the atmosphere is so relaxed. We love the fact that the complimentary

Above: (Left-right) Putinki Oy’s Anu Hartonen, Sabina Leppala and Kirsi Ala-Kurikka with PG’s Jakki Brown and Paper Salad’s Karen Wilson on the eve of last year’s show opening.

Sarah Marsh owner of The Gorgeous Gift & Card Company, Biggleswade: Spring Feeling: “I’m feeling positive about the sector at the moment. I have extended the shop and spent all my spare money on a refit!

Sadly, despite what was said in the Budget about business rates, my bill has just arrived and has gone up, due to the £1,500 government retail relief ending. So that’s more to pay out!! I am also feeling apprehensive going forward as we are having our town business retail park extended, meaning Marks and Spencer, Next, and others will open here this year, on top of TK Maxx opening six months ago.

Marks and Spencer does a lot of cards, and Next even has them at all till points - and they all stock gifts too. I am worried that it will affect my sales for the type of customer I have as currently nowhere else around offers a more handmade card.

I hate not being able to get assured exclusivity from suppliers, and always receive a phone call or two after the shows from agents telling me of new leads their suppliers have sent them in the area. I then feel I Above: Sarah Marsh is fearful of the expansion of the retail park near the shop introducing Marks & Spencer among others .

Left: Sarah Marsh, owner of The Gorgeous Gift & Card Company, Biggleswade with Paul Jarman of Creased Cards, Brighton finding their shops’ names on the Wall of Fame at PG Live last year.

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

have to really fight to keep their lines exclusive to me, even though I am a good customer.

When you work so hard building up a relationship with a company, for them to consider opening an account nearby (even if the agent/rep didn’t have anything to do with it), is very frustrating and disloyal of suppliers.

What would put more ‘spring in my step’ would be for more companies to help us out with seasonal stock (with unsold items swapped for everyday ones) as this would mean we could offer a greater choice to our customers.”

PG Live: “PG Live is so lovely as you can concentrate solely on cards, unlike other trade shows where you generally don’t get time to look at cards.

Obviously, the free lunch and after show drinks are always a bonus too!

I do like to have the chance to talk to the publishers. If you have any problems or need to talk about deals that can be done then it’s the perfect place to do it.

This year at the show I will be looking at all the companies that I love, as after the show your shop just takes over, and you risk forgetting all about that gorgeous supplier. So, this year I need to take the bull by the horns and just order when I am there!”

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VIEWPOINTS refreshments and lunch actually make you stop and add to the feelgood factor which is unique to PG Live.

This year we are hoping to find our existing suppliers are expanding good selling lines and adding to their ranges with age specific captions (including 65th, 75th and 85th). Of course we always find something just that little bit different, like the Special Delivery Cards from last year’s show, so we are looking forward to the next new thing for Love It. So many of the ranges we took on from PG Live last year have done so well that we are also hoping to find the images on coasters and mugs, like Redback Cards, which have been really successful, not to mention the slightly more adult Brainbox Candy items, which are always a huge hit for us.”

Above right: PG Live is an important show to discover new publishers.

Right: Love It is full of the joys of spring with increased sales in its two shops.

Sara and Nigel Morris owners of The Card Emporium, Malvern: Spring Feeling: “There is a definite upbeat feel at the moment and hopefully that will continue through spring and summer, getting us geared up for a busy second half of the year.

We have just signed for a new shop in Malvern, a beautiful large shop that we will be calling Rhubarb Home, selling unusual furniture, lighting, artwork and lots of homey stuff. All very exciting and scary!”

PG Live: “It's such a great show, with a really positive vibe not too big to be daunting, but plenty to see all the same. We never miss a one!

As ever we will be on the lookout for something new and exciting, but it's also a good chance to catch up with some of our lovely existing suppliers.”

Above: Nigel and (left) Sara Morris with Sue Marks, editor of PG’s sister publication, Progressive Gifts & Home at PG Live last year, with The Greats gift retailer award trophy that the Morris’ won for their gift shop, Rhubarb.

Below: The green and pleasant land of the Malvern Hills.

Alan Harnik president and founder of Notes & Queries, (major US distributor of UK card publishers): Spring Feeling: “I think the American economy is really a mixed bag for retail in general. I think what with the American Presidential Elections there is a ‘wait and see’ feeling in the retail sector. What is quite clear is that traditional bricks and mortar stores are having to adjust to 21st Century marketing to survive and thrive. They are really being pressed by increasing pressure from large chains, including food stores and other nontraditional greeting card outlets (ie Target and pharmacy chains), as well as internet sales of paper products.

Nonetheless, clever retailers always do reinvent themselves, and not only survive, but prosper.”

PG Live: “It’s an important Above: Alan Harnik (right) catching up with Ton Hollander of Artige on the eve of PG Live last year. show for many reasons for us: 1.

Below: The run up to the US presidential election, Potential new resources for us to including Donald Trump’s antics, has resulted in a ‘wait and see’ feeling among the American public discover. 2. Meeting with our and retailers. existing trading partners to see their new product. It’s also an opportunity to discuss with our existing trading partners how their and our business can grow. We both review Spring Seasons with some insight, as well as discuss special projects at this show.

3. It also allows us to look in one space at the state of the UK greeting card market. We sometimes can pick up trends in design/colour scheme/subject matter that we were unaware of and then begin to process this in our own marketing plan for the balance of the year.

4. As I know many of the other American distributors that bring in UK-imported product, it allows me to look at what my competition looks like.

And lastly, what PG Live offers distributors and UK retailers alike is a wide variety of product, well displayed in an environment that is easy to work and support.”

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Industry Issue

The

Personal Touch Gary Lineker must be a happy boy, not just because Leicester City (his home town club where he started his career), is top of the league, but also because new takes on the Carlton Cards’ CreataCard instore personalised greeting card concept he helped to launch over 20 years ago is scoring goals.

PG gets up close and personal with some of the latest launches which offer card retailers the chance to compete with the likes of Moonpig, Notonthehighstreet and Funky Pigeon within the confines of their stores.

Over two decades ago Carlton Cards (a fore-runner of UKG) put some weight behind its launch of its CreataCard launch – not just in enlisting Lineker as the face of its PR launch, but the hefty investment in hardware and software that enabled the cumbersome machines to produce personalised cards at the touch of a few buttons. However, these were the days when computer literacy was still in its infancy and so members of the public (and store staff ) were reticent to engage with the rather fierce looking machine especially as the output looked like a felt pen drawing on a piece of paper that had to be folded in four.

Fast forward to the present day and the personalisation feeding frenzy is going full pelt, from high-end engraved jewellery from the wealth of designer makers on Notonthehighstreet to the tempting offers from Moonpig of a free personalised Easter card with your Easter choccies.

Tap ‘personalised cards’ into Google and it throws up 13.5 million results, personalised gifts another 13.8 million, and these are potential sales that are largely being siphoned off from the bricks and mortar retailer.

While there is a strong argument that Moonpig’s considerable consumer advertising has served to not only remind people to send cards (and its new 7pm cut off gives people more time), but has helped to grow the market in ‘non-specific sends’, many bricks and mortar retailers view the 4% market share Moonpig and the other print-on-demand operators now command as lost card sales for them.

But the personalised activity, both low-tech and hightech, has been hotting up recently, further broadening the Top right: A blast from the past, a CreateaCard options for retailer looking to offer a personalised product to machine that was launched in the UK by Carlton Cards, with Gary Lineker as the PR face match a personal service. when it made its debut.

As Terry Harvey, md of M&P Cards (nine stores) sums up: “I am Above: Words ‘N’ Wishes ‘low tech’ approach with its new Personalise range, sees a great proponent of personalisation and see it as a way forward consumers able to select from the selection of in our and others’ stores making personalised products available captioned sticker ‘additions’ that accompany immediately for consumers.” the card and affix them to the front.

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A Kurt Response It is now 10 months since the very first Creation Express franchises started trading within retailers’ shops, offering personalised cards and gifts. Co-founders Kurt Abbott and his business partner Katie Pennington confirm that there are now 100 Creation Express units already out there, with a full installation programme scheduled well into May. “Having been in the card and gift business for 12 years [through K2 Greetings] we are well aware that the sector has borne the brunt of a lot of new challenges, notably

Above: The Creation Express portfolio includes graphic as well as photo upload options for its cards and gift. All the gifts come ‘blank’ and are printed in store.

Card Factory and supermarkets increasing their market shares, while Moonpig and NOTHS have seen tremendous growth on the personalised side. This signalled to us an opportunity for card and gift retailers to offer their customers the opposite of the Henry Ford approach of ‘any colour as long as it’s black’! Personalisation is ultimate consumerism,” states Kurt Abbott, director of Creation Express.

Kurt cites several reasons as to why there has been such an encouraging pick up

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Industry Issue

by retailers towards the concept - minimum stockholding, attractive margins and safety of exclusivity in their town. The concept includes being able to offer a range of personalised products (from cards to mugs, cushions, moneyboxes and soon to include phone covers and Christmas baubles in some 1,000 designs (and counting) created in store.

Other future plans are to introduce a click and collect service which will bring more custom to a retailer’s shop as well as adding key licensed designs (the ink is drying on a deal with Me to You for example).

Right: Kurt Abbott and Katie Pennington, directors of Creation Express and K2 Greetings.

Far right: Andy Mills, who co owns A Shaw Thing, Oldham with his wife Melanie, in front of the Creation Express area in their shop.

Retailer Insight - Andy Mills, director of A Shaw Thing, Shaw, nr Oldham: “Introducing Creation Express into our shop has without doubt been the best business decision we have made in the last 13 years of owning the shop. We introduced it the week before Father’s Day last year and we did 93 gifts in the first week alone – and that was without any advertising or customers really knowing about it.

Now our sales from Creation Express are approaching 30% of our turnover - and with no risky stockholding. Even this morning, on a dull Wednesday in March, we have done four mugs by 10am (at £10 a time that is good going for a little shop like ours) and four personalised cards.

We were £1,200 up on Mother’s Day alone thanks to Creation Express which is great, but it also means we can be a big player in minor occasions, like offering personalised thank you teacher products.

Some 99% of people come into our shop with phones that have photos on or can access from Facebook, all we do is explain that they can create a personalised product that will be the only one in the world in just a few minutes – they love it and invariably come back for more.

It’s a harsh reality, but as an independent retailer if you don’t move on you have to move out. This has saved our business and given us assurances that there is light at the end of the tunnel!”

Space Hippo Goes Into Orbit Not surprisingly, the Space Hippo kiosk attracted a fair bit of attention of the Cardgains Village at the recent Spring Fair. While this was its official UK mainland launch, fronted by the well-known ‘sales double act’ of Mike Apicella and Peter Goodman (both of SMS), it has benefitted from four years of being out through its paces in Ireland under the watchful eyes of well-known greeting card distributor Watermark, co-developers of the concept.

Space Hippo benefits from a wealth of industry experience from Peter Goodman, Mike Apicella (honed from years with Xpressions for starters) and Watermark’s directors Paul Slater and Brian Murtagh. They all know the challenges and expectations of retailers, but they also share a belief that offering instore personalisation can be a mighty weapon for retailers looking to offer a USP to their customers.

The Space Hippo sales team for the UK “Over the years personalisation has always worked for me, but this has historically Above: (left) Peter Goodman and (far right) Mike been on a name concept, such as the Bubblegum and Boofle gift ranges, but as not all Apicella with the Quick Click Cards directors, (second left) Brian Murtagh and Paul Slater. names sell at the same rate a retailer is inevitably left with some slow sellers. Space Left: One of the many unusual sending options Hippo eradicates any fear of this,” says Mike Appicella. that Space Hippo lends itself.

Having launched in Ireland under the Quick Click Cards brand, the last four years the print-on-demand personalised card ‘kiosk’, through listening to retail partners and their customers, have had changes made to the system to make it more user friendly and relevant to the public’s requirements.

Working with Peter and Mike the new Space Hippo brand and instore kiosk, plus a UK-specific website, has been developed accommodating UK and regional designs.

Already with over 4,000 design selections Retailer Insight - Jeremy Doyle, director of The Card available (including those from Emotional Shops (four stores) in Ireland: Rescue, Danilo and Nigel Quiney) Mike “I have had Quick Click Cards Kiosks in all of my stores for the anticipates that 70 Space Hippo kiosks will be past four years and it has become a very important part of my installed in UK retailers this year, increasing to business - and certainly gives me a point of difference over 200-300 in the next few years.

“We truly believe that in-store personalisation other greeting card stores. We have many customers who visit our stores specifically to produce a personalised card and the in greeting cards is a significant opportunity, and the ability to be able to print a card in-store gives fact that our own store details are printed on the back of the card is an important feature. Over the last number of years we the retailer an opportunity to compete directly have seen steady growth in our revenue from personalised with the many online retailers that currently exist, cards and we are now looking at other options in terms of personalising other products, such and a retailer will never again have to turn away as mugs or phone cases etc. The team at Quick Click are great to work with and are always on business because they do not carry an obscure hand to deal with any queries that we may have or any special requests such as unusual caption,” summed up Paul Slater, commercial captions or multiple prints etc.” director of Watermark.

Right: A Quick Click Cards kiosk installed in The Card Shop’s Blanchardstown store.

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Innovations

London Stationery Show A selection of products on display at London Stationery Show, 26-27 April 2016, Business Design Centre, London.

Precious Metal The new Précieux Silver Pen range from Tregawne Giftware comprises three luxurious designs. Sold in a luxury presentation box, Wave and Weave are made with brilliant black lacquer with sterling silver caps, the Lines designs are all made from `925’ silver and the Précieux is available in ballpen, pencil, rollerball and fountain pen and is beautifully hallmarked.

Tregawne Giftware (Distributor for Waldmann KG Pens) 01386 861800 www.tregawne.co.uk Stand M329

The Main Event

Growing Roots

Big Events UK is launching its Unique Bucket List themed travel journals at LSS this April.

Arriving in six great British colours in faux leather covers, there are spare inner pads also available for anyone on long or multiple trips to fill with all their travelling memoirs!

Big Events UK 0121 705 8679 www.BigEventsTrading.co.uk Stand G111

The Root & Seed Company's quintessentially English stationery includes new greeting cards, unique hessian notebooks, charming wooden bark pencils and neutral-coloured notebooks, as well as Polaroid picture rope and adorable love heart page savers. The calm tones and timeless colour schemes deliver a calming mood to the home and office, perfectly counteracting the increasingly hectic lives of the modern-day organiser.

Root & Seed Company 01628 810260 www.rootandseed.co.uk Stand G101

Good Intentions Two Little Boys continue to add to their bestselling ‘I’m going to…’ range with six new pocket sized A6 notebooks to delight. New statements include a nod to Tim Peake ‘I’m going to be an Astronaut and this is my plan’, a wishful ‘I’m going to Ace my Exams’ and for the hassled mum or teenager ‘I’m going to be organised’.

Two Little Boys 020 84003606 www.2littleboys.co.uk Stand M639

New Tricks A new range by Padblocks’ of 13 very life-like Tricky Notebooks will be on show at London Stationery Show. These eye-catching pocketsized notebooks include this convincing passport, a rolled wad of dollars, a fizzy drink can and many more trick designs, all with 45 pages inside. A special display stand can be supplied free of charge with the purchase of 54 notebooks.

Padblocks 01189 781499 www.padblocks.com Stand G225

Watch This Space The new Fisher Backpacker Space Pen from GBA is tough, lightweight yet immensely practical.

Available in silver, orange, red, blue and black, and composed of anodised aerospace Grade 6061-T6 Billet Aluminium, this high-tech pen features a keyring cap, black finger grip and trim and is presented in a black Fisher box with an astronaut sleeve or carded blister pack.

GBA Pen Company 01245 225758 www.gbapen.co.uk Stand M618 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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BUILDING BUSINESS. C U LT I VAT I N G CO N N E C T I O N S .

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From end to end, this breathtaking show floor promotes networking, order writing, new product sourcing, talent discovery and lasting partnerships.

As the only North American trade show for global buyers and sellers of stationery and lifestyle products, come for the incredible business opportunities. Leave with an experience like no other.

Register for the National Stationery Show today.

MAY 15 - 18, 2016 #NSS2016 34_PG_April 2016.indd 1

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Innovations

London Stationery Show A selection of products on display at London Stationery Show, 26-27 April 2016, Business Design Centre, London.

Mind Bending Kore Spa’s Reflexa notebooks and diaries are handmade in Italy with gorgeous Italian raw materials. Reflexa offers rounded spines, soft and colorful covers and elegant rounded lines - no more squared spines, rigid covers or sharp corners - Reflexa can be easily rolled up in your hand and opened up to 180° degrees.

Kore Spa 0039 011 981 9378 www.reflexacollection.com Stand M326

Mind Over Matter Quire Collections will be showing a brand new collection of Birthday Calendars at LSS. A great add on to its Mindfulness colouring books, the new Mindfulness colouring Birthday Calendar is looking to be a hit in 2016.

Quire Collections 01494 618489 www.quire.co.uk Stand M740

Save The Date

You’re Invited!

There is something for everyone in Pomegranate’s new range of 2017 calendars, with a wide variety of titles from art and nature to humour and fantasy! Top titles include Brian Sweet, Charley Harper’s gorgeous prints, Thierry Bisch’s A Bestiary, Designs from the Vienna Workshop and the Exquisite Creatures Insect Art of Christopher Marley.

Pomegranate Europe 01926 430111 www.pomegranate.com Stand M340

The Mibo Stationery range is the latest release from GMC. Comprising die-cut children’s stand up invitations, there are two each of five designs in a pack: a Penguin, Tiger, Bear, Walrus and Hippo, together with coloured envelopes.

Also on show will be the Mibo Scrapbook with four pop-out animals, a Jungle Colouring Set, three notebooks and a range of thank you cards.

GMC Publications 01273 488005 Stand M428

Fabric Of Life A beautiful range of linen covered notebooks will be on show on the Charfleet Book Bindery stand. The Linen Collection featured A5 size notebooks in bright, fun colours with themed slogans and silver foil blocked covers. All printed and bound in the UK, each notebook has 160 pages of fine white paper printed with a grey feint rule.

Charfleet Book Bindery 01268 660914 www.charfleetbookbindery.com Stand M303

Taking Note Enveco is launching new bespoke premium notebooks and writing pads, made to your specifications and artwork. The range now features wiro notebooks in both soft cover and hardback; perfect bound, saddle stitched and case-bound notebooks.

Enveco 01908378866 www.enveco.co.uk Stand M648 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

Hello Flora!

Toasted Crumpet is proud to launch its beautifully British Flora Collection of 12 new card designs, each featuring delicate watercolour illustrations. Inspired by British meadow flowers and country cottage gardens, this contemporary occasions collection stylishly combines calm pastels with backdrops of spots and stripes and playful light-hearted strap lines.

Toasted Crumpet 07841 433 688 www.toastedcrumpet.co.uk

Collaged Classics

East Of Eden

Ditsy Daisy is a range of 14 handmade occasion cards new out from Laura Sherratt Designs. This pretty range is inspired by Laura's love of fabrics - all the cards collaged with a variety of ditsy patterns, then embellished by hand with delicate paper flowers. All these 150mm square cards come wrapped with a colourcoordinating envelope.

Laura Sherratt Designs 01538 384566 www.laurasherrattdesigns.co.uk

Flame Tree is extending its licensed calendar and diary range once more to feature the wonderful Eden Project in Cornwall. The new range includes stunning Wall and Mini Wall Calendars, as well as a handy Year Planner. All the products feature beautiful illustrations of birds found at Eden Project throughout the year.

Flame Tree Publishing 020 7751 9650 www.flametreepublishing.com

Out Of The Box Perfectly Wrapped Presents is launching beautifully designed flat packed gift boxes and matching wrapping paper, which can be branded or created bespoke. The boxes come flat-packed in four sizes and can be sold separately or as a stackable set. Off the peg designs include Topiary, Christmas and Alice In Wonderland.

Perfectly Wrapped Presents 01522 529591 www.perfectlywrapped.co.uk

Lovelly Animals Illustrated Animals is a budding collection of five cards from Sarah Lovell, beautiful hand illustrations on a tattoo inspired theme featuring a hare, a bear, a horse, a cat and a wolf.

The cards are all blank and sold wrapped with a black envelope.

Sarah Lovell Art 07979 814146 www.sarahlovellart.co.uk

Bite Of The Cherry Cherry Orchard is launching 42 new designs into its Wedding and Anniversaries Collection for 2016, including a diverse range of contemporary and traditional designs. With captions for engagement, weddings, anniversaries and special anniversaries, this collection ranges from traditional images of bouquets and champagne, with scrolls and foils to cute owls and text-based designs.

Cherry Orchard Publishing 01684 295500 www.cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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10-11 May - Stand 523

For more information please contact our Customer Service team; Email: sales@xystos.co.uk or Tel: 0191 499 1570 www.xystostrade.co.uk

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Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

It’s A Puzzlement!

After great success at Spring Fair, Popzle – the Pop Puzzle Creation Company, is already extending its collection of 3D activity gift cards.

A thoughtful pop out puzzle gift and card combined, there is no mess, no glue and no scissors required. Build and play with a range of characters including Olly Owl, Pip & Pixie Piglets, Tommy Turtle and many more!

Popzle 00353 87 7444 758 www.popzle.com

Blue Moon

Just Fur You!

A new range of cards from Me And My Blue featuring the work of Brighton photographer Lisa Dempsey, adds a stylish new twist to pet card designs. This is a range for all occasions featuring Lisa's pet British Blue cat ‘Arthur’ and his friends served with a big dollop of love and flowers. The cards are available in two sizes 150mms square and 177mm x 127mm, in both portrait and landscape formats.

Me And My Blue 01273 623363 www.meandmyblue.co.uk

Louise Mulgrew is expanding her Furry Friends range to include 12 new fluffy and feathery creatures with splatters and ink blobs galore, including a rather 'magni-pheasant' pheasant and a snappy happy croc! Created traditionally with pen and ink and printed on a beautiful thick, textured board, they have a lovely handmade quality. All the cards are in a classic 150mm square format sold wrapped with brown kraft envelopes.

Louise Mulgrew Designs 07810304414 www.louisemulgrew.com

All Lined Up Six new designs have been added to the popular Clean Lines sentiment range by Lizzie Chancellor. These simple, sophisticated cards are all sized 150mm square, printed on beautiful board from the Lake District and accompanied by a recycled kraft envelope.

Lizzie Chancellor 07913 921282 www.lizziechancellor.com

Going Postal The Birthday Post is the latest range of children's age cards, for one year-olds to nine, from Henries award winning publisher Stripey Cats. Designer Jonathan Crosby has time taken his inspiration from the humble postage stamp, with some 'eye-catching' results in brilliant colour combinations that just zing. Shame they're only for kids!

Stripey Cats 07866 713 826 www.stripeycats.com

How Refreshing!

The Telegramme Paper Co is extending its Refreshments card range, with new beverage based card designs in its unique, mid-century illustration style. Shake it up with the classic milkshake, relax with a wonderfully British cup of tea, or get slightly squiffy with your favourite cocktail! All the cards beautifully complemented with Telegramme’s gorgeous hand-embossed recycled kraft envelopes.

Telegramme Paper Co 07846 484091 www.telegramme.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

39

S end i n g YO U

WI SH ES

Come visit us at:

View and buy online at www.davora.co.uk Contact us for a full catalogue of designs

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Retailer Face To Face

Below: David and Andrea Pinder (centre), receiving their Retas Award last July for the Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North and Northern Ireland.

Below left: Unit 7’s Manchester store is to receive a mini makeover this year.

Below right: The recently revamped Presentation store, which incorporates a bistro.

“Let’s go for it” has been a mantra that Andrea Pinder and her business partner and husband David have put into practice for almost three decades - and it shows no sign of stopping.

PG runs to keep up with the quick talking, quick thinking Andrea, co-founder of the Retas-award winning Unit 7, Presentation and The Party Planet retail quartet about this year’s ‘go for it’ plans.

When Andrea Pinder’s husband David mentioned he had seen an advert advertising a newsagent for sale, her immediate reaction was: “Let’s sell the house and go for it then.” And she wasn’t joking, so they did.

At that time, back in 1989, neither of the Pinders had any firsthand retail experience - David was a former auditor who had turned his hand to kitchen design while Andrea was a sales rep for an Italian food and drink company.

But it set them on a journey into the greeting card, gift and party industry that has seen them become one of the few independent card retailers to operate successfully in two major city centres (their

Stepping Up A Gear

Unit 7 shops in Manchester and Birmingham), as well as further develop The Party Planet store in Colne and undertake a total turnaround of Presentation, a gift shop cum bistro in Barrowford.

Although obviously delighted to receive a Retas trophy as Best

Independent Greeting Card Retailer – North and Northern Ireland last July for the historic growth and panache for their business, the ensuing period and plans for this year continue this upward trajectory.

The Presentation store, which the Pinders acquired a couple of years ago, has just undergone a major refurbishment, giving it a “proper flagship look” with impressive canopy blinds on the 11 windows which span the shop and bistro, further increasing its prominence in the Lancashire town of Barrowford.

Meanwhile, plans are now underway to give the Manchester Unit 7 card and gift shop, located in the impressive Royal Arcade, a mini makeover.

Below: Andrea in cycling mode!

They do say, that is you want something done ask a busy person. Somehow, on top of co-running a thriving but challenging retail business, last summer saw Andrea fulfill a personal challenge, cycling 375 miles in the blistering heat with four friends, raising an impressive £12,500 for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

“My friend had lost her husband to prostate cancer and Rosemere was where he had his treatment. We had been raising money in the Presentation shop by offering customers a free giftwrapping service in return for donations. We have raised over £1,000 this way so far! So when it was suggested that I take up cycling and join my three friends on a fundraising trip to Cuba, I had to say yes,” says Andrea.

“The training alone resulted in me doing several unintentional trapeze acts, going over the handlebars, but I persevered. I can’t thank our suppliers enough for the support they gave me through their generous donations.”

Andrea has much to thank agent Lewis Holmes for this gem of a shop.

“It was 2005 and Lewis called in to see me in The Party Planet, which had been trading for five years by then. I can clearly remember him saying to me: “Unit 7 in Manchester is up for sale and I think you should buy it”. So we did!”

It was very much this same decisive action that had resulted in the opening of The PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

41

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Retailer Face To Face

Party Planet, when Andrea, (who had been running the Balloon Squad, a balloon decorating business for weddings and parties from home, which allowed her to spend more time with their children), drove past an empty unit. “I phoned David and said: “This is it, I have found a shop we have to buy”, and we did!”

While David oversees the financial side of the business, Andrea steers the buying and day to day running of the shops. And ‘running’ is the operative word, as she is forever darting from one outlet to the other, to support the closeknit staff teams, inspiring them and the customers with information on the wealth of greeting cards on offer and their provenance.

“Customers love to know where a card has come from as it makes them more special, so I might explain that Belly Button Designs are made here in Manchester and that we know the owner Rachel Hare; that Five Dollar Shake is a handmade company down in

Sussex; and Wendy JonesBlackett is a lovely husband and wife company based in Leeds. It adds to the curated feel that people like,” says Andrea. “The best thing about being in the shops is when customers are so keen to tell us: “you have the best selection of cards that I have ever seen, I love coming in here”. It is what it is all about.”

As she explains, very rarely does anyone go out of

one of its shops without finding a suitable card – with the staff always at the ready to personalise a card with the addition, for example, of a sparkly age or relations caption from Second Nature’s Express Yourself DIY range.

“Customers always appreciate it if you really look after them. We often taxi things round to their homes, or bring products across from our other stores – you don’t want to lose a sale and you definitely want to keep a customer,” says Andrea, showing her passion for product nous for sales and attention to detail on the customer service front.

As to the plans for more expansion, the twinkle in Andrea’s eye suggests there is more up the sleeve of her designer jacket.

“I would love to have more shops, but you not only need the right location, but also the right staff. We are very lucky to be where we are, but yes, growth is still a goal.”

Above left: Andrea alongside the Jellycat plush selection in the Manchester store, which is a must have for Unit 7 on the plush front.

Left: The vast card selection goes down well with the retailer’s customers.

Andrea The Advisor Andrea is passionate about product and just loves the involvement she has had in helping publishers (from newbies just starting out to those who are very experienced) throwing in her two-penneth as to how they could improve the designs and ranges. Here are comments from a trio of thankful publishers:

Matt Genower, co-founder and md of Five Dollar Shake: “Along with Andrea putting the world to right, I do recall her suggesting a design idea suggesting that one of our handsome tux wearing gentlemen would look great leaning up against a posh bottle of cologne. So we played around with some different formats and a couple of male Christmas cards were born. She and I have a joke that she is a bit miffed that we didn’t name check her on the design/range. Andrea knows her consumer so very well, and because she has so much passion about product she’s a brilliant sales person. Definitely a frustrated publisher!”

Bexy Hassett, founder of Bexy Boo:

Above: The Five Dollar Shake male card that came about as a result of Andrea Pinder’s inspiration.

“Andrea has been a super star in helping guide me in this wonderful world of publishing. She was especially helpful when I first launched at PG Live in 2013 when she made the suggestion for me to switch from using plastic gems to genuine Swarovski crystals.

Then, in 2014 she took the handmade version of our Christmas range, which sold out within days. The printed version went out Christmas 2015 and was a great success.

Andrea has always believed in me from the beginning and that has given me enormous strength to keep going. She is a very astute business woman and I think the world of her.”

Jess Neal, founder of Paperclip Penguin:

Above left: Bexy Boo made the switch to using

“Andrea gave me lots of useful advice when I was just starting out last summer. I Swarowski crystals after a suggestion from Andrea as well as adding more colour to some of the designs. got in touch with her after her daughter (who was in the same university halls as Right: Paperclip Penguin makes its trade show debut me) saw my cards on Facebook and told me her mum was in the industry and at PG Live in May (10 and 11), where it will be showing designs which include more occasions and may be able to help with some advice and contacts. colour as a result of Andrea’s input.

Andrea’s first piece of useful feedback was to expand the range to cover family birthdays and occasions. After speaking to her I got straight to work on designing lots of new cards – and my current Paperclip Penguin range is now up to 60 designs!

Andrea was the first to place an order with me and I was so delighted to hear the Paperclip Penguin range had done well in her Unit 7 shops as it gave me the confidence I needed to push myself on and sign up for a stand at PG Live this year – my trade show debut!”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys

This month has been full on paper paper paper, and the outlook ‘on paper’ is still looking very rosey indeed!

Two major projects that I have been involved in for some time are now both coming to fruition, which further reinforce my love affair with this most amazing material whose impact has no limits.

A Handy Collaboration I have teamed up with designer maker Liam Hopkins (of Lazerian) and artist Daren Newman (of Me and My Pen).

The three of us are about to launch our first product HAND01 under our retail brand HAND Studios. We have partnered with paper company GFSmith to launch our HAND01 paper table collection at the Milan Furniture Fair this month.

With a mantra of ‘unpack, assemble and Above: The HAND01 range of tables. The product comes with its own neat box. create’, HAND01 is an all-terrain refillable paper-topped table concept (that we are offering in five sizes).

The table ‘top’ is in fact a pad of paper from GF Smith’s iconic Colorplan range, with the perforated sheets secured in place using a bespoke hand clamp system.

One reason I love HAND01 is that it is right at the heart of 'pencil and paper' creativity and collaboration.

Talking In A Library?

Into The Fold I am delighted to be working with Paul Jackson, famed as one of the all time great masters of paper folding and Origami, having written over 30 books on the subject. UK born, he is now based in Israel and travels the globe educating and inspiring design Above: One of the many impressive students in the art of paper folding and pieces by Paul Jackson. manipulation. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to work in collaboration with Paul and am beginning to notice a beautiful pattern emerging among craftspeople of Paul’s calibre - there is a deep passion at the very core of their being, it is clearly a calling that they have to keep moving with their craft, it has always been and will always be!

Heidi Hi Glasgow, Manchester and London creatives were lucky to be treated recently to a Bavarian Letterpress fest hosted by creative paper companies Gmund and GFSmith. It was also to celebrate the launch of three Gmund collections Urban, Heidi and Cotton – that will be exclusively stocked in the UK by GFSmith. Guests were treated to a new paper swatch and a Bavarian Beer tankard - and a wonderful evening socialising with both paper companies’ passionate teams and fellow creatives. I attended the Manchester event and it was wonderful to meet up with so many artists, designers, greeting publishers (including Paper Salad and Belly Button Design) and lecturers.

Heidi is one of the latest innovations to be born from the incredible Bavarian paper machine that proudly shines within the Gmund Paper Mill. The latest Heidi paper, named after the original Heidelberg Press, has been designed specifically for letterpress.

Inspiring people and businesses about the wonders of paper and board and the different effects that can be achieved by making one board selection over another has always touched my buttons. In pursuit of this, Above: The Paper Library will be a wonderful opportunity has presented itself for me to expanded to several locations in the become a director of The Paper Library and expand what it UK providing a fantastic resource for currently does. greeting card publishers, students The Paper Library is a free to use and independent paper and all manner of creative. resource for brands, designers and creatives in industry and education. Featuring papers from all over the world, it is a physical space where everyone has the opportunity to touch, feel and engage with paper.

Our mission is to provide access to and showcase paper and associated materials to every level of the design community, present and future, emphasising the importance and versatility of paper in the design process. The first Paper Library has debuted in Shoreditch, London but we are planning to create many more Paper Libraries elsewhere, with Manchester next on the list and others likely to open within several universities in the UK.

Above: Card publishers joined others from the design community at a ‘letterpress fest’ organised

by Gmund and GFSmith that took place in Manchester, Glasgow and London.

Zupacalafragilistic The latest work by award winning Polish design studio Zupagrafika combines architecture, typography and paper.

Famed initially for its passion for poster art, it has carved a niche for paper-cut models representing Brutalist architecture, including London from the 1960's and 70's. Its new Blokoshka collection is inspired by Eastern Bloc concrete buildings, a playful tour of modernistic architecture of Moscow, East Berlin, Warsaw and Prague. So if you fancy having your very own tower block on your desk, all you need is one of the kits and a few dabs of paper glue!

Left: Blokoshka – paper-cut models inspired by Eastern Bloc concrete.

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

Exclusively

Yours

Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun, considers clashes.

I recently took a call from an upset customer.

It wasn’t the ranting and raving kind. I could hear that the upset was genuine and heartfelt. It was the kind of distress where I wanted to give the person a hug and make them a cup of tea to settle them down before talking things through.

My caller had discovered that a competitor right next door was stocking our cards and displaying them in their window in the same way as they did. Our retailer had only started stocking Blue Eyed Sun last year and within a short space of time our cards were making up over £10,000 of its sales at retail in a small town with a population of 18,000 people. This was a significant portion of the shop’s turnover and profits. Our customer felt that their business was under threat from the competition and went so far as to say that they felt that they would be forced out of business if they didn’t have our cards.

I totally felt for the customer and was shocked to hear of the clash as we actively go out of our way to try and prevent these types of incidents occurring. We don’t guarantee exclusivity, but where possible we try to protect the interests of our independents and meet their needs as best as we can. For years I've wanted to have a simple system for managing clashes. I’ve learned that it's almost impossible to have a black-and-white rule about this, so we deal with each on a case-by-case basis. Our processes have been further complicated by the rise of brokerage, especially among independent gift and card shops.

Brokerage is a system whereby a single large publisher plans and manages the card 46

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

pockets in a shop, often on behalf of several publishers for the retailer.

Traditionally implemented by the large multiples, smaller independent stores have been using it to reduce staff costs and simplify systems. These upsides tend to be offset by the lack of flexibility of ordering and reduced pocket numbers of successful smaller niche publishers like ourselves.

Brokerage works well for companies like us when selling to larger stores or into small independent stores that sales agents don't frequent. It can cause problems when a good current independent customer switches to brokerage and no longer requires our sales agent’s services. In these situations we can often see sales dip by as much as 80% due to the Top: Card retailers can sometimes request local exclusivity from a card publisher.

Above: Blue Eyed Sun's cards are sold through brokerage and direct to retail, but usually has a safety net for 'exclusivity' clashes.

Right: John lewis is just one of the multiples that uses the brokerage system.

restricted number of pockets we may get through the broker. The situation is less than ideal for us and our sales agents. The alternative of losing all sales from the store by not taking part in the brokerage scheme is even worse.

Because we have excellent relationships with our brokerage providers we are able to say yes or no to any opportunities that are offered to us. In this particular instance the competitor’s shop had slipped through our usual safety net of checking for clashes. At first glance the problem appeared to have a simple remedy: we notified the broker and said that we can no longer supply the competitor’s shop. However, the competitor stocked certain Blue Eyed Sun card designs that were not included in the brokerage plan. Furthermore, we ourselves had not sold these extra cards to the competitor.

We know exactly what cards of ours brokers put into the stores and we have records of what we sell into any shop. We discovered that the competitor has a

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JEREMY ’S JOURNA L

relative that also uses the same brokers for their shop in a different town. This makes the situation even more complicated.

The relative’s store is our main shop in that location and we have been selling to them for longer than our upset customer.

What do we do? Do we turn down both competitor shops to appease our unhappy customer? Do we say sorry to our customer and keep selling to the relative, albeit with less margin through brokerage? There isn’t an easy solution. I’ve always valued

loyalty so the longest serving customer usually wins. Equally I don’t like upsetting customers so I can’t always find a win-win solution. What’s the right business case for this? Chase the biggest revenue or look after the loyal, long standing customer? For me personally it’s not always about the money. My loyalty has probably cost me many £thousands over the years by sticking with certain customers, agents and suppliers when a more ruthless businessman would have moved on long before. Not to say we never have though.

When we were starting out we had a tiny gift shop in South-West London approach us wanting to stock our cards

Above: Some independent retailers feel assured that a range is a good seller if a multiple stocks it too.

Below left: Problems arise when great local card shops' product clashes - A card from Noi Publishing.

Below right: Stay one step ahead of the competition.

exclusively and not to sell to anyone in its area. The retailer didn’t order more than £300 worth of cards a year and frankly that was no model for us to sustain our growing business. We had to turn her down in the end. As we did a small boutique shop in Brighton that wanted the same deal and for the cards to be sold in consignment, which meant that we were only paid when our products were sold to consumers from the shop.

Some businesses are built on the consignment model and they have done very well. It’s not one that would work for direct to retail publishers like us though. Card publishing is to a large extent a volume game and so just selling to tiny boutique shops who only want exclusivity is probably best left to small one-person local handmade publishers. The trouble with this approach is that those retailers are then buying from inexperienced publishers who may not know how to produce best selling cards. Stocking your shop with cards that look different, but don’t sell is a different problem.

I’ve spoken to many competitors about exclusivity over the years and have had a mixture of responses. One publisher actually felt that dealing with larger retailers had brought more independents to them as they thought that its cards must sell well if they are in the multiples.

Interestingly, it’s never the multiples (large or small) that have an issue with exclusivity.

One retailer friend of mine who owns several shops doesn’t care if the cards he sells are in shops nearby. All he focuses on is how well product sells in his shop.

I’m a big fan of watching the numbers in business as they don’t always match one’s gut instinct. The numbers don’t deceive like your feelings can. If you think sales are likely to be damaged because a publisher you stock is also in a shop nearby then it’s important to watch the sales to see if it’s really true. It’s easy for a retailer to get emotionally invested in a range that they’ve trawled the miles of aisles of Spring Fair to find. It’s also easy to assume that because they appear in your neighbour’s shop that they must have copied your hard work when sourcing the same suppliers.

Our brains can deceive us in this regard as we fall prey to cognitive bias which might, in truth, be coincidence.

The main reason that exclusivity is so important to retailers is not necessarily one of greed and wanting to have a monopoly on certain publishers in their town, it’s because differentiation from competitors is so important to their business’ success. Not only are cards good bread and butter sales that keep shops going in quieter months, they are also strong visual products that are used to create a ‘look’ in retail stores. The way shops look and therefore feel is key to consumer experience in shops. If a retailer has spent a lot of time and effort creating that look with their stock selection it can be frustrating to see the same thing across the road.

Fortunately, there are lots of great suppliers out there and one can still keep best sellers in stock while differentiating your shop window and interior with unique well thought out displays that are regularly changed. We have similar issues on the publishing side with similar ranges to ours appearing in the marketplace. The trick is to keep moving forward, trying new things and regularly bring out fresh new products.

Although it’s hard work, if you are one step ahead then the competition are always one step behind.

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

47

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New

Male

Card Range Launches

Rugged Roundup Brogues, bow-ties, bears, rugby and moustaches, these are just a few of the themes currently flexing their muscles on male card designs.

PG rounds-up some rugged male card range releases. l Rosanna Rossi has introduced a further

six new general Happy Birthday designs to its ever-popular Retro Rocks male collection, increasing the range to 42 designs. Featuring nautical, automotive and adventurous themes, the cards measure 150mm square and feature detailed emboss finishing and die-cut edging and are complemented by a recycled brown fleck envelope. l Cinnamon Aitch’s splendidly vintage male card range, Mustard, with illustrations from Nicole Tan, have certainly been cutting the mustard, and so Cinnamon Aitch has extended the line to include six new excellent designs to celebrate all those discerning dads out there. A retro robot, a pocket watch and some quintessentially cool vinyl are among the fabulous 7” x 5”designs that are top notch! l One of U Studios’ new fabulous ranges is called Let Rip. Based on the concept of collage, there are numerous designs perfect for a male send. All the designs have been created by its in-house illustrators by taking parts of different images and bringing them together to make something brand new. The cards are square, come cellowrapped with a yellow envelope and are blank inside, making them perfect for any male card sending occasion. l Caroline Gardner’s range of Classic cards are a perfect fit for male orientated cards. Inspired from on trend products, such as trainers, the range also caters for slightly older males with the ‘Relax on your birthday’ card featuring a hammock and ‘Happy birthday jolly good fellow’ with musical notes and instruments.

It’s the perfect selection of masculine cards in a traditional classic style! l Male Mail is a new range of simplistic, sophisticated cards for men

by Laura Sherratt. Launched very recently, the 24 cards in this new

range are quite different to Laura's usual style and are inspired by her nomination for Best Male Range in last year’s Henries awards. The designs were born with men in mind, with Father's Day cards included.

Every design in the range is embellished with a smart dickie-bow and is printed in the UK on a rustic brown quality board backdrop. l The Classic range from Roisin Cafferty sits well with the current trend for vintage design, but leans towards a more sophisticated, clean-cut and masculine feel. The simple yet dramatic 3D typography and deliberate lack of imagery makes the designs suitable for a wide audience – from young men to great-granddads. The 150mm square birthday and Father’s Day designs come with a fleck kraft envelope. l Cherry Orchard has just added a number

of fresh designs (some code 75 and code 60 male relations titles) into its Timeless Moments male range. These join the Timeless Moments collection of 28 code 55 square open male cards in styles to cover all ages. All the cards are foiled and inserted and include images to cover a range of sports and hobbies from teenage sneakers and gadgets, gardening and DIY, bowls, golf and cricket and steam locomotives. l UKG’s Mind Medicine for Men is a heartily ‘mansome' range for men who are young in mind and soul, but who like a more mature aesthetic. General birthday designs with a warm-hearted feelgood element, they will give a lift to any true gentleman. There are 15 designs into total, available in three different card sizes, all a price code 50.

The designs are not bagged, but are printed on veltique board with different finishes: gold foil, virko, emboss and die-cut. l Soft Touch, A Made Hand’s new range of male cards has an adorable rich, velvety ‘soft touch’ finish and are foiled silver. They are extravagance personified! No fuss, just luxury, Soft Touch is strong, masculine and unique. The 18 new designs include age cards and are all size 150mm square and come with a silver envelope.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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New

l All About You from Juniper Tree

Cards is a male range featuring a background of words describing the recipient, with stitched wording in stripy blues, greens and reds with a hand-finished star stud. There are 26 155mm square designs in this brand new range, covering male relations, plus general birthdays. All cards come cellowrapped with coordinating envelopes. l Just Gemma is launching two new card ranges this season: Welsh language and Just for Men. They are in Just Gemma’s distinctive bold style of laser-cut brown and black cards, revealing patterned papers behind.

The cards are blank inside and suitable for all ages. Based in Shropshire, Just Gemma offers a wide range of greeting cards with over 200 designs for all occasions, ready framed artwork and slate coasters. l Dandelion Stationery has launched

its brand new Barbican Collection, a lovely range of male cards. All of the cards are produced on luxury 300gsm FSC board, and the envelopes are all tanned orange, produced from 120gsm FSC paper. There are 26 designs in the collection, all 140mm square. l Hallmark is proud to present 60 new male relations designs in its everyday refresh. One of its latest traditional male signatures is Clocking Off which includes male relations, birthday and milestone ages. This range is a fresh take on the traditional genre, coupling beautiful watercolour illustrations of male themes with sweet and short editorial, which makes them perfect for those special men in your lives. l Julia

Hook Designs presents a new contemporary range of male age cards called Noughts & Crosses. The range covers ages 18, 21, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 years, with varying colourways of paints, patterns and textures. The range is printed on 150mm square textured board and is blank inside for your own personal message, individually cellowrapped and with a crisp white envelope. l Rothbury Publishing has a

plethora of attractive images to appeal to men, depicting old transport, trains and pastimes from bygone eras, as well as some unusual wrapping paper designs, that are all new this year. The

Male

Card Range Launches

nostalgic images are available on greeting cards, calendars, postcards, prints and jigsaws. New nostalgic wrapping paper, designed by artist Trevor Mitchell, is unique and beautifully printed

by South-West based printer Remous Print. l Paper Rose has recently launched several new male card designs into its favourite and successful ranges: Neapolitan – a stylish collection finished with beautifully sculptured embosses and a fine foil detail, welcomes new male designs; Penny Farthing - features beautiful vintage imagery and traditional text; Mosaic - uses collected papers and black line work; and Catching Rainbows - inky illustrations in a zingy rainbow colour palette. l Clanna Cards has expanded its range

of male cards by Richard Partis to over 50 designs, mainly covering themes including transport, sport, and the countryside. Many hobbies are also covered, including cycling, sailing, cricket, rugby, gardening and travel. All cards are available either blank or with a Happy Birthday caption and are 7” x 5" in format.

They are printed on FSC textured board with colour coordinated envelopes and are cellowrapped. l Rush Design has added a male collection to its best selling Everything Sparkles range. There are currently 12 designs in relations and open birthday, with ages 13 to 90 arriving soon. The cards are 150mm square, hand-finished with a little sparkle on a great textured board, wrapped and with a kraft envelope. l Belly Button Designs’ male Blue Paloma collection was created as a result of customer demand feedback from its agents. Its Blue Platinum collection had been such a success that it made total sense. Clear male icons of big adventures are characterised by bold accents of blue to deliver a vibrant new look of colour that pops off the shelf. The Paloma brand gives customers the confidence in sell through and quality.

l Stop The Clock Design has recently extended its popular Black Lines range.

The range includes 54 cool, quirky and contemporary occasion, relation and age cards featuring a mix of sports, humorous characters and bold typography. The use of digital texture, retro patterns and an uncomplicated, masculine colour palette gives a fresh take on a popular subject matter.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

51

The LargesT CoLLeCTion of greeting Card Publishers in The WorLd “A great PG Live; the best one yet! The attention to detail is second to none and really does make PG Live the most enjoyable trade show of the year.”

Miles Robinson, partner, House of Cards.

Focus On Cards With over 250 publishers and artists to explore, free refreshments, lunch and opening night party, you’re free to focus on the cards.

Order Your Copy Of The Free Show Preview Now! Pg Live 2016 is proud to present the largest collection of greeting card publishers in the world, with thousands of original designs, fabulous new ranges and exclusive show offers. Book your tickets now at www.progressivegreetingslive.com to receive your copy of the free show preview.

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Focus On

Male

Cards - Trending

(Super)Hero Worship Fights, tights and rubberwear, superheroes, extraordinary activists of good and human protection, have not only seized the film industry with an abundance of blockbuster movies but have also inspired iconography on male designs.

PG discovers how ‘awesomeness’ is a super theme for male cards.

Protectors of the universe, champions of good over evil, wearer of facemasks, customised skinsuits, capes and figurehugging pants, superheroes of comics, and later screen, have guarded planet Earth for many years. But a recent plethora of superhero blockbuster film franchises – with superheroes from the DC Comics and Marvel stables, and the super-movie, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, out this month - has seen a resurgence in their popularity, even beyond cinema.

The web-like influence of iconic superheros like Iron-Man, The Green Lantern, Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk have welded a super power in the toy, fashion and entertainment industries, but it has also ‘zapped’ design trends too, including male greeting cards. There are obviously cards for children of this ilk, but many designs are for Left column: grown-ups too, particularly men, triggering Top: With UKG’s Marvel Comics range there is a hero card for you! feelings of nostalgia as these icons and characters Above right: For an awesome dad, represent the heroes of their childhood. a Pip & Me design from The Paper “It is interesting that our long-standing Gallery (GBCC).

Above: In a Word is a signature male range, Kudos (first released in sophisticated monochrome men’s range on smart pinstripe board 2005) featured no superhero designs initially, but with a shiny silver disc now we have embellishment from The superhero styling as Handcrafted Card Company.

Right: Borne from an antidote to well as superhero superheroes, one of The Typecast images and content,” Gallery’s domesticated superheroes. states Kurt Abbott, managing director of K2 Greetings.

And famous superheroes, on film and cards, are not only spanning the generations, they are connecting them.

With super powers, abilities and gadgets beyond normal human capabilities, and a secret identity, it’s easy to see how kids who look up to and idolise special male role models in their lives can see their older brothers, uncles, granddads and especially dads, as a bit of a superhero, and male cards with superhero iconography are capturing that admiration.

Confessing that Icon loves a superhero design, Kate Jamieson, creative manager of Icon, reveals the publisher has over a dozen different titles in its best selling Life Is Sweet range

alone, featuring masks and capes of varying descriptions. “The popularity of a superhero theme on a male focused greeting card is due to the reality that our children love to dress up as superheroes, which most parents will certainly identify with, but also, the positive, inspirational message of strength and admiration is absolutely perfect for a greeting card. This makes them really great cards for children to send to male relatives, and dads in particular, as they highlight the hero-worship and all round awesomeness of dads for their kids.“ Mark Lewis, production manager of The Handcrafted Card Company, agrees, although he believes it’s not only dads or male family members that can be a superhero: “Despite the word ‘hero’ being a much more unisex word these days we do tend to associate it with men, either the special men in our lives, on TV or in the papers. What better than receiving a greeting card that celebrates how amazing someone special thinks you are or that you have film star ‘superhero’ status in their eyes!”

And so from caped crusader to an everyday hero, after all a superhero has to do his domestic chores and put his feet up sometime. Cheryl Matthes, director of The Typecast Gallery, has extended her Henries nominated Gentlemen range to include a collection of six superhero designs especially for the common man, featuring superheroes in domestic everyday life situations. “Our ‘less impressive’ superheroes form an antidote to the popular comic book heroes and include ‘Iron man’, ‘Incredible hunk’ and ‘Old Bat’,” says Cheryl. “The design of a superhero ready to crack on with his ironing is a popular send for those taking part in the Ironman Triathlon, but moreover, what the cards are conveying is the sentiment ‘You may not be a superhero, but you're my superhero’,” she adds.

What more could an uncapped crusader hope for?

Right column: Top: Lip International’s Max Hernn range celebrates the powers of the superhero.

Above left: James Ellis Stevens’ ‘Kapow Shakies’ range has an explosive superhero comic book style.

Above right: There’s plenty of caped crusaders in Icon’s Life Is Sweet range.

Left: Superhero styling on a Kudos design from K2 Greetings.

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

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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

Charlotte Duffy My artistic journey started with my true love for colour and pattern. From growing up in the countryside I have always been in awe of the beauty of wildlife and nature. The roots of my inspiration always start from there and then my imagination takes over as I paint.

Every design created is hand-drawn first and then painted in mixes of inks, watercolour and gouache. The mixture of these mediums allows me to experiment with soft washy tones and vibrant bursts of strong colour, but always with careful attention to detail, as found in nature.

After graduating with a first class honours degree in Contemporary Textile Design, I decided to take the plunge and become a freelance artist. I am fortunate

enough to work from a beautifully light and bright studio, which fuels my passion for the bright colours that fill my work with an intended vibrancy and energy. My designs are nearly always created from my passion for drawing and painting things from my natural surroundings, with my own unique twist.

I feel very fortunate to have found a great agent and that relationship allows me to spend my time doing what I love and not worry about the day to day paperwork etc in running a business. I have thankfully achieved success and recognition with an extensive portfolio and a growing following with a worldwide customer base within the greetings, stationery, wall art and textile industries. I only hope the future of my creative journey stays as colourful! l View my work at

www.image-source.co.uk

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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ARTSOURCE

TO APPEAR REGULARLY IN THE

ARTSOURCE SECTION OF PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON

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55_57_49/51 23/03/2016 15:21 Page 3

ART SOURCE Faye Gollaglee

I studied at Cleveland College of Art & Design, Hartlepool, back in 2009 after specialising in BA Textiles & Surface Design, which I loved. I was lucky enough to then get offered an interview straight away for a junior design role illustrating charity greeting cards working for a leading greeting card company after the director came to visit the college’s graduation show and liked my style of work.

The experience of working in-house was invaluable and I gained a lot of knowledge while working there. I left to go freelance and create my own style but didn’t realise how hard it would be to get my work ‘out there’, but I kept at it and began sending my work to art agencies and slowly began to license and commission my work.

I was thrilled to be contacted by Tesco after they saw my design work on my Twitter page. I was proud to commission a food illustration for Mother’s Day for its social media site. I have also been featured on my favourite design platform blog Print and Pattern. I would love to design for children’s books and retail, to see my designs in shops and on other products would be a dream come true.

Inspiration for my design work comes mainly from people watching! I love designing quirky little characters and other colourful illustrations. My inspiration usually comes to mind at daft o’clock in the morning! I write them down in my little notebook and the next morning get to work on what came to mind last night! l Email: fayegolly@hotmail.co.uk l faye1983.blogspot.co.uk

Holly Hatam My main objective with all my artwork is to leave a lasting impression, whether that be a message of love, slightly naughty humour or quirky ideas that make you stop and think a little… and feel something special.

I believe the most successful pieces are a reflection of my emotions as they mean so much more than marks on a page. I always begin a new piece of artwork with identifying the emotion I want to express, and from that everything else falls into place. I often feel like I enter a trance when I paint as if it’s part of me and the ideas start to flow onto the page.

I sketch non-stop, taking account of everything I see in life, knowing one day it will come in handy when an idea springs to mind. I find inspiration from being in nature and surrounded by amazing combinations of colours and textures. I also try to combine elements of photography, collage and splashes of looser more organic watercolour to enhance the spontaneity so my art doesn’t feel stiff in any way.

My characters are definitely modern, slightly quirky and often unusual, but it’s important that they are brought to life with simple line drawn facial expressions to illustrate the emotion better than my words ever could. All my characters tell a little bit of my story and my aim is to find and create a little bit of silliness and magic everywhere I go! l View my work at

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

Natalie Seager, owner of Gallery 339, Skircoat Green, Halifax, West Yorkshire A unique, independent gift shop in a town with a loyal, established customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Belly Button

Platinum

Cute

Cinnamon Aitch

Piccadilly

Humour

Dialectable

The Yorkshire Range

Modern Toss

Work… etc

Photographic

U Studio

1000 Words

Contemporary

Louise & Lygo

General

Pigment

Alice Scott

Stephanie Dyment

Colour me Happy

Art

Kate Lycett Judy Lumley

General General

Handmade/ Hand-Finished Children’s Giftwrap Ancillary

Annie Conboy

Angelic Art Cards

A good-selling everyday range for us that’s always evolving!

A very popular new range. Beautifully illustrated, with fine detailing and gems.

These cards fly out… the Yorkshire humour is a winner!

These are so rude, but they are so popular! Utterly original, spot on wit.

Customers love the irreverent cats and dogs in particular!

Simple, striking designs with original wording and funky neon envelopes!

I love the combination of the traditional letterpress look alongside bold pink neon.

These floral and foiled designs have a really timeless feel.

As an incredibly popular local artist, Kate’s cards are in high demand.

This range really stands out. Being 3D and larger in size, they have real arty shelf appeal!

The washes of vibrant colour carry an essence of the angelic influence.

Janie Wilson Glick East Of India

Sugar & Spice Paper Salad Ceramic sentiment hearts

This fresh and quirky range has gone down so well.

The cheerful bright neon palette draws everyone’s eye.

Simply one of our best selling items over a number of years. Lovely sentiments without being overly gushy!

Above right: A beautiful Colour Me Happy design from Stephanie Dyment.

Right: By 'eck, Dialectable's Yorkshire Range is grand.

Liz Ward, owner of Wishes & Kisses, Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield, Midlands A medium shop in a town’s residential area with a loyal locals and tourists customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Caroline Gardner

Across The Board

Belly Button Designs

Platinum Male

Belly Button Designs Hunky Dory Designs

Malarkey General

Noi Publishing

Toy Stories

Photographic

The Alternative Image Company

General

Art

Museums & Galleries

Across The Board

Contemporary

Kerry Lyons

General

Freya Art & Design

General

Cinnamon Aitch

Piccadilly

The whole colour palette is very pretty and contemporary with subtle modern designs.

The publisher is trying really hard to incorporate lovely fashionable male designs.

A female range that is glittery and quirky.

You have to pick the designs carefully as some are very near the knuckle, but they are hilarious and versatile sends.

Very subtle, off the wall humour on quirky designs featuring model toys and figurines.

Black and white (and some colour) images of well-known old celebrities, such as Frank Sinatra. These are perfect cards for older relatives, but also unusual and funny photos of animals, which appeal to all ages.

A good collection of different style artwork, from traditional to contemporary and nostalgic.

The words are simple, but brilliant and really hit the mark, such as ‘# love of my life’.

Pictorial illustrations with nice little wording beautifully blended into the design.

Very young and modern twentysomething girlie cards.

Right: Simple, clean and fresh, Kerry Lyons' fonts on snow white board.

Humour

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

58

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Louise Riley, owner of Sweet Autumn, Buckingham, Bucks A medium shop in a historic town with a loyal locals and tourists customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Humour

Pigment

Emporium

Paperlink Woodmansterne

Kook Stand Up

Photographic

Woodmansterne

National Trust

Right: Abacus' Springwatch range features British wildlife.

Woodmansterne

Look

Abacus

Springwatch

Belly Button Designs Mint Publishing

Platinum Cool Britannia

Pigment

Alice Scott

Art

Art Beat

Across The Board

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Five Dollar Shake White Cotton Cards

General General

Ancillary

Wild & Wolf

Happy Jackson mugs, lunchboxes, stationery Tinned Candles

Humour cards just really work here and this range is doing amazing well!

A really hot seller at the moment.

High quality humour for our high quality customers!

Stunning images of incredible views.

Interesting black and white photographs that look artistic and fresh.

Being associated with the popular BBC TV programme adds gravitas to the range, but the British wildlife images are lovely too.

Clean, contemporary and simple.

Despite its longevity this range still flies out. It also has some good contemporary male designs.

It’s hot! And the striped black and white envelopes really add some class.

A hugely successful range. The artwork is set on beautiful board and the price point is sensible.

Our customers love a bit of glam! And these cards have it in spades.

Great for me because the publisher designs contemporary cards with all the occasions and relations captions.

Bright and fun good quality products with wide appeal.

Contemporary

Pintail

Amazing quality candles with a good burn time, lovely scents and beautifully packaged. And I’m very happy to support British made.

Steve James, owner of Darwin’s Cards & Gifts, Northampton and Olney, in Buckinghamshire A small shop and medium shop in market towns with a loyal locals and visitors customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Humour

Emotional Rescue (distributed by Is It Art?) The Little Dog Laughed

On The Ceiling

Brainbox Candy

Face Mats

Photographic

Tracks

General

Art

Nigel Quiney Tracks

Pizazz Tracks Academy and Sparkle

Traditional

Words ‘N’ Wishes

Personalised

Jonny Javelin

Velvet

Vendula London

Bags and purses

Zilver Designs

Jewellery

Balmoral Glass

Glassware

The wit is quite harsh, but the range is still going very well.

People love their moggies and mutts, and since the range has had a revamp it’s had a new lease of life.

Beer mats featuring silly faces that you can wear… quite fun!

The publisher keeps topping up the range with new designs of funny animals and naked people designs.

The best pick-up line you can have!

Tracks have bought out some really good ranges this year: Sparkle features cold-foiled designs and Academy features pencil-drawn cats and dogs.

A clever idea; Stickers (milestone ages or relations) come with the card so customers can personalise the design.

Easy pick-up cards with lots of relations titles.

Unusual, girlie and creative bag and purse designs of a chocolatier shop or ladies day at the races.

We sell loads of the pendants, bracelets and earrings! And they’re beautifully packaged.

A British company that produces hand-blown artisan glassware.

Right: Vendula London's bags and purses are delicious!

Below right: An adorable design from Tracks' delicately hand-drawn Sparkle range.

Ancillary

Magnificent Moggies and Scruffy Mutts

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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WE LOVE * PRINT &

FOIL&EMBOSS&FLITTER&DIE-CUTS &VARNISHING&FOLDING&FINISHING & ALL OF THE OTHER MAGIC WE BRING TO YOUR CREATIONS WWW. THEIMAGING CENTRE.CO.UK

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LYNN’S LINES

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On the ball comments by retailer and publisher Lynn Tait of The Lynn Tait Gallery.

Spring Has Sprung So the dust has settled on the Spring Fair and for the first time in over 25 years, due to my hospital treatment, I didn't exhibit at the trade show. But with my buyer’s hat on I experienced how the greetings hall moving from Hall 4 to Hall 3 was working out and to give the show a little review from a buyer’s (and exhibitor’s) point of view.

As a visitor to the Spring Fair my concentration was on buying, although I still had a vested interest in my Ladder Club members who were exhibiting at the show.

For years I have been in communication with greeting card trade fair organisers, liaising with them about the needs of new card publishers. Alison Graham, event director of i2i, organiser of Spring Fair, has been wonderful over the years, listening to my and publishers’ views and taking on board the specific needs of new card companies.

This year at Spring Fair the greeting card hall moved from Hall 4 to Hall 3, but there were a few more other changes too. People generally don't like change, especially at the Spring Fair as publishers get used to their stand positions and customers get disorientated if things get moved around.

Card publishers usually go to town on their stands and it is sometimes difficult to

replicate the same look in a different position.

It may be that they have had a stand with an open end and to ask for another one may mean that it is at the expense of a position that isn't so good, although I know Alison takes such requisites into consideration.

Designing and building a trade stand doesn't come cheap, hence the reason many publishers re-use their existing one for years.

However sometimes a change is good as it forces exhibitors into creating a wonderful new look to display their cards. And of course a new stand position at the show can also attract new buyers.

And so to the new greeting card area in Hall 3.

There is a lot to consider from a buyer’s and exhibitor’s point of view. There are ‘hot points’ in all trade shows and the phrase ‘location location location’ holds true with trade fairs. Sadly, it can be a few years before you discover what is a good location and expensive mistakes are made along the way. I don't think this was such an issue at the last Spring Fair.

Below: No one was lost at the back at Hall 3 because of the stands’ layout. Wrendale had a large stand that you couldn't miss, but even so this agent was praying for orders!

Below left: Lynn meeting the ladies (and Ladder Club members) from The Little Bells at Spring Fair last February.

So here I am, a prolific buyer of cards.

Before I arrived I did my research and my homework. I went to the Spring Fair website and saw who would be there and did a stock take of what I need for my shop. I didn’t make a note of the stand numbers of the companies I wanted to visit, only the names, as I expected to see everyone, as well as being open-minded to new companies that might catch my eye.

I arrived at the show and knew that I had to be organised and not get distracted. My route was planned like a military operation as it's so easy to come off a stand and ask yourself “what direction am I going to go?!” My natural instincts are to go up and down each aisle, starting left to right, but in the case of the Spring Fair I had to make sure I knew where the cards section started because some party product exhibitors were in the same hall.

The one big advantage with the new Hall 3 was that the aisles were not long so the whole scenario of trade stands being ‘lost at back of hall’ was not an issue.

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LYNN’S LINES Left: At Spring Fair Ryland Studios had a one metre deep stand, which was the perfect size.

Below: Finding fame, Nadiya Hussain, winner of the recent The Great British Bake Off, was at Spring Fair.

Below right: Wider but shorter aisles helped visitors to the Spring Fair show find their way around easily.

I do however find it so bizarre for Spring Fair to introduce the different price ranges for stand positions for exhibitors. This was definitely a very detrimental decision on behalf of the show’s organisers. I know it stopped a number of new publishers exhibiting because they felt they were at a big disadvantage before they started as they couldn't afford the premium position prices.

However as it transpired, in the whole scheme of things, it wasn't such a disadvantage.

Also, publishers who had exhibited at the show last year and had been at the back of the hall, where the aisles were long, were put off, worrying that a poor position would be detrimental again.

As it transpired, in my opinion, the weaker areas of the show were the ones to the right of Hall 3; that is if you wanted to attract just card buyers. If you were a buyer, by the time you reached the far right row, which was rather dark and gloomy, you had run a bit out of steam and probably money.

It was also a bit weird that some companies were next door to others who had paid an extra premium. I do hope the Spring Fair will look at this for next year, as new publishers should not be penalised with extra expenses. It also sent out the message to companies that there were poor positions, yet with the short aisles and the wide aisles this actually wasn't the case.

As a number of card companies sell gifts I think the rationale was to place these companies who sell gifts close to the gift halls to attract buyers that want to buy both.

It was great to see so many one metre deep trade stands, which is all that is needed by small publishers if you sell just cards. All trade fairs do this now, which is great.

I feel the introduction of seminars and celebrities at trade shows is good and it’s an opportunity to take a little break from buying to clear the head and have a sit down.

The Spring Fair seemed buoyant and it was great to see that it now has many small companies exhibiting who are able to bond and support each other when they are positioned close together. This is so good for them from a morale point of view as well. Also new card publishers’ expectations are not on the ceiling now. It is true that every now and again a card company appears and rockets into the stratosphere, but this isn't the norm.

Very few companies are an overnight success.

For most it’s a gradual growth and learning from experience and from others.

Here are some quotes from Ladder Club members who exhibited at Spring Fair this year: l "I visited the show and liked the lay out. Last year the rows seemed never ending and quite narrow. This year it had a bit of a ‘Top Drawer’ vibe and it had a nice atmosphere. I decided not to book this year, but the show felt quite buzzy and I will definitely consider it for next year." l "The most commented aspect was the show’s £400 marketing fee that Ladder Club members didn't feel was justified. Also they felt that they shouldn't be paying the same amount as a huge company, they want it relative to the stand size." l "Personally, I don't like the gold/platinum schemes that are offered. Everyone wants a good spot and I thought that the fair should be putting an effort into making every trade stand as accessible as possible.

In the past in Hall 4 it often took a long time for traffic to filter through the hall so if your stand was towards the back it could be 11am before

you had seen your first customer. This year the shorter aisles have really helped this." l "Not to have to paint the stand back to white as with some other fairs, or being charged for it being done for you, was really appreciated."

Summing up, for me the wide but shorter aisles at Spring Fair won the day. As a buyer in a mobility scooter it was very pleasant to manoeuvre around the show.

The worst scenario for an exhibitor is a cul-de-sac where your stand is opposite a big stand that spans across several aisle; avoid these like the plague at any fair.

It is in the interests of every fair organiser for exhibitors to do well and visitors to be satisfied. If a company does well at a show they are buoyed up with enthusiasm and the first thing they will do is rebook and look to see what other fairs they can book.

I had a very good experience at Spring Fair and speaking to a number of Ladder Club members they were happy. If you are thinking of booking for next year I don't think you will be penalised with a poor position if you don't pay premium rates. Don't let that put you off, but do book a one metre deep stand if you can. That is how you will save money and attract customers onto your stand.

All the i2i staff were friendly and supportive at Spring Fair. Well done to Alison and her team... the girl dun good!

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Abacus Cards Limited, The Studio, Oaks Drive, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7SX t: 01638 569050 f: 01638 569051 e: info@abacuscards.co.uk w: www.abacuscards.co.uk

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

DESIGN LED RETRO CARD & GIFTS TO SUIT ALL OCCASIONS YEAR OF BIRTH GREETING CARDS MUSIC DOWNLOADS • PREMIUM RETRO GIFTWARE & ACCESSORIES

t: 020 8993 5966 f: 020 8993 1396 w: www.retroco.com e: info@retroco.com

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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• Greetings Cards and Gift Wrap • Stationery • Soft Toys • Figurines • Giftware and Accessories

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PO BO BOX OX 2161 Boulevard The Boule vard Watford W atford WD18 1BJ TTel: el: 01923 200633 FFax: ax: 01923 200636 info@cardmix.co.uk inf o@cardmix.co.uk www.cardmix.co.uk www.cardmix.co.uk CARDMIX - a cocktail cocktail of fun, CARDMIX fashionable and humorous humorous fashionable cards, covering Everyday, car ds,, co vering Ev eryday, Spring ing Occasions,, Relations,, Spr Seasons and Christmas.

Christmas.

DADDY Method of Sale: Direct to Retail

www.cathtatecards.com

Carte Blanche Greetings Ltd ® Tel: +44(0)1243 792600

cbg.co.uk

@CarteBlancheGrp

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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

Caspari Caspari Ltd Ltd Linden Linden House, House, John John Dane Dane Player Player Court Court

East East Street, Street, Saffron Saffron Walden Walden E ssex, C B10 11LR LR Essex, CB10 Tel: 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: EEveryday birthday, veryday ccards ards - b irthday, blank occasions, charity Christmas b lank & o ccasions, ch harity C hristmas bags, ccards, ards, gift gift wrap, wrap, b ags, ttissue, issue, rribbon, ibbon, hankies, hankies, napkins, napkins, paper paper plate, plate, candles, candles, placemats, placemats, crackers,invitations, crackers,invitations, placecards, placecards, notecards,diaries, notecards,diaries, address address books, books, journals, journals, advent advent calendars calendars and and bridge bridge gifts. gifts.

Method Method of of Sale: Sale: Direct Direct to to Retail Retail

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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DIPINGO DESIGN

Market leaders in Humour, Art, Photographic, Occasions

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

and Relations cards offering a full planning service with merchandising and retail

Bespoke design service for retail products

Online Shop www.colneisgreetingcards.com

development opportunities.

The T he UK No. No. 1 in Licensed Lic ensed Greetings Greetings etings Over Ov err 30 licenses licenses nses including: including Disney, D Disne y, Peppa Peppa Pig Pig, Kitty, He Kitty Hello Kitty, Mr Men Men Birds and Angry and A Bir dss t: +44 + (0)1264 388400 enquiries@gemma-interna national. ti e: enquiries@gemma-international.co.uk co.uk w: gemma-international.co.uk gemma-international. ona co.uk

www.dipingodesign.co.uk

CARDS CARDS • WRAP • P PARTY ARTY • GIFT GIFTS S

TM

GRASS ROOTS

Colour House Graphics

INTERNATIONAL

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

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

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

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

BRANDS “Write from the Heart� brand includes; Corsage, Sentiments, Champagne, Celebrations and Jelly Beans.

M ETHOD OF SALE Direct to Retail

www.greatbritishcards.co.uk

G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL

Beautiful greeting cards from contemporary British artwork

www.dryredpress.com

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

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

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WISHES

Diwali

Ch nese Chinese

A w o n d e rf u l id!

E id Eid

Jewish

HE IS

THE

WAY

High Quality Greeting Greeting Car Cards, ds, Gift Bags,

THE AND TRUTH

Gift Wrap Tags Wrap & T ags a for every occasion.

LIFE

THE

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Welsh

Polish P olish o sh

and more!

Tel: T Te el: 0161 e 1 641 64 641 0655 0655 06 E m mail: sales@d sales@da avora.co.uk Email: sales@davora.co.uk 135 13 1 35 Heaton Hea eaton on Moor Moorr Rd Rd | Stockport St Stockp ock o kpo port ort SK4 4HY 4H 4HY

66

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

WATERWELLS DRIVE, GLOUCESTER GL2 2PH UK TEL: 01452 888999

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CHARITY GREETING CARDS

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

One of the UK’s leading publishers of Charity Greeting Cards.

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

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

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

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

Cards made with love...

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

Bespoke service for charities and other fundraisers.

Ling Design Ltd 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BE Tel: 01892 838574 Fax: 01892 838676 Email: enquiries@lingdesign.co.uk Website: www.lingdesign.co.uk

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

DADDY WAS A ROLLIN STONE

60 years

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

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

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

For further details please get in touch.

info@vincentmcevoy.com

+44 (0)7779 578340

To appear in the Product Directory please contact Warren Lomax on 020 7700 6740 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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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.

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

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.

Brand Names Pizazz, Pizazz Gallery, Say the Word, Carousel, Meadow Sweet, R&R for Men, What a Picture!

Cloudesley House • Shire Hill Saffron Walden • CB11 3FB T: 01799 520200 F: 01799 520100 www.nigelquiney.com

+

The easy company I' $ .!N Great brands Great service Bespoke planning We can help with all your bespoke planning requirements. From smaller displays to redeveloping complete card departments.

Three great publishers, all under one roof, contemporary, graphic, humour, cute and photographic ranges with a fantastic range of occasions and relations cards.

Key brands: V&A, Portobello, Spirit, Daisy Patch, Sugar Pips, Marzipan Toybox, Born to Stitch, Idols, Life, Sweet Tooth, Brights.

Method of sale: Direct to retail, Export and Licensing.

Riverside House, Centurion Way, Riverside Business Park, Nottingham NG2 1RW Tel: 0115 986 0115 Fax: 0115 986 0116 Email: sales@paperrose.co.uk Web: www.paperrose.co.uk www.artgroupcards.co.uk

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

endorsed product

endorsed product

T: 01227 811600 W: www.noeltatt.co.uk E: sales@noeltatt.co.uk

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

To appear in the Product Directory please contact Warren Lomax on 020 7700 6740

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

LING DESIGN

Mr Figgis, when we say parents invited, we usually mean to sit and watch!

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

Dad - I thought you said I could be the, one to tell him you re out

Me th od of sa le : Direct to Retail 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BE Tel: 01892 838574 Fax: 01892 838676 Email: enquiries@lingdesign.co.uk Website: www.lingdesign.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.

Design-led Stationery, Gifts, Calendars, Diaries and Cards Brands Laura Ashley, Roald Dahl, Lily & Val, Vintage Ladybird, Caroline Gardner, Monsoon, Born to Shop, Flash Gordon, Boofle and many more.

Our In-house design studio and established supply chain enables us to offer bespoke services. tel: +44 (0) 1225 329494 email: sales@porticodesigns.com website: www.porticodesigns.com

The Playful Indian cards are a unique fusion of the east and west. Simple and quirky, they have made many people smile...so what are you waiting forr, put a smile on someone’s face today!

TM

holy y cow! it’ss your birthd it hda ay y

Greeting Cards that are unique & special with creative wit.

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

rosierobins.com 01992 536461

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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&DUGV & DUGV &DOHQGDUV &DOHQGDUV & RDVWHUV &RDVWHUV 1RWHERRNV 1RWHERRNV

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

DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT

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01923 200600 | www.woodmansterne.co.uk

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Top-notch British Greeting Cards for Thoughts that Count

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

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

Method of sale:

TEL: 01480 435562 FAX: 01480 450599

Wholesale Distributors

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

The UK’s leading publishers 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 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6BE

Tel: 0845 450 1815 Fax: 0845 450 1816 Email: enquiries@talkingpics.co.uk Website: www.talking-pictures.co.uk

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

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 tarnaud@btinternet.com

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Directory of wholesalers Directory of wholesalers DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS l

LONDON & THE SOUTH

MERSEYSIDE

WALES

Merseyside Greeting Cards Ltd

Merseyside’s Largest Greeting Card Distributor Due to our massive buyer power, we are able to offer you the best prices and also take a pride in our friendly service.

SCOTLAND

DORSET

Clapperton Agencies 30 McDonald Place Edinburgh EH7 4NH Tel: 01315 579009

Sunrise Business Park Higher Shaftsbury Road Blandford, Dorset DT11 8ST Tel: 01258 452125 Fax: 01258 486109

Greeting cards * Gift ranges * Pocket money toys * Balloons * Badges * Banners * Soft toys * Stationery * Collectables , including dolls * Photo frames Always something different Check us out now!!!

Mon-Fri 9.30 to 5.30 Sunday 10 to 1 Late night Thursday till 8pm Freephone 0800 0279072770 Fax: 0151 207 1564

NATIONWIDE

Unit 7 & 8 Devon Street, Liverpool, L3 8HA

To appear in the Wholesale Directory simply call Warren Lomax on

HERTS & LONDON

SUMAN BROS Stationery and greeting card wholesaler

020 77006740

Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL

magnus RUPERT

T: 01923 200 900 F: 01923 200 909 Great deals Great location Plentiful parking Just off the M1 Junction 5

WEST MIDLANDS

TRADING

LONDON’S NO 1 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 Wholesale and direct-to-retail greeting cards, gift wrap, gift bags, social stationery, partyware and gifts.

Great range, competitive prices, excellent service.

NORTH WEST

C A P S

574 Manchester Road, Bury, BL9 9SW 0161 796 7353 Card & Party Store Ltd

The North West s Largest Supplier to the Independent Specialist Card & Gift Shop

Massive range of Cards, Partyware, Gifts, Gift Bags, Gift Boxes & Gift Dressings Mon / Wed / Fri: 8.00 - 5.00 Tues / Thurs: 8.00 - 7.30 Sat: Closed Sun: 8.00 - 1.00

Order online at www.card-party.co.uk

To appear in the Wholesale Directory simply call Warren Lomax on 020 77006740 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Polypropylene & biodegradable bag specialists

GREETING CARD

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

PAPER

Available v 100% Recycled Paper Available

Over 40 years quality service to the trade Hotfoiling also available

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

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

GIVE Y YOUR OUR

VIP

TREATMENT TREA ATMENT T HIGH CLARITY BAGS FOR GREETING CARDS, CALENDARS AND ARTWORK

Quality Bespoke Envelopes!

ŏ ŏđŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ FOIL BLOCKING EXTENSIVE RANGE OF STOCK SIZES AND BESPOKE MANUFACTURE AUTOMA AT TED WRAPPING WRAPPING SERVICE SERVICE NEW AUTOMATED

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

CALL US TODAY

Plain, printed, coloured & textured finish.

100% recycled & FSC available.

01228 560526

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

www.fulcrumfilms.co.uk

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

FLITTERING FOR ALL YOUR FLITTER REQUIREMENTS

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

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

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

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

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O F F S E T PRODUCTIONS

Op

• Litho printing • Digital printing • Embossing • Die-cutting • Flittering • Foiling • Folding • Packing

PRODUCTIONS

Producing greeting cards for over 30 years 188 Forstal Road, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7DB

t 01622 710 759

www.offsetproductions.co.uk

PJ Print (London) The Capitals only Greetings card printer Guess what what ?

We now offer a short run digital print service to the greeting card industry

That’s handy if you only want 100 copies

Specialist UK and Global manufacturer for the greeting card industry To discuss how we could work with you contact Simon King Tel: 0115 928 7766 Email: sales@sherwoodgroupuk.com

www.sherwoodgroupuk.com

PJ - PRINT E-mail: sales@pj-print.co.uk The Print Works Colville Road, Acton London W3 8BL tel 020 8993 5160 fax 020 8992 8421 www.pj-print.co.uk

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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The home of greeting cards t ependen ding ind a le r ’s e r K The U n ufa c t u card ma greeting Y j_ed

hZ fheZk [j_d] YW ki ed ]h[ Y \e b _W Y [i If[ i[ i[hl_Y \ _d#^ek e [ ] d W <kbb h [Z ]kWhWdj[ GkWb_jo [i Y h_ j_j_l[ f 9ecf[ h[b_WXb[ Z d _edWb W Fhe\[ii Wbb [h jee ic ed$ De ehZ fheZkY j_ h W < ;Wij Z d W A 8ej^ K ices, nique serv n on our u io 0 1150 at 5 2 rm 14 fo in 01 For more s team on le sa e th ntact please co eys.co.uk sales@loxl or email:

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.

Benb[oi" A_bd Ijh[[j" I^[\Å[bZ I. &OI

DISPLAY

Digital Di it l Print P i tS Specialist i li t for the greeting card industry What we offer:

UNIVERSAL

SHOP EQUIPMENT

• Greeting cards

GREETING CARD DISPLAYS • Artworking and design • Short-run print • Pick, pack and distribution • Promotional items • Bespoke gifts • Marketing literature • Exhibition graphics • Stationery • Brochures • and more...

• Manufacturers of

quality Display Units for over 25 years

• PVC Interlocking Tiers • High Impact 2mm Edging

• Vast range of colours available

• From one unit through to full shop refits

07974 133735 paul.watson@sherwoodgroupuk.com

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

INNOVATIVE DISPLAYS TO MEET YOUR NEEDS www.universalshopequipment.co.uk Tel: 0151 546 4525 (Showroom)

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WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

The Professional and Caring Approach..

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

... to 3rd Party Warehouse, Distribution and Hand Finishing needs.

With over 25 years experience in the Greeting Card and Gift Industry, we specialise in providing a very fast yet efficient and friendly service to all of our customers.

Our close links to the port of Felixstowe allowing excellent access for both UK and overseas business.

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.

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

Your Success Is Our Success

LB Warehousing (Women in Transport & Logistics Finalist)

S AME DAY order turnaround A CCURATE fulfilment and same day turn round V ALUE ADDED only as you sell the product E XCLUSIVELY Greeting Cards D EDICATED Account Managers With an excellent reputation we work as an integral part of your TEAM bringing much more than fulfilment.

Our costing structure is SIMPLE and TRANSPARENT. We carry out ALL aspects of hand finishing and assembly and provide whatever ADDITIONAL services YOU need Our select team of outworkers carefully hand wrap any size or format of cards urgently, OVERNIGHT! We CARE about your product as much as you do. Attention to detail, QC Issues and IT supported by a comprehensive paper trail for all stock movements are our hallmarks.

Our CAN DO approach means that WE solve your problems.

Outsourcing your warehousing operation releases your time to CREATE/MARKET/SELL/ MANAGE/GROW THE BUSINESS YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS, please visit our web site and see what OUR customers say, then to find out more call Lynda Raymond and perhaps we can arrange to meet and discuss your needs I am sure that we can help.

LB Warehousing, Units 1, 2 &3 Wayside Warehouses, Toseland, Near St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. PE19 6RX Tel 01480 880800 Fax 01480880900 Mobile 07889 399341 lynda@lb-warehousing.co.uk

WANTED

CALLING ALL GREETING CARD PUBLISHERS We could buy your old images even if they are several years old. Turn your used and discontinued greeting card image concepts into cash.

Fair price paid immediately.

CUTTERS COLLECTIONS LTD 92 STATION ROAD, WILLINGHAM, CAMBRIDGE, CB24 5HG e: denniswoodruff@btconnect.com

APPOINTMENTS POOTLE CARDS POOTLE is looking for new Sales Agents in the following areas: • North East England • South East England • London Excellent rates of pay.

For details please contact us at either: shelley@pootleproducts.co.uk OR Tel: 01750 23595

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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E SECONDndN-craAftTedUcaRrds!

Leaders in ha

…look what’ss flying out!

(and that’s not just hot air)

80 cards in the range

covering

all major ages, relations and occasions.

Exceptional quality

hand-finished

designs at a great price.

top selling ranges from leaders in hand-crafted cards!

Just one of our the

Contact us now: OBC_PG_April 2016.indd 1

www.secondnature.co.uk

E : hello@secondnature.co.uk

T : +44(0)1983 209 590 24/03/2016 12:01