Progressive Greetings March 2016

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Leader

On The Cards I just love the fact that greeting cards get everywhere!

Newbie card publisher Corinna Rothwell was unexpectedly propelled into the limelight recently, anchoring a primetime TV programme due to just one of her card designs.

Sales of Corinna’s Apostrophe Rage design, which picks up on the common misuse of grammar on shop signs, soared after the ITV Frustrated Britain programme on which she confidently appeared aired.

It was only a few months ago that I was chatting to Corinna at last year’s Ladder Club about her hopes and dreams for her card business and now look - a TV champion for grammar!

I must confess though I was intrigued when I heard the Department of Work and Pensions’ Spring Twitter campaign included a special Valentine’s Day tweet highlighting how the industry directly and indirectly employs 100,000 people.

It was rather ironic timing as only a few days later came the announcement from the Above right: TV presenter Eamonn Holmes with the Danilo team and PG’s Jakki Brown at the National Calendar Awards event which saw British Retail Consortium the publisher win four awards. For Trevor Jones, the company’s licensing director (pictured second right) it was a poignant event as he (BRC) predicting a loss of had just announced that he semi-retiring at the end of February. almost a million jobs in Right: Representatives from Paperchase, Paper Rose/The Art Group, retail over the next GF Smith, The Sherwood Press and PG at the judging of the On The Cards competition at the House of Illustration, which saw entries from decade, citing the undergraduates from several of the UK’s leading art institutions. increase in the National Below: Artist Emma Thomson (second right) with Noel Tatt’s Lee Hartley (second left) and Claire Martin as well as PG’s Warren Lomax - Living Wage at the start with the real Otto! of next month as well as

the phasing in of Workplace Pensions as being contributing factors (clearly an issue for many card retailers - see pages 32-33).

However, with the trade show season having kicked off, Valentine’s Day behind us and, as PG went to press Mother’s Day about to take happen (hopefully with a mad last minute surge) and the days getting longer so our thoughts naturally turn to sunnier matters. If you are a retailer, make sure you tell us how good your shop and your staff are by entering The Retas, if you are one of the glorious 260 exhibitors at PG Live in May, let us know what exciting launches and promotions you have planned - and feel free to use as many explanation marks as you like (you never know, Corinna Rothwell might do a card about it!!!)

Bring on springtime…

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

THE HOME OF MARKET LEADING TRADE AWARDS

15 From baby to toddler to starting school

EXHIBITIONS

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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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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Contents

Within This Issue:

What’s Inside

FOCUS ON GIFTWRAPPINGS

54

30 9-19

32-33

53

News

Industry Issue

Publisher Spotlight

A Leap Into The Unknown

Pop Goes The Beagle

Card retail employers share their views on the introduction of the new National Living Wage.

Behind the scenes of British Pop-Art style publisher Rose Hill Designs.

20-21 Over The Counter

It’s Good To Talk...

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, discusses the business benefits of keeping in touch.

54-55 35-41

In Conversation With…

Innovations

Artistic Duo Tones

42-43 22-23

Jeremy’s Journal

Independent designers, Sara Miller and Emma Thomson, are ‘making a big mark’ on a number of card ranges.

Cardsharp

Houston, We Have A Problem

57-59

Cardsharp muses over topical events happening in the industry.

Blue Eyed-Sun’s Jeremy Corner reveals how he handled recent arising business problems.

60-61

25-27

45-47

Viewpoints

Focus On Giftwrappings – News & Fresh Launches

The Great Greeting Card Divide

The Cosmic Realm

What’s Hot?

Sweet Wrappers

Independent card retailers shine a light on their life and business ‘stars'.

Recent news, views and new product in the giftwrap market.

29-31

62-63 Lynn’s Lines

Living The Dream... Or The Nightmare!

64-75

Trends & Inspirations

49-51

Golden Eye

Focus On Giftwrappings - Trends

PG casts a ‘golden eye’ on some current greeting card design trends.

Art Source

Classified

Paper Cuts A paper parade of giftwrap publishers spotlight some key design trends.

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

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NEWS Art Success For Amy

TOP STORY

All Loved Up Did Valentine's Day Touch The Hearts?

Despite the concerns that February 14 this year fell on a Sunday, most card retailers had a decent Valentine’s Day, though many yearn for the days when love was all around – and youngsters bought several cards to woo or have a bit of fun with their school chums.

However, with some 21 million Valentine’s cards sent in the UK each year, it is still a strong card sending event.

"Valentine's was excellent, a record year in fact, and we had an absolute crazy day on Saturday 13th when we had served over 2,000 customers," rejoiced Mark Janson-Smith, owner of three Postmark shops in London. Also seeing record sales was The Stationery & Git Boutique in Ampthill. "Valentine's Day was fantastic", concurred owner Jo Barber. "It's one of those occasions which has always been up there and it was pretty strong this year. We opened on Sunday February 14 and sold a lot of Valentine’s cards that day, as well as on the Monday afterwards.”

Below: Valentine’s Day was strong on the card sales front for retailers this year - A card from Ella & George.

At Something Special in Edenbridge, owner Karen Ebers revealed that its Valentine's Day cards and balloons sold well, matching its 2015 sales, which were good. "We opened on Sunday February 14 and it was very entertaining to see young men coming in to say how grateful they were to find us open!,” highlights Karen.

As PG went to press, there were only a few days to go until Mother's Day, with the very early date causing a challenge to achieve the greeting card sales that most retailers would like.

As Karen Ebers pointed out: "Normally, we have a six week selling period rather than just three weeks, which meant we had to put the cards out at the beginning of February, simultaneously with our Valentine's Day cards, to start nudging people."

Jo Barber (of Ampthill’s Stationery Boutique) was going great guns on its Mother’s Day sales, despite the fact “the earlier date has caught a few people unawares. We do a prize draw every year this year it's a spa day at Center Parcs - and it has paid for itself 10 fold.”

Postmark’s Mark Janson-Smith was bracing himself for a final surge as buying for the events is getting later and later.

"Mother's Day sales started a little slower largely due to the timing. That being said, I am anticipating a late rush!"

Left: Among the Valentine’s Day cards that were offered by Moonpig that were fanfared at a recent consumer press event.

Love Was In The Air Wendy Jones-Blackett is a fantastic greeting card publisher, but the company’s namesake is also showing herself to be a dab hand in front on a TV camera.

Following on from her appearance pre-Christmas on the Made In Leeds TV channel, Wendy did the industry proud in a 10 minute slot dedicated to Valentine’s Day cards. The TV crew came to the publisher’s Leeds studio to film Wendy (pictured right) explaining and demonstrating with great aplomb about what goes into creating stunning greeting cards.

In addition to being shown on the channel, it was also broadcast online the following weekend.

As to whether she is destined for the TV world, Wendy confirmed: “No, I think I will stay in greeting cards!”

Left: Busy hands at work in the Wendy Jones-Blackett studio.

Above: One of Wendy Jones-Blackett’s Valentine’s Day cards.

A visit to Spring Fair last month saw greeting card retailer Amy Popplewell, owner of Greetings of Haxby, take home a very special piece of art, an oil painting by artist Above: Amy Popplewell received her prize from Noel Tatt's Andy Teesdale.

Emma Thomson.

Amy was the lucky winner of a prize draw on the Noel Tatt stand to mark the launch of cute card range Otto Dreams, created by Emma Thomson.

The painting, a real one off, features the range’s central character Otto (who is based on Emma’s well-loved teddy bear).

Amy was the winner of the Otto Dreams prize draw and was presented with the canvas by Noel Tatt's territory manager Andy Teesdale. * See pages 54-55 for more on Emma Thomson and Otto Dreams.

Allsorted For US Stationery Brand Stationery and gift book distributor Allsorted, has clinched a deal to distribute the American-owned stationery brand Eccolo. This addition to its portfolio was announced at last month’s Spring Fair at which Allsorted showcased the best selling Eccolo lines of design-led Italian made journals, notebooks and boxed stationery from the US market on its stand.

After numerous requests from the British retail market to carry Eccolo’s luxurious Italian made product, Eccdo partnered up with Allsorted to warehouse and distribute our quality stationery to the UK, starting with 52 SKUs and then expanding.”

Above: One of Ecollo’s beautiful Italian luxury notebooks now available through Allsorted.

A Moonpig Pen Of Stationery Moonpig, the online personalised card retailer, recently unveiled its expansion into stationery at a wellattended consumer press launch showcasing its Spring Seasons gift goodies and greeting card designs.

Among the beautiful bouquets of flowers, chocolates and plush bunnies, was a scriber’s bounty of notebooks from Go Stationery, NPW, Wild & Wolf, Abrams & Chronicle Books and Moleskine, with something for every stationery seeking soul.

Above: Moonpig unveiled its stationery trial at a well attended consumer press event recently which involved seeing its designers in action.

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NEWS In A Retailing Galaxy Not That Far Away

TOP STORY

Royal Greetings PG Live To Celebrate The Queen’s Milestone “No one should let any birthday go by without being lavished with a fabulous array of birthday cards. If you are marking a major milestone and happen to be the Queen of the British Empire, that bar should be set a little higher!” commented Jacqui Parr, marketing manager of PG Live exhibition (which takes place May 10-11 at London’s Business Design Centre).

As part of the plans to make the PG Live 2016 exhibition a true celebration of everything that is great about the industry, a major display feature is being planned (in conjunction with the GCA) to honour Her Majesty’s 90th birthday. While the Queen’s official birthday is on April 21, the official celebrations are kicking off just after PG Live and continuing for the rest of the year.

All 260 publishers who will be exhibiting at the show (as well as those not exhibiting) are being invited to create a special card for the Queen to mark her significant birthday.

The hope is that the Queen’s 90th Birthday Cards Celebration at PG Live will

Below: The Queen will be celebrating her 90th birthday in April.

then also form the basis of an exhibition at the Houses of Parliament in June (a proposal for which has been submitted by the GCA), after which the cards will all then be delivered to Her Majesty.

“There is no size stipulation for the 90th birthday cards for the Queen for the display feature at PG Live, however any giant ones could prove problematic to incorporate into the Houses of Parliament exhibition that we are awaiting confirmation about,” added Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA. Those creating the cards should sign a message to Her Majesty and also include a name and address inside the card – which should result in an official thank you from Buckingham Palace.

The deadline for receiving the 90th birthday cards for the Queen is Tuesday April 12.

All cards should be sent to Birthday Cards For The Queen, Max Publishing, United House, North Road, London N7 9DP.

Children Get Creative For The Queen The nation’s youngsters are being inspired to create 90th birthday cards for the Queen though a competition in consumer magazine Yours, in conjunction with National Stationery Week, which takes place from April 25 - May 1. The design competition invites entries into three age categories - 7 and under, 8-11 and 12-15. The winner of each category will receive a bundle of prizes from the sponsors of National Stationery Week - BIC, Shaeffer, Maped Helix, Staedtler and Nu: Notebooks - worth over £200. The runners-up in each category will receive a sponsors’ bundle worth £25.

The winning cards will be sent on to the Queen and will also be featured in Yours magazine, which goes on sale from April 12. ● Yours is among the UK’s best selling fortnightly magazine with a circulation of over 270,000. Visit: www.nationalstationeryweek.com

Above: Holding the Jumbo Darth at the RAF Museum in London, one of Hallmark’s Road Show venues last January, is Hallmark’s Jessica Livesey, (left) Craig Malcolm, (middle) Mark Dolan and (right) Graeme Francis.

Itty Bittys and we’ve already seen that because of their great look and reasonable price they can appeal to both adults and children. We’ve ensured that we’ve developed a great marketing plan to support this launch and are confident they will create a real buzz.”

The next plan in the Itty Bittys’ galaxy is that Hallmark Gold Crown stores stocking the range have received a 3’ Jumbo Darth Vader Itty Bitty, not currently available in the UK, as a customer prize for an exclusive competition, which is live in stores now. Gold Crown customers have to reveal to the retailer who is their favourite Itty Bittys character and why.

Each store will then choose their favourite answer after the closing date for entries on 29 April, allowing plenty of time to organise the big reveal, and award their Jumbo Darth, around May 4 - International Star Wars Day!

Tweet Tweet

Writing Matters The countdown has begun for this year’s London Stationery Show (26-27 April at London’s Business Design Centre), while things are still hotting up for National Stationery Week, which straddles the show (April 25 - May 1).

Leading stationery brand BIC has joined the line-up of sponsors for National Stationery Week, whose theme this year is Writing Matters. "To have BIC as a new sponsor of the campaign is very exciting, as they believe passionately, like us, in the importance of everyone from an early age being able to write.

Each year we embark on a new journey with National Stationery Week and for 2016 we are focusing on Writing Matters," says Chris Leonard-Morgan, founder of National Stationery Week and owner of the London Stationery Show. ● PoS for National Stationery Week is available free online for all retailers independents and multiples - to download, with a massive consumer push for stationery in the run-up to the event. The pack includes shelf strips, posters, window vinyls, counter top displays.

To register and become a participating retailer in National Stationery Week, contact katharine@smallmanmedia.com.

The Hallmark Road Show 2016 took to the streets recently, visiting nearly 20 towns and cities to showcase its new greeting card collections and Itty Bittys plush characters to its independent retailers.

But ‘the force’ was with Hallmark’s Star Wars Itty Bittys characters, who reached Gold Crown retailers’ shelves in February, and will be landing in independent stores this month, along with supporting POS. Hallmark has teamed up with Disney and Lucas films to launch popular personalities from The Force Awakens film franchise, recently adding two brand new Star Wars Itty Bittys, Kylo Ren and Rey. Alison Kildunne, head of brand and marketing for Hallmark, states: “The Star Wars range looks set to be just as popular as the first

The Department for Work and Pensions has been tweeting about greeting cards and their importance to the UK economy.

In an unlikely bit of PR for the trade, the DWP contacted the GCA to find out the facts of how many people are employed in the sector – and used it as a tweet for Valentine’s Day. Below: The DWP tweet.

Above: Chris Leonard-Morgan, organiser of National Stationery Week and the London Stationery Show, at last year's exhibition.

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CARDS • WRAP • PARTY t: +44 (0)1264 388400 e: enquiries@gemma-international.co.uk w: gemma-international.co.uk For wholesale enquiries contact Samantha Strong at samantha.strong@gemma-international.co.uk 46_PG_March 2016.indd 46 1 PG_Multi_License_advert.indd

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NEWS Be A Retas Awards Star

TOP STORY

Nothing To Be Blue About Me To You’s 21st Birthday Celebrations Kick-Off Greeting card retailers flocked to celebrate Carte Blanche's 21st birthday at a drinks reception on its stand at the end of the first day of Spring Fair, which marked the official re-launch of its Tatty Teddy plush and gift collections. As the champagne corks popped, chairman and founder Stephen Haines thanked everyone for their support and toasted the next 21 years with blue nose cocktails, blue themed cupcakes and a meet and greet with Tatty Teddy.

Head artist Steve Mort-Hill was also on the stand to personalise artwork and showcase a Me to You original which will be given away as part of a 21st anniversary competition.

This year sees the introduction of new entry price points, new packaging, super

Enter Your Shop Now!

This year, greeting card retailers from throughout the UK are invited to self-nominate their shop(s) for The Retas 2016.

Don’t be shy about entering!

The Retas awards are a great opportunity for you as a retailer to see your shop(s) and staff recognised and rewarded.

Closing Date For Entries Wednesday 30 March 2016

soft fur and PoS solutions for all store formats. As part of the year-long anniversary celebrations, the Spring Fair saw the start of a 10,000 Tatty Teddy bear giveaway from Carte Blanche to ensure people fall in love with Me to You all over again. A commemorative Me to You story book is also being published to mark the occasion.

Above: Carte Blanche founder Stephen Haines (second right) with Me to You master artist Steve Mort-Hill and Pauline (far left) and Emma Gillett of retailer Best Wishes, Birmingham, at the 21st celebration.

Cheque It Out The thighs have recovered, but the memory lives on in a worthwhile way – as a cheque for £20,000 that was presented to The Lake District Calvert Trust charity at the Spring Fair by buying group Cardgains, the fruits of its Charity Challenge 2015, Withering Thighs, a 25 mile sponsored walk around Bronte country.

Cardgains’ managing director Chris Dyson, marketing director Penny Shaw, and Above: The Cardgains Withering Thighs walkers with Jennifer Scott of The Lake many of those who took part in the walk, were District Calvert Trust on the buying group’s stand at the Spring Fair. there as the cheque was presented to Jennifer Scott, the charity’s fund raising officer.

“We always try and support a small charity so the donation will make a real difference. This year, the amount Cardgains’ Charity Challenge raised will go to benefit people with disabilities experience the amazing activities that The Lake District Calvert Trust provides,” says Penny.

This year, the Cardgains Charity Challenge annual event will support the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, who believes that every family coping with the care of a child with a life threatening or terminal illness should have the support they need from a Rainbow Trust carer.

A Date With Eamonn

Plans are well underway for The Only Awards That Celebra te Greeting The Retas greeting card retail Card Retailing In The Uk awards 2016, which this year Entry form is on ‘the moon and the stars’ theme.

A galaxy of UK greeting card retailers still have the chance to enter The Retas Awards 2016, although the closing date isn’t light-years www.theretasawards.co.uk away (March 30).

Above: The Moon and The The entry forms are Stars is the theme of The available to download from Retas Awards 2016. Enter www.theretasawards.co.uk. your 'star' shop now!

The winners of The Retas will be announced at an ‘out of this world’ afternoon event at The Dorchester Hotel in London on 13 July.

Below: The Warwick Rowers with their awards and certificates.

Popular TV presenter Eamonn Holmes made it a firm date in his diary to host the National Calendar Awards at the end of January, held at London's Stationer's Hall. The event saw Danilo scoop four awards for its Marvel, Leeds United and Star Wars VII calendars, along with the company's Minions diary.

Also winners of four awards on the night were the Warwick Rowers, whose Sport Allies won the People's Choice Award, voted for by attendees.

Flame Tree won two awards, as winner of the Retail Calendar, Scenic/Landscape category for Astronomy, plus the Retail Calendar, Classical & Contemporary Art category for its Eric Ravilious calendar. Also delighted to be announced as a winner on the night was Portico, which won the Slimline Format Calendar Award for its Lily & Val Cocktails calendar.

Welcome speeches from David Higgins, md of Avonside Publishing, and Helen Esmonde, Master of the Stationers Company, were followed

by Eamonn Holme's witty presentation. His PowerPoint presentation on how his own calendar could look culminated in him receiving a personalised Manchester United calendar, plus his own calendar, produced by Alltrade Printers.

Over 400 entries were received this year for the Awards.

Pushing The Envelope Fay's Studio was the winner of the Enveco prize draw held at Spring Fair to win £500 worth of envelopes. The runners up were Nancy and Betty's Studio and Charlie Foxtrot who both won envelopes worth £100.

The draw was made by the GCA's Sharon Little and Ged Mace, chief executive and president respectively.

Above: Enveco's envelope prize draw winners, from left to right: Richard Walters from Charlie Foxtrot, Fay Martin founder of Fay's Studio (centre) and Hannah Bidmead from Nancy and Betty’s Studio.

Bake Off's Nadiya's A Card-y Popular Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain is a greeting card addict and that's official.

Speaking to PG at Spring Fair, the mum of three admitted: "I buy greeting cards all the time. I prefer blank cards as I like writing my own messages, but I'm also a fan of rude cards too!

In fact, if it isn't rude, I'll put my own take on it!"

Fans of Nadiya flocked to the Wow! Stuff stand at the show where she signed copies of The Great British Bake Off book, while the company showcased its first range of licensed Great British Bake Off kitchen giftware which includes 'method' mugs, multi-bake timers, personalised bake tins and ceramic baking beans, all with an innovative twist. The range features popular phrases from the show to include 'soggy bottom', 'star baker', 'great bake', 'show stopper' and 'on your marks, get set'.

Above: Nadiya Hussain was 'star baker' on the Wow! Stuff stand at Spring Fair. She is pictured with PG's news writer Sue Marks, and Richard North, ceo of Wow! Stuff.

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SE Spring Everyday A4 PG Ad AW 2.16.pdf

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Now’s the time to freshen up the racks. Put a sparkling new face on displays. To grab the attention of new customers, surprise your existing

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And it couldn’t be simpler! Our 2016 Spring Everyday Collection offers you outstanding new designs, superb styles, fabulous finishes and top

charge of what you buy… when you buy it… and how much you buy.

Now, isn’t that a nice surprise?

quality production standards. Designed to put real Simon Elvin value-for-money into your store.

Delivering great margins for you, and real bargains for your customers.

Covering all major sending occasions, there’s something for everyone. While, for you, there’s

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NEWS TOP STORY

'Super' Ranking For Hallmark Hallmark UK named as one of 2016’s ‘Consumer Superbrands’ The Superbrands ranking sees Hallmark UK line up alongside high profile brands such as LEGO, Apple, Kellogg’s, Nike, John Lewis and Coca-Cola.

“It’s a great honour to have been selected as a Superbrand, and recognises our hardwork to reinvigorate the brand and ensure it continues to stand for distinctiveness and quality," says Alison Kildunne, head of brand and marketing at Hallmark UK. "Only the highest rated of nearly 1,600 brands achieve Superbrand status, so attaining it is no mean feat.”

Stephen Cheliotis, chief executive of TCBA and chairman of the Consumer Superbrands Council, added: “Being recognised and voted a Superbrand not only illustrates the brand’s fame but, more importantly, shows it’s considered by consumers to be trustworthy, distinct and high quality.

The affection and connection consumers have with these leading brands enables them to secure a clear advantage when engaging and communicating, which can be priceless.”

A Well Crafted Arrangement

Over 2,500 British adults were questioned in order to compile the final Superbrands ranking, with nearly 1,600 brands assessed against criteria including quality, reliability and distinction.

Two separate surveys were carried out: Consumer Superbrands (the UK’s strongest B2C brands) and Business Superbrands (the UK’s strongest B2B brands). Topping the charts in both surveys was British Airways with Google, Heinz, Virgin Atlantic, Marks & Spencer and Amazon also in the top 20 Consumer Superbrands.

Above: A commerative cover of the Superbrands book.

Left: Hallmark is one of the superbrands.

Cardies See Success At The GOYs It was definitely 'showtime' for Really Good at the Gift of the Year Awards at Spring Fair. The company's innovative Showtime light up cards scooped the top prize in the Card and Wrap category, beating off stiff competition from The Handcrafted Card Company and The Teapot Dude, who were both highly commended.

Also thrilled to be winners were two Ladder Club publishers - Hannah Dale, founder of Wrendale Designs, and Wraptious, founded by Simon Wadsworth.

Hannah scooped the Stationery Award for her letter writing set, while Simon took home the trophy in the Home Accessories category, sponsored by PG's sister magazine Progressive Gifts & Home. The winning product was the company's Splatter range vegan suede cushions by 'Wraptee' artist Katherine Williams, featuring designs that also appear on greeting cards from the publisher.

Among the highly commendeds in the commemorative and collectable category was Cherry Orchard for its Down Memory Lane mugs.

Cath Kidston, who hosted the prize giving, said: “It’s an incredible thing to have that affirmation. We designers are very insecure, but always try to do our best and make things better. But actually there is a moment when somebody says, ‘You’ve done great, and you’ve won a prize,’ and it feels really good!”

Above: Really Good's Lisa Shoesmith (left) and Lisa Marcuccio (second right) are shown with GA chairman Michael Papé and Cath Kidston (right).

Left: GOTY winners, (right) Hannah Dale of Wrendale Designs and Simon Wadsworth of Wraptious, with PG’s Jakki Brown.

In what is a neat two way arrangement, Grassroots is working closely with crafting guru Debbi Moore, who supplies card makers, scrapbookers and decoupage crafters with elements through her company Debbie Moore Designs.

The Spring Fair marked the launch of the Debbi Moore greeting card collection from Grassroots, which features designs licensed from Debbi while at the Stitches show, held a week later at the NEC. Grassroots’ designs were licensed by Debbi Moore Designs and launched as part of her product portfolio.

Above: Grassroots’ Rob Brown (left) and Doug Morrice with Debbi Moore at the Spring Fair.

Top Of The Shops True to his word, Dean Hoyle, the new chief executive of The Works (and the founder of Card Factory), is going for rapid expansion for the value varietal chain. With a goal of 60 new stores this year - at least one new outlet a week the company has strengthened its presence in Scotland recently, by securing 10 year leases at the Clyde Shopping Centre in Clydebank and at East Kilbride Shopping Centre. The Works currently has 300 stores across the UK.

Personalisation Permutations Understanding that retailers do not have ‘elastic card racks’, Words 'n' Wishes has designed a card range in which in cards can offer between four to seven minor captions, depending on the design, so that their customers can choose how they want to personalise it.

The new range, Unique Personalised, includes a number of different caption additions that can be affixed to the front of the card.

"This means that retailers will require less pocket space, lower stock holding and increased pocket sales performance on minor captions!" says Tony Cottrell of Words 'n' Wishes.

There are 42 designs that span over 200 caption options.

Above: Words 'n' Wishes has put a new spin on personalisation.

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NEWS PEOPLE

TOP STORY

Greeting Card Undergraduates Paperchase Supports On The Cards Initiative What stemmed from a feeling of frustration and exasperation over leading art colleges’ failure to recognise greeting cards as a viable and credible career path for students has blossomed into a growing design competition, which results in the winners’ products going on sale in Paperchase.

The judging took place last month for the second annual On The Cards design competition, the brainchild of Reggie Pugh, creative director of The Art Group/Paper Rose, and Mark Jessett of paper company GF Smith, wholly supported by The Sherwood Group and Paperchase.

Building on the success of the inaugural event last year, the recent competition involved entries from 2nd and 3rd students from five leading universities and art colleges.

“It was great to go into the colleges and make the tutors as well as the students aware of the possibilities of having their work published and go on sale in leading retailers,” explained Reggie at the judging event, which took place at the House of Illustration in London last month.

With more entries from which to select than last year, the collective decision lay in the hands of Paperchase buyers Hazel

Walker and Jessie Matthews; Sherwood’s Nicky Marshall; GCA’s Sharon Little; Paper Rose’s Reggie Pugh, Philippa Phipps and Perlina Davies; GF Smith’s Mark Jessett and PG’s Gale Astley and Jakki Brown.

The outright winner of the Design and Illustration category was Natalie Palmer and Ellie Broatch (from Nottingham Trent University) for their Dots & Dashes range, which incorporated quirky inclusions.

Meanwhile, in the Format and Innovation category, the winner was Jennifer Offley (from Nottingham Trent University) for her Recipes range which took on a pullout format.

The winners and runners up in both categories will be featured at PG Live in the Springboard lounge.

Charitable Causes The team at greeting card printer Sherwood group has shown that their talents extend beyond greeting card production.

The management and staff jointly raised £6,409 for charities last year in a variety of ways. The monies raised went to Action Medical Research, Crohn’s and Colitis UK Charity, Macmillan Cancer, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Melbourne Care Home in Nottingham.

Leading from the front, Sherwood's managing director Jeremy Bacon raised £3,655 through taking part in the London to Paris Champion 24 hours race in July 2015, while Matt Barton, Sherwood's production planning manager, took part in series of races during 2015 to raise money for the Crohn’s and Colitis UK charity and raised over £1,500.

Above: Matt Barton, Sherwood's production planning manager who raised money for the Crohn’s and Colitis UK charity.

Abacus Tots Up The Winners With some fantastic prizes up for grabs, Nick Davison, i2i's portfolio director of Spring Fair, did the honours in drawing the lucky winners in the Abacus/Claire Maddicott Spring Fair prize draw that took place in the closing hours of the show. The winner was the Midland Card & Party Shop who won a Smeg 50's style mixer; in second place was Spots in Southwold who took home a Nespresso coffee machine, and in third place was The Windmill Shop, Heckington in Sleaford whose prize was a 8GB Amazon Fire 7 Tablet. Everyone who placed an order at the show was eligible to enter.

Left: (left-right) Spring Fair show director Nick Davison with Nick Carey and Neil Harradine from Abacus.

● James Illingworth (right) joins Widdop and Co. on April 1 as business information manager, a critical role in the future development of the company. The son of operations/finance director Chris Illingworth, James is the third member of the fifth generation of the Illingworth family to join the company. He was previously with North Highland where he worked in a consultancy role. ● Danilo has expanded its sales team. Anna Brown (right) has been promoted to national account manager and will be directly responsible for dealing with major retail groups, while Amy Rowley has joined the company to replace Anna as sales office manager.

A Cockadoodle Do Card publisher Pauline Swindells, founder of Cockadoodle Design, a 2015 Henries finalist, found herself at the centre of a media frenzy over one of her Mother’s Day designs.

The card in question was a design which has a caption of ‘MILF - My Mummy Is Hot’. (Though the acronym is also used to mean 'Mother I'd Like to F***').

The card was spotted in a Glasgow greeting card shop who took a photo of it and tweeted it along with the message: 'This is, without doubt, the worst Mother's Day card ever, RIGHT?'. Little did Pauline know that this would attract the attention of first the Mail Online and then the Jonathon Ross show, who at the time of PG going to press was planning to feature it on its pre Mother's Day show.

"The first I knew about the story was from my partner, who works off-shore. He saw a photo of the card on the Mail Online. I thought oh 'wow'! And then I read it and thought oh 'wow'!", Pauline told PG. "The Mail Online kept bumping off my responses, so in the end I put them onto my Facebook page. On the back of it, I've had so many orders and enquiries, as well as a great response from stockists and agents. People have found the whole thing very amusing, and it's a shame the card was taken the wrong way.

Nevertheless, it's definitely worked in my favour."

So will she carry on with her cheeky humour on her greeting cards?

"Definitely!" she confirmed.

Above: The MILF greeting card from Cockadoodle that caused a furore on the Mail Online.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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10-11 May - Stand 523

Cello

Accessories

America’s Original Candle!

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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NEWS TOP STORY

NEWS IN BRIEF

Grammar Matters Corrina’s Apostrophe Rant Corrina Rothwell, artist and newbie card publisher (under her own name) found TV fame at the start of March, being hailed as an ‘apostrophe crusader’ on national TV. Nottingham-based Corrina had a four minute slot during the ITV programme Frustrated Britain that aired at the beginning of March thanks to her best selling Apostrophe Rage design. The design shows a woman angered by a greengrocer's sign advertising ‘apple's, potatoe's, tomatoe's and banana's + lot’s more!’.

"It was discovered on Twitter by a researcher for ITN looking for grammarrelated content for a TV show," explains Corrina. "I find it really frustrating when I see a misspelled word or a wrong apostrophe on a shop sign,” Corrina commented on the programme.

"Someone's been paid to do that job professionally and they haven't even bothered to check that it's right and that's just so irritating."

In the first of two episodes of Frustrated Britain: Caught On Camera,

Below: The Apostrophe Rage design from Corrina Rothwell.

which looks at everyday incidents that make people lose their temper, viewers saw Corrina show her ire over a shop sign advertising "low price's". As she says: "It's like somebody's just sees the 's' and panicked."

She paid tribute to One Direction’s Harry Styles for helping in the battle against poor grammar and spelling, citing an online video in which Harry Styles takes a fan's poster on stage with him during a concert and uses a pen to correct the wording ‘your so nice’ to ‘you're so nice’. On the programme Corrina said: "A lot of young people will see that and think, 'I'm doing that, I'm making that mistake'.”

The programme and the other media coverage has solicited extra business for Corrina. “I’ve definitely had a fair few extra orders on the back of it – all publicity is good publicity, they say!”

Corrina Rothwell is exhibiting at PG Live 2016 (May 10-11) in the Springboard section.

New York, New York New York's National Stationery Show, which takes place from May 15-18, is celebrating its 70th year in 2016, and will play host to a myriad of card publishers and stationery companies. The exhibitor line up at the New York show will include a strong array of letterpress exhibitors.

Among the predicted trends at the show will be foil, florals, watercolour art and marbling, along with the use of wood, cork and other natural materials. "The colouring trend continues to be strong and is growing here in the States," confirms the show's sales director Kelly Bristol. "Plus, the interest in the handwritten look - beautiful script and calligraphy - is huge." .The show has partnered with New York's Fashion Institute of Technology School of Art & Design, which will see visual presentation and exhibition design students create the platform and product environment to display the finalists and winners of the NSS' Best New Product competition.

Visit: www.nationalstationeryshow.com.

Above: Among the products on show at the NSS in New York will be Ryland Peters and Small adult colouring books and letter press designs from Benched Press.

Terry Taylor Licences Turnowsky Well-known industry stalwart, Terry Taylor (formerly of Lesser & Pavey and Hooli Mooli) has become a licensee for the respected Turnowsky brand. Terry, md of East West, debuted a range of wrappings and tableware under the brand at the Spring Fair.

“I have long admired the Turnowsky brand and the beautiful designs which have sophisticated global appeal.”

Left: Terry Taylor on the East West stand at the Spring Fair.

● Smiggle (right) is adding to its portfolio of UK children's stationery stores this month, with a new shop at the Silverburn shopping centre in Glasgow. Since the multiple launched in the UK two years ago, it has opened 48 stores and is on course to open a further 250 over the next five years. ● McColl's reported that its full year pre-tax profit rose to £21.1 million from £12.6 million in the previous year.

● OPC is celebrating 25 years as one of the world’s leading greeting cards franchise distributor. The company sells its products through a wide variety of independent retailers and national groups to include Costcutter, Nisa, Spar and Booker.

Above: A selection of cards from OPC, which is celebrating its silver anniversary.

● Pigment has a famous fan - actor Michael Caine!

The actor features on one of the publisher’s cards with a take on the famous line he utters from The Italian Job. Michael has been enthusing about the card in the Radio Times and spoke about it on the Jonathan Ross show recently.

Right: The Pigment team larking around at Spring Fair with masks from Mask-arade.

A Cherry On The Cake Normally retailers visit trade shows to spend money, but Chingford card retailer, Claire Richardson of Rathbones went home with more than a cherry on the cake!

As one of the finalists in the Cherry Orchard Shop of the Month competition, Claire was on tenterhooks along with the other monthly winners on the publisher’s stand to find out who had won the £1,000 prize (of Cherry Orchard stock at RRP). She couldn’t believe it when her shop’s name was pulled out by PG’s Jakki Brown (who made the official draw).

Above: Rathbones’ Claire Richardson (centre) with many of the other Shop of the Month finalists and members of the Cherry Orchard team.

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Over The Counter

It’s Good To

Talk...

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, reminds us that conversations with people builds businesses.

People of a certain age will recognise the tagline ‘It’s good to talk’ as the slogan from an old BT advert campaign from over 20 years ago, featuring Bob Hoskins. The history behind this is fascinating. BT had at one time held the tag of Britain's most hated company, and the then CEO decided that the company was not in the phone or technology industry, but they were in the business of ‘reciprocated confidences’.

Now what does that actually mean? Well, simply put, he wanted to remove people’s thought processes about the company. It wasn’t to be about the bill, the technology or about the phone call being a functional thing, BT wanted to make itself part of the fabric of our lives. BT had a 67% market share and wanted the then stereotypical bill payer (the man) to understand the importance of that ‘chatter factor’ - that women loved to call friends and family.

In effect BT wanted to alter the whole perception of its business, and with a four word catchphrase and a man’s man (Hoskins) speaking directly to the customer, it did. ‘It’s good to talk’ delivered spectacularly, with an incremental growth in BT’s product sales of £5 billion over a five year period and a complete turnaround in how people viewed BT. Those four simple words cut through vast amounts of complicated ideas and preconceptions. More importantly, the phrase has also stood the test of time, becoming part of our language.

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Conversations and dialogues are central to a healthy life, and in truth are central to my entire way of working. Emails, tweets, posts and pictures communicate certain things, but I find that proper discussions and interactions are far more effective in business as well as life in general.

Sometimes I say too much, sometimes I am too honest and sometimes I wear my passion too proudly on my sleeve. My thick Scottish accent can at times cause problems as well, but the message that is carried is always clear - I simply want the best for my business, staff, customers and of course the companies who supply me with their

products. I am also prepared to go the extra mile to get there and love talking business and trying to help. Sad to admit it, but it kind of defines me.

At present I am planning major changes to a number of our stores. We are also refreshing the logo for J.P. Pozzi to make it suitable for our new website. All of this is working towards a bricks and clicks strategy, which is something I have yearned for a long time.

Above: One of Lagom's new ranges is by Dietske Klepper, a photographer and creator of the Instagram sensation 'a flamingo a day.'

Below: 'It's Good To Talk' was Bob Hoskins' catchphrase on BT's advert in 1995.

Taking account of all this and more besides means I am having a huge amount of conversations. I am literally speaking to everyone, from joiners to flooring guys to web designers, Hallmark, UKG and of course the banks, to name but a few.

Conversations with banks are becoming increasingly difficult. I lost three crucial bankers in the space of months and it hasn't been the same since. They seem to be deliberately distancing themselves from customers and this makes it much easier for them to say no. It also, in my opinion, makes you (as the customer) feel very insecure and does not breed any sort of loyalty. In years gone past I had relationships with bank managers who knew me, who wanted to know me, and this meant when they gave or asked for approval of a deal they could properly explain the situation to their credit guys. Nowadays, that just doesn't seem to happen in the same way.

Many suppliers are also looking now to deal with you directly. Agents’ commission is a percentage that some suppliers now don’t want to give away, though many of the suppliers who have taken this stance I no longer deal with. In many cases cards can be ordered directly too, but I view them as a design product and the nature of design is to see the small details and feel the quality of materials used, so a physical hands-on approach is best, especially initially, so I see the agents or reps. It is also reassuring of course to get advice from agents. It is not just

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Over The Counter

the selling in, but the honesty about a range and how it is performing in other retail stores.

The other key place that you can get up close and view stock is of course at trade fairs.

Having just returned from the Spring Fair, with each passing year, the aisles at this show get wider and that the oasis seating areas get bigger. It suggests that more and more suppliers just can’t afford the stand, hotel and other costs that is inherent in exhibiting, or maybe they decide that they want to do it a different way. So is this the death of the trade exhibition? I don’t believe so, but Spring Fair last month was not a hot bed of unusual or different cards. The new exciting small house publishers are probably too daunted to exhibit. It is also felt quieter at the show this year, but again this could be a good thing as those visitors that are there are serious buyers.

The days of falling over a family on a day out are gone, perhaps like their businesses.

So getting back to Spring Fair.

Meaningful conversations is something I did not do enough of this year. When you are there in that show bubble you tend to rush from aisle to aisle and stand to stand trying to find the next ‘medium thing’ never mind ‘the next big thing’. You don’t, on the whole, take time to speak as much as you should or perhaps listen and ask as many questions as you can. Engaging with the suppliers (especially if an owner/designer is there) and building that relationship is essential because you tend to go on a journey together. It may be a one ‘quick break’ order or it could be a years-long adventure. This is what I love about our industry, seeing the development of companies, from start-ups artisan players to industry giants.

The interesting thing is to find out about the people you are buying from because true relationships are built on genuine interest not

a quick message on Linked In or a passing comment. Listening and knowing people better allows you to add in those little warm fuzzies that make the conversation so much better. Whether it is where they are from or remembering specific interests. Bringing these touches to negotiations and discussions is crucial as it tends to relax people and makes them feel you value them and their brand.

So what are the crucial things you need to do to build proper long lasting relationship? Over the years I have had a mental set of rules which is now pretty much ingrained. I try to follow them as best I can, but honestly sometimes you do fall through.

Be real - You can’t keep up an act for long periods of time and being authentic will be crucial to developing proper lasting relationships.

Share values - Find suppliers and people who think or try and act the same way that you do. This makes it a lot easier for everyone to move forward together.

Don’t rush - Building mutual respect takes time. Gaining trust takes time. Patience and a slow build allows relationships to develop properly.

Share support - Every range, every product may not be a world beater but sticking with a company especially in such a creative industry as cards is essential, especially if you believe in the team/designer behind it.

Take a hit - Sometimes you have got to show that you are willing to support a company even if it means that you lose a little yourself. In recent weeks I have seen that relationships I have built within the card industry have paid dividends when the suppliers have been prepared to swap stock, Above right: Keep in touch... a iconic telephone box from BerinMade.

Below: Conversations were buzzing in the Spring Fair aisles in February.

extend credit or do special cards for me.

Generally, suppliers won’t do this based on one order or without you showing a willingness to work with them and try things.

Share your network - Connecting and advising within cards is crucial. Making sure that new suppliers don’t get the wrong agent.

Introduce your fellow retailers (as long as they are not on your doorstep!) to key brands that you believe in is an example of great practice.

Listen constantly - The best advice maybe does not always come from the highest paid or highest ranking staff member.

It can come from anywhere at anytime.

Give consistently receive occasionally The best relationships start with you giving perhaps more and usually this comes back at you ten fold.

This column is in essence a bit like the best conversations, a bit random, a little bit jumping all over the place, but with hopefully lots of gems of information. The importance of relationships with people can never be over estimated, and a bit like a great radio presenter your audience has to feel like you are speaking to them directly.

Remember relationships will stay long after perhaps a product line ends. Everything and everybody seems to come around again so keeping on good terms is essential, as that agent you haven’t spoken to for a couple of years may just find the next gem and you want to be one of his first calls.

So what if BT were doing an advert in this modern 2016 era? What would it need to be? Well in 2013 it did it again in the form of mobile phone provider 02, asking us to be more dog. But that’s a whole other column!

Maybe they hit the nail on the head 23 years ago... it really is STILL good to talk.

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

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CARDSHARP

The Great

Greeting Card

Divide

The impending EU referendum, which takes place in June, and the arguments in the media for and against a Brexit, set Cardsharp thinking. Developments in politics, economics and demographic changes in the UK have a vital effect in greeting card retailing and publishing in so many ways.

It is not for Cardsharp to delve into the complex arguments for or against the UK’s membership of the EU, and readers will obviously make up their own minds by the day the election takes place, but already just the run up has had an effect on the UK greeting card market. With all the speculation of an UK Brexit, the £pound’s value has weakened quite substantially. If nothing else, this will have helped the UK’s already thriving export greeting card business and bodes well for the upcoming PG Live exhibition in May, which traditionally attracts a big overseas contingent of eager buyers of British designs and finished product.

And taking the effects of the Euro vote further, if the vote went in favour of a Brexit, this would probably prompt the SNP to call for another referendum in favour of Scottish independence. And if this happened, no doubt all the discussions of 2014 about how this would affect the UK greeting card market would then be resurrected!

But turning away from the EU debate, the UK’s own domestic politics are about to have a huge impact on the greeting card market. The implementation of the significant increase in the National Minimum Wage, and the employer’s provision legal responsibility to contribute to an employees’ pension are set to have what could be a potentially devastating effect on greeting card retailers already

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

struggling with punitive business rates, unfair competition from the internet and damaging parking restrictions imposed by local government. Greeting card retailers need these additional burdens like a hole in the head!

Because truth be told, mused Cardsharp, since the depths of the recession from 2009 to 2012, the retail recovery has been both patchy and regional. Cardsharp has read and heard plenty of discussions and debates about globalisation and cross boundary organisations (whether countrywide like the EU or businesswise like Google and Facebook) and accepts that these do affect on our industry, but the more local regional English issues should not be forgotten in all this.

In the UK, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have always have had their own separate identities as constituent parts of the Union, and that carries through to some extent when it comes to greeting card preferences. However, what seems to be emerging in the last few years are two distinctive Englands: One booming, affluent and sucking in economic and demographic resources from the whole of the UK

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CARDSHARP (and indeed the globe), and the other by contrast, struggling to adapt to a consistently challenging retail environment.

Take a map of England and draw a straight line from the Wash in Lincolnshire down to South Devon and you have the rough dividing line between these two Englands. The area to the East and South of the line is what Cardsharp would call the ‘Extended Home Counties’. It gravitates from what is now probably the greatest booming powerhouse of a metropolis in the western world – London. It has now become so dominant that its pull can be felt as far away as Bath in the west and Nottingham in the north, both now considered by many to be a commutable distance to ‘The Great Behemoth’ that it has become, and this in turn

means that the Capital’s beneficial economic tentacles now spread as far and wide as this.

Some might argue, reflected Cardsharp, that a divide has always been there, but is it getting starker? In the General Election last June virtually all of this area (apart from a few pockets in inner London) elected Conservative MPs. Its property prices have risen dramatically – up almost 14% in the last year alone in London and up 10% on average in the wider area as a whole.

Contrast this with the area north and west of the line to see that this half of England has experienced real problems.

Manufacturing, which was often the mainstay of much of this area, has experienced further decline. Previous governments of both persuasions attempted to counteract this decline by locating a lot of public sector functions and hence employment in northern hubs, but now cuts in public expenditure are having a disproportionate effect on the economy here, and as the cuts deepen (as the Chancellor has indicated they will), the negative impact on employment will intensify.

Areas already suffering, like Teeside and South

Wales, will be further hit by job losses in the depressed steel industry. Property prices in the last year are estimated to have only grown by 1%. And, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the 12 most economically challenged towns, with a population of more than 100,000 in England, were all in this half of the great divide.

You could even take Premier League football as a symptom of this lopsided balance. As Cardsharp penned this column, three London football clubs are in the top five positions - Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham. Other clubs south of the divide, like Bournemouth, Watford, Southampton and, most notably, sitting at the pinnacle Leicester City, occupy positions far above where their history dictates. Even football’s success is gravitating to the extended Home Counties, muses Cardsharp. By contrast, the north (Merseyside and Manchester apart) is becoming a desert when it comes to soccer success. Despite being the spiritual home of the professional game, so many of its former giants, notably Leeds, Bolton, Blackburn, Burnley and the two Sheffield clubs are struggling positionally and financially.

And from what Cardsharp is hearing, this dichotomy has a knock-on effect on our industry. The feedback from reps, agents, publishers and retailers is that sales for independents in these regions are very difficult, as tough as it was in 2009. One well respected greeting card sales agent in the North recently told Cardsharp that in central Leeds, despite everything, and it being the second largest financial centre in Britain, he did not have a single independent account left trading in the city. Yet, by contrast, many independents to the south east of the line are doing so much better, with their main complaint being that they don’t get enough regular visits from reps and agents! Some greeting card publishers are seeking to deal with this situation by sub-dividing territories

in the extended Home Counties to increase their service coverage, or employing reps to replace sales agents, but by contrast they are increasing the size of their northern territories.

And even the government’s impending introduction of the increased Minimum Wage is likely to affect the deprived half of England more then the South-East. The British Retail Consortium predict that almost a million retail jobs could go by 2025, but the brunt of these losses, the association predicts, will be felt in the North of England, the West Midlands and Wales.

The specialist regional card chains also appear to be thriving in the extended Home Counties, whether it be House of Cards, Temptations, Cards Galore, Scribbler and Maythers to name just a handful. While by contrast, there are fewer chains in the other half of the country. Card Factory and the wholesale trade are very much stronger here, arguably a reflection of lower disposable household incomes and more difficult trading conditions.

Having said all this, Cardsharp is mindful not to over emphasise this greeting card regional divide. There are some strong pockets of Home Counties style affluence in the north. By contrast, there are areas of real deprivation to the south east of the divide, in particular in some of the older seaside towns.

But what occurs to Cardsharp, as we prepare to go to the polls over our relationship with Europe, are the issues in our own country that need to be addressed for both the sake of the greeting card economy and the greater retail economy. It can’t be healthy to have an over mighty London and the greater Home Counties sucking the lifeblood out of the rest of the country. Cardsharp thinks a transfusion geographically upwards is needed to help our retail economy in those regions and the well being of our greeting card economy there.

Brexit or stay? Trump or Clinton? Perhaps what we need is a Greeting Card Referendum!

Above: Despite being the second largest financial centre in Britain, Leeds’ retailers are suffering.

Right: Has London become too financially mighty?

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British by design... British by design... British by design... British progressive greetings Feb 201624 finished.indd 1 24_PG_March 2016.indd

bctf

British Craft Trade Fair

British Craft Trade Fair 10th - 12th April 2016 Great Yorkshire Showground Harrogate, HG2 8QZ, UK

Featuring 500 of the best British designer-makers creating unique, handmade greetings cards, stationery, gifts and homeware.

If you haven’t already registered, go to...

www.bctf.co.uk Tel: 01444 246 446 Email: info@bctf.co.uk

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VIEWPOINTS

The

Cosmic Realm In keeping with this year's Retas Awards theme of 'The Moon and the Stars' theme, PG directed its telescope to a cluster of independent retailer 'shining stars', asking them to highlight the person in their life or business who is their (moon) rock, and reveal what makes them ‘out of this world’, additionally picking a greeting card from their shop that they would send to show their ‘star’ that they are someone very special.

Star - Mum And Business Partner, Tania Haandrikman

Star - Wife And Business Partner, Michelle Smith

Sonya Haandrikman-Sibbald, partner of Celebrations, Carlisle:

David Smith, partner of Wishing Well, Bookham:

“My teacher, my guide, my best friend... my Mum! Throughout every step in my life my Mum has been there for me, always encouraging, supporting and believing in me. Wherever we go anywhere together we just have the best time as she has an amazing ability to turn any situation into a great experience. There’s no one else I’d rather share the wonderful experiences with, we have so much fun.

My mum has had to work extremely hard to be where she is today and she truly is my inspiration, in business and in life; if I could be just half of what she is then I know I’d be on the right path. She always wants to be a good person and strives do the ‘right’ thing. She would do anything for anyone she is so good hearted.

I cannot put into words how truly blessed I feel to have her in my life; I love her to the moon and back again and more than all the stars in the sky.”

“Shining stars don’t come any brighter than my Michelle. She recently became my wife, after many years of wooing and courting, and made me the happiest old man in the world. Our wedding day was exquisite and Michelle was the shining star of the day.

Michelle supports me 100% in the running of our business, as well as working full-time managing the local garden centre. Her staff, her customers and even her boss, will tell you that she is indeed the shiniest of shining stars.

Beautiful, unique, loving, lovely, compassionate, generous, willing, able, likes red wine, understands the offside rule and just ‘gets’ me. What more can I say?!

As Abacus’ Harold’s Planet puts it ‘In the campsite of life, you stand out from the crowd’. Michelle is a shining star that (moon) rocks my world every day.”

Above: ‘Love you to the Moon and Back’ from Hearts Designs.

Left: Mother and daughter team, Tania Haandrikman (right) and Sonya Haandrikman-Sibbald, having fun at The Retas awards.

Star - Mum, Pat Green Naomi Green, owner of Hallmark Celebrate, Chigwell, London: “My lovely person and ‘Star’ is my Mum, Pat Green - she took three months off work unpaid to help me set up my shop and continues to support the shop by helping with key seasons, bringing treats for the staff and helping in buying decisions.

I would send her the greeting card design with the black lady on it from Xpress Yourself as she loves the words and it reflects her beautifully (she actually got this card range into our store).”

Above: Princess Tiana, aka Pat Green (far left) at Hallmark Celebrate’s superheroes and princesses day last year.

Left: The card Naomi Green would send her mum Pat is this beautifully worded design from Xpress Yourself’s Spirit range.

Right: The lovely Rebecca Nicholas.

Top: A special card dedicated to Michelle Smith - from Harold’s Planet by Claire Maddicott.

Above: Mr and Mrs Smith leaving the church on their special day.

Star - Wife And Business Partner, Rebecca Nicholas Mark Nicholas, partner of Flowertime, Hayle: "Rebecca is my wife, my moon and my star. When I think about it, being with her makes me so happy she is my soul mate. Her wonderful smile and the way she laughs really cheer’s me up when I’m down. And her ability to help sort out the problems that owning your own business can throw at you. But what’s really makes her My Moon and My Star is for all the love, the kindness and support she gives not only to me but to our children and our family. Rebecca I love you!"

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

25

Time For a Career Change?

Existing profitable business Income from day one Flexible hours Work for yourself Full training & support Opportunities available now For more information call Andrew Cutler on:

01932 267 300 andrewc@originalposter.com

www.originalposter.com

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VIEWPOINTS Star - Student And Staff Member, Katie Daw Jo Barber, owner of The Stationery & Gift Boutique, Ampthill: “My Shining Star has to be my very talented student, Katie Daw. Katie has been with us for a couple of years now and is a highly valued member of our team; without her, our shop window displays would be very average. I have the ability to come up with an idea, but Katie’s the one with the creative flair to take that idea and produce something beautiful, clever and eyecatching. She often works on the props for these displays in her own time and then designs the marketing material to support the campaign. We sell a lot through our window displays, therefore I’m very lucky to have a star called Katie!

The most appropriate card to send and to reflect how I feel about Katie would be from Dandelion Stationery - ‘Super Star… Every Now and Then You Are A Little Bit Fabulous’.”

Star - Dad, Peter McCausland Sally Matson, owner of Red Card, Petworth: “My Dad is my shining star. There is not a day that goes by at Red Card when I don't think about him or laugh or appreciate something, knowing that he would like it too. He raised me to acknowledge nature and beauty particularly in the forms of flowers and photography, and he also loves to laugh.

When I couldn't join him in Australia at a big family lunch for his 80th birthday I sent him a selection of the 20 funniest cards from the shop the family all handed them around the table and apparently it caused quite a riot! He loves looking at Red Card's Facebook page and always asks 'How's Red doing?' when we speak or email.

I love chatting to Dad about business and it makes me really happy that he is proud of what I have achieved. His encouragement, his love and his wisdom really do make him 'the best'.

There are two cards I would choose to send to my Dad. Redback Cards’ Super Dad design is lovely, but also Lagom's design that simply says ‘Dad You’re The Best’; it says it all really.”

Above: Sally with her lovely Dad, Peter McCausland.

Left: For a super dad! – a design from Redback Cards’ The Little World Of Liz range.

Above: Out of this world, student and staff member, Katie Daw. Left: To show your heart-felt appreciation, a design from Dandelion Stationery.

Star - Mum And Business Partner, Rita Knibbs Rachael Barnes, partner of Dragonfly Cards & Gifts, Knaresborough: “My moon, star and sun has to be my Mum, Rita. She is an absolute inspiration to me on a daily basis - the way that she has such a positive and optimistic outlook on life.

Due to various operations on her foot over the past two years she hasn't been able to work in the shop with me anymore, but instead she has taken on more of a background role - pricing stock, sorting invoice queries, doing the books etc. I know she has had so much pain from her foot, and has missed being an active part in the front of house side of the business, but she has never once complained or let it get her down.

Seeing how proud she was of what we'd achieved together when we won our Retas award back in 2013 is still the happiest day of my life (well joint with my wedding day and the day my daughter was born of course!).

The card that I would choose for my Mum is by Juicy Lucy Designs. It simply says ‘Mum, Thank you for always being there for me’”.

Above: Rita Knibbs (left), with her daughter Rachael Barnes arriving in fabulous style for Pimms cocktails at The Retas awards.

Left: Especially for a special Mum, a Juicy Lucy design.

Star - Staff Member And Community Spirit, Vincenza Dato, (aka Enza) kathryn phalp, partner for Map Gift Shop, Archway, London: "From Knightsbridge to Archway, Enza began her retail journey in London's Harvey Nichols.

From there Enza headed to South Molton Street where she headed up hoisery brand Wolford's standalone Boutique. Life took an unexpected turn when Enza's son Dario made an early appearance at 23 weeks into her pregnancy! Enza now focuses on motherhood but she couldn't quite leave the fashion world behind and Dario has become well known locally as the best dressed boy in Archway!

A true Archway girl, Enza is a well-known, well-loved shining light in our community through the Archway Town Centre Group she looks after the PR and marketing of the Archway Card Scheme, a loyalty initiative. She also finds time to support charities - she recently took on a project for Centre 404 and she continues to support Bliss - a charity very close to her heart!

We nominate Enza as our Star!"

Above: 'Queen of Archway', Vincenza Dato.

Left: A Think of Me 'Ink' Design.

✷

Shining Staff Members Please don't forget to enter your 'twinkling' staff member in to The Retas awards, an employee who has 'gone that extra mile' to help sustain and build your retail business. The Retas Award’s entry form is available to download from www.theretasawards.co.uk.

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The LargesT CoLLeCTion of greeting Card Publishers in The WorLd “It is the best greeting card show in the UK, and as a buyer you feel really looked after.

The timing is pretty perfect as well!”

Claire Castle, senior buyer, WHSmith.

Don’t Miss Out! Pg Live 2016 is proud to present thousands of original designs, exciting ranges and exclusive show offers from the top 250+ publishers, artists and designers from around the globe. Tickets to the largest global gathering of the greeting card industry can now be booked online at www.progressivegreetingslive.com

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

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

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Trends & Inspirations

Golden Eye Gold fever has struck greeting cards as big and bold nuggets of warm and luxurious metallic block foiling - in rose gold or copper - contrasted by the natural and textural or snowy white matt boards on which they are set. Is this a reflection of sunnier times as we emerge from the cocoon of darker days? Well, if it is, the bright 50s inspired Palm Springs trend of flamingoes and fruit, pineapples, palm trees and pastels, will shake up our flip flops as it continues on greeting cards in its sunny and playful way. Toned down, this trend also complements Pantone’s Colours of the Year, Rose Quartz and Serene, which are tranquil hues of pink and blue reflecting well-being and calm, and on cards are portrayed in watercolour washes or uplifting saturated shades.

Also ‘shaping’ graphics on designs are simple and elegant modern geometrics in retro 80s and 90s colourways, but with the Olympics 2016 in Rio hurdling towards us this summer the South American beat grows stronger with the Amazonian tropical flora and fauna storm still raging on card designs, but joining the jungle trend are prickly quirky cacti and cheeky alpacas and llamas.

This year London scenes are again also flying the flag on cards, reflecting the Queen’s 90th birthday in June, and from the queen of Britain to the queen (and workers) of the hive, honeybees have been swarming on to card illustrations too.

With pickaxe in hand, PG ‘mines’ for some shining trends and inspirations on greeting cards.

Llama Drama & Cacti Commotion As we nudge closer to the Olympics in Rio, the tropical storm continues with prints and illustrations of jungle fern leaf sprays and brightly coloured Amazonian fruit and fauna. However, fresh South American influences have burst onto interior designs, soft furnishings, fashion and greeting cards.

This winter the Aztec print poncho was a favourite fashion piece, but the South American beasts whose fur was originally used to produce the poncho are also the animals of the moment alpacas and llamas.

These sturdy creatures are domestic animals used by the peoples of the Andes Mountains and the surrounding regions, but last Boxing Day on BBC1 Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep - The Farmer’s Llamas animation was televised in the UK, showing a llama drama and the naughtier side of the animals’ characters. Greeting card designs are picking up on their playful personalities and the cute appearance of the alpaca.

However, there is currently a greater South American icon on trend. Quirky cacti and succulents are the new pineapple in 2016 a trend that also remains fruitful. This hardy desert, beautifully sculptural, plant (and hard to kill for those who aren’t green fingered) is ‘spiking’ in interiors and on prints, posters, bags, ceramics, wallpaper and on cards in lush greens and often potted for the home.

The Aztec Influence Karen Wilson and Claire Williams, co-founders of Paper Salad: “For us we think the South American trend has come through our general observation of life, fashion and interior trends. It’s all about big bright colours and lots of patterns such as the chevron which we have incorporated into a lot of our new designs. Alpacas and cacti are icons that will be big in 2016!

The Aztec feel has inspired our new card designs, with lots of repeat patterns and bold colours, which we love to use anyway! It’s no secret that we love to dress our little characters up, so what better way than in South American style feathered head-dress and colourful patterned clothes. Our Little Nippers children’s range features Paper Salad’s very own Arnie the Alpaca and a super cute birthday girl styled in her Indian inspired outfit.”

Left column (top - bottom):

Right column (top - bottom):

● ● ● ●

● A desert flower on an In Bloom card from Lola Design. ● A South American feel is unmissable on this Laissez Lucie Faire design from Nella. ● Jolly Awesome has gone a bit cacti crazy as along with ‘succulent’ card designs its has a cacti pin badge too.

Sculpturally fascinating, cacti feature on this Dicky Bird card.

A sweet alpaca on a card from Hallmark.

Prickly but adorable, a design from Paper Plane.

Cacti are the new pineapple – a potted design from Rocket68’s Windowbox range. ● Paper Salad’s Arnie the party alpaca from its Little Nippers children’s range.

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Trends & Inspirations

The Midas Touch

We ‘s-ore’ the emergence of warm gleaming metals like rose gold, copper, brass and bronze last year on ceramics, jewellery and homewares, but these shiny and reflective finishes and hues are even more popular ‘elements’ on greeting card designs in 2016. Combining blocks of gold and copper foiling - as design accents, typeface or as half the artwork’s surface image - on beautiful matt or natural-looking textural kraft boards creates a contrast of elegant glamour and glitz with the paired-down and unpretentious. Simplicity of form is key in the way each material is mixed together.

Additionally, the golden shimmering tones are elevating, both for the designs and the eye, and reflect the more positive and hopeful economic mood culturally since moving out of the recession.

Alloy Wheel Louise Baker, creative director for Louise & Lygo:

Clockwise: ● Bold as brass, a beautiful design from Big Jon’s Black & Gold range. ● Lagom’s Kelly Hyatt has created a collection of serene, understated and abstract designs with elements of copper foiling. ● Up up and away! Louise Tiler’s gorgeous ‘Budgie Balloons’ design from its Funky Animals range. ● James Ellis’ Red Balloon range is a beautiful new luxurious children’s birthday range by newly enlisted artist Ekaterina Trukhan. ● (Right): Louise and Lygo combines natural recycled board with stunning gold block foiling, perfect for royal crowns. ● (Far right): Laura Skilbeck has gone golden with her new foiled designs.

“At the moment copper and gold metallics are really popular across many design practices, from interiors and furnishings to fashion and jewellery, and generally all of these things inform each other and inevitably also appear on stationery.

I think shiny is always popular. Tactile and pleasing, people are drawn to it, and in using foiling products are transformed into something a little bit special, something more luxurious.

With our foiled cards we have found that quite simple, but well considered, elements can complement each other. We use a lot of recycled board for our card designs and using the process of block foiling with a warm gold colour adds a real depth to the product. We use it alongside playful handwritten typography in quite minimalistic designs, but its always interesting to see how other people use foiling as it is such a versatile finish.”

Hip To Be Square

Seeming like a flashback to the 80s and 90s, there is something of a retro feel to the modern geometrics trend, accentuated by the saturated mint and coral, pastel pink and cobalt blue colour combinations.

Elementary geometric shapes and prints and clashing colours have been emerging on the design scene, as jewellery, fashion, home furnishing and greeting card forms, embracing the Post-Modernist style made popular in the 1980s by the Memphis Movement.

Initiated in the 1980s, the Milan-based Memphis group of designers went on to develop one of the most recognisable styles of the late 20th century, converging the influences of Art Deco, Pop Art, pop culture, 50s kitsch and futuristic themes. And it’s back!, albeit in a more playful and stylish ‘shape’, as paired down graphic geometric patterns.

Geometry Class Alison Hardcastle, designer and founder of Alison Hardcastle: “I think the modern geometrics trend reflects our needs for order and uniformity while still making a bold statement. I for one find that the modern world is a blur of imagery and busy lives and I think that geometrics help us to make sense of this and provide some order and control. The even more recent form of this is the playful take on geometrics in the Memphis-inspired patterns - like geometrics but more fun and colourful! The Memphis take on geometrics definitely has a 1980s influence, as well as the colours, which rebel against the muted and softer palettes of the last few years.

The use of geometrics within design, and particularly on stationery and prints, provides a backdrop, pattern or bold statement either in its own right or to be coupled with other elements such as blocks of colour, type or other geometric patterns. The overall effect is very sharp.”

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Clockwise top to bottom: ● Simple geometrics are enhanced with gold foiled type on a Katie Leamon design. ● Inspired by the Memphis 80s style, giftwrap from Lagom. ● Understated squiggly lines in 80s/90s shades from A L’aise. ● A ‘Palm Springs’ design from Big Jon. ● (Left): Fun and playful, could this be Alison Hardcastle’s geometric composition of summery ice-cream cones? ● Geometric beauty - the Neo Geo range from The Strawberry Card Company.

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Trends & Inspirations

Peace Of Mind

One of the two dominant Pantone Colours of the Year for 2016 is the soft chalky pinky peach shade called Rose Quartz, providing a warm, soft backdrop for stronger hues and creating a contemporary look that’s fresh, light and warm. The second shade is Serene, a tranquil and calm colour, like a big expanse of blue sky it’s an antidote to modern day stresses; a colour of relaxation and respite. The blending of the two shades reflects a connection with mindfulness and wellness, as well as a soothing sense of order and peace.

Rose Quartz and Serene are a colour snapshot of what is taking place in our culture; a health and wellbeing revolution. The social trend is about a life balance, alleviating anxiety and mental fitness as well nutrition. Greeting card designers have absorbed this pigment palette, creating a spectrum of gorgeously light and uplifting artwork for cards in watercolour washes or saturated shades.

Elevating Hues Rebecca Crouch, creative director of Raspberry Blossom: Above clockwise: ● A diamond in rose and blue watercolour wash tones from I Drew This’ Umami range. ● Rose Quartz is used as gentle background for stronger hues on a Lou Mills’ Danny Glover design. ● There’s an abstract painterly feel to Raspberry Blossom’s uplifting Blossoming Blooms collection.

Right clockwise: ● Stephanie Dyment’s new range, Oyster Grey, features the work of photographers from around the world, enhanced with a metallic finish in oyster tones. ● A beautiful design from Museums & Galleries’ Matthew Williamson range. ● Lucy Ledger’s Waikiki Beach Collection features watercolour washes in fresh, gentle and light blues and pinks.

“Blush tones and pastel blues are a colour combination I love. Sorbet pastel colours have always been a wardrobe staple, and since launching Raspberry Blossom two years ago I have included pastels shades at every stage of the creative process. To me, the colours are contemporary and elegant. I have always felt that working with muted colours elevates the overall design.

Across my ‘Blossoming Blooms’ range I have carefully selected foils close to the Rose Quartz and Serenity colourway so that once printed the end result feels and looks luxurious. Florals are also timeless and have a wide appeal, so it seemed a great idea to investigate how I could bring beautiful plants into my design language by taking the abstract hand-painted style from my ‘Canvas Creations’ collection and pushing it into a different direction.”

Nectar Collectors

Publishers are gaining ‘nectar points’ with bumblebees pollinating card designs and buzzing about in all stripy shapes and sizes. From big and rotund furry happy bees and tiny flower flitting bees to Victorian-esque delicate melittological illustrations, beehives and honeycomb hexagons, the honeybee is swarming onto greeting card artwork and graphic designs.

But the sting in the tail is that one of the main reason this popularity could ‘bee’ is that there are huge concerns over the plight of the honeybee, with harmful pesticides used by farmers on their crops killing large numbers of the winged-creatures globally. This sad news has encouraged a new generation of beekeepers and for some to plant a more bee friendly habitat in their garden, while designers are highlighting the bees’ predicament and beauty through illustration.

Above clockwise:

Design Honey Katie Leamon, designer and founder of Katie Leamon:

● A subtle honeycomb pattern on a design from luxury stationery brand A L’aise. ● A paired-down foiled bee from Ola Studio. ● Intricate insect illustrations feature on Katie Leamon’s cards and prints.

“There has been a lot of talk about bees in recent years about their importance in our eco system. Their raised profile combined with their delicate physical nature makes them a very appealing subject for cards.

From a design point of view they are structured, but organic, this is what I love about them, and why I loved drawing them. Our bee design was a continuation of our already existing Flora & Fauna collection - the bee came about largely because I heard a lot about bee preservation and protection schemes and so I guess they were in the forefront of my mind.

I decided on a fine drawing with lots of Left top to bottom: ● ‘Bee-Hive-Jive’ from Sophie Morrell, who has a detail but with flat colour and block gold to ‘swarm’ of fun loving bee designs. depict the details, but with a minimal feel. I think ● A gorgeous bumble by Sophie Cunningham, on the gold foiled element reflects the delicacy of cards by Wraptious. ● Linda Wood’s new copper metallic foiled collection their wings and fragile nature of being.” is available as note cards and giftwrap too!

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Industry Issue

A Leap Into The

Unknown February 29 is supposed to be something of a bonus day, occurring as it does only once every four years, but as the nation woke to the headline: ‘900,00 UK retail jobs could be lost by 2025, warns BRC’, it didn’t feel like much of a bonus, more a leap into a dark abyss.

PG touches on how the introduction of the National Living Wage, cited by the British Retail Consortium report as a major challenge for retail employers, is being viewed by greeting card retailers.

“This is one of the biggest challenges that we, and I am sure many other card retailers, have had to face for years. We have a very good relationship with our staff, but the reality is it is going to cost jobs. It is an elephant in the room that is flapping its ears big time,” a respected greeting card retailer told PG about the imminent introduction of the National Living Wage. “I would rather you didn’t mention our name as it is at a sensitive stage right now.

Ironically, something that is being introduced to protect people’s livelihoods is going to result in job losses.”

As Helen Dickinson, ceo of the British Retail Consortium, said on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Leap Year Day when

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Below: Paul Taylor, md of Cardzone is planning for big increases in his wages bill this year.

Right: ‘Brothers’ in arms, Postmark’s Mark JansonSmith with Michelle Lovell (left) and Annie Lovstav of fellow London retailer To Be Established at a Henries judging day.

Bottom: A scene from the advert that the Government launched in January featuring a range of workers who are set to benefit from the National Living Wage as it increases over the next four years.

the results of its retail report about the mooted job losses were revealed: “Everyone supports the National Living Wage in principle,” but highlighted that the consequences of finding the right balance between investing in people as well as the respective retail business is being made all the more difficult.

Retail accounts for over 3 million jobs in the UK and a third of these, according to the BRC report, are said to be at risk over the next decade.

With greeting cards sold in one in six of all shops, if this gloomy prediction is correct, there will be direct effect on card stockists, but the indirect consequences are far more wide reaching.

Paul Taylor, md of Cardzone, which trades from over 80 card shops, is an optimistic pragmatist: “The greeting card retailing sector is doing OK, but it is tough and the changes to the National Living Wage as well as the Workplace Pensions will cause financial headaches. I estimate they are going to add an extra £220,000 to my wages bill - that is a lot of extra card sales to find!”

Mark Janson-Smith, md of Postmark (which trades from three cards shops in London) also pointed out that the imposed increases also dilutes the competitive advantage that some card retailers have enjoyed over other retailers who pay in excess of the National Minimum Wage. “Money is always a difficult one! We like to think we are a good employer and have always prided ourselves on paying way above the National Minimum Wage for our 13 staff and have always been incredibly flexible with our staff’s needs (willing to pay them for holiday they do not use etc). Then the London Living Wage is suggested (at £9.15 an hour) by the Living Wage Foundation, and especially as Oliver Bonas is supporting it, we feel bad that we

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Industry Issue

just cannot justify paying this, but you have to look at safeguarding the commercial viability of your business for the sake of everyone involved.”

He also points out that the National Living Wage is not the only increase in his staff overheads this year.

“I am sure I am not alone in admitting that the Workplace Pensions scared the hell out of me – at least this is being introduced gradually, but you have be prepared to accommodate these imposed rising costs. We are growing our business and need good people and will always look after our staff,

as without them we would be nothing. We need to increase our sales!”

Several hundred miles separate Greetings Galore (in Bristol and Gloucester) and JP Pozzi/Bijou (in Elgin, Scotland), but their respective owners, David Jones and David Robertson share concerns about the knock-on effects of the National Living Wage in maintaining the differential between the levels of staff.

As David Jones commented: “We have always been a good payer, but my wages bill is going to go up - and that is even with me doing more hours. The reason being that you need to maintain the pay gap between those who have just joined as a shop assistant and those who have more responsibility and experience.”

In harmony with this view, David Robertson echoes: “The actual base point is not the issue as such, although it does mean I will be moving those in my team who are currently above Minimum Wage to this level.

My issue is those that have added responsibility/key holding/cash handling etc, as they will also need to see their wages rise in line with this.”

The Living Wage Foundation There is still some confusion over the difference between the National Living Wage, which the government makes law at the start of next month and the Living Wage Foundation. The latter is a campaign body that has led a charge to “end the low wage culture of the British high street”.

The Living Wage Foundation sets its benchmark higher than the National Minimum Wage amounts. Employees aged 18 and over in London should receive £9.15 an hour and £7.85 an hour for those outside London.

Retail chain, Oliver Bonas, which won The Retas award for Best Non-Specialist Greeting Above: Oliver Tress, founder of Oliver Bonas. The Card Multiple Retailer last year, was the first high street fashion, gift and card retailer now pays members retailer to promise that it would meet or surpass The Living of its team The Living Wage Foundation’s suggested hourly rates.

Wage Foundation’s proposed amounts for its staff.

Oliver Tress, founder and managing Left: The logo from the Living Wage Foundation. director of Oliver Bonas, said: “We are thrilled that we are now able to pay the living wage to all members of our team. We want to do everything we can to pay... a wage that reflects hard work, loyalty and the real cost of living.” ● Oliver Bonas employs 500 people across its 40+ shops and its warehouse, rising to 650 over the Christmas period.

As David (Robertson) sums up: “The whole wage matter is a huge factor for all retailers, including card shops in this coming year. I believe, and indeed I know, that many businesses will now cut and keep their staff costs much, much tighter. And this then has further repercussions with holidays/illness etc as you simply don’t have the fat to cover it.

The problem is that once again we are having regulations brought in to give rules to the few while the many suffer.”

The Lines Of The Law From 1 April 2016, the Government’s National Living Wage (NLW) will become law. All workers in the UK aged over 25 years (and not on an apprenticeship scheme) will be legally entitled to earn £7.20 an hour, an increase of 50p an hour on the current National Minimum Wage (£6.70 an hour) for this age group.

Introducing the NLW, in last July’s budget speech, Chancellor George Osborne said: “The new National Living Wage is an essential part of building the higher wage, lower welfare, lower tax society that Britain needs and it’s great to see that over a million people will see their living standards boosted when this comes into force on 1st April.

Britain deserves a pay rise and this one-nation government is making sure it gets one, helping more people have the security of a higher wage to provide for themselves and their families.”

The new National Living Wage follows recent rises in the National Minimum Wage hourly rates to: £6.70 for 21s and over; £5.30: for 18 to 20 year-olds; £3.87: for under 18s; £3.30: for apprentices (the rate applies to all apprentices in year 1 of an apprenticeship, and 16-18 year-old apprentices in any year of an apprenticeship).

Above: Chancellor George Osborne with card publisher Bex Hassett, founder of Bexy Boo, at an event held in Downing Street to celebrate Small Business Saturday at the end of last year which celebrated the success of the UK’s SMEs.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

British Craft Trade Fair A selection of products on display at British Craft Trade Fair, Great Yorkshire Showground, 10-12 April 2016, Harrogate.

Cats With Attitude

Pease Please Me Working from her rural studio base just north of Edinburgh, Babs Pease is influenced by the flora and fauna of the surrounding countryside, adding her own quirky, humorous slant. Babs works with a variety of printmaking techniques, particularly linocut, to create a range of colourful high quality greeting cards and limited edition prints.

Babs Pease Design 01259 781303 www.babspeasedesign.weebly.com Stand 253

Emily Stracey's work offers an entertaining and diverse insight into the lives of animals. Strongly influenced by her imagination and inspired by happenings in everyday life, ridiculous anecdotes are brought to life through humorous illustrations, ceramics, textiles and anything else she can get her paws on! She is launching a new take on her already successful Criminal Cat range at the BCTF this year.

Emily Stracey 01202 532440 www.emilystracey.com Stand 304

Beyond The Screen Yorkshire based artist and screen printer Elaine Thélier is inspired by the sculptural qualities of nature, whether in her vegetable and flower garden, on Pennine hill walks or in the kitchen.

Her latest range of cards and prints features freshly picked vegetables, grasses waving in the breeze, drying seed heads, sliced fruit and worn cutlery, using plain or vibrant colourful screenprinted backgrounds to balance the intricate detail in her drawings.

Elaine Thelier 07949 414163 www.elainethelier.co.uk Stand 188

Tearing It Up

A Witch’s Brew Witch Mountain is the trading name of artist and maker, Kim Tillyer. Living in ‘the last house on the mountain’ in the Lake District, Kim uses her original artwork to create beautiful, highly individual cards and other handmade gift items with a distinctive emotional appeal. Launching at BCTF this April will be a new collection inspired by folktales, imaginary bears and outdoor adventure. There are six initial designs in the range, all sized 140mm square, printed in Cumbria on recycled card and sold wrapped with complementing envelopes.

Witch Mountain 01768 778797 www.witchmountain.co.uk Stand N27

Debuting at her very first trade show, Dawn Maciocia will be exhibiting her latest designs from her ever-expanding collection of over 160 cards and prints. Working with torn painted paper collage, her whimsical and magical designs are inspired by her love of animals. All the cards are blank, sized 145mm square or 125mm x 175mm, printed in the UK on FSC board, and wrapped with a quality white envelope.

Dawn Maciocia 07738963606 www.dawnmaciocia.com Stand 482

To The Wire By the Shed is launching a new card range inspired by the Great British garden, the coastline and thoughts of living the good life. Designed by Charlotte Dowson, there are 15 designs in the range, printed on textured white or brown kraft card stock, sized 150cm square and supplied wrapped with brown kraft envelopes.

By the Shed 07732 868801 www.bytheshed.co.uk Stand 435 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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BUILDING BUSINESS. C U LT I VAT I N G C O 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 36_PG_March 2016.indd 1

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Innovations

British Craft Trade Fair A selection of products on display at British Craft Trade Fair, Great Yorkshire Showground, 10-12 April 2016, Harrogate.

The Cat’s Whiskers Hebden Bridge based printmaker Julia Ogden is launching new designs into her greeting card ranges, and limited edition prints. Taking her inspiration from woodlands, birds and changing seasons, she loves making pictures that tell stories. The latest range on show is All the cats I have known, which includes cards, prints and notebooks with small stories about her feline friends!

Julia Ogden 07788 478517 www.juliaogden.com Stand 121

Birds Of A Feather Best selling author and illustrator Julie Ashworth is now publishing cards under the brand name of Yoojoo. The popular Birdies range, relaunched in print form and shortlisted for 2016 Gift of the Year Award, is now being expanded. A card and a gift combined, there are 12 mischievous birdies, set against a backdrop of a page from a book, completed with a handmade origami beak which transforms into a corner bookmark.

Yoojoo 01274 621419 www.yoojoo.co.uk Stand 275

Devon Girl Growing up in the Devon countryside, Bethan Buss of Boodle developed a fondness for animals, which have been a recurring inspiration for her designs. All the designs are hand-drawn with a kind of scrappy, hair-ruffling affection for their subjects, without being overly sentimental.

There are 25 cards in the greeting card range, which is complemented by hand screen-printed art prints, organic clothing and homewares.

Boodle 07817 749873 www.boodleboutique.com Stand 447

A Cunning(ham) Plan

Secret Squirrel Popular Scottish artist Ailsa Black makes a return to the BCTF this year with a new range of cards and prints produced from her paintings, which feature the animals and people that she glimpses from her studio in rural Southern Scotland. There is now a collection over 50 cards, all printed on heavy FSC board and sold wrapped with complementing envelopes.

Ailsa Black 01387 880537 www.ailsablack.com Stand 388

Wraptious is excited to be working with Manchester-based illustrator Sophie Cunningham, in a new range of 19 delicately stunning designs. Initially inspired by a desire to make ugly things beautiful, the range covers both occasions and everyday, from insects, to feathers to butterflies. The cards are sized 120mm x 170mm and sold wrapped with choice of kraft or bright yellow envelopes.

Wraptious 0161 221 0109 www.trade.wraptious.com Stand 251

Cloud Cuckoo Denise Huddleston of Cuckoo Tree Studio is an artist and designer working from a small studio overlooking the sea on the Isle of Skye.

Her new greetings collection features contemporary artwork inspired by the natural world. All the cards are sized 155mm square, printed on satin board with complementing richly coloured envelopes.

Cuckoo Tree Studio Isle of Skye 01470 592225 www.cuckootree.com Stand 461

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Super Sized Supercat Publishing is now expanding its Cortina range bringing the total to 18 designs.

From the tame to the downright sweary, Cortina is a slightly scurrilous trip to retro land with grown up humour to suit any occasion! The cards are all in a 150mm square format, printed on lightly textured board, and supplied wrapped with complementing envelopes.

Supercat Publishing 07941 349807 www.supercatpublishing.co.uk

Midlife crisis?

What midlife crisis?

The Big Fizz

Making The Cut Just launched by Laura Darrington Design is the Cut-Out Cuties collection, a gorgeous new children’s range comprising 24 designs. The range covers children’s ages 1 to 8 and general birthday captions for both boys and girls. All the cards are sized 125mm x 175mm and finished with lots of sparkly glitter.

Laura Darrington Design 0116 284 9660 www.lauradarrington.co.uk

Copper Plated Chevron is a new adult age range from Caroline Gardner. A quirky colour palette and a luxurious gold and copper foiling finish set off the black gloss foiled age numbers in style. There are 13 designs, covering milestone ages from 21 upwards, all sized 140mm x 146mm and supplied with a thick white envelope.

Caroline Gardner 020 8288 9696 www.carolinegardner.com

Still Lives

Jessica Hogarth’s Sparkle range is growing!

There are now 32 beautifully foiled designs, including six open birthdays, and captions such as ‘best teacher ever’ and ‘with love on your naming day!' The cards are sized 120mm by 170mm and come individually wrapped with a brown ribbed envelope.

Jessica Hogarth Designs 07786 906648 www.jessicahogarth.com

The Belle Fleurs Collection from Anna Victoria is a brand new range of sumptuous florals, packed full of pretty petals - peonies, dahlias and lively bouquets. The eight designs are a mixture of blank and occasions cards, sized 140mm square and supplied wrapped with a 100% recycled kraft fleck envelope.

Anna Victoria 01872 306500 www.anna-victoria.co.uk

Wonderful Women The new Lucy range from Designed by Mrs Lovesy comprises 12 designs with inspirational quotes for women embellished with genuine Swarovski crystals, a papercut butterfly and fabric textured embossing. All the cards are sized 155mm square, and come wrapped with a teal coloured envelope. Designed by Mrs Lovesy will donate 20p from the sale of each card to Target Ovarian Cancer.

Designed by Mrs Lovesy 01634 907020 www.mrslovesy.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

Love Of Words Get that springtime feeling with Wordy Watercoloured, the new range from Roisin Cafferty featuring beautiful watercolour typography printed on a textured sketchpadlike board. The stylish designs come in lovely spring/summer colours with the eight initial birthday and occasions designs, sized 150mm square and sold wrapped with fleck kraft envelopes.

Roisin Cafferty 07742 983044 www.roisincafferty.com

On The Town Introducing the Ladies' Night Out collection from Caryl Halstead. A collection of eight cards focusing on nights out with champagne, cocktails and darlings! With neon foiled words on smooth dove grey board, the cards are sized 155mm square and come with a sumptuous grey envelope.

Caryl Halstead 01248 208110 www.carylhalstead.com

Summer Days Strawberries & Cream is one of the latest new designs being added by Clanna Cards to the Richard Partis Collection, which now comprises over 90 designs. Covering themes such as transport, animals and the countryside, all the cards are available either blank or with Happy Birthday captions, sized 7� x 5" and sold with colour coordinating FSC envelopes. Also available in notecard packs of six cards with envelopes.

Clanna Cards 01242 575574 www.clannacards.co.uk

LA Woman Stephanie Dyment is launching a new range featuring the stunning work of acclaimed LA based wedding and lifestyle photographer, Elizabeth Messina. Featuring a celebrity client list, Elizabeth’s work has also graced the covers and pages of countless magazines, showcasing her sophisticated, elegant, gentle and unique style. The range comprises of 12 blank designs featuring her gorgeous, calm and dreamy images.

Stephanie Dyment 01494 581775 www.stephaniedyment.com

Pure Genius If Cats Could Talk New publisher Not at all jack is releasing Quirky cards for lovely folk, a bold humorous range of cards featuring an alarming number of cats (and other animals). All 18 designs are by Mark Hamilton and cover birthday, Christmas and occasions. The cards are sized 145mm square, printed on a gorgeous 300gsm card stock and come wrapped with a recycled brown envelope.

Not at all jack 07939 588913 www.notatalljack.co.uk

Redback is extending its Good Things range with eight new card designs and an array of new products, including mugs and coasters.

Twice Henries Awards nominated for Best Humorous Range, there are now over 60 original designs to choose from. The 150mm square cards come individually wrapped with a 100% recycled brown envelope.

Redback Cards 01803 712793 www.redbackcards.com

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

Houston,We Have

A Problem

Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun, shares some of his problems.

Recently we had a number of things go wrong in our business in a single week. I thought back to the early days of setting up Blue Eyed Sun and how issues like that seemed like the biggest things in the world to us at the time.

The stress, anger and frustration could be all consuming. A lot has changed with how we see problems these days. Some of which you might find useful.

So, if you ever beat yourself up about making mistakes and not getting things right in your business, here’s a list of what happened to us (a company with 16 years experience) and how we dealt with things that fateful week: 1. Despite having been proofed by two separate individuals, we discovered three mistakes in our new 64 page brochure after it came back from the printers. Firstly, we wrote the wrong hall for Spring Fair.

Secondly, there was a typo on one of the card designs. Thirdly, we had the wrong image and a typo on another design.

In the past I might have got very angry and upset by these problems.

Unnecessarily so. The past is gone, now is all there is. You have to assess the situation for what it is and then make decisions on what to do accordingly.

With hindsight, I can tell you that having the wrong hall number for our Spring Fair stand in our brochure didn’t affect our show in the slightest. We were able to correct all three problems quickly on our website. The first typo on a design was spotted before the actual print run for the cards went to press and was fixed. The second typo meant that 2,000 cards had to be ditched, but fortunately the embossing plate didn’t have to be remade so we saved £80. The cards were quickly reprinted and the problem solved. The cost of the mistake was the price of the lesson to be more thorough and less rushed next time.

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

2. The new floor we had laid down in our new warehouse at a cost of £20k bubbled up and cracked off in one section near the middle. We have a great relationship with our builder who came back straight away with the sub contractor to see what they could do. They are now going to fix it up and in a month or two it will be sorted. Also having good relationships with suppliers that you can trust is as important for negotiating the best deals, so make sure you treat your suppliers well.

Kicking and screaming about a problem like this doesn’t always help.

3. We discovered the design code on the back of one of our new cards was incorrect. I didn’t ask anyone else to proof it so the buck stopped at my door. To solve the problem we have created a new label on our barcode machine and will sticker over the code on the first 1,000 print run. We also sent corrected artwork to our printers immediately and had the incorrect files deleted. It’s important that you do this as soon as you discover mistakes so that they are not repeated.

Remember to own your mistake when you make it rather than blaming someone else. Chances are you made the decision to hire that Above: A second-hand space shuttle could cause Houston problems! - a fabulous card from Hannah Stevens.

Far left: Sophisticated specs for proof-reading on a card from BerinMade.

Left: Having a good relationship with your handyman helps when you are in time of need - a Dandelion Stationery design.

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JEREMY ’S JOURNA L someone else anyway so the buck still stops with you. Taking responsibility doesn’t mean beating yourself up about the mistake either.

4. One of our top agents received samples of a new range, which we love even though it is very different from our other work. Because the agent hadn't received samples of our other new ranges (we launched five new collections in January) she wrote to us expressing deep concern about our new direction, fearing that all of our ranges were going to be off-piste and that this would damage our brand and sales.

In the past we would have been stressed out by this and imagine the worst.

We also would have felt angry about a negative response to our hard work. We stayed calm and told her to wait and see the rest of the designs. She emailed a day later after receiving them apologising for her knee-jerk reaction and saying how great she thought all of the new product is. Sometimes you need to trust yourself and wait a little.

customers. Complaining about things doesn’t help anyone. I also decided not to blame my friend and instead focused on being grateful for him letting me stay at his home and for helping me to see so much of the Rugby World Cup last year. It was an easy mistake to make.

Above: Courgette Cards' Collection of Collections design reflects the need for a brolly in the heavy rainfalls this winter.

Below left: Keep calm and gain all the information first… or eat cupcakes! Publisher Bluebell 33 are a supporter of this philosophy.

Below right: A 'rocketing' design from Look What I Found.

hand to prospects at shows, but as long as I can get potential buyers’ details and send them something immediately after the event it's not the end of the world. I was able to have the business cards ready for Spring Fair.

7. With the heavy rains in January, a load of water came through beneath the loading bay doors of our new warehouse and damaged several boxes of cards. The area was a mess. We were still in the process of getting everything from the move sorted during the busiest time of year for us. It’s a nuisance, but there are people in parts of the country that were completely flooded and in far worse circumstances than us so we count ourselves fortunate. No-one was hurt and damaged stock is replaceable.

5. The samples for most of our new ranges arrived the day before the trade show. This is tighter than we like to run things and can add to stress levels. We try so hard each year to get things happening earlier and it has always been a challenge for us. In a way we have been a victim of our own success, with new opportunities often eating into our design time. We kept cool and had good communication with our suppliers to minimise stress. The samples looked great and we had what we needed for the show!

6. With our big move to new premises and the change of address I wasn’t able to get new business cards in time for Top Drawer. I feel unprofessional not having anything to

8. During the show I left my car keys with my friend whose house I was staying at in Richmond, so he could juggle vehicles in his driveway. As I was leaving on the last day I discovered that he had forgotten to lock my car. Unfortunately someone must have opened the car during the night.

They had taken my old ipod from the glove compartment, £30 of loose change I keep in the car for parking meters, a brand new power drill and a set of stand lights.

On a positive note my sat nav was still there and no windows were smashed. The total cost of the items was less than I would have paid for a hotel so I wrote them off in my mind and got on with my last day at the show without worrying about it or letting the incident affect me or my

At the risk of sounding like an incompetent fool that attracts a series of disasters to himself I’m sharing these examples to remind you not to fall into the trap of living in space of anger and frustration at mistakes and problems that occur whether self inflicted or outside of your control.

Problems are part of life, they aren’t going away anytime soon. You might think that making more money or growing your business will get rid of all your problems and that one day you might reach some problem free nirvana. You won’t. As your company gets bigger you’ll have bigger problems. You make more money, you’ll have more expensive problems. What matters is how you deal with them. You need to get good at dealing with problems.

Whatever the problem is, roll with it.

Try your best to stay calm and figure out the best solution. Don't worry about making mistakes. We all do it. We're human.

Don't punish yourself or anyone else. Just assess the issues for what they are - no

Rocket ing into orbit TODAY

worse and no better than they actually are.

Consider your alternatives. Be grateful it's not any worse, because for sure it will be worse for someone elsewhere on the planet. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, then get going with improving your situation from there.

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

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C

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Join the Neon Revolution by

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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

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Giftwrappings Focus

News & Fresh Launches

SweetWrappers Focus On Giftwrap ‘packages’ the recent news, views and new releases in the giftwrappings market.

Looking For Luxury The Unique Paper Company has testified that the majority of its retail customers are reporting a healthy increase in like-for-like Christmas giftwrap and gift bags sales. This uptrend it believes is due to increased sales of luxury giftwrapping products, steering away from price driven products which still have their place.

“With an abundance of value giftwrap now being offered in the market place, we believe that the trend has now turned towards the retailer ‘trading up’ and buying more luxurious and design-led wrapping paper to enhance their displays and to offer their customers the option to purchase a quality product,” explains Derek Hanley, The Unique Paper Company’s sales development manager.

Unique also now offers a planned display to retailers and garden centres who may want a giftwrappings area that Unique can plan and manage, creating a high visual impact display as a concept.

Couture And Customised Tissue Paper American giftwrap tissue manufacturer, Flower City Tissue Mills Company’s paper mill claims it is the first company in the world to introduce bespoke digital printing onto giftwrap tissue paper. The BYOD (Build Your Own Design) option was created to allow retailers or packaging distributors to create their own personalised designer-look, logo or colour-schemes on tissue paper. “It is very successful here in the USA and Canada with many distribution companies who are able to inventory their own created selections, therefore saving lots of dollars vs the normal stock designs we offer at a much higher price point. We have not launched the concept in UK yet but the more luxury tissues that are adopted by UK packaging companies and consumers, then it will no doubt become very successful,” states Don Macdonald, director of sales & marketing for Flower City Tissue Mills.

Last year the supplier saw renewed interest in using traditional coloured tissue for retailers and other businesses to identify their brand.

PG highlights a bounty of newly launched giftwrappings. ● Caroline Gardner has recently started producing its own collection of roll wrap. Currently available in four signature/bestselling designs, this range will be expanding this March to include the gorgeous iconic ditsy print. Also launched this month are new gift boxes, in the two signature hearts and ditsy print designs, making this nest of four boxes a must have!

News In Brief ● There were bubbles for Bubble on the Belly Button Designs’ stand at last month’s Spring Fair, when the champagne bottles were popped to celebrate the official launch of its new giftwrappings brand, Bubbles. The whole giftwrap collection is ‘fizzing’ with brand new designs.

Above: Popping the bubbles for Bubble, (middle right) Belly Button’s md Rachel Hare with colleagues Katie Phythian (far left) and Kimberley Williams (far right) and London agent Nigel Spensley.

● Gift company East West has licensed

Turnowsky’s beautiful designs on its giftbags and gift boxes, as well as table top and glasswear.

Below: Two of East West’s Turnowsky gift bags.

Above left: The Unique Paper Company launched 13 new collections at Spring Fair including its vibrant Fun Fair, and others such as Fizz, With Love, Circus and Bon Bon, all available as flat sheet and roll wrap, with coordinated gift bags, tags and linked products.

Above: Flower City Tissue Mills’ Wrapture® tissue line uses a large variety of papers for multiple functions and multiple tastes and can be customised with the BYOD option.

● Penny Kennedy has just launched its Spring/Summer ‘16 ranges, these included favourites such as Orla Kiely, Emma Bridgewater, Madeline Floyd, Alice Scott, Ella Doran, Nina Campbell, Happy Jackson and Rachel Ellen, as well as the debut of the beautiful work of Sara Miller. PK’s Autumn/Winter 16 collection will also introduce ranges from Henry Ling of London and Velvet Olive. ● Glick has launched a beautiful new giftwrappings range, under licence from Australian publisher Simson’s, called Make it Pop, which include special occasions and year dated designs, such as ‘Married in 2016’ and ‘Born in 2016’ bags. There are non-dated flat wraps to match. Hot air balloons, cakes and butterflies, Lollipop is

Continued on page 47.

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CARDS • WRAP • PARTY t: +44 (0)1264 388400 e: enquiries@gemma-international.co.uk w: gemma-international.co.uk For wholesale enquiries contact Samantha Strong at samantha.strong@gemma-international.co.uk 12_PG_March 2016.indd 1 PG_A4Advert_DisneyMarvelWrap2.indd 1

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Giftwrappings Focus Glick’s new capsule range that’s fabulously girly with fashionable grey tones to the palette and glitter. And an injection of new Wendy Jones Blackett designs have been added to the ever successful licensed range. ● Kanye see it? Sometimes what’s on the outside counts as much as what is inside; half the fun of gifting is in the wrapping. Inspired by the power of power couples, Nocturnal Paper’s double-sided giftwrap adds another layer of surprise to a gift. Featuring couples Kanye West and Kim Kardashian or Beyonce and Jay Z, gifts can be wrapped with a peek of their significant other or just wrapped normally to surprise the receiver when opened. ● Nella has been loving designing lots of new giftwrap in the last six months with plenty more additions planned. Warm up with its summer floral range, and/or have fun with its Laissez Lucie Faire range including pugs and kittens! Lastly, get wordy with its new best sellers Happy Birthday and One in a Million wraps. ● Cinnamon Aitch is thrilled with the success of its stunning new gift bags since their launch at Top Drawer in January. These beautifully luxurious gift bags with natural rope handles and coordinating diecut gift tags come in four modern designs, and each design comes in four different sizes, with the addition of a new tiny size, just perfect for jewellery and little gifts. ● Silk Hat Greetings showcased five beautiful new Wedding giftwraps at Spring Fair recently. A combination of pearly-effect luxury paper, embossing, touch-proof glitter and both modern and traditional designs, makes them exquisite. Wrapping a wedding gift in any of these papers will certainly make a lasting impression. ● Earlybird has released new wrapping paper designs that include images of bikes, cats, dogs, dinosaurs and fun collaged fruit. Working with its new and existing artists it has published 10 different designs on quality 110gsm matte paper. As director Heidi Early explains: "They've been designed to specifically tie-in with the new ranges of cards that we launched at Top Drawer so now our customers can offer a good card and giftwrap combo." ● Fox & Lark believes bright colours are going to continue to be the order of the day for 2016! And bold floral and leafy patterns will be prevalent during the summer for sure. This year Fox & Lark continues its

News & Fresh Launches

love affair with birds, botanicals and bright colours. It's ‘Lotus Bloom’ papers are very popular in the hot pink colours or the subtle dove grey and jade tones as a classy alternative for the wedding season. ● With the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice movie release this March, superhero fever will be running high in 2016. To honour this Hallmark is launching two fantastic new Warner Bros. roll wrap designs featuring Batman and Superman. The designs feature the iconic logos and are ideal for superhero fans from all generations. Perfect for all occasions, especially with events such as Father’s Day on the horizon, this roll wrap is sure to steal the show. ● Simon Elvin’s new gift bag collection was launched at Spring Fair to much praise among visitors to its stand.

Uncompromising quality, with a selection of contemporary and traditional styles, will always be the code to which Simon Elvin’s collections are created, and there’s no difference for its 2016 offering. The complete range is available from leading cash and carries or wholesale distributors. ● The Square Card Company’s Kali Stileman is branching out into adult designs by adding a couple of grown up giftwrap designs to the range of 40+ children’s wraps. These two wraps, with their warm buff backgrounds contrasting against brighter pinks, turquoise and greens, follow the on trend colours for 2016 and are selling really well. ● Paper Bird is proudly presenting the first six of its fabulous wrap designs. Some could double as posters, others will do what good wrap does, add to the pleasures of giving and receiving. All designs have companion cards, and to match the quality of these the publisher selected a lovely GF Smith 90gsm FSC approved paper. See six more designs at PG Live. Happy wrapping! ● Petit Punnet’s wrapping papers feature bold geometric and graphic patterns and illustrations, designed and printed in the UK with joy!

Adding that special touch of colour to gift giving, each 50cm x 70cm sheet is lithographically printed on 120gsm premium matte uncoated paper. All cover artwork is original and designed by SJ Ince, founder of Petit Punnet.

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Giftwrappings Focus

Trends

Paper Cuts Juicy fruits, exotic birds and tropical jungle ferns continue the vibrant colour vibe on giftwrappings, and the natural kraft paper and craft look is firmly planted for another year, but bold gold and copper foiling, watercolour washes, simple geometrics and South American icons such as cacti and Aztec patterns, are also blazing the trends trail.

A parade of wrap publishing design experts spotlight some trends on giftwrap.

Kathryn Fletcher, director of Penny Kennedy “I think the trends will continue to pass on from cards to wrap, so publishers can offer a gift and card solution that works beautifully together. In shops it's always stunning to see the full visual impact of coordinating sets, so I fully expect to see lots of gold, pastel hues, watercolour washes, simplistic geometric shapes and lots of lovely illustration featuring cacti and tropical themes - we have some designs coming out that are very much based on these themes and are looking really great so far!

My own personal inspirations for up coming ranges are from artists like Esther Stewart with her incredible colour palette and use of proportions, and mixed media collage artist Louis Reith with his use of bold graphic shapes with found photos of years gone by. Oh and the amazing stylist Claire Nicholson, she's doing some great stuff, and there are a few interiors and graphic design blogs which are really inspirational too.”

Andrew Maddock, managing director of Deva Designs “I love the hot fashion trend for tropical print. In fact for 2016 we have added a totally new bold leafy tropical giftwrappings collection. To really make them extra lush, we have added a high build gloss varnish for an extra dose of vibrant colour.

Just launched in January is our Vintage Footballs giftwrappings! The Deva design Above left: Simple geometrics and watercolour team still let me contribute the odd washes on a cutting-edge Penny Kennedy design. design that adds something unique to Above: Vintage Footballs giftwrappings from Deva Designs isn’t team specific. the collection. To be honest, I hate football, and proud to say the only match I've ever watched was a local match at Witton Albion over 20 years ago. However, I really enjoyed working on this design, with all the textures and styles on these vintage footballs created a really rich pattern like quality. It’s been an instant success, probably due to the ageless quality of the vintage style and not being team specific.”

Katie Finegan, sales manager of Caroline Gardner “The trends coming through for 2016 are whimsical and large florals in bright jolly colours with a big influence on detail. We see floral influences coming from vintage fabrics and interiors. Bold clashing colours and vibrant prints are popular; something new and innovative that catches the eye.

We have updated our favourite florals. The inspiration for this comes from our existing card ranges that we love! You can now see the summery painted floral in bright peaches, pinks and yellows.”

Above: Eurowrap's new gift packaging concept brings the ‘kraft’ look to the mainstream market.

Left: Bold florals on a Caroline Gardner design.

Jenna Hayes, designer of Deva Designs “Copper was a massive trend for Deva’s 2015 Christmas collection, so we could not ignore this strong trend for our 2016 Everyday collection. With this in mind, I have designed a smart and sophisticated male Birthday collection; the all over copper foil really sets this bag on fire!

Deva’s Men’s Accessories Collection, draws inspiration from fashion photography, which has seen a strong trend of fashion accessories being photographed from above (aerial view), which works perfectly for a repeat pattern for giftwrap.”

Tara Unwin, designer of Deva Designs “Craft still seems to be a very popular trend this year.

Our playful Ocean Craft and Purple Craft are two contemporary offerings from Deva this year. Single punchy colours on kraft paper look great.

Teacups continue to be a popular theme, and afternoon tea is still a favourite treat for us Brits. My Teacups giftwrap and coordinating gift bag showcases this familiar favourite and using a feminine colour palette and delicate gold foil detailing helps to add a more elegant touch.”

Above: One of Deva Designs’ top sellers is its Teacups giftwrap collection.

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Giftwrappings Focus Becky Dobson, director of Glick

Trends

Tim Solnick, director of Roger la Borde

“Neons are still a big hit at the moment, our volumes would certainly indicate that, and we have invested more into this trend with our brand new range Neon Revolution, which is so bright and funky. The wraps are all double sided with Neon solid Above: Sunglasses are need for Glick’s printed backs. The bags and matching tissue Neon Revolution range. papers are off the scale on brightness!”

Below left: Strong stripes with metallic foiling on a Bubble giftbag.

Rachel Hare, managing director of Belly Button Designs and its new giftwrap brand Bubble “Trends for us is easy! Bubble is a complete brand new launch so everything is new really. Our key trends are copper, which we have taken from our card range Copperfield. It’s still fresh - foiling on our bags adds value and makes a statement. Someone has commented that you would buy the present just so you had an excuse to buy the bag!

The other trend would be electric blue. We feature this on a bag collection - taken from our best selling Platinum male card range, which won a Henries award. The colour is featured on all the style blogs currently and is a limited edition colour for Chanel!

Other trends at the moment are tropical, flamingos, 1970s and cheese plants.”

Ben Dorney, art director of Museums & Galleries “One exciting shift within illustration and design is the creative way in which classic formal themes – florals, geometrics, simple polka dots etc – are being given a completely fresh makeover with a looser, free-hand painterly style. Combine this with ontrend colours and quality uncoated paper and it creates the perfect look to match the wider retail trend for ‘relaxed glamour’, with the taste for ‘handmade' mixed in.

For Museums & Galleries in 2016, we are tapping into the big trend for exotic and tropical themes courtesy of our new licensed Matthew Williamson giftwrap collection. The launch sees six wrap designs in total, all offering stunning colour prints on uncoated paper featuring palms, pineapples, a Moroccan-inspired geometric, and Matthew Williamson’s signature feather and tropical bird motifs.

Museums & Galleries’ general giftwrap range has three new designs, a fresh ‘garden’ design by recent graduate Mouni Farah Feddag, a ‘Hearts’ design by Polly Dunbar and a great ‘Dragonfly' repeat by Suzy Taylor.”

Above: Tropical birds are one of the tropical icons in Museums & Galleries’ Matthew Williamson range.

Right: MGML has also two new designs into its V&A collection - a contemporary-feeling Morris print and a ‘London Guardsmen' design.

“Journeys into abstraction, the exotic, vintage whimsical and the ethereal collide in Roger la Borde’s 2016 giftwrap and bag collection.

Our new Urban range takes some lines for an imaginative journey through the contemporary cityscape and beyond with all its creative clash of pattern migrated Above: Peruvian Nazca Lines from across the globe. Peruvian Nazca Lines meets skyscraper on Roger la meet Middle Eastern geometrics perhaps on a Borde’s Urban range. contemporary skyscraper designed by Jean Nouvel. However, the dense hanging garden-like florals of our Lanternberry and Enchanted Forest ranges disrupt this urban austerity.

For literal escape, it’s only a short hop from here to the rainforest and the fluorescent jungle flora and multi-coloured birds of paradise of our Tropical Mix range. A flight of fancy takes us to Daniel Roode’s whimsical Into the Woods range. While, for a journey of the soul, Rebecca Rebouché offers us magical painterly visions of flora and fauna.”

Nikki Farrar, creative director of 3D for UK Greetings (Collage) “UKG’s fashionable new giftwrap ranges take inspiration from around the world: the jungles of the tropics, with their vibrant colours and abundant fruits; South America, with its symbolic cacti and llamas; and London, with its unmistakable icons. Fresh palettes feature pastel colours, ombre and faded watercolours, which align beautifully with the catwalk trends of 2016.

Above: Juicy tropical fruit feature on the Fruit Superheroes are ever-green cool, Salad collection from Collage (UKG). and Marvel is enjoying another successful year of blockbusters, so UK Greetings has upped its giftwrap game by offering an exciting range of Marvel wrap to appeal to tweens. Together with our tween–targeted range Fruit Salad, we have filled a gap in the line.

Collections which showcase rose gold, copper, holographic and mixed metallic finishes outshine the classic silver foils of previous years.”

Dr Ruediger Kress, owner of Artebene “This year’s jungle trend brings us flamingos, cockatoos, cacti and sometimes, and in a modern interpretation, pink elephants! Our Summer Collection 2016, Birds of Paradise, is a perfect example.

We still see a strong demand for special finishes on fine papers like foil stamping or UV-spot varnish. If it is special it has to meet the zeitgeist (one of the few words which are similar in British and in German) and here s where our creative team do their homework for our retailers.

Coordinated themes are the strength Above: One of features of the South of Artebene and wraps are no longer a stand- American trend is quirky cacti - as seen on wrap from Artebene. alone product. A curated impressive display to attract customers at shopfloor level can be achieved, if flat wrap, roll, wrap, bags and boxes are based on the same colour palette and design style.”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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01/03/2016 15:06

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Publisher Spotlight

P OP Goes The Beagle Her British Pop-Art style is designer Rose Hill’s trademark. And just like the artists of the 60s art movement Rose is boldly blending her artwork with the commercial through her contemporary cats and dogs greeting card designs under the Rose Hill Designs brand.

Adding to her impressive list of achievements, in what is only her third year in business, last month Rose Hill Designs was recognised by Theo Paphitis as a Small Business Sunday winner and gained coverage in The Sunday Times.

PG delves into the pop culture of Rose Hill.

Animal hipster chic rule on Rose Hill’s greeting cards. Bedecked with quirky specs, a Tupac bandanna, woolly bobble hats and jumpers, bow-ties and cutesy hair bows, no one could say that the cat and dog characters on the designs don't stand out from the pet accessorised crowd. This pack of fashionista pooches and felines also reflect Rose’s inimitable British Pop Art style, with elements of textile patterns - her infamous design hallmark that is very much part of her business brand, Rose Hill Designs, independent publisher cum design company of greeting cards, stationery, artworks and commissions.

Rewind a few years to when Rose graduated from Chelsea College of Arts with a Textile Degree to see the fashion influences on her cards. Advertising mogul Charles Saatchi and his wife Kay attended Rose’s degree show, loved her work, offering Rose her first ever commission to design their daughter Phoebe a dress. With her textile design career kick-started, Rose went on to work for bespoke tailor Charlie Allen, Woolworths and a number of in-house design studios, leading to freelance design work for some big brands, such as Ted Baker, Debenhams, John Lewis, Yumi and homeware for Abigail Ahern.

“But I always knew that I wanted to work for myself and felt the time was now right to set up my own brand,” states Rose.

So she decided to plunge into the greeting card industry, launching at Top Drawer in 2013.

“The most important thing to me was the medium of print.

I found that cards were the perfect vehicle to express my designs. I’ve always made cards since I was a kid, they are a wonderful way of showing people you care, and it’s a wonderful industry to be part of!” says Rose.

Nominated in The Henries Awards 2015 as a finalist in the Best Art Range, the pets in Rose Hill’s Cats & Dogs ranges each has its own (slightly mad) little back-story, family, job and relationship. “Margaret and Rascal are the ‘purrfect’ cat couple and have recently got married. Margaret Grumpy Cat is a highly efficient PA to Simon Cowell, but she cannot function without her morning coffee. Rascal is a journalist for the Islington Gazette”, explains Rose, adding that, “Bungle Chow Chow is an aristocrat and he is married to Duchess Dalmatian and live in a grand house.

Often seen having tea in the Dorchester Hotel, it was love at first bite!” she jokes.

Another string to Rose Hill Designs’ fashionable bow is that Rose works on art and design commissions, but always in her Pop Art style.

Not only has she created personal artwork for Top left: Nominated in The Henries Awards 2015 as a finalist in the Best Art Range, Rose Hill’s Cats & Dogs ranges.

Top right: Rose accepting her Small Business Sunday accolade from Theo Paphitis.

Above: Rose’s textile design background can clearly be seen on her ‘Chrysler Fashionista’s’ design.

Left: The recent feature in The Sunday Times on Rose Hill Designs.

celebrities Robert Webb and Sadie Frost, but she has also accomplished a number of design and retailer tie-ups, including Harrods’‘Make your Pet Famous’ promotion in autumn 2015 from photos of customers’ pets Rose illustrated (and accessorised) them in her distinctive style.

“I have been so lucky to have won some amazing commissions. I’ve created a bespoke card for the British Museum, collaborated with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for a series of mug designs, ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoo for mugs and stationery designs and I’ve illustrated a children’s book,” says Rose.

And only last month Rose Hill Designs featured in The Sunday Times’ Small Business section and was chosen as a winner in Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday, an initiative via Twitter to help fledgling businesses.“Theo thought my elevator pitch and photo was well written and striking on Twitter. It was lovely meeting him and very sweet of him to mention that he liked the apron (a commission for a cake artist) I was wearing when I met him.”

So after hitting the limelight yet again, what’s next for Rose Hill? “I have so many plans, but my favourite is to curate a really cool art exhibition!”

Never mind Warhol and Lichtenstein, it looks like Rose Hill’s World is going Pop! PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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In Conversation With...

Duo Tones Just as the recent Fashion Weeks of London, Milan and Paris have had all eyes focused on the latest creations to sashay down the catwalks, so Top Drawer and Spring Fair unveiled the latest looks to grace themselves on greeting cards.

PG caught up with two independent designers - Sara Miller and Emma Thomson - who both recently made their mark on a duo of card ranges each (with The Art File, Portfolio, Noel Tatt and Pigment) - to find out more about their creative journeys.

Below: Sara Miller.

Below left: The Jaz & Baz range from Portfolio has an extra special meaning as it is named after Sara’s parents, Jasmine and Basil.

Bottom left: The jewel tones and embellishments of the Sara Miller London card range from The Art File celebrate the visual feasts of Sara’s travels to India, Japan and Morocco.

Bottom right: Some of the giftwrappings in the Sara Miller London collection from Penny Kennedy.

Grist To The Miller This time last year, an ambitious talented designer called Sara Miller was working away in her London studio, fostering a dream to launch herself as more than just an artist, but as a brand, known for its exuberant, rich styling that may start on greeting cards but stretch way beyond.

W

ith Top Drawer and Spring Fair marking the debut of the Sara Miller London card and giftwrappings collections from The Art File and Penny Kennedy respectively (Portfolio having just introduced the Jaz & Baz card range, also featuring Sara’s work, and many other company collaborations in the pipeline), it would seem that sometimes dreams do come true.

Having worked for Woodmansterne for over six years, both as a designer as well as on the management side, Sara was well aware of the competitive nature of the UK greeting card scene, let alone the high expectations of companies even prepared to consider licensing any artist’s designs.

“At Woodmansterne I had sat in on many meetings when we considered the submissions from artists and licensing companies and so I had seen how difficult it is to find the right partners. But I was determined to challenge myself - to create a look that would be special, skillful and show artistry,” Sara explained.

Having left Woodmansterne in September 2014, Sara spent six months “exploring”, investigating the possibility of setting up a business that would have involved manufacturing. “I rejected the idea as so much of my time (and financial investment) would have been absorbed organising the manufacturing, liaising with 54

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

factories in China, rather than concentrating on my creativity,” Sara revealed.

The research however was not wasted as it helped to crystalise the bigger picture for her then embryonic business.

“Without wanting to sound arrogant, I knew that I didn’t want to remain as a little start-up artist. I was hoping to leapfrog pretty quickly onto the next stage, establishing myself as a brand,” Sara added candidly.

Drawing inspiration from her travels, notably the lavish colours and embellishments from India, the distinctive styling of Japan, and tile patterns from Morocco, Sara’s creative concepts went into overdrive.

Having booked a stand at PG Live in the Artist’s Quarter last year, gave Sara her debut goal of June 2 2015.

Then, tentatively Sara contacted Surtex, the New York surface pattern exhibition (that is staged alongside the National Stationery Show in mid May) to see if there were any stands left.

“I got the very last stand - but I only had three weeks to prepare for the show!” says Sara.

Sara worked until 3am to 4am most days in the run up to Surtex to create presentation ‘books’ for each of her six collections, which, as well as a polished look to her stand (and her brand), paid off.

“It was lovely to make the contacts at Surtex, but it also meant that I was so much more confident when I set up at PG Live the very next week. It was a wonderful feeling to walk through the doors of the Business Design Centre [home to PG Live] and realise that I was really part of this amazing industry,” Sara admitted.

PG Live vastly exceeded Sara’s expectations, resulting in six firm offers from publishers from all over the world - including The Art File (for Sara Miller London collection) and Portfolio (for Jaz and Baz) as well as from Simson for Australia and Pictura for the States.

Sara now has the wind in her sails to expand beyond this and take the Sara Miller London brand into other products through licensing.

With discussions already underway on licensing agreements for cosmetics, stationery and ceramics, the positive reactions certainly fanfare that this is a brand that will not be confined to greeting cards.

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In Conversation With...

Bearing All Emma Thomson is an experienced artist, but she is also a natural storyteller, be it on cards, in books or life in general. She totally immerses herself in ‘the characters’, feels passionate about ‘the plot’ and her natural optimism means there is always a happy ending, whatever the adversity that may precede it.

A duo of card ranges featuring Emma’s art - Otto Dreams from Noel Tatt and Something About Dogs from Pigment - both launched at Spring Fair last month, each with a wonderful story behind them.

W

hile the absence of a ‘p’ in her surname distinguishes her from the famous actress, Emma Thomson nonetheless is somewhat of a ‘celebrity artist’ in the greeting card world. Her claims to fame include being the original creator of ‘Fuzzy Teddy’, the cute character that has graced countless greeting cards and other products for M&S over the last 20 years, as well as being the illustrator and author of storybooks Felicity Wishes, Princess Pearl and Isabella’s Toybox (with their respective associated greeting card ranges).

However, changes in the book publishing world has caused Emma Thomson’s creative path to turn back to greeting cards - and she is enjoying the personal plot line very much indeed.

“I just love greeting cards.

It is where I started and in so many ways, where I feel I very much belong. Coming into the Spring Fair and meeting all the people I have got to know over the years, as well as the joy of seeing Otto Dreams on the Noel Tatt stand and The Thing About Dogs on the Pigment stand, made me feel really emotional. It is where I started, after all,” says Emma.

Top left: An Otto Dreams design published by Noel Tatt.

Top right: Emma Thomson in her studio with some of the Otto Dreams original oils.

Above far right: A young Emma with Otto.

Above right and middle: Emma’s teddy bear was the inspiration for Otto Dreams, a range from Noel Tatt.

Right: One of the many dogs that Emma has drawn which now appear on the Thing About Dogs range from Pigment.

Far right: Emma’s dog Wilbur touting for business for his mistress!

When worked dried up in the book trade - “The print runs are not as high as they used to be for book publishers, and while young artists are prepared to offer their work for nothing, I cannot afford to. I have a mortgage and kids to feed!” - Emma really did go back to the drawing board.

“I started offering to draw people’s dogs. I started with one for £49.99 and the response was such that I am now up to £499 for each drawing. I love dogs and the relationship they have with the owners so capturing their personalities is something I find relatively easy,” explained Emma. As the artist, Emma retained the copyright for the 240 drawings (and counting!), some of which have formed the basis of The Thing

About Dogs range that has recently been published by Pigment.

While Wilbur, Emma’s own dog, was her best friend in this range, she has a very special confidant for the other range that debuted at Spring Fair Otto, Emma’s teddy bear that has never been far from her side since she was a little girl.

“I was so delighted when Noel Tatt said they were looking for a different kind of cute range as I knew Otto would be the perfect central character,” says Emma. Each design is painted in oils in a slightly retro colour palette to amplify the nostalgic pull of the beautiful artwork.

“We have called it Otto Dreams as they depict the countless adventures that Otto can go on,” says Emma. This is a greeting card range and so has to have sendability, but the little touches of editorial on the front, inside and on the rear of the cards, add to the integrity and personality of the range.

With Rosenstiel already on board as licensee for Otto Dreams prints, and a mug and stationery deal in the offing for The Thing About Dogs, who knows if a book deal could be next? “Stranger things have happened, but for now I am happy to be back in the greeting card family,” said Emma, happily ever after!

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

Sandra Haney I am a self-employed artist, based in Durham, UK. Some of my original work is in local galleries and private collections in the UK and USA. I also sell my work online on www.artfinder.com/sandra-haney and have been supplying local galleries and organisations with my high quality greeting cards since 2013. I have over 70 card designs at present.

I am now looking to find a publisher for my images who will ensure a wider audience for my work and enable me to spend more of my time creating

artwork. I have also produced many new images, which I have not yet made into cards, and would like to offer to publishers. I am also happy for my images to be used on other merchandise and have experimented with having my designs put on notebooks, mugs and bags. Some of my designs lend themselves well to this purpose.

Many of my works are based on my surroundings. I work in a variety of media. In my portfolio are lino and woodcut images of trees, birds, cafe interiors and gardens. My Christmas ranges include woodcut and linocut images of winter trees and birds from the Twelve Days of Christmas such as a Partridge in a Pear Tree, Two Turtle Doves etc.

I have also undertaken commissions for wedding invitations. And one of my paintings was recently chosen to be featured by Saatchi.com on its home page, and one of my prints won a purchase prize at Northern Print Dec 2015. ● Email: haneysandra@gmail.com

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.

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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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57_59_49/51 29/02/2016 14:59 Page 59

ART SOURCE Rachel Davis

I take inspiration from life experiences, memories, poems, folklore, song lyrics, stories and day-to-day domestic life. Pattern and colour are strong features of my work and I work mostly in acrylic, paper collage, and outline pen onto canvas or wood. My style is decorative, whimsical, colourful and hints at an underlying narrative.

Reoccurring motifs are rural gardens, beachscapes, whimsical maidens, still-life flowers, animals, but all with my own twist. I would say I have a painterly style and an illustrative style but I try not to over define myself. Truthfully I never really know what will come out as it is all spontaneously produced.

I studied at the Kent Institute of Art & Design before embarking on a career in the graphic design industry. I was then blessed with my two children (who are a huge source of inspiration) and that is when I dusted off the paintbrushes once again. I have been exhibiting in a variety of craft boutiques and galleries in Hampshire and the surrounding counties since then, and have co-curated a pop up gallery for the past six months. I have sold a variety of works internationally and have built a small collection of private buyers in Finland and Denmark. I have enjoyed working with schools and colleges and demonstrating my working methods.

At the moment I am delighted to be producing visuals for a children's story that has been written for deaf children and their families. As my own daughter is profoundly deaf I was delighted to get involved.

I am constantly producing a range of original canvases that are then professionally reprinted as art cards, notebooks and framed prints. I would love to have my work used in a storybook, on textiles, homewares, or to a wider audience via a greeting card publisher. ● Email: racheldavis.artist@gmail.com

Mark Cowie My work is defined by a stylish and unique aesthetic, drawing on astute and satirical observations of life. With a firm belief in pioneering the 'old school', all my work is hand-drawn, bringing a raw and visceral essence to my work.

Sketching in ink and permanent marker, I take inspiration form the absurdity and humour of life around me; from the anthropomorphism of trees and plants in my series 'Plant Life' to human-centric musings of the 'Sporting Life'. With a nuanced view on life, the themes of my work have taken many different avenues, including: 'Old School Reunion', 'First Day at School, 'Inanimate Objects in Love', 'Dying Wishes', 'When Cats Sleep', 'Life in the Gold Fish Bowl', 'Shadow Play', 'To-Do Lists', 'Nightmares', 'Bucket Lists', 'Prisoners', 'Hotel Horrors'... the list is endless! My artwork has spanned card lines, cartoons and illustrations.

I have exhibited my cartoons in the London Cartoon Museum as well as having them featured in The Evening Standard and Design Week. My card series 'Plant Life' was well received and distributed internationally by Beaumonde. Horticulturalists and humans alike loved the playful foray into funny foliage.

It is no doubt due to my abstract thought process that I am capable of being such a master of puns and can exercise such precision when it comes to pinning down the key attributes that define an archetype. ● Tel: 07970 841997 ● Email: mcowie2@ntlworld.com

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

Tilley Rathie and Trudy Tebbutt, owners of Marmalade Meringue, Hinckley, Leicestershire A medium shop in a pretty market town with a loyal locals customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Bexy Boo Designs

Stick Chicks

Humour

A Made Hand

The Enthusiast

Photographic

Pulp

Gail Goodwin

Contemporary

Janie Wilson

With Love

Stop The Clock

Across The Board

Traditional

Cinnamon Aitch

Cornflower

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Sabivo Designs

Bijoux

Children’s

Go Stationery

Notebooks

An absolutely gorgeous range and the New Baby designs have the cutest little baby illustration.

A fabulous male card range that features all the different style of shoes men wear, defining the man who wears that type of shoe… customers love them!

Vintage styled glittered photographs of little girls just having fun and dressing up in pretty grown-up clothes.

These just fly out! A new range that’s so pretty.

They are just so amazing. The male cards are especially brilliant. We had one day when all six cards of this one male design sold out, possibly all sent to the same man!

Not typically traditional, but these designs have lovely simple geometric shapes with die-cut elements.

The company’s founder is such a lovely person and the cards reflect her. She makes all the designs and attaches the gems and ribbons herself and the cards still remain such a fab price.

They sell so well. The designs are beautiful and the price point is great. The ‘To Do List’ notebook just flies out.

Above: A socks and sandals man on a card from The Enthusiast range

by A made Hand.

Right: A beautiful design from Sabivo Designs' Bijoux range.

Kelly Pickering, manageress of Solutions (owned by Suzi Simpkin), Market Harborough, Leicestershire A medium shop in a historic town with a loyal locals and tourists customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Steven Ellis

Shakies

Meri Meri

General

Holy Mackerel

Erica Sturla

Pigment

Alice Scott

Photographic

Stephen Ashmore

General

Art

Wrendale Designs

Across The Board

Contemporary Handmade/ Hand-Finished Ancillary

Pigment Kell Stars

Happy Jackson General

Bomb Cosmetics

Bath Melts

With glitter captured within the card, the designs are bright and sparkly with cute illustrations.

Up to date fun and bright designs featuring things such as unicorns, ice-lollies and dancing animals, with die-cut or paper folded elements.

From anniversaries to children’s designs, Erica’s lovely polymer clay figures are characterful with a gentle humour.

The designs’ little captions are so unique, and make you smile, such as ‘Happy I Do Day’ for a wedding card.

Lovely scenes in the photographer’s own style, and the cards are blank and can be used for so many occasions.

Really popular cute animal cards. You can see the passion and personality in the drawings of the animals.

Bright and eye-catching with quick captions.

Our own card designs, personalised for the customer, of painted cards with glitter-swirls and ribbon.

A real bread and butter line for us. They are just gorgeous and customers love the scent of them in the shop.

Right: A magical Merri Merri design.

Humour

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Steve McHale, owner of Bentleys, Stourport On Severn, Worcestershire A large shop, one of four Bentleys stores, in a historic canal town with a loyal locals customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Humour

Pigment

Fleet Street

Brainbox Candy

Nursery Rhymes

Photographic

Hallmark

Gallery

Art

Wrendale Designs

Across The Board

Contemporary

Five Dollar Shake

Across The Board

Traditional

Cherry Orchard

Memory Lane

Noel Tatt

De Jour

Hearts Designs

Mad Dots Bracelet Cards Hestia Collection

A range with broad appeal, crossing ages and gender, and the different colourways and newspaper style catches the eye.

Relatively new to us as we didn't know if our customers would be offended by the naughty designs, but they are being bought predominantly by ladies; you can hear people chuckling away to them.

Appealing to a wide audience, there are numerous designs with something for everyone.

Of all the drawn animal ranges these are the best, and the card collection ties-in with the company’s tea-towels, stationery and Portmeirion mugs we also stock.

It's a brand we do well with. The cards are of a beautiful quality and look a cut-above.

This is the best range on the ‘year you were born’ theme, and the recently launched matching milestone ages mug are also selling well.

Big hand-finished and embossed cards, each for £3.99, is good value for money.

Really lovely handmade cards, each one incorporating a beautiful bracelet into the design.

Photo-frames, jewellery boxes, tea-light holders, oil burners, it's a wide collection of contemporary home accessories… and we sell tons of it.

Right: Just gorgeous - a Mad Dots Bracelet Card from Hearts Designs.

Handmade/ Hand-Finished Ancillary

Widdop & Co

Julia Keeling, owner of Wishes, Cudworth, Barnsley, Yorkshire A small shop in a pretty village with a loyal locals customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

K2 Greetings

Oh Sew Cute

Words ‘N’ Wishes

Buttercup Dreams

Humour

Quitting Hollywood

Twisty, Paw Play and Word Up

Photographic

Abacus

Paw Prints

Traditional

Words ‘N’ Wishes

General

Cherry Orchard

Lola

Cherry Orchard

Timeless Moments

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Pulp

Paperjoy

Ancillary

Village Candle

Scented candles in jars

Little felt and knitted animal characters that are very sweet, especially the monkey.

It’s refreshing as the designs don't always feature a bear.

Tiny adorable mice making cupcakes or peeking out a hatbox, and one of the Mother’s Day designs has a recipe for a cake inside.

We have quite a few humour ranges. As long as they’re not rude or offensive our customers like a funny card.

Cats, dogs, horses, and the occasional rabbit, designs that a popular with customers, especially if the card’s recipient has that type of breed of pet.

Spot on verses that appeal especially to men buying cards as the sentiments express what they want to say.

Girlie campervans and trainers, macaroons cupcakes and teacups, there are designs to suit ladies of all ages.

Again, there are designs to appeal to men of all ages, from DIY and wine for the older man, to headphones and Play Station designs for twentysomethings.

With the paper honeycomb feature these have sold really well.

We also add stickers to the cards, such as Grandson, for that personal touch.

It was a no-brainer to stock these candles. Unusually each candle has two wicks inside, which means the scent is stronger and the wicks burn evenly, and the large candle jar has 170 hours burn time.

Above: Words 'N' Wishes' Buttercup Dreams range features adorable mice.

Right: The Lola range from Cherry Orchard has female designs to suit all.

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LYNN’S LINES

L

L

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

Leaving The Dream...

Or The Nightmare!

As most people know I run the Facebook Ladder Club Group page for new publishers who have attended The Ladder Club seminars. One of the biggest successes of the group is that publishers are so amazingly honest with their fears, worries and hangups. Of course, the group share each other’s successes as well, but if I look at the longest and most successful Facebook posts in the group they are the ones where people open up their hearts and then discover that it resonates with a huge number of other people, who then feel they can also open up or offer advice. This is a safety zone of a closed and supportive group who show empathy to their fellow new publishers.

‘Not sure how long I can keep pushing myself like this. Anyone else feel like this sometimes??? Totally love what I am doing but absolutely NEVER switch off. Any tips or words of wisdom would be appreciated. And now my son wants to go for a run AAARGGHH’ - This is the original Facebook post from The Ladder Club Group page that has inspired me to write this column.

Here are some of the Facebook responses before I put in my three ha'penny worth: For the record there were over 27 comments and replies to comments and 24 Likes: ● ‘Is it just me or does anyone else find themselves stepping back and thinking how can selling cards be this much work?!! It actually makes me laugh (and cry).’ ● ‘I am loving this post it feels so much better knowing I'm not on my own." ● "Did anyone watch the TV programme on productivity? It was about working smarter not longer.’ ● ‘I think we all need to drop the guilt as we can't do everything.’ ● ‘My main problem is concentration. I flit from one silly small job to another. Focus focus focus on the big stuff.’

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These are just some of the great responses from other Ladder Clubbies to the original post. However I don't feel that this situation is only relevant to new publishers. I think everyone at one time or other will have shared the same emotions and have found themselves having to wrestle with challenges this scenario brings.

I have had 35 years of doing this balancing act, so here are my personal views on the subject as I have had it on my agenda from day one as to how I balance my life/work.

I have four children and now 12 grandchildren, all of whom live locally. I totally

Above: The Ladder Club Class (second day seminar) of 2015.

Below: All of Lynn's lovely grandchildren.

adore them all and they are and always have been my priority from day one of starting my business, of that there is no denying.

I have few skills so a lot of jobs in my business had to be delegated as soon as possible for the survival of the business!

The success of my two businesses is all down to my masterly delegation – about 75% of the tasks. I couldn't delegate what I was good at and enjoyed as I knew that would also cripple the business as my few skills were not transferable. This isn't being big headed, but I am aware that I am totally unconventional in the way I do things.

So what has worked for me?: 1. Working in compartments and shutting the door and locking the door when you are not ‘in that particular box’.

At trade fairs I was and still am totally ‘in that box or zone’. I am highly charged creatively and I live every single minute that I am at the show in a creative bubble of glorious cards and wonderful people. I'm totally 100% concentrating on buying, selling, creating and networking. I feel

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LYNN’S LINES Left: Your family's special occasions are something you shouldn't miss – One of Lynn's grandson's enjoys his 11th birthday!

Below: The amazing Paper Salad stand at Spring Fair last month, with its directors, Claire Williams (left) and Karen Wilson.

like I can fly and do anything I want... It’s so exhilarating!

When my children were little I made detailed arrangements for them while I was away and knew they were very well looked after.

My mother (who lived next door) also suffered from depression and dementia and so this was another concern. They were very hard times and the juggling was tricky.

But to cope with this on a daily basis I had to get completely away. This meant I came back tired from trade shows but I felt rejuvenated and ready to take up the mantle again of caring.

2. I have the old saying ‘When did you last make a teddy bear?’ To me this means recognise why you came into this business and stick to what you love doing. It may be the business side or the accounting, everyone will be different, but make sure you still do some of the bits you love.

Write down what stresses you out and in another column what you like doing.

Maybe you could add a middle column for what you don't have expertise in and what you want to improve on and learn. If I hadn't made myself learn about the internet, digital photography or Facebook I might still be sending faxes, as everyone knows I am a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to digital things, but not as much as I was.

3. Here is my immediate help to The Ladder Club Group’s post on its Facebook page, I posted ‘Just do it Tuesday’.

On my post, I suggested that at the start of Tuesday they stop procrastinating and do a job that has been on their list for the longest or one that is getting very urgent. Then share it with the group. This resulted in some great Facebook posts where other members gave a huge amount of advice on particular posts and encouraged them to ‘just do it’.

I hadn't expected this response, and there are a huge amount of members who are now

less stressed and rewarding themselves! Job done!

4. Choose a person wisely, one who is right for the delegated job in-hand: Someone who is a great ambassador for your business too.

It took me a long time and three goes to get a good accountant. He is now a very important part of my business and does my pay roll, my Work Place Pension and of course my accounts, but it is his advice that I really value and his empathy since I have been ill. He is now the accountant for all my four children as well.

Work out financially what you can delegate and when.

5. Procrastination and being butterfly-minded.

At present I am hugely busy. The only way I can cope and stay focused and not get stressed is by making a list in priority to the tasks’ deadlines, urgency and importance.

Then I stop looking or worrying about the whole picture, I think that picture would totally freak me out at the moment!

Then I cover the things on the list from the top down. I then work on each one without distraction until it is finished. Then take a small break, do a fun or relaxing treat and indulge yourself, recharge then carry on. Reward yourself when it is completely finished... for me it’s cake! Then pat yourself on the back.

Don't let tasks linger and fester. I find if I haven't done the ghastly jobs I feel guilty about

doing the nice things on the list and then I can't enjoy them as I don't have a clear conscience.

Sometimes I am so relieved that I have got a job out of the way I realise that the worrying and the nagging away was the worst thing.

6. "Me time." - Write down your personal wish list and what is achievable time wise and financially: Family, friends, holidays, treats, retail therapy, hobbies, ambitions - it's all as important to your business. Then put it in the diary and mark it as important. Don't shove it down the list, it's all about balance in your life: You never can get those children's assemblies back if you keep missing them or those special days you want to share with people.

Note to self, when you are doing these ‘me things’ shut that business door and lock it.

You are not in that zone! Be strict with yourself... otherwise don't bother! Don't mix and match.

I know I lost quite a bit of money not being totally in control of my business. The business was doing ok and I valued being a free spirit and fulfilling my dreams much more than making that extra money. I was never business obsessed even though I fulfilled the big plans and projects that I am proud of.

Although I have made business mistakes and I could have been much more successful, I can positively say that in all my 35 years in business I do believe what I did get spot on was the work/play balance, and for that it has been the greatest decision of my career, of which I am so grateful I've few regrets; I'm such a lucky lady. I wouldn't have changed a thing, even being a slummy mummy and now slummy granny!

I'm not going to say on my death-bed "I wish I spent more time dusting." I'm sure nobody will say "Oh dear, I should have spent much more time in the office." I know it's a bit of a cliché, but relevant to this article and good to be reminded of!

Thank you Ladder Clubbies for inspiring this article!

Photographic Snapshot I spent one day at the recent Spring Fair, photographing every Ladder Clubbies’ stand and doing just a tiny amount of buying and I had a great time. Generally, it’s a well-run trade fair and most people I know did well. But my ‘Oscar’ for Best Stand at the Show goes to... Paper Salad, whose totally incredible trade stand raised the bar. The whole of Hall 3 was talking about it.

Great inspiration for the industry, well done Paper Salad’s Karen Wilson and Claire Williams!

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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64-70_PG_February 2016_v8 01/03/2016 09:12 Page 65

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

● PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

● PRODUCT DIRECTORY

PO BO BOX OX 2161 The Boulevard Boulevard Watford Watford WD18 1BJ Tel: Tel: 01923 200633 Fax: Fax: 01923 200636 info@cardmix.co.uk info@cardmix.co.uk www.cardmix.co.uk www.cardmix.co.uk CARDMIX CARDMIX - a cocktail cocktail of fun, fashionable fashionable and humorous humorous cards, covering Everyday, car ds,, co vering Ev eryday, Spring ing Occasions,, Relations,, Spr Seasons and Christmas.

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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

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East E ast S Street, treet, 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

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

Products: Products: Everyday Everyday cards cards - birthday, birthday, blank blank & occasions, occasions, charity ch harity Christmas Christmas cards, bags, wrap, b ags, ttissue, issue, rribbon, ibbon, cards, gift gift wrap, hankies, hankies, napkins, napkins, paper paper plate, plate, candles, candles, placemats, placemats, crackers,invitations, crackers,invitations, placecards, placecards, notecards,diaries, notecards,diaries, address books, address b ooks, jjournals, ournals, advent advent calendars calendars and and bridge bridge gifts. gifts.

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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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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DIPINGO DESIGN

www.greatbritishcards.co.uk WATERWELLS DRIVE, GLOUCESTER GL2 2PH UK TEL: 01452 888999

Bespoke design service for retail products

The UK No. No. 1 in The Licensed Greetings Greetings etings Licensed Over Overr 30 licenses licenses nses including: including D Disne y, Peppa Peppa Pig Pig, Disney, He Kitty, Hello Kitt Kitty y, Mr Men Men and Angry A Birdss and Birds t: +44 + (0)1264 388400 e: enquiries@gemma-int enquiries@gemma-international.co.uk erna national. ti co.uk w: gemma-int gemma-international.co.uk ernational. ona co.uk

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

www.dipingodesign.co.uk

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GRASS ROOTS

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.

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

M ETHOD OF SALE Direct to Retail

G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL

Beautiful greeting cards from contemporary British artwork

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

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

66

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

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

environmentally friendly contemporary & vibrant paper products.

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

greeting cards, notebooks paper pens, boxed notes

t. 01243 780501 e. info@jonesy.ca

Silk Screened Retro, Pop & Classic Cards

jonesy.ca

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agents wanted

Inspired by Music and 1960’s American Advertising.For all Vinyl & Rock n’Roll lovers

L E T U S TA K E YOU BAC K

CHARITY GREETING CARDS 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

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 Tel Tel e 01235 465489 Fax 01235 532118 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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â—? PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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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

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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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● PRODUCT DIRECTORY

● PRODUCT DIRECTORY ADVENT CALENDARS

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

RICHARD SELLMER VERLAG

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

Freepost RRZH-KLSL-HYBY Richard Sellmer Verlag KG Stourbridge Tel/Fax: 01384877755 Email: uksales@sellmer-verlag.de Products: Richard Sellmer Verlag is producing Advent Calendars for more than 60 years.

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

Looking for something new?

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

striking contemporary cards designed by nicole 0781 5811158 info@redberryhill.co.uk

www.redberryhill.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT

● PRODUCT DIRECTORY

01923 200600 | www.woodmansterne.co.uk

● PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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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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

71_Directory of Wholesalers_Mar 2016_v8_whole sale dirSeptember 2004 01/03/2016 10:30 Page 71

●

Directory of wholesalers Directory of wholesalers DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS 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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CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

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BAGS

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CLASSIFIED

ENVELOPES

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 A AT: T: www www.regentenvelopes.com .regentenvelopes.com 01274 583000 sales@r sales@regentenvelopes.com egentenvelopes.com

GIVE Y YOUR OUR

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TREATMENT TREA AT TMENT 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 WRAPPING SERVICE AUTOMA AT TED WRA PPING SER VICE 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.co.uk sales@wrapid.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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PRINTERS

O F F S E T PRODUCTIONS

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• 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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PRINTERS

The home of greeting cards t penden ing inde d a le r ’s e r The UK n ufa c t u card ma g in t e e r g Y j_ed

heZk d] YWhZ f ed ]h[[j_ i k Y \e b _Y[i If[Y_W eki[ i[hl ][ e\ _d#^ <kbb hWd [Z ]kWhWdj[ GkWb_jo [i Y j_j_l[ fh_ 9ecf[ h[b_WXb[ Z _edWb Wd Fhe\[ii Wbb [h jee ic ed$ De ehZ fheZkY j_ h <W ;Wij Z d W A es, 8ej^ K ique servic on our un n 1150 io 0 at 5 2 rm 14 info team on 01 For more s le sa e ntact th please co eys.co.uk sales@loxl l: ai em r o

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..

... 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.

Hand assembly and contract packing specialists • • • •

Greetings cards, hand-packed and hand-finished Low to high volume card cello bagging Gift wrap and gift product packing.

Warehousing & fulfilment services.

Call us and we will get you packed up!

Tel: 01226 206116 E-Mail:- info@mypackcompany.com www.mypackcompany.com 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

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

Home of the Wire Spinner Stand

(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

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.

FOR SALE

A worldwide database of card and stationery distributors.

Based on over 25 years of export business on behalf of some of the most successful greeting card publishers, a listing of top overseas buyers worldwide is now accessible for others.

Complete listing available for £1500 + VAT For more information call Robin Littman Experienced selection advice also available +44 (0)1278 671679/+44 (0)7767 797858 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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6 1 0 2 S A M T S I CHR from

ADD

this Christmas with our

NEW PREMIUM BOXED CARD collection

& CHECK OUT OUR OTHER STUNNING H AND-CRAFTE D CHRISTMAS COLLECTION S

Contact your Rep/Agent, call us or go online:

www.secondnature.co.uk E : hello@secondnature.co.uk

OBC_PG_March 2016.indd 1

T : +44(0)1983 209 590

...L i s t e n i n g , c r e a t i n g & d e l i v e r i n g

sentiment with style

07/03/2016 11:18