Progressive Greetings May 2018

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www.ukgreetings.co.uk

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britannia

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T H E B R I TA N N I A C O L L E C T I O N over 160 cards showcasing the beauty of the british isles

F O R A F R E E B R I T A N N I A C AT A L O G U E T E L E P H O N E : 0 1 4 8 0 4 3 5 5 6 2 W W W. T R A C K S L T D . C O M cards are sold in units of 6 | sale or return | free spinners available All orders over £160 are carriage free. All orders under £160 will incur £7.99 + VAT handling charge

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Leader

On The Cards

@Prog_Greetings

The greeting card industry, by its very nature, is a people business - its core product is something that is the ultimate form of tangible social communication.

Last week on two subsequent days I had the good fortune to see our people business at its best. On Thursday, Warren and I made our way to the Oxfordshire town of Wallingford to see for ourselves the magic touches Miles Robinson and Nigel Williamson, co-owners of House of Cards had given to their flagship store to provide a whole new look and feel.

It was certainly very impressive, from the flashy retro lights, bespoke fixtures and vinyl-wrapped slatwall.

However, what really impressed me was how many people from the trade had turned out to help christen the new store - some, such as Steve Baker from Pigment, Chris and Penny from Cardgains, Derek Hanley from Unique and David Cree from Joe Davies, having driven down from the north out of total respect (and no doubt a bit of nosiness!) for what Miles and Nigel do.

The next day, I found myself in the middle of a boisterous, noisy affair - the Speed-dating with Dragons 2 event, organised by the GCA. It was fabulous to see 20 high calibre retailers freely share their time to give input to

Above: At the judging for the On The Cards student design competition.

(Left-right) Jakki Brown (PG), Reggie Pugh (Paper Rose), Emma Clooney (Paperchase), Hazel Walker (Paperchase), Gale Astley (PG), Mark Jessett (GF Smith), Illona Drew (I Drew This), Nicky Marshall (Sherwood Group), Nigel Wilcock (Paper Rose) and Philippa Phipps (Paper Rose).

Left: PG’s Jakki Brown (second left) with a trio of ‘Dragons’ (right-left), Sainsbury’s Emma Turner and Carly Pearson with Oliver Bonas’ Natalia Kosterska.

Below left: Outside House of Cards’ new look flagship store in Wallingford with many from the greeting card ‘tribe’.

over 80 publishers who pitched their respective companies and products through a series of 10 minute quickfire one-to-one ‘dates’. What came out of the event, in addition to some real business, was a discernible feeling of camaraderie, a sense of belonging that was akin to being part of some wonderful emotional tribe.

I can’t wait until the next few big tribal gatherings - PG Live at the start of next month (June 5 and 6 at the Business Design Centre) and The Retas awards five weeks later (the finalists for which have just been announced! See pages 25-27).

Certainly the world is a scary place at the moment, but it is good to know that being part of our special emotional tribe, which produces something unlike nothing else, will keep us grounded in this all important people business.

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

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

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Nigel Quiney Publications F OR E XC I TI N G NE W

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Contents

What’s Inside?

With This Issue: FOCUS ON HUMOUR CARDS

33

58 9-23

36-37

53-55

News

Industry Issue

Art Source

An All Inclusive Package?

Where Creatives Dare To Dream

Is the UK greetings industry keeping pace with diversity?

25-27 The Retas Rollcall

The Retas 2018 Finalists

PG takes a closer look at the Surtex show, a three-day event (20-22 May) in New York.

39-45

Innovations

28-29

57-59

Over The Counter

Spotlight On London

Building Bonds

47-49

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, discusses some of the key relationships to build in business.

Jeremy’s Journal

Capital Gains

Eco-nomics Jeremy Corner of publisher Blue Eyed Sun talks about current environmental changes and the greeting card industry.

30-31

60-61

Cardsharp

50-51

Bring Me Sunshine

In Conversation With… Second Nature

Cardsharp muses over topical events happening in the industry.

The Personal Touch PG talks to 2017 Henries Honorary Achievement Award winners and codirectors of Second Nature, brothers Rod and Trevor Schragger.

33-35 Viewpoints

Why our capital city’s treasure trove of British icons is currently inspiring publishers to create London-centric ranges.

Memories And Markers

What’s Hot? 62-70

Classified 71

Appointments

Celebrating 10 years of PG Live this year, publishers, retailers and overseas distributors share their memories of the inaugural show.

53 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

Michelle Board

Editor

Advertisement Director

Deputy Editor

News Editor

jw@max-publishing.co.uk

warren@max-publishing.co.uk

galea@max-publishing.co.uk

michelleb@max-publishing.co.uk

Copyright© 2018. 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.

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

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

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

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NEWS Redback on Cloud Nine

TOP STORY

Sea-ing Is Believing The finalists of The Retas 2018 are revealed Want to know who are the UK’s best greeting card retail stockists? The finalists in The Retas 2018, the only dedicated annual awards for greeting card retail stockists, have been revealed with the line-up reflecting the diversity of the card retailing landscape (see pages 25-27).

“We have had a terrific level of engagement with the industry, both suppliers and retailers themselves, to arrive at this year’s worthy finalists,” commented Warren Lomax, joint managing director of Max Publishing (and PG) which owns and organises The Retas.

Retailers were invited to enter, detailing their progress over the last 12 months. Meanwhile card publishers, agents and sales reps have not been backward in coming forward with their nominations for which card retailers they consider have excelled over the last year.

With award categories to cater for both multiple retailers, small groups and independents, The Retas recognises and reward excellence of card stockists of

Above: The Tutbury Present Company won the Wales & the Midlands category last year.

all shapes and sizes, the length and breadth of the UK. In addition, retailers were invited to make submissions for retail employees who have gone the extra mile as well as nominate wholesalers and cash & carries.

The winners of The Retas 2018 will be unveiled at an Into The Blue oceanicthemed lavish afternoon awards event at The Dorchester on Wednesday 11 July.

For tickets to The Retas contact Clare Davies of Createvents on clare@createvents.co.uk or 01183 340085.

Redback Cards is extending its Cloud Nine greeting card range into gifts and giftwrap through licensing deals with Transomnia and Glick respectively.

With the products launching in the Autumn, Greg Rose, head of buying and design at Transomnia said: "We are delighted to have entered into partnership with Redback Cards, who we consider to be one of the most innovative and forwardthinking greeting card suppliers in the UK.” Meanwhile, Glick is to launch a collection of three wraps and six giftbags featuring some of the Cloud Nine designs. While the products will not be delivered until the start of next year, Glick will be pre-selling on its stand at PG Live. As Becky Dobson, director of Glick commented: “This strengthens our offer into contemporary humour, which is something a bit different for Glick.”

Redback Cards will be showcasing the Cloud Nine range on is stand at PG Live.

Above: The popular Cloud Nine range from Redback Cards will feature on gifting lines.

LGBT cards help ecology ‘Send love and plant change’ is the ethos behind 1 Tree Cards, launching with five collections on crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter. For each card purchased, 1 Tree Cards will plant a tree via the Eden Reforestation Project. Each card also includes a seed token which can be planted to help the bees. All collections offer cute/humorous cards which seek to promote a more positive and progressive world.

Becky Kijama and her wife Michiko started 1 Tree Cards when they found it difficult to find cards that truly represent the LGBT community. “One of the comments that comes up regularly is that the same sex women's cards seem to always feature very feminine women, such as women in dresses with long hair which is not always representative of our community,” says Becky. “Another comment we got a lot was that lots of LGBT+ cards seem to be very text-oriented with the only LGBT+ options being Mr&Mr and Mrs&Mrs. Apart from the lack of options, pronouns can be a controversial issue. While there are lots of married women who do opt for Mrs, there are also lots, myself and my wife included, who stay as Ms and won't choose the 'married' version.”

Above: A card from the Same Love collection from 1 Tree Cards.

UK Envelope Centre’s hamper bonanza Museums and Galleries is the lucky winner of the UK Envelope Centre Spring Fair competition, winning a luxurious Mad Hatters’ Tea Party Hamper. The competition - launched at Spring Fair this year - was open to any company who bought 50,000 or more envelopes in February and March this year, with one entry per 50,000 bought.

Joanne Davis, director of UK Envelope Centre, said: “We are over the moon with the amount of old and new customers included in this year’s competition. It proved to be a real race to the end. Following the success of previous competitions, we have already started planning a second competition for later this year.”

The Mad Hatters’ Tea Party Hamper includes scones, luxury tea, chocolates, jams and preserves, shortbread, ginger cake, fudge and more.

Right: The Mad Hatters’ Tea Party Hamper was won by Museums and Galleries.

Postmark’s 5th store Postmark has opened its fifth store in a prime retailing spot in the busy town centre of Kingston-on-Thames. “This was a big step for us but it’s gone down a storm,” co-owner Mark Janson-Smith told Progressive Greetings. “Our loyalty cards are going down really well as is the Jellycat plush which draw in a lot of people as they are so colourful just inside the door.”

Productwise the mix is similar to Postmark’s other stores but it has expanded its MT Tape and pen offer, using a specially designed unit. “We're also lucky enough to have space to do more stationery, such as Designworks Ink from the US.” The Kingston store’s slender format works well for Postmark. “It is the same shape as our Balham store which works really well for us. Long and thin suits our product the best. Which is a bit strange as it’s a bit like me!” jokes Mark.

Above: The slender shape of Postmark’s Kingston store lends itself to the card and stationery product mix.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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NEWS TOP STORY

PG LIVE NIBS

Countdown To PG Live’s 10th Card dresses, new product and promos galore With PG Live just around the corner now (5 - 6 June, London’s Business Design Centre), the countdown really has begun for the 10th anniversary show, with both the 260+ exhibitors and show organisers putting the final touches on plans. Retailers and overseas distributors are being urged to register now to ensure they receive their free tickets and glossy Show Preview publication that will give a taster of what will be on offer at this year’s bumper greeting card exhibition.

This year being the 10th anniversary of the show “will be a celebration of everything that makes the greeting card industry so fabulous thousands of new innovative designs from over 260 companies, great camaraderie between publishers and retailers. It will be a wonderful opportunity for us all to be together at an event

l Austrian publisher

Pabuku has now appointed Northlight Design as its UK distributor for its entire range. Northlight Design specialises in individual, distinctive homeware, giftware and stationery. The Pabuku team will be exhibiting at PG Live with the support of Northlight Design.

Above: Pabuku’s quirky designs are now readily available it the UK.

where business and pleasure really do meet,” commented Warren Lomax, show director of PG Live.

As PG went to press, The Imaging Centre had already printed over 20,000 free promotional postcards for exhibitors to send out, and the much-coveted Golden Tickets, Silver Tickets and Sunshine Tickets enabling Retas winners and finalists ‘free money’ to spend at the show were also being produced by the Kent-based printer.

Make sure you register now to attend the UK’s only dedicated greet card show at www.progressivegreetingslive.com.

Above: PG Live is the only dedicated show for greeting cards.

Left: Some of the many packages sent to be included

l Pippi & Me will be giving a golden envelope with each order taken at the show, giving customers an extra little something - perhaps a free Pippi & Me cute print, free cards in your order, money off your order or a super cute little mini creature to take home!

Above: What will you find in your golden envelope from Pippi & Me?

l Ilona Drew, the artist

behind I Drew This, will be offering one lucky stockist the chance to win a Landmarks artwork of their choice created exclusively for them. Normally a commission costs somewhere between £500-£1,000, but on this occasion Ilona will create this for free and then the customer can order products using the finished piece through I Drew This or alternatively agree a licence for the artwork and the customer could then source their own products.

Above: I Drew This’ Landmarks design.

Coming up roses Following a meeting at a previous PG Live, card publisher Cats & Roses has just launched a new range with Finnish greeting card publisher Karto. Eija Watia, Karto’s creative director, first spotted two ranges she liked on Cats & Roses stand at PG Live. Karto is launching a range of occasions cards translated into Finnish from the original English in hand-rendered lettering as well as a collection from the publisher’s Black Cat range.

“The Finnish mark different events on the calendar from the British and though ‘Own Concerns’ and ‘Beautiful Thursday’ may be mysterious to us, they are surely meaningful in Helsinki!” says Cats & Rose artist, Catherine Phelps.

Cats & Roses is back at PG Live in 2018 showcasing two new ranges: one featuring dogs and the other roses.

Above: A birthday card in Karto’s new range featuring Cats & Roses’ artwork.

Jessica Hogarth helps RNLI Jessica Hogarth has created a special surface pattern for a new product range for the RNLI, including cards, stationery, mugs, tea towels and bags. The collection is available in RNLI outlets nationwide and online. “My name is on every product as ‘Jessica Hogarth for RNLI’ so it’s a great promotion for me,” says Jessica. “I also created a single design for one of its spinner ranges for 2018, being supplied by GBCC.” Jessica Hogarth will be exhibiting at her fifth PG Live and offering 12 free cards with every carriage paid order placed at the show.

Above: The new RNLI range features a surface pattern designed by Jessica Hogarth.

Plight of the pug When Lucy Creed and Bryn Dineen of publishing company Poet and Painter heard about the British Veterinary Association’s #BreedtoBreathe campaign when it was highlighted by the GCA, they decided to create a greeting card in support of the campaign.

“We are animal lovers, and when we were alerted to the issues around pugs and their breathing problems via an email circulated by Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA, we felt a card was a great device for communicating this message and sharing this crucial information with those people who enjoy the images of pugs, but aren’t necessarily aware of their serious health related issues. We hope we’ve managed to do this in a non-judgmental and humorous way,” Lucy said.

Poet and Painter’s Pug card will be launched at PG Live.

Above: The Good, The Bad and The Pugly card will launch at PG Live

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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every picture

the award winning contemporary quotation cards designed by

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

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NEWS UKG deal sealed

TOP STORY

GCA And Briffa Copycat Victory Justice over copyright theft for card publishers The power of a collective effort from the GCA and IP law firm Briffa came to the fore as US website, GearPassio (which had been using card publishers’ imagery without their consent on products) removed many offending items from its site.

Among the publishers who have taken GearPassio to task over this are Berni Parker, Wrendale Designs, Ohh Deer, Bug Art, Natural Partners and Lola Designs.

Many images were taken down from the GearPassio website as a direct result

of a strong official ‘cease and desist’ letter being sent by Briffa, accompanied by substantiating evidence sent.

It was Berni Parker, founder of Berni Parker Designs, who first alerted the industry to GearPassio’s online site, outraged to discover it was littered with products, many of which featured

designs from artists and card publishers, including hers.

Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA, said that the result was a “victory for justice” and proved that publishers were not powerless. Sharon stressed that while the GCA does not usually get involved in members’ legal battles, she said that as the GearPassio site affected so many publisher members “we just could not sit back and let it continue.”

Sharon worked closely with Joshua Schuermann, solicitor of IP legal experts Briffa (an associate member of the GCA) on the submission, which included the specific examples of counterfeit products that were featured on the site.

Berni said of the outcome: “We have all gained invaluable knowledge through this experience and are much better equipped to know what to do if it happens again. A huge thank you to Sharon and everyone involved at Briffa for highlighting this problem and getting the best possible outcome.”

It is the end of an era as the Weiss family no longer have the majority shareholding of American Greetings (parent company of UK Greetings), that was founded by their ancestor Jacob Sapirstein back in 1906.

Having been announced in February, the deal was concluded on April 10, which gives US investment company Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) 60% ownership of American Greetings and UK Greetings.

The Weiss family however, retains the remaining 40% ownership of the global greeting card group and Clintons is not part of the deal, the ownership of which resides totally with the Weiss family.

As James Conn, chief executive of UKG stressed, “The Weiss family are still very much involved and retaining a significant minority shareholding will still sit on the board.”

Making a salient point about the significant investment CD&R has made in acquiring the bulk of AG, James adds, “Surely it is very positive that a company as respected as Clayton Dubilier & Rice recognises the value and has spotted the potential in investing so significantly in greeting cards. This can only be good news for UKG, our retail customers and the industry at large.”

Above: UKG’s ceo James Conn (right) with Jeff Weiss, former co-ceo of American Greetings, but who continues as a board member.

Above left: The distinctive Bug Art design style appeared on the GearPassio site until the cease and desist letter was sent by Briffa.

Above: A Wrendale design that appeared on the GearPassio site until Briffa’s letter.

Retailer raises the profile of organ donation Richard Aylett, co-owner of The Card House and Balloon Room in Ashton-in-Makerfield and Balloon World party wholesaler, is readying himself for the imminent Nashville Marathon, one of 100 marathons he will run this year. On his running bib will be the words ‘Donors Rock’ - part of his quest to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation. Richard has good reason to put his best foot forward with these physical challenges as his own life was saved as a result of a young man having had the foresight to sign up as an organ donor.

“It’s a strange feeling hoping someone dies so that you can live. It is something I struggled with for a while before, in part, coming to terms with it,” says Richard. “But that said, never a day goes by when I don’t think of my donor and his family. However, let’s be honest how can I ever forget, as every time I get dressed or undressed I have this scar that stares right at me, telling me how lucky I am. It inspires me to be a better person, it encourages me to help others, but most of all it tells me to go out there and live!”

As part of his urge to ‘give back’, Richard has just established a programme at his Balloon World party wholesale business whereby all of the staff receive a paid day off each month to do charity work of their choice. “There is a lot to be said for feeling lucky for what you have and to pay it forward,” says Richard.

Right: Richard Aylett pre-transplant (left) and Richard post-transplant, fit and healthy.

Coulson Macleod doubles The Kettering-based card and gift business, co-owned by Mark Coulson and Hannah MacLeod, is doubling the size of its studio/warehouse to now reside in a 2,600sq ft premises. The additional 1,300sq ft space is being put to good use as a dedicated warehouse for the company’s products.

Now in the final touches of renovation, the new space leads straight off the studio through double doors to enable the smooth running of the business. This physical expansion is being matched by the company’s online capacity, having just gone live on a new trade website www.coulsonmacleodtrade.com. Hannah explains, “Our trade customers can now create their own account to see their previous orders and reorder them too.”

Above: Work gets underway on doubling the size of the Coulson Macleod premises.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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NEWS TOP STORY

House Of Cards Makeover New look store for small multiple’s flagship in Wallingford House of Cards unveiled a totally new look for its flagship store in the Oxfordshire market town of Wallingford recently - and the contemporary look and feel has gone down a storm with its customers.

House of Cards’ partners, Miles Robinson and Nigel Williamson kept the new approach for the group’s 1,500 sq ft store under wraps, but having been closed for two weeks to allow for a complete refurbishment and expansion of the retail environment it was revealed to the good people of Wallingford who immediately voted with their feet and their purses.

“This is the biggest investment we’ve ever made in a store. Thankfully the new look went down very well with our customers. The opening day was a great success (record sales for a first day) with

the most frequent comments being about the feeling of space and ease of walking round the store,” Miles Robinson told PG, who admitted that “It almost felt like it was our first store and I can’t remember feeling that nervous about a store opening before.

Of the look, Miles said, “It’s not actually that radical but a combination of many small bits brought together combines to make the shop look very different.”

As to the rationale behind the mega overhaul, which involves bespoke fixtures and high-end lighting, Miles said, “You have to keep raising the bar; investing in your retailing environment and the product you offer to customers.”

Above: The Wallingford House of Cards flagship store.

Left: House of Cards’ co-owners Miles Robinson (left) and Nigel Williamson in the new look store.

Celebrating 10 years of Boofle Made from 100% love and cuddles, lots of wool and a little button, Boofle has quickly become the star of cute greetings for UK Greetings with card sales topping70 million. This June marks Boofle’s 10th anniversary and to celebrate, UKG has given everyone’s favourite pup a contemporary new look.

The new collection includes 37 beautiful card designs, each printed with a signature button to mark Boofle’s 10th anniversary, plus a special edition card has been created especially for the occasion. “We have a lot of exciting plans to celebrate this momentous milestone for Boofle, including internal parties, a makeover of the Boofle website, competitions on his social media pages and a brand new anniversary animation,” says Gabriella Peace, communications manager for UK Greetings.

Above: Boofle’s special limited edition card from UKG to celebration his 10th anniversary.

Cardzone ranked in Profit Track league Greeting card multiple Cardzone, founded by Paul Taylor in 2003, appeared in The Sunday Times’ BDO Profit Track 100 league table, which ranks private companies with the fastest-growing profits based on the last three years’ performance.

Cardzone appeared in 63rd position in a special publication, which went out with a recent edition of the newspaper.

The publication highlighted Cardzone as being part of the “Midlands Engine” as for the first time, with 19 entrants, the region had overtaken London as the UK area with the most private companies with the fastest-growing profits.

Right: Paul Taylor, md of Cardzone has big ambitions for the retail group.

Caroline Gardner bags up for Waitrose and charity Greeting card publishing and gift company, Caroline Gardner lent its hand to designing a jute charity shopper for Waitrose and has sold 10,000 units, raising significant sums for Meningitis Now. The Caroline Gardner x Meningitis Now jute/cotton bag design was inspired by one of Caroline’s designs for the SS18 collection, called Green Dreamer. The fun abstract floral print on the shopper is complemented by the bold orange stripe in the gusset.

The bag went on sale in Waitrose for £5 with 50p from every sale going to Meningitis Now. Luca Bridges, senior sales and marketing coordinator of Caroline Gardner said that the collaboration “has been a real success, with around 10,000 bags sold so far and we are absolutely delighted.”

Above: The jute/cotton shopper designed by Caroline Gardner for Waitrose.

Queen’s Award for Santoro Santoro Licensing, a division of the London-based design house Sanoro, has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade 2018.

It is the UK’s most prestigious and highest accolade for International business success. These Awards are made by HM The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Co-founder Meera Santoro commented: “We feel incredibly proud to have received this award. Our licensing division has been responsible for many of the company’s achievements to date. It is a rare honour and one which we are immensely proud and grateful to accept.”

Santoro Licensing has seen a 40% growth since 2016.

A major factor in this growth can be attributed to the global phenomenon of Santoro’s Gorjuss brand. Launched in 2009, Gorjuss is now available at over 35,000 points of sale across 93 countries and has already become a £120m brand.

Top: Co-founder of Santoro, Meera Santoro with general manager Jo Campbell.

Above: Santoro has been awarded the Queen’s Award.

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NEWS TOP STORY

NEWS IN BRIEF

Card Retailers Turn Into Dragons Successful GCA Speed-dating with Dragons 2 It was fast-paced, full of passion, noisy and fully embraced by everyone involved. The GCA’s Speeddating with Dragons 2 event, which took place on April 20 at London’s Business Design Centre, was a fabulous example of the UK greeting card industry at its best.

Some 20 leading retailer buyers from major multiples such as Oliver Bonas, Scribbler, Sainsbury’s and National Trust buyers, through to a potent clutch of pioneering indies - gave their time and input freely as over 80 greeting card publishing execs gave it their all in one-to-one 10 minute pitches about their products and their companies.

While one half of the publishing posse entered the ‘den’ to interface with the ‘dragons’, the other half listened intently to sage advice from two ‘giants of industry’ - Ged Mace, md of The Art File on business strategy and Kelvyn Gardner, md of LIMA UK, who demystified the potential of licensing.

Commenting, Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA, said of the second ever Speeddating with Dragons event: “It was bigger, better and by the sounds of it, more business is likely to come out of it than even our inaugural event last year, which is just fabulous.”

Endorsing Sharon’s words, Ellie Kleinlercher, buyer of the Between the Lines’ chain of 14 stores said: “It was great to meet suppliers we didn’t know, I would like to order from five or six of them, which is great.”

Natalia Kosteria, card buyer for Oliver Bonas’ 70+ stores summed up the afternoon event as “a really fun experience - I so enjoyed meeting the new publishers.”

Sainsbury’s senior buyer Carly Pearson said that the speed-dating “gets me in the mood for PG Live in a few weeks time, where I get to meet lots more great new publishers”, making reference to the Business Design Centre being the venue for both events.

Meanwhile, card buyer for all National Trust’s properties, Bianca Mastrodomenico said: “It has been so lovely to meet so many people who are passionate about their business, rather that to just receive samples in the post.”

It was a win-win for indies too. Unit 7’s co-founder Andrea Pinder was rewarded for actively selecting humorous publishers to lure back to her ‘den’. “I wanted to find some new humorous suppliers and a couple really stood out as they made me really laugh.”

Above: The ‘Dragons’ (and the GCA’s Sharon Little) all lined up ready for action!

Left: Publishers prepare to enter the ‘Den’. (Left-right) Rosie Harrison (Rosie Made A Thing), Belinda Morris (1790 Cards), Marina Brooks (Marina B) and Celia Law

Do cards encourage boozing?

Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA, was sticking up for greeting cards in an interview on BBC Radio Scotland with Kaye Adams, after a story in The Express called for a ban on cards depicting excessive drinking. Lucy Rocca, founder of Soberistas.com believes that there are an increasing number of cards that promote excessive levels of drinking and that retailers should take a responsible stance about their stocking decisions.

Comedian and actress Rachel Jackson also contributed to the radio programme, coming down very much on the side of greeting cards, sharing her view that while she would not buy a card featuring drinking for an alcoholic friend, “a greeting card is meant for a celebration and drinking is part of celebrating”.

Above: A light-hearted joke or promoting excessive drinking? One of the cards highlighted in The Express article.

l Findings of the Progressive Gifts & Home Gift Retail Barometer, an annual research project undertaken by Max Publishing, owner of Progressive Greetings, showed that greeting cards are the best performing product area for independent gift retailers, with 68% increasing their sales of cards over the last year, compared to the year previously. l The 20th annual Cardgains charity challenge is getting closer and there are now over 40 walkers registered to take part in the Kumbaya Cumbria Challenge. This year the intrepid walkers will take in two legs of the Cumbria Way between Ulverston and Dungeon Ghyll and skirting around the famous Coniston Water. The 27.5 mile walk takes place on Thursday 21 June.

Above: The Cardgains charity challenge is raising money for Motor Neurone Disease Association this year.

l Tendence, the international consumer goods trade fair in Frankfurt, is creating a new area for calendars, greeting cards, stationery, gift books and notebooks. The Paper & Friends area will be showcasing calendars, greeting cards and postcards, as well as gift books and notebooks, in inspiring surroundings. Tendence takes place 30 June - 3 July.

Above: Cards will have their own special area ta Tendence this year.

l Dragonfly Cards & Gifts in Knaresborough gave away its first goody bag in its Milestone promo in March. Co-owners, mother and daughter, Rita Knibbs and Rachael Barnes both celebrate big birthdays this year and decided to run a promotion to give away a goody bag each month to a customer also celebrating a milestone birthday. “We’ve had over 40 entries so far, and they're picking up pace now word is getting around,” says Rachael.

Above: Alice, who celebrated her 18th birthday in March was the first winner of Dragonfly’s milestone competition and was nominated by her Grandma Doreen.

l Pulse returns to London Olympia over 13 -15 May, showcasing the best in gifts, modern living and accessories from the UK and around the world. New this year is Makers, the UK’s first retail trade event dedicated to emerging creative talent. l Staff at the UKG offices in Dewsbury are doing their bit for the environment by reducing internal plastic consumption. Two months into the company’s initiative to reduce avoidable waste and staff have already removed plastic cutlery from all canteens, removed plastic cups from water fountains and in the kitchen areas and reduced Costa Coffee by 10p per cup - when using own thermos cups. And from the end of April there will be no plastic carrier bags available in the staff shops.

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PG Live continues to be the BIG show of the year for the card trade.

We had a great day... sore feet and head on Wednesday, but worth it!

Mark & Leona Janson-Smith, Postmark, London

PG Live 2018 Tuesday 5 - Wednesday 6 June Business Design Centre, London +44 (0) 1635 297070 www.progressivegreetingslive.com @PGLiveLondon

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The Greatest Collection Of Greeting Cards In The World Celebrating ten years of showcasing design excellence, PG Live 2018 is proud to present the greatest collection of greeting cards in the world.

Register online now to receive your free copy of the PG Live 2018 Show Preview, a fantastic glimpse behind the scenes of this year’s anniversary show, with exclusive launches and show-only offers from over 260 publishers, artists and designers.

Be InspIred Book Your Tickets Now

www.progressivegreetingslive.com

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NEWS PEOPLE

TOP STORY

Egg-static About Easter?

Weather dampened sales for many, but not all After the snowy weather that played havoc with the run up to Mother’s Day, there were high hopes that a splash or two of rain would not dampen Easter sales.

“We’ve had our best Easter yet!” a jubilant Victoria Robinson of Wishes in Cockermouth exclaimed. “Easter is the only Spring Season which is growing.

Product has hugely improved in the last few years, giving customers more choice.

We’ve noticed more demand for captioned Easter cards, never before have we been asked for ‘Daughter and Son in Law’ Easter cards but this year we were, more than once. And we sold out of GreatGrandson and Great-Granddaughter Easter cards.”

Victoria feels that the extended Easter break sees more families getting together, “and a card marks the occasion. And if they’re not together, they will still send a card. We have learned from our customers that they see Easter as an occasion for keeping in touch too; sales of packets of Easter cards were up and often sold with a book of stamps and this sparks a domino effect - I received one, I’ll send one back!”

However, Wishes’ good experience was not echoed by all retailers, with some feeling that potential sales for the event does not justify the widespread exposure

at retail. Jayne Griffiths, owner of Sentiments in Whitchurch, Shropshire admitted that she was disappointed by her Easter sales this year, which were down 25% on last year.

“Our general takings, including on cards, were down, even though this year we introduced exclusive chocolates and licensed Peter Rabbit from GUND. They both did very well as an alternative to eggs, but overall sales were disappointing.”

She feels that local competition, notably from Card Factory, which had a large Easter offering, affected her trade. l Royal Mail’s Easter promotional activity involved celebrating the heritage of Easter card design as well as encouraging today’s youngsters to send Easter cards through a cute video. The film details the journey of a creation of an Easter card through to the young narrator’s nanny’s reaction when she opens it. The video (hosted on YouTube) ends with the message from Royal Mail to ‘Send a card’.

Top: Wishes in Cockermouth stocked a wide range of Easter cards this year.

Above: Peter Rabbit from Gund did well as an alternative to chocolate eggs for Sentiments.

Left: The Royal Mail video shows the joy of receiving a card.

Royal Wedding frenzy!

With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s happy nuptials coming up on May 19, the GCA has issued a challenge to its members - to design as many bespoke cards as possible to send on to the happy couple! In an email to members, Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA asked members to send a picture of the card to the GCA and then to send it onto Harry and Meghan, care of Kensington Palace.

“We just thought it would be something fun to do for the Royal Wedding,” says Sharon. “We’re hoping that we’ll flood the newlyweds with lots of bespoke cards showcasing the talent in the UK greeting card industry.”

Above: Dandelion Stationery’s design for the newlyweds.

l Really Good and Soul has strengthened its sales team with the appointment of Fiona Burge (right) as key accounts manager.

Her most recent role was as senior account manager with gift company, Apples 2 Pears, but Fiona has seven years’ experience working with GBCC as well as running her own online and consumer focused gift company, B Gifted. l Well-known industry executive, Julie Anderson (right) has joined Danilo’s expanding national sales team, bringing a wealth of industry experience gained from years of working with brands such as Hallmark, Carte Blanche, Gemma and Pioneer Balloons.

She was latterly national sales manager for balloon company, Pioneer Europe. l David Byk, ceo of Swan Mill Group, which includes Ling Design, has stepped back into running the day to day side of the growing card and giftwrap publishing group. Alessandro Arosio, who joined the company less than a year ago as managing director of Ling Design, is leaving the business.

Alessandro took over the post officially from Ian Bant when he retired last June.

Above: David Byk, ceo of the Swan Mill group is more involved on the day to day side of Ling now.

l Clare Wilcock has joined Penny Kennedy as business manager. Clare brings a wealth of experience from the luxury retail market, most recently running the textile and interior brand, Elizabeth Bradley for the last 11 years. She has worked in design and illustration throughout her career, initially gaining a degree in Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design and later embarking on postgraduate study in Graphic Arts. l Jim Galbraith, GCA president from 1979-1980, passed away at the age of 91 after a long illness.

He had been managing director of Valentines of Dundee when it was taken over by Hallmark. l Edd Cannan (right) has joined the Lesser & Pavey sales team as sales executive for the Midlands and Wales. l Duncan Spence - whose many investments include Moonpig, Ling and Carte Blanche - celebrated his 75th birthday in style (right) with a lavish party in the ballroom of the Park Lane Sheraton in London on March 29 attended by many of those who have been involved in his successful business journey.

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

The NSS is the only North American trade show for global buyers and sellers of greeting cards, stationery and lifestyle products. Come for the incredible business opportunities.

Leave with an experience like no other.

MAY 20 - 23, 2018

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NEWS TOP STORY

Card Factory’s Sales Up By 6% Value retailer goes on PR push The UK’s largest specialist card retailer, Card Factory, saw its sales soar by 6% (up to £422.1 million), like-for-like sales increase by 2.9%, but its pre-tax profits were down by 11.9%, citing the increased costs of national living wage and foreign currency exchange as the main reasons for the decline.

Summing up the retailer’s performance for the 12 months to 31 December 2017, Karen Hubbard, ceo of Card Factory said: “We delivered strong like-for-like sales growth in a tough trading environment. We sold more cards than the prior year, and delivered a higher average card selling price and total basket size.”

Confronting the drop in profits, Karen said, “We faced strong headwinds of £14.6m in the year, principally due to the combined impact of foreign exchange and national living wage. Our cost saving initiatives during the year provided substantial mitigation and we have laid the foundations for further efficiencies to be delivered in the future.”

She also revealed that the retailer had “a record breaking number of customers shopping with Card Factory for both card and complementary non-card products, demonstrating our resilience against a backdrop of High Street footfall decline.”

Sending out positive news about the greeting card industry as a whole, Karen Hubbard included latest research findings from OC&C in her chief executive’s report, which highlighted that “the market for single greeting cards is well established, robust and resilient; it continues to show modest growth in value terms, despite a slight decline in volume as expected.”

Reassuringly, the research findings show “an increase in the number of cards purchased by 18-34 year olds.” Although Karen says this trend will need to be monitored over a longer time period, she points out “it is an encouraging trend for the ongoing sustainability of the market.”

Above: Now trading from 900 stores, Card Factory opened 50 new stores in the last year and intends to open another 50 in the coming year.

Pencil Me In’s Indies’ Instagram challenge Over 150 independent shops took part in the #myshoplife2018 Instagram challenge in April, set by Sarah Holmes, owner of card and stationery shop, Pencil Me In, Elgin, Scotland. The challenge was aimed at inspiring and motivating retailers, while building a network with fellow indie shopkeepers. “A lot of retailers struggle with content for social media posts, often thinking they need to post to sell, sell, sell,” says Sarah. “This challenge was designed to help shopkeepers tell their story about them and the shop in an engaging way.

Audiences are more likely to engage with more genuine posts, especially at a time when social media algorithms are chopping and changing.”

The challenge included prompts, such as ‘why did I open a store’ and ‘weirdest customer requests’, with people posting under the hashtag #myshoplife2018. “We have seen a huge increase in engagement from our following on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter,” says Sarah. “Feedback from the suppliers/designers and illustrators supplying these shops has also been super positive as they get to know information about indie shops not accessible previously.”

Above: Sarah Holmes outside her shop in Elgin.

Running Cards keeps pace

Survey reveals cardies could make more of Facebook A survey by Charlotte Biggs, founder of the Card & Gift Network, has revealed that Facebook is currently the industry’s most popular social media channel - used by 71% of companies in the card and gift trade - but there’s more they could do. “There’s still lots of potential on the Facebook platform. Many greetings and giftware companies can reach more people and can promote themselves and their products more often.”

This focused study of how greetings and giftware businesses are using Facebook is one in a series of focused studies that follow on from Charlotte’s previously published research on How Card & Gift Companies Promote Online.

Analysing data from 500 companies, there were good signs that card and gift companies were being sociable on the platform, with 68% liking 10+ other Facebook pages. Similarly, the statistics were impressively high, when Charlotte looked at how queries were dealt with 89% having responded frequently to fans and 95% were responding quickly.

However, it would appear that there is room for improvement in sustaining interest through more regular postings and looking to expand followers. l 52% of companies had less that 1,000 likes, which suggests that their reach on Facebook is limited. l 55% of businesses are averaging less than one post per day, and another 45% are posting just under once a week.

Summing up the findings, Charlotte said, “I think the research shows some positive signs, but there’s still lots of potential in the Facebook platform. Many greetings and giftware companies can reach more people and can Above: Cardies are generally good communicators via Facebook. promote themselves and their products more often.”

Difficulty in finding suitable greeting cards for charity runners and running buffs prompted Rachel Jobs to start Running Cards, specialising in cards for runners. Having previously mainly sold the cards online through Etsy and eBay, Rachel is hoping to expand her retail footprint at PG Live this year. “When I ran the London Marathon a few years ago I received good luck and well done cards which was lovely, but they were very generic,” says Rachel. “In one case the sender had crossed out one word and replaced it with ‘running’. I realised that people really want to send cards related to running, but they don’t exist”.

“I get loads of people who say they go to specialist card shops looking for a marathon congratulations card, and while there are cards for passing exams or driving tests there are none specifically for running. I got frustrated by that too, so I'm hoping the retailers at PG Live will agree!”

Above: A selection of cards from Running Cards.

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• Beautiful rainbow lustre effect. • Delicately finished with gemstones.

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NEWS TOP STORY

On The Cards Winners Trending Eco, puns and wellbeing triumph in student design completion Attracting more entries than ever before, from five leading art colleges and universities, the winners of the 4th annual On the Cards design competition spearheaded by Paper Rose, GF Smith, Paperchase and Sherwood Group - have been announced with the winning entries reflecting the societal trends of wellbeing and environmental concerns.

The first prize went to Luna Paszkiewicz of Nottingham Trent University for her Emotionally Sustainable Cards, a concept which featured vegetable pun illustrations of a vegetable or herb, including seeds for the featured plant, all printed on environmentally-friendly board.

The second prize went to Emily Rogers of Leeds Arts University for her Wellbeing Wisdom concept, which centres around a shallow stack of peel away motivational messages affixed to the front of the card.

All entries were judged by a panel which comprised Paperchase buyers Hazel Walker and Emma Clooney; The Art Group/Paper Rose trio of Reggie Pugh, Philippa Phipps and Nigel Wilcock; GF Smith’s Mark Jessett; Sherwood’s Nicky Marshall; PG’s Gale Astley and Jakki Brown with Ilona Drew of I Drew This invited as this year’s artist judge.

As part of the prize, the winning entry will be developed into actual product and put on sale in selected Paperchase stores.

Hazel Walker, Paperchase’s senior buyer for cards and wrap, highlighted the level of innovation that was apparent in some of the entries. “It was great to see so many of the students were thinking outside of the box, submitting greeting card concepts which included added elements, such as stickers, fruit teabags, scented elements, moveable pieces or coming at it from a different angle, such as a range centred around sign language.”

Above: First prize went to Luna Paszkiewicz for her vegetable puns printed on environmentally friendly board.

Left: Second prize went to Emily Rogers whose designs featured a shallow stack of peel away motivational messages affixed to the front of the card.

Paperchase, UKG and Danilo are happy bunnies The new Peter Rabbit movie exceeded all expectations, notching up £7.24 million in its three opening days alone.

Cinema attendance certainly boded well for licensees for both the CGI animation movie licence, as well as those who have tapped into Beatrix Potter’s classic creations, igniting a resurgence in the popularity of Peter Rabbit.

Paperchase made the most of the Easter run up with its range of classic Peter Rabbit merchandise; Danilo, which produced cards based on the Peter Rabbit movie artwork, received great exposure on the card racks, while UK Greetings has high hopes for its licensed card range, based on the classic depictions of Peter and friends.

Sarah Johnson, licensing manager at UKG commented: “We are delighted to work with such a beautiful property. There’s a wealth of stunning Peter Rabbit artwork from the archives, which we’re excited to turn into greeting cards. This is a fantastic opportunity and we can’t wait to see the finished product out at retail.”

Danilo launched its new range of Peter Rabbit cards and calendars based on the movie and TV series at Spring Fair this year.

Above: One of Danilo’s cards based on the animated TV series.

Left: UKG is publishing cards based on classic Peter Rabbit imagery.

New competition launch at London Stationery Show Just as PG was going to press this month, the London Stationery Show was opening its doors at the Business Design Centre (24-25 April). Now in its eighth year, this year’s event sees the biggest line-up of show features to date, including retailer workshops, live talks, creative stationery workshops and trends tours.

This year also sees the launch of a new Student Stationery Competition.

Backed by three of the stationery industry’s most well-known brands Paperchase, Caroline Gardner and Portico Design - each company has set a design brief and is offering a work placement prize for a lucky design student this summer. The Paper Library is also involved in spearheading the initiative. Design students across the UK will be asked to respond to the briefs and produce various products suitable for each brand.

For more on how to enter the competition see www.thepaperlibrary.com/placements Below: Entries for the student stationery competition close 25 June.

New-look Stationery Week Stationery Week started on Monday 23 April with a different format from previous years. Each day was allocated a fun paper or writing product-led theme and managed by a leading stationery brand. The brands are: Nuco, Staedtler, Mustard, Santoro, Crafter’s Companion and A T Cross.

Each company set challenges and competitions for stationery fans to join in with, encouraging people to share their own stationery projects and ideas, and to take part in competitions throughout the week to win lots of stationery goodies.

Among the retailers to have pledged support to the Week were Ryman, kikkiK, Monsoon, Fedrigoni, The Pen Company, Paper Tiger, Got2Jot, Noted in Style, Office Outlet, Martha Brook, Chroma Stationery, Herts FullStop, Ampersans, Mulberry Bush and Early Years Resources.

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The Retas Rollcall

The Retas 2018 Finalists

There is a wonderful array of UK greeting card retailing creatures in the greeting card sea, ‘schooled’ on how to tempt shoals of customers through their shop door, and The Retas 2018 are dedicated annual awards that recognise and rewards these greeting card retailers right across the spectrum.

This year The Retas Awards will be an Into The Blue oceanic themed ball at The Dorchester Hotel in London on Wednesday July 11, when this year’s winners will be announced.

Here are the official finalists of The Retas 2018.

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer London (inside the M25) n n n n n n

Caxton - Temple Fortune Medici Gallery - South Kensington Mooch - Ealing Moments - Wanstead My Favourite Things - Raynes Park Northwood Cards & Gifts - Northwood

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer Home Counties n n n n n n

Cardies - Stevenage Card Shack - Broadstairs Creased Cards - Brighton Moda - Folkestone Nest at No 9 - Olney White Mint - Berkhamsted and St Albans

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer East Anglia n n n n n n

Cards R Us - South Woodham Ferrers The Card Shop - Norwich Celebrations Hallmark - Aylsham The House Of Cards - Lincoln The Olive Tree - Billericay and Brentwood Snape Maltings - Aldeburgh

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer South West n Just Cards - Honiton n Lorelei - Truro n Occasional Cards - Kingsbridge

n Paper Moon - Sidmouth n Romantica - three stores in Bristol n Southbourne Cards - Bournemouth

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer Wales and the Midlands n n n n n n

Austin & Co - Malvern Celebrations - Stourbridge The Little Card & Gift Company - Newport Nest - Leicester Paperweight - Cardiff You - Stamford

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer North and Northern Ireland n n n n n n

Hallmark Widnes - Widnes Just For You - Belfast RBUK - Rochdale Reflections - Nantwich Sincerely Yours - Warrington Thinking Of You - Denby Dale

Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer Scotland n n n n n n

Everyone’s Designs - Edinburgh Gibsons of Haddington - Haddington JP Pozzi and Bijou - Buckie and Elgin Kairds - Kirkwall Paper Tiger - two stores in Edinburgh Top Drawer - St Andrews

Best Greeting Card Retailer Newcomer or New Branch - South n n n n n n

Bromley & Co - Ipswich The Cat’s Whiskers - Bishops Cleeve Mustard - Oadby Objectables - Folkestone Paper Turtle - Lewes Wave - Bungay

Best Greeting Card Retailer Newcomer or New Branch North n n n n n n

Baileys Cards & Gifts (Hallmark) - Ainsdale Best Wishes - Garstang Cards & Gifts - Sheffield West Kirby Cards - Wirral Holly Blue - Saltburn By The Sea Pencil Me In - Elgin PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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www.heartsdesignsgallery.co.uk hello@heartsdesigns.info +44 (0) 1424 777491

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The Retas Rollcall

Best Independent Bookstore Retailer of Greeting Cards

n Waterstones - 250+ stores nationwide n WHSmith - 611 stores nationwide

n n n n

Best Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards (20+ stores)

Carnforth Bookshop - Carnforth Daunt Books - eight stores Diss Publishing Bookshop - Diss Gerrards Cross & Chorleywood Bookshops - Gerrards Cross and Chorleywood n The Guisborough Bookshop - Guisborough n Wimbledon Books - Wimbledon

Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards - North n n n n n n

The Apple Tree Gift Shop & Teahouse - Ockbrook Blaby Post Office - Blaby Church Gallery - Kirkby Stephen Gift + Home - Altrincham and Hale Oklahoma - Manchester QLM House & Home - Leeds

Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards - South n n n n n n

Cadeaux & Co - Chipping Sodbury and Wells Darts Farm Shop - Topsham Fourteen Lifestyle - Stroud Ginger Fig - Taunton In Heaven At Home - Market Harborough Newport Pagnell Post Office - Newport Pagnell

n n n n n n

Cards Direct - 20+ stores Card Factory - 900+ stores Cards Galore - 50 stores Cardzone Group - 100+ stores Paperchase - 130+ stores Scribbler - 34 stores

Best Garden Centre Retailer of Greeting Cards n n n n n

British Garden Centres - 10 branches nationwide Garsons - Esher and Titchfield Hawley Garden Centre - Dartford Klondyke & Strikes - 22 garden centres Longacres - Bagshot, Bybrook Barn, Chobham and Shepperton n Thurrock Garden Centre - Ockenden

Best Greeting Card Retailer Initiative (for a specific project or initiative undertaken by a retailer to promote card sales) n Blue Rose Gifts & Balloons, Heywood - for its 1940s

celebration and Armed Forces Day initiative n Calliope Gifts, Alton, Dorking and Heywards Heath -

for its Thinking of You Week initiative

Best Greeting Card Small Multiple (4-20 stores) n 3 Wishes - Broadstone, Ferndown, Lymington, n n n n n

Ringwood and Verwood Between The Lines - 14 stores in the South House of Cards - six stores in the Home Counties Mayther - seven stores in the South Postmark - five stores in London Zo & Co - four stores in Greater Manchester and Cheshire

Best Department Store Retailer of Greeting Cards n n n n n n

Atkinsons - Sheffield Barkers - Northallerton Bentalls - Kingston Fenwicks of Newcastle - Newcastle John Lewis - 50 stores Morley Group - eight stores

Best Supermarket Retailer of Greeting Cards n n n n n n

Asda Co-Op Morrisons Sainsbury’s Tesco Waitrose

Best Non-Specialist Multiple Retailer of Greeting Cards (20+ stores) n n n n

Gee Tee’s - five stores in the North Marks & Spencer - 1000+ stores nationwide National Trust - 200+ stores nationwide Oliver Bonas - 70 stores nationwide

n Dragonfly Cards & Gifts, Knaresborough - for its Thank

You Teacher initiative n Ohh Deer, Ipswich - for its Creative Corner n Scribbler - for its Valentine’s Speed Dating Event n Wishes of Cudworth - for its Cudworth Bunny Trail

Best Greeting Card Service Based Wholesaler n n n n n n

Archway Cards - Norwich Budget Greeting Cards - eight branches UK and Eire Crosswear Trading - Enfield Greetings House - Walsall Jacksons - Sheffield Paul White Group - Gateshead, Leeds, Nottingham

Greeting Card Retail Employee of the Year n Jan Dowell, manager of three Card Factory stores, Merry

Hill shopping centre, Birmingham n Emma Guy, sales assistant of Jarrolds, Norwich n Kelly Medgett, store manager of Card Factory, Bluewater

shopping centre, Kent n Norma Tomkinson, The Card Room supervisor for Gee

Tee’s, Westhoughton n Samantha Williams, retail store manager of Blaby Post

Office, Blaby n Tracy Wynne, manager of Hallmark, Widnes

Greeting Card Retailer of the Year To be announced at The Retas Awards. The winners of the other categories are finalists in this category.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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OVER THE COUNTER

Building Bonds Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, takes a look at relationships with the ‘audience’ that we need to build in business.

Gerry Cinnamon is probably not a name that will mean very much to you. I would doubt in fact that any of you will know who he is.

Gerald Crosby (Cinnamon was a given name) was born in a tough working class part of Glasgow where, in his teenage years, he got into trouble. Journeying to London to stay with family and friends he learned to play the guitar out of sheer boredom. And with the music tapes of his mother’s (Stones, Beatles, Oasis) still fresh in his ears, he learned to write and craft songs.

Working his trade from an open mic to small gigs, Gerry built a devout following locally where his brutal lyrics resonated with so many people on so many different levels.

He continued to build his popularity, until selling out the 2,500 capacity ABC O2 Academy in 2016 off the back of a single Facebook post. This is where I first heard of him.

I have now seen Gerry twice in the last month. Both nights the crowd were electric.

They were hungry for the sermon that was about to be given and Gerry did not disappoint. He speaks to a generation who are crying out for someone to relate to their life and challenges.

Gerry is anti-establishment and doesn’t have a record label or PR man. He uses social media to connect with his audience, and now he is embarking on a UK and Irish tour, which sold out in minutes. In his gigs he positively preaches that all he needs is the tunes and the people, not all the politics of the music business.

It is a long time since I have had the desire to go and see someone play so much.

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

It is purely because of the connection between Gerry and his audience. You can’t help but get swept up in each hymn as it builds and builds and the crowd gets involved.

These connections, this relationship, is something that we as indie businesses must also do. It is crucial that we create a great relationship and connection between our customers, our suppliers and of course our staff.

In fact, in a small way, this column has been trying to be like Gerry. I want, and have always tried, to create a tribe behind it who will agree and disagree in equal parts with what I say and try to challenge me to be better. I don’t, and have no desire, to follow any set plan and have never had any interference from my editors. I need to go where I want and also where the audience/reader/shopper wants too.

My business is changing, and I am pretty sure yours is as well. We must foster the relationships that will allow us to flourish.

The theme of falling footfall and struggling businesses is covered almost daily in the national press, although retail is getting a slight break right now.

Above: Gerry Cinnamon connecting with his audience.

Below: The Just a Card campaign encouraged customers to buy from indies and craft makers.

At the moment the trend is for indie coffee shops and not coffee chains. I hope that this trend can be replicated in our industry. Campaigns like Small Business Saturday, Just a Card and others highlight lots of different diverse makers, designers, galleries and stores trying to help them survive. Indies’ Instagram feeds and Facebook timelines have all seen the quote: ‘When you buy from an independent store an actual person does a little happy dance’ or ‘Support a small business, you are actually making someone’s dreams come true’.

While clichés, these quotes are both very true and we need to practice what we preach. Support those around you, and the communities that these businesses are rooted in will respond.

So while we need to put the emphasis on different and unusual stock, that is only one part of the puzzle, another key part is the relationship between the main invested parties.

I brainstormed the words that I thought could help build these connections and came up with the following: Honest, reliable, supportive, understanding, accommodative, inventive, helpful, inquisitive, creative, diverse, mindful. However, breaking it down more specifically: Respect and earn suppliers’ trust In terms of suppliers, pay them as quickly as you can within your terms. If you can’t make the payment then speak to them. They are facing the same challenges as us retailers and I have always found that they are very good when you communicate.

Evaluate your suppliers - Often suppliers are very good and give you a certain degree of exclusivity. It is a coveted thing, but cannot be abused if you aren’t buying and

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OVER THE COUNTER don’t intend to let the company or agent know that you have stopped ordering. So let them know so that they can find an alternative route to market.

Be honest with your agents and sales people - Be honest about why you are not seeing them. It hurts sometimes to say we don’t need anything because we don’t have the money or haven’t been busy instore.

I know myself that can be tough, but better that than dragging them to your store, costing them money, and then having that awkward meeting as they look at you and you look at them.

Staff relationships - Relationships as we all know are a two-way thing. Human beings are naturally social creatures – we crave friendship and positive interactions, just as we do food and water. So it makes sense that the better our relationships are at work, the happier and more productive we're going to be. Good working relationships give us several other benefits: Work is more enjoyable; we are receptive to change and it’s more innovative and creative.

More importantly, good relationships give us freedom as we don’t have to worry about the negatives and can focus more on the opportunities. To do this you need to look at yourself and work on many aspects. You need to constantly be working on your people skills: How do you speak to people? Collaborate with people and deal with conflict? Have you identified what you want from a relationship?

Have you communicated this to staff?

Striking the right balance is always difficult and it is a constantly evolving and changing dynamic.

Your customers or ‘tribe’ - You simply want them to love what you do. This could be through sales or comments or feedback. This is something that social media has helped

greatly with, but of course you need to be strong enough to take the good with the bad, while always focusing on the positive.

It is crucial to create a dialogue with your customers and for you to hear what they think of your store, stock and customer service. This is the only way to improve.

Maybe you can run a survey? Or have a quick questionnaire? Leaving yourself open like this can be daunting but you have to listen to progress.

What about you? - Something we perhaps don’t like to do is look at our own Emotional Intelligence (EI) - what is it that makes you happy? What feedback do you best respond to? Just because you are the boss you still need positive reinforcement and encouragement too, maybe now more than ever. How do you get that? From family, friends, those that work closest to you?

I, for example, believe our new Pozzi store has never looked better. We have had so many comments from suppliers and customers, yet my mum takes it very personally if the figures are not as good as she hoped. I keep reminding her that this is systematic across the UK not just to her, but it is difficult to accept that at times.

So always appreciate others and acknowledge what they do. If you are not happy then tell them and explain why. This is just as important as anything else as nobody gets it right all the time.

You also need to manage your boundaries in terms of what you expect and you do for your staff and customers. The new open dialogue that is social Top: Find your customer ‘tribe’ – a card from The Alternative Image Co (© Topfoto).

Above right: A beautiful friendship - David’s gorgeous dog Holly sadly passed away.

Left: Positive reinforcement helps nurture good relationships with staff – image from the BBC’s TV show Still Open All Hours.

media has now got us all answering a message at midnight, but this can actually cause problems.

I proved that this week by agreeing to book a table at our restaurant and then forgetting to do it. Yes we are all keen to secure custom but when we push these boundaries we can go too far.

Listening skills - My next two points kind of work together. Avoid gossiping or getting drawn into things, but listen actively both to what is being said directly and indirectly in your business.

Listening is my biggest weakness. I am so eager to help make a point or tell a story I can often interrupt or talk over, which I really don’t mean to do – I’m just a bit too keen at times but I am really trying to keep this behaviour in check.

I have barely scratched the surface with how we can build a rapport like Gerry has with his audience. We probably can’t get quite to that point with our business relationships. But we need to make sure at their very worst they are workable and at their very best they are cherished and that our tribe loves our shops and they want to keep coming back.

Longevity of relationships are also key. I want to speak about a 16.5 year cherished relationship I have had. I write this today with a heavy heart as I had to put my beloved doggy Holly to sleep last week. She has helped me so much in life and business.

She was there when my business was just one building and a handful of staff.

Later, anytime she was in any of the shops she used to run about as if to say ‘this is all mine you know!’, and I loved that, stupid as it may seem.

Indeed this very column is read aloud by me to her often as I put it together. She used to sit listening and I reckon was thinking ‘Not this boring rubbish again dad!’

Dogs don’t want much from you but the relationship you can have with them is second to none. They always want to be with you and are always pleased to see you... we can only wish our customers were like that.

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

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CARDSHARP

Bring Me Sunshine Yesterday, Cardsharp, was driving through Regent’s Park.

It was 27 degrees and there was not a cloud in the clear blue sky. The cherry blossom on the trees was a resplendent pink, and joggers, walkers and cyclists were all laughing, chatting and smiling. BBC Radio 4 news was blaring out and the newscaster announced that inflation had fallen to 2.5%, while wages had risen to an annual rate of 2.7 %. The squeeze on disposable income that has had such a horrid effect on retailing in our and many other industries was coming to an end. A business economist then came on the air and predicted: “We expect retail sales volumes to rebound in the next few months.” To Cardsharp, this and the glorious sunshine was starting to make the world look a much better place!

Let’s us face it, by Cardsharp’s reckoning it has been a long miserable cold winter, both meteorologically and economically.

Christmas for many retailers was a bit of a disappointment. And the situation was made worse for publishers with many retailers having been overstocked.

Cardsharp has heard tales of too many greeting card publishers receiving back ‘returns’ as high as 40% of the original order. Such a high level of returns is not good for the publishers and not good for the environment, if these cards don’t find their way to market again. Many publishers will have to write off big credits, while other retailers who buy on a firmer sale basis will no doubt be reducing their orders for this year knowing that they have a considerable amount of stock in hand for Christmas already. Indeed Cardsharp has heard that most publishers’

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Christmas pre-orders are way, way behind this time last year.

Then we had a tough first quarter to the year. The Spring Seasons were good, bad or indifferent depending on whom you talk to, but overall general sales at retail have been disappointing. The cold and snowy weather, the so-called ‘Beast from

Above: Sunny weather in Regents Park lifted Cardsharp’s spirits.

Below: The ‘Beast from the East’ caused upheaval in retail sales as well as people’s everyday lives.

the East’ certainly affected footfall and then the high hopes of the Easter break (promising a chance to catch up) were dashed by the miserable climes once again as torrential rain kept many consumers at home. This meant that online sales did well at bricks and mortar’s expense. Indeed the 17% market share of online retail sales for March was the highest on record.

Garden centres, which have been a growing area for card sales have had a particularly hard time. Cardsharp heard that sales through garden centres in the first quarter were down by 15%, with real concern mooted in the media about the financial health of Wyevale, one of the largest multiple groups. Cardsharp recently visited his local store and was shocked by what he saw... dying plants, bare shelves and card displays full of empty pockets, which did not exactly imbue confidence.

Garden centres apart, most estimates for overall retail sales in the first quarter was that they were down 5%. Bad enough in itself but when you add in the increased costs that retailers have had to absorb in terms

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CARDSHARP

of the increase in the minimum wage and the National Pension contribution and it is not surprising why many retailers are on the brink.

Maplin and Toys R Us have already gone belly up, but now the attention seems to be turning to the department store sector with both Debenhams and House of Fraser undergoing or considering a Creditors Voluntary Agreement (CVA).

One side effect of these tough trading conditions ironically is a pick-up in business for the wholesale sector of the market, which has been hit hard in the last two decades. It would seem many independents, reluctant to commit to ordering too much stock, are visiting wholesalers more frequently to top up with stock they really need, rather than bulk ordering from reps and agents. Balloons and party products also appear to be performing well, as many retailers look for something to replace the fall in plush and candle sales.

Cardsharp was interested to read in PG that card retailing multiple, Cardzone is seeking to capitalise on the tough times that many independent card shops are experiencing. Buoyant from its appearance at number 63 in the Sunday Times list of fastest growing companies, when it comes to profit, the Notts-based multiple has let it be known to owners of good stores that have had enough and want to sell out that they should make contact. Cardsharp has heard that half a dozen shop owners in Scotland (hitherto almost virgin territory for Cardzone) are being acquired with more deals in the offing, as this ambitious retailer looks to push to over 200 stores. It has beefed up its management team in preparation for this new phase of expansion and it will be fascinating to see if owner, Paul Taylor achieves this ambition.

Card Factory again achieved what Cardsharp thought was a very good set of figures in difficult circumstances. The growth of the value card chain continues unabated by any kind of weather! It is now up to over 900 stores, having opened 50 stores in the last year, including six trial shops in Eire, and its like-for-like store sales were up 2.9 %. Interestingly Card Factory experienced a big increase in noncard sales. The figures may not have been enough to please the City, but with so many of its direct product costs in the Far East pushed up by the devaluation of sterling, to Cardsharp’s mind it is a very creditable performance. Its progress has been recognised in the wider retailing community, with Card Factory winning the Specialist Retailer of the Year award at the recent Retail Week Awards.

The ‘elephant in the room’ is the 300+ specialist greeting card chain, Clintons.

Being privately owned by the Weiss family, and by being very economical with any

news about its trading, Clintons seems to have avoided much of the speculation that has affected so many of our high street names.

But it is legitimate to ask what will happen to Clintons now?

The Weiss family, having sold a majority of American Greetings, has retained 100% ownership of the UK’s second largest greeting card multiple. Is that because the family has big plans in the UK for the chain, or is because putting the loss making chain into the sale of American Greetings was a potential deal breaker? What

Above left: The inclement weather certainly didn’t help to grow sales for garden centres.

Above: Clintons has become the ‘elephant in the room’.

Below left: Maplin has been one of several retail casualties.

Bottom: The legendary Morecombe and Wise were always guaranteed to ‘Bring me sunshine’.

is fact, is that on paper anyway, Clintons’ financial performance in the last couple of years, when things were certainly better on the high street did not make good reading.

And Cardsharp would find it hard to believe that given current trading conditions they are any better! Watch this space is Cardsharp’s advice.

But reflected Cardsharp, perhaps we in the retail trade, either directly on the front line facing the consumer or as a supplier level may have experienced the worst in the last few months. The days of wine and roses for bricks and mortar may be gone now. The internet and unfair competition from the likes of Amazon as described by Cardsharp last month’s column have put pay to that. But Cardsharp felt that sunny afternoon driving through Regent’s Park might prove a pivotal point in time. Hopefully things will start to improve and consumers, feeling a bit more flush, will start loosening their purses again and get out shopping, thus improving footfall. We can only hope? As Eric and Ernie used to sing at the end of their show, ‘Bring me Sunshine’!

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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VIEWPOINTS PG LIVE AND KICKING

Memories And Markers

This year’s PG Live (taking place June 5-6 at London’s Business Design Centre) marks the 10th anniversary of the dedicated greeting card show.

PG talks to some of the publishers, retailers and overseas distributors who were at that inaugural show who were keen to share their memories, as well as their views, on what has changed in the trade in the intervening years.

Alan Harnik, president of Notes & Queries, a leading US distributor of UK greeting card publishers: In the beginning: “The first PG Live show was something very new for all of us attending. It gave us the opportunity to see paper products - greeting cards, wrap, bags etc - all under one roof. The buying experience was so, so different from all the other trade shows in the UK. PG Live offered three floors of greeting cards; I was like a child in a candy store not sure where to begin. While stands were smaller, the focus was on the product, not the display.”

The evolution: “Over the years the quality of publishers exhibiting at PG Live has really grown. This is not to say that there wasn't quality in the beginning, but rather that some publishers who ‘sat on the outside’ for the first few years then recognised PG Live as an opportunity to grow their business, not only in their domestic market, but also with export, which is why we come.

Over the years the new publishers exhibiting have become better informed about export, thanks largely to the mentoring system of The Ladder Club and other publishers giving the new folks a helping hand.”

Your company’s decade: “Notes and Queries exists as a company because we have been forced to change in the way we do business. Over the last decade since PG Live started, our account

Top: The venue’s the same (London’s Business Design Centre) and many of the exhibitors and visitors are too, but there will be lots of newness at PG Live 2018!

Above: (Left-right) Alan Harnik (from US’ Notes & Queries), Belinda and John Simson (from Australia’s Simson Cards) and Deidre Robinson (from New Zealand’s Imagery Gallery) at the 2009 PG Live.

They are all planning to be

base in independents has shrunk, but this gap has been filled with new niche retailers, like symphony music hall shops or even butterfly shops (to whom we sell all of our cards that feature butterflies in the designs). We buy smarter now; our eye has become keener over the years.

We look for gaps in the marketplace and attempt to fill them with the best in show for those categories.

We have been very fortunate that over the years with our long standing relationship with companies like The Art File, Caroline Gardner, Lip International and Quire, plus we have been developing and building relationships with Paper d'art, Belly Button, Tracks, Museums and Galleries among many others.

Each year we add one or two new lines to the Notes & Queries portfolio. The biggest challenge for us continues to be competing as a distributor not a publisher against the goliaths in the marketplace.

American Greetings and Hallmark make up over 93% of all greeting cards sold in the US with countless publishers fighting over less than 7% of market share left. I am amazed that we still remain in business given these odds - PG Live has played a part in this!”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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VIEWPOINTS PG LIVE AND KICKING Wendy Jones-Blackett, co-owner of Wendy Jones-Blackett: In the beginning: “The first PG Live was just amazing, it was so exciting to be part of. I genuinely didn’t sleep a wink the night before – I spent the whole of the first day fuelled by coffee. Steve [Wendy’s husband and business partner] and I weren’t sure what to expect, but there was what I can only describe as an avalanche of buyers and customers when the show opened!”

The evolution: “The way PG Live has grown, attracting more and more of the ‘big' buyers and increasing numbers of export/licensing partners every year, has been immense.

Social media has really taken off in the ten years since PG Live started, which means we, as exhibitors, can be much more hands-on with promoting the show beforehand.

However the biggest game-changer over PG Live’s lifetime has been among the ‘newbies’ with digital printing and warehousing options, small businesses can be run successfully from home with tiny printruns and distribution looked after by third parties. This influx of original, creative designers keeps the industry buzzing and means the shops are kept full of innovative product, which in turn, keeps the industry alive! PG Live’s Springboard area has been and is the perfect platform for these businesses to get their ideas in front of the top buyers!”

PG Live plans: “At this year’s PG Live we’ll be adding more birthday and occasions designs to our Star Dusted range, which was launched this year and is having excellent sales both here and overseas. We also have a 'pop-up' range to try out, unlike anything else out there at the moment and with an original twist on an envelope!”

Top: Wendy Jones-Blackett (second left) at the 2009 Opening Night party with GF Smith’s Janet Stevens (far right) and A Made Hand’s Mary Kirkham and her former business partner.

Above middle: The Wendy Jones-Blackett advertisement that appeared in PG’s May 2009 edition for its then new Quicksilver range.

Above: One of the brand new designs from Wendy Jones-Blackett’s Star Dusted range.

David Corner, sales director of Portfolio: In the beginning: “Right from the start PG Live established itself as a major part of the exhibition calendar, and even going back to day one, always attracted a good range of buyers attending. It is in a great location and remains a fun environment to meet up with customers and agents alike.”

The evolution: “Over the last ten years the consumer has placed a greater emphasis on design and finishing when purchasing a card, something which has benefited our business and grown the contemporary greeting card market in general.

Enhanced printing and finishing treatments have really increased the quality of cards in general.”

PG Live plans: “Portfolio will be marking PG Live’s 10th anniversary show by extending our recent ranges of Alma Rose and Enchanted into occasions as well as adding 90th and 100th birthday designs in our ever popular Jaz&Baz range.”

Above: Portfolio’s David Corner (right) and Jayne Diggory with Paper Art’s Rohit Patel at the 2015 PG Live.

Left: One of the new designs from Portfolio’s Enchanted range that will be showcased at PG Live 2018.

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

John Procter, co-owner of Scribbler: In the beginning: “I have quite a hazy memory of first PG Live, probably something to do with the after show party!

Seriously though, l do remember saying then that it was so good to have a show dedicated only to cards and recall that we found numerous new publishers at that inaugural PG Live. The same can be said for all of the subsequent shows - we never fail to discover great new talent that is the lifeblood of Scribbler.”

The evolution: “As for Scribbler’s evolution over the last 10 years, we have just kept getting bigger (now approaching 40 branches) with an increasing reliance on cards. We now have a greater proportion of our own products, but we absolutely need the great designs and ideas from our ever-increasing stable of independent publishers.

Card sending is, without question, plateauing but the numbers are consistent and our customers still seem to appreciate our style of humour - even though the Daily Mail may beg to differ!

Looking to the future, sustainability will be a major factor for us and the industry this year - and rightly so.

Prime location overheads are becoming unsustainable, in London especially, but we have opened many successful outlets. We have plans for a new website, a greener approach to supplying cards to stores and six stores on the slate to open. Apart from that we’re taking things pretty easy!”

Top: Scribbler’s John Procter (left) presenting the retailer’s Golden Ticket (having won a Retas award in 2008) with agent Beth Robson on the Special Delivery stand back at the 2009 show.

Above: The last decade has seen Scribbler expand considerably, including outside of its London heartland, but this store in Glasgow was trading in 2009.

PG Live 2018: Show Essentials This year’s show will be brimming with new designs, leading and brand new suppliers will be there, collectively ensuring that PG Live 2018 will deliver the greatest collection of greeting cards!

DATE: VENUE: TEL: E-MAIL: REGISTER:

Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 June, 2018 Business Design Centre, London +44 (0)1635 297070 warren@max-publishing.co.uk www.progressivegreetingslive.com

l Enjoy a free lunch on both days of the show courtesy of show organisers Max Exhibitions. Choose from hot and cold dishes or a selection of sandwiches.

33-35.qxp_Grid 24/04/2018 12:44 Page 35

VIEWPOINTS PG LIVE AND KICKING Sonya Haandrikman-Sibbald, director of Celebrations Card & Party Store in Carlisle: In the beginning: “It was an honour for us to be invited to open the very first ever PG Live and to show our support for this significant industry development. I can remember there was a real sense of anticipation and it was exciting to see something fresh and new injected into the industry.

(We still have the scissors and a portion of the pretty ribbon we cut as a keepsake of the day!)

From the very first show, we felt really looked after with the complementary refreshments throughout the day. No other trade show does this.

It is a reflection of the generosity of the organisers and show owners (Jakki, Warren and co).”

The evolution: “We have always loved attending PG Live. It always has a certain ‘feel’ about it. From the beautiful ladies donned in gowns of greeting cards to quirky elements, like the experience of writing a card for the Queen, the show has a flamboyance and theatricality, which is a breath of fresh air to us as retailers.

There are a lot more suppliers exhibiting now than there were in the early days of PG Live, giving a greater diversity and depth of product range and there are also a lot more people attending than in those first years.

As well as being great for sourcing, PG Live has built up a reputation as ‘the sociable show’, providing a real chance to mingle and catch up with friends and contacts in the industry - including at the amazing after party.

From the second year onwards, when the Springboard area was launched, PG Live has always been a platform for small publishers and designers to showcase their product. It is commendable that

Above: Celebrations’ Sonya Haandrikman-Sibbald (second left) with her mum and business partner, Tanya Haandrikman and House of Cards’ Miles Robinson (second right) and Nigel Williamson at the very first show.

Left: The meeters and greeters’ dresses made of exhibitors’ cards and wrap have become much more flamboyant over the years.

PG Live gives them the means to do so - I just love the vibrant buzz in the Springboard area.”

A decade of change: “The greeting card industry has changed so much over the last decade and unfortunately in many ways has become a lot tougher on the high street. As a result we have had to develop and diversify our product range to suit the ever-changing trends and to keep up with the needs of the demanding consumer. People want more specific and personalised products now, with all retailers having to up their game to survive in this ever challenging market.

Social media are also key factors which have been major developments for us over the decade since PG Live started, and is something which we can only see growing in the future.”

Anu Hartonen, managing director of Helsinki-based retailer, publisher and distributor Putinki: In the beginning: “It is hard to believe that 10 years have passed since the first PG Live. As a buyer I have visited every single PG Live from the very beginning. This year will be my first time as an exhibitor too, which is really exciting.

In a funny way PG Live always feels like ‘the new show’. I love coming to London every year and going to PG Live feels like coming home, but not in a boring way! I feel that of all the shows I have ever visited around the world, PG Live is the friendliest. Its strong selection of exhibitors and concentration on cards, makes for easy and potent purchasing. PG Live has a special way of bringing people together and making work fun.”

The evolution: “A decade ago Putinki was a distributor with a large assortment of imported designs (many from UK publishers). Back then we only had a few Finnish artists that we worked with, publishing their art as cards, posters and calendars.

Over the last decade we have grown our turnover by more than 50%. We now work with a great number of Finnish illustrators, and today Above right: Some of the products from the brand new Pentik collection from Putinki that will be shown at PG Live.

Above: Pintinki’s Anu Hartonen (left) and colleague Kirsi Ala-Kurikka with PG Live’s Jakki Brown at the 2013 show.

Left: One of Putinki’s shops in Helsinki.

half of our collection is ‘home grown’, with Roger la Borde distributing our letterpress range. In addition to new designs we have also expanded into new product areas, such as notebooks and other stationery products.

We have two shops in Helsinki and an inhouse letterpress printing production. And a big and important change is going on right now, we are entering the export market and PG Live is part of this!

As for the industry’s evolution, there are fewer big companies in the market as many have merged. Luckily we are working with card companies (including Roger la Borde, Bug Art, The Art File, Hammond Gower, Lagom, Busy B, Belly Button, Noi, Caroline Gardner, Paper Salad and Go Stationery) that have remained independent and grown to be stronger, in the same way that we have. These companies have developed their business in this changing world by remaining passionate about doing it their way.”

PG Live plans: “Since this will be our first time exhibiting at PG Live, it is like we are launching our entire collection to this audience.

We are adding new additions featuring bright and beautiful designs, all with ‘a Nordic feel. We have recently signed a partnership with Finnish interior design retailer Pentik, which has given us access to its beautiful collection of designs that started life on its fabrics.

We are loving the boom for Nordic design - exactly our thing!”

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Industry Issue

An All Inclusive

Package?

Inset: It takes all sorts to make a world, but is this diversity being truly reflected on the card racks?

Below: The ‘Happy You Day’ design from Waitrose in its Mother’s Day collection was applauded on the front page of the Sunday Times (and other media) for its inclusive gender-neutral approach.

Below middile: Davora has earned a strong reputation for catering for a myriad of ethnic celebrations.

Bottom left: Huetribe’s stand at next month’s PG Live will showcase the publisher’s thrust for inclusivity.

It has been a long-held belief that greeting cards reflect society. While this may be the case in design and editorial, with the adoption of fashion trends and common parlance making their way super quick onto greeting card designs.

But what about on a broader societal scale?

With Waitrose and Scribbler making front page news for their respective inclusive Mother’s Day cards, PG considers whether the UK greeting card industry is keeping pace with diversity.

‘Mother’s Day cards go gender-neutral’ was the headline of a front page news item on the Sunday Times recently. The newspaper kicked off a media equivalent of a round of applause for Waitrose and Scribbler for their inclusive approaches to Mother’s Day cards.

And this was a follow on from a thumbs-up for Sainsbury’s, whose mission is to be ‘the most inclusive retailer where people love to work and shop’ for its own brand single sex Christmas and Valentine’s Day card designs.

Meanwhile, next month’s PG Live sees the greatest representation of publishers aimed at celebrating and recognising cultural and sexual diversity since the show began from established players as well as a spate of newbie start-ups. So is it big multi-cultural ticks all round then?

36

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Just as in life and business, whatever your colour, creed or sexual persuasion, there is always room for improvement.

As a long-time publisher of humorous designs that caters well for the gay community within its wide portfolio, Dean Morris, founder of the eponymous company is well qualified to comment as to where the trade is on the inclusivity front for the LGBT front especially.

“I do believe it is a lot better than it was in both availability of cards and also the selection and design of what is on offer. I remember when the only cards catering for the gay community I would see were either a little too ‘worthy’ to not sound too insulting or comprised of clichéd designs - almost always black and white images of two hands holding and the like,“ recalls Dean. Fast forward to today and his take is “What we have now are card companies having a bit more fun and cards being on offer for say, ‘two mummies’ and it not being such a big deal. Products are certainly not as niche as they were, something has followed ‘the real world’ quite closely,” with

the internet facilitating a much broader choice of offering. However, he does add that the fact that gay designs still “makes the news signifies we’re not completely there yet!”

Tineka Smith, founder of Huetribe agrees that while people of colour and the LGBT community have won many social victories in relatively recent history, that there are still very few greeting card products on the market that reflect the diversity of relationships today.

“It's a sad reality that I know I can go into a store and will find a card for my friend's cat that just died but not one to celebrate my anniversary with my husband, because we happen to be an interracial couple,” prompts Tineka.

According to the market research Huetribe undertook last year, involving 2,000 Britons across a variety of backgrounds, “73% said they wanted to see more minorities on greeting cards,” says Tineka.

Tineka recognises that it's not just up to the greeting card publishers to create cards to address these gaps, “it's also up to the buyers and sales agents to accept and support them this is where the real change can begin.”

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Industry Issue

Retail perspective

Both Waitrose and Scribbler were swift to respond to the enquiry from the Sunday Times journalist in March, sparked by the inclusion of the ‘Happy You Day’ caption within Waitrose’s own brand Mother’s Day selection, but also celebrated Scribbler’s approach of catering for same sex parents for the Spring Season event.

“Scribbler has always positioned itself as a retailer who offers cards and gifts that you cannot get anywhere else and our inclusive card collections showcase this,” states Vanessa Mallia, Scribbler’s PR and social media manager. In addition to stocking designs from publishers, such as Dean Morris Cards, that caters for the LGBT community Scribbler has also been creating its own branded cards and gifts “and inclusive and diverse elements are always at the forefront of our minds when deciding on new ranges or designs,” adds Vanessa.

Sainsbury’s is another retailer who has shown its commitment to diversity. Senior card buyer, Carly Pearson said that the grocer “is currently working on further strengthening our offer to appeal to a broader customer base”. As she told the packed house at the most recent GCA AGM in her keynote speech, “The population in the UK above 16 stands at 51 million with 3.1 million adults currently identifying themselves as ‘not hetrosexual’ - that’s 6% of the total adult population of the UK,” before leaving publishers with a shared challenge: “How is it possible that we can and do have cards in our ranges both from and to the cat and dog, but no cards that address the lifestyle of 6% of the population?”

Above: A Dean Morris card design that sold well for Scribbler among others.

In her experience, she feels that some retailers and sales agents do not order or carry diverse cards as they see them as too niche as to be commercially viable.

However, as she points out: “Minorities make up around 20% of the UK and around 7% identify as LGBT. Those percentages are rapidly increasing. And again we have to remember that whites and heterosexuals are friends and family members of minorities, mixed race and LGBT people, so the market reach expands even further.”

As Rajeev Arora, managing director of leading multicultural publisher, Davora stresses, while ‘Know your customer’ is a

key attitude for any business, Raj suggests extending that “to include ‘know your demographics too’.

Retailers need to find out who their local customers are. We regularly help our customers do exactly this from an ethnicity perspective, to ensure they are catering for all.”

As Raj sums up: “Greeting cards do reflect our society's diversity - but not enough. As times and attitudes change, greeting cards need to make a greater effort to keep up.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1967 yet it's taken almost half a century for the change in attitudes to permeate society and we're only now seeing this reflected in greeting cards. And it's a similar story for ethnic cards.

It's the diversity of cultures amidst us that gives us reason to celebrate, learn and appreciate our world.”

Above: Georgina Fihosy, founder of afro-centric card company, Special Touch Designs that will make its trade show debut at next month’s PG Live.

Above far right: Dayo’s Cards’ designs celebrate the founder’s vibrancy and Dayo Williams would love to faciltate more dialogue about diversity on cards.

Above right: One of the gay-friendly designs from 1Tree Cards.

Left: Huetribe’s founder Tineka Smith (left) with Dayo Williams, founder of Dayo’s Cards at the recent GCA Dragons’ Den event.

PG Live’s diversity

Among those companies making their debuts at PG Live are three companies whose remit is to celebrate diversity 1 Tree Cards, Dayo’s Cards and Special Touch Cards.

It was not being able to buy appropriate cards for her friends and family for introduction cards, kitchen parties, Mendi cards and naming celebrations that prompted Dayo Williams to set up Dayo’s Cards, whose hand-finished cards feature African fabrics. “Government statistics show in the UK, 87% of people are white while 13% belong are part of the BAME group, ie Black, Asian, Mixed or other Ethnicity. This means that unless a retailer is catering for the BAME needs, these 13% of their customers would need to visit artisans to get a card reflective of their ethnicity and race.”

Like Dayo, it was also through personal experience that prompted Georgina Fihosy to set up her company, Special Touch Designs.

“I remember walking into a busy high street card retailer in London in search of a card for my Nigerian friend who had just had a baby. I wanted something that was a reflection of her and her new family and one that was representative of her culture and black identity, but sadly I was met with cute white baby feet or illustrations of storks carrying white babies,” recalls Georgina.

She has joined forces with a number of black-owned artists and card publishers to launch the #cardsofcolour campaign across social media to help people find representative cards.

With a Kickstarter campaign well underway as PG went to press, the co-founders of 1 Tree Cards, Becky Kijama and her wife Michiko are living breathing diversity champions (as well as eco-warriors).

To their mind the industry would benefit from a greater input from those in LGBT or ethnic minority groups, both on the designs and even some of the wording. Becky said that looking at some of the current card offerings same sex women's cards have a tendency to feature “very feminine women eg. women in dresses with long hair etc. which is not always representative of our community.”

Sharing a personal experience Becky said: “Mum was really excited to see that there was a Christmas card for her to buy but did giggle that it said 'To my super cute daughter and daughter in law' with what looked like two little girls in dresses ice skating. So, one improvement could be to not have such fixed gender stereotypes!”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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A selection of card ranges launching at Pulse, 13-15 May 2018, Olympia London.

Wonderfully Weird Smiling leopards, partying dogs and moustachioed men feature on a wide array of greeting cards, stationery, homeware products, t-shirts and totes from Abigail Burch.

Illustrator Abigail Burch is inspired by the cute, the funny and the weird.

Her pen and ink artwork retains a hand-drawn charm and expressiveness.

Abigail Burch 07825738235 www.abigailburch.co.uk Pulse, Stand UAL

Up Up & Away

Magical Birthdays

Mister Peebles will be launching some fun new pun-filled cards and its brand new Balloon Animals range at Pulse - a set of number cards featuring celebratory creatures, for kids age 1 – 10 ...and up! The designs are all printed in the UK from original watercolour pencil illustrations onto lovely 280gsm soft white card.

Sarah Lovell Art has added new designs to its ‘Unicorn Magic’ card collection. All of the 15 A6 designs are hand-painted by Sarah Lovell and each features a magical unicorn and are ideal for birthdays. All of the cards come cellowrapped with a colourful envelope. The cards are all printed in the UK using ecofriendly boards and inks.

Mister Peebles www.misterpeebles.co.uk Pulse, Stand B28

Sarah Lovell Art +44 (0) 7979 814146 www.sarahlovell.art Pulse, Stand L64

Ooh La La South of France-based specialist paper goods company, All The Ways To Say, will be showcasing its Jungle collection of coordinated stationery and wrappings.

Company founder, Claire Leina develops original collections based on hand-painted illustration on striking colour combinations.

All The Ways To Say +33 6 33 10 92 09 www.allthewaystosay.com Pulse, Stand E26

Holiday Hues Yorkshire-based design studio, Alison Hardcastle is launching a ‘Sunshine and Holidays’ range, featuring designs of blue skies, sandy beaches, sunrises, sunsets, abstract patterns and shapes with the hues of holidays.

The company is also collaborating with FEAT.Sock Co (from Cape Town and also exhibiting at Pulse) to produce some sock designs centred around the same theme to tie in with the cards.

Alison Hardcastle +44 01759302921 www.alisonhardcastle.co.uk Pulse, Stand J24

Etched On The Brain Inspired by Victorian wood engravings, Bird Brain gives them a humorous modern twist to create ranges of greeting cards and gifts.

New for the show are some facial hair-themed prints, blank designs (one of which is featured), giftwrap as well as Father’s Day and Mother’s Day cards.

Bird Brain +44 07891384820 www.birdbrainlondon.com Pulse, Stand E37

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Col Cards Charles Rennie Mackintosh

See us at PGLive 2018 Stand 239

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PG showcases a selection of new product launches

High There The Juniper Tree Card Company's beautiful High Days range has been extended to include 24 new occasions captions, including wedding, engagement, sympathy, anniversary and new baby. All the designs are 150mm square and printed on high quality textured board to enhance the original stitched fabric artworks.

Hand-finished with pretty gems, the cards are completely UK made and come cellowrapped with a matching envelope.

The Juniper Tree Card Company 07854 247 554 www.junipertreecards.com

Animal Inkstincts

The Cat’s Whiskers

Kate Moby's new spring collection of Inky Animals includes some feathered friends alongside woodland favourites, and maybe even a tropical number! Kate hand-carves bamboo that she grows in her garden into dip pens, and creates all her illustrations using ink. Additionally, Kate has launched her The Holly & the Ivy Christmas range, which is a design twist on a classic carol printed in the UK on sustainably sourced card stock and available singularly or multipacks tied in twine.

The Art Group has launched a range based on the feline artwork by Angie Rozelaar. The inspiration for Planet Cat Studio came when talented artist Angie took up an online challenge to illustrate one hundred cats in one hundred days.

The Art Group’s Planet Cat Studio collection are 160mm square and come with bright envelopes.

The Art Group (0) 115 986 0115 www.paperrose.co.uk

Kate Moby +44 7890 981699 www.katemoby.com

Chapter And Verse Purple Pomegranate Press’ beautifully illustrated little story books are a greeting card and a gift all in one. A6 in size, the card/books are printed in Northumberland on thick and grainy textured Gesso board, which shows off the illustrations perfectly.

Each book contains a story and eight or more full-page illustrations. There are six stories in the range, with a choice of red, silver, pink or slate grey envelopes, and the cards come cellowrapped.

Purple Pomegranate Press 07896 842758 www.purplepomegranate.co.uk

Going More Dotty Button Up Laura Sherratt has expanded its Talking Buttons range to include female relatives as well as general birthday. All the cards are hand-finished in the UK with resin flowers, heart buttons, gems and glitter.

The cards, which are square in shape come complete with a pink envelope and cello bag.

Building on its successful licensing relationship with card company Hearts Designs, Lesser and Pavey has launched a range of Mad Dot bracelets, that carry messages for Mum, Grandma, Nan, a Fabulous Friend as well as with Sparkle and Dreams. This range is exquisitely packaged to show off the gold and silver coloured bracelets.

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

Lesser & Pavey 01322 279225 www.leonardo.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PG showcases a selection of new product launches

Sparkling Festivities A Touch Of Sparkle is a delightful new Christmas range from Blue Eyed Sun. The 30 designs are based on original embroidered artworks by textile artist Jo Corner and hand-finished with glitter and jewels in the publisher’s Sussex workshops. All the cards in this range are 143mm x 173mm in size, are printed on board from sustainable sources, blank inside, cellowrapped and come with a red envelope.

Blue Eyed Sun 01273 823003 www.blueeyedsun.co.uk

Tropical Subjects

Getting Personal

Forever Funny is launching a quirky new range called Forever Tropics. This adorable range features birds and cute jungle animals in different hilarious situations – roller-skating flamingos, partying parrots, sloths, and happy toucans! There are 10 designs in the collection, each measuring 105mm x 150mm and accompanied by a colourful envelope.

Coulson Macleod is getting very personal with its latest range, Holy Moly Personalised.

There are nine rose-gold foiled cards in the range from and retail customers have the option of changing part of the design to include their shop’s location and indeed the relation. So, it could be ‘Best Mum in Oxford’.

Each 15.5cm x 10.9cm design comes with a kraft brown envelope.

Forever Funny 07512304391 www.forever-funny.com

Coulson Macleod 01536 419944 www.coulsonmacleod.com

Twinkle Twinkle

Calling All Dreamers

Little Star is a brand new magical range for Christmas 2018 from Katie Phythian Design. A collection of beautiful handpainted treasures, foil stamped with a precious gold star and hand-finished with a tiny sparkle cellowrapped with a red envelope. There are 24 130mm square designs covering open and relations captions.

Paperwhale Greeting Cards are really excited to be launching its brand new Dreamer Collection that is inspired by its best-selling ‘I Love You Constellation’ card.

The collection, which is 145 mm square in size, covers various occasions. The cards are printed on a quality 300gsm FSC textured stock, come cellowrapped and with a recycled brown kraft envelope.

Katie Phythian Design 07780 470457 www.katiephythiandesign.com/store

Paperwhale Greeting Cards +44 (0) 7960 812279 www.paperwhale.co.uk

Galloping Along Nicely Artist Janna of Deckled Edge will be launching at new additions to her range Fanciful Dolomite at next month’s PG Live.

These new open birthday designs feature Janna’s watercolour illustrations against fabulous marble background and have a glossy varnish finish. The cards measure 150mm square, come with mid-grey envelopes, die-cut to the edge and all are individually cellowrapped.

Deckled Edge 0800 771 0771 www.decklededge.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PG showcases a selection of new product launches

Staying On Trend Following on from the phenomenal success of the Trendy Wendy everyday range, Bexy Boo has launched 12 new designs specifically for Christmas.

Covering open greetings and female relations, from wife and sister to mum and daughter, each card has been beautifully hand-foiled and finished with sparkly, shiny crystals and lots of love.

Size 127mm x 177mm, each card is individually cellowrapped and enclosed with a scarlet red envelope.

Bexy Boo 01565 830 546 www.bexyboo.co.uk

Child’s Play

Dreamy Stuff

The world of Funtazia! has arrived at Kingfisher Cards. This vibrant new children’s range is an addition to the publisher’s 99p retail collection. The range comprises bright, age appropriate designs for boys and girls ages 1 to 12 as well as teenagers. Featuring holographic foils, the cards are printed on a premium board and accompanied by coloured envelopes.

U Studio Design’s latest range is by illustrator David Doran. The small range, with its summery and travel-related themes, highlights the artist’s use of muted colour and soft, grainy textures, which gives each card an oneiric feel. The cards come with matching envelopes and are 15cm square. David Doran, who graduated in 2014 from Falmouth University, has illustrated for The New Yorker, Bafta, Vogue and The New York Time among others.

Kingfisher Cards 01245 327226 www.kingfishercards.co.uk

U Studio Design 0117 944 5050 www.ustudio.design

Meeska Mooska Mickey Mouse!

UK Greetings has launched a contemporary cute range based on Disney’s classic characters, Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

In the year of Mickey’s 90th Birthday, UKG has lovingly recreated Mickey and Minnie as hand-crafted felt characters and are accompanied by some super-sweet rhyming editorial.

There are nine code 50 designs in the range.

UK Greetings 01924 436384 www.ukgreetings.co.uk

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Tracks Publishing has just launched its newest range! Over 120 designs have been added to its new Britannia Collection. The range features strong photographic imagery that showcases a number of iconic sights, landmarks and beautiful vistas from all over England, Wales and Scotland thus far. All cards are 159mm square with a gloss finish.

From rockin’ robins to polar bears in Santa hats, Paper Salad’s new boutique style Christmas cards collection. The publisher has launched over 100 new designs over three lovely ranges, covering all captions and relations. Each card is hand-finished with red sparkly gems and comes with a bespoke patterned envelope. The 155mm x 120mm cards are printed on luxury board to make them extra special.

Tracks Publishing 01480 435562 www.tracksltd.com

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

Eco-nomics Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun, on greeting cards and the environment.

Someone cynically once said to me that people can only be environmentally conscious when they can afford to be financially. It sounded like a reasonable argument at the time, although these days I’m less sure. That’s because there now appears to be real momentum for environmental change, despite the fact that we are not currently experiencing a boom in the economy.

Britain recently successfully implemented the 5p plastic bag levy, which has contributed to a 90% reduction in their use. We’ve literally slashed consumption of single use plastic shopping bags by billions and there’s even talk of introducing the levy in retailers with fewer than 250 employees.

Single use plastic straws are now in the firing line with bars, restaurants and cafes around the world no longer offering them as standard in order to discourage unnecessary plastic waste. Single use plastic lined coffee cups may also soon be targeted with a latte levy. Prêt a Manger and Starbucks already offer discounts to customers using their own cups (more on this later).

Top: The fight for a greener planet has begun.

Below: There are eco-friendly alternatives to plastic straws.

Changing habits What’s significant about these changes is that people are actively engaging with habit change. If you can carry reusable shopping bags in your car, rucksack or handbag why not carry a spare reusable cup? Changing habits aren’t just limited to reducing plastic consumption they’re also affecting what we consume, everything from goods to food to power.

This is exciting for the world as we move to embrace environmentally friendly renewable energy sources like wind and solar. There’s also been a rise in the number of vegans and vegetarians. Netflix hits like Conspiracy and What the Health have emphasised the importance of eating less meat in order to save the planet’s resources and reduce CO2 emissions. Viral internet hits like the Story of Stuff are affecting the way consumers purchase, with a shift from goods to foods and experiences.

The most important thing to be aware of with these changes is that they are increasing as people get more comfortable with making these small adjustments in their lives.

Ideal world I guess in an ideal world we’d completely reduce or offset our carbon footprints.

Perhaps we’d stop consuming all together and live more simple lives. We might reduce our number of fashion items, like those taking part in Project 333, or we could even move into a tiny home or a van

Below: In a bid to healthier eating and saving the world’s resources - such as the use of palm oil in many food products - vegetarianism is on the rise.

Below right: Project 333 is a campaign to encourage us to discard some of the extra ‘stuff’ in our lives.

conversion to minimise our impact on the planet. We may even decide not to have kids (one fewer child per family is said to save 58 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions per year).

These extreme alternatives are also growing in popularity, especially amongst millennials, so it’s important that we start to become aware of these shifts so that we can accommodate them in our business models and avoid losing valuable customers.

What can we do?

As someone who loves to buy and send cards, I personally don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water. I don’t find Facebook messages and SMS’s nearly as intimate as sending a card (besides even

websites contribute to CO2 consumption). I find writing cards with my fountain pen a soulful and profound way of connecting with my friends and loved ones.

I’m not just saying that because I publish cards. I genuinely love them and always have done. If you watch The Greeting Card Project videos I made on YouTube last year you can see the effect sending more cards has on us. For those that love to send and receive cards they have real meaning and importance.

Having said all of that, the environment is important to us too. How can we PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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We had a lovely time and placed a lot of orders! The show was wonderfully organised, giving us the opportunity to catch up with existing suppliers, as well as finding several new designers to stock Chris and Debbie Beards owners of Mantons Cards, Port Erin, Isle of Man

PG Live 2018 Tuesday 5 - Wednesday 6 June Business Design Centre, London +44 (0) 1635 297070 www.progressivegreetingslive.com @PGLiveLondon

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JEREMY’S JOURNAL reconcile these two seemingly polarised values? How can we reduce the impact we have on the environment and still enjoy doing something we love?

Left: Windles’ Bruce Podmore actively works to minimise the printer’s environmental footprint. He also highlights other plights, such as the destroyed forest homes of orangutans.

Below right: BambooCups look good and are great for the environment as they are biodegradable.

Below left: Last year a fourth Ocean Garbage Patch was discovered in the South Pacific that could be 1.5 times larger than Texas

Sources The first thing to figure out is what we are buying and where does it come from? For example, are the boards and papers ethically sourced from responsibly managed sources? At Blue Eyed Sun we have been using FSC boards since we first started, although we don’t actively promote this on the backs of our cards (partly because we are design snobs and find the logo unsightly on the card backs and partly because administratively burdensome chain of custody requirements). FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council and is one of several organisations that promote responsible management of the world’s forests. It verifies that certified cards are not made from rainforests.

We are currently carrying out a company wide audit of all of our material components. Once this is completed we will be able to pinpoint areas for improvement.

We’ll also be in a better position to communicate the environmental provenance of our cards to our fans and advise them on how best to recycle them when ready.

Communicating It’s all very well doing the right thing, it’s also important to spread the word and let your customers know the facts about your products so that they can make informed decisions. This includes being transparent on your website about where your products are sourced and how best to recycle them.

Having environmental and social responsibility policies that you can share on your website helps with this sort of thing.

Once we have all the facts about our sources this will be easier to communicate.

For us, solar panels are the next big investment goal we are working towards to reduce our consumption from the grid.

It’ll take time, but long-term we will feel proud of making a difference using it.

Working together Integrity Of course, being environmentally friendly doesn’t just stop with our products. How we run our businesses on a daily basis also affects our environmental impact on the world. Are your lightbulbs still tungstenbased for example, or have you switched to lower wattage alternatives? Our new production and distribution facility is fully equipped with LED lighting, which saves on electricity consumption.

We also recycle the majority of our waste at Blue Eyed Sun, which I thought was pretty good until I met Bruce Podmore from greeting card printer Windles at a recent GCA Council meeting. His factory recycles over three tonnes of nails from his pallets each year and uses the wood from them to fuel his heating (reducing the bill by a phenomenal 85%).

Not only is Windles actively working to minimise its environmental footprint for the good of the planet, these actions are making good financial sense too. Its frequency controlled fluorescent lighting has reduced power consumption by 85%. Its staff are more engaged with solutions and improvements. Windles has even won awards for its hard work in this area.

What inspired me most about Windles is how it has systematically identified areas for improvement throughout its business and the team there is continually working towards reducing the company’s environmental impact. This is the key I think, to start taking some steps: one at a time.

Lots of small ones or as many big ones as you can manage.

At the GCA we are working hard to try and improve communication of factual information surrounding the use of foils, glitter, recycling and so forth. There’s still so much to be understood and it’s important to share resources, learning and best practice.

It’s tempting for any business in the industry to use such knowledge to gain a competitive advantage over others. To do this is to miss the bigger picture. We all need to work and act together to show how we can minimise our environmental impact on the world. We only have one planet after all.

New products As we continue to work hard to improve the environmental credentials of our greeting cards and the way we work as a business at Blue Eyed Sun, I’m also very excited about a recent exclusive distribution deal we’ve signed for a range of bamboo products.

BambooCup is an environmentally friendly alternative to single use plastic lined coffee cups, 2.5 billion of which go into landfill in the UK each year. Reusable cups are a booming category in retail and we are thrilled to be involved in a fast growing niche that’s making a difference to our planet.

Read more on Jeremy’s blog at www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog Watch The Greeting Card Project weekly videos at www.YouTube.com/TheGreetingCardProject PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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In Conversation With... Second Nature

The

Personal

Touch

Despite being a card company that was established nearly 35 years ago, you never completely know what to expect from Second Nature, such is its ability to embrace the changing market needs and pursue opportunities, invariably before others spot the potential.

With the company’s latest twist on its Express Yourself personalised products brand making its debut on its stand at PG Live next month, PG gets up close and personal with brothers, Rod and Trevor Schragger, the co-directors of the business, who received the Honorary Achievement Award in the recent Henries for their contribution to the industry.

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“I love change,” proclaimed Rod Schragger at a recent meet up with PG. And it’s a good job as if not Second Nature, the company he started back in 1985, would never have survived and prospered to become one of the leading greeting card brands, not just in the UK, but elsewhere in the globe too, its international prowess having been recognised way back in 1991 when it received the Queen’s Award for export.

Last October saw Rod and his brother and co-director Trevor be taken by surprise at The Henries when they were presented with the industry’s ultimate accolade, the Honorary Achievement Award.

While the two brothers have very different personalities and complementary talents, they both shy the limelight, but that evening in early October, they had no choice but to embrace the spotlight.

“It was a very surreal moment, realising the trophy had our names on it,” recalls Trevor.

Rod says he felt “extremely surprised and incredibly honored” to be presented with the trophy.

Left: Second Nature directors Rod (second left) and Trevor Schragger were presented with the trophies by Joanne Davis of UK Envelopes, sponsor of this category at The Henries 2017, that were hosted by comedian John Robins.

Bottom left: Rod Schragger makes a poignant impromptu speech at The Henries, while his brother Trevor proudly holds his Honorary Achievement trophy.

Top and below: Jewelled, a new high end embellished range will launch from Second Nature at PG Live.

“It seems like only yesterday that I started the business, wanting to make a different, and here we are 33 years later receiving recognition in a room full of our peers and customers.”

In her speech before the award was presented, PG editor Jakki Brown summed up how over the last three decades, Rod and Trevor have steered Second Nature through the choppy waters of fashion, changing retailing scene and economic highs and lows.

Rod, despite being an accountant by trade, is a true maverick, never afraid to experiment with new product ideas or display concepts, working closely with Carmen (Trevor’s wife) who now heads up the creative department.

Trevor, despite being an engineer by profession, has a commercial nous bar none, whose clear thinking has been crucial in confronting the logistical complexities endemic in producing 1,000+ products every year.

And never ones to make it easy for themselves, at odds with the tightrope of time to prepare for PG Live disappearing fast, the

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In Conversation With... Second Nature

Right: A framed collection of photos from when Second Nature was awarded a Queen’s Award for Export in 1991 hangs in the publisher’s West London offices.

Below: The new You Name It range that will be debuting at PG Live.

Second Nature team is hell bent on making a big splash at the show again this year.

The finishing touches are being put to the expansion of its personalised Express Yourself brand with You Name It, a range of named products; Jewelled, a new high end hand-embellished card range is in sparkling form for the launch, new display ideas are being trialled for its 3D Pop-Ups, while its value brand, Yours Truly collection, is being bolstered with new designs.

As Trevor points out there have been some momentous changes in the industry since 1985 when the company started “back then Tesco didn’t even have a card department, for starters”, but yet through all of these, Second Nature and the industry has shown time and time again how reinvention has been the name of the game.

Providing inspiration for newbie pubishers coming through, Rod adds, “I still truly believe that if you have a good idea for a card company, now helped greatly by digital printing, that there are still opportunities out there”.

The secrets are out Trevor and Rod Schragger are put on the spot to share some personal revelations.

What three words sum up your brother?

Trevor on Rod: “Excitable, emotional and fantastic.”

Rod on Trevor: “Thoughtful, conservative and intuitive.”

What is your guilty pleasure?

Trevor: “Watching golf on TV with my grand-daughter.”

Rod: “I’m into horses. I own one and about to buy another one.”

What has been the low point of the business?

Trevor: “In 1991 when we had just invested in Christmas decorations, the Gulf War started and everyone cancelled their orders.”

Rod: “When major retailers, including Woolworths, Athena, British Bookshops and Birthdays went bust. However, what this did was make us concentrate on developing our business with independents, which has been a good thing.”

When did you last feel lucky?

Trevor: “When I spun the roulette wheel on the Cardgains stand and the ball landed in ‘0’ which meant I won a bottle of Prosecco.”

Rod: “Walking to work today in the sunshine with the trees in leaf and everyone looking happy.”

What would you eat if it was your last meal?

Trevor: “A juicy T-bone steak in Australia.”

Rod: “A Lebanese feast.”

Generally speaking

“The company’s future direction is very much in the hands of younger members of the senior management team, namely Nicole, Chris and Tim,” stresses Rod, referring to the company’s co-general managers Nicole Schragger (Trevor and Carmen’s daughter), Chris Bryan, as well as sales manager Tim West.

“Plus, of course there is the bedrock of our experienced team, many of whom have worked for Second Nature for many, many years,” adds Trevor.

Little did Chris know that when aged 20, and with dyed black hair and multi-ear piercings, he took on a temp job picking tote bag orders that several decades later he would have his hands on steering the future direction of the one of the UK’s leading greeting card brands.

Likewise, Nicole, having enjoyed the fun as a child of ‘working’ in the warehouse of the company owned by her parents and uncle that she would be calling the shots of the West London based business.

“I love the intricacies and vibrancies of working in a family business. I don’t see any disadvantages, it just gives me an excuse to see Above: Nicole Schragger with a print she my uncle, mum and dad on a daily won recently as a result of a competition held by Image Source. basis and to laugh and bicker with Below: Chris Bryan is passionate about them at the same time!” says Nicole. the industry as testified by him serving on the GCA Council.

On a more serious note, Nicole stresses how “exceptionally proud” she is of everything that Rod, Trevor and Carmen have managed to achieve over the past 35 years in this super competitive industry. ”I can only hope that I will attain the same level of success with my team moving forward and that we continue to line the board room with awards and accolades for years to come,” she says.

Having seen the business from different angles, through his roles in export, sales, accounts, before becoming co-general manager last year with Nicole, Chris accepts that, “Our company, and indeed the industry, faces many challenges, but with Nicole now helping Carmen with the creative side, and Tim (West) now heading up an incredibly strong sales force, we’re well positioned to keep pushing forward.”

Casting his gaze wider, Chris, (who also serves on the GCA Council) says we often we lose sight of “how progressive our industry is. The idea that a product, which is in essence a piece of card with an image and some words on, can be constantly reinvented and upgraded so that it’s still relevant in an ever-changing marketplace is totally amazing.”

If Chris had a magic wand, he would use it to wind back the internet a little “to get the younger generation to realise how important experiencing real life is, the social connection seems to be increasingly through the ether which means people don’t engage directly.”

While he accepts that internet shopping is convenient, cheap and efficient, he proffers that ultimately it is “pretty soul-less. Ideally we need a coordinated government initiative to make high streets and town centres a real destination once more, rather than an ‘effort’. Parking needs to be cheap and plentiful, and if the younger generation need WiFi and coffee to function then give it to them. If people start shopping again, not only would the economy improve but I am sure we’d have a better connected society.”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Art Source Where Creatives Dare To Dream This month’s Surtex exhibition in New York fits the bill as a leading global marketplace to source and licence original art, design and pattern work (for greeting cards as well as other products).

PG takes a closer look at this year’s art licensing event, which takes place alongside the National Stationery Show in New York’s Jacob K Javits Convention Centre May 20-22.

Artist and second-time Surtex exhibitor, Amarilys Henderson sums up the New York art and design licensing show in a nutshell: “The message of the show is that possibilities lie ahead,” says Amarilys, from company Watercolor Devo (who can be found on stand 2646 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre). “As you walk into the convention centre you are greeted by long glass walls that lead your eyes up to the ceiling of the foyer. It’s this location, the show’s proud history and the fact that it’s being held in New York - the city known for being the centre for America’s art and business advances - that are all key to Surtex’s prestige.”

Last year Amarilys showcased her work in the Design District, which features first time exhibitors and a host of fresh art talent, and by the second day of the show knew she would be coming back.

Top: A striking floral design by French artist Agnes Hardi (Stand 2436).

Above: Amarilys Henderson on her stand at last year’s Surtex.

Below: One of the colourful designs by Amarilys Henderson (Stand 2646).

“We had filled our little black book of contacts thanks to a steady influx of new faces and exciting opportunities,” she reveals. “It also doesn’t hurt that New York is full of creative energy and one of my favourite places - making Surtex an easy yes for years to come.”

Amarilys is one of around 200 exhibitors from across the industry, including artists, design studios and art and licensing agencies, who will be attending Surtex this year, with about 40% of those heading to the Big Apple for the show for the first time. And with more than a quarter of these hailing from outside the US, Surtex really does deserve its global reputation.

Each year in excess of 4,500 visitors publishers, retailers, licensees and buyers among them - attend the show to get their hands on some of the best and most innovative art and design around. Artwork and patterns are after all everywhere in today’s modern, visually-driven society, from greeting cards to bed linen, fashion accessories to wall coverings.

Surtex show director Randi Mohr, who is also vice president of show organisers Emerald Expositions, has been working in the trade show business

About the show What: Surtex 2018 When: May 20 to 22, 2018 Where: Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre, New York Web: www.surtex.com This year, in addition to exhibiting artists and designers from the States, those also showcasing their work come from 13 other countries. These include: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Poland, Spain and the UK.

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Exhibitor perspective: MHS Licensing

for 15 years and directly on this event since June 2017.

She says that Surtex, which is now in its 32nd year, having launched back in 1986, continues to evolve as a show alongside art and design styles.

“Surtex is a destination for both established and emerging artists and designers,” Randi told PG. “This adds up to an expanded breadth of design styles on display. For example, we see watercolour continuing to be popular this year but also anticipate seeing more contemporary designs, bolder prints and patterns, colours, geometrics and very dark and edgy designs featuring fire.

Top left: Marcus Arts and Illustration’s watercolour floral patterns are scaled to highlight the hand drawn style (Stand 2452).

Below: A multi-media image from Kathleen Kelly Creative (Stand 2446).

Right: Inspirational illustration from Edith Schmidt Art (Stand 2551).

MHS Licensing will be among those showcasing the talents of two new art signings, Jen Montgomery and Jetty Home, at this year’s Surtex (Stand 2626) for the first time.

MHS is one of America’s leading licensing and art consulting agencies and collectively the art properties it represents generates more than £85m in annual sales through its licensee partners.

Jen Montgomery is a multi-disciplinary artist whose range includes hand-lettered sentiment, seasonal icons and celebration themes, while Jetty Home’s brand creator Emily Wood launched it back in 2014 after seeing a gap in the market for bringing a “modern twist to recognised icons in the home décor world starting with art prints.”

Marty Segelbaum, president of MHS, says: “We understand that finding new talent and trends is top of mind for our licensing partners at Surtex. It’s crucial that we not only have new content from our proven art brands, but more importantly new and untapped artists to offer. We’re confident that at this year’s show these talented additions to our client portfolio will open their eyes to fresh new ideas.”

Above: An example of Jen Montgomery’s hand-lettering from MHS Licensing (Stand 2626).

Left: Artistry from Jetty Home from MHS Licensing (Stand 2626).

“This year in particular we welcome the participation of artists and designers from all over the States as well as from around the world.

“Surtex continues to be the largest licensing forum in New York City for those seeking the latest prints, patterns and design services for their product development needs and also art and designs for purchase in our ‘Atelier’ section.”

Show features include the previously mentioned Atelier sector, first launched back in 2013, which is effectively a huge textile design studio where forward-

Trend theatre Surtex’s Trend Theatre is showcased within ‘The Boulevard’ - a special show area that connects Surtex with the National Stationery Show.

“The Theatre schedule includes industry experts, thought leaders and trend spotters,” says show director Randi Mohr. “Topics include the use of vintage and antique textiles for inspiration, products with personality and the impact millennials are having on product designs and brands.

“I’m especially looking forward to ‘It’s Now a Millennial World,’ which looks at how millennials are spurring the home textiles companies to transform and attract their business, and a session by Steve Greenberg and Chris Moore discussing digital technology in design.”

For a full schedule visit: https://www.surtex.com/show/trend-theatre/

thinking surface designers meet manufacturers and licensees.

There’s also the Design District for artists and agencies attending for the first time, the Art & Brand Licensing Forum and the Trend Theatre, which will play host to an inspiring programme of 30-minute flash talks from industry experts.

In addition, Surtex takes place alongside the National Stationery Show and the ICFF luxury furniture fair, with The Boulevard area connecting Surtex and the Stationery Show and providing the new home for the shared shows’ theatre, trend-focused programming, the social media lounge and demonstrations.

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Spotlight On London

Capital Gains

Right: A traditional Pie and Mash shop on a design from Rocket68.

With a wave of overseas and British visitors coming to London to mark this May’s Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle, and with the celebrations continuing into June with PG Live’s 10th anniversary at the BDC in Angel Islington, the UK’s capital city will be welcoming vast numbers to witness its historic and cultural vibrancy. And it is this huge treasure trove of British icons and traditions that has inspired card publishers to create London-centric card ranges.

Some capital cardies reveal their London collection’s story and endorse a top place to visit when in town.

David Wertheim, managing director of Ezen: “Ezen’s London-centric card range came as part of our collaborative efforts with our stockists demanding more London based cards. As we are a London based design company, we already had several stockists in London, from Harrods, British Museum, National Gallery, Kew Gardens, our list is pretty extensive. It naturally made sense to expand on this theme.”

Capital idea!: “I would recommend visiting many of our stockists! Some of the best museums and galleries are in this city. But also simply Google search ‘oldest pubs in London’ or ‘best fish and chips in London’ and you’ll find amazing places that even Londoners often don’t know about. The whole city is buzzing with places to visit and discover.”

London pride: “Being a creative professional, it is amazing to have so many shows to see, and exhibitions to visit. It’s great to get the mind stimulated.

Also high on my reason for loving the capital is the cultural diversity. Our greeting cards represent this. I’d like to think their ethos is of one that London is about - embracing diversity, enabling people to be proud of whatever identity they have and live with uniqueness and pride.”

James Mace, sales and marketing for The Art File: “London is not only our capital city, but an iconic city on the world stage that attracts millions of visitors each year. The character, landscape and history of the city allow plenty of inspiration for Londoninspired card ranges.

We are delighted to announce the launch of a fun new collection called London Calling. As the name suggests, these cards feature iconic London landmarks together with the capital’s most endearing birds, pigeons and doves.

Released in time for the upcoming tourist season, these cards come with fabulously patriotic Union Jack envelopes. We even have a marrying couple standing in front of an enchanting castle! I wonder where we got that idea from?!”

Capital idea!: “I would recommend visiting the East-end of London, the newly regenerated areas of Shoreditch, Hackney, and of course around the Olympic Stadium. Take a river cruise also - just hop on the TFL, if it’s a nice day it’s a great way to see the city.”

London pride: “In my personal opinion, I love London because of its high octane, consistent pace that runs through the city, whether you want to do a pub quiz on a Monday night, or go to a drum and base event on a Wednesday, the city caters for anyone and everyone.”

Above: Coo-ing over a castle, a London Calling card from The Art File.

Below: The Last Days of Shoreditch summer festivities happen from May to August.

Above: From its Vintage range, Ezen’s British Street Party design.

Left: Spend a day at the beautiful Kew Gardens.

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Spotlight On London

Jessica Hogarth, designer/founder of Jess Hogarth Designs:

Sue Lee, director of Pennychoo: “I’ve lived here for 20+ years with a bornand-bred Londoner, and love exploring 'Old London', so a range that celebrates the capital was always on the cards (no pun etc). I love Kenneth Townsend’s stylised London characters, and the work of Miroslav ‘This Is London’ Sasek, and had already done a range of 1950s London postcards with these two in mind. With the Royal nuptials on the horizon, now seemed like the perfect time to turn these into the Capital Birthday card range.”

Capital idea!: “Until 2007, I’d have said The New Piccadilly Cafe, an immaculately preserved 1950s time capsule and a shrine for mid-century Formica-heads, but heartbreakingly, that’s now gone. So instead, it’d be a sunny stroll along the South Bank to the iconic Royal Festival Hall where 1951s Festival of Britain took place.

Then maybe a trip to Oxford Street’s 100 Club for a shimmy to some vintage R&B.” London pride: “Great public transport, inspiring galleries and museums, always a new backstreet to explore… plus large parts of London don’t ever change that much Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Fleet Street - squint on a rainy evening and you could still be in the 1950s!”

Above: A 1950s inspired Capital Birthday design from Pennychoo.

Below: The iconic Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank.

“I have always loved travel and architecture. For a long time Paris was the focus of my design work; I have been drawing inspiration from that city for years. Travel themes are trending right now, and after creating some locally focused art last year and it selling really well, I decided to design something that has been inspired by the UK’s vibrant capital city. The collection is currently a small number of designs, available as greeting cards, print and tea towels.

The drawings led to me re-working them for Christmas too, and I am really pleased with the outcome of these designs, which feature a gold foil finish.”

Capital idea!: “I would recommend the London Transport Museum. It's situated in Covent Garden, which is a fabulous central location. The museum is interesting, and they have a delightful cafe as well as a gift shop packed full of gorgeous things to buy. It’s the perfect place to learn a bit about the history of London, whilst also taking time to relax a little too.”

London pride: “London is exciting, there is no denying it. With new bars, shops and restaurants opening all of the time, there is always somewhere new to visit. You could spend a whole weekend in one tiny area of the city and feel no reason to leave. Every borough or district has its own unique feel, so there’s plenty to explore right on your doorstep, wherever your doorstep may be!”

Top: Ice-skating outside Somerset House on a Jess Hogarth design.

Above: The wonderful Transport Museum in Covent Garden

Jennifer Rose, owner/ creator for Jennifer Rose Gallery: “I really enjoy seeing the historical buildings in London and wanted to capture the traditional part of London in my new range of greeting cards called London Traditions, featuring watercolour images of Big Ben, a London Bus, a red telephone box and post box, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace guards and London Bridge, with my 'London Moderns' additions of the Gherkin and the Shard.

I recently made the move over to publishing my own cards to complement my product designs, which are featured on quite a variety of gifts and home collections in the marketplace.”

Capital idea!: “I would recommend Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s London residence. This to me is what London is all about - our rich royal history. Of course with the Royal Wedding happening there will be lots of celebrations taking place.”

London pride: “It is a wonderful city to visit as there is so much to see and do! From historical royal buildings to the newer modern icons in London - there is something for everyone!”

Above: St Pauls Cathedral is a beautiful part of the London skyline – on a design from Jennifer Rose Gallery.

Right: Buckingham Palace is rich In history.

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Spotlight On London

Wedding festivities With the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle held in the grounds of Windsor Castle, a retailer duo within Union Jack flag-waving distance of the happy couple’s Windsor wedding venue, reveal what plans they have to celebrate, with hopes of an upsurge of customers to join them.

Trudy Durkin, managing director for Daniel Stores, Windsor (Royal warrant holder):

Josh Randall, marketing executive for Tracks: “I think really what signalled Tracks creating a London-centric card range was our origins in London and how many of our first clients were local to the area. We wanted to represent the city and what better way than utilising the iconic sights. From those strong photographic images, we have expanded out into more artistic representations of the city. On the strength of how the range has sold, we have been inspired to curate our newly launched Britannia Range which has expanded our London range as well as incorporated views of other counties across the United Kingdom.”

“It’s a huge celebration for the Royal family, and due to the fact that Prince Harry and Meghan have decided to get married in Windsor Castle we will definitely be celebrating.

We are Royal warrant holders, and as the largest department store in Windsor, having been trading for over 100 years, we are very excited that Windsor is the chosen venue. We are in the process of installing celebratory windows congratulating the happy couple on their wedding. We are we installing television screens across the store to ensure everyone has live coverage of the special day; Our French Patisserie chefs in Heidi’s will be making celebratory wedding cakes, and we have a wide range of product to commemorate the Above: As well as delicious cakes, a selection royal wedding such as Royal Scott special of Royal Wedding memorabilia is available at edition glasses, Caithness special edition the Daniel store, including this lovely Milly paper weights, Halcyon days mugs, ‘When Green bone china mug.

Harry met Meghan’ mugs, and other commemorative mugs, limited edition Royal Windsor bags, book marks, trinket dishes, tea-towels, flags and bunting, to name but a few, but which are all selling very well.”

New visitors in town: “There are always many visitors to Royal Windsor who visit the castle, it is a popular attraction, and with the two imminent Royal weddings this year we expect to see many more - Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank will be getting married in October at Windsor Castle too.”

Lisa Ripley, manager for Vinegar Hill, Windsor, a family-run business with 10 other UK shops: Capital idea!: “Where to begin in terms of places to visit? I’ll have to narrow it down to my cultural choice of The Natural History Museum, I always pop in if I have some time to spare in London.

I’m cheating and picking two restaurants too. I would recommend Pizza Pilgrims in Soho. It does the authentic Neapolitan pizza and it is just amazing. I’m always happy to wait for a table. Then there’s Sartori in Covent Garden, a great Italian restaurant in walking distance to many of the West-End theatres.”

London pride: “I think most of what keeps me going to London is the sheer volume of experiences available, albeit museums and galleries, West-end shows, shopping or just generally wanting to wander around and soak in the city and its history.”

Top: Hampton Court on a design from Track’s new Britannia range.

Above: Escape into the wonder of The Natural History Museum.

“Here at Vinegar Hill we will be celebrating by decking out the window in commemorative bunting, mugs, tea-towels and fridge magnets, all designed by a company called For Richer For Poorer, who donates the profits from the products to the homeless of Windsor.

Our directors have decided it’s a cause worth promoting for a few weeks on the run up to the Royal Wedding. The homeless of Windsor has been a big news story locally for the past months and these beautifully designed products have real heart.

As for us dressing up, we most certainly will! We will be having our very own Vinegar Hill Street party.

Bunting, balloons and fancy dress will be the order of the day, along with the obligatory fairy cakes!”

New visitors in town: “The overseas customers that we have visiting our shop seem to love the Vinegar Hill products. Being quintessentially British we always have a gift that they would like to take home to remind them of their visit to the UK. Vinegar Hill is a family run business. Tourists love to hear that it is two sisters and a brother that have built up this individual chain of shops, and the idea of donating to a good cause happens all year at Vinegar Hill as any of its own brand products have a percentage donated to a charity in India called lovetheone, dedicated to helping children and their parents escape the poverty trap.”

Above: A tea towel from the www.forricherforpoorer.org web. The website gives detail of how the homeless of Windsor will benefit from Vinegar Hill’s sales.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

Marion and Mark Flaherty, owners of Best Wishes, Garstang, Lancashire A small shop in a rural market town with a loyal locals and tourists customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Carte Blanche

Me To You

The Little Dog Laughed

General

Humour

Woodmansterne

Genius

Photography

Cowshed Cards

Art

The National Park Card Company Tracks

Contemporary

Tracey Russell

Traditional

IC&G

Wooden Words and Love Olive Across The Board

Handmade/ Hand-Finished Ancillary

Kingfisher Cards Piccadilly Belly Button Five Dollar Shake Joe Davies

A well-known brand that’s perpetually a good seller. Men in particular focus on the designs for their wife’s birthday and anniversary.

Often we find the cards are impulse buys and customers pick up two or three at a time. The range also covers a huge range of dog breeds.

Good quirky humour, and we find the range suits all ages as the designs aren’t alcohol-related.

Good rural themed cards that tap into our agricultural locality.

The publisher provides a good range of both art and photographic blank cards.

Lovely colourful eye-catching drawings, one with applied wooden cut-out details, and the envelopes give an edge to the cards.

One of our biggest selling companies, especially great for ages and relations, and good customer service.

Fairly new companies to us but with lots of unusual titles and they fill the more wordy card customer requirements.

Both publishers create beautifully finished, quality cards for special occasions.

Above: Great relations Good giftware for ages and relations sends.

General

General General Across The Board Across The Board Mad Dots china mugs and glassware

captions feature on Kingfisher Cards’ designs.

Martin and Joanna Johnstone, owners of Paper Moon Cards & Gifts, Sidmouth, Devon A medium shop in a seaside town with a loyal locals, tourists and visitors customerbase.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Alex Clark

Seaside Sparkle

Humour

JellynBean

Planet Rubin

Holy Mackerel

Erica Sturla

Holy Mackerel

Fred

Photography

Abacus

Posies & Petals and Graphite

Contemporary

Anon Greeting Cards

General

Dandelion Stationery

Words Of Wisdom

Noel Tatt

Across The Board

Nigel Quiney

Pizazz

Colourful and artistically drawn, it is an especially good range for us as we are located by the coast.

Bright and eye-catching animal designs featuring funny plays on words.

Gently humorous, the characters are unusual as they are created from colourful modelling clay.

Black and white illustrations depicting the funny side of middle-age.

One range features lovely florals and the other is sports orientated - both offer a wide collection of designs at a good price point.

Great captions twinned with nice photos, especially good for friendship sends.

Quirky designs with some nice sympathy cards in the range.

A good variety of designs that cover birthdays and occasions right across the board, and at a good price.

Bright and colourful and with plenty of sparkle!

Right: Put a twinkle in your wrinkle - a design from Anon Greeting Cards.

Below right: JellynBean’s Planet Rubin range features a menagerie of funny animal designs.

Traditional

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60-61.qxp_46-47 24/04/2018 08:07 Page 61

Sarah Holmes, owner of Pencil Me In, Elgin, Scotland A design-led card and stationery shop in a small town with a loyal locals and tourists customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Jade Fisher

Adventurous Girls

Hole In My Pocket

Eat Haggis - Scottish Characters

Humour

Ohh Deer

Twin Pines

Contemporary

Kate & the Ink

Quote Cards

Oh Squirrel

Across The Board

Dear Prudence

Little Prudence

A beautiful illustrated range of cards aimed at girls and women who like an adventure. Less birthday girl and Prosecco, more surfing and climbing outdoors. The type of range our customers have come to expect and sell well every time they are in stock.

A huge range of illustrated cards that have been really popular, especially the Scottish Characters, which feature Andy Murray, Billy Connolly and Sean Connery to name a few. These cards don't hang about on our shelves for long.

A very cheeky range of simple typography cards, covering your everyday occasions. Definitely a ‘What's Hot?’ after pretty much selling out after just ten days on the shelves. Our customers love a bit of greeting card cheek.

This bright new range, although not occasion specific, has proved super popular with our customers and have been purchased for a range of moments for customers to recognise.

A new face at Top Drawer Spring, but someone I had been following for a long time, the cards range from beautifully illustrated botanicals to glittery typographic cheek. Our customers love a bit of hand-written typography and the humour of the cheeky ones.

A little collection of illustrated tiny cards, perfect for small people's birthdays. I think these prove popular as they're a super good price point as well as being as cute as the recipient.

Right: Surf’s up! - a Adventurous Girls design from Jade Fisher.

Below right: Sean Connery on a Scottish Characters design from Hole In My Pocket.

Children’s

Michael Hampson, owner of Holly Blue, Saltburn, Cleveland A medium shop in a seaside town with a loyal locals customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Alex Clark

Across The Board

Humour

Woodmansterne

Genius

Redback Cards

Cloud Nine

Photography

Mark Denton

General

Art

Whistlefish

General

Contemporary

Nigel Quiney

Pizazz

Traditional

Noel Tatt

General

Children’s

Paper Rose

Giftwrappings Ancillary

Deva Design Gibsons

Marzipan Toybox Across The Board Jigsaws

We are located in a rural area so the farm animals and vehicles designs are popular and reasonably priced.

A hilarious range featuring children’s funny answers to exam questions.

Nice bright cards that aren’t too naughty - we would never get away with that in this area.

A local photographer who takes photos of views of the North of England.

I tend to pick the seaside imagery for the tourists when summer kicks in, but the publisher has a wide variety of imagery.

It’s like Ronseal, the range does what it says on the tin; it’s got pizazz with its pink and glittery designs aimed at female sends.

The collections are continually changing with new designs to keep them fresh and up to date.

Nice and bright with lots going on in the designs.

Orchard Toys

Children’s learning games

Such great quality wrap and an assortment of different designs.

We do extremely well with jigsaws, and Gibsons offer a good variety and they’re a nice quality.

Above: Designers Guild roll With many parents in the area these wrap from Deva Designs. educational toys are a favourite.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

61

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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PG Live

Stand 160 Springboard extra

č,č -+1

01565 830 546 | bexyboo.co.uk @BexyBooLtd

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+-*87 83 79-8 %00 3''%7-327 =)%6 3* &-68, +6))8-2+ '%6(7 )0)+%28 '328)1436%6= %2( 6)863 +-*8;%6) %'')7736-)7

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Abacus Cards Limited t: 01638 569050 e: info@abacuscards.co.uk w: www.abacuscards.co.uk

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact

Warren Lomax on:

020 7700 6740

or email on warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact

Tracey Arnaud on:

07957 212 062

or email on traceya@max-publishing.co.uk 62

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

BexyBooLtd

@BexyBooLtd

62-69_Product Directory_May 2019.qxp 24/04/2018 17:43 Page 63

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

Publishers of quality blank greeting cards

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Caspari Ltd Linden House, John Dane Player Court

Order Online

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

www.bugart.co.uk

Products: Everyday cards - birthday,

Tel: 0115 929 4776 enquiries@bugart.co.uk

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

Method of Sale: Direct to Retail

made with great imagination

@thecuriousinksmith

01892 838 574

sales@thecuriousinksmith.co.uk

www.cathtatecards.com

To appear in the Product Directories contact

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

Warren Lomax

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

Tracey Arnaud

07957 212 062

or email traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

CARDS â&#x20AC;˘ WRAP â&#x20AC;˘ PARTY â&#x20AC;˘ GIFTS

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

TM

GRASS ROOTS

STAND 85 PGLIVE

INTERNATIONAL

www.decklededge.co.uk janna@decklededge.co.uk

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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Write from the Heartâ&#x20AC;? brand includes; Corsage, Sentiments, Champagne, Celebrations and Jelly Beans.

M ETHOD OF SALE Direct to Retail

G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL

Welsh and English cards

Units 4 - 4A Valentines Buildin g Ra cec our se Bus in ess Par k Aintr ee, Liver poo l, L9 5 AL Tel: 0151 52 3 9600 Fax : 015 1 523 494 9 e-m ail: s ales@ writefr om th ehear t.co.uk

from the

Market leaders in Humour, Art, Photographic, Occasions and Relations cards offering a full planning service with merchandising and retail development opportunities.

Lovely greetings cards & other paper stuff dandelionstationery.co.uk info@dandelionstationery.co.uk

visit us at

PG Live springboard 822 agents wanted

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WISHES

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High Quality Greeting Cards, Gift Bags, Gift Wrap & Ta Tags for every occasion.

Ch C hin nese ese

*GCF 1HĆ&#x201A;EG +353 (0)404 20528 Email info@garlanna.com www.garlanna.com

HE IS

THE

WAY

THE AND TRUTH

LIFE

THE

Beautiful greeting cards from contemporary British artwork

www.greatbritishcards.co.uk Polissh Po h

Te T el: 0161 1 64 641 0 06 655 Email: m sales@da sales@d avora.co.uk av 135 Hea 13 135 eaton Moorr Rd | Stockp ock kpo port ort SK4 4HY 4 4H HY

64

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

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

62-69_Product Directory_May 2019.qxp 24/04/2018 17:43 Page 65

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

AR RT TISTS CARDS glebecottage.co.uk 01626 369269 Esta ab blished 1993

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)

CHARITY GREETING CARDS One of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading publishers of Charity Greeting Cards.

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

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

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

PHOTOGRAPHY glebecottage.co.uk 01626 369269

60 years

Your Number One Supplier of Numerals, Name, Relation & Age Labels for Greetings Cards.

Huge selection with immediate deliveryy.. Buy direct or from your wholesalerr..

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

www.lottie-murphy.com lottie@lottie-murphy.com 07716 304741

PG LIVE - STAND 828 AGENTS WANTED

Estaab blished 1993 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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LING DESIGN

www.lingdesign.co.uk

01892 838 574

information@lingdesign.co.uk

Silk Screened Retro, Pop & Classic Cards Inspired by Music and 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s American Advertising.For all Vinyl & Rock nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Roll lovers

L E T U S TA K E YOU BAC K

For further details please get in touch.

info@vincentmcevoy.com

+44 (0)7779 578340

AG E N T S WA N T E D : Æ« Æ«Ä&#x2018;Æ« Æ«

Æ«Ä&#x2018;Æ« Æ«

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LING DESIGN The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading privately owned publisher of Greetings Cards and Stationery. ...The home for

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.

and

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

Bespoke service for charities and other fundraisers.

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

Daschund through the Snow...

Brand Names Pizazz, Pizazz Gallery, Pizazz Jewell, Pizazz for Men, What a Picture, Time Out, Bon Bon, Marshmallow Cloudesley House â&#x20AC;¢ Shire Hill â&#x20AC;¢ Saffron Walden â&#x20AC;¢ CB11 3FB T: 01799 520200 F: 01799 520100 www.nigelquiney.com

Agents Wanted

66

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

TRADE WEBSITE:

Ä&#x2039;

Ä®

Ä&#x2039; 01780 763 368

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

originalposter.com

All our cards are supplied on consignment, so you only pay for what you sell.

We also supply card fixtures and spinners free-on-loan.

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

@ @paperlinkcards

We replace slow sellers and damaged stock free of charge.

We merchandise regularly, so you don’t have to.

THAT’S WHY WE’RE ORIGINAL!

01932 267 300 Exquisite Design, Beautiful Cardss Key brands include Marzipan, Portobello, Mosaic, Daisy Patch, Aquarupella and Designers Guild, plus many more.

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

LING DESIGN

Tel: +44 (0)115 986 0115 Email: info@paperrose.co.uk www.paperrose.co.uk www.artgroupcards.co.uk PaperRoseCards TheArtGroupCards The_Art_Group Our Brands: Laughter with Animals, Sporting Fun The Funny Side of Life.

Method of sale: Direct to Retail 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BE Tel: 01892 838574 enquiries@lingdesign.co.uk www.lingdesign.co.uk

LUXURY GIFT PACKAGING 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.

ICONIC LICENCED BRANDS

01892 838 574 www.pennykennedy.co.uk

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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2@= 29KL= M<K

Foody puns and wordplay on greeting cards and gifts. www.the-taste-buds.co.uk info@the-taste-buds.co.uk 07906 367 663

"'1!-3,21 4 '* *# (MKL 9KC 9KC Products: Greetings Cards, Gift Wrap, Gift Bags, Social Stationery, Mugs and Glasses, Partyware

Brands: Card Essentials Designer Collection Greetings Impressions Inspirations In Touch ,VDEHO¡V *DUGHQ Planet Happy With You In Mind

Method of sale: Wholesale Distributors

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

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: Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

The UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading publisher of highest quality handmade Greetings Cards.

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

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

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

PG LIVE STAND ÂŞ 684

greeting cards & contempoRary gifts www.redbackcards.com e: info@redbackcards.com t: 01803 712793

68

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

T: 07767 896807 info@stationerytrafďŹ c.co.uk stationerytrafďŹ c.co.uk

&DUGV &DOHHQQGDUV &R & RDVWHUV 1RWHEER RRNV

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

62-69_Product Directory_May 2019.qxp 24/04/2018 17:46 Page 69

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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We offffer a COMPREHE

range of hig Greeting Ca ALL

Occasions, AS and easons.

Sale: Direct to R

il: inffo o@words-n eb: www w..words-n

Tel: 01942 233201

DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT

Market Leaders in

Verse

proven success, with over 9,000 cards sold at just one small outlet!

viewbyrufus.com

& entimen

an extensive range of superior quality,

design-led Greeting Cards

TEL: 01480 435562 FAX: 01480 450599 www.tracksltd.com

view by rufus designed in thames ditton

topdog@viewbyrufus.com 020 8972 9706

for all occasions, Spring Seasons & Christmas.

find us at PG Live, stand 666 [the number of the dog]

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

Method of Sale: Direct to Retail Orders can be placed on our trader site

www.cbgtrader.co.uk or call our customer services team on

+44(0)1243 792600

To appear in the Product Directories contact

Warren Lomax

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

Tracey Arnaud

07957 212 062

or email traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

Top-notch British Greeting Cards for Thoughts that Count

01923 200600 | www.woodmansterne.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

69

70_Wholesale Directory 2018_2.qxp_whole sale dirSeptember 2004 25/04/2018 15:52 Page 70

DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS

l

DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS

NATIONWIDE

MERSEYSIDE

WALES

UNIT 4, THE ARGENT CENTRE, SILVERDALE ROAD, HAYES, MIDDLESEX, UB3 3BS MERSEYSIDE GREETING CARDS LTD

TEL: 020 8573 2975 / 1768 FAX: 020 8561 2349

Merseysideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Largest Greeting Card Distributor

Email: info@abbeycards.com

Due to our massive buyer power, we are able to offer you the best prices and also take a pride in our friendly service.

LONDONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NO 1 GREETING CARDS STATIONERY PARTY AND BALLOON CASH & CARRY

Greeting cards â&#x20AC;¢ Gift ranges â&#x20AC;¢ Pocket money toys â&#x20AC;¢ Balloons â&#x20AC;¢ Badges â&#x20AC;¢ Banners â&#x20AC;¢ Soft toys â&#x20AC;¢ Stationery â&#x20AC;¢ Collectables , including dolls â&#x20AC;¢ Photo frames

Trading Hours Our Opening Hours are: MON, TUES,WED & FRI 9.00 - 5.30pm THURSDAY 9.00 - 8.30pm

Always something different Check us out now!!!

Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri 9.30 till 4.30pm Thursday 9.00 till 7.30pm Sunday 10 till 1.00pm Tel: 0151 227 2555 Fax: 0151 227 2556 mgconline@hotmail.com 25 Dickson Street, Liverpool L3 7EB

HERTS & LONDON

SUMAN BROS

To appear in the Wholesale Directory simply contact

Warren Lomax 020 7700 6740

Stationery and greeting card wholesaler

Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL

or email on warren@max-publishing.co.uk

magnus RUPERT

T: 01923 200 900 F: 01923 200 909

TRADING

LONDONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NO 1

Great deals Great location Plentiful parking Just off the M1 Junction 5

WEST MIDLANDS

GREETING CARDS STATIONERY PARTY AND BALLOON CASH & CARRY

Trading Hours Our Opening Hours are: MON, TUES,WED & FRI 9.00 - 5.30pm THURSDAY 9.00 - 8.30pm SAT CLOSED SUN 10.00 - 4.00pm UNIT 4, THE ARGENT CENTRE, SILVERDALE ROAD, HAYES, MIDDLESEX, UB3 3BS TEL: 020 8573 2975 / 1768 FAX: 020 8561 2349 Email: info@abbeycards.com

Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL Tel: 020 8993 2231 www.rupertmagnus.co.uk Wholesale and direct-to-retail greeting cards, gift wrap, gift bags, social stationery, partyware and gifts.

Great range, competitive prices, excellent service.

EUR RO OPEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LEADING GREETINGS CARDS, PAR PA RT TY PRODUCTS, GIFTS, CANDLES, TO OY YS, STATI TA ATIO ONER RY Y AND FLORIST SUNDRIES DISTRIBUTION CENTRE 75000 SQ FT BESCOT CRESCENT T,, WALSALL, WEST MIDLANDS. WS1 4NG 01922-646666 www.greetingshouse.co.uk info@greetingshouse.co.uk MON,WED,FRI 8.00am-4.45pm TUES,THURS 8.00am-7.45pm SAT AT T,,SUN 8.00am-1.45pm

NORTH WEST

& $ 3 6 &DUG 3DUW\ 6WRUH /WG ZZZ FDUG SDUW\ FR XN 1(: ,03529(' ZHEVLWH IRU DOO \RXU (YHU\GD\ 6HDVRQDO &DUGV DQG 3DUW\ 3URGXFWV

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WarrenLomax

Your One Stop Shop

on 020 77006740

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

71-74_Classified 2018_Layout 1 25/04/2018 15:09 Page 71

CLASSIFIED

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CLASSIFIED

BAGS

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CLASSIFIED

BAGS

Polypropylene & biodegradable bag specialists

GREETING CARD

Over 40 years quality service to the trade Hotfoiling also available

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

GIVE E YOUR

BAGS

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

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

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TREA AT A TMENT

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CALL CA CAL C LL US ST TO ODAY OD

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

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

100% Recycled Paper Av Available

PAPER A

Stock & Bespoke Cello Bags Peel & Stick Envelopes p Bespoke Service on Request

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

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

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Quality Bespoke Envelopes!

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

Plain, printed, coloured & textured finish.

100% recycled & FSC available.

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

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

FLITTERING

LITHO OR DIGIT GIT TAL, TA L WINDLES GR RO OUP ALWAY LW WA AY YS SM MAKES THE RIGHT HT PRINT IMPRE RE RESSION.

FOR ALL YOUR FLITTER REQUIREMENTS

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

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

WWW. W..W WINDLESGROUP P..CO.UK

PRINTERS

PJ Print

(London)

The Capitals only specialist Greetings card printer

HOME OF THE LASER CUT GREETING CARD We are proud to be recognised as the specialist UK and global manufacturer for the greeting card industry for over 40 years

PJ Print (London) The Capitals only Greetings card printer

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

E-mail: sales@pj-print.co.uk The Print Works

To discuss how we could To d work with you, contact Simon King 0115 928 77 7 66 sales@sherwoodgroupuk.com www w..sherwoodgroupuk.com

Colville Road, Acton, London W38BL tel 020 8993 5160 www.pj-print.co.uk

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

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Introducing a joint venture from

Following new investments in our digital printing facility we can help you with shortt run prints, rapid stock replenishmeent, market testing, design sampling and promotional produccts.

Our expert digital printing, finishing and packing facilities allow us to provide • high quality • fast turnaround • competitive pricing

Our specialist services includ de: Digital and personalised greeting caards Short-run print Flitter, foil, emboss, die-cut finishess Bespoke gifts including mugs, coasters, notepads and much moree Promotional items Marketing literature Exhibition graphics /stands Stationery Brochures... and many more Pick, pack and distribution

If you would like to discover how we could help you, please contact our saless team:

0114 250 1150 •

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

07974 133735 • sales@digitalhubukk.com

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

Home of the Wire Spinner Stand

The Wire Spinner is proven to be the most cost effective method to display and enhance products.

We also offer sheet metal, wood, acrylic and cardboard solutions or a combination of materials.

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.

To appear in the Classified pages simply contact

Warren Lomax 020 7700 6740 or email on warren@max-publishing.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

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

T 01274 305832 E info@hellocards.co.uk www.hellocards.co.uk

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

THE SPECIALIST GREE ETINGS CARD PRINTE ER

Exclusively Greeting Cards Dedicated Account Managers

Litho Print

Die-cutting

Digital Print

Flittering

Foiling

Packing

Embossing

Distribution

With an excellent reputation we work as an integral part of yourr team bringing QYGL QSVI XLER JYPǻPQIRX 4YV GSWXMRK WXVYGXYVI MW WMQTPI ERH XVERWTEVIRX ;I ; I GEVV] SYX EPP EWTIGXW SJ LERH ǻRMWLMRK ERH EWWIQFP] ERH TVSZMHI [LEXIZIV EHHMXMSREP WIVZMGIW ]SY RIIH 4YV WIPIGX XIEQ SJ SYX[SVOIVW GEVIJYPP] LERH [VET ER] WM^I SV JSVQEX SJ GEVHW YVKIRXP] 4ZIVRMKLX ;I GEVI EFSYX ]SYV TVSHYGX EW QYGL EW ]SY HS &XXIRXMSR XS HIXEMP 6( .WWYIW ;I ERH .8 WYTTSVXIH F] E GSQTVILIRWMZI TETIV XVEMP JS T JSV EPP WXSGO QSZIQIRXW EVI SYV

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

www.herbertwalkers.co.u uk

LEPPQEVOW 4YV GER HS ETTVSEGL QIERWW [I EVI LETT] XS WSPZI ]SYV TVSFPIQW 4YXWSYVGMRK ]SYV [EVILSYWMRK STIVEXMSR VIPIEWIW ]SYV XMQI XS CREA AT TE/MARKET/SELL/ MANAGE/ /GROW THE BUSINESS =SYV FYWMRIWW MW SYV FYWMRIWW T =S TPIEWI ZMWMX Z SYV [IF WMXI ERH WII [LEX SYV GYWXSQIVW WE] XLIR XS ǻRH SYX S QSVI GEPP Ly Lynda Raymond ERH TIVLETW [I GER EVVERKI XS QIIX ERH HMWGYWW ]SYV RIIHW . EQ WYVI XLEX [I GER G LIPT

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APPOINTMENTS

+Something Classy + EXCLUSIVE GIFTWRAP

Established sales agents required, nationwide Something Classy imports exclusive giftwrap, guaranteeing that we can offer our customers something different.

Our collection includes high quality paper, metallic, and holographic designs, with complementary gift dressings.

Extensive stock holdings, and UK & European suppliers, enable us to offer next working day delivery on the majority of our collection.

Successful candidates will be introducing an exciting collection of gift wrap and accessories to the market.

Candidates with contacts in the stationery and gift trades, not currently carrying giftwrap, may be offered the unique opportunity to join us. Early application is advised to secure your established territory.

We offer competitive rates of commission, always paid promptly, and offer full commission for repeat and direct orders.

Interested? Email your CV to sales@somethingclassy.co.uk, or call Ian Raybould on 01543 480914

FABU A ULOUS OPPORTUNITY!

on to Su lin the bs c e at new rib PG s e Bu flas zz h .n et

www.somethingclassy.co.uk We look forward to impressing you

Are you looking to upgrade your product po folio with fast

PROFESSIO ONAL SALES AGENTS REQUIRED COUNT TRYWIDE Y

cardovation@ ca @btconnect.com m TEL: 0195 54 260728 BON BON Pu ublications Ltd CAMBR RIDGE UK

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

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

●

Twice weekly newsflash delivered to over 9000 inboxes

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Regularly updated jobs-board

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The very latest news, views, articles and analysis

●

Digital issues of Progressive Greetings Worldwide

●

Dedicated pages for the GCA and The Ladder Club

Warren Lomax warren@max-publishing.co.uk

●

Up to date information on PG Live, The Retas, and The Henries

Tracey Arnaud traceya@max-publishing.co.uk

Michelle Board News editor michelleb@max-publishing.co.uk

Advertising, Recruitment and Sponsorship Opportunities:

News • PG Worldwide • Interviews • PG Live • Newsflash • Events Gallery • Jobs • Ladder Club • GCA

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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