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Leader
On The Cards
CONTENTS
Imagine the scene. The sun was shining on an important London landmark. People, instead of rushing past, head down or frustratingly trying to send an email, were full of smiles, only too keen to tell total strangers about their intention to get in touch with a long lost friend, make a neighbour’s day who was recovering from an operation, reassure a sister-in-law anxious about the final stages of pregnancy or cheer up a volunteer who had really put in the graft to help others. This was just a snapshot of how I spent a few hours on Wednesday September 28, the mid point of Thinking of You Week, when together with my GCA colleague Sharon Little (and PR expert Laura Barioli) we took to the streets in what was the Association’s first major public event to actively promote the Week, giving out free cards and urging people to write and send 9-21
News
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Over The Counter Education Education Education!
26-27 29-31
Below left: PG's Jakki Brown with Fenwick Colchester buyer Mark Turner in its new look store (see pages 56-57). Below: GCA's Sharon Little (right) with PG's Jakki Brown (left) with two of the many members of the public who participated in the recent Thinking of You Week consumer event.
them that week. Yes, it was wonderful to hear the comments from women evangelising about how important sending cards are, including one lady who still has a recording of herself (aged 6) appearing on Radio 4’s Women’s Hour telling the nation everyone should send thank you cards. Yet even more rewarding were the reactions from a mature station cleaner (from Iran) who admitted that while, he was not a habitual card sender, he loved to receive them, so he was going to write one to a friend in his native Iran. Equally moving was watching the care and attention a decorator from Albania took in selecting his cards, keen to write them there and then, so they did not get damaged. There was a lot of thinking that went on that afternoon at Kings Cross Station - and it is wonderful that those thoughts were put into action inside greeting cards. Jakki Brown, Editor
45-49 Focus On Words & Sentiments - The Henries Finalists 2016 A Way With Words 50-51
Cardsharp City Slickers
Jeremy’s Journal Before Social
52-53
Viewpoints Thinking Of You Week
Take Three… Route Masters
54-55
Industry Issue How Cards Help Literacy
33-39
Innovations
41-43
Focus On Words & Sentiments - Fresh & New An Emotional Touch
Within This Issue:
FOCUS ON WORDS & SENTIMENTS 62-63
What’s Hot?
56-57
Retailer In Focus Fenwick Colchester
65-66
Lynn’s Lines Going For Gold
59-61
Art Source
67-78
Classified
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
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SUBSCRIPTIONS ENQUIRES: maxsubscriptions@marketingreinforcements.co.uk Tel: 020 8943 9541
Above: Paper Bird has recently published two wordy ranges. 'My Little i' plays stylishly with the word and 'Scissor Bird' cuts and pastes with colourful collage.
PG is the official magazine for the Greeting Card Association GCA: Sharon Little 020 7619 0396 Email: gca@max-publishing.co.uk www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk Use your smartphone app to scan the QR code to visit our website.
Copyright© 2016. While every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of publication, the publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers nor any organisation mentioned in the text. Views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.
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NEWS Stamp Of Approval
TOP STORY
Clever Thinking The Nation Embraces Card Sending Week Thinking of You Week was embraced like never before with publishers, retailers, schools, organisations and consumers participating in the Week (September 26 October 2) to unprecedented levels. The special Week, a GCA initiative, aimed to create a wave of love, caring and happiness by sending cards, was of oceanic proportions in what is only its third year! UKG, Hallmark and online operator thorftful produced videos on the theme, gaining traction on social media; Clintons, Paperchase, Bentalls and Moonpig were among the retail names to get behind the event; Royal Mail spread the word on 36 million items of post (see above right) and into schools through its Teacher’s Post magazine, while indies and publishers of all shapes and sizes put their own spin on this card-centric celebration. For the first time, the GCA also took to the streets with a consumer PR event held on the Wednesday of the Week, just outside the busy Kings Cross Station in London. Members of the public needed little encouragement to select from over 1,000s of free cards that had been donated
Royal Mail pledged its support to Thinking of You Week by creating a special postmark, which appeared on an astonishing 36 million items of post that went through its system in the Week. As Stephen Agar, head of social mail commented, “There is nothing better than receiving a card in the post and opening it up to find out who sent it. Cards spread happiness and joy in a way that can never be matched by emails and texts. We are really pleased to be marking the campaign with a special postmark.” Below: The Royal Mail special postmark.
by GCA publisher members, avidly choosing cards to send to their friends, family or those who they felt would benefit from receiving a card that week. “It was so fantastic to see the public’s positive reaction and how much they embraced this opportunity. We had men, women and children from all over the world participating, telling us how much they loved the idea,” commented Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA, who worked with PR expert Laura Barioli on creating the event. “There is now so much research into wellbeing, looking for ways to improve quality of life, thinking deeply about combatting loneliness and mental health issues. Greeting cards have such an important part to play in all this and Thinking of You Week is the perfect event to help get our message across.” ● The videos are hosted on the GCA’s YouTube channel as well as accessed from the newly designed Thinking of You Week website.
NEWS IN BRIEF: ToYW
● Paperchase embraced ToYW with a weeklong social media campaign, including posting a card or notecard image with a slogan on each day. All its ‘treat me’ (loyalty card) customers were offered ‘4 for 3’ on all cards on the Thursday of the Week, while all of its head office employees were given a card that they could then post to ‘someone special’ with Paperchase covering the postage. ● UKG created a special Boofle animation as well as reworking a film that its Australian sister company John Sands created for its take on ToYW (in June), which demonstrated the power of sending cards. In addition, UKG also organised a Thinking of You Week card selection (see below) for its head office staff to select from and send. (See pages 29-31)
Above: The GCA’s Sharon Little (right) at the Thinking of You Week consumer event, which took place just outside Kings Cross station that was a roaring success with the public. Left: “This is a wonderful idea”, was the response from the public to Thinking of You Week.
Animal Instincts Thinking of You Week immediately struck a chord with Simon Wadsworth, founder of card and gift company Wraptious. "It's been a turbulent year for the world, and initiatives like this remind us to look out for each other, build bridges, and spread positivity as much as we can. It's wonderful that something so simple can be so effective," said Simon. This year as part of its ToYW campaign, the company gave free cards to several RSPCA charity shops in the Manchester area, in special display units carrying the Thinking of You Week branding. The shops could then give the cards away with a purchase or ask for donations from customers. "Animal art has very much become part of the Wraptious identity, and we're keen to support any charity that protects local wildlife and the animals around us," promised Simon. Above: Simon Wadsworth (left) inside an RSPCA shop with the free Thinking of You Week display unit the company has given away to selected charity shops.
● In addition to supporting the initiative through social media and PR channels, Moonpig offered its customers a 15% discount off all its cards for the Week. ● Nigel Quiney created a display of Thinking of You, Get Well, a selection of Blank and Thank You cards in its reception on the first day of the Week, encouraging staff to stop work and write them between 11am-12pm on the Wednesday. "There was a post box in reception, with any cards placed in the box posted the same day free of charge," confirms Nigel Quiney’s marketing coordinator Melanie Pollitt. ● As part of its multi-faceted ToYW programme, Hallmark surprised hard-working community groups in the company's local Bradford area with handwritten messages of thanks (written in cards, of course) as well as a special gift.
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from
Grass Roots International
For more information please contact us on: Tel: 0151 541 0448 E-mail: sales@writefromtheheart.co.uk Web: www.writefromtheheart.co.uk
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NEWS Antalis’ Book Of 12
TOP STORY
Emotional Insights
Below: Two clips from the Hallmark video created to support Thinking of You Week.
Hallmark Delves Into The Hearts And Minds The last month saw Hallmark release two significant pieces of research, which provide insight and reassurance as to the importance greeting cards play in our lives, whether young or old. To tie in with the start of Thinking of You Week, Hallmark produced an engaging film, in response to a survey it commissioned, that revealed that twothirds (66%) of Brits said receiving a card or letter shows the most thought when it comes to sharing an emotional message. “The findings also sadly revealed was that 58% of Brits don't tell loved ones that they're thinking of them, with 16% of people admitting that they have never ever revealed their emotions to a loved one,” revealed Alison Kildunne, Hallmark’s head of marketing. The film (which was shared through social media channels) continued the theme, asking, ‘If you had to put pen to paper what would you say?’, with the heart-warming video depicting couples, mothers and sons and grandfather and granddaughters telling loved ones what they think of them.
Hallmark’s other recent activity was aimed at the younger generation. Revealed on International Literacy Day (September 8) were the findings of a study involving 502 children that reveal how greeting cards really can help to improve literacy, encouraging children to both read and write. To coincide with the findings of the study, in support of the World Literacy Foundation, Hallmark launched a downloadable lesson plan for schools to use that incorporates greeting cards into the activity. (See pages 54-55 for the full story). The study included asking children of 5-12 years-old for their views on sending and receiving greeting cards. When asked who in their family they would most choose to send a card to, over half of the children (51%) picked their mum, with dad trailing at 17%! Some 16% of children chose their grandparents. ● When asked which famous person they would most like to write a card to, more than a quarter (27%) of girls aged 5-12 chose Taylor Swift, while 1 in 7 (14%) of boys in that age group would write to Emma Watson.
Card Goes On The Road Eagled-eyed filmgoers in the greeting card industry might have spotted that the good luck card that David Brent (actor Ricky Gervais) received in the recent film, Life On The Road, was from Twizler's Bubble-icious range. "In the movie, it was presented to him when he took a few weeks leave to go on tour to pursue his dream of becoming a rock star," Above: Brent is back, featuring one of Twizler’s cards. explains Twizler's Jane Hewitt. "We were so thrilled to have been approached by the film team, and, of course, it's always fabulous to see the industry showcased. We went to the first night in trepidation, as we had no idea how our card was going to be treated, but we're now waiting for the Oscar nominations!" quips Jane.
Smell The Coffee With Halloween on the horizon, and the run up to the festive season getting underway, Party Wholesalers has launched offers, new products and an opportunity to receive a free digital coffee maker with purchases over £355. Christmas products can be ordered online for delivery the next working day. Visit: www.partywholesalers.net and www.spotongifts.net
In an initiative which demonstrates how much paper matters in a digital age, paper distributor Antalis recently commissioned a project focusing on 12 interviews with 12 leading contemporary graphic designers across 12 different countries and cultures in order to gauge their beliefs and concerns regarding the role of paper today in an increasingly digital age. The result is the Book of 12, a collection of 12 notebooks offering an example of each of the 12 graphic designer’s work, produced on a range of creative papers supplied by Antalis. As Catherine Zask a French graphic artist, poster designer and writer said: “The pleasurable sensation that you experience when handling paper becomes associated with the message printed on it.” The interviews were carried out by Véronique Vienne, a respected writer and specialist in graphic design. Below: Antalis’ Book of 12.
A Funny Game Cartoonist for The Field Magazine for the past 20 years and well-known for illustrating the funny side of country life, and all of its perils, Oliver Preston, owner of card publisher Beverston Press, will be showcasing over 60 of his original cartoons at London’s The Mall Galleries October 10 -15 in an exhibition called ‘Raise Your Game’, based around the themes of sport, shooting and skiing. Oliver has illustrated a new book, Raise Your Game, written by sports writer Ian Valentine, which covers some of the absurdities about sport. “Winning can get to be a habit, and so can losing, but there is always a funny side to the wipeouts and falls, and miss hits and air shots. And remember, the trouble with jogging is that the wine spills out of your glass...” says Oliver! You can see more about Oliver's exhibition at: www.mallgalleries.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/raise-your-game Above: Oliver Preston’s humorous observation.
Left: A coffee machine is up for grabs at Party Wholesalers.
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NEWS TOP STORY
Making A Connection
Will Paperchase Go Public? Is A Flotation On The Cards For Specialist? It was the Sunday Times that broke the news in the middle of last month that Paperchase was being primed for a £150 million stock market flotation, but the media and City analysts latched onto the story immediately. It was no secret that Primary Capital, which has owned Paperchase for the past six years, has been considering a sale for over a year, but as Timothy Melgund, the long standing ceo of Paperchase, told PG last year, it would only sell if the offer was attractive enough. Silence is golden so a flotation is the next step. Paperchase has of course been through several owners over its lifetime, while the senior management has remained. As Timothy Melgund told PG: “For me it’s not about the capital structure of the business that is important, but the strategic direction, and that hasn’t changed over the last four separate owners.” For a flotation to be successful there has to be a belief among investors that the business and the sector can grow. Paperchase’s store opening programme, concessions activities (latterly opening in Next, for example) as well as its international aspirations (loud noises are being made about standalone stores in the US, “sooner rather than latter”, confirms Timothy), plus its solid market position, bode well.
Below: Paperchase, Glasgow.
Storytime Bake Off
“I always believed that Paperchase could grow to around 200 stores. However, we are now trading in places that five years ago I would never have thought would be right for us,” Timothy said when interviewed by PG last March, bigging up the store opening potential. Timothy firmly believes that we are living in an era of ‘stationery renaissance’ and Paperchase is among those to be reaping the benefits. “There is a real resurgence of paperbased products. We are selling more notebooks than we have ever sold, more scrapbooks than ever before. It is partly about creating a balance with computers and technology generally,” he suggests. If Paperchase does float it will double the industry’s card retailing presence on the stock market - joining Card Factory to woo and wow the City.
Back To The '60s With the '60s enjoying something of a resurgence, echoed by the new V&A exhibition ‘You Say You Want A Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966-1970’, as well as the Beatles’ movie Eight Days A Week, Little Shop of Rock has created a series on POP cards and edition prints celebrating The Beatles, The Stones and The Who. Screen artist Vincent McEvoy, who originates Little Shop of Rock editions, admits to being thrilled that Kate Moss selected one of his Classic Beatles prints recently. Right: A Beatles POP card from Little Shop of Rock.
Gemma Goes For It It has been all GO at Gemma as the greeting card publisher has been beavering away to launch its brand new Pokémon range of cards and wrap. For Gemma this is the second time the publisher has produced cards based on the gaming brand – the first time round was right at the start of Pokémon. In fact, in 2001, Gemma celebrated the incredible milestone of selling one million Pokémon greeting cards! Now as a whole new generation of children have latched onto the Pokémon GO phenomenon, Gemma’s brand new collection and special FSDU unit will chime with a host of new fans. Above: Gemma launches Pokémon cards and wrap this month.
Card Connection and UKG have become the shared supplier for greeting cards for Central Convenience Stores, one of the UK’s fastest growing convenience store chains. Michael Johnson, managing director of Card Connection, said: “The retailers open seven days a week, with extended hours, offering the best national brands, alongside locally sourced products. The company is growing rapidly and opened five new outlets in June alone."
With several greeting card ranges to her name (for both The Art Group and Paperchase), as well as a former Henries finalists in the Promising Young Designer or Artist category, Clair Rossiter has now illustrated Bake Me A Story, a children’s book by popular Bake Off 2015 winner Nadiya Hussain. Clair joined Nadiya at a Storytime Sunday event for the book launch that took place at London’s The Bright Emporium, a gallery-come-retail space which is an offshoot of The Bright Agency, which supplies many publishers with designs. Above: Bake Me A Story which was illustrated by Clair Rossiter.
Hub Moves Home Greeting card print business, Loxleys and Sherwood Group, have moved The Digital Hub, a digital production facility, from Tewkesbury to Sheffield, due to rapid growth over the last year, the need for more room and new investment in the digital production facility. The Hub, a joint venture between Sherwood and Loxleys, is now based within the Loxleys manufacturing plant, maintaining the same high levels of quality and customer service. With the addition of a new state of the art Konica 1080 digital printing machine it will now be possible to offer more capacity, higher levels of print quality and more finishing processes in-house. "With more publishers of all sizes requiring smaller run lengths, samples, market testing and a speed to market products, along with promotional items such as mugs and coasters, we felt it was the right time to significantly invest in our digital offering to the greeting card market, the relocation and investment will bring real tangible benefits to all our customers," explains Richard Bacon, managing director of Loxleys.
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INTRODUCING OUR ALL NEW
Birthday Month Cards 12 Stunning Birth of the Month cards ffeaturing e handy hints on how to grow your flower of the month!
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NEWS TOP STORY
That Friday Feeling Postmark Shops To Finish The Months Feeling Good
Below: The Feel Good Friday poster design that will be installed in all three Postmark shops.
Well-known for its ‘thinking outside the retailer’s excess stock as well as some box’ ideas, savvy London-based card retail donated by publishers. group Postmark has come up with the idea Attention grabbing posters are being to give cards away 'just because'… and produced by Postmark to explain the they’ll even pay the postage! Under the premise and assurance that there is no banner of Feel Good Friday, catch: ‘The post’s here. Bills, starting at the end of junk mail... what’s this? A card? O T FREEGOOD ‘It’s not my birthday’, you think October, on every last Friday L E FE of the month, customers in all excitedly. You rip it open, it’s Postmark's shops (Balham, from a friend who just wants Dulwich and Chiswick) will be to say hello. You light up, you able to choose (free of feel great. A card for no charge) from a selection of reason, no occasion, just cards that they can send to because - what an amazing someone for no particular thing to do.’ SON. . NO REUAP THE D R A reason and Postmark will The only rule is that the C E FRE PICK SE. MEONE A ILL EVEN T BECAU SEND CSCOASION. WE WFOR YOU. JUS covert the cost of the stamp. cards have to be sent for NO O OF POSTAGE COST “No, we haven’t gone completely random reasons, mad!”, assures Mark Jansonnot for birthdays, new baby Smith, owner of the trio of or the ‘normal’ sending occasions. Postmark shops. “Inspired by Thinking of “The power of the written word is You Week, we wanted to do something immense and sending cards really can which extended the idea of sending extra make someone shine. We will be going to cards into a year round initiative, without it town on social media and seeking press being misconstrued that we were doing it coverage using Feel Good Friday to for commercial gain.” encourage more people to benefit from The cards in the Feel Good Friday the sending and receiving of cards,” said selection will be a combination of the the ever enthusiastic Mark.
L E E F D
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Chocs Away Abacus Cards was the winner of the UK Envelope Centre's recent Hotel Chocolat promotion. For every 50,000 of its envelopes that publishers took delivery of during August, their company name went into a draw – and Abacus’ name was pulled out! The publisher received a bumper hamper of Hotel Chocolat goodies with the team commenting: "If only every Friday was like this!" Joanne Jefferson, director of UK Envelope Centre says: “We really appreciate all the support our customer give us and wanted to run a promotion that would show this." Above: The Abacus team with their Hotel Chocolat hamper.
PaperFest Debut At Top Drawer The addition of PaperFest into the hub of the Stationery & Greetings area of last month’s Top Drawer Autumn, hosted by PaperFest’s founder Abigail Warner, saw audiences flock to its intimate and informal ‘on the sofa’ talks from a number of designers, social media gurus and fashionable retailers, such as Sophie Conran and Kirsty Whyte of Heals, plus Selfridges, Urbanic and many more. Paper Salad’s co-founder of publisher Claire Williams also put in a sterling performance on the sofa! One seminar, called Social Media Like A Boss, about using social media and how to convert it into sales, included interesting talks from Julia Smith of Humphrey & Grace, Charley of London Bride, Julia Scirrotto of You & Your Wedding and the GCA’s Sharon Little, who used the opportunity to promote this month’s Thinking of You Week, and the importance of social media in helping to promote the event. Before a full audience, Sharon explained how the Thinking Of You Week initiative, set up by the GCA three years ago, has grown from strength to strength, aided by employing Facebook, Twitter and, recently, Instagram to ‘spread the word’. To discover more about this year’s Thinking of You Week see News on page 9 and Viewpoints on pages 29-31. Top: Sharon (2nd left) on the sofa with PaperFest founder Abigail Warner (right) and other speakers during PaperFest at Top Drawer last month.
Show Stoppers
No Need To Grumble It has been proven yet again that greeting cards can improve mental health. As part of Nicholas Childs' therapy to help get through a bad bout of depression three years ago, which sadly left him unable to work, he started to sketch images of his and his partner Ross Thomas' four dogs to help him create some breathing space in his mind. "They started out just simple sketches but soon took on a life of its own," Nicholas explains. The couple, who live in Knutsford, started selling their cards to small independent shops in Cheshire until they exhibited at PG Live in May, then it was all systems go! After the show, The Grumble & Co. was formed - named after the dogs - and now it is selling across the UK. “We’ve just delivered our first delivery to Paperchase after meeting the buyers this year at PG Live. We also have distribution interest to Australia. Therefore, it is possible to turn something bad into something amazing," Nicholas states. "To bring any positive light to the stigma of mental health can only be a positive one." Left: Nick Childs and his partner Ross Thomas with the greeting cards that are gaining international recognition.
The PaperAwards 2016, sponsored by GF Smith, was a new initiative at Top Drawer in September, recognising the creativity of the exhibitors within the Greetings & Stationery area at the show. The winners were: Emotive Design: Katie Leamon; Engaging Print: Ohh Deer (Contemporary Collection) and Exciting Use of Colour: Portico Designs. The shortlist was selected by a panel which included Clare Sprigings, stationery buyer for Selfridges; Abigail Warner, founder of Abigail Warner and PaperFest; Alejandra Campos, event director of Top Drawer and Audrey Woollen, owner, buyer and creative director of Urbanic Paper Boutique. The trade were then invited to cast their votes via an online voting system.
PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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NEWS PEOPLE
TOP STORY
Fenwick And Tesco Debuts Long Awaited Retail Launches There have been significant debuts from retailers in the last month – namely the first phase of the new look card departments in Tesco, as well as the official opening of the card department in the £35 million redeveloped Fenwick Colchester store. As reported in last month’s PG, after over two years in development, the first tranche of Tesco stores involved in the trial of a totally new look card department have now been installed. However, while the new fixtures and PoS are a step change from the previous incarnation in all stores involved, the‘full theatre’ of the new approach, developed by Hallmark in partnership with Tesco, will not be evident until it is installed in its larger stores in early October. “It is all about making it easier and more enjoyable for our customers to find the cards they like. The early indications of the trial from the trial are looking good,” revealed Anne Borrett, buyer for Papershop at Tesco. Another major launch in the last few weeks was at Fenwick Colchester, which officially opened under its new name (previously it traded as William and Griffin) in mid September. Anchoring a prominent corner on the
ground floor of the £35 million redeveloped department store is a stylish card, wrap and stationery department incorporating 2,000 card designs (see pages 56-57). In what is a first for any of Fenwick’s 11 stores, the card department is being largely supplied through brokerage, being managed by GBCC. Some 40 publishers are being brokered in by GBCC, while another eight are supplying direct. As Chris Houfe, sales director of GBCC, commented: “It has been an absolute pleasure to take up such a prestigious opportunity, especially as it is the first store in the Fenwick group to introduce brokerage.” Above: The new look Tesco card department in its Waltham Abbey store in which the card racks are ‘broken up’ by creating a ‘wardrobe’ effect. Left: GBCC’s Chris Houfe (right) with colleague Colin Hayward in the Fenwick Colchester store.
All Sorted Allsorted has been appointed as the exclusive UK distributor for Pooter, an upand-coming publisher of occasion books launched two years ago. Lincoln Exley, Allsorted’s director, commented: "We feel the books really address a gap in the gifting market, with Allsorted launching successful products that have already been tried and tested in Ireland." Two Pooter ranges are exclusive to Allsorted in the UK: 'You're going to be', which includes two pairs of matching socks, and 'A present for me'. Left: Pooter's You’re Going To Be A… series, distributed by Allsorted.
A Positive Performance In a recent pre-close statement, WH Smith (pictured) said it expected the outcome for the year to August 31, 2016, to be in line with expectations. The company said its travel business continued to perform strongly with good sales across all channels. The new store opening programme, both in the UK and internationally, was on track, with further opportunities in the international news, books and convenience travel market. It was further confirmed that the profit performance of WH Smith's high street business in the second half is in line with expectations, with the predicted strong performance last year driven by colour therapy books for adults. The company is continuing to deliver gross margin improvements and cost savings in line with its profit focused strategy.
● Alphoso Hewitt (right) has been appointed Ling's regional sales manager to look after the company's Southern territory for its Bespoke Print/Charity Division. ● Is it any wonder that greeting card retailer Paulene Cattle, owner of Chalk in South West London, did a double take the other week when she saw card agent Paul Hobbs (right) turn himself into Rod Stewart? "I saw him at a gig and he was great!" she confirms. "He really looked the part." ● Gift suppler to many card shops, Lesser & Pavey, has welcomed Peter Hammett to its growing sales team. Peter brings a wealth of experience in the trade and will be responsible for the Midlands and both North and South Wales. ● Teddy Townsend (right) has joined Enveco as national account manager for its stationery business. Teddy was previously with stationery company Exaclair.
Blooming Charitable There was plenty for The Great British Card Company (GBCC) to smile about at the recent GLEE trade show, held at the NEC last month. Less than six months after its launch, the company's new Floreo greeting card range has already raised over £18,000 for the Greenfingers and Perennial charities. Greenfingers creates gardens at children’s hospices for the children and their families to use, while Perennial is a gardeners’ benevolent society. Representatives from GBCC presented giant cheques for £9,000 to each of the charities on the first day of the show. They also unveiled 12 new card designs that will be added to the range, with the photographic collection featuring garden images, ranging from cut flowers and wildlife to garden scenes. Every Floreo card sold generates a 10p donation for both charities. Top: GBCC’s Chris Houfe (centre) presented giant cheques to the two charities at GLEE, thanks to its fundraising card range Floreo. Above: One of the designs in the Florea range.
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NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF
TOP STORY
Pug-ging And Kissing Canny Canine Coverage For Card Factory Pugs may not be the prettiest canine breed, but their allure with the public resulted in some surprising PR coverage for Card Factory recently. The value chain’s new head honcho, Karen Hubbard was featured in the London Evening Standard stating how Britons’ current fetish for all things pug is reflected in its till takings as customers lap up cards and other products featuring the squashed up face dogs. She also revealed how sales of wall plaques sharing ‘words of wisdom’ were also chiming with the tastes of the British public. It was Card Factory’s numbers not words or doggy pictures that found favour with the City at the end of last month when it reported a solid set of results for its first half sales and profits, despite softer footfall delivering slightly lower than normal sales growth from its stores. Same stores’ sales were up by 0.2%, with overall revenue 4.8% higher at £169.2m.
Below: A pug greeting card design from Card Factory.
Due to being “highly cash generative”, Karen Hubbard announced another special dividend of 15 pence per share. "Together with the interim dividend, this means we will have returned over £160m to shareholders since Card Factory’s IPO just over two years ago," said Karen (who took over the top job in April) on September 27. She confirmed there was "potential for further growth - through like-for-like sales growth, further store roll-outs and the full exploitation of our online channels is exciting." She revealed that trading in recent weeks had been similar to the trends seen in the first half, with encouraging continued growth in average spend. "We approach the important final quarter with confidence in the quality and value of our offer, including our new Christmas ranges, and remain confident of delivering full year underlying profit before tax within the range of expectations.”
Her Majesty's Great Pleasure It's not every day you get a letter from royalty, so the team at Wendy Jones-Blackett was delighted when a letter arrived at its Leeds offices with a Buckingham Palace postmark, and the capital letters ER. "In honour of Her Majesty's 90th birthday, we created a big, hand-finished card from the people of Chapel Allerton and invited everyone to sign it in Angels Too, the local card and gift shop," explains Wendy. "Our thanks was a lovely letter from Christopher Sandamas, chief clerk to the Queen, saying that Her Majesty had asked him to convey her thanks for 'the splendid handmade card'. It continued: 'The Queen greatly appreciated your kind words and thoughtfulness in writing . . . and in return, has asked me to send her warm good wishes to all concerned.' Such a thoughtful response," enthuses Wendy. Above: The handmade card that Her Majesty so appreciated.
Raising Awareness Sue and Scott Morrish, co owners of card publishing company Glebe Cottage, are well known for the progress they have made on the environmental front for the good of our industry, but recently their campaigning efforts have been on an even more serious note. Their son Sam tragically died aged only three years and eight months, from Sepsis in 2010. Since then the couple have worked with the Sepsis Trust to campaign for greater awareness among the medical profession, as well as the general public, about this often misdiagnosed condition that kills 37,000 people a year. As part of this, last month, coinciding with World Sepsis Day, Sue and Scott were invited to a high profile meeting at Kings College Hospital followed by an All Party Parliamentary Group reception at the Houses of Parliament. In addition, the couple appeared on a LBC radio programme hosted by Newsnight presenter James O’Brien. Having initially been scheduled for a 10 minute slot, it ended up being 45 minutes. Above: Sue and Scott Morrish in the LBC studio being interviewed by James O’Brien.
● After 10 rollovers on the #WiddopLottery, Colin Morgan, from Card Outlet in Oswestry, recently matched the winning invoice number in the Widdop & Co. Lottery. His prize was £1,000 of free stock. The gift company’s lottery takes place each month. Above: Widdop lottery winner Colin Morgan, owner of Card Outlet.
● Colneis Marketing and Colour House Graphics have joined forces to present a united business, with both companies contributing their best selling designs in one new colour brochure (right). Visit: www.colneisgreetingcards.com
Colneis Marketing Ltd incorporating
Colour House Graphics Greetings Cards
Autumn 2016
● Art is at the heart of two new stationery collections. Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales, and Welsh publishing house Graffeg, recently joined together to produce The Impressionist and Black Gold ranges of stationery celebrating collections at the museum. ● Aiming to appeal to different card purchasers, Moonpig can now offer cards on different board types – textured, matte or glossy. The new service, which is across selected designs, was launched to the public at the end of September. Above: New substrates extend Moonpig’s remit.
● Greeting card publisher Cinnamon Aitch is collaborating with international publishing group teNeues, who will be licensing artwork from the Gypsy card range and translating it onto journals, diaries and calendars. "We are thrilled to have our designs translated into such gorgeous products, as well as the opportunity to raise awareness of the Cinnamon Aitch brand,” commented Andree Walker, product and marketing manager. The new designs will be featured in the teNeues Green Line, a range of environmentally friendly products. Above: Cinnamon Aitch's Gypsy designs of whimsical decorated birds and flowers inspired by the traditions of folk art will be appearing on a range of 2017 teNeues stationery and dated products.
Life On The Ocean Wave The London Stationery Show (LSS), National Stationery Week (NSW) and Stationery Magazine have been purchased by Ocean Media Group. Founder Chris Leonard-Morgan will be staying on as advisor alongside the current team. As Chris explains:“The London Stationery Show has much to gain from the Ocean Media Group, who have a wealth of experience working with, and attracting, large b2b and b2c audiences to their exhibitions, events and publications.”
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Over The Counter
Education
Education
Education! Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, discusses education and learning, and how it doesn't just come from the classroom. October is graduation month at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland. Over 1,000 people, pupils and their families will attend the ceremony and, as is always the case with these things, there is a keynote speaker; someone there to offer praise, congratulations and even a little guidance. This year I was very honoured to be asked to be that person and with this the case I have been thinking about what to say. The invitation came because of my work with the charity Young Enterprise, local schools and my recent strides with taking apprentices on and bringing them through, both in terms of job training and their education. The brief as a speaker was simple - tell the graduates a little bit about yourself, tell them a little bit about your education and tell them a little bit about how best to plan their future careers. Sounds easy. Should be pretty straightforward...except, as with all these things, it’s not. I trained as a teacher, have a Bachelor of Education Honours Degree which required four years of training and a year probation and yet somehow the job didn’t live up to my expectations. Eventually I managed to land an interview to be a deputy headmaster, thinking that this would be the challenge and reward I
was searching for. If I had won through I would have been one of the youngest ones in this district, but it simply didn’t happen. But it did make up my mind - ultimately what I wanted was to drive my own career. So, I became my own boss in retail. I wanted to prove that I could move my parents’ retail business on to the next level. So that is what I set about doing, with their blessing and help of course. I have no business degree. Not even a standard grade. I have no accounts training. In fact everything I know has come through being in it and doing it. Yet here I am 20 years later running businesses in different sectors. I am coping with an ever growing, ever changing staff and the day to day challenges are vast. So who does educate you on running a business? How do you learn what to do? Where is the Small Business 101 guide? Can I sign up? ● Experience counts more than degrees. ● Passion and positivity will beat brain power. ● Formal education will make you a living, selfeducation will make you a fortune. We have all heard these lines and many others trotted out time and time again, but, quite simply, you can’t say them at a graduation ceremony. You can’t say education is not worth it because ultimately, it needs a balance of both Above: Education – whether at school or on the job can give you better ‘grades’ in your business. Left: Some of the students who have previously studied and graduated from the University of the Highlands and Islands. David will be a keynote speaker to this year’s graduates and their families.
a blend of formal training and on the job experience. Education to me is the desire to improve. It is the desire to change and make a better version of you. It doesn’t just need to be in terms of formal education, it can be realising that you can drive to work on a better route. It can be doing something 20 times until you find a way that you can remember it and do it perfectly every time. It can simply be listening to someone else's point of view and reacting to it. ‘Progress is impossible without change and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.’ - George Bernard Shaw One phrase that I have heard many times from so many retailers is “I JUST run a small business”. It almost feels like they are apologising for it. Like it is nothing. Like it doesn’t really count. Trust me, with things the way they are and the tough trading times everyone is experiencing, running any type of business where you cover your costs, generate your own wages, and possibly those of others, is admirable. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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Over The Counter
Let’s think about what we do. Business of any size is all encompassing and to prove this I had a brainstorming session recently with a group of Young Enterprise students. Firstly, I asked the question: “What is business about? Then my follow up question was: “Would you consider being your own boss?” The vast majority of the group simply didn’t think it was an option that was open to them. So surely here is a failure in our education in society. It should be a totally natural thing to encourage people to take ownership of their own lives and careers. Many of the graduates I will address at UHI this month will be students in hairdressing, beauty, engineering, building skills, and many of them may dream about being their own boss. Many of them will love the romantic notion of setting their own schedule and of seeing the fruits of their labour, yet very few will actually go all out and do it. In my speech I hope to make them realise that it is achievable, it is something that they can and maybe should consider. DREAM is of course another of those business cliches. When used as an acronym it is designed to inspire further, to almost be a mantra. ● Dedication ● Responsibility ● Education ● Attitude ● Motivation This acronym has been used off and on for years but it is designed to apply not just to business, but to life in general. To me, for this modern 2016 business world, the acronym may need to be re-written. Here is my version: Decide - In business the ability to make a decision and to stand by it is one of the skills that many just simply can’t get their heads around. Respond - Business, as we all know, is easy when things are going well but it is how we respond to challenges and how we keep going that is the true test.
Excel - Don’t strive just to survive, aim to be something or someone very special. Anticipate - Look ahead for the opportunities and the problems. Be proactive rather than reactive and try to stay a step ahead. Manage - Your staff, your time, your finances, your schedule. With all this fresh in my mind, and the daily challenges of falling footfall and rising costs, I was interested to read an article about the change in retailing on Britain's high streets. ‘Is the dream of being your own boss still worth it?’ was the headline that stood out from the page. The article questioned whether we should strive to educate ourselves in the ability to create, run and manage our own business or simply fall in line, do a job and head for our homes at the end of the day?
Top: A card design from Claire Close available on NOTHS. Above: Experiences, such as summer festivals, rather than shopping, is becoming the British public’s preference to spend their cash. Below right: Sir Richard Branson has dyslexia and had poor academic performance as a student, but still created a business empire.
The article looked at how the City was treating retail shares with the proverbial barge pole and only Next, with its large dividend, proved attractive. The City jargon is that clients should be ‘underweight’ in retail, in other words not hold any stock. This is the opposite to what you would expect. With low unemployment, cheap mortgages, low inflation, house prices rising and Britain being regarded as a nation of shoppers you would think that the tills would be ringing wildly. Well, they are in the grocers’ market, especially in value and niche specialist stores. It is once more that middle ground that is suffering. Retail analyst, Richard Hyman, with over 30 years experience, believes that the UK is at the stage known as Peak Shop. He argues that every developed economy starts with retail and that people simply want to spend their money. Once you get richer as a population though that changes. People shop less and find other ways to have fun. Weekends away, more holidays, concerts and experiences take
over from shopping and it becomes more of a function. I can certainly see the truth in this. Think about meals out. It is much more common to have lunch 2-3 times a week somewhere affordable rather than go for that big Saturday night meal where you get dressed up. That seems to be much more for special occasions. That is just one example, but there are lots more when you think about how we live and shop these days. In years gone past the big retailers would grow easily by opening more stores. It would be quite simple. Sales would go up, but costs would not increase significantly as the business model and management were in place. Those days are gone and web and mobile based shopping are where those who truly want to grow need to be. Richard Hyman argues that selling stuff cheaply at all times works, but selling stuff on promotions to try and compete at this end of the market ultimately hurts the mid market as it confuses the customer. Again, it makes perfect sense. His final point is that retail has taken its customer for granted. I know from my experience that this is not true and independent retailers are much better placed to provide that personal touch and service to their customers, ensuring that they can still do well. Our society accepts and expects that education and that path is the way to most people’s success but in my eyes this is simply
not the case. Guys like Sir Richard Branson failed their IQ tests and most self-made men came from poorly educated backgrounds. Education is only the starting block, and while those degree scrolls are important, they are only really the piece of paper that starts you on your journey. Never mind Peak Shop, think peak performance and you won’t go far wrong. Now... I had better get back to writing my speech! To contact David email: jppozzi@btconnect.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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CARDSHARP
City
Slickers Cardsharp cannot quite believe that he is even thinking about putting Sports Direct and Paperchase in the same paragraph, but news that the industry darling (the latter!) is mooting a move towards a flotation made PG’s columnist feel a little hot under the collar, like the value sports retailer’s founder. When Cardsharp sees pictures of Sports Direct Plc’s founder and supremo, Mike Ashley, looking seriously overweight, crumpled and profoundly sweaty, it is hard to reconcile that with the fact that when he was in his twenties he was a county standard squash player. Cardsharp played him once, he recalls, and got soundly thrashed! And when you see the terrible media coverage, Ashley and Sports Direct have attracted in recent weeks over its warehouse employees’ pay and conditions, its extensive use of zero hour contracts, and Ashley’s crass appearance on TV and in front of a parliamentary committee, it is easy to forget a few years ago he was considered a hero by the same group of people who are now so roundly condemning him. In 2013 Sports Direct’s share price put the value of the company at £4.3 billion. Sports Direct was described then by a City analyst as “Lean, strong and operationally disciplined. They have tight control of suppliers and are very tight in terms of head office structure”. There were a few murmurs about the unparalleled power of Mike
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Ashley within the organisation, but as one City observer pointed out, “When you are doing well investors will put up with a lot.” How the mighty has fallen? Ashley has seen the Sports Direct share price plummet and has had to throw various members of his close-knit management entourage to the lions as sacrificial offerings and is under intense media scrutiny. Part of him must regret his decision in 2007 to turn Sports Direct into a Plc. “The thing I do regret is taking the company public. The intense scrutiny, the relentless drive to beat the last set of figures. It is impossible to plan for the long-term!” These words were not spoken by
Mike Ashley, however. They were uttered back in the early 1990s by the great Keith Chapman, the then ceo of Fine Art Developments Plc (which produced millions of greeting cards, as well as many other products). Keith is still involved in the greeting card industry as owner of Yorkshire based greeting card printer, Herbert Walker. The greeting card arm of Fine Art Developments was later sold to Hallmark in 1996 for around £180 million, but some of its brands, like Hambledon and Selective, are still present in Hallmark’s portfolio to this very day. Cardsharp brings up the current Sports Direct situation and Keith Chapman’s sage remarks as this current period is one of the rare occasions where the City of London and the UK greeting card industry come into each other’s realms. Last month, Cardsharp focused on Card Factory’s latest experience as a Plc and now it is Paperchase’s turn to come into the City’s orbit, with the reports that the beloved design-led card and stationery retail business is considering a flotation.
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CARDSHARP Primary Capital, the private equity company who rescued Paperchase when its US owners Borders went down in 2010, has been reported as considering a £150 million flotation for Paperchase. This figure, Cardsharp feels, is rather optimistic given that in its latest set of financials it made a profit of £4 million on a £150 million turnover. It could be that Primary is just flying a kite to see what interest there is out there. Primary has made no secret that it wants to sell the chain, after all, it could quite legitimately want to cash its chips in after injecting £30 million to support the management buy-out in 2010. Last year, it appeared to be offering Paperchase for a sale in a kind of private auction. Various suitors were mentioned. One was the super rich Swiss Bemburg family and another was Paladin Capital, an American private equity company. There were also rumours that Card Factory Plc was sniffing around. But despite the speculation there was no purchase. Perhaps no offer matched Primary’s valuation, and Paperchase continued seemingly to carry on as before, until this flotation story emerged a couple of weeks ago. Cardsharp will be intrigued to see how it unfolds. A flotation, if
successful in the short-term at least, would no doubt mean a great profit for Primary, which had the foresight to step in at Paperchase in 2010, and the management team, which has brilliantly not only grown the chain substantially in very difficult circumstances, but also protected the integrity of the Paperchase brand. But just as Sports Direct, Clintons and Card Factory have found previously, Paperchase may find if it does float and becomes a Plc it could experience a new set of problems that it had not encountered as a privately owned company.
“But just as Sports Direct, Clintons and Card Factory have found previously, Paperchase may find if it does float and becomes a Plc it could experience a new set of problems that it had not encountered as a privately owned company.”
Take Card Factory, for example. Cardsharp covered the value-based specialist card chain’s financial results extensively in last month’s column and concluded that the City had been very ruthless in marking down the Plc’s share price after the latest set of satisfactory financial figures. Cardsharp wonders what it has to do to please the City investors? Well, this very morning, just as Cardsharp was writing, it was announced that Card Factory announced a special dividend to shareholders of 15 pence a share. This amounted to £51 million returned to shareholders in one go. And, in fact, since Card Factory floated two years ago, it has returned a massive £160 million to shareholders. It was too early to see the effect on the share price which stood at 302 pence per share as Cardsharp filed his copy, an improvement on its 12 month low of 195 pence, but well down on its high of 390 pence. Certainly investing in Card Factory has proved a thousand times more profitable than leaving your dosh in a bank! Cardsharp also remembers the example of another greeting card retailer that became a Plc - Clinton Cards. In many ways, Clintons, which went into administrative receivership in 2012 (before being acquired by American Greetings), was a bit of a Plc hi-bred like Sports Direct. Although publically-listed, its founder Don Lewin, was in a similar position to the one Mike Ashley is now in at Sports Direct. The Don and the Lewin family held enough shares to effectively control the direction
Above: Primary Capital could be discovering if there is any buying interest in Paperchase. Left: Sports Directs’ Mike Ashley gets in ‘Toon’.
and management of the Plc, but still had to be accountable to other institutional and individual shareholders. In good times, of which there were plenty in the 1990s, the City accepted this and took the dividends and a high share price. However, as Clintons experienced more tricky times in the 2000s, many in the City questioned the degree of control that the Lewin family exercised over the business in terms of the senior management roles and its large share holding, which effectively blocked any challenges to its control. Consequently it found it had few City friends when the wheels started to come off the wagon around the time of the financial crisis of 2008-9. Cardsharp is not of the view that no greeting card company should ever go public, although the ignorance of many financial journalists regarding the greeting card industry is somewhat off-putting. He has lost count of the number of times it has been written that digital cards have had a huge impact on the greeting card market in the UK - when has a 3% share been a huge impact?! To Cardsharp’s observations, although individuals can make a lot of money and companies can expand very rapidly by going public, it is not without its challenges and ups and downs. But hey, that’s free enterprise and long may it continue, concludes Cardsharp. Now where are Cardsharp’s red braces?
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VIEWPOINTS
Some Deep Thinking This year’s Thinking of You Week saw an unprecedented amount of activity and engagement from publishers, retailers, the education sector, Royal Mail and consumers. PG taps into the thought process behind how and why this GCA-driven initiative really caught on this year.
Window Display And Instore Card Writing Station Lucy Sticka and Heidi Richardson, co-owners of Little Paperie, Ashbourne:
Dedicated Website, Downloadable Toolkit and PR/Marketing Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA: “I’m delighted with the way in which our industry has embraced Thinking of You Week this year! In just three years, this event has really snowballed. We now have a lovely new Thinking of You Week website (www.thinkingofyouweek.cards), built free of charge by GCA Council member Raj Avora of Davora; the event has gone viral on all the main social media platforms (thanks to videos from UKG, Hallmark and thortful as well as other activities), and retailers of all sizes (from Clintons and Paperchase to indies too) are helping to promote it with beautiful window displays and offers. Having the support of Teacher’s Post, Royal Mail’s education magazine and the offer of free cards for schools (provided by GCA members and sent to the schools by Royal Mail) is the perfect way to promote card sending to the next generation. With so much happening this year for Thinking of You Week this year, I’m so looking forward to building on all of this for 2017!” Above: GCA’s Sharon Little in front of the enormous Thinking of You Week banner at the Harrogate Home & Gift show in July. Left: GCA publisher member, Wraptious, built on its support for the Week by driving around Manchester explaining about the initiative and donating packs of its best selling animal cards (and a display case) to several RSPCA charity shops, giving them the option to give the cards away for free with a purchase, or sell them to raise extra funds as part of Thinking of You Week.
“Thinking of You Week is such an amazing idea which is why we went all out to create an effective window display as well as install a bureau in the shop to encourage people to write and send their Thinking of You cards there are then. We are all so busy these days, time is very precious and modern technology has taken over in a lot of ways that most people just don’t take the time to actually write a card or a letter much anymore. We both love receiving pretty post and to know that by sending a card you can put a smile on someone’s face and let them know that you are thinking about them is such an lovely thought. Thinking of You Week makes us (and others) think of our elderly relatives, that may live too far away to visit often and who really appreciate receiving something they didn’t expect in the post. It Above: The Thinking of You Week might be the only contact they have with the window at Little Paperie. outside world that day, and it’s a nice thought to think you could really make their day! With so many gorgeous cards it’s the perfect opportunity to get our customers involved and spread the word and see if we can get a few more people to think about sending a card and spreading a bit of love and happiness! We think Thinking of You Week hit such a chord this year as people are finally starting to think about looking after themselves more and are taking the time to live well, eat well and are generally more concerned about living a healthy happy fulfilled life. Thinking of You Week is almost an extension of that by passing on your own well being to other people. In this fast paced technological world we now live in it’s the perfect opportunity to remind ourselves how important it is to keep writing and sending cards, not just for occasions but just to let people know you are thinking of them.” PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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Velvet Ad PG Oct 16.pdf
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Cards of Culture View and buy online at www.davora.co.uk Contact us for a full catalogue of designs 0161 641 0655 or sales@d avora.co.uk 135 Heaton Moor Rd | Stockport SK4 4HY /DavoraGreetingCards
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VIEWPOINTS All Stores Windows, Social Media, Promotions Tim Fairs, vp of marketing and ecommerce of Clintons:
Dedicated Videos, Staff Card Writing Activity Ceri Stirland, director of marketing of UK Greetings: “Thinking of You Week is at the core of what greeting card sending is about. Although the majority of card sends are to celebrate an occasion, the essence of selecting and sending a card is very special. ToY Week makes us stop and think about all those friends and family who we may not see as often as we’d like, providing an opportunity to say ‘Hello, how are you? Remember the fun we’ve had?!’ We have supported ToY Week from the start, and our retailers know they can rely on us to help them make the most of the event and encourage customers to get involved. We’ve also had a great response from our colleagues across our business, including in our head office where we have set up card writing areas offering to post the cards free of charge. Our sister company John Sands (in Australia) recognised a great way to spread the message of Thinking of You Week was by going viral! They recorded a video of John Sands’ staff sending and receiving cards to show what joy a little card can bring and how easy it is to reach out to people. We thought the video captured the message of Thinking of You Week perfectly so we rebranded the video to use in the UK, uploading it to view (and share) on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube - to inspire others to spread happiness by sending cards. In addition, we also created a video for Boofle which echoes the themes of Thinking of You Week which we also promoted on his social platforms. With the use of social media tools, we’ve managed to get the message out to a wider audience, and all this combined has helped generate a real buzz.” Above and below: The John Sands-adapted video, as well as the Boofle one, all formed part of UKG’s promotion of Thinking of You Week.
Below: Clintons developed eyecatching window displays for all of its 400 stores, introduced a promotion and amplified the message online and via social media.
“This year we made Thinking of You Week a priority and supported it with window displays in all of our 400 stores, online, as well as through social media platforms. Our campaign kicked-off on the Thursday before in order to create pre-awareness ahead of the ToY Week activities the following week, which were supported on social media and online. We introduced a Buy One Get One Free promotion on the 4’ or 2’ special card displays instore too. This is a fantastic industrywide initiative that is right at the heart of what greeting cards are about and therefore is true to what Clintons is about. We decided to use the existing ToY Week branding as I feel that for it to get real traction with consumers it needs to have continuity. Anything which encourages people to get back in touch or reinforce their relationships is good for the individual, as well as society as a whole, and Thinking of You Week is playing a part in this. It has been proven that if your life is rich in relationships you will live longer and happier. Thinking of You Week is a sincere catalyst to promote relationship building and so in this is helping to prolong lives. Pretty powerful I’d say.”
Promoting To Teachers, Free Cards For Schools Barry Wiles, education manager of Royal Mail Group: “Teacher’s Post is the education magazine for Royal Mail, linking teachers, students and the business, which tries to celebrate all that’s best in our schools by developing resources and programmes for classroom use. We dedicated the first two pages of the August edition of Teacher’s Post to Thinking of You Week, telling teachers all about the initiative and also, thanks to the support of GCA member publishers who donated cards, we were able to send free packs of 30 cards out to schools so that they could use them in their lessons. Having ‘the real thing’ in a lesson brings the subject to life and the selection of cards we have received has made this possible. One of the reasons I believe education is supporting Thinking of You Week is possibly the fact that teachers are becoming very concerned about the huge rise in texting, Facebook and other electronic media by our young people, while handwriting and letter-writing are being ignored! The art of written communication is an essential skill necessary throughout life and every opportunity to help teachers help children acquire this life skill must be applauded. Thinking of You Week is another example of the great synergy between Royal Mail and the GCA – how otherwise can your greeting cards be delivered over night to any address in UK?” Above and left: Royal Mail’s Teacher’s Post gets the message out into school and the free packs of cards, donated by publishers, help to bring the joy of cards alive for children.
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Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches
A La Mode Tres Chic is one of Memelou’s new ranges centering around a cheeky French couple. They meet, fall in love, get married, have babies, get a dog, plus many more life events. This range focuses on equality and love in the modern world but in a French style. Will you love the designs? Mais oui! There are 31 cards in the range, all sized 135cm square and sold wrapped with a white or kraft envelope. Memelou 07866 803293
Pretty As A Picture Claire Louise’s Clanelly collection is now available as mounted prints. A selection of Claire’s top five best selling card designs are now printed onto high quality art paper signed by the artist and framed in an off white mount. All the prints are sized 400mm square - perfect for a child’s bedroom. Claire Louise 07715 373344 www.clairelouise.eu
Good Neighbours Neighbourhood Cats from Sarah Lovell Art is a brand new collection featuring five handillustrated cat designs inspired by neighbours' and friends' pet cats. The cards are all blank inside, so can be used for a variety of occasions from birthdays to thank yous! The cards are all sized A6, printed in Dorset and come cellowrapped with brightly coloured envelopes. Sarah Lovell Art 07979 814146 www.sarahlovellart.co.uk
A World Of Colour Coloring books for adults were once considered little more than a novelty but now are big business! Some of Caroline Gardner’s favourite signature designs and patterns have now been transformed into intricate colouring-in designs – so the sender or receiver can now redesign their card to suit their personality and taste and at the same time unwind and be creative. All the cards are sized 146mm x 140mm and supplied with a red envelope. Caroline Gardner 020 8288 9696 www.carolinegardner.com
Wild And Wonderful By Scott! Scott and Robson is extending its Waggish range with a further 24 dog and cat inspired designs. All beautifully painted by Jo Scott, these designs perfectly reflect the character and sensitivity of each animal. The cards are sized 150mm square and come wrapped with yellow envelopes. Scott and Robson 07506 630626 www.scottandrobson.com
Wraptious is extending its colourful hand-drawn Wildlife range by Sophie Cunningham, which beautifully captures the simple beauty of nature with insects, birds and feathers designs. The cards also now cover a variety of occasions with Sophie’s lovely handwritten typography. This range’s cards are sized 120mm x 170mm and sold with a choice of kraft or yellow envelopes. Wraptious 0161 221 0109 www.trade.wraptious.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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theimagingcentre.co.uk Poised to deliver.
Assured.
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Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches
Wild Thing Zigzag is a brand new range being launched by Perkins & Morley this autumn. There are 30 designs in total across three sections: British birds, wild animals and British wild animals, all featuring the beautiful watercolour illustrations of Jill Perkins. The cards are Z folded, opening out to depict a family of birds or animals on one side, printed on lovely recycled board and sold wrapped with brown recycled envelopes. Perkins & Morley 015395 64247 www.perkinsandmorley.com
Gold Rush
Wrap And Roll A contemporary, exotic and vibrant wrap collection designed by Paper Salad has just been launched by Glick. Full of bright colours, the collection is available in six flat wraps, three roll wraps and three gift bag ranges plus matching tissue paper. Glick 01274 655980 www.glick.co.uk
Telling Tales True Terror Tales from Star Editions was created by Yorkshire designer and writer Matthew Stennett and combines tongue-in-cheek comedy with retro 1930/40s comic book covers to poke fun at all manner of topics including hipsters, internet dating, middle-age – and avocados. The range offers cards for all occasions and audiences, including birthdays, Valentine’s day, Christmas, Weddings and general celebrations. Star Editions 01449 721304 stareditions.com
Pick Axes & Shovels is the second range of eight art cards by Brian Travers Arts, from original paintings by Brian Travers - musician and songwriter with reggae band UB40. The card features atmospheric artwork from paintings inspired by the Klondike Gold Rush and the building of the first transcontinental railroad in the USA. The cards are sized 150cm square, printed on 300gsm board and sold unwrapped in a pack of eight different designs. Brian Travers Arts 02089932231 www.briantraversarts.com
Doubling Up Feast Your Eyes English Graphics has added some late additions to its Christmas range... Christmas Baubles, Trees, Snowflake, and this simple Mistletoe with Silver Glitter Berries design, all illustrated by Heather Marten. There are 12 146mm x 150mm designs printed on gorgeous clay board and sold wrapped with white envelopes. English Graphics 01590 672778 www.englishgraphics.co.uk
The Chroma Collection from Laura Darrington Design is being expanded. Designed using a mixture of paint textures, pigments and pattern, there are 12 new relations and occasions captions to complement the existing 12 birthday designs. Each design is sized 165mm square and finished with foil colours and emboss techniques. Laura Darrington Design 0116 2849660 www.lauradarrington.co.uk
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Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches
Play The Game
Bird Song
Gemma International is excited to announce the addition of Animal Jam from Rockpool, with new product launches across cards, wrap and partyware! Animal Jam is a safe and exciting online playground for kids who love animals and the outdoors. Players create and customise their own animal characters and dens, chat with friends, adopt pets, team up for adventures, and feed their curiosity about animals and the natural world around them. Gemma International 01264 388 400 www.gemma-international.co.uk
Castles In The Air
Rebecca Christian’s new Owl card range was produced with a passion for nature and art and an element of quirkiness and fun. With a degree in scientific illustration and 20 years of working in a combination of watercolour and digital illustration, Rebecca’s designs are both precise and ever so characterful. There are eight designs in this range, sized 150mm square and sold wrapped with brown ribbed kraft envelopes. Rebecca Christian 07751 983682 www.rebeccachristian.co.uk
Brighton based publisher I Drew This is delighted to have added new designs into its 2016 Henries nominated Landmarks range. Designed by Ilona Drew, these brightly coloured interpretations of architectural icons are blank and come wrapped in branded cello with a recycled kraft envelope. I Drew This 07813 005707 www.idrewthis.co.uk
The Key Of C Just launched at Top Drawer this September, London start up, ‘over the c.’ has created a unique range of cards and stationery all printed on a traditional letterpress printer in its London studio. The focus on typography and combination of traditional methods with modern design brings both simplicity and elegance to its ranges. over the c. 07960 671 333 www.overthec.com
Brought To Book Allsorted has just become the exclusive UK distributor for Pooter, the young up-and-coming bestselling publisher of occasions based gift books. Pooter’s latest book range ‘You’re going to be...’ covers 18 titles for families and friends to celebrate an expected new baby with real socks included! Allsorted 01923 474495 (contact Lincoln Exley or Esther Laxenaire) www.allsorteduk.com
Bright Spark Jessica Hogarth’s best selling Sparkle range continues to grow! Now with 42 designs, the range features bright blocks of colour combined with uplifting sentiments spanning open birthdays, relations and occasions. All beautifully finished with gold or silver foil, the cards are sized 120mm by 170mm and come wrapped with brown ribbed envelopes. Jessica Hogarth Designs 07786 906648 www.jessicahogarth.com/trade PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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Cello have a fantastic range of electric melt burners. Designed to melt the wax at the optimum temperature, to give the best possible fragrance throw. With over nineteen patterns in three styles, there’s something to suit every decor.
Xystos Flame & Fragrance • Bath & Body
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For more information contact; email: sales@xystos.co.uk or call: +44 (0)191 499 1570 or order online at our trade website www.xystostrade.co.uk
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Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches
Bright Star Calling all kids! Celebrate your birthday with one of Catherine Pain’s new Birthday Stars range of children's age cards. From your first birthday through to seven years of age, Catherine has created 11 stunning designs using vibrant, vivid colours and depicting cheerful animals, fairies and a pirate. The cards are sized 105mm x 150mm or 120mm x 170mm and come wrapped with a white envelope and lots of love. Catherine Pain 07831 672 535 www.catherinepain.co.uk
A Little Jewel
A Bit Of A Twinkle
Sabivo Design has expanded its popular Bijoux range with 18 Spring Seasons captions to cover Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Easter. This contemporary range features delicate line work with pops of neon pink love hearts, gold dots and on-trend hand-lettering. The designs are hand-illustrated and hand-finished with cupflower jewels and hand-tied bows. All cards are sized 145 mm square and supplied wrapped with gold envelopes. Sabivo Design 01858 433716 www.sabivo.co.uk
Always Sparkle is adding new titles into its Invented range due to popular demand, bringing this range to 18 cards covering relations and occasions titles. All the cards are sized 148mm square, printed on slightly textured board and come wrapped with a brown ribbed envelope. Always Sparkle 07940 726842 www.alwayssparkle.co.uk
Going Large Rush Design is now proud to offer large 210mm x 210mm size cards in its best selling Everything Sparkles range. All the key special occasions are covered including relations, age relations, wedding, anniversary and much more, and all hand-finished with diamantes and lots of lovely glitter. Rush Design 01788 521745 www.rushdesign-uk.com
Oi Oi! Oi doris is adding new designs into its Things wi' Legs typewriter art range - new rabbits, foxes, stags, cats and dogs and a couple of friendly people, bringing the range up to 15 cards. All the cards are available as blank or Happy Birthday, sized 150mm square, printed on white embossed board and sold with recycled kraft brown envelopes. Oi doris 07918180413 www.oidoris.co.uk
Eat Me! Chocogreetings is expanding its most popular Chocolate range with four new colourful Christmas designs this autumn. All the cards have a delicious real chocolate (wrapped in festive red foil) attached to on luxury white board and are sold wrapped with red envelopes. Chocogreetings 07437 480552 www.chocogreetings.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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ìonderËul ìonderË Ë ul peo Ëu people peop pplle One of the Öost ìonder
in the whole world is reading this riÍht noì: You…
I hope you know that the world is so much swÉeter for your being iÛ it. I hopÉ ïou nÉëer Ëorget hoì aõreciated you are! And with alÔ my heart, I hope thiä special loving ìish of Öine wiÔl come truÉ…
Maî you have a Öillion smiles iÛ ïour liËÉ… in return for aô the joy you have inspired in other people’s lives, aÔl the kindneäs you have given away, and aô the blesãings you bring to everyone around you. You arÈ such a bleãsing, such a giËt, and such an incredibly special person. And one of the luckiest people in the whole world wanted to make sure you knew that: Øe.
It Is åo Nice to Ñaëe Yoê iÚ Mï Days, in Øï LifÉ, and in My Heart
Connecting hearts and souls for over 40 years Exclusively available to independent retailers from:
Emscote Mill, Wharf Street, Warwick, England, CV34 5LB Tel: +44 (0) 1926 747900 Email: sales@isitart.co.uk
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Call our sales hotline on 01926 747935, contact your local representative or order online. WEB SHOP
www.isitart.co.uk
www.cardgains.co.uk
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Focus On Words & Sentiments - Fresh & New
An Emotional Touch "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." - Mother Teresa A token of love, essentially a words and sentiments card design’s aim is to touch the heart with affectionate words. Traditional prose on cards conveys deep warmth and tenderness, while in the contemporary realm of the words and sentiments market, less is more, with the beautiful typeface ‘doing the talking’ in succinct but sweet, uplifting and inspiring messages. But there is a strong public craving for a plethora of design varieties and tone of ‘voice’ in the words and sentiments area of the industry, after all, it is the spice of life! Last year, due to this diversity in design, The Henries awards categorised the words and sentiments submissions into both traditional and contemporary styles, and this year’s twelve finalists give us the ‘word up’ on their nominated range’s inspirations (see pages 45-49). Social media continues to play a part in rising the ‘just because…’ card sending occasion to friends and family in the words and sentiments market, with ‘Hello’ expressions, inspirational quotes and messages of support on cards continuing to grow. And of course, there are a myriad of new range launches that are aiming straight to the heart too.
‘Sharing’ Heart-Felt Messages After 40 years in a market leading position as a words and sentiments brand, Blue Mountain Arts knows a lot about affairs of the heart and soul. Peter Beecroft, md of Is It Art, which publishes and distributes for Blue Mountain Arts in the UK, shares his views... “Globally and in the UK we are living in challenging and uncertain times, both socially, economically and politically. Recent years have seen an increase of both friends and relatives demonstrating their support and love for those they really care about. This can be seen clearly from sources such as Facebook, which is filled with posts of encouragement and support between friends and relatives on an almost hourly basis. It seems we British are becoming more open about our feelings, and our networks of friends and relatives are more important to us than ever before. We have seen considerable growth in the sales of Blue Mountains Arts’ products in Above: A design, published recent times as we seem, more than ever, to strive for by Blue Mountain Arts greeting cards and gifts which capture the essence (available from Is It Art), of what we would like to communicate, be it a from the artist Heather Stillufsen, that reflects a celebration or a difficult time. Blue Mountain Arts message of friendship. continue to be a leader in this market sector, both globally and at home, as it continues to capture the sentiments that consumers wish to communicate. So, after more than 40 years of Blue Mountain Arts in the UK, the brand moves from strength to strength.”
● The Loving Words collection is back!,
with Cardigan Cards’ all new Valentine’s and Mother’s Day 2017 designs. A compact range which brings together three of its most popular code sizes code 90s, with encapsulated glitter and deckled edge, code 250s with their foil embellishments and distinctive three aperture cut-outs, and finally its delightful new 3D heart style code 100s, also finished with foil embellishments. All of which, as you would expect, are enriched with the most beautiful and meaningful words and sentiments. ● Cherry Orchard has released its latest
Sentiments range from under their umbrella of Timeless Moments. The 14 new designs, for male and female, feature colourful images of boats and tractors, bouquets and shoes, with captioned relations and sentimental wording. With foiled and embossed finishes, the cards retail at price code 75. ● Coulson Macleod’s Doodle-icious
range of 15 15cm x 15cm cards cover pretty much every occasion, from wedding anniversaries and apologies to good luck. Hand-drawn text features on bright block-colour backgrounds, printed on quality textured card stock and accompanied by a white envelope. ● The long awaited revamp of The Great
British Card Company’s occasions and relations designs has begun! After in-depth analysis of its collection’s performance, the new selection offers fresh and exciting formats, new characters and revamped female captions, as well as luxurious stunning finishes, across contemporary and more traditional designs, with all ages and tastes in mind, while offering a selection of emotive sentiment for a truly heartfelt send. ● Grass Roots International has currently been
extending its popular core collections, such as its Sentiments and Celebrations ranges, in a mix of new styles, in both traditional and contemporary looks and sometimes both! (highly exemplified by its latest new range called Harmony), with brand new designs and shorter verses. Its strong Sympathy Collection also has over 60 titles, with many new designs being recently launched. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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Focus On Words & Sentiments - Fresh & New
● Simple, hand-drawn icons and long,
heartfelt editorial make Hallmark’s Countless Reasons range a winning classic look. Offered across a wide variety of occasions and relations captions, this editorially-led range has a depth of emotion which truly sets it apart. With a highly versatile mix of rhyming verse and prose, you’ll find there are ‘Countless Reasons’ to tell someone you care.
● Whether it is Birthday, Retirement, Wedding or New Baby designs, The Bright Side range is sure to have it covered. Really Good launched over 40 best-selling designs in The Bright Side new look earlier on in the year, and its just added a few more to the collection. Keeping the hand-printed, old-school style with wooden letterpress characters, the designs retain an individuality so often lost with the advent of the digital age.
● A worldwide, market leading sentiment
● Simon Elvin has just released a range
and inspiration brand, Blue Mountain Arts, offers the best in keepsake gift product, including the recently re-designed range of its Wallet Cards. These credit card sized pocket keepsakes are enhanced with a spot varnish finish and combine heartfelt poetry with beautiful illustrative styles from BMA’s best-selling brands.
of 12 contemporary designs featuring up to the minute sentiments under the name of ‘#Just Saying’. The designs feature a silver flitter finish and are a Code 50 size. This new range will join, among many others, Simon Elvin’s traditional sentiments collection ‘In Touch’, comprising more than 100 designs in Code 75 size, featuring full–colour inserts with heartfelt sentiments.
● Folded, crafted and cherished, it’s that
simple. These beautifully crafted mini cards from Lagom’s Cherished collection are small and perfectly formed. They can be used in place of a standard gift tag for a present, or simply given as a special greeting card to friends and family. The Henries 2016 finalist nominated range of fun and fabulous designs are perfect for any occasion, crafted with ecofriendly paper and embossed with foiled compliments. It’s the little things…
● UKG’s ANON.SENSE range is a simple
but brilliant new take on the typography trend, putting a unique, humorous twist on the inspirational slogans we’re all bombarded with in the age of the internet. Appealing to everybody's inner rebel, it literally takes a big red pen to some familiar clichés and turns them into something much sillier and funnier. Clever and quirky, its very simplicity is its genius.
● With hand-coloured, heart-warming
vintage photography set against gold foil detailing and distinctive slate grey envelopes, Pigment’s Love Unlimited range has an impactful, fashionable presence. Using upbeat emotive imagery and inspired by female friendship, The Henries 2016 nominated range is constantly refreshed and will be expanding further for 2017.
● Quotable’s been spreading the
words for over 20 years, and its newest release of greeting cards has even more inspirational words to share. Presented in Quotable’s signature style of design, each greeting card offers its own quotation and sentiment on 12.5 cm x 12.5 cm designs with quality square envelopes.
● A skilfully tuned ear for words and
sentiment has helped drive the success of Wishing Well Studios and its new range Sprinkled with Love. Already set to be a best-seller, this traditional range, covering both male and female relations, blends inspirational verses that are foiled and flittered, and full colour printed inserts encased in an ornamental frame, ensuring a sophisticated high-end feel to the 12 8.5cm x 6cm designs. Price code 75: RRP £1.89. ● From The Henries' award winning
publisher, Xpress Yourself, comes a new range of highly sentiment sympathy cards. The subtle and elegant designs, combined with a keepsake memento, bring thoughtful messages of comfort to the recipient. Available in various captions, the cards are size 160mm x 160mm and enhanced with embossing and foiling. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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NEW EYE-CATCHING CONTEMPORARY DESIGNS FEATURING FOIL & EMBOSS
NEW OPEN SLIM HUMOUR
24 ADDITIONS TO OUR FABULOUSLY FUNNY ‘BAGS OF GAGS’ RANGE
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Focus On Words & Sentiments - The Henries Finalists 2016
A Way With Words progressive greetings awards
With the abundance of multifarious design styles and tone of expression within the words and sentiments market, last year The Henries awards aligned its categorisation to reflect both the traditional and more modern offering available within this vibrant card sector. The finalists from this year’s Best Traditional Words & Sentiments Range and Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments Range share their emotional thoughts on the inspiration behind their Henries nominated range, developments in the market and what brings a tear to their eye.
The Henries 2016 Finalists In The Best Traditional Words & Sentiments Range (in alphabetical order) Essence from IC&G Megan Glockler, marketing & social media assistant for IC&G: Inspirational Spark: “With the Essence range we wanted to create something different from the usual brushed artwork. The range has a defined style, with modern sentiment verses, soft pastel colours washing across the designs and, most important of all, bold eye-catching finishes to pull the card together and adding life and an extra dimension to the cards.” Trends & Developments: “In the traditional words and sentiment market we are noticing the use of pops of colour throughout designs, with more fun elements being introduced. We are seeing traditional verses that are just as sentimental, but are worded slightly differently to add a modern twist. For example, some verses might use the phrase, ‘It was always you from the start’, as appose to something much more obvious on a Wife card design. Verses are also becoming more person centred, especially on female relations designs. For example, the expression, ‘There’s no one who deserves it more than you’ on a card is direct and yet intimate and are intended to make the recipient feel special.” Getting Emotional: “The little things in life are the best; certain song lyrics, music, a certain smell that excites a memory, a good chat with a friend when you laugh until your belly hurts, date nights, reaching a goal, learning something new, a heartfelt ‘keep it up’ message from someone who cares or let’s be honest... a good old slice of cake!”
Gibson Core Line from UK Greetings Seeta Wrightson, editorial manager for Gibson (UKG): Inspirational Spark: “Within words and sentiment, as ever, we find that variety is key. Our research has shown that people are much more comfortable with expressing their feelings, but we know that some prefer to be reserved. We make sure that we include our ever-popular heartfelt longer verses, and some more succinct, light-hearted or even humorously teasing pieces to offset the balance for those who prefer not to be too emotional.” Trends & Developments: "The sharing of inspirational quotes, encouraging thoughts and friendship sentiment is a popular trend
across social media and has lead to an increase in the sending of well wishes ‘just because’. At UKG we recognised the increase in non-occasion card sending and a greater need for cards with editorial that suited this send, and that’s how the Little Voice range came about. Featuring conversational copy such as ‘Hello lovely’ and ‘Smile, it’s going to be a good day’, we’re really getting to the heart of the consumer by tapping into the ways in which they speak. We think it’s so important that we’re capturing this voice, as it makes the message feel authentic and reaches out to create a connection between the sender and recipient. This is a range where words not only make the card – they sell the card." Getting Emotional: “I love this classic Butterflies and Dreams piece of prose on this Gibson design (pictured) as I have two sisters I’m really close to, so this resonates for me. This feels emotive, nostalgic and relatable.”
Heartfelt from Ling Design Loraine Hillier, product & marketing manager for Ling: Inspirational Spark: “This range was borne out of the success of the long-standing Heartfelt range from Ling Design, recreated with a fresh feel to the artwork and creating a lovely soft feel that perfectly complements the words and the verses have been up-dated to reflect what people want to say to each other at important times in their lives, but don’t necessarily have the words themselves to express.” Trends & Developments: “As our families become more dissected the importance of sending a heartfelt message has increased. There will always be a strong market for words and sentiments ranges and we need to keep them refreshed to reflect the current mood of the nation.” Getting Emotional: “Anything to do with animals manages to bring a tear to my eye – a dog greeting his owner with complete joy, after only a few hours apart, a cat carrying new born kittens in its mouth... it’s probably something to do with being a farmer’s daughter.” PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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Focus On Words & Sentiments - The Henries Finalists 2016
progressive greetings awards
Letter Press from Words ‘n’ Wishes Rod Brown, managing director for Words ‘n’ Wishes: Inspirational Spark: “The inspiration behind the Letter Press range came from the growing demand of a ‘contemporary/traditional’ range being required for the younger age bracket of say ages 20-40. The design and artwork required was slightly less traditional than previously executed in our ranges and needed to have bolder text on Page 1 to give it a more modern feel. Additionally, the words and sentiment needed to be less ‘tear jerking’ and more ‘punchy’ but still give a sentimental feeling.” Trends & Developments: “We have noticed a growing younger age bracket that wants to send a ‘verse’ card, but with maybe slightly less verse but with a similar sentiment. Additional to this, there is a growing element of inspirational designs in the marketplace now that are not necessarily for a particular sending situation. The tone would be lighter on these designs and maybe a bolder font style and less words inside. We need to prepare for the younger age bracket that stop sending messages on Facebook and want to send a card to their family that has the same feelgood factor but delivered in a less traditional way. The bestselling ranges that do this at the moment do not always have an image at all on Page 1, it would just have text in a large font style that is bold and stands out.” Getting Emotional: “The thought that my beloved Scottish football team will hopefully qualify for the World Cup 2018! I will stand proud as part of the ‘Tartan Army’ in front of the ‘Mass Pipe Band’ when they hopefully parade out in Russia... I am welling up as I speak!”
Velvet from Jonny Javelin Jonny Spears, managing director for Jonny Javelin: Inspirational Spark: “Most of our ranges had been illustrated up to the point we launched Velvet. However, we thought about doing a combination of photographic and illustrative and seeing if it would work. We had seen artwork of this kind in other forms and also in the picture market. We knew that we could do a pretty good job and add some enhancements. With Velvet we didn’t want the verses to be too long, but a shorter verse (of say four lines) perhaps wouldn’t be enough for the emotion that we were trying to depict on the front of the card. Hence we went for an eight-line sentimental verse on the leaf insert. It seemed to work.” Trends & Developments: “We certainly try and make our cards a touch more contemporary than perhaps some of our competitors in this field, but I think there is a general move in this direction. I think the older generation have moved with the times and like to think themselves younger than perhaps people of that age 25 years ago. We try and introduce some more modern terms in the verses, although we can’t start too far into the ‘Urban Dictionary’.”
Getting Emotional: “What brings a tear to my eye other than making French onion soup... the beautiful words of a sympathy card. The general sentimental cards will bring an ‘oooooh’ or an ‘aaaah’ but it’s the sadness of the passing of a loved one that gets the eyes welling up.”
Wishes from The Original Poster Company Martin Parks, art director for The Original Poster Company: Inspirational Spark: “We supply many different types of outlet, including Post Offices, convenience stores, forecourts, newsagents and card shops, with a variety of customers across all ages, so we wanted to create a new verse range with wide appeal. We commissioned watercolour artwork from several illustrators and combined it with short verses by writer Alison Cooke into a modern layout. The cards are printed on high-quality textured board and finished with coloured foil. I feel we got the traditional/contemporary balance just right.” Trends & Developments: “I really like the trend for warmer sentiments such as 'Well Done You', 'Big Hugs' and 'Lost for Word' as an alternative to the traditional and more formal 'Congratulations', 'Thinking of You' and 'With Sympathy' captions. That friendlier style is becoming more commonplace in the convenience sector.” Getting Emotional: “As a cycling fan, it would have to be Mark Cavendish winning the final stage of the Tour de France on the Champs Elysees. I’ve been lucky enough to see him win three times in Paris.”
The Henries 2016 Finalists In The Contemporary Words & Sentiments Range category (in alphabetical order) Flora from Stop The Clock Design Kathy Slatter, partner of Stop The Clock Design: Inspirational Spark: “We wanted to create a striking yet pretty range of brightly coloured floral cards with short, simple, yet heartfelt sentiments at the core of the designs. We believe that sometimes fewer words can create a bigger impact... our artwork may be flowery but our words and sentiments are not. As myself and [business partner] Erin are both trained in textile design the floral subject matter was an obvious choice as it gave us the opportunity to develop patterns, play about with paint and texture as well as be experimental with colour, tailoring each design to suit the mood of the sentiment.” Trends & Developments: "We have seen a shift in demand for sentiments of a lighter tone using modern and informal language. People tend to want a card that says things that they wouldn’t necessarily say out loud but it suits the recipient perfectly.” Getting Emotional: “What brings a tear to my eye??? Weddings! Seeing my best mates tie the knot and be so happy. For me, the most tear-jerking moment is watching the groom’s face when the bride is walking down the aisle!” PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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Mad Dots from Hearts Designs Elliott Bennett, designer and owner of Hearts Designs: Inspirational Spark: “The focus for our Mad Dots collection was primarily on the sentiment. I wanted to create a collection full of personal and meaningful messages. I noticed a few years ago a real popularity for long sentiments mainly used on plaques and other gifts, I was particularly inspired by some of the more heart-felt sayings and I decided to adapt this concept to our greeting cards. With the sentiment being such a big part of the composition I have tried to incorporate a contemporary feel by using metallic foils and our signature dots.” Getting Emotional: “When asked “What brings a tear to your eye?”... I think of one of the sentiments we use - 'Always My Mum Forever My Friend'. I think this is a lovely example of how meaningful a few words can be.”
On The Cards - Prickly Situations from The Art Group Farhana Ahmed, licensing and royalty coordinator for Paper Rose (sister company to The Art Group): Inspirational Spark: “We’re so proud that one of the winning entries into the ‘On the Cards’ competition (which aims to raise awareness of this vibrant industry in the university sector) has been nominated in The Henries. We love the Prickly Situations range by Vickie Robinson because of its direct and witty sentiments, which paired with the modern illustrations makes for a really fresh and unusual range.” Trends & Developments: “We’ve noticed a definite trend over the past few years for more direct and sometimes humorous words, even when dealing with difficult issues. A great example of this is the Empathy range by Emily McDowell, which deals terminal illness in a very open and often funny way. There’s definitely a current trend for pop culture references, for example the well-known line ’You’re my lobster’ from the TV show Friends is becoming a firm favourite for Valentine’s Day cards!” Getting Emotional: “Too many things! I’m the standing joke in our house. The boys stare at me when anything emotional or slightly sentimental comes on the telly to see how long it takes me to blub!”
Simply Quotes from Rambling Mansion Ian Thomas, founder and designer of Rambling Mansion: Inspirational Spark: “We wanted to produce something that could be put across in an almost 'one-liner' fashion but with a message to catch the eye and stir an emotion... mostly laughter... and truisms was the idea, but we couldn’t resist a couple of the more down to earth quotes too. A plain and simple design was the aim so as not to detract from the message and a background squiggle to give the impression of a randomly written thought.”
Trends & Developments: “A difficult one to answer from our view as we don't produce verse, but whatever you do surely has to focus on finding a common emotion in order to work.” Getting Emotional: “What makes me cry? An income tax demand.”
Velvet Ink from Clare Maddicott Publications Bev Cunningham, creative director for Clare Maddicott: Inspirational Spark: “The driving force behind creating our Velvet Ink range was the gap we could see in our own offering for a generic, simple range of contemporary birthday cards. Having undergone a course in Modern Calligraphy, our designers were keen to use decorative hand-written style lettering, and were also influenced by the current fashion for both simple patterns and watercolour effects. Such simplicity of design demanded more lavish finishing, so it was decided to go with the raised ink effect contrasted by emboss details.” Trends & Developments: “I think social media has been a big influence upon the popularity of the resurgence of words, which has meant, apart from the humour based posts, people are more comfortable with the more sentimental expressions of friendship and love, as well as the more life-affirming uplifting quotes.” Getting Emotional: “Helen being acquitted in The Archers brought a tear to my eye recently! Normally though, I have to confess anything heart-warming to do with kids or dogs and I struggle to hold back the tears; even worse if it’s my kids or my dog!”
Words of Wisdom from Dandelion Stationery Jo Wilson, director for Dandelion Stationery: Inspirational Spark: “I lost my mum to cancer on Christmas Eve last year, and my mum was the inspiration behind two of the cards that took me to The Henries finals this year. One of them was a card that referenced cancer treatment, which I initially made specifically for my mum when she was going through some tough treatment, and the second was a card that talked about being there for someone when they were ill. Sometimes people we know face tough situations and it’s not always easy to know what to say - a card with just the right words can sometimes take away the pressure of knowing what to say.” Trends & Developments: “I think there is a lot more honesty in many sentiments cards out there on the market, and a definite move towards a lighter tone from many publishers. I also think people are sending cards for many more reasons - sometimes things which are not recognised occasions.” Getting Emotional: “I read a book on holiday this year (Me Before You) - I was sat by the pool, in lovely sunshine, beer in hand having a wonderful time, but sobbing my eyes out while reading my Kindle!” PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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JEREMY ’S JOURNA L Business blogging by publisher Jeremy Corner of Blue Eyed Sun.
Before Social Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun, shares ten things do in your business before using social
For anyone new to social media it can be overwhelming. No sooner do you have your Facebook page sorted, the algorithms change and your posts don’t get seen as often. You set up your Instagram and then Snapchat is supposed to be the new thing. Plus some platforms fizzle out and become less popular. Marketeers are often quick to jump on the next big thing in social media. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. If it’s not a new social media platform like Snapchat or WhatsApp, it’s new buzzwords like Social Selling. How can you unsure that you aren’t wasting your time and are best positioned to reap the benefits from these tools? Here’s how to get started:
1. Know Your Customers It’s no good setting up any social media accounts without knowing your customers so that you can find them and others like them online. What demographics do your customers fit into and are these groups using social media? If so, 50
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which platforms are they using? Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest are all good, although you may find that your audience favours some more than others. Track which customers are your biggest fans and return to purchase most often or spend the most. Ask them why they like your store, what social media they use and what they’d like to see from you online. Over time you may find that the customers online differ from those coming into your store (if you’re a retailer). Pay attention and give each group what they need in ways that appeal to each.
2. A Good Offering It's no good driving footfall to your door if you don't have the right offering for these people when they arrive. Do you stock products that customers you are marketing to will want Above: Its easy to get caught up in the buzz of using social media but it is better to first plan how you will use it for your business. Left: Find out your customer demographic and see if they are using social media. - A play on words on a Lucilla Lavender design.
and at prices that are right for them? Are they displayed attractively and is your store the right type of environment for them? If you know the profile of your biggest fans what can you do to make your business and your offering even more appealing to them?
3. What Makes You Different? As well as knowing your customers you must know yourself and how you are perceived. Niches are the key to success in business these days. You can’t be all things to all people. What is your unique selling point? Remember, good service is expected as standard these days. What is it that motivates your fans to buy from you? What makes you stand out from the crowd? Knowing this will help you attract more of the right customers and it will also drive engagement on the right social media networks. For Blue Eyed Sun it’s ‘gorgeous handmade greeting cards for design-led shops’.
4. Communicate Your Specialness It's all very well having a great USP (unique selling point), but if you don't tell your customers about it you are missing a trick. Communicating your uniqueness consistently across your marketing will help
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JEREMY ’S JOURNA L get your story across when you are using social media. Keep it simple, clear and concise. Remember to mention what makes you special in your bios when you set up your social media accounts. If you can say what you do and who it’s for then even better.
interaction is more important on these networks than broadcasting. Plan out when you will broadcast your social media messages and run tests on the times of day that best suit your audience. Also plan when to check in and read the tweets and messages of those you follow in your industry. Remember to leave them a like, a share, a retweet or a message to let them know you were there and to engage with them.
5. Your Website Works Surveys have shown that you have less than eight seconds to engage with visitors to your site before they move on or choose to stay. Once you have spent time and money driving customers to your door you want to make sure that they don't leave because of something that you haven't got working on your site. If your website is slow loading, not up to date, has broken links or doesn't deliver on what is expected then people will leave very quickly. It's worth focusing on what you want customers to do when they visit your website and then making sure everything on it funnels them towards this goal.
Above: Have a strategy when engaging with your customers through social media. Below left: Your team of staff should be unified about your brand and business focus. (A card from ArtPress). Below right: It’s not a good idea to upload a picture of your dinner to your business Instagram page. A card from Jolly Awesome.
focused content helps drive traffic through these platforms to your website and enhances your SEO (search engine optimisation) so that you are well ranked on Google. Try to avoid just writing about yourself and selling your products on your blog. People want to read informative articles on subjects that interest them or they find amusing. None of us like to be sold to, even though most of us like to buy.
8. Performance Tracking
6. A Well Trained Team If you spend a load of time and energy driving people to your business and your team don’t deliver then you are wasting resources. Make sure that your staff are on message with your brand and understand what the business focus is. Then give them the support and tools to be able to deliver satisfaction to your customers and resolve issues fast and satisfactorily. If you are delivering products make sure that you have good operations and logistics set up to get your products to customers quickly. Amazon has set the bar very high for all of us. Do your best to make meeting high expectations standard procedure for your team.
7. A Useful Blog Blogging has been the backbone to all of the social media and digital marketing activity for Blue Eyed Sun and our wedding stationery business, Ivy Ellen. Customer
You need to analyse what’s working and what isn’t on your website so that you can adjust accordingly. Sign up for Google’s free analytics tool at www.google.co.uk/analytics/. Google will send you a short piece of hidden code that you can have your website developer add to your website for very little cost. This fantastic tool will provide you with an incredible amount of data on how many people come to your site, how they navigate through it and where they come from to find you. It will show you which social media sites are driving the most traffic and help you to improve what you do.
9. Social Strategy Always listen first when you start using social media. Are you in the right place? Watch what works and what doesn’t before you post. What do you like to share and engage with online? Don’t just blast sales messages out, remember that
10. Engaged Fan Network The more engaged you are with your loyal fan network offline the more likely you will be able to take this onto social media. You can easily connect with your customer email database when you set up your accounts on these platforms. Good customers who are already online are more likely to share you with their friends and the wider your audience will become over time. It's great to have a lot of followers, but a small network of engaged followers is more powerful and will give you better results. Whilst it’s important to set up your business brand on social media, remember that you and your team are the faces of your business. People like to buy from people so be aware of the importance of your own personal brand online and use it to help your business along. One of the biggest shifts I’ve personally had to make when using social media is towards network thinking (which is open, random and supportive) and away from the institutional thinking used so often in business (which is closed, selective and controlling). What this means for you practically is that digital marketing is more about community and engagement. You can be selective about who you follow and engage with, but you will often find that opportunities arise from unlikely and random places so it’s worth following most people who follow and engage with you. You cannot control the internet so it’s also best to be a nice, helpful and friendly person online. You can see the slides from my talk and find other useful posts on my blog. Read more on Jeremy’s blog at www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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ROUTE
MASTERS
Take Three...
The advancements of science in the IT and mobile phone market has seen a number of greeting card businesses become a fusion of both card retailer and publisher. A trio of these hybrid companies reveal more about their alternative route into the greeting card market with their innovative concepts.
A Pocket Card Shop With Dandelion Stationery, Megan Claire, Laura Darrington, Paper Salad, Dean Morris and Redback Cards already among the many well-known card publisher brands on its website and app, UK start-up ‘thortful’ is building a name for itself among renowned and emerging independent artists as a print-on-demand operator. Andy Pearce, ceo and founder of thortful, explains what sparked the business concept and how it’s mobile phone app is like a ‘card shop in your pocket’. “The reason I launched thortful was because I was disappointed with other online card retailers and was always ending up with a card thinking “that’ll do”, so I decided to set up my own business. Going mobile first with our IOS and Android apps, we have created a platform for the world wide community of independent artists, illustrators, card designers and photographers to create beautiful, high quality greeting cards, most of which you won't find from other on and offline retailers out there, allowing our customers a greater diversity of cards. This is the first time a greeting card platform has been developed app first, allowing customers to have 1000s of cards ready to go in their pocket. The process is we invite creatives to create a profile on the thortful website where they can upload and submit their designs for free. All cards are individually curated and tagged before being allowed into our main catalogue. Once a card has been ordered via the thortful website (www.thortful.com) or app, the cards are then printed on demand and distributed by thortful. From every single card sold, 50p goes back to the creative behind the design.” Positives Of This Alternative Path: “The fact that thortful is available as an app truly cements us as ‘the card shop in your pocket’. The app has the ability to store key dates, schedule card deliveries in the future and for the first time upload handwriting to the app to print directly on to the card – keeping that personal touch. We have created an easy, straightforward buying process for our consumers, while giving them the most personal card selection choice. All of our cards are designed by our community of independent creatives, who we support with a market-leading royalty.” Above: Two designs available through thortful from illustrators Bee Davies (right) and Soula Zavacopoulos. Left: thortful cards can be ordered through its app or online.
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Take Three...
The Personal Touch There are other bird, bovine, hippo and canine-branded personalised card websites cooing, snorting and woofing out in cyber space already, but brother and sister team, graduates Dom and Geri Copsey, sensed a few years ago that there was a gap in the market for matching personalised cards and giftwrapping paper (with personal photo uploads). So, with the help of their dad who runs a printing business, DomandGeri.com was borne. Geri: “It’s been interesting for us to watch the rise in the personalisation market over the last couple of Above: Some of the personalised years. These days you can pretty much personalise anything! I think that there is a genuine demand for people to customise giftwrap (and cards) available from Domandgeri.com for all occasions. as much as they can as a lot of customers like to get their hands on something unique. Now, having the ability, through Below left: Dom and Geri have created a personalised matching Domandgeri.com, to customise your own cards and matching wrapping paper can make any occasion extra special. card and giftwrap concept. The last 12 months have been fantastic and superseded our expectations with what we could achieve so quickly. Our personalised giftwrapping paper has even been featured on ITV, The Gadget Show and reality series The Only Way Is Essex. The latter part of this year and into 2017 will see us branch out further into the offline space with personalised wrapping paper pop-up shops. We’ve already had some great feedback from these and, as our wrapping paper prints in just a few minutes, it means customers can buy there and then and take their order home the same day!” Dom: “Geri’s expertise lies with the creative design - she’s always coming up with new card and wrapping paper designs for different occasions. My focus is on the marketing side of the business and growing the brand organically. Dad helps out too and we have a busy office near Leeds where we print personalised cards, wrapping paper and party banners.” Positives Of This Alternative Path - Dom: “Being an online retailer, we can keep overheads low and ensure that there is a greater focus on customer care. An important element for us as a personalised greetings company is to ensure we can also personalise our customer service too. We now have nearly 2,000 positive reviews on Trustpilot - that’s a lot of happy customers! Our customers seem to like the fact that when they order from us they will often receive an email direct from one of us – Dom or Geri! As recent graduates, we’re now working full-time at DomandGeri.com; we’ve got big plans for 2017 and beyond!”
Box Of Delights Papergang is a monthly subscription box for paper lovers brought to you by the team at Ohh Deer. It was a concept created to allow Ohh Deer to express their deep-rooted obsession with papery goods and create a real sense of community. Katie Ford, communications coordinator for Ohh Deer, reveals how this unique greeting card concept works: “Each month our 'Papergangsters' receive a box filled with brilliant stationery and other paper products. The product selection always varies but could include: Notebooks, greeting cards, post it notes, art prints and desk accessories. We wanted the box to be accessible and affordable, and it's really great value for money being priced at just £9.95 + shipping, with the contents being worth at least double the price of the box each month. Each month really varies. We often start by deciding a theme and then from this we decide if any illustrators would be suited. We also do a lot of the design in-house too. It's a great platform for illustrators as their work is sent out to thousands of our subscribers and each box contains a detailed card describing who the products were designed by.” Positives Of This Alternative Path: “From a business perspective the subscription model is great as it's reliable and fairly predictable. When we first started, it was hard to predict how subscribers would react and it's always a learning curve but you soon get to understand what customers want. It's also a great way of trialing and experimenting with new designs, illustrators and products. We really feel as though it's created a great feeling of community around the brand, we call our subscribers 'Papergangsters' and when they join they receive a woven patch of the leader of the papergang - his name is Drew. We also encourage our customers to post their ‘unboxings’ on social media and it creates a real buzz. And additionally, we make sure a selection of the products our Papergangsters receive are exclusive for a period of time, and then these are added to our main website a while later.” Above: Lots of lovely stationery items inside a Papergang box for Ohh Derr's Papergangsters. Left: Unveiling the paper goodies inside a Papergang box from Ohh Deer. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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Industry Issue
The Write Approach It has been already been scientifically proven that greeting cards are good for our health (triggering neurons in the brain that markedly improve our sense of wellbeing), now it has been confirmed that our industry’s humble pieces of paper can make an equally significant claim - to improve literacy. PG went back to the classroom to delve deeper into the findings of Hallmark’s International Literacy Day Survey, which also included some gratifying proof about how positively children today feel about giving and receiving greeting cards. It is shocking that one in five children in the world cannot read and write, and even in the UK that 30% of children do not own any books at all. The ability to read and write is the gateway to progress, which is the very reason the World Literacy Foundation, a global notfor-profit organisation, has long been tirelessly campaigning to improve reading and writing right across the world. It might though have to adapt its motto - ‘One child, one teacher, one book, and one
Top right: Part of Hallmark’s social media support for International Literacy Day, which also includes a video that is hosted on YouTube. Above: Pupils engaging in a greeting card-centric lesson at Whitfield Primary School in Liverpool. Inset: When asked to whom they would most want to send a card, while 17% of children picked their dad, 51% chose their mum!
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pen can change the world’ - to include ‘one greeting card’ following the findings of a recent research project which highlights that sending and receiving cards really can improve literacy. The International Literary Day Survey, (commissioned by Hallmark) was made public on National Literacy Day on September 8 (a designated day that Unesco introduced back in 1965). Its findings uncovered evidence that teaching children how to read and write using what is referred to as ‘traditional methods’, such as through greeting cards, really can boost literacy skills. This groundbreaking research was based on the responses of 502 children,
aged 5 to 12 years old, who participated in a study undertaken in August and conducted by respected research consultants, Censuswide. Key highlights included that some 40% of five year-olds said that they enjoyed sending cards to practice their writing, while over a third (37%) of under 12s stated they liked receiving cards in order to practise reading. Revealing more of the rationale behind the funding of the research, Alison Kildunne, Hallmark’s head of marketing, who has spearheaded on the project with colleague Esther Key, told PG: “To us this is all part of our ‘Make your mark’ promise in leaving a legacy that will benefit others, forming partnerships with like-minded bodies for the greater good. At Hallmark, as part of our CSR commitment, we do a lot of volunteering in schools so have come to experience first-hand how literacy is an issue in the UK as well as further afield. As being able to write and read a greeting card is something the majority of us take for granted it made sense that we tackle the problem from a greeting card perspective.” The study has received full endorsement from the World Literacy Foundation. Senior project manager, Jade Lane, said of the study that it “clearly shows that children want to practise their reading and writing using traditional methods, such as greeting cards.
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Industry Issue
We’re confident that by introducing more everyday ways to learn, children will pick up these skills much more naturally.” But rather than this just being a heartwarming reading for those of us in the trade, Hallmark has put these findings into action, developing a dedicated downloadable pack for teachers (hosted on its website) which incorporate the reading and writing of greeting cards into the lesson plan which has been put through its paces already in a significant school. Whitfield Primary School in Liverpool has won Reading Recovery School
News crews have already been into the Whitfield school filming both during the lessons as well as interviewing the youngsters about their views on writing and sending cards, with the pupils getting especially animated when they had to select which celebrity they had selected to send a card to.
Straight To The Points
In addition, Hallmark invested in a PR campaign, backed by literacy expert and author of Toxic Childhood, Sue Palmer. In an official press release that was sent to newspapers, magazines and radio stations, Sue championed the findings: “Today’s children have so many high-tech ways of accessing information, it can be difficult to interest them in ‘old-fashioned’ literacy. But unless children actually want to read, they’re unlikely to put in the effort. Endless lessons in ‘phonics’ and ‘comprehension’ won’t make them any keener. In contrast, by involving children in day-to-day literacy activities such as writing shopping lists, reading street signs and birthday cards, and keeping it all as playful as possible, you can lay the foundations for reading and writing.” While all the PR coverage is great, what’s even better is that this Hallmark resource is being embraced by teachers. “We had 100 downloads on the first day alone,” revealed Hallmark’s Esther Key. “But this is just the start, we will now look to build on it year on year. It’s a learning process for us too!” she quipped.
The recent Hallmark research project also provided an invaluble opportunity to gain a picture of what the younger generation really thinks about greeting cards - and the results make great reading! PG shares just some of the juicy nuggets: Receiving Cards ● Almost all (98%) children state they “like” receiving cards, with over half (51%) going so far as to
say they “love” receiving them. Sadly, 2% of children said they did not like receiving cards! Above: A film crew in action in the school which showed the lesson as well as covering views of the children. Right: The front cover of the downloadable Hallmark Literacy Day School Pack.
● It’s six year-olds who are most likely to “love” cards, (61%) in comparison to (44%) of children
aged 11 and 12. ● When asked why they like receiving cards, the most popular response (given by 65% of all the
children participating in the survey) was because it makes them happy. ● However in the 11 year-old age group, 67% of respondents said they liked receiving a card as it
shows them someone is thinking of them. ● Some 42% of children say they like receiving cards because they like the pictures, while for 37%
it is because they like reading the message. ● Children like receiving cards from their family the most (66%). ● The importance of friendship endorsement increases with age. While a quarter (25%) of 7 year-
olds say they most like receiving cards from their friends, by the time you become nine yearsold, this percentage jumps to 38%.
Sending Cards ● Considering the sending of cards, 90% of children say they “like” sending cards, with 39% going
of the Year for the last three years, overcoming the literacy challenges that some 23 different languages are spoken by its pupils! Its head teacher, Nadine Carroll, commented:“We are really excited that we are the first school in the UK to trial the new learning materials created by Hallmark and the World Literacy Foundation for International Literacy Day, as we believe writing and reading for a purpose is the most effective way to develop literacy. Getting our pupils to have a go at writing cards to each other, to celebrities and even their favourite superhero is a fun and engaging way to develop their reading and writing skills.”
● ● ● ●
as far as to say they “love” sending them. Of the “love” contingent, 44% of girls say they love sending them compared to 34% of boys. Seven out of 10 children said that they would want to send more cards to make the person receiving the card happy. A quarter (26%) of children would want to send more cards to get cards back. Over 1 in 5 (21%) children would want to send more cards to practise their writing. Almost 1 in 5 (18%) would want to send more cards to share something interesting with someone.
Inset: Almost three quarters (73%) of girls aged 5-12 would want to send more cards to make the person receiving the card happy. This is compared to just two thirds of boys who said this.
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Retailer In Focus
Old Meets New Colchester in Essex holds the laurel to being Britain’s oldest recorded town, but its pride swelled last month when this Roman settlement became home to the UK’s newest department store, albeit one with historic origins. PG went shopping at the brand new Fenwick Colchester store where its greeting card department is at the heart of the £35 million redevelopment. The William & Griffin department store was something of an institution for the good folk of Colchester. Understandably they were concerned that things would change when their beloved emporium passed from one set of private ownership hands into another, being acquired by the Fenwick family eight years ago. They were right to think things would change, but any concerns that this would be for the worse were superceded by wonder on September 15, when the store officially opened
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its doors as the newly rebranded Fenwick of Colchester. This is a veritable retailing emporium to match anything that London or any other major UK city would be proud to have on its doorstep and no mistake. It has not been on overnight transformation; this is one of those things that has been worth waiting for. It has taken three years of work, £35 million of investment in the redevelopment and lots of instore upheaval as one would expect when extending a premises by 40,000 sq ft (a 40% increase in retail space) through co-joining two buildings and adding a couple more floors! The greeting card department, which was moved six times during the redevelopment period, has been rewarded for its patience, and now resides in a magnificent location on the ground floor. It is just behind the high traffic beauty hall, greeting customers as they enter the store from the grand front as well as being the first thing people see if they use the car park entrance.
Above: The fascia of the new Fenwick Colchester store. Left: Fenwick’s Mark Turner with Stewo’s UK sales manager Jonathan Maskell in the new giftwrap area. Having spotted Stewo at PG Live, Mark then went on to make the decision for the giftwrap selection in store. Below: GBCC worked with Axiom to create fixtures which tied in with the whole look of the store, while Fenwick developed photographic canvas artworks to act as effective and easily changeable PoS.
Mark Turner is someone who knows the store inside and out as he joined what was the William & Griffin team straight from school 30 years ago. Having worked his way around the company, including as deputy store manager, three years ago he swopped his shop floor role to move to the buying side. With a background of retail fundamentals, he is relishing his far reaching buying responsibilities which encompass greeting cards, stationery, luggage and linens, feeling that this cross category remit enables him to better anticipate and react to customer needs. “Greeting cards are very fashion and season-related, the same way luggage and linens are, so we need to ensure we pre-empt customer aspirations and needs with a product selection, which is regularly refreshed, as well as a retailing environment that exceeds their expectations,” says Mark. Even before the redevelopment, Williams & Griffin had a “very successful greeting card department,” explains Mark, and despite its rather peripatetic existence over the last few years – “as it was one of the easiest departments to move during the renovation” – customers stuck with it, seeking out the store’s wide ranging selection of cards and stationery wherever they were being retailed in the store at any given time. “We do have competition in the town on the cards front, from independents as well as multiples, but our customers have always liked
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Retailer In Focus
buying cards from us. However, we realised that in the new store we needed to make some changes to make the department even better,” revealed Mark. “We knew the store would be busier and would have a more modern feel with a certain amount of ‘theatre’, which the card department needed to mirror.” In what is a ‘first’ across all 11 of the Fenwick stores, the card department in the Colchester store is now supplied on a brokerage system, working with GBCC’s Waterwells. “I felt we needed to join forces with a company that could take what we do onto a bigger scale and the GBCC team was the closest fit to what we are about, notably in their attention to detail,” says Mark. The two teams worked hand in hand, with support from shop-fitting company Axiom to create special display fixtures which echoed the blueprint of the rest of the store’s contemporary feel while also practical and enjoyable for customers to shop for cards. The result is a series of standalone fixtures, and wall units, which display 2,000 different greeting card designs (some 400 more than previously) either full facing or almost. Dark walls are used judiciously as a backdrop to the cards, while photographic canvas panels grace the side ends of the units acting as ‘silent salesmen’ to let customers know they are in the right area for the cards they want. As far as the card selection is concerned, Mark explains that this has been put together based on a combination of robust data as well as spotting where the possible gaps were. “We know specifically where our card business is coming from, what percentage is from anniversaries, how many Easter cards we sell, what our stock levels are, but through brokerage we can now have that stock replenished quicker, as well as feed in new
designs when we see fit, rather than having to wait for a rep or agent to call,” he elaborates. In addition to reflecting fashion, Mark also suggests that greeting card purchasing is seasonally-affected. “We see this in the art and photographic cards particularly. As soon as summer is over, people start looking for more autumnal scenes and colours. It is crucial that our card display keeps pace with this,” stresses Mark. “Ultimately you have to give the customer what they want not what you think they should have. There are a lot of stylish people out there who are very well informed. If we do not have card designs that suit their tastes there are plenty of other places they can go to buy them.” Right from the off, on the opening night event, the new look card department received a wellmanicured ‘thumbs up’ from customers. “We sold a massive amount of cards that evening, which was great,” says Mark. Top: The art and photographic back wall shows the cards full facing. Above: GBCC’s area manager Colin Hayward with Fenwick Colchester’s buyer’s clerk Sue McLaughlin in the new department. Left: Having a full fledged Christmas department on the top floor means that the everyday card display will remain strong throughout the year.
In addition to the 40 publishers whose designs are brokered in, another eight publishers (such as Five Dollar Shake, Tache Crafts, Lagom and Holy Mackerel) supply direct. “We had, what I would describe as, a ‘mature selection’ of cards before, but we have now introduced new publishers, several of which I discovered at PG Live, to better cater for the younger customers,” while not alienating its ‘ladies who lunch’ clientele. PG Live was also where Mark spotted Stewo, which provides the giftwrap display for the store, which nestles into the back wall. “We wanted something different, that was bright and stylish, and Stewo matched that brief exactly,” says Mark. The store had only been open a week at the time of PG’s visit, but Mark was quietly confident with the performance of the new card and stationery department. “We’re on target - and it is a tough target!” he says enigmatically. Unlike many other stores at this time of year, due to an alluring multi-themed ‘Christmas shop’ on the top floor, next to the Carluccio’s restaurant, apart from accommodating a small Christmas card selection, the full everyday array will remain on display throughout the festive run up. While having experienced three decades of seasonal trading in store, Mark is especially excited at the prospect of this one. “I think Christmas will be great this year – it has certainly started well. Even though it was 30 degrees outside, people were keen to buy their Christmas baubles and decorations. And we have some great new wooden display units for the Christmas cards which will blend into the look and feel of that department,” reveals Mark. Colchester served as the first capital of Roman Britain, but now, with the opening of the impressive Fenwick ‘ampitheatre’, it is putting this Essex town firming on the UK’s retail map! PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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ARTSOURCE
TO APPEAR REGULARLY IN THE
ARTSOURCE SECTION OF PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON
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ART SOURCE
PG helps to paint a pretty picture of freelance artists, designers, verse writers and photographers’ worlds in order to promote their talents to publishers and, conversely, make it easier for publishers seeking artists.
ARTIST IN FOCUS
Joy Laforme I am an American designer based in Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and my work is inspired by natural themes; florals, birds, butterflies and whimsical landscapes. I’ve been a professional designer for six years and my style is evolving all the time. I initially studied Computer Science & Graphic Design and went on to gain a Master of Art in Graphic & Interactive Design at Savannah College. My favourite medium is gouache and digital mediums - I love to design holiday scenes of any kind. I am mostly inspired by American folk art, but over the years I have blended this with my love of textural, brushy elements of embroidery and needle art. I would love to paint a giant spring or holiday mural of a Christmas scene for a shop window!
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I know it’s important to be able to create beautiful, intricate work quickly, and creating lots of new collections has increased the number of commissions and license requests that I receive. A key strength is my experience at thinking around an idea and I really enjoy designing mock-up visuals of potential ranges. My work has been featured in Upper Case magazine, Print & Pattern blog and the Pattern Observer. For me art is my way of life, it’s what keeps me moving. I love British trends and styles, and I am excited to be newly represented by Yellow House Art Licensing – they have a beautiful spread of artists that I felt I could fit well into. Just contact Sue or Jehane at Yellow House if you would like to know more about my work! ● Email: hello@yellowhouseartlicensing.com
If you are an artist, photographer or verse writer and would like to be considered to appear in Art Source, please contact PG’s Emma Cain on emmac@max-publishing.co.uk. This is an editorial feature and as such is free of charge. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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ARTSOURCE
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ARTSOURCE SECTION OF PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON
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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 01274 581327 with your enquiry or email us on joanne@ukenvelopecentre.co.uk
www.ukenvelopecentre.co.uk We will be delighted to help!
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ART SOURCE Tamsin Bridge
My paintings are in watercolour and occasionally overlaid in silver or gold leaf. I place a lot of importance on fine detail and colour in my work. Images evolve and suggest themselves dream-like. With clarity they begin to create a tale of their own. The paintings depict imaginative subjects entwined in sinuous tracery and often overlaid in gold or silver leaf. Literature, fairytales and walking in the countryside serve as constant sources of inspiration for me. A line in a poem or an image conjured in conversation can be great inspiration! I like the feelings we may have when just waking from a dream, or just catch a glimpse of the moon, seeming to notice the crows jostling for a place in the trees at dusk - The places inbetween... I am largely self-taught, though I took art and life drawing classes at Cooper Union and Green Street in New York, which was home for me during my early twenties. I am influenced by Victorian illustration and work by Kaye Nielson, Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo. I also love Indian miniature painting. My work can be found in private collections both here and abroad. I have exhibited in solo and mixed shows at The University of Wales, Aberystwyth and MOMA, Y Tabernacl, Machynlleth, Wales. I regularly exhibit at The Silk Top Hat Gallery, a prestigious gallery in Ludlow, where I now live and work. ● Email: tamsinbridge@live.co.uk
Thomas Truman I’m often asked, “When did you discover your love of drawing?” I reply, “From a very young age”. I can still remember seeing the brightly coloured box, which, to my delight, contained an array of coloured pencils that my mother had given to me. As I grew, so did my enthusiasm. I just loved to draw, anything, everything. At school the kids would say, “Tom, draw me something”… a car, a favourite character, down to the lollypop lady outside the school gates. As my passion grew, it didn’t matter if I just had a pencil - to me it was magic. As long as I could draw that was all I needed, that and my imagination. Every blank canvas has a plethora of creative possibilities, a stream of boundless opportunities, wherever my mind would take me. I didn’t think I could pursue this as a career, as it was a hobby, something you do for recreational purposes outside of work, and, as with all hobbies, you practice it not for monetary encouragement but because you get enjoyment from it. Initially, I had planned a career as a historian and after graduating from university I had a greater itch to follow my creativity, as I considered it my vocation. As such I have never struggled to generate motivation for drawing. I am very open-minded about the artwork’s subject - from generic images of people from a multitude of backgrounds, ages, gender, races and professions etc. I like to use my creativity to invent fictional characters such as ‘Pete and Pig’ (a farmer and pig). I take delight in the physical art of drawing therefore my medium is 2D-hand-drawn pictures. ● Email: napoleon10056@yahoo.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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PG asked a selection of card retailers for their ‘hot’ card sellers. Frances Inman, owner of By The Way, Bradford On Avon, Wiltshire A medium shop in a picturesque town with a loyal locals and tourists customer base. Category
Name of Publisher
Product/Name Range
Comments
Everyday
Caroline Gardner
Across The Board
Cute
Two Bad Mice
General
Humour
Rosie Made A Thing
General
Cath Tate
Photocaptions
Anna Victoria
General
Stop The Clock
Hip Orange
Stooshie
General
Cinnamon Aitch
Across The Board
Ruth Jackson
Pencil Shavings Cards
Gorgeous greeting card designs with lots of style. Quirky illustrations of rabbits and rodents and adorable captions. Just hilarious cards, illustrated in a modern style, that appeal to a certain age (35+). A favourite with the older customers, but the humour has very broad appeal. Beautiful prints of flowers in a jug, seagulls, fish and many other themes, in a contemporary style. A very nice male range printed on kraft board. We’ve had great problems finding good male ranges, but this one is very stylish. Beautifully drawn illustrations drawn by a lady in Derbyshire, who will personalise the cards if you ask. Original and quirky designs with hand-finished elements, such as wooden heart buttons and tiny beads. Such a simple idea but no one else thought of it. And new designs are continuously added to the range.
Contemporary
Above: A fun and quirky Engagement card from Stooshie. Right: Beautiful modern artwork, including Stanley the seagull, on a Beside the Seaside card from Anna Victoria.
Handmade/ Hand-Finished
Juanita Hughes, owner of Gems, Clevedon, Somerset A medium shop in a Victorian seaside town with a loyal locals and visitors customer base. Category
Name of Publisher
Product/Name Range
Comments
Humour
Pigment Cardmix
Across The Board Drama Queen
Photographic
Woodmansterne
General
Traditional
Ling Design
General
Milkwood Publishing
Across The Board
Five Dollar Shake
General
Hammond Gower Portmeirion
General Wrendale Designs china tableware
We sell an enormous amount of humour cards. Both of these publishers’ ranges aren’t crude or outrageous; they just seem to hit the spot with our discerning customers. The National Trust photographic range is very popular, but they are all good, especially the male orientated images, an area of the greetings market that is very difficult to find. There’s something about the illustrations that appeal particularly to our customers who are in the 40+ age group. The collection has a great variation of styles, and the cards are at a very good price point. When someone is looking for a very special card for an iconic anniversary, wedding or milestone age these cards are the ones customers reach for. Lovely cards that are much more suited to a lot of people’s pockets! We offer the full range, including Wrendale Designs’ own products of cards, stationery and tinware. People like the wildlife and woodland illustrations.
Right: A gorgeous Hammond Gower Privee design.
Handmade/ Hand-Finished
Ancillary
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Susan Verity, owner of Cards Etc, Horsforth, Leeds A small shop in a small town with a loyal locals and visitors customer base. Category
Name of Publisher
Product/Name Range
Comments
Humour
Quitting Hollywood
Paw Play
Country Cards
Humour Cards
Photographic
Chris Ceaser Photography
General
Art
Green Pebble
General
Contemporary
Quire
Delicatissimo
Traditional
Gibson (UKG)
Simply Traditional
Handmade/ Hand-Finished
Second Nature
Across The Board
Ancillary
Xpressions (UKG)
Pots Of Dreams
Unusual photographic designs because the joke is uttered by the animal in the design in a speech bubble. Funny but not offensive good allround humour. A local photographer who photographs stunning scenes of the local area such as the Yorkshire Dales; visitors pick them up as a souvenir. Quite new to us, but this publisher has been brilliant; I’ve been very impressed. Many of the cards feature vibrant artworks or pictures of animals. I first saw this publisher’s designs in Amsterdam a few years ago, then I saw them at Spring Fair. I really like the modern, fresh and clean look of the designs. A card with a title, with just the amount of words, is what my customers like. Lovely designs throughout, and the larger square designs are perfect for special occasions. A great pick up gift that’s at a good Top: A delicate laser-cut design from Quire’s price point and with a ‘pot’ suitable Delicatissimo range. Above: An idyllic Yorkshire scene from Chris for everyone. Ceaser Photography’s 'Gallery' collection.
Marianne Forbes, partner of Under The Sun, Southend, Essex A large shop in a seaside town with a loyal locals and further afield customer base. Category
Name of Publisher
Product/Name Range
Comments
Cute
Rachel Ellen
Folk Tale
Humour
Rosie Made A Thing
General
CardMix
Irene & Gladys
Art
Portfolio
National Gallery
Contemporary
Hammond Gower
Piano
Handmade/ Hand-Finished
Five Dollar Shake
General
Children’s
Janie Wilson
Sugar & Spice
Ancillary
East Of India
Mini Wooden Hearts
In similar bright colours to its other ranges (which helps them all sit nicely together) with lots of lovely flitter! The designs really stand out and are different, with a slight 1970s retro look to the characters. Two old ladies who hilariously quip and critique famous paintings. We’ve recently added this range and it’s going well. Classic fine art cards still appeal and because they’re blank can suit many occasions or ‘just because’ sends. A wordy range of beautifully simple typeface and sentiment and inspirational quotes. We offer the popular personalised card service. The cards are so beautiful they could be framed and given as a gift. With little monsters and bugs, the unusual themes are illustrated in a lovely, quirky way. Slim wooden hearts with sentimental words or just a milestone number. Sold for only £1, they are small enough just to be slipped into a card.
Top: A hot seller at Under The Sun – the Mankini design from Rosie Made A Thing. Above: A slim mini wooden heart from East of India.
PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
63
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LYNN’S LINES
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Below: Olympic 2016 Gold medalists, cyclists Joanna Rowsell-Shand, Elinor Barker, Laura Trott and Katie Archibald. Below middle: Lynn’s shop in Leigh On Sea was decked out with hundreds of card design entries from young and old for her Queen’s Jubilee card competition.
On the ball comments by retailer and publisher Lynn Tait of The Lynn Tait Gallery.
Going For
Gold Well, this summer, it has been an amazing Rio Olympics for Team GB, both for the Olympians and Paralympians. Through research, hard work and belief it’s been a medal gold rush for both, a winning system from which both card publishers and retailers can learn. I’ve always been totally besotted by the Olympics since I was a child. To say I was in my element when the Games took place in London in 2012 is an understatement. In a former life I was a table tennis and tennis player, so when the Olympics were held in London I managed to get tickets for both the Olympics and the Paralympics in these sports, as well as several others. One sport I was sad not to get to see was the cycling... and I didn't get to see the mountain biking even though it was only about a mile away from my shop. The reason why I am interested in the cycling events is because of the similarities to retail and how Olympic cycling helped my business soar after going to a seminar four years ago at Top Drawer. It was a talk by a former Olympian cyclist turned businessman that proved to be one of the most motivational talks I’ve ever heard. He explained that a number of years ago British cycling just didn't get on the board. The British just participated and ‘had a go’ and just took their chances, not actually believing they would win. That all changed when every single aspect of the sport was scrutinised, psychoanalysed and dissected. No stone was left unturned. The team’s coaches looked at the cyclists’ diet, aero dynamics, the length of the bikes’ saddle and on and on. Then they looked at the psychological aspects. The team
members were taught how to imagine success and standing on the rostrum getting a gold medal…’positive visualisation’…. so in the end they totally believed they were going to win. Nothing else would do. The cyclists trained together, lived together and got to know everything about their team members. They had very sophisticated bonding opportunities.
So how does this help the humble supplier and retailer? Well, four years ago after I went to this seminar I was launching a big Queen’s Jubilee card competition in my shop for local schools. If I hadn't have been to that seminar it would have been a total flop. I sent out information about the competition to all the local schools and after two weeks I received three entries, one of which was the wrong size! I then imagined the shop filled with 1,000 artworks hanging on Union Jack
bunting and an awards evening with Jubilee mugs as prizes and children's proud faces. So I got my team (staff ) together to inspire people to enter the competition with my vision, and got them on board with my enthusiasm and belief in the project that I wanted to achieve. I then did my research. I found out who the art teachers were in the schools and wrote them personal emails or dropped in a ‘pack’ for their attention. The entries started to come in and so I was able to start displaying them in the shop which kick-started the publicity. I decided I would keep plugging away until I had my 1,000 entries. In the end 28 different groups entered the competition, from old people homes to nurseries to art groups, many who found out about it through word of mouth through the staff taking about it. Eventually we had 1,500 entries. I didn't get any response from my original emails, so a lesson to be learnt there. So imagining your goal is key. If you are a card publisher you have to imagine your trade stand with people on it taking orders. You have to believe it is going to be a success. A lot of orders are lost at trade fairs because of terrible ‘I’m going to fail’ body language. You are not going to get a response from a confetti of impersonal emails to all and sundry. You will get a response from personal emails followed up with your brochure and an actual card, and maybe a little something memorable in the package like a Sherbet Dip or a balloon... anything that makes you stand out. And don't just do it once, there are all sorts of reasons why people don't buy at a certain PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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LYNN’S LINES Left: Some of Lynn’s grandchildren competing in the ‘Granny Olympics’. Below: The artists have been hard at work for over six months, culminating in an exhibition which opens on October 13.
time or go to a trade fair. Chip, chip, chip away, or ‘1,2,3 buy’ as I have written about before. You have to woo them and keep wooing them. You also have to analyse who your target market are and where they are. Before they launched, one of today's most successful growing card publishing business did all the correct research, including looking at Mintel’s greeting card report. The report showed the market size segmented, dissected and discussed. Everything you need to know put succinctly and shot through with creative thought. Market intelligence, what does this mean? Hard to find facts and the intellect to interrogate them. The sharpest minds working with the smartest data. Ie. legwork + brain work = results. Who else has bothered to read this report when it has so much incredible information and statistics in it that has already been done for you? Team GB’s cycling team did all their research from scratch. How many shops have opened on a whim, thinking ‘let's have a go’ without any research or knowledge of the market? We all know ‘location, location, location’ is imperative, so has the research been done before signing a lease, is the shop on the correct side of the road? Something like this can make or break your business. It's all down to the detail. Think of yourself as an Olympic cyclist. How many card exhibitors work their butts off six months before a fair only to blow it on their trade stand with a hangover. I can assure you it happens. I'm pretty sure athletes don't go to bed late or drink a lot the night before a race! You also have to do your research to see if your product is commercial and then you have to contact people to let them know you are there at the show. Also remembering your customers on the stand is very important. So, as I have a little window of opportunity health wise, I am going out of my comfort 66
PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
zone to do a charity art sale of my grandchildren's artwork to raise money to combat myeloma, the type of cancer that I have. I’ve been committed to the charity Action Medical Research for the last 10 years and recently raised almost £5K for Help For Heroes. So now I want to do something for research and awareness of myeloma, now I'm on my ninth life! I used to be a sporty granny, playing tennis, digging for Britain on the beach, organising our family’s Granny Olympics. Now my mobility is so bad I have to be ‘arty granny’. The artwork from the grandchildren is prolific and I have masses of canvases that they have made. So we have set up a Team Granny. Two of my grandchildren, Jack and Oliver (age six), have been organising the exhibition, which will take place in The Lynn Tait Gallery. They are going to have a Private View with ‘grown up Ribena’ and a raffle. Astrid (age eight) has written the invitations: ‘Fun activities like a raffle and wine!’ she promises. My trade stand blackboards are coming out of storage to display the artwork. The children have been selling Private View tickets for £5 each and
their work is also being featured on canvases, cards, magnets, notebooks and coasters. I have 12 bright orange myeloma awareness t-shirts for them to wear and we have even done a press photo-shoot. I’ve been talking about the exhibition for a few weeks on Facebook to friends and it officially launched on Monday September 19 at 6pm, giving us time to build up to the Private View event on Thursday October 13 October at The Lynn Tait Gallery in Leigh-onSea, Essex. Am I out of my comfort zone? Yes, but I'm determined it's going to be a success. The children have been creating for six months and they want to sell their muchloved pictures to help the charity and raise awareness of the cancer that their granny has. They have clear ideas of how they want to do it and we've had lots of ‘committee meetings’. I think it's going to be hard for them to part with some of their favourite pictures, but they are proud that people will have them up in their houses. They have set their goal as selling 100 tickets which is the maximum number of pictures we can display. Our target is to raise £750 for the charity. I’ve curated major exhibitions over the years for Charlie Waite and other famous photographers, half a dozen three week exhibitions at the Oxo Gallery in London, one in Chicago and three in Australia. However, this one is very close to my heart. I'm so proud of the little people and I shall be close to blubbing on the night I'm sure. For so many reasons it will be emotional. It will be almost four years exactly that I was diagnosed with cancer and here I am curating an exhibition with ‘Team Granny’. Four of my granddaughters, who have a number of pieces in the exhibition, were not born when I had the ghastly news. I feel so totally blessed for these four years and hopefully more to come. ● If you would like to buy a ticket
to the Private View (£5 each) on October 13, contact Team Granny on info@waiteandtait.com
Product Directory October 2016_NEW 28/09/2016 16:53 Page 67
PRODUCT DIRECTORY
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To appear in the Product Directories simply contact
Warren Lomax on:
020 7700 6740
or email on warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact
Tracey Arnaud on:
07957 212 062
or email on tarnaud@btinternet.com
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Product Directory October 2016_NEW 28/09/2016 16:53 Page 68
PRODUCT DIRECTORY
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To appear in the Product Directories simply contact
Warren Lomax on:
020 7700 6740
or email on warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact
Tracey Arnaud on:
07957 212 062
or email on tarnaud@btinternet.com 68
PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
Colneis Marketing York House, 2-4 York Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7QQ T: 01394 271668 F: 01394 275114 E: colneiscards@btconnect.com Online Shop www.colneisgreetingcards.com
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GRASS ROOTS
INTERNATIONAL
Colour House Graphics York House, 2-4 York Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7QQ T: 01394 271668 F: 01394 275114 E: colourhousegraphics@hotmail.com Online Shop www.colourhousegraphics.co.uk
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
Market leaders in Humour, Art, Photographic, Occasions and Relations cards offering a full planning service with merchandising and retail development opportunities.
“Write from the Heart� brand includes; Corsage, Sentiments, Champagne, Celebrations and Jelly Beans.
M ETHOD OF SALE Direct to Retail
G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL Units 4 - 4A Valentines Buildin g Ra cec our se Bus in ess Par k Aintr ee, Liver poo l, L9 5 AL Tel: 0151 52 3 9600 Fax : 015 1 523 494 9 e-m ail: s ales@ writefr om th ehear t.co.uk
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Eye catching, luxurious Gift Wraps, Gift Tags, Gift Bags, Roll Wrap, Tissue Papers & Ribbons for all occasions The UK No. No. 1 in The Licensed Greetings Greetings etings Licensed Over Overr 30 licenses Ov licens nses ses including: includin ng g: g: D Disne y, Peppa Peppa Pig Pig, Disney, Kitty, He Kitty Hello Kitty, Mr Men Men a d Angry A Birdss and Birds
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
L U X U RY C A R D S P R O U D LY M A D E I N T H E U K Order s can be placed on our trader site
w w w. c b g t r a d e r. c o. u k or call our customer ser vice team on
+44(0)1243 792600
t: +44 + (0)1264 388400 e: enquiries@gemma-int enquiries@gemma-international.co.uk erna national. ti co.uk w: gemma-international.co.uk gemma-international. ona co.uk
CARDS CARDS • WRAP • PARTY PARTY • GIFTS GIFTS
PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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CHARITY GREETING CARDS One of the UK’s leading publishers of Charity Greeting Cards. Impress offers a wide collection of images, including fine art, graphic, photographic and cute. We also offer a bespoke design service for bulk orders and/or mail order fulfilment. Impress Publishing Appledown House Barton Business Park New Dover Road Canterbury, Kent CT1 3TE Tel: 01227 811 611 Fax: 01227 811 618 email: info@impresspublishing.co.uk
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LING DESIGN
60 years
Yo our N Number b O One S Supplier li off Numerals, Name, Relation & Age Labels for Greetings Cards. Huge selection with immediate deliveryy. Buy direct or from your wholesalerr. Listan Labels 3 Isis Court, Wyndyke Furlong, Abingdon Business Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire Oxfordshire OX1 5JN Tel Tel e 01235 465489 Fax 01235 532118 www.listanpublications.co.uk www.listanpublications.co.uk sales@listanpublications.co.uk
Silk Screened Retro, Pop & Classic Cards Inspired by Music and 1960’s American Advertising.For all Vinyl & Rock n’Roll lovers
L E T U S TA K E YOU BAC K
For further details please get in touch.
info@vincentmcevoy.com
+44 (0)7779 578340
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The UK’s leading privately owned publisher of Greetings Cards and Stationery. ...The home for and ...and the UK home for
Products: Greetings cards for all occasions, Christmas and Spring Seasons cards, gift wrap and bags, charity cards, social stationery. Bespoke service for charities and other fundraisers. Ling Design Ltd 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BE Tel: 01892 838574 Fax: 01892 838676 Email: enquiries@lingdesign.co.uk Website: www.lingdesign.co.uk
Agents wanted
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Products An exciting and innovative range of quality Birthday, relations, special occasions, art and humorous greeting cards. Full range of Christmas and Spring Seasons merchandise. Comprehensive collection of handmade cards. Pizazz gifts.
Brand Names Pizazz, Pizazz Gallery, Say the Word, Carousel, Meadow Sweet, R&R for Men, What a Picture! Cloudesley House • Shire Hill Saffron Walden • CB11 3FB T: 01799 520200 F: 01799 520100 www.nigelquiney.com
The Playful Indian cards are a unique fusion of the east and west. Simple and quirky, they have made many people smile...so what are you waiting forr, put a smile on someone’s face today!
originalposter.com
Three great publishers, all under one roof, contemporary, graphic, humour, cute and photographic ranges with a fantastic range of occasions and relations cards.
All our cards are supplied on consignment, so you only pay for what you sell.
Key brands: V&A, Portobello, Spirit, Daisy Patch, Sugar Pips, Marzipan Toybox, Born to Stitch, Idols, Life, Sweet Tooth, Brights.
We also supply card fixtures and spinners free-on-loan.
Method of sale: Direct to retail, Export and Licensing.
We replace slow sellers and damaged stock free of charge.
Riverside House, Centurion Way, Riverside Business Park, Nottingham NG2 1RW Tel: 0115 986 0115 Fax: 0115 986 0116 Email: sales@paperrose.co.uk Web: www.paperrose.co.uk www.artgroupcards.co.uk
We merchandise regularly, so you don’t have to. THAT’S WHY WE’RE ORIGINAL!
01932 267 300
the home of fa fabulous bulous cards!
356 56 Kennington Rd London SE11 4LD T 020 7582 8244 info@paperlink.co.uk @paperlink.co.uk www.paperlink.co.uk
available from
LING DESIGN
Mr Figgis, when we say parents invited, we usually mean to sit and watch!
Suppliers of humorous & contemporary Birthday, Christmas, Spring Seasons, Occasions & Relations cards D e s i g n - l e d S t a t i o n e r y, G i f t s , Calendars, Diaries and Cards Brands Laura Ashley, Roald Dahl, Lily & Val, Vintage Ladybird, Caroline Gardner, Monsoon, Born to Shop, Flash Gordon, Boofle and many more. Our In-house design studio and established supply chain enables us to offer bespoke services.
Method of Sale: Direct P Paperlinkcards aperlinkcards @paperlinkcards @ paperlinkcards
it’ss your birthd it hda ay y
Uk publisher of Greetings Cards with an extensive range of quality Birthday, Relations, Occasions and Seasonal product...
paperlink... pap erlink...
Brands include: Bottomline, Bestie, Wrinklies, Hat Trick, Route 69, Bangers & Flash, Humdingers, Lacie, Sassy, Stay Wonky, Patisserie, Tinklers, Made With Love, and many many more!
holy y cow!
tel: +44 (0) 1225 329494 email: sales@porticodesigns.com website: www.porticodesigns.com
Our Brands: The Crazy Side of Life, Laughter with Animals, Sporting Fun The Funny Side of Life, Twiddly Winks.
Dad - I thought you said I could be the, one to tell him you re out
Me thod of sa le : Direct to Retail 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BE Tel: 01892 838574 Fax: 01892 838676 Email: enquiries@lingdesign.co.uk Website: www.lingdesign.co.uk
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l PRODUCT DIRECTORY Products: Greetings Cards, Gift Wrap, Social Stationery, Gift Bags, Keepsakes, Partyware.
Brands: Designer Collection, Feelings, Impressions, Inspirations, In Touch, Isabel’s Garden, Paper Wishes, Planet Happy.
Method of sale: DESIGN LED RETRO CARD & GIFTS TO SUIT ALL OCCASIONS YEAR OF BIRTH GREETING CARDS MUSIC DOWNLOADS • PREMIUM RETRO GIFTWARE & ACCESSORIES
t: 020 8993 5966 f: 020 8993 1396 w: www.retroco.com e: info@retroco.com
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
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w: www .tomcatcards.co.uk www.tomcatcards.co.uk e: tomcat@tomcatcards.co.uk t: 01243 837300
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Greeting Cards that are unique & special with creative wit. Looking for top-notch agents to join our expanding team.
rosierobins.com 01992 536461 72
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DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT
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Market Leaders in
Verse
& entimen
Sensations International Ltd Unit 6, Quad Road,East Lane Business Park,East lane, Wembley,MIDDLESEX HA9 7NE Tel. 0208 3854470 Fax: 0208 385 4471 Email: sales@sensationsinternational.com PRODUCTS: World’s leading publisher of high quality plastic greeting cards. Also an extensive range of quality greeting cards covering Everyday, Occasions, Christmas and Spring seasons. BRANDS: Cherished Thoughts, Sweet Sentiments, Buddies Always, Symphony, Thinking of You, Style, Special Wishes, Special Times, Young Editions, Groove Sensations, Forever Blessed, Grey Skies, Classics. METHOD OF SALE: Direct to retail.
an extensive range of superior quality,
design-led Greeting Cards for all occasions, Spring Seasons & Christmas.
TEL: 01480 43556 435562 2 FAX: 01480 450599
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
www.tracksltd.com
+44(0)1243 792600
UNIT 2, 12 BLACKSTONE RD, STUKELEY MEADOWS IND EST, HUNTINGDON, CAMBS, PE29 6EF
The UK’s leading publishers of highest quality handmade Greetings Cards. Products: Greetings cards for all occasions, Christmas and Spring Seasons. Spinners and other retail displays available. Talking Pictures Cards 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6BE
Tel: 0845 450 1815 Fax: 0845 450 1816 Email: enquiries@talkingpics.co.uk Website: www.talking-pictures.co.uk
To appear in the Product Directories simply contact Warren Lomax on 020 7700 740 warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact Tracey Arnaud on 07957 212 02 tarnaud@btinternet.com
Top-notch British Greeting Cards for Thoughts that Count
01923 200600 | www.woodmansterne.co.uk r PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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Wholesale Directory Octber 2016_whole sale dirSeptember 2004 28/09/2016 17:24 Page 74
DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS
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DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS
NATIONWIDE
MERSEYSIDE
WALES
UNIT 4, THE ARGENT CENTRE, SILVERDALE ROAD, HAYES, MIDDLESEX, UB3 3BS TEL: 020 8573 2975 / 1768 FAX: 020 8561 2349
MERSEYSIDE GREETING CARDS LTD
Merseyside’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.
LONDON’S NO 1 GREETING CARDS STATIONERY PARTY AND BALLOON CASH & CARRY
Greeting cards • Gift ranges • Pocket money toys • Balloons • Badges • Banners • Soft toys • Stationery • Collectables , including dolls • 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-Fri 9.30 to 5.30 Sunday 10 to 1 Late night Thursday till 8pm Tel: 0151 227 2555 Fax: 0151 207 1564 mgconline@hotmail.com
To appear in the Wholesale Directory simply call Warren Lomax on
25 Dickson Street, Liverpool L3 7EB
HERTS & LONDON
SUMAN BROS Stationery and greeting card wholesaler
020 7700 6740
Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL
magnus RUPERT
T: 01923 200 900 F: 01923 200 909
TRADING
LONDON’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 EUROPE’S ROPE’S LEADING LEADING G GREETINGS REETINGS CARD CARDS, S, PARTY PAR ART TY PRODUCTS, PRODUCTS, G GIFTS, IFTS, CANDLES, CANDLES, TOYS, TOYS, STATIONERY STAT TIIONER RY AND FLORIST FLORIST S SUNDRIES UNDRIES DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTIO ON CENTRE 75000 SQ FT BESCOT CRESCENT CRESCENT, T, W WALSALL, ALSALL, WEST MIDLANDS. WS1 4NG 01922-646666 www www.greetingshouse.co.uk .greetingshouse.co.uk info@gr info@greetingshouse.co.uk eetingshouse.co.uk MON,WED,FRI 8.00am-4.45pm TUES,THURS 8.00am-7.45pm SA AT,SUN , SAT,SUN 8.00am-1.45pm
NORTH WEST
& $ 3 6
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To appear in the Wholesale Directory simply call Warren Lomax on 020 7700 6740
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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 Y YOUR OUR
VIP
TREATMENT TREA ATMENT T ENVELOPES
HIGH CLARITY BAGS FOR GREETING CARDS, CALENDARS AND ARTWORK ŏ ŏđŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ FOIL BLOCKING
FOR FOR ALL A LL Y YOUR OU R ENVELOPE EN V ELOPE N NEEDS! EEDS!
EXTENSIVE RANGE OF STOCK SIZES AND BESPOKE MANUFACTURE
L argest range range of Largest iin-stock n- stock ccolours olours
WRAPPING SERVICE AUTOMA ATED T WRA PPING SER VICE NEW AUTOMATED
Over 400 Bespoke Envelope Sizes 8 Sizes Permanently in Stock RECYCLED
CALL US TODAY
01228 560526 www.fulcrumfilms.co.uk
Available v 100% Recycled Paper Available
PAPER
Stock & Bespoke Cello Bags Peel & Stick Envelopes Bespoke Service on Request
ORDER ON LINE AT: AT: www www.regentenvelopes.com .regentenvelopes.com 01274 583000 sales@r sales@regentenvelopes.com egentenvelopes.com
We’ve We’ve been producing bags of high clarity and high quality for over 30 years. 01274 220 220 www w.wrapid.co.uk www.wrapid.co.uk sales@wrapid. sales@wrapid.co.uk co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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Quality Bespoke Envelopes! From 5,000 quantity to many millions we can produce excellent quality envelopes for you. Plain, printed, coloured & textured finish. 100% recycled & FSC available. Please call us on 0843 5066684 with your enquiry or visit our website
www.ukenvelopecentre.co.uk We will be delighted to help!
FLITTERING
LITHO OR DIGIT DIGITAL, DIGITA GIT TAL, LES GROUP GR ROUP R O WINDLES ALWAYS MAKES AL LWAY AYS M AKES THE RIGHT GHT HT PRINT IMPRESSION. RESSION. RE
FOR ALL YOUR FLITTER REQUIREMENTS
ABL Foil Ltd Unit 1, Industrial Estate East Hanningfield Chelmsford Essex, CM3 8AB
Contact DAVID JIGGINS Tel: 01245 400104 Email: david@abl-ltd.co.uk
WWW.WINDLESGROUP.CO.UK WWW W.WINDLESGR W OUP P.C . O.UK
PRINTERS
PJ Print (London) The Capitals only Greetings card printer You name it what ? We can do it. With probably the most
Specialist UK and Global manufacturer for the greeting card industry
comprehensive range of card finishing in the UK card market PJ Print The answer to all your card production needs
PJ - PRINT
To discuss how we could work with you contact Simon King Tel: 0115 928 7766 Email: sales@sherwoodgroupuk.com
www.sherwoodgroupuk.com
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 Hadden Court, Glaisdale Parkway, Glaisdale Drive West, Nottingham, NG8 4GP
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The home of greeting cards eting e r g adinugrer e l s ’ K ct The Umanufa card
150k 1 0 25 .co.u
011es4@loxleys sal
YOUR MANUFACTURING PARTNER FOR VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS English speaking production team, prices quoted in sterling... and only 3 days delivery to THE UK...
Really... and there s no VAT to pay or customs procedures either...that's a great deal!
• Hand made and hand finished greeting cards • Boxed sets and acetate packs of cards / envelopes • Giftwrap and tag packs • Individually open and closed wrapped cards • 'Pop up' and cardboard engineered products • Notelets and social stationery • Specialised printing on plastics & lenticular For production enquiries, estimates etc., please contact our UK Agent:
Rob Pearson 07710 132 232 rob@solutions-polska.com FSC accredited (BV-COC-002485). Audited member of SMETA. Printing to ISO12674-2 standard.
Digital Di it l Print P i tS Specialist i li t for the greeting card industry What we offer: • Greeting cards • Artworking and design • Short-run print • Pick, pack and distribution
• LITHO PRINT • DIGITAL PRINT • FOILING • EMBOSSING • FLOWRAPPING
• DIE-CUTTING • FLITTERING • PACKING • DISTRIBUTION • INSERTING
• Promotional items • Bespoke gifts • Marketing literature • Exhibition graphics • Stationery • Brochures • and more...
07974 133735 paul.watson@sherwoodgroupuk.com
Tel: 01274 531828 Contact Chris Sharman. Email: chriss@herbertwalkers.co.uk
www.herbertwalkers.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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LB Warehousing (Women in Transport & Logistics Finalist)
S AME DAY order turnaround A CCURATE fulfilment and same day turn round V ALUE ADDED only as you sell the product E XCLUSIVELY Greeting Cards D EDICATED Account Managers With an excellent reputation we work as an integral part of your TEAM bringing much more than fulfilment. Our costing structure is SIMPLE and TRANSPARENT. We carry out ALL aspects of hand finishing and assembly and provide whatever ADDITIONAL services YOU need Our select team of outworkers carefully hand wrap any size or format of cards urgently, OVERNIGHT!
We specialise in providing high quality print for short to medium runs, incorporating multiple images. Go to our website for prices, alternatively call or email us for a bespoke quote. T
01274 305832
E
info@hellocards.co.uk
W
www.hellocards.co.uk
We CARE about your product as much as you do. Attention to detail, QC Issues and IT supported by a comprehensive paper trail for all stock movements are our hallmarks. Our CAN DO approach means that WE solve your problems. Outsourcing your warehousing operation releases your time to CREATE/MARKET/SELL/ MANAGE/GROW THE BUSINESS YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS, please visit our web site and see what OUR customers say, then to find out more call Lynda Raymond and perhaps we can arrange to meet and discuss your needs I am sure that we can help. LB Warehousing, Units 1, 2 &3 Wayside Warehouses, Toseland, Near St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. PE19 6RX Tel 01480 880800 Fax 01480880900 Mobile 07889 399341 lynda@lb-warehousing.co.uk
WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION
The Professional and Caring Approach..
DISPLAY AND SPINNERS Tel: 01929 550085 Email: sales@westminsterwire.com Web: www.westminsterwire.com
Home of the Wire Spinner Stand ... to 3rd Party Warehouse, Distribution and Hand Finishing needs. With over 25 years experience in the Greeting Card and Gift Industry, we specialise in providing a very fast yet efficient and friendly service to all of our customers. Our close links to the port of Felixstowe allowing excellent access for both UK and overseas business.
The Wire Spinner is proven to be the most cost effective method to display and enhance products. We also offer sheet metal, wood, acrylic and cardboard solutions or a combination of materials. We would be happy to talk to you and provide further information please contact either: James Smithies on 01449 778360 e: james@setinhand.com Tracy Davies on 01449 778363 e: tracy@setinhand.com Please visit our website at www.setinhand.com for further information.
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01924 950500 The perfect solution for all of your Greeting Card Software requirements Enquiry Hotline
CARD manager
Ready-made WEBSHOP
for Customer and Salesforce Orders
Salesforce MOBILE Ordering
using iPhone, iPad, Tablet, etc. incl. Consignment and Van Sales Email us at enquiries@exponential.co.uk or visit our website at www.card-manager.com
UK- 01924 950500 / USA- (617) 8618-517 / Australia- (0432) 846546 Exponential Limited Suite 37 Charles Roberts House Charles Street Horbury Wakefield West Yorkshire WF4 5FH
MANUFACTURING ENVELOPES IN THE UK FOR OVER 30 YEARS
Still with the largest range of in-stock colours 8 Sizes Permanently in Stock
Over 400 Bespoke Envelope Sizes 100% Recycled Paper Available Stock & Bespoke Cello Bags
RECYCLED
PAPER
Peel & Stick Envelopes Bespoke Service on Request
FOR ALL YOUR ENVELOPE NEEDS! ORDER ON LINE AT:
www.regentenvelopes.com 01274 583000 sales@regentenvelopes.com
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