Progressive Greetings Worldwide April 2015

FC_PG_April 2015 27/03/2015 11:38 Page 1

IFC-03_PG_April 2015 31/03/2015 15:03 Page 1

UK Greetings Ltd. Mill Street East, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 9AW England.

Tel (01924) 465200 Fax (01924) 431814 For more information please email: getintouch@ukgreetings.co.uk and quote ref: PG-Apr15

IFC-03_PG_April 2015 31/03/2015 15:03 Page 2

IS GOING ON ! ?

E T I H W N O S N A H H WIT COME & SEE FOR YOURSELF AT PG LIVE STAND 240

04_PG_April 2015 27/03/2015 11:22 Page 1

5_7_Grid 02/04/2015 09:51 Page 5

Leader

On The Cards By the time you read this, I am sure we will all be in full flow of the General Election campaign. So much spin, so many tactical evasions, so many pledges, so many policy initiatives. It is too easy to be cynical about politicians and their intentions in this pre-election month, so I won’t be, especially as we fought hard for our vote and our democratic system.

And for most retailers, at least the election campaign has made the politicians talk about what to most is their biggest bugbear, namely business rates. Punitive business rates have made life intolerable for thousands of small retailers around the UK and have forced many to close. We have reached the ridiculous situation in many cases where the business rates are higher than rents! After intense lobbying from retail organisations and small business groups, both the major political parties have now promised a review of business rates, proving it is worth voicing deep concerns and using collective forces to make a point.

But before we get all too carried away and crack open the champagne, all the government has announced is that there will be a review that will be ‘fiscally neutral’. And a review is not a reform! ‘Fiscally neutral’ implies that to be winners, there has to be losers, and with both Labour and the Conservatives committed to reducing the deficit, I would think that is one thing that is certain. As Mike Adams observes (see News page 15), “I can’t see the review having a major impact on this most regressive tax which currently penalises business to the tune of over £22 billion a year”. And as Miles Robinson, co-owner of House of Cards adds (again, see News): “The government does a review every five years, and every time business rates go up.

What we need is a root and branch review as to how the system works!”

But some action is better than no action, and with retailers I have spoken to recently reporting like-for-like increases in sales on a year ago as the economy www.max-publishing.co.uk THE HOME OF MARKET LEADING TRADE MAGAZINES

Above: Archies' founder Anil Moolchandani with PG's Jakki Brown in the company's Delhi office.

Left: Three of the political playing cards from a pack that has been published by cartoonist and card company Oliver Preston.

Below: The special displays of Ladder Club publishers' cards are now on show in all of House of Cards' stores as part of the retailer's 25th anniversary.

improves, there is reason to be a bit more optimistic about trade in the UK. Which is more than you can say for the situation in the ‘greeting card economy’ in India. I had the good fortune to visit this wonderful country last month and appreciate that while it is the fastest growing nation (with a massive population of 1.3 billion, the majority of whom are under 30 years of age), that doesn’t mean that it’s growing a greeting card market in line with the population’s expansion. Anil Moolchandani, who heads up Archies, ostensibly the only greeting card publisher and card retailer to speak off in this huge country, has seen his card volumes drop dramatically over the last 15 years despite some incredible marketing efforts from the company. As Anil told me “the youngsters have been moving away from cards, turning their attentions to communicate using technology. Recently a new phone was launched and 100,000 were sold in one minute online, that is the pace of change here. So, more than ever, we have to invest in our products to bring them back and find different ways of getting our message to them” (see pages 40-41).

Politics, retailing and cards - no one said it would be easy, but we’ll all keep battling through for the right result.

THE HOME OF MARKET LEADING TRADE AWARDS

From baby to toddler to starting school

EXHIBITIONS

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

5

06_PG_April 2015 27/03/2015 11:23 Page 1

5_7_Grid 02/04/2015 09:46 Page 7

Contents

What’s Inside

Within This Issue: FOCUS ON MALE CARDS

40

22 11-21

38-39

News

Jeremy’s Journal

A Tidy Sum

22-23

Blue Eyed-Sun’s Jeremy Corner explains how having a thorough Spring clean can help your business.

Over The Counter

Not Castles In The Sky

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, encourages retailers to get involved in local business groups.

40-41 International Face To Face

An Indian Greeting

PG meets Anil Moolchandani, chairman and managing director of Indian card publisher and retailer Archies.

24-25 Cardsharp

Factory–ing In The City Effect

Cardsharp muses over topical events happening in the industry.

27-29

43

City Dweller

Male Delivery

New rugged male card range releases.

How the current male urban hipster is influencing card designs.

45-47

“Knobbly” Brokerage - For Better For Worse?

45-47 New Male Launches

Focus On Male Cards - Trending

Viewpoints

57

PG ‘negotiates’ some opinions on brokerage within the greetings industry.

49-51

Art Source 52-53

What’s Hot? 55-57

31-35

Lynn’s Lines

Innovations

Take Three Sirs

37

58-70

Classified

Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys

Passionate Players

71

Debbie shares her latest paper art discoveries.

Appointments Progressive Greetings is a monthly business magazine.

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

Jakki Brown

Warren Lomax

Gale Astley

jw@max-publishing.co.uk

warren@max-publishing.co.uk

galea@max-publishing.co.uk

Editor

Advertisement Director

Deputy Editor

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

PG is the official magazine for the Greeting Card Association GCA: Sharon Little 020 7619 0396 Email: gca@max-publishing.co.uk www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk Use your smartphone app to scan the QR code to visit our website.

Copyright© 2015. While every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of publication, the publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers nor any organisation mentioned in the text. Views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

7

08-09_PG_April 2015 27/03/2015 11:13 Page 8

Bug Bug A Art rt

)

) # (&)"'* # (&)"'*

* )''#!* &( * ) * )''#!* &( * ) ! !* )& * )& **$"!*' )(* $%"&' $"!*' )(* $%"&'

* %&"(#!*)"*(# ( %#!* )$%! * %&"(#!*)"*(# ( %#!* )$%!

* )''#!* &( * ) * )''#!* &( * ) ! !* )& * )& **$"!*' )(* $%"&' * $"!*' )(* $%"&' *

)"($ (* '* )%*$* %) %# )"($ (* '* )%*$* %) %# # # * * * * * * $ * * *

$ * * *

$& $& *#" &%&#' $%( ) *#" &%&#' $%( )

08-09_PG_April 2015 27/03/2015 11:14 Page 9

Black B lack Ink Ink

10_PG_April 2015 27/03/2015 11:28 Page 1

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

11_13_15_17-18-19_21_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 02/04/2015 09:22 Page 11

NEWS The Henries Roars Into The Twenties

TOP STORY

Happy Mother's Day Card Retailers Feel The Love With the calendar meaning that there was only a four week run-up to Mother’s Day (from Valentine’s Day) this year, instead of the five week one enjoyed in 2014, card retailers had to go some to maximise sales from this major card sending event.

However, although it might not have broken any records, this year's second Spring Seasons event didn't disappoint for many indies, helped by the advertising and promotion of the date by the restaurant trade and general retailers.

"People definitely seemed more upbeat this year,” commented Katharine Maclaverty, director of The Dulwich Trader, Tomlinsons and Ed's in South London.

“Mother's Day weekend was very busy for both cards and gifts, where we did particularly well with more traditional cards from publishers”. The retailer also boosted footfall and sales by repeating its popular Mother's Day competition, it runs with local primary schools, which involves displaying portraits the children drew of their mums or someone important in their lives.

“We had lots of children coming in with their parents to see the portraits they had done, which created a good atmosphere and footfall."

"Mother's Day held up very well for greeting cards," concurred Annie Rockley, owner of Peppertrees in Northampton.

"Five Dollar Shake's new collection with a feathered edge was a big hit for us, and we also did well with Johnson Press' bespoke

Putting Penn To Paper

Above: Manton's eye-catching Mother's Day window.

Left: Among the winning portraits from The Dulwich Trader's Mother's Day competition, which attracted over 500 entries.

Below: A Spring Flowers Mother's Day card from Alex Clark Art's Sparkle range.

cards which said 'Northampton's Yummy Mummy' and 'Northampton's Best Mum'," Annie highlighted.

At Manton's in the Isle of Man, co-owner Chris Beards also heard the tills ringing. "Sales of our Mother's Day Cards were up on last year, mostly due to our growing reputation on the Isle of Man," commented Chris.

"All titles performed well except for humour."

At Love It in Stamford and Bury St Edmunds, co-owner Amanda Oscroft said that overall its two shops did well with Mother's Day cards and related gifts. "Sales were pretty similar to 2014 but this year, we seemed to sell more gifts with the cards, and each card sale was more mid-range and not from our lower price points," she continued. “Our most popular range was Sparkle from Alex Clark Art. We sold out well before the day and even had customers choosing an everyday card from the range as the cards are so lovely."

Left: A portion of the newspaper spread in the Daily Mirror.

The greeting card industry recently received an unexpected boost in the Daily Mirror. In a 'How To...Find A Manufacturing Job' article, the newspaper included an interview with Callum Penn, who works in International Greetings’ printing side, based at the IG plant in Hangoed in Mid Glamorgan. Callum, who has been with the company for nearly three years, and now has a trainee working alongside him, told the newspaper: "I get a feeling of satisfaction knowing that I'm actually making something".

It highlighted how his role includes loading massive of reels of paper,13,000 metres long, onto a machine and overseeing a laser coating to make it shiny.

This is a special year for The Henries - the ultimate accolades in greeting card publishing. The awards will be celebrating its20th year, hence the Roaring 20s is the ideal theme for the event!

And to get everything off to a spiffing start, the entry form for The Henries 2015 (which are now available to download from www.thehenriesawards.co.uk) features the distinctive artwork of artist Claire Coxon, showing beautiful women of the day in fabulous clothes and millinery. The artwork has been generously donated by Noel Tatt (which publishes a range entitled Esprit, based on this artwork) with the full blessing of Image Source, the artists’ agency who represents Claire as well as many others artists whose work appears on greeting cards.

Claire says that her inspiration for this collection Above: The Henries 2015 entry form of artwork “comes features the illustrations of artist from traditional and Claire Coxon. vintage art as well as fashion and contemporary art and design”.

The closing date for The Henries entries is June 23.

The event takes place at the Lancaster London Hotel on Thursday October 8. To purchase tickets, contact Clare Davies at: Createvents 0118 3340085 or by email: clare@createvents.co.uk

Increased Printing Capacity Greeting card printer (and a sponsor of The Henries), Offset Productions has further boosted its investment in its greeting card production facilities by purchasing a new Caslon Elite foil blocking machine, the company's third.

The new machine will work alongside two existing Heidelberg Platens. "We have been printing and finishing greeting cards for over 40 years and this demonstrates our continued commitment to the UK’s card publishers, both large and small," comments director of operations Vince Brearey.

Below: A foiled card produced by Offset Productions.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

11

12_PG_April 2015 27/03/2015 11:30 Page 1

11_13_15_17-18-19_21_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 02/04/2015 09:22 Page 13

NEWS TOP STORY

Store Openings Continue Card Factory Disproves Doubters Proving doubters wrong who thought that it couldn’t sustain its impressive financial track record, Card Factory's financial results for the year (to January 31) reported an 8.9% rise in its pre-tax profits, taking it to £88.2 million for the 12 month period, achieved on an 8.1% increase in turnover (£353.3 million).

These are an important set of figures, being the first full year results since the company’s IPO last May, though many City analysts were hoping for more.

In line with its historic store opening programme, it opened 51 new stores in the period, which meant it was trading from 764 stores by the time of its year end. ● While it did report that like-for-like sales had increased in the period, this was only up 1.8%, having been dampened in the second half of its year with the company citing ‘selective localised pricing strategies, ongoing expected decline in the lower margin Christmas box card segment and competitor promotions,’ as the contributory factors in this. ● Online business growth was also highlighted as having made a positive

Left: Card Factory is on an upward growth curve.

contribution in the period, with turnover from its Getting Personal business having increased by 23.1% to £15.5m and its EBITDA having increased by 67.6% to £2.8m.

Commenting on “another record year for Card Factory in terms of both revenue and profit," its ceo Richard Hayes said: "Our team has once again delivered on each element of our growth strategy, cementing our position as the UK’s leading specialist greeting cards retailer."

He stressed that Card Factory's vertically integrated model remained a point of difference and a source of longterm competitive advantage in a very resilient market. “Overall, we are in an excellent position and we remain confident of our future prospects. We will continue to strongly defend our market leading position, whilst maintaining our focus on delivering best-in-class margins."

Card Factory is confident that it will continue its new store roll out, expecting to open approximately 50 new stores in the coming year.

Rocketing To Letterpress Success As will be unveiled at PG Live next month, Cherry Moon (sister company to Paper Dove) has changed its name to Rocket Press to better reflect the identity of the product. "We are now producing exclusively letterpress cards," confirms general manager Liam Hardy. "We had a diverse approach to print before, where we were doing all sorts of things, but now the focus will be on what we do best."

As Liam explains further: “Rocket Press is all about beautiful letterpress print. Our vintage and retro designs work best with this type of printing and our re-brand helps to represent our exclusive letterpress identity. Focusing on letterpress allows us to design and print all of our cards in-house. This means we can make sure all of our product is produced with high levels of skill and attention while keeping our costings tight. As a consequence we can now offer our cards at a level that works well for stores, agents and distributors alike."

Above: One of the latest letterpress designs from Rocket Press.

Amy Rises To The Challenge Having been introduced to the online Worldwide Illustration Challenge by PG columnist and Ladder Club founder Lynn Tait at the end of last year, illustrator Amy Cockcroft (a designer for Ryland Studios card company) was delighted to hear that her image, Silhouette, was shortlisted for week six in the organisation's 52 Week Challenge.

"Each week there is a different word to illustrate and the challenge is to create fresh artwork," she explained. "With over 3,000 members, it was a great honour to be in the last six for my week.”

An exhibition was held from March 9-22 in Brookfield Place in Perth showcasing the work created by the Challenge.

Left: This image was the base for one of Amy Cockcroft's Seasonal Skies cards.

Brighton Get Together The Brighton Illustrators Group, run by illustrators for illustrators, recently held a greeting card seminar to support and advise local freelancers living in and around the Brighton area.

Keynote speakers were Ilona Drew from I Drew This, a member of the Group who organised the evening with the help of a couple of other members; PG columnist Jeremy Corner, md of Blue Eyed Sun, and James Emmerson from 1973.

The Brighton Illustrators Group was formed 22 years ago and shares information about professional practice through emails, events and newsletters. A blog and website also promotes the use of illustration and the work of the group.

Caught 'On Card' Ed Miliband's 2014 Christmas card, photographed in the family kitchen in North London, recently got the Leader of the Opposition into hot water. While the Christmas card featured the Miliband family in a spacious kitchen in December, it was a different story the Labour leader was trying to paint at the beginning of March in the run up to the election.

Ed and his wife Justine were filmed at home by the BBC in a small, sparse kitchenette area, to suggest a humble lifestyle. However, the media were quick to pick up on the disparity between this room and the one featured on the Milibands’ Christmas card, leading to a swathe of coverage on Ed 'Two Kitchens' Miliband, who then had to explain himself to the media.

Above: Ed Miliband's 2014 Christmas card that 'outed' him as a man of many kitchens!

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

13

14_PG_April 2015 27/03/2015 11:33 Page 1

11_13_15_17-18-19_21_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 02/04/2015 09:22 Page 15

NEWS Labouring A Point

TOP STORY

● Labour has announced that if the party is elected on

What A Relief?

Radical Reforms For Business Rates Promised As the findings of the recent PG/Cardgains Retail Barometer concurred, business rates are one of the major bugbears of independent greeting card shops. The glimmer of hope that they will be massively reformed has been welcomed by the sector, though it will be a case of ‘seeing is believing’.

"There is one critical proviso that is built into the review, which is that whatever the findings and subsequent decisions, the government has decreed that they have to be 'fiscally neutral'," points out Mike Adams, md of Temptation, which has seven card and gift stores in the Home Counties. "This means that the revenue generated by business rates can’t go down as a result of this review. So, to be frank, I can’t see the review having a major impact on this most regressive tax, which currently penalises business to the tune of over £22 billion a year.” But thinking of how a change could be beneficial, he prompts: “Just imagine how much business investment there would be (and how much tax generated as a result) if companies could retain that money to invest in their own business expansion."

In a statement issued prior to the Budget in mid-March, Treasury's Chief Secretary, Danny Alexander, hinted that property values could be dropped as the yardstick, while the Labour Party has come out with the promise that if elected on

May 7, it will cut business rates for small businesses (see separate story).

The CBI has also recommended that small businesses should be completely exempt from paying the tax which has forced many retailers into administration since the recession.

“The current system of business rates is outmoded, clunky and regressive and it's holding back the high street," stated John Cridland, CBI director-general.

"The package of measures already announced in the Autumn Statement, which come into force from April, will help ease the pressure on hard-pressed retailers. But this review provides an opportunity to go much further and we’ll be making the case for removing the smallest firms from paying business rates completely, linking rates to CPI rather than RPI and introducing more frequent valuations. This would go a long way to achieving a more competitive business rates regime that incentivises business investment and supports the high street.”

Views On The News With this being an issue that affects all retailers, not surprisingly it elicits a lot of response: ● "So far, all the government has announced is that there is going to be a review and that it will be 'fiscally neutral'. So until the nuts and bolts come out, it doesn't mean anything," says Miles Robinson, co-owner of House of Cards, which has seven shops in the Home Counties. "The government does a review every five years and every time business rates go up. What we need is a root and branch review as to how the system works."

Adds Miles: "When we first opened our doors 25 years ago, rateable value was two thirds of rental value. Now, rateable value is at least rental value and, in many instances, in excess. However, over the past couple of years, we have had money back for each of our branches, which has been a welcome boost, and I suspect that that might be part of the review's thinking. Nevertheless, my gut feeling is that the review won't make a massive difference. Personally, I think business rates should go down by 25%, although the government would have to find the shortfall from somewhere else." ● "My fear is that the area in which my shop is based is expensive," says Heidi Early, owner of Earlybird Designs in Stoke Newington. "Property values have gone up massively, so I don't know

Below: Danny Alexander, chief secretary to The Treasury.

May 7, it proposes to cut business rates for 1.5 million small business properties and then freeze them the following year. “Labour’s recognition of the fact that business rates are a huge burden to many businesses and a deterrent to future growth is welcome, and the Party's proposals will certainly be a short-term boon to small businesses," commented Ion Fletcher, director of policy (finance) at the British Property Federation (BPF).

"We would like to see all SMEs, which represent roughly two thirds of properties but account for just 6% of rental income, removed from business rates entirely. We would also like to see Labour commit to a full review of business rates, as the current government announced earlier this month, as that is the only way to address much of the deep-seated unfairness in the current system.”

Below: A reduction in business rates would keep indies on the high street.

Bira Pushes For Reform Speaking on BBC News after chancellor George Osborne delivered his Budget last month, Alan Hawkins, ceo of bira (the British Independent Retailers Association), greeted the news with approval, but stressed that, “a review is not reform.”

The association has promised to ensure that independents’ voices are heard and "bring powerful new research to the inquiry to lay bare the imbalances of the current system – and detailed, workable plans to make it work fairly in the future."

how the review might affect us. If it is going to mean that our business rates will go up then I'm nervous. I don't know if we will be better off or not. Currently, business rates are a huge expense for us. We do get relief, but it is still a lot of money, and we still have to pay separately for, for example, waste to be collected which is an added expense. Following Ed Miliband's comments about business rates at the end of March, I will be very interested to see what he says in Labour's manifesto." ● "Currently, I get small business rates relief which is a help but is still not enough, although I rely on it to stay in business," says Stephanie Morrison, owner of The Gift Box in Peebles. "Even with the rates relief, I still pay £500 a month on top of rents of £1,500 a month, so if the business rates review is favourable towards small businesses then it will be very welcome.

Unfortunately, the local council are not interested in whether businesses are struggling to pay the rates." Continued Stephanie: "I previously owned two shops in Peebles, paying full business rates on both, with rates one of the main reasons I closed one of the shops down.

Sometimes, I feel as though I'm subsidising other small retailers who are not paying rates at all because they're not rate-able. Nevertheless, I do agree with the policy that small businesses should not pay business rates in their first year."

Left: Peebles’ retailer The Gift Box has strong views on business rates.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

15

16_PG_April 2015 31/03/2015 14:53 Page 1

THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF

GREETING CARD PUBLISHERS IN THE WORLD

“PG Live was great it’s the best greetings card trade show and being so well looked after makes a real difference.” t! iss Ou to M t ’ Don t weeks jus how With two-day s e e ibl go, th an incred you has store out n i p k line-u ed to wor to e n n i o g just u’re g n! o y how all i fit it

Register Now! 01635 297070

@PGLiveLondon

www.progressivegreetingslive.com

Miles Robinson, partner, House of Cards

11_13_15_17-18-19_21_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 02/04/2015 10:50 Page 17

NEWS Calling Cardgains’ Members

TOP STORY

PG Live Gears Up Making Debuts And Marking Milestones Bringing together the largest collection of greeting card publishers under one roof, Progressive Greetings Live 2015 (Tues June 2- Wed June 3 at London’s Business Design Centre) looks set to be a stormer.

“While the array of brand new card publishers who will be making their trade show debuts at the show has never been stronger, many leading publishing names will be marking milestones by investing in thousands of new designs to assure their place in this design-led industry,” commented Warren Lomax, show director of PG Live.

Among those exhibiting publishers who will be using PG Live as a great excuse to celebrate special anniversaries is Paperlink, who will be marking its ‘three decades of innovation’ by sponsoring the opening night party, the lanyards for the show and the tea trollies.

Belly Button Designs, back exhibiting at the show this year, will be marking its 21st birthday with the launch of a new sub-brand; while Cherry Orchard will be living up to its popular card brand

Below: The colourful meeters and greeters at PG Live.

Down Memory Lane, by marking its 20th anniversary.

Davora is putting the final touches to ‘making a lot of noise’ about its 10th anniversary at the show, while Paper Salad is also cooking up a winning recipe for a scrumptious celebration of reaching its first decade by sponsoring the lunchroom for both days of the show.

“With the wealth of new products, show-only offers and friendly atmosphere at PG Live, plus of course the free hospitality, it is great to see that so many retailers from right across the retail spectrum have already registered to come - and we look forward to welcoming every single one of them,” added Warren.

Every single Cardgains’ member will have an extra reason to visit PG Live this year – a £30 voucher that can be redeemed against any order placed with any Cardgains’ supplier exhibiting at the show.

“It is great to be able to be able to offer this extra incentive to our members and support our suppliers too,” said Chris Dyson, joint managing director of Cardgains.

Cardgains’ members will receive their voucher with the copy of the buying group’s newsletter, which will arrive with them on May 10, three weeks before the PG Live show.

Playing With Politics As General Election fever hots up, cartoonist Oliver Preston, who will be exhibiting at PG Live in June, has launched a range of political playing cards featuring Nigel Farage of UKIP, Alex Salmond of the ScotNats and Nathalie Bennett of the Green Party as the jokers in the pack. "They are selling really well," Oliver told PG. "At the time of going to press on April 1, orders have been coming in all the time."

Below: Anyone for a game of politics? Topical political playing cards by cartoonist Oliver Preston.

Thanks Eight Million Times Two Hailed ‘the Banksy of the photographic world’, the popularity of the anonymous Villager Jim, coupled with the strength of his imagery, meant that GBCC was delighted to launch a range of cards recently featuring his artwork.

And, giving the range an extra boost was that the popular TV programme Countryfile repeated the programme featuring Villager Jim and his work (which was watched by some eight million viewers), at the end of last month.

In addition, the first ever Villager Jim exhibition is underway.

It is being staged at Eyam Hall, a National Trust building in Derbyshire (March 31- May 31). The work is displayed throughout the orangery and flows into and around the garden and other buildings.

The Villager Jim range will be on show from GBCC’s stand at PG Live next month.

Left: One of the most popular designs in the Villager Jim range from GBCC.

Reigning Cats And Dogs

Below: Biggie with artwork, illustrated by Rose Hill Designs.

Rose Hill, founder of newbie card publisher Rose Hill Designs, had a high profile launch in Harrods for her 'Make your pet famous' initiative. In an innovative marketing approach that has now been extended to other retailers, Rose explains that, "People are invited to email a few photos of their pets which I will subsequently illustrate in my distinct style. The customer will receive an artwork picking from three different sizes and three different frames."

As an added incentive, Rose confirms that she will then put the person's pet into her next range of cards and notebooks which any of her current or new stockists can buy from.

"As an extra for the shops, if they also get me to illustrate their pet, I will put a bit of advertising on the back on my card that says for example 'Meet Frankie in Real Life' with the name of the shop following," Rose highlights.

Rose Hill Designs is exhibiting at PG Live in June (Stand 662 in Springboard)

A Supportive Christmas "We love Christmas and everything that goes with it but, what card do you send someone when they have experienced an upsetting loss that year?" asks Helen Lawson, director and co-founder of Inspired Goodbyes. ‘"Telling them to be full of joy and Christmas spirit doesn’t feel appropriate.”

As part of the publisher’s remit to overhaul the approach to ‘bereavement’ cards, PG Live will see it extend into specific Christmas cards dealing with this, with part of the proceeds going to Dying Matters charity.

Sophia Lucop-Leech, co-founder of Inspired Goodbyes, only received a handful of Christmas cards the first year after her husband died. “This is why we are working with Dying Matters to produce a range of cards that are sensitive, warm and kind but that don’t shy away from what has happened. It’s about giving people something to give at a difficult time," she said.

The cards, along with eight brand new generic bereavement cards, will be launched

by Inspired Goodbyes on Stand 836 in the Springboard area of PG Live.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

17

11_13_15_17-18-19_21_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 02/04/2015 10:50 Page 18

NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

TOP STORY

One In, One Out

Below: Waterstones moves back to direct supply on cards.

Clintons’ Brokerage Debut While Waterstones Reverts To Direct Supply “Brokerage is here to stay,” summed up Chris Houfe, sales director of GBCC and Waterwells (its brokerage arm) who was one of the speakers at the recent Growing Your Sales seminar organised by the GCA, of which a sizeable chunk was dedicated to brokerage as a means of supplying retailers who have moved over to this method.

The room full of publishers who attended the GCA seminar last month reinforced the importance of publishers large and small finding out more about participating in the various brokerage services, the risks, the costs and the opportunities.

Joining the list of retailers who have now adopted brokerage is Clintons, which is making the move this month.

As Dominique Schurman, ceo of Clintons, told PG when she announced the change in last November’s edition: “Moving to brokerage is a rational step for us as it simplifies the flow of goods. UKG has a model which works, so it makes sense to use it”.

Conversely, Waterstones, which has been supplied by brokerage (via UKG) for years has announced that it is reverting to being supplied direct by publishers into its own central warehouse in Burton On Trent.

The bookshop retailer, which stocks greeting cards in 275 of its stores, sees the change as part of an increased commitment to growing its greeting card sales.

Claire Fitzgerald, assistant buyer of related products, whose responsibility

● Ling's Bath Studio staff entered in to the spirit of the British Heart Foundation's Wear it Red Day for Comic Relief. Various activities took place raising £132 for the charity.

Above: Ling raised money for Comic Relief.

includes card buying for the retailer, said of the move to direct supply: “This is something we are extremely excited about and gives us much more ownership of our card ranges, as is already the case with all other Related Product categories [ie non book] at Waterstones (stationery, gifts, toy and games etc) and allows us to develop our direct relationships with our existing suppliers.”

Paying tribute, she said “UKG has been a great partner for brokerage of our cards over the years and have helped us greatly in establishing our presence within the greeting cards market, however moving the entire buying process in-house allows us to have much better visibility of what works well in our shops and more flexibility in terms of tailoring the ranges to suit local markets.”

The transition is expected to be complete by mid-May. (See Viewpoints pages 27-29).

Card Fundraiser For Local Hospice Thanks to social media, a fundraising greeting card produced by Rachel Jackson of Card2Keep in aid of Hospice in the Weald, has been a sell-out. The initial print run sold out in 48 hours and a second print run provided cards for the Hospice shop.

Rachel says she was overwhelmed by the response to the card, which was promoted on social media during February, with all profits going to the Hospice.

The card shows an image taken by Rachel’s friend Jay Meechan (of her dog Harvey), who died in January following several weeks in the Hospice’s care.

Rachel is selling the card via her website www.card2keep.co.uk and would love to hear from local shops interested in stocking it.

Hospice in the Weald is the leading palliative care provider for West Kent and northern East Sussex.

Left: The Harvey card from Cards2keep that helped to raise money for the hospice where his owner died.

18

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

● Allihopa has launched an online trade website featuring new designs for 2015. Card ranges include Festive Flurry launched earlier this year, Acorn Woods, Oodles, Something Sweet and Ripples.

Above right: Allihopa's Something Sweet.

● Deer Little Forest has entered signed a licensing agreement with mobile content developer Playrific Inc. to create and distribute digital assets for the property. The deal signals a first foray into the US market for the preschool property, created by Jo Rose.

Above right: Deer Little Forest.

● Coinciding with the company's 50th anniversary, personal organisation specialists Dodo Pad is bringing back the production of a selection of its anniversary edition formats to the UK after 15 years.

Carte Blanche Joins Blogger Summit Carte Blanche Group, best known for its much loved Me To You Tatty Teddy brand, is off to the FunFest Blogger Summit, taking place on April 25 at Whittlebury Hall, Northampton. The brand will be showcased at FunFest, with Carte Blanche anticipating securing new brand ambassador partnerships with blogger delegates. There will also be costume character appearances from Tatty Teddy as well as creative activities and exclusive giveaways.

"Bloggers have long been a key element of our PR and marketing strategy and we are looking forward to meeting the teen, parenting and lifestyle blogging community to discuss new partnership opportunities," comments Ruth Leonard, Carte Blanche Group's director of marketing and new business development.

Visit: www.funfestuk.com

11_13_15_17-18-19_21_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 02/04/2015 09:22 Page 19

NEWS At The Heart Of Art

TOP STORY

A Modern Heartbeat Total Revamp For From The Heart Offering a much more contemporary look, this month sees the launch of a totally revamped From the Heart retail concept which UKG has developed in conjunction with Cardgains buying group.

“From the Heart was launched way back in 1997 and has developed over the years. The time is absolutely right for this new look to be launched. As the findings of the recent PG/Cardgains Retail Barometer demonstrates, our retail members are looking to update their shops and are more enthusiastic about the need to change with the times,” commented Chris Dyson, joint managing director of Cardgains.

The new look, which was created by UKG’s trade marketing support team, encompasses a redesigned logo which ties

in with a host of new point of sale items, all based on a contemporary colour palette.

There are currently around 80 stores participating in the From the Heart programme, which requires a certain criteria to be met on stocking from UKG’s and Cardgains’ perspectives.

“Just as greeting card designs move on to reflect current trends, we felt it was important that the From the Heart branding and point of sale should be brought up to date, giving independent retailers a more cuttingedge look and feel for their stores,” explained Jill Alexander, trade marketing manager for UKG. Above and left: From the Heart now has a much more contemporary

Highlights At NSS Next month sees the return of the National Stationery Show (NSS), which takes place at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (May 17-20).

As Patti Stracher, vice president and NSS show director explained: “Our goal is to present the cream of the crop in new paper products in an environment that inspires broad sourcing facilitated by the cross merchandising of complementary product categories in an easy to shop format.”

Making its debut is an NSS Planner, a new digital tool allowing attendees to preview exhibitor product images, videos, press releases and show specials. Registered buyers will also be able to communicate with exhibitors prior to the show.

Among highlights this year will be a new US Greeting Card Association pavilion that will showcase a collection of 30-40 member companies. In addition, the show will also feature a concentration of Etsy wholesale sellers.

The winners of the eight Best New Product Awards, to include the new Seasonal Greats category, will be announced during the show, while The LOUIE Awards winners and finalists (the US equivalent of The Henries) will be showcased in the lobby area of the centre.

SURTEX and the ICFF will run concurrently with the NSS with one badge affording attendees and exhibitors access to all three shows. Visit: www.emeraldexpositions.com.

Visit: www.nationalstationeryshow.com.

Left: An overview of the New York National Stationery Show.

Greeting card and wall art company Art Marketing has gone into partnership with licensing industry experts MGL in a strategic alliance to promote the company's in-house artists. Comments Darren Runnette, sales director at Art Marketing: "We have had notable success in ad-hoc licensing deals ourselves over the past few years in the gift and home furnishing markets, but this is not our core business and we are not optimising it.

MGL has the contacts, trade show experience and infrastructure to considerably ramp up our licensing revenues and we are very excited about the new venture."

MGL represents over 100 artists, with a growing archive of over 25,000 images.

Through the new partnership, Art Marketing’s collection of artwork will be available via MGL for a large variety of licensed products.

Comments MGL licensing executive Katie Sharp: “Art Marketing's focus on creating innovative and prevalent trendled art is a combination which is already a great success with retailers across the UK and lends itself to a whole roster of new product categories, particularly gift, textiles and stationery which will be our primary focus in the coming months."

UK Distribution For Korsch Verlag Distributor Roger Freeman has been appointed as the UK sales manager for Munich-based Korsch Verlag, one of the leading publishers of Advent calendars and greeting cards in Germany. "The company's collection of Advent calendars has a long and successful tradition and is now available to retailers in the UK and Ireland for the Above: Among the first time ever," greeting cards from Korsch Verlag which now comments Roger. has a UK distributor.

This year's collection comprises of over 100 Advent calendars and Advent calendar cards. This can be shipped directly to retailers in the UK and Ireland from Germany.

All the calendars are based on designs drawn by renowned artists, including classic best-selling designs

by Fritz Baumgarten and Kurt Brandes, which have been reprinted many times.

Email: rogerf99@btinternet.com

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

19

20_PG_April 2015 30/03/2015 15:08 Page 1

Fashion meets Function You always find something new at the London Stationery Show.

See thousands of stationery and writing products from over two hundred different suppliers from around the world, all in one place.

To find out who’s exhibiting and register for free entry, go to www.stationeryshow.co.uk For information about National Stationery Week and World Stationery Day, go to www.nationalstationeryweek.com Join the conversations

@StationeryBytes @NatStatWeek

StationeryShow NationalStationeryWeek

Stationery Event of the Year

11_13_15_17-18-19_21_muk_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 02/04/2015 09:22 Page 21

NEWS PEOPLE

TOP STORY

Not Stationary On Stationery Not Just Politicians Who Are Campaigning It is not just the political parties who are on the campaign trail this month. Retailers up and down the country are being urged to pledge their support for National Stationery Week and the Get Britain Writing campaign which aims to keep consumers focusing on stationery (and inherent in that, greeting cards too), thereby helping to boost sales for card stockists.

Running from April 27 to May 3, the campaign has already attracted a host of big hitters, which include John Lewis, Paperchase, Funky Pigeon, Smiggle, Staples, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Wilko, the Post Office, The Pen Shop, Websters, Colemans, Blott, John Smiths, Ryman, B&M Stores and Poundland.

Supporting retailers are being given special ‘focus’ days to promote their products, as well as key social media hashtags.

The media coverage for last year’s event reached over 20 million consumers with the

message that, even in a digital world, the power of writing by hand cannot be over estimated.

National Stationery Week is organised by the London Stationery Show.

The London Stationery Show, which runs at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on April 28 and 29, has well over 200 stationery brands and suppliers from around the world exhibiting this year, and is the only UK trade show dedicated to stationery and writing products. There is a line-up of top name exhibitors this year.

To register to attend the London Stationery Show and browse the exhibitor list go to www.stationeryshow.co.uk.

Visit: www.nationalstationeryweek.com

Write A Letter Competition To tie-in with National Stationery Week (April 27-May 3), stationery company Blueprint Collections is encouraging people to put pen to paper. The company has launched a letter writing competition that links back to World War One, when over 12 million letters a week were delivered to soldiers, many of them on the front line.

"We have created a competition to encourage adults and children all over the country to write us a letter," explains Blueprint's marketing and quality manager Rosie Ayres. "It's important that we remember our literacy heritage, and to keep pens, notebooks, pencils and writing alive!"

Would-be entrants of all ages are being asked to imagine that they are in the trenches and are writing to their mother, father, sister, brother, friend or lover back home, or alternatively, sending a letter to a soldier.

The writers of the four best letters will be announced on April 29, National Stationery Day, with the prize a bundle of stationery from Blueprint.

Entries should be sent to: National Stationery Week, Blueprint Collections, Charrington House, 1st Floor North, The Causeway, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 2ER. The closing date is April 22.

Letters Live Recently singing the praises of letter writing in the Sunday Times' News Review section and on Newsnight was Benedict Cumberbatch. With a front page headline in the Sunday Times stating Why We Still Need To Write (And Receive) Letters, the actor explained why he feels written communication is so important. This high profile actor also took part in Letters Live a five night event at the Freemasons' Hall in London’s Covent Garden (March 31-April 4). Inspired by Letters of Note, an anthology compiled by Shaun Usher, and To the Letter by Simon Garfield, various luminaries read letters to celebrate literary correspondence.

Benedict Cumberbatch read a letter written by Alan Turing (the mathematician and Bletchley Park code breaker the actor plays in the recent film The Imitation Game) to his friend and fellow mathematician Norman Routledge.

Among the other actors and celebrities appearing alongside Benedict in Letters Live was Sherlock Holmes’ actress Louise Brealey.

Commenting, Benedict Cumberbatch said: “Letters Live makes us pause and imagine the lives behind the letters read and the circumstances of their origin. The relationship between the audience, reader and writer on a Letters Live night helps deepen our understanding of these inspiring artefacts of the human condition. They are windows into the love, beauty, pain, and humour of their creators and recipients. It’s a privilege to read this most ancient of communications live to an audience.”

A Greeting Card Pioneer Turns 80 Having (remotely) wished many millions of adults and children a very Happy Birthday for 30 years, it was Lindesay Rudd-Clarke's turn to be showered with birthday wishes from friends, family and, of course, the team at licensed greeting card company Gemma which he founded, together with his late wife Margaret, in 1985.

The 'grand old man of greeting cards' turned 80 at the beginning of March, with staff pulling out all the stops Top: The specially commissioned happy 80th to present Lindesay with a bespoke card specially created birthday card sent to Gemma's founder, Lindesay by the Gemma studio.

Rudd-Clarke, by the To Lindesay's delight, the company's staff. card featured all the brands Above: The inside of the card shows a young that the company had signed Lindesay. since it began trading, from its Below: A delighted very its first licensing signing, Lindesay takes a trip down memory lane.

My Little Pony tie-up, right up to the current day, with World of Warriors being among the most recent.

“Lindesay, a real pioneer in the licensing and toy industry, is not only our founding partner but also a real gentleman, and everyone at Gemma wishes him a very happy 80th birthday,” said Gemma's ceo David Wesson.

End Of An Era Marking the end of an era, and after 24 very happy years, Alan Mawhinney (below), sales director of Abacus Cards leaves the company this month to pursue personal business interests outside the industry.

Paying tribute to his long serving co-director, Brian Carey, managing director said: “Alan was with us when we first launched the company back in 1991 and became sales director in 2001. There is no question he has been instrumental in the success of Abacus over the years, justifiably earning the highest possible respect of all colleagues within the company and many, many people in the greeting card market generally. Our most grateful thanks go to Alan for his personal dedication and commitment to the success of Abacus Cards as well as offering the very best of good luck wishes for the years ahead.”

Left: Benedict Cumberbatch reminds us of the importance of written communication.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

21

22-23_v8_Grid 26/03/2015 12:01 Page 22

Over The Counter

Not Castles In The Sky Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, encourages card retailers to get involved in local business groups to help their towns survive.

“I don't want to live in a Britain that doesn't care about community. And I believe that our high streets are a really important part of pulling people together in a way that a supermarket or shopping mall, however convenient, however entertaining and however slick, just never can." - Mary Portas.

Recently I was asked to speak to a group of business people, councillors, planners, consultants and, most importantly, the general public, on the future of Elgin Town Centre. I started by reading the statement above which is taken from a speech Mary Portas gave some time ago. Now I like Mary Portas, but as the Government Guru she was never going to change the face of the high street overnight. What she does and has done is give good common sense advice, and the opinion she shares is one I have held for a long time. When I hear of people getting excited about going to various shopping malls it leaves me cold. They are in essence ‘shopping by numbers’ functional retailing which holds little character or uniqueness.

22

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Most of you reading this will not operate in these environments, and with the inherent rental costs and service charges never will.

Most of you will operate in towns as I do.

Elgin is home to one of my key property holdings and businesses, a place where we have invested a great deal over the last five years. It is a Medieval town with beautiful historical buildings and a rich landscape of streets. It also has an iconic church in the middle, but the halcyon days where it was a draw for shoppers of all ages has gone.

We have a Business Improvement District, which has worked diligently to try and get things kick-started with various degrees of success, and I for my sins have been vice chair of the group since it started.

We also have numerous other projects relating to tourism as well as a Conservation Top: Put your head above the parapet and get involved with your local town's issues.

Left: Mary Portas, Queen of Shops.

Below: Elgin's town centre has some stunning historical architecture.

Area Regeneration Scheme. Moreover Elgin is one of only three healthy high street projects in Scotland which has a ‘blue chip partner’ such as Boots and Marks and Spencer. So, as a town in fact we have more than most.

To its credit, the local council realised that it needed to look further at the adjacent areas which are prime sites for development: Elgin is one of 17 successful city centres in Scotland to get government backed funding to help it get ready for the future.

The council pitched for a ‘charrette’ (for those who don’t know - and I didn’t - this can be defined as ‘an intense period of design or planning’).

I am and have been a bit sceptical about these types of things, but always go along to meetings if only out of curiosity if nothing else. This process has been ongoing for a year or so with a team of consultants all coming and looking at the physical area - the town’s roads, signage, history and all points inbetween. The consultants have spoken with school children, those involved in the arts, property owners, businesses and the public.

They have held forums in town halls, pubs and basically had an open door policy for anyone who wanted to contribute.

22-23_v8_Grid 26/03/2015 12:01 Page 23

Over The Counter

There has certainly been a better engagement with the community than usual, but I think the public, and indeed the small business sector, may view these types of things as nothing more than a talking shop.

People are perhaps working so hard that they do not want to come out of their stores during the day or night to get involved. It is my opinion now that they can ill afford not to.

It is no longer enough to leave it to others. It is no longer enough to be part of a silent majority who simply go with the flow.

I can hear the groans of ‘stop him, we have heard this one before’, but stay with me honestly. This column is about pleading with you to get involved. Maybe you already are.

Maybe you go to the meetings and put across your opinions, because I can guarantee up and down the country councils are doing the same thing as Elgin to different degrees. Did

you sign up to be an ambassador for the town and to let people know what is good and going on? Do you agree that you have a responsibility, along with others, for the greater good?

I am worried that our high streets really might be dying. I am worried that they are starting to gasp for breath. In the last few weeks we have seen the figures announced for 2014, with 5,839 shops closing and only 4,852 opening. Now these figures reflect all stores, and there are obviously big players like Phones 4 U in those statistics, but the bottom line is go round any high street and you see the same story - boarded up or empty stores that over time become unkempt and untidy.

Card and gift shops are not often mentioned in the news, unless it is the continued march of Card Factory, but we cannot be complacent.

The high street is changing. Recent commercial property summits I have attended highlight that the number of stores needed to give a chain or group UK-wide coverage is falling. A few years ago it was estimated that you would need 200 stores to give you good coverage of the UK market.

Above: Is it easy for visitors to navigate your town centre?

Below right: Time to take arms and battle for the life of your high street.

Below left: Malls such as Westfield Stratford shopping centre can kill-off independent businesses.

Now with online and mobile shopping they reckon that (with the right tech back up) 80-100 stores would be enough to have a national chain. This means that we cannot rely on the recognised brand names to be there long-term on the high street, and we cannot piggyback off their footfall as perhaps we once did.

We are faced with a high street which is filling up with more and more betting shops, coffee shops, discount stores and, of course, charity shops, all of which would not entice me to park my car, pay the price and walk around a town.

It is our responsibility as shop owners, along with the various partners I have mentioned, to change the high street or area in which we operate.

Simple questions are being asked again, like how easy is it to navigate the city centre?

Why are there fences erected in certain locations that stop you seeing the path to the park? In many ways it is that old trick of asking someone not familiar with your shop how they view it. They see things differently while you probably miss the obvious. Whenever I do any consultancy work it is the first thing I do. I watch how the owner walks to the store - which route they take - and then I change it.

This always means that you see something different. We are creatures of habit and need to be forced out of this to really see the problems.

All initiatives and projects should be focused on achievable goals, whether a town centre or an individual shop. It is about real tangible small things. For instance offer all your customers free WI-FI. The Digital High Street Advisory Board has found that not having this service is very off putting to today’s modern consumer. The need for customers to check their social media, something that we do without thinking, is important to get them to dwell longer in your store and hopefully spend more!

Another possible initiative is free city centre parking after 3pm. Town centre shoppers can often tail away at this time and

this idea is to encourage trade into the town late afternoon and early evening. This is directly to fight against out of town malls, which tend to offer free or cheap parking and whose main draw tends to be food retailers and leisure.

Even the government is fully recognising the need for action as Danny Alexander, the Lib Dem Inverness MP and chief secretary to the treasury, described commerce and industry as “having changed beyond all recognition”. This was in relation to the dreaded business rates, and hopefully it is not simply pre-election spin and they really are going to look at this seriously.

And now is a good time to invest if you can. Money is still cheap to borrow and the government’s annual investment allowance is at £500k on plant and machinery. This will change after December and it has been as low as £25,000.So if you really plan to do something major with your shop, now is the time.

However, it may be more about utilising your current resources/area and improving them to make them more user friendly. As retailers we need to encourage and coax people back into the town centre first and then into our stores. Improving your shop’s physical environment and the overall experience will make people think about the town centre in a different way. Once we get them over our door it will be about what we say about ourselves and our business.

You should want your store to be different, to offer enhanced product knowledge, to demonstrate quirky displays, to give that wow factor. In fact you want to MAKE customers purchase something. The store and all its components should compel them to buy.

Elgin has a castle called Ladyhill. My final message, my call to arms so to speak, is to put your head above the parapet of your own castle and be prepared to be shot at. You are brave and bold already, you have to be as you own or run your own business, so please get involved. Please stand up and be counted.

With each success we can breath the air back into each town centre and make them multipurpose areas that we are all proud to use.

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

23

24-25.qxd_Layout 1 31/03/2015 10:08 Page 24

CARDSHARP

Factory-ing

In The City Over the years, Cardsharp has been amused many times by the sheer ignorance of City analysts and the financial press when it comes to the greeting card industry. It does not help that the vast majority of these so-called ‘experts’ are male and therefore have little affinity with greeting cards and the greeting card industry.

So he should not have been surprised by the ‘disappointed’ verdict of Card Factory’s recent results surely £88 million pre tax profit should not be sniffed at, even by the most sniffy of financial commentators?!

Cardsharp recalls some words of wisdom penned by City journos over the years: ‘By the year 2005, no one will be giving traditional greeting cards as everyone will be sending e-cards’ was one. ‘Online digital greeting cards are decimating traditional card sending’ was another (print-ondemand cards even now only represent only about 3% of the market at best). When Clintons went bust it was because ‘Greeting card sending was in severe decline’ according to the ‘esteemed press’.

So Cardsharp could not resist raising a smile when he read that recently some

24

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

investors were ‘disappointed’ with Card Factory’s recent financial results, and in particular the dividend pay out.

Cardsharp wondered whether they had misread the facts: Card Factory’s pretax profit, interest and depreciation was a massive £88 million! Sales in the period from February to December 2014 were up 8.1% to £351 million! Like-for-like sales on existing stores were up 1.8%. The number of its outlets increased by 50 to 764. Debt was reduced significantly, despite the fact that in the period £22 million of expenses were incurred that related to the

Above: The bright lights of the City haven’t ‘illuminated’ the financial sector’s view of the greetings industry.

company’s launch on the stock market and debt refinancing.

All these at a time, reflected Cardsharp, when store prices, by one estimate, fell by 3.6% and at a time when the headline rate of inflation fell to 0% for the first time in 55 years. To Cardsharp Card Factory’s figures look pretty impressive to say the least.

But no! To the City these figures were deemed ‘disappointing’ and the share price has gone down by 3.6% in the last 12 months. No financial commentators were enthusiastic about buying the stock.

Cardsharp reflected on two things.

Firstly the £22 million incurred for the stock market launch and debt refinancing is more than the annual turnover of all but the big two publishers in the UK, namely UKG and Hallmark.

And secondly, what the hell do you have to do to keep the City and its ‘experts’ happy?

Cardsharp supposes that the high price you pay of being stock market listed is that you can never live up to City expectations.

And so what of the future? Card Factory has re-iterated its desire to grow to

24-25.qxd_Layout 1 31/03/2015 10:08 Page 25

CARDSHARP 1,200 stores. Cardsharp still remains unconvinced that this goal can be achieved with its current store format. Eventually surely Card Factory will need a different more upmarket format to complement its existing value premise.

Cardsharp was fascinated by the interview with Paperchase’s ceo, Timothy Melgund, in last month’s PG. In it Timothy spoke of the ‘Bifurcation of the High Street’, in other words, the retail market splitting in the middle and moving outwards in both directions, one towards the value end and the other towards the premium end. He also stated that despite the financial press’ speculation (following news that its major investor Primary Capital is looking to cash in its chips if the money is right), he had (at that time) not been aware of any discussions about a potential sale of Paperchase to Card Factory.

There are surely many clever senior directors at Card Factory (much clever than Cardsharp!), so it would be very surprising if they did not have a serious look at Above: Can too much time online effect our personalities?

Below: Card Factory’s oulets has reached 764.

Paperchase. (Cardsharp is also bemused as to why WHSmith, surely a natural partner for Paperchase, appears not to be interested, but time will tell on this one. Certainly Smiths’ attempt to ‘out Card Factory-Card Factory’ with its new Cardmarket experiment is not looking too sparkly).

When Card Factory was privately owned by Dean Hoyle it was hugely successful, but incredibly secretive and insular about its operations. Now it is in the public domain as a PLC, it will by necessity have to be much more open about its intentions, and be subject to the whims of people who know nothing about greeting cards or retailing. Such is the high price, concludes Cardsharp, of ‘going public’.

Live Longer

- Get Personal With A Card For the last ten years or so, those in the greeting card industry have pedalled the line that the internet is no threat to physical greeting card sending. On the contrary, texting, Facebook, emails and social media, the greeting card fraternity said that these other alternative means to social communication generally encourage friendships, strengthen emotional bonds, and in doing so, complement greeting card sending.

Cardsharp, however, was fascinated by a recent authoritative book by Susan Pinker, entitled ‘The Village Effect’. In it, the author concludes: ‘We’re lonelier and unhappier than we were in the decades before the internet age’. Life online goes against human nature, providing only a thin, fake version of real contact and real life.

There is a village in Sardinia where people live 20 to 30 years longer than in the rest of Europe, and the usual differences in longevity between males and female don’t exist. Ten times as many males live past 100 there as men who live elsewhere. The reason given for this is the incredibly close-knit nature of the village and the intense family interactions in the community. Loving, caring, talking face to face with a large group of friends and family and loved ones in the real world makes you live a lot longer! People are the hope of our salvation.

By contrast, Susan Pinker persuades that the internet is slowly killing us. Loneliness, in spite of the new options for connectivity, has increased. Online time is cutting into family communication, reducing literacy and worsening children’s behaviour. Cyber-bullying can be lethal and is unstoppable. Heavy media use makes us less happy and email makes office communications more difficult, not easier. She writes that: ‘In a short evolutionary time, we have changed from group-living primates skilled at reading each other’s every gesture and intention to a solitary species, each one of us preoccupied with our own screen’. We are creating a world at odds with human nature.

Fascinating stuff, mused Cardsharp, and findings which really supports the GCA’s arguments about greeting card giving improving mental health. Online communication is no substitute for ideally handing someone a greeting card and seeing their reaction. And even receiving one by post lifts someone out of their closed online world into a world of real people and real emotions.

That is why Cardsharp thinks that the GCA’s ‘Thinking of You Week’ initiative, which debuted last year, really has got legs. It is all about conveying genuine concern for other people’s well being - not just a narcissist ‘look at me’ Facebook or similar posting. Many people are starting to tire of the internet’s pernicious and ubiquitous influence and are returning to traditional things like real books, real records and real greeting cards (not that greeting cards have ever gone away!). Cardsharp made a note to send a card to the author Susan Pinker as he feels sure she would approve of it wholeheartedly!

Just like the tobacco industry in the 1950s and 1960s that denied that it was killing millions around the world prematurely, the internet giants will fight any suggestions that they are doing the same. Trillions and trillions of dollar assets depend on us not believing why we must wean our way off the addictions that Silicon Valley has sucked us into.

It is good to think, concluded Cardsharp, that not only are greeting cards good for your emotional health, but they, unlike social media, might make you live longer. Let’s drink (a cup of herbal tea, of course!) to that thought!

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

25

26_PG_April 2015 30/03/2015 15:02 Page 1

27-29_Grid 01/04/2015 14:26 Page 1

VIEWPOINTS

“Knobbly” Brokerage -For Better For Worse?

The definite crescendo of the recent GCA’s Growing Your Sales seminar, rightfully described by Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA, as a “knobbly issue”, was dedicated to brokerage.

With the recent news that Waterstones is changing from being supplied through brokerage back to direct supply by publishers happening in the same month that Clintons joins the list of retailers who are making the move to brokerage for its everyday cards, PG gets in among the ‘knobbles’ and airs views from all sides!

Brokerage has been around in this industry for years, yet its profile as an industry issue, for publishers and retailers, has never been higher than it is now.

The idea as a mode of supply sounds simple - one publisher ‘buys in’ designs from several other publishers and delivers them all into a retailer from one central point.

The problem comes when matters of money, flexibility, risk, trust and loss of a direct relationship come into play.

When brokerage was confined to the major supermarkets it didn’t cause that many ructions, but now it is seen as an alternative for smaller chains, garden centres and even independents feathers are being ruffled and heads are being scratched as to whether this is indeed good for the industry (safeguarding against solus supply of one publisher), bad for the industry (putting too much power into the Top: Brokerage is a knobbly issue for the greetings industry.

Above right: The GCA’s Sharon Little with the triumvirate of ‘brokers’ who spoke the recent Growing Your Sales seminar. (Left-right) Chris Houfe (GBCC), Matt Critchlow (Hallmark) and Paul Woodmansterne (Woodmansterne).

Right: Although supplied via brokerage from Hallmark, Waitrose’s buyer Kirsty Dennis has insisted that she still selects every design.

hands of the few who act as broker and arguably meaning buyers will lessen their control on their card selection) or just another stage in the evolution of what is now a mature, but still competitive and profitable trade.

In a commendably bold move by the GCA, the trade association dedicated the lion’s share of its recent Growing Your Sales seminar to brokerage. The GCA fairly invited all the major brokers to participate, with Paul Woodmansterne (of Woodmansterne Publications), Matt Critchlow (of Hallmark) and Chris Houfe (of GBCC) sharing the stage as speakers on the subject of brokerage, each drawing on their respective experiences as brokers for different retailers.

The seminar room was full of publishers, many of whom had attended to understand what brokerage was all about and whether it was for them.

Immediately confronting the question at the front of many of their minds, Paul Woodmansterne kicked off with: “Why do I need someone between me and the retailer?” Setting the scene, he pointed out that brokerage was in fact a business solution for retailers as well a route to market into supermarkets and multiples for publishers that would otherwise be closed off to them.

That being said, the fact that brokerage, as one unnamed publisher said “is moving down the food chain into smaller chains and independent accounts, which have been the profitable bread and butter for us smaller publishers, is a concern.”

In the most recent PG/Cardgains Retailer Barometer, which involves Cardgains’ 750 independent retailer members, when asked the question whether they would consider being supplied by brokerage, a quarter of respondents said they would definitely consider it and

Independents’ Reponse To The PG/Cardgains’ Retail Barometer Would you consider being supplied via a brokerage system whereby a variety of publishers’ cards are supplied to you via a broker.

Yes 25%

No 55%

Undecided 20%

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

27

27-29_Grid 01/04/2015 14:26 Page 2

VIEWPOINTS another 20% said they were undecided!

These are high percentages considering that the respondents are independents who are already members of a specialist buying group. However, 55% of respondents in that survey (published in PG February 2015) said they would not consider brokerage as a mode of supply.

At the seminar Hallmark’s Matt Critchlow followed Paul, sharing his ‘Five Tips’ of being a brokered publisher as well as the risks.

Rounding off the official proceedings Above: Paul Woodmansterne, md of GBCC’s Chris Houfe then covered the ‘nuts Woodmansterne explains the & bolts’, venturing into the pricing model, rudiments of why brokerage works to explaining why a publisher ends up incurring the seminar attendees. extra costs if their cards are taken out of a retailer - the reasons the broker has to charge for that service.

“Brokerage is here to stay,” summed up Chris. “I actually think it creates more opportunities for smaller publishers,” quantifying it by pointing out that Woodmansterne brokers in 30 other publishers, Hallmark deals with 60 and GBCC brokers in 90 different publishers.

The questions came thick and fast - concluding that while this is indeed a ‘knobbly’ subject it is a major way of the greeting card world now.

(Full details of the seminar appears in the members’ area on the GCA website: www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk).

Nigel Houldsworth

managing director of Country Cards: “We are finding that brokerage is eating into our account base more and more, particularly this year as it would appear some brokerage firms are now targeting smaller regional chains and even independents. So, as a medium-sized publisher selling to many of these types of customers we are losing business - and it must also be affecting many other smaller publishers as well.

The sales pitch by brokerage firms is that it saves retailers overheads (which it does) but at the expense of diversity of product with many outlets ending up stocking the same brands. This is the last thing you would have thought smaller regional chains or independents would want to do - why would they want to look similar and stock the same ranges as national chains? Another sales pitch brokerage firms use is that it gives increased choice of suppliers - how can it when customers have the whole market to choose from outside brokerage? It only gives increased choice of suppliers from one source as it would!

As a supplier to brokers in the past we have had unfortunate experiences which has warned us off dealing with them in the future, and I would advise any smaller publisher to tread very warily.”

Above: To Nigel Houldsworth’s mind, brokerage has not made everything in the greeting card ‘garden’ as rosy as this new Country Cards’ design.

Right: A new Country Cards design which shows some of the diversity of UK garden birds, the publisher’s belief is that brokerage hampers choice and diversity.

28

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Karen Wilson and Claire Williams

co-founders of Paper Salad:

Below: Paper Salad’s Karen Wilson (left) and Claire Williams at a recent trade show in Sydney.

“As a small publisher brokerage has definitely enabled us to grow, but it is not something a publisher should go into without giving it serious consideration. You need to be sure you have the money to finance it (initial payment terms, investment in large print runs), the space to store the stock and dedicated boxes and labels before shipment, plus the ability to keep on top of your stock levels. Having been through it all for the last five years we have learned a lot!

We are now dealing with all of the four main brokers and appreciate that each one works slightly differently.

Learning about each one, plus having the confidence to challenge decisions (about stock levels if running up to a replan or design choice, ensuring your best sellers are included) has been pivotal in brokerage making good business sense for us.

To start with though it is very scary and not for everyone - you look at the handbook and start to panic with the rules and regulations, the threat of fines and the payment terms!

You do have to have the finance in place to not only ensure you can cope with the initial payment terms (you tend not to be paid for the first order for 90 days), but also the ‘credits’, whereby you have to pay more to the broker on the cards that are returned than you receive for the ones that do sell. You need to build in a financial cushion for these ‘returns’ - thankfully through managing our stock levels and supplying our best sellers, we now have this down to less than 10% ‘returns’.

As to whether brokerage is good for the industry, on reflection, we would say yes, as it allows a broad selection of products from a range of publishers to be seen by the Above: Brokerage has added public. As to whether we would prefer to deal another ‘dimension’ to Paper direct with a retailer than through a broker, Salad’s business, like the designs in yes we would, but apart from the recent U- its latest range has! turn from Waterstones, which is moving away from brokerage to being supplied direct, it has become the way of the greeting card world for many major retailers and so if you want your cards to be seen in these accounts you need to build your relationship with the brokers as well as the retailers.”

Rajeev Arora

managing director of Davora: “Brokerage has been a positive experience for us. It's the only way we could get our product into the supermarkets. We wouldn't be able to get stock into 100s of stores, and merchandised, in time for key festival dates without the help of a brokerage team. The extra volumes have Above: Rajeev Arora feels that helped us with our economies of scale; by brokerage has opened some big printing larger volumes we've been able to keep doors for major retailers stocking more ethnic greeting our unit costs down, which has been a benefit to card designs. our independent customers.

However, using brokerage is an ‘administratively heavy’ undertaking. There are forms to fill, reports to read, self-bill invoices to deal with and rather large ‘delivery novels’, sorry I mean ‘manuals’, to understand. It's not rocket science, but we do need to be extra

27-29_Grid 01/04/2015 14:26 Page 3

VIEWPOINTS

Miles Robinson

co-owner of House of Cards, a group of seven stores in the Home Counties: ”The provision of brokerage as a means of supply has played a part in the development of this industry.

I can see why it has been so widely accepted by multiple retailers who do not have the time or inclination to micro-manage their greeting card displays.

As a small group, we have had first-hand experience of brokerage as we opted for this as a solution for one of our stores for two and half years. I am not anti-brokerage as a result of our experience, but do not see it as growing for independent specialists who want to maintain a close control on their individual stores.

We introduced it into our Andover store when one of our full time managers/buyers left as it gave us the option of running the store with part-time staff, with the buying function moving to the broker (we went with Waterwells, GBCC’s brokerage arm).

It ticked lots of boxes for us - it was a very easy system with common pricing. We were largely able to select the publishers whose designs were included and were able to agree a sensible percentage Above: House of Cards’ Andover store which was run of the display for GBCC stock. We under brokerage for two a half years before also stipulated that we would not reverting to being supplied partly direct and partly accept any substitution on designs via the retailer’s central warehouse. in the event of any cards being out of stock. While we still stand by this decision, it did mean that we had stock availability issues from time to time. (My advice to publishers who do participate is to ensure that your brokers are always are in stock with your best sellers!). We also felt that any brokerage system is slow to update/react to customer patterns.

We moved away from brokerage as one of our part-time staff in the store went full-time and could take on more of the responsibility. Plus, we now have developed our own central warehouse, which in effect works like having our own in-house brokerage system. It enables us to respond very quickly to changing opportunities and gives us a high level of data that means we can run our business more effectively.

Brokerage served its purpose for us for a period of time in one store, but my feeling is that it is better suited to a more ‘hands-off’ retail group for whom the minutiae of their greeting card selection is not the be all and end all.” organised in order to work with brokers efficiently.

Using brokers is also not without its risks, especially where SOR is involved. The publisher pays the brokers' fees on any ‘returns’, so if we don't plan our ranges and allocations carefully, we could end up out of pocket.

We've been working mainly with UKG as a broker for over eight years, so we have a good working relationship with Above: One of the Eid cards from Davora. them. And the fact that we work with UKG for some customers does open doors for us with other customers too. So overall, brokerage has been good for us.”

Michael Griffiths

general manager of Noel Tatt: “As a predominantly independent supplier, we at Noel Tatt have been aware of the impact that brokerage companies have had on the independent sector.

I’m sure that to many independent retailers it appears to be an attractive system. But a bit like Pandora’s Box, the content is not all it seems to be. Brokerage actually denies indies their uniqueness and ultimately some of their core strengths in their battle with the ‘nationals’.

The issues with the brokerage system are: l Loss of control and agility - the retailer is, in effect, ‘letting’ their space; the consumer is being denied access to variety. l Keeping displays up to date with latest designs brokerage companies supply retailers through ‘community’ stock in its warehouse, this may have been there for some while and is largely Above: Part of the greeting card display driven by what is in larger customers’ stores. in Gordale Garden Centre which was l Using local sales rep/agent knowledge planned by Noel Tatt. only the supplying publisher understands (and can supply) its latest and best selling product, not a 3rd party broker. l Fixed term contracts - given the fluid and ever-changing industry dynamics signing a contract is an unnecessary ‘straitjacket’. l Monitoring - once a system is installed, there is a temptation for the lead broker to increase its percentage share (of its own products) as time goes on. This is very hard to monitor.

There are other concerns too. This includes poor pricing, lack of openness, poor allocations, poor product selection (not best sellers) and loss of control over where its product goes.

Many publishers offer an integrated planning service. This gives the independent retailer a well planned display, but without the concerns mentioned above.

Noel Tatt does not supply the independent retailer through brokerage. I would hope that other publishers also conclude that their best interests (and those of their independent customers) are best served by also doing so.”

Martin Powderly creative director of Pigment Productions:

“I'm not sure that we 'brokerees' fully appreciate the size of the Hallmark/UKG category management investment.

However, after replan credits, manufacturing and art origination costs on UK produced product, small publishers’ profits have been squeezed to the limit on brokerage.

Above: Martin Powderly feels that I'm sure many big retailers and can bring diversity to a retailer, category managers recognise that they brokerage but it would make things more attractive benefit from the diversity of having to publishers to participate if the costs came down by a few pence per card. brokered product in their accounts.

Without this diversity, card shopping would be less interesting. No matter how big or talented a business may be, house-styles emerge which, combined with manufacturing factors, can lead to homogeneity. Our category needs diversity.

We can recognise the opportunity that brokerage can bring but at the same time if brokerage costs were to come down a few pence it would make it more attractive for smaller publishers and maintain the diversity at consumer level that has served this industry so well up until now."

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

29

30_PG_April 2015 27/03/2015 11:33 Page 1

Be the first to find best-selling products for your busiest season and beyond

Time to get ahead

Time to get together

Time for Harrogate

For your free pass to giftware’s favourite buying event and new conference feature, register now at homeandgift.co.uk GIFT | HOME | SPOTLIGHT – NEW DESIGNERS | JEWELLERY & FASHION | GREETINGS & STATIONERY

31_38-39/40-41 26/03/2015 12:27 Page 31

Innovations

London Stationery Show A selection of products launching at London Stationery Show, 28-29 April 2015 at the Business Design Centre, London

Pen To Paper Add a splash of colour to your paper! Zebra is releasing Z-Grip Funky Brights, a new range of coloured retractable ballpoint pens, a colourful twist on its original Funky range, featuring fashionable animal print barrels writing in three fabulous colours. Also on show will be the new Z-Grip Smooth ballpoint pens, featuring low viscosity smooth ink for effortless writing, which are available in five vibrant colours.

Zebra Pen (UK) 0208 974 2202 www.zebrapen.co.uk Stand M601

Ear Ear!

Pick And Mix

The Paper Stone is launching a cute new range of animal pens at London Stationery Show.

There are seven fresh and cheery pens - all with dual-ink where each ear or paw is pushed down to produce either black or blue ink. An all round brilliant gift!

The Paper Stone 0065 97881685 www.thepaperstone.com Stand G114

At this year's London Stationery Show, Otter House will be presenting a mix of brand new and best selling licensed stationery collections.

If you're looking for RSPB, RNLI, Madeleine Floyd or The Great British Bake Off, then Otter House's stand must be at the top of your list. Package deals and branded display stands are available.

Otter House 01392 824 300 www.otterhouse.co.uk Stand M416

Paper Delights Sinclairs, the makers of Silvine paper stationery, is a proper British institution manufacturing notebooks and pads in the UK since 1837.

London Stationery Show will see the launch of its bright new Silvine ranges, award winning environmental products, retro licensed notebooks and, of course, some Silvine old favourites!

Sinclairs 01943 461144 www.silvine.com Stand M408

Boys Will Be Boys Two Little Boys is delighted to be launching its exciting new range of How to... stationery products at the show. It’s aimed at the elusive teenage boy market, not to mention men of all ages who still act like teenage boys! It is also expanding its best-selling I'm going to... range with four titles of pencil cases, pencil sets, ringbinders and jotter pads to perfectly complement its ever popular notebooks.

Two Little Boys 020 8400 3606 www.2littleboys.co.uk Stand M639

In With The New Strawberry Design is launching many new novelty stationery ranges including Forest Friends, Farm, Pets, and updates on our hugely successful Owl Range. New licensed ranges on display include Minions, Frozen, Star Wars and Avengers from its sister company Scruffy Duck.

Strawberry Design & Marketing 01787 469337 www.strawberrydesign.em Stand M350

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

31

32_PG_April 2015 30/03/2015 15:08 Page 1

Significant moments always call for a personal message you can hold in your hand. Attend the National Stationery Show and discover the most diverse selection of paper products – greeting cards, invitations and stationery – from industry greats and trend-setting emerging designers.

Enhance your orders with complementary lifestyle gifts and creative crafting materials to turn your store into an inspiring destination. Register today!

The NSS is an amazing resource to find specialty lines which are hard to find elsewhere.”

— Trish Logan Shindig Paperie, Fayetteville, Arkansas

33_35_38-39/40-41 26/03/2015 12:36 Page 33

Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

Fly Away Home Kissmekwik has released 14 new card designs into its Ladybird range to coincide with the centenary of Ladybird Books. Yes - Ladybird has been publishing books for children since 1915 and these designs update the iconic images with a cheeky modern slant. The cards are all sized 118mm x 162mm and sold wrapped with complementing envelopes.

Kissmekwik 01273 571757 www.kissmekwik.co.uk

Shaggy Dog Story

Bear Hugs

Waggish is a new doggy card range from Scott & Robson, inspired by their love of all things canine. All original artwork by Jo Scott, every picture is a story that sits up and begs to be told brimming with life and detail. The range has over 30 designs with a variety of everyday occasion covered, all sized 150mm and sold wrapped with white envelopes.

Scott & Robson 07506 630 626 www.scottandrobson.com

Created for both children and adults alike, there are 12 delightful cards in Symetria’s new Little Brown Bear range, illustrated by children's picture book author Ben Joel Price.

This adorable new collection retains Ben’s signature use of design and space which makes Symetria cards so distinctive. All the cards are sized 125mm square and sold with complementing envelopes.

Symetria 07830 112066 www.symetria.co.uk

Fish To Fry Jambo Cat is a new publisher founded by children’s illustrator Paul Cherrill and his wife Minoti. Its debut range of Birthday Age Cards are brightly coloured with a quirky illustrative style and oodles of fun! There are five cards covering ages 1-5 in the range, all blank sized 145mm square and sold with white envelopes.

Jambo Cat 07792 783408 www.jambocat.com

Creative Circle All Around The Countryside is a collection of beautiful occasions designs from A Farmer's Daughter, with natural wreath illustrations framing everyday captions. Daisy chains, honeysuckle and brambles all feature in this beautiful countryside themed range. There are eight 155mm square designs in the range, all supplied with flecked kraft envelopes.

A Farmer's Daughter 07743 675 303 www.afarmersdaughter.co.uk

Bells Are Ringing Juniper Tree is launching Bellissima, a gorgeous silver and gold wedding range. The range features general wedding congratulations, same sex captions for Mr and Mr and Mrs and Mrs, as well as engagement and thank you cards for bridesmaids and best man. This initial set of 10 designs is printed from the original textiles sewn using freehand embroidery, hand-finished with beautiful gems and crystals.

Juniper Tree 01484 661965 www.junipertreecards.com

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

33

34_PG_April 2015 27/03/2015 11:36 Page 1

THE LARGEST LARGEST COLLECTION COLLECTION OF

GREETING GREETING CARD CARD PUBLISHERS PUBLISHERS IN THE WO RLD

“PG Live was fantastic, as always!

As the only exhibition that has favourite publishers and new companies all under one rroof oof it has been the only trade show now.”

I’ve attended for a few years now ow w.” .

Sophie Greenwood, Greenwood, senior buyer buyer of cards cards and gifting of WHSmith Travel Travel and Funky Funky Pigeon Pigeon

ow! ter N its s i g e R d for e, Fame tmospher a s y re dl frien Live featu tors b G i P h i 20 ex major 2 r e ov om d ng fr rangi lishers an to b s pu and nd a ng br leadi e names u s q r i e . bout esign d w ne

Register Now! 01635 297070

@PGLiveLondon

www.progressivegreetingslive.com www.progressivegreetingslive.com

33_35_38-39/40-41 26/03/2015 12:37 Page 35

Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

Irresistibly Wild!

Card2Keep has added a stunning collection of British Wildlife images by Steve Ward to its blank photographic range. There 14 designs with a variety of wildlife including kingfishers, swans, hares, red squirrels, owls and swallows, all chosen for their irresistibility factor! All Card2Keep designs are sized 150mm square, gloss varnished and come wrapped with a white envelope.

Card2Keep 07841 377845 www.card2keep.co.uk

Show Me A Notion

Handmade Heaven

New for this spring from Dyson Designs is the Notions collection, featuring sumptuous engraved haberdashery images from yesteryear.

There are 24 vintage haberdashery images including, knitting, crochet and an antique sewing machine, all partnered with female occasions or proverbs. All the cards are sized 150mm square and sold wrapped with a metallic silver envelope.

Dyson Design 0116 285 5725 www.dysondesigncards.com

The Florentina Collection is a new handmade embroidered range from Elspeth Thomson.

Embroidered illustrations inspired by nature, all designed by Elspeth, are stitched, cut out and mounted on recycled board made from nut, wood shavings and cotton linters, in her Lancashire Farmhouse Studio. There are 33 designs in the range, all sized 150mm square and sold with natural coloured recycled envelopes.

Elspeth Thomson Handmade Greeting Cards 01254 54383 www.elspeththomson.co.uk

Think In Ink The latest range from Bug Art is Black Ink, 16 designs painted in a loose style and with an inky texture, decorative details and collaged patterns. The cards are enhanced with gold foil and emboss, and as always, there is a little bug hidden on every card, a popular and sometimes challenging quest for many customers. Blank inside, these cards come wrapped with offwhite envelopes.

Bug Art 0115 907 8420 www.bugart.co.uk

So Much More

Heads Up

Introducing the This is more than… range from new publisher, Wish It Better. Offering comfort and encouragement during challenging times, a divorce or bereavement or illness, this range of six designs offers sentiments that gently build a bridge when the sender doesn't quite know what to say. All the cards are sized 150mm square and sold wrapped with a white envelope. Who do you want to cheer up?

Wish It Better 07904 427122 www.wish-it-better.co.uk

Tripod Cards is new to the market and making its debut with eight ranges of blank designs from artist and photographer Marc Doyle.

Featured is the humorous Headliners range of cute animals drawn in Marc’s own special style.

All the ranges comprise nine cards, sized 6” square and are presented wrapped with complementing envelopes.

Tripod Cards 07971 597224 www.tripodcards.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

35

36_PG_April 2015 30/03/2015 15:08 Page 1

G R E E T I N G S

C A R D

D I S P L A Y

S P E C I A L I S T S

Axiom are the acknowledged experts in Greetings Cards and Gift displays.Our bespoke designs incorporate a range of patented components to create increased visual impact in-store, optimising available space, bringing your store to life and increasing sales and profitability. Call us now!

Innovative display creates massive sales increases!

Axiom Displays Ltd Mersey Road North, Failsworth, Manchester M35 9LT, UK t: +44 (0)161 681 1371 f: +44 (0)161 683 4641 e: info@axiom-displays.co.uk w: axiom-displays.co.uk

37_Grid 27/03/2015 16:43 Page 37

Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys

While it never ceases to amaze me how the greeting card world, and other industries, make full creative use of board and paper, the suppliers have to be the starting point, giving everyone the ‘tools of the trade’ and inspiration to unleash their creative potential.

Bridging A Gap My personal paper journey has taken me to many paper mills all over the globe, yet one of the world’s leading paper mills specialising in colour, James Cropper, sits nestled virtually on my own doorstep (well just 80 miles away). Time and time again I have visited the James Cropper Paper Mill in the Lake District and I never will tire of this most remarkable place. It is no surprise that Wallpaper* magazine’s creative director Sarah Douglas is the latest client to be delighted by the mill's bespoke colour matching capability. The collaboration has not only resulted in a new shade of paper, entitled Wallpaper* Blue, but it has also inspired a new stationery collection currently being developed.

Commenting, Sarah said: ''It's been a really fruitful collaboration and I've loved meeting people who are so passionate about what they do.''

If you happen to be in the Lakes in May don't be surprised if the green and pleasant landscape is interrupted by an unusual vision in bright red! Paper Bridge promises to be a momentous installation, created by environmental artist Steve Messam, made entirely from 22,000 sheets of James Cropper red paper. Appearing at a yet unannounced location on May 8 for 10 days, the bridge will be completed using no fastenings, only gravity and ancient structural principles to keep it in place.

When asked about the weather, Steve Messam confidently replied: ''It stands up in the same way a stone bridge does. Paper is a really dense material. We've been working on it for three years and I have had a scale model out in all weathers and it actually gets stronger when it rains.''

Above: Artist Steve Messam’s paper bridge creation (made from James Cropper paper) is likely to cause a stir when it is installed in the Lake District.

A Game Changer As I write this article the creative world is waiting with baited breathe for GFSmith's new collection portfolio. If the previous pieces created for GFSmith by design group Made Thought are a barometer of what is to come then we are all in for a paper treat as GFSmith is promising ‘it's going to be a game changer’.

A Global Reach “Sharing and discussing, seeing and handling excellence is a powerful, and I might almost say explosive, way to develop creativity and innovation,” were inspiring words from Fedrigoni’s marketing director Chiara Medioli at the recent Fedrigoni Top Award 2015 evening. It was a real treat to be a guest at this event, and talking with Chiara and others echoed my belief that there is nothing quite like Above: Debbie Wigglesworth (second right) mingles with an exchange with another likedesigners enthusing over beautifully designed and produced award winning exhibits on Fedrigoni’s exquisite papers. minded soul enthusing over a beautifully designed piece that demonstrates stunning print and exquisite paper choice. The awards were born out of the company's desire to explain the paper’s journey from a Fedrigoni mill through its travels to the final client - demonstrating how the collaborative work of a designer, printer and finisher sees it being converted into elegant paper-based artefact, such as greeting cards, books, packaging and brochures.

Being part of this international gathering was very special, especially as it is the first time in the awards’ history that they took place in the UK, at the wonderful Stationers Hall in London. The 16 final winners were selected from more than 800 projects entered from all over the world.

Designers travelled from France, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Germany, The Netherlands, as well as from the UK, to attend the Awards event.

Calls for entries for next year’s awards will soon be announced, it would be wonderful to see further entries from UK designers and publishers.

Pop-Up Inspiration Arjo Wiggins is another paper suppliers that has been inspiring the international design scene recently. Coinciding with the launch of its 'Paper Book' (full of its wonderful boards) it has instigated a series of Pop-Up Exhibition events in Paris, Barcelona, Milano, London, Amsterdam and Berlin, which brings together 150 projects which demonstrate the infinite potential of paper and design. Famed for its speciality papers (which now also includes some ground breaking interactive papers), in a statement Arjo Wiggins has said: “Intelligent interactive paper-based products make for engaging packaging stimulating gifts and cards, informative corporate communications, efficient tracking, intelligent labeling - and with intelligent paper there are equivalent eureka moments for every industry from food to finance and from pharmaceuticals to greetings.

This new technology is certainly an unexpected twist in the tale of paper’s journey.

Above and right: Arjo Wiggins Creative Papers’ travelling Pop Up Exhibition events (which are taking place throughout Europe until June) showcases 150 projects and the infinite potential that paper and design have in communication.

To contact Debbie email deborahwigglesworth@gmail.com and twitter is @paperpassionist PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

37

38-39_Grid 26/03/2015 13:09 Page 38

JEREMY ’S JOURNA L

A Tidy Sum

Business blogging by publisher Jeremy Corner of Blue Eyed Sun.

Jeremy Corner, managing director of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun, gets sorted with a good Spring clean.

Have you ever found it difficult to stay on top of your belongings either personally or in business? We’ve been testing the KonMari method of tidying and it’s transforming our lives.

Spring has just arrived so I thought I’d share it with you, along with some thoughts about how it might be used in business.

The true goal of this method is to establish the lifestyle you want once your home or business has been put in order, so visualise your space as you’d most like to live or work. Then make your tidying an ‘event’ that you focus on, rather than doing it bit by bit.

Does It Spark Joy? What’s most important is that you sort by category, not by location. Beginning at home, start with clothes first. Lay them all out on the floor in one room. Turn off all distractions like music and the TV. Usually when assessing our stuff we rationalise, which gets in the way of us discarding things. "I might need it" or "It's a waste to throw it away,” we say. The purpose of the exercise is to listen to your internal dialogue between your intuition and your belongings.

Start with off season clothes. Pick up each item one by one and ask yourself "does this spark joy for me?" Listen to your heart and if the answer sings “yes”, it goes into your wardrobe, if it's “no” or “maybe” then it’s discarded. It doesn't matter how old it is, how much it cost or who bought it for you.

The Importance Of Touch It's important that you hold each item in your hand, as our bodies sense the energy 38

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

and excitement of objects that spark joy for us. The idea here is to fill your wardrobe with clothes that energise your being.

After you have sorted, fold your clothes carefully and store them well. When you put your clothes back into the wardrobe make sure they start with heavy dark items like jackets and coats on the left rising up through to lighter shirts, blouses or skirts on the right. You will feel pleasure opening your wardrobe when you have filled it with clothes that spark joy and are ordered in this way.

Your Product Offering It’s always been important to get products into customers’ hands when selling. Try this exercise with each product you sell. How do you feel holding it? Separate the gold from the dust and revitalise your offering. Do your

products bring joy for your customers? If not, what do you need to do to change this?

Once you have sorted your offering, group them in collections or stories to make them pleasing to your customers’ eyes.

Things Need To Be Enjoyed Next up were books and trade magazines.

Get them all onto the floor in one room. Pick up each one and ask: “Does this spark joy?” I was astonished to find myself clearing out 300 personal books at home and 100 business books at the office. Don't start reading the books, this causes confusion.

There are many books that we will never read again. Some that I had not read or half read had still served their purpose, which was to teach me that I didn't need them. Plus if I ever wanted to read them I could buy them again. Pass unused books onto charities for others to enjoy. Most trade magazines can be recycled and accessed via archives online.

The Order Of The Process Starting with clothes followed by books gave me a good sense of what objects spark joy for me. Next up were papers. Bleurgh.

Excluding old personal diaries, the KonMari method is to discard everything, which I found a little frightening at first, especially at work.

But I guess there’s not much joy in paperwork is there? Legally, businesses need to keep their Above: TV presenters and spick and span motivators, Kim and Aggie.

Left: Burford Garden Company in Burford sparks joy with its unique card displays.

38-39_Grid 26/03/2015 13:09 Page 39

JEREMY ’S JOURNA L Storage

financial records for at least six years. My bank holds statements online back to 2002, so I clicked a button for online statements and burned the paper ones. The same with utility bills, after digitally storing an image of the initial contracts on my computer. I also chucked old course notes, along with credit card statements, expired warranties and instruction manuals. Most can easily be found online. Of the papers that had to be saved I split them into those that need attention and those that should be saved, such as contracts and tax returns. I then digitised the bare essentials using a ScanSnap S1300i which is a brilliant device that scans paper documents to PDFs. At work we are also minimising the digital storage of data to the bare essentials, so we don’t have huge swathes of unnecessary emails or data to search through for what we need. When work feels neat and tidy it’s easier to get on with your job.

Dead Stock Foyles bookstore recently cleared £1 million of slow moving stock to replace it with best sellers. As a card retailer clear anything that isn’t selling. If you can get money for it, set a time limit for selling it. Then recycle or dispose of it to make way for a better, more profitable or joyful use of the space. At home clear your excess stocks too. You don’t really need more than a month’s worth of anything.

Komono Next up are what the Japanese call Komono, which means miscellaneous knick-knacks. Again, keep only items that spark joy. We cleared a load of old CDs, DVDs, health care products and accessories.

If they were gifts, remember that once a gift has been received it has served its purpose unless it continues to spark joy.

Get rid of all mobile phone packages, you don't need the CD or the manuals either. I got all of our electrical cables and items together and found we had eight gangway adapters! A load of cables we never use or need went to the recycling centre. At the office, desks were cleared down to the essentials. All the stationery is now together in one place to make things easier to find and prevent over ordering.

Top: In the distant past Foyles' books were often stacked on the floor making stocktaking very difficult.

Above: A pleasing sight, clothes tidy in a draw.

Keepsakes Photos are the most difficult, although my practiced intuition made it easier to tackle sentimental items last.

Hold photos one by one to see if they spark joy. You don't need more than five photos of a special day or event. With keepsakes, if they don’t spark joy then discard. After this stage you should find something starts to click - this space and the number of items feels right for you.

Next, things need storing. Simple storage works best. All items of the same type must go in the same place. Don't scatter your storage space. For example, keep all electrical cables, batteries and electrical related bits and bobs in one place. At work, retailers should put your best sellers in prime locations and make your displays pleasurable to look at.

Nothing should be stored in piles, everything is best stored vertically as it’s better for the items and easier for access. The secret to reducing clutter is to have storage that reduces the effort to put things away, not storage that reduces effort for taking things out. Having the same type of things in one place also means they are easier to find, which will make your home and your business more efficient.

Let It Go Reasons for not letting go of stuff are usually to do with a fear of the future or attachment to the past. It can also be a fear of acknowledging failure, for example, holding on to stock that cost a lot then didn’t sell. It feels great to be freed from all this and my mind is more in-tune now with what sparks joy for me and what I need to keep or discard. I’ve been feeling more creative and I also find I can now appreciate our belongings more. Our home feels better to live in and our office is a nicer place to work. A joyful space also affects the choices we make about how best to use our time.

Imagine if all businesses focused on creating products or experiences that spark joy for their customers, staff and even their suppliers. It’s an exciting idea. I can’t wait to see how the process transforms Blue Eyed Sun and Ivy Ellen going forward.

Discover the KonMari method in ‘The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up’ by Marie Kondo.

Read more business blogging from Jeremy at www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

39

40-41_Grid 31/03/2015 10:16 Page 40

International Face To face

AN

Indian GREETING Archies, a household name in India synonymous with greeting cards (both on the publishing and retailing fronts), thinks big when it comes to marketing - so much so that it commits 5% of its turnover to come up with different ways of persuading the 1.3 billion Indian population that the sending of greeting cards really is worthwhile.

PG travelled to Delhi to meet Anil Moolchandani, chairman and managing director of Archies, to discover how the company is pitching its wits against the mobile phone revolution and coffee shop culture that pose challenges for this leading player.

Anil Moolchandani knows about business and pursuing opportunities - but conversely he is also acutely aware about having to be adept at countering challenges that pose serious threats, not just to the business he heads up, but the industry at large.

Archies has a monopoly on greeting cards in India - not a situation Anil relishes: “Monopoly is a bad word in business, the consumer doesn’t like you for it and it means that you get taken for granted; no one really knows how good you are as you are out there alone,” he says.

Top: Always one for big ideas! Anil Moolchandani atop an elephant at a recent Hallmark licensee event Archies organised in Delhi.

Above: Archies now has over 500 stores in over 160 cities in India, roughly half of which are company-owned. In addition it has a tie-up with a chain of bakery shops in Mumbai and chain of florists in Delhi which further widens greeting cards’ profile in India. The low cost has dissuaded department stores from stocking cards.

Left: Creating its own competition, Archies now also owns 26 Hallmark branded stores.

40

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

With 500+ card and gift stores (260 run by franchisees, 243 company owned, of which 26 are Hallmark branded), licensing/distribution agreements with both American Greetings (UKG’s parent company) and Hallmark, as well as several other publishers which feed into its own busy inhouse design studio, a growing eCommerce site, research programmes and consumer marketing initiatives galore, Archies puts forward a great case for sending greeting cards in India, but it is not easy.

“The number of cards we are selling in India has dropped by 65% since the year 2000, though we have held on better on the value front, but when you have to contend with the average price of a card being 60p it is difficult.

Back in 2000 there were 5,000 independent ‘mom and pop’ stores selling our products, now there are less than 1,000 as the rents increased and these shops did not keep up with consumer tastes,” reveals Anil candidly. “We have done well to hold onto the value of the market; with the two best card companies in the world on board with us in AG and Hallmark, we are constantly doing as much as can to provide that ‘surprise wow’ factor in cards.”

India has a massive, but young, population - approaching 70% is under 30 years of age.

And, as Anil recognises “the youngsters have been moving away from cards, turning their attentions to communicate using technology.

Recently, a new phone was launched and 100,000 were sold in one minute online, that is the pace of change. So, more than ever, we have to invest in our products to bring them back and find different ways of getting our message to them,” he says.

It used to be that Archies’ card shops were the place for young couples to meet as part of their courtship - “now they tend to meet up in CCD [the Café Coffee Day chain of coffee shops] or on Facebook!” Anil says.

40-41_Grid 31/03/2015 10:16 Page 41

International Face To face

From Saris To Cards

“ While the sending of greeting cards in the UK and US is an engrained part part of the culture, in India it was more of a trend and we need to reinvigorate that trend,” he adds. “What we are now doing in our marketing is reminding people of occasions when sending a text is not relevant or appreciated, where a card really does come into its own.”

A case in point is the recent activity it undertook for Valentine’s Day, igniting consumer interest through a charming viral video.

‘Have you ever wondered why Valentine’s Day is important? Do we really need special days to celebrate love?’ were the ‘email’ questions tapped out on the screen at the start. The short interviews with different couples that followed highlighted how memories are made by marking the special day, each being able to recall what they were wearing, what they did etc.

Strange to think that Valentine’s Day (the largest greeting card sending event for the company) was introduced in India in the mid 1980s by Archies.

“We started with five designs in 1984, and at its peak we were offering 350 designs.

We now have it down to 175 designs but sell these all year round as love cards,” says Anil. “A journalist pointed out to me recently how we really have changed the calendar in India,

Above: PG’s Jakki Brown (second right) with Anil (far right) and Archies’ (left-right) Raghav Moolanchandani, Niharika Soma and Megha Grover with some of the new range of large cards. Several feature diamante and pearl necklaces, others celebrate the popularity of Bollywood, while the one on the left was commissioned by the UK-based MacNeil studio (having spotted an advert in PG!).

Left: Last year saw Archies make people realise the true ‘value’ of cards when its Money for Love Challenge marketing campaign offered to pay 1,000 rupees to consumers in return for giving in a card they had received. The rub was that Archies would destroy this card. Very few took up the offer.

Below right: One of the 60 designs of Rakhi cards. While some of Archies cards are published in other languages, the vast majority are in English.

Below left: Archies’ massive headquarters and factory in New Delhi where 300 people are employed.

adding events like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Teacher’s Day and Daughter’s Day,” the latter having a serious message, attempting to stem the number of elected abortions for female fetuses.

The final touches are being put to the range of designs for Archies’ second largest card sending event, Rakhi, which takes place in August/September. These cards are bought by sisters to give to their brothers and generally incorporate a thread bracelet to provide protection).

“This is still growing as a card sending event, and we even ship around 1,500 to the US as it is taking off over there too now,” explains Anil.

The writing was on the walls (and on the songsheet), that Anil Moolchandani would carve his own distinctive path in business.

Having joined the family sari business as a young graduate, it wasn’t long before the entrepreneurial bug bit into his psyche. Sparked by a customer coming into his sari shop in Delhi in the late 70s and giving him two posters that he had bought in the States, Anil stuck them on the wall of the shop and watched the reaction. It was so positive that Archies was born in 1979 (named after a neighbour’s dog!) as a mail order poster company which also sold lyric songbooks which Anil self-published based on him transcribing the words from hits by popular bands such as Abba. A year later, looking to ‘scale down’ the poster into a more manageable size, Archies scaled up by moving into greeting cards – from that first one 45 years ago, it went on to produce 65 million of them annually!

Archies is publicly quoted on the Indian stock market, and while still a specialist in greeting cards it has continued to diversify into other affiliated products - from gifts to perfume, handbags to sunglasses.

While the bracelets on the Rakhi designs are made largely of thread, another big launch from the company (in both physical size and sheer bling factor) is a range of jewellery cards, which include full size diamante necklaces.

Retailing at £10 each, these outsized cards are definitely a grand gesture. As Raghav Moolanchandani, Anil’s nephew, who has joined Archies’ retail team, points out:“Courtship is very important in the Indian culture. Men make up around 50% of our customer base as they like to show their romantic side,” he says.

While they do say love can conquer all, Anil is aware that the biggest challenge facing Archies will be to reignite the relationship this fast developing nation has with greeting cards.

But with an economy that is more stable now than it has been for years (thanks to the direction of new Prime Minister Narendra Modi), a growing young population, an expanding retail landscape which reflects a growing appetite for brands and literacy levels nudging up and an inventive product and marketing programme lined up for this year, Archies will continue to persuade 1.3 billion people that sending greeting cards says it better than a text, coffee shop catch up or a Facebook post.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

41

42_PG_April 2015 30/03/2015 15:11 Page 1

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

7 Halifax Road

Dewsbury

West Yorkshire

WF13 2JH

43.QXD_Grid 27/03/2015 16:54 Page 43

Focus On

Male

Cards - Trending

A Bear Grylls survivalist of the urban streets, the Lumbersexual has been hiking (and pedaling) cities and towns for some time now, but recently this masculine urban hipster is making his burly mark on card designs.

PG highlights this virile trend.

With his outdoor rugged look - a trimmed beard, clad in a plaid shirt, woodsman’s jacket and woolly hat - you would be forgiven for thinking that the Lumbersexual man dwelled in a forest, chopping wood and laying bear traps. But this man hasn’t been anywhere near a band-saw. In fact he inhabits urban abodes and, as he is environmentally aware, he’s a friend to bears and rides a bike around his territory; he is today’s urban hipster.

This city and town forester is now on the radar of male greeting card designs, which, reflecting this masculine trend, frequently sport mountains and woods, beards, single speed bicycles, foxes and bears (many of them dressed aristocratically in a top hat or bow tie).

“After a deep dive into the category we recognised an emerging trend in male, and a gap in the market for card designs aimed at the modern man. This emerging new consumer is young, hip and trendy, with very specific tastes and needs,” says Leigha Wilkinson, UKG’s product manager, adding: “To reach him we developed a collection of edgy, bright, unique, modern and fun designs featuring clever words and trendy imagery - think statement beards and moustaches, graphic comic book art and aristocratic animals.”

Studio Seeds’ new male range features tongue-in-cheek captions in Top left: Outdoor adventure on a Roger la Borde design.

Above : Museums & Galleries’ ‘The Perfect Bicycle’ design from its Classics range.

Left: Studio Seed’s Best Foot Forward range features masculine accessories.

Below: Mountain ranges and woodland on a Stop The Clock card.

strong typography and bold urban hipster icons, ranging from bikes and bow ties to socks and brogue shoes (in ten everyday designs and six Father's Day designs).

"The 'Best Foot Forward' range is made in Britain and the designs fit perfectly into the 'urban hipster' trend.

The bike icon on the 'I Want to Ride My Bicycle' design was inspired by the cool

Right: An urban hipster on a Kooky card from Star Editions.

Below right: Drawing on influences from the world of industrial and urban warning signs, Pigment’s Ministry of Chaps range.

Below: A best-dressed bear from Chase & Wonder.

male icon of the moment, and the chunky geeky specs and bow tie imagery in the range would suit these urban guys down to the ground. The industrial feel of the range feels metropolitan, rugged and contemporary," explains Tamsin Seed, creative director of the company.

So ready for metropolitan outdoor adventure, this urban hipster’s mode of transport has been a smash with a plethora of men. It started in the east-end of London, with the hipster residents of Shoreditch and Hoxton firmly bringing the ‘fixie bike’, so called because of it’s one-gear fixed speed, into their lifestyle - also instigating bike cafes.

“The big trend of single speed bikes is coolhipster biking, to the point where you can customise your ride to suit your personality. The trend is so big even the high street fashion stores display them alongside their latest clothing, embracing the urban cycling movement,” says Anna Whitford, owner of Rosanna Rossi.

Ben Dorney, art director for Museums & Galleries, pointed out that a new card design from the art publisher’s Classics range has all the markings of an urban hipster. Although the original image (a poster for a Belgian bicycle company) is over 100 years-old, the subject - a cool, mustachioed man and a single-speed bicycle - could be from 21st century Shoreditch, or any other hipster hotspot in the UK. “Just about every detail in this image makes it 'The Perfect' male hipster/cycling card, not least the bike, which has every spec wished for in a current urban bike – thin steel frame, single-speed gear, drop handlebar with just one brake and leather saddle. The man's neat curling moustache and slick hair look completely current, and from a cycling angle the yellow jersey and title just top it all off to, er, perfection!”

Perhaps that Victorian gent was the Lumbersexual of his time.

Above right: Rosanna Rossi's Retro Rocks male range is influenced from the past – this single gear bike is an urban hipster must-have.

Left: UK Greetings tips its hat to well-dressed bears.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

43

44_PG_April 2015 01/04/2015 16:21 Page 1

45_47_Grid 26/03/2015 13:37 Page 45

New

Male

Card Launches

Cycling, lucky pants, perfect gents and retro icons, Focus On Male Cards showcases some new testosterone-filled greeting card ranges. ● Cinnamon Aitch’s splendid Mustard range is proving to be... ‘as good as gold’, as the popularity of this fabulously stylish male range wins through with flying colours. Cinnamon Aitch, working alongside designer Nicole Tan, is extending the range with new and splendid male focused imagery. Featuring the quintessential gentleman’s bowler hat, alongside classic board games and vintage vinyl, this contemporary collection of 7” x 5” designs with a retro theme is really cutting the mustard. ● ‘Attention please!... calling all quintessential gentlemen. You! Yes, you Sir!’ Allihopa’s Doodles range is very much a free flowing, masculine, graphic approach to design aimed at the overlooked male audience. The quirky style of the font and bold illustrations on the aesthetically pleasing stock adds to the quality of this card. Each 15 x 15 cm card is supplied with a bright neon coral envelope that will surely stand out from the crowd and individually wrapped in a cello bag. ● Some 14 new Graphite

designs have recently been added to this popular male photographic range from Abacus. The superb photographic images are all based on popular male pastimes and interests and include subject matter such as music, wine, boats, trains, gardening, motorbikes, beer, football, cycling and walking.

Printed on textured art board, all the images are presented full-out with four designs featuring a silver foiled caption. These latest 5” x 7” format additions consist of nine birthday designs and five designs that have been left blank for the sender’s own message.

● Country Cards’ Richard Macneil range always sells well whether it is sport or country scenes. It now has over 40 designs in this male range, and with strong colours and a quality finish they are consistently good sellers filling a gap in the traditional clean male card market which is always under supplied - try them and see for yourself! ● The Almanac Gallery has recently released 12 new designs

by Canadian photographer Shawn St. Peter. Shawn’s artistic, vintagestyle imagery includes cars, trucks, motorcycles and dinosaurs, perfect for sending to males of all ages! All cards carry a Happy Birthday message, are 158mm x 158mm and cellowrapped with quality white envelopes.

● Laura Darrington’s Happy Days collection offers a ‘pop’ of colour in a retro style, focusing on male birthday, special ages and key relations captions. The range is printed on FSC accredited board and printed finished with a brushed silver foil and embossed for added value. Trade £1.14 RRP £2.75. ● With iconic superheroes

practically leaping off these UK Greetings’ cards, these vintage Marvel designs are a must-have for comic book fans. Bold, colourful and eye-catching, the format is a true art form and this graphic style of story telling works perfectly on greeting cards. Available in three captions, they carry a RRP of £2.35.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

45

46_PG_April 2015 31/03/2015 12:39 Page 1

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 Polypropylene & biodegradable bag specialists Over 40 years quality service to the trade Hotfoiling also available

GREETING CARD

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

01274 220 220

www ww w.wrapid.co.uk www.wrapid.co.uk

sales@wrapid.co.uk sales@wrapid.co.uk

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

45_47_Grid 26/03/2015 13:38 Page 47

New

Male

Card Launches

● Multi award-nominated, Think Of

● Artist Richard Partis has

produced several new men's designs for Clanna Cards, including this detailed card featuring a classic grey Ferguson TE 20 tractor, which was first manufactured in 1946. This card is in the same series as designs featuring a Land Rover Series 1, an MG TC, a Routemaster Bus and a Sunbeam motorcycle, all of which coordinate with his mugs manufactured by Dunoon. Richard has now produced over 80 transport, sporting and countryside designs for Clanna Cards many of which are ideal for the male of our species! ● Male Scentiments from Ling Design is a fabulous range of beautifully painted watercolour designs depicting favourite male pastimes, including both hobbies and sports - from a lazy afternoon in the pub to an exhilarating downhill bike ride. Each are highlighted with foil and come individually wrapped. ● The ‘sketch book’ range born out of an amalgamation of drawings and sketches from Caroline Gardner’s sketchbook, are the perfect cards for men. The 146mm x 140mm cards feature various foods and drink images, sports, and even gardening; covering a range of different activities and hobbies for men! They are contemporary and have a strong use of Caroline’s quirky sense of placement and colour palette. The range features six cards - five birthdays and one thank you design.

● K2 Greetings’ Kudos range

goes from strength to strength with new designs being added all the time. Some recently added tech-based designs, including this Space Invaders retro gaming design, have proved extremely popular. Each card is individually wrapped and presented with a branded Kudos sticker. The range comprises 16 designs at any time in code 50 open (135mm x 160mm) and around 60 (135mm x 210mm) integrated captions. Unusually for male cards, every design is glittered, which is very popular as it gives a real party feel.

Me’s predominantly male Sasparilla range has undergone another update to reflect the current appetite for all things geometric, dip-dyed and metallic. A contemporary range, Sasparilla also features embossing to enhance design details and is printed on premium textured board. ● Woodmansterne’s new male-

orientated series blends nostalgic imagery with punchy messaging and contemporary issues for a bang up to date yet retro-inspired range of 15 cards. (Look out for its female counterpart later this month). All cards are 160 x 160mm, RRP £2.40, individually cellowrapped and supplied with grey embossed envelopes.

● Stylish greeting cards for men can be hard to come by, which is why Star Editions is so delighted to have secured the licence for iconic British motorsports brand, Silverstone - for cards, gifts, stationery and apparel. The collection includes birthday and male relations cards including Father's Day, and will be sold exclusively through Star Editions. ● With designs specifically crafted for and exclusive to Hallmark’s independent stores, the Handpicked range offers an impressive selection of male cards which invoke classic male icons and present them in new and innovative ways. These 24 individually packaged designs come in a plethora of different sizes, prices and captions in order to cater for any birthday send.

The RRP starts at £1.69 ● Holy Mackerel has a huge and varied choice of cards for the men in your life. Brand new for 2015 is “1 in a million!”, a range of beautifully foiled and die-cut trophy cards, designed by best-selling artist Erica Sturla.

These special designs include something to celebrate Kings of the Dance Floor, World’s Best Dads and even Top Cops!

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

47

48_50_PG_April 2015_Art Source 31/03/2015 14:13 Page 48

ARTSOURCE

49_51.qxd_49/51 30/03/2015 10:35 Page 49

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

Catherine Aguilar At school I was constantly told off for doodling during lessons and covering my desk in pencil drawings, much to my teachers' discontent. Art College was therefore an obvious choice, where I was encouraged rather than told off for drawing to my heart's content!

Born and bred in Switzerland, I came to London soon after graduating. After a brief stint as a layout artist for Time Out magazine and several years as an in-house graphic designer at a major art publisher, I took the plunge and began working as a freelance greeting card illustrator, also taking briefs for giftware, tableware and giftwrap, with the odd editorial and packaging commission thrown in.

I love the seasonal aspect of illustrating for greeting cards, anticipating colour trends and motifs that will be popular and working by a calendar of special occasions. Designing for greeting cards is a great

opportunity to focus on the fun aspects of life. It feels like I'm sharing a moment of happiness with the people who are celebrating a joyful event.

My work is often graphic and silhouette based, involving techniques like collage and cut-outs digitally reworked into a mix of hand created line, texture and pattern. I draw inspiration from many sources, not least London's streets and atmospheres, walks in the countryside and my travels in Europe and overseas.

There are also many illustrators and artists - old and new - who I greatly admire: Angie Lewin, Malika Favre, Noma Bar, Lora Lamm, Bernard Villemot... the list is long!

I have been represented by Pure Illustration, an agency based in Brighton, for many years now. They have been very helpful in getting me sales and commissions, freeing up time for what I love and do best: creating fun illustrations for greeting cards and giftwrap! ● ●

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

Email: caguilar@hotmail.co.uk Web: www.illustrationbycatherine.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

49

48_50_PG_April 2015_Art Source 31/03/2015 14:26 Page 50

Keino

Jeannine Rundle

Christine Tappin

Hannah Wood

Pope Twins

Emmeline Pidgen

Paula Doherty

Helen Poole

Andy Rowland

Rachel Green

Chloe Robertson

Jo Parry

Jen Leggett Paul Collis

FFACT: ACT: it’ it’ss w what hat w wee stand fo for or ffairness, airness, ability eativity, tr ust ability,, cr creativity, trust Artist Agency and Image Library Now with more than 100,000 stock images

Ileana Oakley

Pauline Siewert

www w..advocate-art.com +44 (0)20 8879 1166

Sophia Touliatou

Marcello Corti , Barbara Gerardi

Sharon Williams

Mat Edwards

Eva Czapla

ARTSOURCE

TO APPEAR REGULARLY IN THE

ARTSOURCE SECTION OF PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON

01234 740 051

49_51.qxd_49/51 30/03/2015 10:36 Page 51

ART SOURCE Paul Cooklin

I spent eight years in Hong Kong working as the creative director for a hairdressing academy (1992 - 2000). When I returned to the UK I decided to change career and become a digital artist after seeing a stock image magazine called Digital Vision, which featured superlative abstract and conceptual images that inspired me greatly. I spent the next six months getting to grips with Photoshop, and began to build up a collection of images which I sent to various stock image agencies. I was signed by Brand X Pictures (now owned by Getty Images), who published six disks of my work over three years. Towards the end of creating the last disk I had a collection of around 2,000 images in my portfolio. Most of these images were created from mixed media – a combination of photographic abstract layers with illustration and Photoshop post processing. Around the same time I was given a Bronica ETRS medium format film camera from my Dad and decided to see if I could take a picture which would stand up on it's own without any post-processing. Although the first few rolls were generally poor in every way photographically, I really liked and appreciated the 'look' of film, particularly black and white with it's tonal qualities and grain, and the method of creating images which was so far removed from anything I had done to date.

My current body of work consists of an eclectic collection of prints, spanning various photographic genres which I feel very fortunate to be featured in numerous publications, including TIME magazine, Italian Vogue and are represented by fine art publishers and galleries worldwide such as the Saatchi Gallery and the British Contemporary Art Association. ●

Email: pcooklin@gmail.com

Kevin Parrish I was born in Birmingham in 1953 and dreamed of becoming a fine artist. I became a traditional freehand fulltime oil painter from 1995.

Having a love of trains, I joined the Guild of Railway Artists in 1993. From this I widened my genre and ventured into portrait montages, including portrayals of some Doctor Who stories and Moody Blues songs through my mind’s eye.

I was Resident Artist at Jane Powell Art Studio in Kenilworth during 2001. They promoted my railway and canals paintings.

I was made Resident Artist at Warwick Studios Gallery in Leamington Spa from 2006, where I was commissioned to paint bygone scenes of Birmingham and London in monochrome oils. This led to two sell out exhibitions in 2005 and 2008.

I was also Published by Buckingham Fine Arts in 2006 as a Limited Edition Print.

My artwork has appeared on merchandise with publishing companies, including jigsaw puzzles, CD’s and greeting cards.

I have been featured in the press through related books, magazines and newspapers and my art can be found in private collections in UK and overseas.

I currently exhibit with The Mitchell Gallery in Warwick, working on The Warwick Collection. These are monochrome pieces of art portraying distinguished buildings in Warwick, including Warwick Castle and Warwick School.

At the moment I am working on a project for the preserved Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, including paintings of their Railway Stations with accompanying merchandise. ● ●

Tel: 01926 332708 ● Email: parrish@quicknetuk.com Web: www.kevinparrish.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

51

52-53_v8_46-47 26/03/2015 14:24 Page 52

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

Steve Simkiss, owner of Church Gallery, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria A large shop in a picturesque rural area with a loyal local and visitors customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Pigment

Fleet Street, Rib Ticklers and Ooh La La

Humour

The Alternative Image Company

General

Contemporary

Art Cards Cornwall

General

Wendy Jones-Blackett

These sell hand over fist. We sell enormous amounts; people buy them in bundles.

A straight-forward photographic image with a comedy element.

Especially great for male sends.

Small square cards featuring contemporary artworks in a variety of themes.

They just look quality! - the designs, the board and finishes.

A neutral type of card that suits many occasions and people, from children to grown ups.

Just so classy! These cards would be given for a special occasion.

It’s a really original idea to use pencil shavings. Simple and imaginative, you can send these cards to anybody.

Featuring all the things kids love, such as jelly and ice-cream, spiders and snails, in eye-catching bright colours.

Traditional

Alex Clark Art

Quick Silver and Fresco General

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Valerie Valerie

General

Ruth Jackson

Pencil Shavings Cards

Janie Wilson

Little Wishes

Top: The Alternative Image Company has many unique and quirky photographic designs.

Right: 'Silk Garden' by artist Tracy Rees from Art Cards Cornwall.

Catherine Hansla, owner of All Original, Ealing, London A medium shop in a city borough with a loyal local and destination visitors customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Green Emerald

General

Humour

Art House Meath

Across The Board

Photographic

Tracy Florance Photography

General

Art

Rhian Winslade

General

Rosanna’s Mosaics

General

Lorna Kyle

Across The Board

Clear Creations

Across The Board

Catherine Hansla

Jewellery

Small knitted items on tiny little knitting needles to suit the occasion displayed on cards. For instance, one New Baby design has a little knitted nappy.

Supporting adults with severe epilepsy through selling their artwork, the designs are simple and naïve, wacky and incredibly funny; people fall around laughing when they read them.

Beautiful images of various places around the world. Men tend to go for photographic cards and they often recognise a shot that will suit a person they know.

Small ceramic birds or flowers set on a Above: Triggering thoughts of background of brown kraft board. lazy hazy bike rides in the country, a Clear Creations card.

Photographs of Rosanna’s lovely original mosaic artwork featured on cards.

A little dress silhouette hand-cut out of Liberty fabric and displayed on a little hanger - these cards are very popular.

We have a complete spinner of a variety of the designs as they are very good sellers. All hand-designed, the cards are finished with a little Swarovski crystal.

My own little project making coloured glass pendants necklaces.

They’re a gift and card in one.

Contemporary

Ancillary

52

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

52-53_v8_46-47 26/03/2015 14:24 Page 53

Kerry Young, manager of Thoughtful Expressions, Holt, Norfolk A small shop in a picturesque market town with a loyal locals and visitors customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Alex Clark Art

Across The Board

Humour

Peartree Heybridge

Camilla & Rose

Berni Parker

General

Abacus

Rapture

Art

Martin Sexton

General

Contemporary

Nigel Quiney

Pizazz

Traditional

Noel Tatt

Across The Board

Handmade/ Hand-Finished Children’s

Second Nature

Daydreams

Jonny Javelin

Twingles

Ancillary

Widdop Bingham

Photoframes

Popular across all ages and all occasions. The farm animals are favourites, especially for us because we are located in the country.

Humour on cards for ladies is difficult to find but these hit the spot.

Quirky and unusual designs with gentle humour for more mature ladies.

A lovely photographic range at a good price point. And there have been some tractor images added to the collection which are suitable for us.

A local watercolour artist who paints pretty scenes around the area. They’re popular because local people send them to friends and family abroad.

I can sell several of these in a day! I always have a whole row out as they are a hit for us. They are uncomplicated and unfussy and a nice size.

With nice scenes, sports and florals, the cards have traditional, popular themes designed in a modern way.

Recently redesigned in a smaller size format, they are colourful, fresh and crisp.

Very jolly and bright designs finished beautifully. There are relations, age and non age designs, and the artwork isn’t too childish for the recipient’s age.

Lovely and simple, quality frames that are reasonably priced.

Photographic Right: Second Nature's Daydreams range has beautiful coloured foiling and embossing.

Kate Mackenzie, owner of The Cat’s Miaou, Edinburgh A small shop in a city secondary site with a varied customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Stormy Knight

General

Two Bad Mice

Anita Jeram

Ooh Deer

Gemma Correll

Penguin Parade

Across The Board

Art

Judy Lumley Prints

3D Woodland

Contemporary

Lisa Donati (formerly Psycho Pants) Perkins & Morley

Scottish Lines

The cards’ characters are in simple and bold graphics with cute facial features. The artist picks great quirky phrases and the kraft board gives the designs a contemporary feel.

Sweet animal designs that seem to suit lots of different people. Customers tend to see in the collection a particular design that would be good for a person they know.

This range sells brilliantly!

It’s very witty with lots of great puns.

A local artist who creates designs of penguins for all occasions and ages. There is a Mother’s Day penguin, anniversary penguins, a Batman and Robin Penguin, a Brave Heart penguin, and many more!

Really beautiful linocut designs of woodland animals on tri-folded cards. They are a real keepsake card.

Very strong graphics in some lovely contemporary colours, this wordy collection is mostly to do with Scottish phrases and sayings.

Each design shows the collective noun and illustration of the animals featured. It’s both educational and there is always someone’s favourite animal in the collection (or someone they know). But, most importantly to me, is that the products are made in the UK.

Right: One of Stormy Knight's naughty cat designs.

Below: Penguin Parade has a sweet penguin character for almost every occasion.

Humour

Ancillary

Collective Nouns tea towels and coasters

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

53

54_PG_April 2015 30/03/2015 15:17 Page 1

WE LOVE * PRINT &

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

*

55_57_Grid 26/03/2015 14:29 Page 55

LYNN’S LINES

L

L

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

Take Three Sirs Over many years I have learnt a huge amount about business from TV programmes and I have three particular heroes - the late Sir John Harvey-Jones MBE who presented Troubleshooter; Sir Gerry Robinson, who appeared on Gerry's Big Decision and Can't Take It With You, and I gleaned information from TV exposure of the legendary Sir Richard Branson.

I have learnt a huge amount from these business gurus and thoroughly recommend retailers and publishers to tune into television business programmes for inspiration.

Lately Mary Portas has entertained and educated us with several business programmes championing good service within a variety of TV shows, mostly in a similar format and sharing the same mantra:‘Listen to your customers and strive to improve your customer service.’ I'm a right stickler for good service and am fascinated by how Mary Portas delivers her no nonsense spiel to failing businesses that are grossly lagging behind on the service stakes.

The Apprentice, when it was originally aired, was a great source of how not to do things in business! It was great too that there have been several episodes that have been close to home, focusing on (and highlighting the difficulties of ) producing greeting cards, calendars and candles. Sadly of late the show has placed more emphasis on finding controversial TV personalities than what happens in the assignments.

Having owned a shop for nearly 30 years, and a card publishing business for almost as long, I have been on both sides of the customer service fence. I would like to think that my staff are well trained to provide good service to our shop’s customers as it is something that I place as a high priority.

Mary Portas however, is the queen of service, and I have loved every single one of the episodes in her TV series; they have made me look at my business through different

eyes. Even if Mary is giving advice to men in a second-hand car sales room, the principle of good service still remains true for all different types of businesses.

Key to good service is to find out what your customers’ needs are, listen to them and take an interest in them. Don't just assume you know what they want.

Last week proved why gift company Joe Davies is a service supremo… having won more awards for good service than any other supplier in the gift industry. The company’s lovely Lucy was incredibly helpful when I was ordering, pointing out top sellers and asking me what my budget was. When she didn't Above: Sir Gerry Robinson, business troubleshooter and TV presenter.

Below: Joe Davies is infamous for its good customer service.

know the top sellers she didn't blag her way out, but said she would ask head office.

As ordering is very difficult for me at the moment due to personal health reasons, I would totally trust her to replenish my stock in six weeks.

The items I ordered duly came within 24 hours and started selling as my staff put it out.

In the same week I rang another company early on Wednesday, and I asked if I could have the stock delivered guaranteed on Friday. The answer was "No we can't guarantee it." Under my breath I said “Yes you can. It may cost you an extra £5, but hey! I will really feel like a really valued customer.” So stubbornly I cancelled the £300 order.

In the same week, I sent an agent for Global Designs a faxed order on Thursday night and the stock arrived Saturday morning.

So of course you can get stock by an allotted time if you want.

I always remember companies that put themselves out for me years after the event.

The relationship between a retailer and agent is a partnership where you work together on the long-term success of your business.

This week an agent popped into my shop, saw I was low on stock and emailed me a provisional order, saying: "I have done you a small top up order, let me know if this is ok?"

The order was not small, it was £125 over the carriage paid and consisted of some product PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

55

56_PG_April 2015 31/03/2015 12:34 Page 1

55_57_Grid 26/03/2015 14:30 Page 57

LYNN’S LINES Left: Mr Selfridge, ITV's popular programme, can be useful to pick up business tips.

Below: Lynn is a finalist in The Greats awards this year with her WW1 competition display.

Bottom: Two Queen's Diamond Jubilee cakes created by cake artist Juliet Sears were featured as card designs for Lynn's charity Queen's Diamond Jubilee card project in 2012.

that I had never bought before. It was shortsighted, as if I wouldn't notice the extra items, and I certainly would not trust that agent again. The relationship has been tarnished forever as he took advantage of me.

I have also received two emails about buying stock that I replied to and am still waiting for a reply. One was from a company who sent a frame sample to me after the Spring Fair. I emailed with some queries but as yet no reply. Quite often after spending some time ordering at trade fairs I never hear a word again from the company. It's all very baffling.

Another of my favourite ‘learn from the television programmes’ is Mr Selfridge, which I am glued to on Sunday evenings. In the latest series Mr Selfridge is in danger of losing control over his business as he gets distracted and ploughs the company’s money into a housing project.

I have been guilty over the years of diversifying from my core business of retailing and card publishing, diverting my energies into curating photographic exhibitions both here and aboard, dreaming up competitions, organising Christmas Grottos, undertaking talks in schools, instigating charity initiatives and immersing myself in carnivals. However, I have always had a clear vision of how I wanted my two businesses to evolve. I didn't want to build an empire. And while I have always been fascinated in business, I always wanted to put the fun back into it and strive to make my shop, which is a destination venue, part of the local community and with strong relationships with the local press, bonds with local schools and which embraces the many local events that take place in Old-Leigh, such as art trails, regattas, folk festivals and jazz weekends.

Obviously the village is ver y busy when these events are on so it is impor tant to embrace them.

I have identified with Mr Selfridge in the programme, in the way his store reflected what was going on at the time. His notable store promotions mirrored progress in aviation, art and fashion, and featured famous people, artists and poets of the time.

I suspect that Selfridges led the field (and still does in many respects) in retail innovation and ideas and has always been an exciting and imaginative place to shop with its incredible window displays and out of the box ideas.

I think Mr Selfridge would have loved the recent activity with Belly Button Designs, who

market, with the shopping centres and internet retailers, we have to give a much greater emphasis to good service, instore promotions and fun initiatives that capture the imagination of the customer and woo them to shop locally and become a loyal customer.

It is great for staff morale to do different things and get out of a routine. It also gives you something to engage with the customers and, of course, it will increase trade.

I am very proud of my staff who have worked so hard on our shop displays over the years, and I am immensely proud that we have reached the finals this year in the display category of The Greats with our Santa’s Grotto display and our WW1 competition display.

Our shop regularly has all old Edwardian artifacts on display, which means we can clear the space for exhibitions, Christmas displays and topical projects.

There are always events that you can topically target, such as St. George’s Day, Wimbledon, sporting events, royal births or events specific to your local area. The important thing is to be aware of them and to plan your display in plenty of time to put your wicked plan into action and be one jump ahead of your competition. I guarantee that you will have fun and you will be spurred on to do the next big event - and if anyone accuses you of being a ‘couch potato’ for watching TV, just tell them it is all part of your research!

inspired customers with its wonderful instore greeting card personalisation service for Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. This is such a great initiative, and the more retailers can come up with imaginative ideas as to how to attract customers and show them that they want to give them a good time, the more they will stand out from the competition.

There are some great initiatives heighted in The Greats (the gift retailer awards organised by PG’s sister magazine Progressive Gifts & Home) as well as in The Retas (PG’s greeting card retail awards), with anniversary promotions, charity tie-ups and imaginative ideas galore. There is no doubt about it that in today’s highly competitive PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

57

58-64_PG_April 2015_PRODUCT DIRECTORIES 30/03/2015 17:00 Page 58

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

k

perfectionists

The specialist buying group in the independent greeting card and gift retail sector‌ ‌Celebrating 25 years of Service to Members.

in the

For information: Web: www.cardgains.co.uk Tel: 0845 166 2054 Post: 25 Carbrook Hall Rd Sheffield S9 2EJ

art of greeting cards

! ! $

#

! ! !

k

tel 0203 2344011 info@blackolivestudio.co.uk www.blackolivestudio.co.uk

""" ! !

# # ! ! ! ! " # ! # " % " #" # ! $ #!" " ! ! % "$ # !

" !"# $ " ! !

Tel: 01844 216 589 www.thebeesknees.eu.com

# # ! ! # $$$ # # ! ! #

Make every occasion count with greeting cards from Abacus Cards Limited, The Studio, Oaks Drive, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7SX t: 01638 569050 f: 01638 569051 e: info@abacuscards.co.uk w: www.abacuscards.co.uk

Design led, contemporary, quality greeting cards.

New Collections for 2015

To appear in the Product Directory please contact Warren Lomax on 020 7700 6740 58

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Sales software softwar re solutions iPad catalogue ordering handheld order capture trade/retail eCommerce SOP/stock control For more information visit aspin.co.uk or call us to arrange a meeting on:

01794 500200

sales@thebeesknees.eu.com Tel: 01844 216 589

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

67

58-64_PG_April 2015_PRODUCT DIRECTORIES 30/03/2015 17:00 Page 59

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l

PO BO BOX OX 2161 Boulevard The Boule vard Watford W atford WD18 1BJ TTel: el: 01923 200633 FFax: ax: 01923 200636 info@cardmix.co.uk inf o@cardmix.co.uk www.cardmix.co.uk www.cardmix.co.uk

www.cathtatecards.com

Caspari Ltd Linden House, John Dane Player Court

Products: Everyday cards - birthday, blank & occasions, charity Christmas cards, gift wrap, bags, tissue, ribbon, hankies, napkins, paper plate, candles, placemats, melamine trays, crackers, invitations, placecards, notecards,diaries, calendars, address books, journals, advent calendars, bridge gifts and jigsaws.

Licenses: Annie Tempest - Tottering by Gently, Kym Bowles - Lollysticks, RHS, Matthew Rice, National Gallery, Alzheimer's Society, Barnardo's, Macmillan Cancer Support.

Method of Sale: Direct to Retail

4 SID

E GRE TING

RDS

•

•

WR I

K

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

D

T E• P E E L• S 4 S I D E D. C O. U K

GREETING CARDS HAVE OVER 220 DESIGNS THA AT APPEAL TO ALL TAASTES, AGES AND STYLES. A UNIQUE GIFT AND CARD IN ONE. WE COVER ALL OCCASIONS. IF YOU’RE AFTER SOMETHING DIFFERENT, LOOK NO FURTHER...

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

COME AND SEE US AT

PULSE

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

STAND ST TAND A K83 www.4sided.co.uk•jo&chris@4sided.co.uk

07803 501983 Method of Sale: Direct to Retail

To appear in the

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

cbg.co.uk

@CarteBlancheGrp

DADDY

CA

E

Unit 1, 45 Morrish Road London SW2 4EE Tel: 0208 671 2166 Fax: 0208 678 1119 info@cathtatecards.com

CARDMIX - a cocktail cocktail of fun, CARDMIX fashionable and humorous humorous fashionable cards, covering Everyday, car ds,, co vering Ev eryday, Spring ing Occasions,, Relations,, Spr Seasons and Christmas.

Christmas.

IC

Witty, gritty, switched on humour.

Cards and gifts with a real difference.

East Street, Saffron Walden Essex, CB10 1LR Tel: 01799 513010 Fax: 01799 513101 Email: info@caspari.co.uk www.CaspariOnline.com

One of the UK’s UK’s leading suppliers of Greeting Greeting Cards Cards since since 1995 1995 Products: cards Products: High quality greeting greeting car ds with superb finishes. All major and minor titles, covering covering traditional traditional to to the latest latest in innovative innovative design, both Everyday Everyday and Seasonal.

Brands: Forever, Petals, Brands: Always Always & F orever, P etals, Lazy Days, Days, Letters Letters from from the Heart, Precious Precious Times, Times, Street Street Kidz, Thoughts, Thoughts, ‘Have ‘Have a Larff’ Larff ’ and Not So Innocent!

Innocent!

Direct to to retail. retail.

Method of Sale: Direct Designers welcome, welcome, contact contact beverley@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk beverley@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

Cherry Or Orchard chard Publishing LLP Unit 10 Duddage Busines Businesss P Park ark Brockeridge Brockeridge Rd Rd T Twyning wyning T Tewkesbury ewkesbury GL20 6B 6BY Y t0 01684 1684 29 295500 5500 e info@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk info@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk www. www. cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

Product Directory please contact Warren Lomax on

Supplier

BG_PG_Directory Ad_2013.indd 1

13/2/13 15:05:28

020 7700 6740 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

59

58-64_PG_April 2015_PRODUCT DIRECTORIES 30/03/2015 17:01 Page 60

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

DIPINGO DESIGN

Bespoke design service for retail products

www.dipingodesign.co.uk

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

Colneis Marketing

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

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

Market leaders in Humour, Art, Photographic, Occasions and Relations cards offering a full planning service with

Online Shop www.colneisgreetingcards.com

merchandising and retail TM

development opportunities.

GRASS ROOTS

INTERNATIONAL

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

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

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

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

M ETHOD OF SALE Direct to Retail

G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL

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

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

from the

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

60

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Eye catching, luxurious Gift Wraps, Gift Tags, Gift Bags, Roll Wrap, Tissue Papers & Ribbons for all occasions Glick, Unit 1 Allenby House, European Industrial Park, Knowles Lane, Bradford BD4 9AB Tel: 01274 655980 email: sales@glick.co.uk www.glick.co.uk

58-64_PG_April 2015_PRODUCT DIRECTORIES 30/03/2015 17:01 Page 61

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

60 years

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

..Gorgeous, fun & cheeky Greeting Cards, Keyrings, Mirrors, Chocolates, Tattoos, Badges, Mugs, Mints, Luxury Soap & Smashing Stationery!

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

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

0844 586 7477

environmentally friendly contemporary & vibrant paper products. greeting cards, notebooks paper pens, boxed notes

t. 01243 780501 e. info@jonesy.ca

sales@juicylucydesigns.com

jonesy.ca agents wanted

)

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.

LING DESIGN

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

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

Produc ts: 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.

ic icg c&g

Lin g Des ign Lt d 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

INTERNATIONAL CARDS & GIFTS

Quality

! dep d end on e you can and Servic

ICG are are specialists in quality greeting greeting car cards ds at fantastic prices!

One of very few publishers who design, manufacture manufacture and despatch all fr from om their Head Office in Dorset.

New products products launched every four weeks! weeks!

Also a specialist in everyday rreligious eligious / Christmas car cards. ds.

METHOD OF SALE Dir ect and Expor Direct Export

Greetings cards designed to make people smile. We have a card for every occasion plus a few extra ones we made up.

Contact: Sarah Britton on 07833 089 098 or email info@lovefromlemonade.co.uk

150mm x 150mm and packed in 6s

Made in the UK

BRANDS Pintura Ne Pintura New w cr creation eation Fun the moment Fun House House Treasure Treasure the Jazzy J azzy Fizzle Fizzl e Compassion Compassion International Car Cards ds & Gifts ltd Unit 4 Haviland Road, Ferndown Industrial Estate Wimborne, W imborne, Dorset, BH21 7RF

www.lovefromlemonade.co.uk

Tel: T e el: +44 (0) 1202 897 494 Email: sales@icgcar sales@icgcards.com ds.com

Web: Web: www www.icgcards.com .icgcards.com

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

61

58-64_PG_April 2015_PRODUCT DIRECTORIES 30/03/2015 17:01 Page 62

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l

l

originalposter.com

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

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

We replace slow sellers and damaged stock free of charge.

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

THAT’S WHY WE’RE ORIGINAL!

01932 267 300

Cards made with love...

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

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

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

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

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

paperlink... pap erlink... the home of fa fabulous bulous cards!

356 56 Kennington Rd London SE11 4LD T 020 7582 8244 info@paperlink.co.uk @paperlink.co.uk www.paperlink.co.uk

Suppliers of humorous & contemporary Birthday, Christmas, Spring Seasons, Occasions & Relations cards Brands include: Bottomline, Bestie, Wrinklies, Hat Trick, Route 69, Bangers & Flash, Humdingers, Lacie, Sassy, Stay Wonky, Patisserie, Tinklers, Made With Love, and many many more!

Method of Sale: Direct Paperlinkcards Paperlinkcards @paperlinkcards @ paperlinkcards

62

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

58-64_PG_April 2015_PRODUCT DIRECTORIES 30/03/2015 17:01 Page 63

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

l

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

LING DESIGN

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

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

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

RICHARD SELLMER VERLAG

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

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

DƵůƟƉůĞ ĂǁĂƌĚ ǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞƌ DƵůƟƉůĞ ĂǁĂƌĚ ǁŝŶŶŝŶŐ ƉƵďůŝƐŚĞƌ Ž Ĩ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ĚĞƐŝŐŶͲůĞĚ ŐƌĞĞƟŶŐ ŽĨ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ĚĞƐŝŐŶͲůĞĚ ŐƌĞĞƟŶŐ ĐĐĂƌĚƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƵŶŝƋƵĞ ϯ WŽƉ hƉƐ ĂƌĚƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƵŶŝƋƵĞ ϯ WŽƉ hƉƐ ĂĂŶĚ ƚƌƵůLJ ŚĂŶĚŵĂĚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞƐ ŶĚ ƚƌƵůLJ ŚĂŶĚŵĂĚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞƐ ĐĐŽǀĞƌŝŶŐ Ăůů ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶƐ͕ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ŽǀĞƌŝŶŐ Ăůů ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶƐ͕ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ŵ ŝůĞƐƚŽŶĞ Θ ũƵǀĞŶŝůĞ ĂŐĞƐ͕ ƐĞĂƐŽŶƐ͕ ŵŝůĞƐƚŽŶĞ Θ ũƵǀĞŶŝůĞ ĂŐĞƐ͕ ƐĞĂƐŽŶƐ͕ ĂĂĐƌŽƐƐ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƐŝnjĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĐƌŽƐƐ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ƐŝnjĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŝĐĞ Ɖ ŽŝŶƚƐ͘ tĞ ĂůƐŽ ŽīĞƌ Ă ůĂƌŐĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ͘ tĞ ĂůƐŽ ŽīĞƌ Ă ůĂƌŐĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ Ž Ĩ ƐƟĐŬͲŽŶ ĚĞĐŽƌĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĐƌĂŌŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƐƟĐŬͲŽŶ ĚĞĐŽƌĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĐƌĂŌŝŶŐ Ɖ ƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŽƵƌ zŽƵƌƐ dƌƵůLJ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŽƵƌ zŽƵƌƐ dƌƵůLJ Ś ĂŶĚͲĮŶŝƐŚĞĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ͘ ŚĂŶĚͲĮŶŝƐŚĞĚ ǀĂůƵĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ͘ Exp prre ss Yo urrsse Yo ellf ®

DIY DI Y

+44(0)1983 209 590 hello@secondnature.co.uk hello@sec ondnature.co.uk

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

TM

Sensations International Ltd

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

Greeting Cards that are unique & special with creative wit.

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

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.

rosierobins.com 01992 536461

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

63

58-64_PG_April 2015_PRODUCT DIRECTORIES 30/03/2015 17:01 Page 64

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

The UK’s leading publishers of highest quality handmade Greetings Cards.

l

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT

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

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

Tel: 0845 450 1815 Fax: 0845 450 1816 Email: enquiries@talkingpics.co.uk Website: www.talking-pictures.co.uk w: www.tomcatcards.co.uk www.tomcatcards.co.uk e: tomcat@tomcatcards.co.uk t: 01243 837300

TEL: 01480 435562 FAX: 01480 450599 Products: Greetings Cards, Gift Wrap, Social Stationery, Gift Bags, Keepsakes, Partyware.

www.tracksltd.com UNIT 2, 12 BLACKSTONE RD, STUKELEY MEADOWS IND EST, HUNTINGDON, CAMBS, PE29 6EF

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

Method of sale: Wholesale Distributors

To appear in the Product Directories

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

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 64

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

01923 200600 | www.woodmansterne.co.uk

l

Top-notch British Greeting Cards for Thoughts that Count

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

65_PG_March 2015_whole sale dirSeptember 2004 25/02/2015 17:22 Page 65

Directory of wholesalers Directory of wholesalers DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS l

ESSEX

LONDON & THE SOUTH

WALES

CROMWELL CARD COMPANY Greeting Card Distributors

Greetings cards, Stationery, & Party lines Cash and Carry Unit C Coppen Road, Dagenham Essex RM8 1HJ Mon-Fri 9.30-5.00 Thurs 9.30-9.00 Sun 10.00-2.00 Tel 0208 592 2764

NATIONWIDE

MERSEYSIDE

R J’s Greeting Cards Ltd Merseyside Greeting Cards Ltd

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

Greeting Cards from 5p Contact R J Walkden on 0753- 9679-700

WEST MIDLANDS

Greeting cards * Gift ranges * Pocket money toys * Balloons * Badges * Banners * Soft toys * Stationery * Collectables , including dolls * Photo frames

magnus

Always something different Check us out now!!!

RUPERT

Mon-Fri 9.30 to 5.30 Sunday 10 to 1 Late night Thursday till 8pm Freephone 0800 0279072770 Fax: 0151 207 1564 Unit 7 & 8 Devon Street, Liverpool, L3 8HA

TRADING

Greetings Cards for all occasions

LONDON’S NO 1 GREETING CARDS STATIONERY TOYS CASH & CARRY

HERTS & LONDON

SUMAN BROS

OPEN MON, WED, THURS 9.00 - 8.00pm TUES, FRI 9.00 - 5.30pm CLOSED SAT SUN 10.00 - 4.00 UNIT 2, CHAILEY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, PUMP LANE, HAYES, MIDDLESEX, UB3 3NB, ENGLAND TEL: 020 8573 2975 / 1768 FAX: 020 8 561 2349 Email: info@abbeycards.com

Stationery and greeting card wholesaler

Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL T: 01923 200 900 F: 01923 200 909 Great deals Great location Plentiful parking Just off the M1 Junction 5 140

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

NORTH WEST

C A P S Card & Party Store Ltd

Mon/Wed/Fri: 8.00 - 5.00 Tues/Thurs: 8.00 - 8.30 Sat: 8.00 - 12.00 Sun: 8.00 - 2.00

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

Massive range of Cards, Partyware, Gifts, Gift Bags, Gift Boxes & Gift Dressings

574 Manchester Road, Bury, BL9 9SW

0161 796 7353

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

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

65

66-70_PG_March 2015_Layout 1 25/02/2015 18:20 Page 66

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

BAGS

l

CLASSIFIED

BAGS

Polypropylene & biodegradable bag specialists Over 40 years quality service to the trade Hotfoiling also available

GREETING CARD

ENVELOPES

FRIENDLY, EXPERT ADVICE DEDICATED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE TEAM FAST AND EFFICIENT SERVICE HIGH QUALITY FILM BAGS

FOR FOR ALL A LL Y YOUR OU R E ENVELOPE N V ELOPE N NEEDS! EEDS! Largest L argest rrange ange of iin-stock n- stock ccolours olours Over 400 Bespoke Envelope Sizes 8 Sizes Permanently in Stock RECYCLED

100% Recycled Paper A vailable v Available

PAPER

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

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

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

Specialists in high clarity bags for Greetings Cards, Prints and Calendars

Quality bags and a friendly service

Call Now 01228 560526 Email: sales@fulcrumfilms.co.uk Web: www.fulcrumfilms.co.uk

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.

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

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

66

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

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

66-70_PG_March 2015_Layout 1 25/02/2015 18:21 Page 67

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

FLITTERING

DISPLAY

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

PRINTERS

EXPORT

specialist greeting card printer We print using the UK’s first Carbon Neutral Heidelberg press and offer a wide range of specialist ďŹ nishes all in-house, including: Flittering, Flittering, F Foiling, oiling, UV V Varnishing, arnishing, Embos Embossing, sing, Debos Debossing, sing, Die cutting, T Tippin ippin Inserting, A Automated utomated individual c cello ello bagging, A Automated utomated labelling and wr wrapping apping in units.

Full packing and distribution services.

Waterwells Drive Waterwells Business Park Quedgeley Gloucester GL2 2AA T 01452 887000 E sales@alphacolour.com W alphacolour r.c . om By buying prroduc o ts with the FSC label you o arre supporting the grrow o th of re esponsible forest management worldwide.

Pro roduct ct pririnte ted on a Carbon Neutra ral Press www.heidelberg rg.co com/CO2 . 210504

TT T--C COC-002429

BMT-PEFC-0401

License No.155071

Š 1996 FSC A.C.

EXCESS STOCK

EXCESS STOCKS TO CLEAR?

print green with us

O F F S E T PRODUCTIONS

Op

Printing Greeting Cards for over 30 years • Litho printing • Digital printing

We specialise in purchasing excess inventory in GREETING CARDS, GIFT-WRAP and allied products.

Small or large quantities considered.

• Embossing • Die-cutting • Flittering • Foiling • Folding

All restrictions honoured.

• Packing

For an immediate DQG FRQĂ€GHQWLDO response please send samples and information to:

• ISO 9001 & 14001

N.E WHOLESALE 92 Station Road, Willingham, Cambridge, CB24 5HG T: 01954 260728 E: cardworkstrading@btconnect.com

PRODUCTIONS

t 01622 710 759

www.offsetproductions.co.uk

188 Forstal Road, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7DB

!"

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

67

66-70_PG_March 2015_Layout 1 25/02/2015 18:21 Page 68

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

PRINTERS

(London) The Capitals only Greetings card printer

at PJ Print we pride ourselves on great customer care, and the greeting cards

Award winning specialist printer for the greeting card industry

we make are pretty smart too.

To discuss how we could work

For Award winning Print

with you contact Simon King: Tel 0115 928 7766

look no further than

Email sales@sherwood-press.co.uk

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

The home of greeting cards nd e nt g indepe r in d a le The UK’s rd manufacture ca d greeting heZkY j_e

Do you find you need to quickly top up your popular stock lines, or would like to trial a few designs before committing to longer runs? Then the Windles Group FlexiSheet is perfect for you. With a turnaround time of just 5 days and 1,000 cards at litho rates, the Windles Group once again delivers useful solutions to you.

In order to support our other production methods, we are also now offering the FlexiSheet with our integrated ColdFoil, allowing you to develop a highly creative range of greetings cards.

] YWhZ f ]h[[j_d \eYki ed b _W Y [ f _Y[i I ki[ i[hl e\ _d#^e [ ] d W h bb <k [Z ]kWhWdj[ GkWb_jo Y[ i j_j_l[ fh_ 9ecf[ Z h[b_WXb[ d W b W _ed Fhe\[ii Wbb $ [h jee ic ZkY j_ed De ehZ ;Wij fhe h W < Z d W A K j^ 8e services, ur unique ation on o 250 1150 rm 14 fo in 01 n re For mo les team o sa e th ct nta please co eys.co.uk sales@loxl or email:

PEFC / 16-33-794

Benb[oi" A_bd Ijh[[j" I^[\Å[bZ I. &OI

68

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

66-70_PG_March 2015_Layout 1 25/02/2015 18:21 Page 69

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

CLASSIFIED

l

l

CLASSIFIED

PRINTERS

The Specialist Greetings Card Printer

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

Litho Print

Die-cutting Flittering

Digital Print Foiling

UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x20AC;iiĂ&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160;V>Ă&#x20AC;`Ă&#x192; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; UĂ&#x160; Â?Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;]Ă&#x160;vÂ&#x153;Â&#x2C6;Â?]Ă&#x160;iÂ&#x201C;LÂ&#x153;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x192;]Ă&#x160;`Â&#x2C6;iÂ&#x2021;VĂ&#x2022;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;wÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Â&#x2026;iĂ&#x192; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x153;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;`iĂ&#x192;Â&#x2C6;}Â&#x2DC; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; UĂ&#x160;-Â&#x2026;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;ÂŤĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160;

Packing

Embossing

UĂ&#x160;*Â&#x2C6;VÂ&#x17D;]Ă&#x160;ÂŤ>VÂ&#x17D;Ă&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;`Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;LĂ&#x2022;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160;

Distribution

UĂ&#x160;*Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Â&#x201C;Â&#x153;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;>Â?Ă&#x160;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;iÂ&#x201C;Ă&#x192; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; UĂ&#x160; iĂ&#x192;ÂŤÂ&#x153;Â&#x17D;iĂ&#x160;}Â&#x2C6;vĂ&#x152;Ă&#x192; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; UĂ&#x160; >Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x17D;iĂ&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;}Ă&#x160;Â?Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;>Ă&#x152;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;i Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160;

Tel: 01274 531828 Email: chriss@herbertwalkers.co.uk

UĂ&#x160; Ă?Â&#x2026;Â&#x2C6;LÂ&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x160;}Ă&#x20AC;>ÂŤÂ&#x2026;Â&#x2C6;VĂ&#x192; Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160; UĂ&#x160;-Ă&#x152;>Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x17E; Ă&#x160; UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;VÂ&#x2026;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;iĂ&#x192; Ă&#x160; UĂ&#x160;>Â&#x2DC;`Ă&#x160;Â&#x201C;Â&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;i°°° Ă&#x160; Ă&#x160;

www.herbertwalkers.co.uk

TM

Packaging

BRC

07974 133735 paul.watson@sherwood-press.co.uk

Certificated

HW 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!

Herbert Walkers Ltd The one stop shop for publishers large and small

O F F S E T PRODUCTIONS

Op

â&#x20AC;˘ Litho printing â&#x20AC;˘ Digital printing â&#x20AC;˘ Embossing â&#x20AC;˘ Die-cutting

â&#x20AC;˘ Hand made and hand finished greeting cards â&#x20AC;˘ Boxed sets and acetate packs of cards / envelopes â&#x20AC;˘ Giftwrap and tag packs â&#x20AC;˘ Individually open and closed wrapped cards â&#x20AC;˘ 'Pop up' and cardboard engineered products â&#x20AC;˘ Notelets and social stationery â&#x20AC;˘ Specialised printing on plastics & lenticular

â&#x20AC;˘ Flittering â&#x20AC;˘ Foiling â&#x20AC;˘ Folding â&#x20AC;˘ Packing

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.

PRODUCTIONS

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

t 01622 710 759

www.offsetproductions.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

69

66-70_PG_March 2015_Layout 1 25/02/2015 18:21 Page 70

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

l

CLASSIFIED

WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

The Professional and Caring Approach..

Hand assembly and contract packing specialists ... 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.

• • • •

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

Warehousing & fulfilment services.

Call us and we will get you packed up!

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

WIRE SPINNERS

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

Your Success Is Our Success

LB Warehousing (Women in Transport & Logistics Finalist)

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

Our costing structure is SIMPLE and TRANSPARENT.

With over 40 years experience in manufacturing point of sale (POS) display stands we understand the needs of the retail market to produce robust and cost effective units.

We have a wide range of wire stands in stock for immediate delivery or we can design and manufacture bespoke display stands to get your products displayed in the best possible way.

Tel: 02085947221 sales@saundersdisplays.co.uk

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

Home of the Wire Spinner Stand

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

Our CAN DO approach means that WE solve your problems.

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

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

70

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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.

IBC_Appointments_Layout 1 31/03/2015 14:44 Page 79

APPOINTMENTS

APPOINTMENTS

l

l

APPOINTMENTS

l

APPOINTMENTS

Witty, successful humour company seeks professional relationship

Agents Wanted Brainbox Candy is an original and rapidly growing humour card and gift company. Seeking additional committed and professional agents in three key areas. Sense of humour welcome.

Excellent commission, paid monthly & promptly.

Please get in touch.

AGENT REQUIRED Covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex & Cambridgeshire Please Contact 01480 435562 www.tracksltd.com www.tracksltd.com

Agents Required Halligan Raby has been a leading supplier of personalised gift & card ranges to the retail trade for over 30 years.

GREETING CARDS MUGS COASTERS BADGES CUSHIONS NOTEBOOKS GIFT WRAP APRONS TEA TOWELS FRIDGE MAGNETS MAGNETIC BOOKMARKS TRAVEL WALLETS MAGNETIC NOTEBOOKS AND MORE!

T: 01702 716643 / E: info@brainboxcandy.com / www.brainboxcandy.com

PIONEER EUROPE LTD VACANCY FOR FIELD SALES REPRESENTATIVES AREAS • LEEDS • BATH / BRISTOL. COMPETITIVE SALARY (SUBJECT TO EXPERIENCE) PLUS COMPANY CAR, OTE BONUS, PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE Due to continued sales growth and outstanding success with Sales and Marketing strategies, Pioneer Europe Ltd is increasing its current Sales team. As a market leading manufacturer and supplier of latex, foil and bubble balloons, along with an exciting and growing party ware range, we are looking for experienced sales professionals who share our passion to succeed.

Candidates should be friendly, outgoing and professional taking full responsibility for managing their territory. This would include servicing existing retailers, SME’s and online businesses as well as developing new points of distribution. You will possess good personal organisational skills and understand the importance of working to deadlines as well as sales and margin budgets.

We are looking for established sales agents who have good connections with gift shops, garden centres and tourist outlets. Experience in dealing with personalised ranges would be an advantage.

Contact us on 0121 453 1741 email: sales@halliganraby.co.uk

To appear in

Experience of selling to the greeting card, gift store and party store markets would be beneficial. However, as full training will be provided, a tenacious sales approach and a passion to deliver outstanding service will be key to succeeding in this role.

Part of our customer service programme includes demonstrating good product knowledge and the ability to deliver basic instruction and training in balloon decor to the customer.

Although this training is not the primary focus of the role, candidates should understand the importance that it plays.

You will need to be prepared to stay away from home on occasion and this could include occasional weekend working.

A full driving license is also required.

If you feel you have the qualities that we are looking for and wish to work for a progressive, professional and market leading company please send your full and current CV, plus letter of application, to carmens@qualatex.com or post for the attention of:

Carmen Stillwell Pioneer Europe Limited 9 Stortford Hall Industrial Park Dunmow Road Bishop’s Stortford CM23 5GZ

simply call Warren Lomax on:

0207 700 6740 or alternatively email him on warren@max-publishing.co.uk

NO AGENCIES 146 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

71

OBC_PG_April 2015 30/03/2015 14:47 Page 1