Progressive Greetings Worldwide July 2015

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Leader

On The Cards There is a lot of what could be described as ‘hard news’ out there in our trade at the moment - happenings and developments which will change the financial fortunes and shape of the industry. Most notable of these has to be Ling Design’s acquisition by Swan Mill group, known best through its Swantex and Penny Kennedy brands. Under the ownership of Duncan Spence for the last 18 years, as well as the trusted senior management team led by Julian Nash and Ian Bant, Ling has been resurrected as a very trusted, sizeable supplier in the greeting card world. For Swan Mill it holds true potential to expand its already strong base in the market, complementing its own brand activities as well as through its Penny Kennedy upmarket gift packaging business (see News page 11 and Cardsharp pages 28-29).

On another ‘hard note’ there is plenty still to unfold too about Tesco’s new direction and higher aspirations on the card front, but being the second largest card retailer in the UK what it does have are knock-on ramifications to many, either directly or indirectly (see News page 13 and pages 36-37).

In the yin and yang of greeting card life though there is lots of good ‘soft news’ out there too, which act as extra reassurance that what we are all doing on this greeting card ‘planet’ really has a reason.

The Southbank Centre, much loved by Londoners and a veritable tourist beacon in England’s capital over the summer months, launched its Festival of Love with an interactive feature that is snappily titled ’67 Small Acts For A Big Change’. The installation, which takes its inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s 67

Above: The 67 Small Acts For A Big Change installation in the Southbank Centre as part of its Festival of Love.

Left: One of the pledges, which forms part of the Small Acts installation.

Below: PG’s Jakki Brown (second right) was honored to be waving off the 45 cyclists, including PG’s director Ian Hyder (third right), who endured the blistering heatwave over the 300+ mile journey from London to Utrecht (the start of the Tour de France) at the start of July. The cyclists (largely from the licensing industry) collectively raised over £50,000 for The Light Fund charity started by PG’s Jakki Brown and Ian Hyder 11 years ago. (Right-left): Among The Light Fund committee members at the ride’s start: Ian Downes (Start), Jakki Brown and Ian Hyder (PG), Miffy, David Scott (Rainbow Productions), Alicia Davenport (Dri) and Stephen Gould (CPLG).

years of commitment to making the world a better place, called on members of the public to consider ways that they could continue Mandela’s wish. To get things moving, a list was pre-prepared and made available to the millions visiting the Southbank Centre and a ‘tree’ was created upon which people could pin their pledges.

Heart-warmingly, the second suggestion on that list was to ‘send a Happy Un-birthday card to someone whose birthday you missed last year’, while three other ideas in the first 10 are closely linked to greeting cards, namely: ‘say thank you to someone you take for granted’; ‘write a letter to a friend who needs to be cheered up’ and ‘thank a teacher who inspired/inspires you’.

I am glad that I live in a hard and a soft world, I’m sure you are too!

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©

JanieWilsonltd GREETING CARDS – HANDMADE IN ENGLAND

Brand New Range – Neon Jewels Visit our stand in it’s NEW location: Design Point 1, STAND DP126 Harrogate Home and Gift, 19th-22nd July 2015 EMAIL: enquiries@janiewilson.co.uk I www.janiewilson.co.uk TEL: 0113 256 6331 I FAX: 0113 255 6577

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Contents

What’s Inside

With This Issue:

FOCUS ON ART CARDS

51-55

57

Above and far left: Cards featured: 'Flower Show' by The Art Group and Mother's Day designs from Lonetree.

11-23

39-45

63-65

25-27

47-49

67-69

Over The Counter

Jeremy’s Journal

What’s Hot?

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, discovers some fresh shop looks in San Francisco.

Blue Eyed-Sun’s Jeremy Corner’s advice on how to get started with digital marketing.

71-73

Innovations

News

On A Mission

Kick Start

Golden Spring Glow

Cardsharp

“Events – Dear Boy!”

Cardsharp muses over topical events happening in the industry.

Lynn’s Lines

We Have Lift Off!

51-55 Spring Seasons Trends 2016

28-29

Art Source

Design trend ‘elements’ on next year’s Spring Seasons cards.

74-85

Classified 86

Appointments

57-59 In Conversation With… Paul Woodmansterne

31-35 Viewpoints

Top Picks At Half Time PG Live 2015 visitors reveal what products really caught their eye.

36-37 Industry Issue

Holding The Tesco Clubcard

Tesco partners up with Hallmark as its new greeting cards supplier.

Therapeutic Effects

61 Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys

History Makes The Future Debbie shares her latest paper art discoveries.

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

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Editor

Advertisement Director

61

Paul Woodmansterne, md of Woodmansterne, ‘unwraps’ the diversification into its Choc Therapy brand.

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.

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NOW AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER! GET IN TOUCH

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We would like to say a big thank you to all our customers who took the time to fill out our customer satisfaction survey. Here at IC&G our aim is to provide the best customer experience through high quality products, competitive pricing and an excellent service.

It’s clear that our dedication is reflected in what our customer’s had to say – Here is a small selection of comments from our wonderful customers...

This month we have launched a selection of great new cards as well as updated designs on a variety of titles from our current range. You can expect to see beautiful new handpainted artwork as well as lively new designs for Molly & Josh and Bitsy Bear.

Packed full of bold, crisp colours, with lots of bright hot foils and stunning flittered finishes, creating a vibrant and unique display for your shelves this season.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Ling Design Bought By Swan Mill Ian Bant To Remain As Managing Director Long-established greeting card company, Ling Design has been acquired by the Swan Mill Paper group, a major supplier of own brand wrap and crackers, which also owns upmarket gift packaging company, Penny Kennedy. Ling (which also incorporates its sister company, Talking Pictures) has been owned by Duncan Spence for the last 18 years. Duncan’s other industry business

Above: Swan Mill’s David Byk (right) with Ling’s Ian Bant.

interests include being a major shareholder in Carte Blanche Greetings and Moonpig.

Greeting card stalwart Ian Bant will continue as managing director of Ling, with David Byk, ceo of Swan Mill, becoming ceo.

Julian Nash, the current chairman of Ling will remain with the business until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition.

It had been a semi-open secret for some time that Duncan Spence was willing to consider offers for Ling.

“We shook hands on the deal in February, but it has taken a while to conclude,” reveals David Byk. As to the attractions of Ling for Swan Mill, which is also known under its Swantex brand, David said: “Ling Design is a really good business that has been well run and is well respected in the trade. With Ling’s £8 million turnover and a strong customer base we see much common ground, many synergies and opportunities”.

Aside from some own brand boxed Christmas cards (for the likes of Matalan, Dunelm and the Co-Op) and the dalliance of a small acquisition of Firebrand a few years ago, this is the first time Swan Mill has been involved in DTR greeting cards in a meaningful way.

For Ian Bant on a personal level, who is delighted to continue heading up the Ling business (and is also to take on the running of the Penny Kennedy side too), this continues a very successful year.

“How exciting 2015 has been for me so far? I got married in April, turned 60 in May and now this in June!”

Sarah Watts, director of Penny Kennedy, will continue to run the creative side of the Penny Kennedy business for the foreseeable future. ● Swan Mill has a turnover of more than £50 million and has 250 employees in the UK and Asia. The company manufactures paper tableware, giftwrap and tinsel in the UK as well as importing gift packaging, greeting cards, Christmas crackers and decorations through its Hong Kong office.

IG Results Exceed Expectations It's been a record year for own brand card, giftwrap, crackers and stationery group, International Greetings. Preliminary results for the year ended March 31, 2015, revealed revenue at £229 million, up by £4.6 million (2%) or £9.9 million (4.5%) at like-for-like exchange rates. Profit before tax, exceptional items and LTIP charges, were up by 21% to £9.2 million (2014: £7.6 million).

"I am very pleased to report an excellent set of results during a year in which we have exceeded our goals in profit generation, debt reduction and earnings per share growth," stated Paul Fineman, ceo of International Greetings.

Above: Paul Fineman, ceo of "We have continued to strengthen the balance sheet and simultaneously International Greetings. identified and invested in fast payback opportunities within our business."

Paul highlighted how investments made during the period mean the group is “very much on plan to deliver double-digit cumulative average growth in earnings per share, and we remain determined to continue to drive performance and reduce leverage.”

Selecting some of the year’s hot hits, Paul cited record volumes of its gift packaging and greetings products sold worldwide; the installation of a new gift bag manufacturing facilities in China; major licensing wins throughout the Group (notably with Disney and Universal Studios); the completion of major capital investment in production facilities in Wales, and its underlying profits in Europe being up by 32% following the successful acquisition and integration of Emper BV Giftwrap in Holland.

Minion Madness With Minions’ fans currently in a frenzy, over the Minions movie, which opened on June 26, retailers have been getting behind the blockbuster event, with PG Live helping to kick things off last June.

Together with Danilo, the trade show was delighted to welcome back the ‘mini visitors’, with retailers keen to have their photos taken with ‘real life’ Kevin, Stuart and Bob. To tie-in with ‘Minions fever', Danilo has also been running Minions bundle competitions, which launched at the end of June. These featured a Minions themed week on the company's social media pages, including fun Minions facts and questions, the promotion of the cards online and in Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s and Clintons stores, and two Minions Top: The Minions on the Danilo stand at PG Live. competitions - one on Facebook and Twitter, and Above: A Danilo Minions themed FSDU which has one Pin It To Win It on gone into stores.

Pinterest. "Together these competitions have seen over 1,100 entrants, with the two winners receiving a Minions bundle including greeting cards, a sound card, giftwrap, a gift bag and four Minion books provided by Centum Books," confirms Danilo's online marketing manager Claire Bates.

“Minions themed FSDU’s have also been developed by Danilo for retailers displaying its official Minions cards, giftwrap and bags," adds Claire. ● Also making the most of the Minions madness in store has been Selfridges who held promotions in both its London and Manchester Trafford stores. The upmarket retailer partnered with Kevin, Stuart and Bob for an exclusive Minions' concept in the Toyshop, where a wide selection of toys, inspired by the trio, were showcased alongside a women's wear capsule collection, created exclusively for Selfridges by various fashion designers and brands.

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Rachel Ellen Designs EXHIBITING AT HARROGATE HOME AND GIFT 2015

Sunshine & Bloom Adult Colouring Book

Launching an exciting new selection of cards, gifts and stationery!

Come and see our gorgeous NEW products, including tins, secret diaries, card ranges and adult colouring books!

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NEWS TOP STORY

Hallmark Clincher Tesco To Up Its Game On Greeting Cards In a significant five year partnership, Hallmark is to take over the category management of all greeting cards sold in the entire Tesco estate.

This unexpected development with the UK’s largest retailer, and second largest greeting card stockist, will also involve the launch of a ‘venture brand’ of exclusive greeting cards as well as a revolutionary new ‘card shop’ concept being installed, to varying degrees, across all of Tesco’s various store formats.

Kicking off in September, with merchandising and category management, this new arrangement with Hallmark supercedes the existing UK Greetings’ run brokerage supply chain, which has been in operation for several years.

“This is the biggest significant piece of business in the last decade of Hallmark Cards UK – and represents a big win for Hallmark worldwide too,” summed up Steve Wright, Hallmark Cards UK’s ceo. “It is almost two years ago that we were given the challenge by Tesco to reimagine its card business and take it to another level.

We will be doing this through an approach, which recognises the diverse shape of the Tesco chain and reflects the consumer needs of shoppers to each of its store formats.”

The announcement follows considerable secret development work by

Below: Hallmark has bagged Tescoas its main card supplier.

The Retas Points The Way

Hallmark, which has involved building a massive mock shop, which will form the blueprint for the new look Tesco ‘card shop’ that will be introduced in its entirety in the large Tesco Extra stores with elements distilled for Tesco’s superstores, supermarkets, Express and Metro stores.

The new greetings selection will be anchored by the new exclusive branded range (final name of which is still to be ratified), with Hallmark branded and other publishers’ cards being brokered in. The actual split between Hallmark and brokered product has not been revealed, but it is likely that various permutations will be trialled to find out what works best for the customer buying patterns in each of the Tesco store formats.

Coinciding with the change, Angela Anderson, hitherto Tesco’s category director of general merchandise, has joined Hallmark. She will be heading up the new dedicated Tesco team at Hallmark.

At The Heart Of Art Hallmark and its Tigerprint division were among the sponsors (and exhibitors) of the 30th Young Designers exhibition to help encourage young creative talent to be aware of the opportunities in the greeting card sector. The event, which took place in London at the Business Design Centre (home of PG Live) at the end of June/beginning of July, showcases students’ work from a great number of universities and art colleges.

Other big name sponsors were John Lewis, Wilko and Virgin Atlantic.

Commenting, Hallmark’s Emma Bragg said of Hallmark’s involvement, which includes sponsoring two awards connected to the show: Above: Some of the ‘on site’ creations at New Designers. "Discovering and working with new talent is essential to ensure we continue to create fresh, innovative and successful products, and this year's talent was as hot as the weather!"

New Designers Part One kicked off with Tigerprint presenting an award to Catrine Jones who studied Surface Pattern at Swansea College of Art. "Her pretty style, commerciality and fabulous use of colour really impressed the judges," underlined Emma.

On the opening day of Part Two, Hallmark presented the Hallmark award to Nora Wright who studies Illustration at Birmingham City University.

Nora and Catrine each win £500 and a three month placement within the Hallmark and Tigerprint studios.

A story in Skipton's Craven Herald newspaper about Cool! Cards & Gifts’ success as a Retas’ finalist this year has paid dividends. "We've had a huge response since the article appeared," confirms owner Tina Botterill. "People are coming in to say that they didn't know we were here, so it's certainly helped to increase footfall."

Above: Cool! Cards & Gifts.

Cardgains Charity Challenge Over 30 volunteers from the greeting card and gift industries, together with their families and friends, recently took part in June's Cardgains Charity Challenge event - Withering Thighs.

The Challenge covered a 25 mile walk in Bronte country in North Yorkshire, and, in line with Cardgains' driving theme, the organisation has pledged to raise enough money to buy a new mini bus for The Calvert Trust centre on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake in the Lake District's National Park.

Penny Shaw, marketing director of Cardgains, explained: "It was a fantastic day and, thankfully, the weather was really kind to us. Everyone survived with only relatively minor injuries, mainly in the form of blisters, and we can’t have scared many off as people are already asking ‘what’s next year’?"

There’s still time to donate to the charity to raise funds. Visit: mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/cardgains Above: The volunteers at the start of the Cardgains Challenge.

Below: (Left-right) Cardgains’ Jim Girvan with Penny Shaw and Chris Dyson.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Did Dads’ Day Do It? A Mixed Bag Say Card Shops With Father's Day being the last of the special Spring Seasons occasions, retailers revealed a disparity, with some indie card shops up on sales, while others were left hoping for more.

Among those who heard the tills ringing was John Lyons, owner of Sentiments in Burnham-on-Sea. "Overall, Father's Day was the best of the Spring Seasons events for us, with sales up by 5% on last year," confirmed John. "People bought across the range.

Humorous cards were the last to go, with customers buying them only at the very last minute. Our next strongest occasion was Mother's Day, with card sales being very positive.

Valentine's Day wasn't as good, and we did OK with Easter card packs."

Father's Day was also a good one for The Gift Box in Peebles in Scotland, where conversely, shop manager Tina Linton reported that customers were on the look-out for humour. "Father's Day happened to coincide with a local festival, so we were closed in the morning, but opened in the afternoon. It was definitely worth it as we were up on sales of Father’s Day cards from last year. We found that this year people were buying more cards for granddads and other male relatives."

With regard to other Spring occasions, Tina says that they were on a par with the last year. "I do think it very much depends

Below: Father's Day card sales were a hit for some retailers and not for others. These two designs for dads are from Think of Me (below middle) and The Art Group.

on when the occasions fall.

For example, if Valentine’s Day is midweek it can often bypass people. But if the occasion falls on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday, and, best of all, on a Sunday, then they always do much better."

At Cool! Cards & Gifts in Skipton, owner Tina Botterill was less enthusiastic.

"Father's Day wasn't fantastic.

In fact, I was surprised at how poor it was," she commented.

"We did best with quirky cards rather than traditional ones, and our best seller humorous Keep Calm mugs that I get made to my own specifications."

Tina says her best Spring occasion was definitely Valentine's Day. "Easter sales have in fact picked up though over the last couple of years. Packs of five cards sold well for us, and we totally sold out of religious themed cards. Overall however, over the past few years, the Spring Seasons haven't performed very well. I'd like to see publishers bringing out more humorous cards."

Also hoping for more was Jo Georgiou, owner of The Ark in Stoke Newington.

"Father's Day wasn't as good as in previous years," she stated. "It was OK, but very last minute. Mother's Day is always the best of the Spring Seasons for us and that performed well, and we sold a significant amount of cards for Valentine's Day, although we were a bit down on last year."

Dads Demand Better Father's Day cards got a bit of a bashing by the BBC's online News magazine recently, with journalist Charles Nevin highlighting that there's room for improvement. "Despite cultural shifts, Father's Day cards are still dominated by images of golf, whisky, drinking, cars and stereotypes. On this day of days, surely dads deserve more respect, and not, for example, a card bearing a badge and the legend World's Grumpiest Old Man… Nor should we have to suffer so much of this Homer-ish fun-poking at our supposed fables," Charles states. "If a greeting card accurately reflects society's view of the dad then society clearly has some way to go in recognising today's dad. The messages and images in and on our cards do not do Britain's dads justice."

Also highlighting the ups and downs of Father's Day was Stuart Heritage writing for The Guardian online. A proud first-time dad, he wrote that he wanted to "spend the full day lording it around like a grotesque sort of Moonpig Caligula." More concerned about the gifts he didn't want, "anything with World's Best Dad written on it" was taboo, as were presents relating to smoking, drinking, cufflinks and CDs. His best gift? "To hang out with my son and my dad." As for greeting cards? His parting shot was telling his dad that his column counted as his Father's Day card!

Thorntons Acquisition All Wrapped Up Thorntons is the latest British-made chocolate company to be snapped up by an overseas company. Italy's Ferrero Rocher, one of the world's top five confectionery companies, has paid £112 million for the company which has been struggling for some years with a string of ‘not so sweet’ profit warnings and poor sales. Jonathan Hart, the company's chief executive, resigned in May. Ferrero Rocher has confirmed it will be launching a strategic review of the business.

Thorntons, based at Alfreton in Derbyshire, employs some 3,500 staff, and has 242 stores and 158 franchised outlets, with many greeting card shops as Thorntons franchisees.

Below: Thorntons has been bought by Ferrero Rocher.

Home & Gift Launches DP5 For Cardies Among the new features at the Harrogate Home & Gift show this month, (July 19-22), is a new Design Point marquee, DP5, which will be erected in the grounds of the Majestic Hotel and filled predominantly with greeting card publishers. Some 49 companies will be showcasing product in this new area of the show.

Elsewhere as part of the show, a Great Northern Retail Summit will be taking place on Monday July 20 at the HIC. Organisers Clarion Events highlight that it will deliver an inspiring, educational programme focusing on business advice, including the re-birth of the high street and how to maximise online sales opportunities.

"With over 50 years of heritage, Home & Gift is an exhibition, a conference and a festival all rolled into one," comments show director Cleere Scamell.

In addition to greeting cards, the show will encompass exhibitors covering gifts, interiors, jewellery, fashion and stationery. The exhibition will also include Design Point Debut and Spotlight, showcasing design-led products.

Product trails feature the Best of British, curated by David Nicholls, Oliver Heath’s Eco Showcase, and a Christmas Trail.

To register visit: www.homeandgift.co.uk/register.

Below: Visitors at last year's Home & Gift enjoying an al fresco break at the show.

Left: Journalist (and dad) Stuart Heritages asks ‘Are dads hard done by when it comes to Father’s Day cards?’

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NEWS TOP STORY

A Natural(is) Acquisition

Cashing In Shares Sold At Card Factory There has been plenty of media comment following the news that Card Factory’s management sold almost £50 million of their shares, just over a year after floating the company on the London Stock Exchange.

Among those offloading some of their shares are chief executive Richard Hayes, who will retain 13.1 million shares (3.4% of the share capital) and chief financial officer Darren Bryant, who will keep 6.4 million shares (1.7% of the issued share capital).

Under an agreement, the management have agreed to not dispose of any further shares in the company for at least three months.

After Card Factory’s £766.6 million float in May last year, creative director Stuart Middleton sold £21.7 million worth

Above: Card Factory's top management have been selling shares in the company.

of shares, a third of his stake, and property head Anthony Barraclough sold half his stake to earn £18.5 million, while Richard Hayes took home £14 million.

Good Guess Rewarded Following a "brilliant launch" of Second Nature's new bunting product range at PG Live, House of Cards' Lisa Gilbert, based at the Tring branch, was the winner of Second Nature's bunting competition.

Entrants were asked to guess the number of lengths of bunting that would be required to stretch from PG Live's venue at the Business Design Centre in London, Islington, to Second Nature's distribution centre on the Isle of Wight.

"The actual answer, as best we could approximate it, was 24,224 bunting lengths, and Lisa’s guess of 26,370 lengths was the closest guess we had," comments Chris Bryan, Second Nature's national accounts manager.

Above: House of Cards' Lisa Gilbert receives her winning prize of a Fortnum and Mason hamper from Chris Bryan at Second Nature.

21 Today For Belly Button As part of the company's 21st anniversary celebrations at PG Live, Belly Button Designs gave out prizes to mark its 21st anniversary for the first 21 orders placed. Among the lucky recipients was Miles Robinson, co-owner of House of Cards in the Home Counties.

Gremlins At PG Live A huge apology goes to Marina B, among the exhibitors at PG Live in June. Somehow, there were gremlins at work as the PG Live was putting together the show catalogue and an incorrect image was used on Marina B’s page.

Shown is the correct image that should have appeared. The PG Live team would like to offer their sincere apologies once again to Marina.

Following the demise of Tullis Russell Papermakers, which went into administration in April, paper company GF Smith has acquired the full intellectual property rights for the Naturalis brand of fine uncoated papers that is used by many greeting card companies. GF Smith has distributed Tullis Russell’s Naturalis range exclusively in the UK since 2005 and promotes it alongside the company's other own branded products, such as Colorplan and Accent.

"Naturalis is one of the best performing uncoated stocks available," states joint managing director John Haslam."It has been an exceptionally successful product for us for the last 10 years and sales continue to grow.

Although we were deeply saddened by the loss of such a long-established and well respected mill, we have worked hard at ensuring that we can continue making Naturalis elsewhere in the UK to the same exacting standards as Tullis Russell."

GF Smith has also bought all remaining Naturalis mill stocks from the administrators.

Carousel Raises Over £75,000 For Charity Carousel Calendars' dated charity range for 2015 has generated a whopping £75,195 in royalties and donations for worthwhile causes, which include the RSPB, RNLI, RHS, RBG Kew, Perennial and Help For Heroes.

The company says it has also contributed to the growth of charity calendars within the market place, producing alongside its sister company Otter House - many of the exclusive lines being sold in charity shops and catalogues across the country. These include titles for Dogs Trust, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Oxfam, the RSPB, The National Trust and RNLI. New for 2016, Carousel has entered into licensed contracts with The National Trust, the RSPCA and WWF. Above and below: Two of the many Carousel Calendars’ dated items that are helping to drive sales for charities.

Right: The correct Marina B image that should have been used in the PG Live show catalogue.

Left: Miles Robinson is shown with Belly Button's founder Rachel Hare.

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NEWS Clara's Paw On The Draw

TOP STORY

Thinking Of You Week Spreading The Love To Consumers Thinking of You Week - the GCA’s campaign to create a wave of love, caring and happiness through encouraging people to send an extra card a day from September 21-27 - has got off to a cracking start, with awareness set to soar in what is only the second year of the event.

“Building on the success of the launch in 2014, when the greeting card trade really got behind the initiative, this year we are already seeing how it is set to build at consumer level too, by involving more retailers, the press and consumer groups,” commented Sharon Little, chief executive of the GCA. Instigated by UK Greetings, supermarket giant Tesco is really getting behind Thinking of You Week this year by actively promoting the event to its millions of shoppers.

Among the activities already planned, it is to include a specific advert in its customer magazine which not only explains all about the Week, but encourages customers to participate through a ‘seven greeting cards for the price of five’ offer.

In addition, leading consumer magazine title Crafts Beautiful, which has a readership of over 100,000, has also pledged its support for Thinking of You Week this year, promoting the event to its readers, giving an all important consumer boost to the week.

This year's Thinking of You Week’s branding was created by graduate illustrator Miki Rose, part of The Great British Card Company design studio team. It can be seen across the Thinking of You Week promotional toolkit, which includes flyer event posters in different sizes, retailer hand-outs, social media cover photos, email sign-offs and sticker templates, which are all free to download from the GCA website. (www.gca.cards) “It’s also really exciting that Thinking of You Week has also gone international with interest from the US, Australia, South Africa and Canada,” highlights Sharon.

Above: The Tesco advert that is supporting Thinking of You Week.

A Bespoke Award Greeting card and gift shop Spirito in Broomhill, Glasgow - currently celebrating its 15th anniversary – was among the Scottish businesses honoured at the annual Scottish Independent Retail Awards, organised by Oceanic Creative, at a black-tie event held at the Crowne Plaza in Glasgow.

Voted for by the public, there were 20 awards, with the shop winning the Bespoke Retailer category. "We had no idea we had been voted for and nominated by the public for the award so it was a fantastic surprise to get the call," owner Denise Laird told PG. Above: (Centre) Denise Laird, owner of Spirito, with her team enjoying their success at the recent Scottish Independent Retail Awards.

Meet Nick The Dragon Will he be a soft touch or a hard negotiator? All will be revealed when Nick Jenkins, founder of Moonpig.com - one of three new 'dragons' to join the Dragons’ Den panel - makes his debut on the popular BBC 2 show which is now in its 13th series.

Nick, who founded Moonpig.com in 2000, sold the company for £120 million in 2011. Over the past seven years, he's invested in other start-ups, particularly in technology and internet retail.

Left: Nick Jenkins joins the 'Dragons'.

Pippi & Me's Clara the Cat has found a new home in Scotland thanks to a prize draw on the company's stand at PG Live last month. Using her paw to make the draw, Clara meowed that the winner was Denise Laird, owner of multi-award winning card and gift shop Spirito in Broomhill, Glasgow.

Below: Clara the Cat is shown "Thank you to all making the draw on the Pippi the buyers/shops who & Me stand at PG Live. entered our competition for the one off chance to win Clara, specially commissioned for the Pippi & Me cards," said founder Jeanette Stevenson. "We will, of course, miss her, but we hope she has some great adventures in Scotland. Maybe she could send us a postcard or two!" Janette joked.

The Apprentices It was back to school for greeting card designer Julia Hook of Julia Hook Designs, who recently shared her talent and experience with eight 9-11 yearolds at Kings Heath Primary Academy in Northampton, where her husband is a teacher.

Invited to attend Apprentice Day, she gave up her time to show pupils what it's like to work as a greeting card publisher, showing them all the various stages of design, from initial concept to actual finished artwork on screen, and even a basic spreadsheet of how the costings work.

The aim for the graphic designer apprentices was to produce a Christmas card, which they all contributed towards, that will get printed, put into cello bags and sold at school to family and friends, raising money for resources at Kings Heath Primary Academy.

Julia began her lesson with a short overview of the greeting card industry.

“We started with initial concepts as raw drawings, scanning these onto the computer then using Photoshop and Illustrator to turn their drawings into actual designs. It was very hectic, but they were all very excited, and lots of ideas and enthusiasm was generated. I would like to think that my day with Kings Heath has encouraged some future publishers to keep our great industry alive!"

Above: Julia Hook (right) with two of the apprentices at Kings Heath school.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Jeremy Corners The Prime Minister Greeting Cards Make It Into 10 Downing Street Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha have no excuse for not sending greeting cards, especially as they were personally given some by card publisher and PG columnist Jeremy Corner (md of Blue Eyed Sun) during a recent visit to 10 Downing Street As part of the Start Up Britain initiative, which is sponsored by business software company Sage, last month Jeremy (who is a Sage Business Expert) was invited to meet PM David Cameron and other MPs, among them Ann Soubry, Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise.

"I flew the flag for greeting cards and gave a selection of cards to David Cameron for his wife Samantha, who loves stationery.”

Explaining to Ann Soubry all about the industry as well as Blue Eyed Sun, Jeremy said “she was very impressed to hear that all of our cards are made in the UK and exported to over 15 countries worldwide," recounts Jeremy. She revealed her own personal appreciation for the role greeting cards play, telling Jeremy that she keeps all her special cards and has many going back over the years.

“She was also interested to hear about the scientific research showing that we have a greater positive emotional response to greeting cards and hand-written letters than digital messages such as texts," said Jeremy.

Left: Jeremy Corner, md of Blue Eyed Sun, standing proudly outside No 10 Downing Street.

Finding Just The Right Empathetic Words Well-known contemporary lettering artist Kirsten Burke is turning her own experience of having had breast cancer three times to good use, creating a capsule collection of ‘empathy’ greeting cards, published

by Portfolio.

These empathy cards address a niche between the ‘sympathy’ and ‘get well’ categories.

The range is Above: One of three particularly significant for empathy designs from Kirsten. As well as having Kirsten Burke, beaten breast cancer three published by Portfolio. times she also sadly lost her mother to the disease when she was a child.

First diagnosed aged 30, Kirsten noticed that her friends wanted to help, but often struggled to express their thoughts.

“As a result, they often ended up saying nothing and seemed to disappear off the radar,” she says.

The cards coordinate with others in the Kirsten Burke range, published by Portfolio. The company has already launched three cards and Kirsten is currently working on others.

It Pays To Display A Shop Of The Month Facebook competition is helping to kick off the celebrations at Cherry Orchard, which sees the card publisher celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a packed programme of news and events.

Each month, one lucky winner will receive a bottle of champagne Above: Could your shop be Cherry Orchard's Shop of the Month? and a certificate, going forward to the Grand Draw in January 2016 where an overall winner will be given £1,000* worth of stock to be presented at Spring Fair 2016.

“We know how much time and effort goes into making a shop look appealing, from creative window displays to clean and tidy interiors,” says Cherry Orchard's managing director and founder Jackie Collins. “In this digital age, creating compelling images online is a powerful tool to showcase products, particularly seasonal ones, to entice customers into stores. To help our stockists promote their stores online, we’ll post all competition entries on our Facebook and Twitter pages," she added.

Stockists are being invited to email a photograph to SOTM@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk showing eye-catching window displays or any other interesting image of their shop. All entries will be posted onto the Cherry Orchard Facebook and Twitter pages. *Prize value is based on RRP and excludes mugs.

Back To The '80s Giftwrappings company Artebene, which is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, recently went back to the ‘80s to remember the founding of the company in 1985. It invited trade partners from across Europe to the launch of the company's 2015 Autumn/Christmas collection at its HQ in Ludinghausen, Germany, followed by a party to celebrate the company's 30 years in business, naturally taking the '80s as its theme.

"Artebene's clearly a child of the '80s," says Neil Matthews, sales manager at Artebene UK. "When we look at the designs that we created in the early days, it's like browsing your '80s clothes that you possibly still have. They may bring back fond memories, but you cannot imagine yourself wearing them anymore!"

Above: Having lots of fun: Artebene's trade partners, to include the UK, at the company's '80s anniversary bash.

Left: A selection of 80s style wrap and stationery from the Artebene archive.

Investing In The Future Greeting card printing company, Team Impression, has pledged extra support to the greeting card industry on several counts recently. Firstly, for the first time this year it is a sponsor of The Henries greeting card awards, joining the line-up of respected names who support these prestigious awards.

In addition, the Leeds-based printer company has also recently invested over £1 million on a newly installed B2 sheet size HP Indigo 10000 digital press.

Team’s director Gary Hickey says that this is the next stage in the company’s commitment to the greeting card trade.

Having started on the shopfloor himself, in the last two and half years, when he became director of the newly created Greetings division, “we have grown from a team of four people dealing with two publishers, to having 14 members of staff and looking at sales of £1.6 million, working with eight publishers.”

In addition to now being able to offer short run or sample greeting cards, the new B2 press can also be used to produce short run giftwrap too."

Above: Gary Hickey (right), greetings director of Team Impression with Indigo operator David Wallis.

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NEWS PEOPLE

TOP STORY

Treat Time

Below: The new Paperchase Treat Me reward card.

No Points Just Perks Paperchase has just launched its first ever loyalty scheme. Its new Treat Me reward card, which has a tagline of ‘no points, just perks’ allows all aficionados participating to make the most of specific offers, such as 15% off the next purchase, a £5 birthday gift voucher, free click and collect, a free upgrade to next day delivery as well as a £5 reward on spending £50.

In addition, Treat Me customers shopping in Paperchase flagship stores (Glasgow, Manchester and London) will also be able to enjoy free Tinderbox coffee and 10% off food.

Joe Irons, Paperchase’s multichannel director, said: “Our customers are incredibly passionate about Paperchase and have been asking for a rewards card for some time. We wanted to create something to develop customer’s emotional connection to us and make them feel really valued for being a Paperchase customer.”

Joe stresses that Paperchase’s customers have been at the heart of the Treat Me project: “The name ‘Treat Me’ comes from a segment of customers called ‘Secret Treaters’ shoppers, who reward themselves with lower priced luxuries like a new notebook.”

The full UK launch of Treat Me last month follows a successful pilot in Scotland, during which Paperchase conducted several customer research projects to understand what customers were looking for in a card. Reassuringly some 82% of trialed customers said they would recommend Treat Me to a friend.

Moonpig's Float In Question?

Potentially dashing the hopes for a stock market listing, online greeting card company Moonpig.com, owned by Photobox, could be up for auction.

Despite working on a plans for a stock market listing, according to a recent report in the Telegraph online, the company has hired Goldman Sachs to run an auction which could raise between £400 million-£450 million.

Several private equity firms have expressed an interest in the business to include US buyout groups TPG and KKR. The news of an auction has come as a surprise to many as it follows the appointment of JP Morgan, Jefferies and Numis to look into a possible £500 million flotation. In the past, Photobox's chief executive Stan Laurent, who, it is said, wants to remain in the business, has revealed his ambition to aim for a target £600 million valuation. The company also recently appointed a senior City heavyweight, Douglas McCallum, as its nonexecutive chairman.

In 2014, Photobox confirmed sales of £175.3 million. Current brands include Moonpig, PaperShaker, Sticky9 and Hoffman, which cover personalised greeting cards, mugs and fridge magnets.

Right: Stan Laurent, chief executive of Photobox.

Sad Loss

Above: Ray Cousins, who sadly died recently.

One of the great characters of the pioneering days of the greeting card industry, Ray Cousins, recently passed away at the age of 77.

Ray was a director of Hallmark in the 1980s, at a time when the company was experiencing huge growth in the UK. He was a flamboyant and colourful figure who contributed greatly to Hallmark’s rise. Ray then went on to become a director of Clinton Cards, working closely with Clinton’s founder, Don Lewin.

In the mid 1990s he took on the role as the first chief executive of the newly formed Greeting Card Association, before handing over the reins to Sharon Little, who has continued with that role to the present day. And indeed Ray religiously attended the annual Past Presidents gathering.

Ray subsequently retired to Dorset where he ran a bed and breakfast for a number of years while continuing to offer advice and consultancy on the greeting card industry, right up to his recent illness.

● Danny Gratton (right) has been promoted to the position of national sales manager at Abacus Cards. Danny joined in 2006 and previously managed the company's Midlands territory. ● Belly Button Designs has created three new key roles.

Kerry Mellor (right) has been promoted to business development manager having worked as sales administrator for the past three years within the business; Sophie Loren Bell (below middle) has been promoted to UK & export account administrator having worked within the customer support team for the past two years, and Angela Hilton has joined the Belly Button customer support team. ● Amanda Fergusson (below right), who has been sales director of Caroline Gardner Publishing for the last 11 years, is leaving the company to take a career break from the end of this month.

During Amanda's time with Caroline Gardner, the business has undergone a period of huge expansion, both in the UK and internationally.

Commenting, Angus Gardner, md of Caroline Gardner says: “Amanda has been a real asset to our business and we will all miss her. I was briefly very envious of her career break decision, but then remembered that teenage kids are best appreciated from the comfort of a distant office…we wish her all the very best and look forward to regular news from our good friend.”

Happy Retirement Having worked in the card industry as an agent for 40 years, Ian Gunn, who has represented UKG/Carlton/Rust Craft, has decided to retire.

Recalling a long family association, PG's columnist David Robertson and owner of Bijou in Elgin, said: “I have nicknamed Ian ‘the metronome’, as you really can set your watch by him. He is exactly what a rep should be - honest in his opinion, hardworking, organised and ensuring that you get the service that my or any account deserves large or small. He is without doubt respected across the North East of Scotland. He will be missed and impossible to replace."

Above: Ian Gunn has retired after 40 years as a card agent.

In Memory Of Calum Start Licensing's Ian Downes would like to offer his sincere thanks to all his friends and colleagues in the greeting card and licensing industry who have shown so much support and friendship to the Downes family in recent times, following the unexpected passing of Ian's son Calum.

Ian said: "As a family we have been touched by the heartfelt messages, practical support and love extended to us at this very sad time by our 'licensing family'.

Ian and his family are also extremely grateful for the donations made in Calum's memory to the University of Portsmouth Student's Hardship Fund, including a donation from The Light Fund.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Over The Counter

On A

Mission

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, unearths some fresh shop styles on his trip to the Mission district while on holiday in San Francisco.

Freak or Unique is not a new range from Brainbox Candy, but it was of course a staple of Channel 4’s TV programme TFI Friday that was aired from 1996 to 2000. As I am writing this, I am half watching a ‘reboot’ of what was always the start of my weekend 19 years ago.

The show’s presenter Chris Evans, for whatever reason, has IT. He appeals to everyone from kids to mums and everyone inbetween.

The recent ‘step back in time’ TFI Friday programme allowed us 40somethings to think back to our heyday when worries were

few and building companies and reputations was perhaps not at the forefront of our minds.

The rerun of some of the features that used to be on the show may now seem tame in this modern world, but what it does did was give us a warm, fuzzy feeling as we reminisced to fond times.

Links between things of course are best when they happen naturally. In late May I stood in a very cool card shop called Serendipity (yes, that really was its name and the irony was not lost on me) in San Francisco’s Mission district and a book jumped out at me… Get Sh*t Done!

This had the same title of one I had read and upon which I based my last month’s column about depression. But far from this

Right: Murals grace the walls all around San Francisco.

Below left: Chris Evans, presenter of TFI Friday and now Top Gear.

Below: Card store, Serendipity in San Francisco's Mission district.

one being another book about the difficulties in business life, it was the total opposite. It was a book of quotes, largely of tech-orientated sayings by entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs.

Now regular readers know I love a quote, but I can also tell you not nearly as much as I loved the Mission district of San Francisco.

The Mission was originally home to the Ohlone Indians and, as the name suggests, it was where a number of missionaries settled and tried to help/use the natives to get things done. Over many years, the area was quite transient, though during the Gold Rush many settled there.

Fast Forward into the 80s and 90s and it became home to a huge swathe of

Central and Southern Americans and people from the Middle East.

As the 90s happened and San Francisco moved forward with the dot.com explosion, many of the huge advances in tech were driven from this city. With this, the Mission changed once more. Gentrification and the tech crowd moving in, drove up rents and drove out the people who made the area what it was.

Presently, the current vibe in the Mission is one of different, edgy stores.

There isn’t a Walmart, Walgreens or McDonald’s to be seen, and my god it is the better for it, but for how long?

From barbers to bakers to Bi-Rite, when I visited in May, the Mission area was literally packed with shops, bars, restaurants and meeting places that celebrated being different. It is a place where the multinational brand was not welcome, where plastic signs and brightly polished floors were replaced with exposed walls and daylong queues for a shave.

One great story was of a bookstore that had been in the city for nearly 30 years. The landlord was driving the rent up by $12,000 per annum and the local community and business rallied to collect twice this amount to keep it open for at least another two years.

The landlord then tried to raise it further. A move around the corner and a lot of bad publicity later and that building remains empty 18 months down the line.

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Over The Counter

It made me think - why don’t things last?

Why can’t we recreate this? The answer, like the recent reboot of TFI Friday, is that you can recreate it, but it won’t be the same as before.

Times change, people change.

London’s Soho and The Docklands, and indeed many other areas in the UK, have suffered from gentrification, and what happens is of course as areas become cool is that they naturally attract more people and then suddenly it’s not cool any more. The hipsters and early adopters move on to something else and the Starbucks move in.

At the moment we would all want to be in the cool area. In fact, most towns and cities are hurting and struggling, so any type of boost would be welcome. I have one business (a newsagency) that is dying slowly, due to a change in culture. It is one based on traditional

newsprint, media and mags. Every week this sector slips further so I am hopefully going to shock my premises and this business back to life with a complete re-imagination early next year. The need to change and innovate is one that every business has to do, and that is what we are trying to do, but it is not easy.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”

- Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company I am guilty of wanting my store to be all shiny, shop-fitted and new, but what was

achingly obvious in the Mission is that this does not need to be the case. The Serendipity store for example, was quite dingy (mood lighting perhaps?), had card stands bolted onto the walls with various tables, and stands and shelves were dotted about. There was no uniformity or walking plan of the store. You explored it.

You found things. And they unveiled themselves to you. The store had a mix of books, cards, stationery, toys and lots of letterpress cards.

What was amazing about the shop was the wooden floor, which was drawn on and had rainbows and goodness knows what else doodled on it. The store felt like an adventure, even the windows were quirky and different.

Bi-Rite was another good example of something that we would class as a convenience or a C-store. Unlike our polished symbol groups in the convenience store sector, it had narrow aisles packed with goods. The layout was labyrinthine like with its own ice cream brand, a brilliant bakery section, a florists, fruit and veg and staff who really knew and cared about what they were selling. The counter area though was cluttered and the ceiling looked like it needed painting.

The staff were in a messy/trendy form of dress, but our guide let us into some figures and revealed that since the store went offpiste with its product, it was thriving.

Contrast this with the amazing supermarket and takeaway stores located under Twitter’s headquarters in San Francisco, that are all shiny glass and stainless steel, with product that is ‘out of this world’ in terms of choice, but they felt a little soulless.

That is another interesting thing about small businesses - those with soul I think may well survive better than those without. Now soul is something that you have, that history or personality gives your business. And soul is something that a certain customer type loves.

These customers are the loyal disciples I speak about, the ones that you need to nurture and encourage. The disciples of any business are what will ensure you survive against the tide of the internet, the supermarket and the shopping mall (not one of the better US imports!).

For me it throws up serious questions about what I am doing just now. Will my changes destroy the soul of my business? Will my core disciples/customers like it? I don’t know the honest answer, but what I do know is that to be different is going to be what it

takes to survive. What I do know is that my planning needs to be fun and purposeful.

“It was very easy to be different, but very difficult to be better.”

- Sir Jonathan Paul Ive, chief design officer at Apple Changing your building as a retailer is of course dramatic and daring, plus it takes money that doesn’t come flowing back to you very quickly. So another way to change is by bringing in new and exciting product. This is exactly what I did from my visit to the recent PG Live. On the whole I only bought from card publishers I hadn’t dealt with before and sought out those that were different and felt a little edgy. Check them out and see what you think…

Studio Seed - cards and stationery with feminine designs in soft pastels; Hearts Design - retro designs with blingy hearts and polka dots; Acnolee - Halloween, everyday and Christmas paper-craft; Charlotte Elisabeth wide range of good safe sellers; Tache - quirky cards and I loved them, especially the Pugs!; Designed by Mrs Lovesy - classy floral designs with Swarovski elements that are ideal for blanks/thinking of you sends; Louise Tiler -

Top left: David with his partner on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Above: A fold out card from Coulson Macleod.

Left: Small local grocery store, Bi-Rite’s success is down to its great service and fresh tasty produce.

classic female type cards; Brainbox Candy rude humour - finally bought them, sorry boys for taking so long!; Coulson Macleod - textorientated with fold-outs; Lonetree - beautiful seaside designs with foiling.

Another two companies that I didn’t buy from at the show, but will do, are Catherine Kleeli (very different animal cards. I loved the Border Terrier design, his face was so soulful) and Lizzie Chancellor, great raw talent.

Small companies (publishers and retailers) are the lifeblood of our industry’s economy. They carry the oxygen and they breath life into the market, and what is obvious is that the majority of us reading this article are that oxygen. We are the ones who view our business… …“as not a part-time job or full-time job, but a lifestyle.”

- Carrie Layne, ceo of Best Buzz and cool social media marketing guru.

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

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CARDSHARP

“Events -

Dear Boy!” Events in the greeting card industry, reflects Cardsharp, are a bit like waiting for London Buses nothing happens for quite a time and then three come along at once! This is certainly true in the last month where there has been a flurry of activity post-PG Live.

Cardsharp was enjoying the summer sunny weather when ‘bang!’ came the surprise news that Hallmark had won the right to be principal card supplier and broker to Britain’s largest supermarket chain Tesco. Although Tesco has had its fair share of adverse publicity recently, regarding both its conduct and financial performance, in the card world, after Card Factory, it is the largest retailer of greeting cards in the UK, so such a move is very significant.

For what it is worth, Cardsharp has always thought that Tesco and UKG (its broker in recent years) have collectively done a very good job on the greeting card front. UKG always treated its many participating publishers with a good deal of respect, working with the buyers to ensure that the consumer offer had a lot of variety, so the move to replace it with Hallmark came as something as a shock to many. But in what is a rumour-rife trade, credit must go

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

to Hallmark for carrying out such a stunning coup that no one saw coming.

It will of course be interesting to see what Hallmark does with Tesco now it has won the business. Publishers that have been supplying Tesco will now be hoping that Hallmark sticks to a similar percentage of brokered-in product as previously. With the supermarket sector struggling to maintain

Above: Suddenly, events in the card industry are arriving like the proverbial three buses.

Below: Hallmark is to supply supermarket chain Tesco.

like-for-like annual sales in the face of changing shopping habits, it will be interesting to see if there are any more changes in the sector in the year to come.

The other big news was the purchase of historic greeting card publisher, Ling Designs, by Swan Mill Paper Company, also known under its Swantex brand. Ling is one of the oldest and respected trade brands in the greeting card industry and has had a long and chequered history. Originally called Henry Ling, over the years it has gone from family ownership to management ownership and then to a grim period where it was bought and subsequently nearly ruined by Filofax PLC. Industry legend Duncan Spence, also part owner of Carte Blanche, rescued it and revived it, and over the last decade it has been a very solid supplier. Ling then became quite acquisitive itself, acquiring handmade supplier Talking Pictures, and brands like Rainbow Cards, Max and Sid and Sarah Warren. It could be argued that Ling lost its way creatively a couple of years ago, but in Cardsharp’s opinion, the last year has seen a real improvement in terms of product quality.

It has been an open industry secret that Ling was on the market, but few suspected that Swantex would be the acquirer. But on reflection, it makes perfect sense.

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CARDSHARP

Swantex is a large established family owned company manufacturing paper products including mass commodity giftwrap, napkins and crackers, supplying both the catering and retail trade. But it is obviously quite a low margin volume business. Around 12 years ago, it acquired Penny Kennedy, the high-end giftwrap company that had been struggling. Since then Penny Kennedy, under the creative direction of Sarah Watts, has held its own as a top supplier of high-end gift packaging, shrewdly signing up high-end licences to maintain its market position. Although tiny in comparison in turnover of the core Swantex, Penny Kennedy provided a margin that could never be achieved in a volume business.

Hitherto Swantex has never been a greeting card specialist. Aside from producing a number of own brand Christmas boxes for the likes of Matalan, a few years ago, Swantex did dip its toe into the direct to retail greeting card market when it acquired small publisher Firebrand, but little came of it. The Ling acquisition is of a totally different scale. Ling’s turnover is around £8 million, and being a direct to retail, middle to upmarket publisher, in common with Penny Kennedy, it offers reasonable profit margins to its new owner.

Geographical considerations must also have played a part. Both Ling and Swantex are based in Kent, which will obviously make integrating the two companies a lot easier.

Plus there are no doubt synergies to be gained from utilising Swan Mill’s Far Eastern facilities on some of the boxed or giftwrappings products.

Long-term Ling managing director, Ian Bant, is staying on and will also take on responsibility for running Penny Kennedy, so it looks like a ‘win win’ situation all around.

It struck Cardsharp that this is the first large scale publisher acquisition in a long time and wonders whether this is the start

of a flurry of more activity. With the retail economy enjoying a fragile recovery, Cardsharp wonders if those players that have survived the recession reasonably well will be looking to grow by acquisition. Given that the market is now so mature, it is very difficult to grow turnover organically and merger and acquisitions may well be back on the agenda.

The third headline grabber was the decision of two directors of value retail chain, Card Factory, to sell a £multi-million tranche of shares, after allegedly pledging just before to shareholders that they wouldn’t sell any for three months.

Directors had already enjoyed a £50 million pay out when the company floated last year, in what has proved to be the most successful of the host of IPO flotations last year. Card Factory is performing well and is up to 764 retail outlets, while its online division, Getting Personal.Com, seems to be gaining momentum. The question Cardsharp asks himself is whether the directors know something the rest of us don’t. Why break a

pledge so quickly? Or is it simply a case of temptation proving too strong?

Certainly the attraction of a sellers’ market must have helped. Chief executive, Richard Hayes was the beneficiary of £9.6 million after receiving around £14 million at the time of the launch, while chief financial officer, Darren Bryant received £4.7 million.

They both apparently sold about 20% of their stake. It was interesting though that the largest individual shareholder and longterm industry veteran, Stuart Middleton, appears not to have disposed of any more of his shares, although he did receive £21 million for around a third of his holding last year at the time of the floatation.

Cardsharp reflects that these types of huge mouth-watering figures have not been seen since the 1990s when the likes of publisher Andrew Brownsword and retailer Ron Wood saw a huge return for their endeavours when they sold their companies.

Another question is where does Card Factory go from here? The City likes to see a game plan that is more than just more of the same. With this in mind, Cardsharp is surprised that the Paperchase acquisition rumours seem to have gone tepid.

Cardsharp recalls that it was the patrician, Tory Prime Minister of the late 1950s and early 1960s, Harold Macmillan, when asked what were the biggest issues he faced, answered: “Events... Dear Boy!” The last month has proved that ‘events’ continue to surprise in our vibrant UK greeting card industry. The big unanswered question though is what other events will the rest of the year reveal?

“Cardsharp recalls that it was the patrician, Tory Prime Minister of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Harold Macmillan, when asked what were the biggest issues he faced, answered: “Events… Dear Boy!”

Top: Paper products manufacturer Swantex’s website.

Inset: Conservative PM, Harold Macmillan.

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VIEWPOINTS

Top Picks At Half Time

Below: The PG Live team (left-right) Simon Boyd, Tracey Arnaud, Jakki Brown, Jacqui Parr, Warren Lomax and Ian Hyder, outside of the Business Design Centre where the show took place in May.

Taking place at the half-way point of the year, PG Live was a major launch pad for publishers large and small.

PG asked a selection of retailer visitors what products really caught their eye from exhibitors, as well as for their overall views of the show.

Sally Matson co-owner of Red Card, Petworth: Top Picks: “My main focus at PG Live has always been the Springboard section. This year I felt the quality of the Springboard section was very high. I was particularly impressed with Your Type Studio, a really unique greeting card product that will prove very popular and will liven up window displays.

I also purchased from Ilona Drew, of I Drew This as I think the artwork and detail on her cards is really beautiful, and again, unique. Red Card is already stocking Molly Mae, but thought its new ranges were as strong as always. In the main section of the show, I was particularly impressed with Wendy Jones-Blackett, where I spent my Retas Golden Ticket. I also loved Belly Button's new Darling Denim range, and I bought across all the ranges at Pigment - its Happy Jackson, Etched and Alice Scott ranges are huge sellers for us at the moment.”

PG Live Likes: “The thing I really liked best about PG Live 2015 was the atmosphere; there was a real buzz and sense of enthusiasm in the air - I think it was definitely the best PG Live yet, and it really felt like now it is truly recognised as the premier greeting card show. I did the most buying I have ever done at PG Live this year, and I would like that trend to continue year on year, as the show is a manageable size, easy to get to, the environment and facilities are great, and I really like buying at a show that only has greeting cards.”

Above: Red Cards’ Sally Matson (centre) with Wendy Jones-Blackett and the publisher’s agent Alan Potter.

Right: The new Darling Denim range from Belly Button Designs was a top pick for Red Card.

Far right: Dandelion Stationery’s ranges were popular at PG Live.

Claire Castle senior buyer - greeting cards, WHSmith: Top Picks: “I saw lots of new ranges from existing publishers which we will be trialing in January 2016 – too many to mention! The timing is pretty perfect, since ‘Progressive’ is literally one month prior to selecting new ranges for the everyday/blank Birthday range review in WHS High Street” PG Live Likes: “Progressive Live is not only the best greeting card show in the UK, due to the sheer number of publishers in one location, but as a buyer/supplier you feel really looked after visitors during the day with endless refreshments and facilities. I always use the show as a great way of catching up with existing publishers, checking I have seen everything new on offer plus to check trends across the market.”

Above: Claire Castle, having a rest in the Henry Cole Lounge at PG Live.

Miles Robinson and Nigel Williamson partners in House of Cards, Home Counties: Top Picks: “As far as specific ranges/companies that really caught our attention were: Inspired Goodbyes: Fantastic concept and will make customers cry. Well worth expanding our sympathy section to incorporate some of these brilliantly worded sentiment cards.

Catherine Kleeli: A different take on animal paintings.

I Drew This: Lovely children’s cards, especially the ages and Grandson/Granddaughter captions, these will be winners I think.

Its Little Tweets range has some great designs as well.

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VIEWPOINTS

Hannah Tait buyer, Oliver Bonas:

Charlotte Elizabeth: Fantastic handmade fabric cards that can be personalised using tapestry board.

Ruth Jackson: Something different and unique.

Dandelion: Absolutely brilliant quirky sentiment.

Belly Button: The use of colour is great, especially on seasonal cards.

Bexyboo Designs: Fun scrabble letter cards. They’re something different and unique. The Christmas designs are stunning!”

PG Live Likes: “A great PG Live; the best one yet. The attention to detail, in respect of looking after buyers, is second to none and really does make PG Live the most enjoyable trade show of the year.”

Top Picks: ”Stands which really caught my eye were Betty Etiquette (her typography was really on trend in the ranges Stellar and Inky Brush), the new YOLO range from Sooshichacha (a great use of colour, which will really brighten up our spinners), and I thought Coulson Macleod has some really interesting card designs.”

PG Live Likes: “I thought the show looked amazing and it was clear that everyone had put in a lot of effort into their new ranges. I am always ready to see new designs at this time of year to freshen up the range for autumn.

The show is short and sweet so everyone always has lots of energy and is in a good mood!”

Top: The Brushstrokes range from Betty Etiquette is on trend.

Above: The YOLO range from Sooshichacha punches out colour.

Left: Oliver Bonas’ Hannah Tait (left) and Tierney Stockford on the Tache Crafts stand, where they spent their Retas Silver Ticket.

Above: House of Cards’ Miles Robinson (right) with Woodmansterne’s Andy Patterson in front of the company’s new confectionery launch, Choc Therapy.

Claire Fitzgerald assistant buyer, related products, Waterstones: Top Picks: “I loved the quirky designs from Pippi & Me, which feature adorable handmade creatures, and also the literaryinspired cards from Bookishly, whose Alice in Wonderland bookmark cards have been a huge success for Waterstones in recent months, as you can imagine.”

PG Live Likes: “There were so many lovely touches added to this year’s PG Live, making it a thoroughly enjoyable experience, from the incredible welcome we were given by Drummer’s Delight courtesy of Davora, to the delicious lunch and vibrant decorations provided by Paper Salad!”

Above: One of the designs from Pippi & Me. Above right: Second Nature stunned Cardzone with its female captioned handmade cards.

Right: Cardzone’s Paul Taylor (left) and David Greaves (right) with Simon Elvin.

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Paul Taylor and David Greaves directors of Cardzone: Top Picks: “How long have you got?... to name but a few…

The UKG Hanson White stand had some really ‘groovy’ new humour product and it was good to see all the work going into Giggles.

Cherry Orchard had some great new specialist/line extension ranges and it was also interesting to see them venturing into milestone gift product.

The new Minions cards from Danilo were terrific and looked very commercial.

Second Nature seems to relentlessly continue to produce a massive portfolio of very strong handmade cards, especially across female relations and wedding/anniversary. Some terrific new designs here AGAIN.” PG Live Likes: “PG Live is a really productive and buzzy environment that means a lot of work can be done in a relatively short period of time - and it has to be said London has some great restaurants!”

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VIEWPOINTS

Mark Janson-Smith founder of Postmark, Balham, Dulwich and Turnham Green:

Debbie and Jerry Brown co-owners of First Class Greetings, Hadleigh: Top Picks: “There were lots of interesting new publishers in Springboard, but one that particularly caught our eye was Charlie Foxtrot, for its gentle humour and original photographic artwork.

We were still impressed by our existing suppliers: UK Greetings for its new Hanson White humour range, WTF; Woodmansterne for its humour range Truth Facts, as well as The Great British Card Company for its humour range, Look At It This Way.” PG Live Likes: “What a great show! Where to begin?

So many great companies. We spent our Retas Golden Ticket with Inspired Goodbyes because we felt this product is unique, providing a contemporary but heartfelt offering to the sympathy card market.”

Top Picks: “The real stand out find for me was Two Beans in the Springboard section, who created a lot of buzz around the show. I managed to place my order first thing and the lead times were 2-3 weeks, by the end of the day they were quoting 4-6 weeks, so I was delighted to be first on the stand!”

Other stand out companies for me were: Eloise Hall - Her stand looked fab and the cards fly off the shelves. David + Goliath - A nice quirky, urban range. Pippi & Me - Cute, but in a nice way! The flying rabbit is going to be an absolute blinder! And The Art File - Its new stand-up kids cards are just brilliant.

Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot - I wouldn't usually stop on a UK Greetings stand as a little too mainstream for us, but there were some great humour cards on show that are more suited for a small independent like us.”

PG Live Likes: “It really was a cracking show and in my opinion the best selection of cards and suppliers in the seven years it has been running. The highlight for me is always going into Springboard and hunting out the next big thing!”

Above: Inspired Goodbye’s founders (far left) Sophia Lucop-Leech and Helen Lawson (second left) with First Class Greetings’ (second left) Debbie and Jerry Brown and Jacqui Payne.

Left: New humour from GBCC.

Sophie Greenwood

Above: Two Beans’ cards were a real hit at PG Live.

Left: Postmark’s Mark Janson Smith with Two Beans’ (centre) Livvy Noorani and Rachael Mulraney at the PG Live Opening Night Party.

Kate Briggs buyer, Asda: Top Picks: “I loved the new additions to Gemma’s Little Thoughts range as well as the new style Purple Ronnie.”

PG Live Likes: “We really enjoyed the show as it gave us an opportunity to speak to a large number of our suppliers in a fantastic environment.”

Left: A new look for Purple Ronnie from Gemma.

senior buyer, Funky Pigeon, Paper & Script and WHSmith Travel: Top Picks: “I was hugely impressed at the show by some of my favourite smaller publishers, with how they are developing their brands. Notably Tache Crafts, Libby McMullen, Rose Hill and Sooshichacha have really stretched their ranges and I'm so excited to be buying their products!

It has to be said that a lot of my older established accounts had amazing new ranges too. I was in stitches on the Paperlink stand looking at its new humour ranges!

Hallmark had a completely fresh take with its excellent new humour range using comedians’ quotes!

Paper Salad certainly didn't disappoint with its stunning new seasonal designs, while The Art File completely wowed me with its wonderful new giftwrap.

A hidden gem for me was Saffron. It had some gorgeous new designs that are just perfect for our new upmarket stores.”

PG Live Likes: “PG Live gets better and better. The standard of new product design this year was fantastic. Last year the Springboard section really stood out, but this year everyone pulled it out of the bag!

PG Live is by far my favourite trade show. And why the hell wouldn't it be when's it all wrapped up with a free bar full of the industry's colourful characters at the end of the day!”

Right: One of the designs from Saffron as a result of its licensing agreement with The London Studio.

Left: Funky Pigeon’s Sophie Greenwood (right) with Rose Hill, founder of Rose Hill Designs.

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VIEWPOINTS

Amanda and Will Oscroft co-owners of Love It, Stamford and Bury St Edmunds: Top Picks: “This year we had a few favourite stands and had a real giggle at the fantastic humour on offer.

We loved Dialectable Giftware, a fun range of cards and mugs and coasters with wonderfully refreshing everyday words used so effectively. Our favourites were ‘numpty’, ‘daft apeth’ and ‘flaming Nora’.

We also loved Special Delivery Cards’ eye-catching 3D cards, with fabulous artwork of dogs and cats and no silly words or slushy words - just simple and stunning.

Dandelion Stationery was a stunning stand, with beautiful handmade cards made in England and hand-finished by people not machines. We are always keen to stock cards with glitter sparkle and pearl and these fit the bill perfectly.

Finally, Redback Cards. This stand stopped us in our tracks. The designs by artist Guido Daniele, of animals painted on hands, were superb, while the publisher’s rude worded cards had us screaming with laughter.”

PG Live Likes: “We had a wonderful day at PG Live and certainly had lots to smile about...the warm exotic welcome from the Punjabi drummers and dancers was delightful and really got us in the mood. We always get a friendly welcome from the ‘carded ladies’ who hand us a goody bag, followed swiftly by a free cuppa, which is such a civilised British way to start any day, especially one where a lot of chatting and catching up is done. The location of PG Live is perfect for a day or two in London and the Business Design Centre makes for a light airy environment, so easy to find your way around.”

Above: Guido Daniele’s hand art, from Redback Cards, really stood out for Love It. Left: Love It’s (left) Will and Amanda Oscroft spending their Greats voucher with Special Delivery Cards.

Jane Chandler director of M&P Cards/Occasions Cards and Gifts: Top Picks: “The following ranges stood out for me, and will be going into our stores in the near future: Portfolio’s Kirsten Burke - Impactful on the card racks.

Redback Cards’ Argyle Sweater and Wulffmorgenthaler - great contemporary humour.

GBBC’s Thread Drawn - striking and very unusual artwork, plus the publisher’s new handmade range from The Paper Gallery - good quality, great price points.”

PG Live Likes: “The PG Live exhibition is a great opportunity to check out new designs, and new artists, to ensure we have the best card offering available in our stores.

It is a much more intimate and relaxed environment, compared to other shows. It was good to see the support from so many suppliers in the industry. A fabulous lunch too!”

Right: M&P Cards’ Jane Chandler with Chris Houfe (of GBCC).

Liz Killick, owner Calladoodles, Carshalton:

Below left: A design from newbie publisher, Charlie Foxtrot.

Top Picks: “As evidenced by our Silver Ticket choices we particularly loved: I Like Birds - super people, excellent unique designs - fresh, contemporary, covetable, I can see the company’s ranges developing into textiles, homewares - one to watch! I liked the 'colour-in’ notecards option, which feeds into the current vogue for grown-ups' colouring books.

Judy Lumley - we already stock these unique cards and lovely wrap and are delighted to see how the range is expanding. Judy is talented, witty and self-effacing.

We also spotted: Charlie Foxtrot - strong clear colours, great designs. We particularly liked its Monsters, Foxes, Cats (children's ages) ranges.

Betty Etiquette - fresh, handpainted look, you can almost feel the brushstrokes. The Inky Brush and Pomp & Circumstance ranges were also great.

Bonnie Blackbird - its welldesigned, amusing cards will appeal to our young mums in particular, with the Sweet Pea and It's a Sign ranges standing out.

Rose Hill - strong contemporary designs especially like the cat and dog personalities!

Pigment - its new Emporium range will be a must.

The Art File - its new stationery ranges and new stand-up animal cards are great.”

PG Live Likes: “Good atmosphere, plenty of new exhibitors and products, delicious lunch, as usual, and the chance to meet new friends and old!”

Michelle Ellingham and Jan Wood

Below: Box of Delights’ Michelle Ellingham presented Nicci Hammond of Hammond Gower with its Silver Ticket.

co-owners of Box of Delights, Flitwick: Top Picks: “One new range that really caught our eye was Privee from Hammond Gower, it had a nostalgic feel that is reminiscent of the 'Henry Butler’ days, which is why we spent our Silver Ticket with the company.

Five Dollar Shake’s Christmas was beautiful and innovative, it just keep getting better.

We loved Belly Button’s new male Platinum range. We ordered all 24 designs as we still find it difficult to get it right for teenage boys.

Coulson Macleod was another stand out. We just loved the letterpress style and sentiment.

The Choc Therapy Belgian chocolates from Woodmansterne was another product highlight for us. These were great would make a great add on sale, especially for thank you gifts.

Also, the new Happy range from Wendy Jones-Blackett deserves a special mention as it is so very eye-catching, bright, cheerful and, as its range name suggests, happy!”

PG Live Likes: “We just love this friendly informal show. We can sort all our buying for the rest of the year. Also the delicious lunch is great!”

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Industry Issue

Holding The

Tesco

Clubcard

In a secret room, at the end of a faceless corridor, in an almost forgotten building in West Yorkshire, is the future of greeting cards for the UK’s largest retailer.

The breaking news that Tesco is making the switch to Hallmark as its greeting card ‘partner’ is still percolating strongly through the trade, with the permutations of the probable ramifications ruminating in the minds of publishers, retailers and suppliers.

Steve Wright, Hallmark’s ceo, granted PG a ‘no photos sneak peek’ of the blueprint ‘card shop’ concept that will be integrated, to a greater or lesser extent, into all Tesco store formats over the coming months.

“This is the biggest significant piece of business in the last decade of Hallmark Cards UK - and represents a big win for Hallmark worldwide too,” summed up Steve Wright, Hallmark’s ceo, shortly after the news had leaked a couple of weeks ago about it taking over as category manager, own brand supplier and broker of the entire Tesco estate on cards from this September.

Tesco appointing Hallmark as its greeting card partner is big news whatever your industry perspective.

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Above and bottom: The Tesco Extra and Metro stores will have the space to really allow the new ‘card shop’ concept to shine.

Below left: Steve Wright, ceo of Hallmark UK.

There is no denying that Tesco is a humungous retailer, admittedly one that has had big financial and PR problems to contend with in recent months. But it operates from an incredible 3,500 stores in the UK, serving millions and millions of consumers every single day.

And, as UK Greetings (and the publishers who the company brokered into Tesco over the years) knows very well, despite the fact that greeting cards are unlikely to be top of a Tesco customer’s shopping list when they go into one of the grocer’s stores, they have notched up impressive sales for all publishers concerned.

In fact, were it not for Card Factory’s expansion, Tesco would still be the UK’s largest greeting card retailer (a position it claimed following the demise of Clinton Cards and subsequent store closure a few years ago). The visibility of cards in Tesco and the breadth of choice on offer under UK Greetings’ tenure as broker and category manager has improved immeasurably from what would have been thought possible from a major grocer. However, in what is also a show of faith in the robustness of the product category of greeting cards, two years ago the Tesco senior management team laid down the challenge to Hallmark to “reimagine” what its greeting card offer could look like, both in the actual product mix as well as the instore environment, pertinent to the type of store, from the massive Tesco Extra stores down to the smallest Tesco Metro branch. The end game though is to significantly grow Tesco’s card sales from its current level, largely

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Industry Issue

by persuading more customers to buy its greeting cards from Tesco.

Tesco represents a big prize for Hallmark, and so was well worth pulling out the stops for, which it has done.

It has clearly played its cards well, and quietly with little suspicion aroused that such a large account was up to be changed.

On the product front, with Hallmark’s Tigerprint business (which supplies and manages the entire greeting card selection in Marks & Spencer) being a superb working example of how creating spec own brand cards can really work, 12-15 months ago Hallmark gave a taster of how this could work for Tesco by creating what became some high performing own brand designs. Also working in Hallmark’s favour is that Adam Dury, Tesco’s category director of general merchandise, was head of merchandising at M&S a decade ago where he had dealings with Tigerprint (the division Steve Wright used to head up).

Key to the new offer, which will really start to filter in from next March, will be a newly created exclusive range that will be published under a yet to be ratified ‘venture brand’. This specially created sub brand will make no reference to Tesco nor Hallmark in a similar vein to the F+F brand name has become synonymous with Tesco’s own apparel.

While these new exclusive venture branded cards will account for a major chunk of the displays, they will feature alongside a slug of Hallmark branded cards as well as those brokered in from other publishers.

As Steve is at pains to point out: “We cannot do everything. There are some wonderfully talented publishers out there and we need them to work hand in hand with us to deliver the best selection of greeting cards for Tesco customers.”

A major change however will be in the look and feel of how the cards will be displayed,

Three Tiers

All

“It was a wonderful opportunity for us to be able to show what About we, ourselves a reimagined business, are capable of,” states Steve Wright, ceo of Hallmark UK, making reference to the three pronged approach he has taken since taking over the helm of the publisher in 2010.

“Firstly, it was about getting our actual products right. Under Jo Bennett (creative director) there is no denying our products have become more contemporary and progressive in nature.

Secondly, I needed to fix the business internally. We had a structure that had been fixed in the year 2000, but 15 years on, the world and the industry is a very different place and we needed to be more agile. This required a full ‘root and branch’ review, resulting in £millions being invested in a whole new system. The previous view of: ‘do it the Hallmark way or no way’ has no place in today’s market,” admits Steve.

And the final tranche is customers. “We needed to take our expertise and tailor it to individual customer’s needs, be they indie specialists, (with whom our business is growing again); convenience stores (our ‘perfect metre’ display with the Co-Op is doing really well) and grocers, the setting up of a dedicated team with Morrisons is reaping benefits for both sides.”

With these three elements now in alignment, Steve feels confident that Hallmark is in the right shape to take on the huge challenge of Tesco.

Left and above: Hallmark has high hopes for its brand new Gus character that it is intending to develop into other products, aiming it as a major challenger to UKG’s Boofle.

Right: One of the designs in the Hallmark’s Handpicked selection, which has been developed specifically for independent retailers.

The range has recently doubled in size since its launch at the start of the year, to over 200 designs.

especially in the 240+ Tesco Extra stores where there is a luxury of space.

While there are still tweaks to be made as to how the final layout, overall branding and pricing communication will be in store, be it in its full ‘card shop’ glory (as it will be in the Tesco Extra stores) or graduated scaling down in its superstores, supermarkets, Metro or Express formats, the general feel of the as yet ‘secret blueprint’ is poles apart from what one would expect to find in a supermarket.

The glossy block-coloured headers graced with simple descriptors of the type of cards displayed underneath set the tone. The bays themselves are slightly set back, encouraging the shopper to have an intimate browse among the cards that are displayed almost full face. Eradicating any feeling of drowning in a sea of cards, the bays are interspersed with columns, with display ‘tables’ and ledges sustaining eye interest. The overall appeal is more akin to a cosmetics department than a run of card racks.

Fittingly, the template of this revolutionary Tesco ‘card Left: The learnings from creating and producing a bespoke greeting card offer for M&S through its separate Tigerprint division will no doubt bring benefit to the approach now with Tesco.

shop’ has been built and is being worked on in a largely deserted office building in Bradford, which was once home of Fine Art Developments, a former major card publishing business that Hallmark acquired many moons ago (then called Creative Publishing) that had been a major force in supplying grocers and other multiple retailers.

If walls had ears, this building would have been prive to a lot of interesting discussions, as it has once again been the bunker for another of Hallmark’s major game plan moves.

Providing an extra layer of assurance that such a momentous change will happen smoothly - especially seeing that the transition from UKG to Hallmark will start as early as September on the merchandising and category management front - is that Angela Anderson, formerly Tesco’s head of buying for cards, party and wrap is to join Hallmark to head up the new team that is being created specifically to look after the Tesco account.

Hallmark has had a few lean years and has lost a serious amount of business, largely to UKG. This clincher with Tesco, its tie-up with Amazon, significant product commitment to indies, as well as the distinct products it is to start supplying Card Factory with, means that Steve Wright has plenty to smile about.

“And there’s more, but I can’t tell you about it right now,” he says intriguingly.

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Innovations

Home & Gift

A selection of new launches at Home & Gift, Harrogate, 19-22 July 2015

Animal Wrapture A bold new animal card collection by artist Bex Williams has been launched by Wraptious.

Working purely in charcoals, Bex captures the essence of these treasured animals in this diverse range of 12 designs. Whether it's a senile chicken, an in-your-face cow or a goofy giraffe, they are cleverly devised to raise a smile. All the cards are sized 150mm square and come wrapped with a recycled kraft envelope.

Wraptious 0161 738 1440 www.wraptious.com Hall G Stand 160

Girls’ Gifts Galore

No Norwegian Blue!

Tony Fernandes has added a range of Parrots to his collection of cards for bird lovers. Having been an ornithologist since the age of seven, Tony has sketched and painted birds all over the world and his love for them shows in these beautiful designs reflecting the quirky personalities of these exotic birds. All the cards are sized 5” x 7”, are blank and sold wrapped with white envelopes. Prints are also available.

Tony Fernandes Design 0114 2620899 www.tonyfernandesdesign.com Hall DP5 Stand 66

Launching at Home & Gift, Miss Smith is Lesser & Pavey’s latest collaboration with Hearts Designs. Appealing to all ages, this feminine gift range comprises a manicure set, compact mirror, key, ring, wine glasses, money boxes, gift bags, umbrellas, fine china mugs, fashion bags, travel mugs, organisers, hat boxes, lunch bags, shoppers and much more.

Lesser & Pavey 01322 29225 www.leonardo.co.uk Hall M Stand 14

Little Creatures Claire Louise is releasing Splodge Bobs!, an exciting range of children’s birthday cards featuring all of your favourite animals.

With a splash and a splosh of paint, these 12 colourful creations are all perfect for kids, sized 155mm square, printed on a textured board and sold wrapped with envelopes.

Claire Louise Designs 07715 373344 www.clairelouise.eu Hall DP5 Stand 48

For A Spell Blue Eyed Sun is extending its Enchantment range by 19 new designs at Home & Gift. Based on beautiful original machine stitched artworks

by Jo Corner, the cards are hand finished with jewels and include age birthdays, anniversaries and open birthdays. Sized 160mm square, this range comes wrapped with red envelopes.

Blue Eyed Sun 01273 823003 www.blueeyedsun.co.uk Hall DP5 Stand 57

Caroline’s Cornucopia On display on the Caroline Gardner stand will be new additions to the Muchly lovely characters (pictured) and exciting new Chroma accessories. Also on show is a brand new range called Pina Colada with gorgeous stationery items, covered in colourful dots and flowers with gold foiled detailing, as well as luxury gold and silver flittered and foiled Christmas cards with sweet Christmas characters.

Caroline Gardner Publishing 020 8288 9696 www.carolinegardner.com Hall DP1 Stand 113

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Innovations

Home & Gift

A selection of new launches at Home & Gift, Harrogate, 19-22 July 2015

Living To The Max Chorley Knot! is the latest humour range to be released by JellynBean. There are 36 fun captioned designs across adult ages, anniversaries, and relations titles in 6” x 7” and 6” x 9” sizes. New card designs are also being added across its other popular humour ranges as well as new gifts, all of which will be on show at Harrogate.

JellynBean 01423 871881 www.jellynbean.com Hall G Stand 31

Christmas Is Coming!

Lots of lovely autumn and Christmas ranges are being released by Artebene at Home & Gift. This season’s designs have beautiful ideas for Advent calendar flags, number tags, stickers and luxurious new gold foiled sticky tape, which gives every present an extra special festive feel.

Also on show will be new giftwraps, gift bags, voucher envelopes and gift boxes for wine and champagne in a stylish black and gold.

Artebene +49 2591 79239 24 www.artebene.com Hall DP1 Stand 45

A Kind Word To celebrate making its debut at Home & Gift this July, Dandelion Stationery is expanding its Words of Wisdom Everyday range with over 20 new designs, focusing on words and sentiments. All the cards are hand-finished, sized 114mm x 162mm and supplied with lovely rustic brown kraft envelopes.

Dandelion Stationery 01332 695359 www.dandelionstationery.co.uk Hall DP2 Stand 54

Time For Teens Holy Mackerel is launching 12 gorgeous new cards for children and teens’ ages into One Lump or Two, its best-selling range by Erica Sturla. Covering girls and boys ages 11 to 16, there’s now something for everyone aged one to eighteen in this range. With its bright palette of colours, these new designs will make a real splash in any display.

Holy Mackerel 01297 33899 www.holy-mackerel.co.uk Hall DP2 Stand 52

Embrace Your Inner Hippie!

All You Need is Love & Tea, is the new boho style range addition to the Teapot Dude's gift card collection, designed to bring a little peace and love, with a good cup of tea. These clever cards contain delicious English Breakfast tea with special holders to make your tea-drinking experience extra special.

The Teapot Dude 07826843596 www.theteapotdude.co.uk Hall G Stand 134

Pomp And Circumstance Coulson Macleod has given its Talking Heads range a birthday makeover, with its delightfully British and pompous Victorian gentlemen now sending birthday greetings on cards for ages 30 to 100. There are 15 cards in this blank range, sized 150mm square and sold wrapped with a white envelope.

Coulson Macleod 01536 482771 www.coulsonmacleod.com Hall DP2 Stand 25

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W: www.jeanbarrington.co.uk

T: 01751 430081 E: sales@jeanbarrington.co.uk

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Innovations

Home & Gift

A selection of new launches at Home & Gift, Harrogate, 19-22 July 2015

Cherry On Top Patisserie is a beautiful new range from Soul from new artist Lollie Dunbar. With a palette of bright pastels colours, there are 28 classic and fun illustrations covering everyday and occasions titles. All the cards are finished with foil and emboss, sized 172mm x 143mm and sold wrapped with white envelopes.

Soul 01235 537888 www.reallygood.uk.com Hall DP1 Stand 17

Pen To Penguin Penguin Playmates is a fun and playful Christmas card range from Laura Sherratt. There are cute Penguin characters across 47 relations and friendship titles, all embellished by hand in the UK with googly eyes, gems, and pom poms.

The cards are all sized 150mm square and come wrapped with a jolly red envelope.

Laura Sherratt Designs 01538 384566 www.laurasherrattdesigns.co.uk Hall DP5 Stand 43

Calling The Toon Oliver Preston is adding new summer season cards with town and country themes to his ranges at Home and Gift, where he is also releasing new notelets, political playing cards and publicising his new book of cartoons, The Imperfect Shot.

Oliver Preston Cartoons 01666 502638 www.oliverpreston.com Hall DP1 Stand 90

Box Of Festive Treats

Fairytale Nights Capturing the magic of childhood, the Spellbound range from Moongazer Cards now offers 28 designs, all delicate watercolour illustrations by Sally Anne Lambert illustrating poems mainly by her mother Maureen Lambert.

All the cards are blank inside and 150mm square, printed in the UK on FSC board and sold wrapped with envelopes.

Moongazer Cards 077454 81411 www.moongazercards.com Hall DP5 Stand 12

Exhibiting for the first time at Home & Gift, Deckled Edge is adding nine new Christmas cards into its Rosa range. The cards are available either sized 150mm square wrapped in sixes or in beautiful boxes of 10 cards of one design, tied with spike of corn and linen ribbon. Both card formats come with soft grey envelopes.

Deckled Edge Design 0800 771 0771 www.decklededge.co.uk Hall DP5 Stand 63

Just A Thought Home & Gift sees the launch of New Little Thoughts, a pretty patterned range on the Rush Design stand. There are 36 dinky designs in a 125mm square format, all printed in a fresh colour scheme on an embossed board with an embossed frame. All the cards are sold wrapped with a matching envelope.

Rush Design 01788 521745 www.rushdesign-uk.com Hall DP5 Stand 22 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Brand New From Holy Mackerel!

We love fabulously fun design, so we’re over the moon to be launching this gorgeous range of cards by artist Kate Brazier. Drop by and see the full collection at Harrogate Home & Gift stand DP2 52!

01297 33899

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Innovations

Home & Gift

A selection of new launches at Home & Gift, Harrogate, 19-22 July 2015

Inspire Me Illustrated and designed by Megan Claire, the new Heritage range comprises inspirational and literary quotes, in eye-catching typography.

There are eight A6 sized cards, printed on heavy cream board and supplied wrapped with luxury gold pearlescent envelopes. A Heritage Christmas will also be on display at the show.

Megan Claire 01536 560345 www.meganclaire.co.uk Hall DP5 Stand 59

An Alternative Christmas

Belle Of The Ball Peppercorn Press and Hip Hip are two ranges being expanded at Home & Gift by Olive & Belle.

All designed by Clare Roberts, these fresh designs feature brightly coloured birds, animals and floral illustrations. All sized 120mm x 170mm, the cards are printed on a hammered FSC board and come wrapped with recycled kraft envelopes.

Olive & Belle 07836 247811 www.oliveandbelle.co.uk Hall DP5 Stand 44

Squaring The Circle Randoms Square is a new offshoot of The Art Rooms’ successful Randoms card range.

Designed by Jackie Al-Samarraie, using her minimalist graphic style and blocks of bright colour, there are butterflies, birds, penguins, deckchairs, dogs and cats, together with other quirky images and repeat patterns. There are over 50 cards in the range, sized 150mm square, supplied wrapped with luxury envelopes.

The Art Rooms 01274 597909 www.theartrooms.co.uk Hall DP5 Stand 71

Song Of Summer Songbird, a new range from April Rose Illustration, is making its debut at Home & Gift.

These pretty boutique vintage cards are printed on watercolour board with pattern on the inside pages. There are 10 cards in the range, all sized 150mm square, and sold wrapped with brown kraft envelopes.

April Rose Illustration 07957 738711 www.aprilroseillustration.com Hall G Stand 105

Alternative Image is launching a great new range of 24 retro/vintage Christmas cards.

Featuring nostalgic photo-imagery and vintage poster art, the new cards perfectly complement its bestselling mugs and tea towels - taking all the pain out of Christmas shopping! The cards have a Happy Christmas message inside, are all sized 5” x 7”, printed on certified board with scarlet envelopes and wrapped.

The Alternative Image Company 020 3478 4804 www.altimageco.com Hall DP2 Stand 52

High Tide Trumpers World is introducing 60 designs into its Tidal range in a new 6” x 4” format. This popular range by artists Susan Torrington and Jeffy Salt comprises gentle British humour depicting everyday country life printed on beautiful textured board. The designs cover mostly animals - dogs, cats and chickens, country pursuits shooting and fishing and sporting scenes. All cards are blank and wrapped with Trumpers’ trademark country green envelopes.

Trumpers World 01923 244688 www.trumpersworld.com Hall DP5 Stand 30 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

Kick Start Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun and wedding stationery specialists Ivy Ellen, offers a quick guide to getting started with digital marketing.

We’ve been marketing our businesses digitally for several years now with some success. Here’s how you can get started with some key digital marketing tools, along with some examples of independent retailers that use them.

Strategy Check that your customer base or target customer base use social media. The easiest way is to ask which platforms they like to use.

If you have an email list of your customers, many of the social networks have ways of using this to connect straight away to them.

Before you dismiss it as fad, you should be aware that 72% of all internet users are active on social media and it’s not just the young; 60% of 50-60 year-olds use these tools to connect with others.

It’s worth having a website (even if it’s basic) and adding a snippet of code to it from Google Analytics, which will provide you with statistical data. Knowing who comes to your site, where from and how they use it will help you to manage your digital marketing effectively.

Finally, social media is not like marketing in the traditional sense. Do not simply shout out your wares. Try to be useful, fun, informative and most importantly engaging.

Ask questions, be friendly and be as useful as possible online.

Facebook Facebook has 1.39 billion users and is a free social networking site that allows users to

create profiles, upload photos and video, send messages and keep in touch with people. You will need to set up a profile as an individual as well as a page for your business.

Start by connecting with friends to grow the number of people following your page.

Those pages that are most successful share images that are relevant to their followers.

Remember to include your Facebook details on your till slips and carrier bags, etc.

One of our retail stockists, Bijou in Elgin (owned by PG columnist David Robertson), uses Facebook very well to engage locally with customers. With a population of 22,980 in Elgin, its page has 4,462 ‘likes’ and people actively comment on the pictures Bijou posts of the delicious looking food (aka #foodporn) sold in its cafe and new products just in. It also engages with groups that discuss products they sell (like collectable teddy bears) in helpful, non-selling ways.

With a local population of 318, independent gift and card shop, Gift in Lindley has almost 400 followers on Twitter which the shop uses to engage with suppliers and locals. They share or retweet local stories and show lovely pictures of exciting new products that have arrived in

Twitter Twitter is an online social networking service, with 280 million active users, that enables users to send and read short 140 character messages called ‘tweets.’

It’s popular with celebrities, journalists and PR folk so it is great for promoting your business and engaging with fans. Tweeters are more active web store visitors and buy more from tweeting retailers. Watch and listen before tweeting. Engage and interact in helpful ways and don’t be pushy. Never drink and tweet! Grow your followers by following those with shared interests.

Top: Plug in and start your digital marketing - a card from Urban Graphic's Toasted range.

Above: John Lewis 'Pins' up images of its products on Pinterest, driving spontaneous sales.

Left: Tempting customers, Bijou in Elgin posts its gorgeous cakes available in its café on its Facebook page.

the shop without pushing them in a hard sell kind of way. It’s also been able to boost its PR, grow its brand locally and win awards through using Twitter.

Pinterest Pinterest is an online visual discovery tool that you can use to find ideas for all your projects and interests. With 70 million users worldwide it is the social network that is most likely to drive spontaneous purchasing. Referrals from Pinterest are more likely to buy and tend to spend more than those from Facebook. Pin products you sell onto your Pinterest page and link it back to your website. Make sure your pins are fun and visually stimulating while echoing your company’s personality.

The John Lewis Pinterest page focuses on timely, relevant and useful content for its PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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JEREMY ’S JOURNA L

Left: The Dressing Room in St Albans posts lovely images of its new fashion arrivals on Instagram.

Below Online market place Etsy has reached one of the top spots on Google.

followers. For example, in January John Lewis created a page that included tips on nutrition and fitness as well as useful products that would help customers achieve their New Year Resolutions.

Instagram Instagram is a fun, quirky application used to share your life with your community through a series of images. You have to download the app to your phone or mobile device and then take and upload images from it to your profile. Use it to tell the visual story of your brand. High quality images drive higher engagement. Try posting images of new product arrivals to your shop and aim to create compelling content. Use the # symbol before keywords relating to your images when posting.

Independent retailer, The Dressing Room in St Albans uses Instagram to tell the visual story of its fashion boutique brand and shares exciting new arrivals of products in store. It drives high engagement and offers compelling content that its fans love.

LinkedIn LinkedIn is a professional, businessorientated social network that strengthens and extends your existing network of trusted contacts. It’s great for controlling your online presence as a professional and is used by 50% of companies when hiring.

It’s also a brilliant way of rising to the top of

Google searches for anyone looking to connect with you or your business online.

With over 15 million UK users I am amazed that more sales agents, suppliers and retailers don’t use LinkedIn. It’s the fastest and easiest way to create a professional, credible website for attracting new business to yourself. I also use it as a live address book to keep track of my professional relationships as well as to share company news and gain knowledge in relevant groups.

Google Google’s social network is Google+, which is worth using if online search is important to your business. Registering for free with Google Business is an absolute must for retailers so that their shops show up on Google and map searches. Another service you can pay for is Google Maps Business View, which allows people online to walk off ‘Google Street View’ straight into your shop and wander around it in cyber space. If you do have an ecommerce site it’s also worth using Google Adwords for searches that are made locally to you for products you sell.

If you look up independent retailer Le Bizz in West Kirby on Google Maps you can wander around the shop via Street View.

There is also software available that can connect this tool to ecommerce websites so that customers can click and buy online!

Business View is great if your town has day-trippers who like to plan their day in advance and can check you out before they visit.

Left: Google Maps Street View allows the view to take a cyber stroll around your shop. Le Bizz in West Kirby has taken this step to showcase its store online.

Online Marketplaces Ecommerce is a fast moving, competitive environment and small retailers will struggle to compete for the top spots on Google searches against bigger retailers and online marketplaces. Search Engine Optimisation or SEO is incredibly involved and time consuming to take on. I believe the race to the top spots has been won by the big marketplaces like Ebay, Amazon, Not on the High Street and Etsy.

It’s easier to set up an account on them than to run your own site. They have pre-established customer bases with millions of visitors each month. They’re powerful on SEO and are cheap and easy to list products on.

Emailing Lists A really powerful way of connecting with your customers is to send them an email which offers them deals they want or information they’ll find useful. We use software called MailChimp to contact our customers before trade shows or when we have clearance sales. The software helps our

emails to look good, monitors click throughs and avoids emails getting blocked in SPAM filters. They are always packed with useful bits and pieces and are not all about selling our cards. Try not to bombard your customers with these or they will unsubscribe from your future emailers.

Summary Be aware that digital marketing is a beast that needs to be fed on a regular ongoing basis. It’s good to have a strategy for your content and a plan for how you will deliver it.

People love good images and helpful, funny or interesting insights more than hard sales tactics (although they also like a good special offer too). Make sure you plan a system that allows you to keep up with digital marketing and be patient as social media networks take time to grow.

For further insights into social media and retail tips visit Jeremy's blog at www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Spring Seasons Trends 2016

Golden

Spring Glow

All that glitters is not gold, but in the case of Spring Seasons cards for 2016 they literally are golden.

With the beautiful use of gold embossed foiling, which has a stunning luxurious and glossy quality, designs are gleaming!

It’s a perfect finish for a champion’s medal on a Father’s Day illustration, to enhance the delicate petals of a floral design for mums on Mother’s Day or to make decorated Easter eggs really glimmer.

But that’s not the only design ‘element’ on next year’s Spring Seasons cards as PG finds out.

Inset: Spring Seasons cards shine in 2016.

Far left-right:

Je t’adore

Valentine’s Day - 14 February 2016 Rendering a lighter, coquettish feel to the designs, fuchsia and strawberry pink seems to have currently replaced the traditional crimson tide of deep bold red hearts on Valentine’s Day cards for 2015, delivering ‘amore’ to the first of the Spring Seasons. Gold accents add warmth to the illustrations, and icons of love flourish with pretty embellishments such as buttons and ribbon, and embossed coloured foiling creates a tactile and luxurious feel to many designs.

For those who wear their hearts on their sleeve, sweet adorable animal messengers of devotion offer up their hearts and ‘tweet’ for lovebirds on Valentine’s, and earnest, honest sentiments in simple hand-written style fonts shoot a cupid’s arrow straight to the heart with an intimacy.

And although many naughty and cheeky Valentine’s designs flirt with lighter, funny captions, romance strongly beats in 2016 with sincerity and affection.

● Caroline Gardner has introduced special red envelopes to sit with its Valentine’s range, which consists of gorgeous traditional gold die stamped love cards. ● Finished with a combination of shaped buttons, sparkly gems, die-cut and delicate red bows, Cinnamon Aitch’s Valentine’s Day cards for 2016. ● All cards in Laura Sherratt Designs’ Arty Krafty Valentine’s range are embellished by hand with red gems and rustic wooden heart buttons. ● Brand new for Valentine's Day are designs from James Ellis’ team member Alice Evans. Printed on textured cream board and debossed, these luxury cards’ details are foiled in silver.

Right Clockwise:

● Wild Things is Hotchpotch’s cute and contemporary Valentine’s range featuring quirky characters and hand-drawn lettering. ● A laser-cut silhouette gold lobster on a Red & Gold Bombus design.

Lobsters are one of the few animals that mate for life. ● Gold, crimson and pink hearts overflow in this Hallmark design.

Above Clockwise:

● Blue Eyed Sun is launching 24 new designs in a new stitched range of cards called Pincushion. ● A charming Valentine’s Day design from Ling Design’s new ‘Follow Your Dreams’ sentimental words range. ● The Entwine collection from Laura Darrington is a beautiful range of designs bursting with colour and luxuriously finished with foil and embossing. ● Say it with lights - a card from The Art Group’s Light Fantastic range.

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Spring Seasons Trends 2016

Mum In A Million

Mother’s Day - 6 March 2016 Beautiful bouquets of blooms flourish on Mother’s Day cards for 2016. From a vintage teacup posy to magnificent floral hanging baskets, to the golden uplifted heads of sunflowers or delicate sweet-peas, mums will be presented with flowers on card designs, signifying nurturing, growth and beauty.

Influenced by crafting and dress making skills seen on television programmes such as This Old Thing, the vintage clothes show presented by Dawn O’Porter, and BBC 2’s The Great British Sewing Bee, embroidery, stitching and ribbons enhance next year’s Mother’s Day illustrations. And pretty colours, such as blushing pink hues, radiant purple and golden shades are set predominantly against a creamy background and enhanced with delicate touches of gold foiling.

Portrayed in simple flowing script fonts, the sentiments to show Mum how much you love, appreciate and cherish her are heart-felt and sweet.

Clockwise:

● Brainbox Candy range, Number One Mum, features contemporary captions mixed with a fresh colour palette. ● Carte Blanche’s Mother's Day 2016 range features soft textures and understated tones of vintage pink and creams with antique gold foiling. The look utilises patterns of Middle Eastern culture. ● Nigel Quiney’s Mother's Day collection of 33 designs uses beautiful finishes including organza bows and ribbons, gems, exquisite pearl foil and beautiful die-cut corners. ● A bright and breezy Talking Pictures Mother’s Day design in its fabulous new Mix & Match range. ● Happy sunflowers on a Wendy Jones Blackett Mother’s Day card. ● A bouquet for mum on a design from Hallmark. ● Beautifully embroidered, an image on a design from Paper Rose’s Sew Happy range. ● UK Greetings have launched an exquisite collection of new designs, which will be available across Spring Seasons 2016: A Mother’s Day design from its Carlton Core Line.

Burgeoning New Life Easter - 27 March 2016

Chirruping birds, bouncing bunnies and the flickering wings of butterflies, the resurgence of new life after winter’s cold sleep awakens, and Easter cards for 2016 are illustrated with a bundle of these adorable animals excited by the new energy of spring. Newborn fauna bleating and leaping lambs and cute fluffy chicks – also signify the potential and growth of the spring months and the circle of life.

Budding anew are carpets of golden daffodils, primroses and crocuses in spring, as nature awakens, and Easter cards for 2015 reflect this with sunshine yellows and spring green shades.

Delicious vibrantly coloured and decorated chocolate Easter eggs (a custom adopted by the Christian Church as a symbol of resurrection and the hatching of life, and equally, representing the end of Lent when dairy products were forbidden), tumble out of brim-full wicker baskets on Easter card designs, while gentle and graceful religious iconography of pretty steepled churches and florally ornamented crosses reverently nod to Christian beliefs.

Clockwise:

● Wishing Well’s Easter offering includes cute, religious, fun and traditional designs in both open and juvenile captions. ● Abacus’ small Easter cards are offered in packs of five cards of one design, with a selection of 12 packs. ● The sharing of inspirational quotes, encouraging thoughts and heart-warming sentiment feature in UKG’s Easter designs. ● Ling Designs’ Bella range is perfect for an Easter design. ● Easter sees an expansion in single cards for Caroline Gardner and includes brand new captions such as ‘spring time’ with lovely florals. ● Adorable ducklings on an Easter card from The Art Group’s Photographic range. ● IC&G’s Spring Season’s range continues to grow with beautiful new hand-painted artwork with many captions and a large choice of well thought of words.

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Spring Seasons Trends 2016

Champions’ League Father’s Day - 19 June 2016

Dads can be unsung heroes helping out in our everyday lives but Father’s Day cards for 2016 are making sure dear old dad knows he’s a champion with illustrations of silver trophies, gold medals and super-hero outfits.

Other designs entice pater to sit down to a slap up English breakfast or just relax with a mug of his favourite hot brew.

King of the road, even if it’s just taking the kids to school, dads would appreciate a beautiful classic car - on a Father’s Day card - and it remain a timeless icon for next year.

Male themed hobbies, such as snoozing in the gardening for greenfingered dads or the male favourite of cycling, are still cultivating designs on Father’s Day cards next year, created in a retro-styled old-school look in muted masculine colours of indigo blue, aqua green and slate.

However, to make dad feel special there are lots of ‘elements’ of gold foiling to let pop know he’s a real shinning champ!

Top-bottom:

Top-bottom:

● A classic car for a classic Pa – an IC&G card. ● For champion fathers from their little one, a card from Wishing Well. ● This design from UKG's Father's Day core range appreciates Dad for all he does.

Clockwise: ● ● ● ●

A cheeky Father’s Day design from Wendy Jones Blackett.

For star dads, a Father's Day design from Hallmark.

For superhero dads, a Funny Animals design from The Art Group.

A Traditional Father's Day design from Cherry Orchard.

● Abacus’ six Father’s Day designs from its Rapture range features photographic images finished with all over UV varnish. ● Brainbox Candy’s Word Up Father's Day range of 12 designs is bold, colourful, cheeky, a tad nutty and fun, just like the man himself. ● Father’s Day has Gold Fever at Hotchpotch with four new trend-led Father’s Day designs with a gold foil finish. ● Noel Tatt are proud to be able to present the Help for Heroes Father's Day 2016 range.

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TEffect herapeutsic

In Conversation With... Paul Woodmansterne

Woodmansterne’s stand at PG Live last month was something of a ‘sweet spot’, choosing it as the surprise launch of its new Choc Therapy brand of packaged Belgian chocolates.

PG lifted the lid on this product diversification with Paul Woodmansterne, md of the company.

Paul Woodmansterne jokingly blames PG’s director Warren Lomax for the launch of its new Choc Therapy range at last month’s show.

“He told me to do something different at PG Live, so that’s what we did!” says Paul.

And with no real PR build-up to the launch, in fact hardly anyone knew of the plans, the positive retail trade reactions were purely based on what they saw – beautifully and relevantly packaged products – and of course tasted. The Belgian chocolates, sourced from respected confectionery company, Natalie, didn’t disappoint!

Although it did create a buzz around the show as something unexpected, Paul’s view is that the launch of Choc Therapy is not a dramatic diversification, but a credible extension of what Woodmansterne is good at.

“We are not selling greeting cards in the same way that coffee shops aren’t selling coffee. The successful coffee shops make it easy and right. Yes, the coffee itself has to be good enough, but it is more than that.

Top: A counter top display of the first Choc Therapy collection of 12 designs.

Above right: Woodmansterne is extending the ‘specialness’ of purchasing one of its cards as each includes a leaflet about its Five-Star Day experiences that consumers can buy as gifts.

Right: Paul and Julia Woodmansterne on the stand at PG Live last month.

With our greeting cards, we are selling a means to make someone’s day. Our tie-up with Five-Star Days which offer the opportunity to buy someone an additional experience, as well as our Choc Therapy range, are part of that too,” he sums up.

This thought process goes right back to the origins of how Woodmansterne evolved into greeting cards in the first place.

Having started as a colour slide business (founded by Paul’s parents) depicting heritage sites and their treasures, when that market was ‘on the slide’ other options were explored.

“We tried postcards for tourist attractions and published guidebooks using our imagery, but it was a lot of effort with little chance of it paying off. It was my wife Bella who first suggested that we use our knowledge and love of art to publish beautiful Christmas cards. With Bella’s imagination and sensing that strong female pull of things that she loved, I realised then that there would be traction and how it is all about starting with understanding the consumer,” says Paul, thinking back to the early days of Woodmansterne in the early 90s when it took the art card market by storm with its fresh take on imagery and greeting card presentation.

The passage of time has seen the Woodmansterne greeting card portfolio broaden considerably from its fine art roots into contemporary design, quirky photography, interesting licensing tie-ups and clever humour, but Paul argues that the basic tenet of consumer understanding, of someone likely to buy a Woodmansterne card, remains the same.

“We concentrated on art cards for a long time, but then it dawned on us that when PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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In Conversation With... Paul Woodmansterne

people bought a Woodmansterne card what they were doing was saying that they had taste and this ‘taste’ didn’t have to be confined to fine art, which has led us into other card areas”, as well as Advent calendars (bolstered by its acquisition of Caltime a couple of years ago), notecards, wrap and now of course, packaged confectionery.

It was something of a baptism of fire for Lee Keeper when he joined the Woodmansterne team a few months ago (from Hallmark’s Tigerprint studio) to head up the newly formed ‘Studio Two’, whose remit is to create own brand products, develop Cardmix’s portfolio, as well as take on special projects, Choc Therapy being the first of many.

While Lee was tasked with coming up with the creative treatment, Paul, quite literally, had a hand in the box’s design.

“I sat down with a scalpel and started cutting up bits of card,” reveals Paul.

Remembering back to his university days (Paul read music at Oxford) he admits to feeling somewhat frustrated by people who “started orchestras without being able to read music,” so turning this on its head, he set about creating the template for the confectionery carriers.

Fortuitously, as part of its acquisition of Advent calendar business Caltime, Woodmansterne now owns (and has in-house) a Bobst heavy duty cutting machine, vital in the production of the Choc Therapy boxes.

It was however Paul’s wife Bella whose, once again, timely remarks crystalised the creative tack for the outside of the boxes.

Having initially planned for the boxes to feature humorous designs, when showing the early concepts to Bella it elicited her to bring out one of her prized possessions, a lifelong personal collection of beautiful papers amassed over the years.

“It became clear in an instant that what we needed to do with the product was make it more special, like Bella’s papers. A key phrase is ‘make their day’,” said Paul.

It all fell into place very quickly after that, with Lee taking a more fashion-led approach

Creative Drive Last month marked the official retirement of Julia Woodmansterne from the company, who for so many years has headed up the creative team at Woodmansterne Publications.

Paul Woodmansterne pays tribute to the enormous contribution his sister Julia has made to the company’s evolution: “Walking into our reception area of our offices in Watford, I pass a forest of Henries Awards, standing proudly on the front desk. Each one bears testament to a design studio on the top of its game, year after year. The breadth and range of success covers many categories celebrated by this industry. It is Julia, my sister, who is responsible for every one of those trophies. Even the most coveted, that of The Henry Cole Classic, that we were awarded last year, comes down to an inspired thought from Julia some 15 years ago to approach the nation’s perennial favourite illustrator, Quentin Blake.

Julia has directed our publishing programme for the last 27 years, hunting out the unusual, the interesting and unexpected, finding ideas that appeal to a sophisticated and discerning consumer. But the extraordinary brilliance of her talent has been the consistent commerciality of her ideas. She has the knack of turning what many would consider a niche product into one with broad appeal.

I thank Julia for her robust and healthy challenges to my crazy ideas; her studio thank her for her confident and guiding hand; our retailers thank her for creating outstanding product time after time; and millions of our consumers thank her for helping them to communicate their personal thoughts and wishes always in an interesting and engaging way.” l James Stevens has joined the company (from book publisher HarperCollins where he was art director of the children’s division) as publishing and creative director of Woodmansterne.

As to what attracted him to the role, James said: “It was the fast pace nature of greeting cards that attracted me, plus the extreme care and attention that goes into the design and production.”

The richly designed and finished Opium range, which debuted at PG Live, was James’ inaugural range at Woodmansterne.

Top: The development of Choc Therapy sits alongside Woodmansterne’s string card portfolio, such as its Quentin Blake collection, which won The Henry Cole Classic award at last year’s Henries.

Above left: Two cards from the opulently designed Opium range, the first collection under James Stevens’ reign as publishing and creative director of Woodmansterne.

Right: The creative responsibilities of the Woodmansterne group is now split between Lee Keeper (right) who is heading up Studio Two (bespoke work, Cardmix and special projects) and James Stevens, who is now at the helm of the branded Woodmansterne ranges.

to the surface pattern, enhanced with hand-scripted lettering.

With PG Live looming fast by then, Paul admits it was something of a rush to the finish. “It was touch and go at one point whether they would be ready in time, but we got there!”

As for the future plans for this new brand, as well as other similar product developments on this score, Paul feels confident that there are lots of other opportunities. “Think of all the passions out there that people have, be it gardening, sport, music, these are individuals’ forms of ‘therapy’ that we can tap into, just as we do on greeting cards.”

While accepting that Choc Therapy has caught the attention of the trade - and the reactions have been very positive - Paul

strongly refutes that this signals a turning away from its core business of greeting cards, be it as a publisher, broker and category manager for its retail customers.

“The greeting card market will be very healthy for a long time to come - and will remain fully committed. Choc Therapy is a perfect addition to greeting cards, not instead of.

Greeting cards will continue to see off competition, just like it did when faxes and mobile phones came on the scene. The key is to ensure that the buying and sending of a greeting card makes someone’s day.”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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61_muk_Grid 30/06/2015 10:41 Page 61

Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys

These days we take paper for granted, forgetting that its very creation has been a major stepping-stone in man’s evolution, let alone its place in the continuing role of greeting cards within all this.

Just as Hurrah for Ra, the GCA-commissioned lesson plan (which covers the history of paper in a trio of gratitude-based lessons) is avidly being downloaded by teachers, thousands of people are flocking to see the Magna Carta, one the most significant pieces of paper ever, as part of a special exhibition at the British Library to celebrate the 800th anniversary of its signing.

Got Your Library Ticket?

It is wonderful that the all important Magna Carta is available for all to see at the British Library until 1 September 2015 as part of the Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy exhibition. Much has been reported and celebrated about this significant document, but it’s great that the 800th anniversary provides an opportunity to remind us all of its significance and, as part of that, the importance of the substrate upon which it is written. Broadcaster Melvyn Bragg did a fantastic job on BBC’s The One Show recently, reporting on this political agreement signed by King John in 1215, which has become an international symbol of freedom. As the ‘Grand Charter’ was written on calfskin parchment, the TV programme elaborated on the manufacturing process of parchment, which is made from stretched animal skin. It can be made from any skin, including fish, reptiles and wild game, but most commonly it comes from farm animals. With proper Above: William Cowley's goatskin vellum. Vellum is softer finishing and care, parchment is a than parchment as it is made from young animals. durable surface and can last for thousands of years. No animals are bred to make parchment - the skins are a by-product of the farming industry.

The One Show’s coverage on the Magna Carta featured a trip to British parchment manufacturer William Cowley. I love the fact that this company, established in 1870, is still going strong, four generations on.

Using techniques and skills little changed for 4,000 years or more, generations of Cowleys have passed down an unbroken line, by word of mouth, to the present day, with its parchment supplying calligraphers, printers, artists, bookbinders and drum makers all over the world. It is wonderful that documents, certificates and family trees can still be printed on genuine parchment today.

Just Fontastic Certainly earning its place on the British Library shelves is a book, entitled Type Matters!, which is fast becoming a typeface 'bible' in its own right among designers.

By Jim Williams, a senior lecturer in Graphic Design, the book provides simple tips for Above: An inner page of the Type Matters! book. everyday use for all uses of typography - from design student and professionals to anyone who creates any layout design on a computer.

Jim Williams is utterly dedicated to his craft and equally appreciative of paper. I first met Jim in 1987 and have since had the pleasure of working with him at Staffordshire University.

Written with authority and clarity, the book has an understated beauty from cover to cover. Jim also visits several universities presenting Type Matters! to creative audiences, which further perpetuates an appreciation and engender passion that will continue the lifeline.

A Bible Lesson Anyone visiting the British Library to see the Magna Carta, should also be sure to view at least one of the two copies of the Joann Guttenberg Bible held there.

The Guttenberg Bible, produced in Germany in 1450, was the first book to be printed on the printing press.

Some 45 of the 180 copies produced were printed on parchment and 11 copies of these are still known to exist today.

I have visited the Guttenberg museum in Mainz many times, each time treating myself with a visit next door to the Druckladen des Guttenberg Museum (which translates as Printing Workshop of the Guttenberg Museum). Run by type enthusiasts and volunteers, this magnificent letterpress printing workshop is an absolute must for any type-hungry designer as here you can play with letterpress printing to your heart’s content!

Above: Debbie Wigglesworth on one of her many visits to the Guttenberg Museum printing workshop.

Left: The Druckladen des Guttenberg Museum makes for an inspiring trip for any lover of letterpress.

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

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ARTSOURCE

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ART SOURCE

PG helps to paint a pretty picture of freelance artists, designers, verse writers and photographers’ worlds in order to promote their talents to publishers and, conversely, make it easier for publishers seeking artists.

ARTIST IN FOCUS

Emily Snape I am an illustrator working and living in London’s Russell Square and I have two energetic sons that keep me on my toes.

I love creating lively characters and humorous scenes. I'm always scribbling in my battered sketchbook and haven't stopped drawing and creating narratives since I could hold a pencil.

I studied Illustration at Central Saint Martins before doing an MA in drawing at Kingston University. Since then I've gained eight years experience as a freelance illustrator, creating characters and scenes for Nickelodeon, Tesco, Samsung, the NSPCC and Boots amongst others. I've illustrated several children's books and have just completed work on a two book series for Chronicle. For a year I was also the lead designer for a BBC animated TV series and enjoyed the collaborative experience.

I have created cards and wrapping paper designs and always try to inject a positive and comic feel in to my designs. I work both traditionally and digitally and enjoy the challenge of finding the right medium for a commission.

I greatly admire the work of Maurice Sendak and William Kentridge, both artists whose characters seem so full of life they could be breathing! I am continuously inspired and excited by card designs that are impossible to resist smiling at, and love the idea my images could help express a sender's message and brighten up a receiver's day. ● Email: emilysnape@yahoo.com ● Web: www.emilysnape.co.uk

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

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

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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62_64_PG_July 2015_v8_Art Source 03/07/2015 12:53 Page 64

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

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Ileana Oakley

Pauline Siewert

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Sophia Touliatou

Marcello Corti , Barbara Gerardi

Sharon Williams

Mat Edwards

Eva Czapla

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ARTSOURCE SECTION OF PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON

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63_65_49/51 30/06/2015 16:33 Page 65

ART SOURCE Melissa Corsari

My name is Melissa Corsari and I am a professional illustrator based in Milan, Italy. I create hand-drawn, fun and colorful illustrations that are inspired by the latest fashion trends. I am passionate about creating art that evokes positive feelings and brings people joy. I value smile and laugher and believe we all need to do that more often and that's where my art comes in.

My artwork is inspired by everyday life and contemporary themes that I hope you can relate to!

I've been passionate about drawing since I was twelve when I first discovered Manga (Japanese comic books). I used to spend my days trying to reproduce the beautiful images in the comic books and that's how I learnt how to draw. At the age of fourteen I went to art school where I could further improve my skills.

Art is my escape from reality.

When I feel sad, worried or simply need to empty my mind I take a pencil, start drawing and all the negativity I am feeling in that moment goes away. I love creating illustrations because art is not about perfection but it’s about creating something that is special and unique because it came from you and nobody else. It’s a part of you and reflects who you are and your individual history. What drives my creativity is definitely curiosity about all aspects of life and an innate passion for beauty. I'm inspired by what surrounds me but also from feelings, emotions, memories and experiences. ● Email: melissa.corsari@hotmail.com

Rebecca Cherrington I'm 31 and a proud mum of two gorgeous boys who are three and five months old! Everything I do is for them - they are my inspiration!

I create my designs via an app! I have exhibited in London, and in March I am exhibiting at PAKS Gallery in Austria. I love the fact my designs put smiles on people's faces. I am also hoping to do a fine art diploma in September. I love writing poetry in my spare time, of which my collection is with a publisher. I often work into the night when the boys are asleep, as this is when I can get most of my creative work done. I love going to art galleries and could spend all day there! I wouldn't be able to do any of the things I do without support, and I managed to raise £155 for Macmillan by organising a charity art exhibition, which the local paper ran a story on - this was a proud moment for me, and I hope there will be many more! ● Email: rebeccaororke@hotmail.co.uk

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

Susan Hoyle, owner of Armadillo, Kings Heath, Birmingham A small shop in a city suburb with a tourists and a loyal locals and visitors customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Ruth Jackson

Pencil Shavings Cards

Pulp Cards

PaperJoy

Sarah Ray

General

Hazel Bee

Across The Board

Photographic

Wraptious

General

Art

Dandelion Jack Art Angels Rocket Press

Quirky Birds and Garden Birds Printmakers General

Krankpod

Nature’s Seedpods

Sue Bibby Embroidery

Across The Board

Book Speed

Colouring Books For Adults

People think the pencil shavings are a fantastic idea and they appeal to everyone.

The cards are very cute. I tend to go for the animal designs, but the honeycomb 3D element makes them really stand out.

Quirky humour that makes people stop and smile.

A big favourite of mine, these cards can really floor people, having them in fits of laughter.

An amazing art cards collection, but the found hearts cards by photographer Tamzin Forster of Natural Hearts and Urban Hearts are especially lovely.

Beautifully simple illustrations of quirky birds and florals screen-printed by the publisher.

New to us, but I think they are going to fly out.

Letterpress printed cards with vintage images and lots of great male themed retro designs, such as Space Invaders, cameras and records.

A range of little ceramic tiles attached to the Top: Having customers in giggles, a card, which can be a keepsake.

Hazel Bee design.

Above: Raising a smile, Quirky Birds Small, pretty machine embroidered designs from Dandelion Jack. which are then hand-finished.

Colouring books with more complicated, intricate images to colour in.

Humour

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Ancillary

Nigel Cossham, owner of The Card Shop, Portishead, North Somerset A medium shop in an estuary town with a loyal locals customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Carlton (UKG) Gibson (UKG) Hanson White (UKG) Emotional Rescue (distributed by Is It Art)

Lots Of Woof and Elliot & Buttons Traces Of Nuts Norbert & Val

Rambling Mansions

General

Noel Tatt

Cube

Abacus

Rapture

Milkwood Nigel Quiney Noel Tatt Noel Tatt

Serendipity Pizazz Esprit Decoupage

Adorable animal characters drawn in captivating illustrations and soft colours.

I really love the humour, it really tickles me!

Featuring the funny antics of a middle-age couple, the designs are very popular and appeal to both men and women.

Hilarious! But some are very close to the knuckle.

A nice variety of images to choose from, Above: One of the tamer the most popular being garden and floral designs. Rambling Mansions designs.

They’re a good generic pop in the draw card.

There is a good selection of male themed designs (such as sports, cars, cameras and musical instruments) in the collection.

Modern art illustrations of flowers and landscape scenes.

Female orientated designs that really stand out.

Beautifully foiled, classy looking designs - people ask especially for them.

We have a spinner of this range and we receive lots of favourable comments about the designs.

Humour

Photography

Art Contemporary Traditional Handmade/ Hand-Finished

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Jinny Semmens, owner of Cardtime, Penzance, Cornwall A small shop in a seaside town with a tourists and loyal locals customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Wrendale Designs

People like the lovely soft feel of the illustrations of animals.

Alex Clark

The Country Set and Fur, Feathers and Whiskers General

Humour

Peartree Heybridge

Spring Chicken

Photography

Pentyr Publishing

Evocative Cornwall

Contemporary

Nigel Quiney

Pizazz

Traditional

Jonny Javelin

Velvet

Handmade/ Hand-Finished Ancillary

Second Nature

Champagne

Lua

Bags and scarves

With a gentle humour, the countryside images of tractors and animals appeal to the rural community in our surrounding area.

A nice selection of designs from which to choose for ‘ladies of a certain age’, and there are some male designs in there too.

I’ve lost count of how many we sell of these cards. They show beautifully photographed local scenes.

Beautiful, bright and colourful feminine designs, such as cocktails, cakes, shoes and flowers.

Many people come in the shop especially to buy these; they’re gorgeous.

Lovely designs with ages on tall cards, they just fly out the door!

In lovely colours at a good price.

Top: A stunning image from Pentyr Publishing's Customers buy them as a gift or a Evocative Cornwall collection. treat for themselves.

Above: Jonny Javelin's Velvet range are sought after.

Kay Allington, owner of The Green Room, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire A medium shop in a pretty town with a loyal locals customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Lip International

Porcelina

Humour

Anon

General

Photography

Woodmansterne

Loose Leashes, Cattitude and Framed

Contemporary

Deluxebase

Live Life

The Little Dog Laughed

Across The Board

Kate Guest

General

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Vanessa Bee

General

Children’s

Woodmansterne

The Gruffalo

Really pretty and very different - good for girls of any age.

A large range of little cards featuring vintage photographic images with a funny modern caption.

We have many animal lovers in this town. The designs are just so striking and cute. Plus, they make you smile.

Absolutely beautiful 3D lenticular cards of turtles, dolphins, unicorns and also baby animals, for example.

A family run company who creates really cute and funny illustrations of dogs, cats and horses.

Kate is a local girl who has built up her company. Her dark grey and white designs are very striking and unusual.

The designs are all handmade using the wool from the company’s sheep on its Cumbrian farm. And there is a little word play on sheep in the caption.

The Gruffalo is a very well-known character because of the books and films.

Above right: An eye-popping 3D lenticular card from the Live Life range from Deluxebase.

Right: Cumbrian sheep's wool feature on Vanessa Bee's cards.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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71_73_Grid 24/06/2015 17:51 Page 71

LYNN’S LINES

L

L

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

We Have Lift Off! There is so much I could write about the last month that I am nearly combusting! Sometimes I wish this magazine came out weekly.

Events that happened in June I could write reams about include: 1. PG Live, which was A M A Z I N G! 2. My holiday... yippee! I could write enough great customer service stories for a couple of articles from my holiday experience alone, not to mention the suppliers I have contacted these last couple of weeks.

3. There’s been some great new product out from new card publishers... more amazing!

4. The Ladder Club.

5. Inspiration I found from a new television series.

6. An update of my ongoing business plan that I first put into practice two years ago.

So decisions decisions! What to write about?

So let's start out with the most topical of subjects, the glorious, memorable, fun and awe-inspiring lucky number seven PG Live.

Can it really be seven years since this trade show came into being?! Congratulations to the Max Exhibitions team (organisers of PG Live), who have so passionately evolved the fair over the years and for listening to the retailers, the publishers, the suppliers and the press and for putting new ideas into practice.

With any business you can't stand still, improvements have to be made. Buying habits change, trends change, mistakes have to be acknowledged and acted on. But most important of all, you have to listen to your customers. What do they want?

I have exhibited at about three trade fairs a year for nearly 30 years, my first fair being Top Drawer at London’s Alexandra Palace. The seventh PG Live for me was the most memorable fair I have ever exhibited at, not for monetary reasons (I think that you have to wait several months now to find out how

Above: A space shuttle take-off.

Right: Red Berry Hill (top right) and Frillybee (right) were two of The Ladder Club seminar attendees who exhibited at PG Live this year.

successful you have been), it was a success for me for so many more important reasons.

There were 44 ‘Ladder Club card publishers’ exhibiting this year at the show (ie companies that have attended The Ladder Club seminars that we have run with industry experts for new aspiring card publishers once a year for the last 16 years).

Without a shadow of a doubt, an overwhelming highlight for me was the amazingly creative, stunning, ‘pushing the boundaries’ display that Paper Salad’s two gorgeous co-founders, Karen Wilson and Claire Williams created in the Business Design Centre’s dining area at the show. When I saw the huge banner they had created outside the room, thanking everyone for their custom over the last 10 years, I had more than a lump

in my throat and a tear in my eye. It epitomised what The Ladder Club has been striving for over these years. Not only did Karen and Claire attend The Ladder Club seminars when they were planning their launch into publishing, but they have also spoken to fledgling publishers at the seminars for the last seven years. Karen and Claire have earned the respect of new emerging companies and industry stalwarts alike with their frank, humble and totally honest talks, inspiring hundreds of new card publishers. This ethos of giving back to the industry is what The Ladder Club is all about.

The Paper Salad ladies are great ambassadors for the industry and The Ladder Club. They are now undoubtedly the main keynote speakers of the seminar, eagerly awaited by publishers wanting to emulate them. As their company has evolved, each year Karen and Claire have shared brand new material about how rising problems were solved. Their warts and all talks proved to newbie publisher that pretty well any problem could be sorted if you believed in what you were doing and were passionate and focused. They took on incredible calculated risks to grow their business and have signed licensing agreements with high profile companies that has served to broaden their distinctive quality brand.

Now they have proved themselves on many fronts. Paper Salad is one of the most successful leading publishers in the country with high profile accounts, a wonderful studio and loyal export customers. They are also one PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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LYNN’S LINES

Left: Claire Williams and Karen Frost from Paper Salad who beautifully decorated the PG Live dining hall this year.

Below: Lynn spent her golden Greats Awards ticket with Lorraine Stylianou at PG Live.

Below right: The Ladder Club group photo at the show.

of the industry’s most creative companies, and have proved this by taking full advantage of the marketing opportunities and PR gained by marking their 10th anniversary by decorating PG Live’s dining area and branding it in a fun, original and amazingly creative way.

In doing so, Karen and Claire put their inimitable brand in front of the eyes of the thousands of dining customers who were a captive audience for probably three quarters of an hour while they all had their scrummy PG Live lunch.

And the room wasn’t decorated with corporate logos, instead it was fun, fun, fun!

Gorgeous menu cards, lovely little Paper Salad ‘houses’ (printed by Windles) sat on the table, the waiters and waitresses clad in Paper Salad aprons, Glick’s Paper Salad giftwrap was wrapped around the room’s pillars and envelope bunting was hung around the room… genius! Massive helium-filled bright pink balloons ending in tassels also floated above each dining table and giant giftwrapped parcels featuring Paper Salad’s designs (sold by Glick) were stacked high around the room.

They made the most of an opportunity when it was given. I wonder which company will now take up the batten now that Paper Salad has shown what is possible? Ironically, in a year or two I can see one or two Ladder Club members capable of doing the honours.

About six years ago I felt we were losing lots of aspiring Ladder Club members, who after they set up their business then disappeared within a year or two. So we decided to introduce a second day seminar for those who were a few years down the publishing cards line and were meeting the second phase of growing problems with their business. And I contacted all The Ladder Club attendees by email with a questionnaire to find out where they were in their business and if they had given up and why.

During the last two years I have seen a great increase in success for these fledgling

businesses and nearly all of them now have impressive professional stands at trade fairs. There are also repeat bookings for fairs. It isn’t easy for new publishers to survive, there is no denying it, so you can understand how emotional I felt at the recent PG Live when The Ladder Club group photograph was taken and one after the other, more and more Ladder Club members turned up… proudly wearing their Ladder Club pin badges.

I have a greeting card that I publish which says ‘One day I'm not quite sure what happened but everything just changed’. That day at PG Live I really felt that The Ladder Club had arrived, and in my personal life as well.

Its success has been due to a combination of things, but the complement and bonus to the yearly seminars has been the all consuming, wonderful Ladder Club members’ Facebook page. It has been a major influence to the recent successes of these wonderful card publishers, and the camaraderie that has evolved has given those publishers a network of like-minded people who are there for them. They no longer feel isolated when embarking on such a massive quest when attending their daunting but exciting first trade fair, for instance.

At PG Live I only managed to be there on the Monday, the set up day, and the Wednesday (the second day of the show) as I was having treatment from 9am until 9pm on the Tuesday a few miles away, in Barts Hospital.

However in that time on Monday during set up I managed to buy from 12 card publishers and spent a massive amount of money.

And during the show I had a great to catch up with many people, including Jeremy Bacon from the Sherwood Group who has

been such a great supporter of not only The Ladder Club but also the numerous charity events I have done over the years. It was so great to talk to him and hear about his latest cycling charity event for Action Medical Research… watch this space.

Thanks to my loyal and supportive husband Andy and the wonderful Trudi, my staff member and special person generally, who not only put up the stand and got it ready with minimal effort from me, but who also allowed me to roam free and have the time of my life at the show. I cannot stand on my feet for any great length of time so taking orders on the stand was not so possible, although I did meet some very interesting retailers on my stand for the short time I was on there.

I don't think another fair could match up to this one. It is a miracle that I was there as I only managed a day at Spring Fair. I was pretty poorly and in a bad place for most of the time.

However, everything can change on a sixpence in life and in business and I am so lucky that I am one of those incredibly blessed people. At the moment life is very good, Carpe Diem everyone.

I know without a shadow of a doubt this is the most wonderful industry to be in and I am so proud to be part of it, and if ever this was proved to me it was at PG Live.

Memorable is an understatement. Thank you everyone who made it so very special for me in so many ways. It was wonderfully organised and there was incredible attention to detail.

With summer on its way and Harrogate Home & Gift to look forward to, I hope to see as many of you as possible at the show. A warm welcome awaits in the marquee DP5 -18.

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perfectionists

The specialist buying group in the independent greeting card and gift retail sectorâ&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;ŚCelebrating 25 years of Service to Members.

in the

art

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

of greeting cards

k

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

Sales software softwar re solutions iPad catalogue ordering handheld order capture trade/retail eCommerce

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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

01794 500200

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www.gca.cards

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DESIGN LED RETRO CARD & GIFTS TO SUIT ALL OCCASIONS YEAR OF BIRTH GREETING CARDS MUSIC DOWNLOADS â&#x20AC;˘ PREMIUM RETRO GIFTWARE & ACCESSORIES

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

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Sendingg Smiles across the h miles il To get involved this September go to

www.gca.cards www.gca.cards

74-80_PG_July 2015_v8_PRODUCT DIRECTORIES 01/07/2015 11:57 Page 75

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

www.cathtatecards.com

Caspari Ltd Linden House, John Dane Player Court

Witty, gritty, switched on humour.

Cards and gifts with a real difference.

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

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

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

Christmas.

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

DADDY

Sendingg Smiles across the h miles il To get involved this September go to

www.gca.cards www.gca.cards Prizes for Best Window Display! Go to

www.gca.cards

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

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

Online Shop www.colneisgreetingcards.com

One of the UK’s UK’s leading suppliers of Greeting Greeting Cards Cards since since 1995 1995 Products: High quality greeting greeting cards cards Products: with superb finishes. All major and covering traditional traditional to to minor titles, covering latest in innovative innovative design, the latest Everyday and Seasonal. both Everyday Brands: Always Always & Forever, Forever, P etals, Brands: Petals, Days, Letters Letters from from the Heart, Lazy Days, Precious Times, Times, Street Street Kidz, T houghts, Precious Thoughts, ‘Have a Larff’ Larff ’ and Not So Innocent!

Innocent!

‘Have Direct to to retail. retail.

Method of Sale: Direct

Method of Sale: Direct to Retail

Designers welcome, welcome, contact contact beverley@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk beverley@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

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

cbg.co.uk

@CarteBlancheGrp

Get Ready! Download free POS at

Cherry Or Orchard chard Publishing LLP Unit 10 Duddage Busines Businesss P Park ark Br Brockeridge ockeridge R Rd d T Twyning wyning Tewkesbury Tewkesbury 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

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

www.gca.cards Supplier

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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DIPINGO DESIGN

The T he UK No. No. 1 in Licensed Lic ensed Greetings Greetings etings

Bespoke design service for retail products

Market leaders in Humour, Art, Photographic, Occasions

Ov err 30 lic enses nses including: including Over licenses Disney, D Disne y, Peppa Peppa Pig Pig, He Kitt Hello Kitty y, Mr Me n Kitty, Men Birds and A and Angry Bir dss

and Relations cards offering

t: +44 + (0)1264 388400 e: enquiries@gemma-international.co.uk enquiries@gemma-interna national. ti co.uk w: gemma-int gemma-international.co.uk ernational. ona co.uk

development opportunities.

a full planning service with merchandising and retail

CARDS CARDS • WRAP • PARTY PARTY • GIFTS GIFTS

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

www.dipingodesign.co.uk

Get involved!

www.gca.cards

TM

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.

www.greatbritishcards.co.uk

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

Beautiful greeting cards from contemporary British artwork

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

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

M ETHOD OF SALE Direct to Retail

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

from the

Sendingg Smiles across the h miles il To get involved this September go to

www.gca.cards www.gca.cards

Prizes for Best Window Display! Go to

www.gca.cards 76

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

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

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

Impress Publishing Appledown House Barton Business Park New Dover Road Canterbury, Kent CT1 3TE Tel: 01227 811 611 Fax: 01227 811 618 email: info@impresspublishing.co.uk

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

icg ic cg

...The home for

&

and

INTERNATIONAL CARDS & GIFTS

Quality

! d end on dep e you can and Servic

Get Ready! Download free POS at

www.gca.cards

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

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

...and the UK home for

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

Bespoke service for charities and other fundraisers.

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

New products products launched every four weeks! weeks!

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

METHOD OF SALE Dir Direct ect and Expor 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

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

Web: W eb: www www.icgcards.com .icgcards.com

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

www.lovefromlemonade.co.uk

150mm x 150mm and packed in 6s

Made in the UK

www.lovefromlemonade.co.uk

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

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

0844 586 7477 sales@juicylucydesigns.com

60 years

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

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

t. 01243 780501 e. info@jonesy.ca

jonesy.ca agents wanted

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 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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originalposter.com

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

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

We replace slow sellers and damaged stock free of charge.

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

THAT’S WHY WE’RE ORIGINAL!

01932 267 300

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.

Sendingg Smiles across the h miles il

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

To get involved this September go to

www.gca.cards www.gca.cards

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

Get involved!

www.gca.cards 78

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

78

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS

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

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

Paperlinkcards Paperlinkcards @paperlinkcards @ paperlinkcards PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY ADVENT CALENDARS

TM

Prizes for Best Window Display! Go to

www.gca.cards

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!

Greeting Cards that are unique & special with creative wit.

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

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

rosierobins.com 01992 536461

RICHARD SELLMER VERLAG 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.

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

Sensations International Ltd

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

Sendingg Smiles across the h miles il To get involved this September go to

www.gca.cards www.gca.cards

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.

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

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

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

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

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

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

01923 200600 | www.woodmansterne.co.uk

●

Top-notch British Greeting Cards for Thoughts that Count

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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

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

DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT

Products:

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

Get involved!

www.gca.cards

Brands:

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

Method of sale:

Wholesale Distributors

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

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

To appear in the Product Directories

TEL: 01480 435562 FAX: 01480 450599 www.tracksltd.com UNIT 2, 12 BLACKSTONE RD, STUKELEY MEADOWS IND EST, HUNTINGDON, CAMBS, PE29 6EF

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

81_PG_July 2015_v8_whole sale dirSeptember 2004 01/07/2015 12:48 Page 81

Directory of wholesalers Directory of wholesalers DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS ●

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

SCOTLAND

DORSET

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

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

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 PARTY AND BALLOON CASH & CARRY

HERTS & LONDON

SUMAN BROS

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

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 62

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

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BAGS

Polypropylene & biodegradable bag specialists

GREETING CARD

Over 40 years quality service to the trade Hotfoiling also available

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

GIVE Y YOUR OUR

ENVELOPES

F FOR OR A ALL 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

VIP

TREATMENT TREA ATMENT T

Peel & Stick Envelopes Bespoke Service on Request

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

HIGH CLARITY BAGS FOR GREETING CARDS, CALENDARS AND ARTWORK ŏ ŏđŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ FOIL BLOCKING EXTENSIVE RANGE OF STOCK SIZES AND BESPOKE MANUFACTURE WRAPPING SERVICE AUTOMA ATED T WRA PPING SER VICE NEW AUTOMATED

CALL US TODAY

01228 560526 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.

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

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

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

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

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FLITTERING

DISPLAY

FOR ALL YOUR FLITTER REQUIREMENTS

UNIVERSAL

ABL Foil Ltd

SHOP EQUIPMENT GREETING CARD DISPLAYS

â&#x20AC;˘ Manufacturers of

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

quality Display Units for over 25 years

â&#x20AC;˘ PVC Interlocking Tiers â&#x20AC;˘ High Impact 2mm

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

Edging

â&#x20AC;˘ Vast range of colours

PRINTERS

available

â&#x20AC;˘ From one unit through to full shop reďŹ ts

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

specialist greeting card printer We print using the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst Carbon Neutral Heidelberg press and offer a wide range of specialist ďŹ nishes all in-house, including: Flittering, Flittering, Foiling, Foiling, UV Varnishing, Varnishing, 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 grro owth 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.

print green with us

O F F S E T PRODUCTIONS

Op

Printing Greeting Cards for over 30 years EXCESS STOCK

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

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

Small or large quantities considered.

â&#x20AC;˘ Folding â&#x20AC;˘ Packing â&#x20AC;˘ ISO 9001 & 14001

All restrictions honoured.

For an immediate and confidential response please send samples and information to:

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

!"

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PRINTERS

(London) The Capitals only Greetings card printer

at PJ Print we pride ourselves on great customer care,

Specialist UK and Global manufacturer for the greeting card industry

and the greeting cards we make

To discuss how we could work with you contact Simon King

are pretty smart too.

For Award winning Print look no further than

PJ - PRINT

Tel: 0115 928 7766 Email: sales@sherwoodgroupuk.com

www.sherwoodgroupuk.com

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

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

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

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.

hZ fheZk [j_d] YW ki ed ]h[ Y \e b _W Y [i If[ i[ i[hl_Y \ _d#^ek e [ ] d W h <kbb [Z ]kWhWdj[ GkWb_jo [i Y h_ f j_j_l[ 9ecf[ h[b_WXb[ Z d W _edWb Fhe\[ii Wbb [h jee ic Y j_ed$ De ehZ ij fheZk h W Z < ;W d W A K 8ej^ services, ur unique 1150 ation on o rm 14 fo in 01 250 For more s team on le sa e th ntact please co eys.co.uk sales@loxl or email:

PEFC / 16-33-794

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84

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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CLASSIFIED

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PRINTERS

The Specialist Greetings Card Printer

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

Litho Print

What we offer:

Digital Print Foiling

• Greeting cards • Artworking and design • Short-run print

Embossing

• Pick, pack and distribution

Die-cutting Flittering Packing Distribution

• Promotional items • Bespoke gifts • Marketing literature

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

• Exhibition graphics • Stationery • Brochures • and more...

www.herbertwalkers.co.uk

TM

Packaging

BRC

07974 133735 paul.watson@sherwoodgroupuk.com

Certificated

HW

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

YOUR MANUFACTURING PARTNER FOR VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS English speaking production team, prices quoted in sterling... and only 3 days delivery to THE UK...

Really... and there s no VAT to pay or customs procedures either...that's a great deal!

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

WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

The Professional and Caring Approach..

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

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

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

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.

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 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

LB Warehousing (Women in Transport & Logistics Finalist)

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

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

Our CAN DO approach means that WE solve your problems.

Outsourcing your warehousing operation releases your time to CREATE/MARKET/SELL/ MANAGE/GROW THE BUSINESS YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS, please visit our web site and see what OUR customers say, then to find out more call Lynda Raymond and perhaps we can

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APPOINTMENTS

AGENTS W WANTED A ANTED COLOUR

C Colneis olneis M Marketing arketing H O U S E

Good Agents are wanted for both of the above independent publishers in several areas Paying top rates of commission promptly plus BONUS! Card designs can be viewed on the following websites

www.colneisgreetingscards.com www.colourhousegraphics.co.uk

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

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

Home of the Wire Spinner Stand

Apply to either of the following email addresses: colneiscards@btconnect.com colourhousegraphics@hotmail.com

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

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.

To appear in Progressive Greetings simply call Warren Lomax on: 0207 700 6740 or alternatively email him on warren@max-publishing.co.uk 86

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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

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ladies & gentlemen let the festivities begin!

emporium THE BRAND NEW COLLECTION FROM

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