Greetings Today

Independently audited, ABC circulation of 6,089

The impartial voice of the greetings card industry July 2015 Issue 10 Volume 16

A fabulous new collection of

12 special circular handmade cards Beautiful general Birthday images.

Pretty deckle edge design detail.

Gem and bow attachments.

Full colour throughout.

Beautiful itter detail.

All designs cello bagged with a bright Jasmine label.

Complementary colour envelopes.

Extremely good value at ÂŁ1.99 RRP.

For more information, please contact customer services and quote LJBP15 Nigel Quiney Publications, Cloudesley House, Shire Hill, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3FB

Tel: 01799 520200 Fax: 01799 520100 www.nigelquiney.com

contents the team

Editor Tracey Bearton tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk Advertisement Manager Gareth Liddiatt gareth@lemapublishing.co.uk 01442 289940 (direct)

Group Editor Mirella Anstey mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk

18

42

44

Publisher Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

REGULARS 07

Leader

40

Weathering the glorious sunshine, and Window On The World.

08

News

12

Meet The Newbies Windles-sponsored focus on industry newcomers.

14

John Ryan Signage and categories are an important way to help customers find what they want.

39

Retail Advice Independent retail advisor Henri Davis gets down to the nitty gritty of detail.

FEATURES 16

Cover Story

52 54

Animal-Themed Cards As a nation of animal lovers, designs with our furred and feathered friends are a big hit.

Managing Director Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk Circulation Manager Robert Thomas robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

Keep in touch - follow us: @greetingstoday

Vox Pop

55

https://www.facebook.com/ greetingstodaymag

Spotlight & Gifts Spotlight A selection of this month’s latest releases.

● Jo Barber’s On The Shop Front returns next month

PUBLISHING

44

Plush Toys & Gifts A great additional sale and perennial favourites, where did plush toys come from?

46 48

Talking Shop

Telephone: 01442 289930 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

At the heart of retail

Golf Classic Report

Greetings Today is independently audited with an ABC circulation of 6,089 (July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014)

Tee up with Greetings Today.

50

Lema Publishing Ltd 1 Church Gates, Wilderness, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2UB

From Scotland to Spain via Northern Ireland, Cardland founder Jim McAllister tells all.

Withering Thighs Fundraising in the great outdoors for the Cardgains Charity Challenge.

ONLINE

Production Director Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

Publishers are at the heart of the industry, hear their opinions on current issues.

Clarion Events’ summer fair loves sunshine and sociability.

34

Frankly Speaking Charting new territory brings its own dilemmas, as Sarah Porter explains.

for Hanson White’s latest humour range.

Home & Gift Preview

Talk Of The Town The voice of the people who matter, greetings retailers tell it like it is.

Real life and real women are the inspiration

18

It’s All About Sales Neil says size matters while Alina keeps it personal.

51

People, Supplier, Licensing, Exhibition and General, it’s all here and there’s more on www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Group Advertisement Manager Ryan Horwood ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk

Go to our website – www.greetingstoday.co.uk – for our archive of online features and previous issues of the magazine.

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Subscription per annum: UK £60 (free for people in the greetings industry), Europe £80, ROTW £100 A member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 5

Make this Summer ‘sizzle’!

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leader Editor Tracey Bearton

UMMERTIME and the living is easy – despite what the song says, and the fact we all love nice weather, it’s not necessarily conducive to increased business.

For The beautiful blue skies and lovely warm sunshine mean people think more about lazing in the garden or park rather than wandering around the shops, as the retailers in the Talk Of The Town feature on page 49 explain.

Tourist towns know they rely on good weather to bring in the visitors – but the dilemma is that if it’s too nice they’ll find somewhere to sit and enjoy the sun, rather than shop.

However, one big exception to this rule is Home & Gift Harrogate, which is particularly known for being a sociable show and the experience is made even more enjoyable when the sun shines.

What can be more pleasant than a trip to the beautiful spa town in Yorkshire where suppliers can meet all the lovely retailers and buyers on their stands during the day, then enjoy a delicious Pimm’s on the lawns during the glorious summer evenings?

Here’s hoping the lovely warm weather we’re enjoying as I write continues through to July 19-22 so the Clarion Events show is another great success – to find out what’s going on, the Home & Gift Harrogate Preview starts on page 18.

Talking of the lack of rain – yes, I do realise I’ve been going on about it – the weather fairies have been especially kind to us at Greetings Today,

● Cartoons by James Whitworth T: 07872 013943 – jameswhitworth@mac.com www.whitworthcartoons.com

S

making sure flaming June lives up the moniker.

That meant our 11th annual Golf Classic, organised by Lema Publishing MD Malcolm Naish, was thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part, allowing for an al fresco lunch, while sun hats were de rigeur all day.

Congratulations are due to the new winning team from Second Nature – full results are on page 48 – and if you’d like to tee up yourself, the event will be back again next year so keep an eye out for the June date.

Another annual event that’s made more pleasant by the sun is the Cardgains Charity Challenge which this year saw the aptly-named Withering Thighs 25-mile hike around Bronte country and the Yorkshire Moors.

From waterfalls and viaducts through pebbledashed dry-stone walls to lamas and sheep, there was plenty to see as people from across the greetings and gifts industry joined together to help others.

Getting to the top of the moors was good for two reasons – it was downhill afterwards, and the heat and humidity gave way to a welcome cooler breeze which cooled the sunburn, and the pints at the Golden Fleece slipped down extremely well!

There’s a report and pictures on page 50, and the full photograph album is available over on www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag Now, where’s my suncream? I’m off to enjoy this glorious summer weather and rest my dodgy ankle for next year.

Send your views and submissions for the magazine to: tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk Tel: 01442 289930

Want to appear in ?

AUGUST FEATURES: Verse, Sentiment & Sympathy Cards Image Licensing & Photo Libraries Cute Cards AUGUST COPY DATE – EXTENDED TO JULY 13

SEPTEMBER FEATURES: Autumn Fair Preview Top Drawer Autumn Preview Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn Preview Multicultural Cards SEPTEMBER COPY DATE – JUNE 15

WINDOW ON THE WORLD THE SMELL of fresh paint is proof that Greetings Today columnist Jo Barber is busy expanding her empire as she moves from owning just the Stationery Boutique in Ampthill, Beds, to also opening The Home & Gift Store in the market town.

“It does exactly what it says on the tin,” Jo said, “selling home accessories and home-related items with not a greetings card in sight.

“We’re moving any home items from The Stationery Boutique, making more room for cards and stationery. I’ll stay where I am as cards and stationery are my passion and I’ve recruited staff to run the new shop.”

Having opened her original store just four years ago, the success of the gifting side has led to the expansion, and Jo has already become a wellrespected buyer – she was named in the top five of the Buyers’ Power List at Spring Fair 2015.

With the new store having opening on June 17, Jo – pictured with her staff – has had her hands full so will be back with tales from her move into retailing in her On The Shop Front column in the August issue.

T: 01525 404742 www.stationery-boutique.co.uk

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 7

SEE MORE NEWS ON www.greetingstoday.co.uk

in the news news in brief What a Whalley!

IN A MOVE that can only be described as sound business sense for the brains behind the Lesser Spotted Britain road signs card and gift ranges, they’ve relocated to a place with a daft name. Moving from London to Manchester was easier for Lesser Spotted Images as the destination was Whalley Range.

Owner Dominic Greyer is also releasing his second volume of great British road sign photographs. Lesser Spotted Britain will be published by Portico on July 9 at £9.99.

Moonpig sale possible THE FIRM that owns online greetings card website Moonpig have hired advisers to run an auction for possible sale despite plans for a stock market listing.

A clutch of private equity firms are considering buying online photo specialists Photobox, who are understood to have quietly hired advisers at Wall Street bank Goldman Sachs to run an auction that could see the company fetch between £400million and £450.

Izzy’s standing ovation

ONLINE selling and the problem of product copying were the major discussion points at the GA Members’ Day and AGM where a record attendance also gave CEO Isabel Martinson a standing ovation as she said goodbye after almost 15 years leading the Giftware Association. The audience on June 10 also heard from speakers about performance-driven digital marketing and alternative funding and investment, and there was a lively debate, The Next Generation in Gifts, on issues including the future of the High Street; how the internet has changed buying and selling; business-to-business and business-to-consumer websites; how independent bricks and mortar retailers could remain competitive; the damaging effect of replica and counterfeit products, and the personalisation of products.

A date with charity MORE than £75,000 has been raised by Carousel Calendars’ 2015 dated charity range in royalties and donations for worthwhile causes. The £75,195 raised shows licensed dated products from Carousel are a vital revenue stream for charities including the RSPB, RNLI, RHA, RBG Kew, Perennial, WWF and Help For Heroes.

Wild about art INTERNATIONALLY-recognised greetings card designer Hannah Dale is about to stage her first art exhibition in a joint Wild At Heart venture with north-east fine artist Andy Broderick from August 8 to September 19. The pair have been brought together by Joe Cole, MD of Natural Partners Limited for exhibition at The Steel Rooms in Brigg, Lincolnshire.

Stamp price control possible ROYAL Mail could be made to accept further controls on stamp prices as part of an inquiry announced by the communications watchdog Ofcom.They are carrying out a “fundamental review” of how they regulate Royal Mail to make sure they maintain their obligation to deliver to all parts of the country, after the only national competitior Whistl pulled out of the market.

Face up to contest A SHOP Of The Month competition is one way Cherry Orchard are celebrating their 20th anniversary. Each month one lucky winner picked through Facebook will receive a bottle of champagne, certificate and entry into the Grand Draw for stock worth £1,000 at retail.

Email SOTM@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

8 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Ling sale announced LING Design have announced that the publishers have been acquired by Swan Mill Paper Company, owners of the Penny Kennedy brand.

On Thursday, June 25, Julian Nash, current Chairman of Ling Design, revealed: “Ling Design and their sister company Talking Pictures Cards have a unique place in the greetings industry and we are delighted to hand the continued development of the company we have built over the last 18 years to Swan Mill.

“We recognise them as one of the most successful and innovative British companies and I am quite certain that Ling Design will prosper further in their hands.”

David Byk, CEO of Swan Mill, added: “Ling Design are a very well-known and well-run company supplying the trade with over 25 million cards per annum all year round and will form an excellent addition to our group.

“We see much common ground and many synergies and opportunities and we are excited to be adding the Ling Design, Talking Pictures, Rainbow Cards and Max and Sid brands to our own successful portfolio, which includes the upmarket gift-packaging brand Penny Kennedy.”

Ian Bant, pictured below left with David, remains as MD of Ling Design, and David has been appointed CEO with immediate effect while Julian will remain with the business until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition to the new ownership.

Ling Design, based in Paddock Wood, Kent, and Bath, Somerset, are leading independent publishers of greetings cards and stationery with a turnover of more than £8million.

They employ around 65 people and supply greetings cards to multiple retailers and independents in the UK as well as to nearly 30 countries around the world.

With a head office on Swanley, Kent, Swan Mill have a turnover of more than £50m with 250 employees in the UK and Asia.

They manufacture paper tableware, giftwrap and tinsel in the UK as well as importing gift packaging, greetings cards, Christmas crackers and decorations through their Hong Kong office for a similar customer base to that of Ling. They supply under the Penny Kennedy and Swantex brands as well as own label.

T: 01892 838574 www.lingdesign.co.uk T: 01322 665566 www.swantex.com

Lisa’s delicious prize BEAUTIFUL bunting helped House Of Cards’ Lisa Gilbert to a delicious prize as she won Second Nature’s on-stand competition at PG Live.

The new product went down very well at the recent show as National Accounts Manager Chris Bryant and his team ran the contest to guess the number of lengths of bunting needed to stretch from the show stand in London to their distribution centre on the Isle Of Wight.

Chris, pictured with Lisa at the Tring branch of House Of Cards, said: “The answer was 24,224 bunting lengths and Lisa’s guess of 26,370 was the closest when we looked once we got back to the office.

“We think that may have got Lisa over the Isle of Wight and into the English Channel but it was a valiant effort and a fabulous Fortnum & Mason hamper was her just reward – she was over the moon!”

T: 020 8960 0212 www.secondnature.co.uk

Ferrero takeover can halt 'fatal' decline THORNTONS shares rose more than 42 per cent after the announcement on June 22 that Italian chocolate makers Ferrero International had bid for the firm.

The cash offer of 145p per share valued the Debyshire-based confectionery specialists at £112million, and represented a premium of 42.9 per cent on the closing price on June 19, according to a statement from Thorntons.

A week after the offer former chairman Peter Thornton, grandson of the chocolatiers’ founder, told Retail Week he believes the company’s decline “would have been fatal” had Ferrero not stepped in.

Peter, who left as chairman in 1987 and later attempted to buy the business, has urged Ferrero to return Thorntons to their retail roots if they complete the £112m acquisition.

The move is the first acquisition by Ferrero, and sparked fresh hope the embattled retailers and manufacturers can be rejuvenated after they issued a profits warning last December.

Thorntons have urged shareholders to back the offer with chairman Paul Wilkinson stating: “Ferrero is offering our shareholders an attractive premium to the average price of Thorntons’ shares over the last three months. Ferrero is a successful global confectionery business with a strong family heritage and as such represents a good cultural fit for Thorntons. The board of Thorntons therefore has given its unanimous recommendation for the offer from Ferrero.”

Ferrero chief executive Giovanni Ferrero, who employs around 27,000 staff in the family firm, said: "We delivered our best-ever results in the UK in 2014, giving us confidence that now is the right time to broaden our roots in this important market."

The bid has been made by Ferholding UK, a whollyowned subsidiary of Ferrero incorporated in England and Wales on June 12 for the specific purpose on making the offer, at which time they owned 34.36 per cent of the company’s issued share capital.

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

licensing news Starting with expansion RACHEL Ellen Designs have become the first company to appoint Melanie HumberstoneGarley’s brand-new independent agency MHG Licensing to represent them.

Founder Rachel said: “We’re very excited to start working with Mel who, apart from having a wealth of experience within the licensing industry, has a real understanding of the potential of what we have to offer and, above all, great enthusiasm and genuine interest in the Rachel Ellen brand.”

Licensing industry expert Mel said: ”At last I’ve taken a great leap of faith and have launched my very own licensing agency. I’m now up and running with my first client. I’m delighted to be able to work with Rachel and expand on the licensing success to date and move into new product categories especially softlines, apparel and potentially publishing.”

T: 01993 200749 www.melanie.humberstone-garley.co.uk

Everyday

Mining a good seam DANILO are the first partners announced for the UK licensing programme for the hit new version of the classic TV series Poldark which is set to mine a great seam of product.

Co-produced by Mammoth Screen and Masterpiece for BBC1, the licensing rights for the show have been acquired by ITV Studios Global Entertainment who announced at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas that they have already signed Danilo to build the stationery and greetings category.

They are on board to produce a calendar, set to debut at retail from Q4 2015, inspired by the hit series which recently finished airing on BBC1 to an average of 7.7million viewers.

T: 01992 702900 www.danilo.com T: 020 7157 6163 www.itvstudios.com/programmes

Freezing out rivals FROZEN was the night's big winner as children's entertainment brands and toy licensees made their mark at LIMA's annual International Licensing Awards.

The consumer products campaign for Disney’s mega-hit animated movie Frozen – for which Danilo Promotions have the calendars licence and UK Greetings publish licensed cards – took top honours as Overall Best Licensed Program at the ceremony at the 2015 Licensing Expo in Las Vegas.

Frozen also won in the Film, Television, or Entertainment (Animated) Programme category, while Kohl’s Department Stores received the coveted Retailer of the Year Award for their in-store presentation of Frozen, and Jakks Pacific’s Disney’s Frozen Snow Glow Elsa doll tied with Playmates Toys’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles product line as joint winners in the Film, Television, or Entertainment Animated Licensee: Hard Goods category.

The full list of 2015 award winners is available on www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Bob’s a legend FORTY years after Bob Marley’s legendary show at London’s Lyceum Ballroom, the 72 forgotten negatives capturing that live performance have been rediscovered – and Full Colour Black have the exclusive licensing rights.

The small stage allowed 16-year-old aspiring photographer David Crow to capture some of the best live photos of Bob Marley And The Wailers.

But David eventually gave up his photography career and forgot all about his previous work until a large folder of his negatives were unearthed during a house move earlier this year.

T: 020 7617 7161 www.fullcolourblack.com

Christmas

Valentine’s Day

Call of wild FASHION, style and humour are the blend that brings designs and photography together in the It’s A Wild Life brand where global agents Bulldog Licensing have brought on board Pyramid International in the UK and Eire for posters, stationery, mugs, wristbands, badges, stickers, keychains, magnets, postcards, coasters and calendars

www.bulldog-licensing.com www.pyramidinternational.com

SEE MORE NEWS ON THE WEBSITE

Please note, we will not be attending Harrogate Home & Gift

(e) sales@realandexcitingdesigns.co.uk (t) 01223 207 080 (f) 01536 401 031

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 9

people news Jolly good innings FORTY years is a damn fine innings and that’s just what Ian Gunn has put on the board at UK Greetings.

Ian has just retired from the Dewsbury-based publishers and he and wife Susan celebrated by having dinner with UKG CEO Gary Rowley – himself a 40-plus years’ service man – in their home town of Aberdeen.

Tony Roberts, UKG Director Of Independent Sales, was also at the dinner and said: “After 40 years service with the company, beginning with Rust Craft, then Carlton Cards and now UK Greetings, Ian has decided to retire.

“He has specified that this has been a very difficult decision, however he now feels the time is right for him personally.

“Ian has been an extremely loyal and dedicated member of our sales force and has been held in high regard by management, colleagues and customers alike. He has built up a very good working relationship with all of his customers, and many have over the years become personal friends.”

Ian added: “I have been totally overwhelmed to receive the cards and the amount of cash from everyone at UK Greetings, I really have. There are so many people who have contributed it's unbelievable.

“I would normally like to thank people individually but this would be a difficult task! I intend to buy an iPad and case with the money so it will certainly be well used.”

Amanda takes a break

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

AFTER 11 years at Caroline Gardner Publishing, sales director Amanda Fergusson has decided to leave to take a career break.

In that time the business has undergone a period of huge expansion, both here in the UK and internationally, with product innovation building the brand and taking Caroline Gardner into new markets, as well as opening their first two own-brand shops.

MD Angus Gardner said: “We have enjoyed working with Amanda hugely over the past few years, she 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 good friends.”

Amanda added: “It has been a privilege to be part of Caroline Gardner during this exciting period of growth.

“I’ve enjoyed the last 11 years very much and wish Caroline, Angus, and all the team the very best for the next phase in the development of the brand – I’ve seen the SS16 gift range so will be back to do some shopping!”

T: 020 8288 9696 www.carolinegardner.com

GREETING CARD

Danny’s promotion adds up DANNY Gratton has been promoted to the position of National Sales Manager at Abacus Cards, who are based in Newmarket, Suffolk, with their sister company Clare Maddicott Publications.

Commercial Director Nick Carey said: “Danny joined us in 2006 and, following nine very successful years managing our Midlands territory, he thoroughly deserves this promotion.”

T: 01638 569050 www.abacuscards.co.uk

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

T 01206 396209 E sales@badgerconverters.co.uk www.badgerconverters.co.uk 10 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Better work-life balance OPC CARDS have welcomed new franchisee Ken Beilby, who has changed jobs for a better work-life balance after 25 years working for the same turf production company.

Ken was employed in a supervisory position in charge of quality control, working long unsociable hours including night shifts and weekends.

After exploring various franchise opportunities the flexibility of an OPC franchise appealed to Ken due to the established nature and heritage of the company with 24 years trading behind them. He grasped the opportunity when his local franchise area of North Yorkshire came up for sale and said: “I’m still asking myself why I didn’t do it sooner!”

T: 01932 267300 www.originalposter.com

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exhibition news

supplier news

Sign up for BLE REGISTRATION is now open for Brand Licensing Europe, the UBM Advanstarorganised licensing exhibition, which runs from October 13-15, 2015.

This year’s show promises another action-packed three days, following the 2014 event which was the biggest in the event’s 17-year history.

Once again, this year’s event will be zoned into three distinct areas to help visitors navigate easily – Art, Design & Image; Brands & Lifestyle, and Character & Entertainment – plus there are two educational programmes, divided between the Licensing Academy and the Brands & Lifestyle Theatre.

www.brandlicening.eu

Wishes come true A WISH list function on the new Autumn Fair website is set to provide a year-round exhibition shopping experience for retailers.

The site, developed by ASP, has been unveiled by organisers i2i Events Group along with refreshed branding for the show at Birmingham’s NEC from September 6-9.

The wish list mirrors some of the world’s most successful ecommerce sites and allows browsers to add items to their online cart and easily navigate one of the largest new product selections available to the trade ahead of Christmas.

A new website with similar functionality is already in place for sister event Pure London and the technology is due to be rolled out for Spring Fair 2016 later this year.

www.autumnfair.com

Calling the world MORE than 750 exhibitor registrations have been received from 51 countries for the next edition of Paperworld in Frankfurt – and 95 per cent of the space at sister show Christmasworld is already booked.

Paperworld is the specialist event organised by Messe Frankfurt for the paper, stationery and office supplies sector which includes a greetings section with the 2016 dates from January 30-February 2.

www.paperworld.messefrankfurt.com

Taking B2 digital A SUPER-SIZED digital printer is helping Leeds-based printers Team Impression meet demand.

The newly-installed £1.2million HP Indigo 10000 takes B2 sheet sizes and Greetings Division Director Gary Hickey, pictured right with operator David Wallis, said: “It has been a great addition to Team’s digital department, which is already running Indigo 7000 and 5500 presses, even more so for the Greetings Division.

“I’m able to offer our publishers a quick, efficient and cost-effective way to produce samples and short runs including verse and caption changes – with our new B2 press we can offer exactly the same to publishers for gift wrap too.”

T: 0113 272 4800 www.team-impression.com

Ready for action A LARGE format UV flatbed printer means the new digital team at Cardmasters are ready for action.

The Canon Arizona UV Flatbed 360 GT complements the DY55 digital cutting system at the Hampshire-based firm who specialise in cardboard engineering to print on any substrate up to 40mm thick which can be converted from flat sheets into packaging, POS and greetings cards.

T: 01256 766602 www.cardmasters.co.uk

WE LOVE * PRINT &

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

*

meet the newbies Refreshed love for arts LUCY Spence is a self-employed, Liverpool-based designer for her own company – Mudmagpie Greetings Cards – and is a very recent addition to the greetings card industry, having only been trading since November 2014.

“My path to the industry was perhaps not a usual one,” Lucy said, “although I have a background in design having studied Illustration at Kingston University and completing a diploma in graphic design at Leeds College of Art, I most recently worked as a technical writer and proofreader in Manchester – a natural follow on from the completion of my degree in English language.

“In the winter of 2013, I develop a severe itch to travel so last spring, I booked flights to the USA, quit my job and spent the best two months of my life couch-surfing around the land of the free.

“When I returned home, I realised life was too short to spend it working in a job I had little passion for, so I took up drawing again.

My love for the arts was quickly refreshed, and I decided I wanted to pursue my dream of becoming a card designer.

“I realised I’d taken on a big task and, with little money to my name, I was going to have to work hard to wriggle my way into the industry and keep treading water – but I’ve not once looked back, and am loving every minute of my new life.”

Lucy currently sells her cards online through Etsy and her own website, and they’re also in a couple of independent stores in Liverpool and rural North Yorkshire, where she grew up.

She added: “Recently, I’ve been talking to Showcase Greetings, who have provided me invaluable advice and help and I’ll soon be joining their team as an independent designer, helping them to realise their fresh business concept of providing a one-stop service for retailers to choose from a range of great greetings card designs from many different creative talents.”

T: 07763 239731 www.mudmagpie.co.uk

From exhibits to exhibiting DESIGNING and publishing greetings cards may seem a long way from developing exhibitions in a national museum but, for Belinda Morris of 1790 Cards, it’s the realisation of a long-held ambition.

Having managed designers for 20 years, making the transition to being one has been challenging but fun.

Without realising it, Belinda has been strongly influenced by the collections she used to display.

“I’ve always loved poster art from the early 20th Century with its elegant use of bold block colour,” she said, “for years I was lucky enough to work with the fabulous posters from the National Railway Museum collection.

“My own work has definitely been influenced by great artists like Tom Purvis and Frank Newbould.”

Belinda’s first four ranges took her in unexpected directions – On The Wing

concentrates on birds and the beautiful patterns of butterfly wings, while Plant Extracts grew out of interesting plant leaves Belinda noticed in gardens she visited.

The landscape images in Escapes began with images a friend was posting on Facebook from her travels in Australia and New Zealand while Hearts & Handbags evolved from repeat patterns Belinda created.

Having chosen to launch her first four ranges at PG Live recently, York-based Belinda has completed the journey from work on exhibitions to exhibiting herself and is looking forward to expanding her existing ranges and adding new ones over the coming months.

T: 01904 448130 belinda@1790creative.co.uk

WHAT’S NEW AT WINDLES? Investors In Education Award – Windles Group are delighted to receive an Investors In Education 2015 award from the Oxfordshire Business Education Alliance. Lord Williams’ School have nominated us resulting from the local schemes and initiatives in which we have participated. Education and community is important to us – career fests, internships, works experience, apprenticeships, study packs and artwork competitions are all things that Windles have been involved in.

12 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

NEW MEMBERS THE latest publishers to join the Greeting Card Association include: DOODLEDOO PERSONALISED CHARITY GREETINGS CARDS c/o Wynsor Allen Management Services, PO Box 6532, Northampton, NN7 2XR Jo Wynsor info@doodle-doo.co.uk www.doodle-doo.co.uk 01604 871030 FLICKER WINGS 1 Wood Lane, Carlton, Barnsley, Yorkshire, S71 3JQ Sue Coleman flickerwings@mail.com www.flickerwings.com 01226 728616 or 07951 076315

Launch of Windles Group Newsletter – Look out for the first edition of our newsletter – Hexagon – being released early July. This is something for our internal team as much as our lovely customers and suppliers. If you’d like to receive a copy, please drop us a line at hello@windles.co.uk

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meet the newbies WHAT’S ROUND THE CORNER?

PIECES of folded board with a picture or some words on – that about sums up greetings cards. Yet, more than 170 years after the first one was sent, this simple way to communicate your feelings is still going strong.

The product has changed so much over almost two centuries while still remaining the same.The challenge for publishers, designers and printers like the Windles Group is to find ways of making greetings cards fit for the future.

For a while, the rise of the internet and social media looked to be giving the industry a bashing in much the same way newspapers have been hit by the online rolling broadcasts, with ecards, emails and texts sometimes perceived as the trendy new greetings format.

But the British love of greetings cards seems to be winning out – here at Windles our order books and loyal customer base are testament to the resilience of the industry, helped by the economic recovery and the fact you can’t display emails on your mantelpiece!

And anecdotally we hear that, while people use Facebook to wish all and sundry a Happy Birthday, they spend time, money and quite a lot of effort ensuring their loved ones receive classy greetings.

After only the first year, the GCA’s Thinking Of You Week initiative has already been embraced in America, and the Festive Friday idea of giving staff time to write and send their Christmas cards is going great guns.

There’s also a distinct age thing going on, sending texts, Snapchats and WhatsApp messages is all very well for teens and 20-somethings who never stand still but toddlers like getting cards and presents.

Once people start settling down with a family, they get back into the greetings card habit – it may be reluctant at first, but you don’t want the mother-in-law glare because you forgot their anniversary, or your child to be the only one who doesn’t get loads of cards from their school friends.

At the other end of the spectrum you have the huge demand for everyday general friendship cards and those containing more emotionbased from-me-to-you messages where people really want a card to say

it for them. With the increase in both the number of small publishers and sales outlets, the offering has never been greater with every gender, age group, ethnicity and relationship covered by someone.

The upshot of this is that for the majority of publishers, quality and finish really count so they’re looking for the kind of impact processes such as Creative Cold Foil, holographic varnish, deep texture varnish, die-cutting, flittering, Colourise and Retropress to name a few. All of which Windles Group have lovingly executed on greetings cards.

As the recent acquisition of Ling Design by Penny Kennedy’s owners Swan Mill Paper Company shows, the shake-down of publishers isn’t over yet but we have a few really big organisations alongside many more small, family-run businesses who need to know their printer can help achieve their vision.

At Windles Group we have the huge advantage of our MuchMore studio, headed up by Ian Kear-Bertie, where we can help publishers and designers get the best out of these processes and take them in different directions.

While Windles Group are specialist greetings card printers, we have more than one string to our bow and we often find innovations in our packaging division – where we cover everything from mug and glass boxes through giftware packaging to incredibly fancy DVD and game sleeves – can be taken through to the card side.

It’s always a great approach to draw inspiration from completelydifferent markets where creative thinking can bridge multiple products.

If you’re a publisher that’s expanded into gifting, that means we can ensure matching product across all your ranges, so the cards and gifts really do complement one another.

The expertise and advice available at Windles Group means we can offer intricate designs, special techniques and new technologies to ensure the good changes that have been happening within the industry in the past few years don’t pass anyone by.

Simplicity with sparkle EVERY year just before Christmas, Darren Massey would dig out his sketchbook, grab a pencil and snuggle into the sofa with a cup of tea, designing greetings cards for family and friends. ”For hours I’d sit and doodle, coming up with designs for each person,” he said, “rubbing out here, shading in there, trying to capture an essence of that individual in a simple line drawing embellished with a solitary sparkling gem.

“Sometimes inspiration came from a colour they loved, sometimes a cherished pet, others were just something to make them smile. ”I always looked forward to seeing their faces as they opened their card, a mini piece of artwork designed solely for them, a small gift from me.

“They’d often say ‘Why not take this up professionally?’ and I’d laugh but, after a little persuasion, here I am. ”This year I launched my first collection, a series of eight Valentine’s Day designs under the name Willow James because I felt my own name didn’t work so well with the cards I was designing so came up with the fictional Willow.

“Some fantastic shops took a chance and, to my delight, my cards sold out so, with sketchbook and pencil in hand, I set about completing designs for other special occasions.

“Three months later, my card collection covering 20 occasions is stocked by a growing number of local retailers around Amersham where I’m based, with increasing sales and this has encouraged me to branch out further afield.”

T: 07743 065766 www.willowjames.co.uk

Sorry tale of crime and Casualty LOUIS and Dominique met in the forest – Dominique was gathering flowers for her grandmother and dancing in the sunlight and Louis was lurking.

He then chased her for a mile or so, it started out as a bit of fun but soon turned quite ugly. The ending wasn’t particularly happy but they worked things out and went on to become two of the most notorious outlaws in the land, wanted for hundreds of armed robberies and murders.

But then Louis got shot and, again, things didn’t end so well. Louis tried to change but it was too little too late and their relationship fell apart forcing them to move out of the house they shared.

They reunited last summer but their happiness was short-lived when they themselves became victims of a burglary.

Karma, you might say. Police never caught the burglar, but they believe him to be the infamous Robin Bastard (pictured).

Mr Bastard was wanted in relation to dozens of crimes over a year ago but fled south last winter and evaded capture so Louis and Dominique, in a desperate bid to track him down and retrieve their stolen property, decided to publish his face on to

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greetings cards – a wanted poster of sorts.

They exhibited this for the first time at PG Live and Robin Bastard quickly became their best-selling greetings card.

Dominique said: “It’s a start, but there’s still a long way to go. Somebody out there knows something, it’s only a matter of time.

The more cards we sell, the better chance we have of finding him.”

Louis was in Casualty at the time and unavailable for comment.

Anyone wishing to assist with the search can buy these cards online – although if you have information pertaining to the whereabouts of Robin Bastard please email findrobinbastard@gmail.com immediately.

● Disclaimers: 1) Louis J Parker and Dominique Miranda are not currently wanted in relation to any murders or burglaries They are actor/filmmakers and their award-winning short films Red Riding, Bonnie & Clyde, Change and Moving can be seen on www. lantherfilms.com 2) Louis was genuinely in Casualty, but it was actually filming the BBC TV programme not A&E, and his episode will be screened in October.

3) The story of Robin Bastard, however, is entirely true and we urge you to remain vigilant.

T: 07884 493724 www.lantherblack.com

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 13

JOHN RYAN RETAIL ENVIRONMENT

Please give me a sign!

Y

OU can learn a lot from looking at the categories that shops assign to greetings cards and rarely are two retailers the same.

Walking through one large department store in London, there are the somewhat lacklustre, although very functional, card gondolas with Humour, Male Relative, Female Relative and Age among the groups catered for, and the signage to match.

This is pretty straightforward stuff and it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.

But, take a walk along Oxford Street to another big store and something strange happens. Humour is still there and many of the other signs are similar or the same as in the first one but, among other things, Trend has been added to the mix.

Trend? Yes, and it doesn’t appear to mean much more than some curious-looking fonts used to illustrate epigrammatic or emotive messages on the front of the cards with perhaps a touch of humour.

What this probably tells you is that either the card buyer here is looking for new ways off growing sales, and expanding the choice of card groupings is seen as a way of effecting this, or they’ve been sold a pup by a card supplier.

Or put another way, it’s possible to learn quite a lot about retail card buyers, are they functional, are they in search of the new and suchlike, merely by looking at the way in which the products they purchase are displayed.

In the case of these stores, the two retailers have

‘

Helping shoppers find where the card that meets their needs is located should be second nature to greetings retailers, as John Ryan explains.

also done their best to bury their offers.

One has them in a corner of the basement, cheek by jowl with the homewares department, while the other puts them next to the nail bars and beauty treatment area. It’s almost as if they don’t care whether the things sell or not.

There is, of course, the little matter of the price of trading on Oxford Street, with three, and sometimes four, figure sums per sq ft being required to have any kind of presence, so h the t retailers involved may have other things on their mind than putting cards at the front of the shop.

Nonetheless, if you’re going to bother doing something, at least make it easily understood and don’t be hoodwinked by suppliers bearing gifts, or their cards and the category signs that tell you and

Card retailing is a simple business and clarity is key

’

John Ryan is Stores Editor at Retail Week where he’s worked for more than a decade covering store design, visual merchandising and what makes things sell in-store. In a previous life he was a retail buyer.

T: 07710 429926 twitter: @newstores

14 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

your customers where to find them.

At its most elemental, card retailing is a simple business and clarity is key as this is the kind of purchase that is effected in haste and almost entirely on impulse.

Generally, shoppers go to the card shop which is most convenient – aka nearest – for their needs and, once in-store, they will want to make a choice with dispatch and it’s the retailer’s responsibility to make this happen.

If you’re an independent retailer consider this, your cards will be at the front of the shop, the middle and the back.

You’ll know the categories inside out and be in a position to advise shoppers, through signage or verbally, where the right cards are located. You’ll also know exactly what to put where in the shop as a couple of seasons of trading will be enough to make this clear – you have continuity on your side.

All of which is a long and somewhat circuitous way of saying that, as an indie, you have many cards, as it were, in your hand and are actually in a position to do much better than some of the very big department stores and chains. Make it simple and you should be reaping the rewards.

Now, come to think of it, where exactly is the section with cards for my third cousin twice removed?

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COVERSTORY

Creativity, style and character...

WTF is going on with Hanson White?!

BIG things are happening in humour at UKG! Building on an already market-leading portfolio, a massive new humour launch is taking place this summer.

Fresh from the Dewsbury Humour Lab, 250 brand-new designs across 20 collections are hitting the shelves, alongside updates of ever-green successes like Giggles.

Expect plenty of surprises, award-winning humour expertise and, above all, expect to be seriously impressed!

WTF Targeting the Gen Y Millenials, WTF is a fresh new alternative humour range that speaks to the hashtag-loving, memefollowing, Instagramming young consumer.

With an eclectic, highly distinctive look and in an on-trend smaller format – it’s owl good!

TUBTHUMPERS Witty typography humour in an asterisk format – Tubthumpers really pack one heck of a visual punch with a contemporary, fresh, bold and impactful colour palette.

Modern lifestyle humour sits alongside a new take on classic friendship and birthday sends.

GIGGLES The reason Giggles continues to be the UK’s market-leading humour range is that it is continuously evolving and moving forwards, both through the inclusion of fresh and topical new gags as well as regular updates of best-selling designs.

This summer sees the launch of a fresh new colour palette across the range to complement gags about the likes of Kim Kardashian and the Great British Bake Off.

16 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

W

HEN women get together they talk about everything and anything.

There isn’t a topic they don’t cover – celebrity gossip, fashion failures, ‘her next door’, ‘him indoors’, the kids, the latest wonder creams, last night’s TV, that thing that happened two years ago and is still hilarious... nothing is off limits!

These woman-to-woman conversations are the inspiration for a new collection of humour greetings cards from Hanson White.

“Women have no problem opening up and talking about their personal life or what annoys them” said Amanda Miles, one of the team behind UK Greetings’ new humour launch.

“By listening in, we’ve turned these insights and real life gems into humorous greetings cards that cater for a female-to-female send.

“We’ve launched a line of funny cards conveying life experiences and daily observations which all women will relate to.”

Thanks to consumer focus groups, collaboration with female comedians and input from leading artists, a brand-new, hilarious collection of ranges has been launched to the market, backed up with new Hanson White Facebook and Twitter pages.

Rebecca Turton, UK Greetings’ Creative Director for Humour, explained: “Our objective has been to create cards that really strike a chord with the female market, bringing life experiences and daily observations into humour product development.”

Amanda added: “We wanted to develop ranges that spoke to women across all generations. Most of the gags resonate across the entire audience, but we had to acknowledge that young Gen-Y women would relate more to selfies, Gen-X females to staying young and the Boomers to forgetfulness. It really isn’t about stereotyping though, just relevance.”

After brainstorming subject matters the next challenge was the words and the look.

Rebecca pointed out; “Women today are influenced by fashion; they have a clear idea of what’s stylish and what looks good, so we needed to make sure the cards would appeal aesthetically, as well as being funny”.

The UK Greetings team believe that the resulting designs speak for themselves – to the sense of humour of women everywhere!

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COVERSTORY

Brights by name, bright by nature, these are cheerful, chirpy and upbeat typography funnies.

Two complementary mini-ranges featuring the quotes and quips on everyone’s lips!

It seems everybody’s got the crafting bug these days and this range is perfect for sewing bees.

Observational humour celebrating those little moments that make modern life worthwhile.

Tapping into the popularity of photos and inspirational clichés that people share these days.

Brilliantly batty banter for the selfie-snapping, Pinot-slurping, zumba-dancing girl of today.

This little lady has a big attitude and dares to say the things that everyone’s thinking!

Lifestyle humour coupled with a bright, bold colour palette with modern, fun illustrations!

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 17

HOME&GIFTHARROGATE

Perfect timing If it’s summer, it must be time for Home & Gift Harrogate, the uniquelysociable trade show that takes advantage of the glorious surroundings of the Yorkshire spa town. With a new inspiring and educational programme, plus thousands of new lines for autumnwinter and plenty of chances to get together with colleagues and friends, it’s the trade show of the season.

P

ERFECTLY timed for the start of the autumn-winter buying season, Home & Gift Harrogate is awaiting the thousands of buyers who will be gathering to discover new lines, gather valuable market insight, and successfully mix business with pleasure – all at one uniquely sociable event.

GREETINGS & STATIONERY EXHIBITORS’ LIST 2 To Tango – Stand G30 Adornment by Gilli Reeves –DP2-36 Agnes And Cat – DP2-58b April Rose Illustration – G105 NEW Art Cuts – Q95 Art Window.org – D11 The Art File – DP1-32 ArtPress – DP1-13a NEW The Art Rooms – DP5-71 Belly Button Designs – DP2-60 Berni Parker Designs – DP5-27 Bexy Boo – DP5-56 Blue Eyed Sun – DP5-58 Bookishly – DP315 NEW Caroline Gardner – DP1-113 Chequered Chicken – G71 NEW Chocolate Envelope – G-99 NEW Chris Ceasar Photography – DP5-3 Claire Louise – DP5-48 Clare Jordan – G33 NEW Clare Maddicott – DP5-37 Colcards – DP5-79 Comic Art - DP3-13a Coulson Macleod – DP2-25 Dandelion Stationery – DP2-54 NEW Deckled Edge – DP5-63 NEW Dialectable – G53 Elbelle UK – G162 Emma Ball – DP1-12b Ezen – DP5-19 Forever Handmade – DP5-2 Frillybee – DP5-5 NEW Glick – DP2-53 Hallmark Cards – D63 The Handcrafted Card Co – DP5-75a Heather Alstead – DP5-1 Holy Mackerel – DP2-52 Jane Means – DP1-52 Janie Wilson – DP1-26 Jean Barrington – B19 Jelly n Bean – G31 Jessica Hogarth Designs – DP5-55 John Austin Postcards – DP5-67 Jonny Javelin Card Co – DP5-13 Juniper Tree – DP5-16 Kate Guest – G101 NEW Katie Leamon – DP238 Lalabuds – G130 NEW Laura Sherratt Designs – DP5-43 Licorice – G92 NEW Lola Design – G169 NEW Love Your Nation – DP3-13 NEW The Lynn Tait Gallery – DP5-18

MeeZeeGee Images – DP3-8 NEW Megan Claire – DP5-59 Moongazer Cards – DP5-12 My Gifts Trade – DP1-107 My World – DP5-53 Natural Partners – DP5-25 Netherton’s – DP5-64 New Leaf Cards – G126 Northern Letters – G96 Olive & Belle – DP5-44 Oliver Preston Cartoons – DP1-90 Peartree Heybridge – DP5-6 Penfold Card & Gift – DP2-23 Peel & Sardine – DP1-111 Penny Kennedy – DP2-30 Perkins & Morley – DP2-42 Photowrap – DP5-51 Pigment – DP2-31 Polite Company – G190 Pootle – DP2-36a NEW Popshots Studios – A19 Pulp – DP1-108 Quire Collections – DP5-60 Rachel Ellen Designs – DP1-31 Really Good – DP1-16 Really Wild Cards – G37 Rush Design – DP5-22 Ruth Jackson – DP2-15 Ryland Studios – DP1-25a Sam Wilson Studio – G189 NEW Santoro – DP1-2 Sarah Kelleher – G183 NEW Showcase Greetings – DP5-29 NEW Simply Special – DP4-16a Soul – DP1-17 Stamford Notebook Co – G41 Stripey Cats – G157 Sun Pennies – G83 NEW Susan Brown Studio – G65 NEW The Teapot Dude – G134 NEW Temporary Measure – G47 NEW Timbergram – DP5-40 Tizaro Designs – DP3-8 NEW Tomcat Cards – DP5-69 Tony Fernandes – DP5-66 Tracey Russell Design – DP5-38 Trumpers World – DP5-30 Two Little Monkeys – DP5-24 Vicky Crowder Designs – B19 White Cotton Cards – DP5-32 Wraptious – G160 NEW Wrendale Designs – DP1-97 YCUK – DP2-02

18 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Set in the middle of the summer, this year’s show takes place from July 19-22 and organisers Clarion Events have made planning and buying easy with access to the widest range of new and exclusive lines across four vibrant show sectors: Gifts, Interiors, Greetings & Stationery and Jewellery & Fashion.

The new Design Point Debut & Spotlight will be the place to source distinctive, design-led and innovative products that will ensure buyers are a step ahead of their competitors during their busiest selling season and beyond.

Easy-to-follow product trails will guide retailers through the tens of thousands of inspiring product lines – Best Of British, curated by David Nicholls, will offer the pick of the home-grown bunch; Oliver Heath’s Eco Showcase will offer the sustainable option, and the essential Christmas Trail will highlight the must-see festive products.

New to this year and free-to-attend is the Great Northern Retail Summit taking place on Monday, July 20, at Harrogate International Centre.

It will deliver an inspiring and educational programme bursting with business advice, and retail industry experts will tackle hot topics including the rebirth of the Great British High Street and how to maximise online sales opportunities.

Clarion show director Cleere Scamell said: “Home & Gift Harrogate is unlike any other trade show. With over 50 years of heritage, Home & Gift is an exhibition, a conference and a festival all rolled into one, making it a must-attend event for the gift retail industry.

“Visitors not only have first access to a huge range of lines for the new season but they will also have time to really focus on their business at the Great Northern Retail Summit, plus time to get together with colleagues and the wider industry at an exciting range of social events.

“These unique networking opportunities are an integral part of the value of Home & Gift.”

There’s an enhanced show layout this year that sees the introduction of a new marquee on the Majestic Hotel lawns, Design Point 5, to house most of the greetings exhibitors. Retailers should find getting around easier and quicker than ever before and there’s a new Home & Gift mobile app available to download to allow buyers to plan their days efficiently. www.homeandgift.co.uk

‘

It’s an exhibition, conference and festival all rolled into one

’

WHAT THE RETAILERS SAY Gemma Zaire

Country House Gift Company, Winscombe, Somerset

“We’re hoping to source new and exciting products, with a vision of taking on new suppliers. We recommend new visitors have a look at the show sectors before attending and follow the product trails. It’s important to us that we get to see potential products at their best, showcased how they should be. It’s also great to pick up display tips from trade shows – I always take my camera.”

Amanda Dutton

Willowgreen Home & Gifts, Davenham, Cheshire

“Home & Gift is, I feel, a more relaxing show and I like to use my time here to search out new up-and-coming designers and smaller companies that I may have missed at the NEC or who may be showing for the first time. I like to make some last additions to my Christmas lines and source fresh new products to bring in at the new year. New visitors should enjoy the atmosphere and vibe of Harrogate as it’s such a lovely place to attend a trade show. I don’t tend to spend much time on the social side of Home & Gift as I usually go alone but there’s always time to grab a Pimm’s cocktail and enjoy a bit of live music in between appointments!”

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Available from July 2015 © THE ART FILE

ROAR

A brand new collection of 9 die cut animal cards, that are turning heads and standing proud everywhere they venture.

The Art File www.theartfile.com

HOME & GIFT HARROGATE 19/22 JULY – STAND DP1-32 T. 0115 8507490

F. 0115 9413411

@The Art File E. sales@theartfile.com

HOME&GIFTHARROGATE

Handy translation included THE latest addition to My World’s bestselling Up North range of regional word cards is – drum roll please – Yorkshire!

Perfect for both locals and visitors, they’re bright and bold and lots of fun – with a handy translation on the back for the unfamiliar!

This range is always really popular and the My World team are looking forward to seeing how the Yorkshire designs go – and what better place to launch them than Harrogate?

Stand DP5-53 – T: 0191 305 5165 www.myworld.co.uk

A delicious salad THE BIG Harrogate launch by Glick is their gorgeous neon range from Paper Salad.

The range includes four flat wraps, three ranges of bags, a gift box nest and two tissue papers.

The Paper Salad licence is going from strength to strength. Their designs are always on trend and so popular, especially with the fashionconscious retailers.

Stand DP2-53 – T: 01274 655980 www.glick.co.uk

Designed to complement PERKINS & Morley will be in the Design Point at Home & Gift this year so are showing lots of new design-led gifts to complement their best-selling Collective Nouns and Animal Ink ranges.

Having expanded their gift offerings in the last year, they now have mugs, key rings, coasters, fridge magnets, clocks, tea towels, bags and placemats, with melamine tablemats added to both ranges along with a new Animal Ink tea towel.

“Our Collective Noun tea towels are selling phenomenally well.” said design director Jan Morley, “we’ve already had customers asking for tablemats to match our coasters so we’re giving them what they want – isn’t that great?”

Stand DP2-42 – T: 01539 564247 or 01626 888069 www.perkinsandmorley.com

20 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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NEW LOCATION IN HALL Q, THE NEW ‘HOME OF GIFTS’ AT HARROGATE

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Great Service • Great Products • Great Prices

Pulling out all the stops with Pantone colours AT THIS year’s Home & Gift, The Art File will be pulling out all the stops – hopefully like the weather!

Situated at a new stand in DP1-32 they’re launching the fantastic Roar animal shape card range with nine blank designs packed with attention to detail and a contemporary edge.

Alongside Roar, six new gift wrap designs will be launched and implemented into The Art File’s already award-winning collection.

They’ve used Pantone colours in these new designs to make sure they stand out even more. Increasing demand for the Ink Press Colour designs that were introduced towards the beginning of this year means 12 more have been launched and will be on display to add some colour to the gardens of the Majestic Hotel.

Stand DP1-32 – T: 0115 850 7490 www.theartfile.com

Exciting line up THERE’S a lot going on at Blue Eyed Sun this year with some fantastic new designs coming through and a very exciting line up being prepared for 2016.

Their spring collection is the largest they’ve produced with some beautiful designs and techniques – and MD Jeremy Corner and his team are also very close to finalising a deal on new premises for their next phase of growth and are hoping to move later this year.

Jeremy said: “Last year was our biggest year yet and we’re looking forward to continued growth with some gorgeous, eye-catching new designs and ideas for customers to look forward to.”

At Home & Gift, Blue Eyed Sun are launching 19 new designs to enhance their bestselling Enchantment range, which is based on beautiful original machinestitched artworks by Jo Corner.

Hand-finished with jewels, the

22 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

new designs include numbered birthdays, anniversaries and open birthday cards to complement their existing offering of 45 bestselling everyday 160x160mm cards, which all come cello-wrapped with a red envelope.

There will also be a sneak preview of two new Valentine’s ranges at the show, which see artist Jo going in a slightly different direction with hand-embroidered artworks making up Pincushion, and hand-knitted designs in Knit Wit. Both ranges will be available for pre-ordering at Home & Gift and are officially launching with the rest of their Spring 2016 seasonal selection at Autumn Fair in September.

Blue Eyed Sun’s cards are available to order through their tradeonly website, their 2015 Summer Supplement and team of sales agents across the country.

Stand DP5-58 – T: 01273 823003 www.blueeyedsun.co.uk

Classic comics COMIC favourites Olive Oyl, Betty Boop and Dennis The Menace are among the latest releases in the Comic Art greetings card range.

With images from classics including Beano, Victor, Commando, The Broons and Oor Wullie plus American characters, director John Reynolds has extended the collection to 26 designs at £1.50 trade, £3.50 RRP. John also offers hand-pulled screenprints showing scenes from classic boys’ comics in dramatic close-up.

Stand DP3-13a – T: 07980 844906 www.thecomicartwebsite.com

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Home&Gift, Harrogate 19.7-22.7.2015, hall DP1-45 www.artebene.com

Sky is the limit

Saying it with flowers JONNY Javelin have a whole bunch of new product and ideas that they’re showing at Harrogate this year with the main excitement being their new range of floral designs called Secret Garden.

It’s a small range of nine female relations, based on a range they did 10 years ago called Sentimental Seasons – very pretty images, lovely verses and the usual JJ quality and value for money.

Owner Jonny Spears said: “We produced some mock-ups of these for PG Live and they were received incredibly well – so much so that we’ll be developing them into open birthday titles as well as soon as we get chance.

“Overall, our Velvet range still takes centre stage with the release of 22 new code 60 designs just a few weeks ago. We’ve been short of quite a few occasions titles in Velvet and this release sees all of those gaps filled, with titles such as New Job, You’re Leaving and Good Luck. We’ve also included in this set a further seven open female birthday designs which are arguably our strongest images yet.

“Our little cute doggy character, Fudge and his Friends will be on display and we hope to have some new designs to show visitors to the stand. We’re busily working to expand this range to meet the title requirements of our customers.

“We’ll have our fabulous Christmas ranges on display to hopefully wow some potential new customers. The Christmas Velvet is a very strong pull and, once they see how well it sells for Christmas, they just have to try the everyday ranges as well.”

Stand DP5-13 – T: 01423 563740 www.jonnyjavelin.co.uk

FOR their eighth outing at Home & Gift, Ryland Studios will add nine new designs to Seasonal Skies, initially launched in January this year.

The range consists of thoughtful line drawings that are painted digitally to create an oil painting-esque feel, and the dramatic skies mean the images all have a very British, rural feel which complerments the company ethos of creating quality products designed and manufactured in the UK. The range inspiration comes from artist Amy Thorpe having grown up in Lincolnshire, which is renowned for being a particularly flat landscape – the bonus being the amazing uninterrupted skies.

Childhood evening and early morning walks in the Lincolnshire countryside can definitely be felt in the emotion of these designs, all of which evoke nostalgic emotions of rural Britain.

Amy is also working with Orchard Melamine in Stamford, Lincolnshire, to create highquality 100x100mm coasters and 240x240mm placemats which will be on display for the first time at Harrogate.

They are starting initially with the most popular eight designs in the two most popular ranges, Fairy Greetings – Recipes and Seasonal Skies.

Stand DP1-25a – T: 01400 261745 www.rylandstudios.co.uk

A new exciting season

Back to the future ADJUSTING to the fast-paced world of today to stay fit for the future is how successful businesses keep on top of things, but a birthday can also be taken as an opportunity to remember the past – the hour of birth, the founding of the company.

Being established in 1985, Artebene clearly is a child of the 80s as this picture of staff from their recent 30th birthday celebrations shows.

Ilona Bensmann said: “When we look at the designs we created in the early days, it’s like browsing your 80s clothes that you possibly still have – they may be a fond memory, but you can’t imagine yourself wearing them anymore.

“After a brief look back, Artebene have decided to look ahead together with our retailers. During this year’s Paperworld fair in Frankfurt, practical tips for product presentations were shown at a dedicated area.

“With our motto ‘Nice to see you’ we have put those centre a stage that we have been working together with in partnership for 30 years – our retailers.”

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COME with Artebene into a new, exciting season of beautiful packaging, stationery and greetings and turn your store into an emotional autumn and Christmas world.

We draw closer to autumn with small steps – discover cute forest animals and a wild roses theme in successful products like giftwrap and bags, as well as gift boxes and greeting cards.

Paperweights, magnets, sticker pads and paper clips in fashionable jars, make for a tidy home and office with an autumnal feel and fresh style.

The new bag collection made from canvas, with high-quality leather embellishments, is now available in two different sizes and styles plus there are leather purses in two sizes and great seasonal colours.

The festive season is much influenced by creativity with beautiful ideas for self-made things to offer customers, like the new advent calendar flags, number tags and stickers, plus there’s new sticky tape with gold foil to give every present a special festive feel.

Apart from the successful Christmas Classic, Elegant and Trend collections, a new series has been created, Christmas Finest, with products like giftwrap, gift bags, voucher envelopes, and gift boxes for wine and champagne in a stylish black and gold.

And for personal Christmas greetings, Artebene have lots of new cards as well from their Messages range.

Stand DP1-45 – T: 020 8588 9510 www.artebene.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Introducing the latest release from our best-selling Paper Salad licensed collection.

See the range in full at its launch at the Harrogate Home & Gift in DP2 Stand 53 or make an appointment to see your sales contact now.

by 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

HOME&GIFTHARROGATE

The art of pure silliness PIGMENT are Harrogate-based publishers of high-quality greetings cards with an extensive independent distribution network supported by their own fully-employed national sales team.

Their hit lines include Boom Shaka Laka, Fleet Street, Riff Raff and Midget Gems, some of which have been born and raised in the Pigment stables for nigh on 12 years.

Pigment’s creative team lovingly nurture the art of pure silliness, to make sure these cards are worthy of that sought-after award – the mantelpiece!

They’re bursting with fantastic trend lines such as the established Happy Jackson and Alice Scott and, for sentiment, the newly-launched Love Unlimited provides heartfelt and endearing

words, perfect for endless sending situations – these cards will feel created “just for you”.

Visit their Home & Gift stand to see their other latest newborns – the very civilised Emporium, the hilarious Murray and the informative nonsense Ministry Of Chaps.

Stand DP2-31 – T: 01423 520098 www.pigmentproductions.com

Showing off all her own work APRIL Rose Illustration will be exhibiting at Home & Gift for the first time this year with artwork for licence and product for retail.

The brand name for artist Siobhan Harrison, Songbird is her new 150x150mm vintage-style range of greetings cards with 10 designs that come cellowrapped with brown kraft envelopes.

Along with the cards, which are printed on quality 300gsm stock with a pattern on the inside and blank

for your own message, the April Rose notebook ranges will alo be on show.

Siobhan produces artwork for licence for many product areas including the craft industry and giftware. She recently won the Best Newcomer In The Stitching World title at the British Craft Awards 2015.

Stand G105 – T: 07957 738711 www.aprilroseillustration.com

Humour and warmth with teacakes THE Holy Mackerel team love to find and work with fresh and exciting UK artists, so they are over the moon to be launching a brand-new range of cards by Kate Brazier.

Kate’s beautifully contemporary watercolour designs are full of humour and warmth, and inspired by her love of colour, light, the seaside and Tunnock’s tea cakes – not necessarily in that order!

Holy Mackerel are launching Kate’s first designs for them at Harrogate – gorgeously bright cards, printed with 3D finishing on beautiful textured board, and in an easy to display 150x150mm format.

The collection includes those hard to get hold of numbered anniversaries from 1 to 5, and there are plenty more designs on the way too!

Following the success of last year’s launch of the C MAW at Holy Mackerel initiative with Amanda Seymour, a Christmas range just had to be next, so

26 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Home & Gift 2015 sees 10 festive designs.

The Full Montage tea-towel range has been a real star this year, especially as shops can now request their own bespoke text.

The tea-towels are 100 per cent cotton, and proudly made right here in the UK. They feature Erica Sturla’s best-selling artwork and have been a huge hit in seaside shops across the country.

Holy Mackerel are also launching a range of small 100x100mm cards at Home & Gift, perfect for those counter impulse buys, whether it’s a “just a note”, a blank card, or a thank you.

Erica Sturla has been creating some beautiful designs for them including these gorgeous cats and dogs, so it’s a new development they’re very excited about.

Stand DP2-52 – T: 01297 33899 www.holy-mackerel.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

HOME&GIFTHARROGATE

Hand-finished by real people AS WELL as unveiling a new luxury range of birthday cards called Velvet Ink, Clare Maddicott Productions are also running a special promotion at Home & Gift.

Every customer placing an order for £250 and above will receive an £40 Virgin Experience Days gift card.

The 160x160mm designs in the Velvet Ink collection feature simple penned illustrations or lettering with a wash of watercolour.

They are printed on art board and finished with debossed details and a special raised colourise black ink, and complemented by coordinating printed spot envelopes.

In addition to unveiling this luxury range, Clare Maddicott will also be displaying recent additions to their Piece Of Cake and Harold’s Planet ranges as well as featuring the recentlylaunched fun and very well-received Cookie Jar collection.

DANDELION Stationery are delighted to be exhibiting at Harrogate for the first time – their Words Of Wisdom range has expanded to feature more than 20 new designs, taking the full collection to 300-plus, covering all occasions and everyday.

All cards are printed on luxury 300gsm board, each being individually hand finished by real people!

Dandelion’s eagerly-awaited Christmas 2015 range will be featured at Home & Gift, including their new Christmas Postcard packs and luxury Christmas gift tags.

Having been thrilled to reach last year’s The Henries finals for their Christmas range, it features more than 30 new festive designs, bringing the total to over 90 designs, including some new cards which can be personalised.

Stand DP5-37 – T: 01638 569050 www.maddicott.com

Stand DP2-54 – T: 01332 695359 www.dandelionstationery.co.uk

Enjoy the experience

New ranges have Soul

Excited to be exhibiting THE CAROLINE Gardner team are excited to be exhibiting in a brand-new location at Home & Gift where they’ll have some lovely new ranges on display.

Chin Up Buttercup is a card range featuring hand-painted bold flowers in striking colours, with gold-foiled text to bring the cards alive.

There’s also the die-cut Vintage Fair range of

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retro objects with a modern twist and bold and quirky prints.

So there are plenty of new designs to brighten up card displays plus the full range of Caroline Gardner Christmas 2015 will be on show.

Stand DP1-113 – T: 020 8288 9696 www.carolinegardner.com

SOUL have two new card ranges due to be launched at Harrogate, Patisserie and Stitchlings, covering everyday, occasions and relations.

A beautiful palette of colours with classic and fun illustrations combine to make the fresh new Patisserie designs that are finished with foil and emboss.

Simple yet fancilful, the endearing 28-strong Stitchlings range incorporates artwork and charming lettering by artist Mei Fields.

Using a pop of colour for eye-catching appeal, each distinctive design is finished with gems and jewels.

Stand DP1-17 – T: 01235 537816 www.souluk.com

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HOME&GIFTHARROGATE

Boxing clever

Time for some smiles LAURA Sherratt Designs are releasing their new Sunny Smiles children’s card range in time for Home & Gift.

The 10 birthday designs cover both young boys and girls with bright and playful images of mermaids, pirates, dinosaurs and princesses to name but a few!

The 150x150mm cards all feature fun googly eyes and cheerfully-painted wood button embellishments.

All cards are made by hand in the UK as with all Laura Sherratt products. Cards come complete with a bright colour-coordinating envelope and cello bag, and cost £1.35 trade, £3.25 RRP.

Stand DP5-43 – T: 01538 384566 www.laurasherrattdesigns.co.uk

LESSER & Pavey are introducing Tres Luxe, a new range of social stationery, and the William Kilburn chinaware designs to Harrogate buyers.

Featuring glitter red shoes and matching nail polish illustrations, Tres Luxe boxes are available in sets with a suitcase, travel case and vanity case sets consisting of two different sizes.

Made from quality materials, with leathereffect handles, edging and brass catches and studwork, they make a perfect gift.

Illustrator William Kilburn,1745-1818, was known for original watercolours used as textile patterns that now form part of the Kilburn Album housed at London’s V&A Museum.

The enchanting range comes in red, green and blue and comprises a tier cake stand, fine china mugs, travel mug, melamine trays, coasters and jugs.

Stand M14 – T: 01322 279225 www.leonardo.co.uk

Naturally it’s Andy’s work NATURAL Partners Limited are launching several additions to their ever-popular range of greetings cards featuring the work of North Yorkshire artist Andy Broderick.

Andy’s instinctive, naturalistic style of drawing animals is winning him many admirers and his original work is increasingly in demand.

The full range of cards now consists of more than 30 designs and is printed on a slightlytextured board, which gives greater depth to the images. The cards are blank inside and come individually cello-wrapped with a brown kraft envelope.

Stand DP5-25 – T: 07714 768956 www.facebook.com/ naturalpartnerslimited

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HOME&GIFTHARROGATE

Showing off a lucky 13 AFTER 25 years up the hill at the Cairn Hotel, Joe Davies are excited to be moving down the road to a brand-new extended stand at Home & Gift in Hall Q. The enlarged stand gives Joe Davies room to exhibit even more gifts with more than 6,000 products on show, 2,000 brand new for this autumn and winter – and all this huge variety is available in the company’s trademark Little & Often quantities to please the independent retailer.

Renowned for award-winning customer service and hospitality – with an unprecedented 13 Greats Awards to prove it – the team are looking forward to greeting customers to their new stand where the trophies, including the Gold Award for customer service they picked up at this year’s ceremony at the Savoy Hotel (pictured) will be proudly displayed.

Don’t miss the new Sheaffer Pen Collection – the internationallyrenowned company have just appointed Joe Davies their official distributor to the independent gift sector and three very commercial pen ranges will be available to buy in their modest quantities.

The cozy little Snoozies! foot coverings are doubly exciting this year with new fabrics, designs and construction for autumn/winter 2015 to make them very special gift indeed. Due to some significant quantity discounts on fabrics, original Snoozies! will now retail at a market-beating £6.99 down from last year’s £9.99.

Jewellery has quickly become a staple product for gift shops and Joe Davies’ Equilibrium Collection is proving extremely popular. Hundreds of new Equilibrium designs will be on show at Harrogate including a great men’s collection and lovely new sparkly Christmas jewellery.

Joe Davies strive to make it easy for customers to buy from them so everything across their huge range is available in modest quantities with minimum orders of just £100 and free delivery nationwide.

Join them on their stand to see a huge selection of gifts and to benefit from that special family business service and hospitality.

Stand Q50 – T: 0161 975 6300 www.joedavies.co.uk

Note new mini packs EMMA Ball Ltd are once again exhibiting in their not-so-new spot in DP1 at Home & Gift.

Part of their huge range includes the mini packs of notecards with 24 different designs available including artwork from Emma herself, Caroline Cleave and Shelly Perkins.

Measuring 100x100mm they come presented in a small cello bag containing five each of two illustrations and retail at only £3.50.

Emma Ball have also launched two of their most popular ranges in the Welsh language this summer – the bestselling Quirky Bird and, of course, Eric Heyman’s collection of colourful sprouts and children’s cards.

Stand DP1-12B – T: 0115 985 8081 www.emmaball.co.uk

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HOME&GIFTHARROGATE

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 33

Jelly good show

ANIMALTHEMEDCARDS

Animal cards are proven best-sellers, from cute and cuddly bunny rabbits to intensely spiritual images of whales or elephants, drawn or photographed. But how do those real-life images make it into print – getting that perfect shot of a playful pup or naughty kitten isn’t easy.

N

EVER work with children or animals says the old theatre adage – but what happens if you want to photograph or draw our furred and feathered friends from life for your greetings designs.

That’s when the photographers end up trying to catch jelly as cats and dogs go all over the place.

Dogs are a particularly popular subject as scientific research has shown that canines are the only animal to respond to eye contact and both humans and dogs are sensitive to facial signals – it’s why people respond instantly to a mutt’s expression.

The fact that people can’t help but try to interpret an animal’s body language is what makes pictures of animals so endearing. The response it triggers within humans, without any words being said, is what makes animal-themed card collections so effective – the picture says it all.

With a number of ranges under the animal-themed umbrella, UK Greetings have looked into why animal greetings cards are such a lucrative send.

They’ve concluded that it’s a combination of the designs representing so many human traits, that here in Britain we’re a nation of animal lovers and there’s also the scientific proof that images of animals create a more intense emotional reaction than images of humans.

It’s lucky 13 for Pigment as their Animal Antics range has been going for that many years and shows no sign of flagging.

Abacus Cards’ current top seller on the animalthemed front is a gorgeously cute snap of a black Labrador pup wearing a flat cap, and Mint have their new Foto Fun stylised range but the beautiful shots don’t tell the whole story of exactly how the snapper had to work to capture the images.

If you want to try the genre for yourself, Digital Photography School founder and editor Darren

‘

Rowse gives advice to photographers.

He said: “Many pets present a challenge to photographers because they’re active and always on the move.

“The key with any subject that’s on the move is to freeze their action by using a fast shutter speed.

“Once you’ve got your shutter speed nice and fast make sure your camera is always at the ready so you can anticipate the actions of your pet. If they are a fast mover you might also want to consider shooting in continuous mode – burst mode – to take a quick series of shots in a row. This can also lead to a wonderful sequence of shots that work well together.

“Pets can be playful little critters and, rather than attempting to contain this to get them posed for that special shot, it’s often very effective to go with their playfulness and make it a central feature of your image.

“Include their toys, stimulate them to look longingly into your camera by holding a special treat above your head or take a picture with them sitting on top of you mid-wrestle etc. Make your photo shoot a fun experience for both you and your pet and your shots are likely to reflect it.”

Over at 4sided.com, founders Jo Drake and Chris Branfield have branched out from their original drawn designs to photographic ranges featuring cats and their latest dogs release.

The serenely-beautiful images are testament to Chris and the patience and forebearance of photographers everywhere, as he spent hours trying to capture the perfect shots to use on their unique four-sided cards, while the dogs simply did their own thing!

● Plenty of patience – Chris trying to snap playful pooches

Stimulate them to look longingly into your camera

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● Min

● Abacus

t

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ANIMALTHEMEDCARDS

! r u o Hum Get those neurons racing WHY are animal greetings cards such a lucrative send? Is it because they represent so many of our human traits? Maybe it’s because we’re a nation of animal lovers?

Or it could just be science –after all it’s scientifically proven that images of animals create a more intense emotional reaction than images of humans!

UK Greetings say it’s “all of the above” and offer the choice of animal cards for every occasion.

The cutes: Sure to get those neurons racing, and induce a chorus of ‘ahhhhs’ are UK Greetings’ uber-cute animal designs. Melt over cats in hats – what’s cuter than a cat in a frog hat – pity a paw-ly pug or let the gorgeous words of Mabel and Midge pull at your heart strings.

The wannabes: Animals displaying human traits are a sure-fire success in greetings cards. Partying tigers, smooching flamingos, flirting frogs and, of course, with only one per cent of DNA separating us… chimps!!

The new dog on the block: Colin is a dog with an honest heart. He rarely speaks and when he does, it’s usually only a few mumbled words. Colin spends most of his time causing mayhem – and the rest trying to charm Mimi the cat.

T: 01924 465200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk

Dream comes true WE HAD a dream (the other night) that Pigment would feature in Greetings Today, with a handsome gorilla, a pink(ish) penguin, and a toucan with a big pecker. The dream has come true.

After 13 glorious years, Pigment’s evergreen Animal Antics range is still going from strength to strength. Hard to resist, these critters win us over with goofy captions that often remind us of the human beings we send them to.

There are 14 designs, 120x170mm with a HH/50 price code to make a golden oldie that satisfies many a sending situation, without having to think too hard – bingo!

T: 01423 520098 www.pigmentproductions.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

(e) sales@mint-publishing.co.uk (t) 0116 230 4197 (f) 01536 401 031 www.greetingstoday.co.uk 35

HUMOURCARDS

Parliament joins popular pleasures

Meet the menagerie ABACUS offer a wide selection of animal cards, not only via their pet range Paw Prints but animal cards can also be found amongst the publishers’ photographic range Rapture where the fur and feather photos have proven to be some of the best sellers.

Paw Prints offers both photographic and illustrated pet images covering all the major dog breeds, as well as images of cats, kittens, horses, donkeys and even rabbits. The 5x7in range offers birthday and blank cards as well as a number of occasion cards.

Meanwhile the square format, Rapture photographic range also contains a wide variety of captioned and uncaptioned animal-themed cards; from amusing dogs – the black Lab in the flat cap is the top selling designs – through colourful chickens to hilarious orang-utans. All Rapture cards are printed on smooth board and finished with UV varnish.

Greetings Today has also learned that Abacus is also working on an exciting licensed wildlife range, which will be announced and unveiled this August – watch this space for further news!

T: 01638 569050 www.abacuscards.co.uk

IN A nation of animal lovers it’s not surprising that cards featuring animals are very popular.

One of the great pleasures of the Museums & Galleries’ range is its ability to explore all kinds of representations of animals across a wide variety of artistic traditions and styles.

For the last several years owls have been very much in vogue and MGL have built up a veritable parliament of these fascinating birds.

There’s an elegant art nouveau Daum glass table lamp, Royal Academician Fred Cuming’s beautiful modernist Owl, plus a hilarious JJ Grandville 19th century owl dressed in Victorian gentleman’s costume that amusingly references the retro gent trend, and children’s bedtime classic Owl Babies by Patrick Benson ensure there are owls here to please all aesthetic tastes.

Bold colour and brushwork makes a very attractive way of expressing animals in a striking fashion, and MGL’s Mezzanine range has many good examples with two bestsellers being Charlotte Hardy’s Bonne Chance and Kristina Brozicevic’s Bunnies In Love.

Animals feature heavily in character art too, and MGL have a significant collection of popular nostalgic animal characters, mostly in featured in their The Illustrators range. Recent hits are two delightful Philip Mendoza illustrations of Ratty and Mole from Wind In The Willows which sit alongside long-standing classics such as Paddington, Elmer The Elephant, Roobarb & Custard and everyone’s favourite soggy old cloth cat Bagpuss.

The British Library range also hosts a variety of animals from the White Rabbit of Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland to an ancient illustration of a caparisoned indian elephant.

Trends with animals evolve over time, and MGL have noticed a developing taste for exotic and jungle animals.

Their brand new June release features a fabulous pair of Hornbills by Mary Stubberfield and a wonderfully punchy and bright Flamingos At The Zoo by Frank Marsden Lee, as well as Liz Wright’s jungle teeming with wildlife.

T: 0116 230 4197 www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

Soft and sweet effect Roaring success THE Art File’s new die-cut Roar animal card range has received fantastic praise and feedback from a number of their customers and export distributors.

The animal range consists of nine designs, with animals including a smartly-dressed fox, a monkey wearing a rather-fetching Hawaiian shirt and, of course, the preppy alligator with his polo shirt and chino shorts.

The Roar animals were designed by hand, and each animal is packed with intricate detail, with The Art File’s very own contemporary edge built in also.

The animals will be proudly on show at Home & Gift Harrogate this year, so please do go along and meet them in DP1 stand 32.

AS PART of Handpicked, Hallmark’s independent exclusive range, Whiskers & Wishes has been sensitively created by layering delightful pet photographs with muted graph-paper backgrounds and decorative illustrations.

The affectionate sentiments accompanying the designs complete the soft and sweet effect.

T: 0800 902 0900 www.hallmark.co.uk

T: 0115 850 7490 www.theartfile.com

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ANIMALTHEMEDCARDS

Summer Additions 2015

Please note we will NOT be attending Harrogate Home & Gift 2015. Please view our website or ask your agent for full details of our Summer Release.

Funky monkeys and cute kittens FROM the cutest of kittens to the funkiest of monkeys, animals are always a huge hit when it comes to greetings cards.

There’s a card for everyone and Mint offer a vast assortment of animal-themed designs in a variety of styles.

Purrfect Pals is a new range of whimsical designs appealing to cat-lovers everywhere with adorable kittens with affectionate and fun captions. Each card is printed on a textured board with a stunning black thermographic finish and comes with a black polka dot envelope.

Buddi Bunni is Mint’s gorgeous cute range based on the adorable knitted bunny character from their top-selling Knit & Purl collection.

His cute mouse and squirrel companions join Buddi on these beautifully illustrated cards which are now available in relation and occasion titles as well as general birthday.

Foto Fun is one of Mint’s newest animal photographic ranges, where animal snaps have been stylised to create fun, quirky and colourful designs covering blank, birthday, occasion and relation and finished with a glossy UV Varnish.

Mint’s 3D Collection is filled with eye-popping 3D animal designs.

The lenticular print really brings the animals to life, giving a fantastic 3D effect. With blank, birthday, occasion and relation designs now available, these cards really need to be seen to be believed!

Mint will not be attending Harrogate Home & Gift this year but you can visit the website to download all their current brochures.

New – ‘Classics’ Greetings Cards:

New – Aged Birthday Cards:

T: 0116 230 4197 www.mint-publishing.co.uk

New – V&A Gift Tag & Parcel Sticker Sets:

Raining cats and dogs HAVING just released Cat cards, 4sided.co.uk felt they had to do something for those of the canine persuasion so have now put together a Dog range of their unique four-sided greetings creations.

These latest ranges join the animal prints already available, which include rhino, tiger, wild bull, lion, bear, wolf, leopard, elephant and hare.

There’s also now a specially-designed compact spinner available which allows retails display of an assembled card to show off the product.

T: 07803 501983 www.4sided.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Tel: 01373 462165 Email: sales@mgml.co.uk

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ANIMALTHEMEDCARDS

Pictures for pet lovers SCIENTIFIC research has shown that dogs are the only animal to respond to eye contact and both humans and dogs are sensitive to facial signals – it’s why we respond instantly to a dog’s expression.

The fact we can’t help but try to interpret an animal’s body language is what makes pictures of them so endearing.

The response it triggers within humans, without any words being said, is what makes animal-themed card collections so effective – the picture says it all.

Cherry Orchard’s Animal Life and Country Lane ranges each have a selection of 28 designs of lovable creatures, all with different characteristics.

The Brits are, after all, a nation of pet lovers so their collection of dogs and cats capture those pet behaviours and mannerisms that everyone knows and loves so well.

The vibrant, colourful plumage of exotic and farmyard birds has visual impact, while the mischievous little dog wagging its tail or the chimp’s cheeky grin generates a feeling of affection.

Combining artistic accuracy with simple design, these cards display creatures full of character that are amazingly true to life, set-off on a plain white background with a foil finish.

T: 01684 295500 www.cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

Wonderfully wild HOTCHPOTCH are introducing their new cute and contemporary range Wild Things that features quirky characters and hand-drawn lettering.

Each of the dozen designs comes with a stylish kraft envelope and these 154x154mm bold and stylish cards are cello wrapped and finished with foil.

Hotchpotch, part of Carte Blanche, also have Feathered Friends which draws upon a recent catwalk trend of birds being strongly featured in fashion prints, home furnishing and fabrics alike.

This fresh and fashionable range stands out from the

crowd in the occasions sector and is finished with a stylish royal blue foil.

Last but not least, Party Animals is a fun character birthday range. Suitable for all ages, the quirky characters and humorous wording have a wide appeal. They are finished with small areas of silver flitter, bringing that extra sparkle to the party.

Mugging up with WWF A BRAND-NEW collaboration sees Rose Hill Designs working with WWF on mugs and cards featuring her pop art patterned quirky animals.

Their names are Pickle Snow Leopard, Ted The Tiger, Peter Panda, Papa, Pip and the Petits Pois Penguin Family, Skippy Kangaroo and Koko Koala.

As well as the mugs, which feature fascinating facts on the inside, the cute animals come in both blank and birthday captions.

T: 07742 347603 www.rosehilldesigns.co.uk

Fab flamingo joins colourful critters

T: 020 8941 0126 www.hotchpotchpublishing.com

Polka dots WOODLAND Tales is Riverside’s new cute range, featuring an array of sweet animals all flittered for that extra sparkle.

There’s been an influx of more contemporary cute characters over the last few years, challenging the traditional bear.

With their polka dot theme running throughout, Riverside have nicely married the cute and animal themes to come up with something a little different that appeals to adults and children alike.

T: 01924 840500 www.riversidecards.com

Cleverly revealing ROISIN Cafferty’s Crafty Numbers range mostly features animals and is a fun and unique kids’ age range where the number is cleverly revealed in the negative space between the characters.

The cute animals have the appearance of layered sugar paper, giving them a playful quality that children will love, while their cheeky expressions can’t fail to raise a smile whatever your age.

The range includes both boys’ and girls’ designs for ages one to five and each 135x135mm card comes wrapped with a brown kraft envelope at a trade price of 95p.

T: 07742 983044 www.roisincafferty.com

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CINNAMON Aitch’s Hello Sunshine range is a wonderful world of colourful critters of all descriptions.

Packed to the brim with magical unicorns, cheeky monkeys and cute baby elephants, to name but a few, these colourful and brightly-patterned animals are full of cheerful sunshiny sentiment and birthday wishes.

The latest new additions to the range include a fabulously pink flamingo and lovely owl and pussycat. Sold in sixes, the C6 cards are individually cello-wrapped with a white or kraft coloured envelope at £1.25 each, £2.99 RRP.

T: 0121 7736833 www.cinnamonaitch.co.uk

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ANIMALTHEMEDCARDS

Hats and glasses are model’s del’s own d THEY LOVE animals at Brainbox Candy, they really do! They give them cuddles, lend them a bike, even perform a turndown service at nunnights time innit.

In fact, they think they’re so rad they’ve made a range in honour of them – Wildstyle celebrates our quirky feathered and kooky furry friends in typical Brainbox style.

You know, dogs riding bikes,

skateboarding pandas, bespectacled flamingos and whales in hats. All finished with lashings of contemporary captions. All hats and glasses are the model’s own – don’t ask, they’ve got no idea where they got them from. The full range of everyday cards and gifts is available now.

T: 01702 716643 www.brainboxcandy.com

Extremely handy REDBACK Cards recently launched a stunning new collection of hand paintings by award-winning artist Guido Daniele.

Taking the most unconventional canvas of the human body, Daniele can transform fingers and palms into any animal, from elephants to zebras.

Looking extremely lifelike, the Hand Animals range is proving extremely popular.

Frolicking forests FOREST friends and wild things are the two types of animals available from Allihopa as they have Safari Soiree and Acorn Woods as their ranges.

The quirky style of the font and bold geometric illustrations of Safari Soiree see the big animals like tigers, giraffes and hippos frolicking for all occasions.

Meanwhile, customers will get lost in Acorn Woods, a whimsical, light-hearted journey of forest friends that plays with textures and pops of colour.

Both ranges are digitally printed with a sophisticated colour palette on a textured card, blank inside and individually cello-wrapped with kraft envelope.

Both are sold in sixes with the 125x125mm Safari Soiree at 92p trade, £2.25 RRP, and the 150x150mm Acorn Woods at 99p trade, £2.50 RRP.

T: 01803 712793 www.redbackcards.com

T: 01792 361251 www.allihopatrade.co.uk

Old dog with new tricks

THE clue is in the name – I Like Birds – but you don’t have to be a twitcher to love their cards.

They make their cards in Moray and, just like Scotland’s other favourite product, they distil the natural world into something simple and beautiful.

LESS of the old dog, old hand might be more appropriate as artist Catherine Kleeli turned her talent to greetings card publishing just over 12 months ago.

And it’s unsurprising, given her lifelong love of animals and dogs in particular, that the pooches in her Stick And Stitch range have proved so popular.

Having finally got her first dog at 40, Catherine now has two Black Labradors Indi and Bud, who have both been inspirational to her artwork and card design – Bud’s “I’m being good! (not)” look inspired the Black Labrador in the range.

Sitting between art and craft with a mix of collage and free-stitch, the cards are a refreshing addition to the arsenal of animal designs already on the market and proving popular for a range of sending occasions

T: 01309 671836 www.ilikebirds.net

T: 07814 293155 www.catherinekleeli.co.uk

Clue in name

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Diverse world NOBLE Fine Art’s woodland range celebrates the diverse world of the UK’s native woodland creatures, and is lovingly Illustrated, designed and printed in their print studio.

New to the greetings market in 2015, their art cards are letterpress printed on top quality cardstock.

T: 01325 378133 www.noblefineart.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 39

ANIMALTHEMEDCARDS

Best possible taste Bold watercolours to catch the eye AT DECKLED Edge Design they love animals and show it with their cards in eyecatching bold watercolours that capture the imagination of young and old.

Dotty Doe and Diamond Rebel are but two of their 15 ranges in 150x150mm designs,

embellished with a deckled edge effect, and printed on textured Fenner board.

All are supplied with matching envelopes and wrapped in clear cello bags for display.

T: 0800 771 0771 www.decklededge.co.uk

SISTERS Jessica and Aimee are to blame for Truly Tasteless Cards having taken their inappropriate sense of humour to new heights.

The US-based pair have a unique take on animal and pet cards for some very different occasions, including having your dog neutered!

Many designs continue the joke inside, and all have an inappropriate hashtag on the back.

T: +1 415 841 2882 www.trulytastelesscards.com

Let’s go walkies WALKIES is a collection of 15 birthday occasion cards perfect for the discerning dog lover, featuring fashion-loving female and male characters with their pooches.

With pugs, poodles and bulldogs among the characters, the designs cover a variety of breeds and is also available as blank notelets in a box of 10 cards, with two of each design.

The collection has been so popular that personalised bespoke prints have been designed for Raspberry Blossom’s customers – even leading to some of their dogs being featured on the growing range.

And Raspberry Blossom will soon be launching a bespoke service for A4 prints, featuring a cute illustration of the owner and their dog in the style of artist Rebecca Crouch’s illustrations.

T: 07730 594769 www.raspberryblossom.com

Words and pictures THERE’S both a dog and a cat wordy card in the Coulson Macleod Wise Words range, but if you’d prefer picture-based cards then they also have their Vintage Animals range.

The cute and funny Puffer Fish is just one of the designs, which also include a Penguin and a Butterfly.

T: 01536 482771 www.coulsonmacleod.com

Loving what she does

Still going strong ANIMAL Magic cards from OPC are still going strong after 24 years, with new designs launched every three months to keep the range fresh.

There are currently 40 designs in the range to choose from, with the majority being general birthday cards.

T: 01932 267300 www.originalposter.com

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JUST over 10 years ago Alison Lingley published her first Alison’s Animals greetings cards and, under the guidance of publishers Splimple, the range continues to flourish – with record-breaking sales in 2014.

“The real secret is that we’re able to keep the range fresh,” said Splimple Director Stuart Caldwell, “Alison is a prolific cartoonist, she loves what she does – and she works hard at continually improving her skills.”

While recent additions such as Pre-wash and Food Now – Then Facebook have quickly joined the bestsellers list, some early cartoons continue to be among the most reordered.

If I Wanted To Smell Like Soap I’d Have Rolled In It! has been in the top 10 of her nearly 150 designs since its release in 2005.

Splimple have gradually extended the Alison’s Animals range into notecards, coasters, mugs and calendars, with fridge magnets poised to be released.

T: 01386 872 752 www.splimple.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

RETAIL ADVICE WITH HENRI DAVIS

M

Y BACKGROUND is retail.

Having started on the shop floor with Habitat; helped develop new concepts and worked in the training team with Next; managed new product development and become a buyer at WH Smith and the National Trust, I combine all these elements now that I work as an independent advisor.

Regardless of your role, I’ve always believed retail is about detail and, as the card market gets more competitive, this is more relevant than ever.

For buyers this means selecting the products you believe are the best for your customers.

Depending who they are, the type of product will vary accordingly but it will always be about balancing the customer’s requirements for design, quality and price.

I believe this applies to all those involved in the cards’ development. Publishers want retailers to stock their designs so, however new or small a business is, they must have that attention to detail too.

The design itself is just one element, then there is the type and quality of the materials available that could enhance it further while still offering a product that the retailer and, ultimately, the customer will want to buy at the right price – it’s a real juggling act that many publishers manage very well.

Katie Leamon was showing several new ranges of cards at the National Stationery Show in New York back in May including her luxury foiled range with polka dot envelopes which were stunning and really set her designs apart without overpricing the product (right). She’d also used neon envelopes on her Kraft range (left).

Belly Button Designs had a great new Denim range on show at PG with simple but well-drawn images in blue and black line work set off by a flash of eye-catching lime envelopes (right).

This attention to detail isn’t new, Berni Parker is a good example of a publisher who has always taken a lot of time to get the balance of elements just right when planning her ranges.

Each of the cards in Berni’s delicately-drawn Whisper On Wings

‘

Hone the details Getting it right is very important with products such as greetings cards. Picking the right envelopes, paper and board stock, and finishes show the customer that you’ve really thought about the details, as Henri Davis explains.

range (below) are printed on textured board and the images hand-finished using hand-made paper, tissue, gems and glitter and packed with ivory pearlescent envelopes.

Talking to Sarah Glennie from Fenner Paper I’m amazed by the fantastic c choice of stock now available in w wonderful textures and finishes.

Using lovely materials can make a real difference and a good example is textile artist Elspeth Thomson’s new Florentina range that’s inspired by nature, featuring illustrations embroidered on to fabric, with envelopes in complementing colours.

Elspeth wanted a board that would complement the natural colours of the threads and fabrics, so chose Flora from Fenner Paper, a tactile uncoated board with a subtle colour palette and natural flecked appearance derived from recycled fibres, nut and wood shavings (above right).

Similarly Blue Eyed Sun foiled their design on to a red-flock stock to give a really sumptuous feel to their range of Valentine’s cards this year (right).

Julie Brightley at Enveco makes the point that as well as protecting a card in the post, envelopes make a great

Design is one element, materials d used could enhance itt

’

Henri Davis is an independent retail advisor to businesses in the cards, gifts, stationery and heritage industries, combining 30 years of retail experience with her knowledge of trends and consumer motivation to analyse markets and identify new opportunities. Having worked at Habitat, Next, WH Smith and the National Trust, she now works with many small and medium-sized businesses, including multi-site retailers, national and international manufacturers and suppliers and is currently vice-chairman of the Giftware Association, the first woman to hold the post. www.henridavis.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

frame and backdrop for a card in the retailers’ racks so they stand out and draw the customer’s eye.

For the card recipient, the envelope is the first indication of what’s inside. You wouldn’t wrap an expensive gift in newspaper so the same attention should be given to the packaging of the card. A white 140gsm envelope will give a sophisticated luxurious feel edge to the card, or perhaps a printed polka dot card would be fun for a children’s range.

Matching a differently-coloured envelope with each card in a range is expensive and impractical so finding a complementary colour for the collection as a whole is the key. rpower Neutral colours will not overpower m The your images, as this design from vely a Art File (right) shows, alternatively post strong neon can be a great signpost depending on the message you want to send.

It’s not just suppliers of interesting and innovative components that you need, printers who are happy to try new ideas or find ways around problems are a godsend too. ut you’re not If you have creative ideas but sure how to achieve them in print, talk to your printer early in the process so you have time to work together to get the right effect, rather than assuming they can work miracles at short notice.

6 ways to help get it right ● Choose a standard size of envelope to use. ● Create great designs that set you apart and will appeal to your target audience. ● Talk to your printer to make sure your designs are achievable. ● Add features such as board type, embellishments, etc, that customers will perceive and are relevant so if the card costs more they can see why. ● If your target customers and retailers care about the environment use recycled, FSC or PEFC-certified materials. ● Ensure all these elements are consistent so you start to create a brand that you will be known for.

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 41

IT’S ALL ABOUT SALES

Size does matter!

O

NE OF the questions I was recently asked by a publisher was how big a range needs to be to make it viable for retailers.

It’s a difficult question to answer but it can be a big hurdle to overcome if the shops think a range of cards is too small.

Often customers will want to display a full row or column of new designs so it looks visually appealing and a card stand generally has 12 to 14 pockets going down.

So if a publisher brings out a range with only, say, eight general birthday cards in the range, it can be hard for an agent to sell these in as they wouldn’t fill a whole column.

Equally, if there are only 12 in the range then the customer doesn’t get a choice and has to take all of them to create their display – so I guess that means around 18 general birthday would be a minimum requirement for a new range so retailers can fill their stand having chosen their favourite cards.

I do find publishers will often create an 18-strong range but that’s the complete set, including a wedding, get well, etc, so there are usually only eight or so general birthday which isn’t enough for that section in a card shop. I regularly hear “I really like them but there isn’t enough of them yet”.

● Bigger is beautiful – Neil with Alison at Conway Cards, Garstang

This must be equally difficult for publishers as they don’t really want to produce a huge range on something they are testing out or are maybe trying a new direction.

I guess my advice with new ranges would be to exclude occasion titles initially and stick to open birthday, then the occasions can be added later if the range is successful.

This is also really difficult with seasonal ranges, for example Christmas. If the customer is unable to put together a carriage-paid order containing only Christmas then the range isn’t big enough.

Keep it personal I

’VE RECENTLY heard of a few card and gift companies who are turning to just selling online and how some have stopped using agents altogether in the hope of selling solely over the internet, direct to retailers.

The rationale is that, instead of paying the agents’ commission, the companies offer part of that amount as a percentage off the orders so the supplier saves a bit on commission and the retailers get their goods slightly cheaper.

They also think it allows buyers to now place orders on a weekend or evening when they’re in the comfort of their own home instead of during shop hours which are busy for most retailers.

It all sounds very plausible both in theory and from a purely business point of view, however I can’t help but feel these people behind these decisions have never been into a shop to deal first hand with a real-life retailer.

Most retailers I know would grumble at the thought of having to go home after a long day at

the shop, get through the business of sorting out their family life to then sit down with a laptop in the evening and spend their personal time looking at everything they’ve spent all day looking at.

Retailers like to handle samples, touch them, get a feel for it, and see the colours, the textures, the print finishes designers have lovingly added to a range.

They often like to be advised – what’s selling well in other shops? What do you think will work for me and why? What can I order to create that amazing summer window display?

No website can give personal advice to a retailer on these all important information – but agents can.

The out-on-the-road business is a very big percentage of most companies’ turnover and it’s agents and sales reps that encourage the orders.

We’re the influences. We advice, suggest, point out new designs and encourage those all-important re-orders.

I’m not saying get rid of the online option as there’s no denying a website is a useful selling tool,

With small Christmas ranges I often have to advise the customer that we can top up the order with everyday cards closer to the delivery date.

But that plan doesn’t always work as, when you ring to make the top-up appointment, the retailer may already have received a lot of other deliveries so had a re-think and simply cancel the whole order from me.

Also at that busy time of year, a lot of retailers have to condense the space they allocate to everyday cards to make way for their Christmas ranges, so the last thing they want is to bring in more stock on that side.

Equally when a range is doing well it’s important that publishers try to add to it quite quickly. I have many retailers that love a range but don’t want to just repeat the same designs as it can look to their repeat customers that things just aren’t moving. What they need is more in the same style.

One of the first questions I’m asked when a range has done well is” “Have they got any new designs?” If my answer is no then, even though they really like the designs, they often move on to the next company in my bag.

The ideal situation for an agent is to have a handful of companies that have very large collections that they’re constantly refreshing, as this makes taking orders above the carriage-paid threshold a doddle. :-)

● Good advice – Alina at Coopers Chemist, Great Ayton it can capture the imagination of a buyer and often displays the products in lifestyle situations which can be of benefit both to the retailer and the agent. It provides T&Cs, can draw a buyer into a range and is there if they need a quick top-up order.

But how can it properly replace an agent or rep?

They’re the face of the company, and the people who build up the trust and loyalty of the retailer.

We need to work together, online and on the road – after all, you can never have a cup of tea, biscuit and a good natter with a laptop on a rainy Tuesday afternoon!

Neil Anthony (Reil (Reil Agencies, T: 07766 736254) and Alina Clark (T: 07906 792420) are experienced independent greetings industry sales agents in the North West and North East of England respectively. Each month they share their experiences of life on the road.

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SITTING PRETTY. The greatest products in greetings and gift to make your shop shine in 2016.

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PLUSHTOYS&GIFTS

Ready teddy go The popularity of plush toys never seems to lessen, the emphasis just moves around to focus on different characters. An ever-present add-on product for greetings retailers, Greetings Today looks at how this continuing craze came into being.

T

HESE days plush toys come in all shapes and sizes. from the latest cartoon and movie characters, through advertising devices to the classic teddy – but where did it all start?

The clue is in the last one, the classic ted, because the toy world has US President Theodore Roosevelt to thank for this enduring and endearing product.

According to the Theodore Roosevelt Association, dedicated to perpetuating the late statesman’s memory and ideals, it all started with a hunting trip the man himself took in 1902 in Mississippi.

After three days of hunting, Roosevelt was the only member of the party not to spot a bear, and his host, Mississippi Governor Andrew H Longino, didn’t want the president’s trip to be a failure.

The next day, the hunt guides tracked down an old black bear the dogs had trailed quite a distance and attacked. The guides tied the bear to a willow tree and called for the president. Here was a bear for him to shoot!

But Roosevelt took one look at the old bear and refused to shoot it as he felt to do so would be unsportsmanlike but, since it was injured and suffering, he ordered the creature be put down to end its pain.

Word of this hit newspapers across the country, and political cartoonist Clifford Berryman picked up on the story, drawing a cartoon showing how President Roosevelt refused to shoot the bear while hunting in Mississippi.

The original cartoon, which ran in the Washington Post on November 16, 1902, shows Roosevelt standing in front with the guide and bear in the background, and they’re about the same size.

Later, similar images appeared, but the animal was smaller and shaking with fear and it was this cub which

‘

A cartoon of how President Roosevelt refused to shoot the bearr

’

appeared in other cartoons Berryman drew throughout Roosevelt’s career connecting the president, who was known as Teddy, with bears.

The toy tie came when Morris Michtom saw the original cartoon and had the idea of putting two stuffed toy bears his wife had made in the window of his candy shop in Brooklyn, New York.

Michtom asked permission from President

Roosevelt to call these toys “Teddy’s bears”, and their rapid popularity among his customers led the shopkeeper to mass-produce them, eventually forming the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company five years later .

Ideal was sold to CBS Toys in 1982, then to Viewmaster International in 1987, which Tyco Toys bought in 1989, with the Ideal line remaining part of their range until the merger with Mattel in 1997, at which point Hasbro bought Ideal’s UK assets.

At about the same time as Michtom came up with his Teddy’s Bears, Germany company Steiff started making stuffed bears from a design by owner Richard which was made up by his wife Margaret who earned her living by sewing.

Poor transatlantic communications meant neither company was aware of the similarity of their ideas.

The Steiffs exhibited their bears at the Leipzig Toy Fair in March 1903 where Hermann Berg, a buyer for George Borgfeldt & Company in New York, ordered 3,000 to be sent to the United States, although none survive.

By 1906 other manufacturers had joined in and the craze for Teddy Bears saw ladies carrying them, children photographed with them – and President Roosevelt is even believed to have had one as a mascot in his bid for re-election.

More than a century later, the classic ted may have changed from the original pattern of looking more like their real-life cousins with extended snouts and beady eyes to having cuter, larger eyes and smaller noses, but they’ve never lost their popularity.

And the industry has gone on to create all manner of cute and cuddly – and not so cute – characters in various different materials, which can all be traced to that one hunting trip in Mississippi.

Specialists re-enter nursery sector PLUSH toy specialists Golden Bear are re-entering the nursery sector for 2015 with the My First Forever Friends collection.

The range features beautiful soft-to-touch fabrics, gentle lullabies and soothing lights and as well as offering a unique touch with a special baby-safe photo holder that allows personalisation and brings the brand into the hearts of all new parents.

As master toy licensee, Golden Bear’s Twirlywoos range showcases the characters Chickedy and Chick, Toodloo, Great BigHoo and Peekaboo from this new CBeebies series which launched February 2015. The soft and cuddly characters feature their own signature sounds with a gentle squeeze and come in various sizes.

The In The Night Garden range has been extended for 2015 to include additional interactive talking plush toys as well as new collectable plush assortments. The refreshed line will include talking and moving plush toys such as Peek-a-Boo Igglepiggle and Blowing Kisses Upsy Daisy.

Also airing on CBeebies is Hey Duggee, with Alexander Armstrong voicing the lovable Squirrel Club leader, and the toy line will include talking plush and collectable plush assortments with accompanying child-safe feature badges.

T: 01952 608308 www.goldenbeartoys.com

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Boo is a pooch phenomenon WITH a name like Boo, you’re sure to get attention, and that’s certainly what this innovative new animated, musical version of the world-famous Pomeranian has done.

Social media can’t get enough of The World’s Cutest Dog – Boo has more than 16million fans on Facebook not to mention the rest on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media.

To appeal to fans of this pooch phenomenon, Gund are expanding their popular Boo product line with Dancing Boo from June 2015, which is available through Enesco.

Gund’s range of dogs make the perfect companion for both plush and dog lovers alike — but Boo is definitely in a league of his own.

At 23cm high and for age 3+, this animated plush walks and wiggles his way through the American Authors’ song Best Day Of My Life, and has a £39.95 RRP. Constructed in their trademark style using soft and tactile plush, this latest Gund version of Boo is far too cute to resist.

T: 01228 404022 www.enesco.co.uk

New character collections excite GREAT Gizmos’ luxury plush brand NICI continues to excite with new soft character collections that will appeal to both boys and girls.

Brand new to the Forest Friends Collection are Marlon Mole and Harriet Hedgehog, two super cute characters available as cuddly toys and featuring on a variety of accessories. The Hedgehog Backpack is shaped just like the real thing and sure to be a big hit with little girls!

NICI offers everything from plush toys for tots to stationery and bedroom accessories with the autumn ranges including the new Classic Bear who is dark chocolate brown with blue and white stripy feet.

There are also three new exciting dragon characters in the NICI Creatures range that feature bold colours, wings and horns and the popular Meerkat Range is expanding with the addition of a golden-eyed character with beautiful shiny details and glitter materials.

T: 01293 543221 www.greatgizmos.co.uk

Let’s play hide and seek FOR a few years now The Puppet Company have been designing a range of puppets called Hide-Aways.

As the name suggests these sets of puppets all have somewhere to hide – for the Mouse Family it’s a big slice of cheese while the Grey Rabbit hides in a lettuce.

The latest addition to this range is the fantastic Old Tree And Pond which features a gnarled old tree with seven residents – a Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, Robin, Frog, Mallard, Greater Spotted Woodpecker plus sitting very proudly on the top, a Blackbird on his nest incubating three eggs.

T: 01462 446040 www.thepuppetcompany.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Small but they’re perfectly formed RESPONDING to overwhelming success in the US and Australia alongside customer demand this side of the Atlantic, Hallmark are to launch Itty Bittys into the plush market in the UK. Itty Bittys is a range of iconic plush characters from film, comics and television that have fantastic collectability for kids of all ages as well as film and character fans.

Their small, four-inch stature makes them perfect for collecting and just right for pairing with a greetings card as a small gift – or a cheeky little present to spoil yourself with.

Launched in the US in 2012 to capitalise on an opportunity in the plush market, Itty Bittys enjoyed huge success with an 800 per cent growth in sales in the first year and an everincreasing range growing from eight to more than 80 in just three years.

Itty Bittys will launch in the UK in September with Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Snoopy and Charlie Brown, Scooby Doo and The Wizard Of Oz characters and Hallmark will continue to grow the ranges with limited editions and themed releases.

The launch is supported by a targeted marketing strategy including social media and blogger engagement, to ensure that excitement builds as fans await the release of each and every Itty Bitty.

Hallmark also have Disney Baby, which was showcased at PG Live and has had a great reception from independents this year.

The colour palette was chosen to be trendled, in line with colours that are hot this year, so perfect for complementing the nursery décor while the gender neutral and blendable tones makes these really great gifts whether you know the sex of the baby or not.

Hallmark have also developed a unique FSDU to allow the collection to be showcased together along with cards and wrap, but built to take minimal floor space.

T: 0800 902 0900 www.hallmark.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 45

TALKINGSHOP

Exciting and hairy

Holidays have played a huge part in the success of Cardland as founder and MD Jim McAllister took the plunge in Northern Ireland following a trip to the province and is now expanding the business into Spain since moving there permanently after enjoying many visits over the years.

In a nutshell, what’s the story behind your founding of Cardland in 2003, and what are your goals and aspirations now?

With more than 30 years’ greetings card experience both wholesaling and retailing in the UK and in the USA, I started selling cards from the back of a white van servicing newsagents, convenience stores and a chemist chain. A number of years later we decided to open our first store in Kilmarnock, my home town in Scotland.

I continued each year opening a handful of stores across Scotland then a weekend trip away to Belfast with my girlfriend found me taking notes of the competition and telephone numbers of estate agents marketing void retail space. A month or so later we opened our first store in Northern Ireland followed by a couple more stores that same year.

With the demise of Birthdays and Card Warehouse it then opened up a basket of store opportunities and staff which allowed me to grow pretty quickly across the province where we have 21 stores currently operational. Cardland started as value retailers but now have a more DTR offering while still retaining our value proposition in store but also included premium value and premium cards. Going forward we’ll keep seeking out, and providing our customers with, the very best cards in the marketplace while offering great value for money.

What’s the most exciting part of your job?

The opening of a box of new samples and getting the wow factor. The constant challenges of the High Street and the constant pace and updates in our industry can be exciting and hairy at times.

Do all your stores sell both cards and gifts?

Yes they do, we have a greetings card stock control template that all stores follow with the exception of a few local stores that need to be a little different. We also replicate our gift ranges, party, wrap and bags across the portfolio too.

How important is the cards side?

Hugely important. Cards are the main part of my business. It’s also encouraging to see so much innovation from a host of different publishers.

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What brands of cards and gifts does Cardland sell and which sell well?

Our main control at the moment is set up to house – Premium, Premium Value and Value. To fill these SKUs we hand pick what we think to be the best designs from each company, We use most of the major publishers to be honest and I feel they all sell well. I’d hate to single anyone out in particular as they all do well otherwise they wouldn’t be listed with Cardland! Our gifting comprises mainly of Widdop Bingham, Xpressions4U, Yankee Candle and Lindt Confectionery Co onf nfec ecti ec tion ti oner on ery er y at seasons, sea easo sons so ns,, plus ns p us other pl oth ther her ttrending rend re ndin nd ing in g

‘

I love opening a box of new samples and getting the wow factor

’

brands and companies as they come along.

Do you stock different products in different outlets, or do you keep the same formula everywhere?

We try to keep the same across the portfolio but we can be store specific if needed.

You now have a pretty impressive store portfolio built up in less than 12 years, what do you attribute your success to?

We have opened 50 stores in total but currently trade from only 31 – Cardland have grown organically over the years and I guess

our success is purely down to our customers’ engagement with what we do. Without them supporting us we couldn’t have expanded the way we have. Competing against onedimensional value retailers we need a point of difference, I feel we now have that with the card choice and gifts we have in our stores coupled, of course, with the great service our staff provide.

There are also the five stores in Gibraltar and Spain, what made you decide to take the plunge to trading abroad and what are the main differences to running a greetings store in the UK? Having had a holiday home in southern Spain, I always wanted to live here permanently.

In 2008 we’d sold our business to a small investment company but, as it was the start of the banking crisis and the banks pulled their funding days before completion, I’d already decided we were moving to Spain and that’s how things got started. I had opened our first store in Gibraltar and we got the opportunity to take over another retiring independent and it just grew from there. Opening in Spain takes patience – the red tape and laws can be quite scary. Employment law is different and, of course, they don’t have the same industry knowledge so staffing was difficult. Freight has its own challenges together with the everchanging euro rates.

Does the offer differ between the UK stores and your new overseas portfolio?

Yes it does. In the past six months we’ve had to re-plan our entire card control to suit as, in addition to servicing the ex-pat community, we’re finding the Spanish are also engaging with what we do so we’re constantly trying to source new companies that can offer us a card range to suit them.

What prompted the Simply pop-up store concept and how’s that going – does it apply abroad as well as in the UK? Being offered short-term prime retail space in the lead up to seasons we discovered the costs in setting them up could sometimes outweigh the gain. We developed a shelving concept

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TALKINGSHOP

that was basically “pop-up” and could be sized to suit any season and space offered. It was also important it had a corporate image which landlords asked for. Unfortunately, we had issues with the paint on the shelving and it had to be resprayed at the factory in Belgium leaving it too late to launch last year. However, we did manage to open one store abroad and it traded really well so we’ve actually kept it open all year. We’ll re-launch the concept in time for Christmas this year.

What season are you buying for currently, and how does that work – is it that Christmas is bought in January, Valentine’s in September for instance?

Yes, that it’s exactly. Christmas has been put to bed already with first drops due in at the end

How many people are on the buying team, do you have separate teams or buyers for different products?

I oversee the buying but we have two planners working on card control and two on gifts.

What makes a good buyer for Cardland?

An eye for greetings card innovation, quality and price. Also being up to date with current trends happening on the High Street and being able to source and get these items to stores quickly.

If someone has a product, card or gift, they want to pitch to you, how should they go about that?

Contact me by email or send samples to head office.

How do you choose which products to stock?

We have a core range of cards, gifts, etc, that work for us, we just keep updating them with new current innovation as often as we can.

Do you attend any of the trade shows for greetings and gifts, if so, do you feel they are important and which do you like?

Yes, we visit Spring and Autumn Fairs and PG Live, we also attend supplier showrooms previewing new range launches. I do feel they are hugely important and I would urge all suppliers to attend if possible.

‘

You still can’t better the feeling of choosing the right sentiment

’

of July. We’ve started planning already for spring season 2016.

What are customers buying at the moment – does anything stand out as a bestseller?

Our card sales are up at the moment, gifts are going well but, with all the spring seasons on top of each other, it’s quite hard to keep tabs on it all.

What are the evergreen categories that consistently sell well on both the card and gift sides? And what are the top-selling seasons for you and in what proportion?

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We have had the same old men’s, age and wedding gifts for years but still they sell.

Christmas is still our number one volume season followed by Mothers Day, Valentine’s, Easter and Father’s day.

What are the emerging trends, and how have trends changed over the past year as well as since you started Cardland?

Being a Northern retailer traditionally we couldn’t really sell blank cards where we’re now seeing growth, but we also see a younger shopper buying a more contemporary line extension greetings card in our stores. The market nowadays is overwhelmed by value cards so it’s important that we have a point of difference consisting of fresh innovation as often as possible on our racks. I see the personalisation of cards and gifts having a fan base and, of course, the rise of social media being used to deliver sentiment. However, it’s my belief that you still cannot better the feeling of shopping in a card store and choosing the right sentiment to share with a friend or loved one.

What was the last card and/or gift you yourself sent – and why did you choose those?

The last card I sent was for my mum’s birthday, it was a card from Cardland – of course – and was by Hallmark. I chose it firstly as I liked the design, and secondly because the words were appropriate between Mum and I. The last gift I sent was a Ryanair voucher for my parents to visit us in Spain LOL! Before that I bought a Yankee Candle for my girlfriend.

T: 01294 222681 www.card-land.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 47

11th Greetings Today Golf Classic at Staverton Park

SUN SHINES RIGHT ON

with ● Host st – o m the Naish lm o lc a M

N

UMBERS were a little down on the previous year so, for 2017, I must try to arrange a date that doesn’t clash with an all-day company meeting, a wife booking a surprise holiday without her husband knowing plus another company deciding to move offices on the day of our golf event!

The morning nine-hole Texas Scramble is always a closely-fought competition and it was great that this year we had a new winning team, none other than that of Steve Middleton of Celloglas with Trevor Schragger, Ash Patel and Martin Skelcey of Second Nature fame with a score of 22.8.

Following closely behind were the Cardgains team of Chris Dyson, Steve Grocott, Chris Cummins and Neil Hirst on 23.7. Third were the Words ’n’ Wishes team led by Rod Brown, Carl Salt, Tony Hart and Dave Connel on 24.3.

With such fantastic weather we were all able to sit outside in the sunshine to enjoy a hearty meal of ham, egg and chips to help give us the strength to play the afternoon Individual Stableford, team four-ball plus the devilish yellow ball competitions.

Now with the temperature in the mid-70s and not a cloud in the sky, some excellent scores were posted.

With a handsome trophy for the winner of the Individual Stableford, Words ’n’ Wishes’ Tony Hart, playing off 21, came in with 38 points.

Closely behind Tony with 37 points was Second Nature’s Trevor Schragger and third was decided on a count back of the last six holes between Words’n’ Wishes Rod Brown and The Imaging Centre’s Craig Hawley – Rod claimed third spot with 14 points on the last six holes compared to Craig’s 11.

Obviously working really well as a team, the morning Texas Scramble winners also kept it going in the afternoon winning the team four-ball prizes with a team score of 124 points.

The scoring system for those golfers among our readers was for best three Stableford scores to count

48 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

They say that the sun shines on the righteous and it certainly shone on all those righteous greetings industry golfers who turned up to play in what was our 11th golf day, as Lema Publishing MD Malcolm Naish reports. on all par fours and fives with all four to count on the par threes.

Second on 122 points were the Words ’n’ Wishes team and third on 120 were Bob Short’s Imaging Centre team that included Adam Short, Craig Hawley and Bernard Tomlin.

The yellow ball competition requires the winning team to have kept the yellow ball in play through all 18 holes, scoring the card on Stableford points.

This competition saw Bob Short’s Imaging Centre come in with 38 points. Second were the Enveco team with 32 points led by John Jones with Simon Wagstaff, James Emmerson and David Warsop making up the team. Very few of the teams managed to keep the yellow ball in play – I managed to lose ours on the 13th!

We added a Best Gross trophy this year which was won by The Imaging Centre’s Craig Hawley playing off 10.

The longest drive on the 7th proved to be a monster, won by Carl Salt. Nearest The Pin on the 12th that saw my ball land in the pond that guarded the green was won by Steve Middleton with the Nearest The Pin in two on the 18th by Craig Hawley.

With the weather continuing to be marvelous we were all able to enjoy a few pints out on the patio while the scores were being checked, followed by a most pleasant awards dinner and presentation of trophies.

As is the norm with this event, those intent on further networking managed to find the hotel bar, where much was discussed until the early hours.

My thanks to my editor Tracey Bearton and ace advertisement manager Gareth Liddiatt for their assistance and support in our essential networking into the early hours!

We have yet to finalise the 2017 date and may also chose a new venue for the 12th Greetings Today golf event.

Finally, our golf days do prove that not all the same golfers win each year, so final congratulations to Steve, Trevor, Ash and Martin for a great performance on the golf course.

● Longest Drive – Carl Salt

● Nearest The Pin In Two & Best Gross – www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag bo book ook ok.c .c com om/g /gre /g reet re etin et ings in gsto gs toda to daym da ymag ym ag Craig Hawley

● Nearest The Pin – Steve Middleton

@greetingstoday @gre @g re eet etin ings in gsto gs toda to dayy da

11THGOLFCLASSIC CLASSIC

● Individual Stableford winner – Tony Hart from Words ’n’ Wishes

● Greetings Today – Joan Naish, Malcolm Naish and Karen McCracken

● Second Nature – Ash Patel, Martin Skelcy, Steve Middleton and Trevor Schragger

● Words ’n’ Wishes – Rod Brown, Tony Hart, Dave Connel and Carl Salt

● Paperlink – Graeme Tish, Bill Greeno and Tim Porte

● The Imaging Centre – Bob Short, Adam Short, Craig Hawley and Bernard Tomlin

● Special Thoughts – Trevor Evans, Ron Goode, Melv Guest and Jeff Tye

● Stuart Dobbs, William McCracken and Vince Brearly

● Enveco – James Emmerson, Simon Wagstaff, David Warsop and John Jones

● Morning Texas Scramble & Team Four-Ball winners – Second Nature

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● Yellow Ball Competition winners – The Imaging Centre

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 49

CARDGAINSCHARITYCHALLENGE

Walk on, walk on…

Withering Thighs were definitely the order of the day as 33 greetings and gift industry folk braved the Yorkshire Moors for the latest Cardgains’ charity challenge

● Striding out – Emily Wong and Ben Quance

● Great views – Nick Carey and Jim Girvan

Support team Neil Hirst Pat Hirst Louse Isherwood Cummo Denise Dyson Magda Pintilie

Walkers

● Ready for the off – a pre-blister line-up

A

N APPEARANCE by Cyril Service himself, more than 56,000 steps, plenty of blisters and many beautiful views, missing red arrows, unscheduled shopping and a few interesting detours marked the latest Cardgains’ charity challenge.

Nick Carey, Abacus Cards Andy Smart, Amscan Chris Smalley, Amscan Jim Young, Amscan There were 33 hardy souls who started the buying Penny Shaw, Cardgains group’s 25-mile Withering Thighs walk around Bronte Chris Dyson, Cardgains country in Yorkshire on Thursday, June 25, and all but Jim Girvan, Cardgains two completed the trek – with a few adding even more Steve Grocott, Cardgains to the average 56,000 steps as they accidentally went Caroline Thompson, Cardgains the wrong way.

Hamdy Shahein, Cardgains Member, Hamdy’s News It really wasn’t their fault as some of the directional Nigel Williamson, Cardgains Member, House Of Cards red arrows Cyril had carefully placed around the course Grace Elphinstone, Carte Blanche seemed to have gone missing!

Ben Quance, Carte Blanche Greetings Today editor Tracey Bearton’s dodgy Lee Nelson, Carte Blanche ankle kicked in again, and Paperlink sales Emily Wong, Carte Blanche director Bill Greeno’s bad knees meant Chaye’Lee McQuade, Doodle Press they only did the first eight-mile stretch and Samantha Hawkins, Enesco final five miles, managing an unscheduled John Brown, Enesco shopping stop in gorgeous Haworth while Chris Houfe, GBCC the hardier bods hit the Moors proper.

Tierney Spence, Greetings Today Their shortened walk meant Tracey Tracey Bearton, Greetings Today and Bill technically arrived at the finish Richard Marsden, History & Heraldry point first but the actual leaders were GCA Nick Davison, i2i Events president Chris Houfe, from the Great Jessica Dawnay, i2i Events British Card Company, Cardgains’ joint MD Matthew Mein, i2i Events Steve Grocott, Cardgains’ member Hamdy ● Thank you – Denise Bill Greeno, Paperlink Shahein and i2i Events’ Nick Davison, who with Cyril Service Anna Bubnova, Pioneer finished in under eight hours including all Mark Drury, Pioneer stops – impressive stuff!

Michelle Comerford, Pioneer Everyone then thoroughly enjoyed the celebrations Peter Fitzpatrick, Showcase Greetings at the Golden Fleece in Harden where Cardgains’ joint Ian Powis, Tisa Solutions MD Chris Dyson thanked everyone for taking part Tony Roberts, UK Greetings – and wife Denise for giving up their 32nd wedding Carl Salt, Words ’n’ Wishes anniversary celebrations to support the challenge yet

50 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

● First home – Hamdy Shahein, Chris Houfe, Nick Davison and Steve ve Grocott

● Well-earned pint – Bill Greeno and Richard Marsden

again, ga ai and Cyril Service put in a personal appearance.

So far the total raised is more than £13,000 towards this year’s target of £25,000 for the Calvert Trust, which enables youngsters with disabilities to enjoy adventure holidays – you can still donate at: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/cardgains# Plenty of pictures from the day were taken and many of them can be seen on the Greetings Today Facebook page.

T: 0845 166 2054 www.cardgains.co.uk

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TALKOFTHETOWN

Talk of the town The voice of the people who matter, greetings retailers tell it like it is.

Amanda Dutton, Willowgreen Home & Gifts, London Road, Davenham, Cheshire

‘

How important are trade shows to you?

Which are your favourites and do you plan your show strategy and go looking for anything specific?

Trade shows play a very important part in the search for new designers and products that

keep my shop looking fresh and inviting and also keeping me up to date with current trends.

Time is an issue for me as I only have cover for one day a week so I have to limit the amount of shows I visit. I choose to attend Spring Fair at the NEC, Home & Gift Harrogate, Top Drawer

and Autumn Fair. I try to spend two full days at each and the first day is spent in my trainers trawling every aisle, nook and cranny for new and interesting products for Willowgreen.

With the lovely summer sunshine we’ve been having, do you find the weather affects your business?

The lovely sunshine can have rather opposite effects on the business in that if we see glorious sunshine for the first time in a while, then customers tend to stay home to sit or work in their gardens rather than go shopping. However, if the sunshine is more consistent it certainly brings customers out to the shop and with smiles on their faces!

Currently which is your top-selling design, publisher or genre?

Currently the more simplistic designs with small details are selling very well from companies like Belly Button, Hammond & Gower and the

fab new range from Cinnamon Aitch.

If you had £1,000 to spend on improving your shop, what would you spend it on?

I’d host a fabulous Willowgreen fourth birthday party for all my amazing customers to say a huge “thank you” for supporting the business from day one.

We have Animal-Themed Cards and Plush Toys & Gifts as features in the July issue, how do these genres work for you?

I don’t offer a huge amount of animal themed greetings cards but Cinnamon Aitch have a cute range which is suitable for adults and children. I’ve recently become a stockist of the Bunnies By The Bay range of plush gifts for babies which has a wonderful story with it and is proving to be popular.

’

Of all the publishers you stock, which card would you like to receive for your birthday?

I would be very happy to receive a card from the new range from Cinnamon Aitch!

Ryan & Deborah, Battle House Of Cards, High Street, Battle, East Sussex

‘

How important are trade shows to you? Which are your favourites and do you plan your show strategy and go looking for anything specific?

They’re important to us as they provide a chance to see new ranges put together by the wholesalers and examples of how best to display the new lines that have been brought out. Our favourite is Top Drawer as it’s relatively close to us and it’s not so big you can’t get to see everything. When we go we usually go with something we’re looking for in mind and look for that first, then keep our eyes open for any things that we like but weren’t specifically looking for.

Currently which is your top-selling design, publisher or genre?

We stock cards from lots of different publishers and find that, by hand picking designs for our target customer we sell through most styles and designs very well. Lately we’ve been successful with Piccadilly Greetings.

With the lovely summer sunshine we’ve been having, do you find the weather affects your business?

Weather definitely plays are big part in trade for us. As we’re in a tourist town we rely on good weather to encourage people to come out and visit the town. Although we do find when it’s very hot in the summer it can make it quieter as we’re near the coast so people tend to go to the beaches instead.

We have Animal-Themed Cards and Plush Toys & Gifts as features in this issue, how do these genres work for you?

We don’t stock any plush animal toys as there are other toy shops in our High Street so we try not to cross over the things other shops are doing. We do have lots of animal cards however and, again, from lots of suppliers. Great British Card Company have a great range and also Noel Tatt have an RSPCA range which we find are also popular with customers.

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If you had £1,000 to spend on improving your shop, what would you spend it on?

We’d probably spend the money to renew our signage to the front of the shop. It’s something we’ve been meaning to do for the past year but never gotten around to!

’

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 51

FRANKLY SPEAKING WITH SARAH PORTER

In early 2012, three months into my internship at a business and educational book publishers, I was told that we were “going to have a crack at greetings cards”, that I was in charge of making that happen, and that we would be launching at PG Live in two months’ time.

Cue a minor panic attack in the bathroom followed by frantic Googling until I found the GCA, where CEO Sharon Little gave me a (metaphorical) cup of tea and talked me down from the (also metaphorical, but only just) ledge with calming information about card stock and FSC requirements.

Having morphed from an intern into a fullyfledged employee, I’ve just about got to grips with the whole greetings card business now – the flappy white thing with the sticky bit is called an envelope, right? – but now I’m suddenly going through the same slightly-unhinged process all over again.

Not long ago one of our customers in the north-east, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, got in touch and asked if we would look at doing a wedding stationery package featuring some of our designs.

The next thing I knew, we were “going to have a crack at wedding stationery”.

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

Back to Google I went, trying to figure out the appropriate price difference between blank place settings and personalised ones, what the most popular format for a semi-formal evening invitation would be, and a whole host of other bewildering decisions.

Of course, this isn’t the first new venture we’ve had – each time we add a new product to our range there’s a certain amount of trailblazing within the company, from bargaining on production quantities to negotiating trade prices.

But each time, although the product has been different, it’s been sold in the same way and to the same customers to expand our offering.

What didn’t really occur to me to begin with about wedding stationery is that it’s not only a different product, but sold in a completely different way.

Rather than selling to trade and to our existing customers, the target market for wedding stationery is the general public, our customers’ customers – or at least that percentage of them currently contemplating marriage.

And now for something completely different...

Charting new territory is a good way to expand a publishers’ offering, but also brings some interesting dilemmas, as Sarah Porter has discovered.

‘

IIt’s t not only a different product but sold in a completely different wayy

’

My World’s erudite Creative Director Sarah Porter has been elected to the GCA council.

She’s known as Frankie outside work and blogs about the trials and tribulations of being a relative newcomer to the world of greetings card publishing at www.myworld.co.uk/ blogs/news as well as compiling the regular My World newsletter.

T: 0191 305 5165

52 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

I know, I know, there are trade outlets for wedding suppliers, as well as retailers who sell sample packs of wedding stationery; but it seems like the main customer base is inevitably going to be, y’know, the brides – and grooms – themselves.

In fact, the thing that’s proved most intimidating wasn’t the creation of the product itself which, at the end of the day, is mostly just a variation on stuff we’ve done before, albeit trying to make it different enough that it’s worth going into the market.

The difficult thing was this idea of getting to grips with building an entirely new client base.

There’s also the fact that pretty much every wedding stationery customer is, hopefully, going to be a one-time-only buyer – so it’s built not on repeat orders but on reputation and word of mouth.

Fortunately for my sanity, though, this can also be a blessing. One satisfied bride can pass your name to her friend, who passes it to her sister, who passes it to her friend, so suddenly out of the blue you have a new customer, without any special marketing effort on your part.

That’s the idea, anyway.

There’s still plenty I don’t know, and in the absence of any wedding-specific GCA-style organisation I’m mostly making it up as I go along.

It’s getting easier, though, and at least I know that after we’ve mastered this there won’t be any more surprises or panics. After this I should be able to handle pretty much everything.

Right?

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● Image: www.irregularchoice.com

L

AUNCHING ourselves bodily into unknown waters is not exactly a new thing for My World.

If you are an artist/cartoonist/illustrator/verse writer or image library and would like to be part of this feature contact the Gareth Liddiatt on 01442 289930 / gareth@lemapublishing.co.uk for more details

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Artists’ directory

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 53

D

E GRE TING CA

Nick Carey, Commercial Director, Abacus Cards

•

IC

WR

K

•

IT

Publishers are right at the heart of the greetings industry, designing and supplying cards for everyone to enjoy.

Greetings Today chats to a few to hear their opinions on issues of the day.

RDS

4 SID E

Product & services directory greetings card publishers & Party product suppliers To advertise call Gareth Liddiatt on 01442 289940

‘

T E• P E E L• S

T: 01638 569050 www.abacuscards.co.uk

How would you sum up the attitude in the greetings card industry at the moment?

The market, in my opinion, is buoyant, however independent retailers are struggling after a difficult few months. They have so many external influences on their businesses it affects their confidence.

WE HAVE OVER 250 DESIGNS THAT APPEAL TO ALL TASTES, AGES AND STYLES...

A UNIQUE GIFT AND CARD IN ONE...

WE COVER ALL OCCASIONS. IF YOU’RE AFTER SOMETHING DIFFERENT, LOOK NO FURTHER... www.4sided.co.uk•jo&chris@4sided.co.uk

07803 501983

4SIDED.CO.UK

R

Is there any occasion or category that is currently seeing growth?

For us growth is coming from various areas – humour, photographic and stock control systems.

Now we’re into the summer, do you see any difference in the type of designs ordered at this time of year to the colder months?

On top of the usual seasons we offer other packages to cater for back to school, weddings and sympathy etc.

Our core lines are refreshed regularly to take account of fashion, trends and sometimes the seasonal images.

What’s currently of interest in the Animal-Themed Cards area?

Animal cards are really strong. We have humour-based and standard photographic and they both do well. A current top seller is an image of a chocolate Labrador!

’

Describe Abacus Cards in three words.

Quality, value, fashionable.

Emma Ball, Owner, Emma Ball Ltd

‘

T: 0115 985 8081 www.emmaball.co.uk

T: 0844 357 6091

How would you sum up the attitude in the greetings card industry at the moment?

I’m a great believer that negativity breeds, and there has been far too much worrying about postage rates and ecards the past few years!

Postage, when you really think about it, isn’t that much – a card sent from Land’s End could be in the Orkneys a day or two later for the sum of 63p. I happen to think that’s a bargain and it’ll bring a smile to someone’s face – that takes it from a bargain to priceless! Ecards too, they may be fun for five minutes or so, but then they’re forgotten, a nice card can be always remembered.

Is there any occasion or category that is currently seeing growth?

Our die-cut range has been growing over the past three years and this year has been exceptionally good.

Now we’re into the summer, do you see any difference in the type of designs ordered at this time of year to the colder months?

We sell an awful lot of cards this time of year as my designs are seen as rather summery plus, with our UK tourist range, it’s getting to the height of the season at present. Sometimes we can’t keep up!

What’s currently of interest in the Animal-Themed Cards area?

Dogs have been good for us as well as our area-themed gifts

’

Describe Emma Ball Ltd in three words.

Very slightly bonkers – sorry didn’t notice the Ltd bit, thought you meant me! Quality art cards.

54 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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A selection of this month’s latest releases

spotlight

Product & services directory greetings card publishers & Party product suppliers To advertise call Gareth Liddiatt on 01442 289940

● BEING launched mid-July by Nigel Quiney Publications is their fabulous new Jasmine collection of 12 special circular handmade cards beautifully flittered and enhanced with gems and bows.

These eye-catching cards stand out from the crowd with their delicate doily-edge design styling.

All designs feature feminine birthday images and come supplied with a bright envelope and cello bagged with a bright Jasmine label. With a £1.99 RRP they represent extremely good value for money.

T: 01799 520200 www.nigelquiney.com

● THE Country House Gift Company have extended their greetings card collection by adding designs by local artist Anne Carpenter.

Anne was among those who approached the Winscombe, Somerset, store after they launched Country House Cards last September.

She draws with her scissors, using blocks of fabric as paint in a true collage style that used no stitches, only glue.

T: 01934 842125 www.countryhousegiftcompany.co.uk ● IF YOU’RE looking for something unique to your shop, Megan Claire’s new personalised card range allows retailers to give customers exactly that.

The Most Brilliant Teacher In… joins her Best Teacher Ever, Couples Card, You’ve Graduated, Anniversary and Birthday designs.

There are many other captions, as well as name wall stickers, new baby and age cards and prints.

www.meganclaire.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 55

PRODUCT & SERVICES DIRECTORY GREETINGS CARD PUBLISHERS & PARTY PRODUCT SUPPLIERS To advertise call 01442 289930

spotlight ● ABSOLUTELY Historical is the hilarious new range from Roisin Cafferty, which features old book illustrations with amusing captions about modern day life.

The unique designs really stand out from the crowd and are perfect if you need fresh new humour cards to get your customers giggling.

There are eight 150mm square cards wrapped with red envelopes, and more designs will be added soon.

T: 07742 983044 www.roisincafferty.com

A selection of this month’s latest releases

● ADDING yet more smiles to faces is the aim for Peartree Heybridge, who have released three new ranges to their portfolio, each with 18 blank cards wrapped with white envelope.

By matching old photographs with suitably-titled books and adding appropriate – and sometimes inappropriate – narrative and other ephemera, Alison Stockmarr has created Face Books.

Original textile art produced on a sewing machine using embroidery, appliqué and vintage fabrics has been reproduced on cards to create the Katie Jean range, and the new Scouting range features drawings and photographs from The Scout Association archive along with typographical images under the Be Prepared banner.

T: 01423 876311 www.peartreeheybridge.co.uk

● CARD Connection have launched a new range of 12 Santé Elegance greetings cards made up of eight birthday and four blank cards that have been created in-house, using tasteful and elegant hand-finished elements.

“Card Connection has the largest selection of quality greetings cards in the franchise sector,” said Card

Designs that will get your customers coming back for more!

Life quotes to make them laugh out loud

All our designs are tried and tested in an award winning store Ramblingmansion.co.uk contact@ramblingmansion.co.uk

56 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Connection MD Michael Johnson.

“We are focused on creating new designs to catch the imagination and appeal to our broad customer base, ensuring our franchisees always have the very best, freshest product to offer to retailers.”

T: 01252 892300 www.card-connection.co.uk

● STAR Wars latex and Bubble balloons are the latest releases from Pioneer Balloon Company, makers of Qualatex brand balloons.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer balloons based on such a popular and beloved franchise that’s known all around the world,” said Marie Gransbury, MD of Pioneer Europe.

They have introduced Star Wars-themed Bubble balloons with designs based on both the Star Wars saga and Disney XD’s animated hit show Star Wars Rebels.

The saga design is also available in 5” 5 and11” rounds, and 12” Quick Links latex featuring a unique, all-round la print, so they look great from all p angles. an

T: 0800 281215 or 01279 501090 www.qualatexeurope.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag w www.fa ace eb bo oo ok k.c .com/greeti @greetingstoday

gifts spotlight A selection of the latest gift releases and deals

PRODUCT & SERVICES DIRECTORY GREETINGS CARD PUBLISHERS & PARTY PRODUCT SUPPLIERS To advertise call 01442 289930

INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED ● THE new Cats@Work stationery and giftware collection from Enesco Gift introduces the witty comic strip-style designs of American graphic illustrator and greetings card designer Kathy Weller.

Available as mugs, memo pads, and tumblers, Kathy’s dry, in-your-face proclamations are spoken by quirky cats with deadpan expressions – and are priced under £10.

Highlights of The World Of Beatrix Potter new introductions for June 2015 also available from Enesco include a brand-new range of ceramic gift set – egg cup and spoon, and mug with Gund plush toy – all featuring delicate decals taken from the original artworks of Beatrix Potter’s best-loved tales.

Also new, and making great gifts for under £2, are 10 ceramic magnets with different designs, again taken from Potter’s original illustrations.

CIRCULATION 6,089 July 1, 2013June 20, 2014

display services

T:01228 404022 www.enesco.co.uk www.peterrabbit.com ● LONDON-based Magpie focus on ranges with a distinctly British edge, nostalgically evoking childhood trips to the seaside, tea time with grandparents, camping trips and a love for the flora and fauna found here.

Collaborating with both up-and-coming and established artists, Magpie have three new ranges Ahoy! is the new nautical-inspired collection while Coast is a collaboration with Sussex-based artist Mark Greco – products include plates, mugs, boxed mugs, espresso sets, coasters, tea towels and wash bags.

Roots & Shoots is a new garden collection featuring quirky retro A-Z seed packet graphics on a watering can, tool box, seed box, herb pots, string tin and gardening gloves.

www.cubicwholesale.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Saunders Displays Point of sales display stands for every retail environment.

Tel: 0208 594 7221 www.saundersdisplays.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 57

bags

envelopes

OVER 30 YEARS SERVICE TO THE GREETING CARD TRADE

BAGS from

Wrapid Producers of high clarity, high quality bags for over 30 years direct to the greeting card and stationery trade sales@wrapid.co.uk www.wrapid.co.uk 01274 220 220

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gift manufacturers

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INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED & LARGEST CIRCULATION To find out how

can help you just call 01442 289930

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