Greetings Today

Independently Independently audited, audited, ABC ABC circulation circulation of of 6,086 6,202

The impartial voice of the greetings card industry May Date2016 here Issue 8 ? Volume Volume17 ?

SEE US AT PG LIVE STAND 513 10 -11 MAY

published by

d il 01992 702 900 | sales@danilo.com | www.danilo.com /DaniloCalendarsUK

@CalendarsUK

Independent retailers contact Is It Art on 01926 747935

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contents REGULARS 07

Leader

Judging is hard work - and meet Simon Davis, the new Greetings Today ad manager.

08

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

12

Meet The Newbies Windles Group have a fresh perspective in this focus on industry newcomers.

16

On The Shop Front Philip Downer from Calliope Gifts is all spaced out this month.

FEATURES 14

Cover Story

the team

17 18

PG Live Preview All set for the UK’s only specialist greetings card event? Find out who’s going.

50

19

52

51

It’s All About Sales Guest columnist Ian Bradley introduces himself while Neil tries to find his way.

55

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

01442 289940 (direct)

Group Advertisement Manager Ryan Horwood ryan@lemapublishing.co.uk Group Editor Mirella Anstey mirella@lemapublishing.co.uk Publisher Mark Naish mark@lemapublishing.co.uk Production Director Paul Naish paul@lemapublishing.co.uk

57

NSS & Surtex Previews The specialist art and design show celebrates 30 years while Notes & Queries loom large for British publishers.

60

British Craft Trade Fair Review Read all about Yoojoo, who took the fair’s first ever greetings card award, and prize-winners Ellacarte, Elaine Thélier and Hazel Williams.

63

Artists’ Quarter They do things differently at Moonpig, as Design Manager Katie Bear explains.

ONLINE

Talk Of The Town

Advertisement Manager Simon Davis simon@lemapublishing.co.uk

Greetings retailers tell it like it is.

Pulse Preview There’s an inspiring conference programme at the design-led retail event.

Retail Advice Henri Davis loves seeing the early orders arriving on the shelves.

Danilo are marshalling up the special guests to chase to PG Live.

20

John Ryan Grocers show the way on the party front.

Editor Tracey Bearton tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk

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

Keep in touch - follow us: @greetingstoday

Licensing Focus UK Greetings have a blooming good new licence with the Royal Horticultural Society.

https://www.facebook.com/ greetingstodaymag

Go to our website – www.greetingstoday.co.uk – for all the up-to-date news and new product information

HOTSPOT NEW ranges abound but there are many long-standing collections that are always hitting the hotspot and deserve recognition. In this Hotspot section Greetings Today features some of these each issue.

THE Art File’s Bright New Things range of small die-cut cards have proved very popular and they keep it fresh with new releases. Peter Hingston, at Talents in Saffron Walden, said: “it’s a good product, and it has sold consistently well. We do tend to rotate the stock regularly but we’ve had Bright New Things for at least two to three years. People buy them across the board for all different occasions. Some lend themselves to certain occasions but they all sell. For me they are quirky and contemporary and have an appeal perhaps to slightly younger buyers but they sell well.”

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

PUBLISHING

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

Telephone: 01442 289930 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

At the heart of retail Greetings Today is independently audited with an ABC circulation of 6,086 (July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015) 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

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leader Editor Tracey Bearton

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WINDOW ON THE WORLD RECYCLED gifts have helped Mantons Cards raise money for charity – and got them a new window display into the bargain.

Owner Chris Beards challenged his customers to design a range of gifts made from recycled materials to be sold at the store in Port Erin on the Isle Of Man and featured in one of their windows.

The winning designer is Katrina Bell, pictured with Chris and some of her handmade products, from which proceeds from all sales are going to the island charity Crossroads Care.

“As well as raising funds for such a fantastic local charity, the idea of the competition was to help raise the profile of local artists,” said Chris.

“Judging from the quality of entries the Isle Of Man is clearly full of creative talent and we are proud to showcase an artist like Katrina in one of our windows.

“We’ve helped Crossroads with their funding in the past and hope to continue to support this fantastic local charity in the future – we’re sure the publicity around the competition will help raise the profile of Crossroads and also of Katrina’s design skills.”

Crossroads head of fundraising Julia Cullen added: “We are extremely grateful for the exciting opportunity provided by Mantons. We were excited to see what creative pieces the entrants come up with and to see them displayed within the store.”

T: 01624 835662 www.mantonscards.co.uk

Send your views and submissions for the magazine to: tracey@ lemapublishing. co.uk k Tel: 01442 289930 doing having been a retailer for many years, she surprised herself by placing an order with one of the exhibitors I’d long-listed but she’d originally dismissed. It just goes to show the value of trade fairs as seeing product in the flesh really can make a difference.

And leads me nicely into PG Live, which is what most of this month’s magazine is about with the 30-page show preview starting on page 20.

As the UK’s only specialist fair for the greetings industry, it’s the perfect place to have a jolly good look at the cards and designs available so definitely worth taking the trip to Islington And a new face at the show will be Simon Davis, who is the lovely new advertising manager for Greetings Today.

Simon (pictured) has been in sales for 13 years, on all sides of the fence, retail, events and advertising, and is keen to learn the inside story of the greetings industry, so we’ll be popping by as many stands as possible to say hello.

Just in case, Simon’s is white coffee with two sugars (although we do think he’s sweet enough) with any biscuit, I’m more awkward (no surprise), weak, black coffee with sugar and I really like those Borders dark chocolate gingers...

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

EVER having won an award for anything, I don’t know how it feels to win myself but I now know what it’s like to pick winners – and it’s flippin’ hard work!.

With the greetings section having grown significantly over the past few years, the British Craft Trade Fair decided that after 40 years of shows it was time to present their first awards for the sector.

I’ve just had my first taste of judging the best cards and found there were so many to coo and aaah over that it’s a good job they hadn’t left me to it on my own or they’d still be printing out winners’ certificates now.

The organisers kindly asked Greetings Today to judge the category – so I am extremely thankful that GCA President Ged Mace listened to my pleas for help as someone who knew what he was doing, along with Caron Naylor who also has plenty of experience as a successful retailer at The Gift House at Blacker Hall Farm Shop.

Between the three of us, I think we came to the right decision but I confess, knowing what I’m like with pretty shiny things and a weakness for die-cut work, I reckon my invention of the Just Because…

The Judges Like It category was inspired!

You can read all about the fantastic four winners – Yoojoo, Ellacarte, Elaine Thélier, and Hazel Williams – in our review of the show on page 60. They all offer a different and interesting take on the greetings card genre.

If you’re a retailer looking for that something to set your offer apart, they’re definitely worth checking out as, I have to say, are many of the other exhibitors at the show, particularly the others who made our shortlist of 10 – well ok, it actually stretched to 12 because I simply can’t make decisions!

It really brought home to me how hard it buying product must be as you have to divorce your own personal taste from what will work for the store.

Interestingly, while Caron really does know what she’s

SAUNDERS DISPLAYS Point of sales display stands for every retail environment Tel: 0208 5947221 www.saundersdisplays.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 Jamie’s a right twit

CELEBRITY chef Jamie Oliver showed his sense of humour when Wisdom Of Kids creator Soula Zavacopoulos cheekily tweeted him.

Soula, who runs The London Studio, said: “I tweeted this rather cheeky Wisdom Of Kids quote asking him if he might be the ‘Jamie, age 4’ author – what with it being food related and all! To my surprise he tweeted back a short but humorous ‘Busted’!”

Retail stars shine THE RETAs Awards finalists have just been announced, with the winners to be revealed at a lavish The Moon And The Stars-themed ball at London’s Dorchester Hotel on Wednesday, July 13. Paul Jarman at Creased Cards in Brighton is pleased his store has again been shortlisted for the Independent Retailer Of The Year in the Home Counties. And Greetings Today columnist and Calliope MD Philip Downer is chuffed that staff member Vicki Waltho is one of the eight finalists in the Greeting Card Retail Employee Of The Year category.

The full list of finalists is at www.theretasawards.co.uk

Profits nearly doubled CARD Factory’s preliminary results for the year’s trading to January 31, 2016, show an eight per cent increase in revenue and massive near-doubling of pre-tax profits to £83.7million from £42.7m as CEO Richard Hayes prepares to step down in June with CEO-designate Karen Hubbard having just taken over fully. The report released on April 5 said the profits increase was driven by strong sales and new store openings, with 50 in the period taking the estate to 814 at year end.

That’s inflation for you!

AN ANAGRAM balloon that’s still going strong after nearly 21 years has sparked a debate about how the Amscan products last. Newspapers told on April 5 how Guinness World Records are looking into Ann MaxwellHughes’ claim her small pink It’s A Girl balloon on a stick might be a record as it’s still inflated having been given to her in July 1995 for the birth of daughter Lowri.

Beating the big C THERE were an extra couple of entrants among the 53,152 runners in the London Marathon with Saunders Displays and B-Looney playing their part on the day and helping raise awareness for Cancer Research.

They weren’t actually running in the 26.2 mile event around the capital’s streets on Sunday, April 24, but their presence was pretty noticeable thanks to the big C-shaped pink and blue balloon displays at 14 cheering points around the course as well as at the start and finish grandstands.

Mark Saunders and his team at Barking-based Saunders Displays were called in to manufacture the steel frameworks for the balloons which the B-Looney team then decorated and delivered to London.

“We do balloon frames for a lot of the decorators and balloon people,” Mark said, “as well as card spinners and racks, we make the metal arches, hearts, and number and letter shapes the decorators use as a base. We were asked to do the four-foot C-shapes for Cancer Research for the London Marathon this year. It’s great to have a presence there even if people can’t see our work!”

Kris Baker, Marketing Manager for Chesham-based B-Looney, added: “We’ve been dealing with over 50 charities this year just for the London Marathon and for the Cancer Research C sculpture, we contracted Saunders Displays to manufacture the frameworks upon which our decorators create the beautiful balloon display.”

T: 020 8594 7221 www.saundersdisplays.co.uk T: 01494 774376 www.b-loony.co.uk

Jeremy and Jo are flying the flag BLUE EYED Sun are flying the export flag for greetings cards and celebrating Her Majesty’s 90th birthday in fine style with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise In International Trade.

The award was conferred on Her Majesty’s actual birthday of April 21 after it was announced that The Queen has been “graciously pleased to approve the Prime Minister’s recommendation” that the publishers receive the honour in recognition of their exceptional export growth over the past three years.

MD Jeremy Corner and his wife Jo, the artist behind Blue Eyed Sun’s designs, have been invited to The Queen’s Reception at Buckingham Palace in July along

SHARON Little popped up on BBC’s Songs Of Praise on April 17 when the GCA’s chief executive was shown helping presenter Pam Rhodes launch their Christmas Card Design competition. The competition for an original illustration by an amateur artist that sums up the spirit of Christmas closes on May 23 and the winning 10 cards will sold in aid of Children In Need.

A UK GREETINGS card was the star of the show at Dewsbury Town Hall where people could sign the special design to wish The Queen a happy 90th birthday.

The card was available for two hours on April 21 after it was collected from UKG’s HQ in the town by the Mayor of Kirklees Paul Kane, who became the first person to note his good wishes after meeting UKG CEO Gary Rowley (pictured second left) with Mayoress Susan Bedford and Dewsbury Town Crier Laurie Gilbert.

Gary told the Dewsbury Reporter: “It was an honour to be asked to create this beautiful card which will allow the residents of Dewsbury the opportunity to wish Her Majesty the Queen a very happy 90th birthday.”

The card is to be sent to Her Majesty in time for her official birthday which, this year, is on June 11.

PORT Erin’s Manton Cards are hoping to hold on to their British Independent Retailer Of The Year title after being selected as finalists for the second year running.

Owner Chris Beards and his team are the only Manx company ever to reach the finals, which they won last year when Julie Conway, head of events for organisers the British Independent Retailers Association, said: “Just being selected as one of the five finalists is an amazing achievement for a retailer on a small island, considering that Mantons are up against some really prestigious businesses in some large cities.”

Chris said: “Winning last year felt like a fantastic achievement but I’m especially excited that this year the awards specifically recognises the whole team, who contribute so much to making Mantons so popular with so many people on the Island.”

Every independent shop in the UK was eligible for the competition and the finalists are chosen on a range of qualities with the winners to be announced on May 11. Mantons have also made the finals of the Retas Awards for greetings retailers for the seventh year running, with the winners to be revealed on July 13.

T: 01924 465200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk

T: 01624 835662 www.mantonscards.co.uk www.bira.co.uk

Rebrand revealed

The colour of sales THE CRAZE for adult colouring and activity books has helped WHSmith boost sales in the first half of their financial year but they have called a halt to any further rollout of their Cardmarket value greetings stores brand with 30 now open. The interim results for the six months to February released on April 13 showed an 11 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £80million.

Ten Cardmarket trial stores were opened in the period and seven stores have been closed taking their High Street business to 618 stores plus 60 WHSmith Local franchised shops, with a further 66 franchisees signed.

8 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

T: 01273 823003 www.blueeyedsun.co.uk

Hope for double

Praise to Christmas cards

THE complete rebranding of the Giftware Association is to be unveiled at the members’ day on June 15, when independent retail advisor Henri Davis takes over as chairman. At the GA’s Birmingham HQ in Federation House Ravensden’s Michael Papé will hand over to Greetings Today columnist Henri as she becomes the first person from a retailing background to hold the post. Blue Eyed Sun MD Jeremy Corner steps up as vice-chairman.

with other Queen’s Award winners from this year.

Jeremy said: “We’re thrilled that the Blue Eyed Sun team have been recognised for their hard work in growing internationally with this highly prestigious and coveted award.

“It’s an honour to be flying the flag for greetings cards especially in a year when the Queen celebrates her 90th birthday and will certainly be receiving many thousands of cards as part of her celebrations.”

Blue Eyed Sun moved into new and bigger premises in Burgess Hill in January which gives them plenty of room to grow.

Sign for the Queen

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exhibition news

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Extra tickets required EXTRA tickets had to be issued for the Fotofringe trade fair as more people were keen to find out about the 100-plus image libraries and photo agencies exhibiting.

Flora Smith, of show organisers Topfoto, said: “I was really surprised – I had to suddenly issue 100 more tickets in the week of the show because so many picture buyers wanted to come, and we don’t want to turn them away.”

The annual event at Kings Place in London ran on April 20 with all exhibitors having the same space and table to show off the images they have available to buy and license for use on all sorts of products, including greetings cards.

Caught looking for new inspiration was Bev Cunningham, Creative Director at Abacus and Clare Maddicott, who found Spanish-based Age Fotostock among others, while other publishers made the trip having read about the show in the April issue of Greetings Today, and The Alternative Image Company’s Ilona Benjamin coupled helping the organisers with taking a look at the pictures available.

The show included art, vintage, sport, contemporary aerial photography, history, science, fashion, lifestyle, culture, food, politics, celebrities, and key brand collections such as Ian Fleming Images and the Lee Miller Archives, alongside key companies already well known in the greetings industry like Bridgeman Images, Mary Evans Picture Library, Ardea and V&A Images.

More images from the event are available on the Greetings Today Facebook page.

www.fotofringelondon.com

Register for Buyers’ Festival REGISTRATION is open for Home & Gift 2016, now known as the Buyers’ Festival, where more than 150 new suppliers are to feature among this year’s 850-plus exhibitors.

Organised by Clarion Events, the early registration allows people the chance to plan ahead and take advantage of the best travel and accommodation deals.

To make the booking process smoother, accommodation can be arranged through the official Home & Gift travel partner Reservation Highway on 01423 525577 or by visiting homeandgift.co.uk/travel In addition to a vast array of exciting new products this year, buying is set to be easier than ever, with a number of improvements to the look and feel of the show.

Show Director Cleere Scamell said: “We’re always looking at ways to make life at The Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival easier

for everyone. Building on the easier layout introduced last year, we are adding another entrance point adjacent to the ever-popular Design Point campus, creating the easiestever arrival experience.

“Our aim is to make choosing the very best in design-led and everyday essential products as enjoyable an experience as it should really be.

“Despite this year’s show already proving to be more crammed with new exhibitors than for many years, we have managed to squeeze in an enhanced Great Northern Retail Forum and more social events.

“A visit to Harrogate also offers a rare chance to catch up with friends, colleagues and grow supplier relationships, learn from the experts and develop new business ideas – it all adds up to an exceptional buying experience.”

www.homeandgift.co.uk

Trade show date change THE longest-running licensing trade show – Licensing Expo – is moving forward by a month from next year in a “strategic shift”.

Show organisers UBM and sponsors international Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association made a joint announcement this week about the change to May 23-25, 2017, while keeping the Las Vegas venue the same.

In the statement, they said: “This strategic shift provides an opportunity for exhibitors and attendees to better leverage the time of year and the proximity of Licensing Expo to Brand Licensing Europe in October.”

The longest consistently-running licensing trade show, this year’s Licensing Expo, over June 21-23 is the 36th event connecting the entertainment, character, fashion, art and corporate brand owners and agents with consumer goods manufacturers, licensees and retailers.

www.licensingexpo.com

10 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Extending Enid’s charm THE FAMOUS Five, Brer Rabbit, and The Secret Seven are now under the care of Bulldog Licensing who have taken over representation of the estate of author Enid Blyton.

Her book series have delighted successive generations of children and sold hundreds of millions of copies while regularly featuring in the top 10 list of the best-selling authors in the UK and, according to Unesco, she is the most translated children’s author in the world.

The licensing programme will launch next year and initially concentrate on The Famous Five, which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2017, using a style guide featuring the original illustrations by Eileen Soper.

Bulldog will then look to expand across The Secret Seven and other titles in the estate, as MD Rob Corney said: “Enid Blyton occupies a very special place in British culture and her work is familiar to millions, across all age groups. This gives us a very strong platform and we’re looking to develop ranges that appeal to adults who grew up with the books, as well as children discovering them for the first time.”

Katie Price, Licensing Director at The Hachette Children’s Group, added: “Working with Bulldog, we intend to extend the charm, friendliness and magic of Enid Blyton beyond her classic books to other licences.

“Next year’s 75th anniversary of The Famous Five provides the perfect moment for Bulldog to launch an initial range of nostalgia products for the adult gift market using Eileen Soper’s iconic artwork, which naturally lends itself to categories including vintage gifts, stationery, greetings cards, calendars and home wear.”

T: 020 8325 5455 www.bulldog-licensing.com

Taking the biscuit FOLLOWING on from the success of the Me To You brand within cakes and confectionery, Carte Blanche have added biscuits to their growing list of categories within the food and confectionery sector.

Lightbody Ventures, suppliers of sweet treats to retailers globally, are the latest partners to join the Me To You family, where they are celebrating 21 years of the brand and main character Tatty Teddy, and the first range of products will be available at selected retailers in the autumn.

T: 01243 792600 www.cbg.co.uk

Moomins move in BLUEPRINT Collections are producing stationery, gifts, and bags featuring the Moomins having recently been awarded the licence by UK licensing agents Caroline Mickler Ltd. Young adult women are the core market for the products featuring Moomintroll, Snorkmaiden, Snufkin, Little My and other inhabitants of Moominvalley. The range is expected to launch this summer at bookshops, stationery shops, major stores and online, having attracted strong retail interest when it was unveiled at Spring Fair.

Caroline said: “Stationery and gifts are important categories, but finding the right partner is even more important. This range has perfectly captured the appeal of Moomin in a selection of impressive diversity and high quality.”

T: 020 8392 2439 www.carolinemickler.co.uk

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

people news Two in a million THE ADULT colouring craze has helped Hallmark make their mark on the Prince’s Trust by winning the regional Million Makers challenge for the second year running.

The idea is for teams from companies across each region to turn the £1,500 seed fund from the trust into at least £10,000 profit by any – legal – means possible, including exclusive products, corporate events and charity runs.

The more than £14,000 raised by the Hallmark Million Makers’ Don’t Judge A Book

By Its Colours adult colouring book earned the Bradford-based team top spot in the Yorkshire & Humber region.

Centred on the uplifting and positive ethos of The Prince’s Trust, this colouring book saw quotes such as “live laugh love” and “you're kind of magical'” beautifully designed by Hallmark creatives into exclusive, motivational pages for people to colour, frame and share.

And all the cash raised helped take the national total to £1,154,256 which the Prince’s Trust will use to support 13-30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.

Hallmark Product Manager Emma Roberts said: “The Million Makers Challenge allowed us to develop new skills as individuals while at the same time raise money for a worthwhile cause. A win win all round!” ● LITTLE Ruben is no fool as he turned up exactly on time for Greetings Today columnist and sales agent Alina Clark.

Ruben bounced into the world on April 1, weighing a healthy 7lbs 10oz to the delight of Alina and her husband Vince, who live near York from where she covers the north-east as an independent sales agent.

“He's completely amazing and the best thing in the world,” Alina said, “all is well with us both. Ruben even arrived on his due date.”

Alina is taking a couple of months’ break from writing her column while she gets used to being a working mum, and she will be back with more tales about life on the road as a sales agent later in the year.

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● RUTH Leonard has moved on from Carte Blanche after four years as Director of Marketing and Director Of New Business Development, at the home of Tatty Teddy and the Me To You brand.

Ruth has joined PMS International as Head Of Brand & Licensing at the distributors and importers whose ranges includes toys, gifts, games and seasonal goods such as Christmas, Halloween and Mother’s Day. She said: “I've left Carte Blanche and new adventures await but 2016 is going to be a great year for the relaunch of Me To You and I look forward to seeing it unfold and all the hard work paying off.” ● THERE are new editors at Greetings Today’s sister magazines Party Party and Gifts Today. Former Daily Mirror 3am Girl Suzanne Kerins has taken the chair at Party Party, while Sarah Welsh is now looking after Gifts Today.

Suzanne (top) said: “Launched nearly 16 years ago, Party Party magazine has taken a little break – but is coming back bigger and better than ever.”

Sarah (bottom) said: “I’ve been a journalist for more than 15 years penning everything from hard-hitting news features to humorous first-person pieces for national newspapers, magazines and websites and I bring experience in commercial features and copywriting and PR to the Gifts Today team.”

Caroline Doyle T: 07812 746596 www.axisweb.org/p/carolinedoyle/#merchandise www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 11

meet the newbies Hobby becomes a proper job BASED on the outskirts of glorious Snowdonia in north-west Wales, Caryl Halstead launched her new publishers at this year’s Top Drawer Spring and is already planning her autumn-winter and Christmas collections to show at Home & Gift Harrogate.

Caryl’s own taste and style is pretty eclectic, and this shows through in her designs – pretty pastels and bold neons are mixed with elegant greys and silvers to create stunning cards.

Her path into the industry has been a little unusual: “My degree is in music, and my career was in TV but I’ve always been creative and have always one day wanted to turn my designing hobby into a proper job.

“I launched my previous company two years ago, mainly designing and creating wedding stationery, alongside freelancing in TV then decided just before Christmas that I would re-name, re-brand and move exclusively into greetings cards and paper goods.

“I’m now working for the company full time as it will enable me to grow and scale the business – it really is a dream come true as most of the time, it doesn’t feel like work.”

She is currently speaking to agents to work on her behalf and has already exported to Hong Kong: “Working with agents will enable our cards

to be available throughout the country, a prospect which I’m extremely excited about – the fact they’re now available to buy in Hong Kong shops is pretty thrilling too.”

T: 07890 265172 www.carylhalstead.com

Coasting to new venture AFTER extensive research and retailer trials the team at Aurora Digital Print have launched a new and exciting retail division, Crakel Cards & Gifts, and taken on staff from the greetings card industry to manage the launch into the Independent retail sector.

Since setting up the new division in February, they have produced and launched a number of product concepts that have been well received by independent retailers.

Production director Craig McCall came up with the idea of fusing a greetings card and textile coaster into a new gift card offering.

The caption printed on the coaster is replicated on the front of the card in a range encompassing humour, local phrases, ages, personalised to areas or towns, and fantastic wildlife from the artist Jina Gelder.

They also have a football range putting iconic images of stadia from the air on to a number of substrates including brushed metal London-style street signs and lightweight acrylic glass-effect wall art.

There is a traditional card offering that can be personalised to town or place and the Crakel Exclusive range of hand-finished premium everyday cards.

All items are produced in-house and hand-finished and every order is produced bespoke with reduced pack sizes to enable customers to get a feel for the demand of the products without a large initial cashflow investment.

Partner Lee Nelson said: “We’ve received glowing feedback that we are bringing value, quality and innovation into the industry and we recently agreed for two agents to come on board – but we’re still a bit of a secret when it comes to customer awareness.”

T: 0191 214 6474 www.crakel.co.uk

NEW MEMBERS LOUISE MULGREW DESIGNS Louise Mulgrew louisev.mulgrew@sky.com www.louisemulgrew.com 07810 304414

Doing something right BRINGING traditional verse cards into the 21st century was Lindsay Randall’s idea behind The Right Lines, and she’s debuting at PG Live this month.

Lindsay said: “I started The Right Lines because I felt there was a gap in the market to add a contemporary feel to those traditional pastel illustrated verse cards my granny loved to buy.

“The gesture of sending a card is something we all love to do, but so many of us struggle with what to write – the idea for The Right Lines is to help put your sentiments into words. “Many of my customers say the cards are absolutely spot on and it’s as if I read their mind.

“In a world where we’re often forced to express ourselves in less than 140 characters, I feel passionate about retaining a place for well-written verse and sentiment which will bring a smile to someone’s face.”

There are four ranges – Birthdays, Occasions, Sentiments and Christmas, with many lines available in several colourways – and are already available in several independent retailers throughout the UK including the gift shop on the Queen’s Sandringham Estate.

T: 07989 414567 www.therightlines.co.uk

12 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

KAPELKI ART LTD 19 Diamond Court Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DU Galina Pagliaro info@kapelkiart.co.uk www.kapelkiart.co.uk 07761 778144 THE GRUMBLE & CO Nicholas Child hello@thegrumbleandco.com www.facebook.com/ thegrumbleandco/ 07712 639416 SPECIAL TOUCH DESIGNS Georgina Fihosy info@specialtouchdesigns.com 07984 652962 Facebook Twitter ART WORKS 259 Britannia Road, Ipswich, East of England, IP4 5HF, United Kingdom Adam Randall look@artworks.co.com www.artworks.co.com 01473 728162 or 07711 677844 MAX MADE ME DO IT Carol Maxwell info@maxmademedoit.com www.maxmademedoit.com 07970 427279

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COVERSTORY

Paw-some pals

Licensed product specialists Danilo are known for marshalling up great guests and chasing them along to their PG Live stand – and they also have dream boy Justin Bieber on board and will be revealing their latest coup.

K

NOWN for bringing great visitors tp PG Live, this year will be no exception for Danilo when they will have Paw-some pals Chase and Marshall on their stand at the specialist greetings trade fair.

‘

Mystery new exciting card range g coming

’

The stars of Paw Patrol have helped the TV show become the leading pre-school property so, of course, the leading licensed card and calendar publishers have the brand in their stable.

Cards, wrap, calendars and bags will all be on show on the Danilo stand, with visits from Chase and Marshall at regular intervals throughout the opening day, Tuesday, May 10.

Danilo are also looking forward to launching a mixture of brand-new official ranges and updates on existing popular collections at PG Live.

MYSTERY NEW EXCITING CARD RANGE COMING Pop along to stand 513 find out what it is!

JUSTIN BIEBER In conjunction with Bravado, this range consists of a variety of different captions such as Daughter, Sister, Granddaughter, Niece and Birthday Girl plus general birthday, fold-out, sticker and key age cards – 13, 16,18, 21.

These will be going into major retailers and grocers from June. The gift wrap and medium and small bags will be available in July.

Justin has had an unbelievable last 12 months, when he became the first artist since The Beatles to replace himself as No1.

His single What Do You Mean went to No1 in 27 territories, with Purpose breaking the global record for the most streams – 205million – for an album in its first week of release.

Justin has also become the first artist to hold the top three spots in the UK singles chart and fans will be able to see the man himself later this year when he plays 16 dates in Britain.

THE BEANO Danilo are launching a retro classic card range which includes higher age, blanks and general birthday cards.

14 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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COVERSTORY

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS This movie is eagerly anticipated to be this summer’s big blockbuster from Universal, the creators of Despicable Me. Danilo will be including blank, relation, general and ages five to eight card designs as well as flatwrap, rollwrap and gift bags.

GHOSTBUSTERS Gearing up for the new movie being released in July, Danilo will be publishing cards with designs based on the original look from 1984 for a classic retro appeal as well as newer designs for the upcoming film.

SHOPKINS Currently the hottest girl brand of 2016, Shopkins has been a massive success in all product areas, especially toys.

A full range of everyday cards has already gone into stores and Danilo will have a Christmas range later in 2016, as well as more Shopkins two-sheet two-tag gift wrap packs, rollwrap and gift bags available

MY LITTLE PONY Back in fashion, and as popular as ever with girls, Danilo have extended the Christmas range for 2016 and will also be launching birthday card and gift wrap refreshes at PG Live.

DESPICABLE ME/MINIONS Following on from the huge success of this brand in 2015, Danilo will be updating the range and adding new designs and captions.

Also, with the Minions 10-minute mini-movie Mower Madness to be shown in cinemas when new film the Secret Life Of Pets hits screens in June, there will be extra impetus for both licences.

PG Live Stand 513 – T: 01992 702900 www.danilo.com

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 15

ON THE SHOP FRONT

VIEWPOINT FROM VIEW AN IN INDEPENDENT

● Old school – Calliope stick with the tried and tested method of having customers walk through the shop to find what they need

The

final frontier As they say on Star Trek, space is the final frontier even with retailers and Philip Downer examines how to make each square foot work the hardest.

F

OR ANY retailer, space is always the final frontier – even if you have the elastic walls conferred by the internet, you’re always constrained by the need to make it as straightforward as possible for customers to find their ideal product.

How much are you able to present to the browsing customer with their short attention span and myriad of other worries?

In a bricks and mortar store, there’s a constant challenge in getting the most efficient use out of the few hundred square feet at our disposal.

A major element of this quandary is balancing the needs of one part of your range with another.

This applies to pure-play card shops, but even more so to broader businesses where cards play a major part.

At Calliope, we run gift shops with homewares, toys, books and fashion accessories all fundamental to our mix. Bags, board games and draught excluders all gobble up sales floor space – but our key traffic driver is our greetings card selection.

This accounts for a very sizeable percentage of total unit sales and, despite our broad range, it’s often the search for just the right card that brings customers into our shops in the first place, and then exposes them to the rest of our irresistible selection of good things.

Once they have a card in their hand, they can relax, primary mission accomplished, before setting about browsing and buying from the rest of the range.

We are old-school retailers; we know that supermarkets place staples like bread, sugar or milk towards the rear corners of their shops, ensuring their placement exposess ts customers to plenty of other treats en route to their destination.

So, greetings cards belong at the back of Calliope, necessarily in quite a tight space – six to seven metres is as much as we can allow for cards so every pocket has to work hard for its money.

Our approach, therefore, is different to a cards-only shop, where bays and drops can be devoted to specific series or themes.

Where a card shop might have a dozen facings of Wrendale animals or Banksy images, we have to settle for a couple of pockets, carrying as broad a range as the specialist, but in a capsule space. This means a maximum of two copies of any card on display, with most blanks restricted to a single appearance.

Naturally, there’s much debate in the Calliope team – never satisfactorily resolved – about the most appropriate way to display certain themes.

All cats together? Or all pictorial types, fine art, photography, historical, together separately, with cats scattered through them?

There is no definite answer, but we do encourage each of the stores to test different approaches, and share their successes with the rest of the business through our Team Calliope WhatsApp group.

‘

Supermarkets S place staples to the rear, exposing customers to plenty of other treatss

Philip Downer Is MD of Calliope Gifts, owner of Front Of Store retail consultancy, an experienced public speaker and the former CEO of Borders bookstores.

T: 01306 889914 www.calliopegifts.co.uk

16 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

The result is a very dense display that repays careful browsing. We have a great many regulars who get to know the sorts of cards we carry, and the locations where they might find them – but it’s essential that our staff are alert to any customer looking lost or helpless.

Somewhere here is the ideal card to celebrate passing a driving test, or the perfect image for a golf fanatic, and we can take the customer straight to them.

Whatever we’re doing works though, as we sell many thousands of cards every month from our three shops.

This wouldn’t be possible without a decent inventory management system – thank you, Intelligent Retail – which ensures that, although the bulk of the stock is kept in drawers, no single design is off sale for more than a few hours.

A by-sku sales report from the previous day enables us to quickly replenish everything that’s sold, and to rebalance stock between branches if necessary. It also means staff can look up cards by supplier, product code, event, or design theme, so that identifying and confirming an individual card is an easy task; and it’s a valuable tool for supporting the team’s product knowledge.

If we get the replenishment right, first thing in the morning, then the rest of the day can be devoted to customer service and the hundred other tasks running an independent business necessitates!

Of course, then a big event like Father’s Day comes along – but that’s a tale for another day.

’

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JOHN RYAN RETAIL ENVIRONMENT

W

HY DO so many independent card retailers look such a mess? Walking into a fairly large example of one of these in a north Dorset town recently served to make the point.

In the window there were no cards, but there was an inflatable character from Star Wars that could be won – a handwritten sign urged the curious to “ask inside for details”.

This was crammed cheek-by-jowl with balloons with numbers on them, boxes of chocolates and furry toys, among many other things. This was, in short, a display where the object seemed to be to put as much as possible into the available space.

Stepping inside, it was pretty clear that the same mission that informed the window merchandising had been applied to the interior.

The first things that were evident were the traditional perimeter wall of cards on the lefthand side, stretching away into the distance, with boxes of Thorntons chocolates on the right.

Nothing wrong with Thorntons perhaps, unless you’re a fan of Hotel Chocolat, but no matter.

The real point was that the cards played second fiddle to almost everything else, which had all been bought to the fore to overpower them at the front of this long, deep shop.

And actually there was little wrong with the selection of cards when customers finally reached them but. compared to one of the big chains, think Scribbler or Paperchase, this interior was both confusing and uninviting.

Not everything can be a bestseller but, to judge from the way in which this store had

‘

Grocers show way There’s more to good card retailing than getting stock out. John Ryan examines how a supermarket is showing what’s possible.

● Party time – Morrisons’ new shop-in-shop

treated their products, there was nothing that wasn’t worth cramming into the area at the front.

This is fine if you have a lot of time to browse, not so much if you’re in a hurry, which most ggreetings card shoppers are.

Now take a look at what can be done when a little thought and attention are applied.

A trip to north-west London this time, to Colindale, where supermarket Morrisons have just opened one of their big box outlets. Nothing too unusual in tthat perhaps but, stepping into the sstore, the first thing the shopper encounters is a party zone.

This is a new venture that you immediately know what it is because of the two sparkly signs saying “party” in a square space that functions

The lesson T provided by Morrisons is instructive e

’

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 www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

as a semi-discrete shop-in-shop. It has two perimeter walls but is otherwise completely open presenting shoppers with everything they might need to celebrate an event – from greetings cards arranged along the back wall and not tiered, to cupcakes and champagne.

Like any greetings retailer, there’s a cash desk in the space so, with the ease of selection, this is a pretty good one-stop party shop.

Nothing in this party store is given primacy over anything else, it all looks fun and it’s pretty hard to resist taking a look around, owing to some deft merchandising and display.

This, then, is why some indy retailers don’t do as well as they feel they deserve to – there are others who are colonising their category and doing things better.

Having the right thing in the right place will never be enough, a critical and objective appraisal of what you’re doing is needed if your business is to flourish and there’s more to this than just thinking the job is done when the shelves are filled.

Take a trip to Colindale if you’re in London.

You may not like everything about the place, but the lesson provided by Morrisons is instructive.

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 17

RETAIL ADVICE WITH HENRI DAVIS

S

PRING seasons are well and truly over – with Easter having fallen in March this year each of the three big events seem to have come good fairly late and then traded well right up to the final minutes.

Overall feedback seems to be good with many retailers suggesting that Mother’s Day is growing in importance in relation to Valentine’s Day so I think it’s fair to say it has been a good start to the year.

For me this is the time of year it really gets interesting as most of those early season cards were probably ordered before Christmas.

Now we start to see the new lines ordered from Top Drawer and Spring Fair arriving in the shops as retailers begin to expand their everyday and occasions ranges into their full space until Father’s Day comes along – and because of Easter being so early this is a significantly longer period than normal this year.

In terms of blank and birthday cards there are plenty of new publishers whose ranges I’m hoping to see in my local card shops from a cross section of genres.

We have so many card publishers producing great cards already but I still marvel at the originality we see from them and many of the new ones who come through each year – I have no idea where they get their inspiration from!

I love humorous cards, the rude ones that shock you, the quirky designs and the cuter softer sort that make you go ahhh, and there’s potentially room for them all in your shop depending on your mix of customers.

There were so many good ranges available this year that retailers are going to need to be really focussed to ensure they chose cards their customers will want rather than being tempted by what they themselves like, which is always a danger for a buyer.

Plenty stood out for me for all sorts of reasons so here’s a really broad cross-section to show just how diverse the options are, from the fun of the adventures of Jess’s Paperclip Penguin (left) to the observational quirky humour in A Made Hand’s The Enthusiasts range (right) and on to the very loud and colourful images from Mark Cowie (top right).

When I’m looking for cards with the fun factor I always check out Wrendale’s new Country Set designs as they’re beautifully illustrated and the characterisation

‘

Now spring is here It’s an interesting time of year for Henri Davis as she loves seeing the new lines ordered at the first shows coming through on to the shelves and always marvels at the ingenuity on offer.

Retailers need to be really focussed chose cards their customers will want

gives you a really warm feeling without being sugary sweet. As a buyer you know they will be popular with shoppers and will sell extremely well, often several at a time, and Hannah Dale’s new designs are as enchanting as ever.

In terms of design and colour I like Sian Elin Thomas, who has produced a lovely range of strongly patterned cards which are well executed, using crisp graphics and fresh colours to create an eyecatching new range (right).

I do love Roisin Cafferty’s work and, (right) yet again, she has surprised me with her lovely Watercolour range which is very distinctive and really broadens her offer with a stylish simplicity which uses simple graphic icons, strong colours and clear type on a lovely quality of board to create a strong occasions range.

As we come to April and May, occasions also become important with wedding and anniversary needing to be represented in more depth as the wedding season approaches.

There are some wonderful handmade, hand-finished and beautifully detailed ranges around that really lend themselves to these special occasions.

I have several special events coming up this year and I’m hoping I can find cards from some of my favourite publishers such

’

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

18 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

as Belly Button Designs and Caroline Gardner to buy.

One of the stand-out ranges for me this wedding season is the striking Tahiti from Blue Eyed Sun which uses strong rich colours, picking up on the current tropical trend, with flamboyant lettering and hand-applied jewels all of which give the designs a really sumptuous and extravagant feel (right).

I love special occasion cards for children as they can be truly delicate and beautiful and there are some lovely ones this year for new babies and their christenings.

This spring I saw a very different approach from Bexy Boo called Stick Chicks, where she uses bright bold fashionable prints to create some fun images which made me smile (right).

Age cards for adults are a many and varied thing, some humorous, some rude, some just plain boring but I really like the understated style of the new Copper Plated range from Caroline Gardner which uses strong colours combined with foiled icons and surface patterns to create a striking backdrop for the numerals as shown here (right).

And before we know it we will be exam time and we will need good luck cards, surface pattern and textile design specialist Jessica Hogarth has a new range out this spring called Sparkle which uses brightly coloured foils to enhance the designs so they will really pop out on the retailer’s display (right).

Oh, and guess what, then it’ll be Father’s Day and so another year whizzes by!

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TALKOFTHETOWN

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

James Newman, Jems Stationers, Market Place, Brackley, Northants In a nutshell, what’s the story behind your store?

We’ve been going about 20 years or so, my dad Roy used to own the business before I took over about 3½ years ago. It used to be a newsagents and general stores and the guy who owned the building turned it into a stationers and ran it for about a year, then my father bought it. I think we’re one of the oldest ones in Brackley now – and we’re also Cardgains members.

‘

Are you going to attend PG Live and/or Pulse – if so, what will you be looking for on the greetings card front particularly, and why do you like the show(s)?

I’m not planning to go to the shows at the moment. We usually go to Spring Fair each February because that’s the big show, and then every other year go to PG Live, so it’s not in my plans at the moment.

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

The cards that probably sell the best are the Noel

Tatt ranges, there the ones that go very well. We go through so many of them. We have a very wide selection of about 15 different publishers, from the 99p cards by Second Nature up to Talking Pictures cards which also do well for us. Noel Tatt are the ones we spend the most on though, and I do see their reps quite often to restock.

From a business point of view, do you think the UK should stay in the EU or leave?

I think we should stay in, that’s how my view is looking at the moment. I think we’ll lose quite a lot of money if we leave, and it will be difficult, so it’s best to stay in.

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

Ideally we’d make the shop bigger!

We’re an old-fashioned stationers and cram everything in every corner of the shop. I wouldn’t want to change it too much because we’re one of the old-fashioned traditional shops which is quite different these days. I wouldn’t want to modernise it too much as it would lose the charm of the place. But we’d like to make it bigger one day.

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

I’m split between Noel Tatt, Talking Pictures and Paper Rose, I think they’re the nicest.

’

Sarah March, The Gorgeous Gift & Card Company, The Saxon Centre, Biggleswade, Beds

‘

In a nutshell, what’s the story behind your store?

I opened my shop in 2007 after working as a gift buyer in garden centres for the previous 10 years.

Having always wanted a shop of my own – when I was young I actually wanted a cake shop – I decided to open the store and, within two weeks of talking to the landlords, I managed to shopfit and stock it ready to open at the beginning of December. Cards were originally a small part of the shop plan but, as I got busier, it was obvious that customers were wanting me to stock more cards. So what started out as a couple spinners and 1.2m of card racking is now several spinners and about 20m of cards, and I’m a member of Cardgains! In 2014 I decided to take down a wall to what was a large stock room, and incorporated it into the shop floor. I replaced gift shelving, and it has some new card racks, new Karndean floor and gave me a bigger floor space – which didn’t take long to fill as my shop is always well stocked!

Are you going to attend PG Live and/or Pulse – if so, what will you be looking for on the greetings card front particularly, and why do you like the show(s)?

I was going to go, and might still do, but I am so well stocked at the moment that I really don’t have any room for new suppliers.

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

I’ve already spent a lot on shopfitting, so all that I can improve on now, is a bigger space.

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

I think one from Blue Eyed Sun or Five Dollar Shake as I prefer pretty cards rather than humour.

’

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

Humour from Paper link and Pigment always sell well for me, along with Talking Pictures for handmade. We have hundreds of designs for all occaisions, even the more unusual ones.

Handmade, photographic, humour, wordy to name a few.

From a business point of view, do you think the UK should stay in the EU or leave?

I think the economy will take a beating initially if we leave, which will not be good for sales – I admit I’m not good at following the news as I’m too busy running a business!

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 19

Birthday bonanza

PGLIVEPREVIEW

● Art Works

This year sees the biggest edition yet of the specialist UK show for the greetings industry with exhibitors marking numerous anniversaries as well as Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday – and there are plenty of incentives for buyers as well as new launches galore.

T

HERE’S a birthday bonanza going on at PG Live with at least five exhibitors celebrating special anniversaries – and, of course, the show will be marking The Queen’s 90th milestone.

At the Business Design Centre in London On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10-11, Carte Blanche will be going all out to celebrate the 21st anniversary of their Me To You brand, while Abacus Cards are marking their 25th anniversary by running a special lucky dip prize draw planned for all customers who place an order at the show with them or sister company Clare Maddicott.

Nigel Quiney are highlighting a decade of awardwinning design from their Pizazz range, Wendy Jones-Blackett celebrates 20 years in business this year, and printers The Sherwood Press hit the big 4-0 for their work in the greetings card business.

Plus there will be some very special surprises for Her Majesty, who turned 90 on April 21, with her official birthday this year on June 11, marked by the Trooping The Colour ceremony.

The Greeting Card Association stand will have a display of specially designed cards for the Queen, including Leo The Corgi’s version from Art Works’ temporarily renamed It’s A Ma’am’s World range, which will be sent to Buckingham Palace after the show.

Thousands of new lines will be launched at the eighth PG Live show, which is officially sold out and the biggest yet, with more than 250 publishers, artists, designers and industry suppliers expected to exhibit at the UK’s only specialist trade show for the greetings industry, including 120 in the Springboard section for up-and-coming card companies.

With the year moving on, Jonny Javelin MD Jonny Spears said: “It seems only a few weeks since Spring Fair and yet here we are with PG Live looming up fast.

“Time just seems to whizz past, my hair goes greyer and my eight-year old son can out-sprint me now. It’s not good signs.

“We brought so much out for January and Spring

‘

Fair, that we’ve just been consolidating really and converting new product into strong sales.

“These past three months have been fantastic in terms of new business and we’re really doing well.”

There’s some great new product to be unveiled from established publishers such as Mint Publishing, Danilo, Real & Exciting Designs, Wendy Jones-Blackett, The Art File, Abacus, Cinnamon Aitch, Gemma, Redback Cards, Jonny Javelin, Davora, Simon Elvin, and Cath Tate, while UK Greetings are unveiling their relaunch of the oh-so-cute Boofle – all of which you can read about in more detail on the following pages.

And there are plenty of smaller and up-andcoming publishers with lots to show off, including Meany-bo-Beany, JellynBean, The Original Coaster Card Co, Need A Holiday?, Art Works, I Like Birds, Dry Red Press and Paper Bird.

In a one-stop shop for a greetings retailer looking to enhance their product offer, Amscan are exhibiting their balloons and partyware, while publishers have the chance to look around too with specialist printers like The Imaging Centre and paper merchants GF Smith taking the opportunity to talk about their services.

For the first time this year there will be a demonstration area run by Pioneer Europe that’s great for those interested in learning more about making the most of balloons at retail.

There are stacks of incentives for buyers to take advantage of at the event, with carriage paid offers and show discounts abounding and the famous PG Live hospitality is as important as every with free tea and coffee throughout, complimentary lunch on both days, and the opening night party.

The drinks will be on Tatty Teddy this year as Carte Blanche are sponsoring the lunch room and party as part of the Me To You 21st birthday celebrations, while The Imaging Centre and GF Smith are again sponsoring the Springboard Lounge.

A one-stop shop for a greetings retailer looking to enhance their product offer

20 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

’

T: 01635 297070 www.progressivegreetingslive.com

s – Cath ● All smile Tate Cards

What The Retailers Say “I’m probably going to both Pulse and PG Live this year. I’m looking for marvellous top-selling product of course! I don’t go to PG every year but I do generally go to Pulse pretty much every year, PG more intermittently. I’m planning to go this year because I feel we need to freshen up the stock.”

Peter Hingston, Talents, Saffron Walden “Calliope always make time for PG Live – it’s a great opportunity to see what’s new from our established suppliers, and particularly to check out the innovative Springboard hall. The size and location are ideal for a day that is exhaustive without being exhausting.”

Philip Downer, MD, Calliope Gifts “I’m looking forward to PG Live, it’s a great show.

As a buyer of cards, and we sell a lot, I always want originality, handmade and men’s cards. How hard is it to find a really nice hand-crafted male card!

We can’t possibly compete with the might of the supermarkets and garden centres, who have all jumped on the supposedly hand-made card market, so I aim for individuals that have that wow and ooh factor. Our customers have come to expect an original card, one that no one else has chosen, and will take pride of place on the mantelpiece. I do like to support British craft makers too. Therefore, I will look for more embellished cards, ones that perhaps have a recycle factor. I’m also finding that a good illustrated card which draws a customer’s attention, will be bought and framed.”

Caron Naylor, The Gift House, Blacker Hall Farm

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INTRODUCING

A NEW COLLECTION OF 9 DESIGNS

PG LIVE STAND 200 LONDON 10/11 MAY 2016 0115 850 7490 SALES@THEARTFILE.COM WWW.THEARTFILE.COM

PGLIVEPREVIEW

● Drumming up business – Davora’s Raj Arora and drummers celebrate at the 2015 show

PG LIVE EXHIBITORS’ LIST A Made Hand – 338 Abacus Cards – 300 The Alternative Image Co – 335 Amscan International – 428 Antalis – 324 The Art File – 200 Arthouse Meath – 242 Artige – 330 ArtPress – 306 Belly Button Design – 316 BGC Studios – 222 BIRA Direct – 540 Blue Eyed Sun – 524 Brainbox Candy – 334 CardMix – 211 Cardooo – 305 Carte Blanche Group – 122 Cath Tate Cards – 307 Cinnamon Aitch – 231 Claire Louise – 120 Claire Maddicott – 300 Creative Party – 237 Danilo Promotions – 513 Davora – 521 Dean Morris Cards – 438 – Dry Red Press – 340 Emotional Rescue – 412 Enveco – 519 Ezen Designs – 518 Fancy Gift – 506 – Fedrigoni – 542 Five Dollar Shake – 425 GF Smith – 670/672 Gemma – 400 Giftwrap UK – 232 – Glick – 312 Graphite Creative – 508 Grass Roots International – 503 The Great British Card Co – 529 Half Moon Bay – 539 Hallmark Cards – 416 Hallmark Fragrance – 436 Hammond Gower – 505 HartDeco – 153

Hearts Designs – 534 Heritage Art & Design/Warner Textile – 228

Holy Mackerel – 435 Hotchpotch – 122 Icon Art – 208 Iggesund Paperboard – 339 The Imaging Centre – 659 Intelligent Retail – 431 International Card & Gifts – 303 Jack Sayers Products – 331 NEW Janie Wilson – 236 Jonny Javelin Card Co – 526 KoKo Designs – 520 Lagom Design – 502 Lasercraft – 535 Laura Sherratt Designs – 405 Louise Tiler Designs – 536 Loxleys – 538 Lucilla Lavender – 531 Mask-arade – 439 Mint Publishing – 217 Museums & Galleries – 218 Nigel Quiney – 221 Noel Tatt – 301 Odey Designs – 318 Paper Art Viet– 533 Paper Rose – 325 Paper Salad– 207 Paperlink – 201 Peartree Heybridge – 407 Penny Kennedy / Black Olive – 121 Pigment Productions – 313 Pioneer Europe – 229 NEW Pocket Typewriter – 501 Popshots Studios – 244 Portfolio – 321 POT – 329 Precious Cards – 541 NEW Pyramid Posters – 527 Quitting Hollywood – 326 Real & Exciting Designs – 219 Really Good – 320 Redback Cards – 421 Regent Envelopes – 226

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Roisin Cafferty – 504 NEW Roy Lowe & Sons – 310 Ruth Jackson – 319 Saffron Cards & Gifts – 204 Second Nature – 117/118 Sensations International – 417 The Sherwood Group – 429 Simon Elvin – 424 Solutions Polska – 445 Sooshichacha – 328 Soul – 320 Space Hippo – 241 NEW Star Editions – 406 Stephanie Dyment – 430 NEW Stop The Clock Design – 337 NEW Tallon International – 227 Tracks Publishing – 401 U Studio Design – 205 NEW UK Greetings – 240 Unique Paper– 220 Vivid Wrap – 413 Wendy Jones Blackett – 235 Whale and Bird – 500 Wishing Well – 122 Woodmansterne Publications – 317 Words ’n’ Wishes – 225 NEW Wrapid Manufacturing – 530 Xystos – 523 ZiZi – 517 SPRINGBOARD 1790 Cards – 663 Aardvark Press – 675 Algan Arts – 685 Alljoy Design – 770 Allport Editions – 760 Always Sparkle – 748 Amanda White Design – 721 NEW Angie Beal Designs – 728 Anna Wright – 655 NEW Bexy Boo – 704 Blumoose – 682 Bombus – 762 Bonnie Blackbird – 95 NEW

Box Room Press – 654 NEW Card Crazy – 746 Catherine Kleeli– 797 Charlee – 818 NEW Charlie Foxtrot – 772 Chocogreetings – 678 NEW Clear Creations – 114 Corrina Rothwell – 94 Coulson Macleod – 112 Dandelion Stationery – 822 Deckled Edge – 85 Deepmere – 681 Designed By Mrs Lovesy – 738 The DM Collection – 786 Doubleyeah Design – 800 Earlybird Designs – 111 Elaara Islamic Greeting Cards – 653 NEW

Eleanor Stuart – 780 Eloise Hall – 84 Elspeth Thomson – 714 Fitzwilliam Museum – 91 Frankie Whistle – 109 Frillybee – 764 Georgia Breeze Designs – 768 Go La La! – 679 Graffeg – 792 NEW The Grumble & Co – 742 NEW Heidi Made This – 656 NEW Hoppy Bunnies – 687 NEW House Of Home – 787 I Drew This – 87 I Ended Up Here – 754 NEW I Like Birds – 86 Image Plus – 830 Iona Cards – 657 IvoryMint – 832 Jelly Armchair – 677 JellynBean – 826 NEW Jemma Banks Design – 844 NEW Jessica Hogarth Designs – 105 Jo Clark Design – 683 NEW Jolly Awesome – 102 NEW Jolly Jester Press – 766 NEW K-Art by Kim – 684

Kali Stileman – 98 Kate Guest – 720 NEW Keyhole Collection – 784 Little Difference – 722 NEW The Little Bells – 824 Lola Design – 836 NEW Lorraine Stylianou – 660 Louise Tate Illustration – 798 NEW Louise Wright Designs – 781 Love Candy Designs – 712 NEW Lucy Ledger – 809 NEW Lucy Truman Illustration – 838 NEW Made By Man – 664 NEW Manic Minotaur – 666 NEW Marina B Designs – 661 Max Made Me Do It – 702 NEW Meany-bo-Beany – 794 NEW Megan Claire – 788 Memelou Designs – 790 Meraki – 668 Miko Greetings – 737 Modern Toss – 673 NEW Munkychip – 810 NEW Need A Holiday? – 658 NEW Objectables – 726 Oi Doris Typewriter Art – 103 NEW Old English– 834 NEW Olive & Belle – 782 NEW The Original Coaster Card Co – 665 NEW

OriginaliArt – 808 NEW Paper Bird Publishing – 88 Paperclip Penguin – 724 Pink Pig – 97 Pippi & Me – 776 Popzle – 799 The Porch Fairies – 842 NEW Proud Couture – 710 Recards – 676 NEW Red Berry Cards – 700 Redrakoon – 846 NEW The Right Lines – 680 NEW Rocket 68 – 708 Rose Hill Designs – 662 Rosie Lox By Leona – 840 NEW

Rose Jocham – 758 Rosie Made a Thing – 716 NEW Rush Design – 706 Sabivo Design – 756 NEW Sally Scaffardi Design – 115 NEW Sarah Kelleher – 92 Scott & Robson Designs – 802 NEW Sian Elin Cards – 740 NEW Stardust Greetings – 750 Stormy Knight – 814 NEW Stripey Cats – 732 NEW Studio Seed – 806 Supa Dupa Designs – 738 Tache Crafts – 89 Tangoo – 730 NEW Tillovision – 100 Toffee Nose Designs – 723 NEW Two Beans – 804 Two Scoops – 828 Vash Designs – 744 NEW Veronica Dearly – 652 Vintage Playing Cards – 796 The White Sage Way – 736 NEW Woollytales – 820 NEW Wraptious – 774 YTR Design – 812 ARTISTS’ QUARTER Alff A Bet – 162 NEW Amy Charlotte – 156 NEW Art Works – 168 NEW Bright Art Licensing – 148 Christine McHugh – 154 David Lyon Art – 160 Jonathan Glick Designs – 150 Mary Fellows – 164 NEW MIC – 144 Pallavi Prakash – 158 Poppy Treffry – 170 NEW Ruth Martin – 166 NEW Supercat – 138 Toby Tiger – 132 NEW Yellow House Art Licensing – 136

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See our Retail Balloon concept & Party Essentials range!

Amscan has a stunning variety of balloons and partyware for any occasion to complement your product offering.

Designs include licensed options from popular properties such as Star Wars, Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol and many more.

Come Co om me e & see ee e us at a

Come and see us on stand 428 to see some of our latest ranges and discover more about our extensive collection.

Stand 428 TEL: +44 (0)1908 288 500 E-MAIL: sales@amscan-uk.co.uk WEB: www.amscan.co.uk ŠAmscan 2016, ŠAnagram 2016 All rights reserved

PGLIVEPREVIEW

is simples!

● Simple process – Simplicity test publishers Pink Pig, Rocket 68 and Eloise Hall are shown around The Imaging Centre’s Kent base

DIGITAL print specialists The Imaging Centre are on a mission to change and improve the way the greetings card industry get their new product to market – and allow designers to concentrate on what they do best.

And the intelligent but simple software solution – called Simplicity – is being fully unveiled at PG Live as the culmination of a two-year process in which they have invested more than £1.5million in the programme and improvements to production in preparation for the new service.

Having dealt with more than 1,500 publishers in the last 12 months, printing over eight million cards, the challenge has been to allow The Imaging Centre’s customers to offer a better on-demand service to their clients.

Sales manager Adam Short said: “We’re bringing the digital printing of greetings cards into the digital age.

“Lots of our customers give us feedback and many say they got in to greetings cards because they wanted to design but they find far too much of their time is spent doing anything but designing – we’ve been working on how we can help with this for a long time and feel that Simplicity will do that.”

IC Simplicity is the trademarked name for the bespoke online web-to-print service, which will enable The Imaging Centre to do this.

Adam added: “People can be anywhere in the world, on their laptop, tablet, or smartphone and place an order. It sounds like any other online ordering system but what makes Simplicity different is that the software takes what the client is seeing on screen, automatically gets it ready for printing and sends it direct to our press.

“Trials with customers have cut delivery time in half while improving the quality of the delivered items – our right-first-time level is at 99.9 per cent with Simplicity.

“Through customer feedback we know that the market is changing – more designs are wanted more often and more quickly. Simplicity solves this. A full catalogue of designs can be uploaded, updated and amended at any time to give our customer a complete control of their designs and order on demand."

One advantage of the system is that when publishers take an order from a retailer at a trade show like PG Live, they can immediately place it with the Imaging Centre and know the cards are being printed instead of having to wait until the fair is over to collate all orders.

And the software can learn from the client to offer other services, as Adam explained: “The more our customers use the software, the more information it gathers. This can help our customer make important business decisions based on facts.

“The software can then create their marketing campaigns. So if they are exhibiting at a show and want to target specific customers to let them know, we can choose their most popular design using the analytics, personalise it for each customer and send that card direct to all the people that it needs to go to.”

Simplicity will be launched at this year’s PG Live on May 10 where The Imaging Centre will have a demo site on their stand – to find out more pop along and have a chat with one of the team.

Stand 659 – T: 01622 871449 www.theimagingcentre.co.uk

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Come and see our exciting new brands on stand 400

CARDS • WRAP • PARTY t: +44 (0)1264 388400 e: enquiries@gemma-international.co.uk w: gemma-international.co.uk For wholesale enquiries contact Samantha Strong at samantha.strong@gemma-international.co.uk

PGLIVEPREVIEW

Booftastic relaunch MADE from 100 per cent love and cuddles, lots of wool and a little button, Boofle is all that a snugglesome pup should be.

And this June Boofle is stepping into the spotlight to become the star of cute greetings once more as UK Greetings give him a booftastic relaunch!

With a complete makeover, his brand-new look strikes the perfect blend between pretty colour palettes and delicate patterns but with Boofle’s quirky yet loveable personality at the heart of every design.

Much of the new content is culturally relevant with him posing for a selfie for Instagram and touching on popular topics such as the Great British Bake Off.

There are 64 brand-new birthday and friendship designs and the new look will feature in key captions too with the latest designs are available to all UKG customers and can be ordered from June 2016.

Boofle’s popularity has grown considerably since his original debut on the High Street, consumers interact with him across a number of touch points, in store, online and on social media so, to coincide with the product launch, Boofle’s website will get a complete makeover too.

Boofle stockists will also be taken care of as they’ll be offered a comprehensive branded PoS package.

T: 01924 465200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk

Welcome sunshine – and a secret FROM LA to Devon, Simpsons’ animator Liz Climo is bringing some most welcome sunshine into our lives as Redback launched this adorable range in January to a hugely positive response and now have a further 20 new designs to present at PG Live.

The little world of Liz features animals in conversation about their awkward everyday lives and her heartfelt observational humour is sure to raise a smile.

26 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

They love these 120x170mm cards, printed in the UK and cello-wrapped with a grey envelope, at Redback and think you might just too.

Redback will also be launching something shiny and new – quite literally – at PG Live but it’s still top secret for now. So watch this space and pop along for a visit at the show.

Stand 421 - T: 0845 257 0455 www.redbackcards.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

PGLIVEPREVIEW

Partying is just essential PARTY product suppliers Amscan International are returning to PG Live again this year and will display an exciting variety of new products including their versatile Party Essentials collection.

The range includes core items for any party including banners, badges, candles, confetti and latex balloons which can be merchandised effectively to fit virtually any retail space.

There is coordinated packing for great stand-out in store and POS material is also available.

Visitors can expect to see an assortment of new licensed party and balloon ranges from Amscan’s extensive portfolio including Paw

Patrol, Peppa Pig, Marvel and Angry Birds.

Also on display will be a selection of eye-catching new themed foil balloons for all occasions from birthdays to weddings and special messages featuring the latest innovations.

These feature in Amscan’s balloon retail concept that provides shops with a simple solution to allow customers to choose their own balloon bouquets.

See for yourself and find out more about Amscan’s complete range of more than 12,000 products at the show.

Stand 428 – T: 01908 288500 www.amscan.co.uk

Celebrating the wacky days OFFICIALLY launching to the trade at PG Live, Need A Holiday? calendars and greetings cards celebrate some of the wacky, lesser-known holidays celebrated across the world.

There are foodie holidays like Popcorn Day and Cream Tea Day; activity holidays such as Kite Flying Day and Dance Day; Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day and Say Something Nice Day are inspiring days; Talk Like A Pirate Day and Answer The Phone Like Buddy The Elf Day can only be silly days while examples of friendship days are Best Friends Day and Send A Card To A Friend Day – and there are many more!

Need A Holiday? currently have five greetings card ranges, including: ● Surprise Party – celebrating every day of the year with bright, bold just-because cards. ● Wow, Hey! What A Day! – matching birthdays, anniversaries and

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more with their own wacky holiday. ● Joint Party – complementing Wow, Hey! What A Day!, but a little

more witty, wordy and somewhat sassy. ● Your Day – bringing people together with unique thinking-of-you cards. ● Late To The Party – making belated birthdays less awkward and more thoughtful.

Visit Need A Holiday? at PG Live, where you can get free carriage and competition entry on orders valued at more than £100 placed at the show.

Stand 658 –team@needaholidaycalendar.com www.needaholidaycalendar.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

EXCLUSIVELY FROM

24 stunning photographic designs of beautiful British countryside and animals, inspired by the BBC Programme

Come and see this brand new range, plus plenty of other new Abacus designs, at

on stand 300 where we will be offering a lucky dip prize to every customer placing an order to celebrate

25 years of Abacus Cards Contact our sales team on 01638 569050 or email us at info@abacuscards.co.uk Visit www.abacuscards.co.uk for more information

PGLIVEPREVIEW

Ages set to pop out TWO brand-new everyday collections Bonjour Monsieur and Geronimo are being launched exclusively by The Art File at PG Live this year.

These fun and exciting new collections are packed with contemporary design and unique edge.

Brand-new Form 3D pop-out age cards will also be launched at the show alongside their extremely popular Sara Miller London collection which has been attracting lots of positive attention after its launch in February.

The Art File will also have a selection of their chic and contemporary social stationery collections on display, as well as their increasinglypopular Christmas Collection which has more than 50 new additions for 2016.

The Art File team can’t wait to see you!

Stand 200 – T: 0115 850 7490 www.theartfile.com

Strong licensed brands THE FULL card collections from Museums & Galleries will be exhibited at PG Live, including the brand-new and stunning Matthew Williamson range.

Other strong licensed brands include the British Library, the V&A, and Guess How Much I Love You plus their core range selections – Classics, Illustrators, Art Of Print, Mezzanine, and Crafted will be on view.

PG Live will also be a great opportunity to have a look at M&G’s always exciting Christmas card and boxed collection.

Museums & Galleries are one of the UK’s leading producer of quality art cards and design-led stationery and gifts. Their collection spans the world’s greatest decorative art archives, museums, independent galleries, established artists and emerging creative talent.

Their aim is simple – to source the best and most original art and design, from medieval manuscripts to contemporary collage, and to create beautiful products which showcase it.

At M&G they are passionate about this mission, and proud that their products are sought out by those who share their commitment to lasting style.

Stand 218 – T: 0116 230 4197 www.museumsgalleries.co.uk

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PGLIVEPREVIEW

Collection is on the ball DRY RED Press are excited to introduce a unique collection of football art cards at PG Live – The Trevillion Collection consists of two striking new ranges with images of the biggest names in football.

Featuring artwork from the famous You Are The Ref strip from the Observer and Leonardo Of Line action line drawings produced exclusively for Dry Red Press, this remarkable range by legendary sports artist Paul Trevillion must be seen.

The launch of the cards coincides with the Football Walk Of Fame, where the bronze plaques will feature Paul’s art, and the Trevillion Exhibition at

the National Football Museum in Manchester in May. Paul is famously known as The Master Of Movement and his work spans more than 60 years, including the football comic strips Roy Of The Rovers and ‘You Are The Ref, the latter still featuring weekly in the Observer and in the Guardian online.

Joint founder Laura MacDonald said: “We will also be launching another card featuring a very special piece of artwork

by Trevillion. We are keeping this as a surprise, so please do come along and have a look. You won’t be disappointed!

Stand 340 – T: 01273 241210 www.dryredpress.com www

Taking the world rld by storm WHERE better to launch a brand new unique concept that’s going to take the greetings and gift world by storm, than PG Live?

The Original Coaster Card Company are excited to be launching their innovative product of a card and gift all wrapped up together in the shape of the Coaster Card.

Designed by the talented artist Sarah Boddy, she has curated nine different and unique collections

32 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

to choose from. Each card has a British-made melamine or recycled glass coaster as its centrepiece, so the lucky recipient has a something to keep forever once the cards have come down.

What are you waiting for? Pop along to see The Original Coaster Card Company at the show.

Stand 665 – T: 07921 259642 www.thecoastercard.com

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Iconic element of designer’s craft BORN into a changing world in 1930s Britain, GF Smith’s Colorplan paper offer remains an iconic and indispensable element of the designer’s craft.

Having established a new standard of colour sophistication and subtle texture, Colorplan has continued to evolve and its range has never been as comprehensive or more ideally suited to meet the demands of the modern creative as it is today and remains without equal.

At GF Smith they specialise in providing innovative bespoke services geared towards the needs of working designers in search of beautifullycrafted paper for print projects, packaging and greetings – such as their Envelope Service where the majority of papers in the collection can be converted into seven standard envelope styles — DL Wallet, DL Wallet Window, DL Banker, C6, C5, C4 and 155x155mm.

You can also create your own hand-made, bespoke envelopes from business card size up to A3 and order a minimum quantity of 50 envelopes across all styles.

While many other companies think big, GF Smith take pride in thinking small and applying a personal touch.

And, despite the impressive array of machinery to be found at their Hull factory, making possible things like embossing or duplexing, much of the company’s work – from sourcing papers to stitching spines – is still done by hand and in person, just as in George Frederick Smith’s day when he founded the company 130 years ago.

Stand 670&672 – T: 01482 323503 or 020 7394 4660 www.gfsmith.com

Licensed ranges unveiled BACK for another year, Danilo Promotions will be unveiling their new licensed ranges for 2016/17 at PG Live.

Danilo are Europe’s leading publishers of officially licensed greetings cards, gift wrap, calendars and diaries and are proud to offer the most popular brands in music, celebrity, TV, film, gaming and sport.

Their collections Include fantastic licences such as Justin Bieber, Minions, My Little Pony, The Secret Life Of Pets, Paw Patrol, Shopkins plus many more, The full range can be seen on the Danilo stand – plus, on the opening day, Tuesday, May 10, you can meet their Paw Patrol friends Chase and Marshall!

Stand 513 – T: 01992 702900 www.danilo.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

(t) 0116 230 4197 (f) 01536 401 031 (w) www.mint-publishing.co.uk

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PGLIVEPREVIEW

Cuckoo is flying high PAPER Bird celebrating their fourth birthday at PG Live with their first-ever Christmas charity packs and the second wave of new releases for 2016.

Cuckoo is their menagerie range, launched in January, that’s proving to be hugely popular and they’ll have yet more occasion designs on show and additions to their budding gift wrap collection, plus a great type-based range by a new designer with a unique style.

At Paper Bird, they love hand-drawn illustration, fine art and good design and their catalogue is bursting with originality and colour.

They have built their reputation on light-heartedness and a delightful, gentle quirkiness and, as Joy Haney said: “You won’t find anything quite like Paper Bird anywhere else so if you don’t yet know our cards please come and find us and enjoy a pleasant browse.”

Paper Bird are looking forward to catching up with their regular customers too – they are pleased to be stocked nationally by renowned shops including Fenwick, Fortnum & Mason, The Geffrye Museum, The Bowes Museum, The National Galleries of Scotland, Daunt Books and Blackwells as well as lots of truly wonderful independent bookshops, galleries, gift shops and garden centres.

Stand 88 – T: 07766 164807 www.paperbirdpublishing.co.uk

Alternative to chocolate YES, it is real and it is exciting – what is? It’s the brand new Christmas range of beautiful Panache cards at PG Live from the all-new Real & Exciting Designs!

These striking fashionable designs feature a fabulous ontrend collection of coordinating styles including diamante and marble effects, soft watercolour textures as well as quirky Christmas attire.

All designs have been carefully paired with elegant, sophisticated typography. Titles include both general and captioned designs, with each card printed on a quality textured board, finished with embossing and coordinating silver or gold foil, wrapped with a matching pearlescent envelope.

Also at the show, Real & Exciting will be adding another four advent calendars to their ever-popular collection with festive scenes that feature beautifully detailed, painted artworks, including adorable woodland creatures and Santa in festive scenarios.

Each calendar is printed on a quality, coated board, finished with encapsulated flitter and die-cut doors – these exquisite, traditional calendars, with a beautiful festive illustration behind each door, are the perfect alternative to that early morning chocolate!

Stand 219 – T: 01223 207080 www.realandexcitingdesigns.co.uk

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Panache

Advent Calendars

Converting new product into strong sales THE PAST three months have been fantastic in terms of new business at Jonny Javelin, and they have been doing particularly well since Spring Fair.

“We brought so much out for January and the Spring Fair,” said MD Jonny Spears, “that we’ve just been consolidating really and converting new product into strong sales.

“In Birmingham we had mock-ups of a brand-new range called Ribbons & Bows. This was based on our Christmas range Baubles & Bows which went down really well with both retailers and public.

“As a result of the show, we’ve gone ahead with the range and these will be on show for the first time in Islington – the verse inside is on a leaf insert and is a short four-liner.

“There’s a total of 32 titles, 18 in a code 75 format and 14 in a smaller code 60.

It’s a bright, colourful artistic range with graphic elements. The cards are enhanced with foil and flitter and the larger cards are embossed too.

“We’re also bringing out more Velvet and Velvet Moments and we will have some semi-finished samples on show as well.

“We’ll be working on a new humour line in the coming months as well as strengthening the new Velvet ranges.”

Stand 526 – T: 01423 563740 www.jonnyjavelin.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Visit us at PG Live 2016 Stand 219 (e) sales@realandexcitingdesigns.co.uk (t) 01223 207 080 (f) 01536 401 031

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PGLIVEPREVIEW

Lucky dip and Countryfile HOT ON the heels of the successful introduction of a BBC Earth Springwatch range last year, Abacus Cards will be unveiling the official range of BBC Countryfile cards at this year’s PG Live.

Watched by more than six million viewers a week all year round, the longrunning BBC programme celebrates the beauty and diversity of the British countryside; which is reflected in this range of 24 stunning photographic cards.

Presented in a 160x160mm format, the designs feature an array of imagery captured across the British Isles from farm and domestic animals to stunning landscapes and seascapes.

The cards have all been left blank inside for the sender’s own message and each carries information on the reverse, written by the Countryfile team, about the particular animal, place or farming practice featured in the image.

Printed on smooth board and finished with UV varnish, the cards are accompanied by white cartridge envelopes and offered cello wrapped, branded with a BBC Countryfile label.

As well as celebrating the beauty and diversity of the British countryside, Abacus will also be celebrating their silver anniversary this year and, to mark the 25-year milestone, the publishers will be offering every customer who places an order at PG Live the chance to be entered into a lucky dip prize draw.

Stand 300 – T: 01638 569050 www.abacuscards.co.uk

Time for lunch YOU MAY not have heard of JellynBean as they’re relatively new on the greetings card scene with their first collection launched around 18 months ago.

Originally the company just designed and produced giftware – after many retailers suggested the humour and style would work on cards, JellynBean decided to enter the greetings market.

There’s a level of irony here as founder and creator James Greenwood had originally been in the card world for more than 15 years.

“The decision to re-enter the card world was a no-brainer in the end,” James said, “I’ve been in the industry for 20 years now – it won’t let me leave, plus I enjoy creating again having had a break from it.

“We have a clear vision of what the company is and the style of design and type of humour we enjoy designing. It’s actually good fun being back at the bottom of the pile again as a virtually unknown company.”

One of JellynBean’s latest creations is the open humour range Let’s Do Lunch with their usual slightly left of normal style but, this time, specifically for females.

Up-to-date themes perfectly complement the fresh yet retro look and the premium textured board also adds to the overall feel and quality of each design. There are 18 designs available in the launch, but further designs are being created as you read!

Stand 826 – T: 01423 871881 www.jellynbean.com

36 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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S end i n g YO U

WI SH ES

Come visit us at:

Stand

521

View and buy online at www.davora.co.uk Contact us for a full catalogue of designs 0161 641 0655 or sales@davora.co.uk 135 Heaton Moor Rd | Stockport SK4 4HY /DavoraGreetingCards

twitter.com/Davora

PGLIVEPREVIEW

Go #TeamGemma! #TEAMGEMMA are looking forward to launching several new brands at PG Live across their range of cards and wrap.

Teletubbies, Trolls, Pusheen, Angry Birds Movie, Emoji and Tube Heroes are already making waves for the company who specialise in licensed card, wrap and party.

Leading UK licensed greetings publishers Gemma deliver innovative product development across cards, wrap and party, all of which are designed in-house at their award-winning art studio.

Gemma are proud to have an extensive range of licences in their portfolio including Thomas, Peppa, Hello Kitty, Bob The Builder, Blaze And The Monster Machines, Terraria, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom, In The Night Garden, Dora The Explorer, Bratz, Zelfs, Good Luck Trolls, Tokidoki and BFG. PG Live will also see them showcase their Disney wrap offering which includes many of the best-selling licences such as Frozen, Finding Dory, Tsum Tsum, Disney Princesses, Avengers and Marvel – not forgetting the classic Mickey and Minnie.

Stand 400 – T: 01264 388400 www.gemma-international.co.uk

P along Pop l to t meet Nick and Gladys face to face MEANY-bo-Beany are launching 120 A6 alternative, everyday and occasion cards, across nine collections at PG Live – the trade show debut for the brand-new greetings publishers.

Drop by to meet Gladys, the 472nd best girls’ magazine in the world – and many more colourful, quirkily amusing ranges, all dying to introduce themselves.

Meany-bo-Beany have a strong, contemporary graphic sensibility, offering more than 120 alternative, everyday and occasion cards, across nine colourful and quirkily amusing ranges.

Nick Saunders, the Illustrator and designer behind the brand, has nearly 30 years of experience in the creative industries, including spells in design and animation studios.

Many of the designs make use of vintage found ephemera manipulated digitally either to create the contemporary collaged images in the Chimericals range or as part of the pastiche process of Pop Poster and Gladys.

Nick said: “The Gladys range was the logical extension of the Pop-themed cards which reference imaginary, ludicrously named pop stars, singing equally strange and bizarrely titled songs.

“I realised that in this odd other world of Mantovani Overclop and Ruby Grundle there would of course be a magazine where you could catch up on all the latest pop gossip.

“This very quickly morphed into an affectionate pastiche of girls magazines from the 1960s and 70s like Jackie allowing me to play around with silly how-to features, competitions and romantic episodic stories.

“I found it amusing to imagine that the staff of Gladys magazine had, for unknown reasons, arrived from totally unsuitable previous publications, perhaps New Scientist, leading to the constant references to quantum mechanics and its effects on fashion – llamas also seem to crop up a lot too.

“I hope they connect with people who perhaps will have similar memories of these kinds of publication, bringing a little joy to the person who finds and buys them and then ultimately to the person they decide to send them too.”

Further collections are set to launch throughout 2016 providing buyers with a high quality, original and ever expanding selection.

Stand 794 – T: 01237 420 427 www.meamy-bo-beany.cards

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London’s ndon’s calling for new collections HOTCHPOTCH will be exhibiting at PG Live again this year, with Carte Blanche Group, launching four collections.

Their London studio have been busy developing new additions to the successful luxury Morello range, in a new large 210x210mm size for female relations and key occasions.

True to the brand, they are proudly printed on FSC certified board and hand-finished in England, using the finest quality crystals, gold satin foil and plenty of glitter.

Hotchpotch’s new children’s range Jam Sandwich will be sure to brighten any child’s day with ages for both boys and girls as well as general birthday.

Their clever construction with die-cut numbers and fun characters adds an extra dimension to the cards.

Their new female milestone age range Luxe will stop you in your tracks. The designs feature on-trend brush lettering and are finished with a scattering of luxurious rose gold foil. A simple and sophisticated colour palette of blush pink and peach contrasts against the inky blacks.

And finally, the successful and Henries-nominated range So Macho is now available in male relations, with 12 new designs perfect for a dapper boyfriend or lovely grandad.

Stand 122 – T: 01243 792600 www.hotchpotchpublishing.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 39

PGLIVEPREVIEW

Animal magic ZIGZAG is the exciting new children’s range from Wendy Jones-Blackett that’s being released at PG Live, with Paper Diamonds Deluxe the other new collection.

At first glance the ZigZag cards look like a cute age design with a spot-varnished balloon on the front but, when opened out, is so much more.

With a sweet little animal message area on the back to match the front of the card, these 20 designs are something new in children’s ages.

There are cats, parrots, lions, whales, flamingoes, hedgehogs, monkeys, ponies, crocodiles, foxes, elephants – 20 animals and birds in total with a different cute little creature for each design.

The cards are individually cellowrapped with a 120x170mm kraft envelope and detailed insert on the back showing the full design, at 95p trade and £2.25 RRP. Paper Diamonds Deluxe is a luxury large card range beautifully hand-finished with gems, glitter and stars.

The collection has 30 designs covering milestone ages, weddings, anniversaries and baby.

Stand 235 – T: 0113 288 8468 www.wendyjonesblackett.co.uk

Wishing I was lucky WITH Clare Maddicott Publications’ sister company Abacus turning 25 this summer, the publishers are joining forces to offer a lucky dip prize to every customer placing an order at this year’s PG Live.

There will also be some winning products on show, including the recent addition of occasion titles into the luxury Velvet Ink range and the exquisite Wishing On A Star range.

These latest additions to both ranges are presented in the 160x160mm format and are on art board.

Wishing On A Star designs feature de-bossed details, while the Velvet Ink designs feature de-bossed details plus a special raised colourise ink finishing. Covering the major occasion titles, cards from both ranges have been left blank inside for the sender’s own message.

Stand 300 – T: 01638 569050 www.maddicott.com

40 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

PG LIVE STAND 340

The Trevillion Collection

MOND

r I nevee mak tkes! misa

I spove loonerisms!

Don’t miss the launch of an exclusive new range of football art cards by the legendary sports artist Paul Trevillion.

www.artworks.co.com

07711 677844 259 Britannia Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 5HF

www.dryredpress.com E info@dryredpress.com T 01273 241210

Test a publisher’s statement of circulation. In today’s business climate you can’t afford not to.

Our ABC Certificate provides accurate, independently verified circulation figures, giving you confidence in your advertising investment.

If you want to reach 6,086* total average net circulation, then call Gareth Liddiatt on 01442 289930 or email simon@lemapublishing.co.uk *. Circulation figure relates to period from 1st July 2014 to 30th June 2015

For more information visit www.abc.org.uk or email info@abc.org.uk

PG LIVE • STAND 168

PGLIVEPREVIEW

Ready with the drum roll DAVORA are back at PG Live this year – although boss Raj Avora promises not to make quite as much noise as last year with those drums! He added: “There’s so much to tell you, where do we start?

“We’ve doubled the Pili Pala Welsh card range to 60 designs, we’ve got a brand new range of Polish designs under the brand Misiu Cards and our core Davora range has more than 120 new designs for Eid, Diwali, Jewish, Christian and many more.

“I think we need another drum roll!”

T: 0161 641 0655 www.davora.co.uk

Swinging into spring WITH SPRING in full swing, the ever-growing ranges from IC&G are expanding as they launch a huge collection of cards across the board including a number of brand new square cards.

Titles include Wedding day, Bride and Groom, and the striking sparkle cocktail bar design pictured.

IC&G are also launching new large male and female age cards which are are classically styled with a vintage twist, featuring a quirky on-trend colour palette. All cards feature detailed finishes all of uncompromising quality, with a selection of both contemporary and traditional titles You can catch IC&G at PGLive where they will be showcasing a variety of new designs and ranges including the launch of their new cute character Raffi The Giraffe.

Raffi is the cutie that now features on a range of children’s age cards with a variety of titles and finishes including bold embossing with bright foiling and striking flitter.

IC&G have lots of adventures planned for Raffi so keep your eyes peeled for all the new designs and projects lined up for the rest of 2016.

Flowers and dickie bows

Stand 303 T: 01202 897494 www.icgcards.com

LAURA Sherratt Designs have added to their already popular new Ditsy Daisy range, which now consists of nearly 50 handmade cards, with new occasion titles added, including You’ve Passed and New Baby Granddaughter/son as well as lots of birthday cards for all relatives and friends.

The new cards launch at PG Live and all feature Laura’s handdrawn style and collaged patterns which are embellished by hand with delicate paper flowers.

They have also added to the sophisticated Mail Male range extending it to 37 handmade designs, with lots of birthday captions added for all male relatives.

These smart new cards are embellished by hand with a bold patterned dickie bow, sourced from the UK and both ranges are 150x150mm and come cello-wrapped with a colour-coordinating envelope.

Stand 405 – T: 01538 384566 www.laurasherrattdesigns.co.uk

42 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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Greetings Cards & Gift Stationery

Jo’s been busy designing THERE will be two new ranges of hand-finished Christmas cards on the Blue Eyed Sun stand at PG Live along with the latest cute collection from artist Jo Corner.

Vintage Too is a fresh, contemporary new generation of the publishers’ best-selling Vintage range based on original embroidered artworks by textile artist Jo. With 30 designs in the 160x160mm range, these cards are litho printed on FSC board and embossed to give a realistic look and feel.

Jo is also behind the 30 Fleur 125x125mm Christmas designs which are embossed on textured GF Smith board then hand-finished with coloured jewels as an extension to the everyday range.

Part of the ongoing make-do and mend trend, the 20 new 125x125mm Crochet Critters cards each have a different named character.

Based on original hand crocheted artworks by Jo, these cards are all litho printed with the characters picked out in shiny spot UV finishing.

Sold in sixes the designs are available for trade customers to order through their agents, by brochure, at shows or on the Blue Eyed Sun website.

All cards are blank inside and both Christmas ranges come cellowrapped with a red envelope at £1.25 each trade, RRP £2.99, with the Crochet Critters 73p each trade, RRP £1.75.

Stand 524 – T: 01273 823003 www.blueeyedsun.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Available exclusively from

sales@mgml.co.uk Tel: 01373 462165 www.museumsgalleries.co.uk www.greetingstoday.co.uk 43

PGLIVEPREVIEW

Well designed and carefully researched A LEADER in the art of cute cards for many years, Simon Elvin’s designers never disappoint with their offerings of this ever-popular genre.

As Simon himself said: “Cutes are, and always have been, a genuinely important part of our collections. We have a reputation for producing cute cards that sell really well for independent retailers and, to do that, they have to have the magic aaah factor.

“You can’t be complacent. You need to refresh and test your designs regularly, and we do – and unless they get that unprompted ‘aaah’ from our research audiences, we simply don’t release them.’”

Over the years, Simon Elvin have introduced some wonderfully cute bear designs, but is that all it takes?

“Our bears have always worked tremendously well for retailers,” agreed Simon, “but consumers also enjoy other cute characters, such as rabbits and kittens.

“What they enjoy most though, as do our retailers, is the value for money we try to bring to every range – and cutes are certainly no exception.

“Retailers need to know that, not only can they buy well-designed and carefully researched cards from us, but that they’re produced to deliver absolutely top quality at genuinely affordable prices.

Prices that make the retailer a good margin, but also keep consumers coming back to their racks for more.”

That has to be an equation for cutes’ success, and the Simon Elvin brand has been outstandingly

successful – for more than 30 years now.

Adding to the publishers’ reputation for quality design and value-for-money is their exclusive use of specialist local wholesalers to carry ranges for retailers.

Simon added: “Today’s retailers don’t want to be dictated to about which cards to stock, how many and when. Wholesalers give them real freedom of choice, and great prices as well. It’s ideal for both sides.”

Stand 424 – T: 01628 526711 www.simonelvin.com

I love Candi!

FOLLOWING on from an early year release of more than 100 new designs, Mint continue their regular launch of new collections with the brand new range Candi.

This contemporary illustrated range featuring on-trend imagery has been brought to life with stunning cold-foil technique and detailed embossing.

Launching with 14 birthday designs in subtle rainbow shades and bright silver highlights, it is printed on a luxury, textured board and complimented perfectly with a silver pearlescent envelope – a show must-see range!

44 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

As well as their brand-new designs, Mint will be showcasing the best of their existing ranges, from the recently-launched Liquorice and Knitted Ditties, to proven classics like Cool Britannia and Knit & Purl.

You can see these gorgeous designs and much, much more on their PG Live stand.

Stand 217 – T: 0116 230 4197 www.mint-publishing.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

LLOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW? We are so excited to be launching our innovative range of Coaster Cards

Cuckoo A delightfully cute and quirky new collection

E LIV PGINGBOA6R5D SPR AND 6 ST

Tel: 07921 259642 www.thecoastercard.com

“A Card and gift all wrapped up together”

t:07766 164807 www.paperbirdpublishing.co.uk

PGLIVEPREVIEW

Boys want to be men CATH TATE Cards have a whole host of wonderfully, witty, brand new cards for PG Live, with the Look & Learn range among those being launched at the show.

The 15 designs in this new range use the charming 1960s illustrations from children’s magazine Look & Learn with everything from tales of historical daring to adventures in outer space.

Each card carries a witty caption giving the old illustration a current card occasion.

The majority of the 15 new designs are perfect for boys who want to be men, or men who want to be boys – or anyone else!

Also launching at the show are new designs in Cath Tate’s bestselling Photocaptions and Life Is Rosie ranges and new additions to their increasingly popular recent ranges Odd Socks and History Notes.

Stand 307 – T: 020 8671 2166 www.trade.cathtatecards.com

The craft of creativity AT HALLMARK, they like to think of themselves as craftspeople, not card-makers, that’s why creativity and quality are at the heart of everything they do.

And their design team are constantly looking for the latest innovation and emerging trends, to create something that will always leave a lasting impression.

46 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

They have made a special effort to hand pick the very best from our design studio especially for you, join us at PG live to see the latest from Hallmark’s own exclusive signature properties such as Handpicked, Forever Friends, Gallery and lots more!

Stand 416 – T: 0800 9020 900 (ROI 01 248 0104) http://hub.hallmark.co.uk/ www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Good way to get the bird A SUMPTUOUS new brochure – and possibly some shortbread – will be on offer at the I Like Birds stand, the Scottish publishers who specialise in bird-themed greetings cards, prints, calendars, colouring books and all manner of other bird-based bits and bobs.

They really like birds but you don’t have to be a twitcher to love their designs.

I Like Birds produce their cards in Moray and, just like Scotland’s other favourite product, they distill the natural world into something simple and beautiful. Approaching their second anniversary their cards are now available from the top to the bottom of the UK – literally from Cornwall to Orkney – in retailers ranging from small giftshops, galleries and museums to larger national retailers, nature reserves and a variety of Wildlife Trusts.

They really believe that everything looks better with a bird on it – their huge flock of faithful Facebook followers tend to agree – and are driven by the twin passions of a love for nature and a love of design.

I Like Birds have hundreds of designs in their best-selling All The Birds Of The Air and Alphabet Of Birds ranges, alongside their popular selection of notelets and Colour & Send colouring card packs.

For PG Live they’ll be launching their new range of ZigZag cards – yup, they’re not only totally birdacious but also extremely foldy! They’re starting off with six designs featuring birds of the Garden, Hedgerow, Ocean, Estuary, Woodland and one dedicated to Ducks.

The 145x145mm cards are printed on 300gsm stock and fold out to a whopping 435mm across, also featuring a back print, is cellophane wrapped and comes with a quality 130gram white envelope.

I Like Birds would love to see you on their perch at PG Live where they’ll be handing out their sumptuous new brochure and possibly some shortbread – but failing that they’ve a dedicated trade website and are always happy to chew the fat about design and the amazing world of birds.

Stand 86 – T: 07581 282820 www.ilikebirds.net

On your bike... to Stand 526

(at P.G.L.) to see our brand new Ribbons & Bows new Velvet and stunning Christmas tel: 01423 563740 www.jonnyjavelin.co.uk info@jonnyjavelin.co.uk

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

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PGLIVEPREVIEW VE V EPR PREV EV VIE EW

Set for a thrilling return CINNAMON Aitch are thrilled to be returning to PG Live with three brand-new ranges, Woodblock, Simply Tags and Veneer, plus they have additions to other collections too.

Woodblock is a C6 range of 18 cards designed using beautiful handmade block prints, celebrating the beauty of nature.

There are wild seed heads, textured trees, retro houseplants, and whimsical birds and cats, all in gorgeous earthy, natural tones, all hand-finished with wooden embellishments, printed decoupage shapes, gems and beads.

The Simply Tags range of 20 cards is inspired by “brown paper packages tied up with string” and features contemporary, slim-line designs using a neutral palette and simple geometric patterns.

The designs are perfectly complemented by die-cut message tags strung with natural jute or bright waxed cotton cord. Embossed detailing, hand finished with nickel eyelets and a combination of wooden hearts and stars perfect the look.

Ten square cards make up the Veneer range that’s modern and minimal in design but striking a bold visual statement.

The Abstract designs and stylised flower shapes made up of contrasting wood grains are exquisitely finished with delicate hand threading and unique apertures for the last word in pareddown elegance.

Stand 231 – T: 0121 7736833 www.cinnamonaitch.co.uk

Six brands from a newbie ART WORKS are delighted to be exhibiting at PG Live for the first time as, with six new brands on show, it’s exciting times for this new, progressive company.

Their lead brand Mond is a unisex, non-age specific range of 18 card designs inspired by the abstract paintings of renowned Dutch artist Piet Mondrian (1872-1944).

Supported by an ever-growing number of gift and homeware products Mond is expected to expand rapidly throughout 2016.

Stickbots remain a firm favourite with the general public with their irreverent sitcom humour. A new set of 18 sports-related jokes has been added to the original collection of 18 with more ranges in the pipeline.

Another humorous brand, Doublestrike, is the only range of cards on the market to feature two jokes on the front cover – many leading lights in the greetings card industry have commentated on the unique nature of these designs.

48 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

As the name suggests, Zodiac is a set of richly-illustrated and highly informative designs based on the 12 star signs. Ideally suited for an all-year-round three-monthly rotational display these cards have a naturally universal appeal – everyone has at least one birthday a year!

It’s A Man’s World is aimed firmly at the notoriously challenging men’s market. Covering a broad range of male activities these photographic cards provide a colourful option for that man who’s difficult to buy for. More male interests are due in late 2016.

The newest range is Cheers, which is an anagram of Escher, based on the impossible nature of the works by Dutch graphic artist MC Escher (1898-1972).

Stand 168 – T: 07711 677844 www.artworks.co.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Come join the party on Stand 658 at pg live & give your customers a year-long celebration!

Can’t wait til then?

Give us a call on

07493933400 or email team@needaholidaycalendar.com for trade prices and info

PULSEPREVIEW ● Caroline Gardner

Pulsating talks ● Purpose & Worth Etc

An inspiring conference programme has been revealed for the Pulse featuring Liberty, Heal’s and Not On The High Street at the design-led retail buying event.

A

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME Sunday, May 15, 2016

Shop Through Colour

11:00-11:30 I Did It My Way The joys and pain of running a business solo

13:00-13:30 Social Storytelling And Conversational Commerce Your brand story across social media, email, messaging apps and beyond

12:00-12:30 The Secret Of Shareable Content Lessons to be learnt from Buzzfeed 13:00-13:30 KEYNOTE: The Liberty Prop Cupboard How to pick up on visual trends and work them into your own environment 14:00-14:30 Buying Tastes And Ahe Changing Lifestyle How emerging trends impact our lifestyle choices and buying tastes 15:00-15:30 Blogging For Business Missing out of blogging is missing a serious marketing trick 15:40-16:00 Marketplaces: Embrace Them And Sell More How independent and online retailers can grow their sales through amazon and ebay

Monday, May 16, 2016 11:00-11:30 Getting The Crowd On Your Side The essentials of crowdfunding, tageting and engaging 12:00-12:30 Colour in Shops How To Transform Your

14:00-14:30 KEYNOTE: The World Of Extremes The impact of globalisation, digital and a connected world 15:00-15:30 Designing The Future The latest trends in personalisation, experience and convenience 16:00-16:30 Making Friends And Influencing People Doing PR for fun, fame and fortune

Tuesday, May 17, 2016 11:00-12:00 PANEL: Shock & Awe – Reinventing Retail At The IWM Putting a contemporary twist on the traditional shop 12:00-12:30 KEYNOTE: Good Design Well Made Being and remaining a destination store 13:00-14:00 PANEL: How To Work Creatively With Bloggers Meeting and working with bloggers

50 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

SERIES of cutting-edge talks, engaging panel discussions and bite-sized sessions are the features of the ShopTalk programme at the upcoming Pulse trade show.

And to get you in the mood for the design-led retail buying event organised by Clarion Events, the latest products are only a click away with Pulse Unseen, your online tool showcasing all of the hot new launches and expert picks from their cutting-edge line-up of exhibitors.

With 84 greetings exhibitors expected among the almost 500 taking part, Clarion’s figures show 78 per cent of visitors to the show are retailers from across the independent, multiples, online and department stores spectrum, while 52 per cent of visitors attend to find emerging designers.

Names include Purpose & Worth Etc, My World, English Graphics, Timbergram, and Ohh Deer – although Caroline Gardner will be there, they are concentrating on their handbags and accessories using signature prints from the greetings collections.

The conference programme will be streamed across the three days of the show that runs from May 15-17 at London’s Olympia, to provide an inspiring conference for independent retailers and continues to grow and improve year on year.

A stellar line-up of dynamic voices from the retail world, that includes Notonthehighstreet.com, Liberty, Heal’s, Farrow & Ball and Imperial War Museum, will come together to discuss the current issues and topics pertinent to the retail sector.

The broad range of topics that will be addressed includes “How emerging trends impact our lifestyle choices and buying tastes”, “The joys and pain of running a business solo”, “The essentials of crowdfunding, targeting and engaging” and “The impact of globalisation, digital and a connected world”.

The full ShopTalk programme is on the left and keynote speakers include Liz Sylvester, Liberty’s Head

‘

Of Visual Identity, who will reveal the secrets behind their prop cupboard and how to pick up on visual trends and work them into your own environment.

Joa Studholme is International Colour Consultant for Farrow & Ball and will be discussing how to transform your shop through colour and learn how it can influence customer perception of the space.

Working with the most forward-thinking trend and retail experts including fashion trend consultant Claire Foster and trend agency Unique Style Platform (USP), Pulse have identified some inspiring autumn/winter 2016/17 design trends – Maximalist, Modernist, Coastal Simplicity, Memphis – and USP will launch a further five new lifestyle trends at the show with a series of on-site shop window installations.

Showcasing hot product launches and expert picks from exhibitors, the Pulse Unseen gallery is now live online, and Show Director Louise Wallace said: “It’s the perfect place to see new products first and buyers can contact Pulse exhibitors throughout the year.

“There are so many cutting-edge, stand-out brands at Pulse that deciding who to see can be a daunting prospect for both new and returning visitors.

Pulse Unseen really helps to make this process easier as it allows buyers to regularly check who’s launching what and get a feel for a particular brand before coming to the show.

“It’s also a great way to keep track of launches from numerous brands in one place throughout the year, meaning you will be able to see trend patterns appearing and make more informed purchasing decisions.”

Industry experts are also on hand, regularly highlighting their favourite products and providing a snapshot of the latest launches to look out for.

With Pulse Unseen, show visitors can create a tailored must-see product list, as it allows buyers to browse products from a range of brands in the same place, rather than exploring each brand individually, and share their favourites in social media.

A stellar line-up of dynamic voices

1973 – Stand E19 A Farmer’s Daughter – G78 Amoloulou– J76 Art Rookie – J14b Arthouse Meath – H82 Bespoke Verse – C27 Bombus – J10 The Botanical Abc By Lavinia Thomas – C12 Cambridge Imprint – D28 Catherine Colebrook – H60 Chá Com Letras – B12 Chau Art – K53a The City Works – C29 Clockwork Soldier – J35 Cluck Cluck – B31 Colcards – K82 Dandeliontree – K70 Dilly & Pink – B30

’

www.pulse-london.com

EXHIBITORS’ LIST Dippy Egg – K30 Doodling Around – C33 Dowse – H13 The Dybdahl Co – H32 English Graphics – K51 Esmie – K48 Eva & Anne – E23 Evermade – E24 Ezen Ltd – K28 Flora Jones Designs – G79

Jade Fisher – C23

Grey & Lily – B28 Hannah Stevens – D21 Have A Gander – K24 Imagination Illustrated – B10 Ink Bandit – C20

Linescapes – J61 Living Union – J26b Lizzie Chancellor – C32 Lola Design – K17 Lollipop Designs – H11 Luckylobsterart – K80a

Jane Katherine Houghton Designs – L18

Jennifer Rowland – E25 Jessalli – K36 Jot Paper Co – H76 Kate Guest – A19b Katy’s Print Shop – R4 Kelci London – B38 Keylime Design Ltd – K87a

Forever Handmade Cards – K60

Lauren Radley Illustration – A22

Lucylovesthis – C14 Makii – J57 Mia Loves Jay – K22 Miriam Bridson – Ual Moira Fuller – B27 Molten Wonky – J82 My World – J21 Myrte – J33 Noodoll Ltd – H20 Nutmeg & Sage – K47 Ohh Deer – G10 Paper Moon – D12 Paper Republic – G30 Pearl & Black – K15 Plewsy – C22 Plum & Ashby – J11 Polite Company – K20

Purpose & Worth Etc – C21 Robbie Porter Illustration – K72

Ros Shiers – D10 Roxwell Press – K43 Sass & Belle – G36 Schnucki Images – G74 Scout Editions – D23 Season Paper – K18 Shoelicks – D27 Sophie Morrell – J32b

Stephanie Davies Designs – C18

Susan O Hanlon – H26 Timbergram – D32 Turnaround – J24 Wini-Tapp – D19 Wit With Wisdom – J58 Wonderinaliceland – K34

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

With regular columnist Alina Clark on maternity leave after the birth of gorgeous 7lb 10oz Ruben, the equally lovely Ian Bradley has stepped in with his view from the sales agents’ bench.

On the same wavelength

T

HIS April I’ve been an agent in the greeting card industry for 12 years – unlike many agents I’ve met, I previously had no experience of this industry.

Following a career in retail, post office and petrol I struggled to find my next career move so took a role helping a friend’s father to evaluate the end-of-line card market.

We concluded there wasn’t much opportunity to develop this area of business but through the process I found out that one of the key routes to market for greeting cards was the use of agents – I don’t remember this as an option when the careers officer came to our school.

So there it was. My next job role was in front of me. I’d always wanted to be self-employed but never imagined this.

The only problem was that I did not have anything to sell or customers to sell to. So what to do? I got the hefty Black Book from Spring Fair 2004 and started working my way through the greetings section.

My number one criteria was that I had to like the product I was going to be selling so, after three weeks and many phone calls, I had myself four publishers that were happy to engage the services of this fresh on the road agent.

For the record these were K2 Greetings, Iona Publishing, Still Glorious and Milano Cards.

When I told my father about my new career direction he commented that I’d always been good at choosing very appropriate cards for people. So I clearly had this underlying desire to be in this industry.

A few years later I sent him a blank card for Father’s Day, which depicted a fisherman with his son, both looking out to sea. It had the caption “On the same wavelength” and my dad said that was his favourite card I’d ever sent him and has kept it ever since.

Born on the same day, we’re definitely on the same wavelength with many things.

● In tune – Ian with Sara Morris. of The Card Emporium, Malvern, and his dad’s card

Building my agency was certainly challenging without any big publishers and less than 20 active accounts to start with but over the next dozen years I gradually got better suppliers and have grown my customer base to more than 200.

As business has developed and blossomed it has been key for me to have good relationships with both my suppliers and my customers – it’s so much easier to sell products if you not only believe in them but you also believe in the people that have created it and bought it to the market place.

My current portfolio includes Tracks Publishing, Glick, White Cotton, Paper Salad, Rush Design and Bexy Boo. With customers it’s important that they have confidence and trust in me to bring them quality product. If I get a new range or new supplier I’ve developed a sixth sense telling me which customers are

going to love this product.

I never promise anything I cannot deliver and only say a product is a “must have” if it has sales and re-orders already to back this up. I’ve always had the view that business is for the long term and not just the next quick order.

To sum up the agent role for me: I get great products from nice people and then sell to nice people.

I’m the one in the middle and strive to do the best for both my suppliers and my customers. So basically we’re all on the same wavelength.

– Ian Bradley ianbradley167@btinternet.com T: 07905 597498

collapsed. Unfortunately, because some of thee road he was open there was no diversion in place at the ing beginning of the route – this was very frustrating oute because every time I tried to find a different route that avoided the bridge, my sat-nav insisted in taking me back to the same road.

Sadly I found out no amount of shouting at th the sat-nav gets the message through to it LOL! The only way round was to drive miles out of my way until the sat nav had no choice but to take me by a different route. Fortunately I’d set off for my appointment in plenty of time so still made it.

Even when I’m going to a customer that I’ve visited a few times before I still put on my sat nav because, as well as keeping me updated with my arrival time, it diverts me to alternative routes if there is traffic ahead.

The downside of this is that I never actually learn the route as I’m still relying on my sat-nav to tell me where to go.

From now on, I’m going to get a summary of the route from my sat-nav beforehand then try to take in things along the way so I’m able to find my way without it.

If you see me sailing past your shop window several times before I actually arrive you’ll know why! :-) – Neil Anthony

One direction A

S AN AGENT, one of my biggest sales tools is my sat-nav, I’d be lost without it.

I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been as an agent on the road with nothing but an A-Z to find your way to appointments.

It’s hard enough navigating the roads and keeping an eye out for the shop while also looking for a parking space, without also having to try to follow a map – I’d probably end up navigating myself along a crease in the paper thinking it was an A road LOL! However, it’s easy to become lazy when you use a sat-nav and stop paying attention to your surroundings, just instead wait for the voice to tell you when to turn etc.

Recently I had an appointment in Cumbria and my chosen route was affected by a bridge that had

IT’S ALL ABOUT SALES

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. www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

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ARTISTS’ QUARTER

Bearing fruit From being one of the first two in-house designers at Moonpig to managing the now five-strong team, Katie Bear has been with the company almost from the start and seen how their online personalised greetings model has borne fruit and become accepted as part of the industry. Here she talks about her life and art.

What’s your background as an illustrator?

My first job at 16 was working in the greetings card department at Selfridge’s in London. From an early age I always designed and made my own greetings cards for friends and family. I even had my own range of handmade greetings cards in Selfridges for a few years. I’m sure working there influenced my career direction.

How did you get in to designing greetings cards?

After completing a foundation course at Central Saint Martins I did a degree in textile design at Chelsea College where I specialised in print. It was here that I got my first experience of working with Photoshop. I loved playing around with my drawings and photography on the computer to create designs.

How long have you been with Moonpig and how did you end up there?

After leaving college I freelanced for a couple of years producing fashion and interior prints while still creating my own cards. I got a part-time job in the art shop at Central Saint Martins but decided I wanted a more focussed position in the design industry.

I saw a job advertised at Moonpig for a print technician which I applied for but didn’t get – however they kept my details on file and a few months later I gott a phone call from founder Nick Jenkins to tell me about a job as a card designer. I jumped at the opportunity and, as they say, the rest is history.

That was back in May 2005 and, at the time, there was only one other designer George Winks who was studying so worked in the evenings, We used to pass each other in the street when I was leaving and he was going to work.

He eventually became a full-time designer and for many years it was just the two of us.

We used to help with all aspects of the job even down to putting stamps on cards and rushing them to the post box down the road to catch the last post and now customers can even order cards before 7pm to get them in the post that day!

Our office in Chelsea was very small and you could boil one kettle to make everyone tea –11 years later and the team is much bigger and we’re in a new more central location in Southwark.

I remember my boss Jo Foley at the time saying “one day we’ll have a whole bank of designers working at Moonpig” and I didn’t believe her. Now the office is unrecognisable from when I first started.

There are only a handful of the original people left who I first started with but it’s been great to see Moonpig grow from the small team in Lots Road to what it is today.

‘

Can you remember the first card you designed at Moonpig and do you have a speciality either in style orr genre?

From the beginning we concentrated on photo-upload and spoof designs. I like to think that back in the day we spearheaded these genres and set the precedence. I would say that my speciality is definitely photo-upload ranges and spoof. Ranges such as Oi! and the spoof magazines were so popular and always great fun to work on.

The News range of cards I designed were really popular too.

Which is your favourite card design – your own and Moonpig’s? ● Team spirit I think my favourite range that I have created has been the – (from top) Fancy Pants range. These were a photo-upload range and Katie Bear, had large brightly-coloured pattern-filled type. This range Caroline did very well and was refreshed quite a Glover, Katt fe times. I have also designed a lot of Jones, Holly few th photo-upload templates that often Simms, the a appear in our weekly top 20 bestsellers Josie Easton – a few years ago as a test we tried a and Julia p photo-upload card where you could add Broughton 2 photos to it and it still sells well.

24 Having worked for Moonpig for so lo I think experience plays a large long p in understanding what customers rs part w o want from a photo-upload card. I also hat first worked on the Limelight range that g Moonpig have and is still going strong ch today, using special technology to customise designs such as writing your name in the sky or icing on a cake. We st be refresh this every season. My favourite achievement must seeing my designs in the top 20 consistently each week.

The office is T unrecognisable from when I first started

’

What are you working on at the moment?

We’re currently working on Christmas.

What do you like most about your job?

Having gone from Designer to Senior Designer and then Design Manager, I now manage a team of four – Julia ce Broughton, Holly Sims, Josie Easton and Katt Jones. Since becoming Design Manager my every day workload has ouse e changed. I still design but now I mange the team of in-house designers. I’m involved in planning collections, reviewing trends, visiting trade shows and developing new card ng concepts. The best part of my job is still seeing something that you designed being on the website and knowing it willl t,, appear on mantelpieces around the country – and, in fact, the world – and maybe it’s kept as a special memento!

Which Moonpig card would you like to receive for your own birthday? e Well, I do like a photo-upload card so if someone had the time and patience to upload 24 photos on to a card for me, it would proudly sit on my mantelpiece at home.

If you’re an artist or illustrator who’d like to be considered for inclusion in Artists’ Quarter please email tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk 52 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag mag @greetingstoda @greetingstoday

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

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Artists’ directory

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Product & services directory greetings card publishers & Party product suppliers To advertise call Simon Davis on 01442 289930

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

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spotlight

A selection of this month’s latest releases ● CHERRY Orchard are launching 36 fantastic new designs to mark male and female relations’ birthdays in a range of code 60 and code 75 sizes.

With a selection of styles and captions to cover friends and relations and a wide variety of image styles, this collection provides a rich eclectic mix to suit a broad range of needs.

T: 01684 295500 www.cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

● WONDERFULLY British quotes for great friends, family and loved ones – that’s the point of the new Vintage Quotes range from Bluebell 33.

The wonderfully British publishers and gift company have great male relation designs in the range which can be found on their website along with their latest Fun Faces collection, which includes greetings cards, stationery, coasters, mugs, pocket mirrors, notebooks and postcards.

T: 01932 506406 www.bluebell33.com ● THE STRAWBERY Card Company have been working full steam to launch their new online trade ordering site which is now live.

To celebrate they’re offering trade customers 20 per cent discount off their first order by entering the code SPRING16 at the checkout.

The launch has been perfectly timed with the introduction of two new and exciting ranges – Super-Press and Just Say The Words.

Inspired by bold graphic styles and the hand-finished texture of letterpress, Super-Press has 12 designs covering birthdays, Get Well, New Home, Thank You and New Baby designs.

Just Say The Words is a humorous typographic range of 10 designs with wellknown and much-loved film quotes in simple grey and black typography set off perfectly with the brightest neon envelopes.

T: 07733151129 www.thestrawberrycardcompany.co.uk yca dcompany.co.uk

● LITTLE Seashell Cards have ave just added a unique, feminine, ne, mascara card to their break-up k-up collection.

The 5.5x4.card is handembellished with a simple crystal rhinestone and the wholesale ale price per card is $2.38 (£1.68) 68) and suggested retail price is s $4.75 (£3.35).

● THE first range by Sentimeant covers 10 different cards and oak engraved key fobs based on emotions or sentiments, including Hope, Confidence, Family, Home and True Love. Each card contains unique, carefully written prose which is deep and meaningful. The oak key fobs are laser engraved and sourced from FSC approved wood suppliers. All products are designed and made in the UK.

T: 07702 253823 www.sentimeant.co.uk

gifts spotlight A selection of the latest gift releases and deals ● LESSER & Pavey have teamed up with Hearts Designs, winners of the Henries award for design, to bring a new range of wedding gifts to retailers.

Under licence this range is called Mad Dots and you can see why – from the gold of the wedding rings, the range features gold dots on everything with two different phrasing designs, Hugs And Kisses To The New Mr & Mrs and Love Laughter And Happily Ever After. Each range consists of gift bags, two fine mugs, a set of Champagne flutes, two different types of storage boxes and a wedding card post box – with real gold used on the mugs and glasses.

T: 01322 279225 www.leonardo.co.uk

T: +1 416 236 9139 39 www.littleseashellcards.com m www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag etingstodaym mag ag @ @greetingstoday @g gre reet etiin ngs gstto oda oda dayy

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PRODUCT & SERVICES DIRECTORY - GREETINGS CARD PUBLISHERS & PARTY PRODUCT SUPPLIERS To advertise call Simon Davis on 01442 289930

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SURTEX& SURTEX &NSS NSSPREVIEWS PREVIEWS

30 years strong

Anne T sapraz

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● New incentives – Surtex Director Liz Crawford

Kera Allen

It’s celebration time at Surtex as the organisers rganisers mark thr three ree d decades of the specialist New York show for sourcing original art and design.

T

They are also looking forward to introducing their new website to customers who haven’t set up an account already.

In the DesigNext competition, it’s an all-girl line-up for the DesigNext finalists with three from the US and one from the UK picked by a panel of judges for their six original designs on the Tribal In Art Deco theme as The mobile app contest backs up a very busy show at a collection in four categories – the Javits Center in New York over Wear, Work, Live and Play.

May 15-17 with a full conference The finalists are Kera Allen, programme, the first official Surtex a second-year textile and tote bag, and being able to view the surface pattern design student work of the four DesigNext student at the University of Bolton, in competition finalists.

Manchester; Carolina Perrino, a This year’s 30th anniversary senior in the Savannah College event sees more than 250 of Art & Design fibres programme exhibitors taking part, including in Georgia; fourth-year illustration over 70 new ones, showing 1,000● Portfolio Select student Mirta Rotondo from the plus designs and patterns.

Academy of Art University, San Francisco, and Anne Among them will be established British agency Tsaprazis, a fibre design major at the College for Creative Portfolio Select at booth 236 who are showing fresh Studies in Detroit, Michigan. work from artists including Julie Oldham, Nicola Mason, As part of their prize they will be presenting their Sue Waddicor, Alison McGarrigle, Toben Robbins, Mike projects in a DesigNext booth at the show, and one Donnelly, Adam Sanderson Enrico McGarrigle, Nancy will be selected for the grand prize of $1,000 (£706), Fullenwider, Karen Tye Bentley and Sam Rudd, plus a special mention on the Surtex website for one year and huge photographic library.

HIRTY years of Surtex is the celebration this May, and the milestone is being marked with a competition giving one lucky buyer the chance to win $5,000 (£3,536) to spend at the show.

ondo

Mirta Rot

recommendation letters to prospective employers. ective employers The main body of the show sees visitors able to license new designs and patterns from the Art & Brand Licensing exhibitors, purchase art in the Atelier section and, debuting this year, Design District will showcase artists who are completely new to Surtex.

Emerald Expositions, organisers of the specialist show for sourcing new and unique designs, are also launching the official Surtex tote bag that’s given to the first 500 buyers to arrive with an exhibiting artist chosen to provide the design each year – first off it’s Design Works International.

With 11 different seminars across the three days, the conference programme is a comprehensive offering designed to provide designers, manufacturers, retailers and others in the field with practical, how to advice on the licensing process from creation through product development to retail placement.

The two new programmes for buyers are Matchmaking 101 where they have a great opportunity to mingle with artists at their own pace, and the VIP Buyer Programme where they can meet exhibitors and take part in the mobile app competition to earn the $5,000 prize toward a purchase at the show.

www.surtex.com

Notes from a small island

Brits make a pretty big impact on the greetings front at the National Stationery Show with distributors Notes & Queries showcasing no fewer than 25 different UK publishers at the long-running New York event.

O

NE OF the big names at the National Stationery Show in New York for British publishers is Notes & Queries as the Baltimore-based distributors simply love UK product.

Their portfolio includes no fewer than 25 different publishers from this small island, which they will be showing as one of the 800-plus exhibitors at the 70th annual NSS. The Art File, Belly Button Designs, Caroline Gardner, Cinnamon Aitch, Eloise Hall, Glick, Ling, Museums

& Galleries, Redback Cards, Tracks Publishing and Two Little Boys are just some of the names who successfully export through Notes & Queries.

Known as the place to find unusual, creative and eco-friendly products, such as fine gifts, cards, invitations, and tableware, more than half the exhibitors at the Javits Center in New York have greetings cards on offer.

Notable activities and events at the show, which runs from May 15-18 alongside Surtex, include the chance to chat with a community of new and upcoming designers in the juried section #fresh.

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Trends in stylish greetings cards will also be on show with the wide array of clever embellishments, like florals and pop-up designs, of particular note and makers are finding new ways to push the limits with the use of natural materials, unique patterns and sustainable methods.

Visitors can also check out the designs from the 2016 Best New Product Winners in the Paper Love, DIY-Do It Yourself, Celebrations, Lifestyle, The Desktop, All Things Wedding, Eco Chic and Seasonal Greats categories.

www.nationalstationeryshow.com

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 57

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BRITISHCRAFT BRITISH CRAFTTRADE TRADEFAIR FAIRREVIEW REVIEW

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ine Théli

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en ● Comm

● Highly co

AWARDS WINNERS GREETINGS CARD AWARD – SPONSORED BY GREETINGS TODAY Winner – Yoojoo, Julie Ashworth Highly Commended – Ellacarte, Ella Noble Commended – Elaine Thélier Just Because – Hazel Williams Laser Cut Designs Shortlisted – Caroline Loves, Dawn Macioca, Japanese Papercraft, Just Gemma, Kerry Tremlett Printmaker, Meha, Roy.G.Biv, Sarah Cemmick Linocuts

BCTF AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE – SPONSORED BY PSM LTD Winner – Creativity Occupied Highly Commended – Home Front Vintage Commended – Rosie Brewer

THE BEST NEWCOMER AWARD – SPONSORED BY CRAFT & DESIGN MAGAZINE Winner – Megan Davies Highly Commended – Stephanie Hopkins

THE NJA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN JEWELLERY – SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JEWELLERS Winner – Rachel Brown Jewellery Highly Commended – Michele Daykin Jewellery Highly Commended – Jenni Wilson Jewellery

THE GA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE – SPONSORED BY THE GIFTWARE ASSOCIATION Winner – Helen London Silversmithing Highly Commended – Stephen Farnan Studio

THE WOW FACTOR AWARD – SPONSORED BY DESIGNGAP/ARTGAP, VOTED FOR BY ALL EXHIBITORS Winner – Gillian Arnold Winner – Joanna Coupland

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mmended –

Ellacarte

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Winning ways ● Commen

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Thélier

Y Yoojoo’s ’ clever recycled cards took the top prize in the first BCTF greetings awards in the show’s 40-year history.

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HE WIND got up in Yorkshire but no one in the temporary structure housing this year’s British Craft Trade Fair minded as it was very light, bright, white and warm inside.

BCTF is a unique event in the trade fair calendar as it solely champions hand-made products from the UK, featuring a diverse range of disciplines and materials, and the greetings category has grown significantly in recent years.

Well-attended by visitors and buyers from independent gift and greetings retailers across the country, plus Giftware Association CEO Sarah Ward, esspi p te t tthe he e rracket a ke ac k t there was a very bright atmosphere despite outside when the wind buffeted the building as the awards ceremony got underway at the Great Yorkshire Showground after the second day of the three-day event finished.

Greetings Today editor Tracey Bearton and buyer Caron Naylor spent the day checking out the cards for the first BCTF greetings awards in the show’s 40-year history.

With GCA President Ged Mace, they went through all 65 greetings exhibitors among the 450-plus stands before the show to draw up what turned out to be quite a long shortlist of who to visit in person to check them out for originality, commercial viability and wow factor.

Tracey and Caron, from The Gift House at Blacker Hall Farm Shop near Wakefield, then whittled their choice down to a short list of 10 – which actually contained 12 names as the standard was so good – from which they agreed with Ged, who is also MD of The Art File, that Julie Ashworth’s Yoojoo bookmark gift cards and plectrum cards were very worthy winners.

Ellacarte, run by Ella Noble, was Highly Commended, Elaine Thélier was Commended, and the Just Because award went to Hazel Williams Laser Cut Designs.

Ged said: “I thought the winning cards were highly original and offer added value of a gift to give longevity to the cards. They are truly fun cards.”

And Caron added: “Yoojoo – clever use of recycled products. Colourful with cards for men and children.

‘

Julie has great ideas for her cards that have a twist with each turning into something else, a book mark, plectrum etc, and the use of recycled book pages for cards and small origami gift boxes is ingenious.

“Ellacarte – very detailed work and an excellent finish on all the cards making them into a framable card/gift card. The ceramic work is beautiful with each card lovingly presented.

“Elaine Thélier – these brightly coloured botanical garden-themed cards have a strong commercial feel.

The bold images are translated into beautiful patterns that work well on the mugs and coasters too.

“Hazel Williams – clever use of detailed laser-cut design her cards a 3D dimension and g work giving g a keepsake for the recipient. Her decorations, gifts and nightlights that inspired the cards are lovely too.”

These first greetings awards were among the six categories chosen and presented at the show which is run by Primary Sport Management (PSM) under the supervision of Margeret Bunn, a well-known figure in the arena of British crafts.

The full list of winners is on the left, and the video of the ceremony, l courtesy of jewellery and homewares exhibitor and Wow! award-winner Gillian Arnold is available on the Greetings Today Facebook page and has already been viewed more than 1250 times.

Tracey was also invited to open the annual Breakfast Club seminar on Monday with a talk on how to get publicity and editorial coverage, while Rachel Chambers from the Ferrers Gallery spoke on trade shows from the buyer’s perspective and Rachel Elliott, of Rachel Elliott Glassworks, gave a maker’s view on business.

There is a video of the full Breakfast Club event on the Greetings Today Facebook page, also courtesy of Gillian, plus more pictures from the show.

Next year’s BCTF will be back in the newly-built permanent halls at the showground on April 2-4, 2017, and they are expanding with their first London show at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, running from September 11-13.

T Tracey and d Caron spent the day checking out the the e cards card ds

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www.bctf.co.uk

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BRITISHCRAFT BRITISH CRAFTTRADE TRADEFAIR FAIRREVIEW REVIEW

Yoojoo – Winner BEST-SELLING author and illustrator Julie Ashworth has had a varied career and is now running an award-winning greetings and gift company by herself.

She moved back to England from France in 2001 and, in between illustrating, travelling, renovating houses and gardening, took courses at Leeds College of Art & Design.

Julie, who was shortlisted in the Card & Wrap category at this year’s Gift Of The Year Awards, said: “It all began when I was studying silversmithing and I was making jewellery. I wanted to practise my piercing skills so set myself to making bookmarks for friends.

“They were totally handmade and, when I’d finished they didn’t look much on their own, so I put them on a card and drew a little scene around them. That was how it started – it

wasn’t planned at all. My friends said I had to take it further so I did.

“This was my third year at BCTF and I’ll probably be back next year, I’m waiting to see what happens with orders after this show.

I’m also semi-pondering going to one of the bigger card-specific fairs next year, so I’m taking a look at which one would be the best.”

The paper products and keepsake gifts are created by Julie using a wide variety of techniques, from the ancient art of origami to digital artwork and printing, with the unifying theme being books.

As well as mini stainless steel bookmarks packaged in origami boxes handmade from upcycled book pages, Julie has various styles of cards with paper or stainless steel bookmarks and then there are the Plectrum

Cards with an electric or acoustic guitar image plus a plectrum gift handmade from upcycled plastic store cards.

Julie added: “I didn’t even know the Greetings Award was going to happen this year so when I found out it was a huge surprise. It’s better for me than Gift Of The Year really, I think if I’d won that it would have been really scary – although it was lovely to be shortlisted.

“I think it was good that every greetings exhibitor was considered because, although I went in for the GOTY it was only because I was really pushed into doing it.

“Being an older maker, I’m of the generation that was told you shouldn’t show off or blow your own trumpet – but I’m going to shout about this, I’m really happy.”

T: 01274 621419 info@yoojoo.co.uk www.yoojoo.co.uk

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BRITISHCRAFT BRITISH CRAFTTRADE TRADEFAIR FAIRREVIEW REVIEW

Ellacarte – Highly Commended HAVING graduated from Dundee College of Art with a degree in ceramics, Ella Noble found she needed a job she could do while at home with her young children and hit on the idea of greetings cards.

“I didn’t have the facilities for a kiln or potter’s wheel at that time,” Ella said, “so it was the cards that came first before the ceramics side.

“When the kids were older and we moved I had the space so got a kiln about two years ago – I’d initially been using air-dried clay for the cards so it was still using ceramics just in a different form.”

Since then Ella has expanded the Ellacarte range into creating functional and sculpted white and red earthenware ceramic pieces, such as jugs, bowls and tea sets, as well as her unique hand-crafted greetings cards with freehand painted ceramic motifs and stenciling.

Now based in Dumfries & Galloway, Ella added: “I was delighted to be one of the winners, absolutely delighted. This was my second time at the show and I did well and am very busy doing the orders just

now that we took there. I had a lot of interest too and am still getting interest following through.

“I’m hoping to go again next year and may consider doing their London show in the future.

“I don’t really have ranges as such, I try to keep my cards as open as possible, so they can be used for most occasions. Some are directed towards children with the bunnies and balloons but they are designed to be for someone really special. I have a lot of people come back to me and say they have got my card framed – actually I think most of them get framed!”

T: 07783 745056 ella@ellacarte.com www.ellacarte.com

Hazel Williams Laser Cut Designs – Just Because…

BEAUTIFUL and functional products are the key to Elaine Thélier’s ranges with her pen and ink botanical-style drawings contrasted with colour to create cheerful vibrant designs.

The mugs, journals, placemats, coasters and greetings cards all feature images taken from everyday activities – fleeting glimpses of grasses driving along, seed heads on a walk, a row of beans on a chopping board.

Using British manufacturers and local printers is very important to Yorkshire-based Elaine to support the local economy and ensure good quality by building good relationships.

Elaine said: “I was absolutely thrilled and really surprised to be a winner because I just took a small range of my cards and the quality of the things there was absolutely amazing.

“I think the publicity and press is vital and the platform provided by Greetings Today is so important. This was actually the first trade fair I’ve ever done, although I have done art fairs and craft fairs.

“It’s all about my art, I’ve been drawing all my life and studied art at Bath. I quite like illustration with a contemporary feel and that’s where the colours come in. I like the wraparound design too because the reverse is always important to me, I always look at the back of cards myself.

“The accent in my name is quite important to me and I’ve now made it part of my brand – it’s a shame it doesn’t come across in the website address!”

WORKING primarily with paper, wood and acrylic, Hazel Williams uses both hand cuts and laser cutting techniques to create her delicate greetings cards, acrylic decorations and wooden nightlights.

The seeds for her passion for paper and lettering were sown when she lived in Hong Kong and discovered the precision and delicacy traditional paper cutting and Chinese calligraphy.

Based in Buckinghamshire, Hazel began creating personal cards for friends and moved into bespoke wedding and event stationery before branching out into laser cutting, setting up her own studio in January 2013 when she bought her own machine.

“This was my first trade show,” Hazel said, “It was really useful and I’ve made a lot of good contacts.

“I’ve done individual commissions before and sold to shops and done a commission for Kew Gardens of some little wooden Christmas decorations based on some of their buildings.

When I started doing laser cutting it was with duplex paper for the cards, and I do bigger paper cuts in frames. Once I got my own laser cutter I could experiment and I ordered a lot of different materials to see what I could do with it.

“I like the way you can play with the light and the cutting, and in the frame you get the shadows. Then with the little houses you put the light inside so it has the opposite effect.

“I was really surprised, really touched, to win the award. It’s lovely to have the encouragement particularly being my first time there and having had a look around and seeing all the other beautiful things that were there that everyone else was doing. It’s great encouragement.”

T: 07949 414163 elaine@elainethelier.co.uk www.elainethelier.co.uk

T: 07786 853464 hazelwilliams@gmail.com www.hazelwilliams.net

Elaine Thélier – Commended

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LICENSINGFOCUS LICENSING FOCUS

All set to bloom There’s a blooming good new licence in the UK Greetings stable as they have announced a deal with the Royal Horticultural Society.

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HE LATEST licence at UK Greetings is all set to bloom as they have signed a three-year agreement with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

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Make the UK a greener, more beautiful place

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The exciting new addition to their impressive portfolio of licences sees stunning new RHS product set to launch in the middle of this s year, and promises to entice a large catchment of consumers. y The new product will be positioned across multiple UKG brands, including Carlton, Gibson and Camden, in both standalone and i integrated ranges. i The product is planned to primarily target both males and females across three key generations, and will cater for the full spectrum of a card connectors. c In addition, the product will retail across the board, in specialist card shops, independents, grocery stores and multiples across the UK. s The RHS have a vision to “enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener, more beautiful place”, and UKG said they are m delighted to help this happen through beautiful greetings cards. d Speak to your sales representative for more information.

T: 01924 465200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 63

Independently Independently audited, audited, ABC ABC circulation circulation of of 6,086 6,202

The impartial voice of the greetings card industry May Date2016 here Issue 8 ? Volume Volume17 ?

SEE US AT PG LIVE STAND 513 10 -11 MAY

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d il 01992 702 900 | sales@danilo.com | www.danilo.com /DaniloCalendarsUK

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Independent retailers contact Is It Art on 01926 747935

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