Greetings Today

Independently audited, ABC circulation of 6,086

The impartial voice of the greetings card industry November 2015 Issue 3 Volume 17

ROAR CARDS TO

SHOUT ABOUT!

PROUDLY MADE IN THE UK

www.theartfile.com

T 0115 8507490

E sales@theartfile.com

THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SHOWCASE OF GREETINGS & GIFT. Discover the most exciting new products for your business at the industry’s premier global event.

www.springfair.com Espresso Cup, Bialetti, Hot Plate Products · Tree, CB Imports · Pineapple, Two’s Company by Mulhouse · Stool, Baa Stool · Foo Dogs, India Jane · Cockatoo Cushion, Bombay Duck · Patterned Cushion, CB Imports.

7-11 FEBRUARY 2016 NEC BIRMINGHAM UK VOLUME OPENS 6 FEB

REGULARS 05

Leader

contents the team

24

Start planning as Christmas is just around the corner, plus Window On The World.

06

News

10

20

33

Talk Of The Town An anniversary special of greetings retailers, the people who matterm telling it like it is.

36

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

John Ryan How personal do you want to get, that’s John’s question this month.

On The Shop Front Jo Barber admits going it alone isn’t great.

Meet The Newbies Windles-sponsored focus on industry newcomers.

19

Independent retail advisor Henri Davis looks at the festive phenomenon.

29

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

Retail Advice

39

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

It’s All About Sales

22

Cover Story

30

Innovation and creativity are at the heart of The Art File’s offer.

12

Supplier, Distribution & Wholesale Focus Here are the SDEA’s top 10 tips for retail display.

26

Occasion Cards Any event is an occasion, and the Brits have turned it into an art form.

28

Advertisement Manager Gareth Liddiatt gareth@lemapublishing.co.uk 01442 289940 (direct)

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

Agents Neil and Alina keep up with the trends.

FEATURES

Editor Tracey Bearton tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk

Charity Cards The greetings industry has designs on helping worthy causes.

32 38

Managing Director Malcolm Naish malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk

GCA Market Report & AGM

Circulation Manager Robert Thomas robert@lemapublishing.co.uk

Growth is good news as Clintons CEO heads up inspiring event.

Keep in touch - follow us:

BLE Review

@greetingstoday

There was plenty of character at the big licensing event.

https://www.facebook.com/ greetingstodaymag

● Bestsellers & Trends will be featured next month.

Henries Awards Tweet all about it – the story of the gongs.

ONLINE

Go to our website - www.greetingstoday.co.uk - for all the up-to-date news and we also expand on Occasions Cards in our online features.

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.

Mark Janson-Smith, Postmark in Chiswick, Balham and Dulwich, London: “I’ve been selling the Shakies range since day one which is at least 10 years, and it just keeps reinventing itself. It did drop off at one point. I think James may have got a bit bored but when people like me kept trying to order he did some new designs and it’s going strong.

People love sprinkles but they hate the mess. There was a phase about 10 years ago when everybody was putting sprinkles in cards and they fell out all over the carpet when you opened them which was annoying, but these tick all the boxes.”

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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 3

Your platform for trends, new ideas and innovations

THE HEART OF THE BUSINESS from 30. 1 – 2. 2. 2016 in Frankfurt am Main

Book your ticket now and discover all the latest product developments in the paper, ofďŹ ce supplies and stationery sector: paperworld.messefrankfurt.com/tickets info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83

leader Editor Tracey Bearton

OESN’T time fly when you’re having fun – or even if you’re not!

I can’t believe that we’re a long way into November already.

The clocks have been turned back, avoiding the deer looming out of the dark is the game on the drive home from work every evening, and both Halloween and Bonfire Night are well and truly over.

As I particularly love fireworks – who doesn’t like sparklers, but show me a decent-sized Catherine wheel or multi-shot barrage and I’m anybody’s – I’m thankful that our dog isn’t too bothered by them despite being quite a nervous soul.

As a rescue pet, his unfortunate background of abuse has sadly left him jumping at his own shadow while bus stops are a complete no go area for no reason we can fathom but, strangely, he was quite happy to go out for late walks with all the bangs and bright lights looming overhead.

Mind you, just as we were congratulating ourselves that almost a year of love and attention had seen him really settling down, he accidentally kicked a discarded plastic bottle in the long grass and jumped 10 feet in the air before skulking down behind me.

The trouble is, once you get past these dates it leads inevitably to the inescapable realisation that Christmas really is just around the corner, as our columnist Henri Davis talks about on page 24.

In the lead-up to the big day, we also have

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

D

the GCA’s Festive Friday Campaign to galvanise everyone into writing their cards on the last Friday of November. Remember that we love to see your photos of events like Festive Friday so please email them over with a few details of who, what, why, where and when to tracey@lemapublishing.co.uk For me it also means starting the preparations for our annual Christmas Eve barbecue in the woods, which is simply the best way to distract scarily overexcited little ones as they anticipate the visit of big beardie in his red suit, avoid all the last-minute “I must just get this from the shops” moments, give the dogs a fab walk, enjoy some great grub and have a wonderful time with good pals – and yes, we do go whatever the weather, it’s tradition!

However, before we get to that point, there’s quite a lot of work to do as the Christmas break means both the January and February issues of Greetings Today have to be got ready for print.

The January issue must be completed and published in time for the holidays so if you want to appear in the mag do send in all editorial by the deadline of December 1, then the February deadline of December 14 follows hard on its heels as we need to get ahead before the festive fun really kicks in.

I realise all you lovely publishers are busily preparing fantastic designs to delight the retailers and show at the trade fairs which kick off the new year and me nagging for editorial is probably the last thing on your minds but you know it makes sense!

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

Want to appear in ?

JANUARY FEATURES:

Top Drawer Spring Preview (January 17-19)

Giving & Living Preview (January 17-20)

Christmas Cards & Wrap JANUARY COPY DATE – DECEMBER 1

FEBRUARY FEATURES:

Paperworld Preview (January 30-February 2)

Spring Fair Preview

(February 7-11) FEBRUARY COPY DATE – DECEMBER 14

WINDOW ON THE WORLD WHEN you’re a new retailer any publicity is good but Olivia Reilly managed to bag herself telly exposure courtesy of ITV’s Anglia News.

The owner of Little Boat Gifts in High Street, Brightlingsea, and her customers were filmed on November 10 after Olivia’s career change to artist, greetings publisher and retailer also saw her reach the Prince’s Trust Young Ambassador Of The Year regional finals, held the following day – she said: “I didn’t win, but still had an amazing day out.”

The accolade coincided with Olivia and hubby Pete completing the outside of the shop where she sells cards under her Olivia Goddard Designs label, along with publishers including Red Berry Hill, Blue Eyed Sun, Two Little Monkeys, and Dilys Treacle Treasures.

Talented artist Olivia changed career after years of panic attacks forced her to leave her jprimary school support assistant job.

A friend offered her a part-time role in her gift shop which led Olivia, who had studied art, to design postcards which she turned into

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greetings cards and eventually started her own business with backing from the Prince’s Trust.

Since launching her cards in 2013, Olivia has become a Young Ambassador for the trust, and decided to set up her own store which opened in her Essex home town in August.

She said: “I selected the name because I wanted it to fit with Brightlingsea being a coastal town and also, in the summer, we will have a lot of seaside gifts. We’ve been so busy we’ve only just put up one of the signs outside, there’s still one to go – but at least it’s all painted blue now.”

“Lots of different bits and pieces” is how Olivia describes her stock of cushions, bunting made by local ladies, paintings, photos, candles, glassware, frames, clocks, personalised handmade gifts, and the all-important greetings cards, plus Brightlingsea souvenirs.

T: 01206 304555 www.facebook.com/Little-Boat-Gifts T: 01206 304815 www.oliviagoddard.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 5

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in the news news in brief Closing down sale THE girl with the frizzy hair and the one who likes pretty flip flops have decided to close publishers Love From Lemonade so held an everything must go sale which ended on November 6. Run by directors Cathy Haworth and Sarah Britton-Davies and printed

by Murray Thomson at Apple Print in Bristol, the announcement came on October 28 via their Facebook page and website.

On the road again

HALLMARK are hitting the road again to unveil their creative collections across Christmas and everyday cards for 2016, plus products and gifts. The Make Your Mark roadshow will roll into 19 towns and cities across the UK and Ireland between January 12-28, taking in iconic locations including Manchester’s Old Trafford stadium, the Titanic Museum in Belfast, Liverpool’s Royal Liver Building, Silverstone race track in Northants, Newcastle’s Slaley Hall, the RAF Museum in London, and Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge.

For full details see www.hallmarkroadshow2016.co.uk

Meet Sarah and Jeremy

A COMPLETE life change is the impetus behind Sarah Ward’s move from being the director of Penny Kennedy to starting work on October 22 as the new chief executive of the Giftware Association.

Sarah, 42, is taking up the role with the Birmingham-based association after 11 years at the upmarket gift packaging division of Swan Mill Group – which recently bought Ling Design and Talking Pictures. Meanwhile, Blue Eyed Sun and Ivy Ellen MD Jeremy Corner has been chosen as the GA’s vice-chairman-elect.

Floating on cloud of joy

A FLUFFY cloud of wonderfulness is how Bex Hassett has described the first award earned by her Bexy Boo greetings card publishers. Knutsford-based Bex and her Boo Crew picked up the Best Start Up Business 2015 at the Cheshire Business Awards ceremony in Chester Catherdral on October 2 – and followed up with a Henries Award (see page 28).

Powering to prize

ROSE Calendars are hoping to power their way to a prestigious prize as one of the finalists shortlisted in Print Solutions annual awards to be announced on November 17. The company’s solar panel project powering their Colchester factory has brought them recognition as one of four finalists in the Solutions For The Environment category.

Au revoir but not goodbye

IT WAS goodbye from Paul and Cathy Heddock at Bishops Waltham Post Office on November 5 as they retired from running the store after nine years, leaving it in the capable hands of new owner Paul Dawkins.

Cathy, who will soon be taking over a jewellery, accessories and card shop, said: “We’d both like to say how happy we’ve been here at the Post Office and, of course, thank you to all our wonderful customers and the staff. It’s been an honour and a privilege.”

Top Of The Shops

GLASGOW’S Paperchase, Waterstones in London’s Piccadilly, and Wyvale’s Shrewsbury outlet are the three greetings card retailers who have made it into Retail Week’s top 30 UK stores ranked by design. The specialist magazine compiled the Top Of The Shops list ranking them in terms of how they look as well as what makes them special and places in which people want to spend money. Top was Selfridges in London, with the Apple store in Regent Street second, Paperchase came in 13th place, Waterstones at 21 and Wyevale at 28.

6 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

restructure to see job losses JOB losses are expected across the board at UK Greetings after a full strategic review has led to the Dewsbury-based business being restructured.

In an announcement on October 27 the company said: “Following a full strategic review, the business is being restructured with an expected reduction in the number of staff. The measure is being implemented due to business process redesign and several global initiatives.

“Regrettably all functions of the business will be directly affected by the restructure to ensure the business is designed in the most cost-effective and

efficient manner in order to maintain and improve the award-winning service and support we provide to our retail partners.

“A process of consultation with our elected employee representatives is being established with all affected employees offered guidance and support.”

UKG, whose brands include Carlton, Gibson, Hanson White, Camden Graphics, Special Editions and Boofle, won the Gold Award for the Best Service To The Independents at the Henries earlier this month.

T: 01924 465200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk

No sale at Paperchase so Timothy stays PAPERCHASE have secured a £50million refinancing package to further support and enhance the company's strong growth ambitions in the UK and internationally – with current CEO Timothy Melgund staying in charge.

In an announcement on November 2, Paperchase said the financing package includes a £32m six-year term loan from direct lending fund Permira Credit Solutions II and £18m of capital expenditure, revolving credit and ancillary facilities from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Timothy said: "We are delighted to have agreed this arrangement with two very wellknown funders. The debt will enable us to further build on the momentum in the business and continue to deliver our ambitious growth plans."

Paperchase will remain under the ownership of Primary Capital, a leading provider of private equity to UK-based growth companies, and existing management led by Timothy (pictured). The debt investors have been attracted by the company's strong trading and prospects for the future.

In July the company announced a 33 per cent increase in profit for the year ended January 2015 with EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) up to £9.6m, total sales up seven per cent to £128m, and ecommerce sales jumped 42 per cent.

Paperchase are on course for another strong year with the current trading figures being ahead of expectations. During the last 12 months, Paperchase have launched in Canada through major department store chain Hudson’s Bay, the USA through stationery giant Staples and added a further 13 new standalone UK stores and they expect to open another five shops before the year end.

Meanwhile, the company have seen their profile among customers grow since the launch of their Treat Me reward programme, which is on track for one million members in the first six months since the UK launch this summer.

www.paperchase.co.uk

Moonpig sale is on A date for entries MOONPIG and their owners Photobox Group have been sold to a pair of private equity partners for around £400million with the current management team reinvesting part of their proceeds.

The deal announced on October 20 is subject to certain conditions including consultation with employee representatives and anti-trust clearance, but is expected to go through four years after Photobox bought Moonpig from founder Nick Jenkins and other investors for £120m.

The Daily Telegraph reported Exponent Private Equity and Electra Partners are expected to pay around £400m to buy the group from the existing investors – Nick is believed to have kept a stake when he sold Moonpig originally but thought to have sold it since.

Exponent and Electra will buy the entire share capital and become the principal shareholders and the current Photobox management team, led by CEO Stan Laurent (pictured), will continue in their roles while reinvesting part of their proceeds from the sale back into the company.

Stan said: “We have made great headway with the support of our longstanding shareholders, board members and employees, who have taken us from humble beginnings to create the European leader in this market. But with a market opportunity of £6 to £7billion in Europe alone, our story is only just beginning.”

Photobox reported revenues growing 20x to £275m in the past 10 years with 18m orders fulfilled in the last 12 months following the acquisition of Moonpig in 2011, Hofman in 2014, and PosterXXL earlier this year.

THE NATIONAL Calendar Awards are now open for entry with judges including Greetings Today editor Tracey Bearton keenly awaiting their chance to check out the product.

TV presenter Eamonn Holmes has just been announced as the speaker for the awards ceremony which will be held on Wednesday, January 27, at Stationers’ Hall in London.

There are five categories covering 17 sections plus the Excellence Awards for which all entries are eligible, and special awards for the outstanding business and retail calendars as well as the People’s Choice, which is voted for by guests at the presentation evening.

There’s a one-off £150 fee covering all entries by each publisher, which also includes four tickets to the presentation evening, although students’ entries are free.

The form is available online or by contacting NCA organiser Pat Batley (patriciabt@blueyonder. co.uk) and entries close on December 1, with Tracey joining the panel of suppliers, retailers and industry experts, including David Jones of Premier Beswick, independents Eddie Deacon, Paul Atterbury, Jenny Jones and Vanessa Kramer, David McGuiness of Kodak, London Stationery Show organisers Christopher Leonard-Morgan, Becky Chilcott of the Wynkyn De Worde Society, and industry advisor Michael Rose of Rose Calendars, for the judging on December 10.

T: 020 8390 3507 www.ncawards.co.uk

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news in brief Send your work to Minister ANY GCA member wanting to put their work before Minister Ed Vaizey has until Monday, November 30, to send a card in to Sharon Little. The Greeting Card Association chief executive is meeting the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries on December 2 and wants to take a card or gift from each member to show the creative diversity of the industry.

Products should be sent to Sharon at Cards For Ed Vaizey, GCA, United House, North Road, London, N7 9DP.

Stepping back in time

UK GREETINGS have stepped back in time to help out the BBC with a Christmas special looking at how families spent the festive season from the 1940s to the 1990s. The Greeting Card Association put the two together after they were contacted by Wall To Wall Media for historical card samples for their BBC2 festive special Back In Time For Christmas, a show based on the recent hit factual series Back In Time For Dinner.

Who’s ready to tweet?

people news Andrea is pedal powered AWARD-winning retailer Andrea Pinder put her money and energy where her mouth is to raise money for charity – and her team have already almost trebled their £5,000 target.

Andrea left her Unit 7 stores in Manchester and Birmingham, and Presentation in Barrowford in the capable hands of her assistants while she and four pals cycled 370km across Cuba in aid of the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, in five days from October 16.

The Unite & Bike Against Cancer team of Andrea, Jackie Godfrey, Michelle Mellor, Christine Humberstone and Philippa McDowell, have self-funded their trip so all the money raised goes to the foundation and they had a rousing send-off with their Cuban Ball, raffle and auction at the Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping.

Andrea, who won the RETAs Award for best independent card shop in the North and Northern Ireland for her Manchester shop while the Birmingham one came in the top four in the Midlands and Wales, said: “We all did it with flying colours, it was challenging but achieveable and it was an amazing experience. My

TWEETING and Facebook postings have been the order of the day for the publishers and suppliers who attended the latest Cardgains Social Media Seminar on October 21 at the buying group’s Sheffield HQ. Part of Cardgains’ strategy to help both suppliers and retail members become more comfortable with social media.

Jason Squires led the seminar, explaining how social media, particularly Twitter and Facebook, can help businesses reach their customers and advice on how to use them to generate sales or marketing messages.

Discount boost for entries

ENTRIES for Gift Of The Year 2016 have soared by 70 per cent compared with the same time last year with suppliers taking advantage of an early-bird entry discount. And extra Card And Wrap entries mean they will join the other 19 categories in the first round online judging between December 17 and January 4, instead of all entries going straight to the second round where a panel of retailer judges will choose the winning and highly commended products. The winners are announced on the first day of Spring Fair.

Good stores honoured

STAFF at two High Street card stores are celebrating after being named as the winners of Cherry Orchard’s Shop Of The Month competition for August and September. Cool Cards & Gifts in Skipton and Rathbone’s in Chingford have been recognised for the great range of cards, gifts, balloons and accessories they offer to customers and now go forward to the grand prize draw in December with the chance to win £1,000 worth of Cherry Orchard stock.

Retirements lead to sales

SEVERAL long-serving Card Connection franchisees have announced their intention to retire, including Reading territory holder John Byett. Card Connection MD Michael Johnson said: “The average time a franchisee stays with us is eight years and some for more than 20 years. John, who has run the Reading territory since 2011, was previously Card Connection’s IT manager for 10 years.” Retirement also means the Coventry and Northamptonshire franchises are for sale.

www.unit7cardsandgifts.com http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/girls-cycle-cuba

Going wild for Jack

Changing tack for funding

INSPIRED Goodbyes haven’t hit their target in their bid to raise £10,000 via Kickstarter to publish their book It’s Not Fair to help children deal with bereavement so they have reassessed their ideas. Greetings publishers Helen Lawson and Sophia Lucop-Leech have worked out they need just £3,000 to get the book into print so are asking the people who pledged via Kickstarter to re-pledge through their own website by November 30.

bum is fine – it’s nicely toned as is the rest of me!

“We’re quite confident it’s going to touch the £15,000 mark, my suppliers have been extremely generous on the Virgin Money Giving page.

“We’ll definitely do it again – they’re organising a bigger challenge for next year and we’re thinking about it although it’s quite expensive when you’re self-funded.”

FOUR million viewers went wild for Lanther Black director Louis J Parker when he appeared in BBC hospital drama Casualty on October 3 – okay, so they may not have tuned in just for him, but he was certainly a highlight!

The greetings card publisher also has a sideline as an actor and plays Scott ‘Rocker’ Rosher, the big-talking member of the Hart Team, a highly-trained group of paramedics and he’s pictured a scene with Iain, Big Mac and Noel.

If you missed the All The Single Ladies episode, he’ll be back for another episode in February with his acting name of Jack Daw in the credits. www.lantherblack.com

Royal approval for Dids DIDS Macdonald got the royal seal of approval when her work to prevent artists and designers losing out to copying was recognised with an OBE. The CEO and founder of Anti Copying In Design (ACID) collected her gong from HRH The Princess Royal at an Investiture Ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London.

Wearing a Macdonald Of The Isles tartan coat-dress designed by Highlands’ couturier and ACID member Sandra Murray MBE, Dids said: “This highlights the importance of the incredible contribution of great UK designers and the intellectual property which underpins design brands whether micro or macro.

“I shall continue to raise awareness about ACID’s ongoing design and IP campaign Commission It, Don’t Copy It.” ACID was formed in 1996 as the first UK trade body to help designers protect their intellectual property after Dids nearly lost her successful small company several times when the decorative accessories they designed and produced were blatantly copied.

Last year history was made when the IP Act became law in Britain making the intentional infringement of a registered design a crime following ACID’s 15-year campaign to change the law.

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T: 0845 644 3617 www.acid.uk.com

OBITUARIES ● DIANA Truman, the longest-serving employee at BIRA, has passed away from cancer. Her funeral was held on November 2.

Alan Hawkins, CEO of the British Independent Retailers’ Association, said Diana was “a much-loved and popular member of the team”.

He added: “Her work running the Home Decoration Retailers’ Association also made her BIRA’s longest-serving employee when her time with HDRA and its predecessor the Paint And Wallpaper Trade Association is added.

“Her enthusiasm and can-do attitude meant it was natural that she stepped up to be secretary of both the British Hardware Federation and Pet Product Retail Association divisions.

“Diana was a true BIRA star who will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.”

www.bira.co.uk ● GUIDE To The Licensing World founder Richard Latter died suddenly aged 52 on September 28, leaving his wife and two children.

His business colleague Joanna Cassidy said: “He was a very much-loved colleague and friend and will be greatly missed by many. He started in the licensing industry in 1995 and he loved it and made many friends.

“In tribute to the work that Richard put into this industry over the years, the Guide To The Licensing World will continue to be published, to grow and develop in a way that I know he would have wanted.”

www.licensingworld.co.uk

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 7

licensing news

exhibition news

Let’s get emotional

Under one umbrella

GEMMA are tapping into the social expression phenomenon by signing a deal with G Global Merchandising Services on Emoji, as their official partner across cards and wrap. car And they’re they getting their team involved in the creation of a greetings range aime aimed at millennials as well as designs suited for juveniles, tweens and teens by running a competition for staff members to submit card design des ideas using the Emoji characters.

Shelley Boyd-Platt, Head Of Product And Marketing for the licensed lice greetings specialists, said: “Emoji is such a fun brand and I’m sure our team will come up with some very amusing captions capt with the winner not only getting bragging rights when they th win but they'll see their design idea on shelf at retail!”

Launching for spring summer 2016 Gemma are creating a co-ordinated range ran of general birthday, ages, relations and occasions caption cards and gift packaging including roll and giftwrap plus two sheets-two tags packs.

TOP DRAWER has evolved – organisers Clarion Events have brought the three shows under one umbrella to present four distinct elements and create a single destination starting with the upcoming spring event.

Having expanded into greetings and fashion accessories, they introduced Home in 2012 and Craft in 2014 alongside the main show, Clarion have now united everything under the Top Drawer brand with Home, Gift, Fashion and Craft sectors.

The 2016 Top Drawer Spring edition runs from January 17-19 at London’s Olympia as one of the UK’s leading design-led buying events.

Event director Alejandra Campos said: “Our dedicated team spends the year cherrypicking the best in class across home, gift, fashion and craft.

“The result is a curated, exciting and inspiring event that presents the up and coming trends, and showcases the very best of each sector.

“The new look is fresh, premium and contemporary. By simplifying the brand architecture, we are able to focus more on relevant content and engage fundamentally with each of the communities we represent.”

Buyers are now invited to register for the show which is due to host a record number of exhibitors and bring together an inspirational showcase of thousands of selected British and international brands and designers.

T: 01264 388400 www.gemma-international.co.uk

Sign up for whizzpopping WHIZZPOPPING new Roald Dahl cards will be available in the spring as UK Greetings are one of the licensees signed up by DRi Licensing in the lead-up to the acclaimed author’s centenary in 2016.

An array of licensed product is due to hit the High Street as the new licensing direction focuses on three key stories – Matilda, The BFG and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – withy new style guides just released to give everything a fresh and contemporary look.

UKG’s launch of a series of age greetings cards featuring the eye-catching new graphics and fonts will be followed by children’s nightwear and underwear from Aykroyd TDP including a range based on the whizzpopping dream worlds of The BFC to accompany the film release next summer.

T: 01924 465200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk

www.topdrawer.co.uk

Power to the vote

Coming on strong

VOTING is open for the second Buyers’ Power List Awards, so you can nominate who you think are the best and most influential buyers around.

The awards are designed to celebrate, reward and recognise the contributions of buyers and retailers throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland using an industryvoted nomination system, with the winners revealed at Spring Fair, run by i2i Events.

The first stage is a round of nominations open to the whole industry, followed by a second round of peer nominations in which finalists will be able to rank their peers across each awards category.

The first round will also reveal a Power 30 list of 30 buyers, who industry peers will vote for and rank to produce an overall winner, considered to be the most inspirational retailer in the country.

CHRISTMAS orders were strong at Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn where another successful show saw strong orders, high quality products and an innovative line-up of exhibitors.

Held at Glasgow’s SECC over September 20-21, this was the last chance for most retailers and buyers to make pre-Christmas orders and a steady flow of visitors over the two days saw exhibitors report they had taken good orders, had some excellent leads and enjoyed meeting with their retailers and buyers, both existing and new.

Show director Mark Saunders, of organisers Springboard Events, said: “We’ve had a positive reception from buyers and exhibitors alike with strong orders being written and quality leads being taken. There is a quiet confidence for the Christmas sales period and visitors were pleased.”

www.springfair.com/Content/SpringFair-s-2016-Buyers-Power-List

www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk

Iconic show expands AN AUTUMN version of the iconic British Craft Trade Fair has been announced for next year – along with bringing the show down south.

The spring edition will stay at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate – running from April 10-12 – with the autumn version taking place at the Old Truman Brewery in London’s Brick Lane over September 11-13.

Now in its 40th year, BCTF is one of the UK’s longestestablished trade fairs and organiser Philip Bunn said: “BCTF is unique as the only trade fair that solely represents British design.

It has become increasingly popular with attendees.”

www.bctf.co.uk

Sponsors sign early

Brochures online

FOUR leading brands have been announced as the first sponsors for National Stationery Week 2016, which runs from Monday to Sunday, April 25 to May 1.

Now in its fifth year, Sheaffer, Maped Helix and Nu Notebooks have returned to sponsor NSW with Staedtler joining them for the first time. The week contains the London Stationery Show, on April 27-28, and World Stationery Day, on April 28.

ONLINE visitor brochures have been launched for Paperworld and Creativeworld, two of the three shows in Frankfurt from January 30 to February 2.

Paperworld, which includes a greetings sector at the Messe Frankfurtorganised event, will also be reprising their Trend Show by trend bureau Bora.

Herke.Palmisano featuring the three themes Graphic Vitality, Essential Serenity, and Floral Liberty.

T: 020 8462 0721 www.nationalstationeryweek.com

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www.paperworld.messefrankfurt.com

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supplier news Driving continuous development CONTINUOUS personal development is important at Loxleys where they are investing in their most valued asset – their staff – with a certified NVQ course.

Half the Sheffield greetings card print and manufacturing specialists 46-strong production workforce are due to complete the Level 2 Performing Manufacturing Operations course in January.

Loxleys recently acquired an apprentice and a university placement student as well as running the course, provided

by Track Training learning and development organisation, which includes health and safety training, practical and theory based learning, analysis of current working practices and video-based evidence.

Factory Manager Terry Ratchford, who arranged for the accredited qualification to take place, said: “I’m delighted that, as a company, we are continuing to invest into Lean Manufacturing. Our employees will be given the time to learn new skills and make improvements and we believe we will reap the benefits as we go forward into 2016 and beyond.

“However, we recognise that our production staff are continually learning new skills on various machines and challenging themselves during busy periods at the site, taking on additional roles over and above their designated jobs.”

Loxleys have also implemented a compulsory Improvement Hour scheme across the company where every member of staff must complete one hour of the scheme per week.

T: 0114 250 1150 www.loxleys.co.uk

Enveloping history THESE two envelopes could come from the same range but they’re actually more than a century apart, showing how classic style can span the generations.

The top photo shows a pack of bespoke envelopes made this year by Yorkshire Envelopes for Pigment Productions while the others are of a letter found very recently by Peter Rae. The MD for the envelope manufacturers based in Bingley, west Yorkshire, said: “Clearing out my father’s house earlier this year I came across a box of old letters. This one in particular caught my eye because it’s so close to a bespoke design we produce for Pigment.”

The letter is a memorial card from 1926 from Thornton, Bradford in remembrance of Peter’s grandfather Lewis Rae, who died aged just 45.

Peter added: “It just shows that some fashions are timeless.”

T: 01274 518890 www.yorkshireenvelopes.co.uk

New machine’s million capacity boost IT’S NOT every day that a firm can increase their offering by a million plus, but that’s just what UK Envelope Centre have done with their new W&D envelope-converting machine coming on-stream.

Expertly re-conditioned over the last few months by the company’s skilled in-house engineers at their factory in Baildon, West Yorkshire, this machine boosts capacity by more than a million envelopes a week.

Director Joanne Jefferson, pictured with brother and co-director

Richard Todd, said: “Evolving our offering is essential if we are to continue the growth we have experienced in 2015. The opportunity to increase production capacity and improve turnaround times for our customers was not to be missed.

“We greatly appreciate continued support from them and our suppliers, which ensure ongoing development plans for UK Envelope Centre in 2016 and beyond.”

T: 01274 581327 www.ukenvelopecentre.co.uk

WE LOVE * PRINT &

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

*

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meet the newbies Getting down to punny business GREETINGS cards and everything pun is the ethos behind Nocturnal Paper where founder Meghna Jhuremalani comes up with unique designs at odd hours.

“As a child when I’d think of that word ‘celebration’,” Meghna said, “the first thing that came to mind was birthdays. I was that girl who would spend hours making birthday cards for my friends and family, whatever chance I’d get.

“This was the part of me that brought out my eccentricity, doodling through the night for someone I loved, and that’s when I became nocturnal.

“I’m a graphic designer by day and decided to take the plunge and quit my day job in September 2014. I was excited and decided to give my stationery a go. I also have the big advantage of freelance work to help make ends meet.

“I love everything paper and I’m trying to bring back the personal touch to communication by creating pun-filled cards that break away from today’s generic, impersonal mobile messaging – I can’t lie, I love my iPhone but my love for paper is much more.

“I take inspiration from life, all the ish that I get up to, all the random things I eat and all the

random things that people eat on Instagram #foodporn, the people I meet, the chart-topping songs and the hashtags that go viral.”

Meghna graduated with a BA in graphic design from Central Saint int Martins and worked as an in-house se designer before deciding to go it alone, starting by selling at random m markets where she received a lot of feedback.

In November 2014 she was asked sked to design a custom card for 200 VIP celebrity gift bags for a shop anniversary party in Hong Kong, Meghna added: “They loved the cards and I was asked if I could work on the event invite so that was fun – I mean pun.”

With her hand-illustrated cards now stocked online, and in boutiques and coffee shops across the world, Meghna took the plunge with her first exhibition at Top Drawer Autumn, and can be found at some weekend markets closer to the holiday season. www.etsy.com/shop/nocturnalpaper www.facebook.com/nocturnalpaper

The personal touch BORN in Taiwan, Eva Huang fell in love with drawing as a little girl and has long enjoyed making personalised cards for her family and friends.

She was often asked to make personalised cards for friends’ loved ones and for their special occasions and her publishers, Happy Nut Creations, has now grown to needing sales agents as well as licensing designs.

Eva said: “I felt impressed to see how a small card can bring so many positive feelings to people and tighten the relationship between us and our loved ones.

“With the dream of starting my own business and to make a more positive impact with my creativity, Happy Nut Creations was born. ”I started making and selling greetings cards and prints from my own illustrations at local craft markets and shops and then launched it to

WHAT’S NEW AT WINDLES? Have you got your copy? – Things are hotting up at Windles Group as their new home is near completion.

Look out for the super cool moving poster that’s being handed out.

If you haven’t received your copy yet please drop us an email at hello@ windles.co.uk or call us on 01844 201683 and we’ll be sure to get one to you.

We’d love to know what you think – please tweet or email us your comments about pictures like this one of our lovely Emma-Louise Allen!

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the retail world at PG Live in May 2014. All the responses and feedback have been fantastic and really encouraging. ”Many of Happy Nut’s designs are inspired by everyday life, the people around me and the natural world; all images are drawn by myself with vivid imagination and delicate details, and cover a wide range of styles and themes.

“Currently, I have eight design ranges made up of 84 cards and 29 prints. I’m also working on a brand-new art range which will be launched soon in the new year.

“The creative process always excites me, and nothing makes me feel more joyful and rewarded than to see my work making people smile, laugh and enjoy. That’s what really energises me and keeps me going!”

T: 07735 271566 www.happynut.co.uk

On yer bike – Windles’ very own Ian Kear-Bertie set off last month on a 170km bike ride around the Cotwolds.

Taking part in the Great Shakespeare Ride saw Ian tackle demanding hill climbs totalling more than 7,200 vertical feet and finishing 38th out of 147 entries.

The event was in aid of the Shakespeare Hospice, which looks after patients and family members affected by serious illness.

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meet the newbies CREATIVITY WINS OUT

THE PRESTIGIOUS Henries Awards are the ultimate accolade for greetings card publishers – being part of the event is always exciting and rewarding but this year Windles Group were enthralled to have so many of our customers’ products as finalist product selections in every category.

Creative Cold Foil, the process developed and perfected in-house here at Windles Group, featured on so many of the incredible shortlisted and winning designs.

Knowing how many years of development were involved prior to launching the process, and the hard work in the ensuing years perfecting it, its huge success and popularity really shone through at the Henries this year which was a proud and moving moment for us all.

Windles MD and founder Bruce Podmore initially dreamed up the concept back in 2004 – and the winners of the greetings industry Oscars prove that the process, revolutionary in litho production back then, is still bang up to date.

The broad range of styles and designs displayed across the winning cards shows that while the publishers may be using the Creative Cold Foil process, it doesn’t mean they all look the same, the Windles touch really enhances the artwork.

Developing the most creative and innovative methods to provide publishers with ways of optimising their creativity has hit the spot and is what we’re all about. Having invented the process, we’re the home of Creative Cold Foil and our custom-made in-house equipment means we produce amazing metallic colours that add a luxury look without the premium price.The High Street wants up-to-date and fashion-led greetings cards and creative foil has given publishers the toolbox.

After initially using a prototype machine, Bruce evolved this into a foil unit on one of our litho presses that lays down a very thin layer of reflective silver foil to areas on a sheet of material using high-definition plate technology.The substrate then travels down the press where the foil is overprinted with the four-colour process or Pantone specials and fluorescent inks.

You can have as many metallic colours per card design as you wish, the process is in perfect fit as it is generated in one print pass, and the UV press curing system enables delivery of a dry sheet ready for the next finishing process – plus the board texture remains intact.

Being able to offer a complete and diverse array of processes, from design through to finish, and wrap ready for delivery to store, is how we have built strong and loyal relationships with publishers working closely with them, translating their ideas into solutions to make the product manufacturable.

With the support from our in-house MuchMore Studio services, headed up by Ian Kear-Bertie, Windles Group provide design help, checking and assurance. Liquid proofing of Creative Cold Foil designs enables publishers to see what products will look like pre-production, and gives them

Addicted to being Objectable TIM Gould runs the new greetings card company called Objectables which launched at Top Drawer Spring in January and he’s already booked to exhibit there again but he said: “I still consider myself very much a beginner.

“I started designing cards to complement the work I was doing painting old bits of furniture and quickly found that my rather facetious and dark humour had found a perfect outlet on greetings cards.

“This led me to make more and it soon became a bit of an addiction.

“My latest range is Just A Token which are a collection of unique promises which can be saved by pulling out the perforated token on the card and redeemed at a later date.

“At present I design all the ranges we put out, but am looking into working with some other illustrators.”

T: 07838 112076 www.objectables.co.uk

the opportunity to show customers for their input where appropriate. Where time is tight and deadlines for new product are stretched, Ian will take design briefs and create designs from scratch too.The MuchMore Studio work flexibly and in a tailored way to suit the individual customer.

Our Creative Cold Foil Flexisheet, and standard Flexisheet solutions allow you to produce just one or two designs without having to worry about filling a litho sheet.You can test the market or just eliminate any nerves about the new designs and it’s perfect for reprints too.

The digital department at Windles has grown organically and, now headed up by Dan Joyce who is passionate about what he does, we are seeing rising numbers of publishers coming to us and enjoying the service we offer. Some people like to stick with digital printing, others have made the transition to litho a lot quicker than they might have as it can be perceived as being a bit scary. Our customer service team and expert production operators take the worry out and we are heartened at just how many publishers have thanked us for recommending where they might make more money if they switch a particular order to litho!

We also offer many other techniques too numerous to mention but which we’ve perfected, giving designers so much choice when creating new ranges. Our lovely Emma-Louise Allen is out and about on the road working with publishers, presenting the inspirational Windles’ brochures and talking through ideas and new concepts for which she will often organise trials knowing the vast experience at the company will deliver exactly what our customers want.

Emma, who knew instantly she wanted to work for Windles when she met Bruce and the team during her interview 18 months ago, said: “I’m really happy to have returned to the greetings card industry after a stint in pharmaceuticals. Windles is unique as the only printers to do true litho Cold Foil, so it’s a sales person’s dream.”

Windles Group is a special place where ideas man Bruce can exercise his passion for inventing new things. Working with his experienced team of more than 80 at the factory alongside our customers has generated the magic behind so many of the greetings cards produced – as proved by that Henries Awards tally!

With the imminent move to our purpose-built eco-friendly and efficient home at Thame imminent, Bruce and his team are looking forward to setting up all the machinery in the shiny new factory and getting to work so more lovely publishers will be polishing their awards in the future.

Buttoning up new venture WATERLOO House Porcelain greeting cards are a new venture for Madelaine Hanman Murphy, a ceramicist for 20 years, who individually makes unique porcelain buttons, hand-glazed and fired in her kiln at her seaside studio in Essex.

Madelaine has always had an interest in drawing, and her range of Valentines, Mother’s Day, Christmas and Everyday designs reflects a charming mix of porcelain and illustration. Porcelain is a robust material, providing a pure surface on which to apply colour or texture, creating a pretty button that can be a keepsake when detached or as a gift kept on the card.

Madelaine said: “I love decadence, especially if it’s shiny. A taste of porcelain is a luxury, with glazed and lustred surfaces in the greetings card range to express your sentiments.”

Using UK-sourced materials at her studio, Madelaine’s work is entirely handmade, sewn and tied by hand on to the quality matte card.

Each card has been carefully designed from the sentiment to the drawing, to creating the porcelain button that expresses some of the sentiment people wish to give others. Personalisation is also available, from message to design and finish.

T: 07545 375 246 www.waterloohouseporcelain.com

Magical escape full of wonder NEW MEMBERS THE latest publishers to join the Greeting Card Association include: EMOTIONAL RESCUE LTD Unit C2 The Courtyard, Tewkesbury Business Park, Tewkesbury, GL20 8GD Jennie Rutterworth info@erescue.co.uk 01684 272370 THE CARD GALLERY 78 Birchlands, Bridgnorth, West Midlands, WV15 5ED Lisa Forde info@thecardgallery.co.uk https://www.thecardgallery.co.uk 01746 766876

CELTIC Mystery are new publishers set up to sell the unique artwork and photography of Angela Jayne Latham.

Angela is a successfully published artist and landscape photographer with many of her landscape images already used on a commission basis for greetings cards, postcards and calendars by established publishing companies.

“I wanted to launch my own collection of greetings cards featuring my digital artwork,” Angela said, “which merges my photographs together to create magical scenes of fantasy and the mystery of the countryside.

“All my work is inspired by the magic, legends

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and folklore of the British Isles.”

With Angela’s images already selling well to the public, Celtic Mystery are particularly targeting retail outlets and galleries that are a little different and in areas where people visit to enjoy and connect with the beauty of the British countryside.

Angela added: “We believe that now, more than ever before, people are looking for a little bit of magic to help them rebalance and connect back to the natural world. My work is designed to take you in to a world of wonder and escapism.”

T: 01684 591052 www.celticmystery.co.uk

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SUPPLIERDISTRIBUTION&WHOLESALEFOCUS

Be a show off Supplying the greetings industry takes many forms, from companies offering the print services, board and envelopes needed to make the physical product to the brokerage houses, buying groups and wholesalers offering another way for retailers to acquire stock. Retailers also need to show off the goods – here Heidi Easton of the Shop & Display Equipment Association gives advice and her top 10 tips to drive sales.

TOP 10 TIPS FOR INDEPENDENT RETAIL SUCCESS

1

Strip out the clutter to create a clean and more spacious environment where the customer feels comfortable and wants to stay longer.

Branding is vital – whether you’re an independent or multiple, the overall design must reflect your corporate identity, brand heritage and outlook.

Consider the products you stock and how they fit together, what colours and styles complement each other, what they convey and what you want to get across to the public.

Identify your target market and aim your product displays and shopfittings at that audience – bright, bold, fashionable and trendy for young customers; stylish and elegant with a contemporary twist for the 30 to 40-somethings and classic colours and themes with a twist for an older clientele who aren’t as old as they used to be!

Choose a relevant theme and create a unique feature, enlarge upon it then make it the very essence of your shop, embodying your core ethics and outlook. Bear in mind that smart, modern, relatively neutral fixtures and fittings allow the product to shine.

Stunning windows bring the shoppers in – be creative, use lots of colour and have fun. Even closed the window continues to work so it needs to be powerful. Window and in-store displays must work together to entice the customer and excite them into purchasing.

Large format graphics are an economical means to convey lifestyle branding.

Good lighting is essential as it can make or break a great store layout. Bright lighting is imperative for successful display, way finding and the feel-good factor. Some thriving retailers use dramatic, theatrical lighting within very dark stores as part of their inherent identity, but there’s no place for a poorly-lit shop.

Smells and tastes are important. No one wants to enter a foul-smelling store! These elements really come into play with gift shops where delightful aromas from chocolates, candles, reed diffusers and soaps entice buyers.

For the perfect retail mix add a variety of in-store events, special offers and customer loyalty benefits to ensure additional footfall and sales in quiet times.

Good customer service is vital. There’s no point in investing in your store interior unless you invest in your staff. Polite and courteous staff, well informed about the product and willing to help and offer advice when necessary, will win every time.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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F

OR SOMEBODY who has natural design creativity and flair, the art of good store design may be simple but, for most of us, designing an exciting store can be really tough!

‘

A modern, minimal interior, backed up by good service, is the answer

You may have thousands of different products to display in a compact space. You may be fearful of losing existing customers or missing a valuable sale and have certainly neverr considered your store as a work of art before.

Does this sound familiar? Then read on.

Setting up a shop is not an easy option these days – the competition is vast, the sophistication and demands are intense and, to make matters worse, the continued depressed economic climate means consumer confidence and spend is at an all-time low.

Even the multiples, with their muscles flexed and toned to perfection, are struggling for survival.

Internet sales continue to rise and have an increasingly detrimental effect on our traditional shopping routes with mobile phones opening up yet another convenient shopping channel.

The latest phone apps make shopping, or sourcing a bargain, even easier. The app directs you to the nearest and cheapest store stocking a particular product where all you do is scan the item.

The supermarkets, though not terribly inspirational, continue to eat away at our profits too, providing convenience and an ever broader product range. With so much competition it’s amazing that any independents are still trading.

Getting the right mix is essential for survival. You must be aware of the trends and prepared to apply them to your business, boasting both unique products and unique in-store interior.

No more cramped, cluttered stores, which is where so many retailers go wrong – a modern, minimal interior, backed up by good customer service, is the answer and works every time.

It gives the customer more space to shop both physically and emotionally and, in turn, allows the products to stand out,

iincreasing sales and securing repeat b business.

The good news is that people still llove to shop, but the bad news is that ttheir expectations are ever greater! They want to look good, they want the latest trends, they want to keep up with technology, they want the most exciting products and, above all, they want the best price.

This is where the Shop And Display Equipment Association can help – SDEA have a vast array of suppliers and manufacturers who, between them, can offer retailers thousands of innovative and exciting products and services. Many members will even be able to put together a themed project, as well as designing, manufacturing and installing it for you – a complete turnkey operation.

The SDEA Directory offers a unique guide to retail display, full of creative and innovative ideas and inspiration for creating retail environments that work with a list of all members including detailed descriptions of their products and services.

The showcase gallery offers a visual interpretation of their many retail display items and the quick reference guides help shopkeepers locate a supplier by the retail trade or the products in which they specialise.

This directory is usually priced at £10, but the first 50 readers of this magazine to contact us will receive a free copy by quoting this feature.

’

T: 01883 348911 www.shopdisplay.org

Tailored display with multiple publishers GREAT British Card Company developed their Waterwells brokerage arm as a solution for many varied retail environments.

It allows for tailored display with multiple publishers, but with one delivery, one merchandiser, one invoice and one point of contact.

Waterwells are currently working with more than 50 publishers of various sizes who they incorporate into their planned displays – this ensure it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but there’s a tailored display for each store depending on their individual requirements

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and customer demographic.

Offering a choice of publishers from one source means you can plan in as little as one range from a publisher and it gets replenished with all the other cards so the retailer doesn’t have to worry about minimum order values and overall stockholding is reduced.

GBCC’s Chris Houfe said: “In many cases we’ve

seen stock reduced by half and we’ve still seen year-on-year sales increases.”

Some customers use Waterwells for fulfilment purposes only but many call on their other support services such as merchandising and retail development.

Chris added: “It’s about offering the right display solution, with the correct mix of cards, supported by regular merchandising and regular refreshes.”

T: 01452 888999 www,greatbritishcards.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

CONGRATS ON OUR NEW ARRIVALS. WE’RE PROUD TO WELCOME TWO HANDSOME NEW MEMBERS TO THE FEDRIGONI FAMILY. SYMBOL CHUNKY ARRIVING IN TWO WEIGHTS; 260GSM AND 280GSM. A ONE-SIDE COATED STOCK WITH EXCEPTIONAL WHITENESS AND A BULKY FRAME WHICH MAKES IT A BUNDLE OF JOY TO PRINT. OLD MILL STUCCO SUPER WHITE 290GSM, THE YOUNGER SIBLING OF OLD MILL WITH AN IMPROVED WHITENESS, A FELT-MARKED TEXTURE AND MORE TOOTHINESS; WITHOUT THE TEETHING PROBLEMS. YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO WAIT TO CHRISTEN THEM.

THE FEDRIGONI GREETINGS CARD COLLECTION — FOR IDEAS, INSPIRATION, NEW ARRIVALS ETC. REQUEST YOUR COPY INFO@FEDRIGONI.CO.UK

HEAD OFFICE /SALES 0845 071 4408 SAMPLES@FEDRIGONI.CO.UK

LONDON PAPER STUDIO 020 7242 3168 FEDRIGONI.CO.UK

SUPPLIERDISTRIBUTION&WHOLESALEFOCUS

Service is the key WORLD-renowned paper suppliers GF Smith have become synonymous with high-quality, interesting and beautiful papers.

An important aspect of their success has been their service to greetings card publishers, supplying a wide variety of boards for cards and coloured papers for envelopes – luxury papers for giftwrap are the latest addition to their growing product offer.

The GF Smith greetings team consists of Adedeji Adejoke (South East), Janet Stevens (North and Scotland) and Mark Jessett (South West), ably supported by Ian Thurston, greetings linchpin at their Hull head office.

Forging strong working relationships with publishers, printers and envelope suppliers has been the backbone of the team’s success.

Coupled with an unrivalled portfolio of papers and boards, the GF Smith greetings team are well positioned to help new publishers find their way more easily in this vibrant and fast-moving industry.

They are also proud to name some of the UK’s largest est independent publishers as their most valued lued and loyal customers.

Variety and always been key d quality li have h l b k attributes ib of the GF Smith range, and the materials in the greetings range are no exception with many of the papers being British made, and the vast majority are FSC certified.

Recently, 100 per cent post-consumer recycled papers have been added to the Accent Callisto and Accent Antique ranges, giving even greater choice to publishers.

For more information please visit the website and click on greetings card consultants at the foot of the page.

T: 01482 323 503 www.gfsmith.co.uk

Yorkshire born and bred JUST as their name suggests, Yorkshire Envelopes are based in Bingley, West Yorkshire and have been for over 30 years.

Ask a Yorkshireman or woman what’s so great about this celebrated area of the British countryside and you won’t be able to get a word in edgeways – it’s the same if you ask Yorkshire Envelopes MD Peter Rae about his wares.

“We have 32-plus colours in seven stock sizes always in stock,” Peter (pictured) said, “not to mention our paper quality! We insist on using 100gsm paper as the minimum in all of our greetings card envelopes. No question.

“Our envelopes are proudly made in Yorkshire in our 30,000 sq ft manufacturing plant and warehouse.”

Servicing the greetings card industry, 130million envelopes pass through Yorkshire Envelope’s doors every year and make their way across the globe – although some just make it across the road to the local craft shop.

In 2013 Yorkshire Envelopes joined the Pukka Pad Group strengthening the company portfolio and widening the selection of product categories, including their supermarket and department store brand of Pukka Envelopes – still the same steadfast quality of course.

In summer 2015 Yorkshire Envelopes launched their Envelope Hall of Fame.

Peter added: “Our envelopes are brought to life by the greetings cards they contain and we wanted to see more of them so we have invited our customers to submit their designs, for us to share with the world.

“Every week a new design and a short piece about each designer is added to our website and social media. It’s brought our customer base closer and has been great to bring our envelopes – one of the first methods of delivering communication - successfully in to this very modern and sociable world we live in.”

Supported by their loyal and experienced workforce, Yorkshire Envelopes take great pride in their quality envelopes, competitive prices and a fast turnaround on orders and that’s how it will continue, by ‘eck!

T: 01274 518890 www.yorkshireenvelopes.co.uk

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SUPPLIERDISTRIBUTION&WHOLESALEFOCUS

Range is constantly refreshed THE AIM at Simon Elvin Ltd is to produce a high-quality, popular range of best-selling designs at great value with a comprehensive selection of greetings card, gift wrap, social stationery and party products.

The release programme means that every six weeks retailers have the opportunity to see exciting new card ranges, so they can have fresh product on their racks the whole way through the year to keep their customers constantly excited with something new.

Simon Elvin’s greetings card range covers everything from humour to fine art to relations, occasions and juvenile age cards, with every product offering not only great quality, but great value for money.

The social stationery range includes notes, hanging pads, invitations, acceptances, and is the most comprehensive range of product offered in the UK market.

Simon Elvin’s party range covers banners, badges, balloons, confetti; everything that a card shop would need to offer to celebrate a party.

Finally, the company offers a range of 80 gift wraps on stock control as well as folded wrap and foil wrap. Their collection of everyday gift bags comprises more than 50 designs, offering the finest quality, heavyweight bags, many embellished with foil and flitter and specialist finishes.

Simon Elvin also offer a range of single colour bags under the title Finishing Touch that have complementary tissue, tags and ribbons to present a totally colour-themed look on a rack, plus there’s a collection of beautifully-designed gift box nests.

Simon himself said: “We distribute our range through a network of leading wholesalers distributors who can offer our product both in cash and carries as well as working with distributors who employ their own sales force who can call on customers to offer them guidance and assistance in the range of product to stock.

“We find this method of distribution enables retailers to stock a very wide range of great value products easily and without any overstocking.”

T: 01628 526711 www.simonelvin.com

Quality Bespoke Envelopes!

From 5,000 quantity to many millions we can produce excellent quality envelopes for you.

Plain, printed, coloured & textured finish.

100% recycled & FSC available.

Please call us on 01274 581327 with your enquiry or email us on joanne@ukenvelopecentre.co.uk

www.ukenvelopecentre.co.uk We will be delighted to help! www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

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SUPPLIERDISTRIBUTION&WHOLESALEFOCUS

Full-blown brokerage solution WOODMANSTERNE have developed a new service for independent card shops that has been growing momentum over the last few years – W-Select is a full-blown, brokerage solution for a single shop.

Woodmansterne’s sales director Andy Paterson said: “We’ve learned how difficult, time-consuming, and expensive it is for retailers to plan their own Occasions, Relations and Age displays, make sure they have devoted the right amount of space and covered off all the right captions, while at the same time giving their consumers sufficient alternatives in each category.

“It really does take a lot of effort to deal with all the individual publishers and coordinate deliveries to bring a new installation together. That’s why so many independent shops, in the past, have turned to one of the two main American mainstream suppliers to resource this section.

“When Woodmansterne – planning publisher for some major retail chains for 15 years – decided to add merchandising, warehousing and fulfilment, it became obvious to us that the final step was to extend this complete package to our independent shops.

“What makes us so different and, in fact, stands us apart from all the other brokerage operators, is how we have managed to

improve the sales of our retailers while often reducing the selling space tied up with cards.

“One of the most significant differences is our philosophy – we are quite selfless in the amount of space we allocate to Woodmansterne product. We ensure W-Select retailers are always getting the best cards from the best publishers; and that the offering is regularly refreshed and maintained; we provide meaningful sales analysis before a refresh.

“As far as I know, we’re still the only planners who do this using product images rather than product numbers, this ensures we provide a broad choice per caption with little duplication of design style.

“I think we enable a retailer to stand out from the crowd with fabulous product sourced from the very best of independent publishers.

“Every week we exceed 96 per cent availability. Deliveries can be scheduled to arrive at a time when you have staff to put it out, keeping a shop’s overheads to a minimum. I can’t think of a new W-Select outlet that hasn’t sustained double-digit growth in its first year.”

Pictured is a recent W-Select installation at Van Hage’s Garden Centre in Ware, Herts.

T: 01923 200600 www.woodmansterne.com

Covering cards in quality STANDING still is not an option at UK Envelope Centre. Despite a harsh trading market, the family-run business continues to expand, adding staff and increasing production capacity throughout 2015.

Director-owner Joanne Jefferson is keen to emphasise their continual drive to improve their customer offering in terms of turnaround, service and the all-important cost.

Of course this cannot be at the expense of quality which is why they are exceptionally proud of one of their newest ranges, Cromford Embossed.

The look and feel of this beautiful, textured range shouts quality and will add the finishing touch to any greetings card. Available as standard in eight attractive shades, special colours can also be accommodated to order.

Minimum order quantity starts at 5,000 with no cap on higher volumes as required.

Joanne said: “The retail High Street demonstrates very well that customers are increasingly more discerning and seek both quality and budget range greetings card products.

16 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

“We’re particularly excited about the Cromford Embossed range as we believe that it delivers the premium option to our clients alongside the high volume products we’re already well known for.”

T: 01274 581327 www.ukenvelopecentre.co.uk

Benefits of membership CARDGAINS is a nationwide buying group for independent retailers in the UK who help to develop retail businesses across many independent sectors including greetings card shops, gift shops, art galleries, garden centres and post offices.

Cardgains has been established for more than 26 years and has around 1,000 member shops in the system, around 50 per cent of which are traditional card shops.

Marketing Director Penny Shaw said: “We have excellent relationships with our members through our sales, marketing and customer service and we strive to cultivate these relationships to increase productivity for all parties and increase profit for our shareholding members.”

The Cardgains system can offer preferential trading terms to members on cards, gifts, wrap, party, candles and other associated products and services.

Their portfolio includes some traditional brands with years of longevity in their designs, as well as more contemporary ranges which reflect trends in the current marketplace.

The Cardgains system is simple and straightforward and offers big brands and big benefits to independent retailers both direct and via their bespoke Supplier Web Shop. ”At Cardgains we are passionate about independent retailing and continually strive to do the best for our members and portfolio suppliers,” Penny added.

All retailers need to understand the importance of presenting product in store and Cardgains can offer advice on store design, refits and fascias, display advice on staging and concept selling, as well as, pricing and optimising customer service opportunities.

Simple changes, such as lighting, layout and ambiance can help to create a better shopping environment for customers and needn’t be a large investment for retailers.

Even keeping windows clean and displays fresh can encourage regular customers to return repeatedly to see what’s new!

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

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Poppy Red 100gsm quality colours… don’t settle for less Over 32 colours ALWAYS in stock 6 stock sizes of Envelopes & Cello Bags Stockists of Fleck Kraft 110gsm Bespoke sizes & printing available

Contact our Sales Team on 01274 518 890

www.yorkshireenvelopes.com Supplier of the year 2015 Manufacturing envelopes for over 30 years

IMPACT

Part of the Pukka Pad Group

SUPPLIERDISTRIBUTION&WHOLESALEFOCUS

Comprehensive retail programme UK GREETINGS not only offer a full portfolio of everyday and seasonal greetings cards plus ancillary, they also can provide a comprehensive retail programme for their retail customers.

This can include a free consultation with a retail development expert, free CAD drawings to help visualise the new card department, a free bespoke planning service with a choice over which other greetings card publishers to include and free point of sale.

If required, various fixture investment options are available, with a free installation service and ongoing display space versus volume analysis.

In addition to this, retailers are offered various marketing initiatives throughout the year, including loyalty schemes and Boofle days.

This is topped off by many years of awardwinning service and having one of the largest sales and merchandising teams, which UKG’s Independent Sales Director Tony Roberts describes as “probably the best in the industry”.

T: 01924 465200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk o.uk

Imaginative papers, made in Italy FEDRIGONI’S mills in Italy produce exceptional papers which have catered to customers’ imaginations for more than 125 years.

In the UK their extensive range of papers and boards dedicated to the greetings card industry, and their ability to deliver next day in this fast-paced industry have been the key to their recent growth.

Fedrigoni’s service is not limited to just those who require volume – their minimum order of 25 B1 sheets is available from their extensive range of Fedrigoni papers and in-depth range of greetings card boards, providing a cost effective solution for small print runs.

They also provide a number of services, including a dedicated samples department, paper advisory service and direct sales order line plus technical support and assistance from Fedrigoni paper consultants.

Being a global business also has its benefits with the ability to deliver the same well-known Fedrigoni papers

18 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

and boards in more than 110 countries worldwide, helping to ensure customers are able to provide consistent products on a global scale.

Fedrigoni have a long-standing environmental commitment – their paper production is 100 per cent powered by methane and renewable sources while 70 per cent of the cellulose pulp they use has CoC-FSC certification and the remaining 30 per cent is classified as FSC-Controlled wood.

Fibres used in production come from annual or fast-growing sources such as cotton, hemp, flax and bamboo, and one-third of raw materials delivered to Fedrigoni’s factories arrive by rail rather than road.

From smooth and tactile surfaces, through coated and uncoated papers, to a wonderful range of colours, Fedrigoni papers are a valued asset for publishers and printers who seek variety and quality for their communications.

T: 0845 071 4408 www.fedrigoni.co.uk

Extra-special story to tell FENNER Paper work with greetings card publishers and printers of all sizes and, as an independent paper merchant, they have the freedom to source paper and board from a wide variety of mills throughout Europe, to find creative and distinctive solutions.

Specialists in supplying products that are environmentally friendly and those made from alternative fibres, Colorset, Crush, Shiro and Papermilk all give publishers an extra-special story to tell about the boards on which their cards are printed.

Fenner’s Sarah Glennie said: “Our logo pretty much sums up what we’re about – paper people, who work in a joined-up way, but there are more than three of us!

“We’re passionate paper people, wishing to give our customers all the information they need to make the right choices for their cards.”

T: 01732 771100 www.fennerpaper.co.uk

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JOHN RYAN RETAIL ENVIRONMENT

Let’s get personal S

O, HOW personal do you want retailers to get? There are plenty of online operators who will personalise a greetings card on demand with almost any message, rude or otherwise, that you might care to consider.

And doubtless the recipients of this form of thoughtfulness will feel they really have had the personal(ised) touch when the envelope is opened.

But hang on. Does this supposedly personal touch actually feel any better than some carefully chosen words written on a card that’s calculated to appeal to the person who receives it?

In the days when the written word is something of a rare commodity that feels in many ways so much more personal than a piece of card with your name printed on it, why would you want more verbiage consigned to the digital printer?

In short, does personalisation work for the receiver of a greetings card and will it make the sender feel that an appropriate job has been done?

Personalisation can, in fact, feel just a little bit creepy and the written word has the capacity to feel very much more personal.

Now think about something even more surreptitious and in some ways disturbing – equipment featuring software which can recognise a shopper by a closet iris scan is available and may even be in use in various shops already. After all, who’s going to admit to using such a thing?

Once a shopper is thus identified, a whole raft of suitable services can be proffered and the chances are good that the shopper will feel obliged to make additional purchases.

That’s the theory and the sellers of personalization software talk a pretty good game when it comes to providing reasons for retailers to buy their wares.

‘

So do you want to be ‘personalised’, do you? That’s the question John Ryan looks at this issue as he wonders how such services that you didn’t know you wanted help greetings retailers.

On a broader canvas, this is all part of the ‘solutions in search of problems’ phenomenon that bedevils so many whose job it is to run shops and make a profit.

It’s a bit like IKEA really – you never knew you wanted that combined garlic peeler and automatic sock folder until you saw it in the store, so tech merchants will try to sell you something you were totally unaware you needed and yet suddenly realise is almost indispensible.

Other examples might be shops without tills where every member of staff becomes a cash register owing to hand-held devices – fine in a very large space with multiple sales associates, but next to useless in many smaller stores.

It can, in fact, feel just a little bit creepy

’

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

What about self-scan, which is the bane of shoppers who are being made to do work that shop assistants previously did for them, or even the spamming of innocent shoppers once their data has been collected when they have had the temerity to buy something.

Enough! What’s wrong with a shop that simply sells cards and does this well? You probably don’t need to be reminded by email that it’s your mum’s birthday soon, or that little Edward is due to come of age next month – these things you know and will act upon with or without a digital prompt.

There is a sense that perhaps it’s time to call time on digital snake oil salesmen looking to take advantage of hapless retailers.

Greetings card shops should be the repositories of items that shoppers will choose following a quick browse and where they will be served with a smile that is indeed aimed at them, without the experience being overly personalised.

All of this may sound like a pretty extended whinge, but there is purpose in my comments.

Tech solutions in stores cost money but in small shops they serve little purpose other than to befuddle the operator and test the patience of the shopper.

Save your cash and concentrate on being a good, or even better, shopkeeper.

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 19

IT’S ALL ABOUT SALES

Defining the here and now

N

ONE of us can escape trends – they’re everywhere we go, from fashion to homeware, car design to cards and gifts. They define the here and now and the era we live in.

Having been an agent for just over 10 years now I can look back and remember companies or styles that were big back when I started, which wouldn’t stand a chance a decade later as we’ve all moved on to to something new and different.

Trends never stand still, they are constantly changing and evolving and so must we. So, when looking back over the last 12 months how would I define 2015 in terms of a trend?

I think there has been a real contrast of opposites from brightly coloured florals to simple grey stripes. I feel we’re moving away from Shabby Chic as it’s grown a little too shabby rather than chic, and there’s a feeling of moving towards Scandinavia Chic with its earthy and wholesome feel, and a smarter, tidied-up edge to it.

We haven’t been able to escape a 1970s throwback this year too. The 70s have been everywhere influencing card designs and various gift products too, with retro stripes, bubble script and everything that can encompass a big beard.

Animals are still everywhere, especially British

● Right on trend – the Autumn window by Angela at the Butterfly Rooms in Saltaire, West Yorkshire

wildlife consisting of owls, badgers, foxes and deer.

These scramble all over cards for every occasion and in gift ranges too – I can’t begin to tell you how many felted animals I’ve sold this season!

There has certainly been an increase in the number of personalised cards and gifts too, with the consumer demanding that something extra special, more sincere without a mass-produced look.

And let’s not forget Baby Shower cards which I have been asked for more than ever before.

So what’s in store so far for 2016?

What I’ve seen coming through so far is the sea which seems to be playing a big part in designs for the upcoming year, everything marine with its soft pastel blue tones.

Thankfully I’m pleased to say buying British is still a favourite among my indie retailers. Our home-grown manufacturing and designers need the consumers’ support more than ever before with this very fast-growing global market.

– Alina Clark

Subject to change

L

I E many iindustries IKE i the greetings card business is subject to changes that reflect current fashions and trends.

Sometimes it can be a particular colour pallet that’s very “of the moment” or it can be an image that’s incorporated into numerous ranges or designs.

A couple of years ago my best-selling cards were very detailed and intricate designs with lots of layers of patterns.

Today I’ve found that people want something much more simpler without all the “fussiness”, as one of my customers calls it. Even with giftwrap and gift bags I’ve noticed that the more striking, yet simple designs are the ones I’m writing the most orders for.

I know that if certain subjects such as cupcakes or owls, for example, become a popular item in the wider world, they then make their way on to various publishers’ ranges – but this year it almost felt like the greetings card industry had sent out a memo instructing everyone to bring out a chalkboard range LOL! I’d have thought looking for inspiration for a card range shouldn’t involve just walking round the card halls at trade shows to see what’s selling well for everyone else, it should be more about finding

textiles, il etc, that h are the h current ffashion hi and d using i them on a greetings design.

Taking elements of what you see around and using them in a different way while keeping to the theme is one thing but bringing out a range that’s exactly like someone else’s is akin to copying in my book – surely looking over someone’s shoulder in an exam isn’t looking for inspiration, it’s cheating?

Just like in the fashion industry greetings trends do have a habit of going full circle and I have no doubt things will change eventually and the more detailed designs will be back in vogue again.

This must be really difficult for a card designer as they obviously want to stay true to their own brand and style, but they also have to keep ahead of the game and try to be a leader rather than a follower.

Obviously they don’t want to completely change their style to keep up with the current fads but not adapting to changes in the market can also leave them vulnerable.

In general I tend to do better with publishers that have a lot of different ranges with different looks as there’s usually something within them all that my customers will like.

If a publisher has a very strong identity and look

● Hitting the spot – Cornflower

is Neil’s current top seller it’s usually a very quick decision as my customers will either like that style or they won’t. This can then rule out the whole publisher for that retailer, whereas those with many styles are more likely to have something my customers want.

Also these kind of publishers are popular with my customers because when they do an order they can have lots of different styles in the one carriage-paid order so giving a greater choice on the shop floor.

My most popular range at the moment is Cornflower from Cinnamon Aitch. It has a very contemporary, sharp look and uses a really nice colour palette that sits together really well. It’s not over complicated and seem to be really hitting the spot for customers at the moment.

– Neil Anthony

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.

20 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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17—19 January 2016 Olympia, London

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Innovate to create

COVERSTORY

The Art File are at the top of their form, roaring to success in industry awards this year and, never ones to rest on their laurels, there’s plenty more where that came from with a new range of everyday designs about to be unleashed.

‘

A regular l trade d show presence allows us to keep in personal contact with lots ots of customerss

’

● In the market – Art File’s Nottingham offices and associated retail store Behind The Red Door

22 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

I

T’S BEEN an exceptionally busy year for The Art File over at their Nottingham HQ as they prove that innovation and creativity go hand in hand.

Starting with their new Form range of 3D pop-up cards winning the Gift Of The Year 2015 card and wrap category, The Art File yet again demonstrated that diversity and variety is what the card market demands in this crowded sales area.

The award spurred The Art File on to their next major release for 2015, which was Roar featuring cleverly die-cut and folded animal designs, full of character and charm.

And The Art File went on to win a further award at this year’s prestigious Henries awards in October with their Form luxury boxed Christmas cards.

Commenting on the success of their new ranges, The Art File’s Managing Director Ged Mace said: ‘We’re delighted to have the design resources that we have in-house which, together with a band of freelance designers, allows us to produce a broad offer of product for our customers.

“Innovation is key to our success and we are very excited about our forthcoming launch of more than 250 new everyday designs at the end of December ready for 2016.”

One of The Art File’s most exciting new launches for 2016 is a beautiful range of cards by hugely talented young designer Sara Miller whose collection features an eclectic mix of animals, birds and florals comprising over 40 designs.

Each card is finished with hot foils and embossed lines which, combined with the contemporary palette that Sara uses, makes for a highly impactful, must-have collection for 2016.

Alongside their award-winning greetings cards, The Art File have also been hard at work creating brand-new stationery looks, which will be launched to their sales team in early December.

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COVERSTORY COVER STORY

● Roaring success – the cleverly die-cut and folded 3D animal designs

● Right on form – this year’s big success has already won two awards

The Art File have always been supportive of the trade fair circuit, and see shows as a significant part of their yearly marketing campaigns which results in the company exhibiting at Top Drawer Spring, Spring Fair, PG Live, Home & Gift, and Autumn Fair every year – for 2016 they will also be exhibiting at Top Drawer Autumn for the first time.

The Art File believe that exhibiting throughout the year reminds buyers of their brand, as well as having a platform for launching new collections as they are developed.

Of course having a regular trade show prescence allows The Art File to keep in personal contact with lots of their customers, therefore gathering important feedback to both existing and new customers.

Based in the historic Lace Market district of the city of Nottingham, The Art File and their design team are ideally placed to take inspiration from the local area.

With their offices located opposite the Contemporary Art Gallery, and just a short walk from Paul Smith’s flagship store, Nottingham is certainly a hub for emerging designers and talented creators.

The city boasts one of the top art schools in the country, which allows for a constant

flow of graduate design talent on the companies doorstep.

In order to get the very best retail sales performance from their Form collection, the company have come up with two display options for the shop floor. Perspex plinths are available to customers who take the range, and allow a sample card to be displayed easily in store.

For even greater impact, the company have designed a custom-made 24-pocket Form specialist spinner which allows 24 of the innovative designs to be showcased alongside the corresponding stock showing the customer these clever and attractive cards in a clean and simple display.

The Art File team are currently hard at work designing their brand-new everyday brochure for Spring/Summer 2016, which will be individually posted to all of their lovely customers – if you would like to see the brochure please contact them either by phone, email, or at anytime through The Art File website.

T: 0115 850 7490 sales@theartfile.com www.theartfile.com

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● Spinning around – the custom-made 24-pocket Form display

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 23

RETAIL ADVICE WITH HENRI DAVIS

Y

ES, IT’S that time of year again – at the time of writing I’ve received my first Christmas catalogue with the Sunday papers and am aghast that I’m being encouraged to plan my Christmas gift purchasing already.

Then I hear on the radio someone saying they’ve bought and wrapped all their Christmas presents already so I have to wonder what they do in November and December – is it just me!

That means that all the Christmas cards will be in the shops shortly, although there has been a small display in Paperchase since mid-September but they seem to be the exception on the High Street.

I’m hoping there should be some really good designs available, there have been some great ones at the shows but you never know which retailers are going to choose them!

Inevitably there will be lots of snowy landscapes, robins, holly, snowmen and carol singers as they are by far the most popular Christmas images and I often buy more traditional images within my mix of cards as I know they will be well received by family members like this from Great British Card Company (top left) but I’m always interested to see these best-selling images portrayed with a twist for my friends and I love this contemporary image from Museum & Galleries (middle left) while their sister company Real & Exciting Designs have this modern drawn effect (bottom left).

The good news from the GCA Market Report 2014 shows the sales of single Christmas cards strengthened to £174.6m in 2014, up from 2013’s £130m with boxes adding £200m suggesting the last first-class stamp price increase to 62p had a relatively limited effect on Christmas card sales though my hunch is that those being posted are now sent second class at 53p – certainly the 50 or so I send by mail all go second class now.

When I was a buyer at the National Trust nearly all our Christmas cards were own brand which meant our range had a real point of difference.

Because of the number of tourists at the properties in the summer, a significant percentage of sales were made

‘

Christmas comes but once a year… …but goodness, it does keep us busy! With sales of single festive cards increasing significantly, the holiday season is as important as ever, as Henri Davis explains. before the beginning of September as visitors wanted to buy while they were here.

This took a bit of getting used to but, because all the cards were printed in the UK, it did mean we could reprint bestsellers if necessary.

If, as a retailer, you need to be able to guarantee getting large volumes of stock publishers will be asking you to place orders in June and July and for boxed cards April or May so they can include your volumes in their print runs which means that for buyers working for larger retailers buying Christmas products goes on all year.

For independent retailers there is much more flexibility and Home & Gift, Autumn Fair and Top Drawer Autumn are all opportunities to find great cards that can be delivered in October.

At this September’s Top Drawer I saw a significant number of exhibitors from the USA some of whom were showing Christmas-type cards but, because the States is so multicultural, over there cards tend to talk about Happy Holidays and New Year.

I can see these having real appeal to those who don’t want to get caught up in the Christmas spirit but still want to send a message. I wonder if a retailer would ever think they would have enough appeal in the UK to justify stocking them though, of course, they could work really well on line.

Humour is so important to the greetings cards market and Roisin Cafferty’s range of Christmas cards made me smile (left)

There have been some great designs but you never know which retailers are going to choose them

’

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

24 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

and also I loved Coulson Macleod’s eye-catching concertina card (above).

Of course, it’s not just about designs and imagery on the cards, for some it’s also about how they are presented. Last year the feedback from retailers was that sales of packs and boxes seem to be decreasing y-o-y and, while this may be true, the sales are still significant – as the GCA statistics mentioned above show.

Most of the boxed cards are printed and packed in the Far East even with all the hand-finishing needed in making the boxes and adding the tip-ons, flitter etc. This means big retailers can still afford to offer their whole ranges on 3-4-2 deals.

Interestingly, with the Henries winners announced in early October, the Form box that won the Christmas boxed card category is completely made and printed in the UK by The Art File.

Form has won several awards in the everyday card categories already and sells extremely well for those retailers who stock it despite being more expensive at RRP £14 for five cards (left).

With Ombre from Five Dollar Shake winning the best counter card range, (right) that was also a more expensive RRP at £4.50 for the hand-finished range.

Of course Christmas doesn’t have to be the end of the card-selling opportunity for the year, as sales of Thank You cards are certainly on the increase, and it’s not just mums buying for children to do their thank you letters but adults who want to send a brief written message too.

New Year is also another opportunity to remember friends, particularly those who feel they don’t want to celebrate Christmas for cultural or emotional reasons and then it’s Valentine’s – here we go again!!

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l a n o s a e S Sensations!

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OCCASIONCARDS

Finding the niche Every event is an occasion for somebody and the greetings industry does its best to make sure there’s a card out there to cover them all.

P

● Different – Dominique with prom cards from Abacus

EOPLE can turn anything into an occasion and within the greetings industry everyone works very hard to make sure there’s a card for almost any life event.

There’s the list that bigger publishers such as Woodmansterne work to, which includes weddings, anniversaries, engagement, new baby, christening, congratulations, good luck, get well, new home, leaving, retirement, thank you, thinking of you, and sympathy.

While other companies like Mint and Abacus have added new job, bon voyage, driving test, first day at school, exam and graduation greetings, plus Davora are among those catering for the multicultural occasions with saints days, Bar Mitzvah, and even Halloween.

There are also numerous smaller publishers who cover some of the more niche occasions plus ones like Second Nature with their innovative Make It Personal programme where the customer can use the letters and trimmings to make their own caption. As national account manager Chris

Bryan said: “We frequently get reps and retailers alike asking us ‘why don’t you do such and such caption’ when they all know the reason – commercial viability.

“But this way it covers the captions that no one wants to publish so no retailer has to turn away a customer because they don’t stock a caption.”

Mind you, as Clintons CEO Dominique Schurman noted in her address to the Greeting Card Association AGM in September, UK publishers offer an incredible range of captions anyway.

“The UK offers more selection in niche captions,” Dominique said, “with Son & Daughter-In-Law-to-be compared with a general engagement card in the US, For My Girlfriend is Happy Birthday Babe in the US which works both ways, and Daughter 50th Birthday would not be as available in the US. “As for To A Wonderful Daughter On Your Prom – in all my years in the US, I’ve never seen prom congratulations cards!”

Traditional looks and styles

Contemporary alternative

OCCASIONS cards occupy a substantial percentage of Word ’’n’ Wishes design collection.

Within their overall portfolio they offer successful traditional looks and styles across all occasions to cover the many buying and sending situations.

The major sending areas are Sympathy, Get Well, New Baby etc. all of which then require additional sub-captions in order to offer a broad selection.

ALWAYS Sparkle’s Just Words collection has gone from strength to strength and now includes more than 70 different designs covering popular occasions, Christmas and spring seasons.

With their simple typography style, these cards are a contemporary alternative to traditional designs and say just the right words for many occasions.

T: 01942 233201 www.words-n-wishes.co.uk

Just sew good AT WENDY Jones-Blackett occasions are a big part of their range and This Sew&Sew Engagement design has been so popular.

As Wendy said: “Lots of people like to propose over the Christmas holidays and so the shops are stocking up.”

Their New Home design has also been extremely popular since its January launch.

T: 0113 288 8468 www.wendyjonesblackett.co.uk

26 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

T:07940 726842 www.alwayssparkle.co.uk

All the life events EVERYONE loves a special occasion and the chance to spoil the ones you care about, from Christenings to 100th birthdays and all the life events in between.

Ling Design and Talking Pictures have the perfect card to fit all these occasions in styles to suit all tastes from bold graphic designs through to delicate watercolours, catering for more than 100 separate sending situations. Look out for 12 brandnew occasion designs from Talking Pictures in the stunning Stardust range available from November.

T: 01892 838574 www.lingdesign.co.uk T: 0845 450 1815 www.talking-pictures.co.uk

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OCCASIONCARDS

Embossed details with on-trend palette

Continued growth DAVORA have seen continued growth in their Jewish everyday card range where Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah, in particular, are growing in sales year on year, with independent stores as well as multiples continually stocking up.

Also experiencing a rise in sales this year are Davora’s Christening, Communion, Baptism and Confirmation cards. Their popularity appears to stem from the unique contemporary designs, and breadth of the range.

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

Marking special anniversaries CHERRY Orchard have added two new ranges of occasions cards to their portfolio to celebrate anniversaries and weddings.

The model line additions of new code 150 cards have designs for husband and wife anniversaries and wedding day and are 193x300mm with double inserts, and foil and flitter finishes, with traditional romantic designs of red roses and images of gondoliers winding through the canals of Venice.

Also marking special anniversaries is a brand-new range of seven code 75 cards with foil scrolls, colour co-ordinated to the relevant traditional colour of the anniversary, and images of roses, champagne and chocolates, set off on a simple white background.

T: 01684 295500 www.cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

Welcome to the world THERE are few happier occasions in life than the arrival of a little one into the world that’s why UK Greetings have focused on lots of fantastic new product for the special occasion.

A variety of alternative formats and special attachments has been introduced, including detachable keepsakes, honeycomb and a glitter shaker, and adorable new themes such as woodland and patchwork add to the selection.

The popular handmade range Love The Little Things by Bryony Fripp has seen a refresh, along with a refresh on photographic and the inclusion of some heart-warming editorially-led designs.

T: 01924 465200 www.ukgreetings.co.uk

CINNAMON Aitch have just launched many new occasions to their successful Piccadilly and Cornflower ranges which are flying off the shelves.

From New Home to Christening, New Baby to Wedding, there are 12 new occasions in the sophisticated Cornflower range with its on-trend palette and beautiful embossed details.

There are eight new additions to the hand-drawn Piccadilly range with its silver foil text and intricate imagery such as an antique key featuring on the New Home design alongside a stack of vintage suitcases for the leaving card offering.

T: 0121 773 6833 www.cinnamonaitch.co.uk

Offering a larger story WITH more than 150 occasions designs in The Art File’s collection, they have always had a well-regarded, unique range.

There’s a large selection of cards for all major occasions in the calendar and The Art File create some of their designs within the same styling as some of their current everyday collections, giving retail customers a much larger story from which to work on their displays.

T: 0115 850 7490 www.theartfile.com

Enjoy Cookie Jar contents CLARE Maddicott’s latest range featuring occasion cards is a sweet, quirky and fun collection presented in a 125x170mm format.

The Cookie Jar, created by in-house studio illustrator and designer Amy Oakes, consists of occasion and friendship cards printed on art board and finished with spot raised UV varnish.

T: 01638 569050 www.maddicott.com

SEE MORE ONLINE @greetingstoday AT www.greetingstoday.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag Abacus, Allihopa, April Rose, Hallmark, Nigel Quiney, Pink Pig, Playful Indian, Portfolio, Roisin Cafferty, Rose Hill Designs, Sabivo

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 27

HENRIESWINNERS

Pat on the back from Henry Scribbler co-founders John and Jenny Procter were honoured by the greetings industry when they were presented with the Honorary Achievement Award at the Henries. Many of the industry’s finest descended on the Lancaster London Hotel on October 8 for the 1920s-themed gala evening, hosted by comedian Mark Watson, which was the culmination of a record 14,000 entries being whittled down to the 114 finalists in 19 categories.

● Danilo

● Ling De

tton

● Belly Bu

sign

r

● Scribble

● Paper Rose - Eleri Flower Illustratio n

● Wrendale

● Paper Salad

HENRIES AWARDS WINNERS 2015

Most Promising Young Designer Or Artist Cathryn Jones, designer for Hotchpotch Publishing

Best Cute Range Little Creatures from Pippi & Me

Best Children’s Range Dungarees from Paper Salad

Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments Range Alice Scott from Pigment Productions

Best Humorous Range Wulffmorgenthaler from Redback Cards

Best Giftwrappings Collection Paper Salad from Glick

The Henry Cole Classic Award Giggles from UK Greetings

Best Christmas Counter Range Ombre Christmas from Five Dollar Shake

Best Contemporary Trend Range Colour Me Happy from Stephanie Dyment

Best Art Range The Country Set from Wrendale Designs

Best Male Range Platinum from Belly Button Designs

Best Christmas Box Or Pack Form Christmas Box from The Art File

Best Handmade Or Hand-Finished Range Scrabbley Words from Bexy Boo

Best Licensed Range Despicable Me from Danilo

Best Relations And/Or Occasions Range Paloma from Belly Button Designs

Best Service To The Independent Retailer Award Gold winner – UK Greetings Silver winner - International Cards & Gifts (IC&G) Bronze winner - Noel Tatt

Best Traditional Words & Sentiments Range Mad Dots Wedding from Hearts Designs

Best Photographic Range Beautiful from Ling Design

Best Wholesale Range Keepsake Treasures from Xpress Yourself

Best Spring Seasons Range Springtime Easter from Cinnamon Aitch

Honorary Achievement Award John & Jennie Procter, Scribbler co-founders

28 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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ON THE SHOP F RONT VIEWPOINT FROM AN INDEPENDENT

We are not alone!

I

N MY last column we had just moved in to our new premises and were about to experience our first Christmas in a bigger and more prominent position in the town.

If you recall, our first-ever Christmas almost ended up being our last when I got my card order wrong, so I now had to predict how sales would compare a year down the line, with a loyal customer base, better location and improving economy.

The relocation was proving very popular with our customers, better than I could have hoped or imagined and, suddenly, I realised I had a completely different problem – it was highly likely if we carried on selling at the rate we were, we wouldn’t have enough stock to see us through.

I don’t mean just cards, I mean all stock.

Unbelievably everything was selling so well, potentially I could miss the biggest sales month of the year.

Each day the shop was flat out busy, with no opportunity to place top-up orders or source new stock. I was working six days a week, late every evening and we were about to start trading on Sundays in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

How naïve was I to think I could do it alone – I was absolutely exhausted, and what if I fell ill?

I had no contingency plan, no spare hours in the day so I needed help but that meant I had to find time to recruit an assistant at the busiest period of the year. Finding the right person is tough at the best of times, even tougher when you’re up against the clock.

When you start your own business there’s no luxury of a HR Department, Accounts Department or a Marketing Team, it’s just you. It really can feel a bit lonely and a tad stressful at times.

Thankfully I did manage to recruit a great assistant, somebody who was already a big fan of the shop and who I was happy to share trade secrets with.

That’s the first real test of expansion – you’re no longer the only person privy to sensitive information. You have to share margins, daily takings and supplier information. If this person

‘

Jo Barber contines her tale of learning how to make life as an independent retailer work.

● Happy days - Jo with her team

goes to the bank for you, they know your bank balance, it’s a big step.

I remember taking a day off to do nothing more glamorous than paperwork and ordering, I felt sick with worry all day. What if she didn’t treat customers in the way I’d trained her, what if she’d forgotten how to use the till, what if she hadn’t turned up?

All sorts of daft thoughts ran through my head but a quick phone call reassured me she had indeed turned up and was managing just fine, I then had to play the long game and not keep calling. I felt like a new mum who’d left her baby with a complete stranger as I checked my phone for the umpteenth time!

As it was, when she called at the end of the day, not only had she done everything better than I could have hoped, the takings were up too!

Sometimes you have to let go a little, and place your trust in others, chances are they’ll work out.

If you don’t, you’ll go crazy.

With my new helper and the flexibility to stay on top of orders, admin and marketing, we had a phenomenal festive season and we had fun too.

Would it have been as good if I’d staggered through doing it all on my own? Absolutely not!

I’d have saved money on salaries, but it couldn’t have worked.

Sometimes you have to let go a little and place your trust in others

’

In four years Jo Barber has gone from having no greetings retail experience to being named in the top five of the Buyers Power List at Spring Fair 2015 as her shop, The Stationery & Gift Boutique in Ampthill, Beds, has gone from strength to strength, and she has just opened the Home & Gift Store.

T: 01525 404742 info@stationery-boutique.co.uk www.stationery-boutique.co.uk www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Our customers would have experienced a less than perfect level of service, which would have a knock-on effect when it came to the new year as we’d just started enticing new customers so we had to make sure we kept hold of them.

My health would have suffered too – chances are I’d have keeled over way before Christmas Eve. I’m probably not the only shop owner whose dream is to close the doors on Christmas Eve with every card sold and just one lonely Christmas decoration left sat on the shelf.

In reality that doesn’t happen and, whereas in the past I’d been hesitant to sell off seasonal stock at a reduced price, it’s something I absolutely live by now.

What’s the point having a load of cards, wrap and seasonal goods sitting in storage for 10 months – and why would you want to offer the same range to your customers the following year?

Now we prefer to get it all sold and bank the money, what’s more, our customers love a little post-Christmas sale, as do their friends and family who are visiting. It’s a great feeling getting shot of semi-redundant stock and making space for lovely fresh new lines for the start of a new year.

So, that was our first Christmas in our new shop and I’m pleased to say things have continued well.

We’re are now a team of five, we open seven days a week and everybody has a valuable part to play in the success of the shop.

I enjoy having the luxury of being able to take a couple of days off a week, one for me, the other for admin duties, and know the shop is in the most capable hands.

Many of you have emailed to ask questions on how we dealt with specific situations, which is lovely and very welcome – next year I’ll cover some of these, and follow up by talking about the decision to expand into a second store.

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 29

CHARITYCARDS

Charity is for life Cards that help raise money for worthy causes are not just for Christmas, they’re sold all year round – although the festive season is the biggest market.

C

HARITY begins at home, the saying goes – and what simpler way to put this into action that with greetings cards that also help a worthy cause?

And, like pets, a charity card is for life not just for Christmas as organisations from the National Trust to the RNLI, the RSPCA to the British Heart Foundation and every type of charity in between cash in on the British obsession with sending greetings.

Publishers help this process enormously with some, like UK Greetings, having a charity card arm in the shape of their Special Editions section, and there are others who only supply charity cards as well as online retailers who specialise in the genre.

Admittedly the biggest push is around November and December when the festive season kicks in and multiples including Boots, Morrisons, Tesco and WH Smith have own brand packs produced to satisfy demand – a large proportion of the country buy and send Christmas cards so people like to get a bit extra for their money by donating to charity at the same time.

Over the past couple of years the Ladder Club, who help new publishers, have been working with Action Medical Research to help their mission to fund research for sick babies and children.

For the appeal backed by TV personality Davina McCall (pictured top), Ladder Club founder Lynn Tait, who runs the Lynn Tait Gallery in Leigh-on-Sea, asked 11 artists to join her each year in supplying card designs which have raised an incredible £31,000 so far.

And that total will increase as, for this year, 18 of the previous designs have been made available again on the Action website, with packs of five 160x160mm cards selling at £3.99.

The designers in this year’s batch are Dilys Treacle Treasures, Hels Bells Designs, Cherry Picked For You, The Bee’s Knees, Linda Wood, Aianna, Lorraine Stylianou, Red Berry Hill, Perkins & Morley, Libby McMullin, Trumper’s World, Olivia Goddard, Rose Hill Designs, Celia Pike, Molly Mae, Pink Pig Cards and I Drew This.

With help from generous suppliers The Sherwood Press, GF Smith, Enveco, The Imaging Centre, and Visual Packaging, Action Medical Research believe they are the first charity to have all their costs covered.

www.action.org.uk/christmas-cards

30 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Extensive collection aimed at the market PORTFOLIO Select are a well-established art licensing company based in Hertfordshire, strongly dedicated to customer excellence and providing fast, friendly and reliable assistance to their clients.

They have an extensive collection of artwork aimed at the charity market, with lots of new designs each month created with this in mind.

They have a number of artists who are particularly popular in the religious market, including Alison and Enrico McGarrigle, Karen Tye Bentley, and Sue Waddicor.

Alison creates beautifully detailed Bethlehem scenes in her unmistakable style, incorporating painted patterns with a contemporary feel, and Enrico’s digital nativity art is modern and bold, perfect for corporate mailing and catalogue order.

Karen is often commissioned for her varied styles, including bright and colourful religious characters while Sue’s luxurious decoupage designs feature gold foil and elegant finishes, with a fine art feel.

Portfolio Select’s other artists are busy too.

Emma Leach is painting cheerful Christmas characters in fun winter scenes, featuring Santa and friends, with designs perfect for a wide variety of products.

Julie Oldham has been painting on-

trend text-based art, with a homely traditional edge, incorporating plaid and tartan accents, and fun festive phrases.

Nancy Fullenwider is working on lots of new digital art, and they have lovely painterly traditional from Toben Robbins, Michael Donnelly, and Steve Bridger plus bright juvenile art from Sam Rudd, with cute characters and a folk-craft look.

The full selection of portfolios is available to browse online – registration is simple, and they aim to answer any queries from customers as quickly as possible.

They pride themselves on friendly customer service, and many artists are available for commissions, so Portfolio Select can assist with new or ongoing projects.

T: 01442 833458 www.portfolioselect.co.uk

£50,000 worth of grateful thanks FOR A number of years now, The Art File have been working closely with the national children’s cancer charity Clic Sargent by donating 48p to the organisation direct from the trade price for every Christmas Charity Pack they sell.

So far more than £50,000 has been raised for this worthy cause and The Art File Sales And Marketing Executive James Mace said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every retailer who supported this collection over the years.

“Each year the collection gets stronger and stronger, with more interest from retailers which is fantastic news for the charity.”

Each Christmas Charity Pack pack contains six finished cards with corresponding envelopes.

T: 0115 850 7490 www.theartfile.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Unique requirements catered for

In memory of Lyra

ILLUSTRATING Rory Mackenzie’s column in the Motability charity’s Lifestyle magazine has led Mik Brown – aka Miko Greetings – to designing a selection of cards to raise money..

Rory starred in the London 2012 Paralympics opening ceremony and the mag is sent to all customers of the charity y that provides worry-free motability for people with disabilities s and their families.

Miko’s packs of six cards, two each of the three humorous us designs, cost £12 plus £1.50 p&p with 15 per cent of the price going to Motability.

AT DANDELION Stationery they’ve been working with parents Alison and Alan Staley on a greetings card in memory of their baby daughter Lyra, who o died at just a few hours old.

Lyra Grace Staley was born n on Sunday, January 26, this year ear at 16.37pm at 24 weeks gestation weighing just 1½lbs.

Dandelion founder Jo Wilson, based in Melbourne, Derbyshire, said: “Lyra was a strong, feisty, determined girl and, despite all the odds, she came out fighting. Lyra’s prognosis was very poor, and her parents hoped to be able to spend just a few moments with her.

“Their little girl fought so hard that they were blessed with three hours beside her. While she was stable on the neonatal unit, she was baptised by Melbourne’s vicar, and met some of her relatives. When the time came, Alan and Alison were able to hold her close while she passed away peacefully.

“Alison has spent much time recently fundraising at local events, and we have recently joined forces with her to create a special card in memory of Lyra, where Dandelion will donate 35p from every card sold directly to Derby Hospital Foetal Medicine Unit, to enable them to continue the fantastic care they gave to Alison and her family.”

T: 020 8693 1011 1 www.miko-greetings.com m

T: 01332 695359 www.dandelionstationery.co.uk

LING Design are one of the UK’s longest established suppliers of bespoke cards to the charity sector, designing, producing and distributing well over eight million Christmas cards each year to customers ranging from local hospices to major well-known charity organisations.

Each customer’s unique set of requirements are catered for, from creating exactly the right design to appeal to their supporters to delivering the finished cards at a time to suit their schedules.

Ling’s fabulous Christmas 2016 Charity Collection has already been created and a brochure displaying them for selection will shortly arrive with their customers.

T: 01892 838574 www.lingdesign.co.uk

Money means Motability y

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 31

GCAANNUALREPORT&AGM

Growth is good news The annual GCA report repor shows greetings gre tings card ind industry nd du us stry is s a major British success story with total value of more than £1.6billion.

C

ARD sales across the UK have increased in value to around £1.6billion according to the Greeting Card Association’s Annual Market Report which reveals a 7.77 per cent increase in the value of single card sales to almost £1.4bn.

In his report preface, new GCA President Ged Mace said their “considered estimate of the Christmas boxed/pack card market is £200million at retail and 900million cards in volume, therefore arriving at a total market value of £1.6bn at retail for 2014”.

Ged added: “This latest Market Report shows that the UK greetings card market continues to be a major British success story with a value of over £1.6bn at retail. ”The UK greetings card market is creative, vibrant, global, relevant and unique. Ofcom’s recent Communications Market Report has confirmed that greetings cards remain the preferred choice of the British public when it comes to expressing personal sentiment.

“A hand-written message inside a real card carries far more significance and is regarded more highly by the recipient than an email or text could ever be. ”With the increase in GCA publisher members reporting sales figures based on Epos data, the figures are a true reflection of the market. ”As a nation, the UK public purchased a staggering 879 million single cards last year – the figures highlight the importance people place on sending Christmas cards as a key way of remembering friends at that time of year, with retail sales of single Christmas cards accounting for over £174m for the year 2014.

“This represents an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year. Figures from 2012 onwards show the UK market has

emerged from recession and is experiencing a sustained growth in sales across all occasions.

“This upward trend signals an optimistic future for greetings cards which, of course, is great news for retailers, publishers, suppliers and investors in our industry.”

The 2015 report, commissioned by the GCA to provide reliable figures for the industry based on members’ UK sales, covers January to December 2014 compared with 2013, and this year also includes data from 2011, to show year-on-year trends.

The total value of single cards sold in the UK in 2014 stood at £1.39bn with 878.8 million single cards sold with value up 7.77 per send while volume is down 6.1 per cent compared with 2013.

Everyday card sales account for 76 per cent of total sales, with an average retail price (ARP) of £1.55 compared to £1.44 in 2013. The overall value of Everyday card sales stood at £1.057bn, an increase of £34.6m on 2013.

Christmas single cards increased by £44m to £174.6m, 13 per cent of total value sales, at £1.55 ARP compared to £1.44 in 2013.

The report does not cover online print-on-demand card sales or Christmas cards sold in boxes or packs. It is managed by independent research body Ebiquity and has been sent to all GCA members and is available for non-members to buy.

The report preface states: “The results of this survey concur with both UK Greetings’ and Hallmark’s – the two biggest publishers – own assessments of the size of the market. While all three sources have slightly different results, the overall picture is reasonably consistent with a combination of UKG and Hallmark views.”

T: 020 7619 0396 www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk

Clintons CEO leads AGM’s inspiring speakers

A

NEW president, id ffantastic i views, i the h annuall market report and inspiring and interesting speakers were the attractions for the biggest turnout yet at the Greeting Card Association AGM.

dbye – and goo le with ● Hello Da h a n n a rH ufe speake hris Ho sident C past pre

outgoing GCA President Chris Clintons CEO Dominique Schurman was the star attraction on September 30 Houfe, of the Great British Card Company, to backed up by Wrendale Designs’ Hannah Dale, while Sunday Assembly founder new – ns tur r Sta ● ce The Art File’s Ged Mace, and the confirmation of the officers and council and stand-up Sanderson Jones provided a light-hearted celebration of life and the president Ged Ma with Dominique members. business of spreading love, happiness and positivity.

Schurman Ged’s first speech as President saw him thank Chris for his work, Dominique started by explaining how her life has been steeped in the greetings particularly helping establish Festive Friday and Thinking Of You Week, and he industry, with her parents setting up the Marcel Schurman Company importing cards presented an overview of the 2014 Market Report. as wholesalers, then opening the original Papyrus store in 1973.

In his vision for the future he started by clearing up at comment made at last year’s AGM: Following a look at why people send cards, illustrated with family and personal history “Someone suggested we only have 10 years left as an industry – I completely disagree and anecdotes, Dominique compared the North American and UK markets noting that over with this statement. Looking around this room, I see talent, enthusiasm, experience and here the industry is growing at three per cent, against one per cent in the US. confidence and I know we have an incredible future because it’s up to us.”

With 60m people in the UK the market is worth £1.4billion ($2.2bn) while the £3.9bn Self-confessed nerd Hannah captivated the audience with her story of rising from mum ($6bn) US market is shared across 330m people and she said: “The UK is the highest per and farmer’s wife to running a 13-employee, £2m turnover card and gift business inside capita greeting card market in the world with 39 cards per year per person being exchanged. three years – with a background of earning a double first in animal behaviour and vertebrate This is a wonderful fact. evolution at Cambridge, followed by a master’s degree at Oxford, and five years as an “The markets in total represent over $8bn (£5.3bn) in retail sales – truly a staggering number that investment banker looking after £500m portfolios. amplifies the fact that people love to connect with people in meaningful, lasting and personal ways.”

The full AGM report and speeches from Dominique, Ged and Hannah can be read on More than 160 publisher and associate members made the trip to Altitude 360 at the www.greetingstoday.co.uk and photos are available on our Facebook page top of the Millbank Tower. The audience first had the serious business of the handover from

32 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

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TALKOFTHETOWN

Talk of the town The voice of the people who matter, greetings retailers tell it like it is in this four-page anniversary special with stores celebrating 50 years, almost 30 years, their first birthday and a brand-new opening.

Jon & Anne Dudley, Boyatt News, Shakespeare Road, Eastleigh, Hants FIFTY years in business is definitely something to celebrate and that’s exactly what Jon and Anne Dudley have been doing at their family business, Boyatt News.

Started by Jon’s parents Peter and Jean, they opened their shop on October 9, 1965, and half a century and a few premises later the business is still going strong with cards very much to the fore plus a post office, newsagents and convenience store.

As a Cardgains member and part of their From The Heart partnership with UK Greetings, the publishers helped with their celebrations by creating bespoke POS. “I know that Nigel Quiney Pizazz is our bestseller,” Jon said, “it has been for years. It’s just brilliant. As well as UKG, we deal with are Abacus, Paper Rose, IC&G, Carte Blanche, Paperlink, Is It Art, Danilo, Alex Clarke, and Great British Card Company.

“The card I’d like to have sent to me for my birthday would be Frank By Name from Abacus, and Anne would like a Pizazz card.”

Jean and Peter opened their first shop in nearby Chandler’s Ford, as Jon explained: “My mum and dad decided it would be a good idea to open a shop which was newly built but they weren't even sure what they were going to sell!

“After some thought and a bit of research they decided on opening the shop and selling sweets, stationery, toys, cards and newspapers. However in those days you couldn't just get a wholesaler to supply you with newspapers, you had to meet all sorts of criteria and then somebody would decide If there was a need for it and whether or not the area was adequately catered for.

“My mum canvassed the local industrial estate and got orders for commercial stationery, analysis books, ink pens and typewriter ribbons to name but a few items – newspapers were eventually supplied after a lot of persistence and perseverance.

“The shop struggled over a number of years as finance was a major problem and mum and dad had to sell our house to pay off some of our overdraft so my sister and I ended up in the flat above the shop in bunk beds when we were about seven or eight.

“However In 1977 they were ready to expand and took on another new unit on a large new housing estate in Boyatt Wood, Eastleigh – where we still are. This was still a traditional newsagent but with a lot of stationery and a large range of greetings cards. They sold the original shop in 1979 to concentrate on this new shop and I came to work full time in the family business in 1980.

“I did many a paper round in our first shop from the age of 11 – don't tell anyone – and worked in the shop until I was about 16 in 1976 but, rather than stay in the family business, I went to work for John Lewis. I had four great years there and learned a great deal about retailing and, in particular, customer service.

“Soon after I joined the family business, we expanded once more by buying a shop in the area that was in need of some work where we could see potential. It was also a newsagent but we increased the footage of cards as it was outside the main town of Eastleigh and therefore profited from the convenience factor.

“We sold this shop in 1986 once we’d built it up and were able to use the proceeds to help finance the ever-expanding shop at Boyatt Wood, around the

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same time my father passed away. We managed to get a Post Office incorporated into our shop in 1987 and this helped our sales of everything but particularly cards.

“After running the Post Office for four or five years years Anne took over the responsibility of the cards from my mum who had started to take more of a back seat in the business.

“We weren't finished with other shops though as, once again, we spotted an – in 1992 a newsagents had closed down in a suburb of Southampton, we obtained the lease and opened it back up. We refitted it and, using our experience in cards, put in a considerable amount of footage knowing once again it was out of town and if we did it right we would build a reputation and reap the rewards.

“Although the shop was very successful I wanted to redevelop the Boyatt shop so we sold this business in 2001 and used the proceeds on Boyatt News.

“In 2002 we completely refitted our flagship store, using the Cardgains format of From The

Heart with the help of our main card partner UKG. We created a department within the shop for cards and, for the first time, had an area for gifts.

“About four years ago we had another mini refit and repositioned our growing gift department – Anne has been very successful since she took over the cards and gifts in nurturing our ranges and gaining a fantastic reputation for the great selection of cards that she often hand picks from card companies. We have many positive comments and praise every week from customers particularly about our cards.

“Over the 50 years we have, to a certain extent, re-invented ourselves many times. As well as selling the standard products associated with our business of confectionery, tobacco and soft drinks, we’ve sold commercial stationery, plants, wedding stationery, lottery tickets, light bulbs and many more non-traditional lines.

“However one constant, apart from news, has been greetings cards, they have stood the test of time – that must say something about the resilience of this category.”

The anniversary celebrations have included a get-together of former paperboys and girls plus children’s competitions with a 1965 theme – Jon added: “How much was a litre of petrol or a pint of milk in 1965? They’ll probably Google the answer now, whereas before they would have had to go to the library!

“We’re also selling some confectionery lines at 1960s prices although we won't be accepting any thruppenny bits or sixpences.

“My mum still used to do a bit of admin right up to the time she passed away in 2013 aged 91! She would have been so proud of the business making it to 50 years.”

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 33

TALKOFTHETOWN

Andy Chaloner, Paulene & Margaret, Forum Shopping Centre, Chester FORMER lorry driver Andy Chaloner opened his new greetings store in September having been inspired by the market stall his late mum Margaret ran with her old school pal Paulene.

‘

What’s the story behind Paulene & Margaret?

The cake and card stall has been going for 40 years in Chester Market which is a bit of a dying entity because the council haven’t built the new one. They said they were opening a card shop in the Forum Shopping Centre and, with that and the closure of the bus station, it would have killed my business stone dead. Under the terms of my lease for the market stall I got first refusal so I took the plunge.

I was a lorry driver up until June this year. When my mother died in 2004, Paulene was also 66, we had a conversation and she carried on and I helped her out with runs to the wholesalers, that sort of thing, just on a friendly basis.

Ten years on I bought the lease from Chester Council for the stall and Paulene didn’t want to leave so now she works three days a week for me and I have another girl who helps. Until June I was helping where I could, cutting my teeth in business.

In the shop I’ve gone completely opposite to the market, with Hallmark, gifts and cards, it’s all DTR and wholesale whereas the market is pure wholesale. It seems to be the way forward because the type of person who comes into the shop thinks nothing of buying cards for £3 to £5 whereas on the market I’d never sell a card for £5 – I push them to £1.50 sometimes!

It didn’t work in the first week at all because I’d filled my stock with the same as the market but added 10p or 20p because of the shop overheads, people would come in and say ‘is this the same on the market’ have a good look around, then go straight to the stall to buy it cheaper. So my shop was just a massive expensive advert for the market stall. I had to act fast and take a completely different tack. Now we have a corporate logo and corporate uniforms – we’ve gone Cadbury purple.

I’m not an entrepreneur, I’ve given up my job of 14 years even though I could have been comfortable there until I retired, but I wasn’t enjoying it in the end and when I spoke to my boss, who also has a market stall and

is a multi-millionaire with different businesses, he said ‘go away and do it, if it doesn’t work I’ll put you back in a lorry’, which is brilliant. He’s been advising me and helping me. It’s all been very sweet.

I have Clare working for me at the shop, she moved to Chester from Wythenshaw in Manchester because her son wanted to got to a college here. I interviewed about 20 people and when she in it was like a whirlwind, but she’s quickly become a really valued member of staff.

What’s been the best thing on the business front in 2015 and what are you looking forward to in 2016?

It’s been a very scary experience, I’ve lost three stone

in weight across June and July, During the hottest time in August I’d bought some secondhand tiered shelves – I didn’t want to buy new because they were £300 each – and I drove up to Fleetwood in a Luton van in 100 degrees heat and was shoving them in.

We sat on the pier with a bottle of lemonade and I said ‘what on earth am I doing?’ I’ve no business partner and my wife Wendy works full-time as a nurse in the hospital so it was very hard work. I budgeted £5,000 for the shop fit-out and brought it in at £4,300 which is not bad. Luckily the slat wall was already there and I got a beautiful counter for £75 and the shelves secondhand.

I finally opened on September 5 which was a little later than planned.

I’m looking forward to Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day, and Easter, and Father’s Day and then it’ll be Christmas again. I do feel bad that I’ve neglected my 12-year-old daughter Sarah. Now I’ve got my staff sorted

the thing I’m really looking forward to is taking her away for a break. You do feel guilty, she didn’t get a minute of my time over the summer unless she wanted to come with me in a van to collect things for the shop.

Currently which is your top-selling design, publisher or genre – and is there anything that looks like being a big trend in the coming months?

I’ve got to say Noel Tatt Decoupage, it’s small, only £1.99, and two layers of decoupage which is great, they fly out. We also do Hallmark, Ling Design and Paperlink.

I’m a little naïve on the trends yet, I would say the butterfly frames but they’ve been around for a while. I’m selling the Widdop Bingham Hestia range, with the purple wired butterflies. There’s a whole butterfly range of gifts there and they’re stunning. It’s Budget and Prelude on the market stall and on the gift side I carry some silverplated Lesser & Pavey frames, with some wedding and anniversary gifts too. It’s good but cheaper, people won’t pay £15 for a frame there.

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

I’ve only just finished the shop so there isn’t much, I would like to make it bigger and go back but I’d end up in the Town Hall! I’ve not got that much shelving and when I go in Card Factory, which is about half a mile away, my stock would fit on one wall in there but they do pack it all in. I spend £3,000 on signage, logos and graphics which I thought was a frightening amount. I could have done it for £200 but it does look so much better.

We have Occasions Cards and Charity Cards as features in this issue. Which publishers do you stock in these genres and how big are they as part of your offer?

Hallmark and Tracks have been selling fantastically. My best-selling card is a code 75 wife anniversary Soft Focus Hallmark one at £3.25, the men love it – it’s a stunning card. I don’t do charity cards because there’s a British Heart Foundation shop across from me and I don’t want to compete with them.

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

None because I’d prefer to be selling it! If my wife does buy me a card I’m hoping it’s one I don’t know – I’m already one of those who turns the cards over and looks at the back.

’

Julia Keeling, Wishes, Barnsley Road, Cudworth, S Yorks With a year’s trading under her belt, Julia Keeling is pretty happy that her decision to take the plunge from working in retail to running her own shop is paying off.

What’s the story behind Wishes?

I got the shop last year but the lease and everything took a lot longer that I expected. I agreed it all in July but got the keys in the last week of October and then did all the shop fit with a couple of friends. We only had a couple of weeks to get everything ready so there were some very long days and late nights. I’d worked in Meadowhall Shopping Centre, working all the hours without any appreciation so it was nice to know that there was some reward this time. We opened on November 9 last year.

Years ago I used to work for Clintons, I worked in a couple in Meadowhall and a couple in Barnsley and enjoyed it then thought I’d try something different. I did fashion and other things but always ended up going back to places like Meadowhall because in retail you’re limited as to where you can work. I realised that you can work in cards at any age – with fashion you do become

34 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

too old for certain stores eventually. I enjoyed cards, you can help customers find the right thing and whyen they read the words and they’re nearly in tears you know it’s the right one for them. But you don’t get the time to do that in the chain stores, it’s all about queue-busting so I wanted to work for myself. Fortunately my dad fronted the money, he said he’s retired and it’s your inheritance that you’re going to get anyway so you might has well have it now. He’s a good dad!

It’s just myself, although I’m fortunate to have a couple of friends, Michelle Bellany and Donna Ward, who can help out when needed, but six days of the week it’s pretty much just me. Plus I owe a big thank you to Chris Fox who kindly does all my social media and graphic design for the company as well as designing my website.

What’s been the best thing on the business front for you in 2015 and what are you looking forward to in 2016?

There is another card shop in the vicinity but a lot of people have said that I have a lot more humour and more verse and it’s a bit more contemporary and brighter and they can get around the shop easier. Many of the older buildings are difficult to navigate with double buggies and the like, my building has just had a refit so meets all the current regulations, which is great.

On the stock people like the verses from Words

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TALKOFTHETOWN

Sally O’Farrell, Cedar Farm Gallery, Back Lane, Mawdesley, Lancs North-west sales agent Rachel Williams (pictured bottom) chatted to Cedar Farm Gallery owner Sally O’Farrell (pictured in the shop) about her near 30 years in business.

I FIRST visited Cedar Farm Gallery about three years ago – I remember it clearly as, on arrival, I was instantly enchanted by the individuality and charm.

Lying on the edge of Mawdesley village in Lancashire, the shop now nestles among other unique independent shops but the contemporary look is a far cry from its humble beginnings nearly 30 years ago.

The gallery started life as a pig barn on a working farm and was converted to a shop in the summer of 1987 by Sally O’Farrell.

“Back then,” Sally told me “we still had up to 350 breeding sows, so there could be up to 3,000 pigs on site.

“Our customers would enter the shop clutching scarves over their noses.

We got through a lot of pot pourri and scented candles for the first few years of opening!”

In the early days the gallery was the only shop on the site and was home to the cafe as well, Over the years it has grown and developed, constantly moving with the times but never losing its appeal with customers.

Considering the remote location, down somewhat precarious narrow roads, Cedar Farm is a busy thriving centre but with a real community feel to it. Whenever I visit I receive a warm welcome and it’s clear that customers also enjoy their shopping experience.

Sally has created a shop where they will always find something new and interesting to look at, and it’s this constant review and refresh of the items she sells that keep them coming back time after time.

Having spent time with Sally over the years it’s clear that the shop is influenced by her individuality and quirky creativeness. It’s filled with distinctive ceramics, gifts and greetings cards as well as beautiful art work, needlework and a framing centre.

Sally tells me that she’s always looking for something different and steers away from anything mainstream, preferring her shop to reflect her personality. She said she’s influenced by colours and textures, and

loves the seasonal shades she sees all around her. Having spent three years at Goldsmiths, now part of the University of London, studying embroidery and textiles, she has always loved art and crafts and has a keen eye for detail that’s reflected in the greetings cards she sells at the gallery which she selects with design and difference in mind.

“My customers love the cards I offer and will often comment on the wide range I have, buying half a dozen at a time,” she said.

Sally particularly loves the quirky designs of Pootle and Cinnamon Aitch greetings cards, both offering a range that appeal to her love of colour and attention to detail. Her stock also includes Urban Graphic and Holy Mackerel for the humour and Deva Debut for their beautifully decorated gifts.

I asked Sally her favourite time of year in the shop and, like many of us in the greetings and gift industry, she loves Christmas.

“Next Christmas will be our 30th year,” she said, “We enjoy stocking the shelves with festive treats and enjoying the twinkling lights in the window displays.”

Display is very important to her too, and every inch of space is in the barn is well used both on the walls and floor – there is so much to look at.

As an agent selling to Cedar Farm Gallery, it always poses a danger to my pocket whenever I visit, as even I find it hard to resist buying!

After so many years in the business and knowing how passionate she is about the gallery, I asked Sally if she’ll be taking a back step soon.

“Luckily my daughter Kate shares my passion for design and art so the gallery will be in safe hands for many years to come, if I do decide to put my feet up,” she smiled.

not everyone knows about us yet. And we have certain gift ranges that are doing well and getting good feedback.

I sell Village Candles that I think are a better product because they have a double wick and the burn time is great at a good price point, and a lot of people who are trying them are very pleased.

I’ve started a Candle Club and, when people buy a medium or large, they get a stamp and when the card is full they can choose a free candle. I also do a pick and mix on the small votives so they can try the scents before they buy a big candle. I think they are going to get bigger for me next year as people are believing in the product not just sticking to a brand.

’n’ Wishes, and the designs of Cherry Orchard where they also like the double captions that they haven’t seen anywhere else, and they’re pleased with our price point – they say they thought it would be more expensive for that quality. And they don’t have to go into town any more, they can shop locally which is better for everyone.

For the next year I’m hoping that it just improves, we’re still getting new customers who ask when we opened so

Currently which is your top-selling design, publisher or genre – and is there anything that looks like being a big trend in the coming months?

Words ’n’ Wishes Little Treasures with the little mouse, they’re a bit different and cute but not overly cute, Cherry Orchard’s Mikika are beautiful and people been saying how nice they are. For Christmas I’ve got some Pulp in, the 3D ones that are going really well. I bought generic ones and some stickers so they can be personalised if people want.

We can’t please them all but we do try! On coming trends it’s definitely foxes and hedgehogs, everything I see has them on. I have some Christmas cards and bags from Tom Smith and they’re on this trend too with a woodland scene.

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

Because I got a brand-new unit and was able to fit it out how I wanted, there isn’t much I’d change but I would probably spend a bit on window lights. As it’s getting a bit darker I’m thinking about fairy lights and could do with some downlighters in the window. Plus we have a website and I’d like stock for that so I don’t have to take it from the shop, and a bit more on branding.

We have Occasions Cards and Charity Cards as features in this issue. Which publishers do you stock in these genres and how big are they as part of your offer?

We only have charity Christmas cards, the Hallmark ones for breast cancer and Barnados. On occasions, I sell a wide variety, Words ’n’ Wishes, Cherry Orchard, K2’s Oh Sew Cute, Nigel Quiney, Piccadilly, Is It Art, Quitting Hollywood are the humorous ones, Splimple are very funny too, Second Nature’s handmade 99p ones and Pulp for open captions.

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

It would be the Cherry Orchard Mikiko daughter one, it has a fantastic pair of shoes on and I’m a shoe girl. It was my birthday a few weeks ago and I thought ‘why did my dad not get me that one’!

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VOXPOP

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

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

Dominic & Heidi Early, Owners, Earlybird Designs

‘

T: 01227 765372 www.earlybirddesigns.co.uk

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

I think the greetings card industry is having a bit of a comeback. There’s so much social media in our lives now, text, email, apps for this, apps for that, yet you cannot beat a great card design. I think a lot of people feel cards are things to be cherished, they’re very personal and it’s starting ng to feel like people are realising that the tablet and phone culture can’t replace place everything written. It’s just like the resurgence of vinyl – greetings cards and nd social stationery are now regarded as cool.

The introduction of digital printing has seen a massive influx of new dynamic publishers. Creative e designs, beautiful designs, funny and rude there’s now so much choice in the market that the card industry is stronger than ever. It certainly keepss publishers on their toes and trying to come up with h the next new thing.

Is there any occasion or category that’s currently seeing growth?

For us it’s children’s age cards. Customers are asking for all ages rather than the traditional one to six, as well as more on-trend designs. It’s definitely an area we’re e’re expanding.

As we’re coming up to the end of yet anotherr year, what’s been the best thing on the business front ont for

Rachel Hare, founder, nder, Belly Button Designs igns

T: 0161 902 0200 www.bellybuttontradeshop.co.uk hop.co.uk

‘

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

I’d sum up the attitude in the he greetings card industry – or my bit, at least ast – as exciting and real.

Is there any occasion or category tegory that’s currently seeing growth? wth?

I think that the sympathy/thinking of you category is an interesting one and certainly seeing growth.

As we’re coming up to the end of yet another year, what’s been the best thing on the business front for you in 2015 and what are you looking forward to in 2016?

2015 has been our 21st year. The best thing apart from that has been working with House Of Cards, it’s been a good year to be able to launch with them.

you in 2015 and what are you looking forward to in 2016?

For us 2015 will be remembered for doing our first two trade shows.

Although we’ve been publishing for years we held back from doing the shows and instead just relied on our agents. However we decided the time was right for us this year and both Top Drawer and PG Live were excellent. immediately booked up for 2016. So we’re really We got the bug and immed looking forward to both sshows next year and are even considering Drawer. I’ve found it helps me focus on Autumn Top D tthe ranges and enables us to meet our customers and develop those relationships as well as forming new ones. There’s a nothing like seeing your ranges as a full story no in ffront of you and then taking orders on key lines. It really does educate you as to where you’re right – and wrong! going rig What’s currently trending or of interest in the Occasions Cards area?

Occasi Occasions is huge. We can’t seem to design enough.

We’ve found large larg cards are becoming more and more popular like Congratulations, Leaving, Baby etc but the thing Con that seems to be b on every order is Thank You cards. We catalogue with just Thank You cards in. Maybe could do a catalo everyone is just be being far too nice to each other.

’

Describe Earlybird Designs in three words.

More dinosaurs please! p

Wendy Jones-Blackett, founder, Wendy Jones-Blackett T: 0113 288 8468 www.wendyjonesblackett.co.uk

‘

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

The market is always changing and, with digital printing and new techniques, there’s a wealth of new independent talent and creativity which keeps driving the whole industry forward. It’s such a positive climate to work in and retailers just love that there’s always something new to delight customers with.

Is there any occasion or category that’s currently seeing growth?

We’re selling a lot more open birthday cards than we used to, which suggests to me that people are happy to spend on not just the big occasions. We’ve also sold lots of New Home cards this year, which points to the housing market doing well or to those leaving home and renting. It could just be because this year’s design is better than last year’s!

As we’re coming up to the end of yet another year, what’s been the best thing on the business front for you in 2015 and what are you looking forward to in 2016?

It’s all about product for me, I’ve loved seeing the 2015 designs sell in and sell through. Working with Glick and Widdop Bingham is also wonderful – seeing designs transferred to wrap, bags and gifts makes me quite giddy! As for 2016, there are already 150 new hot-foiled designs currently underway at the printers, and I’ve a few ideas which I’m working on for Spring Fair.

What’s currently trending or of interest in the Occasions Cards area?

Occasions cards are what we do best. Our Paloma range really hits the button – friend and special friend captions seem to be especially popular.

What’s currently trending or of interest in the Occasions Cards area?

Milestone ages for relations – people are asking for more and more specific titles, we do all of them in our Cloud Nine range.

Describe Belly Button Designs in three words.

Inspire, experiment, create.

Describe Wendy Jones-Blackett in three words.

Bold, creative, lighthearted!

’

36 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

’

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

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Artists’ directory

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 37

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

There was plenty to see at Brand Licensing Europe where characters popped up everywhere – Bob The Builder was nicely on hand to pose with the Moonpig team. And a raft of greetings publishers and designers were showing off their wares for both licensing in and licensing out.

Make every occasion count with greeting cards from

C

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

INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED & LARGEST CIRCULATION To find out how Greetings Today can help you just call 01442 289930

38 www.greetingstoday.co.uk

Full of character HARACTERS were here, there and everywhere at Brand Licensing Europe where the big brands mixed with the smaller designers.

From the might of Disney and Star Wars to homegrown names such as Paddington, the Teletubbies and Bob The Builder, the UBM Advanstar-organised show over October 13-15 really had something for everyone at London’s Olympia.

Publishers like Claire Louise, Alex Underdown Art, ● Great update s– Licorice, Paper Rose, HartDeco and Two Little Boys Moonpig’s Vik ki Connor, Sarah-Jane Po were upstairs in the quieter realms of the Art & rter and Dale Breham with Bob Illustration Zone showing off their characters and work to potential licensees while Carte Blanche mixed it down on the main floor among the big boys – and Cath Tate was looking around as a visitor.

Sarah-Jane Porter, Head of Licensing for Moonpig’s parent company Photobox Group, told Greetings Today: “Although a lot of the brands exhibited were also attending the Vegas show it was great to get updates from all of our existing partners and see a few new brands too.

“It was exciting to see standalone brands emerging from our fascination with social Munki ● Hello media with favourites such as Emoji and Pusheen The Cat, I think this is a trend that’s set to increase given that emojis are the fastest-growing language in the ● Lil’ Ledy UK. It’s something we’re looking to incorporate in our Moonpig developments too.

“The upcoming film schedule is really strong, with launches like Angry Birds, Cars 4, Paddington 2, Ghostbusters, Guardians Of The Galaxy 2, Batman v Superman, Finding Dory, Jungle Book and, of course, the Star Wars dynasty.

“The gaming category was looking particularly strong with World Of Warriors and Angry Birds, driven, of course, by the film due out next year.

“I loved ITV’s new show Oddbods – kids love that slapstick humour – and I thought what the Penguin group had developed with their Ladybird brand was fantastic, the products really stood out at the show.

“This year I also left myself some time to look around the design agencies/licensors upstairs which I didn’t get to last year. I thought newcomer to the show Hello Munki from Ian Worral-Dutton was a fantastic character artist with a distinctive style and humour as well as Manu with their Lil’ Ledy brand.”

Also revealed at the show were the winners of the 2015 License This! challenge in the shape of OiDroids, the pop-out and build collectable cardboard robot toys, created by Jonathan Klemenz. www.brandlicensing.eu

n ● Oi! We wo – Jonathan Klemenz with the License This! judges

che

● Carte Blan

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Munki

A selection of this month’s latest releases

spotlight

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

● FOLLOWING the huge success of their Sparkle range of cards Pootle Products have brought out 10 stunning new designs, Pootle In The Countryside.

Using a mixture of tweeds and tartans the cards incorporate both the wild and more domestic halves of the countryside including the beautiful Mr Grumpy.

The 155x155mm designs are cello-wrapped with a teal envelope and hand-flittered for that extra bit of sparkle.

● LIFE is a new humorous, photographic range of 12 designs from OPC, featuring quirky and colourful shots of people in funny situations and poses.

The 152x152mm cards have a £1.99 RRP and are finished with a high-gloss varnish and silver foil and supplied with white ribbed envelopes.

T: 01932 267300 www.originalposter.com

T: 01750 23595 www.pootleproducts.co.uk

● FOLLOWING the huge success of the pretty flitter-finished square female cards in the Ooh La La range, Cherry Orchard have now extended the line to include a further selection of nine 159x159mm code 55 female cards with inserts, to mark ages 16, 17, 18, 21, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70, together with six 210x210mm code 150 cards, with inserts, for female relations 18th and 21st ages.

The pretty, quirky designs have a vintage retro appeal with itsy floral patterns and images of china cups and saucers and traditional watering cans.

T: 01684 295500 www.cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk ● A NEW collection of fashion-led illustrated Christmas cards has been launched by Miss Magpie Fashion Spy featuring the colourful and whimsical hand-drawn illustrations of founder Niki Groom.

Using her 15 years experience as a fashion designer and illustrator to inspire the collection, the cards feature the quirky fashion decisions people make during the festive season.

Niki said: “I love Christmas and I am fascinated by the crazy capsule wardrobes we seem to adopt at this time of year.

“A sleek jumpsuit and a pair of Sophia Webster heels for cocktails one evening, followed by a novelty onesie teamed with reindeer slippers and a hot chocolate the next.”

T: 07918 191819 www.missmagpiefashionspy.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

www.greetingstoday.co.uk 39

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

spotlight

A selection of this month’s latest releases

● CAROLINE Gardner’s new range based on the continuing trend of gold and rose gold sees a fresh approach to the use of emojis and how people use them to express themselves.

Witty phrases with these emoji images is the basis of this stylish range such as the OMG engagement card and witty birthday designs including You Know You’re Old..., which all come with a brand-new grey envelope to add a little extra luxury There are also lots more cards in existing bestsellers such as Just Married in the Kal range.

T: 020 8288 9696 www.carolinegardner.com ● GREETINGS cards for different occasions are now available from Light Of Christ calendar publisher Louise Taylor along with Christmas designs, magnets, keyrings and coasters – plus the 2016 calendar is also on sale.

Louise, who came to everyone’s attention after winning last year’s causerelated category in the National Calendar Awards following her victory in the previous year’s student section, said: “I have been so grateful to work with Dave Jones at Premier Paper this year, and am very thankful to him for supporting the Light Of Christ Calendar. I also will definitely be entering the 2016 awards!”

There’s a special discount for Greetings Today readers who can input the voucher code GREETINGS10% at the checkout.

www.lightofchristcalendar.co.uk ● ALBERT is the latest design from Tomcat Cards where the cat himself is seen sitting out in the snow with tempting bird shapes behind on the hedge.

Publisher Lynne Thomas said: “It just so reminds me of the topiary hedges in The Shining!”

Tomcat have also started to do notebooks for the first time ever. The small products are sold in a mixed pack of six with lovely cat covers.

T: 01243 837300 www.tomcatcards.co.uk

INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED & LARGEST CIRCULATION To find out how Greetings Today can help you just call 01442 289930

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Designs that will get your customers coming back for more!

Life quotes to make them laugh out loud

All our designs are tried and tested in an award winning store Ramblingmansion.co.uk contact@ramblingmansion.co.uk

● HENRIES Award winners Pippi & Me are super excited to be launching a brand-new range to complement the hugely popular Little Creatures Cards.

The Children’s Little Creatures Birthday Range features agespecific cards for children’s birthdays from one to six, with lovely new designs for both boys and girls.

The cards are 125mm square, white recycled envelopes, printed on 100% FSC card stock.

T: 01803 964109 www.pippiandme.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

gifts spotlight A selection of the latest gift releases and deals

● THERE’S some great specialist and quirky titles among more than 500 calendars and diaries published by Carousel Calendars every year.

The range covers all categories, from entertainment and sport to humour, travel, animal and advent calendars, including a number of popular licensed and charity titles plus bespoke and quirky titles.

After huge success last year, their Men In Kilts calendar has returned for 2016. The buffest of blokes can be found wearing nothing but this traditional Scottish attire. If kilts aren’t your thing, they also produce Firefighters calendars with photos of real-life firemen, and a Heroes calendar with muscular hunks in army gear.

On the animal front they have the most popular dog breeds and other pets plus British Ducks, Piglets, Wolves, Hedgehogs, Barn Owls,

● THE Word Search Drink Order mug from Identity Papers makes it easy to get the order right whether it’s tea, coffee or chocolate.

Supplied with chalk, the order can be marked out on the blackboard glazed mug and easily washes off by hand or in the dishwasher – and fits the bill for that difficult-to-buy-for man category

Lop-Eared Rabbits, Ginger Cats, Otters and Polar Bears.

There are also products featuring various artists and designers with new-for-2016 calendars and diaries from Beryl Cook and Katarina Sokolova joining established titles from Emma Bridgewater, Matthew Rice, Jan Constantine, Madeleine Floyd, and Peter Pracownik’s The Enchanted World Of Dragons.

Other special interest titles include Wild & Wonderful Weather, Romance Of Steam, Tractors, Amazing Planet, Country Railways, Scooters and Trucking. They also publish quirky humourous titles, such as How To For The Inept and The Wacky World Of Sheep, as well as their new Young At Heart series covering gardening, cycling and football.

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

INDEPENDENTLY AUDITED

CIRCULATION 6,089 July 1, 2013June 20, 2014

display services

T: 01603 677315 www.carouselcalendars.com ● YANKEE Candle are celebrating the start of a fresh and colourful new season and the trend for pastels with the launch of the My Serenity collection for spring 2016.

The four new definitive and contemporary fragrances blend a selection of on-trend fragrance notes with classic candle aromas to embody the time of year filled with promise and new beginnings.

Driven by in-depth consumer insight the new collection has been specifically developed for the UK and international fragrance market and will consist of Lemongrass & Ginger, Moonlight, My Serenity and Peony.

Four complementing accessories and a selection of gift sets accompany the new range.

T: 0117 316 1200 www.yankeecandle.co.uk

T: 07880 998218 www.identitypapers.com www.facebook.com/greetingstodaymag @greetingstoday

Saunders Displays Point of sales display stands for every retail environment.

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www.greetingstoday.co.uk 41

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