Issuu

Retailers

The

Suppliers

Dave

Editor

Advertising

Marian

marian@lemapublishing.co.uk 01442 289940

Managing

Mark

mark@lemapublishing.co.uk

Production

Paul

Editor Naomi MacKay

leader

The autumn season always brings with it a ﬂurry of trade shows – a chance to discover fresh ideas, connect with familiar faces, and see just how much creativity our industry continues to generate.

This year is no exception, with Autumn Fair putting greetings, stationery and wrap ﬁrmly in the spotlight. Expect a vibrant mix of new names and trusted favourites, all bringing a welcome sense of newness to the table. Our preview is on page 16.

Our Cover Star for this issue is Museum & Galleries (M&G), which will be showcasing an expanded stand at Top Drawer A/W25. Think stationery, cards and new ranges of gifts and homeware in abundance – a true celebration of the breadth this publisher has to o er - see page 14.

are increasingly carving out a space as serious retail destinations, and we’ve pulled together a showcase of products designed to thrive in this sector. We also speak to two garden centre buyers about their strategies. As Claire McGhee, giftware buyer at Klondyke & Strikes garden centres, says: “It’s important that customers can buy their favourite products all-year round. We can grow the size of a range when seasonally appropriate and shrink again when it’s not such a popular time.”

Retailer insight is, as always, at the heart of this issue. We hear from Matt Simpson at Manchester’s The Letter Arty, plus our regular Shop Talk section tackles the question that divides retailers every year – when exactly should Christmas stock hit the shelves? Timing is everything. Heidi Early at Stoke Newington’s Early Bird tells us: “We have such a small space that every inch is at a premium, and if we take up too much room with Christmas too early we get some very grumpy customers!”

Meanwhile, Jayne and Kevin Brooking at Devon’s Occasional Cards & Gifts can take a di erent approach, thanks to having an extra space: “Having the Christmas shop is a great way of enabling us to put stock out early. Customers can choose not to go in that room if they are not ready for Christmas yet!”

Send your views and submissions for the magazine to naomi@lemapublishing.co.uk

September also sees the return of Glee, the leading garden industry trade show. Garden centres about their future. While most of our retailers remain hopeful that improvements will come, the call for government action is growing louder. As Paul Urban, MD at Kingﬁsher Cards, puts it in our Trade Talk section: “The government does nothing to encourage the small businesses that make the high street exciting, innovative and eclectic. Without interesting and varied town shopping areas, the footfall drops as people turn more and more to online retail.”

On the subject of festive trading, don’t miss Bryony Taylor-Edwards’ column on page 48, with practical advice on preparing for the season ahead. We’re also delighted to welcome a new columnist – Dave Langdon – who joins the Greetings Today family with his Diary of an Agent. Turn to page 47 to discover why he’s known as the White Hand Man!

Of course, it would be remiss not to address the ongoing challenges on Britain’s high streets. The results of the Spring Fair/Save the High Street survey paint a stark picture for 2025, with independents voicing doubts

There are positives to celebrate in this edition too: Kingﬁsher Cards’ latest acquisition, plus a showcase of standout new products for Mother’s Day, and femininefocused cards and gifts.

The Greetings Today team will be at Top Drawer and Autumn Fair – do say hello. And if you’d like to contribute to the magazine, in a Retail Interview, Shop Talk, or Trade Talk, please get in touch at naomi@ lemapublishing.co.uk, or connect with me on LinkedIn. I’d love to hear from you.

Cardfactory buys funkypigeon.com

Cardfactory has completed the £24m acquisition of funkypigeon.com, the online personalised greetings card and gift marketplace, from WHSmith PLC.

The acquisition will accelerate cardfactory’s digital ambitions. The plan to purchase the WHSmith-owned site was announced in July as part of cardfactory’s plans to accelerate and scale its online business.

With the deal complete, cardfactory is the second largest online card and attached gift retailer in the UK market, providing, it said “a great value o er to consumers across personalised cards, attached gifting and celebration essentials”.

Darcy Willson-Rymer, cardfactory chief executive o cer, said: “This acquisition represents a key milestone in delivering our strategic ambition to build a scaled and competitive digital presence in the celebration occasions market.

“We welcome our new Funky Pigeon colleagues into the Group and look forward to working together to accelerate our growth in the direct-to-recipient card and gifting segment, bringing together Funky Pigeon’s high-quality technology platform and digital expertise with our strong store estate and broader celebrations o er.”

Fox Under The Moon announces new licensing partnership with Joe Davies

Fox Under The Moon, known for its whimsical illustrations and heartfelt words, has announced a new licensing partnership with award-winning giftware distributor Joe Davies.

Revealed at the Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival, the collaboration marks an exciting step forward for Fox Under The Moon, whose books and greeting cards have become favourites with customers seeking thoughtful, comforting gifts.

In a ﬁrst for Joe Davies, the partnership sees the company expand into sentimentbased licensed ranges – with Fox Under The Moon leading the way. Stacey McNeill’s gentle storytelling and signature characters will soon feature on an extended selection of beautifully designed products, including mugs, coasters, jewellery, trinkets, jigsaws and more.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Joe Davies,” said Stacey. “Their reputation for quality, care and independent retailer support makes them the perfect partner as we bring our little world of comfort and hope to new gifting formats.”

The licensed gift collection is set to launch in early 2026, with retailers able to preview the range via Joe Davies’ trade channels in the months ahead.

Cards For Good Causes CEO joins Cards For All committee

Christine Ansell, CEO of Cards For Good Causes, has joined the Cards For All national committee.

Christine brings a wealth of leadership experience from one of the UK’s most respected charitable card organisations, and a strong commitment to championing more inclusive and representative ranges across the sector.

The recently formed organisation’s mission is to: ‘’champion authentic representation in the greeting card industry by educating on the importance of diversity. We work to ensure that people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences see themselves reﬂected in cards that mark life’s most meaningful moments.’’

“Christine’s insight and passion for driving purposeful change make her an invaluable addition to our committee,” said Adriana Lovesy, chairperson of Cards For All. “We are thrilled to welcome her at such a pivotal moment in our journey towards a more inclusive greeting card industry.”

New industry survey launched

The new Cards For All Survey aims to gather fresh insights from the public, publishers, retailers, and buyers about the current state of representation in greeting cards. The survey will help shape Cards For All’s next steps and support tools.

Take the survey at: cardsforall.ﬁllout.com/cardsurvey

Speaking at Autumn Fair 2025

Cards For All will be speaking at Autumn Fair 2025 on the Retail Stage for the panel session Representation Sells: The Business Case for Inclusive Product Ranges. It takes place on Tuesday September 9 at 1.30pm at the NEC Birmingham.

Joe Davies MD Paul Hooker and Fox Under The Moon founder Stacey McNeill

Bridgewater Pen Company

Pot Plant Pals & Crochet Bloom

Dinky Jigsaws

IN THE NEWS

Spring Fair and Theo Paphitis announce #Sbs winners

Spring Fair has announced the 12 new winners of its continued partnership with retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis and his #SBS Small Business Sunday initiative.

Each winner will receive a free exhibition stand within the #SBS Village at Spring Fair, taking place on February 1-4, 2026, at the NEC Birmingham. Since launching the collaboration in 2018, Spring & Autumn Fair and #SBS have supported more than 70 small businesses by o ering them exposure to thousands of retail buyers.

Theo Paphitis, retail entrepreneur and small business champion, said: “Every year, we’ve been able to o er our winners more and more opportunities, and a fantastic example of one of those is the chance to win 12 free stands at Spring Fair – a great opportunity to get your small business noticed and ﬁnd new paths to growth. The passion, talent, and hard work of our #SBS Small Business Sunday winners never fails to impress me, I’m so looking forward to seeing what our 12 winners this year come up with at Spring Fair 2026!”

The winners include:

Jo Couch – An illustrator and designer known for her playful, bold artwork, Jo Couch creates vibrant prints, stationery, and homeware full of colour and character. Lucy Miller - Lucy Miller brings together contemporary design and heartfelt messaging in her range of prints, homeware, and stationery, all made in the UK with care.

Brits win at Las Vegas Louie Awards

Santoro had an exciting win at the 36th Annual Louie Awards, taking home the top honour in the Paper Engineering and Innovation category with a score of 9.6 out of 10 for its Book Café Swing Card.

Four more British publishers collected trophies in the US awards.

Dubbed the Oscars of the greeting card world, the event took place in Las Vegas and celebrated outstanding creativity and craftsmanship within the greeting card industry, with industry leaders, designers, and experts gathering to recognise innovation and excellence.

Tara Strickland, head of design, Santoro

Tara Strickland, head of design, Santoro, said: “It was a wonderful night! To be surrounded by such incredible talent and to have our work honoured in a category so close to our hearts is very special. After 30-plus years in the industry, it’s deeply rewarding to know that innovation and heritage can go hand in hand.’’

Four more British publishers picked up trophies at the event, with Redback Cards’ international sales manager Sharon Murdoch’s arms particularly full after winning two awards. The publisher came out on top in the Birthday Humorous $5.50 & Below title, for its Americanised Your Age Is Very Inappropriate For Your Behavior design from the Holy Flaps typographic range. Sharon also collected the inaugural Vickie Gimbelman Celebrating Women Louie Award for the Zeppelinmoon Manatee design.

The Art File’s Sun design from its Storybook collection (distributed in the US by Notes & Queries) took top place in the Birthday General $5.50 & Below category, and Ohh Deer grabbed top spot in the Children’s Card $5.50 & Below sector with The Animals card by Emily Doliner. Finally, Leeds-based Mi ins received the Thank You - $5.50 and Below trophy for its Fairytale Thank You card.

Planet Sal wins ﬁfth award

Sally Wilde, owner of Planet Sal in the Devon town of Honiton, has won the Card & Gift Shop category of the South West England Prestige Awards 2024/25 – for the ﬁfth consecutive year.

Sally told Greetings Today: “This is such a boost in a di cult year.

I’m absolutely thrilled that my little-shop-with-big-aspirations, Planet Sal, has won. This is all down to my lovely customers supporting me and making every day in the shop a pleasure.”

Owned and operated by publishing house Fenice Media, The Prestige Awards is a regional and country-speciﬁc awards programme that recognises small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for their excellence in service and products.

Osmaan Mahmood, founder & CEO of Fenice Media, commented: “Although small businesses may not be able to compete with multinational companies on their size and scale, there is a personalised service-driven focus that is often void from large organisations.”

Henries ﬁnalists revealed…

Following the judging of the Henries awards entries by more than 40 retailers, the ﬁnalists of The Henries have been revealed.

Retailers and buyers from large multiples to independents, including Waterstones, Cardfactory, Cardzone, Tesco, Cardies, Cards & Moor, Stationery Supplies, and Medici Gallery took part in the judging.

The winners will be revealed on October 2.

The ﬁnalists include:

The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer

Georgi Doig, founder of Lil Wabbit Charlotte Frewb, founder of Studio Frewb

Sam Keyte, founder of Sam Jayne Design

Emily Lester, founder of Emily Fleur Prints and designer at Hotchpotch

Emily Nash, founder of Emily Nash Illustration

Emily Needham, designer at Woodmansterne Publications

Ashley Rowe, designer at Paper Salad

Katie Townsend, founder of Arrow Gift Co

Best Diversity & Inclusion Range

Cultural from Rainee Collections

Culture & Pride from AfroTouch Design

LGBTQ+ Artists’ Collective Collection from The London Studio

Lucy Loves Paper x Artists’ Collective Collection from The London Studio

Vibes & Wishes

You Go Girl from Paper Rose

Best Humorous Range

Ark Life from Pigment

Babble from Rosie Made A Thing

Betiobca from Cath Tate Cards

Fifty Shades Of Green from Paperlink

Gone Tagging from Objectables Publishing

Heard They’re Absurd from Bewilderbeest

Holy Flaps from Redback Cards

Is It Friday Yet? from Emotional Rescue

See the full list at https:// tinyurl.com/3b7y99r9

Maggie’s from Hallmark Cards Swim Wild & Free from Lydia. London

from AfroTouch Design

CARDS

Kingﬁsher Cards acquires Dog’s Paw

In a surprise move, Kingﬁsher Cards has acquired the Dog’s Paw brand of greeting cards from founders Martin and Maria Eaglen

Dog’s Paw became almost a cult brand due to its print-on-demand style supply of cards, which cleverly combined a town with a caption. Its Up Your Street range was supported by rugby and football ranges, which o ered great, fun cards suitable for fans of either sport.

‘’The home of the specialist caption can now o er an even more personalised service,’’ says an over-themoon Paul Urban, managing director of Kingﬁsher Cards. ‘’Our whole purpose is not only to be able to provide the best possible quality and value but to try to o er things that retailers would want but other companies are unwilling or unable to provide.’’

One thing that makes the whole acquisition such a good ﬁt is that Kingﬁsher has promised to really nurture Dog’s Paw, and although Maria is now stepping back for some well-earned R&R, Martin will continue to support the brand with his wealth of knowledge and artistic input. This will ensure that the Dog’s Paw brand will continue to provide the specialist personalisation it is famed for.

Kingﬁsher Cards continues on an upward curve –aside from the Dog’s Paw acquisition, the company

‘’The home of the specialist caption can now o er an even more personalised service’’

Paul Urban, managing director

Kingﬁsher Cards

hopes to announce another deal, which will o er yet another facet of the greeting card world. The Kingﬁsher Cards team also has the Henries awards to look forward to in October – with two of their ranges in the running for a trophy.

Kingﬁsher Cards 01803 431515

sales@kingﬁshercards.co.uk www.kingﬁshercards.co.uk

Relax with this cuppa!

New for 2025, A Cup of Tea, is a 3D range of pop-up cards shaped as a tea cup. Perfect to relax with, this range has designs for every occasion, with layered scenes inside. Each card is designed to pop open and sit on its own saucer, with space on the back to write your message.

Supplied flat, with envelope, there are display options available for each stockist. They also work on spinners offered with the Alljoy Design ranges. Another expansion to the award-winning ranges from Alljoy Design. info@alljoydesign.com www.alljoydesign.com

Research shows colourful stationery leads to better learning

New research shows that fun, colourful stationery isn’t just for show – it can actually make children smarter.

Studies suggest that colourful pens, patterned notebooks and even scented pencils can help improve memory, boost creativity and encourage better focus in school.

The findings come as families begin preparing for the busy back-to-school season, with millions of children set to return to the classroom.

Ahead of this annual event, high street stationer Ryman highlighted multiple scientific studies that demonstrate colourful stationery can help kids learn.

A study from the University of Dundee uncovered that using colour during study sessions significantly aids memory retention and task engagement.

Meanwhile, research from Princeton and UCLA in the US found students who write by hand recall more information than those who type notes.

Chloe Danskin, head of marketing at Ryman, said: “There’s something undeniably nostalgic about that new stationery feeling – the smell of a freshly sharpened pencil or the smooth glide of a new gel pen.

“But these things are more than just fun novelties, in a world dominated by screens, little details can make learning feel tactile, personal and even exciting.

“A rainbow of highlighters can turn revision into a creative exercise, with each colour unlocking a new layer of memory. A glittery pencil case isn’t just cute, it gives children a sense of ownership over their tools, and pride in their work.

“When school supplies are playful, they become something to look forward to, helping kids approach tasks with enthusiasm, not reluctance. After all, who wouldn’t want to practise spelling if it meant using your favourite bubblegum-scented pen?”

spotlight

All aboard for babies

Joe Davies presents its adorable Noah’s Ark Baby collection – a charming new gift line designed to sit beautifully alongside new baby, christening, and ﬁrst birthday cards. Featuring cute, friendly animals aboard a pastel-hued ark, the collection includes clocks, photo frames, plaques, money boxes and keepsakes – all coordinating with fun, gentle rainbow accents. Each piece is lovingly designed to complement nursery décor and o er lasting sentiment. The range is ideal as an impulse buy, a small standalone gift, or as a thoughtful add-on to a card purchase. Next, introducing the new Equilibrium All that Sparkles range for Autumn/ Winter 2025 from Joe Davies… a stunning collection of 24 silver-plated earrings, thoughtfully presented on branded Equilibrium cards. The range features 12 classic studs, six elegant dangly styles, and six trendy hoops, each with a touch of sparkle that adds just the right amount of glamour. Perfectly sized and beautifully packaged, these earrings make the perfect stocking ﬁller, combining a ordable luxury with everyday wearability. Supplied with a compact acrylic spinning counter display stand, the collection o ers an eye-catching display that maximises sales opportunity in a small retail space.

Joe Davies

0161 975 6300

sales@joedavies.co.uk | www.joedavies.co.uk

Delightfully delicate

The girls at Kali Stileman Publishing are delighted to introduce their gorgeous new occasions range. Inspired by skandi-style folk art, this collection features delightfully delicate people, birds and ﬂowers against muted on-trend colours. This collection features all occasions from happy retirement to happy birthday and is made extra special with lovely silver foiled calligraphy.

Kali Stileman Publishing 01305 848899

info@kalistileman.co.uk www.kalistileman.co.uk

Festive ﬂowers

Time for the boys

Timeless is a new masculine collection. Elegant styles with a rich colour palatte, bringing together elements of retro cool and timeless classics. Launching with 24 designs including open birthday, ages 18-90, and relations. Printed on 300gsm textured board (FSC certiﬁed), embossed detailing and ﬁnished with foil. Matched with a bold grey envelope. You can check out the Timeless collection at Autumn Fair.

Rush Design

01788 521745

info@rushdesign.co.uk | www.rushdesign.co.uk

Back to fill your stockings for another year is Alexander Thurlow and its increasingly popular Flower Jewellery collection. Among an array of floral bestsellers are seasonal pieces such as the Holly & Christmas trees that take centre stage at Christmas time. These items are the perfect small gift to treat a loved one, or a fine excuse to accessorise yourself. Gift boxes are also available. What’s more, with depth in meaning behind many flower lines, each piece is as thoughtful as it is beautiful. Whatever you’re buying for, you can be sure to fall in love with the delicate designs, intricate details and lifelike beauty of nature that is captured within each item. Get stocked up for Christmas today!

Alexander Thurlow 020 8766 6466

sales@alexanderthurlow.com www.alexanderthurlow.com/trade

Add some sparkle

Cherry Orchard Publishing is adding sparkle to the birthday card market with its range, CherryFizz. This vibrant and feminine collection brings together joyful colours, playful illustrations, and luxurious finishes, offering a stylish way to celebrate birthdays and relationships. The open birthday selection is bursting with charm. Bold typographic designs such as Have Fun and Celebrate, Enjoy Your Celebration, and Have a Fabulous Birthday, are paired with florals, butterflies, and colourful accents. Each card is finished with gold foiling and embossing, ensuring a premium, celebratory look. The mix of soft pastels and bright pops of colour makes the range appealing across ages and tastes, perfect for retailers looking to refresh their birthday displays with something versatile and eye-catching. Alongside the open designs, CherryFizz also launches a 12 design relations collection, ensuring every special woman can be celebrated. Captions include Wife, Mum, Girlfriend, Daughter, Sister, Auntie, Niece, Granddaughter, Daughter-in-Law, Sister-in-Law, Friend, and The One I Love. Each design balances warmth and sophistication, with delicate florals, celebratory motifs, and a contemporary flair. These heartfelt cards are elevated by foiling and embossing, creating keepsakes that feel special to give and to receive.

CherryFizz has strong shelf presence, combining cheerful colours with intricate detail and standout finishes. Its wide appeal ensures strong potential across both independents and multiples, offering a reliable new addition to the birthday category.

CherryFizz is more than just a birthday card collection – it’s a celebration of women, relationships, and joyful occasions. With its vibrant designs, premium finishes, and heartfelt sentiments, CherryFizz is set to make a sparkling impact in the greeting card market.

Cherry Orchard Publishing 01684 295500 | info@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk www.cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

Cookie cuts it!

Rachel Ellen Designs has expanded its incredibly successful Cookie Cutters range with some fabulous new designs for occasions and relations, building on the popularity of the existing age and open birthday cards.This distinctive die-cut range is printed with vibrant neon inks on textured board, enhanced with eye-catching hot gold foil, and also supplied with perfectly co-ordinated envelopes.

Rachel Ellen Designs 0115 970 0321

sales@rachelellen.co.uk

www.rachelellen.co.uk

COVER STORY MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

M&G brings new arrivals

Museums &

Galleries

returns to Top Drawer this year on Stand C39 with a much larger stand, giving the company the space to show o its extensive and growing

array of stationery, cards, gifts and homewares

Among some exciting arrivals this summer, Museums & Galleries (M&G) will also launch new products at Top Drawer Autumn – head to stand C39.

A completely new gift range from M&G is a selection of printed clam-shell glasses cases with coordinating printed lens cloths, with a suggested retail price of £9.99. The V&A’s beautiful scarlet Kimono Cranes would be a delightfully pleasing gift for very many glasses wearers, and the design has been hugely successful for M&G on many other gift products. Another classic from the V&A is William Morris’ Strawberry Thief. The rich ﬂoral greens, reds and yellows of Morris’ Leicester pattern – another M&G customer favourite – completes the trio of launch designs from the V&A.

There are two designs from British designer Matthew Williamson, as well as masterpieces from the British Museum and Vincent Van Gogh. Contemporary artists Angela Harding, Catherine Rowe, and Helen Ahpornsiri for Wild Press are represented too. Brambly Hedge, a classic British character brand, which is experiencing a golden revival, features on one design and is bound to please fans.

For Top Drawer Autumn/Winter, M&G is launching two new fashion tote bags – a new darker colourway ﬂoral from Wild Press creator Helen Ahpornsiri (Purple Meadow) and a lusciously fruity Lemon Grove from M&G’s new design licence Emily Burningham – the ﬁrst tote bag from this brand in M&G’s collection.

M&G’s new plant gift bags, launched in January, have been so popular the company is doubling the size of the range with six more being launched – Emily Burningham’s Hollyhocks, and Helen Ahpornisiri’s Purple Meadow are joined by Walter Crane’s Cockatoo and Pomegranate from the V&A, Magnolia Peacock by Matthew Williamson, a stunning medieval ﬂoral design from Germany, and a new design by the wonderful Angela Harding.

M&G’s new plant gift bags, launched in January, have been so popular the company is doubling the size of the range, with six more being launched

With its eyes on the dark winter nights to come, as well as post-Christmas festivity relaxation, M&G is o ering four new jigsaw puzzles – from the V&A, Chris Dunn’s Wind in the Willows, Brambly Hedge, and Emma Frances Grant’s Imaginarium.

Also at Top Drawer, the M&G team will be proud to display its new Excellence in Housewares Award 2025-shortlisted ﬁne bone china gift mugs. There are 20 mug designs in total – the V&A has a capsule collection of four mugs, as does

Emily Burningham

Angela Harding

to Top Drawer

Top Drawer will also offer a chance to review M&G’s new Emily Burningham and The Fold card ranges, as well as its Christmas collection

the Tate Gallery. Designers Matthew Williamson and Mary Katrantzou are represented, as well as artists Angela Harding, Vincent Van Gogh, Helen Ahpornsiri, and Catherine Rowe. The British Museum is represented by Hokusai’s Great Wave. Each mug is beautifully presented in a matching printed gift box – perfect for a keepsake box after opening. The mugs retail at £14.99.

On the cards…

The show will also offer a chance to review M&G’s new Emily Burningham and The Fold card ranges, as well as its Christmas collection.

Emily Burningham’s work is distinctive and stylish, with Japanese-inspired simplicity and a unique palette. It sits at the crossroads between cards & stationery and home & interiors, and fits perfectly into the growing range of M&G products across different categories. The launch range of greeting cards has been fantastically successful this year.

M&G’s new sub-brand The Fold brings joy, colour, and a carnival of contemporary artists and illustrators to the world of greeting cards. It’s a new and exciting venture, backed by a trusted name.

The result of almost two years of research and development by M&G’s studio, The Fold spearheads a significant move by M&G into contemporary art and illustration, with two collections totalling more than 80 fresh new designs, the vast majority of which are by first-time artists for M&G. The Fold offers a vibrant and diverse collection of on-trend artwork, quirky humour and bold typographic designs. The range is only just a couple of months out in the market and is selling fast!

Emily Burningham

The Fold

Helen Ahpornisiri/ Wild Press

SHOW PREVIEW

Cards, connections & Christmas wins

With the Greeting Cards, Stationery & Wrapping sector bursting with bold ideas and new talent, buyers are heading to Autumn Fair at the NEC from September 7-10 ready to discover standout products, stock up for the festive season, and reconnect with the brands they love

Greeting Cards, Stationery & Wrapping at Autumn Fair is the ultimate destination for buyers seeking the most creative, fun, and colourful designs. From beautifully crafted cards and eye-catching wrapping papers to innovative stationery and paper decorations, this sector is set to inspire with collections that put pen to paper in style.

Buyers at Autumn Fair can expect a vibrant and inspiring display of original greeting card designs that reﬂect the diversity, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that Greetings Lab champions.

Meet the next generation of creators: LoveLossDiscoballs: Modern, honest cards for grief, love, friendship, and life, designed to bring comfort and light, even in the darkest times.

Stoats & Weasels: Playful, colourful cards with a never-grow-old sense of humour, from puns to bold typographic designs.

Little Roglets: Award-winning, hand-painted characters and joyful greetings, including a new line of notebooks launching at the show.

Dotty Black: An independent greetings and stationery brand creating bright and

Buyers’ opinion

What will you be looking for?

Extras for Christmas, maybe something I don’t already stock – I’ll see if an impulse/lightbulb moment hits me as I walk around – and ideas for spring.

What are your must-see stands?

Always home fragrance – Plum and Ashby and St Eval – Ricicle Cards and Stormy Knight

Cathy Frost, LoveOne, Ipswich, Su olk

What will you be looking for?

I will be there for at least two days, possibly three. As always I’ll be on the lookout for new cards and gifts, as being in a small village it’s so important to keep the stock interesting for our many regular customers. Trade shows are also a great opportunity to catch up with various friends in the industry, we meet up and discuss new ranges and what’s selling and what’s not, plus share any exciting new things we have found.

What are your must-see stands?

I will deﬁnitely be going to see Five Dollar Shake, Rush Design, Paper Salad and also Cardgains. For gifts I will need to see Joe Davies, Widdop, plus various jewellery and accessory companies. It’s so much easier to buy from their ranges when you can actually see and feel the products.

Caroline Ranwell, Hugs & Kisses, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton

bold, colourful cards with uplifting messages, and hand lettering that spreads positive kindness.

Lydia London: A fun, whimsical illustration-led gifts and stationery brand designed by Lydia Evans, taking inspiration from diving in the ocean, wild swimming, fashion illustrations of the 50s and her two mischievous family cats.

Always with Love: Always with Love is a greeting card publisher founded by designer and lettering artist Emily Gorham and born out of a love of typography and a desire to spread joy.

The sector’s vibrant o ering continues with new designs from leading and emerging brands, including Alex Sharp Photography, Ginger Betty, Tiger Feet, Raspberry Blossom, Bewilderbeest, Brainbox Candy, Cardgains, Five Dollar Shake, From You to Me, Heyyy Cards, Kenji (UK) Life Charms Louise Tiler Marina B N Smith & Co, Natural Partners, Ohh Deer, Paper Salad Publishing, Rush Design, The Art File, Twizler, VENT for Change, WOW Products, as well as newcomers Laura Darrington Design, Cummings and Papyrus, and the magical new interactive oracle and meditation cards from Jellow Cards and Gifts

Also don’t miss the dedicated Greetings New Business Pavilion, featuring Zoë Doodler, Holly Sweet illustration, IZZOO and Rei www.autumnfair.com

Zoe Doodler

Bewilderbeest

Christmas countdown

Stand 7C40-E41

The countdown for Christmas is o cially on, and if you’re on the hunt for new festive gifts and bestsellers, the Joe Davies stand at Autumn Fair (Hall 7 C40-E41) is just the place to ﬁnd them! It’s the perfect place to snap up those last-minute gems and discover Joe Davies’ latest collections, all thoughtfully curated with the busy Christmas trading season in mind. Here’s a little teaser to whet your appetite…

Silver Script Frames – a timeless new range of photo frames designed to honour life’s most meaningful occasions. Beautifully ﬁnished with silver embellishments and elegant scripted wording, each frame captures a key milestone such as Our Wedding Day, Christening Day, Our Engagement, and First Communion. Soft white tones, delicate icons, and a clean presentation make these frames a natural choice for card and gift shops, especially when paired with occasion cards. Whether it’s a wedding gift, a christening keepsake, or a conﬁrmation memento, these frames o er emotional value in a compact, shelf-friendly format that’s easy to display and quick to sell.

Bold, playful and unapologetically plush, this winter’s accessory trends are turning up the volume, and the Equilibrium Autumn/Winter Collection is right on cue. Embracing the season’s love a air with texture and statement styling, the latest range features a luxurious selection of faux fur and faux sheepskin bag, hats, scarves and gloves. This winter’s trends are anything but quiet; it’s all about nostalgia, personality and making fashion fun again. With faux fur, faux sheepskin and animal prints taking centre stage, this collection taps into the season’s desire for warmth with attitude.

The new handbag selection includes a variety of soft touch totes and shoulder bags, each combining tactile appeal with a ordable prices. Designed to be noticed, these pieces are as practical as they are fashionable. Matching scarves, hats and gloves complete the look, making it easy for customers to co-ordinate a stylish winter wardrobe or pick the perfect gift. If nothing else, this exciting new collection proves that cold weather accessories can be both cosy and chic.

Autumn/Winter 2025 sees the arrival of the striking new Equilibrium Monochrome Collection. This sophisticated range features necklaces, bracelets and earrings that blend bold geometry with refined detail. Each piece is intricately crafted, pairing clear and black gemstones, and is finished in real silver or gold plating. The collection o ers a luxurious, high-contrast aesthetic that’s both vintage inspired and e ortlessly modern. Perfect for those drawn to understated opulence, the Monochrome Collection will elevate your daytime look or add a touch of drama to your evening outfit. The Equilibrium Monochrome Collection really is a must-have for lovers of classic glamour with a contemporary edge.

Finally, turn up the charm on candlelight with Crystal Bloom, one of several new glass collections. These beautifully sculpted tealight and candle holders take inspiration from blooming flowers, with jewel-toned petals and elegant green stems that catch and reflect the light in stunning style. Available in a mix of pink, red, lilac, and blue hues, each piece is crafted from coloured glass and designed to resemble a flower in full bloom. The range includes both freestanding and pedestal-style holders, making them perfect as individual accents or grouped together for a striking display.

Rush-ing back to the NEC

Stand 6B10

Rush Design is back at the NEC for Autumn Fair, where it will be launching plenty of new designs to existing collections.

There will be some new additions to the hugely successful Wishes & Dreams collection. This range is a ﬁnalist at the Henries Awards later this year, along with the new Timeless male collection and this year’s Christmas collection Twinkle.

There will also be new male & female age designs for the Ella collection, and new open birthday juvenile cards for the Little Treasures collection.

The two 2025 Christmas collections will still be available to order too. Joe Davies will also be at Autumn Fair showcasing new glassware and gift bag lines from its licensing collaboration with Rush.

Owner/designer Lorraine Bradley adds: ‘’I’m over the moon that we have three collections in the finals for the Henries this year, and look forward to seeing everyone at the NEC.’’

Growing collection

Stand 6D17

After a couple of years o , Laura Darrington Design is back at Autumn Fair highlighting several new collections and more than 150 new designs. Business development manager Ross Darrington points out: ‘’Living only 35 minutes away from the NEC makes the commute a bit easier, so we are all looking forward to it!’’

The latest range, the Eden Collection, continues to grow – with new everyday captions added. Featuring a deep emboss and cold foil ﬁnish, the contemporary range is a modern continuation of the Halcyon Collection, which recently hit its eighth year in publication.

Colour me happy

Stand 6C20

Look out for the most colourful stand at Autumn Fair and there you will ﬁnd Paper Salad!

Located on 6C20, Paper Salad will be showcasing its new male range Gold Rush, alongside new Spring Seasons collections 2026 and a super striking academics range covering graduation and Thank You Teacher. Perfect for all those who like to plan ahead! Gold Rush was inspired by the very popular Gold Dust range, which is now entering its eighth year.

Gold Dust is the range that refuses to die, despite the introduction of lots of newer, very popular award-winning ranges. It still has wide appeal, and adding new male-inspired (but not wholly) additions seemed like the natural progression. The range is the same square format of 155 x 155; bright colours on dark backgrounds with a lot of foiling makes the range really stand out. ‘’We are looking forward to seeing how they are received at the show,’’ says Karen Wilson, founder and design director of the company.

Autumn Fair will be the culmination of another fantastic year for the colourful company. ‘’Our ranges continue to do well, customers love the quality, colour and ﬁnish of all our cards and we really do stand out on the shelves,” says Karen, who has completed one full year of full ownership of the business, after her longstanding business partner Claire decided to leave Paper Salad last year.

The Paper Salad team are also very excited for their annual visit to The Henries, even more so after ﬁnding out that they are ﬁnalists in no fewer then six categories, including Most Promising Young Designer. If you add in its collaborations with Glick and Emotional Rescue it takes the tally up to an incredible nine nominations.

‘‘To say we were overwhelmed is an understatement,’’ said Karen, ‘’and it makes the night even more exciting!’

Welcome gnome

Stand 6D24

The new Cheeky Legends Gardening Gnome range was a hit at PG Live, and will appear again at Autumn Fair on the new Greetings Lab stand (6D24). The collection proved that even in the garden industry, a little cheekiness goes a long way. These humorous and relatable greeting cards o er something completely di erent.

The range struck a chord with buyers looking to inject a fresh, fun vibe into their gift departments. Many commented on how the light-hearted tone was a perfect ﬁt for a garden centre’s diverse customer base. The success of the new range reinforces the team’s belief that innovative, humour-driven products can thrive alongside classic o erings, creating a more engaging and memorable shopping experience for everyone.

Stunning showcase

Stand 6D30-E31

The Art File team will be showcasing their bestselling Everyday, Christmas and Spring Seasons collections. With hundreds of new designs to choose from, there’s something for everyone looking to celebrate an important event or occasion.

This year The Art File has been thrilled to launch more than 20 new collections across cards, stationery, gifts and wrap. Some recent notable new card collections include Hounds, a new art collection created in collaboration with talented artist Jo Scott, Pavilion, a series of abstract cards created with the brilliant brand, Pavilion, and It’s A Celebration, a classic card collection for birthdays of all ages.

Other standout releases include new designs across bestselling card ranges, new looks in gift bags and wrap, and new stationery.

The Art File will be showcasing Spring Seasons 2026 for those who want to plan ahead for next year. This collection includes 75 new designs across all the major spring events for 2026.

Autumn Fair will also be the last chance to order from the multi-award-winning Christmas 2025 collection, which has been curated to make festive gift-giving even more magical. With more than 140 new designs, from a range of charity cards to a selection of luxurious boxed cards and hand-folded 3D pop-ups, there’s something for everyone in this stunning collection.

The Art File will be at Autumn Fair with its sister company, Tall Boy Prints, which sells luxury fine art prints. View a curated selection of its art prints at Autumn Fair and see the full catalogue in person.

SHOW REVIEW

HARROGATE HOME & GIFT BUYERS’ FESTIVAL

“Harrogate Home & Gift was a fabulous show, as always, despite the Sundowners being Raindowners! Who knew you could hire a brolly? Realistically, visitor numbers down but business deﬁnitely up across most companies.”

Richard Pass, of STL Agency, who represents Alljoy Design richard@stlagency.co.uk

‘’This year’s Home and Gift was a record-breaking one for us! The format of the show was fantastic as always. The festival-style atmosphere was great to be a part of. We picked up some fantastic new customers, as well as securing some last-minute Christmas orders. The new notebooks and greeting card ranges we launched at the show went down an absolute storm too. We already can’t wait for the next one!’’

Karen Mace, art director, and Ged Mace, MD, The Art File

A record-breaking

The 2025 edition of Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival ﬁnished on a high in July, with record-breaking rebookings and remarkable growth across key buyer categories. The 65th edition of the show certainly went down a storm with these exhibitors – and we’re not just talking about the downpours! – as Greetings Today found out when we caught up with them…

‘’We had such a great time at Harrogate, despite the biblical downpours! It was our ﬁrst time at the show, and it was great to be up in that part of the world as we’re based in London. We met lots of great new customers and loved the relaxed atmosphere, as well as the post-show fancy gins courtesy of Clarion!’’

Rosanna Jones (left), social media and website manager, and Amy Woodrow Arai, account manager, Cath Tate Cards

‘’Fox Under The Moon had another record year at Home & Gift 2025 – we took more orders than we could have dreamed of, and had a fantastic time meeting customers old and new. Announcing our upcoming licensing partnership with Joe Davies at the show was the icing on the cake for us!’’

Jamie and Stacey McNeill, directors, Fox Under The Moon

‘’It was wonderful to be back at Harrogate this year – always such a highlight in the calendar. It was lovely to catch up with so many of my brilliant stockists and to meet lots of new faces too. I was also thrilled to be asked to design the o cial 65th birthday card from the GCA to celebrate Home & Gift’s special anniversary – such an honour.’’ Grace Jackson, founder, Grace Jackson Design

‘’This year is the ﬁrst time Heyyy has done Harrogate and we are sooo pleased! The show has been really buzzy and we’ve met lots of lovely new customers, even on Sunday when the rain didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits! Looking forward to exhibiting again next year.’’

Yvette Clarkson, sales director Heyyy Cards

‘’As always it was great to see so many independent retail customers at Home & Gift, and lovely to meet some new people too. The show was a great success with us launching over 2,000 brand new lines for Autumn/Winter. Making the show extra special this year was the announcement of our licensing arrangement with Fox Under the Moon. Everyone at Joe Davies is excited by the brand and looking forward to working with author, artist and founder Stacey McNeill.’’

Paul Hooker, MD, Joe Davies, with Stacey McNeill of Fox Under The Moon

show

‘’It was our first time exhibiting at Harrogate Home & Gift, and it was an absolute joy from start to finish! We were blown away by how warm, friendly, and open everyone was – it felt like a truly special few days. We had so many lovely conversations, met some brilliant stockists and new industry friends, and left feeling energised and inspired. We already can’t wait for next year!’’

Rachel Hart-Phillips, co-owner LoveLossDiscoballs

‘’The show was our best yet! We adore Home & Gift because it feels very relaxed, sociable and it’s in such a beautiful part of the country, too. We had such a great response to our very pink stand and it was lovely to launch Christmas there. We have already booked for next year!’’

Kerry Bilson, director and founder, and Liam Bilson, MD, Letterbox Love

‘’It’s always a really fun show. The lowlight was giving up on dismantling our back wall and just pushing it over in the end. It’s not always as easy as it looks!’’

L-r: Harry Ferrin (sales manager); Mark Callaby (managing director), Phillip Connors (account manager), and Edd Hamp (head of commercial operations), Ohh Deer

“Another wonderfully busy Harrogate show has come to a close, and it was a fantastic few days. The atmosphere was brimming with energy, and it was a real pleasure to welcome new customers while catching up with our lovely existing stockists. We were especially excited to showcase our new collections, which were received with such enthusiasm. We’re already looking forward to the next one!”

Kim Thackery, head of sales, Toasted Crumpet (pictured Jo Clarke, MD)

‘’Home & Gift is such a lovely show – it has a truly welcoming and friendly atmosphere. It’s always a joy to catch up with our existing stockists and hear how things are going in their shops. We also love the opportunity to connect with new retailers, introduce them to our collections, and share the stories behind our designs – all in such a relaxed and inspiring environment.’’

Katherine Khangurra founder, Libra Fine Arts

“This was Ornament Art’s first time at Home & Gift, and while we’d been told that the show has a great atmosphere it was amazing to experience it for ourselves. We met so many new people – fabulous customers and super-helpful industry experts, as well as the inspirational small businesses exhibiting alongside us. Seeing people react to our greeting cards and photo art prints with big smiles and then follow that up with orders was such a buzz – we are still on a post-show high!”

Jo and David Short, directors, Ornament Art

OLD RAILWAY LINE GARDEN CENTRE

Staying on

Katie Eckley, operations director at the Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Brecon, Wales, tells Greetings Today how her team caters to a broad range of customers when it comes to cards and gifts

Can you tell us a little about the centre?

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre is a familyrun business located in mid-Wales, nestled at the foothills of the Black Mountains. Now in our 35th year, we’ve recently completed a major redevelopment of our entrance and plant area, creating a more welcoming space for visitors. While

‘’Every product must not only appeal to our customers but also feel in harmony with the wider garden centre setting, creating an inspiring shopping experience’’

plants and gardening remain at our core, we also o er a diverse range of products including cards, giftware, clothing, food, and pet care. Our three catering outlets – the main restaurant, a cosy tea room, and a takeaway kiosk serving hot drinks, snacks, and ice creams – make us a destination where customers can enjoy a full day out.

How do you approach curating a gift and greeting card selection that complements the garden centre environment?

We focus on creativity, and carefully select ranges we are conﬁdent in, ensuring they meet our high standards of quality while aligning with our in-house sourcing policy. Every product must not only appeal to our customers but also feel in harmony with the wider garden centre setting, creating an inspiring shopping experience.

What seasonal trends or themes have you noticed performing particularly well in recent years?

Plush toys and decorative items have shown strong growth, appealing not only to children but also to teens and adults who love the quirky, characterful designs now available from many suppliers. Table décor has also been a standout — runners, artiﬁcial ﬂowers, candle accessories, and centrepieces lend themselves perfectly to the increasingly popular ‘tablescaping’ trend. These products create visually engaging displays in-store that help tell a seasonal story and inspire customers.

Locally sourced products continue to perform well too. We showcase each one with a supplier proﬁle highlighting their story and ethos, which resonates strongly with customers.

How do you balance traditional bestsellers with new or niche products when selecting your stock?

We use colour themes for general gift and homeware ranges, updating these through the seasons to keep displays fresh. Core categories such as fragrance, toiletries, and occasion gifts are displayed separately, allowing us to refresh high-tra c areas without disrupting established bestsellers.

Dedicated ‘hot spot’ zones showcase volume lines, often with exclusive o ers for our reward card members. These are always positioned in busy areas, merchandised simply with bold POS for maximum impact, and supported through marketing channels including email newsletters, restaurant table talkers, and entrance signage.

track

Are there speciﬁc types of cards that resonate more with your customers?

Our customers definitely prefer humour and quirky cards.

How important is sustainability and eco-conscious sourcing in your buying decisions today?

Sustainability is at the heart of our sourcing policy. We consider the environmental impact and ethos of every supplier before purchasing. Product quality and durability are equally important – the longer an item lasts, the less waste is generated.

‘’Our forecasts take into account changes within the business, economic conditions, and – importantly –the weather’’

We actively favour reduced packaging, particularly in delivery, and look for alternatives to problematic materials like polystyrene. Over the years, packaging reduction has become a key decision-making factor.

What role do local or British-made products play in your gifting and card ranges?

Locally made products are an important part of our o er, from toiletries and fragrances to jewellery, books, and crockery. We give each supplier a dedicated proﬁle display, helping customers connect with the story behind the product. This often encourages gift buyers to choose a local brand over a national one.

One great example is Samalanah wax melts — we sell more of these than any national fragrance brand. The owner, Sam, is active on social media and has built a reputation for quality, with customers often coming in speciﬁcally for her products.

How do you forecast what to stock for key retail periods such as Christmas, Mother’s Day, or spring planting season?

For major seasons like Christmas and outdoor furniture, we set budgets well in advance as these ranges are ordered early and cannot usually be topped up in-season. For spring giftware, we use previous years’ sales and spend data as a guide, then monitor stock throughout the season to adjust as needed. Our forecasts take into account changes within the business, economic conditions, and – importantly – the weather. Sunshine can transform trade for a garden centre. This year’s strong early spring weather, combined with our new entrance and plant area development, boosted footfall signiﬁcantly, and we expect this momentum to carry into AW25.

In what ways has customer behaviour changed in the gift and greetings category postpandemic or during recent economic shifts?

Social media now drives seasonal trends more than ever. For example, autumn has grown into a major retail season thanks to the rise of the ‘cosy season’ aesthetic online – transforming pumpkin and Halloween sales into a much broader décor category. With the swift shift to online during the pandemic, customers compare prices more closely with online retailers, so we only stock ranges we know we can remain competitive with, while also retaining the margins needed to cope with the massive increases in costs we have seen in the past few years.

What’s the biggest challenge you face when selecting gifts and greeting cards for a garden centre audience?

Planning themes far in advance can be challenging, but we draw inspiration from our suppliers and aim to deliver the ‘wow’ factor our customers expect. Getting quantities right on key lines is tricky –sometimes we hit it perfectly, other times we have to clear excess at the end of the season.

Our audience is diverse, from young families to older visitors enjoying a day out. Catering for everyone requires a broad, well-balanced range. Our team plays a vital role in feeding back what works and what doesn’t for future buying decisions.

Can you share a recent success story – a product line or trend that really took o with your customers?

The Mediterranean trend has been our biggest hit this season. Bold colours and striking designs have stopped customers in their tracks, and we plan to evolve this theme for SS26.

We also recently introduced the well-known fragrance brand Inis, which has been an instant success despite taking up minimal space. Similarly, Yeti products have been very well received – their durability appeals to our active local audience, including hikers, campers, and anglers visiting the nearby Brecon Beacons.

CARDS & GIFTS FOR GARDEN CENTRES

Join the garden party!

“Garden centres have significantly shifted in their landscapes over the past few years. Today they are lifestyle destinations, creating an experience for the customer’’

Rani Moochhala, founder, Paper Mirchi

Garden centres have evolved as retail destinations –o ering prime opportunities for cross-category upselling

According to the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), over two-thirds of British adults visit a garden centre each year – not suprising as there are more than 1,500 across the country. And UK households spent around £8 billion on garden products in 2023, highlighting their reach and economic clout.

And in April this year, spending at garden centres jumped 25%, boosted by the sunniest April on record and a growing consumer enthusiasm for outdoor and lifestyle shopping, according to The Times.

Garden centres are no longer just for plants –they’ve become lifestyle hubs, featuring cafés, event spaces, home decor, food, cards, and gift ranges alongside gardening essentials

Some garden centres even rival retail emporiums. For example, Oxfordshire’s Burford Garden Company blends plants, fashion, food, art, and more – pulling in nearly £20 million in annual turnover (Financial Times).

These insights underscore how greeting cards and gifts can play a strategic role in capturing the impulse and occasion-related spend that garden centres now inspire.

And Ross Harrison, business development manager at Laura Darrington Design, is ensuring the publisher takes advantage of this:

“Being a publisher that has a signature modern ﬂoral style, we have always seen excellent sales across the variety of garden centres we supply. Contemporary ﬂoral design shows no signs of stopping, so we are more than happy to oblige. With garden centres now becoming a standalone shopping destination, o ering a wider range of products than ever before – the role of greeting cards as a convenient up-sale is ever-more important.”

This success demonstrates how ﬂoralthemed cards complement the visual and experiential appeal of garden centres – an

e ortless add-on for style-savvy shoppers. Rani Moochhala, founder of Paper Mirchi, observes how garden centres are also driving sustainability within the greetings industry.

“Garden centres have signiﬁcantly shifted in their landscapes over the past few years. Today they are lifestyle destinations, creating an experience for the customer. The retailer now o ers home decor, gifting, cards and wrap alongside their garden centre essentials. As with many other retailers in the UK, sustainability has become more and more of a core value that drives buying decisions.

“Sustainability is a key driver to many buying decisions at garden centres. Paper Mirchi products are all handmade by artisans and are made using 100% recycled cotton rag, giving all products a clear and strong eco message.”

Meanwhile, Lorraine Bradley, owner and designer at Rush Design, says that the brokerage option has become a growing format for sales in garden centres, and signals where opportunities lie in occasion-led card categories: “Apart from the strong range of birthday and occasion captions, we do very well with our large card collection of age-relation. The New England range o ers a quality card for those very special ‘signiﬁcant’ birthdays. At a 210 mm × 210 mm size and now with more than 150 caption options, it works really well from a spinner.”

Large-format cards with broad age-relation appeal can create standout moments in garden centre retail displays – ideal for celebratory impulse purchases.

By combining style, experience, sustainability, and occasion relevance, card and gift suppliers can elevate their o erings to meet the reﬁned expectations of garden centre shoppers. This is more than just retail –it’s strategic curation in an immersive retail environment.

Laura Darrington Design

Rush Design

Cinnamon Aitch

Cherry Orchard

Made in the UK

Cinnamon Aitch has become synonymous with beautiful, contemporary design, which is evident across its ranges of gorgeous greeting cards, stationery and gifts.

Celebrating its 30th year in business, the small but perfectly formed company still ensures all of its cards, gifts, wrap and little notebooks are made entirely in the UK with consideration for the environment at the forefront. Each design is carefully conceived and considered to resonate with today’s savvy consumer, nodding to contemporary trends beyond the industry and combining these with a love of design and illustration.

Card ranges cover both printed and hand ﬁnished, from colour-popping fun, to pretty, intricate ﬂorals, perfect for garden centres big and small. Designs have also been translated into gifts to complement the card ranges.

There are handbag-friendly little notebooks, perfect for pocket money pick-ups. Beautifully designed and finished with a kraft bellyband. Alongside these are 36 handmade soaps, all vegan, palm oil free, containing no plastic, parabens, SLS – and are kind to animals. Each bar is beautifully wrapped in a pretty, recyclable paper sleeve, and most designs are tied with jute and finished with a kraft tag and bespoke wooden flower. There’s also a range of soaps for dogs, all tied up with a little wooden bone! There are 22 100% natural base lip balm designs, similarly packaged and coordinating with the soap and paper products to complete the story.

Spinners and point of sale units are available across the product ranges.

Cinnamon Aitch 0121 773 6833

hello@cinnamonaitch.co.uk www.cinnamonaitch.co.uk

Year-round sales

As a proud member of the Garden Centre Association, with all cards designed, printed and ﬁnished in the UK, IC&G’s greeting card collections o er an ideal retail opportunity for garden centres, combining quality design with strong yearround sales potential.

The range includes themed packs such as Friend and Occasions, as well as dedicated Anniversary and Wedding designs, catering to a broad customer base. Seasonal lines, including fresh Spring ranges, provide timely updates to displays, while the diverse and proven Christmas selection consistently delivers strong festive sales. IC&G can also o er ﬁxturing equipment solutions to suit every location and budget. With options covering everyday occasions through to peak seasonal periods, IC&G’s cards o er reliable turnover and visual appeal for giftoriented retail spaces.

International Cards & Gifts 01202 897494 customerservice@icgcards.com www.icgcards.com

How noo Highland coo!

Add a splash of Highland charm to your gift displays with the Garden Bloom Coo range from Joe Davies. These irresistibly cute mini-Highland cow ﬁgures are full of character – each adorned with colourful ﬂowers, heart-warming signs and charming details that make them perfect for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Ideal for garden centres, the range includes a variety of poses and messages such as Welcome Friends, Life is Better in the Garden, and Let Love Bloom. Whether placed on shelves, plant stands or gifting tables, these friendly coos are a guaranteed conversation starter – and an ideal pick-up gift for shoppers browsing for something thoughtful and fun. Made for gifting, collecting or brightening up a potting shed, Garden Bloom Coos are easy to display and quick to turn.

Joe Davies 0161 975 6300 sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk

The beauty of nature

Many of The Art File card and gift wrap collections are inspired by the beauty of nature, making them perfect gifts for garden centres. From bestselling card collections such as Natural Phenomenon and Nature Trail, designed by Kate Heiss, to stunning notebooks with botanical themes, there’s something for every type of nature lover.

The Art File team is also excited to showcase four new A5 notebook designs in its notebook collection. These notebooks are beautifully whimsical and nature-inspired, including designs from the bestselling Secret Garden and Storybook collections.

The Art File sales@theartfile.com www.theartfiletrade.com

The greeting card market in garden centres has been a growth area for the past 20 years, and even more so over the past 10 years. For greeting cards, the brokerage option has become a growing format for sales in garden centres. Owners have identified that there is a great opportunity for selling cards alongside the more traditional garden centre products. Rush Design has always had a good relationship with garden centres and the product range fits very well with the customer base. The feminine-themed cards, along with a good, varied o er on occasions, has given plenty of opportunities within this sector. Funnily enough it’s not all about florals and gardenthemed designs. It’s more about a quality product at a realistic price point, says owner/designer Lorraine Bradley. O ering spinner deals and options is a great asset to certain garden centre customers, she adds.

Rush Design 01788 521745

info@rushdesign.co.uk www.rushdesign.co.uk

Bursting with colour

Cherry Orchard’s Carnival range is bursting with colour, sparkle, and celebration –making it the ideal card collection for garden centres. With vibrant florals, butterflies, balloons, and gift imagery, the designs perfectly echo the beauty and creativity of

Cherry Orchard Publishing

the garden centre environment. Finished with shimmering details that catch the eye, Carnival cards have broad appeal across all ages and occasions. A natural impulse buy, they add brightness, happiness, and style to every display.

01684 295500 | info@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk | www.cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

The thought counts

For garden centres seeking to cultivate a thoughtful and emotionally resonant gift selection, Rainbow Designs offers an adorable premium range of licensed character gifts that blossom in garden centres. With a prestigious portfolio that includes Peter Rabbit, Guess How Much I Love You and Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, Rainbow brings these cherished characters to life in classic-yet-contemporary soft toys, comforters and keepsakes, creating treasured gifts for christenings, birthdays, and special moments.

The exquisite Peter Rabbit Signature Collection features Beatrix Potter’s muchloved characters Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny. The range of soft toys, comforters and ring rattles, also features the beautiful Signature Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny Gift Sets, that include a baby soft plush toy and knitted blanket beautifully packaged in an illustrated keepsake box.

The adorable Guess How Much I Love You range captures the tender bond between parent and child. New arrivals to this bestselling collection include the starshaped Nutbrown Hare Comforter, an engaging Activity Cube, and two charming gift set combinations, a plush toy with milestone cards, and plush toy with muslins, making them perfect options for heartfelt gifts.

The enchanting Disney Classic Pooh Always and Forever collection captures the timeless charm of A.A. Milne’s treasured bear; this range includes luxuriously gift boxed soft toys, comforters, and ring rattles. This summer, the collection welcomes a delightful new arrival: the Winnie the Pooh Muslin Comforter, designed to provide comfort and cuddles in equal measure.

Rainbow Designs 01329 227300

sales@rainbowdesigns.co.uk

Blooms and boxes

A quality selection of games and puzzles is a must-have for garden centres, which are fast becoming go-to destinations for thoughtful and unique gifts, and University Games and Lagoon offer an extensive collection of games, puzzles, and gift lines to suit all ages from preschoolers to adults.

From Lagoon, the fun and festive new Birthday in a Box range is the ultimate birthday gift and a perfect impulse pick-up for garden centre shoppers. Available for milestone ages 18 to 60, as well as in a general Happy Birthday edition, each box includes a Birthday Trivia Card Game, Booklet of Fun Facts, Badge, Cake Topper, Confetti, and more – everything needed to celebrate in style.

A budding new addition to University Games’ successful, high-quality 3D Puzzles range is a floral-themed collection of 3D immersive puzzles featuring bouquets of Carnations, Roses, or Sunflowers. Assembled with no need for scissors or glue, these floral fun 3D Puzzles create beautiful bouquets of flowers to make a thoughtful and attractive alternative 2-in-1 gift for any special occasion.

University Games and Lagoon 020 7254 0100

www.university-games.co.uk

‘Committed to quality

Claire McGhee, giftware buyer at

Klondyke & Strikes

garden centres, talks trends, seasonal demand and more for this chain of centres in the north of

Can you tell us a little about Klondyke?

Klondyke is a proudly family-run business with 22 garden centres and one foodhall based throughout the north of England, Scotland and Wales. We o er a wide range of indoor and outdoor plants, garden supplies, outdoor living, toys and giftware. We aim to be “Every Gardener’s Garden Centre” and the company prides itself on its commitment to quality, choice, customer care and satisfaction.

‘’At the moment we are seeing seasonal selfpurchasing becoming more and more popular’’

What trends are currently shaping gift buying in garden centres, and how do you stay ahead of them?

At the moment we are seeing seasonal selfpurchasing becoming more and more popular. Our Christmas ranges have always sold very well, but now we’re seeing an increase in customers dressing their home in autumn- and spring-themed product, and gifting as well. This can include anything from autumnal scented home fragrances, to bunny ornaments at Easter time.

Social media is key to keeping an eye out for the next trends, and we also visit trade shows such as Spring/Autumn Fair at the NEC and the Home & Gift Buyers’ Festival at Harrogate, where you can spot the common themes in the products suppliers and brands are o ering.

England, Scotland and Wales

How do you balance seasonal demand with year-round gift appeal in your product selection?

Although the seasonal ranges are gaining pace, we o er a core range of products across ﬂoristry, homewares, greeting cards, home fragrance and bath and body. It’s important that customers can buy their favourite products all year round. We can grow the size of a range when seasonally appropriate and shrink again when it’s not such a popular time. For example, we o er a year-round collection of wedding gifts, even though the peak time for selling is in late spring.

Are there particular product categories –such as homeware, candles, or books – that consistently perform well for you? Why do you think that is?

Our home fragrance and bath & body ranges have been consistent performers this year. We’re working with some great brands such as Arran Aromatics, Wax Lyrical, Potter’s Crouch and Scottish Fine Soaps. I think having these well-known brands, among others too, are the key to the consistent strong sales. They are well-loved products, make lovely gifts, and also a wee treat for yourself too.

How important is sustainability when selecting gift products, and are you seeing increased demand from customers for ecoconscious items?

Sustainability is increasingly important when we are selecting gift products, both from a values perspective and in response to growing customer demand. More and more consumers are actively looking for eco-conscious options – items made from recycled materials, responsibly and locally sourced products, or reusable and minimal-waste packaging.

and choice’

We’re deﬁnitely seeing a shift in preferences from our customers.

Do you have ‘localised’ gifts that vary from centre to centre?

Yes, we do! It’s lovely to be able to o er products that are connected to the local area and it’s something we are always on the lookout for. We have been working closely with Emily Ward Art, who creates colourful artworks of famous landscapes and sights, to commission bespoke pieces that are reﬂective of our stores’

‘’Occasion gifting is also doing well for us. These ranges sit alongside our extensive greeting card selections and we hope for joined-up sales in this area’’

locations, the latest being a beautiful depiction of Blackpool Tower! We also have a range of handmade decorative glassware ornaments from Dragonﬂy Dichroic, a local artist to some of our Scottish centres.

How do you decide what price points to target across your gift ranges? Is there a sweet spot that tends to sell best?

Our customers appreciate value for money and so we always make sure that our price points are keen and the majority are below £40. However, it’s also important to o er a choice of price points and so we try to make sure that anything on the pricier side is a ‘wow’ piece!

What’s been your biggest surprise hit this year?

We were not surprised that our Positive Potatoes range of crocheted, sentimental messaging characters sold, but the volume of appetite caught us by surprise. The customers can’t get enough of these, and what started as a trial in a few stores has grown very quickly into a must-have for all of our centres.

How closely do you work with suppliers or reps when choosing stock, and what do you value most in a supplier relationship?

Communication and trust are key. We are always happy to hear recommendations from suppliers and their reps, and more often than not, take them up on those product recommendations. We try to give as much feedback as we can as to how sales are going or any issues that we need to work on so that we can grow the sales together in a mutually beneﬁcial way.

What ﬁve brands or products have been your best performers?

All things Highland cow related. This is a big trend right now. Everything from mugs to cushions is selling well as long as it has a cow on it.

Fragrance di users continue to sell very well, in all shapes, sizes, scents and price points.

Positive Potatoes as mentioned before.

Pick and mix bath melts and wax melts have also performed very well for us – the customers love that hands-on approach and making their own wee gift.

Occasion gifting is also doing well for us – this is tokens/trinkets that celebrate a particular age or occasion like an anniversary. These ranges sit alongside our extensive greeting card selections and we hope for joined-up sales in this area.

SHOP TALK

Greetings Today catches up with retailers to ﬁnd out what’s selling well, when Christmas starts for them, and gauge their thoughts on the state of the high street. Want to get involved in the next issue? Email naomi@lemapublishing.co.uk

Name: Heidi Early

Shop: Earlybird

Location: Stoke Newington

London

What’s selling well for you at the moment?

Bright summery cards are super popular right now; our three top-selling cards over the past month have been our (Earlybird’s in-house designs) big sun on a blue background in our Bonbi Forest range, our mini sun and our birthday lemons in our Honey range. People obviously like yellows and blues!

Along with the bright theme the Ohh Deer smiley face wrap ﬂew out! I’ve also noticed more gift bag sales; maybe people are giving more gifts! Or just don’t have the time to wrap a gift. Fruity, bright designs are selling fast.

In gifts, seed packs have been popular; a lot of people are getting them with a wedding or sympathy card as a plantable memory. Tin candles are deﬁnitely in demand over ceramics – more cost-e ective but still a stylish gift.

When will you start displaying Christmas stock? What new ranges are you most excited about?

We don’t tend to get our ﬁrst lot of Charity Christmas packs and advents on the shop ﬂoor until mid October – just before half term. We have such a small space that every inch is at a premium and if we take up too much room with Christmas too early we get some very grumpy customers! This year we’re really excited to get our new mini card Christmas designs onto our spinner; they’re super cute and really stand out. We always really love unboxing our Talking Tables Christmas order with all the adorable and environmentally friendly tableware, POS games and decorations –this year we think its folklore paper chains and paper stars will be a trending favourite.

What do you think of the Spring Fair/Save the High Street survey results?

The survey, which collected insights from more than 250 independent retail businesses, paints a stark picture of Britain’s high streets in 2025, where even the most experienced and passionate shop owners are questioning their future.

I think the results were right on the money. I’m chair of our local business association and have recently highlighted all these issues with our local councillors, asking them to lobby central government on our behalf. Independent retailers in particular really are central to our communities. It’s why we have worked so hard over the past 20 years at Earlybird to embed ourselves within our community. We have watched families grow up and then we employ the younger generation. Employees who have been shopping with us for years are so much more invested in their jobs as a result. They know and care about the local area, the local people – it’s their home. That connection builds a strong community and a strong community will have less crime and anti-social behaviour. It’s a no-brainer; invest in independent retail and you’re investing in all our futures!

Any other issues you wish to highlight?

The ups and downs with Royal Mail have blighted our industry over recent years but this year with thanks to the incredible work of the GCA team and with the latest Royal Mail announcement I feel like there is hope on the horizon. There is still much to do but at least having clear delivery targets, we hope that public conﬁdence will be restored in the service.

We have also decided (along with many fellow retailers) to stop talking about the price of stamps with our customers and instead talk about the importance, and in fact, pricelessness of sending cards. It really is a very a ordable way to make someone smile and brighten their day!

Name: Jayne & Kevin Brooking Owners Shop: Occasional Cards & Gifts

Location:

Kingsbridge

Devon

What’s selling well for you at the moment?

There is always an increase in sales of wedding, exam congratulations and graduation cards at this time of year, but general birthday cards still outsell everything else.

Tracks’ Gogglies are still noticeably one of our top sellers. The Axolotl and Seagull with an ice cream on its head seem to be the most popular currently (being in a coastal town our seagulls love to help themselves to our visitors’ ice creams).

When will you start displaying Christmas stock? What new ranges are you most excited about?

We are huge fans of Christmas and love the colour and the atmosphere of our shop at this time of year. As I’m writing this we have today received one of our ﬁrst deliveries of boxed cards. Abacus Cards was the delivery in today and we are looking forward to all of our other suppliers’ deliveries arriving in September.

We are fortunate to have a good-sized room at the back of our shop, which currently is a sale room but will be changed into a Christmas shop as soon as all the stock arrives to ﬁll it. All Christmas cards displayed are in our main shop area by the end of October, but we will be able to put some cards out early in the Christmas shop before that.

It’s a balancing act as to when to put Christmas out, as customers are divided on when is too early. We keep a close eye on the timings of the supermarkets. Having the Christmas shop is a great way of enabling us to put stock out early. Customers can choose not to go in that room if they are not ready for Christmas yet!

I’m looking forward to receiving Five Dollar Shake’s delivery. There’s a Deluxe Extra Large range, which is stunning. Also we are going to be stocking Hype Cards’ Christmas ranges this year; Wallace & Gromit and the Snoopy Christmas range. We are excited to see how they go as the day-to-day range sells really well.

What do you think of the Spring Fair/Save the High Street survey results? The survey, which collected insights from more than 250 independent retail businesses, paints a stark picture of Britain’s high streets in 2025, where even the most experienced and passionate shop owners are questioning their future. It does paint a stark picture. We are very optimistic and positive people but the economy and running a small independent shop on the high street has never been so di cult as it is currently. We have been running our shop for over 12 years and can honestly say the past few years have been very challenging.

Having the Autumn Budget hanging over us all is causing unease, not only for business but for customers too. Here’s hoping that decisions are not made that will have a detrimental impact on business, as we feel any more pressure could have an e ect that is irreversible.

As stated in the survey there are things that can be done. Parking charges would be a good start and could be quickly implemented.

Let’s see what happens and all keep our ﬁngers crossed for some positive news.

Name:

Janet Ross-Jordan

Shop: Cards and Gift Wrap

Location: Isle of Lewis Scotland

What’s selling well for you at the moment?

Despite the challenges of an increasingly cautious customer base, I’m ﬁnding that greeting cards remain a necessity for many, rather than a luxury. I’ve recently launched an initiative called #WorthTheStamp, and it’s got really good feedback from customers, including new ones, who value the connection and thoughtfulness that a card brings, and their loyalty continues to sustain the business.

At the moment, anything featuring pu ns, Highland cows, or sheep is ﬂying o the shelves – these designs capture the spirit of the Scottish Highlands and resonate with both locals and tourists. Wrendale socks, especially the Highland cow designs, remain a ﬁrm favourite, while novelty postcards like the wooden pop-out designs from Pop Up Designs are proving extremely popular with visitors. Tourists love the unique aesthetic and practicality of these clever creations.

When will you start displaying Christmas stock? What new ranges are you most excited about?

Although it’s only September, Christmas has already started to make its way into my shop and stall. Advent calendar cards are a hit at my Town Hall market stall, and I’ve just begun displaying advent calendars and gift wrap in my shoppie. Online sales are also picking up, with pre-orders for the stunning new range from Lilac Tree Designs pouring in. I’m particularly excited about this year’s Lilac Tree range – it’s the best yet, in my opinion, and I can’t wait for customers to see it.

Do you ﬁnd connecting with the community helps business?

One of the best decisions I’ve made recently was to set up a stall at the Stornoway Town Hall Market. It has been wonderful to connect with regular customers in town and meet new ones, including tourists. Having a presence in town has helped raise my proﬁle and allowed me to bring a little piece of my village shop to a wider audience.

The heatwave may be a distant memory by the time this issue of Greetings Today comes out, but how has it a ected your footfall? Have you made any changes to combat the heat, or tap into the summer vibes?

The summer heatwave didn’t a ect us too much in the Outer Hebrides, in fact we’ve probably had our most pleasant summer for a long while, with very few midges! I’ve been tapping into those summer vibes with lightweight, fun designs like the Pop Up Designs postcards, which helped gained interest with the many visitors to our island. These small, portable souvenirs were perfect for tourists looking for something unique to take or send home.

The recent Spring Fair/Save the High Street survey paints a stark

picture of the challenges faced by independent retailers. I see these struggles reﬂected in my own experience – while loyal customers continue to support me, attracting new customers has become noticeably harder. It’s a reminder of how vital it is to adapt, whether that’s through diversifying stock, creating a stronger online presence, or connecting directly with the community through markets and events. It’s also why I started the #WorthTheStamp initiative, to help us remember the huge positive impact that posting a simple card can have.

Anything you’d like to add?

I’ve always believed in the power of connection, and my shop is as much about building relationships as it is about selling cards and gifts. Whether it’s through the joy of discovering a perfect card or the warmth of a familiar face at the market, I’m committed to keeping that spirit alive.

Name: Caroline Ranwell

Owner

Shop: Hugs & Kisses

Location: Tettenhall

Wolverhampton

West Midlands

What’s selling well for you at the moment?

Cards, cards and more cards! Our bestselling card companies are Five Dollar

Shake, Wendy Jones-Blackett, Belly Button Designs, Rush Design, Rosie Made a Thing, White Cotton and Janie Wilson

Our delicious Belgian chocolates sell extremely well, and various gifts – especially home fragrance. Inis, Marmalade of London, and Lily Flame are particular favourites. When will you start displaying Christmas stock? What new ranges are you most excited about?

We start to display our Christmas cards in September; it takes a fair few weeks to get the whole shop absolutely Christmas ready. Christmas gifts generally go out at the same time as our cards but our Christmas window doesn’t go in until the ﬁrst week in November when we take out the Halloween one.

The heatwave has a ected our footfall but then extreme weather always does, whether it be super hot, super cold or torrential rain. We have an air con unit in the shop and also various fans too, which makes it a little more bearable.

SHOP TALK

Name: Georgina Black Owner Shop:

Pretty Shiny Shop

Location: London, N4

When wil you start displaying Christmas stock? What new ranges are you most excited about?

I will put my charity card display out at the beginning of October with my single Christmas cards going out at the beginning of November. It’s hard to wait that long as so many of the chain shops have their Christmas out in September nowadays – but just because they have it out, it doesn’t mean it sells for them. I have found I sell the majority of my cards and ornaments in December, and really not much before later in November. I choose to keep my everyday cards out and selling as long as I can! What do you think of the Spring Fair/Save the High Street survey results?

I am closing my second shop at the end of its lease in the new year. That shop will have been open for four years, and has one full-time and two part-time employees that will be losing their jobs. My rent increased significantly, as have my rates, electricity, waste collection costs and I pay my sta the London Living Wage or higher. I have put a lot of my own money into the shop to keep it in good repair, but at this point if any further repairs were needed, I could not a ord to do them. I am paying ‘high street’ rent and rates but we are not at a high street location, and therefore don’t have the footfall. It is just not making enough of a profit to risk continuing for another five to 10 years at that location. It’s the neighbourhood gift shop, and we have many local customers who stop in for a chat and have come to count on us for their card and gift needs. I feel bad closing it – but I can’t just be working to pay the rent and rates. At the location of my other shop it costs almost £10 an hour to park… so you can see why people aren’t hanging around to have a mooch around the high street!

Name: Cathy Frost

Owner

Shop: Loveone

Location: Ipswich

Su olk

What’s selling well for you at the moment?

Ohh Deer – Steven Rhodes and Laura Ashley; Ricicle Cards – cocktails and pasties (two new ranges); Bird and Co, and The Printed Peanut in cards, plus soaps and hairbands.

When will you start displaying Christmas stock? What new ranges are you most excited about?

Christmas hits our shelves in early October. We have new decorations from East End Press and will be introducing new food products for the season.

Footfall has been pretty steady; we are part of an art trail this summer so there’s been lots of visitors. We try to theme our window with seasonal ﬂowers and fruits etc.

The industry is under pressure , and we are still adapting to a town centre with fewer people working in it. The key will be to become destinations and align ourselves with the tourism sector. The results didn’t surprise me; I think many of us are planning for the short term in the hope that things will improve!

GCA NEWS Get thinking!

The GCA is calling on you to help it make Thinking of You Week 2025 the biggest and most impactful yet!

Running from September 15–21, this marks the 11th year of the campaign, and it’s all about encouraging people to send cards and deliver smiles.

What you can do:

• Talk to your retailers about the campaign and encourage them to take part.

• Talk to your agents/sales reps and ask them to pass on the message .

• Download and share the FREE toolkit (www.thinkingofyouweek. cards/get-involved/toolkit) and posters with your retailers, agents, reps.

• Promote the campaign online – ready-made assets make it easy.

• Share stories or plans you or the retailers you supply have with the GCA and Greetings Today.

• Encourage social media sharing using the hashtag #ThinkingOfYouWeek.

Retailers can also pick up free posters from these publishers or their sales agents and reps; UK Greetings (UKG); Paper Salad; Ling Design; Woodmansterne; Wendy Jones-Blackett; Abacus; Ohh Deer; Hallmark or Raspberry Blossom.

Or follow the example of Sophie Edwards (pictured), who runs gift and card shop More Than Just A Gift in Narborough. She has created a colourful display pack to inspire her customers to get involved. Her shop is full of cheerful cards, thoughtful gifts, and even a giveaway where customers can nominate someone they’re thinking of for a surprise treat.

The shop will be decorated with rainbows and sunshine. Visitors can try their luck at the Spin the Wheel game, with prizes including the popular TOYW card, a Deliver a Smile pen, and plenty of other goodies. Plus, she will have a card writing station stocked with free stickers and supplies to help everyone send a little love.

Book your conference spot!

Remember to book for the GCA Conference on September 25 in Manchester Hall. You can grab your spot at: www.gca.cards/gca-annual-conference-and-agm.

The lineup of speakers includes:

The Evolving Card Market: Data, Direction and Disruption by Thortful MD Pip Heywood’s.

Latest industry data will also be shared from the GCA annual Market Report, along with further fascinating 2025 consumer insight from market research agency Kantar.

Hazel Walker will be sharing insight into The Waterstones way, with Karen Wilson presenting The Paper Salad Ballad.

Interested in learning more about AI? Kelly Hudson, McDaniels Law, and Rajeev Arora, Nettl, will take us through Sentiment to Sentient: Will we get a birthday card from The Terminator?

Also, everyone is invited for networking drinks the evening before, kindly hosted by Hallmark Cards.

Led by design

Celebrating over 40 years at the forefront of the industry, Top Drawer A/W25 is where creativity meets commerce – a curated platform for discovery, connection,

This September, Olympia London will once again become the beating heart of the UK’s design-led retail scene, as Top Drawer A/W25 returns from September 14–16.

Top Drawer brings together more than 600 handpicked brands across eight lifestyle sectors: Greetings & Stationery, Home, Gift, Fashion, Wellbeing, Play, Food Emporium, and the emerging talent platform, Launchpad. Visitors can expect to discover more than 25,000 of the freshest ﬁnds, chosen for their quality, originality, and design credibility, all under one iconic roof.

This edition introduces an enhanced programme under the creative theme Destination Design, o ering buyers not only an exceptional sourcing experience but also fresh insight into the trends and ideas shaping the season ahead.

What’s On at Top Drawer A/W25: RetailRevealed Live – A dynamic stage delivering thought-provoking talks, trend-led panels, and expertled masterclasses to help retailers navigate the evolving retail landscape.

Summer of Design Collaboration – New for this season, Top Drawer partners with the Design Museum to deliver a never-before-seen, shoppable showcase at the Design Museum shop located on Kensington High Street, spotlighting bold, boundary-pushing exhibitors as part of the museum’s Summer of Design.

Launchpad x University of the Arts London (UAL) –Discover the next generation of standout design talent with a handpicked selection of market-ready, new-tomarket brands.

The Better Trends Co. Trend Feature – Exclusive trend forecasting and consumer insight to inspire buying strategies for the year ahead.

Business Hub – 1:1 advice and mentoring sessions with retail experts, o ering actionable strategies on everything from marketing to merchandising.

Spotlight Awards – Celebrating excellence in design and innovation, recognising the most inspiring brands and products on the show ﬂoor – and a show party to go with it.

Built for buyers. Designed for discovery

With a focus on creativity, commercial potential, and community, Top Drawer A/W25 is the ultimate sourcing destination for independent boutiques, department stores, online platforms, museum shops, and interior buyers alike.

Whether seeking the next bestseller, exploring emerging trends, or connecting with like-minded professionals, visitors to Top Drawer will ﬁnd inspiration in every aisle. With its signature blend of curated design, market insight, and networking opportunities, this is the event where the season ahead truly begins.

What: Top Drawer A/W25

Where: Olympia London

When: September 14–16

Visit: www.topdrawer.co.uk

and inspiration

“Top Drawer is where the industry gathers to source, learn and connect, and this season’s programme reflects that in full. From our new Design Museum partnership to futurefocused content, we’re putting retail relevance front and centre’’ David Westbrooke, show director

Cherry Orchard

The feminine touch

Feminine-themed cards are ﬁnding new momentum, increasingly popular not only for seasonal events but also as versatile, year-round sends

What’s selling well?

Our most popular ranges for Mother’s Day are Ribbons & Roses from Five Dollar Shake, Elle from Belly Button Designs, Woodmansterne, and Ling Design

Caroline Ranwell, Hugs & Kisses, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton

We sell cards by @Sakina Saidi, a French Moroccan artist; her work is very inclusive and beautiful for Mother’s Day. Ricicle Cards, Stormy Knight and Ohh Deer also sell well.

Cathy Frost, Loveone, Ipswich, Su olk

‘’As an independent, I need to really curate my card offering to be sure I’m offering something unique’’

Georgina Black, Pretty Shiny Shop, London

As one of the most commercially signiﬁcant dates in the greeting card calendar, Mother’s Day continues to evolve – with retailers and publishers alike seeking to balance tradition with inclusivity, freshness, and ﬂair.

We spoke to retailers and publishers across the industry to uncover the latest shifts, challenges and innovations shaping this vibrant sector.

For independent card shops, standing out from the high street is essential.

“I love the Mother’s Day cards from Noi, Ohh Deer and Early Bird,” says Georgina Black, owner of Pretty Shiny Shop in London. “They are usually bright, fun, and a little di erent from what you might ﬁnd in a high street chain. As an independent, I need to really curate my card o ering to be sure I’m o ering something unique.”

This emphasis on playful, design-led publishing illustrates a broader trend: customers are increasingly looking for cards that feel personal and less mass-market.

From a supplier standpoint, versatility has become a key driver. Ross Harrison, business development manager at Laura Darrington Design, points to the growing popularity of feminine-themed ranges that work across multiple occasions.

“In recent times, we’ve seen an upward trend in feminine-themed cards being sent ‘just because’,” he explains. “Our Spectrum Collection features no captions, with versatile designs that can be sent for any number of occasions. For retailers conscious of limited spinner space, multi-send designs are a real bonus.”

This adaptability provides solutions not only for customer needs but also for retailers looking to maximise every inch of display.

Another signiﬁcant shift is inclusivity.

As Rani Moochhala, founder of Paper Mirchi, highlights, retailers are increasingly

catering to a wider spectrum of maternal relationships: “Cards are no longer just for the traditional ‘mum’,” she says. “Step-mothers, godmothers, grandmothers – there is a growing acknowledgement of the many women who ﬁll motherly roles. In order to address this, Paper Mirchi has introduced two simple Happy Mother’s Day caption cards, leaving them as open sends for the customer and not speciﬁcally addressing ‘mum’.”

Paper Mirchi, known for its handmade, one-of-a-kind products, is also responding to design shifts. “There’s a growth of minimalism, with cards being less text heavy, and a slight reduction in ﬂoral designs. Paper Mirchi has acknowledged this trend and executed it through using marbles, modern block-printed icons, such as bows, and simple captions, such as My Lovely Mum, reaching a more millennial customer base.”

While publishers are innovating, some retailers are still grappling with gaps in their card supply.

Caroline Ranwell, owner of Hugs & Kisses in Tettenhall , Wolverhampton, underlines the continued shortfall in designs for speciﬁc captions: “Every year I buy more Grandma, Nan, Nanny and Nanna cards, and every year we sell out. We also need more Great Grandma, Step Mum, From the Bump, and even Dog Mum designs!” she says.

Mother’s Day remains rooted in tradition, but the sector is undoubtedly diversifying. Retailers want designs that stand apart from the high street, while publishers are focusing on inclusivity, versatility, and evolving aesthetic trends.

The opportunity is clear: suppliers who can expand captions, embrace modern design sensibilities, and maintain uniqueness will ﬁnd themselves well-positioned to meet the needs of today’s retailers – and, more importantly, their customers.

Rush Design

Laura Darrington Design

Cinnamon Aitch

Laura Darrington Design

The Art File

The Art File will showcase its Spring Seasons 2026 collections at Autumn Fair, including cards and gifts for Mother’s Day. This includes four new collections and extensions to popular Mother’s Day card ranges.

The Art File team are also excited to showcase four new A5 notebook designs to their notebook collection. These notebooks are beautifully whimsical and nature-inspired, including designs from the bestselling Secret Garden and Storybook collection. sales@theartfile.com www.theartfiletrade.com

Ginger Betty

Ginger Betty’s new female relations collection is entitled Touch of Blush.

There are 12 designs initially, featuring hedgehogs, rabbits and mice. They’re printed on highquality textured board, have debossing and scalloped edges for a feminine touch. The cards come with a pearly pink envelope.

Ginger Betty founder and artist Tracey Colliston says: ‘’The collection went down really well at Home & Gift, so we’ve decided to develop them into Mother’s Day designs, to follow soon. Touch of Blush and lots more will be available at Autumn Fair.’’

01706 557285

hello@gingerbetty.co.uk www.gingerbetty.co.uk

Rush Design

At Rush Design there has always been a strong vibe for feminine-themed cards. In fact, it really has been at the forefront of design for owner Lorraine Bradley.

Like many greeting card categories, the feminine theme is always evolving and responding to trends in colour and lifestyle. The Special Friend caption has grown strongly over the past few years.

The most recent feminine collection from Rush Design – Wishes & Dreams –launched in January this year. New captions were added in May and now even more in time for Autumn Fair. On top of that, Wishes & Dreams, is a finalist at this year’s Henries awards.

The style for the collection is a dreamy mix of soft pastels with bolder colours. A subtle vintage twist and finished with gold foiling and diamantes make Wishes & Dreams a perfect card for female friends and relations. The range features Open Birthday, Relations, Ages and now occasions too. As if that’s not enough there are eight fabulous new Mother’s Day designs, too. 01788 521745

info@rushdesign.co.uk www.rushdesign.co.uk

Cinnamon Aitch

Mother’s Day 2026 at Cinnamon Aitch has all the boxes ticked with four ranges to choose from. There’s colour-popping, wiggle-eyed Googlies, gorgeous contemporary Dinky Daisies, a sprinkling of new Primrose Hill freshness, and there are also new Alice’s Garden Mother’s Day o erings too. Building on the success of the everyday ranges, artwork has been sensitively translated into gorgeous titles for Mum – and there’s certainly something for everyone!

Alice’s Garden Mother’s Day sees six concertina designs that are filled with beautiful painted artwork, which travels across both sides of the card and around intricate die-cut apertures. There are flowers in abundance alongside butterflies, hedgehogs and deers, certainly reflecting nature at its prettiest.

Dinky Daisy for mums has 10 gorgeous, modern designs combining stylised daisies and contemporary pattern. Square in format and perfectly formed, each design has stunning embossed and cut-out details with the occasional scalloped edge, enhancing this graphic, design-led range.

Googly Mums is a fun-ﬁlled range featuring graphic characters, each brought to life with hand-ﬁnished googly eyes. The Googly ranges are now seen across the spring occasions, following the strength of the everyday designs.

Primrose Hill remains the strongest of Cinnamon Aitch signature ranges; classic sensitive illustrations all hand-ﬁnished with sparkly gems and ﬂowers. There are 17 in the Mother’s Day range to choose from.

All Cinnamon Aitch cards and gifts remain carefully made in the UK with love. 0121 773 6833

hello@cinnamonaitch.co.uk www.cinnamonatich.co.uk

Cherry Orchard Publishing

Mother’s Day continues to be one of the most heartfelt occasions in the greetings industry, and Cherry Orchard’s 2026 collection captures its spirit with both creativity and inclusivity. This year’s range brings together a stunning variety of designs, ensuring there is a card to speak to every kind of mum, every style, and every sentiment.

The collection flourishes with colour, warmth, and personality, reflecting the many ways people celebrate their mothers. From the glamour of metallic finishes and luxurious florals to the freshness of nature-inspired botanicals, playful pops of colour, and contemporary lifestyle imagery, the cards create a spectrum of choice that resonates across generations. What unites the range is a sense of thoughtfulness and emotional connection.

Cherry Orchard recognises that Mother’s Day means something unique to everyone. For some, it is about elegance and sophistication; for others, it’s about joy, fun, and light-hearted celebration. By blending artistic techniques – hand-painted styles, illustrative charm, modern typography, and shimmering

accents – the collection o ers cards that feel both timeless and on-trend. Beyond aesthetics, these designs embody Cherry Orchard’s commitment to inclusivity. They acknowledge the diversity of motherhood and the di erent ways people want to express love – from heartfelt admiration and gratitude to playful appreciation. Each card is not only a message but also a keepsake, something mothers will treasure long after the day is over.

Mother’s Day 2026 at Cherry Orchard is therefore more than a seasonal collection. It is a reminder of the enduring role that greeting cards play in connecting people, capturing feelings, and celebrating relationships. With its breadth of subjects and beautifully executed designs, Cherry Orchard ensures that every mum feels special, recognised, and truly loved.

01684 295500

info@cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk www.cherryorchardpublishing.co.uk

Joe Davies

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day add-on or an all-year feminine gift? Meet Crochet Blooms from Joe Davies – a beautifully handmade range of keepsake flowers that never wilt, fade or need a vase. Crafted with care, each flower is set in a rustic hessian pot with a tag, and comes in four charming styles: daisy, sunflower, rose, and primula. The vibrant yarn, soft textures and thoughtful presentation make these blooms ideal for Mother’s Day, birthdays, or just-because gifting. Compact and eye-catching, Crochet Blooms sit perfectly alongside greeting cards, making them a strong impulse buy and a brilliant alternative to fresh flowers. They’re also an excellent display driver for card and gift shops looking to offer something heartfelt, handmade, and unique. 0161 975 6300 sales@joedavies.co.uk www.joedavies.co.uk

IC&G

International Cards & Gifts’ Mother’s Day card range offers independent retailers a strong seasonal sales opportunity, combining high-quality design with broad customer appeal. The collection features a variety of styles, from contemporary to traditional, ensuring suitability for diverse tastes and demographics. With designs that convey warmth and appreciation, the range is well-positioned to capture early and last-minute purchases alike. Attractive presentation and competitive price points make these cards a valuable addition to seasonal displays, helping retailers maximise footfall and increase basket value during this key gifting occasion. 01202 897494

customerservice@icgcards.com www.icgcards.com

Alljoy Design

Alljoy Design is introducing new Blossom range cards for Mother’s Day. With lots of florals and gold foil finishes, the cards are perfect to celebrate that special day for mothers everywhere. Contemporary and colourful, the range works for those special occasions and general birthdays.

Cello wrapped, with envelope, the cards are a perfect fit on retailers’ shelves. info@alljoydesign.com www.alljoydesign.com

By the

Matt Simpson, owner of The Letter Arty, which won Best Newcomer in the 2025 Retas awards, tells us more about his small, but perfectly formed shop, based in Manchester

Can you tell us a little about your background before you owned the shop?

I’ve always had an interest in graphic design and particularly typography, despite my career being mostly in the world of broadcasting. I did brieﬂy dabble in having my own card range, Northern

‘’Anything featuring dachshunds or cockapoos is particularly popular locally’’

Letters, but due to it being a side hustle, I was never able to grow it beyond a few markets and a handful of stockists. Along the way I met others who had similar interests, so The Letter Arty was born to sell mostly typography-based cards.

Can you tell us about the history of the shop? I’ve been selling online since 2019 and was working out of a succession of o ces, which over the years became increasingly expensive. So I enquired about the availability of the low-cost converted shipping containers at Pollard Yard [a creative hub in Manchester], and one became available in November 2023. Within nine days of getting the keys I’d ﬁtted it out and the shop was born.

And can you tell us a little more about the shop itself?

Pollard Yard is a site with more than 90 converted shipping containers, occupied by various businesses. There’s a handful of small shops like mine, appointment-only businesses including tattooists,

hair and beauty, dog grooming, and some catering and food businesses too. So the other business owners and their clients form the core of my customer base, with a number of people who live locally regularly visiting to stock up. It’s located in Ancoats, part of the ever-expanding sprawl of Manchester city centre, which is set to get busier as more and more people move into the area.

How do you source products?

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet most of my suppliers in person, usually at trade shows such as Top Drawer and PG Live, and then will usually buy direct from them. Others I ﬁnd on Instagram and occasionally Faire.

What is your selection criteria? How is that a ected by your location?

I only ever buy cards that I would be happy to send to someone myself. Initially it was just typographybased card ranges and traditional letterpress printing, which still makes up a big part of the o ering, but this quickly expanded to hand lettering and illustration. As I still sell a lot online (https:// theletterarty.co.uk), this tends to dictate what I select, but I do choose some ranges with the local area in mind – anything featuring dachshunds or cockapoos is particularly popular locally, for example.

What’s your demographic like?

There isn’t a speciﬁc age range, but nearly all of my customers both online and in store appreciate good design and quality, and will usually prioritise this over price.

How do you get word out there?. When it comes to the shop it’s mostly word of mouth and social media. I also use Google ads to lead people to the website where they discover

letter

there’s a physical store, which they’re often pleasantly surprised about.

So you sell both in the shop and online? What is the split in sales?

As my online presence had a headstart of almost ﬁve years on the shop, this is still where the core of my sales are, probably accounting for as much as 70-80% at peak times. The website is on Shopify, which I ﬁnd really intuitive to use, and its integration with other things such as email marketing and my POS makes keeping track of everything really straightforward.

‘’I only stock products made sustainably in the UK, which is pretty easy for cards, but can sometimes feel a bit limiting with stationery, particularly at the lower price points’’

Have you seen the average cost of your products go up – and if so how have you dealt with it?

I’ve found price increases in cards to be fairly minimal, and an extra 5p or 10p on a card price goes largely unnoticed. Stationery increases have been a little larger in recent years, but this hasn’t put customers o buying (yet). The hardest increases to deal with online are postage prices, but I have a fairly low threshold for free second class delivery so this works well for customers who aren’t in a rush, and does encourage a higher spend.

Do customers ask for eco-friendly product? Is this something you try to stock?

I only stock products made sustainably in the UK, which

is pretty easy for cards, but can sometimes feel a bit limiting with stationery, particularly at the lower price points, so it’s something I might revisit in the future. I do realise that products made further aﬁeld aren’t automatically bad!

What brands have been particularly popular with your customers?

My bestselling card brands are Penguin Ink (with its Cuddle Time cats card being my best-selling single product by far), Kinshipped, Raspberry Blossom, Ricicle Cards, and Emily Nash. Kinshipped’s stationery is also popular, along with Co eenotes and Crispin Finn’s beautiful notepad and planner ranges. Customers are often quite loyal to brands, returning regularly for repeat purchases

What’s the most fun thing about running your greeting card store?

The interaction with customers is always enjoyable; ﬁnding out more about what they’re looking for and ﬁnding the perfect card for them. I also love it when customers return and tell me how well received the cards they’ve purchased have been.

If you could choose the cards people sent to you, which would you choose to receive for Christmas or birthday or any other special occasion?

Ironically I’m not massively into my own birthday, but I do love a beautifully crafted letterpress or typography-based card printed on a nice, heavy, uncoated stock.

Top 5 sellers

1. Cuddle Time Cats card, Penguin Ink

2. Scandi Type Happy Birthday card, Kinshipped

3. A card full of birthday love, Raspberry Blossom

4. Serif Type Happy Birthday card, Kinshipped

5. Pack of six assorted animal birthday cards, Emily Nash

Trade talk

In this issue, suppliers talk to Greetings Today about key trends for autumn, Christmas support for retailers, gearing up for Q4, and the industry’s most pressing issues. If you’d like to share your opinions in upcoming issues, please email naomi@lemapublishing.co.uk

Stephen Thurlow Director

Alexander Thurlow

Looking ahead to autumn, what are your forecasts for key trends?

To be honest we are lucky in that we don’t really need to follow trends so much. Our flowers are great all year-round generic sellers. We added gold finish to the range last year and that seems to have opened up new sales to a younger market.

‘’We seem to start even earlier preparing for Q4; we already have stock on the water and we finished back in July forecasting sales for Christmas based on last year’s figures’’

How are you gearing up for the all-important Q4 rush?

We seem to start even earlier preparing for Q4; we already have stock on the water and we finished back in July forecasting sales for Christmas based on last year’s figures. Fortunately, we have very good suppliers who can turn around our orders in a timely manner should we find ourselves short.

What plans do you have in place to support retailers with their Christmas orders?

We aim to get orders out within two days so we have brought in extra staff to help, plus it’s all hands on deck when the orders really kick off.

What do you predict will be your standout festive performers?

We have a wonderful range of Christmas jewellery, which we expect to sell well, but you usually only get one hit with these so it’s not always easy to get the stock quite right. After that, our bestsellers are still our Bluebells, Iris, Forget Me Nots and Lilies.

Vanessa Curry Managing director Best Kept Secrets

What are your thoughts on Ofcom’s Royal Mail announcement?

For us, it means thinking a bit more carefully about when we send second class post, especially around busy seasons. I’m relieved first class is staying at six days a week though – that’s a lifeline for time-sensitive gifts.

What does summer look like for your company?

Summer’s always a mix of sunshine and spreadsheets! We take time to recharge, but behind the scenes we’re busy pulling together our autumn and Christmas collections. It’s that lovely window where we can be creative without the frantic pace of peak season.

What do you think is the most pressing/urgent issue for the gift/greetings industry at this time?

Costs. Everything has crept up, and it’s a balancing act keeping our products affordable while still feeling special. The post is such a big part of what we do, so any changes there ripple through quickly.

Any other issue you’d like to highlight?

Sustainability is never off the table. People want gifts that make them smile but don’t leave a heavy footprint. For us, that’s about better materials, less packaging, and finding smarter ways to get products from A to B.

Rani Moochhala Founder Paper Mirchi

It’s the summer holidays, and many of us slow down, to take time out with the kids, head on holiday, or just enjoy the sunshine! But what does summer look like for your company?

Summer at Paper Mirchi is in full swing – between holidays and enjoying family time, Christmas orders are rolling in, the factory is in the midst of production and the studio is brainstorming and developing new, innovative product concepts, ready to share with our customers in January 2026.

What do you think is the most pressing/urgent issue for the greetings industry at this time There are a few pressing issues facing the greetings industry at this time. The postal service’s reliability and affordability appear to be the most urgent as the card industry is heavily reliant on a dependable postal network to deliver cards. Without a reliable service, any disruption in service could directly impact sales. Another significant challenge is the shift in consumer habits. Younger generations are increasingly choosing digital cards or skipping card-giving altogether. The cost-of-living crisis we are facing in the UK is also adding to this shift as customers are far more price conscious than ever, and are prioritising essential purchases over what they may see as ‘non-essential’ items.

‘’Younger generations are increasingly choosing digital cards or skipping card-giving altogether’’

David Byk CEO

Swan Mill Group (Ling Design and The Great British Card Company)

What are your thoughts on Ofcom’s Royal Mail announcement?

The Royal Mail decision wasn’t exactly what we wanted it to be but, having been involved with both The Royal Mail and Ofcom as part of the GCA Royal Mail committee, I can say we had our voice heard and we are looking for them to be held to account going forward. Our latest data is that over 50% of letters are hand delivered and, coming into the Christmas season, we are very focused on successful second class posting that is reasonably priced and will arrive if you post within the last published dates. Ensuring a reliable and reasonable first and second class service with Ofcom monitoring – this is really important as Royal Mail looks to build back confidence.

It’s the summer holidays, and many of us slow down, to take time out with the kids, head on holiday, or just enjoy the sunshine! But what does summer look like for your company?

We never stop. August 1 brought the start of us ramping up our Christmas deliveries. Every year the retailer seems to want Christmas earlier, and I’m chuffed that both Ling and GBCC are able to deliver Christmas boxes and singles at the beginning of August when most people are thinking about summer holidays. This is down to great teamwork within the businesses to make this happen

‘’I think we have to remind ourselves that people are buying cards and gifts and we bring joy with them’’

What do you think is the most pressing/urgent issue for the greetings industry at this time?

We always have a plethora of matters to deal with and life is never dull. Making sure the public continues to be engaged with cards, the constant increase in minimum wage and business rates, copying, and the impending dreadfully written paper tracking legislation from Europe, which is affecting everyone, make a few things to keep us awake.

Any other issue you’d like to highlight?

I think we have to remind ourselves that people are buying cards and gifts and we bring joy with them. We launch thousands of new products each year and we deliver value to many people in lots of ways. It’s a wonderful creative sector full of great publishers and retailers, and I say to my team ‘we are only as good as our last card’, which I really believe. We always focus on making everything better each time and succeeding in this is fantastic. And in a highly competitive world where money is short and employed in a highly discretionary manner, and talent is high, we should all strive for more and better. That is success and as an industry often we attain that.

Ross Harrison

Business development manager

Laura Darrington Design

What are your thoughts on Ofcom’s Royal Mail announcement?

While it’s frustrating to see, the Royal Mail has been in need of serious overhaul for some time now. Delivery timeframes in the greeting card industry are a pivotal part of the process, so if this new approach helps to manage people’s expectations slightly better – then so be it.

It’s the summer holidays, and many of us slow down, to take time out with the kids, head on holiday, or just enjoy the sunshine! But what does summer look like for your company?

When you share a business with your partner, the summer months are always a tricky one to navigate. Designing greeting cards takes a backseat in favour of swimming, football, days out, tennis, park trips and ice cream. Who knows what the kids are doing?!

What do you think is the most pressing/urgent issue for the greetings industry at this time?

The huge decline in good agents across the industry has been a bit of an eye-opener. If you’re reading this and have room in your bag – please get in touch.

Paul Urban Managing director Kingfisher Cards

What are your thoughts on Ofcom’s Royal Mail announcement?

I just find the whole thing ridiculous. They seem to want to charge more but offer less. Their main argument is that the volume of letters has dropped hugely, but normally to drive volume in any business you have to make sure that your price is attractive. It wouldn’t really bother me if they brought in every-other-day post if they could offer a more competitive second-class post. I’m pretty sure if Amazon was running the postal service, it would be more competitive in pricing!

It’s the summer holidays, and many of us slow down, to take time out with the kids, head on holiday, or just enjoy the sunshine! But what does summer look like for your company?

To be honest it’s pretty full-on. Everyday business is up and we’re flat out now preparing and dispatching Christmas orders. We are already planning for next year and looking at how and what we can improve. No rest for the wicked!

What do you think is the most pressing/urgent issue for the greetings industry at this time?

The high street, the high street and the high street. All of us publishers want retailers to be having a good time but the government does nothing to encourage the small businesses that make the high street exciting, innovative and eclectic. Without interesting and varied town shopping areas, the footfall drops as people turn more and more to online retail. If we as an industry want to worry about anything, I’d be worrying about that.

Any other issue you’d like to highlight?

I think we should be very wary of being too complacent about the possible effect of AI image generation on our industry. I hear a lot of ‘it’s not that good yet’ comments from people within the industry but with all the big tech companies getting in on the act I wonder how long it will be before it is?

Laura Darrington and Ross Harrison

Driving licences

Well-known brands and characters drive sales as customers are drawn to recognisable and relatable licences

Rainbow Designs

Rainbow Designs brings to life some of the most beloved characters in children’s literature and entertainment. Bestselling character ranges include Paddington, Peter Rabbit, Guess How Much I Love You, Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, and a new colourful addition this autumn, the Mr. Men Little Miss collection.

Rainbow’s vibrant new Mr. Men Little Miss range includes large, huggable cushions, collectible soft toys, and plush keychains featuring favourites such as Mr. Tickle, Mr. Happy, Mr. Bump, and Mr. Strong, alongside Little Miss Hug, Little Miss Sunshine, Little Miss Princess, and Little Miss Chatterbox.

The nation’s favourite bear stars in three of Rainbow’s most popular licensed collections, catering to fans of every age. The refreshed Paddington for Baby range o ers nursery toys, comforters, and rattles that make wonderful gifts for newborns and young babies. For preschoolers, The Adventures of Paddington range is packed with fun and engaging toys, while the best-selling premium Classic Paddington collection makes a heartfelt keepsake gift.

Beatrix Potter’s mischievous bunny continues to be a ﬁrm favourite. The extensive Peter Rabbit collection spans adorable infant plush and high-quality developmental wooden toys. Bestsellers include My First Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny soft toys. For all ages, the Playtime Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny soft toys remain perennial favourites. The range also features Picture Dominoes, a Wooden Shape Sorter, Wooden Picture Blocks, and Peter Rabbit and Flopsy Bunny Pull-Along toys.

01329 227300 | sales@rainbowdesigns.co.uk www.rainbowdesigns.co.uk

The Art File

The Art File team is proud to work with many talented brands and artists to create beautiful card collections. Currently, The Art File publishes more than 25 licensed collections, including English Heritage, Sara Miller London and many other talented illustrators.

Licensing enables The Art File to search for speciﬁc design styles and resources that complement the existing portfolio, o ering customers a more comprehensive range of options. For example, The Art File’s recent licensing collaboration with Fox Under The Moon expanded its Words and Sentiments collection.

Alongside the design content, The Art File team looks at the wider brand, and most importantly, they love to get to know the designer or artist behind it. They always see licensing partners as long-term relationships, who assist each other in growing the respective brands together. sales@theartfile.com www.theartfiletrade.com

UK Greetings

Fast, fun and full of attitude, Sonic The Hedgehog is a hot new licence in UK Greetings’ (UKG) greeting card lineup! Lora Madigan, UKG licensing manager, comments: “We’re so excited to bring Sonic into our licensing portfolio; this evergreen gaming brand has fans of all ages so is a natural ﬁt for our category. The SEGA team has been fantastic to work with from the start and we look forward to developing our partnership.”

Ben Whittington, UKG creative manager, adds: “Our take on this fan-favourite franchise features dynamic die-cuts and in-your-face foils, which really capture the high-energy attitude of this timeless character. Furthermore, our pop-up Juvenile SKU also plays right into the gaming nostalgia of the brand, with the iconic loop the loop jumping right out of the card in three dimensions.”

Curated Wild is the newest collaborative card and gift dressing range from the RHS and UK Greetings. It comprises four stunning cards, as well as complementary gift bags and roll wrap, perfect for every occasion.

Bright florals tie each component of this range together, drawing on the beauty and perfection of British wildflowers… fitting its name perfectly! salesandservice@ukgreetings.co.uk

Dave Langdon with Nic and Lisa at Celebrations, Aylsham, Norfolk

Paper Salad

Diary of an agent

Dave

Langdon at East Anglian Sales reports on a damp Home & Gift,

and considers what makes a successful Christmas

Hi all, Dave here, reporting from the East. If we haven’t met (I’m ex-Carte Blanche and Widdop & Co.), it’s nice to meet you! I cover East Anglia in aid of my three daughters’ ever-growing social commitments. My highlights so far this year include:

• Falling through a manhole into an overflowing waste system. Yep;

• Spilling half a tin of paint in my car boot 10 minutes before a meeting in Shenfield. I sometimes wonder if the staff in the local Costa still talk about the White Hand Man;

• Connecting one of my principals with a national account – something I never achieved or was empowered to do in the rep days;

• Four parking fines (one being Harry from Ohh Deer’s fault);

• Leaving around 312 samples behind in customer calls (this is becoming my calling card).

After a great (if slightly moist) Home & Gift show for my principals – Ohh Deer, Global Journey and Gnaw Chocolate – it’s time to knuckle down on Christmas cards and gifting. I hope to see you all at the NEC for Autumn Fair, which offers a chance to find out what’s hot. Spoiler alert: for my agency, the top gifts for Q4 will be:

• Museums & Galleries (M&G) boxed bone China mugs: the designs and quality you’d expect from M&G;

• Ohh Deer mini A7 notebooks: a great price and fancy wooden CDU for them to live in;

• Global Journey Gifts Woody Pals Keyrings: a great stocking filler;

• WPL Gifts Inside Out Mugs (still going strong!);

• Peppermint Grove 100ml diffusers: a range of bestselling fragrances; and

• Gnaw Hot Chocolate Spoons: 10 SKUs including two for Christmas.

card range

The bulk of my Christmas card orders are taken in January, as it’s the best time to review how the previous year went. So much so that my January 2026 appointments are already taking shape (around Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair and Top Drawer).

But I can report another strong year of preorders. Christmas 2024 was a success, even with Royal Mail’s cheeky price rises, and I have every faith we’ll have another bumper year. It does feel like Christmas comes out earlier every year, but I would encourage festive greeting cards to be put on racks no later than September.

The key to Christmas card success is to build your range around a strong charity box card offering, and I’m very proud to work with M&G, which offers a large, and very successful range, year after year. With the addition of artist Angela Harding’s designs to its gift bags, roll wrap and tissue paper, I’m confident we’re going to have another great season.

Talking about Christmas cards, I feel very fortunate to work with Paper Salad, whose Christmas collection is the equivalent of adding a disco ball to a library. I love entering a greeting card shop and seeing a bright, colourful and fancy finish card among the traditional cards.

Plus, with our ever-so successful tie-in with Emotional Rescue, I believe we continue to lead the market in humorous seasonal cards. So much so that I had a reorder from a North Norfolk card shop the weekend before Father’s Day, because

they had already sold out. People often write off Father’s Day, but are you just not stocking enough humorous cards?

It’s weird being an agent that doesn’t really offer traditional greeting cards, but I also see it as my strength, as it’s so important to target all potential customers walking through your doors. Have you covered funny/cool cards? Have you covered contemporary art? Blank cards? The trendy A6 and even smaller sizes? Have you covered all bases? (Sorry if that sounds like I’m shouting).

With Autumn Fair around the corner, I’m reminded of why I love this job. It’s not just about selling products; it’s about building relationships, understanding what makes customers tick, and ordering it before the other shop in town claims exclusivity (ha ha).

So, what’s the takeaway from this sales agent’s diary entry? Never trust a manhole cover. Seek out a quality charity box card supplier. Check you have covered millenial/younger greeting card buyers. And don’t leave tins of paint in your car.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and practise my mince pie-making ready for Q4 customer visits!

Dave Langdon covers East Anglia for Museums & Galleries, Ohh Deer, Paper Salad, Global Journey Gifts, WPL Gifts, Mint, Peppermint Grove, Star Editions, David Fischoff, Boxer Gifts and Gnaw Chocolate. 07803 631430 | dave@easalesltd.co.uk | www.easalesltd.co.uk

Angela Harding (M&G)

On the path to Christmas

THINK BIG co-founder Bryony Taylor-Edwards discusses how independent retailers can maximise the pre-Christmas season. The path to a strong festive season starts now!

As the golden tones of autumn begin to colour our shelves, it’s time for independent retailers to get strategic about the biggest opportunity in the gifting calendar: Christmas.

But it’s not just about December. Consumer mindset begins to shift long before advent calendars hit the shelves. September and October bring their own mini-flurries. Think back-to-school gifting, autumn-scented candles, warm-toned home décor, and the cosy comforts that help customers settle into the darker months.

Tapping into these early seasonal moments helps create momentum and builds footfall, while allowing you to start testing what’s resonating before the full festive rush begins. Don’t overlook key dates such as Halloween (Friday October 31) and Bonfire Night (Wednesday November 5) either – they present perfect pockets for micro-gifting and themed displays.

Plan your core Christmas offer

As you look ahead, it’s essential to understand which core gift categories will anchor your offering. Customers look for ease and inspiration in equal measure, so consider the products that serve both.

Think jewellery with meaning, beautifully boxed self-care treats, design-led board games and puzzles, stationery that sparks joy, and gifts with purpose – all of which are proving popular for 2025’s gifting trends. Experiences in a box or mindful gifting bundles (such as candle and bath soak pairings) are also gaining traction.

Make sure your visual merchandising reflects the energy of the season, transitioning from ‘cosy autumn’ to ‘gifting made easy’, especially by November when early-bird shoppers begin their festive prep.

What’s hot for 2025 gifting?

Forecasts point to several gifting trends that indie retailers can leverage:

Sustainability matters: consumers continue to seek out eco-conscious options, whether that’s recyclable wrap, locally made goods or lowimpact production.

Nostalgia and connection: retro toys, shared family games, and classic products such as hot water bottles and photo frames are making a comeback. Alternatively, retailers could think about offering unique gift subscriptions – teaming up with a local coffee, cake or small gift supplier.

Wellness and calm: with burnout on the rise, gifts that soothe, calm and cocoon are in demand. Look out for sleep sets, herbal teas, breathwork kits, or journals.

Statement stocking fillers: think small gifts with big personality. Quirky accessories, personalised keyrings, or desk treats that bring joy.

“Consumer mindset begins to shift long before advent calendars hit the shelves”

Make it easy to buy and beautiful to gift

The power of presentation can’t be underestimated. Add gift-wrap options, create ‘gifts under £20’ tables, and offer bundled sets that make decision-making simpler for time-poor shoppers. A well-placed sign or seasonal story can make the difference between browsing and buying.

And don’t forget marketing

A huge part of your gifting success isn’t just in what you stock, it’s how you package it up and position it.

Think beyond the generic For Him and For Her labels and create original, story-led gift themes that speak to the values and lifestyles of your customers. Whether it’s Cosy Nights In, For the Foodie, Small Joys for Busy Minds, or Gifts That Give Back, themed edits help shoppers navigate choice with ease and make your displays memorable.

Take time to consider what your customers are really looking for:

Is it originality? Price point? Convenience? Thoughtfulness? Sustainability?

Let those insights guide your merchandising, signage, and social media content.

This is where independent retailers can really shine; you know your community. So speak their language and make it easy for them to say, “That’s perfect’’.

In summary…

Start early, stay relevant to the season, and understand the buying mindset at every stage. By curating your offer with intention, from autumn all the way to Christmas Eve, you’ll give your customers a reason to keep returning to your store, both online and in person.

And remember: gifting is emotional. Help your customers feel the magic as much as they see it. That’s where indie retail shines.

Bryony Taylor-Edwards is co-founder of Think BIG – a community dedicated to empowering purpose-led founders to build their business confidence, master a growth mindset, and have lasting impact.

Email: bryony@thinkbigleadership.com Visit: www.thinkbighuddles.co.uk

‘’We are

going through a renaissance’’

Two Bad Mice founding director Julian Williams charts the story of the company, from its early beginnings in Covent Garden to working with iconic illustrators, producing stunning ceramics, and now introducing its latest innovative products

We founded Two Bad Mice in 1985. And today it’s still being run by its founding directors –myself and Mami Williams – along with one staff member, Nikki.

We’ve always seen ourselves as an Anglo-Japanese company doing our own thing, and are well-known for our quality, humour and artwork.

Back in the 1980s, I was selling etchings from a weekend stall in Covent Garden Jubilee Craft Market. The concept was that I made cards of my etchings so that customers could buy a card and take it home to show their partners, before making the decision to buy one of my prints. The first batch of cards were black and white, and included quirky titles such as Cat Sausages.

I still regularly get customers from the 1980s contacting me, and recently we opened a showroomgallery, which exhibits our products and my etchings from my Covent Garden days. It’s above a weekend Japanese café (Cha-ty) in a barn on our premises in the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside. The café has a piano that was once owned by Princess Margaret, and it has become a social nexus of the village – people come from far and wide to visit us.

In the mid-1990s Two Bad Mice added other artists, including Anita Jeram (who illustrated Guess How Much I Love You, the iconic children’s book that has been translated into 57 languages and is licensed by Walker Children’s Books), and Fran Evans. Anna Shuttlewood is another leading artist who works with us.

Mami and I discovered the illustrations for Guess How Much I Love You in a bookshop in Islington in 1996, and a few months later, Anita started working with Two

Bad Mice. With us, Anita established a reputation for her witty cards (to date more than 15 million cards have been sold in many countries across the world) that blend her ironic adult sense of humour with her children’s illustrations of rabbits and mice. Anita’s collaboration with Two Bad Mice has become a brand in its own right, and has expanded through licensing to reach a host of other companies creating a wide range of products – but Two Bad Mice has never stopped being at the heart of Anita’s artistic development.

‘’This autumn we are releasing a series of nature notebooks that are sold with envelopes and can be displayed in card racks’’

In 2007 we added ceramics. To begin with, they were coffee cups and saucers made in Stoke; today our ceramics are mostly mugs and bowls, and the transfers and finishing is all still done in Stoke on ‘whites’ of our own shapes. The mugs are packed in colourful boxes and the illustrations, which tell stories, extend all over each mug.

Two Bad Mice was a much copied and envied brand in the 1990s and early 2000s. Today, we are more of a niche brand doing our own thing – and perhaps a little forgotten. However, we have never copied what the rest of the market is doing, and we are currently going through a renaissance. This autumn we are releasing a series of nature notebooks that are sold

with envelopes and can be displayed in card racks. The books feature 32 spreads, with each page illustrating a different bird or butterfly. We have already sold a lot of these notebooks and plan to rapidly expand the range.

Anita has also been working with us on a playing card memory game called ABC of Cats, and My Dog is… I haven’t seen Anita so excited for years; these new ideas seem to be a very big development.

It looks like this will be another exciting era for Two Bad Mice!

Two Bad Mice 01834 861166

sales@twobadmice.com www.twobadmice.com

Diary of a card shop

Rebekah Mudie, owner of Daisy Daisy - Beautiful Cards & Gifts, Llanishen, Cardi , is still celebrating her Retas win, but endeavours to come back down to earth to start thinking about Christmas stock…

Woo-hoo! I am still, weeks later, on an emotional high after the magical moment of winning a Retas award for the ﬁrst time (see picture above).

Our amazing trophy has been in pride of place in the Daisy Daisy shop window since our win for the Wales region in July. What a reward for all the hard work and passion we put into our charming independent business. A lot of thanks goes out to our lush team of ladies, (plus my hubby who gets nagged to do the rubbish jobs, literally ha ha). Obviously, we couldn’t have won this accolade without our wonderful customers and suppliers; we feel so honoured. I know I’m biased but our card ranges are carefully selected and really are special.

Back to normality now and autumn is fast approaching, which means the festive season will soon be upon us! We’ve already received a lot of, dare I say it, Christmas stock. Everything is always months ahead in the greeting card and gifting world. Having ordered the bulk of our Christmas stock by the end of March this year, it’s hard to remember what I’ve selected, so I’m looking through my orders to refresh myself. The sta at Daisy Daisy always ﬁnd it bizarre pricing up cards with snow scenes on during the hotter summer months!

During August and September our stock room isn’t big enough for all of our deliveries, so I end up taking boxes of seasonal stock home to be stored until it needs to go out for display. We normally put the Christmas cards out by the end of September and then the gifts and decorations follow throughout October. It’s a tricky one, as we have some customers who can’t stand to see Christmas items out ‘too early’, and other customers who ask why all the stock isn’t out yet. It’s di cult to please 50 www.greetingstoday.media

everyone in retail but us small shops do need to keep up with the larger chains and supermarkets for fear of losing out to them.

I’m obviously also very nervous for this year’s greeting card sales in the run-up to Christmas now that Royal Mail has increased postage costs yet again and reduced delivery service for second-class

‘’We have some customers who can’t stand to see Christmas items out ‘too early’, and other customers who ask why all the stock isn’t out yet’’

post. I have a feeling card publishers are going to see more returns unfortunately, but I hate to be pessimistic.

I have just jumped on board with the brilliant fundraiser and awareness campaign led by The Letter Arty shop owner Matt Simpson – I’ve ordered the promotional Christmas jumpers to wear at Daisy Daisy with the slogan Choose Cards printed on them – such a brilliant idea. I do hope the crowd fundraiser is a huge success as I can’t wait to receive our bright, festive jumpers. I also recently received delivery of our promotional paper bags designed by the GCA #Cardmitment campaign (right). I ordered ours via Ling Design, one of our top suppliers. I’m so pleased with these bags because it’s a fact – Cards Make People Happy. Well, I mustn’t bang on about Christmas too much just yet as it’s all about academic cards through

August and September. Having thanked teachers, it’s exam results next then new chapters of starting school and university. As always, we have a great selection of greeting cards to express pride and wish luck to family and friends. The Great British Card Company & Ling Design, International Cards & Gifts, Woodmansterne, Caroline Gardner and fab funnies from Rosie Made a Thing are all on our shelves, to name but a few. Oh, and I mustn’t forget our really important Welsh language cards for all occasions, from Welsh Greetings Cards aka Paintbox, Dandelion Stationery, Belly Button Designs, Al abet, Hammond Gower, Caroline Gardner, and Tracks – our customers come to Daisy Daisy speciﬁcally for these…

Let’s hope we retailers have plenty of customers who want to Send a Card and Deliver a Smile….

Licensed to sell

Sara Allbright, director and founder of Retail100 Consulting, considers the recipe for success when it comes to licensed product

Should I license is a question we get asked a lot by brands looking to expand the reach and product range they are able to supply to customers, and it’s never a simple question to answer.

Licences have played a huge role in my buying career – and I have seen some great ones soar to success – but also as consumer tastes and wants have changed, the licensed gift product has needed to evolve. No longer is it justified to ‘pattern slap’ onto mugs and tea towels; more sophisticated licences and indeed brand collaborations have evolved between properties and producers.

So what makes a good licence?

For me, licensing at its best is a clever and harmonious marriage of property and product. If it involves a pattern or artwork, then this has been thought about and applied as a considered placement on the product. It uses different scales and elements of the pattern, not just a repeat design covering every item – called ‘pattern slapping’.

I like it even more when you look at the product and think ‘I wish I’d thought of that’ – for instance the use of Barratt’s sweets in partnership with frozen food retailer Iceland to create a range of frozen foods – namely ice lollies – was just genius.

This collaboration resulted in a selection of ice creams and ice lollies, exclusively available at Iceland stores. The initial range, launched in 2020, included flavours such as Fruit Salad, Black Jack, Flumps, Wham, and Dip Dab. The partnership has been successful, leading to an expanded range with new flavours including Cherry Cola Bottle, Refreshers, and Mini Poppets.

Greeting cards have often been the source and starting point for many a successful licence in the gifting sector in recent years – Sara Miller and Eleanor Bowmer are just two that come to mind. Being able to create designs that stand out in that product arena is no mean feat, but it also proves the ultimate test bed in terms of customer appetite for the style when racked up against many other designers’ work. That isn’t the end of the story though, as both those examples have been driven by entrepreneurial designers

who have then carefully and wisely chosen their licence partners. They have ensured that the way their illustrations have been used gives the brand cohesion across a variety of suppliers and allows for new ranges and seasonality to be added year by year.

So what does licensed product offer the retailer? Well, often it means you can create a bigger collection of product to display that is multi category, which in turn gives the brand authority and signals to the customer that they should engage with it. It’s also a great way to

‘’Licensing at its best is a clever and harmonious marriage of property and product’’

take something popular or trending in another market, sector or media and create a commercial opportunity out of it.

Success also comes with a licensed brand that has a story – a designer that is visible and where

consumers can relate to the person behind the name, or a historical institution with archives that can be drawn upon with rich history and provenance. These elements allow a wider storytelling and content creation stream for the product, which can elevate it above other more manufactured or created properties that simply fulfil a design style or look.

Licences are certainly here to stay and continue to evolve and elevate themselves as both the Licensing Awards and B&LLA awards stand testament to every year – the winners of these make a great place to start if you are looking to explore these product ranges for your store.

Sara Allbright is a director and co-founder of Retail100 Consulting, which is a consultancy firm with 100 years of retail experience that helps retailers and brands grow.

Prior to Retail100 Consulting, Sara worked in buying roles at John Lewis for 18 years, predominantly for home and seasonal categories, including eight years leading gift and home fragrance buying.

She specialised in brand relationships and growing small emerging brands into market leaders. Sara is also experienced in own-label sourcing across multiple categories and countries.

Email: hello@retail100consulting.co.uk

Web: www.retail100consulting.co.uk; www.linkedin.com/company/retail100-consulting

L-R: Sara Allbright, Anna Berry, Neil Amer and Elaine Hooper

A unique fruit and vegthemed humour range by talented illustrator Louise Nisbet, cultivated to a slightly smaller size.

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