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NEWS TOP STORY
Amazing GCA AGM Conference UKG’s Ceri Stirland gives her inaugural address as GCA president Well over 140 GCA members and associate members from the greeting card community – publishers, retailers, suppliers and agents – gathered at Birmingham’s majestic Council House for the GCA AGM and conference on Tuesday 24 October. They were treated to a strong line-up of speakers who delivered insightful, thoughtprovoking and uplifting presentations. Ged Mace, md of The Art File, handed over the GCA presidential ‘baton’ to Ceri Stirland, director of marketing for UK Greetings, who shared her views on the industry, the concerns and the opportunities. Ceri told PG, that she was “really looking forward” to her tenure as GCA president, bringing her 25 years’ industry experience, both on the retailer and publisher sides, to the fore. “We find ourselves in a period of uncertainty, we don’t know the total effect of Brexit, the retail landscape is changing, footfall is down and consumer confidence is fragile, but I am confident that the UK greeting card industry can adapt. It is how we respond to these changes that is crucial.” For all these concerns, however, Ceri feels those in the greeting card trade should take comfort in the fact that the industry has not only grown by 10% since 2011, but is projected to grow by another 2% in the coming year. Moreover, and even more encouraging longterm, “93% of the UK adult population are buying greeting cards – this is the same level as bread and chocolate!” Some of Ceri’s aims for the next two years of her reign is to improve the profitability of seasonal sales, initiate more support
Paperchase’s US expansion is back on the cards
for independent retailers through the further development of a seasonal and event toolkit as well as advice and support, engagement with Gen Y and Gen Z on the greeting card front – as well as gearing up to mark the GCA’s 100th anniversary in 2019.“We need to make it the best birthday year ever!” said an enthusiastic Ceri. Other speakers included Carly Pearson, Sainsbury’s card and wrap buyer; Sarah Hamilton, artist and founder of the Send a Card campaign and author of the House of Cards book and Bank of England’s deputy agent Glynn Jones. Commenting, Sharon Little, GCA ceo said: “It has been a great year for the GCA, membership and associate membership are at an all-time high, the recent Thinking of You Week had the broadest ever reach – and now a fabulous and well attended AGM and Conference!”
Paperchase rose against the challenges of what its ceo Timothy Melgund describes as a “difficult year”, not helped by the Brexit referendum decision. The design-led retailer reported a 4.3% growth in overall sales (to £119.2 million), a 0.7% nudge up on like-for-like and a whopping 31% surge in its online business for the year to January 31. It revealed a 16% drop in EBITDA (excluding exceptional items), taking it down to £9.1million. While sales from Paperchase’s overseas operations were largely flat over the last year, growth is once again on the cards in the States. Having postponed its plans to open stores in Chicago, due to the turmoil on the other side of the Atlantic, Paperchase is now back on course to open two stores in the ‘windy city’ next April, one in the main station, the other in the Southport area. Summing up his current feelings about the marketplace, Timothy said: “The UK retail landscape is not for the fainthearted and there are of course significant headwinds.” He remains however, assured of Paperchase’s position and its popularity with the general public. Above: Paperchase’s ceo Timothy Melgund reports sales are up for the chain.
Coming up Rosie
BBC Radio Scotland’s Kaye Adams had a small segment on her daily radio show about her ‘Mary Whitehouse’ experience in a Brighton card shop. Not naming the shop, Kaye said the cards in this particular shop “made her blush” with “60% of the cards being very sexual with the worst kind of sweary words.” Kaye invited ceo of the Greeting Card Association, Sharon Little onto her programme to discuss rude cards. In reply to Kaye’s comment about the noticeable increase in the level of profanity in greeting cards over the past few years, Sharon pointed out: “There’s a huge market for it, but rude cards really are a tiny proportion of the greeting cards on offer. Retailers know their market, so you won’t find these cards in all outlets. If you go into card shops in areas with lots of young office workers or students, you will find these very, very rude cards, because the customers love them!”
Rosie Harrison, founder of greeting card publisher Rosie Made a Thing, has a lot to celebrate. Not only was her Gin & Frolics range a finalist in this year’s Henries, but the business she founded and owns has won the Small Business of the Year Award in the Women in Business Awards, organised by the Leicester Mercury. Commenting on her win, Rosie said: “Winning this Small Business Award is exciting as it rewards all the hard work that goes on behind the finished cards. The business has grown so rapidly since we started in 2015. What started out as a kitchen table venture has grown into a full-time (and more) business and it is great that all that hard work has been recognised.”
Above: Many shops stocking rude cards carry a ‘warning’ sign, which safeguards them against criticism.
Above: Rosie Harrison with her Small Business Award trophy.
Above: New GCA president, UKG’s Ceri Stirland with Bank of England’s Glynn Jones and GCA’s ceo Sharon Little. Left: Outgoing president Ged Mace, md of The Art File with the GCA’s ceo Sharon Little in front of a packed audience at the recent GCA AGM and Conference.
Rude cards back in the limelight
PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
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