30-31.qxp_Grid 06/04/2022 10:11 Page 30
Worldwide Issue
As we all continue to witness the awful events in Ukraine wishing upon wish for this horrific war to stop, the urge to help, but not knowing what to do for the best grows ever strong. PG shares just some of the acts of solidarity from those within the greeting card sector. “I think most of us will have been watching the news with much sadness. As a business we can feel somewhat helpless, life here is carrying on, but what can we do to help?” said Emma Ball, founder of the eponymous greeting card and gift company, echoing the feelings of many others in the industry who are deeply affected by the huge loss of lives and devastation of livelihoods in Ukraine and wanting to do something to contribute to the war effort.
In a show of support for Ukraine, last month saw Emma Ball’s company donating 20% of any retail orders placed on its website 4-7 March to the DEC Red Cross Ukraine appeal, resulting in £600 being sent this worthy cause. Emma’s main printer has also stepped up big time with Matt Boam, director of Print 4, having organised a 40ft container that has been delivered to its Nottingham factory which it is filling with necessary items needed by refugees. 30
PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
Right: Many in the greeting card industry have donated to DEC, the Government backed Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. Below left: Emma Ball donated 20% of a long weekend’s online orders to the Ukraine Appeal. Bottom: Determined to help - Print 4’s Matt Boam in his LinkedIn video. Above: The Vladimir Putin dog toys that added bite to Austin & Co’s fight back.
Launching the campaign on LinkedIn, Matt declared, via a video his deepfelt feelings of being “lost”, and being driven by a need to “do something, that we all need to do something” to help the devasting situation. The call out from Matt is for items including tinned food, toiletries, nappies, new thermal gloves (for adults and children), pet food, dry food, wet food and raincoats. Matt is also calling for products for children, hoping that those in the industry can help with this. “Notebooks, pencils, colouring books, jigsaws, anything that can help keep children’s minds active and try and distract
them from the horrors of the war, would be so well received.” Matt, whose other greeting card clients include The Art File and Little Dog Laughed, told PG: “Within a day of putting out the video on LinkedIn, we started to receive donations. And, although we said we didn’t want to receive cash, some people have donated money which we have used to buy items from the local cash and carry and have showed the donators what they are paying for.” With donated goods still arriving by the day, Matt is planning to get the container load out to the Polish-Ukraine border this month by partnering with some of the transport firms the company works with to make the journey the most sustainable. On top of card publishers’ and trade suppliers’ efforts, independent retailers too have not been backwards in coming forwards in showing solidarity. “Sat here in Malvern, in a shop that sells nice cards and stationery, it’s difficult to comprehend that less than