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IC&G’s Planning Service Aim is to install 50 retail stock controls in 2021 IC&G has officially launched a fully-fledged planning and fixturing service for retailers. The Dorset-based publisher, which won the Gold award in The Henries 2020 Best Service to the Independent Retailer category, for the fifth year in succession, has been working towards offering a planning service for customers for the last few years. “When I joined the company three and half years ago, we put together a five year plan and expanding into offering a credible planning service was very much part of that,” revealed IC&G sales director Tony Roberts. “We have worked
on strengthening and broadening our product offer while maintaining the high levels of service which our customers have come to expect,” added Tony. Another clincher was when experienced greeting card planner, Jade Scholes joined the IC&G team earlier this year. Now with over 1,000 card designs in its portfolio, IC&G could feasibly fill a 40’ card display on its own, but Tony feels that the vast majority of the stock control plans
will see the publisher accounting for around 50% of the space with the other designs provided by other publishers of the retailers’ choosing. “We can obviously advise on the mix but are very happy to work with any publishers the retailer customers select,” says Tony. “Now more than ever retailers are seeing the benefits of controlling their stock. Having drawers rammed with cards is just wasting their money.” As well as the planning service, IC&G is also offering PoS, fixturing options and installation. While this month is the official launch of the service, the publisher has in fact already installed planned displays in 14 retailers’ stores over the last few months, providing fixtures too for 12 of them. Tony feels hopeful that IC&G will install stock control plans into 50 retailers over the course of next year. “It feels like we’re going from the top of the Championship and into the Premier League. It’s so exciting!” he says.
Museums & Galleries earns its stripes Museums & Galleries was among the winners of the prestigious Licensing Awards, which took place at a glittering virtual extravaganza in the middle of December. Museums & Galleries triumphed in the Best Paper Products and/or Stationery award category with its Tiger Who Came to Tea collection. Other finalists in that category were BBC Earth Calendar and Diary Range from Danilo Promotions; Emma Bridgewater Greeting Card Range from Woodmansterne Publications; Friends Collection from Danilo Promotions; Harry Potter Collection from Moleskine; Harry Potter Pop-Up Cards from Cardology; Mickey Mouse Disney Pride from Moonpig; Peter Rabbit Wrap and Gift Bags from UK Greetings and Trolls World Tour Colour Burst Collection from Pyramid International. Commenting on the award, Eddie Clarke, licensing manager of Museums and Galleries said: “We are thrilled to win this prestigious award, especially for Judith Kerr’s much-loved Tiger Who Came to Tea. It’s the first time with a licence that we took the bold step of launching with a full suite of stationery and expanded range of gift products, so it’s very gratifying to get such a great response. HarperCollins and their agents were super to work with, so the development of the products was a very easy, collaborative process. This award is the cherry on the cake!” Above: Museums & Galleries’ Tiger Who Came to Tea collection spans cards, stationery, giftwrappings and gifts. Top left: An example of what an IC&G replan could look like. Far left: Jade Scholes is handling all of the planning for IC&G, using Card Manager software. Left: Tony Roberts, IC&G’s sales director is looking forward to playing in the Premier League!
Paperchase’s mega sale and Joe Guest joins Cult Pens Paperchase pulled out the stops to drive customers back into its stores in the run up to Christmas, with what it described as ‘The unprecedented early, up to 50% off Christmas sale’. The sale, with the mega savings only available in its stores (not online), is running into 2021. As an extra incentive, anyone spending over £30 is receiving a free tote bag in a variety of designs. Commenting in mid December, Joe Guest, senior card buyer for Paperchase confirmed that the retailer’s Christmas trade on greeting cards and wrap had been “in line with our expectations”. He highlighted that the retailer did not have to “use any additional promotional levers on the cards and wrap areas this year.” This however was Joe’s last Christmas season with Paperchase as he left the retailer to join the online pen site Cult Pens as its head of buying on 16 December. “I will miss being part of the Paperchase team very much and wish them every success for the future,” Above: Joe Guest Joe told PG. Joe has 12 years’ buying experience of cards, pens and stationery - five years with Fenwick, has left Paperchase to join Cult Pens. three years with Fortnum & Mason, joining Paperchase almost four years ago, spending two and half years buying pens and desk accessories before taking on the senior card buying role little over a year ago. Cult Pens (www.cultpens.com), which was started in 2005 by husband and wife team Simon and Amanda Walker was acquired by WHSmith in 2018, though the founders remain with the business as directors. Cult Pens claims to offer ‘the planet's greatest selection of writing instruments’, stocking over 24,000 different products. every available refill, and we've stuck to that.’ Left: Paperchase went for it with its mega pre-Christmas sale.
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