Progressive Greetings January 2016

Gary Leadston

January

2016

NEC

Spring Fair 7-11th Feb Hall 3:

3U02 - 4A21 Tel: 01243 792 600

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(Cyan) (Magenta) (Yellow) (BlacK)

2016 Plush and Gift Relaunch 18/12/2015 11:15

customerservice@icgcards.com

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01202 897494

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This year IC&G are excited to bring you even more new trends through our designs and with over 100 designs being launched, we have so much in store for you this year!

SEE MORE AT

SPRING FAIR 2016 Hall 3, stand M30

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ALSO SHOWING ON CARDGAINS STAND

Hall 3, stand L10/M11

18/12/2015 11:50

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QUALITY AND SERVICE YOU CAN DEPEND ON!

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Introducing

an exciting new range from

This beautifully-designed range of greetings cards covers a variety of captions.

The cards are available in 6x6 size hand-finished with glitter and/or gems with a quality gold envelope and cello wrapped.

To find out more call us on: 01949 839898 email: sales@hammondgower.co.uk or visit: www.hammondgower.co.uk

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Leader

On The Cards The Chancellor, Culture Minister, the Queen, a Times columnist, plus a rather rotund bear and his piggy friend, have all been part of the greeting card industry’s PR machine in the last few weeks!

Starting with our unexpected ursine and porcine chums, book publisher Egmont attracted a swathe of media coverage for the 15 Festive Traditions survey which Britain’s public believe are in need of support, releasing some charming new Winnie the Pooh illustrations by artist Mark Burgess to support each ‘tradition’. Joint 5th on the list was the sending of Christmas cards (coming equal with roasting chestnuts), which a quarter of those surveyed cited as a festive pleasure that could do with a bit of promotion. The accompanying press release included added endorsement from Dr Martin Johnes, from the Department of History & Classics at Swansea University, who highlighted the UK’s Christmas card heritage: “Many Christmas traditions are imports from America, but Christmas cards are one that Britain gave to the world. The first Christmas card is widely claimed to date back to 1843, the same year as A Christmas Carol was published by Dickens, but they were actually on sale by the end of the 1820s. The Victorians saw them as luxurious items and bought them individually, choosing specific designs for each friend and relative.”

Thanks Egmont… perfectly timed to coincide with peak Christmas card sending. No one could bear to disappoint Winnie the Pooh and his chums, now would they?!

It was touch and go for a few days as to whether our (GCA) meeting with the UK’s Culture Minister Ed Vaizey would be postponed, but thankfully it did happen and boy, what a meeting! I am still on cloud nine as to what could come out as a result of it - the suggestion of reducing the VAT on greeting cards due to their mental health benefits came from his side of the table! (See pages 28-29 for more).

Then, only a few days later, the lovely Bexy Hassett (of Henries award winning card publisher Bexy Boo) and the enterprising retailing duo Chris and Debbie Beards (of Mantons, Isle of Man) were in Downing Street, meeting the Chancellor George Osborne at an event held to celebrate Small Business Saturday at 11 Downing Street.

Added to this was the news that Blue Eyed Sun is up for a Queen’s Award for export, which, if granted, will see the enterprising publisher through the gates of Buckingham Palace – again a worthy fillip!

And I loved seeing the coverage (and in the case of our PM, criticism) of the choice of Christmas cards from leading politicians and

www.max-publishing.co.uk THE HOME OF MARKET LEADING TRADE MAGAZINES

Above: Happy faces after the meeting with with Ed Vaizey, Culture Minister outside his Westminster office building.

(Right-left) Ged Mace (The Art File), Jakki Brown (PG), Eloise Hall (Eloise Hall) and Sharon Little (GCA).

Right: PG's Warren Lomax (centre) with Carte Blanche's ceo, Alister Marchant (right) and commercial director Gerard O'Mahoney at the unveiling of the totally revamped Me to You gift and plush range.

Left: The caption Egmont released to the media: “Sending cards is a great way to show people that you love them and are thinking about them over the festive season,” Christopher Robin told his friends. “Well, in that case, I want to send you all a card!’” said Piglet assertively.

the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – the column inches they secured is bound to result in a much more considered Christmas card selection next year!

Even Radio 4’s You and Yours programme on charity Christmas cards, which investigated the percentage given to charities as a result of their sales through retail, ended up a triumph, thanks to the GCA’s Sharon Little’s superb handling.

Sure we, like many industries have our challenges, but it was good at least to see the outside world appreciate the merits of our trade and the wonderful product with which we are all involved.

Happy New Year to everyone.

THE HOME OF MARKET LEADING TRADE AWARDS

From baby to toddler to starting school

EXHIBITIONS

Max Publishing Ltd, United House, North Road, London N7 9DP Tel: 020 7700 6740 Fax: 020 7607 6411 www.progressivegreetings.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Contents

What’s Inside 66

29

63

11-27

43-55

28-29

Some of the new products launching at Top Drawer Spring.

News

Innovations

Face To Face

57-59

“Yes” Minister

Artist In Focus

A greeting card industry contingency meets up with Ed Vaizey, the UK’s Culture Minster.

Pottering Around On Cards Celebrating 150 years since the birth of illustrator, Beatrix Potter.

31-33

61-63

Over The Counter

69-71 Jeremy’s Journal

A Fresh Start

Blue Eyed-Sun’s Jeremy Corner explores new possibilities in 2016.

73-75 Retailer Spotlight

A Postmark Consignment PG tracks the rise of London-based greeting card retailer Postmark.

Publisher Focus

77-79

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, discusses the challenges retailers could be facing this year.

PG delves into the creative hub of contemporary publisher Ohh Deer.

81-83

35-39

Paper To My Ears

There Are More Questions Than Answers

Urban Regenerators

Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys Debbie shares her latest paper art discoveries.

Viewpoints

Holding Council

65

66-67

40-41

Unicorn Euphoria

Short-Term Profit Or Long-Term Vision?

What’s Hot? 85-86 Lynn’s Lines

A Step Back In Show Time 87-98

Members of the GCA Council spotlight a significant industry occurrence last year.

Cardsharp

Art Source

Classified

Trends Focus

Why unicorns on cards are ‘spearheading’ a trend.

99

Appointments

Cardsharp muses over topical events happening in the industry.

Progressive Greetings is a monthly business magazine.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: UK subscription: One year £50 Two year £85 Three year £110 Overseas subscription: One year £75 Jakki Brown

Warren Lomax

Gale Astley

jw@max-publishing.co.uk

warren@max-publishing.co.uk

galea@max-publishing.co.uk

Editor

Advertisement Director

Deputy Editor

SUBSCRIPTIONS ENQUIRES: maxsubscriptions@marketingreinforcements.co.uk Tel: 020 8943 9541

PG is the official magazine for the Greeting Card Association GCA: Sharon Little 020 7619 0396 Email: gca@max-publishing.co.uk www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk Use your smartphone app to scan the QR code to visit our website.

Copyright© 2015. While every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of publication, the publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers nor any organisation mentioned in the text. Views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PG Jan 2016 Black Left _Layout 1 18/12/2015 02:27 Page 1

Bug Art

PG Ja

new designs 2016

Paper and Foil - 16 new designs. Each card is embossed with gold or blue foil

Amy’s Cards - 9 new designs. Each card is embossed with gold foil and subtle varnish

Contact us for a brochure: Tel: 0115 907 8420 Fax: 0115 943 0342 Email: enquiries@bugart.co.uk

www.bugart.co.uk

Please note that we are not exhibiting at Spring Fair 2016

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new designs

Jewels

12 new designs. Each card embossed with two foils.

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Exposure greeting cards designed by icon order online: www.icon-art.com telephone: 01242 679800 / email: info@icon-art.com

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NEWS TOP STORY

STOP PRESS Jayne Myers Leaves Paper Rose To Join UKG

In Festive Mode The Trade Helped Kick-Start Christmas Card Sending As PG went to press (December 19) it was too soon to form a full true picture of how Christmas card sales had fared this year, though anecdotal evidence suggests that while it was later than usual to take off, sales of Christmas cards were holding up.

“Yes, Christmas is definitely happening.

We are seeing consumers following a similar pattern of the last few years and trading up when they find something special,” commented Timothy Melgund, ceo of Paperchase.

Those within the greeting card trade certainly played a part in helping to kickstart Christmas card sending, with more retailers, publishers and suppliers participating than ever before in Festive Friday, the GCA-inspired initiative which encourages people to write and send their Christmas cards on November 27.

The GCA (based within PG’s offices) lead from the front, with a Festive Friday event at Shillibeer’s brasserie next to the offices, linking up with an Age UK drop-in centre, as well as local businesses, to write and send their first Christmas cards of the season together.

There was much more activity on the social media front about Festive Friday, with

excited tweets and Facebook posts from card publishers and retailers revealing just how much fun everyone was having in taking part!

UK Greetings really got into the swing of it with some 8,221 Christmas cards written by its staff, and posted by the publisher.

As Wendy Jones-Blackett, co-founder of the eponymous publisher pointed out, about all this activity, (its own company tweets were retweeted a total of 646 times and seen 14,933 times, for example): “At the very least it will have pressed the ‘I must write my Christmas cards’ button in people’s brains."

Pigment took it a stage further, not only writing cards, but holding a Christmas jumper competition and linking in with the day centre/nursing home that they donated cards too. "We sent around 125 cards and gifts," confirms Sally Greaves, Pigment’s field sales administrator. "The nursing home/day centre staff arranged for residents, visitors and their families to write and send Christmas cards at a coffee morning event."

Above: The GCA's Festive Friday event involved visitors from the Age UK drop-in centre in London's Holloway.

Above left: Abacus’ Alan Hey with Joan Amiri of Park Lane Cards, Cheshire in Festive Friday mood.

Left: Bexhill’s Oxfam store got involved in Festive Friday.

Bring Back The Pen High profile businessman Richard Branson (below) put a heartfelt message on his Virgin website when he read a recent report, commissioned by Bic, revealing that half of today's 13-19 year-olds have never written a 'thank you' letter, and that one in 10 do not own a pen.

"While yours truly has embraced technology - communicating and blogging on the go via mobile phone and iPad - I still like to write down my thoughts and feelings," he wrote. "I carry a notebook with me wherever I go, and author letters whenever I get the chance. There is something so romantically resolute about putting pen to paper. It holds meaning, more intention and more substance than digital text."

The Virgin founder also reveals that taking notes is one of his favourite pastimes. "I can't tell you where I'd be if I hadn't had a pen on hand to write down my ideas - or, more importantly, other people's - as soon as they came to me. Some of Virgin's most successful companies have been born from random moments - if we hadn't opened our notebooks they wouldn't have happened."

Jayne Myers (pictured), who has been managing director of Paper Rose and The Art Group for the last eight years is to rejoin UK Greetings, taking up the newly created position of commercial director. “Excited” to take up her new remit “to drive sales”, Jayne will report directly to James Conn, group sales and marketing director.

Jayne previously spent 10 years at UKG, latterly heading up its Special Editions division.

Jayne’s appointment is part of a restructure currently underway at UKG.

Retailers Reveal Impact Of Storm Desmond The devastation of Storm Desmond, which wreaked havoc at the end of November/beginning of December in Cumbria and Lancashire, when rivers burst their banks, has forced not only families out of their homes, but also businesses out of their premises. Cockermouth and Carlisle in Cumbria were among the worst hit areas, with unprecedented flooding seeing some parts hit with more than a month's worth of rain in 24 hours.

It led to one greeting card publisher, Sarah Payne of Hello Lucky Europe, offering a selection of cards to Hallmark Wishes in Cockermouth to help the card retailer restock.

The shop has been forced to close and will not be re-opening until the end of January.

Also affected was Percy House Gallery in Cockermouth. "We had a flood warning so we got everything off the floor at ground level," explained joint owner Vivien Austin.

"Water reached our flood defenses, but it still poured into the shop despite the sandbags.

We are a Grade II listed building, dating back to 1598, so over the years we have sunk and are now two to three feet below pavement level. Therefore, once the water comes in there is nothing we can do about it. Luckily we managed to get some things off the ground level, and took them upstairs, but the back room went above four feet of water."

Business rates have been put on hold until the clean-up operation is completed and companies are trading again.

Below: Devastation - Storm Desmond in Cumbria and Lancashire.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Hallmark 2016 roadshows bursting with character

Jam packed with characters from the big screen, to classic all time favourites and Hallmark’s own exclusive signature properties, we’re guaranteed to have the most sought after characters your customers are searching for.

In addition to fantastic new products you’ll also have the chance to make a real day out of your trip and enjoy complimentary access to iconic buildings, museums and spas.

Register now!

Register online at hallmarkroadshows2016.co.uk for your ‘on the day incentives’.

To book your place please contact: UK 0800 90 20 900, ROI 012 480 104 or book online hallmarkroadshows2016.co.uk

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NEWS TOP STORY

Radio 4's You And Yours GCA Speaks Up For Charity Cards Sharon Little, chief executive of the GCA, banged the drum loudly for charity Christmas cards, and Christmas card sending generally, on Radio 4's You and Yours programme, which aired on December 16.

She was interviewed in the BBC studios for a live broadcast covering the whole issue of charity Christmas cards. Dame Hilary Blume, founder of the Charities Advisory Trust, was also involved in the broadcast.

The platform for the news item was an in-depth analysis by the programme into the percentage of the sale of the cards donated to charities bought from leading department stores, multiples and supermarkets – which showed this is generally somewhere between 1025% of the price of a pack of Christmas cards. Sharon swiftly pointed out: "The important thing to understand about the charity route is that this is all free money for the charities," she explained.

"The charities don't need to make any investment in the product at all as it's all done by publishers, and in some cases retailers, who have an agreement with the charity. The charity has their branding all over the cards, resulting in free publicity in stores all over the country, which is fantastic advertising for them. Also, recipients receive a branded card, so the charity is being publicised yet again."

Below: The GCA's Sharon Little is shown, surrounded by Christmas cards, during Festive Friday.

When challenged by the show's presenter, Winifred Robinson, as to who is making a profit, the publisher or the retailer, Sharon explained that, while both may make a small profit, the most important aspect was that people buy over 1.1bn Christmas cards in the UK. "It is a great tradition and raises huge amounts of money for charities across the board. I would say to people who are questioning whether or not to buy charity cards is that every charity card counts, irrespective of where it is bought from."

When Dame Hilary Blume was asked by the presenter as to whether she felt the amount charities received from charity Christmas was enough, she admitted that she was “delighted” that charities are now receiving at least 10% from card sales something she championed for years.

Hilary was less positive about Christmas card sending in general.

"I think we're facing a collapse of the Christmas card market. Sending cards is expensive… I think the market will disappear," she stated. "People come from different areas and don't always have the same tradition of sending cards."

Sharon was quick to refute these claims, pointing out: "Across the country, people are still buying a lot of Christmas cards and a lot of charity cards," she stated. "We are still buying over 1.1bn Christmas cards a year, and that is not what I would call a dying market."

Cardgains Gets Passionate ‘Passionate about independent retailing’ is the new strapline that Cardgains buying group is adopting for 2016. This new, more all embracing approach reflects how Cardgains’ members have and are diversifying from being just greeting card retailers. Commenting, Chris Dyson, Cardgains’ joint managing director, states: “Over several years we have seen a shift in our core membership of greeting card shops and seen that more space has been created for ‘other’ necessary products. Historically many card shops were 90% cards, where now our surveys show it to be a lot less. This is great news for the ancillary product suppliers and consequently Cardgains and its members have seen growth in these areas, particularly in candles and home fragrance, and also gifts, party and jewellery”.

Chris highlights that the shift has also meant growth for greeting cards, with the consumer being drawn to shops “offering more product diversity where they can also still buy quality, value for money cards at good prices, and can buy their gifts and self-purchases too”.

Left: The new marketing reflects the broader based Cardgains, though supporting the indie is still very much at the heart of it all.

New Look Top Drawer Gift, Home, Fashion and Craft will unite under one Top Drawer brand from January 17-19 at London's Olympia, creating a single destination for design-led products.

Over 1,000 exhibitors will showcase products in Stationery & Greetings, Interior Accessories, Fashion Accessories and Jewellery, Wellbeing, Children's, Kitchen & Dining, Furniture & Lighting and Outdoor Living.

In the greeting cards sector, Mark Jessett, well-known paper consultant to GF Smith for the past 15 years, will have the joy of seeing his own artwork launched on the Paper Bird Publishing stand (S68).

“I’m delighted that the colour reproduction is amazingly close to the original paintings,” commented Mark, who is also a fine art artist.

“Joy at Paper Bird truly understands my work and is very sympathetic to it, while making good commercial choices to produce a viable and attractive range. The work itself is made with acrylic paint on Japanese paper with the cards printed on GF Smith’s slightly textured Callisto Soft White,” he adds wearing both his artist and paper hats!

Top: Top Drawer will be unveiling the world of Home, Gift, Fashion and Craft in January under one brand.

Above: Mark Jessett in artist mode!

Other greeting card exhibitors at the Top Drawer show include: 1790 Cards, Allihopa, April Rose Illustrations, Anna Wright, Five Dollar Shake and Gabrielle Izen.

Commenting on the new format, event director Alejandra Compos, explains: "The show is a curated, exciting and inspiring event that presents up and coming trends and showcases the very best of each sector. The new look is fresh, premium and contemporary. By simplifying the brand architecture we are able to focus more on the relevant content and engage fundamentally with each of the communities we represent."

Top Drawer will unveil thousands of selected British and international brands and designers representing an edited, global crosssection of products. l New to the show this year is the Food Emporium, which will be introducing the best speciality and fine foods from leading artisans, producer and brands.

(Visit: www.topdrawer.co.uk) PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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We are thrilled to be presenting at this year’s number one event, NEC’s Spring Fair.

Join us at Spring Fair 2016 to take a peek at the extra sparkle Hambledon Studios could add to your shelves with our brand new range, Vibrance.

Meet the team and find out what other exciting additions we have made to some of our everyday stock control brands.

From gift presentation to licensing, we’ll have everything you need to make 2016 fantastic.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Spring Fair NEC Birmingham, Hall 3, 3M22 7th – 11th February For more information contact WholesaleShipping@hallmark-uk.com

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NEWS TOP STORY

GCA Meets With Ed Vaizey Culture Minister Pledges To Support The Card Trade The UK’s Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has pledged to support the UK greeting card industry. “What can I do to help?” he said in a meeting, which took place on December 2 held in Westminster. Ideas included lowering the rate of VAT on greeting cards, a greeting card exhibition in the Houses of Parliament, government backing for export, as well as an initiative to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016.

Ged Mace, president of the GCA (and managing director of The Art File), Sharon Little, CEO of the GCA, PG’s Jakki Brown (who is also joint general secretary of the GCA) and greeting card publisher Eloise Hall, founder of the eponymous card company (and friend of Ed Vaizey’s) met with the Minister in his personal office.

As the GCA’s Sharon Little stated following the meeting: “I felt really proud to be able to share the size and scope of our industry with someone at such a high level of government. He was genuinely interested to learn about the industry, was full of suggestions and open to ideas, such as speaking at the GCA AGM, visiting PG Live and a competition to design and produce his Christmas card next year.”

TV Times For Wendy

The purpose of the meeting was to raise the profile of the UK greeting card industry as one of the nation’s successful creative industries, and to explain the cultural importance of greeting card sending.

The Minister was delighted to receive his own keepsake box and giftbags that were filled with over 200 greeting cards from almost 90 GCA members.

As Ged Mace, GCA president added: “It was a wonderful opportunity to put greeting cards on the ministerial map. If any of the ideas we discussed come to fruition it will be of great benefit to the UK greeting card industry.”

(See pages 28-29) Above: (Centre) Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy with an original Henry Cole Christmas card from 1843 with (right-left), Sharon Little (GCA), Ged Mace (The Art File), Jakki Brown (PG) and Eloise Hall (Eloise Hall).

Wendy Jones-Blackett, founder of the eponymous card publisher, proved herself to be as talented as a TV presenter as she is a card publisher. The ever enthusiastic Wendy starred on TV programme Made In Leeds, which covered a fun morning teaching a local TV presenter on how to make Cloud Nine cards - Blue Peter style - for a Christmas feature.

"The interview was great and there were lots of lovely shots of our cards, which will hopefully be good for our stockists. And we’ve been booked in to do a slot for Valentine’s Day cards in February too!" enthuses Wendy.

Top: Wendy Jones-Blackett was featured on Made In Leeds.

Above: Among the festive Wendy Jones-Blackett cards featured on the programme.

Postmark’s Millionaire As PG went to press London greeting card retailer Postmark was all set to celebrate serving its millionth customer. It has been building up the anticipation with posters in the windows of all three of its shops (in Balham, Dulwich and Chiswick) announcing that the lucky ‘millionaire’ will receive a prize of Postmark goodies.

Mark Janson-Smith, partner of Postmark, has been tracking its customer count since the opening of its first shop in Balham in 2004.

“I really can’t quite believe we’ve reached this milestone so it’s a bit of a ‘wow!’ moment. Clearly we wanted to make a bit of noise about it, not just to promote the shops, but to thank all the customers we’ve had over the years because we’d be nothing without them,” said Mark.

Caroline Gardner, The Art File and Pigment have all contributed to the main prize, while two smaller prizes will also be given to the two customers closest to the big number in Postmark’s other two stores.

(See pages 73-75) Left: In addition to posters appearing in the Postmark shops, social media has also played a part in promoting the initiative.

Hallmark To Move Out Of Its Historic HQ Hallmark UK is to move out of its impressive Bingley Road headquarters in Shipley and relocate all its head office and creative team to its Dawson Lane site in Bradford, alongside its distribution centre.

The relocation is going to take about a year to complete, with the move set for the first quarter of 2017.

Commenting Steve Wright, international ceo of Hallmark said: “Although we will be sad to leave Bingley Road, it gives us a real chance to bring our Bradford-based teams together under one roof and create a new culture in the process. We’re committed to Bradford, we’ve been here for more than 30 years and we’re proud to be based in the city.”

Right: Hallmark is to vacate this historic building and move its head office to its Dawson Lane site, the other side of Bradford.

Calendar Chart Success The final Danilo official licensed calendar chart was published as PG was going to press on December 18, with Star Wars Episode 7 going straight to the top of the charts, followed by the ever-popular Minions.

Frozen, last year's No 1 mega hit, dropped down to ninth place. Last year's figures are shown in brackets.

1 Star Wars Episode 7 (new entry) 2 Minions 3 Manchester United (6) 4 One Direction (2) 5 Liverpool (5) 6 Justin Beiber (6) 7 Cliff (9) 8 Five Seconds of Summer (4) 9 Frozen (1) 10 Kelly Brook (11) Above: Top of the Danilo calendar charts this Christmas are Star Wars Episode 7 and Minions.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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NEWS It’s A ‘10’ For Cardoo

TOP STORY

Season’s Greetings Party Leaders’ Christmas Cards Poles Apart Proving how ingrained greeting cards are in the UK’s public psyche, the media made a great play of the Christmas cards from its leading politicians. Both the PM and the Leader of the Opposition came in for some traditional Christmas criticism for their choice of official cards this year. David Cameron’s was deemed ‘unseasonal’ and ‘boring’ by many in the media, while Jeremy Corbyn's showed his true political colours by opting for a red border, Merry Christmas in red, a red phone box and a red traffic light, with the main image featuring snow covered bicycles. However, it was said to be a stock image taken on 2nd February, 2009, outside London's Queensway tube station, when snow disrupted London's transport system.

For those turning the card over, more ‘red’ was revealed in Labour’s logo, which featured a holly leaf and berries instead of the usual red rose.

The PM’s Christmas card meanwhile, was pictured with his wife Samantha on the steps of No 10 Downing Street with nothing festive revealed in the design. It was hardly surprising though, given that the image was taken following his General Election victory on May 15!

Tim Farron meanwhile, leader of the Lib Dems, chose a Christmas card image designed by Ami Woodburn, aged 11, from Dallam School in Milnthorpe, while Nicola

Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister of Scotland, chose a rather twee design showing a traditional Christmas scene.

Chancellor, George Osborne came out tops for his choice of Christmas card design, adopting one with a touch of humour. It featured a cartoon snowman wearing a hi-vis jacket outside No 11 Downing Street, a nod to his frequent visits to building sites. It received the thumbs up from popular columnist Carol Midgley in Times 2, who made it the subject of one of her lengthy columns: "Who would have thought that George Osborne, the budget slasher himself, would emerge as this year's winner?"

Top right: A victorious image in May for the PM, but not such a victory as a Christmas card.

Top left: Jeremy Corbyn's Christmas card ‘saw red’.

Middle: Tim Farron, leader of the Lib Dem’s, went for a Christmas card created by a school girl.

Above right: George Osborne’s Christmas card was a bit tongue-in-cheek.

Russian Around It is not just the UK public who are fans of Hannah Dale’s artwork.

Hannah, co-founder and artist of greeting card and gift company Wrendale Designs, was invited to Moscow's flagship store Dom Farfora as part of a special family day to mark the 50th anniversary of the retailer. Hannah was invited as her illustrations feature on Portmeirion Group's Royal Worcester Wrendale Designs giftware collection. While there Hannah hosted painting master classes to specially invited guests at the store.

As Hannah commented: "It was great to get close to the people who are buying and appreciating my designs and I took a great deal of inspiration from the event.”

It was a hat trick for greeting card publisher Cardoo whose Cardoo at Asda card range got rave reviews from reviewers on KiddyCharts. "We gave these cards to three of our reviewers to check out and overall they loved them," reports Cardoo's ceo Nick Kenny. "Each one gave them 10 out of 10, something that has never happened before on this site," adds a delighted Nick.

The greeting cards, which are aimed at children aged 4-7 years old, feature small activity books within the cards, along with stickers. Themes range from dinosaurs to divers.

KiddyCharts are the fourth largest ‘mums’ blog site and the largest on Twitter.

Below: Cardoo at Asda's children's activity birthday card got full marks from reviewers.

The Personal Touch A backlash to the modern digital age has seen the rise of the public’s passion for beautifully crafted and handmade gifts and stationery. Gabrielle Izen, publisher of gorgeous handmade cards, witnessed this escalation when she recently participated in a several lifestyle and country consumer fairs where visitors go to buy original crafted and decorative items as gifts and for the home.

“I have been amazed by how much visitors want to buy original hand-crafted items, whether, from my perspective, it is greeting cards, or personalised art prints, gifts for family and friends, or handmade artwork to decorate their homes”, explains Gabrielle.

(Gabrielle Izen is at Top Drawer Stand ZA47).

Below: ‘It's not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves’, from Gabrielle Izen’s Friendship range.

Above: Artist Hannah Dale at work.

Left: Among Hannah's range of mugs for Portmeirion’s Royal Worcester brand.

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POSITION: Buyer, gifts, packaging and party Scribbler is a vibrant, humorous card, gift & stationery retailer with over 30 shops in the UK We are looking for an experienced Buyer to join our hardworking and dynamic Buying and Merchandising team in our Head Office in Kennington, London.

This role requires someone who is passionate about product and finding the next great product that will excite our customers and drive sales.

As part of the team you will be responsible for: ★ Sourcing new products for your categories that fulfil the range strategy ★ Driving sales and profit of your product categories ★ Analysing sales of current products to identify strengths and weaknesses of current range ★ Develop a calendar of promotional opportunities ★ Working with the merchandisers to deliver the stock strategy for the category ★ Negotiating terms with suppliers ★ Developing visual merchandising guidelines for implementation

To do this effectively you will need the following skills and experience: ★ Previous retail buying experience as a buyer or junior buyer ★ Experience of working in a design led retail business ★ Negotiation experience ★ Strong analytical skills, numerate ★ Proficient with Excel ★ Good planning and organisational skills ★ Enjoy being part of an energetic team and a good team player The position is full time (35 hours per week), Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm and we offer a competitive salary.

Interested applicants should send their CV together with a brief covering email to work@scribbler.co.uk by Friday 12th February we will contact suitable applicants for interview shortly after that.

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NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

TOP STORY

Think Bubble

Below: Rachel Hare (left) and Kimberley Williams with some of the new Bubble collection that will launch at Spring Fair.

New Giftwrap Company From Belly Button Stand by for the launch of a major new giftwrap brand. Bubble is a brand new limited company that has been set up by Belly Button Design’s founder/owner, Rachel Hare and her colleague Kimberley Williams, finance director of Belly Button.

Making its trade show debut at Spring Fair, the inaugural Bubble portfolio will be sizeable, spanning a number of different collections, each comprising giftbags in different sizes, rollwrap and accompanying tissue. Many of the collections will echo and complement Belly Button’s existing greeting card ranges, covering everyday and occasions.

Explaining the rationale behind the new company, Rachel told PG: “Belly Button has previous offered a limited range of giftbags for some time and prior to this they have also been available under licence,

but I have felt for some time that there was a real opportunity to expand with a separate standalone company,” she explained. “We have the design capability, but the crucial element was securing an experienced production partner who is an expert in this field, which we now have.”

The Bubble range is being sold via the Belly Button team of agents, but retailers will be asked to place separate orders for the two companies.

l In the run-up to Christmas, Moonpig upped its marketing initiatives, profiling its artists and using the straplines Designed by Me. Personalised By You. The online retailer also offered 50% off the price of five cards or more. l Some 500 local residents who received a Christmas card from the Mayor of Burnley, Labour councillor Liz Monk, were forced to pay a £2 fee at their local sorting office, as the cards were sent without a stamp! l In House, in London's Shoreditch, being just 10 metres wide, briefly became London’s smallest Christmas shop in the run-up to Christmas. Products, which started at £1, ranged from bespoke Christmas cards to Christmas themed homewares and grooming products. l Calliope Gifts in Haywards Heath, which opened in October, won the town’s Best Christmas Window competition.

Right: Calliope Gifts' winning Christmas window.

PG Live's Website Gets A Makeover Max Exhibitions, organisers of PG Live, has launched a new website for its dedicated greeting card trade show which takes place from May 1011 at London's Business Design Centre.

The online portal, www.progressivegreetingslive.com, has been transformed to reflect the exhibition's fresh, modern approach to trade shows.

“Our new website makes planning for and attending PG Live even easier,” explains marketing manager Jacqui Parr. “We wanted to make the website faster, easier to navigate and more user-friendly, while still keeping the friendly feel PG Live is famous for.”

Continues Jacqui: “The fresh, clean design allows buyers to browse all the exhibitors' exciting new card ranges and designs in advance, making their time at the show as productive as possible, while the newly positioned exhibitor zone allows publishers to make the most of their preview page on the website.”

The newly-designed exhibitor zone will allow over 250 publishers, artists and designers to showcase their latest collections in advance of the show. Meanwhile, the simple navigation and streamlined content makes it simple for visitors to plan everything ranging, from which exhibitors they want to see to where they want to stay overnight.

Brimming with information about the show, as well as helpful links to local accommodation and entertainment, the website continues to be a valuable online resource.

Left: The new look PG Live website.

It's Party Time It will soon be time to party at Dartington Trading in Devon, which recently won Rainbow Designs' Miffy display competition. The retailer will receive £500 worth of Miffy products and books, a Miffy party and a visit from Miffy.

“We are delighted to have been selected as the winner of Rainbow’s window competition and look Above: Part of Dartington Trading's winning Miffy display forward to hosting a very special Miffy party,” enthuses which won the Rainbow Designs' competition.

Dartington Trading's owner Sharon Willcock.

The initiative tied-in with Miffy's milestone 60th anniversary as well as the new Miffy TV show on Tinypop.

l Card and stationery retail consultant Henri Davis (right), vice chairman of The Giftware Association, will be holding a series of half-hour seminars at Scotland’s Trade Fair (January 24-26) and Spring Fair (February 7-11).

Independent retailers will be able to find out how to use economic, business and product trend information to grow their businesses, both on the high street and online. l Web/ecommerce company Skylight, specialists in the card industry, has launched a trade and consumer e-commerce website for Lucy Truman. "It is completely responsive so its display adapts for mobiles and tablets," explains Skylights Matt Riceman. l Wire Fittings has launched a new website with a 5% discount for orders placed online in December. The redesign has been done with independent retailers in mind, making it easier for them to browse technical information and view detailed product images. l Cherry Orchard Publishing has announced two recent Shop of the Month winners: Emotions Cards and Gifts in the Dockside Outlet Centre in Chatham and Gem Cards in Strood. Both shop owners were presented with a certificate and a bottle of champagne.

The shops will now be entered into a Grand Prize Draw, taking place this month, giving the winning shops a chance to win £1000 worth of stock from Cherry Orchard. The winner will receive his or her prize at Spring Fair in February.

Above: Debra Godden, (left), owner of Emotions in Chatham received her prize as Cherry Orchard's October shop of the month winner from sales manager for London Central and South Jo Bennett.

Right: Also receiving her prize from Cherry Orchard's Jo Bennett was Diana Scott, owner of Gem Cards in Strood, (left) who was the company's Shop of the Month November winner.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Counting Stars Instead Of Dollars Five Dollar Shake Debuts “Free-Spirited Little Sister” Division Having soft launched a few months ago, Counting Stars, a new sibling division of Five Dollar Shake is to make its trade show debut at Top Drawer next month (January 17-19, London’s Olympia).

Beth Genower, co-founder and creative director of Five Dollar Shake, describes Counting Stars as “a freespirited little sister to Five Dollar”.

As well as greeting card ranges, the Counting Stars collection also includes accessories, such as real gem Dream Bracelets and lovely beach bags.

Very different in style and tone to Five Dollar, Counting Stars has more of a leaning towards the mystical, magical and spiritual, but also includes some humorous ranges.

“Over its evolution of the last 15 years, Five Dollar Shake has built up a signature for glamorous and glitzy cards. Much as I love this, the team and myself have so many other ideas that we want to create, but producing them under the Five Dollar brand would confuse the trade and the consumer,” explains Beth.

The idea for Counting Stars has been brewing for the last couple of years.

“There is a big market out there for people like me, who are spiritual in the widest sense, perhaps through an interest in yoga, crystals, star gazing or astrology,” says Beth pointing out how it is already being reflected in fashion and interiors, as evidenced by Selfridges’ Astro Lounge.

The Counting Stars collection is being represented by the existing Five Dollar Shake agents, but should be ordered separately. Counting Stars is exhibiting in the gift section of Top Drawer, as it will also be showing its Dream Bracelet collection, which incorporate real diamonds and precious gems on a delicate thread, presented on a card. These are likely to be given as talismans based on the true meanings of the precious or semi precious stones.

Social media is forming part of the launch of Counting Stars (Instagram: @countingstarsofficial and #dreamersbelieversandfriends).

Above: Beth Genower in a free-spirited moment.

Left: Designs from Counting Stars’ Sky Full Of Stars and the Dream Bracelets ranges.

A Date With Theo Paphitis Since she sent a tweet to Theo Paphitis' Small Business Sunday (SBS) initiative, it's been an exciting time for Rose Hill, founder of her eponymous company Rose Hill Designs.

Her tweet - ‘Rose Hill Designs is a design and stationery brand that has a distinct Pop Art style’ - to #SBS @TheoPaphitis - led to Theo retweeting her submission, one of only six tweets chosen. "In fact, I received a tweet from my friend who said 'congratulations' before I saw Theo Paphitis' tweet to me saying 'congrats to this week's #SBS winners’" laughs Rose. "It was so exciting to see that, and then my twitter went bonkers. I was getting so many tweets and retweets it was amazing!"

Adds Rose: "You then become a part of a community as there is a website dedicated to the winners (www.theopaphitissbs.com). There is also a #SBSHour which, again, goes a bit bonkers on Twitter.”

Rose is looking forward to meeting Theo Paphitis at the event (at the ICC Birmingham on February 12) and being presented with the award.

WWF Applies Pressure On Paperchase And Clintons Charity and lobby group WWF has again stepped up its activity to put pressure on card retailers and publishers to publicly state their commitment to using FSC board.

While Hallmark scored highly in a recent YouGov poll timber scorecard, carried out on behalf of the WWF, Paperchase (above) and Clintons (below) were given the ‘lowest marks’ due to neither featuring their FSC procurement policy on their websites, despite the fact that both retailers do actively encourage FSC-accredited board to be used.

As WWF encouraged its supporters to add to the pressure through Twitter, both retailers were quick to respond. Clintons’ marketing and eCommerce director, Tim Fairs, stated: “We take our sourcing responsibilities extremely seriously and require all of our suppliers to comply with applicable law, including the EU timber regulations," he told PG. “Consumers have told us time and again they want businesses to act responsibly and help them buy sustainably," said Julia Young, WWF's adviser on sustainable and legal time trade.

“Thousands of our supporters tweeted Paperchase and Clintons to try and persuade them to up their game. Clintons tweeted back that they are complying with the EU timber regulations, but say nothing about sustainability. Paperchase tweeted that they are sourcing from sustainable wood sources, but we still can’t find any policy about this on their website. For such well-known brands, they should be demonstrating leadership on this issue."

The WWF-UK’s #SaveForests campaign aims to get UK businesses to pledge to buy timber products from sustainable sources by 2020. l The YouGov report revealed that more than half (52%) of UK adults assume well-known businesses that sell greeting cards offer sustainable products made from well managed forests.

Left: Rose Hill Designs is well known for its pet portraits.

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A Mega Me To You Relaunch Carte Blanche To Mark The Brand’s 21st Anniversary Big Time “This is the biggest launch we’ve ever done. We’ve listened to our customers, we’ve listened to our consumers. This is a big thank you for the loyalty they have shown us while we relaunch Me to You and realign it back to where it should be,” said Alister Marchant, ceo of Carte Blanche, referring to a totally revamped Me to You gift and plush collection. The collection is sub-divided into three distinct segments - Impulse, Essentials and Signature - to cater for different consumer needs and expectations. The range includes new packaging (which focuses on the blue and white of the Me to You logo), as well as lower retail prices than previously (with no loss of margin to the retailer), and full PoS support with 2’, 4’ and 6’ planned display options available.

The Carte Blanche salesteam are already underway, pre-selling the range to independents for delivery in April. “As an

extra thank you and to show how much we believe in the range, we are offering full SOR on an independent’s first orders of a planned display of the new range,” said Alister.

Clintons will be the first to showcase the new collection, committing to window displays from immediately after Easter.

The unveiling of the new gift collection kicks-off a whole year of activity and considerable investment in Me to You, which coincides with the brand’s 21st anniversary. The strapline for the activity is an invitation to ‘fall in love with Me to You all over again’.

Carte Blanche is well underway with plans for a major retailer celebration on its stand at the Spring Fair where the products will be seen ‘in the fur’ for the first time.

Above: A 6’ planned display which showcases the three segments of the new Me to You gift and plush collection – Impulse, Essentials and Signature.

Public Speaking Carte Blanche is also underway with a major consumer research project, which will involve 4,000 consumers.

Gerard O’Mahony, who joined Carte Blanche five months ago as commercial director, is spearheading this significant piece of research, which will be completed by the end of January. “What we will end up with is a massive intelligence on the card buying habits of the UK public. This will enable us to ensure that our card ranges match these consumer insights rather than basing our decisions on historic perceptions of what we think customers want.”

Right: CBG’s Alister Marchant (left) and Gerard O’ Mahoney at the recent GCA AGM.

Celebrations All Round For one greeting card retailer - Hallmark Celebrate in Manford Way, Chigwell - Christmas got off to a flying start with Black Friday sales that saw customers queuing outside the shop. "It was a fantastic event and was eagerly awaited to start Christmas spending in our area with great deals for our customers and staff," enthuses owner Naomi Green, whose shop celebrates its first anniversary on January 26.

Leading gift companies who sponsored the event included Widdop Bingham, Hallmark, Yankee Candle and Ashleigh and Burwood, who featured product demonstrations. "New product showcases included Hallmark’s itty bittys that have performed very well," added Naomi.

A 'first' for the shop was the launch of a Celebrate Christmas magazine - written, produced and created by Naomi - a first attempt - who has no media experience and taught herself to edit over a weekend. "It really helped to promote the store and the great range of products we stock," she explained.

Celebrate also celebrated the Jewish holiday Hanukkah with a range of cards, party items and chocolates which received over 1,500 views on Facebook alone, and also set-up a Hanukkah store online.

Left: Celebrate assistants Chelsea and Kayleigh with Celebrate shop owner Naomi Green (right).

A Personal Message From Santa UKG partnered with UGroupMedia, producer of online personalised Santa video and call service, PNP - Portable North Pole - to launch a series of 14 greeting card designs that brought Christmas into both the physical and virtual world.

Each card is sent with a unique code to give the recipient access to their own personalised video message from Santa. The cards launched in more than 800 Tesco stores across the UK. The service is now in its eighth year and has delivered messages to more than 100 million people across the world since its launch.

Above: PNP Christmas greeting card images.

A Cuddly Toy Fit For A Princess A Jellycat Fuddlewuddle fluffy puppy was recently highlighted as HRH Princess Charlotte's favourite cuddly toy.

The photo, taken by proud mum Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, was recently the focus of a double page spread in the Daily Mail.

Above: Jellycat's Fuddlewuddle dog.

For Queen And Country Greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun has been shortlisted for a Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade.

The award recognises outstanding achievements by UK companies on the international trade front. If Blue Eyed Sun was to win the company will be invited to a reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

“I’m very pleased to be flying the flag for greeting cards at these prestigious awards.

To get this far is testament to our fantastic team and our wonderful network of distribution partners around the world.

Hopefully we can go all the way and win the award. Perhaps we might even get to meet the Queen,” commented Jeremy Corner, md of Blue Eyed Sun. Blue Eyed Sun has seen exceptional growth in its export business in the last three years and now distributes in 16 countries around the world.

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A Record Breaking Small Business Saturday

High Profile Cards

Small Business Saturday, a not-for-profit campaign, now in its third year, was deemed to be a mega success on December 5, with £623m spent with small independent businesses, up 24% on 2014. There were over 100K tweets on the day supporting the event, reaching over 25m people, with over 75% of local councils taking part.

There are some five million small firms in the UK, employing less than 50 people, they employ half of the country's workforce.

Bexy Boo Has The Chancellor’s Attention Bexy Hassett, owner of Bexy Boo, The Henries award-winning card publisher, had the eyes and ears of the Chancellor, George Osborne earlier this month. Bexy Boo was personally invited by the Chancellor to the Treasury to an event which celebrated Small Business Saturday on December 5.

The reason she was invited is that her business is based within George Osborne’s Tatton Constituency. Her recent success at The Henries (winner of the Best Handmade or Hand-finished Range) and also winning a Small Business Award in Cheshire had increased her profile. Bexy joined other small business owners at a special small business Christmas Fair at The Treasury that was attended by the Chancellor.

She also appeared on BBC Breakfast news when George Osborne visited her stand at the fair.

“What’s all this about then?” George Osborne asked Bexy, pointing to her Henries trophy that had pride of place in her card display. “I was able to explain all about Sir Henry Cole, and the strength of the UK greeting card trade. I felt so privileged to

Robertson Collection Acquired And Relaunched be there and represent our fantastic greeting card industry."

Bexy presented him with some cards that she had specially created for him and his family.

Bexy and her family were also all allowed the privilege of personally being shown around No 10 and No 11, with photos taken outside the famous black door. "The kids especially liked the basket ball net in the garden given to the Prime Minister by Barack Obama," said Bexy, with the day made even more special by the fact it was Bex’s son Joby’s 11th birthday.

"Certainly a birthday to remember," she stated.

Above: Bexy with Chancellor George Osborne. He is shown holding a set of personalised Bexy Boo Scrabbly Christmas cards, one each for his children, one for his wife.

Left: Bexy with her family outside No 10 Downing Street.

Mantons Goes To Downing Street After winning bira's British Retailer of the Year, and being named as one of the UK's 100 most influential small businesses, Mantons Cards in Port Erin was one of 100 businesses from around the country invited to represent the UK’s 5.4 million small businesses at a special event at The Treasury in London, marking the UK’s third Small Business Saturday the following day.

"I was delighted to be invited by the Chancellor to such a prestigious event and represent the Mantons team at the Treasury," enthused Chris. "I was also especially proud that we were representing the Isle of Man as we were the only Manx business to be invited. After such a successful year, winning multiple awards, the invitation really was the perfect early Christmas present for the Mantons team."

Right: Chris Beards, owner of Manton's, is shown at The Treasury with Michelle Ovens, OBE, Small Business Saturday's campaign director.

Christmas Cuddles Thinking of children less fortunate, UKG made it a mission to find loving new homes for over 130 Boofle and Tedmund plush toys and gifts as part of the Mission Christmas charity initiative.

The lucky Boofle and Tedmund Teds were boxed up and sent to the local drop off point and are looking forward to giving Christmas cuddles to kids who are sure to treasure them. l UKG highlights that, in the UK, one in three children are living in poverty and for many, Christmas is a luxury that their parents simply can’t afford. Last year the Cash for Kids Mission Christmas campaign helped 315,000 local children to celebrate Christmas.

The Robertson Collection, one of the best loved art card publishing brands, is to be relaunched under new ownership.

Ben Davies purchased the assets of the Robertson Collection a few months ago, when former owners Elizabeth Robertson and Liz Pritchard decided to close the business. Ben has personally dealt with The Robertson Collection for over 15 years, while licensing artworks to them from his art licensing company DDFA. “I had a great working relationship with both Elizabeths, and also had the pleasure of dealing with Eileen Pritchard who originally started the company," he told PG. "The

Above and below: Just two of the new card designs from the newly acquired Robertson Collection.

Robertson Collection had been around for over 35 years and I was saddened to hear about the closing of the business”. Ben plans “to continue the tradition of offering high quality fine art cards to the market place.”

Isabel Scott Evans (formerly of Ling and Simon Elvin) has been working with Ben to completely overhaul the card range and introduce over 300 new card designs. The new collection will be revealed at Spring Fair.

As Isabel comments: “We are thrilled to continue working with artists who previously worked for the Robertson Collection, such as Jeremy Barlow, Stephen Darbishire, Wendy Tait, Nigel Artingstall and Pieter Wagemans, who have already supplied us with new artworks. It has been a real pleasure working with these artists and we are really proud to continue the tradition of producing high quality greeting cards."

Along with new artworks by these established Robertson Collection artists, the company will also be releasing a range of over 250 new artworks by over 80 of the UK’s most popular artists.

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Face To Face

“Yes” Minister

“What can I do to help?” was the question Ed Vaizey, the UK’s Culture Minster put to ‘the UK greeting card industry’ last month. The suggestions flowed freely at a meeting held in the Minister’s private office in Westminster attended by Ged Mace, president of the GCA (and managing director of The Art File), Sharon Little, CEO of the GCA, PG’s Jakki Brown (also joint general secretary of the GCA) and greeting card publisher Eloise Hall, founder of the eponymous card company.

PG was there to participate in what must be the industry’s highest profile brainstorming session, which spanned lowering VAT on greeting cards, facilitating export, a greeting card exhibition in the Houses of Parliament, an initiative to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016 and the Minister himself attending PG Live and speaking at the GCA AGM. Managing to secure a private meeting with a top cabinet minster in the first place is one thing, but when that meeting turns out to be a high octane exchange of ideas that could make a dramatic difference to a whole industry it’s quite another. This is precisely what happened on December 2 2015 when a delegation from the UK greeting card industry sat around a beautiful Art Deco table in the private office of Ed Vaizey, the UK’s Minister of Culture and the Digital Economy.

A chance remark made by Eloise Hall, founder of the emerging eponymous greeting card company at the GCA’s Top: As he became president of the GCA, Ged Mace of The Art File said that he wanted to raise the profile of the greeting card industry – a private meeting with the Culture Minister is pretty high profile!

Above right: Culture Minister Ed Vaizey (3rd left) holding an original Henry Cole Christmas card in his office (in front of a modern day masterpiece by Damian Hurst) with (right) Ged Mace (The Art File), Sharon Little (GCA), (left) Jakki Brown (PG) and Eloise Hall (Eloise Hall).

Right: (Left-right) Sharon Little (GCA), Ged Mace (The Art File) and Jakki Brown (PG) in the lobby of the Westminster offices of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport armed with giftbags and boxes filled with greeting card samples from GCA members as a gift for Ed Vaizey and his team to use.

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AGM, that Ed Vaizey was a personal friend of hers was how it all started. Where it might end though is the truly exciting bit.

It has been quite rightly voiced within the trade that the UK greeting card industry never receives the recognition it deserves as one of the nation’s creative industries. While plaudits and profile are lavished on GB’s fashion, music and film trades, the UK greeting card industry has largely remained an unsung hero outside the sector, despite its world leading position on the design front, per

capita send, export prowess, high retail prominence and employer (both direct and indirect) of well over 100,000 people. And that is without acknowledging its cultural heritage and contribution to society as a tangible purveyor of emotion.

These aforementioned points made in an introductory email sent by the GCA’s ceo Sharon Little to Ed Vaizey’s office were enough to secure a slot in the Minister’s busy diary.

Much to the initial bemusement of the Minster, Sharon, Ged Mace (The Art File), Eloise Hall and PG’s Jakki Brown arrived suitably ‘accessorised’, brandishing a number of giftbags and boxes filled with greeting card samples from a myriad of GCA member publishers.

“That reminds me, it’s my sister’s birthday,” Ed said, breaking the ice immediately. “I think we can help you on that front,” quipped Sharon, gesturing towards the proffered greeting card selection.

As Ged Mace set the scene, detailing the size and scope of the industry, Ed Vaizey quickly picked up his pen and started jotting down facts and figures, double checking the impressive £1.6 billion the UK population spent on cards in the last year alone.

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Face To Face

Having voiced his perception that “the internet and ecards” must have made a dent in the industry, and also that the demise of Clintons was a symptom of a big decline in greeting card sending, Ed accepted the explanations to the contrary, as well as the scientific proof that receiving greeting cards improve people’s wellbeing.

However, it was when pressed as to whether he personally sent cards that the conversation really opened up.

“I have just written 400 Christmas cards,” he announced, but admitted that he rather “resented” the time it had taken to do so.

That was a perfect opportunity for PG’s Jakki Brown, to point out that had it not been for the Victorian cultural industrialist Henry Cole inventing the Christmas card in 1843 that Ed would have had to write personal letters to all those 400 people which would have taken so much longer.

“Henry Cole of V&A fame?” enquired Ed, greatly interested that the Christmas card was a UK invention.“Yes, and the Penny Post and the Great Exhibition,” confirmed Jakki, before cheekily adding: “In some ways he’s you!”

“Good point,” said Ed smiling.

Then, when an original Henry Cole Christmas card, from 1843, one of only nine remaining in the world (owned by PG’s Jakki Brown) was handed to him, the Minister’s became really enthused as to opportunities. An immediate suggestion was that the card could form the centerpiece of a greeting card exhibition in the Houses of Parliament in the run up to Christmas 2016.

“There is a hallway down which all MPs walk on their way to vote. Having the very first Christmas card there for them to see and hold would be a great way of raising the profile of the industry,” he suggested, as he gladly Above: The UKTI Great campaign celebrates some of the UK’s strengths - it has now been mooted that there should be one that acknowledges greeting cards.

Right: Ed Vaizey has a delve into the selection of cards that were given to him, which include some specially created designs, such as this one.

The Power Of Friendship

Below: Eloise Hall with Ed Vaizey at Top Drawer September 2014 at which she launched her eponymous card company.

Eloise Hall, founder and creative driver of greeting card company Eloise Hall, is a very talented artist with an innate business sense.

However, like any new business, any support from friends helps to get you off to a good start.

Having formed a friendship with the Vaizey family forged through their children going to the same school, both sets of parents saw each other fairly regularly socially.

“Despite the fact that he is always incredibly busy, Ed has been incredibly supportive to me right from when I first started my business,” explains Eloise.

When Eloise was planning her trade show debut at Top Drawer in September 2014, Ed was only too pleased to officially open her stand, which effectively launched her company.

“Ed is very supportive of all creative industries so I had no hesitation in suggesting the meeting with the GCA. It is always a bit strange seeing friends in their working environment, especially one of national importance, but it was such a good meeting, with ideas flowing from both sides.”

posed for photos with the Henry Cole card that he soon after Tweeted out to the world.

“What can I do to help?” he then asked, before making a suggestion that was beyond the wildest dreams of the delegation. ”Do we need to take VAT off greeting cards? Would that make a difference?” he asked.

“That certainly would help,” assured Ged. Then, picking up on the industry’s leading global position, Ed asked whether he could help on the export side, suggesting forging stronger links with UKTI and flagging up the current Exporting Is Great campaign, spearheaded by UKTI, which is promoting various great British exports - from Star Wars to Minis, musicians to fashion designers through a series of posters.

“Is there a famous UK artist who started out with greeting cards?” he then enquired.

“What about working with the Creative Industries Federation,” came another suggestion. “What about us doing something to tie in with the Queen’s 90th birthday next year?” was his next great thought.

As well as being forthcoming with ideas and contacts, Ed responded very positively to an invitation to visit PG Live in May and see the largest collection of greeting card publishers altogether under one roof.“I’d love to. When and where?” And, was also very open to the idea of speaking at the GCA AGM next year.

When pressed as to whether he was intending to continue in Sir Henry Cole’s footsteps and create another Great Exhibition, he was quick to retort: “We’re doing one, in the north.” And, when Jakki asked “Can greeting cards be represented?” reinforced by Sharon, who added “there are a lot of greeting card publishers and printers in the north of England”, he replied,“I see no reason why not.”

As the meeting drew to a close, the conversation went full circle, making positive comments about the array of greeting cards that had been presented to him as a gift.

When a suggestion was made of the GCA running a competition among its members to design and produce his Christmas cards for 2016, he could not have been more enthusiastic.

As Ged Mace summed up about the meeting: “We went to put greeting cards on the ministerial map - and we have come out with potentially so much more than that. If any of the ideas we discussed come to fruition it will be of huge benefit to the UK greeting card industry.” It certainly will.

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Over The Counter

There Are More

Questions Than

Answers

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, talks about retailers facing the challenges of 2016.

When you read this it will be early January and the bumper Christmas season will all be over. Or at least December will have passed and possibly the mad season may just be beginning.

For many of us January will be a time of reflection. It will be a time when we promise to do things differently. We may be promising to lose a bit of weight or get our work life balance better, but aside from these personal goals we will undoubtedly be searching for answers as to how we can make our businesses more stable, more efficient and thrive.

I am actually writing this column on the 7th of December, so as it stands I do not know for sure how Christmas trading will end up for me, but I am expecting and have planned for sales to be down.

Where we operate has been hit badly by the oil recession, and while we have been protected for the last 20 years with the exceptionally good offshore wages, the local economy has taken a real hit, with hundreds of men and women being made redundant. Unfortunately, this is only the start, with the promise of a lot more redundancies to come.

As a business we decided many years ago to spread our product over a number of sectors - cards, gifts, beauty, coffee, food, books, stationery and indeed news.

This deliberate strategy was to allow us to ride out more difficult times, like the one we are in, as I believed that if one part of our business faced challenges another area would hopefully raise its game.

That said, the newspaper industry has seen a far more aggressive drop in the last 1218 months than anyone could have predicted. People are not buying newspapers or indeed printed media in the same way as they were and I can’t see this improving.

This year will be about reacting to that, with the plan to introduce a proper handmade card control to a space dedicated to magazines and the introduction of a Pret-a-Manger style area of fresh sandwiches.

This is exciting as our Buckie store will now be able to offer the same extensive selection of small indie card publishers as our Elgin store.

Thankfully cards have not had those same challenges newspapers have had. I do see differences and changes in the card sector as well, but the doom and gloom merchants who predicted that email, text, twitter and everything else

Left: If only it was that easy! A card from Modern Toss.

Below: Bexy Hassett of Bexy Boo accepting a Retas Silver Ticket (worth £50 of orders) from Sean Austin, owner of Austin & Co, Great Malvern, at PG Live last year.

would sound the death knell of the greeting card have been proved wrong. People love the human interaction of the card, the message and visual connection of the handwriting and I see no reason that this will ever change.

Cards have had their challenges, but what I do see is that our card industry is in rude health in terms of the people that are operating within it. PG Live and The Henries awards highlight just what a rich human resource we have, and as I learn more and more about The Ladder Club and how it supports fledgling card publishers, it fascinates me as well.

Cards as a commodity continue to be highly prized. The fight between Hallmark and UKG for Tesco’s business, the GCA’s and PG’s meeting with the Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, the stratospheric rise of Card Factory and innovative, quirky card chains such as Paperchase and Scribbler, all bodes extremely well for our industry.

Cards are also in truth the easy part of what we do. There is a conveyor belt of new exciting talent and established publishing players, and as retailers so we can and should look at trying things that are that little bit different or exciting.

We are also seeing a rise in new mainstream publishers wanting to challenge the establishment. IC&G and Words ‘n’ Wishes spring to mind, and with Ling in new hands and Carte Blanche rebooting I can see mostly positives in the publishing sector.

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Over The Counter

So no problems there then.

Well not quite...

Let’s think about those New Year resolutions.

At the beginning of the year, the Babylonians used to make promises to their gods that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.

The Romans too began each year by making promises to their god Janus, for whom the month of January is named, and finally in Medieval Times the knights took the ‘peacock vows’ at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry and their way of life.

So what promises are we as small retailers going to make this year?

Well for me 2016 will start with more questions than answers. We are faced with mounting challenges that will continue to rise and rise.

It is these that we need to promise to bear in mind to ensure that 2016 will run smoothly.

Compulsory Pensions Next year more and more smaller businesses will face the introduction of the government’s pension scheme and this seems daunting. I started work on it a year before my staging date and because of that I avoided quoted costs of around £4,000.

I researched and organised it myself and the key crucial points are as follows: ● Do not pay weekly or you will need to do 52 calculations! ● How your pay roll is handled is the key as it is this point that the rules and calculations are made - speak to an accountant and agree a deal for them to take this pressure off you. ● Speak to your staff and keep them informed at all times. ● Build the payments into your cash flow, not just for year one but for the coming years. ● Don’t fall into the trap of leaving it to the last minute - this is when you will need to get a firm to do it and it will cost you the most!

The Living Wage This is a daunting prospect in the new year, and as of April 1st most businesses will face an increase in staff costs that has been forced on them.

The key issue here is to maximise the workload of staff and be even clearer in what you expect from them without overloading them - a difficult balance to strike.

Look at all your wage structure. I think it is not the workers who will be on the Living

Wage that are the problem. It will be how you reward those who do more/have key responsibilities that will be an issue. The best staff will look to have a better reward than their counterparts who simply do the basics of the job.

It is not only an increase in the wage cost, but the PAYE and indeed the administration too!

Striking The Stock Balance Correctly Managing stock levels will be key in 2016, and this is something that I particularly need to work on. It is the balance of ‘if you don’t have it you can’t sell it’ and the need to not have too many commitments or dead money sitting around.

For many years the cash flow we had meant that this was not an issue but with so many core increased costs and not having EPOS data readily at hand the system you put in place for this will be key.

Agents/reps are also going to have to be more flexible with you in terms of when/how/if you order.

What Brands To Stock Looking at the brands you stock and how they support you will also be very important.

Keeping an honest open dialogue with these companies and looking for a certain level of exclusivity will be paramount, and being aware of what others around you are doing will take on even more relevance.

Even when you do all this it can be difficult.

For example, Yankee, which has been such a good brand for many indies, has been hugely discounted on the high street this festive season. Do you then match the price and give away margin? Would you decide to stock something else and risk the fact that this might put customers off?

These type of searching questions have no right or wrong answer - you really just have to go with what you feel. I know this Christmas it has caused us many issues, and sometimes even when you get the right lines in store you lose out as you can’t get the price correct because you can’t buy in the volumes that the larger retailers can.

Above: The brands you stock in store reflect the brand of your shop.

Below left: Janus is the Roman god of beginnings and transitions.

Below: American reggae singer-songwriter, Jonny Nash.

The Business Rates Cuts The final big hurdle is of course business rates, and the long talked about cut in them. In Scotland this power has been devolved to local authority, but they are under increasing financial pressures so I am not sure they will want to cut. It is able to actually reduce (or increase) the business rate in certain areas so in theory the local authority could reduce the city centre areas’ business rates to encourage investment and new businesses to come in.

The main issue here is I don’t believe that will happen. Business rates and the lack of movement in them has been a long held problem with businesses large and small. It takes way too long to react to the situation and I truly believe that the local authority must find a better way to support businesses.

These five issues are ones that are constant, and I speak to so many small businesses that find this side of things very daunting. They worry about running up costs speaking to accountants and the like, but in real terms you have to process things correctly.

In this early part of January I would urge you to write down what is concerning/exciting/challenging you for the year ahead. I did this last January and found it helped me push through many difficult tasks.

But as Johnny Nash sang…

‘There are more questions than answers Pictures in my mind that will not show There are more questions than answers And the more I find out the less I know’ Crucially, I may not be able to give you the answers, but what I hope is to show that you are not alone and that the challenges faced we all face. The only thing I do know for certain is that 2016 will fly past even quicker than 2015, but that’s just a sign of my advancing years!

Regards, good wishes and happy tills ringing for 2016!

To contact David email: jppozzi@btconnect.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

33

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VIEWPOINTS

Holding

Council “Having recently emerged from the deepest recession in living memory, the communication explosion and First Class stamps that now cost 63p, our industry has proved once again that what we produce has immeasurable value to the buying population,” said Ged Mace, md of The Art File in his inaugural speech as president of the GCA, at the association’s recent AGM. “The challenge which faces us all is how we adapt to the evolving face of the high street, the struggles of our independent retailers and the unstoppable train that is online shopping. Persuading younger generations to write more cards is key.”

PG asked other members of the GCA Council for them to highlight a significant happening of 2015 and what issue or opportunity they feel the industry should be aware of for 2016 and beyond.

Ceri Stirland

director of marketing of UK Greetings (and vice president of the GCA): Significant Happening of 2015: “Our industry remains relatively stable, outpacing other nonfood categories. The 2015 environment generally was a positive for our industry, ie retail were sales up, as was the consumer feelgood factor, employment was at record levels, unemployment down and wages outstripped inflation. However, other considerations are population changes as well as a changing retailer landscape with new retail openings dominated by ‘value’ and the convenience channel. The economy is recovering, we have more disposable income, confidence is on the rise, but we know that consumers are now seeking out the best deals and are less loyal.

Consumers modified buying behaviors using both discounters and expensive shops, it is therefore essential that we continue to invest in quality and craftsmanship, driving

Inset: Ged Mace as president of the GCA has highlighted areas that he would like to see the association address during his term in office.

innovation, variety and differentiation to keep the industry alive.”

Looking to the Future: “It is important to step back from our industry and look at wider consumer trends, as there are many different factors impacting on consumer decision making. Multichannel shopping is mainstream, however the impact of technology on the consumer is immense as they become more disconnected from the physical, resulting in a backlash against technology - rage against the machine! This is an opportunity for our industry to fill the void, and explains why technology has Above: Consumer buying behavior has changed - buying both from discounters impacted less on our industry than on other and top end retailers. forms of communication. Consumers are Below left: (Right-left) Council members trying to find a balance - rediscovering Jayne Myers (Paper Rose), Rachel Hare (Belly Button), Ceri Stirland (UKG) and connecting in person, seeking more Amanda Ferguson (formerly of Caroline Gardner) at the recent GCA Past Presidents happiness, living in the moment. and Council event.

Another key trend we are seeing is that seasonal and everyday celebrations are extending well past the day on the calendar, with consumers looking to celebrate before, during and after the main event. This is fantastic for our industry - be it the card, the gift, the wrapping paper or the tableware for the party... let’s keep celebrating!”

Jayne Myers

managing director of Paper Rose and The Art Group: Significant Happenings of 2015: “There are three specifics that come to mind. Firstly, how Thinking of You Week has progressed. I didn’t realise the full potential of the Week until I participated and was touched by the impact the sending of these extra cards had on the recipients. It reminds us all of the true value of greeting cards and how they really can improve our sense of wellbeing.

Secondly, while I am well aware that the growth of Card Factory has adversely affected many independent retailers, the value retailer’s impressive financial performance has resulted in positive PR, superceding the impression painted in the media that ‘greeting PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

35

Passionate About Cards?

Existing profitable business Income from day one High-quality products All cards produced in the UK Full training & support Opportunities available now For more information call Andrew Cutler on:

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VIEWPOINTS cards are dying’ following Clintons’ demise in 2012.

Lastly, you cannot underestimate how third party distribution (ie brokerage) has become even more significant for publishers, with Hallmark taking over the category management of cards in Tesco and Clintons moving to brokerage through UKG.” Above: The industry needs to ensure it is fully FSC compliant Looking to the Future: “We need to have an by 2020. eye on ensuring the industry is fully compliant on the FSC front by 2020 to avoid any criticism on the environmental front.

We also should be considering more ways of encouraging and nurturing the next generation into the industry, not just on the creative side (as we are doing with the On The Cards competition with under graduates) as well as the sales side. There are lots of mature sales teams, and very few young agents coming into the trade. We need to come up with ways of highlighting this as a viable career path for youngsters.”

Chris Houfe

sales director of GBCC (and immediate past president of the GCA): Significant Happening of 2015: “The highlight of 2015 for me on an industry-wide perspective has to be the way Thinking of You Week was embraced by publishers, retailers and trade suppliers, meaning that we also reached consumers.

In what was only the second year of the initiative, to secure the support from major retailers such as Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Jarrold, as well as independents - and for it to have worked for them commercially and otherwise - should inspire others to get involved in the 2016 event.

With the supportive ideas and free downloadable PoS from the GCA being made available much earlier, it will enable more retailers as well as charities to plan how they can make the most of Thinking of You Week 2016.”

Looking to the Future: “One of the biggest challenges facing the greeting card industry is the shrinking of the independent retailer sector. With greeting cards being so widely available in all manner of retailers the demise of indies across the spectrum - from specialists to CTNs to bookshops - has a knock-on effect on publishers and the trade as a whole.

It would be great for there to be more of a sharing of information and inspiration so that struggling retailers could be helped and supported in improving their offer and communicating with their consumer customers. The workshops Cardgains has been running on the social media front is a great example of how this can work, but there are bound to be other ways that like-minded people can work together for mutually beneficial improvements.

Inspiration is not everything, but it certainly helps!”

Above: Chris Houfe, at the podium at the AGM giving his outgoing president’s speech.

Left: A Thinking of You Week instore promotion in Asda which involved a number of different publishers.

Jeremy Corner managing director of Blue Eyed Sun (and treasurer of the GCA): Significant Happening of 2015: “Product is king! The standard of product in the greeting card marketplace has improved dramatically in 2015 and is set to continue into 2016. There are so many beautiful cards and designs for retailers to choose from that they are almost spoilt for choice. Despite the economic challenges, it's an exciting time for card publishing. With consolidation through brokerage still strong, the brokers that embrace new talent and include this new wave of quality into their plans will remain the strongest. New publishers have had to work harder on service and delivery as more established publishers (that already perform well in these areas) continue to expand the quality of their offering.”

Looking to the Future: “Complacency on card sending initiatives. The GCA has done a fantastic job of promoting two great new initiatives over the past couple of years: Thinking of You Week (sending seven cards out during the last week of September) and Festive Friday (sending Christmas cards early on the last Friday of November). We need to all keep sending cards in our industry - on a weekly basis and by supporting and expanding awareness of any card sending initiatives or special card sending events. If we don’t use it we’ll lose it.”

Above: Jeremy Corner (centre) at a recent Ladder Club seminar at which he shared his industry knowledge with new and emerging publishers, including Lucy Alborn (right) and Deborah Gathercole (left), both of Lucy’s Limericks.

Right: Festive Friday really took off this year and stands as a great reminder of the value of sending cards.

Steve Wright ceo of Hallmark:

Significant Happening of 2015: “The rise of convenience retailing. The growth in the convenience market is now having a major impact on our shopping habits. The ‘top up shop’ is now a bigger proportion of our visits to stores than ever before and more and more shoppers are Above: Steve Wright (left) with Moonpig’s Geoff Sanderson at the recent GCA AGM. planning only for the next two days. This means that it’s harder to get shoppers with this kind of shopping habit to think ahead for card purchases. Therefore, making sure that you have a tailored approach to how you engage with shoppers in other channels is critical. A ‘one size fits all’ approach to both card designs, merchandising, marketing and communications will not be effective, and we must tailor the product, retail support, merchandising and marketing specifically to the customer’s needs and therefore their shopping needs.”

Looking to the Future: “While people are able to be constantly in touch with each other on a host of devices from phones to tablets and now watches, there is an underlying strong trend for us to go back to simpler times of genuine communication with people in tangible ways, and cards certainly form part of this.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

37

Celebrating

10 Successful

Years!

Our Henry Award winning range is celebrating its 10th Anniversary!

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VIEWPOINTS Left: Winnie Blagden with the heaps of cards she received after a digital call out.

Below: Sarah Porter.

Bottom left: The GCA website is an invaluable source of information about greeting cards.

Right: A design from Second Nature’s Doodletastic range, that has been a hit with its export and domestic customers.

We see more and more people wanting to restore things that we once loved in a way of upcycling and renovating, with modern channels such as Pinterest and YouTube being flooded with ways to make things by hand, and craft markets, once thought to be the meeting place of the older generations, is now an event in your Facebook calendar not to be missed. This mingling of traditional or ‘real life’ with digital life is now the norm, so we need to harness and nurture how we use these channels to work alongside physical cards.

Digital shouldn’t be looked at as replacing card sending, in fact it’s a powerful channel by which to share messages from the industry on sending cards and their impact on people, as well as reaching people in helping them to buy cards in a way that suits them to compliment in store offerings. A perfect example of the power of how digital and card sending can be really powerful was seen this year when BBC Radio Sheffield posted on Facebook and Twitter that Winnie Blagden, a resident in a local care home, was turning 100. She has no living family or friends, so she asked people to send her a card for her birthday. She received thousands from all over the globe, and it made a huge impact, not only to Winnie, but also to everyone who read the story.

We need to make sure we are keeping an eye on engaging with the next generation of card senders, tapping into all mediums of communication, and how to reach and relate to people will be key for us to be able to remain relevant and at the top of people’s lists of sending a card for all and any occasion.”

Sarah Porter creative director of My World: Significant Happening of 2015: "This past year it seems like gifts have gone through the roof; obviously add-on products have always been a huge part of our industry but I’ve seen more and more card companies expanding their offering, not just into traditional stationery accompaniments like wrap and tags, but into mugs, magnets, tea towels, cushions, bags - you name it! The use of greeting cards as a foundation product for gift brands gives companies a good way to trial new designs and find out what sells best, before applying those designs to the rest of their range. It’s great to see our industry branching out and evolving with the changing marketplace, and I think this is only going to continue."

Looking to the Future: "It will be all about helping those in our industry to grow and take opportunities. In line with my comment about gifts, the GCA (and its website) is really great at providing all sorts of help and tips when it comes to actual cards, but when publishers decide to branch out it can be really difficult trying to figure things out without that kind of help. It'd be great if there was a way we could help out card publishers to take the first steps into additional products."

Chris Bryan general manager of Second Nature: Significant Happening of 2015:“If you take the last 10 years in isolation, it’s been a complete rollercoaster of a ride for the industry. The polarisation of the market in terms of value versus quality made for a tough time for publishers in the middle market and the pressure of a poor economy meant the level of investment in design was notably diminished, particularly in the seasons, but thankfully we seem to be entering the 'fun bit' again now.”

Looking to the Future: “For 2016 we’re seeing retail prices recovering, but consumer expectations of better design at all price points is also growing which will put further pressure on publishers to come up with new, new, new!

The upside of this will be stronger designs in the UK market which has always been at the forefront of the world market, so hopefully export sales will increase as long as the slow but steady economic recovery in the European Union continues.

Trade shows that have a good export attendance, such as Spring Fair and particularly PG Live, may be a gateway to this (information for new publishers is on the GCA website).

So all in all an exciting, if challenging, year ahead, but I’d be bored if it wasn’t!”

Left: Second Nature’s Chris Bryan with Davora’s Raj Arora, both of whom joined the GCA council at the recent AGM.

Rajeev Arora managing director of Davora:

Below: Davora marked its 10th anniversary by ‘banging the drum’ at PG Live last year!

Significant Happening of 2015? “It of course has to be the celebrations for Davora’s 10 year anniversary! Surely that’s one for the history books! Why you ask? Because when I started Davora a decade ago, many people told me my strategy wouldn’t work. At the time cards for South Asian occasions were cheap, poor quality imports, and had been for many years. The perception was that the ‘target market’ wouldn’t spend more for better quality. Ten years on, and we’ve demonstrated that those in the Asian community are as discerning as the rest. We brought to market cards of quality, targeted at the new generations of British Asians, and sales for Diwali and Eid cards are now once again seeing a resurgence."

Looking to the Future: "Sending cards is considered a very British tradition, but with the UK population becoming ever more diverse we need to ensure this tradition propagates deep into our multi-cultural society and is seen as a positive force for social integration. In some countries, the greeting card industry has declined in the face of SMS and social media, but in the UK we associate a stronger emotional value to sending greeting cards than other forms of communication.

The GCA does a fantastic job of keeping this tradition alive. We need to encourage the tradition across different communities too."

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CARDSHARP

Short-Term Profit Or Long-Term Vision?

Is running a bricks and mortar retail plc in the modern era incompatible with being a classy retail act respected by the public and suppliers alike? This is a question that Cardsharp considers.

Cardsharp is a great believer in free enterprise. Constant and consistent fair trade and competition, in his view, improves the quality of the products and services on offer to the consumer. And as long as markets are not rigged, or monopolistic power or restrictive trading does not take hold, he believes that free enterprise and free trade are the greatest drivers of human happiness.

The UK greeting card publishing industry is a clear example of that. Intense competition

for distribution has raised design standards to a level where we as a nation are recognised as world leaders.

But, in tandem with Cardsharp’s enthusiasm for free enterprise, is his belief that companies should behave ethically in simple ways like treating their staff decently and paying their taxes. And he tries to put this into practice the way he shops and the services he uses.

Yet, Cardsharp reflects, that gets harder and harder every day!

Virtually all of the USowned internet based companies - from Google, to Facebook and Amazon - pay virtually no Corporation Tax in the UK on massive sales. You go for Above: WHSmith was established in Victorian times.

Left: WHSmith pays its UK Corporation Tax but has a few flaws in its business ethics.

40

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

a coffee in Starbucks and find it has paid minimal Corporation Tax on £1 billion worth of UK sales in the last few years. Buy some Cadbury’s chocolate to go with your hot caffeinated drink, and you find its owner, Mondelez, has paid no UK Corporation Tax on £2 billion pounds worth of sales. Go to Boots to get some antacid tablets to settle your stomach after too much coffee and sweets, and you realise that the chemist chain’s Swiss owner is also one of the ‘Avoidance Clan’. Of course, the PR departments of the aforementioned all spout out the mealy mouthed corporate bull about complying with all UK tax laws, but it still leaves (especially after that mix!), a nasty taste in the mouth in more ways than one. And yet HMRC is accused of harassing small firms while letting huge multinationals get away with avoiding many £millions of tax bills. It is certainly not free and fair competition if you are getting such an advantage over your competitors by doing this.

So in many ways Cardsharp feels a little bit uneasy throwing barbs at a retailer, who at least on the tax front if nothing else, pays its dues and more.

Cardsharp is, in this instance, discussing WHSmith, the high street retail stationery chain, whose heritage dates back to the Victorian era and who in the early 1990s

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CARDSHARP was the largest retailer of greeting cards in the UK. WHSmith recently reported an annual profit of £121 million, a year-on-year increase of 8%, a very laudable performance as far as investors and shareholders were concerned. Steve Clarke, who took over as CEO from the truly brutal cost cutter Kate Swann in 2013, on the back of the results has seen his total pay package rise by 55%, to £3.9 million a year. That is almost double that of Mark Bolland, head honcho of Marks and Spencer, and 60% higher than Sainsbury’s boss, Mike Coupe.

Yet Cardsharp can’t help feeling that, despite the company’s willingness to pay by the tax rules, the strategy adopted by WHSmith plc over the last decade and a half, has long-term been to the detriment of UK retailing and to its position as a greeting card retailer in particular. The latest figures for sales in its high street stores showed a year-on-year decline of 4%. Yet ‘analysts’ consider this a good performance as some had predicted a fall as high as 6%. Cardsharp believes this is the 12th successive year in its falling high street sales.

Yes, Steve Clarke has continued to invest the profits from the sales-declining high street stores to fund its growth in airport and railways outlets in its WHS Travel side, and perhaps he is right in this, but it does worry Cardsharp that WHSmith High Street could be destined to become another Woolworth’s - another high street retail brand that did not move with the times.

Cardsharp thinks this would be such a shame and something that could be avoided. With the disappearance of the Birthday’s retail chain as well as the Clintons administration in 2012, and the subsequent closure of so many of its stores, ‘Smiths’ had a real opportunity to become a real destination high street card store.

WHSmith, Cardsharp reflected, had a real chance to be the high street ambassador for greeting cards. It had the high street presence; it had the heritage; it had the supplier contacts and moreover, it had the stated intention of wanting to concentrate on high margin product areas.

But because of the senior management’s obsession with cost cutting (and supplier throat cutting), it has, in Cardsharp’s mind, spectacularly missed the boat.

Above: Funky Pigeon, nesting within the WHSmith group, aims at the higher-end of the card market.

Below: It would be a real shame if WHSmith is destined to become another Woolworths.

So many publishers are bemoaning the current greetings pocket turn in WHSmith, many describing it as “pitiful”. That those awful and near archaic ugly floor to virtually ceiling card racks are a disaster for shoppers, added to which the instore care of the displays, by the largely overworked and under appreciated shop floor staff, is very poor. In fact many publishers say it is very difficult now to make a profit supplying this once market-leading card stockist.

True, the plc has dipped its toe in the water in recent years in a couple of new greeting card ventures, but these have not brought great riches or signal a true attempt to court the card consumer nationwide. It’s Cardmarket concept of 20 or so ‘value stores’ were flagged as an attempt to out ‘Card Factory’ Card Factory so to speak. This is nigh on impossible when you have not got the complete vertical integration model of the Wakefield-based giant. Funky Pigeon is still fluttering its wings in an attempt to emulate both Paperchase and Moonpig in one go, but its flock and flight is not yet mighty enough. Its online print-on-demand side

needs a huge amount of consumer advertising spend to keep sales flowing, while the retail outlets suffer from a dearth of some of the best contemporary publishers’ cards, who in many cases are scared off by the ridiculously penal terms WHSmith demands.

And the whole ‘knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing’ ethos that seems to permeate down from the top of the group irks Cardsharp as a consumer.

The VAT scam WHSmith was pulling in its travel outlets at the airports where it was asking to see customers’ boarding passes, not for security reasons, but to claim the VAT back to enhance profits, simply doesn’t sit well.

Meanwhile, the huge and excessive mark-up it was putting on its ‘Get Well’ greeting cards in its hospital outlets has also resulted in some terrible publicity. And its refusal to follow the lead of some other major retailers and increase shopfloor salaries to the National Living Wage ahead of next year, all smacks of a scrooge-like mentality that does it no favours in Cardsharp’s eyes.

But yet, a company’s duty is to deliver maximum profits to shareholders and no one could argue that ‘Smiths’ has not done that in recent years. Unlike so many of the businesses, Cardsharp mentioned, it does pay its taxes.

Yet Cardsharp can’t help feel that there is more to free enterprise or being an entrepreneur than just delivering that. Yes, the material rewards for the top management at WHS, like Steve Clarke and his predecessor Kate Swann, have been great, but would it not have been more rewarding to leave a legacy, something of value, a brand that people love, rather than in many cases now are irritated by as they are forced to ‘serve themselves’ at the self-checkouts? Surely free enterprise is about leaving something of value and substance rather than just short-term shareholder returns.

At the upper end of the market, the Paperchase team over the last 20 years has created a much-loved brand.

The management team at this chain have probably not made a fraction of the money that the WHSmith’s team have over the years, yet Cardsharp knows who should feel the most pride in what they have given to the consumer and contributed to the card trade.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

Top Drawer

A selection of products on display at Top Drawer, 17-19 January 2016, Olympia, London.

A Cut Above Earlybird is launching Ink Sandwich, a slightly eccentric new range by artist Annabel Dakin, at Top Drawer, combining a screen-print feel with a splash of neon across 20 birthdays and occasions designs. Earlybird will also be showcasing 12 new wrap designs and a sizeable launch of kids’ age cards.

Earlybird 020 7923 3504 Stand Y44

Playing To Type

You’ve Got The Look!

New from The Typecast Gallery is Favourite Things, illustrating an eccentric mix of things we love, things we collect and things we’d never throw away. With witty and endearing straplines and vibrant colours, there are 30 occasions designs sized 122mm x 167mm, printed on fine textured board and sold wrapped with brown fleck envelopes.

The Typecast Gallery 01202 849566 www.thetypecastgallery.co.uk Stand ZA57

Rosanna Rossi is releasing Retro Flair, a collection of 24 birthday and occasion cards to get you in the mood for Spring/Summer 2016.

The designs feature an array of vibrant flowers, palm leaves and exotic birds bursting with summery hues. Each card is lovingly finished with colourful foiling, intricate emboss detail and die-cut edges. Sized 170mm x 120mm, the cards are sold wrapped with recycled brown fleck envelopes.

Rosanna Rossi 07900 698 522 www.rosanna-rossi.co.uk Stand Y56

Golden Clusters One of three ranges being launched on the Always Sparkle stand is the Sparkle range. There are 24 birthday and occasions cards in this range, featuring contemporary sentiments in a striking font, set in a stylish gold glitter border.

The cards are printed on luxury textured white board and come wrapped with crisp white envelopes to highlight the gold glitter.

Always Sparkle 07940726842 www.alwayssparkle.co.uk Stand Z40a

A Range Of Emotions

All In The Detail

Laura Darrington is launching 48 exciting new designs for January 2016, including a new everyday range which features beautifully bright pigmented colours and textures combined with detailed design elements. The cards are finished with foil and embossed techniques, then handfinished with delicate wooden flowers to form a design-led, stylish collection.

Laura Darrington 0116 2849660 www.lauradarrington.co.uk Stand U61

Catherine Kleeli is expanding her Stick and Stitch range with another six designs. Catherine beautifully handcrafts the animal character originals with paper and textile collage and stitching to heartwarming effect! All sized 177mm x 127mm, the cards are printed on heavyweight board and supplied with a brown ribbed envelope.

Catherine Kleeli Cards 07814 293155 www.catherinekleeli.co.uk Stand Z56 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

Top Drawer

A selection of products on display at Top Drawer, 17-19 January 2016, Olympia, London.

Who’s The Daddy?

One of Coulson Macleod’s new ranges at Top Drawer is Embarrassed Dad, an initial launch of ten humorous cards highlighting the complete incompetence of men – all based on the truelife experiences of the Coulson half of the business! There are five Father's Day cards and five birthday cards in the range, all sized 150mm square, printed on textured board and supplied wrapped with a white envelope.

Coulson Macleod 01536 482771 Stand Z33

Owl Be Seeing You

Queen For A Day

Sally Scaffardi is launching lots of new designs for Top Drawer including four new designs into the Mum Range, bringing it to 11 cards suitable for all Mum related occasions with the release timed for Mother’s Day. The cards are sized 150mm square printed on heavyweight board and sold wrapped with white envelopes.

Sally Scaffardi Design 07747 032505 www.sallyscaffardidesign.co.uk Stand ZB37

The Art File is launching over 250 new everyday designs at Top Drawer January including a beautiful new collection by designer Sara Miller.

The Sara Miller collection comprises 46 contemporary floral and animal compositions across 40 square birthday and blank and 16 7” x 5” format occasion cards. The cards are beautifully finished with hot foils and embossed lines and sold wrapped with complementing envelopes.

The Art File 0115 9850 7490 www.theartfile.com Stand U47

Whoop The Loop!

Alice Palace is launching a new range at Top Drawer called Whoopee! Bright and colourful with lots of patterns, the range comprises Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as well as birthday and everyday occasions. There are 18 designs in the range, sized 114mm x 178mm, all sold bio-wrapped with a white 100% FSC recycled envelope.

Alice Palace 01386 424977 www.alicepalace.co.uk Stand ZA42

Write On The From The Heart range from Gabrielle Izen is a collection of 15 cards and six art prints with uplifting, heartfelt and humorous messages for everyday. The calligraphy and decorations are all hand-drawn by Gabrielle using dip pens, Japanese reed pens, brushes, inks and watercolour paints.

Sized 105mm x 148 mm, this blank range is printed on a soft white, matt FSC board and sold wrapped with matching envelopes.

Gabrielle Izen 01732 440428 www.gabrielleizen.co.uk Stand ZA47

A World Of Colour Dry Red Press is releasing an exciting new range thanks to talented artists from The Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours (RI). There are twelve cards in the range, with artworks from 10 artists including Rosa Sepple (pictured), Lillias August Paul Banning and Lisa Graa Jensen. All the cards are sized 150mm square and sold wrapped with coloured envelopes.

Dry Red Press 01273 241210 www.dryredpress.com Stand Z64 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Snails & pigtails

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Innovations

Top Drawer

A selection of products on display at Top Drawer, 17-19 January 2016, Olympia, London.

In The Frame Frame It is a new handmade range designed by Henries awards finalist Designed by Mrs Lovesy.

The range comprises 20 beautifully simple hand-drawn occasions cards printed on luxury linen embossed board and hand-finished with a Swarovski crystal to add a sprinkle of sparkle and a dash of fabulous. The cards are sized 155mm square and come wrapped with a pearlescent envelope.

Designed by Mrs Lovesy 01634 907020 www.mrslovesy.com Stand Y40

A Rose By Any Other Name

Game Of Chance

April Rose Illustration is extending Message Me, a romantic floral and graphic range designed by Siobhan Harrison covering Mother’s Day and everyday occasions as well as some random messages such as ‘Let’s eat cake all day!’ There are nine new cards bringing this range to 20 designs. Printed on a high quality watercolour style board, the cards are sized 150mm square and supplied wrapped with a fuchsia envelope.

April Rose Illustration 07957 738711 www.aprilroseillustrates.com Stand ZB36

Henries award-winning Scrabbley Neons from Bexy Boo is now stepping into spring! Using an original wooden letter tile, the brightest of hand punched shapes, the prettiest of spotty bows and the sparkliest of Swarovski crystals, this range really stands out! There are 12 designs each for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and 15 for Valentine’s cards in the range, all sized 155mm square and sold wrapped with colour coordinating envelope.

Bexy Boo 01565 830546 www.bexyboo.co.uk Stand U69

Everyone’s A Winner!

The Henries’ Best Cute Range winner Little Creatures range from Pippi & Me is very excited to be on show at Top Drawer for the first time!

Now with nearly 100 cards, this super cute range covers most occasions in many different ways, appealing to young and old alike. The cards are all sized 125mm square, blank inside and sold with white recycled envelopes.

Pippi & Me 01803 864109 www.pippiandme.com Stand X57

In The Pink Moving Pictures Schnucki is adding new images to its everexpanding popular lenticular postcard range, with an assortment of mad grinning animals and other fun moving imagery. There are 15 new designs, sold wrapped with a white envelope.

Schnucki Images 07711 563155 www.schnuckiimages.co.uk Stand U53

Megan Claire is extending her contemporary typographic range Pink Champagne at this Top Drawer to include another 11 birthday designs aimed for girls. Each card features a luxurious rose gold foil phrase stamped onto thick cream card and matched with a luxury cream envelope.

Megan Claire 01536 560345 www.meganclaire.co.uk Stand Z49

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From end to end, this breathtaking show floor promotes networking, order writing, new product sourcing, talent discovery and lasting partnerships.

As the only North American trade show for global buyers and sellers of stationery and lifestyle products, come for the incredible business opportunities. Leave with an experience like no other.

Register for the National Stationery Show today.

MAY 15 - 18, 2016

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Innovations

Top Drawer

A selection of products on display at Top Drawer, 17-19 January 2016, Olympia, London.

Child In Time

Stuck On You

The very prolific Lucy Ledger Studio is launching 10 new ranges at Top Drawer including Rawr, a children’s collection of 18 designs with a layered felted effect, centred around a sweet little dinosaur. The range includes general birthday, occasions and age cards, sized 150mm square cards, printed on luxury textured board and supplied with 100% recycled kraft envelopes.

Lucy Ledger 0114 438 7569 www.lucyledger.com Stand Y41

Tache Crafts is doubling the size of its popular Krafty Collection by for 2016. There will be 50 new designs covering Valentine’s and Mother’s Day, as well as birthday, wedding, Christmas and general blank cards for any occasion. All cards in this range are sized a dinky 135mm square and sold wrapped with very special envelopes.

Tache Crafts 01202 989006 www.tachecrafts.com Stand ZB47

Alice’s Adventures Wild Fox Press is a new luxury birthday range designed by artist Alice Evans for James Ellis, with images ranging from space and planets to woodland scenes, tropical birds and bees. There are six initial 114mm x 162mm blank cards in this range sold wrapped with cream laid envelopes.

James Ellis 0117 927 7667 www.jamesellis.com Stand T40

In The Stars

Over The Coals Wraptious is giddily excited to be extending Bex Williams’ Charcoals range, a finalist in the Henries awards Best Art category Range. There are over 20 bold, fun animals designs with personalities that jump out out from the shelf.

The cards are sized 150mm square and available wrapped with your choice of recycled kraft or diamond white envelope.

Wraptious 0161 221 0109 www.trade.wraptious.com Stand T54

Stardust is a new range from Soul. A pretty pastel palette and a generous splattering of gold foil highlight carefully chosen words hinting at occasions, all conveyed in a profusion of differing hand-drawn fonts and accentuated by foil speckles. There are 17 designs sized 145mm square, sold wrapped with white envelopes.

Soul 01235 537888 www.souluk.com Stand P53

Kids’ Capers On show at Top Drawer from The Square Card Company is Little People, a new children’s range.

Featuring children’s fun and games, dressing up and popular activities such as martial arts and ballet, the cards are printed on lovely bumpy watercolour board. There are also two wraps with brightly coloured images from the card range on a brown paper background.

The Square Card Company 01305 848899 kalistileman.co.uk Stand S33 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations

Top Drawer

A selection of products on display at Top Drawer, 17-19 January 2016, Olympia, London.

Grub’s Up!

Getting Techie My Design Company is using Chipp’d’s interactive technology in an exciting new range of sticker cards and packs of stand alone stickers. These stickers are a fun way to record and share your digital memories easily and privately with your family, friends and colleagues by uploading videos, photos and other media via the Chipp’d app. There are six each of Christmas and everyday card designs as well as a Christmas and everyday sticker packs.

My Design Company 020 7729 8731 www.chippd.com Stand Z53

#foodporn is the latest range from Nocturnal Paper - mouthwatering slightly risqué cards inspired by the power of food and designed to make people feel ‘food-horny’…! There are 20 100mm x 150m designs in the range designed to entice the younger generation away from today's generic, impersonal mobile messaging. Each card comes wrapped with a brown envelope.

Nocturnal Paper +44 7555 352 159 www.nocturnalpaper.com Stand V66

Learning From History Cath Tate goes back to her history teaching roots with History Notes, a range 16 historical figures such as Henry VII, Anne Boleyn, William Shakespeare and Albert Einstein coupled with relevant humorous captions. All the cards are sold wrapped with complementing envelopes.

Cath Tate Cards 0208 671 2166 www.trade.cathtatecards.com Stand U33

Rabbit Rabbit!

Window Wonders Rocket68 throws open its windows to reveal 18 positively blooming floral designs in its new range Windowbox. On sunlit windowsills these window boxes are adorned with radiant floral displays and succulent cacti displays in a fresh retro palette of colour to brighten your world!

Printed on lovely textured board, there is an array of vivid designs for every occasion. Let the spring and summer flourish on your windowsills.

Rocket68 01935 822588 www.rocket68.com Stand Y38

Paper Bird can't stop talking about its lovely new sweet and funny additions to the Fauna range. There are strong distinctive animal designs from Joy Haney (pictured), a superb range of eight fine art cards from Mark Jessett and yet more from illustrator David Vallade. The cards are all sized 150mm and sold wrapped with white envelopes.

Paper Bird Publishing 07766 164 807 www.paperbirdpublishing.co.uk Stand S68

More Than A To B The ever popular Marble range from Katie Leamon is being extended with a collection of beautiful new letter designs, all monochrome marble with gold foil detail. There are 27 cards in the new range, comprising the full alphabet and an ampersand symbol. The cards are printed on the highest quality board and sold with bespoke envelopes with gold foil detail designed especially for this collection. The cards are sold individually and also available as box sets of eight single initial cards.

Katie Leamon 07539050330 katieleamon.com Stand W58 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Eye-catching... fast-selling...

MARGIN-MAKING! AKING!!

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Innovations

Top Drawer

A selection of products on display at Top Drawer, 17-19 January 2016, Olympia, London.

Fully Booked

Busy Lizzie Redback is launching the Little World of Liz, a cute and witty collection of cartoons by Simpsons’ animator Liz Climo. This adorable range features animals in conversation about their awkward everyday lives. There are 24 blank designs, all sized 120mm x 170mm, and supplied wrapped with coloured envelopes.

Redback Cards 01803 712793 www.redbackcards.com Stand ZA41

Graffeg is extending its Jackie Morris range to 40 beautifully illustrated cards by author, illustrator and artist Jackie Morris. Featuring illustrations created for her best-selling children’s books, the designs include favourites Tell Me a Dragon, The Song of the Golden Hare and Can You See a Little Bear?, all with a caption written by Jackie on the back. The cards are sized 159mm square and sold wrapped with white envelopes.

Graffeg 01554 824000 www.graffeg.com Stand V57

In The Bag The best things come in tiny packages… and Cinnamon Aitch is thrilled to be launching 16 new giftbags to complement its successful Cornflower card range. These beautifully luxurious gift bags boast an elegant embossed finish, natural rope handles and coordinating die-cut gift tags. There are four stylishly modern designs in four sizes, including a tiny 75mm x 9mm x 50mm bag perfect for jewellery and all those lovely things that come in small packages.

Cinnamon Aitch 0121 773 6833 www.cinnamonaitch.co.uk Stand X46

A Fine Romance

Light Sensitive Photo is a new photographic range from Ezen, covering everyday, occasions, quotes and general humour, each with the added Ezen touch of having a little trivia fact the reverse.

There are 66 designs in this range, sized 148mm x 105mm, printed on FSC pearlescent board and elegantly finished with rounded corners and white pearlescent envelopes.

Ezen Designs 020 7354 5000 www.ezen.co.uk Stand Y49

The Holy Mackerel girls have come over all romantic with Billy Do, a gorgeous new range of 18 cards by best-selling artist Erica Sturla. With their dramatic palette of black and glittery red, these cards are the perfect choice for loved-up couples everywhere! The cards are sized 150mm square and come wrapped with beautifully co-ordinated coloured envelopes.

Holy Mackerel 01297 33899 www.holy-mackerel.co.uk Stand ZB41

A Little Bit Nutty Eating their way through lots of cake, Sarah Ray’s Nibblers range is a selection of six very cute and humorous cake and hamster birthday cards showcasing at Top Drawer. All the cards are sized A6, printed on FSC board and come wrapped with recycled envelopes.

Sarah Ray 07974705981 www.sarahray.co.uk Stand ZB35 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

Badge Of Honour Hello There! is a brand new range of fun children's cards from The Juniper Tree. There are 20 printed designs all from sewing machined originals. The range covers ages 1-6 for girls and boys, together with eight general birthday design, complete with a badge made by hand in the Juniper Tree studio in Yorkshire. All the cards are printed on its signature high quality, textured board, sized 150mm square and come wrapped with colour coordinated envelopes.

The Juniper Tree 07854 247554 www.junipertreecards.com

Doggie Delights

Just Be Leaf

The Abby card range is a set of 10 card designs from new publisher Susan Roche. Inspired by a wire-haired Dachshund with great charisma, these ink and watercolour illustrations show Abby engaged in various charming activities!

This blank 130mm square range is sold wrapped with brown envelopes.

Susan Roche 07737 319416

Real Leaf is a range of beautiful luxury, handcrafted cards made with real leaves from Rose Madder London. Every card is unique as each leaf is pressed then individually painted silver or gold here in the UK. Choose from gingko, ferns, oak and more, all set on gorgeous richly coloured board. The cards are all blank, sized 125mm square, sold wrapped with brown recycled envelopes and available as singles or in luxury box sets of six for Christmas 2016.

Rose Madder London 07527 258409 www.rosemadderlondon.com

Floating In The Wind Flicker Wing Angels is a new range of 11 cards from Flicker Wings by watercolour artist Sue Coleman. This range covers mainly sympathy and religious themes and is beautifully handfinished with unique delicate wings and glitter.

All the cards are sized 150mm square and sold wrapped with matching coloured envelopes.

Flicker Wings 01226 728616 www.flickerwings.com

Hello Deer Amy Singer Art, artist and illustrator of quirky pen & ink pet portraits and wildlife, has recently launched her own card range under the publishing name of CloudyBlue. In keeping with her popular animal work, the designs comprise inky stags, foxes, Highland cows and whimsical moons. The cards are sized A6, printed on with brown fleck envelopes and sold wrapped with kraft envelopes.

CloudyBlue 01224 630409

Back To Black Bug Art is releasing 12 new designs into its decorative Jewels range bringing it to 40 designs. Designed by Jane Crowther, each card has intricate gold detailing and is embossed with two different foils. The cards are all sized 167mm x 118mm and sold wrapped with gold pearlescent envelopes.

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Pottering

Artist In Focus

Around On Cards

This year marks 150 years since the birth of Beatrix Potter, whose tales of Peter Rabbit and co have captured the imaginations of children around the world for well over a century.

One little known fact is that greeting cards were the very first product to be graced with one of the UK’s best loved illustrator’s work.

PG looks back on the early days of Beatrix’s greeting cards and also catches up with Hype Cards and also licensees, who are now custodians of these wonderful illustrations which have such universal appeal.

T

here’s no doubt that Beatrix Potter’s most famous character is Peter Rabbit, but it was actually another rabbit, Benjamin Bouncer, with whom Beatrix first found success – and contrary to common thought it was through greeting cards and not books that Miss Potter first chose to share her endearing artwork with the world.

Beatrix Potter made her first Christmas cards for her family in 1889, which featured Benjamin Bouncer, her pet rabbit.

Encouraged by the family, Beatrix and her brother Bertram looked at purchasing a printing machine so they could print the cards commercially. The printing machine cost £16, but they were short by £6. Beatrix’s Uncle Harry (who was the English chemist, Sir Henry Roscoe) suggested that the illustrations were of such quality ‘any publisher would snap at them’ and encouraged her to try to sell them.

With this in mind, Beatrix prepared six more designs for cards,

Cause For Celebration

Penguin Ventures and Silvergate Media (both who spearhead the licensing and book publishing), will be celebrating the legacy of Beatrix Potter in 2016 with some exciting partnerships and products; not just focussing on Peter Rabbit, but also Beatrix’s work as a conservationist, botanist, businesswoman and artist. Some of the highlights include: new commemorative coins and stamps from the Royal Mint and Royal Mail, two new Peter Rabbit attractions opening in the UK and a high profile campaign from the National Trust to promote Beatrix’s conservation work at Hill Top, her property in the Lake District.

Above: Beatrix Potter.

Far left and below: Benjamin Bouncer appeared on Beatrix Potter’s first greeting cards published in 1890

by Hildesheimer & Faulkner.

Below left: Beatrix designed many Christmas cards for the ICAA from 1925 to 1941.

Below right: The most popular ICAA card was a design Beatrix drew in 1932 featuring her characters dancing around a Christmas tree – this card was republished several times.

based again on Benjamin Bouncer. She sent them to a list of five publishers, starting with the company Marcus Ward, but they were promptly returned. Bertram was drawn to the company of Hildesheimer & Faulkner and so delivered the pictures to them himself. The following day a cheque for £6 arrived and a request to the ‘gentleman artist’ for more sketches.

Uncle Harry offered to take Beatrix to the offices of Hildesheimer & Faulkner to show them her new designs – this was Beatrix’s first business meeting and she did the negotiations herself. Her designs were published in 1890, first as Christmas and New Year cards, and then as illustrations to a set of verses by Frederic E Weatherly. Offering inspiration to many current day would-be card publishers and artists, Beatrix was just 24 years-old at the time.

“It would’ve been most unusual for a woman to be conducting business herself in those days,” explains Sara Glenn, curator of the Frederick Warne Archive. “But Beatrix was not a normal Victorian lady. We know from letters in the archives that Beatrix had a head for business. She also enjoyed scientific research and understanding the natural world around her.”

But it was an illustrated letter in 1893 about Peter, another of her pet rabbits, to the son of her ex-governess that saw Peter Rabbit come to life. She sent more letters, and encouraged by the children’s enthusiasm, eventually decided to try and get her Peter

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Genius new designs from

for 2016!

See us at Top Drawer, stand U33 17th -19th January www.trade.cathtatecards.com T 0208 671 2166 E orders@cathtatecards.com

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Artist In Focus Rabbit story published. She sent the manuscript to six book publishers, who all turned it down. So in 1901 she had 250 copies privately published. The books sold so well that Frederick Warne & Co (one of the publishers who had initially turned down the book) offered her a publishing contract. In 1902, Warne published an initial print run of 8,000 books, which were all pre-sold prior to publication.

After the success of the books, Beatrix, showing incredible forward thinking, initiated the development of Peter Rabbit licensed merchandise by registering a patent for a Peter Rabbit doll with the Patent Office in 1903. “This really was the start of the Peter Rabbit merchandise programme,” says Sara. “Beatrix was ahead of her time when it came to merchandising, and we know from letters in our archives that she was very hands-on. In 1910 she designed a Jemima PuddleDuck doll, which was made by J.K Farnell. Not only did she negotiate the agreement, she also visited the factory in Acton to collect royalties!”

Some of Beatrix’s most notable greeting cards were the cards she designed for one of her favourite charities, the Invalid Children’s Aid Association (ICAA). Between the years of 1925 and 1941 she regularly produced Christmas cards that helped raise money for the work of the ICAA. And today, the public’s love of Peter Rabbit continues to grow as modern day licensees introduce Peter Rabbit and his friends to new audiences. Paula Ford, creative director of greeting card publisher Hype Associates, which has the licence to produce Beatrix Potter illustrations on cards, explains the enduring popularity of Peter Rabbit:

“The illustrations are beautiful, in our opinion the best animals-as-people illustrations ever created; the detail is just exquisite. Most adults in this country grew up with Beatrix Potter's books and remember the illustrations fondly. Beatrix Potter's work has stood the test of time. The books are still great fun for parents and grandparents to read to children and the TV series has been really successful among little children and has increased interest in the original book illustrations.”

Remaining true to Beatrix’s historic creations, Hype’s range includes greeting cards (including agebadge cards and mini cards), plus giftwrap. The current portfolio spans a number of occasions and relations, but the range will be augmented with some new designs this year to celebrate Beatrix Potter’s 150th anniversary.

The World of Beatrix Potter is one of the world’s longest running and largest international literature-based licensing programmes. Beatrix Potter was a pioneer and a very astute businesswoman and thanks to her early efforts, Peter Rabbit has appeared in books and on licensed product in more than 110 countries throughout the world – but it all started on greeting cards!

Above: Hype Associate’s range of Beatrix Potter cards sell well across all occasions.

Left: Mini cards from Hype Associates are perennially popular with customers.

New Takes

New style guides from Silvergate Media - the global licensing agent for Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit – offer licensees a contemporary interpretation of the brand, keeping it current and on-trend for today’s customer. “The challenge has been to create a set of creative assets that will appeal to new mums, but also grandparents,” says Thomas Merrington, vice president of brand and creative for Silvergate Media. “We want to stay true to Beatrix Potter’s original values, but also keep up with the 21st century. Our new adult and nursery style guides are contemporary and fresh, bringing the adventures of Peter Rabbit alive in a new way.”

One licensee embracing the new style guides is multiple retailer Paperchase. “Paperchase first became involved with the Peter Rabbit brand just over two years ago and we produced the greeting cards to coincide with our launch of Peter Rabbit merchandise back in February this year,” says Gemma Parris, Paperchase’s design sourcing manager. “It is a truly iconic brand that transcends age groups and genders. It resonates with a broad spectrum of consumers making it hugely popular all year round. We’ve seen great success with our cards and wrap offering, with gift bags consistently featuring as one of our top 10 wrap products.

We are constantly reviewing our product offer and have been delighted with the response to our current Peter Rabbit collection.”

Left: Paperchase’s Peter Rabbit range includes bunting, gift bags, gift wrap, cards, diaries, photo frames, photo albums and mugs.

Right: Peter Rabbit gift bags consistently feature in Paperchase’s top 10 wrap products.

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Publisher Focus

With a passion for illustration and knowing there was a wealth of untapped amazing illustrators that could easily be published onto cards, Mark Callaby and his partner Jamie Mitchell founded the witty, and sometimes whimsical and weird, Ohh Deer brand.

A finalist in The Henries 2015 awards in the Best Children’s Range category, and now only reaching its fifth year, Ohh Deer’s greeting cards are seen in the most fashionable stockists, including Paperchase, Scribbler, ASOS, and Urban Outfitters (with its bespoke designs), its direct to consumer website offers design-led quirky jewellery, homewares and clothing, as well as cards, and last year Mark and Jamie nailed an exclusive signing with perpetual punner and illustrator Gemma Correll of ‘Poms not Bombs’ fame. And, on top of all that, the pair freelance on other creative missions.

PG is ‘drawn’ to the urban, edgy and creative core of Ohh Deer.

At the core of Ohh Deer is its objective to support young creative illustrating talent. In fact, it’s not only its founders Mark Callaby and Jamie Mitchell’s love for illustration that has helped shape the business, but from their own research and from personal experience it turns out that illustrators are often getting a raw deal through licensing their work… “and we knew this wasn’t right. The main thing being the amount illustrators were getting paid, but several times they weren’t being credited, or worse, they were simply being ripped off. We knew that we had a chance with Ohh Deer to change this, which has helped shaped our business model into being fair on the artists,” says Mark, who together with his business and life partner Jamie established Ohh Deer in 2011.

Five years later and Mark and Jamie’s hunger for great illustration, and what started as “as a bit of a hobby” when drawing in their spare time, has grown into a creative collective of rising innovative and artistic talent, much inspired by social media’s visual culture. But the seed of Ohh Deer began when the pair realised that there was a wonderland of stand-out illustrative talent that just wasn't being harnessed, and they saw the potential to publish it on cards.

So after leaving their jobs (Jamie hated his first year in practice to become an architect and Mark’s fixed-term position at Kingston University was coming to an end), the stars seemed to align for them to move from London to Loughborough, where Jamie’s family are based and now so is the Ohh Deer studio. “I got a job at Nottingham Trent University to ensure we had enough income, while Jamie started to push Ohh Deer by finding stockists and building our first website,“ says Mark, adding, “Within a year, I could comfortably leave my Top: Ohh Deer is a creative collective of job and help push the illustrative and design talent. Featured are Do What You Love by Sophie Corrigan (right) company further.” and Purrfectly Honest by David Olenick.

And making advances Above: Mark and Jamie have signed Gemma Correll exclusively to the brand. with its trade arm (the Ohh Left: Co-founders of Ohh Deer, Jamie Deer website, selling cards, Mitchell (left) and Mark Callaby.

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Publisher Focus

Left: Ohh Deer's wares include jewellery, homewares, stationery, clothing, gifts… and cards.

Below: Artemis by Ohh Deer co-founder Jamie Mitchell.

Below right: Apart from Netflix, Jamie and Mark's pet rats help distract them from the pressures of the business.

stationery, homewares, jewellery, clothing and other gift items, has both direct to public and trade access), allowed sales manager, Laura Wells, to join the Ohh Deer corral.

Originally the first illustrators they choose were those admired by Mark and Jamie on Twitter and other social media sites, but now they've got many channels to unearth budding creatives, from searching online, recommendations from friends and regular competitions where they ask people to submit work (which they showcase on the Ohh Deer website and often provide a chance for them to sell their work and earn commission). And as they’ve grown, they’ve had more and more illustrators and designers coming to them, “which we love,” says Mark. “We’re constantly on the look out.

We’ve signed up some amazing illustrators, many of them early on who must have simply brought into our passion and dodgy sales pitch. And social media has always been one of our biggest strengths, and our name (Ohh Deer) has provided us with a good reason to post other engaging social media content such as cute cats, stupid dogs and some epic fails along the way.”

Currently, Mark and Jamie work with 35 illustrators spanning several countries, each taking a direct cut from their sales. And recently, Ohh Deer signed sought after queen of illustrative puns, Gemma Correll exclusively to the brand, “So we’re going to be developing new products and ranges with Gemma,” Mark explains. “She’s recently moved from Norwich to San Francisco (with her two pugs Bella and Mr Pickles), but we’ve built up a great working relationship with each other and she’ll always be the person that introduced us to Ru Paul’s Drag Race!”

As well as working on other company’s design briefs, such as album artwork and onesies, Jamie and Mark are

also asked to make bespoke card ranges for some of their bigger customers... like Urban Outfitters for example. This brings in a different dynamic where they can show off their design skills.

Originally though, Jamie and Mark were unfamiliar to the greeting card industry when they first started and it's still a constant learning process, “but the industry is pretty friendly and many people offer advise (at least we think it’s advise) which really does help to get things right.”

But now, they are fully fledged card publishers: “It sounds really naive looking back, but we didn’t have any knowledge of the greetings industry other than some prominent shops where we’d buy cards for our friends and family,” says Mark,“but I think coming into the industry with no experience has actually worked in our favour. We haven’t followed any ‘how-to guide’ on the industry and just done things the way we wanted to do them… and it seems people like us for that.

Starting out in a forever changing society (and by that I mean advances in technology, social media and spending trends) has allowed us to react quickly and develop the business.”

And a little bit of luck and some seriously hard graft has seen the company grow rapidly (this time last year Ohh Deer had five members of staff, now it’s nearly 21)... “So fast that Jamie and I haven’t actually realised how it’s grown as we’re consumed by it - we often tell people that it’s our child... we love it so Left: John Bond's illustrations (published by Ohh Deer) was a 2015 Henries finalist in the Best Children's Range category.

Below: Inflated Ego by David Olenick, on cards from Ohh Deer.

much, it grows up quick but it can also seriously annoy the hell out of you.”

One of the duo’s most prominent learning curves setting up as a publisher was its distribution. “As we grew we started to run out of space and time to actually send orders out. So we made a snap decision to move all our stock to a fulfillment house. The initial meetings seemed like the answers to all our dreams, but when it came down to reality it made things much worse,” explains Mark.

When orders started being sent out wrong, stock went missing and with no control of what things looked like, Jamie and Mark quickly moved their stock into a different distribution place that was slightly better, but it still wasn’t good enough - “I remember a tradeshow where we were expecting a delivery of stock to a show which never turned up!” So they dug deep into their pockets and expanded so they could move all the stock back in-house and have ultimate control. “It’s made a massive difference and has actually saved us a fair amount of money,” says Mark.

Jamie and Mark are also partners in real life and that has its own struggles too. “But we’ve made a great team and the dynamic has really helped. It does mean that we’re completely consumed by Ohh Deer, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’ve got a couple of pet rats too (Rhubarb and Flower) and they make a good distraction for us… them and Netflix!”

And so what are the future endeavours for Ohh Deer? With many plans in the pipeline, it’s deciding what’s next that is Jamie and Mark’s biggest headache.

Currently they are recruiting an operations manager so that the pair can actually focus on advancing the business further and make Ohh Deer even healthier for the future. And they’ve already started working on international sales and looking at getting a stronger presence in the US. Mark reveals: “There’s still a massive amount of things that we want to do... some of which we’re already working on behind the scenes, others which we’ll have to shelf for a little bit longer.

And on that note, as Ru Paul would say, I’ll sashay away.”

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Debbie Wigglesworth’s Paper Journeys

A fundamental part of my Paper Journey work with designers and students is encouraging them to allow paper ‘to speak’ - by understanding the integral part paper plays in the design process I feel that we really allow paper to speak. However, I recently learned of three projects, one being a cardboard Fender guitar, the other a paper conductor board, a third being a new paper magazine, which all literally give paper ‘a voice’ - music to my ears!

Strumming A Chord Innovative free thinkers at Signal Snowboards asked Los Angeles-based packaging company, Ernest Packaging to collaborate with them and 'let’s have some fun and see how far we can go with cardboard', and they were keen to rise to the challenge. Having already worked in collaboration on the Cardboard Chaos project, which resulted in the creation of a cardboard snowboard and a cardboard surfboard, this time they took it up ‘scale’. They teamed up with the craftsmen at Fender Guitars and not only created a cardboard replica of the iconic Fender Stratacaster, one of the most recognisable guitars in the world, they even mastered the sound.

What is even more amazing is that they perfected it so brilliantly that top musicians couldn't tell the difference.

Above: Showing the cardboard heart of the Fender Stratacaster.

Left: The finished article!

Circuit Training Nearer to home in Cambridge, the innovative team at Novali, creators of the world’s first interactive DJ Decks in an actual album cover, have been striding forward with technology, bringing sound by touch to paper, in fact any surface! It is now possible to purchase its technology in the form of a Printed Touch Creator Kit. I have ordered one and am eagerly awaiting my parcel arriving and seeing how I can play with my own designs on virtually any surface, including water!

By printing a circuit of conductive carbon ink onto paper, the creators have offered creatives everywhere the opportunity to create their own touch sensitive creative projects. This exciting innovation gives designers, artists, makers, adults, children, brands, agencies and innovators a whole new world of creativity to interact with paper on cards, posters, packaging, painting, photographs and books. It will work on other surfaces too, including walls, floors, ceramics, clothing, jewellery, the list is endless and very exciting indeed.

In A Jam Last month saw the launch of Paper Jam, a new magazine about paper. Co-produced by Netherlands-based De Monsterkamer and Stroomberg, the main contributor of this first issue, entitled 'The Sound Issue' is Paper Ensemble - famed for their sculptural paper musical performances and visual sound installations that have emerged from their research in to sound, listening, composition and love for paper. They investigate and play with the musical possibilities of paper. By wrinkling, folding, furling and turning 100 square metre sheets of paper, they ultimately transform a sheet of paper into a fascinating musical instrument.

Top: A poster launching the new Paper Jam magazine.

Above and left: Paper musical performance from Paper Ensemble who feature in the inaugural Paper Jam magazine.

Pen To Paper Combining paper with fabulous typography really is the perfect harmony. I was delighted that celebrated typographer Daren Newman of Me and My Pen agreed to create the logo for my new company, The Paper Collaborative. I asked Daren to incorporate an ampersand as my work is all about who I bring together - as I am often the conduit, bringing together either a paper company, paper artist, creative company, brand or publisher. I'm absolutely delighted with Daren's solution to the brief!

Above right: The TPC logo that Daren created.

Above left: Another example of Daren’s work.

Left: Daren Newman at work.

Right: The possibilities are endless with the Printed Touch Creator Kit.

If you are interested in any of the features in Paper Journeys contact Debbie Wigglesworth email deborahwigglesworth@gmail.com or call Debbie on 07718619521.

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Trend Focus

Unicorn Euphoria ‘Dear Noah, we could have sworn you said the Ark wasn’t leaving till 5, sincerely, unicorns’.

Fantastically kitsch with glitter and rainbows or simply adorable and slightly chunky, unicorn illustrations on greeting cards are not just a one horn wonder, but have been galloping onto a plethora of designs in all their luminosity.

Mythical creatures of magic and legend, a cluster of publishers share their thoughts on why the unicorn has become a reality on cards.

Megan McCormick, designer, and Chris Hicklin, creative director for Neon Magpie: “We think that the trend for unicorns was started by Queenicorn who is Queen of the Unicorns who wanted to make more money for her unicorn kingdom so she ordered that unicorns should be put on products all over the world. All profits from selling unicorn products go straight to her, which she can spend on glitter and rainbows.

Above: Neon Magpie’s book ‘A to Z of Alternatively, it could have started because people Unicorns’ was followed by a range of 26 unicorn and alphabetical themed cards. have always loved unicorns but now that they are more available to buy the trend for them has spread even further.

Megan has always loved unicorns, but the idea for our business started with a concept for a book 'A to Z of Unicorns'. This then led to a range of unicorn cards which all feature a character from the book. The characters include Aquacorn, Caticorn and Mermicorn.”

Unicorn 'Fact’ or Love: “We love unicorns for two reasons: because they are magical and can be imagined in many different ways and because we live in Scotland and the unicorn is Scotland's national animal!”

Louise Amesbury, assistant publisher for James Ellis: “The unicorn is a mystical creature that derives from fairytales, folktales and children's stories.

Animals are always popular on cards, as are fairytale characters, so the unicorn is a magical mix of the two! A dreamlike animal that is strong and brave yet gentle and kind - a bit like a horse with super powers!

Children (especially little girls) seem to love unicorns, so they seem a perfect subject to use for greeting cards. They are enchanting and fascinating and conjure up a feeling of happiness and positivity. Our unicorn card from our Party Animals range is one of our best sellers!”

Unicorn 'Fact’ or Love: “A beautiful, graceful creature you can ride on that can also fly - what's not to love?!!”

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Above: James Ellis’ magical unicorn from its kids’ Party Animals range.

Above: A couple of gorgeous unicorns on Noi & Aled’s Toy Stories range.

Left: Paradise found, Deluxe Base’s 3D ‘Unicorn Bliss’ card.

Richard Tillotson, creative director for Tillovision: “There's a brightness and a kitschness about unicorns that suits greeting cards I think, plus all the visual fun you can have with rainbows.

Rainbow sick seems quite popular. And then there's the massive pink horn thing.

I wanted to depict the unicorn from a normal horse's point of view.

Prancing around the paddock with their manes blowing in the breeze, pooping rainbows and generally giving it all that. Just because you're mythical, doesn't stop you being a knob-head.”

Unicorn 'Fact’ or Love: “There is a 15,000 year old cave painting of a unicorn in Lascaux, France. Maybe drawn for someone's birthday during a prehistoric unicorn trend? Who says our industry keeps rehashing old ideas?”

Above: Are unicorns attention seeking? A card from Tillovision.

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Trend Focus

Far left: Unicorns exist in Megan Claire’s 'Pink Champagne' range. The collection features rose gold foiled fonts on thick cream card.

Left: A beautiful, pink and sparkly unicorn on a Paper Salad card, what’s not to like?

Right: Unicorns can be camp - a card from Dean Morris’ Fabulous range.

Below: ‘U is for Unicycling Unicorn’, a card from Ketchup on Everything.

Scott Nellis, designer and founder of Manic Minotaur: “I feel unicorns are much bigger than just a trend. They seem to have been in everyone's hearts for as long as I can remember. They are the pet everyone wants to own. The world has fallen in love with their beauty and mysticism.

Unicorns are hugely popular in Brighton where I live, perhaps more so than anywhere else. I wanted to design something that people would love and enjoy. I've lived in Brighton for over 10 years now and I wanted to encapsulate some of the atmosphere in my card designs. My Awesome Unicorn design really succeeds in doing this.”

Unicorn 'Fact’ or Love: “I guess unicorns have become a symbol of peace and harmony, much like the rainbow. The rainbow is of course an important symbol in Brighton having been adopted by the LGBT community. The unicorn is the spirit animal of peace and love. Along with the rainbow it has become a symbol of freedom and equality. This is why you won't find one in a zoo or locked up in a stable.”

Above: The colourful Awesome Unicorn design from Manic Minotaur.

Martin Storey, founder/designer for Finch and the Fallow: “I think the increasing popularity of unicorns has probably emerged from their appearance in hit movies in recent years such as Harry Potter, Despicable Me, Toy Story 3 and the children’s classic The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

My illustrated cards are all about making people smile, whether it's simply their birthday or they have a job interview coming up and need a little support. It seems like across the world, unicorns make people happy, and so for me, they are the perfect little character to use in these designs.”

Unicorn 'Fact’ or Love: “I believe that unicorns appeal to us so much because of our love for the unknown. Our curiosity for magical and mythical creatures like unicorns, Bigfoot and fairies stays with us from a young age, and allows us to escape adult life by re-igniting that adventurous childhood imagination. Plus, they fart rainbows and impale their enemies with their head, which is pretty awesome!”

A Fabulous Realm A free spirit, an equine figure of gentleness, spirituality and peace with magical powers, the unicorn has been trending on gifts and cards, but its symbolism has evolved through the ages.

Over the centuries there have been layers of mythologising the unicorn. It is mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible as a metaphor for strength, as a mighty single-horned animal called the re’em.

As no one has ever seen a unicorn it is deemed a mythological creature, but to the Romans and Greeks it was real. Tempestuous and fierce and impossible to tame, it was most likely a rhinoceros.

However, its more romanticised form began in the Middle Ages as a symbol of grace and purity with a horn of magical and medicinal powers: A wild woodland creature that could only be caught by a virgin.

Today, it’s possible the unicorn’s fabulous realm of popularity began with the Scottish referendum in 2014, which kick-started a trend to celebrate the cultural treasures of the country, one being the unicorn, the national animal of Scotland the Scots saw it as a symbol of themselves; a proud beast which would rather die than be captured.

But lovable unicorns have recently enchanted us on the big screen too. Initially in the Despicable Me movie as Agnes’ cuddly unicorn, Fluffy, then again in The Lego Movie as the uber positive Princess Unikitty, and Buttercup the unicorn magically appeared in Toy Story 3. Then, in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling describes a unicorn as a symbol of the sacred.

Baby unicorns are born “pure gold" with "silvery" blood.

Now that really is a premium pony! But on greeting cards, unicorns are just pearlescent peace lovers, farting rainbows and shimmering with happiness and glitter.

Above: This unicorn is very supportive, on a card by Gemma Correll from Ohh Deer.

Left: The dangers of playing with unicorns on a card by Whale and Bird.

Above: Finch and the Fallow’s 'Have A Magical Day' unicorn birthday card.

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JEREMY ’S JOURNA L Business blogging by publisher Jeremy Corner of Blue Eyed Sun.

A Fresh

Start Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun, looks at making a fresh start for the New Year.

The New Year is always a good time for new beginnings. Even though technically a new year starts every day, there’s something about the 1st January and the New Year date that seems to energise in a different way to most other days. Perhaps the celebrations the night before focus us on turning over a new leaf or it might simply be the fact that we are heading out of the darkest days of winter into spring and it literally is a new period of growth.

"I'm m on e he th e" se as ca

PEOPLE YOU SEE:

is exciting. We ran out of space two years ago and although it’s kept us efficient I do think it’s held us back a little.

Out With The Old In preparation for the move, we have been doing a lot of clearing, sorting and so on. It’s my least favourite job in the whole world. I get side tracked with the detail of it and then despondent that I can’t get through it all fast enough. I kept discovering interesting old bits of paperwork. Like our very first order, our original brochure and a load of rejection letters from top retailers that now stock us.

The letters were a good reminder that persistence is one of the things that has really kept us growing all these years.

Despite the distractions I got most of it done and I’ve photographed or scanned the paperwork I want to keep and recycled the rest. My goal for 2016 is to get digital on most of our paperwork and do the full shift over to the Cloud. Paperwork takes up space and most of it I only ever look at when I’m trying to clear out the office!

New Place

In With The New

At Blue Eyed Sun, we’ve marked the change with a move into newly acquired premises, which makes it extra special. After nearly ten years of toiling away in our old industrial units in Brighton we have a lovely new factory up the road in Burgess Hill. It’s a great space that we’ve refurbished and I’m sure our team will be very happy there. They’ve been involved in planning the design and look of the interiors. There’s more light and better facilities for them going forward. The units also give us more room to grow, which

Essentially the Cloud is online storage for your data files. With tools like Dropbox, it’s been around a while now and you can expect to Top: Make January a fresh start - a card from Art Eco/The Heart of a Garden.

Above left: The Blue Eyed Sun team have moved to new premises - a card from Look What I Found.

Right: Microsoft's Cloud online storage facility allows you to store and back-up digital files and images. Although very cute, Noodoll's Rice Storm character is a different kind of cloud.

see more big growth of it in the coming year or two. We have a cheap and simple NAS (Network Attached Storage) device that acts like a server, which we then back up to Amazon’s servers. Yes. Amazon owns that space too! It’s like having a Big Yellow Storage facility on the internet for your digital stuff.

The advantages are that you can access receipts and paperwork from anywhere in the world by logging into your Cloud storage to find it. A lot of software has been moving into the Cloud too, so you can do things like look up your accounts on a range of different devices. This article for instance, was in the Cloud while I wrote it on my iMac at home, edited on my phone in bed and emailed from my iPad to PG in the morning. Being able to work from anywhere has really freed up my time.

New Ranges The most exciting part about having more space is that we can launch lots of lovely new designs because we now have room for the stock. Blue Eyed Sun has had a remarkable run over the last few years. Our market leading stitched ranges like Vintage, Gorgeous and Picnic Time have been massive hits for us. We feel like we have so much more we can do. We love coming up with new ideas and techniques and are really looking forward to showing our customers what’s new at Top Drawer Spring and Spring Fair this year. Even PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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JEREMY ’S JOURNA L

Right: There’s lots of new ranges from Blue Eyed Sun this January.

Below: There are plans afoot to improve the Blue Eyed Sun trade stand.

Below right: Jeremy made lots of new friends at the Sage convention in New Orleans last year.

though we’ve been really busy, with getting the new building ready and the big move, my wife and designer Jo has managed to produced over 150 new designs across seven new ranges.

“What’s new?“ has to be the most common question retailers ask publishers at trade shows. The trick is to have new of best sellers and to try some radically new ideas too (ideally ones that are on trend). Trends have been getting harder to predict of late and now move quickly because of the internet. As all designers are watching the same trend forecasts, staying fresh, original and on trend is a constant challenge for any design-led publisher.

New Stands In addition to new product, we’ve also been looking to improve our exhibition displays.

For years we’ve prepped expensive Foamex boards to display our greeting cards at shows, only to find their corners bashed after they fell off the wall overnight after the Velcro used to attach them failed.

It’s rare for customers to mention the damaged boards and I’ve always consoled myself by saying it’s the card designs that really matter. We all like to do our best though don’t we? I imagine it’s the same for retailers. If your display and point of sale looks good it gives off a different feeling and experience for the shopper who is

looking at the lovely cards they stock. It enhances it.

Our stands have never looked terrible, but I’ve never been thrilled with them either. I’m looking forward to showing off our new cards on our new custom-made trade show displays for the new year.

New Friends 2015 was an incredible year for me personally as I was invited to attend some amazing events at 10 Downing Street, New Orleans and the Rugby World Cup. I’ve made some wonderful new friendships with all sorts of interesting people from around the world. Social media has been a big part of all of this for me, and it has led me to me changing how I operate online in 2016.

I’ve decided to make a commitment to more connections on social media. Instead of just interacting with friends that I already know on Facebook, for instance, I’m opening up to more friendships from the card industry and beyond in an effort to engage more widely with others.

I have been experimenting with all sorts of new digital tools including Slack, Blab and Periscope.

WhatsApp (and instant messaging in general) has been the most powerful of the lot for me so far in terms of new meaningful connections and I’m excited to see where they take me this year.

Giftware Association and take up my post in 2016. I’ve been working with the GA at committee level for five years.

With new CEO, Sarah Ward, already doing a great job, it’s going to be an exciting year for the GA. I’m particularly looking forward to working with incoming chairman Henri Davis, who has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in retail.

I’ve been a member of the GA and the GCA for many years now and, having worked closely with both at committee level, they do invaluable work. Our industry wouldn’t be the same without them. Even if you can’t find the time to serve on their committees do join and support them as a member. Whether you are a supplier or retailer, they are fantastic resources that we don’t want to be without. Remember it’s not just about what’s in it for you (although there are loads of benefits for members at each organisation), it’s about the wider community that you are a part of.

What’s New For You?

New Commitments

If you aren’t sure where to start with your goals for the new year try a slight shift towards something that you’d like to improve. Take small steps initially so that you can get momentum and progress. They say the one who moves mountains always starts by carrying away small stones first.

I hope that 2016 brings you lots of wonderful new adventures and personal development. Good luck with all of your new endeavours and goals.

Jeremy is holding one on one Social Media Health Checks for Retailers at Spring Fair on Monday 8 February between 1-3pm. Places are limited. To book visit SpringFair.com

Contribution is really important to me and I’m proud to have been asked to be vice-chairman of the

Read more on Jeremy’s blog at www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Retailer Spotlight

A Post

ark

Consignment As 2015 is wrapped up, folded and placed neatly in the memory drawer, Mark and Leona Janson-Smith, partners of Londonbased greeting card retailer Postmark can label it up as a year successfully licked, signed, sealed and delivered.

With Mark’s wife Leona joining the business, opening a third store in the westside of the city in Chiswick’s Turnham Green at the end of 2014, winning a second Retas award for Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer - London category and now on the brink of celebrating its millionth customer since the first Balham store opened its doors nearly 12 years ago, 2015 is ‘stamped’ as a grand slam for Postmark.

PG ‘dispatches’ the ascent of this urban retailing renegade.

Owning and running his own business was never part of the plan for Mark Janson-Smith, partner of London-based design-led greeting card retailer Postmark, but the future had other intentions (quite literally) in store for him.

“I was never that bothered about school and was always coming up with new schemes to make money. From the age of 16 I had a Saturday job in a gift shop in London’s Clapham Common, but where I wanted to be was in the City making my fortune!” reveals Mark. But after only two years, at the age of 20, he was made redundant from his City job. “At this time I felt a bit lost, but I was offered a chance to buy into the shop I was working in Clapham as a junior partner and although it was tough getting the finances sorted I jumped at the chance.”

So in 2001 Mark started his career in retail. Cards were very much the store’s secondary sale, but he loved the sector and could see there was a market for something more. “I learnt a lot about the greetings

industry during these years and began formulating a plan to open a shop focusing primarily on quality, design-led greeting cards.”

In 2004 Mark took the leap and opened the first Postmark store in the South London enclave of Balham, London. “Honestly, some people thought I was nuts as I already had part of a successful business, and besides who would want to shop for cards in Balham?! But weirdly, I was never worried, I always knew it would work out and I’m very glad to say I was right!”

Below: The third Postmark store opened at the end of 2014 in Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick.

Bottom: The Postmark website is a brilliantly designed platform for it’s wares. Caroline Gardner’s designs (card below) feature online too.

It was around this time that Mark first met his wife Leona, but opening a new shop wasn't conducive to romance as he was working seven days a week for months on end. However, Mark reminisces, “those first few months were really special and I remember how excited I was the first day when I had over 40 customers.”

Things picked up very quickly, and by the end of the first year Postmark had a part-time employee and was seeing some very strong signs of growth. “It was really exciting to be choosing new lines and filling the shop with designs and cards I loved,” exclaims Mark. “Over the years I’ve established some great relationships with publishers and designers and buying and discovering new brands is still the thing I love most about the business,” he adds.

However, having come from a gift shop background, one of the first big learning curves Mark experienced was about the sort of cards he stocked. “In a gift shop people were willing to compromise and buy a PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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The Largest Collection of Greeting Card Publishers in the World A unique trade show for the greetings industry, PG Live brings the wonderful world of cards to life.

Save the Date!

Put 10-11 May in your diary, we’d love to see you there!

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Retailer Spotlight

generic birthday for their Mum, Dad or mate who’s turning 21 as they needed to get something to go with the gift they’d just bought. When I opened my store in Balham I just presumed my customers would be the same so I didn’t stock age or relations cards! I can’t actually quite believe this myself now, but I just didn’t think it was necessary.

Obviously people started asking for them so I started stocking ‘age cards’ quite quickly, but it took me almost two years before I stocked relations cards – which is funny considering how many we now sell.”

In 2008 Postmark really started to mature when its second London store in East Dulwich opened its doors, and it was the year that it won its first Retas award for the Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer - London category.

Above right: Mark, Leona and their children ready to ring the tills in the Balham store.

Above: Packed with gorgeous design-led cards and clear and contemporary pos, the interior of Postmark, Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick.

Below right: Leona and Mark Janson-Smith, partners of Postmark, won The Retas’ Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer - London category last July at the Dorchester Hotel. They received their trophy from Alister Marchant (left), ceo of Carte Blanche Group, sponsor of the category.

“It was a really exciting moment to see the Postmark sign go up,” recalls Mark about the opening of the new store, adding, “It was also around this time that our good friend Jenny Davis came to work for us at our Balham branch; she’s played a key part in helping us to expand the business.”

So after establishing two bricks and mortar stores, Mark began setting his sights on cyber space, sensing the possibilities for growth by having an online presence. “I think in today’s market you have to be able to offer your customers the opportunity to buy online as well as instore so I decided to develop our website,” he affirms.

One thing Mark learnt very quickly was how little he knew about website development and how much time it was going to take to upload a strong selection of Postmark’s products on there. “After a few long nights we eventually launched the site in early 2012 with just over 2,000 products.

The Postmark Package Working first in PR for an international development charity and then for over seven years at City Hall as press secretary for Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, Leona JansonSmith has a wealth of experience under her career belt. However, her new role as Postmark’s partner, working together with her husband Mark, is proving to be a positive move.

“When Mark told me he wanted to open a card shop back in 2004, just a few months after we started seeing each other, I was supportive but also a bit confused as to how you could make a living selling cards! Growing up in Ireland cards were very much a birthday/Christmas thing so I had zero understanding of the industry, but Mark was so confident and enthusiastic that I just knew he’d be successful”, says Leona.

And as Mark grew the Postmark business she concentrated on her own career.

“Over the years we often talked about me coming on board but realistically the business wasn’t big enough. It was really only after we had our second child Aoife, and opened the Turnham Green store the following year that things came to a head quite quickly. I’d been promoted at City Hall and gone back from maternity leave to a very busy and pressurised environment, while Mark was struggling to run three shops by himself,” she explains.

So Leona decided it was time to take a leap of faith and resign from her role at the GLA, with Mark’s full support. “In hindsight I don’t know what took us so long as it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made and I’m very excited about working together to grow the business.”

Initially, her role in the company was set to concentrate on growing Postmark’s online business and marketing, but as she’s got more involved she’s also started to take over the staff side of things as well, “which I really enjoy”, she says, adding, “Mark is definitely the driving force behind the business and runs the operational side of things, but now he also has more time to focus on buying which he loves.”

And working together has been a positive move for both Mark, Leona and their family: “One thing we’ve had to be quite strict about is not letting work take over our whole lives, which can be easier said than done as we find ourselves drifting back to the ‘where’s good next?’ conversation!”

Today we have close to 3,000 with plans to add even more this year.”

With the website up and running it was time to open a new shop. Mark secured a deal and the third Postmark store opened on Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, in October 2014. This shop’s first year has been very positive, helped very much by Leona, Mark’s wife, joining the business. Then, in the summer

of last year, Postmark won its second Retas award in the London category again.

“It was fantastic – a really great moment for us! We’ve put a lot of work in over the last year, opening the new store and revamping Balham, so it felt great to be recognised for that by our Retas award. The problem is the more you win the more you want, so I’m keen to hear those winning words again!” Mark exclaims.

Going forward, the plan for Postmark, now Leona is on board, is to grow the business even more, both online and with new locations. Mark explains: “We’re always looking around for the next site and I am excited about what the next few years will bring. I feel we’ve spent a lot of time putting in place some good buying and accounting systems, which will now enable us to really move forward more rapidly.

Not bad for a self-taught boy who never planned to run his own business!”

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ARTSOURCE

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ART SOURCE

PG helps to paint a pretty picture of freelance artists, designers, verse writers and photographers’ worlds in order to promote their talents to publishers and, conversely, make it easier for publishers seeking artists.

ARTIST IN FOCUS

Neil Gibbins For as long as I can remember I always wanted to be a cartoonist. I drifted off in quite a few school lessons due to this pastime, but whatever I lost in knowledge I gained in detention. It was in my hometown of Sunderland at St. Aidan’s sixth form where I excelled at art thanks to a great teaching system. They organised trips to Paris and Amsterdam to soak in the museums and culture, and I was hooked for life to all forms of art, although I am still yet to visit the Salvador Dali Museum, Dali was a major influence on me. His world of surreal intricate imagery enraptured me.

I studied Art and Design at Leeds University and became inspired to join the world of film. I would think up scripts, draw up storyboards, and set about directing the material. Much of the playback was littered with cringe on toast, but every now and then, a vivid image from your imagination came to life on screen for others to see and feel. That’s what art is to me, the translation of emotion from one being to another through artistic expression. It’s a true miracle of human communication, whatever its form.

Time passed and I found the artist and director in me could not reconcile their differences. Two different paths, both difficult ambitions to transform into professions, but they were the only two things I have ever wanted to do. I tried my hand at both and either film lost or art won.

I have been working on a children’s activity picture book entitled ‘The Great Boppabee adventures, the quest for the Sun’. I draw from imagination in pencil, ink over the outline then apply watercolours and inks to bring it to life.

I’ve been working on the book for nearly two years now and I now fully understand the plight all unknown author/illustrators face in getting their work seen by the right eyes.

Nevertheless, I simply cannot stop drawing and neither will my book stop evolving until it is ready for success.

A great inspiration for my work came from Allan and Janet Ahlberg’s books, ‘Cops and Robbers’. I also adored the Roald Dahl series, especially The Twits.

Email: neilgibbins@yahoo.co.uk

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

If you are an artist, photographer or verse writer and would like to be considered to appear in Art Source, please contact PG’s Emma Cain on emmac@max-publishing.co.uk. This is an editorial feature and as such is free of charge.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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ART SOURCE Michael Banks

I studied Fine Art at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, and it was there that I began a deep research into the Chiaroscuro technique of the Renaissance painters, and where I simultaneously developed a fascination with photography and the idea of drawing with light.

I instinctively always made photographs in an abstract style. I was aware of the history of photography, and had no desire to repeat what I had already seen. For me the fascination of the camera wasn’t its ability to record the seen world, but rather its potential to reveal what was happening in my imagination - a more invisible world based on the lines, shapes, colours, blurs and graphic forms inside my head.

I decided to learn more about the technical aspects of the medium, and went to London where I worked for 15 years as a professional photographer in the design and advertising industry. My abstract style was quickly embraced, and I spent those years shooting annual reports, corporate brochures and advertising campaigns for a wide variety of blue-chip companies.

Having honed my craft, and developed advanced visualisation and creative skills in that business arena, 10 years ago I started dedicating myself exclusively to the art world, creating photo-art for a variety of interior spaces. I do this in conjunction with a network of art consultants and interior designers, and my photo-artwork is placed on the walls of hotels, offices and private homes from the west coast of America, to Central Europe, the Middle East, and recently the Far East and Australia.

This new series of images, called ‘Venice Vintage’, are retro-style photos of the water-based city, a series, which seeks to capture the antique feel and tidal flow of this historic city, a place seemingly frozen in time, where the texture of every old wall tells a story.

Email: michael@michaelbanksart.com

Marie Holt I’m a freelance surface pattern designer with a BA (hons) in surface pattern design. Originally from Yorkshire, I have now been living in London for six amazing years.

I first studied at Leeds Art College experimenting and creating with a wide range of art genres - fashion, photography, ceramics, fine art and even jewellery. I then went to university at Huddersfield studying Surface Pattern Design for fashion and interiors to focus my skills on pattern and this led to me enjoying the whole design process involving stitch, CAD & screen-printing.

After graduating, I then moved to London to set up my online business making handmade and screen-printed homewares.

I always knew I wanted to work freelance and having my own business was one of my biggest dreams.

Two and a half years ago I set up my online business in a small attic room whilst house sharing in London, and this is where my future began. I now have my own studio where I work from everyday, this is my favourite place to be!

My designs have all been inspired by my travels; it could be something I see whilst wandering around London, Yorkshire or on holiday. Recent trips to South East Asia and Sri Lanka have been invaluable to the continued development of my work and it has been fascinating trying to include elements of different cultures and iconography such as wild elephants and unique forms of transport. My aim is to create unique designs that are colourful and based upon personal experiences.

Email: bymarie@me.com Web: www.bymarie.co.uk Mob: 07826919767

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PG asked a selection of card retailers for their ‘hot’ card sellers.

Ian Thomas, owner of Absolute Cards, Wells, Somerset A medium shop in England’s smallest city with a loyal locals and visitors customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Humour

Paperlink

Across The Board

Woodmansterne

Hysterical Histories

Rambling Mansion

General

Photographic

Foxy Biddy

General

Art

Canns Down Press

General

Museums and Galleries

British Library and The Illustrators Quick Silver

The top humour collection on the market! Bestie, Bottom Line, Sassy, we have an assortment of ranges on a spinner right by the front door.

One of the best humour ranges around at the moment and it has been good seller for us.

My own great range of amusing computer related and quotes designs!

Images of murmurations of starlings by a local photographer, which, as it's the season for starlings, ’flying’ out.

A long-standing publisher with some great artists on its books, and the cards come in unusual formats.

The appeal seems to be that they’re nostalgic, recognisable classic characters such as Alice In Wonderland.

We stock a sizable amount of designs from many of the publisher’s ranges, making quite an impact on the racks. The cards have quite a fan-base; a few customers have come in to the shop especially and bought £60 worth.

Well-known popular film and TV characters licensed onto cards. The relations and occasions designs go down very well.

Lovely designs on good quality paper for a reasonable price.

Right: A time to celebrate on a card from Rambling Mansion.

Below right:'A Murmuration of Starlings, Shapwick Heath' by photographer Lynne Newton, founder of Foxy Biddy.

Contemporary

Wendy Jones-Blackett

Children’s Giftwrap

Danilo (distributed by Is It Art) Glick

Ancillary

Paper Blanks

Minions, Doctor Who, Star Wars Wendy Jones-Blackett and Paper Salad Notebooks

Things of beauty, and they have a cult following.

Dawn Styles, owner of Buzz Bees, Bedford, Bedfordshire A large shop in a county town with a loyal locals customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

IC&G

Across The Board

Humour

Hanson White (UKG)

Giggles

Noel Tatt

Across The Board

Contemporary

Nigel Quiney

Pizazz

Traditional

Gibson (UKG)

Helen Steiner Rice

Jonny Javelin

Velvet

Danilo (distributed by Is It Art)

Hulk, Doctor Who, Minions

One of my top selling ranges because of all the age relations designs. I couldn't do without it.

Really bright, stand-out designs with so many to choose from.

They just fly out! I’m always restocking the cards.

The cards are so pretty, sparkly and colourful!

Customers like the contemporary look and the lovely words. The older generation go after these.

Die-cut scalloped corners and design detailing of foiling and embossing and still at a good price point make these designs a popular choice.

The kids know these popular characters from Above: A gorgeous Nigel Quiney Pizazz design. the TV and movies.

Children’

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Jeanne Hunter, owner of Inspirations, Goring, Oxfordshire A small shop in a small village with a loyal locals and visitors customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Humour

Hanson White (UKG)

The New Yorker

Clare Maddicott

Harold’s Planet

Tracks

Googlies

Susan O’Hanlon

General

Woodmansterne

National Trust

Art

Green Pebble

General

Handmade/ Hand-Finished Children’s

Blue Eyed Sun

Across The Board

Witty and clever humour on current social topics.

Philosophical but funny perspectives on life.

Largely animal images with wobbly eyes, they’re fun and a bit quirky and different.

Lovely designs on quality board, but it's the really unusual captions that put a smile on your face that make these cards stand out.

Popular images of NT places and spaces, but the ‘free tea for two’ voucher at NT properties gives the cards extra value.

Customers love the contemporary artwork, but there are also different artistic genres within the collection, such as linocut designs.

Really nice bright and colourful handmade high-end designs.

Woodmansterne

Quentin Blake

Photographic

With Quentin Blake illustrating David Walliams’ Above: Sweet thoughts on a card from Clare Maddicott. books, a whole new generation of children are getting to know and love the illustrator’s artwork.

Sarah Marsh, owner of The Gorgeous Gift & Card Company, Biggleswade A medium shop in a town’s growing secondary location with a loyal and increasing customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

Across The Board

Cute

Ling and Paper Rose Jonny Javelin

Humour

Paperlink

Wrinklies, Kook, Bottomline, Sassy

Above: Laura Darrington's Decoupage range is handmade with embossed and foiled touches.

Right: A design from the beautiful Trio range from Paper Salad.

Pigment

Etched, Riff Raff, Pinot Grigio and Fleet Street

Contemporary

Paper Salad

Trio

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Laura Darrington Five Dollar Shake

Decoupage, Festive Folk Across The Board

Giftwrap

Glick

Wendy Jones Blackett

Ancillary

Joma Jewellery

A Little Collection

Affordable pretty cards for all ages with lots of choice.

Cute dog designs with flitter and die-cut edges giving the card a different look. It’s even better now the cards are wrapped, as the envelope sizes are a pain if customers take the wrong envelope!

Any ‘wine/non-gym going/diet not going well’ cards from Paperlink always go well for my type of customer.

We can all relate to them!

Consistent good sellers needing regular top ups and causing lots of laughs!

Sparkly with gorgeous envelopes and some unusual titles such as ‘Parents to be’.

Bright designs, cute and hand-finished.

Still the best and most beautiful. We also offer the company’s personalising service, which is time consuming but a lovely service to offer.

We are on a plan, which means we can just top up as we run out, no need for carriage paid order.

It’s always my favourite order when the new collections come out.

Silver-plated jewellery, with a gift-tag and matching gift bag. It’s very popular with all ages, and the sweet sentiment on the presentation card, and not on the actually jewellery, make it wearable past the occasion.

Fudge And Friends

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LYNN’S LINES

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On the ball comments by retailer and publisher Lynn Tait of The Lynn Tait Gallery.

A Step Back In

Show Time

Below: It’s show time! (A scene from the gorgeous film, The Artist).

Below left: Birmingham NEC - it was a snowy February that year!

Below left: Some trade stands at the early Spring Fairs took two weeks to build and had to have planning permission.

Suddenly the Spring Fair is lurking around the corner and for the first time in over a couple of decades I won’t be exhibiting as my days of being an exhibitor at trade fairs are finished. I shall still be at the show as a buyer, but no more displaying my wares for me. Ill health and age has determined this.

So I thought I’d take a trip down memory lane and have a nostalgic look at trade fairs and cards of the past and see how dramatically things have changed in this time.

My husband Andy and I have had a good innings exhibiting at trade shows, going back some 25 years, and although the card publishing side of my company will continue with our loyal retailers, we won't have a presence at fairs anymore.

When I started the Spring Fair there was a three to four year waiting list for stands, so there were no new card publishers at the fair.

It was totally dominated by the huge companies who had two-tier stands which took two weeks to build and who had to have planning permission from Birmingham Council I believe.

Some stands spanned the walkways and a few stands in the greeting card hall were some of the most ostentatious stands at the show.

While we waited to climb up the waiting list we exhibited at Top Drawer, held back then at London’s Alexandra Palace, and at Harrogate Home & Gift.

We loved the venue in London and started to make an original trade stand. At that point we were publishing art cards from my Edwardian postcards collection so in keeping with the theme we took an original fireplace and mantle-piece and made a room setting with a dado rail and wallpapered walls.

The cards were attached to a ‘bow and tail’ hanging from the picture rail. We were distinctive and people remembered us, while the cards looked good in their room setting. It wasn't exactly minimalist!

After a few years of doing this and finding my feet in publishing I started commissioning artwork. I thought that

fairies would be the next big thing, and my range was very successful.

When Top Drawer and Pulse moved from Alexandra Palace it became too expensive to exhibit at these shows so we tried Autumn Fair for a while, but for us it didn't prove to be the correct buying time.

But as our Fairies range was doing well I was offered a stand at Spring Fair.

Although my first stand was not in the greeting card hall I thought I might lose my place if I complained, so excitedly we planned our stand. We were in the stationery hall along with all the big names, like Pentel, who had stands that revolved and were two storeys high. But unfortunately, we were hidden around the corner, over-shadowed by these humungous stands, and it was a very heartbreaking and expensive week for us.

It took three years for us to have a stand located where we could be seen, but I persevered as I believed in my product. I just knew that if we had a stand in a good position we would do well, but it was a long, long haul.

Spring Fair stands were so in demand, wouldbe exhibitors didn't have any voice back then, they were just put where they were told.

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LYNN’S LINES Left: World-renown photographer Charlie Wait with Lynn on her trade stand at Spring Fair.

Below right: With the help of GF Smith and The Sherwood Group Lynn tried a trial print run on textured board, with astonishing results.

I'm not sure when, but a number of years ago one brave big publisher pulled out of Spring Fair and that was it, they all went. This left the door open to the medium and small sized publishers. Gone were the big stands and the show became more of a level playing field. Spring Fair then saw the importance of new publishers and has listened to their needs.

However, it took about six years of canvassing for narrow stands of one metre deep (new publishers don't need floor space for exhibiting cards) and of course the other all important ‘location, location, location’ of the stand’s position.

With greeting card publishers being moved to Hall 3 and a new layout at the 2016 show it will be interesting as no one really knows where the best spots are going to be.

However, nothing stays the same and over the years we have seen Spring Fair going from a sellers’ market to a buyers’ market as the dynamics of fairs has dramatically changed. I have never forgotten those demoralising times and I have fought tirelessly since then, working with fair organisers to discuss what new and emerging greeting card publishers need at a show.

New publishers are the lifeblood of our industry and as a country we lead the world in design, especially in greeting cards, so everything should be done from fair organisers to encourage fledgling publishers.

Several Ladder Club members are carving a very nice career in the industry thank you very much and are starting to take bigger and bigger stands at shows and buying advertising space in PG. 86

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

The emergence of Progressive Greetings Live ticked many, many boxes for new publishers; with TLC for the exhibitors and buyers being high on the agenda. It is very daunting for a new publisher to exhibit for the first time and the team at PG Live are passionate about cards and understand what new publishers need so they set about organising a designated fair that centred around helping newbies and also encouraging export buyers.

Many retailers now make a beeline for the Springboard area where they can source first-hand all the new and emerging talent. No longer are newbies hidden in corners or neighbouring onto huge companies’ stands.

At the show these newbies also have the camaraderie and support from other publishers who are in exactly the same position in their business as them.

Last year there were 45 Ladder Club members exhibiting at PG Live, many who know each other and support and encourage each other throughout the year on The Ladder Club Facebook page.

Of course, it is not only trade fairs that have changed the face of publishing.

Printing techniques have also had an enormous impact for publishers.

When I first starting publishing I had to commit to a litho print run, which was 12 designs, 2,000 of each design, which then had to be stored and of course sold!

Everyone knows that each card design does not sell at the same rate as the others and this causes huge waste and problems for publishers doing litho runs.

In the year 2000 I became interested in photography and started to publish the work of the world-renowned photographer Charlie Waite, later curating high profile exhibitions at London’s thegallery@oxo and in Australia and America.

At the time litho runs weren't a problem as greeting cards were not so trend-led, and as long as we added new designs to the range they just sold and sold.

Latterly, digital printing has allowed publishers to try out new designs and gave me the confidence to add my own photographs to my card offering.

Nobody can underestimate how this digital revolution has been such a godsend to new publishers. It is expensive to start a

company, especially if you exhibit at a trade fair, but to not have to finance and store unwanted dated stock is such a gift.

Everyone who exhibits at a fair should now have some idea of how their cards sell and there shouldn't be any surprises. Market research is so important and now so easy to carry out.

The other revolution over the years had been what the cards are printed on. When I started to print Charlie's photos on cards it was pretty unheard of to print on textured board, everything was printed on Ensocoat 275 and then it was varnished.

In 2000 I asked paper company GF Smith and printer The Sherwood Group if they would run a trial print run for me on textured board. They undertook this challenge free of charge and printed 500 sheets with ten different card samples. To everyone's amazement the results in the colours were vastly different.

I always felt that publishers should see how the printed colours appear on their cards before a full print run.

I think the industry is indebted to these two companies for changing the face of greeting cards by printing on textured board and investing heavily in this trial.

I do feel privileged to have seen the greeting card industry evolve and to be a big part of it in so many ways.

Just to show I am still trading have a peep at www.thelynntaitgallery.com.

I'm at Spring Fair on the Sunday for a whistlestop trip. Good luck to all the exhibitors this year.

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

k

perfectionists

The specialist buying group in the independent greeting card and gift retail sector‌ ‌Celebrating 25 years of Service to Members.

in the

art

For information: Web: www.cardgains.co.uk Tel: 0845 166 2054 Post: 25 Carbrook Hall Rd Sheffield S9 2EJ

of greeting cards

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tel 0203 2344011 info@blackolivestudio.co.uk www.blackolivestudio.co.uk

Sales software softwar re solutions iPad catalogue ordering handheld order capture trade/retail eCommerce

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SOP/stock control For more information visit aspin.co.uk or call us to arrange a meeting on:

Make every occasion count with greeting cards from

01794 500200

Abacus Cards Limited, The Studio, Oaks Drive, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7SX t: 01638 569050 f: 01638 569051 e: info@abacuscards.co.uk w: www.abacuscards.co.uk

# # ! ! # $$$ # # ! ! #

DESIGN LED RETRO CARD & GIFTS TO SUIT ALL OCCASIONS YEAR OF BIRTH GREETING CARDS MUSIC DOWNLOADS • PREMIUM RETRO GIFTWARE & ACCESSORIES

t: 020 8993 5966 f: 020 8993 1396 w: www.retroco.com e: info@retroco.com

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• Greetings Cards and Gift Wrap • Stationery • Soft Toys • Figurines • Giftware and Accessories

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PO BO BOX OX 2161 Boulevard The Boule vard Watford W atford WD18 1BJ TTel: el: 01923 200633 FFax: ax: 01923 200636 info@cardmix.co.uk inf o@cardmix.co.uk www.cardmix.co.uk www.cardmix.co.uk CARDMIX - a cocktail cocktail of fun, CARDMIX fashionable and humorous humorous fashionable cards, covering Everyday, car ds,, co vering Ev eryday, Spring ing Occasions,, Relations,, Spr Seasons and Christmas.

Christmas.

DADDY Method of Sale: Direct to Retail Carte Blanche Greetings Ltd ® Tel: +44(0)1243 792600

www.cathtatecards.com

cbg.co.uk

@CarteBlancheGrp

Witty, gritty, switched on humour.

Cards and gifts with a real difference.

Unit 1, 45 Morrish Road London SW2 4EE Tel: 0208 671 2166 Fax: 0208 678 1119 info@cathtatecards.com

Caspari C aspari L Ltd td Linden Linden House, House, John John D Dane ane P Player layer C Court ourt

E East ast S Street, treet, S Saffron affron Walden Walden E ssex, C B10 11LR LR Essex, CB10 Tel: 01799 01799 513010 513010 Tel: 01799 5 13101 F ax: 01799 Fax: 513101 Email: info@caspari.co.uk info@caspari.co.uk Email: w ww.CaspariOnline.com www.CaspariOnline.com

Products: Products: EEveryday birthday, veryday ccards ards - b irthday,

Colneis Marketing York House, 2-4 York Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7QQ T: 01394 271668 F: 01394 275114 E: colneiscards@btconnect.com Online Shop www.colneisgreetingcards.com

blank occasions, charity Christmas b lank & o ccasions, ch harity C hristmas wrap, bags, ccards, ards, ggift ift w rap, b ags, ttissue, issue, rribbon, ibbon, hankies, napkins, h ankies, n apkins, paper paper plate, plate, candles, candles, placemats, placemats, crackers,invitations, crackers,invitations, placecards, placecards, notecards,diaries, notecards,diaries, address address books, books, journals, journals, advent advent calendars calendars and and bridge bridge gifts. gifts.

Method Method o off SSale: ale: D Direct irect tto oR Retail etail

Colour House Graphics York House, 2-4 York Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7QQ T: 01394 271668 F: 01394 275114 E: colourhousegraphics@hotmail.com Online Shop www.colourhousegraphics.co.uk

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Market leaders in Humour, Art, Photographic, Occasions and Relations cards offering a full planning service with merchandising and retail development opportunities.

Eye catching, luxurious Gift Wraps, Gift Tags, Gift Bags, Roll Wrap, Tissue Papers & Ribbons for all occasions Glick, Unit 1 Allenby House, European Industrial Park, Knowles Lane, Bradford BD4 9AB Tel: 01274 655980 email: sales@glick.co.uk www.glick.co.uk

DIPINGO DESIGN

www.greatbritishcards.co.uk WATERWELLS DRIVE, GLOUCESTER GL2 2PH UK TEL: 01452 888999

Bespoke design service for retail products

The T he UK No. No. 1 in Licensed Lic ensed Greetings Greetings etings Ov err 30 lic enses nses including: including Over licenses Disney, D Disne y, Peppa Peppa Pig Pig, He Kitt Hello Kitty y, Mr Men Men Kitty, Birds and A and Angry Bir dss t: +44 + (0)1264 388400 e: enquiries@gemma-international.co.uk enquiries@gemma-interna national. ti co.uk w: gemma-int gemma-international.co.uk ernational. ona co.uk

CARDS CARDS • WRAP • P PARTY ARTY • GIFT GIFTS S

www.dipingodesign.co.uk

TM

GRASS ROOTS

INTERNATIONAL

G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL A U.K owned Greeting Cards Publisher.

Our everyday ranges for all occasions and relations include traditional, contemporary, cute, humour and photographic designs. We also have a full range of Christmas and Spring Seasons.

All products are designed and printed in the U.K on the finest quality board.

BRANDS “Write from the Heart” brand includes; Corsage, Sentiments, Champagne, Celebrations and Jelly Beans.

M ETHOD OF SALE Direct to Retail

G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL

Beautiful greeting cards from contemporary British artwork

Units 4 - 4A Valentines Buildin g Ra cec our se Bus in ess Par k Aintr ee, Liver poo l, L9 5 AL Tel: 0151 52 3 9600 Fax : 015 1 523 494 9 e-m ail: s ales@ writefr om th ehear t.co.uk

from the

www.dryredpress.com T +44 (0) 1273 241210 E info@dryredpress.com

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CHARITY GREETING CARDS One of the UK’s leading publishers of Charity Greeting Cards.

Impress offers a wide collection of images, including fine art, graphic, photographic and cute.

We also offer a bespoke design service for bulk orders and/or mail order fulfilment.

Impress Publishing Appledown House Barton Business Park New Dover Road Canterbury, Kent CT1 3TE Tel: 01227 811 611 Fax: 01227 811 618 email: info@impresspublishing.co.uk

LING DESIGN The UK’s leading privately owned publisher of Greetings Cards and Stationery. ...The home for and ...and the UK home for

Products: Greetings cards for all occasions, Christmas and Spring Seasons cards, gift wrap and bags, charity cards, social stationery.

Bespoke service for charities and other fundraisers.

Ling Design Ltd 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BE Tel: 01892 838574 Fax: 01892 838676 Email: enquiries@lingdesign.co.uk Website: www.lingdesign.co.uk

Silk Screened Retro, Pop & Classic Cards

Inspired by Music and 1960’s American Advertising. For all Vinyl & Rock‘n’Roll lovers

L E T U S TA K E YOU BAC K

60 years

Yo our Number N b One O Supplier S li off Numerals, Name, Relation & Age Labels for Greetings Cards.

environmentally friendly contemporary & vibrant paper products. greeting cards, notebooks paper pens, boxed notes

Huge selection with immediate deliveryy. Buy direct or from your wholesalerr.

Listan Labels 3 Isis Court, Wyndyke Furlong, Abingdon Business Park, Oxfordshire Abingdon, Oxfor dshire OX1 5JN T el e 01235 465489 Fax 01235 532118 Tel www.listanpublications.co.uk www .listanpublications.co.uk sales@listanpublications.co.uk

t. 01243 780501 e. info@jonesy.ca

jonesy.ca agents wanted

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

For further details please get in touch.

info@vincentmcevoy.com

+44 (0)7779 578340

To appear in the Product Directory please contact Warren Lomax on 020 7700 6740

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The easy company I' $ .!N Great brands Great service Bespoke planning We can help with all your bespoke planning requirements. From smaller displays to redeveloping complete card departments.

originalposter.com

All our cards are supplied on consignment, so you only pay for what you sell.

We also supply card fixtures and spinners free-on-loan.

We replace slow sellers and damaged stock free of charge.

We merchandise regularly, so you don’t have to.

THAT’S WHY WE’RE ORIGINAL!

01932 267 300 endorsed product

endorsed product

T: 01227 811600 W: www.noeltatt.co.uk E: sales@noeltatt.co.uk

Cards made with love...

Three great publishers, all under one roof, contemporary, graphic, humour, cute and photographic ranges with a fantastic range of occasions and relations cards.

To appear in the

Key brands: V&A, Portobello, Spirit, Daisy Patch, Sugar Pips, Marzipan Toybox, Born to Stitch, Idols, Life, Sweet Tooth, Brights.

Product Directory

Method of sale: Direct to retail, Export and Licensing.

please contact

Riverside House, Centurion Way, Riverside Business Park, Nottingham NG2 1RW Tel: 0115 986 0115 Fax: 0115 986 0116 Email: sales@paperrose.co.uk Web: www.paperrose.co.uk www.artgroupcards.co.uk

Warren Lomax on 020 7700 6740

paperlink... pap erlink... the home of fa fabulous bulous cards!

Products An exciting and innovative range of quality Birthday, relations, special occasions, art and humorous greeting cards. Full range of Christmas and Spring Seasons merchandise. Comprehensive collection of handmade cards.

Pizazz gifts.

Brand Names Pizazz, Pizazz Gallery, Say the Word, Carousel, Meadow Sweet, R&R for Men, What a Picture!

Cloudesley House • Shire Hill Saffron Walden • CB11 3FB T: 01799 520200 F: 01799 520100 www.nigelquiney.com

356 56 Kennington Rd London SE11 4LD T 020 7582 8244 info@paperlink.co.uk @paperlink.co.uk www.paperlink.co.uk

Suppliers of humorous & contemporary Birthday, Christmas, Spring Seasons, Occasions & Relations cards Brands include: Bottomline, Bestie, Wrinklies, Hat Trick, Route 69, Bangers & Flash, Humdingers, Lacie, Sassy, Stay Wonky, Patisserie, Tinklers, Made With Love, and many many more!

Method of Sale: Direct

To appear in the Product Directory please contact Warren Lomax on 020 7700 6740

Paperlinkcards Paperlinkcards @paperlinkcards @ paperlinkcards PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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TM

The Playful Indian cards are a unique fusion of the east and west. Simple and quirky, they have made many people smile...so what are you waiting forr, put a smile on someone’s face today!

holy y cow! it s it’s your birthd hda ay y

Greeting Cards that are unique & special with creative wit.

Looking for top-notch agents to join our expanding team.

rosierobins.com 01992 536461

Uk publisher of Greetings Cards with an extensive range of quality Birthday, Relations, Occasions and Seasonal product... available from

LING DESIGN

Mr Figgis, when we say parents invited, we usually mean to sit and watch!

Our Brands: The Crazy Side of Life, Laughter with Animals, Sporting Fun The Funny Side of Life, Twiddly Winks.

Dad - I thought you said I could be the, one to tell him you re out

Me th od of sa le : Direct to Retail 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BE Tel: 01892 838574 Fax: 01892 838676 Email: enquiries@lingdesign.co.uk Website: www.lingdesign.co.uk

Design-led Stationery, Gifts, Calendars, Diaries and Cards Brands Laura Ashley, Roald Dahl, Lily & Val, Vintage Ladybird, Caroline Gardner, Monsoon, Born to Shop, Flash Gordon, Boofle and many more.

Our In-house design studio and established supply chain enables us to offer bespoke services. tel: +44 (0) 1225 329494 email: sales@porticodesigns.com website: www.porticodesigns.com

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

RICHARD SELLMER VERLAG Freepost RRZH-KLSL-HYBY Richard Sellmer Verlag KG Stourbridge Tel/Fax: 01384877755 Email: uksales@sellmer-verlag.de Products: Richard Sellmer Verlag is producing Advent Calendars for more than 60 years.

Sensations International Ltd Unit 6, Quad Road,East Lane Business Park,East lane, Wembley,MIDDLESEX HA9 7NE Tel. 0208 3854470 Fax: 0208 385 4471 Email: sales@sensationsinternational.com PRODUCTS: World’s leading publisher of high quality plastic greeting cards. Also an extensive range of quality greeting cards covering Everyday, Occasions, Christmas and Spring seasons.

BRANDS: Cherished Thoughts, Sweet Sentiments, Buddies Always, Symphony, Thinking of You, Style, Special Wishes, Special Times, Young Editions, Groove Sensations, Forever Blessed, Grey Skies, Classics.

METHOD OF SALE: Direct to retail.

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PRODUCT DIRECTORY

www.tomcatcards.co.uk w: www.tomcatcards.co.uk e: tomcat@tomcatcards.co.uk t: 01243 837300

The UK’s leading publishers of highest quality handmade Greetings Cards.

Products: Greetings cards for all occasions, Christmas and Spring Seasons. Spinners and other retail displays available.

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01923 200600 | www.woodmansterne.co.uk

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Top-notch British Greeting Cards for Thoughts that Count

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

Talking Pictures Cards 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6BE

Tel: 0845 450 1815 Fax: 0845 450 1816 Email: enquiries@talkingpics.co.uk Website: www.talking-pictures.co.uk

Products:

Greetings Cards, Gift Wrap, Social Stationery, Gift Bags, Keepsakes, Partyware.

Brands:

Designer Collection, Feelings, Impressions, Inspirations, In Touch, Isabel’s Garden, Paper Wishes, Planet Happy.

DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT

Method of sale:

Wholesale Distributors

Simon Elvin Limited Wooburn Industrial Park, Wooburn Green, Bucks HP10 0PE Tel: 01628 526711 Fax: 01628 531483 www.simonelvin.com mail@simonelvin.com

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact Warren Lomax on: 020 7700 6740 or email on warren@max-publishing.co.uk TEL: 01480 435562 FAX: 01480 450599 www.tracksltd.com UNIT 2, 12 BLACKSTONE RD,

or contact Tracey Arnaud on: 07957 212 062 or email on tarnaud@btinternet.com

STUKELEY MEADOWS IND EST, HUNTINGDON, CAMBS, PE29 6EF

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Directory of wholesalers Directory of wholesalers DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS l

LONDON & THE SOUTH

MERSEYSIDE

WALES

Merseyside Greeting Cards Ltd

Merseyside’s Largest Greeting Card Distributor Due to our massive buyer power, we are able to offer you the best prices and also take a pride in our friendly service.

SCOTLAND

DORSET

Clapperton Agencies 30 McDonald Place Edinburgh EH7 4NH Tel: 01315 579009

Sunrise Business Park Higher Shaftsbury Road Blandford, Dorset DT11 8ST Tel: 01258 452125 Fax: 01258 486109

Greeting cards * Gift ranges * Pocket money toys * Balloons * Badges * Banners * Soft toys * Stationery * Collectables , including dolls * Photo frames Always something different Check us out now!!!

Mon-Fri 9.30 to 5.30 Sunday 10 to 1 Late night Thursday till 8pm Freephone 0800 0279072770 Fax: 0151 207 1564

NATIONWIDE

Unit 7 & 8 Devon Street, Liverpool, L3 8HA

R J’s Greeting Cards Ltd

HERTS & LONDON

Greeting Cards from 5p Contact R J Walkden on 0753- 9679-700

SUMAN BROS

Stationery and greeting card wholesaler

Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL

magnus RUPERT

T: 01923 200 900 F: 01923 200 909 Great deals Great location Plentiful parking Just off the M1 Junction 5

WEST MIDLANDS

TRADING

LONDON’S NO 1 GREETING CARDS STATIONERY PARTY AND BALLOON CASH & CARRY

Trading Hours Our Opening Hours are: MON, TUES,WED & FRI 9.00 - 5.30pm THURSDAY 9.00 - 8.30pm SAT CLOSED SUN 10.00 - 4.00pm UNIT 4, THE ARGENT CENTRE, SILVERDALE ROAD, HAYES, MIDDLESEX, UB3 3BS TEL: 020 8573 2975 / 1768 FAX: 020 8561 2349 Email: info@abbeycards.com

As of Monday 27th July our new address will be: Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL

www.rupertmagnus.co.uk

NORTH WEST

C A P S Card & Party Store Ltd

Mon/Wed/Fri: 8.00 - 5.00 Tues/Thurs: 8.00 - 8.30 Sat: 8.00 - 12.00 Sun: 8.00 - 2.00

The North West s Largest Supplier to the Independent Specialist Card & Gift Shop

Massive range of Cards, Partyware, Gifts, Gift Bags, Gift Boxes & Gift Dressings

574 Manchester Road, Bury, BL9 9SW

0161 796 7353

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To appear in the Wholesale Directory simply call WarrenLomax on 020 77006740

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Polypropylene & biodegradable bag specialists

GREETING CARD

F FOR OR A ALL LL Y YOUR OU R E ENVELOPE N V ELOPE N NEEDS! EEDS! Largest L argest rrange ange of iin-stock n- stock ccolours olours Over 400 Bespoke Envelope Sizes 8 Sizes Permanently in Stock RECYCLED

PAPER

100% Recycled Paper A vailable v Available

Over 40 years quality service to the trade Hotfoiling also available

T 01206 396209 E sales@badgerconverters.co.uk www.badgerconverters.co.uk

Stock & Bespoke Cello Bags Peel & Stick Envelopes Bespoke Service on Request

ORDER ON LINE AT: AT: www.regentenvelopes.com www.regentenvelopes.com 01274 583000 sales@regentenvelopes.com sales@regentenvelopes.com

GIVE Y YOUR OUR

VIP

TREATMENT TREA AT TMENT HIGH CLARITY BAGS FOR GREETING CARDS, CALENDARS AND ARTWORK ŏ ŏđŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ ŏ FOIL BLOCKING EXTENSIVE RANGE OF STOCK SIZES AND BESPOKE MANUFACTURE AUTOMA AT TED WRAPPING WRAPPING SERVICE SERVICE NEW AUTOMATED

Quality Bespoke Envelopes!

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

CALL US TODAY

Plain, printed, coloured & textured finish.

www.fulcrumfilms.co.uk

Please call us on 0843 5066684 with your enquiry or visit our website

01228 560526

100% recycled & FSC available.

www.ukenvelopecentre.co.uk We will be delighted to help!

To appear in simply call Warren Lomax on: 0207 700 6740 We’ve We’ve been producing bags of high clarity and high quality for over 30 years.

01274 220 220 www w.wrapid.co.uk www.wrapid.co.uk sales@wrapid.co.uk sales@wrapid.co.uk

or alternatively email him on warren@max-publishing.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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O F F S E T PRODUCTIONS

SHOP EQUIPMENT

Op

GREETING CARD DISPLAYS

• Manufacturers of

quality Display Units for over 25 years

• PVC Interlocking Tiers • High Impact 2mm Edging

• Vast range of colours available

• From one unit through to full shop reďŹ ts

INNOVATIVE DISPLAYS TO MEET YOUR NEEDS www.universalshopequipment.co.uk Tel: 0151 546 4525 (Showroom) EXPORT

Producing greeting cards for over 30 years

PRODUCTIONS

01622 710 759 www.offsetproductions.co.uk

188 Forstal Road • Aylesford • Kent ME20 7DB

PJ Print (London) FLITTERING

The Capitals only Greetings card printer

FOR ALL YOUR FLITTER REQUIREMENTS

Guess what

ABL Foil Ltd Unit 1, Industrial Estate East Hanningfield Chelmsford Essex, CM3 8AB

Contact DAVID JIGGINS Tel: 01245 400104 Email: david@abl-ltd.co.uk

To appear in

simply call Warren Lomax on: 0207 700 6740 or alternatively email him on warren@max-publishing.co.uk 96

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

what ?

We now offer a short run digital print service to the greeting card industry

That’s handy if you only want 100 copies

PJ - PRINT E-mail: sales@pj-print.co.uk The Print Works Colville Road, Acton London W3 8BL tel 020 8993 5160 fax 020 8992 8421 www.pj-print.co.uk

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Specialist UK and Global manufacturer for the greeting card industry To discuss how we could work with you contact Simon King Tel: 0115 928 7766 Email: sales@sherwoodgroupuk.com

www.sherwoodgroupuk.com

Hadden Court, Glaisdale Parkway, Glaisdale Drive West, Nottingham, NG8 4GP

The home of greeting cards

To appear in

simply call Warren Lomax on: 0207 700 6740

t ependen ding ind a le r ’s e r K u The U n ufa c t card ma greeting Y j_ed

hZ fheZk [j_d] YW ki ed ]h[ Y \e b _W Y [i If[ i[ i[hl_Y \ _d#^ek e [ ] d W h <kbb [Z ]kWhWdj[ GkWb_jo [i Y h_ f j_j_l[ 9ecf[ h[b_WXb[ Z d W _edWb Fhe\[ii Wbb [h jee ic Y j_ed$ De ehZ ij fheZk h W Z < ;W d W A K 8ej^ services, ur unique 1150 ation on o rm 14 fo in 01 250 For more s team on le sa e th ntact please co eys.co.uk sales@loxl or email:

or alternatively email him on warren@maxpublishing.co.uk

Benb[oi" A_bd Ijh[[j" I^[\Å[bZ I. &OI

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YOUR MANUFACTURING PARTNER FOR VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS

The Professional and Caring Approach..

English speaking production team, prices quoted in sterling... and only 3 days delivery to THE UK...

Really... and there s no VAT to pay or customs procedures either...that's a great deal!

• Hand made and hand finished greeting cards • Boxed sets and acetate packs of cards / envelopes • Giftwrap and tag packs • Individually open and closed wrapped cards • 'Pop up' and cardboard engineered products • Notelets and social stationery • Specialised printing on plastics & lenticular For production enquiries, estimates etc., please contact our UK Agent:

Rob Pearson 07710 132 232 rob@solutions-polska.com

... to 3rd Party Warehouse, Distribution and Hand Finishing needs.

With over 25 years experience in the Greeting Card and Gift Industry, we specialise in providing a very fast yet efficient and friendly service to all of our customers.

Our close links to the port of Felixstowe allowing excellent access for both UK and overseas business.

We would be happy to talk to you and provide further information please contact either: James Smithies on 01449 778360 e: james@setinhand.com Tracy Davies on 01449 778363 e: tracy@setinhand.com Please visit our website at www.setinhand.com for further information.

Your Success Is Our Success

FSC accredited (BV-COC-002485). Audited member of SMETA. Printing to ISO12674-2 standard.

LB Warehousing (Women in Transport & Logistics Finalist)

Digital Di it l P Print i tS Specialist i li t for the greeting card industry What we offer:

S AME DAY order turnaround A CCURATE fulfilment and same day turn round V ALUE ADDED only as you sell the product E XCLUSIVELY Greeting Cards D EDICATED Account Managers

• Greeting cards • Artworking and design • Short-run print • Pick, pack and distribution • Promotional items • Bespoke gifts • Marketing literature • Exhibition graphics • Stationery • Brochures • and more...

With an excellent reputation we work as an integral part of your TEAM bringing much more than fulfilment.

Our costing structure is SIMPLE and TRANSPARENT. We carry out ALL aspects of hand finishing and assembly and provide whatever ADDITIONAL services YOU need Our select team of outworkers carefully hand wrap any size or format of cards urgently, OVERNIGHT! We CARE about your product as much as you do. Attention to detail, QC Issues and IT supported by a comprehensive paper trail for all stock movements are our hallmarks.

Our CAN DO approach means that WE solve your problems.

Outsourcing your warehousing operation releases your time to CREATE/MARKET/SELL/ MANAGE/GROW THE BUSINESS

07974 133735 paul.watson@sherwoodgroupuk.com

YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS, please visit our web site and see what OUR customers say, then to find out more call Lynda Raymond and perhaps we can arrange to meet and discuss your needs I am sure that we can help.

LB Warehousing, Units 1, 2 &3 Wayside Warehouses, Toseland, Near St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. PE19 6RX Tel 01480 880800 Fax 01480880900 Mobile 07889 399341 lynda@lb-warehousing.co.uk

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Hand assembly and contract packing specialists • • • •

Greetings cards, hand-packed and hand-finished Low to high volume card cello bagging Gift wrap and gift product packing.

Warehousing & fulfilment services.

Call us and we will get you packed up!

Tel: 01226 206116 E-Mail:- info@mypackcompany.com www.mypackcompany.com

WIRE SPINNERS Tel: 01929 550085 Email: sales@westminsterwire.com Web: www.westminsterwire.com

Home of the Wire Spinner Stand

WANTED

BY SHOWCASE GREETINGS

Paying top rates of commission promptly plus BONUS! The Wire Spinner is proven to be the most cost effective method to display and enhance products.

We also offer sheet metal, wood, acrylic and cardboard solutions or a combination of materials.

FOR SALE

A worldwide database of card and stationery distributors.

Based on over 25 years of export business on behalf of some of the most successful greeting card publishers, a listing of top overseas buyers worldwide is now accessible for others.

Complete listing available for £1500 + VAT For more information call Robin Littman Experienced selection advice also available +44 (0)1278 671679/+44 (0)7767 797858

Good Sales Agents required to sell a fresh new greetings card concept ideal for Independent Greeting Card Shops offering a simple one-stop service for great new designs.

Card designs can be viewed on our website: www.showcasegreetings.co.uk

Apply by email to: info@showcasegreetings.co.uk or telephone 01394 271668 Please note our new address: 3 Manning Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 2AS PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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13 BEAUTIFUL LITHOGRAPHS BY THE R E N O W N E D I L L U S T R ATO R E M M A T H O M S O N P R I N T E D O N L U X U RY I TA L I A N B O A R D W I T H S L AT E G R E Y E N V E L O P E S .

120mm x 170mm, HH/50.

F O R A F R E E S A M P L E P A C K P H O N E S A L LY O N 0 1 4 2 3 5 2 0 0 9 8

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© Emma Thomson 2016

Licensed by Sable & Winbourne Ltd

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