11_13_17_19_23_25_27.qxp_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 24/12/2023 17:19 Page 11
NEWS Paperlink launches new planning service
TOP STORY
Final Festive Push Christmas trade looking good for cardies “Our best in all the 13 years we’ve been trading,” rejoiced Sean Austin, owner of Austin & Co in Malvern about his sales in the golden quarter. “Our November turnover was 50% up on 2022 and I hit last year’s December total on Monday [18th]. We’ve seen increased sales across all categories, but cards have been leading the way, especially humour singles and charity packs.” As PG went to press, with still a couple of frenzied trading days to go until the big day, sales of Christmas cards were looking good. Kaye Thurgood, owner of Sincerely Yours in Shenfield and Hornchurch who sparked the idea of the Cardmitment campaign to promote the sending of Christmas cards after the 2022 debacle caused by the postal strikes, is a happy bunny. “Our card sales are up…I had to place repeat orders of single cards three times in December and the shelves are very low for the final push. Sales of boxes and charity packs are back to pre-Covid levels!” Down in Petworth, Sally Matson of Red Card was also happy to report that even
Above: There was no missing Christmas cards in Honiton’s Just Cards’ window. Below: Bentleys in Stourport came up with its own version of a white Christmas.
without the final thrust her “Christmas card sales are up against last December, especially packs.” In Tettenhall, Caroline Ranwell, owner of Hugs & Kisses was on course to “definitely finish the year ahead of target. Christmas charity cards have sold way better than last year, they’ve almost all sold and the boxes too.” Meanwhile at Lark, which trades from 18 shops in London and Surrey, coowner Priya Aurora-Crowe revealed she was rather caught short by the public’s appetite for Christmas cards in 2023. “Amazingly we sold out of all our Christmas cards across all stores with a week’s trade still to go, but thankfully was able to rush through some re-orders.” (See Viewpoints pages 33-37)
Paperlink has launched a new module for card plan packages with three choices for smaller stores and bespoke plans for spaces up to 30ft. The London-based publisher has designed the planning initiative to give “shop owners peace of mind Above: A Paperlink and allow quicker and easier ordering”, planned display. according to md Emma Young. And, with the team using industry-leading sales data, the company predicts that its planned displays will increase sales by 35%, with regular visits by the Paperlink team to monitor sales to see what's working and adapt the selections as required. Emma added: “Each plan contains best selling designs arranged in an optimum layout to ensure strong sales from a wide variety of customer types.”
Fancy slaying the dragons? Enabling publishers to get their cards in front of retailers as well as gaining invaluable advice are two key elements of the GCA’s Dragons Speed Dating events. Bookings are now being taken for the Dragons 2024 outing, which will take place on Thursday 7 March, held at London’s Business Design Centre. John Lewis, House of Cards, Postmark and Austin & Co are among the 18 retailers who have already confirmed their participation. Each publisher attendee will have a 10-minute one on one meeting with three buyers – a multiple account, a small group and an independent. Publishers can also submit up to three cards for each of the 18 buyers’ sample bags. Exclusive to GCA members, there is currently an early bird offer of £150+vat instead of £175. Head to the GCA website (www.gca.cards). Left: The 2023 dragons event in full pitching mode.
Origamo has a pop at world record 3D cards specialist Origamo is about to stand out even more with a world record attempt for producing the largest pop-up card ever. Company founder Furio Ceciliato has selected famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo as the subject for the design, as 2024 is the 70th anniversary of her death, someone whose indomitable spirit has become a symbol of resilience. The Italian greeting card brand has its 3D pop-up designs handassembled by workers in Vietnam so is using the gigantic card, measuring almost three metres high and over nine square metres in total, to help girls in the country’s most populous area of Ho Chi Minh City. The plan is to collect donations for the Christina Noble Children's Foundation (CNCF), with the funds raised going to the Sunshine Homes For Girls, family homes in the city where children at risk of exploitation and human trafficking are rescued from poverty and given the childhood they deserve. The official world record attempt card developed in collaboration with
the Frida Kahlo Corporation in Miami with the help of My Design Co, Ondalba, and Paperartviet, will take place on 11 January, during the opening day of Milano Home, the Italian living and home décor trade fair. The giant card will be on display throughout the show and visitors who make a donation to the CNCF will receive a normal-sized limited edition Origamo card version worth £8.60 (€10). Furio and his wife Erica personally oversee the Foundation’s funds and coordinate its activities in Italy, and he explained they wanted to create a bridge between Frida Kahlo, as a female icon of strength, perseverance and independence, and “all the girls in the world who do not have the same luck as us, but have the right to be able to pursue and realise their dreams”. Right: Erica Ceciliato with a mock-up of the giant card.
FOR THE LATEST NEWS VISIT PGBUZZ.net PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE 11