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Personal Reflections
15 Years
of PG Live This June marks the 15th anniversary of Progressive Greetings Live. Warren Lomax, joint show director of PGL shares some of his personal recollections of the exhibition...
“15
years - where have they gone? In many ways, 2008 when the first PG Live show was staged, seems like yesterday. But then, when you think about what we have all gone through in those intervening years - the financial crisis and subsequent economic downturn, the Scottish and EU referendums, Covid and lockdowns and now the Ukraine war and the energy crisis - it feels like a generation ago. There have been so many great memories and a few not so great ones. I remember particularly the few weeks before the inaugural show, a volcanic ash cloud emanating from Iceland threatened to curtail all international air travel. Since we were expecting export buyers from all around the globe, this was a real worry, but luckily the weather Gods were on our side, and a change of wind direction meant the threat never materialised. I clearly remember the worries, despite having a great line up of exhibitors and having promoted extensively, we still wondered if any buyers would turn up. But as Jakki repeatedly quoted from the Kevin Costner movie, Field of Dreams, “If we build it, they will come”. And come they did! The opening day of the first show was packed with buyers, overseas distributors and exhibitors, and everyone seemed to love it. The complimentary lunches went down a storm (especially the vegetarian lasagne which has been a staple on the menu ever since). The first night party on site was a riot, but the news in the evening of the death on Michael Jackson and Manchester United losing to Barcelona in the Champions League final also sticks in my mind. Being newbies to the exhibition organising business, we were initially disappointed that the
Top right: Having been cancelled in 2020 due to Covid, even though the pandemic was still around, the 2021 show was an emotional reunion. Top: Warren (centre) with Pigment boys Steve Baker (left) and Martin Powderly, who have exhibited at every single PG Live show. Above: Loyal visitor Sean Austin of Austin & Co with Bex Hassett of Bexy Boo. Above right: PG Live aussie mates at last year’s overseas drinks reception. Right: Saxophonist Graeme Airth welcoming visitors to the 10th anniversary show…he’ll be there again this year.
second day was not so busy, but as the day wore on, we realised that this was when a lot of the serious business was being done, especially by the international buyers who had just been doing their ground work on the first day and were back to place their orders. In our second year we introduced what has become a PG Live institution, the meeters and greeters in their greeting card dresses featuring hundreds of exhibitors’ greeting cards and the soothing sax player in Graeme Airth (of Curiosity Killed the Cat fame) providing a jazzy soundtrack to proceedings. Although one year the opening was not quite so soothing, courtesy of a band of Indian Bhangra drummers, who almost broke the sound barrier! It was also in our second year that we introduced the Springboard section, which for many visitors has become a key highlight of PG Live. This ‘show within a show’ put the spotlight on new and emerging publishers. Under the auspices of Springboard Queen Tracey Arnaud, it has given the first start to many new publishers, who have gone on to greater things. Wrendale, Bexy Boo, Raspberry Blossom, Rush Design and Stormy Night to name just a few. Covid precipitated the cancellation of the exhibition in 2020, but the following year, despite the ongoing pandemic and international travel being prohibited, the great greeting card industry rallied around meaning we could create a great, if (partially) socially distanced show. Jakki and I were emotionally moved, when the show closed and there was a rapturous round of applause from exhibitors, so pleased to be back together. We are so proud that PG Live has grown to become the greatest greeting card show in the world, only of course possible thanks to the support from our friends in the industry, exhibitors, retailers, overseas distributors, reps and agents. We can’t wait to see everyone again at this year’s show and if you are a cardie and have not yet visited PG Live in those 15 years, come and see what you’ve been missing!” l PG Live takes place June 6-7 at London’s Business Design Centre. PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE 43