13_15_19-21_News Pages.qxp_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 21/05/2025 12:51 Page 13
NEWS TOP STORY
PG Live Countdown Over 220 exhibitors to launch thousands of new designs We are now only days away from doors opening on Progressive Greetings Live 2025 treating buyers to thousands and thousands of new designs and products from over 220 exhibitors. The two-day show, which takes place Tuesday 3 June and Wednesday 4 June, at London’s Business Design Centre will bring the whole global greeting card community together, for an event where business will most definitely meet pleasure. “The exhibitor line-up for PG Live this year really is incredible, from a wealth of wellloved brands on the Village Green and Mezzanine right through to emerging companies and brand new start-ups on the Upper Village and Springboard areas,” commented Warren Lomax, co-owner of the show. “And continuing the PG Live hospitality is a free lunch for all, free teas and coffees in proper cups for the duration of the show, and a free party on the opening night. We just can’t wait to see everybody!” he added. There will be a host of show-only offers, promotions and competitions galore lined up from lots of exhibitors, including those who will be celebrating special anniversaries, such as Paperlink and Quitting Hollywood, (who are both Above left: Rosie Made A Thing will be celebrating its 10th birthday at the show. Above right: Bold & Bright is one of many exhibitors who will be giving a show only discount.
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Tuesday 3 June and esday 4 June 2025 s Business Design Centre
Above: Puns, wordplay and artistry combine on Simon Drew’s work. Above right: The unmistakable Simon Drew.
Cath Tate Cards x Simon Drew THE GREAT TEST COLLECTIO ON OF GREETING G CARDS IN THE WORLD
Above: The PG Live Show Preview gives just a taster of what will be on offer.
celebrating their 40th birthdays), Carte Blanche and Hotchpotch, who will be marking their respective 30th milestones, Paper Salad’s 20th and a host of 10th birthday markers, including Rosie Made A Thing, Bexy Boo, Louise Mulgrew, Poet and Painter, Apple & Clover and Lola Design. Among the many notable launches, the show will see Two Bad Mice exhibiting for the first time in a decade, Noel Tatt will christen its collaboration with Earlybird Designs, Cath Tate will officially launch its new distribution partnership with Simon Drew (see above right), UKG will be unveiling its move into partyware and Ohh Deer will showcase its inaugural Laura Ashley collections, with the heritage brand also sponsoring the lunchroom at the show. (For more on PG Live see pages 3537, Innovations pages 39-55 and anniversaries on pages 59-63)
Cath Tate Cards has taken on the distribution for legendary artist and humourist Simon Drew, freeing up more time for him to create. Describing himself as “half artist, half wit” Simon Drew has been amusing folk with his idiosyncratic view of the world for almost 50 years, offering original works as well as designing cards and other products – and Cath Tate Cards has been at the forefront of greeting card humour for nearly as long. Now, taking a long-running friendship between the two businesses a stage further, they have forged this new working arrangement, with the inaugural range of 80 greeting designs being launched on a dedicated stand at PG Live (which takes place 3-4 June at London’s Business Design Centre), showcasing Simon’s much-loved and unique take on life, while the Cath Tate Cards stand is close by. (See pages 64-65)
Burns is back Among the familiar faces at PG Live will be Clive Burns, who has recently joined Pigment as South East sales manager. Clive started his career in the greeting card industry 25 years ago, and has worked Above: Clive Burns. for Camden Graphics, Paper Rose, Woodmansterne and Black Olive. However, he has spent the last four years away from the trade, involved in his father’s business. But now he’s “glad to be back!”. (see pages 87-89)
(Ice) cream of the crop There will be some cool action at the show to celebrate Paper Salad’s 20th birthday with operations director Jack Wilson finally getting to live out his childhood dream – of being an ice cream man! In a case of cards and cones with no catch, as well as newness and goody bags on its Stand 413, it will also be serving up ice cream treats to customers outside the lunchroom on the first day. “Whether you’re craving a quick pick-me-up or just want to catch up on our new launches, we’ve got you covered – and your cone, too” laughed Paper Salad owner and co-founder Karen Wilson. “Don’t miss out – pop over, say hello, and grab your ice cream token for a delicious scoop on us. “Jack will be fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming an ice cream man by serving Mr Whippy’s from the N Smith-created ‘van’, which will be parked just outside of the dining room between 1 and 3pm on the Tuesday.” Everyone who stops by the Paper Salad stand, or the Glick stand 317, on Tuesday morning to see the new card and wrap designs will receive a free ice cream token to proffer to Jack ‘the ice cream man’. Jack shared his ice-cream van man aspirations in a PG interview admitting that as a child that he “either wanted to be a professional footballer, preferably for Manchester United, or an ice cream man – even back then I came to the conclusion the latter would be more realistic and there was the thought of having a lifetime supply of bottomless ice cream!” Above left: Jack Wilson in a Paper Salad ice cream van. Left: The specially created voucher.
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