81_83_85_PG Live Newbies.qxp_Grid 20/05/2025 15:41 Page 95
PG LIVE NEWBIES
The Story Unfolds
Inset: Every PG Live exhibitor has a different story.
In a few days Progressive Greetings Live (June 3-4 at London’s Business Design Centre) will see an inspiring array of publishers making their respective debuts at the exhibition, most notably in the Upper Village and Springboard areas. Following on from last month’s edition, PG shares the back stories of several more PG Live newbies as well as their ‘happy ever after’ dreams for the show.
Meera Pandya, founder of Rainee Collections Once upon a time: “Before Rainee Collections was even a twinkle in my eye, I’d been hand-making greeting cards for about 25 years, all just to spread a bit of joy to family and friends. Paper has always been a part of my life. My parents ran a photography and printing business, so I pretty much grew up surrounded by off-cuts, ink smells, and paper stacks taller than me. As a kid, I’d squirrel away scraps from their studio and turn them into cards and scrapbooks. My pocket money was always spent on card making supplies! Fast forward to 2020 and lockdown had us all rethinking life, didn’t it? I’d just come off maternity leave with my second child and was weighing up whether to go back to the corporate world. But instead, I took the leap and launched Rainee Collections (named after my kids; my biggest joys) - a business built on spreading joy. One of the most exciting parts of this journey has been getting into digital illustration. It’s opened up a whole new world and has taken my designs onto another level. What started as handcrafted pieces has now grown into full collections that blend handillustrated charm with a fresh, modern edge. Taking
the plunge and exhibiting at PG Live felt like the natural next step.” PG Live main plot: “I’m especially excited to be launching fresh designs into the Blossom & Bloom Collection, plus an entirely new range, the Mayfair Collection that will debut at PG Live as well as another secret stationery launch.” Happy ever after: “I am hoping to meet retailers on the lookout for joyful, design-led cards and paper goods as I’d love my cards to bring some extra joy and kindness to their shelves! There’s something so special about independent retailers. Maybe it’s because I grew up with my parents’ business, but I just love the sense of community, care, and character you get from a small business.” • Rainee Collections will be on Stand 2.
Above: Meera Pandya has been making cards by hand for the last 25 years. Right: A Father’s Day design from Rainee Collections. Far right: Hand-illustrated charm on a Rainee Collections’ Christmas card.
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