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Regional Accents
Publisher’s sense of place PG checked in with some of the publishers and suppliers who have tapped into the localised appetite with designs that feature town names or regions or feature landmarks.
Dandelion Stationery Jo Wilson, founder: “At Dandelion we have always had our own in-house digital print facility which allows us to offer short print runs for specific/niche cards. This puts us in an ideal position to offer personalised cards for our trade customers. We now offer over 16 designs which can be personalised, and these cover many occasions such as general birthday, new home, new baby, teacher, relations and various Christmas designs. Spring Seasons - Mother’s Day and Father’s Day have been particularly popular for us). We picked up a lovely new customer at Spring Fair who was so thrilled with the personalised cards that they ordered 100 of one design!” Above: One look from Dandelion’s personalised collection.
DTP Southfield Alun Joseph, managing director: “Bespoke, local designs are at the core of our range. Designs based around towns or locations work for locals, tourists and friends and family who have maybe moved away - there is always a market, but it needs to be the right design. Working with both retailers and creatives, we develop bespoke ranges with customers producing bespoke greeting cards as well as other gifts and stationery products. We put a lot of effort into working closely with our valued customers to get the range of products and the bespoke designs just right.” Jo O’Meara, customer account manager: “We have shops in some areas who sell a lot of our Terribly Posh range, where in some areas the customer base is quite different and another range sells better. It’s very interesting to build a picture with our customers and help them get the right products for their shop.” Above: Different artwork approaches from DTP Southfield, including Sketch Your Town, whereby the company will produce hand-drawn artwork from any photograph of a town, local landmark, building or view in either a line art or vintage style.
Buddy Fernandez Lee Rowlett, creative sheriff and co-owner: “Following our Buddy Tour around these fair isles in January, we started coming up with some regional cards that would sell for customers in various areas - so now we have some local designs in the Regional Honesty range.” Left: Saying it like it is with Buddy’s Regional Honesty range.
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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
The Eco-friendly Card Co Sue Morrish, co-owner: “Tourist attractions are thriving in the south-west and retailers are looking for more products that are local to them. When we first saw Becky Bettesworth’s nostalgic posters we knew they would make fantastic cards, and we now have designs from locations across the South West and also offer mininotecard stationery too - which are especially popular with visitors.” Living in Torquay by the beach with her three children, husband Matt and golden retriever Squiggle, Becky’s artwork takes inspiration from the classic travel and railway posters of the 1930s. Above: Glorious West Country locations feature in Becky Bettesworth’s nostalgic artwork from The Eco-friendly Card Co.
Jessica Hogarth Illustration Jessica Hogarth, owner and artist: “My coastal upbringing inspired me to start my business so my very first designs had a local flavour, although not as much as they do now! I created my Whitby map design during a quiet couple of weeks in 2017. It now sells on various products including cards, prints, tea towels, mugs and coasters in a couple of local retailers as well as our own bricks and mortar shop in Robin Hood’s Bay. This design helped to get the ball rolling for me to create designs for other independent retailers in the UK. Every location has its own quirks!” Above: Jessica Hogarth’s detailed local drawings.