Progressive Greetings Worldwide November 2016

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Leader

On The Cards They say it’s good for you to move outside your comfort zone now and again. This is certainly how I and many others felt late on October 6 when we were frantically wiggling our bits in our saris and shalwar kameezes, trying to keep up with the international superstar Karan Pangali as he led the Bollywood dance workshop after The Henries awards ceremony. We were certainly not a patch on Karan and his KSpark dancers, but boy did it feel good; the smiles on that dancefloor were as broad as a late summer sky.

The Henries Award Ball this year was wonderful, not just as the Bollywood theme was joyous, but because it felt like we were an industry united. So many trade suppliers were there (many of whom had pledged their support as sponsors), loads of retailers as well as a potent mix of publishers. We had the largest turnout for The Henries for a decade (over 700 people) and the camaraderie was palpable. Looking around the room there were so many lovely friendship circles, groups of publishers who have ‘grown up’ together cheering each other on, chatting and dancing. Mutual respect and sheer enjoyment with those who rock your working life was the order of the evening.

And two events in the coming month, the GCA AGM (on November 8) and The Ladder Club seminars (November 15 and 16) will provide more great reasons for us all to get together.

This is no clique-industry, no one needs to feel isolated. If you are a retailer and haven’t yet joined the GCA (which is run from our offices), please do.

It will only cost you £12 a year (at the moment anyway). Who knows where it could lead Bollywood dancing together is just the start!

Top: A first - The UK greeting card industry Bollywood dance performance! International dance sensation Karan Pangali and his KSpark dance troupe led a Bollywood dance workshop after The Henries awards ceremony.

Above right: PG's Gale Astley (left), Warren Lomax and Jakki Brown in full Bollywood attire.

Above: Stop the Clock's Kathy Slatter (left) and Erin James took their Henries Best Spring Seasons Range trophy, that they won for their Love You More Valentine's Collection into the tuk-tuk photobooth (that was sponsored by Davora which added to the fun of the evening).

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Contents

Within This Issue:

What’s Inside

THE 2016 HENRIES WINNERS

66

30 9-19

35-57

69-71

News

The Henries 2016 Winners

Art Source

20-21

The winners of this year’s Henries awards.

72-73

What’s Hot?

Over The Counter

Lonely Planet

58-60

Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, reveals how as a business owner it can be lonely.

Innovations

22-23 Cardsharp

The Shrinking Pound In Your Pocket?

74-75 Lynn’s Lines

A Brave New World

61-63 Spotlight On Animal Cards

Fauna Fur-vour

76-87

A pack of publishers reveal their most amazing animal encounter.

Classified

61

64-65

Cardsharp muses over topical events happening in the industry.

Jeremy’s Journal

Digital Retailing Blue Eyed-Sun’s Jeremy Corner shares his thoughts on low cost ways to retail online.

25-27 Viewpoints

Sprouting Sales How some of this year’s Retas awards winners are gearing up for Christmas.

66-67 Retailer Face To Face

Capital Letters

29-33 Caught On Camera

A Bollywood Blockbuster The party pictures of this year’s ‘Bollywood Ball’ themed Henries awards.

PG catches up with Alice Mayor, founder of contemporary souvenir store, We Built This City, in London's Carnaby Street.

Right: ‘The Look of Love’ by Liz Chaderton from Wraptious.

Progressive Greetings is a monthly business magazine.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: UK subscription: One year £50 Two year £85 Three year £110 Overseas subscription: One year £75 Jakki Brown

Warren Lomax

Gale Astley

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Advertisement Director

Deputy Editor

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SUBSCRIPTIONS ENQUIRES: maxsubscriptions@marketingreinforcements.co.uk Tel: 020 8943 9541

PG is the official magazine for the Greeting Card Association GCA: Sharon Little 020 7619 0396 Email: gca@max-publishing.co.uk www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk Use your smartphone app to scan the QR code to visit our website.

Copyright© 2016. While every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of publication, the publishers cannot accept legal liability for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for the standing of advertisers nor any organisation mentioned in the text. Views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Banging The Drum ‘Namaste’ To The Henries Bollywood Bonanza With the largest audience for over a decade, The Henries Awards 2016 was full of enthusiastic sparkle; a real industry celebration which saw the UK’s best greeting card ranges from publishers of all shapes and sizes truly recognised.

Fully embracing the Bollywood theme of this year’s event, The Henries Awards Ball, which took place on Thursday October 6 at the Lancaster London Hotel, started as it continued, with a bang! Thanks to card publisher Davora (which sponsored a myriad of entertainment), dhol drummers welcomed the 700+ publishers, retailers and suppliers as they arrived, many in full Bollywood regalia.

The awards were hosted by BBC Asian Network presenter Tommy Sandhu, with world famous Bollywood superstar Karan Pangali of KSpark putting on an incredible performance, also leading a memorable dance workshop after the awards ceremony.

As Jakki Brown, co-owner of Progressive Greetings (which organises The Henries) said in the opening speech: “The Bollywood film industry is awash with colour, excitement and imagination, not unlike our greeting card industry. Bollywood films can be in your face or emotionally tender, just like our finest card ranges.”

Reflecting the diversity of the industry, the winning ranges hailed from publishers

from right across the spectrum, from startups to multi-nationals. The winners were chosen from over 14,000 cards that were entered, by a panel comprising over 40 top retail buyers.

The prestigious Honorary Achievement Award went to Gary Rowley, ceo of UK Greetings. Sara Miller was crowned Most Promising Young Designer or Artist (evidenced by ranges she had designed receiving five nominations across the categories). The Gold Best Service Award to the Independent Retailer, for the first time ever, went to IC&G. Noel Tatt won the Silver award and UKG the Bronze.

(See pages 29-57 for photos of the event, as well as all the winners).

Top: The accomplished dhol drummers at The Henries.

Above left: With their own take on the Bollywood theme, Brainbox Candy’s Ben Hickman (left) and Mark Williams went on stage to collect the Best Children’s Range award from host Tommy Sandhu and Sally Drinkwater, of category sponsor Loxleys.

Below: Ilona Drew (right) from I Drew This won Best Art Range for its Landmarks collection. Seen here with (centre) Miles Robinson of House of Cards and Blue Eyed Sun’s Jeremy Corner.

Recognition For Achievement Paper Salad has been shortlisted for the Most Entrepreneurial Company Of The Year Award 2016.

Directors and co-founders, Karen Wilson and Claire Williams, are absolutely thrilled, especially as they are the only greeting card business in their category, up against mainly financial companies. "It’s a great feeling knowing that all the hard work we have put in is being recognised," they commented. "Creative businesses are notoriously hard to get off the ground, but 11 years and six members of staff later, to be nominated for this award has culminated another great year for Paper Salad!”

K2 Greetings Ceases Trading Creation Express Continues Bury-based greeting card publisher, K2 Greetings ceased trading on October 15. Creation Express, the personalised products company also owned by K2 directors, Kurt Abbott and Katie Pennington-Collins, is continuing unaffected.

Kurt said:“We just cannot give K2 our full attention anymore. Creation Express, which we launched over a year ago, has turned out to be a life changing business, not just for us but for nearly all who have signed up for the concept.“ He revealed that the Creation Express company has recently received significant investment to fuel its growth.

He told PG that operating as a greeting card publisher had become “increasingly challenging.”

Although K2 Greetings will be liquidated at some point, he also gave his personal assurances that “we will honour retailers’ Christmas sale or return agreements.”

While most of the K2 office and warehouse staff will remain, working on Creation Express, Kurt confirmed “with regret we have to say goodbye to our K2 sales team.”

Simon Elvin has acquired the K2 Greetings’ design bank (which spans over 3,000 images) as well as the finished stock. However, there is no intention whatsoever to continue to use the K2 Greetings’ brand. Elaborating Simon Elvin, founder of the company, said:“We have not bought the K2 Greetings business and will not be publishing under the K2 brand, but we will be considering which of the designs are useful to us. We only bought the stock to keep the market clean and avoid a disorderly situation. We will dispose of this finished stock sensibly in the future.” * K2 Greetings went into administrative receivership a few years ago, but was resurrected by Kurt and Katie.

Below: Kurt Abbott and Katie Pennington-Collins, co-founders and co-owners of K2 Greetings and Creation Express.

Left: (Right-left) Paper Salad’s Claire Williams, Karen Wilson with colleagues Jess Hadfield and Lydia Jones at The Henries last month.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Exchange Of Views A Brexit Taster Of More To Come Is Brexit, and the 15% drop in the value of sterling, starting to bite in our industry?

There is still a minimum of two years before the UK leaves the EU officially, but the 30 year low of the £pound against the $dollar and €euro, coupled with a dip in consumer confidence, is already having ramifications, including in the greeting card industry.

While some companies, especially those who produce in the Far East, have already come out and said that their trade prices will be rising, others are holding back.

As Steve Jones-Blackett, co-owner of Wendy Jones-Blackett sums up, the devaluation of the £pound against virtually every other currency in the world is a double edged sword, depending on where a company sells to and sources product from. "My guess is that the full impact of increased costs caused by the value of sterling and increased carriage will not be realised until early to mid 2017 which is when I can see UK price increases coming in. No company who sells cards/wrap can take a 15% profit hit, particularly on products which tend to have quite slim profit margins."

While he says that, as Wendy JonesBlackett and many mid-sized publishers still manufacture in the UK, they “should be insulated to an extent from price increases. However, I'm factoring in elevated costs due to heightened fuel prices and associated charges." As his codirector Wendy added: “We get all our glitter from the States so that cost is going up by 20% (and we use a lot of glitter) but everything else is UK made and sourced. We have absorbed price increases on the UK front over the last few years as sales have been good so it has evened out. I can't speak for other companies but with a 20% rise in the cost of items

manufactured outside the UK price hikes do seem unavoidable.”

One greeting card retailer that is feeling bullish about Brexit is Terry Harvey, md of Occasions Retailing, which trades from 16 shops. "Price rises aren’t as much a concern for me as others in the industry," he states. "However, if I was selling high priced goods like cars, then I would be concerned. The world becoming more expensive favours my kind of retail, and if customers have to pay more they want more, such as a nice environment, more service and more quality.”

Dahling, What A Great Idea That ‘big friendly company’ Star Editions recently extended its Roald Dahl licensing agreement to include greeting cards. “Our Roald Dahl gift range has been such a huge success that it was a natural choice for us to handle the greeting cards as well," confirms ceo Will Marston. "We wanted to do something a bit different to what’s been done before and with Quentin Blake’s illustration being so iconic we thought people would enjoy adding their own finishing touches with our ‘colour-in cards’.”

Two ranges have been launched featuring three classic characters - The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda. The first range is a 6”x4” colour range showcasing the best of Quentin Blake’s imagery from the iconic Dahl books. The second range, a 6” square format, can either be sent as a classic black and white take on the images, or can be coloured-in by either the sender or the recipient. Star Editions’ existing Roald Dahl art and gift range includes art prints, cushions and enamel and bone china mugs.

Above: The new Roald Dahl colour and colour-in cards from Star Editions.

Top: Is Brexit starting to bite into the card industry?

Above: Steve (centre) and Wendy Jones-Blackett on stage at The Henries collecting the award for Best Relations & Occasions Range (for its Paper Diamonds range) with host Tommy Sandhu.

Below left: Terry Harvey with co-director Jane Chandler outside the Occasions store in Bradford.

Terry added: “Many suppliers were proactive in contacting us prior to any price rises and have given us the opportunity to work with them on forward-ordering for Christmas.

Fundamentally, I think the industry will alter to accommodate the changes.

I remember the anti-dumping import duty increase on Chinese ceramics a few years ago, which was a similar percentage impact as Brexit, yet we still have well-priced decent ceramics selling in the stores. There is always a way. Also, Brexit should be good for UK manufacturers. Exports and profits will go up and they will be better able to compete for our business.

There’s always opportunity. In retail, being challenged is inevitable, being defeated is optional."

(See Cardsharp pages 22-23)

Dodo Fights To Avoid Extinction Calendar, diary and organiser company Dodo Pad, which publishes diaries and organisers, is one company that has admitted it is fighting for survival. Rebecca Jay, the company's md, declared: “The huge drop in the value of the £pound against the $dollar brings Dodo Pad to a point in its 50year history from which we can no longer recover unless we can get production back in the UK and have some certainty of costs.

If as a country we are ever to have a manufacturing base again then this is the time to do it – in the new world of Brexit. Maybe it should be renamed ‘Brincome’.”

In May, Rebecca placed a forward dollar exchange rate trade ‘bet’ for Dodo Pad. The gamble paid off to assure this year’s production – but not that for 2017.

As she points out: “I don’t imagine we are alone. There are thousands of small businesses whose reliance on overseas manufacturing will be hit hard – possibly too hard to recover from. Is this what was anticipated by leaving the EU? I don’t think so.”

Left: Dodo Pad searches for a survival route.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Fontastic Addition Pocket Typewriter Joins The Art File Portfolio In a move which further broadens its portfolio and strengthens its creative team, from the start of next month The Art File is to publish the collections from fellow based Nottingham publisher Pocket Typewriter. In addition, Pocket Typewriter co-founder and co-owner Jack Carter joins The Art File’s in-house design team as a fulltime designer.

"We're thrilled with the addition. We are always open to explore working opportunities with talented designers and publishers, especially those who have a

hunger for developing new and appealing collections," Ged Mace, md of The Art File, told PG. "Jack and his sister Leckie have established a lovely brand identity over the past five years at Pocket Typewriter and this offers a complementary style to The Art File."

Jack and Leckie (who is now taking some time out to spend with her two young children) spring boarded Pocket Typewriter into the greeting card market via wedding stationery.

"Since we first exhibited at Home & Gift in Harrogate five years ago, the Pocket Typewriter brand has grown and been taken on by leading retailers and distributors," comments Jack. "With the increased interest in our brand we came to the conclusion that in order to manage and accelerate the growth we needed to work in partnership with a bigger player. However, the fit had to be absolutely right.”

Having considered various options, Jack approached James Mace, sales and marketing co-ordinator at The Art File (the two attended the same primary school). “We discussed if there was a way whereby I worked solely on the designs and The Art File was responsible for production and sales and marketing. He subsequently introduced me to Ged and Karen [Mace, co-owners], and we got on like a house on fire!"

Jack says he is “over the moon that the Pocket Typewriter brand will continue and grow at a faster rate than we could have delivered on our own. We can’t imagine a better fit, and we have the added bonus of both being in the same city."

Future cards will be branded: Pocket Typewriter at The Art File.

Top: Pocket Typewriter's Key Lime collection.

Above: (Left) co-founders and co-owners of Pocket Typewriter, Jack Carter (left) and Leckie Presley, at PG Live 2016, where JP Pozzi’s David Robertson spotted their potential and spent his Retas Golden Ticket with the company. Leckie is taking some time out to look after her two young children.

Something Special For Charity They say that charity begins at home, and Something Special's owner/buyer Karen Ebers was not only delighted to be one of many greeting card/gift shops raising money for local charity Last Chance Animal Rescue through sales of Is It Art charity Christmas cards, but also clinching some publicity in the local newspaper about it.

“Is It Art, a regular supplier of mine, is making its first foray into charity Christmas cards," Karen told the Edenbridge Chronicle. “It’s nice that I was able to choose a local charity as they don’t benefit from charity cards.”

Adds Peter Beecroft, md of Is It Art: "This is a new initiative for 2016 and the response has been superb. All customers have selected their own chosen charity, and while there are no specific trends, we have seen a definite leaning towards local hospices and children's charities."

Birds Flying High As winner of License This! at the Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) show last month, greeting card company I Love Birds hopes the sky's the limit now that the company has taken its first foray into licensing.

Appointing global licensing group JELC as its exclusive licensing agent worldwide, I Love Birds’ co-founder Stuart Cox enthuses: "Thanks to License This! and JELC's Jane Evans, we have the chance to bring something we love doing to a wider audience than we ever dreamed possible."

Explaining why he decided to enter BLE's License This! competition, Stuart explains that right from the start, he has always designed with adaptability in mind.

"The aim was always to get our designs onto products other than cards," he highlights.

"The beauty of greeting cards is that they give you a very easy access to market, and, for an illustrator/designer, gives you a means of getting your work out there."

Above: Designs From I Love Birds.

Neighbourly Action Scottish-based I Like Birds was featured in a four page article in the inaugural edition of Lifestyle Moray, a glossy lifestyle magazine distributed in the Highlands of Scotland where it is based.

Immediately following the article was a well-placed advertisement from JP Pozzi, a trio of shops which PG columnist David Robertson runs, fanfaring the stores’ new branding!

Left and below: The first edition of Lifestyle Moray included both an article on I Like Birds and an advert for JP Pozzi.

Above: Something Special's Karen Ebers is among those helping to raise money for charity through the sale of Is It Art’s Christmas cards.

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NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

TOP STORY

A Royal Male A Write Thumbs Up From Prince Charles Renowned for his prolific love of letter writing, Prince Charles made a point of emphasising his feelings about handwriting, making reference to greeting cards, in a recent speech at Royal Mail's 500th anniversary reception.

"Quite apart from keeping friends and family in touch with one another - and crucially children in touch with Father Christmas - you can be justly proud that, in 2014, Royal Mail made the sixth largest contribution to the UK economy of all UK corporations,” said Prince Charles in his speech.

“But perhaps your greatest service is the way that Royal Mail, by its very existence, defends the written word. In these days of texting and various social media apps, the well-constructed sentence is under mortal threat! As someone who relies on the well aimed letter - and relishes them in return - I can only say how strongly I feel that the logical ordering of thoughts in proper, grammatically correct prose is, in fact, rather important at the end of the day."

Making an even closer link to the sending of greeting cards, the Prince

Below: HRH The Prince of Wales delivering his speech at Royal Mail's 500 years reception.

● Now with almost 35 stores in its portfolio, Scribbler recently opened a second shop in premier London street Long Acre, making it the company's third in the capital’s Covent Garden area – ironically where the chain started its life in the 1970s. ● Widdop And Co's official Christmas 2017 show will be held at its showrooms in Manchester from December 5-22 where a brand new Winter Wonderland showroom will be revealed.

Last month, Gold 'N' Gifts in Skegness, owned by Peter and Karen Kemp, won the Guess the Bestseller competition held during the company's gift show at its HQ. Customers were asked to guess the best seller in the Emporium range - a brandy glass and coaster set - with the prize a bottle of Courvoisier.

Above: Competition winner Peter Kemp of Gold 'N' Gifts won a prize of a bottle of Courvoisier.

ended on a personal high note of thanks: "So, on behalf of letter writers, isolated communities, of the eager and expectant on Valentine's Day and other, equally special days, and, indeed, on behalf of dear old Santa Claus himself, I can only offer my heartfelt thanks and warmest congratulations on a job conspicuously well done by you all. You are, as they say, a national treasure." ● The British public’s love of the Queen is evident in the 100,000+ greeting cards she is expected to receive by the end of this year to mark her 90th birthday, far exceeding expectations.

Snowy Scenes As PG went to press a collection of historic Christmas cards were expected to fetch £2.2million at auction.

A collection of 20 original ink drawings from the Tintin cartoons, created in 1942, that were used on Christmas cards, are going under the hammer in Paris on November 19. In addition to the drawings there are also 11 actual cards.

Above: One of the Tintin cards.

GCA Strengthens Links With Royal Mail The GCA is continuing to work ever more closely with the Royal Mail to promote the sending of greeting cards as well as handwritten correspondence.

"Confirming several stamp cancellation marks for 2017 is a big coup as this helps to raise awareness of the key Spring Seasons events," emphasises the GCA's chief executive Sharon Little, referring to the messages that are printed on envelopes by Royal Mail’s sorting machines. Royal Mail has confirmed that it will be including relevant messages on the 6 million items of post it sorts daily in the run up to each of the Spring Seasons events as well as Thinking of You Week next year.

Sharon recently met with Royal Mail’s head of public affairs David Gold, and Rebecca Maunder, senior PR manager, to discuss how to maximise the symbiotic relationship the greeting card industry has with Royal Mail.

“It goes without saying that we have a mutual interest in seeing the greeting card sector continue to thrive,” said David Gold prior to the meeting. “I would certainly like to see if there are areas that we might usefully work together on, in terms of policy or campaigning, and to identify if there are other people within our respective organisations that ought to know one another.”

Left: A great collaboration is the GCA’s relationship with Royal Mail’s Teacher’s Post educational resource (headed up by Barry Wiles, pictured), which saw GCA members provide hundreds of free cards that were sent out to schools in advance of Thinking of You Week to be used in lesson plans.

Names In Print A few days after The Henries, it was the major award ceremony for those who print the cards.

Six print companies, well-known to many greeting card publishers, fought off stiff competition to make it through to the finals of the PrintWeek 2016 Awards.

Woodmansterne won the Best Social Stationery Printer, Team Impressions won the Bespoke Digital Printer award, while Windles was crowned Environmental Company of the Year. Offset Print and Packaging, Loxleys and The Sherwood Group also made it into the finals.

A record 600 entries were received by PrintWeek, which stood the scrutiny of 26 judges. The Awards took place at The Great Room at the Grosvenor House in London on October 17 and were hosted by Gyles Brandreth.

Above: Woodmansterne’s Seth Woodmansterne collected the award from Print Week Awards host Gyles Brandreth.

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NEWS TOP STORY

Stationery On The Up Pen Poised For Even More Growth Despite the continuing use of smartphones and tablets, the UK stationery market is set to rise by £49.1 million (2.4%) from £2.06 billion in 2016 to around £2.1 billion by 2021, according to recent findings of retail research and analysis firm Verdict Retail.

A new report says that the growth will be driven by the trend of purchasing stationery as gifts, increased product ranges, and design-led products and

innovation. As evidenced by activity by greeting card publishers and retailers moving into higher end stationery, while value is holding up well, volume is dropping at the commodity end.

Sarah Johns, associate analyst at Verdict Retail, explains: “New entrants have made the sector more competitive and innovative than ever before. Low entry barriers have enabled new market entrants to experiment with product design, which has triggered increased interest in stationery, particularly among those aged 16-24."

She adds that increased product choice of premium stationery and availability of extra services, such as personalisation, mean shoppers are increasingly opting for stationery products as gifts.

Below: Smiggle is aiming to be trading from 100 stores in the UK by Christmas.

“UK retailers are benefitting from shoppers who purchase stationery for a variety of occasions. For example, stationery is bought for children for the back to school period, for seasonal holidays such as Christmas, and for other occasions such as birthdays and Mother’s Day,” Sarah highlights.

A recent survey conducted by Verdict Retail found that 57.4% of stationery shoppers were female, with 42.6% being male, suggesting that retailers could increase sales by targeting marketing campaigns towards men as well as women, and by increasing product choice for men.

Within stationery, the stationery sub-categories that have seen the fastest growth in terms of value over the past five years are writing and drawing instruments, as well as accessories, which are all forecast to grow. Volumes have been dampened in some areas due to ongoing digitisation and the rise in ownership and usage of technological devices, meaning stationery is being used less and does not need to be replaced as frequently as it did a decade ago. However, despite the technological revolution the tangible nature of stationery is being appreciated and elevated by retailers (such as Paperchase and new entrants Smiggle and Kikki.K) and suppliers.

Some 9.7% of stationery shoppers surveyed bought stationery online. l Having launched an eCommerce platform in the UK to test the water, Australian stationery retailer Typo is to open its first UK bricks and mortar store in London’s Westfield shopping centre in Stratford in December with more stores to follow.

Hold That Front Page Taking recycling to another level, Paperchase has teamed up with the London Evening Standard to turn old newspapers into a brand new range of stationery to help promote the recycling of newspapers in and around the capital. The products - which feature jotters, pads, notebooks and scrapbooks - went on sale in Paperchase's flagship Tottenham Court Road store, as well as most of the company's other London stores last month. The range reflects a strong pattern design which was developed by the inhouse team at Paperchase.

“The Evening Standard is committed to helping recycling efforts," comments Richard Mead, the London Evening Standard's executive director. "Over 75% of the newsprint that is used to create newspapers in the UK is from recycled fibre, and any copies that are returned to us each night are recycled. We are excited to be promoting these messages through the creation of this fantastic range of products with Paperchase.”

Above: To celebrate the launch, Paperchase held a press and blogger event in its flagship store on Tottenham Court Road.

A Notable Success Story More standalone stores are in the pipeline for trendy own brand stationery and card retailer Kikki.K. In addition to the company's two main stores in the Bentalls Centre at Kingston and in Covent Garden, new stores will shortly be opening in Bluewater and Guildford, with Kikki.K products also stocked by Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, Selfridges and Fenwick.

Meanwhile, the company, founded by Kristina Karlsoon, is inviting everyone to take its online Gratitude Challenge ahead of the run up to Christmas.

The Challenge centres on celebrating moments of gratitude, with a list of 30 ideas including sending a card to a loved one, which appears as fifth on the list, along with writing a thank you card or letter at No. 24.

Wrapping a special gift for someone you love comes in at No 2.

Top: Kikki.K’s Covent Garden store.

Above: A flavour of the styling of Kikki.K products.

It Doesn't Get Better Than This Bex Hassett, founder of publisher Bexy Boo, received a lovely surprise while she was on holiday in Skiathos - a phone call telling her she had been shortlisted in the Best Micro Business category of the British Small Business Awards. Over 600 companies entered the Best Micro Business category, with only nine shortlisted.

After doing some cartwheels of joy on the beach, Bex told PG: "I was absolutely thrilled to be recognised nationally for my achievements with Bexy Boo. After an extremely lengthy questionnaire re my business, how it operates, the greeting card industry, my achievements so far, and my thoughts going forward, along with much more besides, they must have liked what I had to say!"

Above: Bexy Boo (left) at The Henries with Rosie Harrison of Rosie Made a Thing.

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'Ahh' It’s Christmas Carte Blanche Gets Animated About Tatty Teddy This December, Carte Blanche is adding another dimension to Me to You’s ‘ahh’ factor. It has commissioned a brand new Tatty Teddy Christmas animation, which will be the focus of a multifaceted digital Christmas campaign to promote the brand as well as support its retail stockists and licensees.

Starting where the original Me to You story left off, the animation revolves around the little girl who found Tatty Teddy and her excitement around the build up to Christmas. Viewers will watch as the little girl eagerly writes all her Christmas cards and desperately awaits a card in return, trying to hide her disappointment when none arrive while her beloved bear watches on – and in the end comes to her rescue.

Created as part of Tatty Teddy’s 21st anniversary celebrations, the animation centres around showing someone you’re thinking of them, reinforcing the power of sending a Christmas card.

Below: The Tatty Teddy Christmas animation will be the focus of the brand's digital campaign.

"We had an opportunity to build upon our original story of Tatty Teddy this Christmas that not only focused on our key brand values of love and sentiment, but also reflected the caring character of our much-loved blue nose bear," explains Me to You marketing manager Jason Pepperell. "Our aim was to deliver a narrative that resonated with the consumer and fan-base while touching upon our key areas of the brand - cards and Tatty Teddy - which I believe we have done."

Drawn by Me to You head artist Steve Mort-Hill, and animated by Southamptonbased digital content marketing agency Headstream, the animation will be launched on Me to You’s Facebook page from mid-November and will be supported with additional online content and competitions.

Hugging A Double Initiative Marketing is clearly at the top of the agenda for Retas award winning greeting card and gift retailer Calladoodles. Successfully raising the shop's profile with locals in Carshalton, two interesting initiatives were held in October one involving a Scandi hygge (the art of achieving happiness through comfortable living) photo shoot, the other a Stand Up To Cancer event.

Calladoodles’ store manager (and photographer) Kate Luscombe instigated a Casting Call Photo Shoot competition among customers, which was won by local mum Helen Leathem. "We decided the shoot should centre around beautiful fairtrade company Aura Que, whose stunning knitted and felted items are soon to land at Calladoodles," explains Kate, who also created the Calladoodles’ website.

In addition, staff from Calladoodles could be seen Standing Up To Cancer in the window of the local Cancer Research charity shop on October 22. High street shops were invited to book a 15-minute slot during the weekend.

"Everyone donated £15 to stand up in the window for their 15 minutes," explains the shop's Clare Callanan. "We wrapped presents from Calladoodles, mainly flamingo-related, which were then donated to the Cancer Research shop for its fundraising efforts raffle."

Above: Calladoodles' photo shoot winner Helen Leathem in clothes by Aurora Que. (Photo by Kate Luscombe).

Left: Calladoodle's owner Liz Killick (left), with colleague Emma Steel, wrapping presents in the window of a local Cancer Research shop.

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● At 70 years young, King of Calendars Laurence Prince, founder and chairman of Danilo, has no thought of retiring. Treated to a surprise birthday lunch by staff at Danilo’s offices in Waltham Abbey, employees joined together to celebrate his milestone birthday.

Laurence commented: “I'm really overwhelmed by this thoughtful gesture. Danilo has been going for nearly 40 years now and I'm so grateful to all our staff as well as our licensors, retailers and suppliers for all their hard work and support. I’m looking forward to many more successful years to come!”

Meanwhile, those in the licensing industry turned out in force for a party organised to pay tribute to Danilo’s licensing director Trevor Jones, who has semi-retired.

Top: Danilo's Laurence Prince enjoying a surprise 70th birthday party.

Above: Danilo’s Trevor Jones (centre) with PG’s Warren Lomax and Disney’s Aysha Kidwai at the party.

● Sales awards were at the ready when Words ’n’ Wishes celebrated its fifth anniversary sales conference with its sales force. David Larmour was named Sales Person Of The Year; Julie Lister received the award for Highest Christmas Sales 2016 Achiever, with Debra Knibbs receiving the award for Highest Spring Sales 2017 Achiever.

The sales conference took place over two days during the Ryder Cup weekend.

Above: Words 'n' Wishes’ David Larmour (left) received the Sales Person Of The Year Award from managing director Rod Brown.

In Gear For Festive Friday Get your Christmas cards ready! This year's Festive Friday will take place on November 25, with everyone encouraged to send their personal Christmas cards to friends and loved ones early to get recipients in the festive spirit.

Explains Sharon Little, chief executive of the GCA: "We have lots of ideas and a brilliant Festive Friday toolkit to help companies to get creative and to organise Christmas card sending events in the lead up or on the actual day." Promotions include a GCA Festive Friday Twitter Giveaway.

Visit: www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk Above: The branding available for Festive Friday.

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NEWS TOP STORY

A United GCA Voice Card Retailers Urged To Join Forces The Greeting Card Association (GCA) is urging all card retailers, from the largest to the smallest, to pledge their support and join the industry's trade association.

While the GCA already has a number of retailer members, including Paperchase, Scribbler, Clintons, Frosts garden centres, Jarrold and independent specialists, including House of Cards and iCandy Cards & Gifts, it is reinvigorating its membership drive, with a promotional offer of a £12 a year membership subscription to card retailers to join.

As Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA, stressed: “The stronger representation we have from retailers, the louder our voice in fulfilling our mission to promote and protect our industry. The more retail members on board, the better we can all work together to promote card sending to the consumer. It can only be a good thing for everybody involved in this amazing sector.”

Some of the benefits to retailers of joining the GCA include: access to reduced price legal advice, business insurance, website and e-commerce development, credit checks and credit control through the GCA's benefit provider partners.

All GCA members have an official listing with a dedicated page in its online Members’ Directory, a contact hub for the greeting card industry, helping to raise members' website’s SEO ratings.

As members, retailers are invited to attend the GCA AGM (taking place this year on November 8), a great social and networking event and will also receive the GCA Market Report (worth £500) and emails and updates from GCA HQ. “Having more retailers’ input and backing will be invaluable in our campaign work, leveraging our position with the Post Office, Royal Mail, government, education and the media,” said Sharon. “I am delighted by the support that we have received from retailers for our Thinking of You Week and Festive Friday initiatives, as well in our campaign against unfair PR treatment on charity Christmas cards. Just think what we could do with every card retailer involved!”

Left: Paperchase is among GCA’s retail members. Pictured here is Paperchase’s senior card, giftwrap & celebration buyer Tish Bas involved in the retailer’s Thinking of You Week activities, which included all 150 head office employees participating in a mass card sending event with the retailer providing the cards and covering the postage.

The Personal Touch Among the retailers who made the most of the recent GCA’s Thinking of You Week was Bentalls department store in Kingston. As part of the retailer’s promotion of the initiative (which ended on October 2) the greeting card team invited Fiona and Nick Bishop from The Porch Fairies to visit the store's card department to personalise their cards for customers. "This is the third time they have come in and done this for us," reveals card buyer Jenni Taylor. "It's always nice to have something creative to keep the department interesting and current."

Bentalls’ Thinking of You Week support also included a ‘4 for the price of 3 offer’ across the card department. Jenni adds that Thinking of You Week is always a great opportunity to buy or post someone a beautiful card that will brighten their day and let them know you are thinking of them. "In this day and age, people’s lives are so busy and hectic, as a nation, we are always rushing from A to B. Receiving a card from someone to let them know they are thought about is a great gesture.” ● (See PG’s October edition for lots more Thinking of You Week info or go to the Thinking of You Week website where they also feature).

Super Card Sharp Flying the Thinking of You Week flag in London’s Belvedere was Retas award winning store Supersales. "I particularly liked the graphics for the POS and it seems this year a few of the card companies brought out some really good ranges of Thinking of You/Hello card designs, rather than just blanks," explains owner Katy Shipley.

Katy's window display was a foliage arch. "I pinned all the cards onto it, and dangled some off of it. I also personalised a couple of helium balloons and put the ToYW POS banner above and the posters in the window, explaining the event."

Katy said that having the posters to explain the event, both in the window and in the shop, really helped: “Lots of customers commented on the great window display, with some wanting specific card designs out of the window. As its now in its third year, maybe a few people already know about Thinking of You Week. And, of course, it's nice to offer something a bit different at this time of year, before we knuckle down in glitter for Christmas!"

Above: Thinking of You Week display from Supersales, Belvedere.

Happy New Friends At Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School in London, Thinking of You Week was dovetailed with the Jewish New Year thanks to cards supplied by Daniel Prince, director of Danilo, and Raj Arora, managing director of Davora. "Thank you so much for donating the cards to our school," said Liza Feiner, assistant head teacher and Jewish Studies leader, adding: "The children were able to use them to write Happy New Year messages to their friends and also included information about why their friends are special and how much they appreciate them. At the end of the week each child took home a special card written by a friend.

The cards activity helped to support the children's Literacy and PSHE work and they really enjoyed using them. Your generosity is much appreciated."

Below: Daniel Prince's son 8 year-old David (centre), with two of his friends. They were among the hundreds of school children writing cards during Thinking of You Week.

Left: One of The Porch Fairies cards.

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Lonely Planet Independent card and gift retailer, David Robertson, co-owner of JP Pozzi in Scotland, talks about how it can sometimes be lonely being an owner of a business.

Retail has often been described as a lonely place but what does that mean? How can it be? We are surrounded by customers, staff and also have frequent visitors of reps and agents. We also, on the whole, will have family members who are there to support and try to guide, motivate and just simply be there for us. Many of you will be part of a small team so you will have colleagues to bounce ideas off as well.

So how can it be lonely? Well, quite simply, it’s lonely because if you are the owner of the business the buck stops with you!

This year businesses have been hit with a continuation of existing problems, such as falling footfall, high street apathy, rising costs and new challenges such as pensions and the Living Wage. Now, post Brexit, many of the companies we buy from are being squeezed with the falling rates of the £pound against the €euro and the US $dollar. This may affect our margin and could certainly affect companies being able to bring products into the UK at price points that work for us... so watch this space.

Obviously greeting cards, to an extent, are different in that many of the publishers are based in the UK, but I know of very, very few card shops that simply sell cards. Today, as with practically every business on the high street, we are all selling products from a huge variety of categories. Quite simply, we have to. Indeed many of us as indie card and gift shops have been exceptionally glad of the rising sales of women’s small accessories, such as scarves and jewellery. These are just two key areas that offer us a potent, profitable products.

In truth, on the high street, we are all now really competing against one another, as the clothing stores/brands now sell cards too, as they are a cool add-on and can make the stores seem fresh and edgy. So we are all treading on one another’s toes to a point.

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Getting back to that ‘L word’, lonely is how many of us feel when our business does not quite work out how we planned or how we hoped. With the list of challenges we face we cannot simply concentrate on just one section of our business, we have to try to make everything work and this is when we can feel swamped.

While this statement is true, in general terms focusing on our card control and design mix is crucial. For most of us the traditional card area will still be a huge part of what we do and we need to look at it in-

Top: It can be lonely running a business sometimes.

Above: The rise in sales of women’s scarves has been wonderful for card and gift retailers (a model wrapped up in one of the scarves available in Bijou).

depth and accept the help that is on hand from one of the many leading brands.

Hallmark, UKG, IC&G (the recent Henries’ Best Service to the Independent category Gold winner), Noel Tatt (Silver winner), Woodmansterne, GBCC, to name but a few, will all offer help with planning your card controls to get the most from it.

Indeed, this is a process that we are currently going through with UKG. After 30 years as my main supplier I recently challenged UKG as I felt that my control was not working

as well as it could. I felt some of the excellent new product I saw launched at PG Live was not filtering its way into the control pockets as I would have hoped and I felt that some of the publisher’s product was not performing either to its, or indeed my, benefit.

This has been an exceptionally valuable project. My rep and our main card person have been working together through the control, sections at a time, over a number of weeks. This has involved UKG looking carefully at the ticket turn, replacing slower designs, and, even in some instances, giving up pockets that were not working as they should. This has resulted in us showing a four figure growth year-on-year and suffice to say I am much happier.

We are also looking ahead to the new year when we are changing some of the companies that partner UKG on the control. This is a great example of how delegation and teamwork can remove that feeling of isolation and ensure that things are working as they should.

As indie retailers this is something that we can be poor at, the ability to ask or look for help where or when we need it the most. Our industry as we know is a very friendly one with a great deal of camaraderie and sharing of information, so why not ask for help?

We need to be able to look at what is going on and discuss with other retailers the situation we all find ourselves in. We can’t let pride or a feeling of ‘well I should know myself’ get in the way. This help doesn’t need to come in the form of an AA meeting for your problems….“Hello my name is David and I can’t balance my cash flow. I have been struggling now for three months and I can’t pay my bills!”… It can come in many ways, and indeed can start right here by reading this very magazine.

Reading about your industry and the people and products in it can truly take away the feeling of isolation. Using social media to

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Over The Counter

see what others are doing and learning from it is something that just a few years ago was impossible. Visiting trade shows is also another good barometer of what is actually happening out there.

The huge amount of online help, advice and articles that can be accessed by a simple Google search can mean that you can find help with problems easily and at little or no cost.

Getting involved within your industry or with a town centre business group or possibly a Chamber of Commerce can also let you access that reassurance that we all crave. It can also gain you access to HR, employment lawyers, funding advice and a million other things for very little other than your time.

There is a great deal to be said about being involved and being part of the conversation. It’s far better to hear what is being said directly than to be the one on the outside trying simply to catch bits of it.

I am fed up hearing in the media about how many small businesses fail within the first year, five years and now ten years. There is just no way that we can really look at these statistics and take anything from them without finding out an awful lot more. For example, there have been a lot fewer companies starting up over the last few years, therefore there will be less that fail! We would also need to look at what failure actually

Above: Visiting trade shows, such as Harrogate Home & Gift, can help you gage how the market is fairing and what the trends are in cards and gifts.

Below left: Local business groups, such as Moray’s Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards dinner (image kindly supplied by local publication, Northern Scott) would be a perfect place to meet other business people.

Right: Never be afraid to pick up the phone and ask if you are unsure or to keep intouch with colleagues and peers (a card from Lagom).

means? Is it bankruptcy? Is it that they simply close down because they are not making enough money?

It may be the case that a huge amount of these businesses could have survived if they had a little mentoring, but I sometimes think that these failure rates weigh heavy on businesses before they even start.

Let’s be blunt, starting a business, new or otherwise, can feel like going from doing a length of the local swimming pool to swimming the English Channel. It is an incredibly steep learning curve, as you wear all hats from buyer to merchandiser to financial director, but it should be fun and exciting and challenging.

I have been running my business now full-time for 14 years and have been part of a business that my parents have run for nearly 30 years. In truth, I feel that I am still constantly learning, and actually, when I think about some of the things I have done over the years it makes me cringe.

What is actually even more frustrating is that you can understand and see what will make a huge difference to your business but you may not actually be able to implement it.

You may be stopped by many factors, such as time, money, knowledge, lack of support, the ability to prioritise, and yes, you guessed it, this all adds to

that feeling of isolation. In fact, this is frustrating as well.

My intention is, I hope, by sharing what I go through daily and weekly, it may help some of you see that you are not alone and that the feelings and frustrations that you have, I also have. My business is right on the cusp where I simply cannot afford a middle level management, but yet I am probably a bit big to juggle everything on my own.

My parents have been fantastic over the years, but I cannot expect my mother to constantly be the support she has been, although I would be lost without her in terms of visually putting the stores together and sourcing product.

So what else is it I do to avoid that feeling of isolation?

By working hard and persevering with things I know that I am doing my best and this definitely helps my self-esteem. I am continually open to new ideas. Although I can take a little time to accept them. I can sometimes be a little quick to defend things I have done until I really think about it and realise that the other person was right; I’m definitely trying to work on this.

I test myself often and am always honest in how I am doing. I still fall into the same traps, but recognise this quickly and am probably a bit quicker at getting out of them now. I read a bit, listen and ask loads of questions of business people I respect and even a few I don’t. I am never afraid of making a mistake, as that is both human and natural as long as it is not a mistake that may be terminal. I speak to colleagues all the time - by phone, by email or in person.

I go to things: from bank summits to motivational speeches, these gatherings all get you to meet people and to realise that all our issues are kind of the same, maybe just a little different in scale or size.

Isolation and loneliness are horrible feelings, whether in life or business. As a small indie, time is our enemy, as simply we cannot learn everything that is needed and run our business and have a life. We simply need to accept that we always do our best. But, just once in a while, maybe we can leave our ‘lonely planet’ and try and meet some likeminded space-dwellers.

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CARDSHARP

The Shrinking

Pound In Your Pocket?

Hard or soft? No, Cardsharp is not talking about how he likes his eggs, but of course the whole subject of Brexit. Yes, Cardsharp knows it has been done to death by the media, so he will not go into all the (at this stage) hypothetical arguments about what will happen as a result of us leaving the EU. He would rather look at a side effect of the referendum vote, the dramatic fall in the value of the £pound and how it will affect the different sectors of our great greeting card industry.

While Cardsharp is concerned by all the troubling stuff which is around at the moment, he also sees merit in giving ourselves a bit of a pep talk! To his mind, all too often us cardies sometimes give ourselves a hard time, so it is satisfying when an acute outside observer gives our industry the thumbs up.

Cardsharp is a big admirer of Luke Johnson, the Sunday Times Business columnist and hugely successful serial entrepreneur. Well, a couple of weeks ago Luke devoted his column to amazing goods that enjoy consistently super margins. He highlights products such as pizza (he made his fortune by investing in Pizza Express) which is just flour, water, yeast, tomato and cheese - a total cost of ingredients of around 50p that can sell at up to £9. In his column he also cited products like prescription glasses, coffee sold in high street coffee shops, computer software (it is no coincidence that Bill

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Gates is one of the richest men on the planet!) and, most significantly, our very own greeting card industry.

Luke reckons that greeting cards command gross margins of at least 85%.

(That said, he is obviously not familiar with brokerage rates or sale or return, but hey ho!). However, he quite rightly describes cards as small spontaneous purchases and that the purchaser doesn’t want to be seen to penny pinching, “So what’s an extra 50

pence?” he asks, obviously not having visited a Card Factory shop recently. He also cites the long tradition of greeting card sending in the UK. Picking up on GCA facts and figures, he points out that that one in six retailers in the UK stock cards, and showing he is bang up to date, that the industry grew by 5% in 2015 to around £1.7 billion.

Good stuff, but even our “super margins” industry is not immune to the wider UK retail economy and global economy. Moreover, there is no doubt that our industry agenda, like so many others, is very much under the looming shadow of the result of the EU referendum result, and more specifically the large drop in the value of the £pound.

The long and short of it is that anything that is imported will cost 15-20% more to bring into the UK, and although some importers will have hedged their bets and bought a big supply of $dollars, these will no doubt be running out pretty soon. Gifts, which are almost entirely imported from the Far-East, will be most directly affected. Gift suppliers have little choice to impose price hikes and retailers will have to be prepared to see a prices rise and will need to adjust their retail price points accordingly.

Above: The value of the £pound is shrinking.

Left: Pizza is a 'super margin' product.

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CARDSHARP But what of the humble greeting card? Surely with so many cards manufactured in the UK, greeting card publishers will be immune to the £pound’s fall in value? Don’t bank on it, warns Cardsharp. Probably over half of the greeting cards sold in the UK, and almost all of those with a hand-embellished element, are manufactured overseas. The price increase on the cost of production will be felt almost immediately, as will the increased cost of fuel for transportation and freight.

Cardsharp expects that the UK’s domestic greeting card printers will be rubbing their hands with glee, with the prospect of more manufacturing coming home. But even UK printers and envelope suppliers will feel the impact of rising board prices and transport costs bought on by the oil price increase. And embellishments, everything from flitter to diamantes, has to be imported from overseas. See those flecks of flitter, enjoy their sparkle, as they now cost 20% more to flitter away!

So, there is no doubt most publishers will be looking for a price rise from retailers. Cardsharp thinks even without

the sterling’s devaluation a price rise was long overdue. Everyone in the chain, printer, publisher and retailer, have all been keen to make a little extra for a quite a time now, but have been probably held back by the ‘elephant in the room’, namely Card Factory and its incredible low prices.

Anyone from the DTR side who has seen the value retailer’s boxed Christmas selection will wince in disbelief at what they are offering for the money, but this could be the last year.

“So, there is no doubt most publishers will be looking for a price rise from retailers. Cardsharp thinks even without the sterling’s devaluation a price rise was long overdue.”

As regular readers will know, Cardsharp has long thought that in order to satisfy the City’s desire for forever increasing profit would lead Card Factory to start edging up its prices.

Now it will be an imperative!

Although it does have a smallish print facility based in Yorkshire, the vast majority of its card offering is imported from the Far East. So, suspects Cardsharp, it will suffer disproportionately, compared with other retailers, from the fall in the value of the £pound.

One positive side effect, for greeting card publishers at least, mused Cardsharp, could be a boom in export sales. UK greeting card designs are already acknowledged as the best on the globe by far, and with them being around 20% cheaper to import, a bonanza could be in store for those publishers geared up for export.

Certainly, Cardsharp expects next year’s PG Live in June to be even more of a United Nations of the greeting card industry than it already is, as distributors flock to London to take advantage of greeting card ordering, and no doubt add in a bit of West End luxury shopping (at a snip of the prices of last summer) at the same time!

But looking at the wider retail economy, the £pound’s devaluation is bound to have a negative effect on consumer spending on which all us in the industry are very dependent. The last couple of years has seen consumers benefit from an approximate 2% increase in average wages, while inflation has barely registered. Expert forecasters (and

Left: Bill Gates, who cofounded Microsoft Corporation, the world’s largest personalcomputer software company.

Below left: Retailing coffee has one of the largest margins.

Cardsharp uses the ‘expert’ term loosely) predict that inflation will rise to around 4% next year, while wages will struggle to rise above 2%. It does not take a genius to work out that will leave a big hole in disposable income for most households. The consumer may borrow more to cover this gap, and there are signs that many are doing that already, but that is hardly sustainable or healthy in the long run. And if the £pound remains low, borrowing gets out of hand and inflation rises too much, then the Bank of England might even break a habit of nearly a decade and start to raise interest rates, thereby putting a further dent in consumers’ disposable income.

Cardsharp remembers the year 2011 when there was a sharp increase in inflation (as a result of a rise in oil and commodity prices) as being worse than the recession of 2009 and 2010 for retail spending.

At present not much of this is showing. Indeed the three months to the end of September saw retail sales increase at the strongest pace in almost two years, with retail sales volumes rising by 1.8%, although one senior economic advisor prophesied the figures as “one last Hurrah for the High Street”.

Cardsharp is in no doubt that 2017 will be a challenging year for everyone involved in retailing or supplying retailers, but as the Sunday Times’ Luke Johnson pointed out, we are in an enviable position in the greeting card trade given our long tradition of giving cards and our super margins.

No doubt, as Luke would point out to Cardsharp, there are many other sectors who would like a ‘Pizza-our-Action’!

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Sprouting Sales A hard or soft Brexit and a weak £pound causing public concern doesn't seem to be affecting the spirit of Christmas for card and gift retailers. Bold as the ornaments on the festive tree, they are tempting and rewarding loyal customers with tasty treats and mulled wine, entertaining elf and chocolate competitions and joining their local community at Christmas fayres.

All geared up for sparkling sales at this biggest retailing season in the calendar, some of this year’s Retas awards’ indie winners reveal their 2016 festive forecast.

Above: Christmas shoppers on a lovely card from Museums & Galleries.

The 2016 winner of The Retas’ Best Non-Specialist Independent Retailer of Greeting Cards North category, Natalie Seager, owner of Gallery 339, Halifax: Preparing for Christmas: “We have received most of our initial stock orders and cards which were put out on the shelves at the beginning of October... and they are selling very well so far.”

Extra Festive Sparkle: “We will hold some late night openings for our regular customers in the six weeks run up to Christmas, along with mulled wine of course!”

Early Sales: “Really good sellers so far are the Bath House’s Gin & Tonic and Prosecco fragrance and bathing ranges. We anticipate the new perfumes to be very popular too! Also the new winter range of bags and accessories by Lua are as popular as ever.

On Christmas cards, English Graphics’ Christmas single designs (its dogs in sparkly scarves cards) are selling very well, along with Roger la Borde and Five Dollar Shake card packs.”

Christmas Sales Prediction: “Based on this year so far, I anticipate that with an original, unusual, more tailored offering, sales will be good! However, the last couple of years have shown a more stable spending pattern in the run up to Christmas, in contrast to the crazy last couple of weeks which we had gotten used to in past years.”

Santa’s Wish List: “For Christmas I would like to jet off on holiday shortly after, somewhere nice and warm!”

Above: At Gallery 339 the Christmas cards look gorgeous on the racks.

Right: The Bath House creates some beautifully packaged bath-time treats.

The 2016 winner of The Retas’ Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer Scotland category, Sue and Ellie Butcher, owners of Present, Edinburgh: Preparing for Christmas: “Here at Present in Edinburgh we have had Christmas cards on the shelves since early October but everything else Christmassy will be on the shop floor by 1 November - we like to do this overnight after Halloween, installing our Christmas window display and transforming the shop all in one go. We feel it adds to the surprise and gets the Christmas build up off to a fun filled start!”

Extra Festive Sparkle: “During December we will be running our Advent Offering each day - a full size chocolate bar for the first customer to arrive at the shop and lay claim - it's a bit of fun and particularly popular with the local student population!”

Early Sales: “We are finding that people are already purchasing gifts, popular Above: Sue and Ellie were presented with their Retas trophy by Simon Wagstaff from IC&G. Left: Last year lovely bunches of mistletoe were a kissmas sensation at Present.

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VIEWPOINTS The 2016 winner of The Retas’ Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – Home Counties category, Paul Jarman, owner of Creased Cards, Brighton:

products are skin candles and lip balms from Siabann, beautiful individual necklaces from This Material Culture and statement candles from Daisy Blue Candles.”

Christmas Sales Prediction: “We are very lucky to be well supported locally here in Edinburgh, especially at Christmas when people are looking for something just a wee bit different.

Additionally, we can always rely on the tourists when they begin to arrive for the Christmas markets, and several new hotels have recently opened in our immediate vicinity, so altogether we are optimistic for a busy festive period.”

Santa’s Wish List: “What would Ellie and I want for Christmas?

In all honesty, a few goodies from the other shops around us because Christmas is the perfect excuse to buy some of the things we walk past everyday on our way to open up the shop - some beautiful handmade chocolates, we both have our eye on fabulous boots from an independent shoe shop on the corner and we both love beautiful individual candles. Other than that, I think we'll both just be ready for a couple of days rest... Merry Christmas!

Preparing for Christmas: “As always, we already have our Christmas card packs out.

Most of my orders are done (I always leave some space for last minute new designs!), however we have the dreaded yearly stock take before we put out the full Christmas selection at the end of October.”

Extra Festive Sparkle: “I have already had a Christmas sale online, with a third off last year’s stock. While some Above: A stylish Creased Cards’ Christmas will still go out in the store this year (it window full of humorous offerings. won’t all sell!), I prefer to shift last year’s stock out at cost if I can so I free up cash for lovely new stuff.”

Early Sales: “It’s too early to tell for us really, however, Christmas humour sale items are shifting ok, so that gives us a good hint for this year.”

Christmas Sales Prediction: “Barring any bad Brexit-related news or any financial catastrophes, I think people will spend more this year than last. Confidence seems to be good and people are feeling good about their pockets – and perhaps with the weak £pound making going away more expensive, more people will stay at home and spend until the Christmas eve!”

Santa’s Wish List: “A bumper Christmas trading period where I got my stock levels right and have no Christmas stock left to discount on the 26th!”

Above: Present in Edinburgh’s winter-wonderland window display.

The 2016 winner of The Retas’ Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer – South West category, Nik Gornall, partner of Romantica, three stores in Bristol: Preparing for Christmas: “We have had most of the Christmas stock in now and the storerooms are bursting at the seams. Most customers appreciate that we don't really put Christmas stock out until November. The majority are upset that some places have Christmas related products for sale in September, let alone August. So it's just the ‘Across The Miles’ cards and a few Christmas packs for sale at the front of the shop, with a small selection of giftwrapping items dotted around.”

Extra Festive Sparkle: “One street in our locality has a massive Christmas fayre, which the whole neighbourhood looks forward to. We will be giving away a huge Jellycat toy for the person who comes up with the best name. All the local shops will have great Christmas window displays and we will be doing more bulk buy discounts than we have before.”

Early Sales: “We don't have much Christmas specific stock out yet, but we can already see that we will sell a lot of Orange Tree wooden toys, games from Lagoon and of course, our ever-reliable Jellycats.”

Christmas Sales Prediction: “I think Brexit and the subsequent economic situation have the potential to be extremely damaging. I am expecting our sales will be down but I Left: Nik Gornall and his wife and business partner Teresa with their don't know to what degree.” shiny Retas award.

Santa’s Wish List: “Simply for people to be nicer to each other.”

Right: Everyone wants one! A soft and cuddly Jellycat unicorn.

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VIEWPOINTS The 2016 winner of The Retas’ Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer - North & Northern Ireland category, Janet Stow, co-owner of Love Letters, Hull: Preparing for Christmas: “Well unfortunately, I am going to have to be 'Bah Humbug' this year up to now. At the moment (midOctober) I’m about to close for a week as we need a new floor in the shop. This means we have to clear the shop of everything, and then put everything back! I must admit I am dreading it. We have started dismantling the shop while still trying to trade. But we will come back stronger, and with all the Christmas stock, and we will be open again for Christmas business.”

Extra Festive Sparkle: “We are having a Children's Find The Elf competition and a Above: No one could accuse Janet of tombola with the proceeds going to a local charity.” not getting in the Christmas spirit in Early Sales: “Up to now we have sold four her cute Santa’s helper outfit!

Christmas cards, six Elves and a plaque, not much but not too bad considering we have no Christmas items out yet.”

Christmas Sales Prediction: “I am hoping for a good Christmas. In fact, a better one than last year. I have a couple of new suppliers for both cards and gifts and think they will fly off the shelves. I think people are in a spending mood, and although we are not ready yet, we have had a lot our customers enquiring and hopefully they will come back when we are.”

Santa’s Wish List: “The sound of till bells ringing, a white Christmas and, if possible, a night out with George Clooney.”

The 2016 winner of The Retas' Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer - Wales & The Midlands category, Ros Jones, owner of Celtic Company, Welshpool, Powys: Preparing for Christmas: "We are getting geared up quietly. The Christmas cards are all out on sale on a sea of red envelopes! They are selling well already and we are expecting to have to re-order soon. Our tradition with Christmas decorations is not to go all out until after Remembrance Day, as we do window displays in our shops that support the British Legion Poppy Appeal - all the extra gift lines are in and on sale even though they are not yet within Christmas-themed displays."

Extra Festive Sparkle: "We will be running a number of evening events in the run up to the festivities, most of which involve alcohol and special offers. The town where we are has a Winter Festival and the usual lightsswitching-on-event, which we take an active part in."

Early Sales: "Christmas napkins from IHR (people must be planning their Christmas dinner early), there's plenty of gifts being wrapped in Christmas paper for customers, and the most recent hit are the gorgeous Marmalade diffusers and candles - everyone loves them."

Christmas sales prediction: "I'm hoping to be up on last year, as we have been running up the whole year so far. It would be nice if we were busier, earlier - but I suspect Above: A lovely gift for Christmas, a Mango & Lychee scented candle there will be a late rush as always. The weather has from Marmalade. been so fine in October that I don't think people have got their Christmas spending hats on yet - roll on a cold snap!"

Santa’s Wish List: "I'd like a Shepherd's Hut or a vintage VW camper van… but that is never going to happen. So. I'd love to see happy staff and customers, have all my family home and, on a serious note, some ceasefires around the globe."

The 2016 winner of The Retas’ Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer - East Anglia category, Peter Whiteman, partner of Dzodzo, Woodbridge: Preparing for Christmas: “After a short break to fire up the energy levels, I've found that all of Santa's little helpers are rushing around Dzodzo pricing and displaying stock to wow the loyal customers. The shop is transforming into a winter wonderland. Can I hear the sleigh bells???”

Extra Festive Sparkle: “Every year Woodbridge hosts the largest one day Christmas Above: A Velvet Tidings Grandson Fayre in Suffolk, this is always a great design from Jonny Javelin. time to visit Woodbridge. Music, food Below: Feel the festive magic and visit the Christmas fayre in Woodbridge. and a magical atmosphere, many people mark the first Sunday in December as a must for their social diary.”

Early Sales: “Already, on the card front, Jonny Javelin’s Christmas cards are proving very strong. While on the gift front, as the weather has turned colder, the Snoozy Slippers from Joe Davies are keeping the tills warm.”

Christmas Sales Prediction: “At the moment the public have been in a spending mood, as I believe that they are now expecting price increases in the near future. Buy now and save on the cost. If this continues it will be a good Christmas. BUT the new year... well, that’s another story.”

Santa’s Wish List: “Dear Santa, please could I have a stable £pound, a smooth, organised run up to Brexit, and a large glass of something red or bubbly on Christmas Eve when the doors finally close on another exciting Christmas season.”

Below: Here's to a bubbly new year! A card with fizz from Bespoke Verse from NOTHS.

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Caught On Camera

A Bollywood Blockbuster progressive greetings awards

With a ‘cast’ of over 700 industry stars, full of colour and sparkle, The Henries 2016 Awards Ball was an ‘all singing all dancing, drum banging’ Bollywood blockbuster.

PG followed the jangle of bangles to the Lancaster London Hotel at which the UK’s best greeting card ranges were truly celebrated.

Right: The Henries’ winners took to the stage with their trophies, while PG’s Jakki Brown (right) and Gale Astley joined celebrity Tommy Sandhu, who hosted the event, on the centre steps.

Below and bottom: Anchorman of BBC Asian network and One Show presenter Tommy Sandhu (left) hosted The Henries awards ceremony, while international Bollywood dance superstar, Karan Pangali (centre) and the KSpark dancers wowed the audience with their performance.

Right: The ever ‘shy, retiring’ Brainbox Candy boys Ben Hickman (right) and Mark Williams were carried to the event on bears! They caught up with Five Dollar Shake’s Beth and Matt Genower (far left) and Blue Eyed Sun’s Jeremy Corner at the champagne reception.

Left: Cherry Orchard’s Jackie Collins (left) and Beverley Fisher lapping up the atmosphere in the reception, amplified by authentic vintage Bollywood film posters and accomplished sitar player Ravi Gupta.

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Caught On Camera

Above: You have to ‘hand it’ to (left-right) Wendy and Steve JonesBlackett and Jacqui Godlove (of Wendy Jones-Blackett) and Jonny Javelin’s (right-left) Judy McEwan, Mandy Spears and Jonny Spears for embracing the Bollywood theme of the event.

Above: The Henries kicked off with a bang and the energy levels stayed super charged! Dhol players (sponsored by Davora) with WH Smith Travel/Funky Pigeon/Paper & Script’s Rachel Hevicon and Katie Briggs.

Right: Cheers! National Trust’s Michelle Burgess with GBCC’s Nick Adsett.

Below: All smiles! (right-left) Claire Cheng (UKG), Carly Pearson, Caroline Hawkins (buyer Sainsbury’s), with UKG’s Amanda Scrivener.

Below: It was ‘Carte Blanche’ to dress up. CBG’s (left-right) Fiona Yeoh, Richard Holmwood, Ben Quance, Grace Elphinstone, Claire Harding and Julia Andrews.

Right and below: International dance sensation Karan Pangali competed against 40,000 other contenders in a global Bollywood dance off. Together with his KSpark dancers, they amazed the audience with their inventive choreography.

Above: A paper celebration! (Right-left) Paul Bowden (Slater Harrison), Rob Mannix (GF Smith), Debbie Wigglesworth (Paper Collaborative/The Paper Library), Ruth Skelton (Big Ideas), Mike Braddock, Lynda Braddock, Rachael Bowden (all of Slater Harrison) and Simon Skelton (Big Ideas).

Right: Paper company Slater Harrison sponsored the drinks reception of The Henries which it dressed with the addition of vintage Bollywood film posters, artwork and large elephant cut outs.

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Caught On Camera

An Illuminating Quiz Adding the extra spice of surprise to the event, the welcome speeches were immediately followed by a Bollywood-themed ‘higher or lower’ elimination quiz, sponsored by Home Counties retailer House of Cards.

Right: At a press of a button The Henries menu cards (produced by SoundTech, Windles, GF Smith and Paper Rose) lit up. Attendees lifted them aloft if they felt the answer to the questions was ‘higher’.

Above: Cath Tate (of Cath Tate Cards) holds her illuminated menu high.

Left: House of Cards’ Miles Robinson (left) and Nigel Williamson (right) presented the winner Gabriella Peace (of UKG) with her prize of a magnum of champagne, Indian cookery book signed by Benares’ Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, an Indian spices tin and a night’s accommodation in the Lancaster London Hotel.

Left: Thanks to impressionist Anil Desai, Morgan Freeman, Matthew McConaughey and even Homer Simpson made it to The Henries!

Right: Even the tables were suitably attired, thanks to House of Cards and Davora, with sequinned tablecloths, garlands, bangles and bindis galore.

Above: (left) Bexy Hassett (of Bexy Boo) and Rosie Harrison (of Rosie Made a Thing) inside the tuk-tuk photobooth with Henries’ host Tommy Sandhu.

Right: Hallmark’s Alison Kildunne (left) and Leona Veitch pose with props in the tuk-tuk.

Below: The Davora team (left-right): Rajeev Arora, Beata Wisniewska, Shruti Arora and Pooja Shah in front of the tuk-tuk photobooth (which Davora provided as entertainment sponsor) which was a very popular element of the evening.

Above: A good calendar shot perhaps? The Danilo team having fun in the photobooth.

Below: The Paper Saladies with Graphite’s Dave Parry.

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Caught On Camera

Left: PG Live’s Jim Bullough (far right) in full Bollywood star regalia with (2nd right-left) Rainbow Productions’ David Scott, Max Publishing’s Ian Hyder and Mike O’Connor (of Middlesex University).

Below: Many of the Windles’ team in all their finery.

Above: Debbie Wigglesworth (centre) of The Paper Library offered up a prize of 10,000 rupees for the Best Dressed Table. She selected Table 43, which included the wonderfully attired (right-left) David Hicks (Really Good/Soul), Rose Trow (South West agent), Miles Robinson (House of Cards), Lisa Marcuccio and Lisa Shoesmith (both Really Good/Soul), Steve Jones-Blackett (Wendy Jones-Blackett), Nigel Williamson (House of Cards), Marina Crisp (Gisela Graham), Wendy Jones-Blackett and Jacqui Godlove (both of Wendy Jones-Blackett). The winners donated their prize money (£120) to The Light Fund charity.

Windles Sets The Pace In keeping with tradition, specialist greeting card printer Windles staged a lavish precocktail reception party in a wing of the Lancaster London Hotel at which the champagne flowed like the chit chat, and the canapés were as plentiful as the laughter.

Above left: As ever hosts Bruce and Lucy Podmore, owners of Windles, were super welcoming to guests.

Above middle: Windles’ Ian Kear-Bertie with (leftright) Kali Stileman and Lucy Tolson (both of Kali Stileman) and PG’s Gale Astley.

Above right: ‘Double agents’, Joanna McFarlane (left) and Jo Bannister.

Right: Nothing ‘Oh Deer’ about the Windles party apart from (left-right) Mark Callaby, Laura Wells, Jade Walsh and Jamie Mitchell.

Generosity Of Spirit

Far left: The charity raffle was drawn by the GCA’s Sharon Little (right) and Rajeev Arora (of Davora) with PG’s Jakki Brown displaying the Indian ‘money wallets’ which contained the prize details.

Right: Icon’s Alan Holmes (left) was among Over £7,000 was raised for The Light Fund, industrywide charity at The the lucky raffle prize winners, who was Henries, thanks to the generosity of attendees as well as the donators of the presented with his prize by Morgan Lewis’ Sandra Butler. wonderful prizes. These included British Airways flight vouchers (from Emotional Rescue), £200 of ‘fancy pants’ (from Brainbox Candy), a stay in Hotel du Vin (from Space Hippo), handbag, shoes and jewellery (from Cherry Orchard), dinner at Michelin-star Tamarind (from Hallmark), £250 to spend with The White Company (from The Art File), theatrical treats (from Second Nature), Divertimenti cookery school vouchers (from Steamer Trading), Snow & Rock vouchers (from IC&G), a week’s holiday in the Peak District (from Loxleys) and a splendid time at The Savoy (from Simon Elvin).

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High Rollers To add to the fun of the evening retailer Cardzone sponsored the casino area at The Henries, which saw everyone being able to convert their 5,000 ‘Cardzone rupees’ note for casino chips to win some great prizes.

Above: UKG’s Tony Roberts (far right) caught up with iCandy’s Clinton Lewin (third left) and Cardzone’s (left-right) James Taylor, Alice Bartlett, Paul and Chris Taylor.

Above middle: The Cardzone 5,000 rupee note that everyone was given to gamble with.

Top right and right: Concentration on the Black Jack table and roulette wheel!

Above: The Lionels had the dancefloor heaving until the early hours!

Above right and below right: There was lots of enthusiastic participation for the Bollywood dance workshop led by Karan Pangali.

Below: A thorn between two roses! PG’s Warren Lomax with (left) Enesco’s Julie Brightley and Five Dollar Shake’s Beth Genower.

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CATEGORY SPONSOR

Most Promising Young Designer Or Artist

Open to: This award was open to all greeting card designers and artists (employed or freelance) under the age of 35 on August 1 2015.

Winner Sara Miller founder of Sara Miller London

Initial Reaction: “I was so overwhelmed as I made my way to the stage but it was an amazing moment. Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me and of course to The Art File, Portfolio and Penny Kennedy.”

Sara Miller, founder of Sara Miller London

Above: Sara Miller, founder of Sara Miller London, is delighted to accept this esteemed trophy for the Most Promising Young Designer Or Artist sponsored by Paperchase. Frances Burkle, head of buying for the company, presented the award. BBC Asian Network DJ and television presenter, Tommy Sandhu, (right) compered the Henries event.

Left: Sara, with her husband Phil, is thrilled with her award.

CATEGORY SPONSOR

Best Children’s Range Open to: All children’s greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Winner Facematt Funimals from Brainbox Candy

Above: Ben Hickman (left) and Mark Williams, co-directors for Brainbox Candy, firmly grip their Henries trophy for the Best Children’s Range category presented to them by Sally Drinkwater, business development manager for Loxleys, the category sponsor.

Initial Reaction: “I was so excited I fell off my chair! This was mainly due to excitement but also partly due to wine!”

Mark Williams, co-director for Brainbox Candy Initial Reaction: “I was so happy; I couldn't stop my inner Running Man from breaking out!”

Ben Hickman, co-director for Brainbox Candy

Right: Brainbox bears, Mark and Ben ‘bearing up’ well on hearing the good news!

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Best Christmas Counter Range Open to: All Christmas counter greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Winner Christmas Keepsakes from Rachel Ellen Designs

Initial Reaction: “We really weren’t expecting our name to be called out so it was bit of a shock and a nice surprise!”

Rachel Church, co-director for Rachel Ellen Designs Right: Justin Church, director for Rachel Ellen Designs, collects the company’s award from Bruce Podmore, managing director for Windles, who sponsored the Best Christmas Counter Range category.

Left: The company’s coowners Rachel and Justin took their trophy into the tuk-tuk photobooth after the ceremony!

CATEGORY SPONSOR

Best Christmas Box or Pack Open to: Any Christmas box or pack that has been launched since August 2015.

This award could be for a specific item rather than for a range.

Left: Rachel Hare, managing director of Belly Button Designs, proudly accepts the company’s Henries trophy for the Best Christmas Box Or Pack category from Gould Paper’s managing director, Nick Henry, who presented the accolade on behalf of the award sponsor, Gould Paper.

Below: Rachel clutches her shiny award.

Initial Reaction: “Totally surprised this year, and delighted Paloma goes from strength to strength.”

Rachel Hare, managing director for Belly Button Designs

Winner Paloma from Belly Button Designs

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Best Traditional Words & Sentiments Range Open to: All traditional words and sentiments greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Winner Gibson Core Line from UK Greetings

Above: UK Greetings’ creative director, Sandi Parisi, is over the moon to accept the Henries trophy for the Best Traditional Words & Sentiments category from Solutions Polska’s managing director Tomasz Kwiatkowski, who presented the accolade on behalf of the award sponsor.

Right: Sandi is pleased with her Henries trophy.

Initial Reaction: “Words are at the heart of what we do, helping our customers express their relationships is what we’re all about. So a big thank you from UKG.” Sandi Parisi, creative director for UK Greetings

CATEGORY SPONSOR

Best Contemporary Words & Sentiments Range Open to: All contemporary words and sentiments greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Winner Words of Wisdom from Dandelion Stationery Left: Jo Wilson, director for Dandelion Stationery, is delighted to receive the award for the Best Contemporary Words and Sentiments Range category, presented by Julie Brightley, sales manager for Envelopes Plus & Enveco, the category sponsor.

Below: Jo and her winning smile.

Initial Reaction: “Chuffed to bits – I can’t stop smiling!”

Jo Wilson, director for Dandelion Stationery

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A4 Henries 2016 Winner print.pdf

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Best Contemporary Trend Range Open to: All contemporary trend greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Below right: Chris Bryan, general manager for Second Nature, is thrilled to receive the award for the Best Contemporary Trend Range category from Angie Bryant, on behalf of National Stationery Show, New York, sponsor of this category.

Below left: ‘Trendy’ Chris and his Henries trophy.

Winner Tropicana from Second Nature

Initial Reaction: “When they called out Second Nature our whole table roared. We knew from the moment we launched Tropicana we had a winner but to get the award was a real affirmation. Emails were flying around the world within seconds as we just wanted everyone in the company to share the moment!”

Chris Bryan, general manager for Second Nature

CATEGORY SPONSOR

Best Handmade or Hand-Finished Range Open to: All handmade or hand-finished greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Left: Proudly holding her trophy, Janie Cook, director of Janie Wilson, receives the award for Best Handmade or Hand-finished Range, which is sponsored by Regent Envelopes. The company’s associate director Mike Pauley presented the award.

Below: A sparkling Janie with Unit 7’s Andrea Pinder and a lovely new trophy.

Initial Reaction: “There was tough competition within the category so I was over the moon to hear that I had won!”

Janie Cook, director of Janie Wilson

Winner Silver Leaf from Janie Wilson

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CATEGORY SPONSOR

Best Photographic Range Open to: All photographic greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Winner 1000 Words

Below: U Studio illustrator, Jasmine Hortop, accepts the trophy for Best Photographic Range from Jessica Dawnay, key account manager of Autumn Fair, which together with Spring Fair are the category sponsors.

U Studio

Initial Reaction: “It was overwhelming!

So exciting - and so many lights!”

Jasmine Hortop, illustrator for U Studio

Right: A happy Jasmine clasps her Henries trophy.

CATEGORY SPONSOR

Best Humour Range Open to: All humour greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Far left: A delighted Rosie Harrison, owner of Rosie Made A Thing, receives the award for the Best Humorous Range category from Jim Whittington, digital specialist for print for Antalis, sponsor of this category.

Below centre: A beaming Rosie and a shiny award.

Winner Gin + Frolics from Rosie Made A Thing

Initial Reaction: “I didn’t actually hear my name over the screams from Bex (from Bexy Boo) on our table, but I was so excited to win! The walk to the stage in heels was a bit treacherous but it was brilliant to pick up that whopper of a trophy… and it kicked off a great night/weekend of celebrations!”

Rosie Harrison, owner of Rosie Made A Thing

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Get in touch

To find out more visit us at www.dandelionstationery.co.uk

info@dandelionstationery.co.uk +44(0) 1332 695 359 PG_Half_page_APRIL_2016.pdf

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CATEGORY SPONSOR

Best Art Range Initial Reaction: “My feeling was total shock, then WOW! I've actually won!!!!”

Ilona Drew, owner of I Drew This Below right: Ilona Drew, owner of I Drew This, and beautifully dressed for the Henries’ Bollywood theme, was presented with the award for the Best Art Range category by Taha Meziane, sales director for Top Drawer, sponsor of this award.

Below: Ilona is over the moon with her trophy.

Open to: All art greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Winner Landmarks from I Drew This

CATEGORY SPONSOR

Best Licensed Range Below: Amanda Foster, creative manager properties & licensing Hallmark Cards and Jo Oldridge, product development manager (second left), The Walt Disney Company, are pleased to accept the Best Licensed Card Range award sponsored by Skeet Print.

Director, John Skeet presents the trophy.

Winner Star Wars: The

Open to: All licensed greeting card ranges involving a licensing agreement that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Force Awakens from Hallmark Below: Jo and Amanda and their newest ‘characterful’ addition, a Henries 2016 trophy.

Initial Reaction: “My heart was racing in anticipation, but once I heard we had won I was ecstatic!”

Amanda Foster, creative manager: properties & licensing for Hallmark

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are absolutely delighted to win a Henries award for Best Gift Wrappings Range with their wonderfully vibrant Neon Revolution!

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01274 655980 sales@glick.co.uk www.glick.co.uk

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CATEGORY SPONSOR

Best Giftwrappings Range Open to: All giftwrapping collections that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015. Entries could either be a range of giftwrap sheets or a collection of wrappings (eg co-ordinating wrap, bags, boxes, ribbons etc).

Winner Neon Revolution

Initial Reaction: “Wow! I wasn’t expecting that at all!"

Becky Dobson, director for Glick.

from Glick

Below: Director for Glick, Becky Dobson, is thrilled to accept the Best Giftwrappings Collection award from Jacqui Parr, marketing manager for Progressive Greetings Live, the category sponsor.

Left: Becky grasps Glick’s new Henries award.

CATEGORY SPONSOR

Here for you from thought to finish

Best Male Range

Below left: Ged Mace, managing director, and Lucie Whitehead, creator of the Geronimo range and in-house designer for The Art File, receive the Best Male Range award from Adam Short, sales director of The Imaging Centre, the category sponsor.

Open to: All greeting card ranges aimed at men (non-humour) that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Winner Geronimo from The Art File Below: Ged and Lucie are thrilled with their award.

Initial Reaction: "How proud I was of all our in-house designers and a wonderful moment for Lucie Whitehead who created Geronimo."

Ged Mace, managing director for The Art File

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Best Wholesale Range Open to: All greeting card ranges (of any design type) that are distributed via wholesale distributors or cash & carries that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Winner Gold Female Contemporary from Hambledon Studios

Below: Rachel Harrison, head of Wholesale & Value (product) for Hambledon Studios, is proud to be presented with their Henries trophy for the Best Wholesale Range from Lynda Raymond, partner for LB Warehousing, sponsor of this award.

Below left: A sparkling win for Rachel.

Initial Reaction: “I heard ‘Hambledon’ called out and I jumped in the air for joy – I set off to the stage, which was a complete blur, but in all the excitement it wasn’t until I got back to the table that I found out which range had won!! A really proud moment for me and the team!”

Rachel Harrison, head of Wholesale & Value (product) for Hambledon Studios

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Below: Wendy and Steve JonesBlackett, co-directors for Wendy Jones-Blackett, are elated to receive their Henries award, the trophy for the Best Relations or Occasions Range, from (left) Simon Pilkington, director for Fedrigoni, sponsor of this award.

Best Relations & Occasions Range Open to: All relations or occasions greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Winner Paper Diamonds Deluxe from Wendy Jones-Blackett

Initial Reaction: "Beyond delighted!!"

Wendy Jones-Blackett, director of Wendy Jones-Blackett

Left: Gorgeous Wendy and a fabulous trophy.

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Best Spring Seasons Range

Open to: Greeting card ranges for the Spring Seasons occasions that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Below centre: Kathy Slatter (right) and Erin James, co-directors for Stop The Clock Design, collect the award for Best Spring Seasons Range from GF Smith’s paper consultant, Mark Jessett. The paper company was the sponsor of this category.

Below: Beaming with delight, Kathy and Erin.

Winner Love You More Valentine’s Day from Stop The Clock Design

Initial Reaction: “Woohoo! We couldn’t quite believe it!

We had to look at each other to confirm it was our name being called out!”

Kathy Slatter and Erin James, co-directors for Stop The Clock Design

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Best Cute Range Open to: All cute greeting card ranges that have been launched or updated (with a minimum of eight designs) since August 2015.

Winner Sausage Dog Left: Director of Sooshichacha, Lucie Chadderton (left), with husband Phillip (centre), and London agent Beth Robson, glow with pride as Edward Bone, joint managing director for Offset Print & Packaging Group, presents the award for the Best Cute Range trophy on behalf of the category sponsor.

Below: Glamorous trio, Lucie (left), Phillip, Beth and a sparkling award.

from Sooshichacha

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Open to: This award is for ranges that have stood the test of time. The winner will join The Henry Cole Classic Hall of Fame with the previous winners which are Bestie from Paperlink, Eric the Penguin from GBCC, Forever Friends from Hallmark, On The Ceiling from Emotional Rescue, Me to You from CBG, Medici Cards Blue Label from GBCC, Second Nature’s Pop-Ups, Quentin Blake from Woodmansterne and Giggles from Hanson White (UKG).

Henry Cole Classic Award

Initial Reaction: “We were really delighted and were so pleased to receive such a prestigious award. Ian Bant, our md, should have collected the award but due to a shoulder operation he couldn’t be there, so we were even more pleased to collect it on his behalf. It really made our night.”

Rebecca McCulloch, creative director of Ling Design

Winner Rainbow from Ling Design

Right: David Byk, ceo for Swan Mill Paper Company, Rebecca McCulloch, creative director for Ling, and Kathryn Fletcher (right), creative manager – contemporary for Penny Kennedy, sister company of Ling Design, receive the trophy for this Henries award that recognises card ranges that have stood the test of time - The Henry Cole Classic Award. Ceo of The Sherwood Press, Jeremy Bacon, presented the award on behalf of the company, who sponsored this category.

Left: David tightly holds Ling Designs’ Henry Cole Classic Award.

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The finalists in this category were arrived at as a result of an exhaustive poll involving 1,500 independent card retailers. The retailers were invited to nominate which companies they considered to be their top three card suppliers on the service front over the last year.

There are three trophies in this category, the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were presented to the top three scoring suppliers in the retail poll.

Best Service The Independent Retailer Initial Reaction: “Providing an exemplary service is UKG’s ultimate aim. It would have been amazing to win Gold for the 6th consecutive year. We will work tirelessly to secure gold position next time and would like to thank all our customers who voted for us.”

Tony Roberts, director of independent sales for UK Greetings

Bronze Winner

Far right: UK Greetings’ director of independent sales, Tony Roberts, steps up to recieve the Bronze award for Best Service To The Independent Retailer from marketing director Penny Shaw of Cardgains, sponsor of this whole category.

Right: Tony clasps his Bronze Henries trophy.

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Best Service The Independent Retailer Below: Jarle and his team have worked hard for Noel Tatt’s Henries Silver trophy for Best Service To The Independent Retailer win.

Silver Winner

Above: Noel Tatt’s managing director Jarle Tatt accepts the Silver Best Service To The Independent Retailer award from marketing director Penny Shaw of Cardgains, sponsor of the Best Service category.

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Initial Reaction: "Over the moon! True reward for all the team and their hard work.”

Jarle Tatt, managing director for Noel Tatt

Best Service The Independent Retailer Gold Winner

Below: Brothers in arms, Simon (left) and Ian with Min (centre) and a shiny Gold Service trophy.

Left: Taking to the stage, brothers Simon (left) and Ian Wagstaff, directors of IC&G, and Min, customer service representative, are presented with the Gold award for Best Service To The Independent Retailer from Penny Shaw, marketing director of Cardgains, sponsor of this award.

Initial Reaction: “When we heard our name called out we were ecstatic! To win Gold in this category is something that we only dreamed of achieving! A huge ‘Thank you’ for all of your votes. We are very much a family-run business and really appreciate all of your support.”

Simon and Ian Wagstaff, co-directors of IC&G

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Honorary Achievement Award This prestigious award is presented to an individual who has contributed greatly to the UK greeting card industry. The winner can come from the retailing, publishing, wholesaling or the supply side of the trade.

Nominations are sought from the entire industry for this special award.

2016 Winner Gary Rowley ceo for UK Greetings

An excerpt of the speech given by PG’s Jakki Brown at the awards ceremony: “Tonight we honour someone who, over the last 43 years has not only given their life and soul to this industry, but has also played an important role in shaping it.

They came into this business as a humble sales rep, but have risen through the ranks, amassing knowledge, gaining respect and never losing the passion for this business.

They have remained steadfast in their quest to improve the selection of greeting cards in the market, creating a multi-branded offering which means the company they head up can supply retailers right across the spectrum, from the small indies to the major multiples, ensuring that the consumer thirst for greeting cards remains ever strong.

Over the last four decades tonight’s winner’s sphere of influence has grown and grown, yet they have remained ever humble, never showing one iota of arrogance.

They have used, but never abused, their position of power, never seeking the limelight, recognising the importance of building a strong team around them, yet never far away from sharing sage advice.

As he told me a few years ago: “I work with a talented bunch of individuals, but as I tell then, we need to be careful that we don’t get carried away. The success of this business stands and falls by its product and its service,” I have never heard anyone say a bad word about tonight’s award recipient, which is astonishing given the tough job of heading up a multi-million business and all the challenges they have had to face over the years.

Well tonight this industry gives a bit of that love back. The winner of the Honorary Achievement award 2016 goes to Gary Rowley, ceo of UK Greetings.”

Initial Reaction: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for my Honorary Achievement Award and to say how humble I feel. I am so disappointed and sorry that I couldn't be there in person to accept the award but unfortunately I was laid low with illness. It was such a wonderful surprise and something I will forever cherish.

Forty-three years have gone in the glint of an eye, but how lucky I have been to work with and meet so many wonderful people, whether they are colleagues, customers or competitors.”

Gary Rowley, ceo for UK Greetings

Top: UKG’s Gary Rowley (second left) was awarded the prestigious The Henries’ 2016 Honorary Achiever Award. (In this image Gary is handing over a special Card for the Queen’s 90th birthday to the Mayor and Mayoress of Kirkless to take to Dewsbury Town Hall for residents to sign).

Right: UKG's ceo Gary Rowley was unable to attend The Henries Awards so UKG's group sales & marketing director James Conn (right) accepted the Honorary Achievement Award on Gary's behalf from Harry Shah, managing director of Sound Tech, sponsor of this category.

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Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

Doggie Delights Toffee Nose Designs is releasing a new Christmas collection of four Dashing Dogs – featuring Sarah Borg’s delightful depictions of dressed up canines skating, delivering Christmas bones and getting up to all kinds of Christmas capers.

Toffee Nose Designs +46 490 73022 www.toffeenosedesigns.com

For The Boys Lola Design has just launched Rocky, a new male range of six designs. Focusing on a rugged contemporary look, each card is embossed to achieve a rough stone feel and foiled for that extra bit of rock’n’roll. The cards come wrapped with contrasting grey envelopes.

Lola Design 01904 675514 www.loladesignltd.com

Kings Of Speed Le Mans 24 Heures, an exciting new addition to Clanna’s range by Richard Partis, recreates the unique atmosphere of the famous French circuit where the Bentley Boys won the race five times between 1924 and 1930 in their Blower Bentleys. This is the first of a new series, which also includes Aston Martins, Isle of Man TT, Great Italian Cars, Steam Engines, Emergency Vehicles and Vintage Air Travel.

Clanna Cards 01242 575 574 www.clannacards.co.uk

To Havers And Have Not Pink Pig is growing its popular Scottish themed Havers range, adding another 15 designs.

Havering is a Scottish expression meaning to talk nonsense/gibberish and there are fun titles such as Ginger Nut, Eedjit and Have a Wee Bevvy on your Birthday. The cards are printed on crisp high quality board, sized 150mm square and supplied wrapped with a super cool recycled kraft envelope.

Pink Pig 07583 088596 www.pinkpigcards.co.uk

Pick Of The Crop Nine new occasions cards are being added to the Flora and Fauna range from Cherry Picked For You. All painted by Lesley Buckingham, new captions include With Love, With Sympathy, Happy Birthday, Best Wishes and Thank You. Printed on textured beautiful art board, these cards are as lovely on the back as the front.

Cherry Picked For You 01273 721 353 www.cherrypickedforyou.co.uk 58

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Big Blow Out Cardoons is releasing a right corker of a range… all animal themed with cheeky humour and 5" latex balloons attached in strategic positions….

There are nine designs with animals (and a snail), in different poses with humorous captions. All the cards are size 160mm x 222mm, sold wrapped with white envelope and a circular red 'balloon card' sticker on the front.

Cardoons 01534 618040 www.cardoons.co.uk

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Smiles Across the Miles The Angela Always range from Angela Chick is a new collection of cards for all occasions aimed at the friendship market. With handwritten typography and bright simple lines, the range is inspired by the many pen-pals that Angela has dotted around the world. There are over 30 designs in the range, sized 133mm x 184mm and sold wrapped with complementing envelopes.

Angela Chick 07828432859 www.angelachick.com

Dress To Impress Like I Give A Frock! is a range of 16 extraordinary cards from Five Dollar Shake’s free spirited little sister brand, Counting Stars. The range features hand-cut glitter fabric dresses in an array of rainbow colours, with captions covering all things fashion, from cocktails to high heels! All the cards are hand-finished here in the UK with sparkling crystals by the Counting Stars girls.

Every day is a fashion show!

Counting Stars 01424434062 www.countingstars.co.uk

Lip Service A new departure from Lip sees a different style of humour in its fun new photographic range.

From the design studio of the irrepressible Max Hearn, there are 17 designs all based around quotes from stars of the silver screen, including Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Dean Martin and Alfred Hichcock.

Lip International 01704 562026 www.lipinternational.com

Gift From The East Inspired by beautiful intricate Indian patterns, Mandala, the latest handcrafted range from Dilly and Pink, features inspiring typewritten sentiments centred in a pretty mandala and finished with sparkly dots. There are nine designs in the range, printed on recycled kraft board and sold wrapped with polka dot envelopes.

Dilly and Pink 01371 830891 www.dillyandpink.co.uk

Sweet Talking Icon has increased its super cool Life is Sweet range with 18 new relations and a few occasions titles this month. This hot-off-thepress release has birthday cards for all the family, featuring striking photography of incredibly cool and quirky kids expertly matched with humorous or inspirational quotes.

Icon 01242 679800 www.icon-art.com

Peaches And Cream For those wishing to send heartfelt messages to loved ones or share some inspiration with friends, Hammond Gower’s new Piano designs bring a lovely typographic style and a dash of elegance and luxury. There are now 107 designs covering birthday and everyday occasions, with soft peach tones and golden foil highlights to add a sparkly and feminine touch.

Hammond Gower Publications 01949 839898 www.hammondgower.co.uk PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Innovations PG Showcases A Collection Of New Product Launches

A Gift To Keep The popular Girls range from Dippy Egg is expanding with three new designs featuring more watercolour and charcoal illustrations of girls, with the addition of a handcrafted, raw brass necklace attached - a card and a gift in one! All the cards are size 120mm x 170mm, printed on heavy recycled grey board and supplied wrapped with bright pink envelopes.

Dippy Egg 07870 705532 www.dippyegg.net

Nature’s Architecture

Find A Penny…

Winterwood Designs’ latest ranges are inspired by the stunning patterns found in the natural world. Contemporary clean lines and a coordinated colour palette are finished off with beautiful embossing for extra tactility. The designs are available both singly and as tissue wrapped notecard packs of six or eight cards with envelopes.

Winterwood Designs 07765 257156 www.winterwooddesigns.co.uk

Lots of new designs are being added to the popular Lucky Penny range from Jenny Morrison at Papersole. Created to give a loved one a little bit of luck on a special day, there are now over 20 designs featuring a decorated diecut penny, sweet line drawn illustrations and heartwarming captions. These cards are printed on gorgeous kraft board and supplied wrapped with cream envelopes.

Papersole 07730 614437 www.papersole.com

The Personal Touch The all new 2017 Spring range from Cardigan Cards brings together three of its bestselling Loving Words card styles. There are 18 designs across three sizes, printed on the highest quality board, enhanced with die-cuts and embellished with either encapsulated glitter or delicate foiling, all with loving words and sentiments throughout.

Cardigan Cards 01785 250511 www.cardigancards.co.uk

Cut And Coloured Paper Bird has two recently published wordy ranges. My Little I, (with four designs) plays stylishly with the word ‘I’, and Scissor Bird (pictured) cuts and pastes with colourful collage; eight designs are in the range. Both ranges are sized 150mm square, blank inside and more coming along for 2017!

Paper Bird Publishing 07766 164807 www.paperbirdpublishing.co.uk

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Live And Let Dye In response to the popularity of her Dye Pigment cards, Sarah Kelleher has extended the range with eight new gorgeous designs, bringing the range to 32. There are designs for almost every occasion with colours so vibrant that they leap out from the shelves! All are printed onto FSC card and come with a kraft envelope.

Sarah Kelleher 01234 240228 www.sarahkelleher.co.uk

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Spotlight On Animal Cards

Fauna Fur-vour The UK has a ‘fur-ocious’ appetite for animal card designs. From adorable domestic pets and farmyard creatures to the noble survivalists, large and small, of the natural and wild world, a menagerie of fauna has been captured by a number of artistic genres on cards.

So, with such a vast and magnificent array of beasts to inspire and depict, PG discovers from a pack of animal card publishers their most amazing animal encounter or experience.

Emma Thomson, illustrator of The Thing About Dogs, published by Pigment: “Archie was a rescue dog. I’d had my name down for a puppy (for ‘puppy’, read surrogate baby; I was in my late 20’s, single and stupidly broody), but when The Dogs Home phoned to say, “The perfect dog for you has just arrived”, I was reluctantly persuaded to go and see him. What a boy!

He was all rufts, tufts, fur, fun and craziness. Even I had to admit, it looked like we’d been made from the same batch of ingredients. He did tricks too. Goodness knows where he’d come from but he could turn on taps, open doors and hide under beds.

We clicked like we were always meant to be together; we were such a part of one another that it was hard to tell where all the hair ended and the fur began. Archie died three years ago aged 17... I’ve drawn 243 dogs so far, but my eyes still get too misty to illustrate my first baby boy.”

Sue Morrish, director for Glebe Cottage: “I think my most inspiring animal encounter was when my husband Scott and I took our boys, Ben (11) and Oliver (4), over to the Skomer Island wildlife reserve to see the puffins earlier this year. As we pulled into the little harbour there were clouds of puffins flying around us - it was amazing.

But the best thing was watching Oliver crouching down, head slightly to one side, peering into a burrow by the footpath, watching a little puffin face look straight back at him. Of course, Scott took some great puffin photos too, which are due to become new cards for 2017!”

Above: Capturing the characterful puffin, a card from Glebe Cottage.

Left: The Thing About Dogs from Pigment is a beautiful art card range that quirkily sums up the very relatable and very funny trials and tribulations that every dog owner faces.

Helen Pallen, business development and marketing manager for Cherry Orchard: “Our local fruit farm is always a pleasure to visit, whether it’s to pick the summer strawberries, choose the biggest pumpkin at Halloween or feed the chickens while you collect the eggs. One day however, there was a newcomer in the field, a beautiful muddy sow who was having a good roll in the mud and enjoying the windfall apples. On the next visit there were lots of adorable squealing piglets rolling in the mud too! It seems the farmer’s wife had persuaded him to buy the sow but neither of them had realised the surprise that was in store for them. Watching the little piglets’ curly tails and listening to their squeals and grunts brings a smile to anyone’s face.”

Right: The new Snapshot photographic range from Cherry Orchard captures some animal magic in its 54 square blank cards with photographs of pets, farmyard and wildlife animals.

Louise Mulgrew, founder of Louise Mulgrew Designs: “My most amazing animal experience was when I went on safari a couple of years ago and was lucky enough to visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage, which rehabilitates elephants that have lost their mums until they’re ready to be released into the wild.

The keepers were bringing the orphan elephants in from their day out in the bush as we arrived and it was just a row of adorable fluffy elephant babies wearing blankets. I’ve adored elephants ever since and I tend to have at least a couple of ‘baby ele’ designs in every card range.”

Above: A gorgeous little elephant illustration from Louise Mulgrew’s Wild Love range.

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Spotlight On Animal Cards

Tony Fernandes, artist for Tony Fernandes: “When I was in infant school I used to help out with the 'nature table’ and we had a mouse to look after so we made a little orphanage out of old shoe boxes, together with a fish and chip shop and a merry-goround (odd child). On one occasion we had a visit from a chap from an injured owl sanctuary, and while setting up his Little Owl made an attempt on my mouse and I stood in the way protecting my mouse mate. The owl landed on my head and lodged there with its talons in my head - the mouse was saved but passed away during a Bank Holiday weekend – boohoo. The little chap was buried and we got a gerbil to play with - ahh the 1960s, a blissfully happy time!”

Left: An Oriental Scops owl from Tony Fernandes’ Owls of the World series.

Sue Lee, director for Pennychoo:

Sara Burford, director and designer for Cinnamon Aitch:

“Many years ago, I travelled crossed Canada coast to coast and found myself in the Rocky Mountains. Being a bit ‘directionally dysfunctional’, I chose a simple circular walk and so by dusk I was, of course, hopelessly lost. With some dismay, I spotted a bear, some distance away, but heading straight towards me on the track I was following.

With night falling, dressed in shorts and with half a stale bagel in my back pack, I was forced to take a massive detour up the mountain side, watched intently the whole time by the bemused looking bear, who, once I was finally safely on the other side of him, resumed his plodding way along the track.

Having finally made it back to my hostel, I regaled my fellow travellers with a tale of derring-do in which I heroically outran the savage beast, its salivating jaws snapping just inches from my heels. I suspect it was a baby, but come on – who wants to hear a story like that by the fire on a dark night in the Rocky Mountains?”

“Gypsy, the cat, is the newest member of our family. She came from a cat rescue centre when she was just 18 months old, as her previous owner was no longer able to look after her. She’s actually my eldest daughter’s cat and, in truth, I hadn’t really counted myself as a cat person before, so it’s been a really lovely experience watching her taking care of her pet with such love and dedication. Her enthusiasm has proven infectious, and Gypsy, mischievous antics and all, has become invaluable to us all.

There has always been an abundance of cute and cuddly animal creations in the Cinnamon Aitch card ranges, but slowly and quietly, charming little kitties of all shapes, colours and patterns have started to make an appearance. Woodblock is our latest range to incorporate hand block printed cats among the menagerie of whimsical creatures... I think I’ve been converted.”

Below: Pennychoo’s Big Top range does (coincidentally) feature a bear, among many other animals.

Kate Moby, artist for Kate Moby:

Above: Kate Moby’s adorable Inky Hedgehog design.

“I'll never forget the time when I was 7 yearsold, when tidying up some straw I spotted what I thought was the end of an old broom, which then promptly unfurled and snuffled off. I thought it was amazing just to be able to stumble across wildlife, (in this case of course a lovely little hedgehog) living right under our noses if we just paid attention. And just the other day, another prickly friend pottered his way from his nest of leaves under the hedge and literally walked straight up to me. We are much more connected with this ecosystem than sometimes we realise!”

Above: One of the pawfect designs within Cinnamon Aitch’s new Woodblock range.

Diane Williams, director/artist for Bird: “During the summer I spent two weeks in Orkney on a remote Island called Shapinsay. The plan was to paint birds for a new range; it's a bird watchers’ paradise and the skies are truly breathtaking. As I explored the island I came to field after field of 'perfect' cattle - cows, bulls, calves, all looking so good and in amazing colours - and they stand still!

I visited the annual agricultural show on the largest Island where all the winning animals from the smaller islands gather to be judged for 'overall winner'.

Here I found goats, sheep, horses, chickens, along with the cattle. My new range 'Island farming' is well underway with the first four already published and all from on location on Shapinsay.”

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Below: A hand-drawn and painted image of a Shapinsay bull by Diane Williams of Bird.

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Spotlight On Animal Cards

Belinda Morris, director of 1790 Cards:

Below: From 1790 Cards’ Heads Up range, a Beagle design inspired by Belinda’s own two four legged friends.

“Being based at home is one of the great advantages of running my own business, but I had got into a pattern of being in the house all day – no human contact and no exercise. Having previously resisted all persuasion by the children, I decided what we needed was a dog. Not one, but two Beagles (a puppy and his aunt) arrived with us in close succession and my life has not been the same since. Come to think of it, neither has the house and garden!

I am certainly a lot fitter and have met so many lovely people on my daily walks around the village – I can’t imagine being without the dogs now. I suppose it was inevitable that a Beagle would make its way into my Heads Up card range – and the design has proved a best seller!”

Sarah Portman, charity and mail order director for Otter House: “Here at Otter House we are cat crazy and our designer Emma had a wonderful experience when she adopted a stray. Emma first noticed the scared little kitten wandering the street outside her house, every now and then popping in for a quick visit, but within a few days he was visiting her (and the treats collection!) every day. After an investigative

Julie Steel, director for The Steel Rooms: “Living in rural North Lincolnshire, walking the dogs and enjoying the lovely quiet countryside each morning, enables me to appreciate just how lucky I am to live in the stunning and natural world.

No longer taking for granted what I would see most mornings during the walk, mostly hares and pheasants, and the occasional roe and stag, not forgetting the fox, it gave me the incentive to draw and paint these interesting creatures, which has become an obsession.”

Left: The Steel Rooms puts a more contemporary slant on nature in its Neon range.

trip to the vets - the rest is history! Floyd, as she named him, snuggled his way into the family’s hearts and is now a beautiful, confident cat – far from the timid, shy and frightened kitten he used to be.”

Above: With each Cats Protection greeting card and stationery product sold, Otter House will make a contribution to Cats Protection of 10% on all its sales.

Louise Tate, artist for Louise Tate Illustration: “As I studied zoology at university for my first degree I have many wonderful experiences with animals. However one special time I had was at an elephant orphanage in Sri Lanka, where I was privileged to interact with orphaned elephants at bath time. We took the elephants down to the river and scrubbed them with coconut shells. The absolute enjoyment was evident on the elephants’ faces, something like the enjoyment a Labrador would show you for scratching its back. It was a moment I'll never forget and from then on I've always had a bit of a soft spot for elephants!”

Left: A herd of fun loving pachyderms from Louise Tate Illustration.

Nicholas Child, owner of The Grumble & Co.:

Below: Inspired by Miniature

“Our amazing animal experience is how we have rehomed three Pugs into Schnauzer, Lottie, The Grumble & Co. has a whole collection our family alongside our Miniature Schnauzer. launching next January featuring When Ross and I got together, he had a nine month-old Miniature the gorgeous pooch in its Lottie & Schnauzer Puppy called Lottie. We wanted Lottie to have some company Bear range. while we were at work and we found a four year-old Pug that needed rehoming called Minnie. A year later, our beautiful black Pug called Tilly needed rescuing, so she came to join our home!

We always joked that our little cottage in Cheshire was too small for any more dogs! However, we found a gorgeous little girl Pug called Ruby who was in desperate need of a loving home.

What is amazing is how all the girls have accepted each other with unconditional love. They sleep in a heap on top of each other on the sofa, while I illustrate and listen to the orchestrated sounds of the grumbles and snores that they all make!”

Judy Lumley, printmaker for Judy Lumley Prints: “As I was working on my autumn/winter range of lino printed cards I remembered that some years ago I had a slightly bizarre experience with a hedgehog. At the time I lived in a house, which had a little narrow flat path to the front door and a little narrow flat hallway on the other side. One dark evening I arrived home from work, opened the front door and a hedgehog whizzed passed me and in to the hall.

After a few moments, having realised its mistake, it rolled up into a ball and just stayed there. I think we were both equally confused as I just sat on the bottom stair with the front door open until my flatmate returned, who was apparently a hedgehog whisperer and managed to coax the prickly ball back out to the garden.

Hopefully my new hedgehog card will enter your home in the more traditional manner for a card – in an envelope.”

Above: A tri-fold hedgehog design from Judy Lumley.

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JEREMY ’S JOURNA L Business blogging by publisher Jeremy Corner of Blue Eyed Sun.

Digital

Retailing

At Autumn Fair this year I chaired a panel on ‘Lessons learned from journeys into ecommerce' with two independent retailers. I was so impressed with the ways that my two panelists had made sales without spending big money on expensive websites that I thought I’d share them with you.

Low Cost Digital Marketing On the panel were Alice Wheeler from Wonderland, Balfron, near Glasgow, and Claire Rose from Miss Claire Rose in Harrogate. Both have bricks and mortar stores and both sell online. You can visit Alice’s website at www.awonderland.co.uk and Claire’s at www.missclairerose.com. It’s also worth following them on their social media pages, which have been a big part of their sales’ success. You can find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Both retailers have purchased their web domains and used free or low cost software like Weebly to get simple, responsive (shows well on mobiles) websites up. The sites show where they are, what they sell and have easy shopping cart software which enables them to take orders. This isn’t the bulk of where their sales come from though.

Social media is an important part of how they sell. It really is as simple as taking photos of what they have on offer (often just using the camera on their phones) and posting them straight to their social media accounts.

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

across a larger audience than the retailers’ initial fan base. Customers will often order just by messaging them on these platforms.

Selling On Facebook If you look at Wonderland’s Facebook page, for example, Alice has photographed images of products underneath which her followers will post comments. As customers ask questions, Alice then engages with them quickly (you can set your phone to alert you Above: On the panel, chaired by Jeremy, of Autumn Fair’s seminar, ‘Lessons learned from journeys into ecommerce', was independent retailers, Alice Wheeler (left) from Wonderland in Balfron, and Claire Rose from Miss Claire Rose in Harrogate.

Right: An image of the newly painted Wonderland in Balfron raised lovely comments on the shop’s Facebook page.

Jeremy Corner, owner of greeting card publisher Blue Eyed Sun, explores low cost ways of retailers selling

when customers message or comment). The more engagement she has the higher her posts show on other FB news feeds and all of the Facebook friends of the customer potentially get to see the interaction.

The median average number of Facebook friends is 200. Imagine the equivalent scenario in your shop. Someone browsing and asking a member of your sales team questions would have up to 200 people watching the interaction and seeing what you are both doing. If it’s a product that sells well you are very likely to get additional sales from this interaction.

What’s important is that it’s all from the hip, and quick and easy for Alice to do. She doesn’t prep high-end photos in Photoshop.

She doesn’t put text on the image with pricing, colourways or dimensions. Less is more. You want engagement and you want customers asking questions and interacting on your social media page.

If someone chooses to purchase they might then message Alice via Facebook

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JEREMY ’S JOURNA L Messenger. Payment can then be taken quickly and easily by Paypal or later if collected in person in the shop.

Shipping To Your Fans Both retailers offer to ship their orders to customers for a small fee and use their local post office for shipping. As the volumes increase they can look to outsource this aspect or talk to suppliers about drop shipping. For now though they are up and running and selling online.

One of the key things that struck me was how powerful a small local fan base of your shop is. Obviously you have to stock products that people want at a price that’s right and displayed in an attractive way. Once you get this right your fan base will grow and you need to build this base on social media. You don’t need lots of followers, just focus on people who love what you do.

Your raving fans are easier to sell more to, give great reviews and constantly refer new customers to you. It’s better to have 100 good followers like this than 10,000 you paid for that don’t care. To get going it’s useful to encourage friends and family members to ‘like’ you on social media. Then make sure your social media details are on your bags, till receipts, website and marketing.

Negative Feedback One of the main fears retailers often have about selling online is negative feedback. The fact of the matter is that you can’t escape this. Even if you don’t have a website you may already have had negative feedback online. It’s better to engage with customers by being online. Then you can turn it around.

Another important aspect of meeting customer expectations is to empower your team to be able to make decisions and take care of customers. At Blue Eyed Sun, and with our wedding website www.IvyEllen.com, my team know that if they can fix a problem for £50 or less then they can get on and sort it. That way they can act quickly to post out replacements for damages or missing items without causing our customers delays or further frustration.

Free Listings TripAdvisor was cited as a great way of dealing with feedback head on. It’s not just for hotels and restaurants, you can Right: Miss Claire Rose is linked to TripAdvisor highlighting the shop to visitors to Harrogate.

Below: Take a ‘walk’ around Le Bizz in West Kirby on Google Streetview.

Below left: Follie in Lincoln uploads videos about the shop onto its Facebook page. The unpacking of a Wrendale delivery was viewed nearly 3,000 times.

Bottom: For some stores, listing items on Ebay is a way to reach over 17 million potential customers.

Retailers Harnessing Cyberspace

do and again you can get reviews of your store on Google so that more people visit you online and offline. Visit www.google.co.uk/business to get started.

Instagram

Many other card and gift retailers are using digital marketing tools.

Google Business View - Le Bizz in West Kirby has taken its Google Business Listing a step further by paying a Google approved photographer £500 to take images inside the shop.

Now anyone looking at the store on Google Streetview (via GoogleMaps) can walk into the store online and browse it.

Using Video - Follie in Lincoln also uses video on its Facebook page to drive sales in to the small shop. One video of the owner unpacking her order from Wrendale Designs has had almost 3,000 views. It’s fun for her fans to watch and engage with and the comments are lovely. I also like the way she is experimenting with video tools like Facebook Live. eBay - Maddy Moos in Totton, Hampshire, also keeps its website simple and then lets eBay take care of the shopping cart for certain lines.

Some 17 million unique visitors log on to eBay each month and it’s cheap and easy to list items to get access to this huge market.

also register your store. Encourage your core fans and friends to write some good reviews to get you going. Because people use TripAdvisor to plan their trips (including where they will shop) you can increase footfall to your bricks and mortar shop. If you have not registered your store on there yet, it’s free and worth doing.

Miss Claire Rose also links her TripAdvisor page from her website giving added reassurance to new customers.

Make sure you also list your shop on Google so that it shows up on Googlemaps for keywords on products you sell. It’s free to

Claire also uses Instagram to present a Smorgasbord of delicious product that she stocks in her shop. Images have to be nicer on Instagram and the app has a range of filters to help you with this. Using hashtags like #greetingcards will get your post seen by a wider range of people than just your followers because people use the hashtags to search for images on subjects they are interested in. Followers who like products can message you to order and like your photos to increase your marketing reach.

Getting Started As anyone who retails online or offline, business is an ongoing exercise in improvement. What I found most inspiring about hearing from Claire and Alice is the way they just got on with it. So, if you have smartphone, what’s stopping you? If they can do it, so can you. Often we can hold ourselves back by trying to be too perfect. Their success shows how selling online can be as simple as setting up a Facebook page.

Read more on Jeremy’s blog at www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Retailer Face To Face

Capital Letters

An upside to the weak £pound against the €euro and the $dollar has been the rise in tourists visiting the UK - with London receiving more than its fair share.

PG followed the crowds to the capital’s legendary Carnaby Street, where independent retailer We Built This City is having huge success with its fresh spin on a ‘souvenir shop’, with greeting cards very much part of the attraction.

The brainchild of entrepreneur Alice Mayor, We Built This City celebrates its second anniversary this month with a recently launched online shop, and plans in the pipeline for another London store in a tourist hot spot in 2017.

Exactly two years ago, with no bricks and mortar retail experience, Alice Mayor, then 30, bravely took a leap of faith in opening a pop-up shop on London's iconic Carnaby Street, pioneering a completely different genre of London souvenirs, recognising right from the start that greeting cards would be part of the offer.

Alice - who has a degree in philosophy, coupled with a marketing and PR background - had her light bulb moment on a London bus.

"Having handled the PR for an online design retailer, I was aware of the enormous amount of a creative talent

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out there that needed channelling," she explains. "I had been thinking for some time about how I could branch out on my own, and how I could somehow pull all the strands of, not only my business background, but also my creative side, together. That day, sitting on the bus going through central London, I realised how many tourist shops there were,

Above: We Built This City won The Greats 2016 Best Newcomer South & Wales gift retailer award, organised by PG’s sister publication Progressive Gifts & Home in May. It has also won Time Out's Best Shop in Soho and the Best Independent Lifestyle category at the DOT Best New Small Business Awards. Alice Mayor was presented with the trophy from John Calvert, founder and md of category sponsor IF (That Company Called).

Below left: An Eleanor Stuart greeting card featuring an iconic London cab.

Below: An Ohh Deer greeting card displaying the British sense of humour.

Bottom: The eye-catching, colourful exterior of We Built This City in London's Carnaby Street. The shop’s name came from Alice's strong belief that artists are responsible for making London the vibrant and valuable place it is today.

with all of them selling the same mass produced gift items. Yet I knew that there was so much more to our city and I wanted to show that," she continues. She also was acutely aware that “so many artists and designer-makers use London as the inspiration for their work."

From that moment on, she was determined to open a London-centric souvenir shop that was unique, reflecting the true creativity of the capital, one of the most visited cities in the world.

Once she'd taken her decision and found the right premises in the right location, it all happened very quickly, with her Carnaby

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Retailer Face To Face

A Handful Of Best Sellers ● A London themed range from The Pop Out Card Company, designed by

Jonathan Aspinall, which becomes a gift when it is constructed into a decorative model. ● Luxury match boxes featuring iconic London landmarks such as Big Ben, are one of the products stocked from Archivist Press. ● Artist Alice Tait's London range, including tea towels, aprons, prints and mugs. ● Limited edition prints from Rugman (aka Anthony McKewan) including the Queen, David Bowie and John Lennon. ● Kate Middle-Toe socks by Chatty Feet.

Street landlord giving her just three weeks to make her dream of opening up a pop-up store a reality. "Despite occasionally breaking out into a cold sweat, we did it, initially launching a range of products featuring work from 85 artists," she recalls. This has since grown to 250 artists, drawn from Alice's own contacts, as well as artists approaching the company. Plus, the lead art buyer/curator at We Built This City, Katy Wheeler, also sources at art trade fairs, and online through Instagram and Pinterest to find undiscovered talent.

By May 2015, following an invitation from the landlord, We Built This City was back on Carnaby Street, this time as a permanent 'stay up' outlet and Alice hasn't looked back, proud to have collaborated with, and supported, some 600 artists over the past two years.

Quirky London themed greeting cards and postcards beckon visitors in from a prime spot on the front left-hand side of the store;

Alice Loves... ● The buzz and energy of weekday early mornings in

London's Soho: the camaraderie of van drivers unloading their goods for shops and restaurants; people emerging from coffee shops preparing for the day ahead. ● Saturday morning breakfast at Turkish restaurant Gallipoli on Upper Street in North London's Islington. ● The views of London when walking across Embankment Bridge to the South Bank. ● The never-ending treasure hunt for emerging creative talent across London’s galleries, markets, pop-ups and fairs.

Above: A Pop Out Card Company phone box card.

Above right: Big Ben matches from Archivist Press.

framed prints cover the walls gallery style, while tables of giftware, ranging from original pieces of London-inspired jewellery to homewares, stationery, men's gifts, gift food, gift books and humorous gifts, all give a creative nod to London.

Finding a curated collection of greeting cards in a souvenir shop is somewhat unexpected, but for Alice it was a no brainer.

“Although we're a souvenir shop, a large proportion of our customers are Londoners - you don't have to be a tourist to want a souvenir of the city you love! - and we have a lot of Soho regulars who pop in to buy occasions cards from us,” she comments. She also points out that, from an artist’s perspective, greeting cards are a great product on which to showcase their work. “A lot of the artists and designers whose prints we stock also produce cards. We find the two complement one another really nicely in store,” she adds.

While retail prices range from a few £pounds for a greeting card or magnet, they go up to £300 for a print.

As with many of the products stocked in the shop, the greeting card designs (from a myriad of publishers and self-publishing artists) celebrate everything that shouts London, from the city's skyline to famous landmarks and arty images of the Queen.

While leading designled publishers, such as Ohh Deer, Chase & Wonder, Eleanor Stuart and Wrap appear in the card selection, the team’s search for products goes way beyond trade shows.

“We’re obsessed with finding new work and aim to curate quarterly collections Above: A Rugman print showing the Queen.

Above right: An Alice Tait print showing a map of London.

Left: One of the 'art walls' in the shop.

for the store. Our curatorial team go to great lengths to find new talent, scouring London grad shows, markets, galleries and trade shows - as well as using online search tools and blogs. Some of our greatest finds though have been artists walking into the store to show us work - something that we actively encourage,” reveals Alice.

As part of its mission to give visitors a truly creative London experience in store, the shop also hosts regular live artist sessions while the shop front is also offered to artists as a canvas for their work, with designs by Camille Walala and Rugman having previously graced the fascia.

But it is not just art that features, as the unique British sense of humour and eccentricities are also celebrated in the shop, with fudge 'ear wax' from The Hoxton Street Monster Supplies, one of last Christmas' best selling male gifts! "When we curate our products, both gift and art, I want them to reflect all sides of London and its culture

so that they speak to everyone," explains Alice. "For example, when we opened the first pop up shop, we brought in flocked model pigeons as London props not realising that people would want to buy them. We have now extended our pigeon range across artwork and gifts to cater for the demand!”

Today, buoyed by the support of thousands of visitors to the store over the past two years, Alice has just launched an online shop with plans to open an additional outlet at a major tourist hub very much in the pipeline.

"It was and still is a retail business with a mission to revolutionise London souvenirs," states Alice, "and after two hectic years, it's only just beginning to sink in! I feel that everything I have done in my career so far has led me to this point so I'm continuing to go with my instinct!"

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ARTSOURCE

TO APPEAR REGULARLY IN THE

ARTSOURCE SECTION OF PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON

01234 740 051

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ART SOURCE

PG helps to paint a pretty picture of freelance artists, designers, verse writers and photographers’ worlds in order to promote their talents to publishers and, conversely, make it easier for publishers seeking artists.

ARTIST IN FOCUS

Sue Reeves I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember – and working professionally for nearly 20 years. My art career took off when I entered an art competition to design my very own greeting card – and to my surprise I won!

I’ve been fortunate enough to have had many works published worldwide and it’s always such a wonderful surprise to see my very own designs printed as ‘real’ products and on sale in shops. There is no better feeling for any artist to thumb through the racks of cards and see your very own creations sitting there for all to see. I still feel a huge smile cross my face when I spot one and I want to grab the nearest person and shout “I did this!”

I ‘doodle’ all the time... often my best ideas come when I’m just drifting off to sleep so I always have one of my many sketchbooks close by. I love observing the details in anything and everything, and inspirations come from everywhere – some would call it an obsession!

WANT TO BE FEATURED?

I enjoy experimenting with different mediums to try to make each piece unique to the next. I always start with a hand-drawn sketch but also use many digital techniques available to widen my repertoire.

Digital capabilities are unlimited it seems and I love the constant challenge of translating my ideas to create a visual diversity of colour and texture in each artwork.

I feel very fortunate to be doing what I feel is ‘the best job ever’. I get to work from home, creating my art surrounded by my lovely ‘pack’ of five rescued dogs and seven comical hens. ● Email emma@image-source.co.uk ● Web: www.image-source.co.uk

If you are an artist, photographer or verse writer and would like to be considered to appear in Art Source, please contact PG’s Emma Cain on emmac@max-publishing.co.uk. This is an editorial feature and as such is free of charge.

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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ARTSOURCE

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ARTSOURCE SECTION OF PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS CONTACT TRACEY ARNAUD ON

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ART SOURCE Hazel Summers

I have always been creative in all aspects of my life and so studying Art and Design at college was a no-brainer for me.

However, after leaving college at 19 I needed money to pay rent so I had no choice but to find a job and fast. I ended up working in a jewellers and my career in art was put on a back burner for the time being.

I worked in the jewellery industry for 14 years in total, even setting up my own online shop selling my handmade pieces, and although I did enjoy it I always felt like I wasn’t quite on the right path.

Just over a year ago I suddenly made the brave, crazy decision to close my jewellery shop and finally follow my dream of becoming an illustrator.

My husband and two wonderful children, aged 12 and eight, have been so supportive of my life changing decision and have encouraged me no end. Now I am drawing every spare second I get, and I realise that I am finally doing the job I should have been doing all along.

I’ve spent the last year busily filling my portfolio and developing my own unique style. In everyday life I am quite a perfectionist and that has most definitely translated into my artwork in terms of intricate detail.

I have also developed a strong passion for colour and I see inspiration everywhere I look, especially in nature, like the beautiful crisp autumn turning the world from greens to oranges and reds. I prefer pens, pencils and paints to digital mediums and my dream for the future now would be to see my artwork on greeting cards and stationery. ● Tel: 07917 363569 ● Email: hazelsummersart@gmail.com

Tania Sneesby When I create my pictures, the needle on my sewing machine is my pencil, and the vast array of fabrics stacked in boxes in my workroom are my paints. I remember as a child I used to love playing with Fuzzy-Felt pictures, and as I create now, it is a bit like reliving my childhood past-time, cutting out the shapes and putting them together to create scenes – although I like to think I have progressed a lot since those Fuzzy-Felt images.

I am inspired by children’s fairy tales and nursery rhymes, my most requested picture is The Princess and the Pea, with all the mattresses stacked up made with different fabrics, I like to include little elements which aren’t immediately visible, such as text ripped out of a book, or partially hidden words, which draw people in and encourage them to spend more time studying the pictures.

I am often asked to make commissions of families, which is great fun, trying to capture their personality and interests out of bits of fabric. I also love illustrating quotes, which I spend many hours reading through books and looking on the internet for. It has to be just the right quote that resonates with me, and conjures up an image in my mind. It’s fascinating how people will buy a quote on a card, which means one thing to them, but will have a completely different meaning to somebody else.

I exhibit my work in several galleries and have my favourite designs printed onto cards, and made into high quality prints to sell in several gift shops and at exhibitions, however I am searching for a card publisher to publish my designs.

One day, I would love to illustrate a children’s book, but as long as I am able to make and create I am happy. ● Email: taniasneesbyart@gmail.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PG asked a selection of card retailers for their ‘hot’ card sellers.

Caroline Wild, owner of Magpie Cards, Nantwich, Cheshire A small shop in a market town with a loyal locals customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Alex Clark

Sparkle Cards

Humour

Paperlink

Kook

Photographic

Woodmansterne

National Trust (NT)

Art

Medici Cards (GBCC) Tracks Nigel Quiney

General Art Cards Pizazz

Hammond Gower

Luxe

Hammond Gower Jonny Javelin Janie Wilson

Privee Velvet Silver Leaf

Five Dollar Shake

General

Lovely artwork. Their uniqueness and appeal are the expressions on the animals’ faces.

There is a naughty side to the humour, however, the jokes are quite true and relatable.

Bought because the customers recognise the NT place they've been to on the card and often Above: Great facial expressions on a Sparkle card from Alex Clark. keep them as a memento.

Classical, recognisable paintings, where often the artist is known.

The artworks are a bit more modern, but just as lovely.

The cards look special, with the cards’ design inside and out, and at a good price point.

Sparkling black and gold designs with a delicate touch, this range sells very well.

Magical designs that are lovely and girlie.

Nice looking cards with just a little bit of verse that’s not too soppy.

Simple but absolutely gorgeous!... with a diamante and silver flitter finishes.

The designs (which have nice captions) still fly off the shelves!

Contemporary

Traditional Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Serge Sumerling, owner of Nor, West Norwood, South East London A small shop in a city suburb with a loyal locals (mainly young mums) customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Special Delivery Cards

General

The Pop Out Card Company

General

Redback Cards

The Little World Of Liz

Redback Cards

Good Things

Meraki

Aries

Redback

Bright Lights

Art

ArtPress Cannsdown Press

General Works On Paper

Ancillary

Museums & Galleries

V&A Collection

They sell really well, especially the 'Cats Party' card. The fact that they stand up gives them a 'wow' factor.

These are good fun. The 'affix style' presentation and the way you have to build the character out of the card is really cool and appeals to kids as well as adults looking for the cute, novelty factor.

I’ve only had this range in a short while but they are already proving to be very 'hot' with all ages of customers.

These are a favourite of mine (I have a very dry sense of humour!). They appeal to young adults and are selling well.

Saw these launch at Progressive Greetings Live back in June and they were my pick of the show.

The neon lights theme is very cool and mirror what the artist Tracey Emin does in some of her work at the moment.

I cherry-pick from all of its ranges and they all sell really well.

There are some very lovely art cards that are reproduced on a really nice textured grain paper.

Some lovely notebooks, using some imagery from the V&A’s textiles collection, which are always popular.

Top right: Redback Cards’ Good Things range has a dry wit.

Right: A favourite from Special Delivery Cards, ‘Cats Party’.

Humour

Contemporary

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Cathy Frost, owner of Loveone, Ipswich A small indie gift and homewares store in a historic area within a great community of independent businesses.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Everyday

1973

Bits and Bobs

Cute

Jo Clark Design

Unbearably Cute

Humour

Jo Clark Design

Cats In Hats

Contemporary

The Wrap Paper

Ruby Taylor

Traditional

Art Angels

Printmakers/ Winter Printmakers

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Jot Paper Co

Neon

Children’s

1973

Mibo

Giftwrap

The Wrap Paper and Chase And Wonder Chase And Wonder

General

A range of funky small cards, perfect for all occasions.

A new range from Jo, featuring the cutest little brown bears, already proving popular.

One of our most popular card ranges with visitors and regular customers. Jo captures expressions really well and the cats wear an ever-increasing range of headwear!

A large collection of modern/retro images on cards and wrap, which are colourful and popular for all occasions.

A beautiful range of printmakers’ cards. Especially popular are the Angie Lewin screenprints and linocuts inspired by her love of North Norfolk and the Scottish Highlands.

A bright and modern range of cards from new designers Jot. Perfect for all ages and sexes.

These clever cards include a cut out template of the animal featured on the front, which with some sticking turns into a 3D animal.

Both collections have a wide range of quality wrapping papers whose designs are versatile and perfect for many different occasions.

A great card range with an alphabet pin badge with retro inspired styling and lettering.

Above: There’s some great ‘bear’ puns in Jo Clark’s Unbearably Cute range.

Right: A beautiful enamel pin can be detached from this Chase and Wonder Alphabet Pin Card.

Ancillary

Alphabet Pin Cards

Stuart and Jocelyn Britton, partners of Occasions, Highcliffe, Dorset A medium shop in a small coastal town with a loyal locals customer base.

Category

Name of Publisher

Product/Name Range

Comments

Cute

Carlton (UKG)

Boofle

Carte Blanche

Me To You

Humour

Ling

Rainbow Cards

Art

Woodmansterne

General

Contemporary

Jonny Javelin

Velvet

Traditional

Nigel Quiney

Pizazz

Handmade/ Hand-Finished

Talking Pictures (Ling)

Across The Board

Children’s

UKG

General

Giftwrap

Glick

Across The Board

A very popular knitted puppy who has a nice little back story - Boofle has a good following.

Tatty Teddy is still a solid seller; it’s worth having him on the racks.

Inoffensive jokes that just tickle us and our customers.

People recognise the lovely classic, traditional paintings.

Fantastic value! And many customers have mentioned that the figures in the designs look like someone they know.

Of open cards this range wins handsdown; it’s by far our top seller.

Good sales in our store and online of the large cards for special milestones and anniversaries.

A great variety and assortment of generic children’s designs to cover all ages.

A fairly recent addition, which we thought might be a bit pricey, but it’s working brilliantly! The wrappings’ quality and designs make it a popular buy.

Right: Another giggle from Ling’s Rainbow Cards collection.

Below: This Tangled design from UKG is one of many in UKG’s children’s offering.

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LYNN’S LINES

L

L

On the ball comments by retailer and publisher Lynn Tait of The Lynn Tait Gallery.

A Brave New

World

Something is shaking up the world of greeting cards and it's not the internet or big names on the stock exchange, or even companies ploughing more money into technology.

I am referring to something that has been happening gradually …new savvy, creative publishers who are coming into the industry who are changing the way they create and connect with their customers.

I am seeing, on a daily basis, on The Ladder Club Facebook page how the industry’s new, up and coming card publishers work. How they promote themselves, how they advertise, how they woo their customers and how they are becoming jolly damn successful.

These publishers are passionate, hard working, determined, they have an original look that they haven’t copied and they are leading the country in design and creativity.

And, they are here to stay.

Roll the clock back ten years, to see it was heartbreaking to witness 80% of new publishers coming into the market disappear after a year or two in business, some even after their first trade fair.

Today, it is a massively different story... today, they are here to stay. Even four years ago when I was choosing 12 publishers to design a card to raise money for the charity, Action Medical Research, it was a struggle to find 12 who would be suitable. Today I have a choice of about 60 publishers and it's so hard to choose from them. They are leading the country in greeting card publishing and are a force to be reckoned with.

They are also one of the biggest voices in the industry (as a whole), with a group of 240 members just in 74

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

The Ladder Club Facebook group, and this does not include everyone from these new breed of publisher is in this group.

So why is it they are so successful, and why are they outshining many of the old timers? It is, of course, a number of things.

Complacency in the well-established companies is certainly one aspect. The new publishers are often very technically savvy, often coming from another industry that demanded this.

In the daily questions on The Ladder Club Facebook page it is often total gobbledygook to me when the members discuss all the different software packages available to them

Below: A new Animal Ink design from Perkins & Morley, a past attendee of The Ladder Club.

Bottom: Megan Claire’s adverts are beautifully simple with a snow white background.

to undertake stock control, invoicing, accounts, cash flow, etc. Everyone freely gives advice when discussing which one to use. I am a complete dinosaur, and I thank my lucky stars that I'm not growing my business and can still carry on in my little old-fashioned way. Because of all these available resources that they use they know exactly what stock they have and consequently their best sellers.

Something else that cannot be ignored is how these new publishers are stealing the thunder of the big boys on the advertising stage. They share their contacts on the Facebook page of photographers who take lovely product shots. Using these professional photographs pays off ten times over as they

grab the attention of the trade fair organisers, who use the images in their catalogues and online to promote their trade fairs.

The amateur photography of some card publishers pushing out the same wonky and badly-lit photos, even if they are different card designs, just does not cut the mustard anymore. I'm a photographer, but I wouldn't attempt these photoshoots of my product. Even if you have the camera gear, you still have to ensure that if your card designs have a white background that the white doesn't appear like the colour of porridge in the photos... which sadly, many others do.

Also, publishers now take the approach in their publicity of just showcasing one or two cards to show the design style, rather than a confetti approach which many ‘older guard’ publishers take...‘less is more’ is definitely the way forward. Take as an

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LYNN’S LINES Right: Lorraine Rush, from Rush Design (a Ladder Clubette), Lynn Tait, Amanda Mountain from Lola Design (a Ladder Clubette) and agent Ian Bradley at last month’s Henries Bollywood Ball.

Below: ‘Team Granny’ (Lynn’s grandchildren) have been hard at work creating their bright and colourful artwork to sell to raise money for charity. An amazing £1,000 was raised at the Private View, but artworks are still available.

example, Megan Claire's stunning adverts which certainly stand out from the crowd.

So why else are these new publishers giving the more established ones a run for their money? The majority of businesses don't like change and are sometimes quite lazy about keeping up to date with modern technology. If you are pottering along it’s easy to just leave what's in place or bang out the same old advert last minute - and then they wonder why it didn't work.

New publishers stand out from the crowd, they don't have the ‘same old same old’. They’ve come into the industry because they feel they have something original. They are innovative and creative and have their own look. Often they don't know what else is out there, never having been to a trade fair, and they aren't constrained by what's already going on. If their look touches the right

button it is because they are bringing something new to the party.

Very seldom do new publishers copy other companies. Sadly, that is not the story from some of the big, high profile publishers who copy the new ones without any glimmer of guilt. Hopefully, this will change: The greetings industry is so friendly and tightknit that news travels very quickly when a publisher unashamedly copies, and I have seen some of these big name companies’ reputation in tatters when the word gets out.

Luckily, there are a lot of publishers who are honorable and who abhor such practices.

Another thing that the small, innovative publishers have over the

Team Granny

I'm so excited! We’ve just had our Private View of the ‘Team Granny’ art sale, selling my grandchildren's artwork that they have been creating over the last six months. Their designs on canvases have also been printed on greeting cards, coasters, notebooks, magnets and handbag mirrors.

On display in the shop were 150 canvases made by my grandchildren. They also organised a raffle, a ‘name the bear’ competition, and ate the cupcakes and generally felt very proud of themselves.

A fantastic £1,000 was raised on the Private View night with donations still coming in for the cancer charity Myeloma. (This is the type of ghastly cancer that I have. It has no cure, and it relentlessly comes back and invades my body again and again).

The art sale was such a fun evening, with 75 guests supporting the event. Our target was £750 and we are expecting to double this amount eventually, having far exceeded our expectations already.

If you would like a parcel of delights from ‘Team Granny’, with all the money going to the charity, then please email me on info@waiteandtait.com.

I can see that this may become an annual event as it was such fun and I think it is so good that the children graciously give up their much loved artwork to sell for charity.

big ones is they seem to connect better with their customers.

I regularly receive a handwritten card, a lovely freebie and a well-presented product catalogue from quite a few of these new publishers. I also get very good service.

The Ladder Club is a great card publishing community, and life long friends are made at its seminars. This means the members can help and support each other through the highs and lows and give each other advice and contacts. In a highly competing industry this definitely would not happen between bigger companies. Ten years ago, if you were starting out, you were an isolated lone voice. Today things are very different. Today's new publishers have the support and backing of all the key people in the industry.

The most successful new publishers are those who have their own distinctive look and branding. They believe in what they are doing and are passionate about it, working tirelessly to reach their goals.

Nothing was more evident of this than at The Henries last month, when Ilona Drew from I Drew This became ‘I won this’ when she won the award for the Best Art Range category at The Henries.

Nobody deserved the accolade more.

She has worked tirelessly to fulfill her dreams and reach her goal. Even though three Ladder Club members were shortlisted in the same category, they were so supportive of Ilona’s win, as were all the other members.

I had an amazing time at The Henries. It was the first time for four years that I was well enough to stay for the whole duration of the event and I thought everyone looked amazing in their glamorous outfits. Well done to the whole team who worked so hard to ensure we had a memorable evening. I certainly did!

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Publishers of quality blank greeting cards

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact

Warren Lomax on:

020 7700 6740 or email on warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact

Tracey Arnaud on:

07957 212 062 or email on tarnaud@btinternet.com 76

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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tel 0203 2344011 info@blackolivestudio.co.uk www.blackolivestudio.co.uk

Product Directory November 2016_NEW 25/10/2016 13:27 Page 77

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C Caspari aspari L Ltd td Linden L inden House, House, John John Dane Dane Player Player C Court ourt

East E ast S Street, treet, Saffron Saffron Walden Walden E ssex, C B10 11LR LR Essex, CB10 T el: 0 1799 5 13010 Tel: 01799 513010 01799 5 13101 F ax: 01799 Fax: 513101 E mail: info@caspari.co.uk info@caspari.co.uk Email: w ww.CaspariOnline.com www.CaspariOnline.com

PProducts: roducts: Everyday Everyday cards cards - birthday, birthday, blank blank & occasions, occasions, charity ch harity Christmas Christmas cards, bags, wrap, b ags, ttissue, issue, rribbon, ibbon, cards, gift gift wrap, hankies, hankies, napkins, napkins, paper paper plate, plate, candles, candles, placemats, placemats, crackers,invitations, crackers,invitations, placecards, placecards, notecards,diaries, notecards,diaries, address books, address b ooks, jjournals, ournals, advent advent calendars calendars and and bridge bridge gifts. gifts.

Method M ethod of of Sale: Sale: D Direct irect to to Retail Retail

www.cathtatecards.com

Witty, gritty, switched on humour.

Cards and gifts with a real difference.

Unit 1, 45 Morrish Road London SW2 4EE Tel: 0208 671 2166 Fax: 0208 678 1119 info@cathtatecards.com

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact

Warren Lomax on:

020 7700 6740 or email on warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact

Tracey Arnaud

Colneis Marketing York House, 2-4 York Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7QQ T: 01394 271668 F: 01394 275114 E: colneiscards@btconnect.com Online Shop www.colneisgreetingcards.com

on:

07957 212 062 or email on tarnaud@btinternet.com PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Colour House Graphics York House, 2-4 York Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7QQ T: 01394 271668 F: 01394 275114 E: colourhousegraphics@hotmail.com Online Shop www.colourhousegraphics.co.uk

G RASS R OOTS INTERNATIONAL A U.K owned Greeting Cards Publisher.

Our everyday ranges for all occasions and relations include traditional, contemporary, cute, humour and photographic designs. We also have a full range of Christmas and Spring Seasons.

All products are designed and printed in the U.K on the finest quality board.

BRANDS

Market leaders in Humour, Art, Photographic, Occasions and Relations cards offering a full planning service with merchandising and retail development opportunities.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Write from the Heartâ&#x20AC;? brand includes; Corsage, Sentiments, Champagne, Celebrations and Jelly Beans.

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Eye catching, luxurious Gift Wraps, Gift Tags, Gift Bags, Roll Wrap, Tissue Papers & Ribbons for all occasions The UK No. No. 1 in The Licensed Greetings Greetings etings Licensed Over Overr 30 licenses Ov licens nses ses including: includin ng g: g: D Disne y, Peppa Peppa Pig Pig, Disney, Kitty, He Kitty Hello Kitty, Mr Men Men a d Angry A Birdss and Birds t: +44 + (0)1264 388400 e: enquiries@gemma-int enquiries@gemma-international.co.uk erna national. ti co.uk w: gemma-international.co.uk gemma-international. ona co.uk

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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

Glick, Unit 1 Allenby House, European Industrial Park, Knowles Lane, Bradford BD4 9AB Tel: 01274 655980 email: sales@glick.co.uk www.glick.co.uk

L U X U RY C A R D S P R O U D LY M A D E I N T H E U K Order s can be placed on our trader site

w w w. c b g t r a d e r. c o. u k or call our customer ser vice team on

+44(0)1243 792600

Product Directory November 2016_NEW 25/10/2016 13:28 Page 79

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CHARITY GREETING CARDS One of the UK’s leading publishers of Charity Greeting Cards.

Impress offers a wide collection of images, including fine art, graphic, photographic and cute.

We also offer a bespoke design service for bulk orders and/or mail order fulfilment.

Impress Publishing Appledown House Barton Business Park New Dover Road Canterbury, Kent CT1 3TE Tel: 01227 811 611 Fax: 01227 811 618 email: info@impresspublishing.co.uk

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LING DESIGN

60 years

Yo our N Number b O One S Supplier li off Numerals, Name, Relation & Age Labels for Greetings Cards.

Huge selection with immediate deliveryy. Buy direct or from your wholesalerr.

Listan Labels 3 Isis Court, Wyndyke Furlong, Abingdon Business Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire Oxfordshire OX1 5JN Tel Tel e 01235 465489 Fax 01235 532118 www.listanpublications.co.uk www.listanpublications.co.uk sales@listanpublications.co.uk

The UK’s leading privately owned publisher of Greetings Cards and Stationery. ...The home for and ...and the UK home for

Products: Greetings cards for all occasions, Christmas and Spring Seasons cards, gift wrap and bags, charity cards, social stationery.

Bespoke service for charities and other fundraisers.

Ling Design Ltd 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BE Tel: 01892 838574 Fax: 01892 838676 Email: enquiries@lingdesign.co.uk Website: www.lingdesign.co.uk

Agents wanted

Silk Screened Retro, Pop & Classic Cards Inspired by Music and 1960’s American Advertising.For all Vinyl & Rock n’Roll lovers

L E T U S TA K E YOU BAC K

For further details please get in touch.

info@vincentmcevoy.com

+44 (0)7779 578340

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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Products An exciting and innovative range of quality Birthday, relations, special occasions, art and humorous greeting cards. Full range of Christmas and Spring Seasons merchandise. Comprehensive collection of handmade cards.

Pizazz gifts.

Brand Names Pizazz, Pizazz Gallery, Say the Word, Carousel, Meadow Sweet, R&R for Men, What a Picture!

Cloudesley House • Shire Hill Saffron Walden • CB11 3FB T: 01799 520200 F: 01799 520100 www.nigelquiney.com

The Playful Indian cards are a unique fusion of the east and west. Simple and quirky, they have made many people smile...so what are you waiting forr, put a smile on someone’s face today!

originalposter.com

All our cards are supplied on consignment, so you only pay for what you sell.

We also supply card fixtures and spinners free-on-loan.

We replace slow sellers and damaged stock free of charge.

We merchandise regularly, so you don’t have to.

THAT’S WHY WE’RE ORIGINAL!

01932 267 300

Three great publishers, all under one roof, contemporary, graphic, humour, cute and photographic ranges with a fantastic range of occasions and relations cards.

holy y cow! it’ss your birthd it hda ay y

Key brands: V&A, Portobello, Spirit, Daisy Patch, Sugar Pips, Marzipan Toybox, Born to Stitch, Idols, Life, Sweet Tooth, Brights.

Method of sale: Direct to retail, Export and Licensing.

Riverside House, Centurion Way, Riverside Business Park, Nottingham NG2 1RW Tel: 0115 986 0115 Fax: 0115 986 0116 Email: sales@paperrose.co.uk Web: www.paperrose.co.uk www.artgroupcards.co.uk

Uk publisher of Greetings Cards with an extensive range of quality Birthday, Relations, Occasions and Seasonal product...

paperlink... pap erlink... the home of fa fabulous bulous cards!

356 56 Kennington Rd London SE11 4LD T 020 7582 8244

available from

LING DESIGN

Mr Figgis, when we say parents invited, we usually mean to sit and watch!

@paperlink.co.uk info@paperlink.co.uk www.paperlink.co.uk

Suppliers of humorous & contemporary Birthday, Christmas, Spring Seasons, Occasions & Relations cards Brands include: Bottomline, Bestie, Wrinklies, Hat Trick, Route 69, Bangers & Flash, Humdingers, Lacie, Sassy, Stay Wonky, Patisserie, Tinklers, Made With Love, and many many more!

Method of Sale: Direct P Paperlinkcards aperlinkcards @paperlinkcards @ paperlinkcards

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D e s i g n - l e d S t a t i o n e r y, G i f t s , Calendars, Diaries and Cards Brands Laura Ashley, Roald Dahl, Lily & Val, Vintage Ladybird, Caroline Gardner, Monsoon, Born to Shop, Flash Gordon, Boofle and many more.

Our In-house design studio and established supply chain enables us to offer bespoke services. tel: +44 (0) 1225 329494 email: sales@porticodesigns.com website: www.porticodesigns.com

Our Brands: The Crazy Side of Life, Laughter with Animals, Sporting Fun The Funny Side of Life, Twiddly Winks.

Dad - I thought you said I could be the, one to tell him you re out

Me thod of sa le : Direct to Retail 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6BE Tel: 01892 838574 Fax: 01892 838676 Email: enquiries@lingdesign.co.uk Website: www.lingdesign.co.uk

Product Directory November 2016_NEW 25/10/2016 13:28 Page 81

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l PRODUCT DIRECTORY Products: Greetings Cards, Gift Wrap, Social Stationery, Gift Bags, Keepsakes, Partyware.

Brands: Designer Collection, Feelings, Impressions, Inspirations, In Touch, Isabel’s Garden, Paper Wishes, Planet Happy.

Method of sale: DESIGN LED RETRO CARD & GIFTS TO SUIT ALL OCCASIONS YEAR OF BIRTH GREETING CARDS MUSIC DOWNLOADS • PREMIUM RETRO GIFTWARE & ACCESSORIES

t: 020 8993 5966 f: 020 8993 1396 w: www.retroco.com e: info@retroco.com

Wholesale Distributors

Simon Elvin Limited Wooburn Industrial Park, Wooburn Green, Bucks HP10 0PE Tel: 01628 526711 Fax: 01628 531483 www.simonelvin.com mail@simonelvin.com

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Greeting Cards that are unique & special with creative wit.

Looking for top-notch agents to join our expanding team.

rosierobins.com 01992 536461 PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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DIRECT TO RETAIL & EXPORT

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Market Leaders in

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& entimen

Sensations International Ltd Unit 6, Quad Road,East Lane Business Park,East lane, Wembley,MIDDLESEX HA9 7NE Tel. 0208 3854470 Fax: 0208 385 4471 Email: sales@sensationsinternational.com PRODUCTS: World’s leading publisher of high quality plastic greeting cards. Also an extensive range of quality greeting cards covering Everyday, Occasions, Christmas and Spring seasons.

BRANDS: Cherished Thoughts, Sweet Sentiments, Buddies Always, Symphony, Thinking of You, Style, Special Wishes, Special Times, Young Editions, Groove Sensations, Forever Blessed, Grey Skies, Classics.

METHOD OF SALE: Direct to retail.

an extensive range of superior quality,

design-led Greeting Cards for all occasions, Spring Seasons & Christmas.

TEL: 01480 43556 435562 2 FAX: 01480 450599

Method of Sale: Direct to Retail Orders can be placed on our trader site

www.cbgtrader.co.uk or call our customer services team on

www.tracksltd.com

+44(0)1243 792600

UNIT 2, 12 BLACKSTONE RD, STUKELEY MEADOWS IND EST, HUNTINGDON, CAMBS, PE29 6EF

The UK’s leading publishers of highest quality handmade Greetings Cards.

Products: Greetings cards for all occasions, Christmas and Spring Seasons. Spinners and other retail displays available.

Talking Pictures Cards 14-20 Eldon Way, Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6BE

Tel: 0845 450 1815 Fax: 0845 450 1816 Email: enquiries@talkingpics.co.uk Website: www.talking-pictures.co.uk

To appear in the Product Directories simply contact Warren Lomax on 020 7700 740 warren@max-publishing.co.uk or contact Tracey Arnaud on 07957 212 02 tarnaud@btinternet.com

Top-notch British Greeting Cards for Thoughts that Count

01923 200600 | www.woodmansterne.co.uk r

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Wholesale Directory Octber 2016_whole sale dirSeptember 2004 25/10/2016 12:29 Page 83

DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS

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DIRECTORY OF WHOLESALERS

NATIONWIDE

MERSEYSIDE

WALES

UNIT 4, THE ARGENT CENTRE, SILVERDALE ROAD, HAYES, MIDDLESEX, UB3 3BS TEL: 020 8573 2975 / 1768 FAX: 020 8561 2349

MERSEYSIDE GREETING CARDS LTD

Merseysideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Largest Greeting Card Distributor

Email: info@abbeycards.com

Due to our massive buyer power, we are able to offer you the best prices and also take a pride in our friendly service.

LONDONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NO 1 GREETING CARDS STATIONERY PARTY AND BALLOON CASH & CARRY

Greeting cards â&#x20AC;¢ Gift ranges â&#x20AC;¢ Pocket money toys â&#x20AC;¢ Balloons â&#x20AC;¢ Badges â&#x20AC;¢ Banners â&#x20AC;¢ Soft toys â&#x20AC;¢ Stationery â&#x20AC;¢ Collectables , including dolls â&#x20AC;¢ Photo frames

Trading Hours Our Opening Hours are: MON, TUES,WED & FRI 9.00 - 5.30pm THURSDAY 9.00 - 8.30pm

Always something different Check us out now!!!

Mon-Fri 9.30 to 5.30 Sunday 10 to 1 Late night Thursday till 8pm Tel: 0151 227 2555 Fax: 0151 207 1564 mgconline@hotmail.com

To appear in the Wholesale Directory simply call Warren Lomax on

25 Dickson Street, Liverpool L3 7EB

HERTS & LONDON

SUMAN BROS Stationery and greeting card wholesaler

020 7700 6740

Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL

magnus RUPERT

T: 01923 200 900 F: 01923 200 909

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LONDONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NO 1

Great deals Great location Plentiful parking Just off the M1 Junction 5

WEST MIDLANDS

GREETING CARDS STATIONERY PARTY AND BALLOON CASH & CARRY

Trading Hours Our Opening Hours are: MON, TUES,WED & FRI 9.00 - 5.30pm THURSDAY 9.00 - 8.30pm SAT CLOSED SUN 10.00 - 4.00pm UNIT 4, THE ARGENT CENTRE, SILVERDALE ROAD, HAYES, MIDDLESEX, UB3 3BS TEL: 020 8573 2975 / 1768 FAX: 020 8561 2349 Email: info@abbeycards.com

Crown House Otterspool Way Watford WD25 8HL Tel: 020 8993 2231 www.rupertmagnus.co.uk Wholesale and direct-to-retail greeting cards, gift wrap, gift bags, social stationery, partyware and gifts.

Great range, competitive prices, excellent service.

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Available v 100% Recycled Paper Available Stock & Bespoke Cello Bags Peel & Stick Envelopes Bespoke Service on Request

ORDER ON LINE AT: AT: www www.regentenvelopes.com .regentenvelopes.com 01274 583000 sales@r sales@regentenvelopes.com egentenvelopes.com

We’ve We’ve been producing bags of high clarity and high quality for over 30 years.

01274 220 220 www w.wrapid.co.uk www.wrapid.co.uk sales@wrapid. sales@wrapid.co.uk co.uk

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Quality Bespoke Envelopes!

From 5,000 quantity to many millions we can produce excellent quality envelopes for you.

Plain, printed, coloured & textured finish.

100% recycled & FSC available.

Please call us on 0843 5066684 with your enquiry or visit our website

www.ukenvelopecentre.co.uk We will be delighted to help!

FLITTERING

LITHO OR DIGIT DIGITAL, DIGITA GIT TAL, LES GROUP GR ROUP R O WINDLES ALWAYS MAKES AL LWAY AYS M AKES THE RIGHT GHT HT PRINT IMPRESSION. RESSION. RE

FOR ALL YOUR FLITTER REQUIREMENTS

ABL Foil Ltd Unit 1, Industrial Estate East Hanningfield Chelmsford Essex, CM3 8AB

Contact DAVID JIGGINS Tel: 01245 400104 Email: david@abl-ltd.co.uk

WWW.WINDLESGROUP.CO.UK WWW W.WINDLESGR W OUP P.C . O.UK

PRINTERS

PJ Print (London) The Capitals only Greetings card printer You name it what ?

We can do it.

With probably the most

Specialist UK and Global manufacturer for the greeting card industry

comprehensive range of card finishing in the UK card market PJ Print The answer to all your card production needs

PJ - PRINT

To discuss how we could work with you contact Simon King Tel: 0115 928 7766 Email: sales@sherwoodgroupuk.com

www.sherwoodgroupuk.com

E-mail: sales@pj-print.co.uk The Print Works Colville Road, Acton London W3 8BL tel 020 8993 5160 www.pj-print.co.uk Hadden Court, Glaisdale Parkway, Glaisdale Drive West, Nottingham, NG8 4GP PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

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PRINTERS

The home of greeting cards eting e r g adinugrer e l s ’ K ct The Umanufa card

50 0 1.1co.uk 5 2 14 eys

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YOUR MANUFACTURING PARTNER FOR VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS English speaking production team, prices quoted in sterling... and only 3 days delivery to THE UK...

• LITHO PRINT • DIGITAL PRINT • FOILING • EMBOSSING • FLOWRAPPING

• DIE-CUTTING • FLITTERING • PACKING • DISTRIBUTION • INSERTING

Really... and there s no VAT to pay or customs procedures either...that's a great deal!

• Hand made and hand finished greeting cards • Boxed sets and acetate packs of cards / envelopes • Giftwrap and tag packs • Individually open and closed wrapped cards • 'Pop up' and cardboard engineered products • Notelets and social stationery • Specialised printing on plastics & lenticular For production enquiries, estimates etc., please contact our UK Agent:

Rob Pearson 07710 132 232 Tel: 01274 531828 Contact Chris Sharman. Email: chriss@herbertwalkers.co.uk

www.herbertwalkers.co.uk 86

PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE

rob@solutions-polska.com FSC accredited (BV-COC-002485). Audited member of SMETA. Printing to ISO12674-2 standard.

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WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

LB Warehousing (Women in Transport & Logistics Finalist)

S AME DAY order turnaround A CCURATE fulfilment and same day turn round V ALUE ADDED only as you sell the product E XCLUSIVELY Greeting Cards D EDICATED Account Managers With an excellent reputation we work as an integral part of your TEAM bringing much more than fulfilment.

Our costing structure is SIMPLE and TRANSPARENT. We carry out ALL aspects of hand finishing and assembly and provide whatever ADDITIONAL services YOU need Our select team of outworkers carefully hand wrap any size or format of cards urgently, OVERNIGHT!

We specialise in providing high quality print for short to medium runs, incorporating multiple images. Go to our website for prices, alternatively call or email us for a bespoke quote.

T

01274 305832

E

info@hellocards.co.uk

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www.hellocards.co.uk

We CARE about your product as much as you do. Attention to detail, QC Issues and IT supported by a comprehensive paper trail for all stock movements are our hallmarks.

Our CAN DO approach means that WE solve your problems.

Outsourcing your warehousing operation releases your time to CREATE/MARKET/SELL/ MANAGE/GROW THE BUSINESS YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS, please visit our web site and see what OUR customers say, then to find out more call Lynda Raymond and perhaps we can arrange to meet and discuss your needs I am sure that we can help.

LB Warehousing, Units 1, 2 &3 Wayside Warehouses, Toseland, Near St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. PE19 6RX Tel 01480 880800 Fax 01480880900 Mobile 07889 399341 lynda@lb-warehousing.co.uk

WAREHOUSING & DISTRIBUTION

The Professional and Caring Approach..

... to 3rd Party Warehouse, Distribution and Hand Finishing needs.

With over 25 years experience in the Greeting Card and Gift Industry, we specialise in providing a very fast yet efficient and friendly service to all of our customers.

Our close links to the port of Felixstowe allowing excellent access for both UK and overseas business.

AGENTS WANTED

AGENTS REQUIRED Angela Faulkner is a well established UK Publisher.

We offer high quality greetings card ranges together with ceramic, porcelain and textile gifts.

We are currently seeking additional Agents throughout the UK. Please reply by email with your details. sales@angelafaulkner.co.uk

We would be happy to talk to you and provide further information please contact either: James Smithies on 01449 778360 e: james@setinhand.com Tracy Davies on 01449 778363 e: tracy@setinhand.com Please visit our website at www.setinhand.com for further information.

Your Success Is Our Success

+44 (0) 1635 297070 @PGLiveLondon www.progressivegreetingslive.com Immerse yourself in the greeting card world

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