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NEWS TOP STORY
NEWS IN BRIEF
The Calies’ 2019 Finalists Publishers galore feature in the UK calendar awards’ line-up Buyers from Calendar Club, Waterstones, John Lewis and House of Cards joined the other members of a Judging Panel to arrive at the finalists for The Calies, the UK calendar, diary and Advent awards 2019. “In what is only the third year of The Calies, testament to the strength and diversity of the sector, we received well over 450 entries from 40 different publishers this year, each and every one a good reason to mark time!” stated Warren Lomax, md of Max Publishing, which owns and organises The Calies. Publishers Abrams & Chronicle, Alison Gardiner, Allan & Bertram, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Art Angels, Avonside Publishing, Brainbox Candy, BrownTrout, Carousel, Castelli Milano, Danilo, The Eco-friendly Card Company, English Graphics, Flame Tree, Graphique de France, Hallmark Cards, Ling, Pomegranate, Portico, Pyramid, Quadrille, Really Good, Roger la Borde, Rose Calendars, Seedlings Cards and Gifts, teNeues Calendars, Woodmansterne and Wrendale all have calendars, diaries and Advents which feature among the contenders for this year’s prestigious awards. All Calies 2019 winners will be announced at an awards event, which will take place on Tuesday 19 November at Stationers’ Hall, in the City of London (5.15pm - 7.45pm).
Below: Some of the Festive Friday livery.
The event will be hosted by top comedian Stuart Goldsmith, with Hazel Walker, senior buyer of Waterstones, among the preawards speakers. The ticket cost is £60 + VAT. This includes a drinks reception and canapés, talks and award ceremony, with networking continuing post-awards (paid bar available). You can book tickets for The Calies online via www.max-tickets.net or contact Clare Hollick on 01733 294524 or by emailing clare@createvents.co.uk. (See pages 20-21) Top: The Calies judging panel and organisers. (Left-right bottom row to top row) Lisa Rutherford (John Lewis), Miles Robinson (House of Cards), Nick Henry (Gould), Jakki Brown (PG), Becky Salter (Calendar Club), Beth Adams (John Lewis), Iain Bullock (Renz), Tim Reynolds (Medici), Claire Quinn (Waterstones), Warren Lomax (PG), Hazel Walker (Waterstones), Mark Grayson (Max Publishing), Rob Dand (Calendar Club), Nigel Williamson (House of Cards) and Dermot Callaghan (Renz). Above: Comedian Stuart Goldsmith is to host The Calies.
Bianca Mastrodomenico appointed Waterwells’ head of brokerage Former WH Smith and National Trust card buyer, Bianca Mastrodomenico (right) has joined GBCC taking up the role of head of brokerage of its Waterwells side. Two months after GBCC and Waterwells' acquisition by Swan Mill, Chris Wilcox, continuing managing director of GBCC, has made contact with all Waterwells' retail customers to thank them for their “patience and ongoing support” while “we have been finding our feet following a period of business changes.” Apologising that some Christmas stock took a little longer to dispatch than had been hoped, Chris said that this was “due to legacy issues with logistics”, but assures that these have now been resolved. The letter also details how Waterwells has secured the ongoing support from 25 different card publishers willing to be part of the brokerage operation. In addition to Ling (a sibling to GBCC), these include The Art File, Blue Eyed Sun, Laura Darrington, Paper Rose, Paper Salad, Rachel Ellen and Portfolio. “We are also really excited to be bringing in publishers that are new to Waterwells, such as Emotional Rescue, Danilo and Henries’ award winner, Louise Tiler Designs,” said Chris. Chris ends the letter with: “We know that retailing is hard and we thank you once again for your on-going support. We are now confident that we can supply you both the product and the service that you require in this tough market.” Left: Waterwells is run from GBCC’s Gloucester premises.
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PROGRESSIVE GREETINGS WORLDWIDE
l Everyone in the industry is urged to get involved with Festive Friday (November 29) by sending their Christmas cards on that day. There are posters and flyers for the GCA initiative to kick-start Christmas card sending available to download on the GCA website (www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk)
l John Lewis & Partners’ Lizzie Batchelar (right) has moved on as assistant buyer of cards, giftwrap and seasonal events to her new role in the company as assistant buyer for gift food. Lily Starling becomes the new assistant buyer for cards, giftwrap and seasonal events on November 11.
l Brainbox Candy cards and plenty of Danilo calendars feature in HMV’s new flagship store, The Vault, that opened in Birmingham in the middle of last month. Above: HMV’s new Birmingham store.
l Matt Denton (right) has joined Widdop and Co. as territory manager for the South-West of England. Matt joins from Baker and Taylor selling books and gift stationery into the garden centre and gift sectors. Matt takes over the area from Bob Morgan who will be focusing his efforts on the South of England.
l Last month, envelope company, Blake, supported From Me To You in its Big Letter Write, a campaign which encourages everyone to group together - whether it be with friends, neighbours, or work colleagues - and write letters! The company is also continuing in its support of The Jolly Postman Learning Programme with the Postal Museum with an aim of raising the literacy attainment of some of the most deprived children in London. Above: Blake is getting behind encouraging people to put pen to paper.