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British Public Spent £1.53 Billion On Greeting Cards GCA Market Report’s findings paint a reassuring picture The UK public has upped £1,167.9bn, while its commitment to buying total spring seasons greeting cards, having singles rose 3.3% to spent an incredible £1.53 £171.7bn from billion on single greeting £166.3bn, cards in the last year, up cancelling out the 1.1% on the previous fact that Christmas year. This reassuring singles had dropped news is revealed in the 5.6% from latest GCA UK Greeting £177.5bn to £167.6bn year on year. Card Market Report, which Seth added: “While there was an was officially launched at the increase in value of sales, volumes for GCA Conference and AGM, the year were slightly down at held recently at Manchester 782.4million cards sold, a 2.2% Hall in Manchester. decrease in volume.” “The positive findings The findings also showed the split Above: Seth Woodmansterne underline the UK population’s presenting the findings of the between online and brick and mortar GCA Market Report at the commitment to greeting card recent Conference. card sales. “High Street sales were sending,” commented Darren buoyant with the retail value of cards Cave, the outgoing president of the GCA and sold in bricks-and-mortar retail rising by 3% customer and channel director of UK while the value of online card sales dropped Greetings. “It is really encouraging that our by 8% year-over-year. Online sales accounted market continues to be resilient and robust in for 16% of the total retail value of card sales, these challenging economic times,” he added. down from 17.5% in 2023, and 9.2% in The Report, which provides an invaluable volume,” revealed Seth. annual delve into UK greeting card sales, covers cards for everyday, occasions, blanks, occasions, Spring Seasons as well as Christmas singles, tracking consumer purchasing habits by value and volume. GCA council member and Woodmansterne md, Seth Woodmansterne took attendees through the Report’s highlights at the Conference. “The average retail price of all single cards The findings of the GCA UK Market Report, rose to £1.95, up from £1.89 in 2023, and which is free to all GCA members, was not the split for everyday for 2024 was up in the only data revealed at the recent value at £1,189.5bn, a rise of 1.8%. Conference with presentations from research Seasonal sales, which exclude boxes and company Kantar, Hazel Walker of packs, were slightly down for Christmas and Waterstones and Thortful’s md Pip slightly up for spring,” relayed Seth. Heywood shining the spotlight on more The data shows retail values for everyday consumer buying trends. (See pages 27-31) single cards rose 1.8% to £1,189.5bn from
Shareholders still love outgoing Moonpig boss Moonpig’s outgoing CEO Nickyl Raithatha garnered a 99.99% approval rating, reelected as a director of the Above: Moonpig’s ceo Nickyl online greeting Raithatha. card specialist at the company’s recent AGM. The online operator released a trading update in advance of the meeting, for the current financial year from 1 May to end of September, which said overall group momentum has continued in line with expectations, and the greeting card and gift business remains on track to deliver as per FY26 guidance of mid-single digit growth in group adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted earnings per share rise of between 8% and 12%. The statement added: “Moonpig continues to deliver consistent revenue growth at approximately 10% year on year,” while trading at the Netherlands’ arm Greetz has “improved sequentially”, with revenue now showing modest yearon-year growth. Growth in orders is underpinned by the continued expansion of the company’s active customer base where people are “increasingly embracing our innovative personalisation features to express themselves”. Around 50% of all cards ordered via Moonpig now include options such as AIgenerated stickers, audio or video messages, or personalised handwriting. Average order value is rising at both Moonpig and Greetz. Following on from the launch of Hotel Chocolat and The Entertainer in FY25, the company expects the brand launches in flowers and gifting – including Laura Ashley flowers, Next flowers and JoJo Maman Bébé – to support continued attach rate growth during the key Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day trading periods. Left: Emma Wallington.
UOE’s frantic opening schedule “We’re now in the final seven days of our launch program with five branches to go!” a buoyed-up Elliot Jacobs, ceo of UOE posted on social media, after what must be one of the most frantic store opening programmes in greeting card history. The retailer group, which set its stall out to more than triple its estate to 40 Post Offices with a strong Above: UOE’s beautiful greeting card and stationery offer, in now in the final new store in Oxford. run-up of openings. The last month or so alone has seen it open stores in London’s Kingsland
High Street, Wealdstone, Mount Pleasant, Lower Edmonton, London Bridge, Knightsbridge, Harold Hill, Islington’s Upper Street, Kilburn, Northolt, Roman Road, Paddington Quay, Kennington Park, Raynes Park, Stamford Hill, Barnet, Golders Green, High Holborn, Kingsbury, Brixton, Baker Street, Houndstitch, Harlesdon, Hampstead as well as in St Albans, Leighton Buzzard, Oxford, Windsor, Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides and Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands! It has also appointed Emma Wallington as its head of buying. Emma’s previous experience includes working at M&S, Debenhams and Muji.
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