The Noel Tatt Group is to become the UK distributor for the Up With Paper pop-up cards range from February next year. The Kent-based publisher will take over the distribution of the US brand from Popshots Studios, run by David Macrae, who has distributed the line in the UK since 1999.
The Up With Paper collection will add another dimension to the Noel Tatt portfolio, both in that it is the publisher’s first distribution deal as well as its inaugural pop-up collection.
“We have enjoyed 20 years of year-on-year organic growth, but have been ready for a development such as this for the last few years; to enable us to offer our 2,500 customers something at a high price point, which would bring them incremental sales,” Jarle Tatt, managing director of Noel Tatt told PG Buzz. As coincidence would have it, Michael Griffith, Noel Tatt’s sales manager revealed “we were actually considering creating our own pop-up range when the opportunity to take over the Up With Paper (UWP) distribution rights ‘popped’ up!”
Initially, as from February 1, Noel Tatt will be offering designs from the three top UWP everyday ranges, Treasures, Globes and Panoramics, totalling 51 SKUs. Launching at Spring Fair, these will be delivered to customers from the beginning of March. In addition, the Noel Tatt sales team will be pre-selling 12 SKUs each of Christmas Treasures and Globes from January 2.
While the handover of the Up With Paper distribution agreement is amicable, for David Macrae, it will mark the end of an era that has spanned four decades, going back to when the cards were sold under the PopShots Inc banner.
“I was first a customer 40 years ago, and clearly remember selling the Gone With The Wind cards in 1973. I then became the distributor in 1999 when we relaunched the Up With Paper line at the Autumn Fair under Pop Shots Studios,” recalls David.
“The world changes and things move on,” he added philosophically. David’s company, Popshots Studios will continue to focus on distributing the Michel Design Works bath, body and tableware range as well as its flat card business in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Noel Tatt and Popshots Studios are working closely to ensure there is a smooth handover. The ‘ownership’ of the spinners will then transfer to Noel Tatt. New headers will be made available fanfaring the collection as ‘Up With Paper distributed by Noel Tatt’.
Top: One of Up With Paper’s Panoramic designs that Noel Tatt is distributing.
