As part of its 100th anniversary celebrations, the GCA has launched the #cardtokeep campaign, which urges people to share their special greeting card memories through featuring images of their treasured cards on the dedicated Instagram site, as well as the stories behind them.
With the #cardtokeep initiative off to a good start (and will run for the duration of 2019), PG Buzz shares one of the poignant posts which reinforces the important role greeting cards play in our lives.
Helen Strutt, founder of Lellibelle Cards:
“I think the Cards to Keep campaign is a lovely idea, particularly as I come from a family where sending cards is an important way to keep in touch through the year, especially between my sister and I.
My sister and I are identical twins. We went to Northumbria University together to study a degree in Fashion Marketing. During the 4 year degree we always lived together, and even worked at the same company in our ‘year out in industry’ in London. After graduating in 2000 we both went to work in New York on an internship for the same textile design company specialising in beading and embroidery, and after four months moved to London to work in their London studio. We lived together, sat next to each other at work, and worked on the same collections. We were there for just over a year until the big move apart aged 25 in 2003! This perhaps gives some insight into why keeping in touch, with cards, has had so much meaning to us!
This particular card, with ‘Friends’ on the front featuring two cats, was sent about a year after we moved apart to say thank you for having her to stay for the weekend. We both love cats, so many of the cards are cat related! Neither of us had a mobile telephone at the time, and although we spoke quite a lot on the landline telephone, we must have sent each other a card at least once a week as a form of keeping in touch; there were lots of ‘saw this and thought of you’ cards sent. We had gone from living and working together every day, to seeing each other once a month if we were lucky, so we desperately missed each other, we still do, now living nearly 200 miles apart. During the first few years apart we sent each other cards every week. I’ve just found a box of cards dated 2003, 2004 and 2005 of the lovely cards. Lovely to look through them; messages from over 15 years ago! I can’t see me ever getting rid of them!”
How to get involved in #cardtokeep
“What better way to mark the GCA’s centenary than by celebrating special greeting card memories that have added meaning to our own lives,” explains Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA, who is spearheading the #cardtokeep initiative that is to run for the duration of 2019. “While the campaign has kicked off with those within the industry, our hope is that it will spread and becomes something of a movement with members of the general public, celebrities and those overseas,” Amanda adds.
While everyone is encouraged to post an image of their respective #cardtokeep and share the story behind it on Instagram – tagging in the GCA on @GCA_UK for re-post submissions – those who are not on Instagram can email their card images and story behind it to Amanda on amandagca@max-publishing.co.uk
Top: Lellibelle Cards’ Helen Strutt with a card her identical twin sister sent her in June 2004.
