Wrendale Designs, National Trust, The Art File, London Studio, and Meraki Notebooks
PG Buzz shares a batch of recent news and happenings from the greeting card community…
- Wrendale Designs’ owners Hannah and Jack Dale had a date with royalty last week when they received the greetings and gift company’s King’s Award For Enterprise from the Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire Toby Dennis (pictured above). And to celebrate earning the award for exceptional contributions to business and innovation, the Wrendale team enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea at Cleatham Hall near Gainsborough.
Well-known industry figure Ashley McCracken (pictured above) is now a buyer with the National Trust having moved from her role at The Guide Dogs For The Blind Association after 2½ years of being responsible for all retail buying and bespoke product development for the online shop and mail order catalogue.
- The Art File has revealed that over the course of 2024 it raised more than £40,000 for four charities – RSPCA, Dementia UK, MNDA and Young Lives Vs Cancer – from the sale of its Christmas cards. Sales and marketing director James Mace said: “These organisations work hard to protect people and animals and we’re so pleased to be able to help them every year through the sales of our Christmas Charity Card Packs. If you bought these packs for your shop, or to give to someone you care about, thank you so much. It means everything and helps us to continue to support these amazing organisations.”
- Jo Astles (pictured above) has started a new position as artist and licensing development manager at The London Studio. She spent three years as a greeting card agent at The Bright Agency, having previously been at The Original Poster Company for 16 years, where she was the creative manager.
- Stationery newcomers Folio Print & Packaging Solutions has come up trumps in the Printweek Awards, winning the Innovation Of The Year Book-Binding trophy at the ceremony at The Brewery in London last Thursday, 6 May, for its wood-bound and refillable Meraki Notebooks. Production director Steve Baker said: “We’re thrilled! Being recognised by the Printweek Awards is a huge honour and a testament to our team’s dedication and creativity.” The Meraki collection will be on stand G213 at the London Stationery Show, on Tuesday and Wednesday, 13-14 May, at London’s Business Design Centre.
- Nine stores have been picked from 72 finalists for the Independent Bookshop Of The Year Awards, with the winner to be revealed during The British Book Awards ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House on 12 May, organised by The British Booksellers’ Association. The announcement came on Wednesday, 11 March, that those competing for the £5,000 cash prize from sponsor Gardners are Maldon Books (pictured above), which boasts that it also sells cards and wrap, as the East of England winner; Bridge Books, Dromore, Ireland; Queen’s Park Books, London; The Heath Bookshop, Kings Heath, Midlands; Simply Books, Bramhall, North of England; Book Nook, Stewarton, Scotland; Griffin Books, Penarth, Wales; Medina Bookshop, Cowes, South-East England; and Storysmith, Bristol, South-West England.
