Beth Robson, Richard Pass and Brendan Cahill have been hitting the high notes
Sales agents can blame it on the boogie as they’ve been seeing what’s been hitting the high notes in the greeting card trade over the past year.
With Wicked the latest in a long chorus line of musicals to work its magic in theatres, PG has been finding out what’s been top of the pops for the indie sales agents.
Here revealing their musicals of choice as well and what will bring the hills alive with the Sound Of Music in their patch in 2025 are Beth Robson, Richard Pass and Brendan Cahill…
Beth Robson
Beth covers London and Middlesex, representing M!nt Publishing, Museums & Galleries, Pikkii, Real & Exciting Designs, Redback Cards and U Studio Designs
A Wicked-ly good or Les Miserables year? “It was a surprisingly good year for me. My principals produced some excellent new greeting card and stationery designs at the beginning of the year which retailers bought into and continued to do so throughout 2024.
“In May I passed a milestone, 40 years in this marvellous industry – obviously, I started very young! When the internet launched my friends said that it would be the end of my career but I’d like to say they’ve been proved very wrong!
“Despite the rising cost of stamps, falling footfall at bricks and mortar stores, the weather, and the increase in online purchasing, the Christmas trading period was a revelation – such a busy December which is a very positive sign for all retailing. Hakuna Matata all round!”
The 2025 Sound Of Music: “Leaving a sales meeting in December with all the new products for 2025, I drove back to London through wind, rain and fog, but full of positivity and excitement, feeling really buoyed up for this year, excited to show my fantastic and loyal customers it all. I’m ready to ‘climb every mountain, ford every stream’, permanently Singin’ In The Rain if need be!”
Your musical alter ego: “I’d be Fanny Brice from Funny Girl – her journey from teen to a successful woman is testament to the power of perseverance and self-belief. Fanny teaches us that, with hard work and determination, you can achieve your dreams, no matter how big they seem. ‘People who need people are the luckiest people in the world’ as Fanny sang in the musical, as well as my favourite song Don’t Rain On My Parade!”
Richard Pass, of STL Agency
Richard’s territory is the north of England, representing Alljoy Design, Dandelion Stationery, Ohh Deer and Two Little Monkeys with The Art File in the north-west and Ginger Betty and Redback Cards in the north-east
A Wicked-ly good or Les Miserables year? “It was a Wicked-ly good year as I turned 60, and Sue and I celebrated our silver wedding anniversary. But from August it turned into Les Miserables due to illness and family bereavement. Although my customers all seem to have had a good year, albeit a little hit and miss on occasion but, generally, everyone kept smiling and selling lots of cards.
“On the work front, the high notes included taking over the north-west for The Art File and The Henries awards with Alljoy Design, The Art File and Ohh Deer all winning.”
The 2025 Sound Of Music: “For 2025 I’m looking for inspiration from The Lion King, which is one of my favourite musicals, as my eldest son Jason is joining the STL Agency clan as a sales agent. I’m just hoping I don’t get thrown off the cliff! I’m looking forward to all the exciting product launches this year and enjoying the conversations and banter with all my lovely customers.”
Your musical alter ego: “The one musical I’d love to appear in is Mamma Mia – who wouldn’t want to be on a sunny Greek Island and who doesn’t love Abba. The only downside is my wife Sue sings like Meryl Streep!”
Brendan Cahill
Brendan covers Wales and Gloucestershire representing Carte Blanche, Glick, House Of Marbles, Tracks, Woodmansterne, and Words ’N’ Wishes in all or some of his territory
A Wicked-ly good or Les Miserables year? “Fortunately, overall 2024 was a Wicked-ly good year for me, but it has been tough. Meanwhile, for a few of my customers it has been Les Miserables, with their doors closing for the last time.
“However, without my principals investing in new products, it would have been much more difficult. In the words of Oliver Twist, our customers thankfully asked for “More… did you say, more?”
“The low point of 2024, which affected all of us in some shape or form, is the good old British weather which dampened summer trade. We all found ourselves Singin’ In The Rain. This added further uncertainty for all our customers, as it had the knock-on effect on footfall, which all our retailers, from garden centres to card and gift shops, could not escape.”
The 2025 Sound Of Music: “I really hope for 2025 that the hills – especially the Welsh Hills – will be alive with the Sound Of Music. Oasis fans, are you ready?!
“Our retailers will be facing, among others a national insurance increase in April and, with the continuing uncertainty of our postal service for first and second-class deliveries, I hope more than ever that our customers will continue to look forward to our sales visits as well as meeting up at shows.”
Your musical alter ego: “I sometimes think the role of a sales agents is to be The Greatest Showman, putting on a stunning performance to our customers of the best products in our industry. I just hope that A Million Dreams don’t keep me awake!”
These views were first published in the February issue of Progressive Greetings magazine, and can be read here.
