BBC Breakfast’s seven million viewers were given extra prods to send Christmas cards this morning (December 14) as GCA president, Ceri Stirland was interviewed at a Royal Mail sorting office by presenter Ben Thompson, appearing in two different slots on the prime time TV news programme.
“As a nation we absolutely love Christmas cards,” said Ceri enthusiastically, backing up the statement by telling BBC viewers how the British public sends 900 million Christmas cards a year. And the evidence was there for all to see, with the sorting office staff hard at work on what is traditionally the busiest day of the year for Royal Mail.
Providing extra reassurance just prior to Ceri’s first appearance it was confirmed on air by Royal Mail’s Tony Baxter that there is no threat of a postal strike in the run up to Christmas with viewers reminded that they have up until December 20 to send their Christmas cards second class and until Wednesday 21 December if they are sent first class.
When asked about changing habits of Christmas card sending, Ceri highlighted how there is more of an emphasis now on sending ‘special cards’ to family, friends “and even the dog!”.
BBC Breakfast gave two slots to encourage Christmas card sending today. These can be found by clicking below and skipping to (00:52:00) and (2:59:00).
Although Ceri, UKG’s director of marketing admits she was nervous about appearing on the high profile news programme, she told PG Buzz: “It was great experience to be able to speak about our wonderful greeting card industry at this important time of the year.”
Revealing her own personal high standards where Christmas card etiquette is concerned, she admitted jokingly on TV that if someone does not send her a card one year, they are off her Christmas card list!
Political leanings on Christmas greetings
As ever, leading UK politicians’ choice of Christmas cards have also attracted media interest.
Teresa May made a wise choice in that she ran a competition among school children to design her Christmas cards, while Jeremy Corbyn opted for a design that is a take on his Labour manifesto.
Meanwhile Ed Miliband has come in for some ridicule for his choice, featured adopting a James Dean pose on a motorbike clutching a bacon sandwich, a nod to his appearance on Channel 4’s Last Leg in which he lip-synched to Take on Me.
