Retail Barometer survey deadline is Wednesday, 8 January
There’s still time for indie greeting card stores to make sure their opinions count by taking part in the annual PG Independent Retail Barometer survey.
Now live, the survey is open for submissions until 8pm on Wednesday, 8 January, and PG is urging every independent who sells cards to take part and help paint an accurate picture of trade throughout 2024, as well as the hunches for the year ahead.
As PG Buzz’s lead story today shows, early indications are that cards have been bucking the retail trend over the festive period, with singles sales increasing as people deliberately search out that special design to send to loved ones.
“And we want to know if that’s true across the board over Christmas,” said Jakki Brown, managing director of Max Publishing which owns Progressive Greetings and PG Buzz.net, “as well has how cardies have been trading over the whole year.
“It’s certainly been an interesting one with the unprecedented pair of inflation-busting stamp price rises, uncertainty over Ofcom’s investigations into the future of the postal service, the ongoing saga of the sale of Royal Mail, and the new Labour government’s additional cost implications for employers.
“Research shows young people are falling back in love with card sending – is this coming through in stores, and how have these other elements affected the consumers’ card-buying habits? We need to know so we can compare 2024 with 2023 and deliver this all-important benchmark!”
The survey can be completed within 12 minutes, or saved in sections so retailers can stop and start if they so wish. Respondents just need to be sure to access the link using the same device, however, all answers are final once they click done.
Whatever your business experience over the past year, all views count – and remember, every individual submission remains confidential. So, if you’re an independent retailer please do participate in this significant survey by clicking here and completing your answers by 8pm on Wednesday, 8 January.
