Carte Blanche Group is gearing up to offer independent retailers a full planning and stock control service, integrating other publishers’ designs.
The publishing group’s stand at last week’s Spring Fair signaled its intention on this front, fanfaring its new tagline – ‘Home to the best range of brands in the industry’
The stand featured a 32’ everyday display and 16’ Christmas card display, which included designs from Danilo, Emotional Rescue, Gemma (distributed to indies by its Is It Art business) as well as those from Carte Blanche and its sibling company, Hotchpotch.
“We are 60% of the way there on our plans to offer a real alternative to independent retailers,” CBG’s ceo Alister Marchant told PG Buzz.
This comes eight months after CBG acquired Is It Art, the sales and distribution business which supplies the independent retail channel.
Alister said that CBG has no intention of introducing a full brokerage service “or be seen as a competitor to the existing brokers”, but is planning to forge links with other publishers, looking to join forces with an aim of offering “a real point of difference” to independent retailers through an integrated planned display.
In addition to established greeting card brands, Alister also anticipates working with newer start-up card companies who are keen to gain retail distribution without getting involved with brokerage.
“It is all about creating and delivering great card displays for independent retailers who are looking for a real partnership to help them deliver a winning card display for their customers,” Alister said.
