Bookings now open for GCA’s publisher members chance to pitch to retailers
The date for Dragons Speed Dating 2025 has been set, and is now open for bookings – and the success of the retailer and publishing matching venture has prompted the GCA to have the innovative concept trademarked!
The hot date for association members is on Thursday, 27 February, when up to 72 publishers have the chance of a 10-minute pitch with at least three of the 18 different retailers taking part, with card samples given to all the dragons to take away and check out at their leisure.
And the event will take place at London’s Business Design Centre from 12.45pm to 5.30pm with networking to continue at a local pub afterwards, details to be confirmed.
There’s a bonus this year where each retailer Dragon gets to choose one card company they definitely want to see, meaning those picked will be able to present their designs to four shops.
“Our Dragons will be retailers ranging from large multiples, through to small groups and independents,” explained GCA marketing manager Adriana Lovesy, “and they come prepared with a cabin-sized suitcase to take home the publishers’ samples!”
She said that McDaniels Law, IP specialists and a GCA member, has now trademarked the Dragons Speed Dating name and concept with the government’s Intellectual Property Office, protecting it for the next decade. The trademark is Trade Mark No: UK00004069616 Mark: DRAGONS SPEED DATING (Figurative).
Things are already hotting up in the Den with Waterstones, Oliver Bonas and House of Cards, along with George’s of Whitstable and Chirpy from Leeds already confirmed as participating in the 2025 event with other retailers to be revealed shortly – on the sponsors front, Loxleys and Enveco have generously stepped up for the event.
Tickets went on sale today, 13 November, at a special earlybird price of £175 plus VAT and a colleague can attend to meet the buyers together for an additional charge of £30. After December 16, the regular ticket price is £195 plus VAT.
Continuing the successful formula since DSD began back in 2017, the publisher participants will be divided into two groups, with one half first going in to face the retailer Dragons in the den while the other half take part in a GCA panel seminar, led by some of the association council members, all experienced business leaders in the industry, then they swap over.
Publishers attending will be asked to submit questions ahead of the event to set the agenda for the relaxed discussion, and an added incentive is the social drinks and networking session afterwards – the morning will see the PG Live team hosting an event for newbie exhibitors so signing up to DSD is a really good way to make the best of the day in London.
At the 2024 event in March, Studio Boketto was one of the attendees and founder Micky Calf enthused about the experience: “What an absolute gem of an afternoon – being able to actually get your cards in the hands of such prestigious buyers and gauge their reactions to your products there and then was invaluable.”
From the retailers’ side Tori Heath-Smith and Laura Clarke, buying manager and card buyer of Scribbler, commented: “It was a really great afternoon – so lovely to meet lots of new faces,” and they used the opportunity to make appointments to follow up at PG Live in the summer.
GCA publisher members can book an earlybird ticket for Dragons Speed Dating here, and there will also be an online session showing how to prepare for the event on 7 January, with details to be forwarded to participants – any retailer who would like to become a dragon should email adriana@gca.cards
