Big bouncing baby of a greeting card trade show two-thirds sold already
Two thirds of stands at PG Live 2025 are already sold as over 150 companies have made sure they won’t be missing out on the annual global greeting card extravaganza.
With the nine months’ gestation period ahead, producing the big bouncing baby that is PG Live is already underway as the Progressive Greetings team get busy ensuring all the details will be in place for the incredible two-day international celebration of greeting card publishers, retailers, overseas distributors and suppliers, where business meets pleasure.
There are still stands available to suit all budgets – but one lucky winner won’t be worrying about the cost of attending the event at London’s Business Design Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday, 3-4 June, 2025.
For US distributor Notes & Queries has decided to let its retail customers in on the fabulousness of the British greeting card scene for themselves with an all-expenses-paid trip from the States up for grabs.
Co-owner Vanessa Harnik, who runs the business with dad Alan distributing mainly British publishers, has agreed any order over $500 (£375) will be with a chance of winning the prize that includes the air fare to London from the US, five nights’ hotel stay, attendance at PG Live, visit to three top London retailers, opportunity to meet with award-winning paper brands and leading industry icons, and $500 spending money, with the winner to be announced after the draw on 30 April, 2025.
As well as visiting the capital and seeing how greetings retail is done over here, the winner can find out the truth of comments from retailers such as Mark Janson-Smith, MD at the Postmark small chain, who enthused about the 2024 edition of the show: “What wasn’t there to like! This was one of the best PG Lives yet, such a great show, full of such wonderful products and not just from the established publishers. So great to see so many ‘newer’ publishers continuing to flourish.”
And Tori Heath-Smith, buying manager of Scribbler, spent a “fantastic” couple of days at the show in June, adding: “It was great, as always, to catch up with our suppliers, see the new ranges, and meet new talented designers. The whole Scribbler team got involved in hosting the PG lunch this year, alongside our friends at Talking Tables, and got to play a small part in the event, which really added to our enjoyment.”
Kate Salmon, head of home and gift buying for Oliver Bonas, commented: “There was a real air of excitement and a great buzz. As we continue to open more stores and cards are doing so well, it’s a great opportunity to catch up with current suppliers and to be on the hunt for new.
“It is such a special industry, I love how passionate suppliers are with their products, and there was a great sense of collaboration to make sure we’re stocking best sellers and getting a good look at the newness. We came away looking forward to reviewing all the new samples!”
The special touches of the Gold, Silver and Sunshine tickets as well as the refreshment trollies do it for House of Cards co-owner Nigel Williamson, who said: “PG Live is such a well-thought-out show and the special touches all add to a feeling that the buyer is special.
“I also really like the drinks reception for Retas’ finalists and winners as this is a great opportunity to compare notes with other retailers on what we’ve seen at the show and what’s also working in our stores.”
And Lucy Eason, owner of George’s in Whitstable, was very happy: “At PG Live I felt like a kid in a fantastic sweet shop! Yes, the show is easy to get to by train and the Business Design Centre is a great venue, but the overriding thing I liked the most about PG Live was its friendly vibe. The atmosphere was buzzing with optimism and newness, what a perfect combination.
“It was my first time visiting as a buyer and I found it such a refreshing change to be solely absorbed into the greeting card industry among people who are so passionate about cards – or some might say crazy!
“Due to the size of the show, it was so easy to meet and interact with the business owners and card creators, a fantastic opportunity for me to meet new suppliers and build bonds with present ones. I came away with an appreciation that the greeting card industry really is a community, and it highlighted that my choice of supplier is not only based on the cards, but the people behind them.”
If you’ve not already booked your stand, take a gander at the list of those from across the greetings industry already signed up to exhibit, and take your place among the great and the good, checking out the upbeat vibe, newness galore, free refreshments, lunch and opening night party – PG Live 2025 is not to be missed!
PG Live 2025 exhibitors so far include: Abacus Cards, Abbotprint, Alff A Bet, All Shades Cards, Alljoy Design, Alpha Colour Printers, Anthology Cards, Apple & Clover, Arrthi, The Art File, Artpress, Avanti Press, Badgerbee Designs, Belly Button Designs, Bewilderbees, Bexy Boo, Bird & Co Studio, Blue Kiwi Design, Bold & Bright, Brainbox Candy, Cambridge Confectionery, Cardgains, Cardology, Carousel Calendars, Carte Blanche Greetings, Cath Tate, Churchill Gifts, Cinnamon Aitch, Citrus Bunn, Clare Maddicott Publications, Coach House, Creative Sparrow, The Curious Pancake, Cummins & Papyrus, Dandelion Greetings, Dandelion Stationery, Danilo, Dean Morris Cards, Designer Greetings, Deva Designs, Dinosaurs Doing Stuff, Dots Allowed, Dyson Design, Earlybird, East End Prints, Eleanor Bowmer, Emily Nash Illustration, Emotional Rescue, Enveco, Feather & Hare, Fedrigoni, Fi Moszoro Design & Illustration, Five Dollar Shake, Fox Under The Moon, Gabrielle Solly Illustration, Great British Card Company, Greeting Card Association, Geniality Art, Ginger Betty, Go La La!, Grace Jackson Designs, Graphite Creative, Hahnemuhle, Hallmark, Happy Street, Heather Trefusis Art, Heyyy Cards, Hype, Hyve, The Imaging Centre, Jelly Armchair, Jessie Maeve Studio, Kali Stileman Publishing, Katie Tinkler Illustration, Kdee Designs, Laura Darrington Design, Letterbox Lane, Life Charms, Lil Wabbit, Ling Design, Little Paper Soul, Little Roglets, Lola Design, Lorenzo Zangheri Art, Louise Mulgrew, Louise Tyler, Lovely Paper Stuff, Lowlands Studios, Loxleys, Lucilla Lavender, Lucky Ink, Lucy Maggie Designs, Lydia.London, Marina B, Max Made Me, Megan Claire, Meraki, Mifkins, Mint Publishing, Museums & Galleries, N Smith, Nigel Quiney Publications, Noel Tatt, Not At All Jack, Not Today Tuesday, Objectables, Ohh Deer, Origamo, Pango Productions, Paper Bird, Paper Mirchi, Paper Rose, Paper Salad, Paper Shed, Paperlink, Papersheep, Partisan Products, Pattern By Mel, Pear Tree Press, Penguin Ink, Penny Kennedy, Pickled Prints, Pickled Tuna, Pigment, Plewsy, The Porch Fairies, Portfolio, Prints Doodle, Pretty Little Scribbles, Puntastic, Quitting Hollywood, Rainie Collections, Raspberry Blossom, Redback Cards, Ricicle Cards, Rosanna Rossi, Rosie Made A Thing, Running With Scissors, Rush Design, Sabivo Designs, Sakina Saidi, Sarah Kelleher, Sensations, The Sherwood Group, Skylight Media, Stephanie Davies, Stoats & Weasels, Stormy Knight, Stripey Cats, Studio Boketto, Studio Frewb, Tache, The Grey Earl, Tracks Publishing, Two For Joy, UK Greetings, Unique Paper, Veb, Versed Aid, Wendy Bell Designs, Wendy Jones-Blackett, White Cotton Cards, Windles, Woodmansterne, and Zoe Spry.
