Following on from the huge success of the GCA’s inaugural Speed Dating with Dragons event last February – which brought retailers and publishers together for quickfire one-to-one pitches – the initiative is to be repeated this year on Friday 20 April.
Publishers however will not be able to book spaces for the event until after 11am on March 6 when a booking form will be emailed to the GCA publisher membership.
“Our first ever Speed Dating with Dragons event was a phenomenal success, both for the participating retailers and publishers, so we just had to organise another one!” said Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA. “First things first, we need to recruit the ‘dragons’, who will be a mixture greeting card retailers – multiples, small groups and independents – who will embrace the concept of a having 12 one-to-one 10 minute meetings with publishers during the three hour event,” she added.
Here’s a short video that shares a flavour of last year’s event:
Having contacted all of the GCA’s retail members last Friday (February 2), Sharon was delighted to receive an immediate thumbs-up from several retail buyers, keen to pledge their participation.
One of the first to commit, for the second year running, was Andy Adamson, director of mini group Calliope Gifts.
“It was a really fun event last year and we picked up a couple of good little suppliers so yes, happy to help out again,” Andy said.
As with last year, Speed Dating with Dragons 2 will see 60 publishers pitching in 10 minute one to one ‘dates’ with around 18 retailer Dragons over two one hour sessions.
As she assured prospective ‘dragons’ in her invitation to participate, Sharon said: “As with any kind of first date – there will be no commitment to jump into bed with any of your ‘dates’ immediately ☺”
Any retail buyer (irrespective of whether they are a GCA retail member or not) wishing to offer themselves as ‘dragons’ should contact Sharon on gca@max-publishing.co.uk
The event will take place at the Business Design Centre in London’s Islington (home of PG Live) 11am-4pm.
“I know that publishers will be keen to book their spaces as soon as they hear about it, especially as last year’s event sold out in a few hours, but we will not be ‘going live’ until we send out the booking form on ‘D Day’ March 6 around 11am. Be patient please publishers!” Sharon urged.
