New Xmas Cardies WhatsApp group welcomes fellow indie stores
If you want something done, ask some very busy people.
This is most certainly the case with a group of leading independent greeting card retailers who are going full steam ahead on hatching a plan that fits in perfectly with the GCA’s overarching #Cardmitment campaign to encourage the general public to send Christmas cards – and they’d love more indies to get involved too.
On Saturday evening, 14 October, Earlybird Designs co-owner Heidi Early was deeply concerned by a customer’s admission she wasn’t planning to send any Christmas cards this year due to the cost of stamps, so she sent an impassioned email to some likeminded independent greeting card retailers asking them to join forces, “as a community”, to turn the tide of would-be Christmas card non-senders.
“I had a customer say the price of stamps was stopping her sending cards this Christmas. I then had a whole conversation with her about second class stamps, and the importance of the connection of cards and, by the end, had agreed that actually she would send cards this year,” relayed Heidi in her missive.
“But none of us have time to do that with all our customers, we’ve got to work together on this and think of all the ways we can get this message out and quickly. We have work to do, and the clock is ticking!”
Only minutes after Heidi’s emails were received, a force of indies was galvanised, the Xmas Cardies WhatsApp group formed and some quickfire brainstorming got underway as the vestiges of a cohesive plan came together.
“For this to really work, we want as many independent card retailers on board as possible,” Heidi told PG Buzz. “We’re planning to launch the activity on Saturday, 28 October, on social media and in our shops and run through until Christmas, so are keen to encourage other indies to join the Xmas Cardies group so we can all work as a strong community.
“This is not just about promoting the joys of Christmas card sending, it’s also about reminding the public of the importance of supporting independent retailers and our wonderful card publishers. Real people, real retailers and real products!”
The activity will span agreeing on what hashtags to use as well as sharing window display ideas and initiatives with the common thread of the #Cardmitment campaign as well as promoting the use of second class stamps.
Among the fellow indies already fully onboard with the Xmas Cardies mission are Michael Apter, of Paper Tiger in Edinburgh; Sean Austin, of Austin & Co in Malvern; Jo Barber, of No.14 Ampthill; Sarah Holmes, at Pencil Me In in Elgin; Sarah Laker of Stationery Supplies, in Marple and Wilmslow; Sally Matson, at Red Card in Petworth; Jo McBeath from Chirpy in Chapel Allerton; and Kaye Thurgood, of Sincerely Yours in Hornchurch and Shenfield.
Any indie wanting to join the Xmas Cardies group is asked to email Heidi on heidi@earlybirddesigns.co.uk
Commenting on this recent collaborative activity, GCA ceo Amanda Fergusson could not be more pleased: “The whole idea of the #Cardmitment PR and marketing campaign was that it could be embraced by the entire industry.
“As a natural follow-on from the PG/GCA Retailer Roundtable meeting in the summer, the Xmas Cardies WhatsApp group is a fabulous way for indies to pool ideas and to get the message out to their respective communities as to the importance and enjoyment of card sending and receiving.”
As part of the #Cardmitment campaign, the GCA has devised a whole toolkit for retailers, which includes posters and a last posting dates tent card. Click here to see the full toolkit which can be downloaded or requested from publishers Abacus, Belly Button, Caroline Gardner, Emotional Rescue, Great British Card Company/Ling Design, Hallmark, Ohh Deer, Paper Salad, Paperlink, Raspberry Blossom, Ricicle Cards, Second Nature, Stormy Knight, and UK Greetings, who will then send it with your next order.
