PG’s Retail Barometer survey reveals importance of eco measures for indie stores
Concerns about the environment and playing their part in sustainability measures to help save the planet are continuing to prove a strong driver for independent greeting card retailers.
From going naked through biodegradable bags and clasps to paper bands, the importance of how greeting cards are presented in-store came out as one of the important features in the findings of the latest PG Retail Barometer.
In the only annual survey looking at the health and wealth of the UK’s independent greeting card retail stockists, 67% of respondents revealed they’d made changes in relation to their product stocking and/or the running of their business on the environmental front in the last year.
On the product front, reducing the amount of cellowrapped cards came out tops in sustainable improvements for 61% of indies, with a further 12% saying they had made the move to cut out all such packaging across their stock.
And, while biodegradable glitter is now readily available, the dramatic decline in demand for the sparkly stuff continues, with 56% of respondents noting they’ve further reduced stocking products featuring it in the last year compared to the year previous.
While sustainability is a major force, indies are still not making it easy for publishers, as there’s no uniformity on how they would like their cards to be packaged.
Just over a third would prefer designs to be naked with the envelope nested inside, but a quarter opt for them arriving in biodegradable bags, card clasps are still the number one choice for almost a fifth 6% want paper bands – and cellowrapping still has its fans with 16% of stores sticking with the tried and trusted option.
As retailers listen to their conscience while also helping count the pennies, in the last year they’ve made other changes including 12% swapping energy suppliers, 8% introducing bags for life, 36% going for more vigilant recycling, and 28% have been persuading staff to be more sustainable.
Eco-products have become more popular too, with 28% of indies expanding the amount stocked, while 44% of indies have reduced the use of plastic bags, and 24% are making greater usage of paper bags.
Interestingly, all these measures are being done purely because the retailer thinks it’s the right way forward as 33% believe environmental and sustainability concerns have had no impact on card buying through 2023, while only 12% think it’s made a great difference.
The greeting card industry has been at the forefront of sustainability measures, with moves towards greater use of recycled board and products that can be recycled, as well as bringing even more manufacturing back to the UK to cut down on production miles and ease supply chain issues and costs.
And many from the greeting card world – including Danilo, UK Greetings, The Eco-friendly Card Company and Carousel Calendars – are already part of the sustainability membership organisation and educational hub Products Of Change, which works across the global brand licensing and consumer products industries.
The annual POC Sustainability Conference (SiLC) is a space for knowledge sharing and learning; networking and problem solving; conversation and asking questions, and the next event is already slated for Wednesday, 6 November, at London’s Royal Geographical Society, with early bird tickets are available here for a limited time.
