Independent greeting card retail stockists are being urged to tell it like it is on the trading front, by participating in the PG Independent Retail Barometer.
As the only annual survey into the trials, tribulations and triumphs of independent greeting card stockists, the findings always make for incredibly interesting reading, but with the last year having seen such seismic shifts in our lives, the results of this year’s Barometer will be especially poignant.
This time last year some 42% of independent card retailers were expecting to grow their business in 2020, but that was of course before the lockdowns became part of our daily vocabulary.
Back then only a third of indies were expecting to see their online ordering increase over the year, little over a quarter saw Moonpig, Thortful, Funky Pigeon and other print on demand operators as a threat to their business while trade exhibitions were cited as the most common way of sourcing products, just some of the insights from the last PG Retail Barometer.
Th current survey went live last week, and with a deadline of Thursday 4 February, indies are now being encouraged to participate to ensure that the picture their collective experiences paint for the past 12 months as well as their hopes for the coming year are as credible as possible.
So, if you are an independent retailer, to participate in this significant survey (with all individual submissions remaining confidential), click here.
The survey can be completed (in 12 minutes) in sections meaning retailers can stop and start if they so wish. Respondents just need to be sure to access the link using the same device, however all answers are final once they click ‘done’.
As a thank you for participating, three lucky winners will be drawn at random by an impartial team member to receive a hamper full of treats from M&S!
Above: There are M&S hampers up for grabs for three lucky participants.
“The last year was a pivotal one on so many levels, with so many changes within the greeting card industry, the UK and in the world at large,” stated Jakki Brown, editor of Progressive Greetings. “Within this is the continuing and important role of independent retailers. The PG Retail Barometer will once again shine a light on how these greeting card champions have risen to the challenges and made the most of the opportunities,” she added.
Top: The PG Independent Retailer Barometer will reveal how trade was for indie card stockists over the last year.
