With products ordered at Progressive Greetings Live 2019 now earning their keep on retailers’ racks up and down the UK, PG Buzz put a trio of buyers – Kim Lewis, card buyer of the Longacres garden centre group, Rachel and Paul Roberts, co-owners of the Mooch mini group and Graham Fraser owner of Alba in Oban – on the spot as to what they felt were ‘the best in show’ at PG Live.
Kim Lewis, card buyer of Longacres garden centre group, which has centres in Bagshot, Bybrook Barn, Chobham and Shepperton:
“I love the atmosphere of PG Live and that it’s of a size that you can walk around more than once.
It was great to be able to chat to companies about the wrapping of cards and find out where we stand with each company on this.
As ever a very good, enjoyable show.”
Kim’s top picks: “I found Redback Cards’ humorous ranges very funny indeed so I am going to be placing an order soon. Another humour publisher that stood out was Rosie Made a Thing – again very funny.
I also was very happy to use my Silver Ticket placing an order with Santoro who we used to deal with a long time ago. I really like what this company has developed and thought it would be a good brand to put back into the garden centre.”
Rachel and Paul Roberts, co-owners of Mooch, which comprises two stores in Northampton, one in Olney and, another Mooch store is due to open any day in Towcester:
“PG Live is one of our favourite shows of the year and greeting cards is one of our absolute favourite categories to buy, so to be able to focus for a day 100% just on cards is just brilliant. We pop by to see our old favourites and say hello to our friends there and then we go on the hunt for fab new cards that our customers will love. The champagne reception event for the winners and finalists of The Greats and The Retas was fabulous too. We’re still very new (we’ve just had our second birthday) and it’s amazing to be able to pick some of the ‘old hands’ brains for top tips and hints on what to look out for.”
Rachel’s and Paul’s top picks: “It’s so hard to single out anyone among so much talent, but we totally fell in love with Lucy Ledger cards and The Grumble & Co. Both presented totally gorgeous cards that offer something a little different and special for our customers. For us it’s not just about the cards either – both Lucy at Lucy Ledger and Nicholas and Ross at The Grumble & Co really struck a chord with us and we felt a real buzz of confidence about working with them.”
Graham Fraser, owner of Alba, Oban:
“Progressive Greetings Live epitomises the whole industry. It’s caring and thoughtful, but always professional; it’s Inspirational, but with good added value, and it’s cutting edge, but also covers the whole spectrum of tastes.
All in all ‘Twas a Good Day Out’, as they say. It’s easy to buy when you are well-fed and watered!”
Graham’s top picks: “I was inspired by the new designs from Wendy Jones-Blackett, who is a supplier of shimmering cards to Alba. We just keep ordering and ordering.
Glick and Nigel Quiney likewise shone with good design ideas – they got plenty of our money!
We fell for Barley Bear at IC&G and ordered it, plus its new humorous range, Just a Laugh. This company always looks after us and keeps coming up with fresh ideas, which is lifeblood to any retailer.
I’m on ‘Cloud 9’ with Redback Cards. Its range just ‘Shine-s’. There were lots of new titles to get our teeth into from these two exceptional ranges.
I picked up the comprehensive catalogue from Noel Tatt and am now plugging the gaps with designs from its ranges just now. We can’t allow ourselves to get low on its Decoupage range especially – they’re the ones with the ‘extra dimension’ for Alba.
We also reactivated Special Delivery Cards for something a little bit different, and we’re planting trees with 1 Tree Cards, which will be a new supplier to us.”
* To relive the joys of PG Live 2019 in pictures click here (to view and download) https://maxpublishing.shootproof.com/gallery/pglive2019/
Top: Longacres’ Kim Lewis, Mooch’s Rachel Roberts and Alba’s Graham Fraser.
