Abacus Cards, Branthwaites, Muddy Stilettos awards, Lesser & Pavey, British Garden Centres
PG Buzz shares a batch of recent news and happenings from the greeting card community…
Thanks to Abacus Cards, five charities benefited from Brits’ love of sending Christmas cards as the seasonal collection raised over £42,000. This impressive sum has been divided between Parkinson’s UK, British Heart Foundation, Sue Ryder, Mind, and BBC Children In Need with Abacus’ MD Nick Carey (pictured above) commenting: “It’s an awesome amount for five very worthy charities. They work tirelessly to help care and support a wide range of people. Your generosity makes a real difference to individuals and families, so thank you for your continued support in raising vital funds, we are truly grateful.” Sue Mills, trading manager and buyer at Parkinson’s UK, added: “Massive thanks to Abacus for all your support, it’s really lovely working with you all.”
- There’s a new face behind the counter at Branthwaites of Appleby where local woman Tina Langley has just taken over from Jo Whiting, who ran the greeting card and gift business for six years following her parents Peter and Gillian Whiting’s retirement after 35 years in charge (all pictured above & top). “I have loved every minute,” said Jo, who is retiring due to ill health, “and have felt privileged to be part of the community in Appleby. I would just like to thank all our loyal customers who have supported us and kept us going over that time, and to thank my amazing team Eileen, Claire, my mum and dad too for their support. I’m feeling sad to finish, but am delighted and certain it will be in great hands – Tina will, of course, put her own personal touch on it.” Tina thanked everyone for the “support and kind words” in her first week, adding she feels “very lucky to be a part of such a welcoming and wonderful community”. The shop had a refit a couple of years ago when Jo, who previously worked in the NHS, took the momentous decision to go on plan with Noel Tatt Group and change the store where cards had been in front for 60 years, Now there’s a dedicated card department at the rear, with gifts in the front.
- Voting is open for the 2025 Muddy Stilettos Awards, which boost independent lifestyle businesses, where five finalists have been chosen for each of the 21 categories, including Best Lifestyle Store, which covers gifts, greetings and home indies. All businesses are nominated by the public, and those with the most nominations go through to the regional finals with 35 counties covered by the 20 areas. The 100 finalists in the Lifestyle category across the counties include Mrs B’s Emporium in Wolverton, Milton Keynes; Mooch The Cotswolds in Chipping Camden; Nor Store in West Norwood; The Hambledon Gallery in Blandford Forum; Lift in Southwold; Chirpy in Leeds; Plewsy in Bedale; and Storigraphic in Shepreth, Cambs. For the full list of finalists and to vote – the deadline is 1pm 15 April – click here. The regional winners will be announced on 30 April and go forward to the national finals where the Muddy Stilettos editors will judge the best of the best for each category, and the national winners will be revealed on 25 June.
- Lesser & Pavey has welcomed two new sales representatives into the fold – Nick Garner covering the Midlands, and James Binckes-Williams looking after customers in the south of England. The gift company, which works with licensors from the greeting card industry including Robert James Hull, Bug Art, Paper Shed, and Hearts Design, said the pair are both highly experienced in the sector and have excellent knowledge of the gift industry so are already out meeting customers.
- Staff at the 72 British Garden Centres across the UK have been taking part in various events for Garden Re-Leaf Day, raising £20,000 for the Greenfingers charity, celebrating 25 years of creating magical gardens for children in hospices. The UK’s largest family-run garden centre group offers a large range of greeting cards and gifts at its outlets, and the events (some are pictured above) included a book sale, exercise bike distance rides, treasure hunt, customers’ floral selfie box course, sponsored walks, the 25km Garden Re-Leaf Walk from the Tring centre, and Tring department manager Steve Descombe completing his third 25-mile bike ride for the event. Upcoming are more sponsored walks, a 10k run, the 15km Tough Mudder South walks, and the Harrogate team is finishing a virtual walk on treadmills spanning 650 miles, the distance you’d need to walk to visit all of Greenfingers’ hospice gardens.
