First distribution deal makes US publisher’s whole pop-up card catalogue available
The Ohh Deer knack for chatting at trade shows has paid off with its first classic distribution deal as the UK publisher and online retailer takes on Up With Paper’s UWP Luxe line.
After the t’s were crossed and i’s dotted at PG Live at the start of the month, where both companies were exhibiting, the official announcement came on Wednesday, 21 June.
Ohh Deer co-founder Mark Callaby admitted: “My relationship with UWP has been in the works for a few years due to exhibiting at the same US shows and their president and coo George White doing a good job at networking.
“For us, it’s our first classic distribution deal as we normally only licence US brands. However, after looking at the logistics of 3D cards we quickly decided that distribution would be the right model.
“My partner Jamie Mitchell and myself both feel it brings something different to the Ohh Deer brand and also sits well with our collections – they nicely fit into our contemporary ranges while often hitting the mark on humour.
“We also felt that the cards were different to the 3D cards already on the market in the UK which gave us more confidence with going down a distribution route.”
For Up With Paper, vice-president and creative director Monika Brandrup said: “We are delighted to have Ohh Deer become the exclusive UK distributor of UWP Luxe, our leading design-driven pop-up cards, and boxed notes. Their aesthetic has always been admired, and they are the perfect partner to fully introduce UWP Luxe to the UK market.
“Ohh Deer has always been a favourite company of ours, and we have always respected their design sensibility and the trending cards they represent.
“We find the UK greetings market very exciting and love that multiple cards are often purchased by one person to express just the right sentiment to a recipient. Traditional-style cards that are elegant with attention to detail to brightly-coloured cards with edgy sentiment offer a spark of life that is different from the US market.”
Mark added that while the official launch will be at Top Drawer on 10-12 September at Kensington Olympia, customers will be able to see nearly everything from Up With Paper and UWP Luxe at Harrogate Home & Gift over 16-19 July.
He explained: “We’ll then make a selection for what we keep in stock based on feedback and sales from the show – but the entire collection will be available, some items just might take a little longer to come in.”
