Be part of the celebrations at GCA agm and conference – limited tickets available
Favourite pens are required for everyone attending this year’s GCA agm and conference as writing a card to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Thinking Of You Week will be part of the fun.
Bex Hassett is designing a special Bexy Boo card for every attendee, which is being kindly printed by Loxleys on G.F Smith board with Cummins & Papyrus envelopes, ready to by written at the 19 September event in Bristol and posted in a special postbox created by N Smith.
“We want to highlight the 10th anniversary, and where better than at a gathering of the greeting card community,” GCA ceo Amanda Fergusson explained, “especially as the conference takes place during this year’s Thinking Of You Week, 16-22 September.
“Of course we’ll have plenty of pens for people to borrow, but it’s so nice to write these special messages with a favourite pen – do remember to bring yours!”
TOYW was launched in September 2014, inspired by member Len Smith who had sent 40 of his Leonard Smith Publishing cards just to say hello, or share a joke or memory with friends and family during Lent and mentioned to PG editor Jakki Brown and Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA at the time, the fantastic response he’d received from the recipients.
This was then discussed at GCA Council and how they could encourage others to reach out and spread joy by sending cards to people they care about without a special occasion and Amanda, who was then a council member as sales director at Caroline Gardner, remembered: “There was a real enthusiasm in the room for an idea that resonated with all ages and communities.
“We discussed linking up with a charity, or different sectors of the population, but the consensus was we needed an idea that everyone could get involved in and Thinking Of You Week was born.”
Now fixed as the third week in September, the annual “send a card, deliver a smile” outpouring has spread across the world, also be celebrated in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Italy and the Netherlands.
The TOYW website shares information on the event, ideas for people to get involved, and has free downloadable toolkits for retailers, schools and anyone else wanting to run card-sending initiatives and encourage connections within their communities.
As well as the special 10th anniversary card for conference attendees, many retailers are already planning their TOYW campaigns.
The agm and conference is on Thursday, 19 September, at the Bristol Harbour Hotel, and there’s still time for association members to book their tickets for both the event and the fun networking drinks the evening before, kindly sponsored by Ling Design and Emotional Rescue, next door to the venue at Dirty Martini Bristol from 6pm – but get in quick as spaces for both are tight!
And there’s plenty to keep attendees interested at the conference, with keynote speakers James Taylor, commercial director and Cardzone, and David Gold, Royal Mail’s director of external affairs and policy, plus Ohh Deer co-founder and md Mark Callaby; James Ellis owner James Stevens; and Jon Hendy, Kantar’s business unit director, who will deliver 2024 consumer insights.
James will be talking about family-run Cardzone’s evolution including the acquisition of Clintons earlier this year which almost doubled their store estate overnight, as well as his predications about the retail landscape.
David is keen to hear members’ concerns over the postal service and will also be sharing Royal Mail’s plans for the future, including the upcoming Christmas season.
Tickets for both the AGM and conference, and the networking drinks can be booked here and are only available to GCA members.
