Progressive Greetings’ physical and digital editions are all ready to read
The trees are lush green, the ponds are full of tadpoles, the pollen count is rising and Progressive Greetings’ April 2024 edition landed several days ago, with the digital version of the magazine having been uploaded too!
Bursting with industry news and views, retailer perspectives, insightful articles and tons of product newness, it makes for a good spring clean of a read.
The news section is something of a box of chocolates this month covering the activity in many different quarters. The lead up to the deadline to submissions to Ofcom for its review of the postal service was fretful, with the GCA doing its utmost to air the industry’s concerns.
Meanwhile retailers continued to make the most of promoting spring seasons sales, Deva Designs shared its succession plan with co-owner’s Ann Rogers’ retirement coinciding with her daughter Jenny Williams joining as sales director. And the big news from the wholesale sector is BGC’s acquisition of Paul White and its Party Tiger party side. Click here to read all about it.
PG columnist Cardsharp turned his thoughts to Clintons’ acquisition by Pillarbox Designs, the holding company of Cardzone, echoing the positive vibes from those in the greeting card sector. He is, however, less positive about two other issues, worrying about Ofcom’s recommendations for Royal Mail as well as one multiple retailer’s decision to impose an extra 2% cost on publishers to cover shop pilferage. To read his highs and lows, click here.
There were many highs at the recent GCA Dragons Speed Dating event, which saw over 70 publishers fully embracing the opportunity to pitch their ranges to top retailers as well as lapping up the advice from the industry panellists. And, in the Viewpoints section, some of the dragons reveal how it felt being in the den and which publishers had slayed them. Click here to find out what caught their eye.
While preparations are well underway for a stonking PG Live at on 4-5 June, before then Max Publishing’s new baby, the London Stationery Show is only a few weeks away – 14-15 May at Islington’s Business Design Centre.
In a special stationery section, PG caught up with the show’s founder Chris Leonard-Morgan, who is back on board as an advisor, to chat about this vibrant sector. As Chris says: “The allure of stationery has never gone away, I feel it’s just that we are now seeing it being dressed up in a new suit of clothes!” To read what else Chris has to say, click here, and to see just a taster of the stationery, writing instruments and arts and crafts products that will be showcased at LSS, click here.
Someone who has been hands-on in the stationery sector of well over 40 years is Malcolm Adams. Instead of cruising into retirement, in 2018 Malcolm, after four decades with WHSmith, “removed the shackles of the corporate world” with his attention drawn to the opportunity of acquiring The Stationery House, an anchor stationery, greeting card and book retailer in Somerton village’s market square. Now with a trio of stores in the Adams family, click here to learn all about this transition from WHS stalwart to indie champion.
With spring now in full swing, retailers are relishing pepping up their racks with fresh new products and the Innovations section is full of launches. Click here to see them while, to find out what ranges are currently ranking highly for a trio of top indies, check out this month’s What’s Hot? section by clicking here.
“Producing a successful male collection is one of the greeting card industry’s toughest tasks,” states Laura Darrington, founder of Laura Darrington Design, echoing the views of many fellow publishers. “While the usual themes of alcohol, sport and gardening are the staple designs to guarantee sales, it’s clear there has been a definite lean towards a more sympathetic offering,” Laura added.
PG jumps right in with a deep delve into how lifestyle shifts and fashion tastes are influencing male cards. Click here to find out more.
Talking about influences, when Jenny Zemanek was little and people asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, there were three occupations she always listed, professional equestrian rider, vet and artist. Thankfully it was the latter that won through, as she explains in Art Source. Click here to read about her creative journey.
All this and more in the pages of our lovely magazine. Wouldn’t you like to hold it in your hands so you can flick through and read it wherever it takes your fancy? To SUBSCRIBE NOW go to www.max-subscriptions.net
However, if you can’t wait, to read the whole PG April 2024 edition online you can click here.
