The plans to launch a second Progressive Greetings Live show, in January 2020 have been shelved by organisers Max Exhibitions. However the June PG Live shows for 2019, 2020 and all years afterwards are totally unaffected.
Commenting Warren Lomax, director of Max Exhibitions said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly. Having been very involved in the greeting card sector through Progressive Greetings for almost 30 years, we only want to do what the industry wants and what the economic conditions allow for.”
He elaborated that while there had been a great deal of enthusiasm from retailers for the January 2020 show, as well as commitment from many card and calendar publishers, “given all the Brexit paralysis, general uncertainty and the subsequent sense of caution we felt we would not be able to meet the expectations that visitors to PG Live have become rely on. The last thing we would ever want to do is not put on a good show for all involved.”
As Warren added, “We really do appreciate the support we have received from so many great publishers, over 50 of whom had booked stands for PG Live January 2020, but we wanted to have the whole industry behind it to ensure it was a real success for all.”
Underlining a total commitment to PG Live June, which will take place on Tuesday 4 June and Wednesday 5 June at London’s Business Design Centre, Warren said: “We’re here for this industry – and are now doubling our efforts to ensure that PG Live 2019, now the largest greeting card exhibition in the world, will be better than ever when it opens its doors in a few months time”.
Top: The January PG Live 2020 show has been cancelled.
