As Christmas trade kicks off, Progressive Greetings’ November issue delves, wraps up and shares a plethora of greetings industry views and news, stories and new greeting card launches, and much much more, within this month’s pages, which is out now!
It was a (1980s) night to remember last month when some 700 publishers, retailers and suppliers attended The Henries 2018 awards. The ‘Electric Dreams’ themed event was full of fun, sparkle and some fantastic 80s outfits -and hosted by the decade’s icon, Pat Sharp.
But The Henries Awards’ themselves are serious accolades for card publishers, and there were many surprised and thrilled winners who took to the stage to accept their Henries trophy.
See all of this year’s Henries winners in November PG. (click to pages 37-77), and some of the party pictures of this year’s ‘80’s Electric Dreams’ themed Henries awards. (click to pages 37-40).
“In a time of unprecedented change, the only constant is change,” said Ceri Stirland, GCA president (and UKG’s customer and channel director) in her opening speech of an upbeat and thought-provoking GCA AGM & Conference, which took place last month at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire.
She also urged the importance of the industry continuing to strive to improve its environmental credentials, concluding her speech by presenting the findings of the recently published GCA UK Greeting Card Market Report.
A number of industry star speakers – Sue Morrish (co-founder of Glebe Cottage and The Eco-friendly Card Co), Card Factory ceo Karen Hubbard, and Moonpig’s head of licensing, Sarah-Jane Porter and design director Geoff Sanderson – also shared consumer insights and highlighted important industry issues, while the afternoon workshop sessions, led by industry experts, covered all manner of subjects, from Brexit to creative inspiration. (click to pages 31-33).
Also attending the AGM was soon to be GCA ceo, Amanda Fergusson, taking over from Sharon Little, who has run the GCA for nearly 20 years. Amanda is “delighted” to take on the role, bringing with her a wealth of experience working in the industry, notably with Caroline Gardner, Hallmark and Andrew Brownsword (click to page 11).
There is no escaping that retailing generally has been pretty rough and rocky, even for the terrain maestro John Lewis. But the well-respected department store group is bucking the trend with its recent major rebranding to John Lewis & Partners and the introduction of Find Keep Give, a significant new own brand gifting and curated greeting card collection.
PG met up with John Lewis buyers Sara Allbright and Lisa Rutherford to find out more about this new thrust and how its introduction further elevates the role of greeting cards for the leading department store retailer. (click to pages 34-35).
Following hot on the heels of The Henries are the top accolades for calendars, diaries and Advent calendars. The finalists of The Calies 2018 awards have been revealed after a potent judging panel of retail buyers from Calendar Club, Clintons, John Lewis, HMV, Waterstones, Card Factory and House of Cards, as well as design and production experts, considered all The Calies’ entries.
PG shares the stellar line-up of finalists, with the winners being announced at a stunning awards evening event that will take place at the historic Stationers’ Hall, adjacent to St Paul’s Cathedral on November 28.
And, of course, November PG also includes new product pages Innovations (click to pages 80-82); wise words from regular columnists David Robertson of Scottish retailer JP Pozzi, who this month discusses millennials, the customers of the near future (click to pages 26-27); and publisher Blue Eyed Sun’s Jeremy Corner swots up on SWOT, a strategic planning technique (click to pages 86-87).
Plus, what’s currently the hottest card product for retailers (click to pages 92-93) and the industry’s latest news.
All this in the pages of a lovely glossy magazine and online too!
Click here to read the whole PG November 2018 edition online.
