Searches For Pet Cards Up 194%, Confirms Moonpig

Pets are becoming increasingly important furry friends to the greeting card industry. As confirmed in a keynote speech at the recent GCA AGM and Conference given by Moonpig’s design director Geoff Sanderson and head of licensing Sarah-Jane Porter, the searches for pet related greeting cards soared by an astonishing 194%.

Here, Jane Crowther, founder and creative maestro of Bug Art, tells the ‘tail’ of Oreo, the company’s studio bunny.

“Oreo is Bug Art’s studio bunny. She was very nervous and in bad health when she first arrived,” explains Jane Crowther, creative director of Bug Art.

Over the weeks and months, Oreo has got healthier and friendlier. An inquisitive rabbit, she increasingly showed a keen interest in studio protocols. Jane says: “Oreo is now part of quality control, website order dispatch and most importantly of all, a photogenic model for social media (mainly Facebook).”

Above: Oreo joined Bug Art in February 2018. She was one of 20 rabbits that needed a mass emergency rescue from a bad place. I already had one rabbit and agreed to take her without even meeting her first. — **Above:** Oreo joined Bug Art in February 2018. She was one of 20 rabbits that needed a mass emergency rescue from a bad place.
I already had one rabbit and agreed to take her without even meeting her first.

Above: The first task was to name her. — **Above:** The first task was to name her.

Above: She was very nervous and in bad health when she first arrived. She didn’t move much as she hadn’t been given space to exercise. However, she soon settled in and often chose to sit by Mike’s feet (studio manager) – somewhat restricting his movements. — **Above:** She was very nervous and in bad health when she first arrived. She didn’t move much as she hadn’t been given space to exercise. However, she soon settled in and often chose to sit by Mike’s feet (studio manager) – somewhat restricting his movements.

Above: Increasingly Oreo free-roamed, hopping through to the studio, but always making sure she uses her litter tray when nature called. Over the weeks and months, she got heathier and friendlier. An inquisitive rabbit, she increasingly showed a keen interest in studio protocols. It was time to put her to work! — **Above:** Increasingly Oreo free-roamed, hopping through to the studio, but always making sure she uses her litter tray when nature called.
Over the weeks and months, she got heathier and friendlier. An inquisitive rabbit, she increasingly showed a keen interest in studio protocols. It was time to put her to work!

Above: Quality Control… — **Above:** Quality Control…

Above: Website order dispatch… — **Above:** Website order dispatch…

Above: And of course keeping up with industry news through PG… — **Above:** And of course keeping up with industry news through PG…

Above: However, they do say, never work with children or animals…this was Bug Art’s router cable. — **Above:** However, they do say, never work with children or animals…this was Bug Art’s router cable.

**Above:** Look out for more bunny-inspired designs from Bug Art in the coming months, to join Binky Bunny, who hopped into the portfolio this year.

* Discover more Staff Room Tails within the November issue of Progressive Greetings, where a pack of animal cards publishers reveal the benefits of a helping paw in their office or studio. (click to pages 83-85).

TAGS bug art, geoff sanderson, Jane Crowther, moonpig, progressive greetings, sarah-jane porter, The Greeting Card Association