“There has been so much positivity around card sending throughout this difficult period in history that I feel certainly will continue once the shops are able to open safely. For all the challenges, like other publishers and retailers, the community feel, both within the industry and among the general public has been both comforting and inspiring. Here’s to a safe re-opening for all,” Rachel Hare, md of card publishing and retailing business Belly Button Designs, who is also the reigning president of the GCA.
Having four independent card and giftshops of her own, Rachel full appreciates indies’ concerns and desires to make their shops as enticing to customers as possible while operating under the Covid-19 guidelines. In response to this, Rachel has designed a suite of stylish posters for retailers that features figurative artwork based on Belly Button’s soon to launch Happy Days card collection. While the range itself will not officially launch until the end of June (128 designs covering all captions, printed on an exclusive new board, 40% of which is made from recycled coffee cups) Rachel felt the harmonious tone of the artwork was fitting for the posters as everyone pulls together.
The Art File is another greeting card publisher who is holding out a helping hand for independent retailers as they ‘get back to work’ and reopen on the nation’s high streets.
The card publisher has launched The Bounce Back Deal for its independent customers which is a 10% discount on all everyday orders placed from now until June 25.
“We were keen to come up with ways of supporting retailers, both on the product and margin fronts,” said James Mace, sales and marketing manager of The Art File.
In response to the positive consumer trend of gratitude, in addition to its triple hanging packs of thank you cards, The Art File has launched a special notecard box containing 10 thank you cards, using 100% recycled packaging.
In the next couple of weeks, the company is also planning to include specially created ‘social distancing’ posters for its independent retail customers in every order.
“We cannot praise our customers enough for their sterling efforts to keep going during lockdown with their various initiatives and services they have offered to their customers. The least we can do is now support them as they prepare to come out of lockdown,” said James.
Also keen to help “customers get back on the horse”, Christine Harrison, independent sales manager of Xpressions 4 U confirmed that the gift company is offering an additional 30 days credit for orders placed in June, has reduced its carriage paid to £150 (down £100 from £250)and has come up with a number of installation sale offers.
As Christine stressed: “We are all in this together and we want to show customers our support.”
These initiatives are just a few of the supportive gestures publishers and manufacturers are extending to retailers. As previously shared on PG Buzz, for example, Ling and GBCC are currently offering a 50% ‘Back to Work’ discount on a number of ranges. (https://www.pgbuzz.net/ling-and-gbccs-mega-back-to-work-thrust-including-card-partnership-with-nhs-charities-together/)
Top: Part of a poster from Belly Button to support retailers reopening.
