The Art File team is pulling out all the eco stops as the publisher does its bit for the planet – even taking into account the outer packaging for its range of products.
And the whole environmentally-friendly story can be discovered at Spring Fair 2022, Hall 3 stand P11, where the Nottingham-based publisher will be celebrating its 25th anniversary with hundreds of new designs, including the official launch of Robert Reader’s Bear collection.
The NEC is a return to its roots for The Art File as it was at Spring Fair back in 1997 that Ged and Karen Mace launched the company with the aim of writing five orders, a target they smashed 10 times over!
Now son James, The Art File’s sales and marketing manager, has been working with his parents to bring the company to the fore on the sustainability front, and it is featured in a special Spring Fair Behind The Brand video – “I wouldn’t even say it’s exciting,” James said. “It’s vital for all companies to do this so we can all do our bit to save our planet.
“We revamped a large part of our Christmas collection to become more sustainable and environmentally-friendly both in 2020 and 2021. This included the introduction of new fully-recyclable packaging on our now three-times Henries-winning Christmas Luxury Boxes.”
The company’s new packaging took its already successful collection to the next level, reflected in clinching the Best Christmas Card Box Or Pack award in The Henries 2021.
In addition to some new designs in store for 2022 in this format, the packaging has been revamped on its Trio Boxes, and 3D Form pop-up card boxes while the packaging of its charity pack cards has been revamped and are now fully recyclable.
A fully-recyclable Glassine band has been added which goes around the pack of six cards and envelopes to keep the product together, while a Respected Charities logo has also been added.
In addition, The Art File is adding a fourth to its roster – the MND Association, one of the only charities actively searching and researching for a cure to motor neurone disease.
James added: “The revamp of our charity pack packaging will mean that all The Art File’s Christmas boxed and packaged product will be plastic-free and, therefore, sustainable and environmentally-friendly.
“On the gift packaging side, our new bags will all be laminate-free, meaning the product will be able to be recycled fully alongside other paper products.
“One of the largest challenges during our continued sustainability campaign has been the cello that surrounds our popular roll wraps – we’re absolutely delighted to announce that, after much testing and trialling with key retailers, the roll wrap is now cello free!”
Alongside all of its sustainability work, the publisher has also been busy preparing plenty of new products to show off at Spring Fair, including the latest from Robert Reader, the creator of Ink Press which won the prestigious Henry Cole Classic Award in The Henries 2018 for The Art File.
Sharing his endorsement of this ongoing collaboration with this talented artist – which can be tracked right back to the publisher’s very first show on a tiny 2x1m stand at Spring Fair in 1997 – Ged Mace, managing director of The Art File said: “We’re thrilled to be launching this new collection by Robert and early feedback from customers suggests Bear will be as equally successful as Ink Press, if not more.”
James is very proud that the industry has witnessed a remarkable recovery in recent months, demonstrating once again how relevant greeting cards remain to the UK population.
He added: “The ingenuity of brilliant retailers across the land, working hard to attract customers into their stores with great service and imaginative merchandising, has helped fuel this welcome return.
“That’s why now more than ever, we believe the best way to support our customers throughout the coming year is to continue to publish new designs and collections which marry the highest level of creativity with quality materials and cutting-edge print technology.”
The Art File has 170 new card and wrap designs being launched in the first half of 2022, including the Ink & Shadows, Curio, You The Man, and Open Skies collections from the publisher’s in-house design team, plus the new collaboration with Ulla Klopf and Ute Baurecker from Pabuku, as announced on PG Buzz in December.
Top: A family affair – James, Karen and Ged Mace of The Art File.
