The vast majority of greeting card buyers are buying single cards to the same levels, or higher, than they did pre the Covid lockdowns. Furthermore, the majority believe they will continue this same pattern going forward – with more than one in ten (11%) intending to send more greeting cards in the future.
This reassuring news has come to light in a significant consumer research project commissioned by the GCA (Greeting Card Association) which tracks the public’s card buying habits as well as key considerations they have when selecting a card.
Undertaken by One Poll, the research survey involving 2,000 adults who give greeting cards at least once a year, took place at the end of July/beginning of August.
“It is so encouraging to see that since the first lockdown, four in five buyers (80%) have sent the same number of individual or more as they did before the pandemic, while 11% are saying that going forward they intend to send more greeting cards than they did before,” Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA commented to PG Buzz.
The full results of this consumer research which will be presented at the GCA Conference and AGM, which takes place on October 14 in Manchester’s stunning Bridgewater Hall.
Already over 100 members of the greeting card community have booked tickets to this top networking and information ‘fest’, but there is still time for GCA members or would-be members to be part of it.
Set to be other highlights of a packed agenda are keynote talks from Emotional Rescue’s David Greaves; Card Factory’s Jo Bennett and JP Pozzi’s David Robertson.
David Robertson, of JP Pozzi in Elgin and Buckie will be speaking on “Rockstar Retailing”, with his views on building relationships with indies.
“Greeting Cards – A Fortunate Opportunity” is the title of David Greaves’ talk which promises to be a positive and highly engaging presentation based on his 40+ years in business, 30 of which have been in the greeting card world.
“It will be a brutally honest and frank snapshot of my business life and childhood,” promises David.
Jo Bennett, head of design at Card Factory will be linguistically dishing up a “A great big bowl of spaghetti”, giving plenty of food for thought and “unravelling the slippery future ahead” with changes in consumer mindsets and how this may affect the path ahead for our industry.
After lunch and plenty of networking, there will be a panel discussion which will address a myriad of salient topics, including sustainability, diversity, export post Brexit, brokerage and online sales platforms.
Attendees are encouraged to send their questions to Amanda Fergusson on amanda@gca.cards.
More details about the event and a link to book tickets are all the dedicated blog on the GCA website, which can be accessed by clicking here.
The Bridgewater Hall, where the AGM and Conference is to be staged is Manchester’s international concert venue that is home to three resident orchestras -the Hallé, the BBC Philharmonic and Manchester Camerata – and is also famed for its magnificent Marcussen organ which includes 5,500 pipes!
Top: Card buying is up to pre-Covid levels for the majority of adult card senders.
