Top Speakers, Info, Advice And Camraderie Galore At The Ladder Club

The Cliffs Pavilion in Westcliff-on-Sea is renowned for attracting a surprisingly good line-up of performers – but The Ladder Club seminars, which took place at the venue a few days ago trounced this.

Attendees of the two one day seminars were treated to presentations from Timothy Melgund, deputy chairman of Paperchase; Andy Pearce, ceo of Thortful; Mark Janson-Smith, md of Postmark; Ged Mace, md of The Art File; Megan Purdie, md of Megan Claire; Andy Paterson, sales director of Woodmansterne; Jeremy Corner, md of Blue Eyed Sun; Midlands agent Ian Bradley as well as information galore from The Imaging Centre’s business development manager Julie Brightley; GF Smith’s greetings consultant Mark Jessett; the GCA’s Sharon Little as well as PG’s Warren Lomax, Tracey Arnaud and Gale Astley.

“When Lynn [Tait, now sadly no longer with us] and I first had the idea for The Ladder Club over 20 years ago, to help would-be and newbie publishers get on the ‘first rung’ of the greeting card ‘ladder’ there is no way either of us ever envisaged it growing in the way it has,” commented Jakki Brown, joint managing director of PG. “The support from great people willing to selflessly share their knowledge, as well as the ongoing commitment from suppliers such as The Imaging Centre, Sherwood Group, GF Smith, Enveco as well as the GCA has enabled The Ladder Club to help many hundreds of greeting card publishers over the years.”

Here PG Buzz shares a flavour of The Ladder Club 2018 seminars in both pictures and mini videos…

Above: Everyone was ‘all ears’, lapping up the wealth of knowledge that was shared by the speakers.
Above: Everyone was ‘all ears’, lapping up the wealth of knowledge that was shared by the speakers.
Above: Andy Pearce, ceo of Thortful with Megan Claire’s Megan Purdie (right) and Gill Purdie.
Above: Andy Pearce, ceo of Thortful with Megan Claire’s Megan Purdie (right) and Gill Purdie.
Above: Postmark md, Mark Janson-Smith (right) shared insights into running his independent greeting card retail mini group while Jeremy Corner, md of Blue Eyed Sun gave invaluable pointers into running a successful and profitable greeting card business.
Above: Postmark md, Mark Janson-Smith (right) shared insights into running his independent greeting card retail mini group while Jeremy Corner, md of Blue Eyed Sun gave invaluable pointers into running a successful and profitable greeting card business.
Above: Having both been finalists in the BLE Licence This! competition, The Ladder Club was a great meet up for (right) Sarah Burman (of Sarah Burman Designs) and Celia Law (of Gail Grisham) who brought Gail, the star of the Doll Truths range with her, naturally!
Above: Having both been finalists in the BLE Licence This! competition, The Ladder Club was a great meet up for (right) Sarah Burman (of Sarah Burman Designs) and Celia Law (of Gail Grisham) who brought Gail, the star of the Doll Truths range with her, naturally!
Above: One of the activities on Day One, set by The Imaging Centre’s Julie Brightley, was to take on the challenge to see how long it takes to pack a card, and Peppy Scott of Flint and Folio was happy to participate.
Above: One of the activities on Day One, set by The Imaging Centre’s Julie Brightley, was to take on the challenge to see how long it takes to pack a card, and Peppy Scott of Flint and Folio was happy to participate.
Above: The majority of the delegates got to know each other at the evening meal, which took place the evening before each seminar.
Above: The majority of the delegates got to know each other at the evening meal, which took place the evening before each seminar.
Above: Woodmansterne’s sales director Andy Paterson (who gave a talk on brokerage) with (right) Julie Ashworth of Yoojoo and Rhian Ap Gruffydd of Gruff Pawtraits.
Above: Woodmansterne’s sales director Andy Paterson (who gave a talk on brokerage) with (right) Julie Ashworth of Yoojoo and Rhian Ap Gruffydd of Gruff Pawtraits.
Above: Midlands agent Ian Bradley explained the machinations of life as a greeting card sales agent – their loves and hates!
Above: Midlands agent Ian Bradley explained the machinations of life as a greeting card sales agent – their loves and hates!
Above: Ged Mace, md of The Art File shared insights from his vast industry experience in his talk as well as during the breaks. Seen here with Georgina Fihosy of Special Touch Designs.
Above: Ged Mace, md of The Art File shared insights from his vast industry experience in his talk as well as during the breaks. Seen here with Georgina Fihosy of Special Touch Designs.
Above: As (centre) Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA leaves her post to go globetrotting at the end of this month, The Ladder Club gave her the opportunity for some bon voyage hugs with the likes of Bob Short of The Imaging Centre and Janet Stevens of GF Smith.
Above: As (centre) Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA leaves her post to go globetrotting at the end of this month, The Ladder Club gave her the opportunity for some bon voyage hugs with the likes of Bob Short of The Imaging Centre and Janet Stevens of GF Smith.
Above: The Day Two-ers of The Ladder Club 2018.   Here are some little videos from Ladder Club attendees sharing their highlights from the seminars.
Above: The Day Two-ers of The Ladder Club 2018.

 

 

Here are some little videos from Ladder Club attendees sharing their highlights from the seminars:

Laura Heathwood, founder of Heath & Wood

Sarah Burman, founder of Sarah Burman Designs

Myra Hutton, founder of Barley Bay

Sarah-Jane Adams, founder of Lavender Bear Art

Emma Bryan, founder of Emma Bryan Designs

Giulia Cavelli, founder of Colorfille

Top: Over 80 people attended The Ladder Club Day One seminar.

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