Hot on the heels of the recent G7 meeting, which brought together the world’s leaders, PG Buzz caught up with greeting card protagonists from all over the globe to share their perspective on trade in their domestic market, as well their message for their friends in the UK.
First up is Jenny Cummins, managing director of McMillan Cards…
How is greeting card trade in your neck of the woods?
“The greeting card trade here appears in good shape. Retail all over Oz is generally very patchy, especially fashion but homewares, card shops, nurseries and food retail – especially the supermarkets, is all good. There is a lot of click and collect happening as well as online sales.
I think people are buying more cards, especially humour and animal designs, though as expected, sales of wedding cards are down.”
What have been the significant developments?
“More business is being done online, our customers are ordering more regularly and often between rep visits.
With no trade shows, our website has become so important, which we are upgrading to further increase its speed.
The Melbourne Gift Show, which is the big trade fair for this half that is so important for Christmas planning has just been postponed due to the latest Covid surge.”
Tell us some good news…
“We have hung in there and just completed our biggest year yet. It’s a real thrill to achieve something long wished for.
Our good card retailers used the time during lockdowns to review their suppliers, their ranges and even upgrade their shops. Many have chosen our ranges to lift their offering and to do something different.
Our private showrooms around the country have done really well (between dodging lockdowns) with our retailers excited just to be there, actually seeing the product and not on a screen.”
What message would you like to send to your UK friends?
“I really miss seeing you all, chatting about how things are going, your plans for new ranges and knowing what is happening personally, that you are all OK and managing. I miss the fun and the dinners, those crazy hours we all keep during the shows. Just being with my Brit friends.
To miss out on attending PG Live is not good. Not good for business and gives me FOMO! Enjoy each other and have a really great show and please remember to send us all the new stuff. We have to keep up somehow here Down Under xx.”
Top: Jenny Cummins was among the openers for PG Live 2019.
