PG Buzz catches up with a few more retailers who’ll be hitting the showfloor on Tuesday and Wednesday on what they’re hoping to find.
Paul Jarman, owner of Creased Cards, Brighton “This year is even more exciting than normal for me, as we are about to expand our store footprint in Brighton. As anyone who has visited us will know we are ‘bijou’ and struggle to fit everything we want into our lovely little shop… so this summer sees the first step in the growth of Creased with a move to a much larger premises (just a few doors away). So, at PG Live, I am going to seeking out new product like never before… the show is perfectly timed for us! First and foremost, I’ve always loved PG Live because of the dedication to the card industry. It’s relative lack of ‘scope creep’ means that I am assured that all but a small part of the show is very relevant to Creased. The Springboard section is a really important part for us too; we like to grab new trends and innovative product as they hit the market and so this section is a great place to find this. Throw in a lovely lunch, teas all day, and a few (free!) beers at night… and what more can you want from a trade show?”
Rohit Patel, owner Paper Art, Finchley: “The main reason for me to visit PG Live is to source for both new suppliers and new ranges from our existing suppliers. PG Live is a ‘must visit’ show for all greeting card retailers as most of the card publishers exhibit their products under one roof. One can just concentrate on cards without being distracted. The ambience there is both colourful and very friendly and the most delicious lunch on offer is a real bonus.”
Sue Butcher, co-owner of Present Boutique, Edinburgh: “We were so delighted to be awarded The Retas award for Best Independent Greeting Card Retailer Scotland last year and as part of this we are excited to be taking along our Golden Ticket to spend. We are well known locally for our quirky and original card selection and so we will be heading straight for the Springboard section of the exhibition to seek out anything new, and then we are looking forward to catching up with our regular suppliers. We love the fact that this event is dedicated to just cards. It has a really different feel from all the other trade shows. Maybe it’s because it is jam packed with talented artistic people, but the whole space has such a great energy about it. Mix this with the free refreshments, and even lunch, and that’s the day sorted – it feels like a real celebration of the industry.”