The passion, honesty and generosity of spirit exuded by Sarah Hamilton, founder of the Just A Card campaign when she gave her speech at the recent GCA AGM and Conference was infectious. Not only did it prompt publishers and retailers to wholehearted applaud Sarah’s campaign that champions supporting independent shops and galleries, but resulted in the Top Drawer team going several stages further.
The January show (which takes place January 14-16 at London’s Olympia) has not only donated a stand to the Just a Card campaign, but retailers will be able to pick up free vinyl window decals to display in their stores to further raise awareness of the initiative which encourages consumers to support indies by ‘just buying a card’. The window decals, which feature the GCA logo which supports the campaign, are being produced free of charge by print company, Printed.com (which is also exhibiting at the show). In addition, news of Just A Card will feature on the show’s website, in its preview, show catalogue and as part of its social media activity.
Sarah, who is a talented artist and author of the House of Cards book, runs the Just A Card campaign in her ‘spare time’ helped by supportive volunteers. She is absolutely delighted by the support being offered by the Top Drawer team to spread awareness and heighten engagement in Just A Card.
“I had a dream that one day we would have window stickers in shop windows to tell the public about Just A Card – and now we will!”
It was Alejandro Campos, event director of Top Drawer that has made it all happen.
“I was very inspired by Sarah’s speech at the GCA AGM,” Alejandro told PG Buzz. “The Just A Card campaign encourages diversity in the high street and we all need to do all we can to maintain a healthy retail landscape and protect the independent retailers who are so vital in adding the colour and interest.”
* Top Drawer takes place 14-16 January at London’s Olympia. www.topdrawer.co.uk
