Greeting card publishers and retailers can now get all ‘fired up’ as the date for the GCA Dragons’ Speed-dating 2022 event has been confirmed as Tuesday 22 February, taking place at the Business Design Centre in London.
Buyers from Waterstones, Cardzone, Funky Pigeon, Postmark, Card Factory, Red Card and Austin & Co have been the first to commit to being ‘Dragons’ for the sixth ever GCA Dragons’ Speed-dating event, with other retailers now being invited to put themselves forward to participate.
Continuing a very successful formula that has worked incredibly well for both the attending publishers and participating retailers, the afternoon event will see publishers make one-to-one quickfire 10-minute pitches about their products and their companies to different retailers, including multiples, small groups and indies.
To get a flavour of the last ‘Dragons’ event watch the video below…
In addition to the pitching, the event will also include an advice panel session during which leading industry experts will share the benefit of their experience and knowledge across all manner of pertinent issues and subjects.
The online booking ‘office’ is now open for publishers by clicking here, with each dating place costing £125 + VAT.
Attending publishers can also submit up to three cards for each of the 18 buyers ‘goodie/sample bags to ensure that their products will be seen by all.
Commenting, Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA said: “I am so excited to now be planning our next GCA Dragons Speed Dating event. It is such a fantastic opportunity for publishers to meet key retail buyers and vice versa. The networking is great and it’s fun to boot. A great way to generate business as well as build and reinforce relationships.”
Any retailer wishing to be a ‘Dragon’ should contact Amanda directly by emailing her on amanda@gca.cards.
To hear feedback from some of those who participated last Dragons’ event, click on the film below.
There is a full blog post about the GCA’s Dragons Speed-dating on the association’s website, which can be read by clicking here.
* To make for a doubly fruitful day. A meeting for PG Live exhibitors and would-be exhibitors is to take place in the morning on the same day (Tuesday 22 February) at the same venue (the BDC). This meeting (which is free to attend) will cover handy tips and hints for making the most out of exhibiting. Bookings for this meeting should be via Jim Bullough, operations director of PG Live, not the GCA hub. Jim can be emailed on jimb@max-publishing.co.uk
Top: The retailer ‘Dragons’ at the GCA’s most recent Speed-dating event, in September.
