They came, they saw, they placed orders and importantly had a great time doing it, was the general consensus of Progressive Greetings Live 2019, the dedicated greeting card trade show that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday at London’s Business Design Centre.
“Another cracker, well done!! Everyone was so upbeat about things, as well as life in general…remarkable and inspiring in this market!” exclaimed Timothy Melgund, deputy chairman of Paperchase. “There was tons of great product too! New brands, new designs, new concepts…loads to look at. Isn’t it a great industry? Thank you for all your efforts to bring it all together,” he added.
Paperchase, WHSmith, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Clintons, Cards Galore, Oliver Bonas, Cardzone, Waterstones, Anthropologie, Fenwick, Dobbies, Waitrose, Scribbler, Urban Outfitters, Harrods, Tesco, TKMaxx, Fortnum & Mason, Blue Diamond Group, Card Factory, Between the Lines, House of Cards, Thortful, Mayther, Moonpig and Temptations were among the many top retail names who came to the show and received a warm welcome by the 230+ exhibiting card publishers.
“In these days of uncertainty it really was fantastic to see so much business being done at PG Live and the smiles on so many people’s faces,” commented Warren Lomax, show director of PG Live.
The global greeting card community was certainly out in force, with the diversity of retail buyers and overseas distributors from far and wide, lapping up the thousands and thousands of new designs that were launched at the show.
“I loved it on every level!” summed up Sydney-based Jenny Cummins, managing director of McMillan Cards of PG Live. “It was such a happy show, exuding extraordinary positivity. A tremendous amount of creativity had clearly been put into an abundance of new products, great to see it being so well received.”
At the end of the show, having just cashed in a clutch of Golden, Silver and Sunshine tickets that had been spent on the Wendy Jones-Blackett stand (by retailers who were winners and finalists in The Retas retail awards), the company’s co-owner Steve Jones-Blackett exclaimed: “I am absolutely exhausted, but incredibly uplifted. It has been a hectic two days of concentrated selling and talking in equal measure. PG Live is a shot in the arm, it should be available on the NHS!”
The show was especially memorable for two exhibitors in particular, Louise Tiler Designs and Tache, who both marked their respective 5th anniversaries since they launched at PG Live adding a great deal of colour and fun by sponsoring the lunchroom and Opening Night Party.
“Cheers to five years and a friendship built on wine and beers!” said Pennie Bryant, co-owner of Tache, toasting Louise Tiler at the Opening Night Party.
Next year’s Progressive Greetings Live will take place on Tuesday 2 June and Wednesday 3 June 2020, again at London’s Business Design Centre.
Top: It was a two day greeting card ‘hooray’ for many at PG Live 2019 at which the meeters and greeters were attired in exhibitors’ cards.
