“The final countdown to this year’s Thinking of You Week has seen leading greeting card multiples, online players, Royal Mail and a bunch of leading indies pledge their support to the card sending event with a great variety of exciting initiatives – and the more the merrier!” Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA told PG Buzz as plans for Thinking of You Week activations take shape ahead of the week long GCA-instigated card sending event, which this year runs 22-28 September 2019. The premise of the Week, now in its sixth year , is to inspire people to create a wave of love, caring and happiness by sending greeting cards to different people during the week for non-occasions, eg just to say hello, to show support, tell them how important they are, share a memory.
With a myriad of publishers, retailers and suppliers in the final throes of their plans for this year’s Thinking of You Week activities, Clintons is one of the first off the blocks to reveal its marketing campaign for the card-centric event which will see the specialist multiple stage a ‘4 for 3’ promotion in all its stores on all everyday general birthday cards and friend cards across its store estate to coincide with the week. The event and Thinking of You Week branding will also feature in the stores’ windows.
In addition, Scribbler, Paperchase, Funky Pigeon, Moonpig, plus a host of independents and publishers have also signaled that they will be supporting this year’s Thinking of You Week in store, online and via social media.
The GCA website hosts a suite of free-to-download PoS for everyone to use for Thinking of You Week activity. The Thinking of You Week site (https://www.thinkingofyouweek.cards/) has hints, tips and advice on how to get involved in the initiative. This includes how schools can get involved – eg ‘Cards for Classmates’ where each child writes their name on a piece of paper, which are then drawn one by one. Each child makes a card and writes a positive message to the classmate whose name they’ve pulled out. Children then talk about how it feels to write and receive the positive messages in the cards.
To add further momentum to the Thinking of You Week activity that is being brought into play by retailers, publishers and other bodies, the GCA is working with talented PR maestro, Sarah Selzer, md of PR Direct who is spearheading a consumer publicity campaign promote the Week to consumers as well as the merits of card sending generally.
In a press release that is due to be sent out to the media far and wide by PR Direct, Amanda states: “In this fast-paced world where everyone seems glued to their smartphone or tablet, it’s easy to forget what a wonderful feeling it is to receive – and send – a hand-written card,”
In addition to the activity in the UK, the US GCA has also embraced the concept and will be running Thinking of You Week activities in the States concurrently. Australia has also adopted the event, running the Week in June.
This year’s Thinking of You Week is especially poignant as it is the 100th anniversary of the GCA, which will be fully celebrated at an insightful and enjoyable networking event to take place on October 17 at the Central Hall, Westminster.
All GCA members and Associate Members are now able to reserve a place at the GCA’s 100th Anniversary Celebration Conference & AGM. The cost (including lunch) is £84 (Including VAT) per person.
To book your place click here: http://www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk/anniversary-celebration-conference-and-agm
For more information, see https://www.pgbuzz.net/oliver-bonas-olly-tress-to-headline-at-gcas-100th-anniversary-agm/
Top: A Thinking of You Week banner that is available to download from the website.
