There was a full ‘thumbs-up’ from greeting card publishers large and small who attended the recent Progressive Greetings Live 2021 exhibitor meeting (held on Zoom) to hear all about the plans for the show, how they could make the most of the innovative marketing opportunities – from the card dresses to the free postcards – as well as handy tips about not using car keys to open boxes, how spirit levels are a ‘no no’ for putting up shelves on a trade show shell scheme and why double-sided Velcro is a much more reliable friend than Sellotape for affixing cards to display panels!
“We really believe that PG Live 2021 will be a very special show this year,” said Warren Lomax, co-show owner of PG Live addressing the vast array of exhibiting publishers who attended the meeting. “All the indications are that at the end of July, when this year’s PG Live takes place, talk of Covid and social distancing will be a thing of the past and everyone will be desperate to see, touch and feel real new product. And even more importantly experience real social interaction.”
Registrations for the show (which takes place at London’s Business Design Centre on Tuesday 27 July and Wednesday 28 July) is off to a great start. Many multiple retailers as well as leading indies having already made it a firm date in the diary, including John Lewis, Tesco, Moonpig, Paperchase, Fenwick, Dobbies, Waterstones, Between the Lines, WHSmith, Dobbies, Sainsbury’s, National Trust, Harrods, Funky Pigeon, Clintons, Morrisons and Longacres.
And while travel restrictions currently preclude those from certain countries being able to travel to the show, the will to attend is most definitely there – with buyers and distributors from the likes of US, Holland, Germany, Spain, Poland, Italy and even The Falkland Islands having already applied for tickets.
“This will be our 12th PG Live,” exclaimed Warren at the recent meeting. “It should have been our 13th, so this year we have two years to make up, but by us all working together, we can do that and put on a show that will blow the socks off all the buyers that are looking forward to attending,” he added.
As well as the thousands of new card and wrap designs that exhibitors will be unveiling, artists’ agents will be there representing their portfolios of newness.
Added to this are the extra touches from this year’s PG Live sponsors which include, The Imaging Centre (who is producing the Golden/Silver/Sunshine Tickets, exhibitors’ promotional postcards and the buyers’ lounge area); Fedrigoni (who is dressing the lunchroom); Windles (who is sponsoring the tea and coffee trolleys); GF Smith (who is providing the colourful and sustainable lanyards and badge holders and providing the board for the Tickets) and Hallmark/Lisle Licensing who are providing a stunning keepsake tote bag featuring some artwork.
Buyers can register by going to https://www.progressivegreetingslive.com/
Any exhibitor or would-be exhibitor who missed the meeting, can be sent a recording by contacting Jim Bullough, PG Live 2021’s marketing manager on jimb@max-publishing.co.uk
