Love Flowed At The GCA’s ‘Dragons Speed-dating’

Monday’s (September 27) GCA Speed-dating with Dragons event, hosted at London’s Business Design Centre, was memorable for all involved. It was an afternoon to be remembered for the newbies presenting their wares for the very first time to retailers; for more established players demonstrating how they have reinvented their portfolios over the last few years; for retailers on the lookout for publishing gems; for how industry stalwarts selflessly shared their wealth of knowledge and for sense of the industry really getting back together that was all pervasive.

Here PG Buzz shares a photographic flavour of the afternoon event…

Above: Speed-dating in action. (Front) Jane Tattersall of Tattersall Designs (right) pitching to Sainsbury’s Emma Tanner.
Above: Speed-dating in action. (Front) Jane Tattersall of Tattersall Designs (right) pitching to Sainsbury’s Emma Tanner.
Above: Publishers were split into groups of six and the ‘dragons’ then selected who to take back to their ‘lair’.
Above: Publishers were split into groups of six and the ‘dragons’ then selected who to take back to their ‘lair’.
Above: All the dragons giving a thumb-up for the event! (Left-right) Sarah Laker (Stationery Supplies); Sandra O’Connell (Mooch); Catherine Laycock (Belly Button); Kate Neligan (Morleys); Hazel Small (RHS); Tim Reynolds (Medici); Chloe Allum (Moonpig); Sarah Moughtin (John Lewis & Partners); Dale Boreham (Moonpig); Jen Hutchison (Oliver Bonas); Miles Robinson (House of Cards); Tim Gould (Objectables); Aisling Crosland (Scribbler); Emma Tanner (Sainsbury’s); Kate Goss (Sainsbury’s); Niloufar Noorbakhsh (Jumping Bean) and Priya Aurora-Crowe (Lark).
Above: All the dragons giving a thumb-up for the event! (Left-right) Sarah Laker (Stationery Supplies); Sandra O’Connell (Mooch); Catherine Laycock (Belly Button); Kate Neligan (Morleys); Hazel Small (RHS); Tim Reynolds (Medici); Chloe Allum (Moonpig); Sarah Moughtin (John Lewis & Partners); Dale Boreham (Moonpig); Jen Hutchison (Oliver Bonas); Miles Robinson (House of Cards); Tim Gould (Objectables); Aisling Crosland (Scribbler); Emma Tanner (Sainsbury’s); Kate Goss (Sainsbury’s); Niloufar Noorbakhsh (Jumping Bean) and Priya Aurora-Crowe (Lark).
Above: The GCA’s ceo Amanda Fergusson (left) with Sainsbury’s Emma Tanner (centre) and Kate Goss with the winning card designs in the GCA x Sainsbury’s Black History Month Design Competition.
Above: The GCA’s ceo Amanda Fergusson (left) with Sainsbury’s Emma Tanner (centre) and Kate Goss with the winning card designs in the GCA x Sainsbury’s Black History Month Design Competition.
Above: House of Cards’ Miles Robinson (right) giving feedback to Deadpan’s Nick Padmore.
Above: House of Cards’ Miles Robinson (right) giving feedback to Deadpan’s Nick Padmore.
Above: Lanther Black’s Dominique Miranda and Jack Parker were there to video the event and take photographs.
Above: Lanther Black’s Dominique Miranda and Jack Parker were there to video the event and take photographs.
Above: It was a great opportunity for retailer friends – including Lark’s Priya Aurora-Crowe (left) and Jumping Bean’s Niloufar Noorbakhsh - to catch up.
Above: It was a great opportunity for retailer friends – including Lark’s Priya Aurora-Crowe (left) and Jumping Bean’s Niloufar Noorbakhsh – to catch up.
Above: While half the publishers were in the ‘den’ the other half were able to listen to talks from GCA Council Members Rachel Hare (Belly Button), (second left) Darren Cave (UK Greetings) and (far right) Daniel Prince (Danilo) as well as from Briffa’s Will Miles.
Above: While half the publishers were in the ‘den’ the other half were able to listen to talks from GCA Council Members Rachel Hare (Belly Button), (second left) Darren Cave (UK Greetings) and (far right) Daniel Prince (Danilo) as well as from Briffa’s Will Miles.
Above: All smiles from some of the publisher attendees.
Above: All smiles from some of the publisher attendees.

The next GCA Speed-dating with Dragons event is being planned for late February 2022.

Top: All of the ‘dragons’ – who were a mixture of leading multiples, small groups and indies.

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