Christmas cards have come in for some high profile praise from the media recently and with BBC 2’s Inside The Factory’s Christmas special episode which airs this Thursday (December 12), including film footage of Woodmansterne’s Advent calendar side, this positive PR looks set to continue. And this is on top of GCA ceo Amanda Fergusson’s multi appearances on TV and radio in the last few weeks, none of which has resulted in negative publicity.
“I do think that the election overload has worked in the greeting card industry’s favour on the PR side, as journalists are keen to find a more positive fillip in these unsettling times,” commented Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA. “Great that the importance of connecting of loved ones through cards are seen as ever more relevant.”
‘Christmas cards are a little piece of civility in an uncivil world’ stated revered columnist India Knight in her article in the most recent Sunday Times magazine. The entire column was dedicated to the merit of sending Christmas cards, with India confessing to that prior to this, she has never sent a single Christmas card in her entire life but shared that has found ‘the whole process extremely pleasurable, from the choosing of the cards to the feeling of the holding a pen in my hand and writing something that isn’t a scribbled Post-it note or a reminder to buy rinse aid.’
To her mind, India says Christmas cards are ‘the perfect communication…They are the opposite of email. They ask nothing of you. They’re all give and no take.’
Another unexpected stamp of approval came from NHS worker turned comedian Adam Kay who appeared on a recent episode of the Jonathan Ross Show. In between his humorous anecdotes he urged viewers to spare a thought for the 400,000 NHS workers who will be working on Christmas Day this year. “Even better than that, let doctors and nurses know you are grateful. Send them a card, they will appreciate more than you will ever know. I have kept every single card given to me my a patient.”
To see Adam Kay in action click the below video (the greeting card bit is two minutes in)
This Thursday (December 12) sees the industry coming in for some more positive festive PR cheer. BBC 2’s Behind the Factory programme (screened at 9pm) will include footage of Woodmansterne’s Advent calendar production as the episode’s historical angle.
“They were keen to delve into our archive as well as seeing modern day production methods and designs,” said Kate Leach, marketing manager of Woodmansterne. “They loved the fact we were a UK manufacturer, designing, printing and die cutting in house at our Croxley site,” she added.
The presenters discussed the continued popularity of traditional paper advent calendars to retain and rekindle the magic of Christmas (as a healthier alternative to chocolate ones!).
Top: Comedian Adam Kay on the Jonathan Ross Show.
