Clinch an earlybird ticket to hear Pip Heywood address 2025 Manchester event
Thortful MD Pip Heywood is the first of the keynote speakers to be confirmed for the GCA annual Conference & AGM – and the earlybird ticket offer is still open to ensure your spot.
Pip, who is currently leading a charge for justice from Chinese online marketplace Temu for greeting card designers whose work is being plagiarised, said of her plans for the September event: “I’ll speak about how we, as an industry, can work together to encourage more card-giving and attract new audiences, sharing an insight into Thortful and our work with a broad range of designers.
“The future of cards is about keeping them relevant, accessible, and exciting for evolving consumers. I’ll draw on how Thortful can help in this endeavour by appealing to new digital-first audiences – being an incubator for new designs and even occasions or sentiments – and the role we can play in attracting and nurturing new creative talent to the industry that benefits us all.”
The insight into the online marketplace, known for giving publishers and designers a fair deal as they sell their cards, can be heard at the annual GCA event which is going north for 2025, taking place at Manchester Hall on Thursday, 25 September, from 10am-4.30pm.
Association CEO Amanda Fergusson said: “It’s a great opportunity to meet others, listen to inspirational speakers and learn about and discuss the key topics affecting our industry.
GCA conferences move around the country each year to ensure they are accessible to all 500-plus members. They’re a key opportunity to keep up to date with what’s happening in the industry and learn from others.
“There is always lots of time to meet new colleagues and catch up with industry friends – we start the day with a networking coffee, with further opportunities to chat over a late morning coffee and lunch. Members from new and small businesses through to the industry leaders attend each year, including retailers, publishers and recommended specialist suppliers.”
Each year, the AGM section has updates on the activity of the GCA council, such as the ongoing battle to save the postal service from Royal Mail and industry watchdog Ofcom’s threatened cuts to second class delivery – making sure the greeting card industry’s voice is heard is the aim behind the association’s petition – which can be accessed here – campaigning for parliamentary scrutiny of any changes to Royal Mail’s universal service obligation and threatened cuts to second class delivery.
The conference always has an exciting line-up of speakers from the industry covering key issues, incoming GCA president Karen Wilson will start her two-year term by giving an insight into her business journey from setting up Stockport-based Paper Salad in 2005 through establishing its signature bright neon style to moving forward having taken over sole ownership.
Karen and her team have designed the 2025 branding and logo, which features several Manchester references from the city’s Bee buses to the famous Oasis bucket hat and, of course, Man U and Man City football clubs.
Hallmark Cards is sponsoring networking drinks in Manchester city centre on the evening before, with more details to follow nearer the time.
GCA members can now book tickets to attend, with the earlybird discount rate of £105 saving £25 on the full price available here.
