GCA focus on small businesses and retailers in stakeholder meetings
GCA met with stakeholder groups who share our concerns to protect the interest of small businesses and High Street retailers.
News & Insights
-
-
Royal Mail and Ofcom’s appearance at the House of Commons Business Select Committee
Following House of Common’s Business Select Committee calling in Royal Mail and Ofcom, and update on GCA’s work to protect our industry and promote card sending.
-
Celebrating Neurodiversity Through Cards
An estimated 15% of the UK population is neurodivergent (City & Guilds Index, 2025), a powerful reminder that one size never fits all. As the card industry looks to build a more sustainable and relevant future, it’s vital that we create products that truly reflect the people sending and receiving them. A growing number of…
-
B Corp for the Greetings Card Industry: The What. The How. The Why.
Following on from the fantastic webinar recently hosted by Will Powell, founder of Future Shift, were pleased to share a deeper dive into the ideas he explored. Will has kindly expanded on his insights in this blog post, offering a clear and practical look at what B Corp really means for the greetings card industry the what, the how and…
log in to access (Already logged in? Refresh your browser) -
Cards of Kindness: Ricicle Cards Leads a Special Brownies Card Club Session
Ricicle’s owner David Nichols-Rice went along to his local Girl guiding group to run a Card Club session with the Brownies. The 24 girls aged between 7-10 years old were working towards their ‘Kindness’ badge, and one of the example activities to earn their badge was creating a greeting card to send to someone. The…
-
The 2026 Sustainability Trends GCA Members Should Know About
As we look ahead to the new year, sustainability continues to evolve from a “nice to have” into a core part of how greeting card businesses operate, trade and communicate. Regulatory expectations are shifting, consumer scrutiny is sharper, and sustainability is increasingly linked to long-term resilience rather than just environmental ambition. Drawing on recent UK…
-
Celebrating the Success of Our 2025 Cardmitment Campaign
As we wrap up another festive season, we’re thrilled to share the impact of the GCA’s ongoing mission: protecting and promoting the joy of card sending. This year again our efforts reminded millions of people why greeting cards matter—especially at Christmas. A Nationwide Conversation About Cards Our Cardmitment Campaign again captured attention across TV, radio, print,…
-
Council Update: Welcoming new members
The GCA Council is pleased to announce that Ashton Duckitt, Strategic Account Director – High Street at UK Greetings, has joined the Council following the recent resignation of Darren Cave, UK Greetings’ Commercial Director and past GCA President. Darren served on the Council for six years, making a significant contribution to the industry. The Council…
-
GCA meets with Royal Mail and Department of Business and Trade leaders to discuss all things post!
GCA CEO Amanda Ferguson attended Royal Mail Christmas event at the House of Commons hosted by Adam Jogee MP The event brought together MPs, staff from the Department for Business & Trade, members of the Royal Mail leadership team, and posties from across the country. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the festive season…
-
Inspiring the Next Generation: Card Club Comes to Life
Card Club is a GCA initiative designed to inspire the next generation of card senders. Through fun, creative activities and classroom resources, Card Club helps children discover the joy of sending and receiving cards—building connection, kindness, and creativity along the way. One of the first schools to launch Card Club is Milverton Primary in Leamington…
-
Royal Mail Puts Greeting Cards Centre Stage This Christmas
Christmas has always been the most meaningful time of year for sending and receiving greeting cards — a moment to pause, reflect, reconnect and share kindness. At the GCA, we’ve long championed this British tradition, and this year we’re delighted to see Royal Mail placing greeting cards at the very heart of their major national…
-
Help us keep Second Class post affordable for sending cards
Ofcom is reviewing how much Royal Mail can charge for Second Class post. This may sound technical, but it really matters for greeting cards. Second Class is how most people send cards. If the price keeps rising, many people will simply stop sending them. That hurts our businesses, but more importantly it damages a simple, human way that people stay…
log in to access (Already logged in? Refresh your browser) -
Macmillan x Cardfactory Support Card Collaboration
At the GCA, we love to celebrate initiatives that champion diversity, inclusion, and meaningful connections through greeting cards. We’re shining a spotlight on an inspiring collaboration between Cardfactory and Macmillan Cancer, a project that puts empathy and representation at the heart of card design. Julie Hardy, Studio Manager at Card Factory and a member of…
-
Introducing Card Club: Inspiring the Next Generation of Card Senders
In a world where children are growing up glued to screens, the Greeting Card Association is proud to launch Card Club. A brand new initiative designed to put pen and paper back into the hands of children aged 4 – 11 years and encourage card sending. Introducing Card Club Watch Rebecca Green’s presentation from the…
-
How to Make Your Greetings Range Recyclable (and Market It Right!)
It’s Recycling Week – the perfect time for publishers, retailers and creators to shout about the greener choices they’re making. But here’s the thing: having a recyclable greetings range is only half the job. The other half is making sure customers know it – and trust it. So, let’s break down how to show that your cards are recyclable, and how to market…
log in to access (Already logged in? Refresh your browser) -
EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): What It Means for the Greeting Card Industry
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)—officially Regulation (EU) 2023/1115—is a landmark law designed to curb global deforestation and forest degradation linked to products consumed in the EU. For greeting card publishers, suppliers, and retailers, this regulation introduces new compliance obligations that will significantly impact sourcing and supply chains. EUDR Update: What GCA Members Need to Know Following the European Parliament vote on 17…
log in to access (Already logged in? Refresh your browser) -
Ofcom Consultation Follow up
The GCA continues working to champion the industry, and met again with Ofcom in August 2025 following Ofcom announcing the results of their Consultation . GCA’s reaction to the July announcement was discussed, with the GCA highlighting that while they were disappointed that 2nd Class letters would now be delivered on alternate weekdays (Monday to…
-
Send a Smile, Deliver a Card – Thinking of You Week 2025
Thinking of You Week is back for its 11th year, and it’s set to be the biggest and brightest yet! From 15–21 September, we’re inviting everyone to join in a nationwide wave of kindness by sending cards to friends, family, neighbours, and anyone who could use a little lift. Whether it’s a note of encouragement, a little…
-
Big Changes Ahead for UK Greeting Card Exporters to the U.S.
On July 30, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order eliminating the de minimis exemption for all countries, effective August 29, 2025. Originally planned for 2027, this fast-tracked change will significantly impact small businesses — including UK greeting card publishers exporting to the U.S. But there’s good news: recent updates from Royal Mail offer a more manageable path forward. Royal Mail’s…
-
Greeting Cards and the Environment: Into a Greener Future
Latest industry updates on reducing our environmental footprint
-
WeTransfer’s AI Terms Update: What Creatives Need to Know
WeTransfer Responds to User Concerns Following feedback from the creative community, WeTransfer has acted swiftly to remove all references to machine learning from its terms of service, aiming to eliminate confusion and reassure users. What Happened? Recent changes to WeTransfer’s terms of service sparked concern among creatives, particularly those working with sensitive or copyright-protected content….
-
#Cardmitment Shopping Bags: A Simple Idea That Packs a Punch!
The Greeting Card Association’s #Cardmitment campaign is a national movement encouraging everyone to commit to sending more greeting cards — and to celebrate the emotional power of handwritten messages. As part of this mission, two inspiring independent retailers — Sally Matson of Red Card and Little Red, Petworth and Kaye Thurgood of Sincerely Yours, Shenfield…
-
GCA Proudly Supports the ShopKind Campaign
As a proud member of the Independent Retail Confederation – IRC, the Greeting Card Association (GCA) is delighted to support the ShopKind campaign—an initiative that unites the retail sector to tackle violence and abuse against shopworkers. What is ShopKind? Backed by the Home Office and led by the National Business Crime Centre, ShopKind encourages positive behaviour in shops and highlights the essential…
-
Protecting Your Work Part 2: How to Challenge Copyright Infringement in the Greeting Cards Industry
In our last article Protecting Your Work Part 1: Getting Ahead of Copyright & IP Infringement, we helped you understand how to protect your work before infringement happens. This article now covers what to do if you see your original work copied or imitated without permission. It outlines your legal rights, explains the relevant UK copyright law in plain English, and…
log in to access (Already logged in? Refresh your browser)
