We are all looking forward to seeing you Wednesday, and getting the greeting card community together. If you can’t now join us live, due to the recent announcement of a further lockdown in England, you can view this event later: Buy your ticket, and email us on admin@gca.cards (from the same address) and we’ll send you the link.
We have a fantastic agenda lined up, including contributions from a wide range of retailers, publishers plus innovations from key suppliers in our trade. Click here and go to checkout to book your ticket now.
The GCA Annual Conference and AGM will be happening online –on Wednesday 4th November between 10.30 and 3pm. Join us to hear about the latest greeting card facts and figures from the GCA Annual Market Report, presented by UKG director and GCA Council member Darren Cave, who talks about the changes we are seeing in greeting card buying behaviour.
Listen to independent and national retailers from across the country talking about the challenges of trading in 2020 and the changes they are making in their business to adapt to the current climate and plan for 2021.
Hear about the innovation and development greeting card publisher Belly Button, owned by GCA president Rachel Hare.
Catch up with friends during the event, and ask questions, using the ‘chat’ function on Hopin.
Put your questions directly to our council members in our live Q&A discussion at the end of the day, which has now been extended to 3pm. Send in your questions now to hello@gca.cards
The ticket price is £15 (inc VAT) per person. The link to buy will take you to Hopin platform to buy the ticket, they will send a receipt immediately, subsequently you will receive a VAT invoice from the GCA. If you would like to attend the AGM part of the Conference only there will be no charge, please email me for a timed link.
We are really excited about the agenda coming together, and thank you to the many indie and multiple retailers and our sponsors.
Agenda and Times:
| Time | Agenda Item |
|---|---|
| 10.30am | Welcome, News and Updates from the GCA – Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA |
| 10.45am | AGM Business -election of new Council Members and annual accounts – Amanda Fergusson, Lisa Shoesmith (formerly of Really Good), Daniel Prince (md of Danilo) |
| The GCA Greeting Card Market Report: The facts and figures of the UK greeting card market – Darren Cave, commercial director of UK Greetings | |
| The Question Of Diversity in the Greeting Card Industry. A panel discussion hosted by Mark Callaby, md of Ohh Deer. Panellists will include retailers Card Factory, Paperchase, Waterstones and publishers Huetribe, Mrs Lovesy and Belly Button Designs | |
| How to promote your business on the new GCA Website – Raj Arora, md of Davora | |
| 11.55pm | Break, and chance to sign up to the website and visit sponsors’ booths. |
| 12.15pm | The President’s Address GCA president Rachel Hare including an update on the environmental front. |
| Retail Overview – Michael Weedon, md of exp2, chair of FSB Retail and High Street Policy and head of the High St Advisory Board for Save the High St. | |
| The Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs of ‘Bricks and Mortar’ Greeting Card Retailing. A panel discussion hosted by Jakki Brown, editor of Progressive Greetings. The retail panellists will include Mark Janson-Smith, managing director of Postmark; Sally Matson, owner of Red Card, Petworth; Jon May, co-owner of Mooch, Bewdley and Stourport-on-Severn; Carly Pearson, senior buyer of Sainsbury’s; David Robertson, managing director of JP Pozzi; Paul Taylor, managing director of Cardzone and Hazel Walker, senior buyer of Waterstones. | |
| 1.10pm | Lunchbreak, visit sponsors booths – signup on our new website! |
| 1.40pm | The Evolution of Online Card Retailing. A panel discussion hosted by Chris Bryan, general manager of Second Nature. Panellists include a mix of retailers and publishers, including The Bottom Drawer, Cards for Good Causes, Lark London, No. 14 Ampthill and Zaquarella. |
| 2.20pm | The Q&A Wrap Up. GCA Council members respond to questions that have come up during the day. |
| 3pm | Close |