GCA CEO Amanda Fergusson spoke about the importance of greeting cards at the 2023 National Federation of Sub-postmasters (NFSP) annual Conference in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Also on the stage was Kevin Hollinrake MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade and Postal Affairs Minister, and Nick Read, Group CEO Post Office Ltd.
Kevin Hollinrake MP and GCA CEO Amanda Fergusson
Minister Hollinrake and Amanda spoke about the CWU membership ballot due on the agreement reached with Royal Mail. Amanda highlighted that “we [the card industry] remain concerned about stamp prices and Royal Mail service levels under the US0. Royal mail Letters delivery is crucial for the ongoing health of our currently robust £1.7 billion industry, and together we contribution towards the mental health of the nation”
Greeting Card Highlights from the Conference
National Federation of sub-postmasters Commercial and Retail Director, Robert Clack, invited Amanda to highlight the opportunity greeting cards offered to increase revenue for post sub postmasters.
Amanda gave an insight into the greeting card industry, sharing latest statistics from our annual Market Report*, that illustrates the robustness of the UK greeting card industry; with over £1.5 billion spent in the UK on single greeting cards in 2021, a 11% bounce back after the COVID-hit 2020.
Over 80% of card sales are from a bricks and mortar store. People like looking at cards, reading the inside and feeling the quality of the product before they buy….people will shop widely to find the card with the right design and the right message for the recipient.
Amanda Fergusson, GCA CEO
Amanda then went on to talk about how sub postmasters could make their store a destination for greeting cards, and she shared top tips from GCA publishers already supplying sub postmasters, including a card Emotional Rescue had designed especially for the occasion!
You will find greeting card publishers passionate about cards they sell.
Look at the breadth of range you have in store, remember the split between birthday/black and occasions/relations, speak to your suppliers about other ranges they have and ask their advise about how to increase your sales
Amanda Fergusson, GCA CEO
Amanda also shared top tips from Asma and Andrew Hart, who took over a failing PO in suburban Harrogate. They completely over-hauled their card selection, focusing on quality cards from a wide range of suppliers, and in 2022 sold over 50,000 cards, a target they are set to beat in 2023 with the opening of their second store.
We take on new suppliers regularly to maintain interest. We move the cards around and we push our limits on styles….Keep it simple: It works, it is easy to maintain and easy for the customers
Andrew Hart, Red Box Harrogate
GCA Members Attending the Conference
The conference included a retail show, where the 200 sub postmasters had the opportunity to meet several GCA members already working with NFSP.
GCA Members (L-R)Mike Wright and Jane Crowther, Bug Art, GCA’s Amanda Fergusson with Christine Gardner and Noel Tatt’s Michael Griffiths.
The Joy of Cards!
Bill Chandi, post-master in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire told Amanda about the joy greeting cards brought to his town during the COVID lockdown of April 2020, when over 250,000 birthday cards arrived for Captain Tom Moore’s 100th birthday. This was after Captain Tom inspired the nation by raising £32million for NHS charities during the pandemic.
Bill shared his experience sorting the birthday and thank you cards, which brought the town together, with the local school, and their pupils and families, helping to open and display the wonderful range of cards. The town was awarded a special blue post-box as a result of their achievement. See our April 2020 blog for the full story.
Bill Chandi and GCA’s Amanda Fergusson and the Post Office Marston Moretaine
Further Information
GCA annual Market Report can be downloaded here, please login to download if you are a member.