The GCA’s Dragons Speed Dating event is a fantastic opportunity to meet key retail buyers, and join in a discussion with GCA Council Members on the key issues in the industry, getting your questions answered.
To find out all about this event, how it works and how you can get involved read this blog! Also see photos and film from previous years.
The next Speed Dating event will be February or March 2025 in London with the date still to be announced. Watch our monthly newsletter for more announcements.
This popular annual GCA event takes place annually at the Business Design Centre, Upper St, London N1.
What is Dragons Speed Dating?
Dragons Speed Dating is a GCA members event. First launched in 2017, it is a fun way to meet prospective business partners, network with existing business contacts and keep up to date with current industry issues.
Publishers will meet at least 3 buyers and have the opportunity to leave samples with all 18 buyers attending.
This member’s event is open to up to 72 different publishers and 18 different retailers.
Over the course of an afternoon the retailers meet 12 different greeting card publishers for 10 minutes each.
Publishers get the opportunity to have a 10 minute meeting with 3 different buyers, one national account, one small group and one independent. Publishers can also submit up to 3 cards for the buyers ‘goodie/sample bags’.
During the afternoon there is also a GCA Panel Seminar, led by some of our GCA Council Members, all experienced business leaders in our industry. Publishes attending are asked to submit questions ahead of the event to set the agenda for this relaxed discussion.
Paul Woodmansterne speaking
at the Panel Discussion
Retailers range from large national accounts, through to small groups and independents. They come prepared with a cabin-sized suitcase to take home the publishers samples!
There have been many mutually beneficial business relationships started at the GCA Dragons Speed Dating. See PGBuzz article: Which Publishers slayed the dragons?
This event is open to all GCA publishers, of all sizes. It is a great forum to test out reaction to new designs, build on exiting relationships or indeed meet buyers for the first time.
Highlights from the 2024 event:
Retailers attending included buyers from John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Postmark, House of Cards, Austin & Co, Red Card, Stationery Supplies, Card Factory, Lark, Diverse Brixton, Medici Gallery, Sincerely Yours, Presentation Cards & Gifts, The Only Place for Pictures, Scribbler, WHSmith and Jumping Bean.
The day also included the opportunity to put business questions to our expert panel.
In honour of International Women’s Day which fell the day after the event, the GCA hosted an all female panel chaired by Amanda Fergusson, GCA CEO.
Our Panel and topics covered:
Karen Wilson, Paper Salad & GCA Vice President:
“Importance of having a USP and how to build your brand”
Rebecca Green, Raspberry Blossom & GCA Council Member:
“The Growing Pains of a Blossoming Business”
Georgina Fihosy, Afro Touch & GCA Council Member:
“Cards & Cashflows: Mastering multiple income streams in the Greeting Card Industry”
Kelly Hudson, Mc Daniels Law – Licensing and Copyright legal experts:
“Intellectual property in the greetings card industry”
Nicola Webster, NJ Webster Consulting – social media expert
“The Power of Instagram for greeting cards businesses”
Over 100 participants met up at this year’s event (see PGBuzz for photos and lots of stories from the day).
Further information
Publishers – if you’re booked to attend GCA’s Dragons Speed Dating, please see our How to Slay the Dragon blog in the members’ library.
Listen to well known retailer buyer/Dragon, Sally Matson from Red Card Petworth, and GCA Council members Adriana Lovesy and Carolyn Verderame, share their top tips to help you prepare to get the most out of this popular event. They also answer questions from publishers booked to attend.