We also liked at Pulse

Roisin Cafferty

Great to see Roisin’s Good Times card range has grown so much with so many new occasions, all synched to her original design concept. Take a look at the Good Times gift product line, just out and with the same design branding.



Caroline Tucker

Brand new designer/publisher/maker with standout imagery and a strong design led interior gift line. From greeting cards to cushions, a very solid presentation with opportunities for future additions for the independent trade.



ieinotherwords

Newcomer Emma Kalkhoven has published hand drawn images that are dainty and intricate. The card line offers a large range of beautiful designs covering many occasions and adorned with elegant touches of gold. All very grownup and if you need something a little larger there’s a teatowel as well.

We liked at Pulse

Sebra

Strong Danish design for kids interiors and accessories. Simplistic, fun, great colour palette and functionality! Everything bright for your tiny prince or princess.

Pulse was Selling on Sunday

Pulse was buzzing on Sunday with independent retail out in force and placing orders to the great relief of many exhibitors. This is now a very tricky time of year for trade shows. For one thing there are a lot on and all are fragmenting the two sectors of our industry in product offers and geographically. What's a comfortable trip for one buyer is going to be one long sigh of exasperation for another. Internet sourcing certainly helps the buyer decide whether that visit is worth the trouble and certainly suppliers should not lose too much business.

To that end Sunday's buyers were focussed and seeing the suppliers they wanted to before leaving. Let's not forget that Pulse is in the middle of a triple trade show hit and although Harrogate is also a Clarion event the line up of exhibitors is more than subtly different there. Is it enough to draw all the buyers up north? We shall see.

Sunday, however, was a great day for new faces and new product. The interiors and gift offers were lovely and selling well. Loved the Euro designer Homeware stands with the Dutch and Danish companies looking fab. Prey of Bath is truly scrumptious high end with added imported extras and I really want one of their wallets. Apart from the coffee queues - what was going on there? - it was a good day.

UKG is set to launch Papyrus in UK

UK Greetings (UKG) has added a sixth brand to its portfolio in the form of iconic US card and stationery supplier Papyrus, which is set for a full launch to the UK market in spring 2012.

UKG is currently pilot testing 216 (of 1200) Papyrus skus in ten stores to gauge price-point sensitivity and general consumer feedback, which so far has been overwhelmingly positive.All the designs being tested are from the existing US product range, which will be developed specifically for the UK market for the full launch next year. The ultra-feminine Bella Pilar designs (left) in particular are doing well said UKG spokesperson Amanda Miles.

Papyrus is a high-end greetings and stationery brand with price points for cards that range from £1.90 - £5.70 and the majority of products positioned towards the top of the pricing structure. Retail partners wishing to stock the brand will be required to allocate a minimum space of 16ft to ensure the unique Papyrus style is displayed to its full advantage.

A number of high-end independent stationery retailers have opened up shop in recent months to target the lucrative 'ladies who lunch' market. "The bottom of the card market is saturated" commented Ms Miles, "but we believe there is space at the top for a brand such as Papyrus [in the UK].

"Our challenge now is to ensure the UK understands what Papyrus is all about, and we have a fabulous showroom in Croydon all geared up to present the brand to its full advantage".

In 2009 Papyrus forged a deal with UKG's parent company American Greetings (AG), in which Papyrus exchanged its card publishing business for AG's shops. Papyrus now operates from 180 stores across America.

We liked at PGLive

LINOKING

 

                                                                           

Brighton based Linoking proves that this type of print does not have to be too pale and interesting. Very handmade but we like them. Wedding cards are gorgeous.

LOVE BESSIE

First timer at last year’s show, Love Bessie is a super Eco brand with some great new button cards. The Owl is fun with a gentle “Twit” button. Who doesn’t know a twit who needs to be treated gently?

DOOCHYART

Lovely ranges of different looks from children to quite old. Doochy has a great selection of journals in their Retro range. Caused quite a stir at the show.

PGLive "hanging" with the trade

This was a very relaxed outing for the Greetings crowd in a good venue. A two-day event is just right for both exhibitors and buyers plus Central London is a real bonus. Atmosphere was congenial with all the usual suspects and some new designer/publishers on offer. The Brighton design mafia seems to be growing steadily. More overseas visitors were around this year and prove that the show is now a fixture. All in all a good day out with a free lunch.

Buzzin' in the NY rain

Last month’s NY shows pointed the way to improved market trading. Although the industry is still in a tough position, the NSS was judged a stable and confident outing for both exhibitors and buyers. Retailers were focussed and looking for product. It felt right. Good news for GLM and an indication that trade fairs are settling into a new groove. Times have changed and so must the industry. Vanessa Harnik is quoted as saying, “the quality of the product was very high and we were busy the whole time”.  Must be good news for UK exporters with great design.

Surtex was quiet for many exhibitors and just how well the UK Art/Design exhibitors have done will show up later in the year. It’s often a real waiting game for licensing opportunities to come good these days. Let’s hope that this unique show is still attracting the right art buyers in the numbers necessary to make it a viable destination. Is the length and timing still appropriate for art buyers and their budgets. What do you think?