uk greeting card, stationery and gift market trends

Trend Insights:UK Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift

Markets

Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Autumn Fair 2013Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4D15

10:30 to11:00 Monday 2nd September 2013 Autumn Fair International NEC Trends Theatre

Saturday, 31 August 13


Jeremy Corner Tweet @Blue_Eyed_Sunwww.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog


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http://www.twitter.com/Blue_Eyed_Sun

http://www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog


How you can track trends in these markets


•Trade Magazines

•Trade Fairs

•Trade Awards

•Trade Associations

•Sales Agents

•Blogs & Social Media


The UK Greeting Card Market


• £1.38 billion spent on single cards in the last year

• Everyday category worth £1.008bn

• 31 cards being sent on average per person each year

• 85% of all cards are bought by women

• There are approximately 800 card publishers in the UK

• Greeting cards in more types of outlet than any other product

• One in six retailers stocking greeting cards


Greeting Card Trends


• The Instagram effect - nostalgia / retro

DanteOdey Publications

TranquillityUK Greetings




• Crafts and Upcycling

Bric a BracThe Art Group




• Looking Back Looking forward - modern takes on Vintage

Norman ParkinsonArtPress

Belle & Boo PlaytimeNineteen Seventy Three




• Flights of Fancy - British Wildlife

ArtPressSooshichacha




• Fonts - distressed typeface, worn out vintage feel

Fleet StreetPigment

The ScrawlUrban Graphic




• Quirky Cute

Laura SkilbeckStripey Cats Cards




• Masculine Geek Chic

The Art FileCinnamon Aitch




• 70’s psychedelia and strong colours

Think of MeLagom




• Perfectly Imperfect - recycled feel

Redback CardsEmmeline Webb




• Artisans and Artists

ArchivistJessica Hogarth




• Personalisation Eg. ‘to my friend on your wedding day’

• Localisation - buying British and local artists

• Polarisation - Indies who have a clear POV of customers

• Consumers taking time to find the right card

• Heartfelt editorial in contemporary voice

• Humour still sells well and is great for connecting

• Wedding & Baby strong at the moment



Baby Bellissima Hallmark




• Humour performing really well

• Contemporary selling well

• Hand processed - trad print, hand sewn

• Wordy - typographic, sentimental puns

• Heritage - British, folk, paisley, tribal

• Neon colour schemes

• Photographic and trad. art struggling

Great British Card Company




• Vintage is our top selling range and stitched is strong for us

Vintage rangeBlue Eyed Sun

Gorgeous rangeBlue Eyed Sun


Card, Stationery & Gift Trends


• Modern Words & Sentiment selling very well

Waldo PancakeReally Good Happy Jackson


Card & Gift Trends


• Typeface and Calligraphy - especially signs and prints

• Words made into shapes and silhouettes popular

• Pantone - Emerald Green is their colour for 2013

• Home fragrance - especially organic and eco friendly

• Licensed properties. Eg. V&A scarves

• Brazilian influence 2014 - optimistic, vibrant colours


Card & Gift Trends


WordyVelvet Olive

The Bright Side rangeReally Good


Gift & Stationery Trends


• Use of neons, particularly as a highlight

• Botanicals still a strong influence

• Influences from Nature. Eg. Printed wood effect

• Significant trend- family & friend titles

• Gifts with a use - now with sentiment added

• Nostalgia very strong

• Sourcing and origin important




• Handmade and craft movement - Kirstie Allopp

• Baking - Creative Tops and Katie Alice

• Great British Design - local UK makers

• Multi-use gifts - eg candle products that can be reused

• The Great Gatsby - especially fashion accessories

• Moustaches - gentlemen’s goods - return to old ways

• Events - Royal baby, WW1, Dr Who 50th anniversary




Kirstie AllsoppNote CardsWoodmansterne

Royal Baby MugSophie Allport

Fitzgerald CollectionFive Dollar Shake


Gift Trends


• Woodland - especially owls, foxes and birds

• Vintage / retro the driver across all categories

• Scarves are strong at the moment

Owl & Forest FriendsRJB Stone



• Sentiment is important

• Handmade and craft movement relevant

• Nostalgia - Vintage and retro still strong

• British made and ethically sourced

• Nature is very popular

• Pay attention to forthcoming events

• Understand your customers and meet their needs

• Keep a close eye on the key mags, awards, blogs and trade shows

Summary: UK Card, Stationery & Gift Market


Thanks to friends who shared their insights




Read more at: www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog

THANK YOU

Tweet: @Blue_Eyed_Sun

Blue Eyed Sun - Hall 4 - Stand 4D15






