MMR: Mass Market Retailers, June 22, 2020

SUPPLY SIDE GCA Holds Virtual Annual Expo WASHINGTON The coronavirus pandemic forced the Greeting Card Association GCA to hold a virtual version of its second annual Noted The Greeting Card Expo which was to have been held this spring in San Francisco GREETING CARDS Also part of the virtual event was the presentation of this years Noted @ Noted Awards honoring some of the best of what the greeting card industry has produced in recent months The awards program is part of a larger effort to expand opportunities to recognize new and established greeting card makers the association said last month in a statement announcing the winners The GCA is always looking to promote greeting cards and provide enhanced visibility for our members regardless of their location or resources said George White the associations president Noted @ Noted does just that recognizing the best new cards in a variety of fun design and copy categories This years winning companies by category Best Color Combo Card Girl w Knife Best New Product Line Next Chapter Studio Best Tear Jerker Card Good Juju Ink Best Use of Profanity Card Girl w Knife Beautiful Card Inklings Paperie Most Encouraging Card KB Paperie Printing Innovation UWP Luxe Smart Marketing My Darlin Snarkiest Card Hitchcock Paper Co From a design perspective the timing of the awards was actually opportune as Noted @ Noted allowed publishers to showcase what Im referring to as coronacards said Sarah Schwartz editor of The Paper Chronicles and editor in chief of Stationery Trends Many of the entries are doubly impressive in that they reflect how quickly publishers were able to respond to this horrid situation with humor and heart and how they in turn help people to express themselves and connect with loved ones during the isolating circumstances of quarantine said Schwartz who was a judge in this years competition Greeting Cards Can Bridge the Gap WASHINGTON The Greeting Card Association GCA is using this years Thinking of You Week to encourage people to bridge the gap that can result from social distancing during the coronavirus pan pandemic demic The nonprofit association has developed a tool kit comprised of ideas and images people can use to reach out to family and friends on a daily basis between September 21 and September 27 We are connectors and reaching out is what we do GCA says on its website As we all globally experience COVID 19 we are sharing infor information techniques and inventory to help others bridge the distance we mation all feel from a lack of connection Among the suggestions Write a Thank You card to someone working in the medical field or employed at your local grocery store Send a card to friend who may be feeling overwhelmed or anxious Encourage kids to write cards thanking their teachers for all that they do Send a humorous card to brighten someones day and make them laugh Relax and unwind by coloring a coloring card and share it with some someone or hang it on your wall one Send a Thinking of You card to an elderly person to let them know you are there for them Send a card to a favorite bar restaurant or other community pillar that has been upended by the pandemic The businesses that make up the greeting card industry are com comprised of writers artists and merchants who all have a beautiful and prised unique perspective according to GCA which promotes Thinking of You Week as an opportunity to broaden awareness of the positive im impact a greeting card can have on recipients especially when it is unex pact unexpected and create a wave of more meaningful connections and caring pected throughout the year MMR June 22 2020 65