June 2018

Dear GCA Member:

According to the National Retail Federation, consumers were expected to spend an average of $133 per person for Father’s Day 2018, with consumers aged 25 to 34 spending the most at an average of $188 person. Though it is too early to offer a post-holiday recap, with such a high level of engagement for this holiday, how might we tailor our offerings to appeal to the specific needs of this key age group?

I would be remiss if I did not recognize this year’s fantastic LOUIE Awards event. It was great to see so many members come out for the evening to celebrate and recognize the outstanding talent in our industry.  Once again, I would like to congratulate all of this year’s LOUIE Award-winners, and thank the team at Viabella and all the GCA members who helped make the event a resounding success. The new, more casual format and venue set the perfect tone for the evening.  It truly was a spectacular event. Thanks also for completing our post-LOUIEs survey! It’s so important to capture this feedback, especially with such a significant shift in format.

As many of you know, we are excited to debut Thinking of You Week in the U.S. this year, which takes place from September 24 through September 30.  The goal of the week is to encourage consumers to send a card to their family and friends so they can experience the positive feelings that result from sending handwritten notes. Over the next few months, I encourage all publishers to help us get the word out to retailers and consumers alike by promoting the week with the wide variety of marketing materials the Thinking of You Week team has created. Please visit www.thinkingofyouweekusa.com where you can download these materials and find additional inspiration for ways to get involved. I cannot wait to see the positive impact this week will have in helping to spread a little bit more happiness throughout the world.

Finally, the 77th Annual Greeting Card Association Convention is scheduled to take place September 26 through September 29 in Cleveland, Ohio.  This year’s convention, entitled “Opportunity Rocks,” will provide attendees with new insights and resources so that they are able to establish new growth strategies, discover their purpose, and master how to tell their story. The program will feature a combination of presentations and interactive sessions, so attendees will have the opportunity to practice new skills firsthand. In addition, daily networking events will take place between sessions and each evening, including a tour and reception at American Greetings Creative Studios. I am beyond thrilled to welcome you to Cleveland for this year’s event. Your attendance is highly encouraged! For more information and to register, please visit the GCA Annual Convention homepage.

Wishing you all the best,

Christy Kaprosy