Wednesday, September 18
(all times are preliminary and subject to change)
12:00pm – 4:00pm | Executive Committee Meeting | |
2:00pm – 6:00pm | Registration | |
5:00pm – 6:30pm | Opening Reception |
Sponsored By: |
7:00pm | Dinner (On Your Own) |
Thursday, September 19
(all times are preliminary and subject to change)
7:30am – 11:30am | Registration | |
7:30am – 8:20am | Breakfast | |
8:30am – 8:45am | Convention Welcome Co-Chairs: Susan January, Leanin’ Tree & Dave Phipps, Avanti Press |
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8:45am – 9:00am | GCA President’s Opening Remarks Speaker: Carlos Llansó, Legacy Publishing |
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9:00am – 10:00am |
Cards Do More Are greeting cards still relevant? In this evolving consumer landscape, that’s a common question, and Hallmark set out to find the answer. Hear from Kristy Lewis, national marketing director, about how Hallmark took what they learned to develop new strategies that invited people to experience the power of greeting cards. |
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10:00am – 10:15am | Break |
Sponsored By: |
10:15am – 11:15am |
Greeting Cards in the Key Account Channel Sadie will address the ongoing relevance and importance of greeting cards, how science supports the consumers’ need for the tactile retail shopping experience, and how card publishers can best market themselves and their products in the key account channel — including how to land that first order and how to keep building a mutual beneficial partnership. |
Sponsored By: |
11:15am – 12:15pm | Greeting Cards & the Independent Retailer – Q & A Retailer Panel Moderator: Carlos LLansó |
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12:15pm – 1:30pm | Lunch On Your Own | |
1:30pm – 2:00pm | *NOTED Expo – Brooklyn, Golden Gate, & Beyond – Shaping Our Event Speakers: George White, Up With Paper & John Smyth, A Smyth Co |
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2:00pm – 3:00pm |
Heart & Hustle: The Inklings Story Lindsay Henry, Founder & Creative Director of Inklings Paperie, will share how the combination of “heart and hustle” has made Inklings a retailer and consumer favorite, and an award winning stationery and lifestyle brand. Her presentation will be filled with personal anecdotes, epic failures and surprising wins as she tells the story of how their small company’s paper goods found their way to the shelves of Starbucks in 2018. Rumor has it that scratch-offs and swag giveaways will also be a part of this not-to-be-missed session! |
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3:30pm – 4:30 pm | Ask the Mentors – Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About the Industry But Were Too Afraid to Ask! | |
5:15pm – 10pm | Social Event: Pure Naples Sunset Cruise Ι Dinner at The Riverwalk |
Sponsored By: |
Friday, September 20
(all times are preliminary and subject to change)
7:30am – 8:20am | Breakfast | |
8:30am – 8:45am | Friday Morning Announcements Co-Chairs: Susan January, Leanin’ Tree & Dave Phipps, Avanti Press |
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8:45am – 10:00am |
An Update From Across The Pond on the 100th Anniversary of the UK GCA This presentation will explore the British greeting card industry. Considering consumer trends, environmental and economic factors, and reflect on its history and why the British send more cards per capita than any other nation, in this, the 100thyear of the UK GCA. It will also look at the benefits of collaboration, and the importance of working together as an industry, to encourage and increase the sending of greeting cards. |
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10:00am – 11:00am |
Talking to Consumers in 2019 With the explosion of digital communication and rapidly changing social norms, it is more important than ever to know how consumers are thinking about and using greeting cards. The good news is that there are more ways than ever to quickly and cost effectively understand and interact with your consumers. In this session, we’ll discuss the greeting card consumer of today and provide helpful suggestions on how to use data that you already have as well as cost effective tools to gain feedback and insights to guide your creative development and grow your business. |
Sponsored By: |
11:00am – 11:15am | Break | |
11:15am – 12:15pm | The Dating Game: Meet Your Perfect Supplier Match through Speed Dating with the Associates Moderator: David Wilke, Leader Paper |
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12:15pm – 1:30pm | Lunch Break |
Sponsored By: |
12:15pm – 1:30pm | Associates Lunch Meeting |
Sponsored By: |
1:30pm – 2:30pm | Sales Management Strategies – How to Find, Hire & Keep Your Sales Reps Moderator: George White, Up With Paper |
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2:30pm – 3:10pm |
Overview of 2019 Marketing Initiatives Mr. Karpenko will share details on the ongoing cooperation between the USPS and the GCA to promote greeting card sending including an overview of the effort to support ‘Thinking of You’ week and details on USPS plans to highlight greeting cards in it 2019 holiday season marketing campaign. |
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3:15pm – 4:00pm |
Panel Discussion: The Future for Greeting Card Mailers in a 21st Century Postal Service The USPS is the only economically viable delivery service for more than half of all cards purchased, but the agency faces difficult financial challenges. Numerous proposals have been made to limit the USPS universal service obligation and reduce service quality. GCA has fought such proposals in the past but it is clear that major structural changes are coming. This expert panel of postal experts will explore what greeting card customers can expect from a 21st century Postal Service, the challenges that are coming and what policies those concerned with ensuring that individual consumer interests are protected should support. Moderator: Rafe Morrissey, GCA Vice President, Public Affairs |
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4:00pm – 4:30pm | Ask the Executive Committee/State of the Industry Q&A GCA Executive Committee |
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6:00pm – 7:15pm | Associates Reception |
Sponsored By: GCA Associate Members |
7:15pm – 10:00pm | Beachfront Dinner |
Sponsored By: |
Saturday, September 21
(all times are preliminary and subject to change)
8:00am – 9:00am |
Breakfast and Committee Meetings The following committees to meet: |
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9:00am – 10:00am | Annual Board Meeting All attendees welcome |
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9:30am | Break |
Sponsored By: |
10:00am – 11:00am | Annual Business Meeting All attendees welcome |