December 2018
Dear GCA Member:
The holiday season is in full swing and our category looks spectacular at retail! In addition, according to the National Retail Federation, the holiday retail sales outlook looks bright, with expected year-over-year growth of 4.3 to 4.8%. We are looking forward to final counts in the New Year. But regardless of the increase, greeting cards remain a popular item on consumers’ holiday shopping lists and we anticipate them to spend an average of $28 on our category. While Millennials and Gen Z continue to be engaged in celebrating the holiday season, they are extending their holiday celebrations to include new traditions like ugly sweater parties. Given the importance of these generations to the future of our category, I encourage us all to consider innovative ways to support their new holiday celebrations.
A few months ago, the Greeting Card Association announced the exciting news that we would be launching *Noted: The Greeting Card Expo, which will focus exclusively on greeting cards and be held in the beautiful Brooklyn Expo Center in Brooklyn, New York. In an effort to align with the prime selling and buying period for new product launches, as well as Christmas buying, *Noted has been scheduled for May 18-20, 2019. We anticipate a strong turnout of retailers and publishers alike and hope that lower exhibit costs will help make the show more accessible to publishers of all sizes. All-in exhibit spaces start at $1,995, and the exhibit hall is nearly 50% sold. So be sure to register now. Spaces are filling up quickly!
Finally, Atlanta’s AmericasMartTM is just around the corner, taking place January 8-15, 2019. The show attracts a wide array of greeting card publishers and related businesses, providing them with the opportunity to showcase their spectacular products to buyers from top retailers across the United States. If you will be in attendance, please make time to stop by the GCA Atlanta Reception on Friday, January 11 and catch up with old and new members alike! You and up to two non-member friends can attend for free!
I hope you all take time to enjoy the magic of the holiday season with family and friends.
Wishing you all the best,
Christy Kaprosy