GREETING CARD ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES RETURN TO BOOKEXPO™
GCA Village Exhibition Option Available for Members at UnBound, Spring 2020
Washington, DC – February 11, 2020 – In a move to further expand opportunities for creative “makers” at smaller and emerging greeting card and stationery companies, the Greeting Card Association has announced plans to collaborate for the second year with Reed Exhibitions, producer of BookExpo™, the most important business event for the book publishing industry. Reed will offer the popular “GCA Village” all-in exhibit option to GCA publisher members at UnBound at BookExpo and BookCon, the consumer-facing portion of the event. UnBound, a “show within a show” features a curated mix of lifestyle “bookish” merchandise. GCA members also have the option to exhibit independently in their own booth space in UnBound at preferred rates for GCA members.
The GCA’s integration of new trade show exhibition opportunities into the association’s membership offerings is an ongoing initiative, which also includes Noted: The Greeting Card Expo™ (returning for its second year in San Francisco, CA May 1 – 3, 2020 ) and partnerships with the Dallas Market Center and NY NOW/National Stationery Show®.
“The GCA’s growing membership continues to design products that appeal to today’s engaged shoppers. And of course, the availability of new and diverse product in stores will benefit consumers and our retail partners,” said Peter Doherty, GCA Executive Director.
“The recent growth in greeting card sales has mirrored growth in the bookstore industry,” said George White, president of the GCA. “As Millennials’ preference for paper cards and paper books continues to be expressed in the market, our industries are ideal partners. The UnBound show at Book Expo thus provides an excellent opportunity for our members to showcase their cards to an ideal retailer base.”
“There is a natural synergy between books and greeting cards, and we are thrilled to collaborate with GCA to bring the GCA Village to UnBound. UnBound will provide booksellers, greeting card publishers and smaller makers the chance to launch new relationships, given the unique opportunity BookExpo provides to bring these two communities together,” said Patti Stracher-Lee, Event Director for UnBound. “I have no doubt that this will be a win-win and we are excited to have this happen at our show!”
Reed launched “UnBound” at Book Expo™ last year, as a curated space with an assortment of diverse non-book and lifestyle suppliers and service providers. Products include journals, greeting cards, games and specialty toys, puzzles, writing instruments, calendars, candles, and much more. UnBound will be home to the GCA Village, and access to UnBound is included with every Book Expo™ registration. UnBound at BookExpo takes place May 28-29. UnBound at BookCon takes place immediately following, May 30-31 at the Jacob Javits Center in downtown New York, NY. For more information on UnBound or to apply for a space in the GCA Village, please contact Patti Stracher-Lee at palee@reedexpo.com.
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About the GCA
The Greeting Card Association is the U.S. trade association serving the greeting card and social expression industry. Its signature industry events include the LOUIE Awards, the annual fall Workshop and Retreat, and *Noted: The Greeting Card Expo® – an event by and for the greeting card community.
Founded in 1941, the GCA is supported by 200 American and international publishers from businesses ranging from start-ups to established companies of all sizes, scopes and industry tenure — as well as suppliers that provide production services and wholesale product distribution. Read more about the GCA.