The sun shone brightly on June 5 and 6 as greeting card buyers, including a throng of gift retailers, headed for PG Live which was celebrating its 10th anniversary. Over 270 companies exhibited, with the show a sell-out.
With greeting cards one of the strongest product sectors for gift shops, as revealed by the latest Progressive Gifts & Home 2017 Retail Barometer, published in March, gift retailers – many with their gold and silver tickets to spend at the show as Greats winners or finalists – were out in force looking for new suppliers, especially in the popular Springboard section which featured upcoming designers.
First timers to PG Live were Greats 2018 winners Luke Jacks and Jon May, owners of Mooch Gifts and Home in Stourport-on-Severn and Bewdley. “We are doing more cards in our recently re-located Stourport on Severn store, so we were looking for British designed cards,” confirmed Jon, who added that he and Luke were very impressed with what they saw. “The show was much bigger than we thought and in a great location too. Islington is in a lovely part of London and it was good to have a look at the local shops there and see the emerging trends.”
Back for a second year were Evelyn O’Flaherty and Sandra O’Connell, owners of Mooch in Ealing, West London. “PG Live was fabulous,” said Sandra. “We found new suppliers and placed six orders in the first two hours! It was great to see so much new and quirky product.”
Florian and Lyndsey Kleinlercher, owners of Between The Lines, which has 14 gift stores in the UK, have been to eight out of ten PG Live shows, and confirmed that they absolutely loved the exhibition this year. “It’s a great concept and, as a visitor, you know that, as you walk in, you will be looked after and pampered,” says Florian.
Next year, PG live will be back at London’s Business Design Centre on Tuesday June 4 and Wednesday June 5. The show is open to all greeting card buyers.
Top: Welcome to PG Live! The show is officially open!
