The document outlines trends in the UK greeting card, stationery, and gift markets as of Spring Fair 2014, highlighting key statistics such as a £1.38 billion market for single cards and the prevalence of women buyers. It identifies emerging trends like nostalgia, personalization, and a focus on natural materials, along with economic factors influencing consumer behavior. The UK giftware market is valued at £5 billion, showcasing a growing interest in British-made products and innovative designs.

1. 2014 Trend Insights:
UK Greeting Card,
Stationery & Gift
Markets
12:15 to12:45 - Monday 3rd February 2014
Spring Fair International, NEC, Trends Theatre
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

2. Jeremy Corner
Tweet @Blue_Eyed_Sun
www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

3. How you can track trends in these markets
•Trade Magazines
•Trade Fairs
•Trade Awards
•Trade Associations
•Sales Agents
•Blogs & Social Media
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

4. The UK Greeting Card Market
• £1.38 billion spent on single cards in the last year
• Everyday category worth £1.008bn
• 31 cards being sent on average per person each year
• 85% of all cards are bought by women
• There are approximately 800 card publishers in the UK
• Greeting cards in more types of outlet than any other product
• One in six retailers stocking greeting cards
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

5. Greeting Card Trends
• The Instagram effect - nostalgia / retro
Tranquillity
UK Greetings
• Crafts and Upcycling
The Art Group
• Modern takes on Vintage
Belle & Boo
1973
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

6. Greeting Card Trends
• Flights of Fancy - British Wildlife
• Fonts - distressed typeface
• Quirky Cute
Sooshichacha
Urban Graphic
Stripey Cats Cards
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

7. Greeting Card Trends
• Masculine Geek Chic
Cinnamon Aitch
• 70’s psychedelia and strong colours
• Perfectly Imperfect - recycled feel
Lagom
• Artisans and Artists
Emmeline Webb
Jessica Hogarth
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

8. Greeting Card Trends
• Personalisation
• Localisation - British and local
• Polarisation - know your customers
• Consumers finding the right card
• Heartfelt in contemporary voice
• Humour still great for connecting
• Wedding & Baby strong
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

9. Greeting Card Trends
• Conversational Voice
• Quotes & Inspirational Sentiment
• The Right Connection
Wider Economic trends:
• Value for money
• Shoppers smaller trips, more often
• Shoppers desire convenience
• Technology’s positive effect
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

10. Greeting Card Trends
• Woodland
• Natural textures
• Hand drawn eg. chalk
• Go green
Jade Ho
Carly Davis
Stormy Night
Mike Burgin
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

11. Greeting Card Trends
• Vintage with a contemporary twist
• Adding value through finishes
• Paper revolution (laser cut)
• Retro - letter press style
• Fun and Fresh
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

12. Card & Gift Trends
•Text based products still selling well
• Raw deconstructed floral screen prints
• Retro 1950’s colouring circa 1953
• Stripes are back in fashion
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

13. Card & Gift Trends
• Big Bold Floral Patterns
Rocket 68
• Birds
• Anthropomorphising
welovekaoru
Avant Card Co
Nella
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

14. The UK Giftware Market
• UK Giftware Market worth £5 billion
• High end holding up well
• Under £10 and children’s gifts strong
• Made in the UK - resurgence in interest
• Functional and personalised gifts
• Creative innovation
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

15. Gift Trends
GOTY Showcase in Hall 6 Stand T50
and GA stand in Hall 5 F99/G89
•Woodland birds and animals
Sew Heart Felt
Carola Van Dyke
Cubic Products Ltd
Disaster Designs
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

16. Gift Trends
GOTY Showcase in Hall 6 Stand T50
and GA stand in Hall 5 F99/G89
•Retro / Vintage
Heyland & Whittle
Soap Books
Wild & Woolf
Half Moon Bay
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

17. Gift Trends
GOTY Showcase in Hall 6 Stand T50
and GA stand in Hall 5 F99/G89
• Made in the UK
Heather Alstead Design
Goldilocks
Ding Studio
London Postcodes
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

18. Gift Trends
GOTY Showcase in Hall 6 Stand T50
and GA stand in Hall 5 F99/G89
• Innovative licensing of loved brands
Subbuteo Bottle Opener
Thabto
Roses Puzzle
Half Moon Bay
Aga Oven Tins
Elite
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

19. Gift & Stationery Trends
• Handmade & craft movement
• Woodland & Nature
• Fair trade
• Quotes & sentiment
• Handwriting & Stationery
Two Little Boys
Kirstie Allsopp
Woodmansterne
Junction 18
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

20. Gift & Stationery Trends
!
• Family & friend titles
• Gifts with a use & sentiment
• Sourcing and origin
• Nostalgia
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

21. Gift Trends
• Woodland - especially owls, foxes and birds
• Vintage / retro across all categories
Foxes and
Owls
RJB Stone
Junction18
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

22. Card & Gift Trends
• Pantone - Radiant Orchid 2014
• Typeface and Calligraphy
• Personal sentiment
Pantone
Happy Jackson
Really Good
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

23. Events for 2014
• World Cup Football in Brazil
• Sochi Winter Olympics
• World War One Centenary
• Shakespeare’s 450th birthday
• Scotland’s independence vote
• 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles
• Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
• Tour de France starts in the UK
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

24. Summary: UK Card, Stationery & Gift Market
• Sentiment is important
• Handmade and craft movement relevant
• Nostalgia - Vintage and retro still strong
• British made and ethically sourced
• Nature and woodland is very popular
• Pay attention to forthcoming events
• Understand your customers and meet their needs
• Keep a close eye on the trade mags, awards, blogs and trade shows
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

25. Thanks to friends who shared their insights
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66

26. THANK YOU
Tweet: @Blue_Eyed_Sun
Visit Blue Eyed Sun - Hall 4 - Stand 4L66
Greeting Card, Stationery & Gift Trends - Spring Fair 2014
Jeremy Corner - Blue Eyed Sun - Stand 4L66