Wilma introduced us to the vast Greetings Card Market and
delivered an extensive description of the industry.
In Britain
the number of people involved in the design, production and distribution of
cards is in excess of a hundred thousand and the volumes of cards sold each
year and the financial turnover, run into billions.
As with other writing outlets, prospective writers need to
research the market and find out the guidelines for each individual greeting
card publishing company.
Although there are a few very large greeting card companies,
there are a significant number of very small printing companies who specialise
in cards.
Clearly writers with artistic capabilities may have an
advantage.
The big trick is trying to come up with a new niche idea or
a succinct and yet meaningful set of words which hasn’t already been used. This
could be where inspiration rather than perspiration is the key.
As an exercise in idea generation, Wilma circulated ten
assorted pictures of animals, landscapes, objects etc and we each tried to come
up with a set of words, either poetry or prose, which would match one of the
pictures and be the basis of a greetings card.
We were reasonably successful in creating over twenty
potential greeting card ideas. How many of these ideas would be worth pursuing
is debatable. It appeared to be easier to generate humourous ideas than ones
with sincere and heartfelt messages.
The breadth and interest of the topic was such that it
occupied practically the whole meeting.
Wilma’s comprehensive handout of GCA members looking for
input from writers gives members a kick start.
www.greetingcardassociation.org.uk/
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Additional comments from John Hughes
Just wanted to say I really enjoyed Tuesday's workshop and give a big thanks to Wilma for delivering what was a very informative session.
Quite amazed by some of the figures that were mentioned. I
know I contributed to the millions of Christmas cards sent last year but it was
just a drop in the ocean.
I enjoyed pairing up with Jacklin and I am sure some of our
off the wall ideas may have some mileage; in particular:-
''Sorry to hear you
are spending time away at Her Majesty's Pleasure ''
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Next week – Open Manuscripts,
Unread entries from the Woman’s Short story
competition.
Hilary asked us bring a note of any situations or conversations during
the coming week which could be the basis for a story.
(ie that half overheard conversation on a bus)
the coming week which could be the basis for a story.
(ie that half overheard conversation on a bus)
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