With enough Christmas jumpers to put Shakin’ Stevens to shame, up to 20 greeting card publishers donned their best festive wear and buffed up their baubles and tinsel to share their love and support in a Christmas video to card retailers who have had an incredibly tough time this year due to Covid 19 lockdowns and restrictions.
The collaboration was kick-started by promo film creator, Gale Astley of Gale Astley Film, who has been part of the greetings industry for over 17 years. She felt the recent lockdown closure of independent card and gift shops was particularly unfair when the Christmas season was underway and is an important sales time for stores, so she wrote a poem for card retailers in the hope that a number of greeting card publishers would come on-board and join her in creating a festive film of encouragement for retailers.
“It’s been a difficult year for everyone, but 2020 has been a particularly hard year for those in retail, and with no face to face trade fairs this spring, I felt some familiar faces from retailers’ greetings suppliers would convey a show of solidarity.
“I was excited, but not surprised, that so many card publishers were eager to demonstrate their support and take part in the Christmas film for retailers,” explains Gale, adding, “Ultimately, the aim of the video is to encourage, champion, boost and connect with all the card retailers we know and love.”
So, at home or in the office, with the festive scene set and the (mobile phone) camera rolling, publishers filmed themselves, each relaying one line of Gale’s poem, then sent their footage to her to edit and create the final video.
Sharing the message to retailers, the greeting card Christmas film alliance features: Dean Morris (Dean Morris), Jo Wilson (Dandelion Stationery), Sabina Kovacheva (Sabivo Designs), Mabel Forsyth (Pink Pig Cards), Kali Stileman (Kali Stileman), Laura and John Higgins (Go La La), Jill White (Rocket68), Thea Musslewhite (Bold & Bright), Emma Ball and team (Emma Ball), Lorraine and Ian Bradley (Rush Design), Amanda and Frank Mountain (Lola Design), Kate and Ella Stanley (Redback Cards), Nick Carey (Abacus Cards), Janna and Arianna Cossettini (Deckled Edge), Kathy Slatter and Erin Taylor and team (Stop the Clock Design), Sarah Hopkins (Holy Mackerel) and Wendy Jones-Blackett and team (Wendy Jones-Blackett), with global greetings contingency Ulla Klopf (Pabuku) in Austria, and Dan and Freya Kane (Think of Me Designs) in California.
“I would like to thank the publishers involved in this collaboration and wish everyone a Merry Christmas!” adds Gale.
Contact Gale at astleygale@gmail.com
