Before clicking on the sections below, listen to this 40 minute podcast all about starting up as a greeting card publisher with Sharon Little, previous GCA CEO, being interviewed by Ekta Bajaj of member publishing company, Karmic Creations.
Specialist Industry Seminars for Greeting Card Start Ups
Ladder Club Seminars
The Ladder Club holds one-day crash courses in greeting card publishing, started by Lynn Tait, of the Lynn Tait Gallery and Jakki Brown of Max Publishing this is a not for profit enterprise to help people get started in the greeting card industry.
The Ladder Club is packed full of essential information and feature successful publishers and specialist suppliers as well as Amanda fergusson, CEO of the GCA and Jakki Brown, editor of Progressive Greetings. Publishers who have been to the seminars then form a network of new publishers who can help each other on the road to success!
For further details contact Clare on: clare@createvents.co.uk
GCA Seminars
The GCA also holds half days seminars on different aspects of greeting card publishing including Sales Agents, Licensing and Social Media. See the news section of this site for upcoming seminars and events.
General Help and Advice for Start Up Businesses
There are many organisations providing advice for start up businesses, here are just a few:
The Princes Trust: offers business advice and start up loans for young people aged 18-30.
Princes Trust: 0800 842 842
Start Up Donut is a resource for new and established businesses offering free advice. With a mix of how-to guides, feature articles, checklists, expert Q&As, FAQs, case studies, video content and blogs for all types of businesses.
Government Help
The Government’s information about starting up and running a business in the UK, is now on the Gov.uk website. This includes help for those who are self-employed or a sole trader.
You can also contact your local authority, which should be able to provide information and help to new businesses starting up in the local area.
Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy: 020 7215 5000
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) aims to invest in skills and education to promote trade, boost innovation and help people to start and grow a business.
Companies House
Companies House’s role is to incorporate and dissolve limited companies, examine and store company information delivered under the Companies Act; and make this information available to the public.
HM Revenue and Customs
Guidance on what you need to do for tax and National Insurance purposes when you start up a business as a self-employed person, a partnership or a limited company. Provides links to additional help and support available to new businesses.
Regional help
Business Scotland: www.business.scotland.gov.uk
Highlands and Islands Enterprise: 01463 234 171 www.hie.co.uk
Business Wales: 03000 6 03000 www.business.wales.gov.uk/starting-business
Invest Northern Ireland: 0800 181 4422 www.investni.com
To start up a business in Eire see: www.startups.ie