Essential Info
Date: 10am-4.30pm Thursday 29th September 2022.
Coffee will be served from 10am, the agenda will start at 10.30am and the day will finish by 4.30pm.
Student’s and Uni lecturers taking part in our GCA Graduate Open Call initiative will be there from 9.30am. If you want to arrange a meeting please contact us, otherwise feel free to just turn up early on the day!
Location: Nottingham Trent University, 2nd Floor Conference suite, 30 Burton Street, Nottingham NG1 4BU
Directions to the University, and a tram voucher if you’re travelling by train, can be downloaded below.
Your Ticket: To enter the Conference you will need to have purchased a ticket.
Your ticket will be emailed to you a few days before the event. The ticket will have a QR Code which will be scanned upon arrival to check you in.
A copy of the ticket will also have been emailed to the person who placed the order. If you purchased your own ticket you can view your tickets in your Orders area.
To find your ticket in your emails search for “GCA Conference Ticket”. If you cannot find your ticket please email adriana@gca.cards
The 2022 GCA Conference and AGM
The 2022 annual GCA Conference and AGM will be held in Nottingham, on Thursday 29th September 2022 at Nottingham Trent University. The event will start with coffee, and the first opportunity to network, from 10am and finish by 4.30pm.
Tickets are now available to purchase. Please note we do have a limit on the number our venue can accommodate so to secure your place(s) please book early.
About the GCA Conference
The GCA’s annual Conference is a great opportunity to meet others, listen to inspirational speakers and learn about and discuss the Hot Topics affecting our industry.
This year we have an exciting line-up of speakers, all based in or around Nottingham. They will be sharing their business experiences and focusing on the key issues effecting our industry, such as sustainability, diversity, supply chain challenges and the impact of increases in cost of living on our industry and consumers.
We will be sharing the latest industry market research, and are also delighted to be joined by leading market research company, Kantar, who will share some interesting consumers insights. See below for more detail on our speakers.
GCA Conferences are also a great opportunity to meet others in the trade and exchange news. We start the day with a networking coffee, with further opportunities to chat over a late morning coffee and then lunch. Members from new and small businesses, through to key industry leaders will be there, including retailers and key suppliers. To learn more about our annual Conference and AGM see the report on last years in Manchester.
Venue
Nottingham Trent University is in Nottingham City Centre, a short walk or tram ride from Nottingham Station. See the downloads below for map, full directions, car parks to use and a tram voucher.
The address is Nottingham Trent University, 30 Burton Street, Nottingham NG1 4BU. If you are staying overnight there are suggested hotels listed on the link to book (below).
AGM
The day will include an update on GCA activities to promote and protect our wonderful industry, and also to support you and your business.
This part of the day will include the appointment of new Council members: The GCA Council are responsible for general oversight of the management of the GCA, and to focus on policy matters that affect members. The Council includes members with key skills and experience to enable us to effectively run the GCA in line with our stated objectives.
To find out more about the GCA and our Council members click here, if you are interested in standing for election to Council please contact amanda@gca.cards.
The night before!
If you are local, or planning to stay over the night before, please join us for a drink!
Paul Taylor of Cardzone is kindly hosting a meet up drink in Nottingham City centre from 5.30pm on 28th September.
It will be a fun opportunity to network ahead of the Conference. James Mace is co-ordinating this meet up so please let james@theartfile.com know if you are able to attend and he will share full details nearer the time.
Keynote Speakers
Ged Mace, MD The Art File
Show Me What’s New! Ged Mace is the co-founder and Managing Director of Nottingham based, multi award winning publisher, The Art File. Ged charts the milestones in The Art File’s 25 year journey, and what he has learned as he looks forward to the Company’s exciting future. Ged will also be sharing his thoughts on the industry’s current not topics.
Richard Bacon, MD The Sherwood Press
My Time In Print: The Sherwood Press has supplied the greeting card industry for over 40 years. Richard, MD of the family business, will be sharing his experience and also looking at the current industry challenges and opportunities, including supply chain, along with an insight into his business.
Jon May, Co-founder of Mooch Gifts and Home
How a trip to Cornwall led to a career in the greeting card and gift industry: Award winning retailer, Jon May, will be sharing an insight into the business he and business partner Luke have built up in Stourport & Bewdley, along with his thoughts on retail in 2022 .
Ni Wang and Alex Bandini, Kantar
2022 Consumer Insights: New retail and consumer insight will be shared by Ni Wang and Alex Bandini from market research company Kantar. Alex and Ni will be helping us to understand changes in consumer behaviour and the opportunities this offers us as an industry.
Sir John Peace, Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire
Seeking out New Opportunities for the Future: Sir John has extensive business experience, latterly as ex-chairman of British fashion house Burberry and is also Chancellor of Nottingham Trent, and will be sharing some export insight.
Geoff Sanderson
The Secret of Creative Innovation and building your business: Geoff Sanderson, a well-known hugely experienced industry creative leader, introduces the new GCA Graduate Open Call .
Launching at the Conference, GCA Graduate Open Call will establish links with Universities, encouraging students into our industry. Geoff will speak about how student links are a key foundation in any creative business and share his experience of using graduates and work placements as a way of building creative teams, succession planning and developing innovative product ranges.
See link for more details on this exciting initiative.
Adriana Lovesy, GCA Membership Marketing
50 Shades of the GCA: GCA membership marketing coordinator and owner of Mrs Lovesy, will be highlighting new GCA benefits and how to make the most of your membership.
Amanda Fergusson, GCA CEO
Amanda will be leading the day and also give an update on GCA activities in the last year and share some exciting plans going forward.
If you have questions you’d like us to put to our speakers please contact us. We look forward to seeing you on in September!
Downloads
