GCA podcasts – capturing greeting card history to inspire the industry of the future
Talking Cards with Industry Leaders, the Greeting Card Association’s podcast series, is a look at key greeting card designers, publishers and individuals whose passion, drive and talent has influenced and shaped the history of our industry.
It is hoped that listening to those who have made a major contribution to our industry talk about their journey, and advice they’d give their younger self, will help and inspire the next generation of our wonderful industry.
GCA Meets – Ged Mace of The Art File
Ged Mace’s career in the greeting card industry started in the mid-1980’s when he was employed as an area sales representative, working his way up to sales director before he decided to set up The Art File with his partner Karen. Now with central Nottingham premises their son James has joined the growing team.
In May 2024 GCA Council Member and Ohh Deer MD, Mark Callaby, spoke to Ged to hear about his journey and what he’s learnt along the way, including broken legs, bar codes, why he’s not flying a fighter jet and the role of Frank!
Ged speaks about the decision to start his own business and how he, partner Karen and their team built The Art File into the success it is today, and the constant drive to develop cards that “put a smile on peoples faces” .
The importance of teamwork is something that Ged highlights as key to The Art File’s success, speaking about the sales agents, artists and others crucial to the business, and how they work together to keep moving forward and growing the business.
Ged also speaks about the fantastic world-leading greeting card industry that we have in the UK and the importance of taking advantage of all the opportunities to network and learn from others, speaking about his time as President of the Greeting Card Association (GCA) and how useful the resources now available through the GCA would have been when he started out.
He also shares some personal reflections, and looks back at his time working for others and being self employed – and how he wishes he’d started 10 years earlier!
Timeline
The Art File
The Art File are multi award-winning publishers of Contemporary Greeting Cards, Gift Wrap and Stationery. Their product range now extends into other categories and they export across the globe.
Based in the historic lace market area of Nottingham, where the business was created in 1997, The Art File has become a well-known brand within the greeting card, social stationery and gift packaging world.
Collections are created by their in-house design team, they also work with freelance designers.
Meet the sponsor
Skylight Media
Skylight are kindly sponsoring this Podcast. Skylight have worked with The Art File for many years, designing and running their website. Supporting the greeting cards sector since 2008, Skylight Media are specialists in integrated Shopify e-commerce for Trade & Consumer, providing beautiful and unique website styles that work with clients’ branding and product structures, whilst reducing administrative burden, increasing cost-efficiency and allowing for future flexibility and scaling.
Listen to the Podcast
Links
The GCA Talking Cards podcast is also other platforms. Just search for “Talking Cards with Industry Leaders“.
