Facts And Figures
The GCA Greeting Card Market Report 2012 reinforces what a huge and successful industry this is with nearly 1.38 billion spent on single cards in the last year - more than tea and coffee put together. It is the most successful greeting card industry in the world with 31 cards being sent on average per person each year.
Latest Figures from the GCA Market Report 2012
- The total single card market value is fairly static at £1.38bn with the Everyday category worth £1.008bn, showing a small increase.
- The total single card market volume shows a smal decrease from 997m to 952m.
- The average retail price (ARP) of a card is now £1.44, up from £1.39.
- Christmas single card value has dropped slightly to £148m - the ARP has risen slightly to £1.52.
- Spring Seasons volume remains the same at 87m.
- Mother’s Day remains the largest Spring Seasons card sending event, showing a rise to £57.2m in 2011 from £56.4m in 2010, the ARP is slightly down to £1.87 from £1.91.
- And the UK public continues to show its romantic side with Valentine's Day sales also increasing to £41.5m in 2011, up from £40.7m in 2010, with the highest ARP of all the categories tracked at £1.95.
The positive picture that this market report paints shows that despite rocky times on the high street, the increase in online print on demand and the rise of social media, the UK greeting card industry is healthy, vibrant and still a world leader. Greeting cards remain an ever important part of the UK social culture – people clearly still want to celebrate everyday and special occasions with their loved ones, and to mark many of life’s key ‘connecting’ moments with the sending of a card.
Interesting Facts About the Greeting Card Industry
- The greeting card industry is directly and indirectly responsible for the jobs of 100,000 people in the UK including: publishers; artists, photographers and image suppliers; verse and prose writers; printers; paper and board companies; envelope and cello wrap suppliers; specialist finishers; warehousing and distribution companies; trade fair organisers and retailers.
- No other country has such a tradition of card sending or card display in the home - the sending and receiving of cards is an important part of our culture. 85% of all cards are bought by women!
- The UK card industry is acknowledged to be ten years ahead of the rest of the world in terms of design.
- There are approximately 800 publishers in the UK, most of which are small businesses with fewer than five employees. Out of the 460 members of the GCA over 350 are small/micro businesses.
- It’s a creative industry with strong bases in London, Nottinghamshire and the North, especially Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it has replaced many of the heavy manufacturing industries as a major employers.
- Charities estimate that £50m is raised for good causes through the sales of charity Christmas cards each year.
- Greeting cards are stocked in more types of outlet than any other product – with one in six retailers stocking greeting cards.
- The commercial Christmas card was invented in 1846 by Sir Henry Cole, the chief organiser of the Great Exhibition, pioneer of the penny post and founder of the V&A Museum.
- One of Sir Henry’s first Christmas cards, sent to his Grandmother was recently sold at auction for £22,500.
- Greeting card making is also the number one craft hobby, according to Crafts Beautiful, the top consumer craft magazine, which receives more enquiries about greeting cards than any other subject.
