The GCA will be opening its doors to a wider membership after members voted resoundingly in favour of introducing an Associate Membership category at its EGM last week.
The members voted in favour of the resolution by 40 votes for to five against including votes by proxy.
This move will enable the GCA to represent the wider greeting card industry.
Speaking in favour of the resolution at the meeting, Paul Woodmansterne explained that businesses are becoming increasingly hybrid, for example, his company, Woodmansterne is now a broker and the customer of many publishers, Paperchase is becoming a publisher with its own brand offering. He said “The common denominator is that we all rely on the consumer – suppliers, publishers and retailers.
“Organisations such as the GCA have to move into this hybrid world and represent our common interests. If consumers stop wanting to send cards then that affects us all – it is imperative that we open our doors.”
The GCA is now in the process of setting up the new membership category, while it is redeveloping its website.
Once this is set up, any business with an interest in the industry, be they a printer, envelope, board, warehousing or other type of trade supplier, an agent, a retailer, buying group, or trade fair organiser, will be eligible for associate membership.
There will be two Associate Membership bands, one for small businesses and another for larger businesses with a turnover of over £500k.
For further information contact the gca.