Spring Fair & The Greeting Card Association: A legacy of collaboration

Long-standing partnerships are rare, yet for over a decade Spring Fair and the Greeting Card Association (GCA) have worked together to support, champion and celebrate the greeting card industry. 

 

Founded in 1919, the GCA has been the UK’s leading trade association for greeting card publishers. They support businesses of all sizes, from independent businesses to large-scale suppliers. Spring Fair, with its 75-year legacy, has long been the UK’s most influential retail trade show, bringing together suppliers, buyers and industry experts to shape the future of retail. 

 

In 2014, the GCA joined Spring Fair. What started as an opportunity to highlight the greeting card industry has since evolved into a transformative collaboration. Whether it’s dedicated spaces, insightful stage sessions or impactful campaigns, the GCA’s presence and impact on the industry is seen throughout the show each year. Take a look at some of the collaborations we’ve had together. 

 

💌 Sending joy with #Cardmitment 

Over the past two years, Spring Fair has worked with the GCA to create an activation at the show that supports the #Cardmitment campaign. This initiative showcases GCA members who supply greeting cards by allowing both visitors and exhibitors to send messages of appreciation to others at the show. 

 

See how the #Cardmitment Campaign first came to life in 2024 

 

For 2025, we wanted to make this initiative even bigger! We allowed attendees to send cards not just throughout the show but across the UK (with the cost of their postage generously covered by The Art File). Together we showcased the power of the humble greetings card, created even more connections and proved that cards remain a key part of retail today. 

 

Discover the success of the 2025 #Cardmitment Campaign 

 

 

🤝 More collaborations 

 

The Retail Insights Podcast: The GCA took centre stage on our Retail Insights Podcast, offering valuable insights into the evolving role of greeting cards in retail. From shifting consumer habits to the importance of in-store experiences, this episode highlighted why greeting cards remain a key part of the industry. 

 

Watch the full episode here 👇

 

 

 

Giant 75th Anniversary Greeting Cards: To celebrate Spring Fair’s 75th anniversary we worked with the GCA to create giant greeting cards displayed in the Piazza and GCA Lounge at our 2025 show. These oversized cards allowed exhibitors, visitors and retailers to leave messages of appreciation. Just another way we worked together to send joy across retail! 

 

 

📮Supporting the future of postal services 

 

Beyond the show floor, Spring Fair is proud to support the GCA’s petition, which calls on the government to ensure that any changes to the Universal Service Obligation (USO) are subject to parliamentary scrutiny. 

 

Why this matters: 

• Proposed postal reforms could reduce service reliability, making it harder for small businesses and consumers to send greeting cards affordably. 

• Rising costs and delivery cutbacks could impact independent retailers who rely on Royal Mail to serve customers across the UK. 

• Ensuring an accessible, affordable postal service is important for both businesses and consumers who want to stay connected through greeting cards. 

 

Learn more and sign the petition here. 

 

 

🎤GCA takes the stage at Spring Fair

 

As part of our commitment to supporting the industry, we gave the GCA and some of its members the space to speak directly to exhibitors and visitors about these important postal reforms. 

The session on ‘Postal Reforms & Retail: What Ofcom’s Changes Mean for You’ was held at Spring Fair 2025 and featured a fireside chat with Amanda Fergusson, CEO of the Greeting Card Association, David Byk CEO at Swan Mill Group, David Falkner, Director at Cardology and was hosted by our very own Event Director Soraya Gadelrab.  

This session explored the potential impact of postal reforms on businesses and equipped retailers with knowledge to navigate these changes. 

 

Watch the full session here 👇

 

 

Spring Fair and the Greeting Card Association have built an incredible partnership, shaped by a shared passion for the success of the retail industry. A heartfelt thank you to the GCA, their incredible members and all the amazing exhibitors and retailers who make this industry so special. A special mention goes to The Art File for their additional support this year, helping us expand the reach of the #Cardmitment campaign. Here’s to many more years of partnership, innovation and success!