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Executive Summary

Table of Contents

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

Market Definition

INTRODUCTION

MARKET POSITION

MARKET SECTORS

MARKET TRENDS

Table 1: Main Sectors of the UK Greetings Cards Market by Volume and Value ( percent), 1996

Market Size

THE TOTAL MARKET

MARKET SECTORS

POSTAL DELIVERIES BY MARKET SECTOR

CHARITY CARDS

FOREIGN TRADE

A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Table 2: UK Greetings Cards Sales by Volume (million units), 1992-1996

Table 3: UK Greetings Cards Sales by Value (£m at rsp), 1992-1996

Table 4: Analysis of the UK Greetings Cards Market by Category by Volume and Value (million units, £m at rsp and percent), 1996

Table 5: Social Mail Posted Through the Royal Mail (million units), 1996/1997

Table 6: Greetings Cards by Occasion Posted Through the Royal Mail (million units), 1996/1997

Table 7: Overseas Trade in Greetings Cards and Postcards (£m), 1991-1996

Table 8: Overseas Trade in Greetings Cards and Postcards (£000), 1996

Table 9: Sources of Imports of Greetings Cards and Postcards into the UK by Value (£000 and percent), 1996

Table 10: Destination of UK Exports of Greetings Cards and Postcards by Value (£000 and percent), 1996

Industry Background

INTRODUCTION

RECENT HISTORY

INDUSTRY FRAGMENTATION

DISTRIBUTION

EMPLOYMENT

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

TRADE EXHIBITIONS

TRADE PUBLICATIONS

Table 11: Number of UK Publishers and Printers by Business Type and Turnover Size (£000 and number of companies), 1996

Table 12: Number of UK Publishers and Printers by Size of Employment, 1996

Brands

BRAND OWNERSHIP

RECENT BRAND LAUNCHES

BRAND ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION

Competitor Analysis

THE MARKETPLACE

MARKET LEADERS

ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION

Table 13: Leading UK Greetings Cards Companies by Turnover (£m), 1995/1997

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

Buying Behaviour

CONSUMER PENETRATION

CONSUMER PROFILE

Table 14: UK Consumption of Greetings Cards (million units and £m), 1992-1996

Table 15: Buying Occasions of Greetings Cards by Age and Sex ( percent), 1997

Outside Suppliers to the Industry

INTRODUCTION

STATIONERY BAGS

ENVELOPES

PAPER AND BOARD SUPPLIERS

PRINTING AND EMBOSSING

LABEL SUPPLIERS

DISPLAY EQUIPMENT

TRAINING

Current Issues

COMPANY DEVELOPMENTS

NEW TECHNOLOGY

EXCESS STOCK IN THE ENVIRONMENT

OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

BROKERAGE

NEW PRODUCT-TYPE LAUNCHES

NEW OCCASIONS AND MESSAGES

Forecasts

FORECASTS 1997 TO 2001

CONCLUSIONS

Table 16: Forecast Retail Sales of All Greetings Cards by Volume, Value and Average Price (million units, £m at rsp and pence), 1997-2001

Table 17: Forecast Shares of the Main Sectors of Greetings Cards by Volume and Value ( percent), 1996 and 2001

Market Growth

GROWTH TO THE YEAR 2001

Figure 1: UK Greetings Cards Sales by Volume (million units), 1992-2001

Figure 2: UK Greetings Cards Sales by Value (£m at rsp), 1992-2001

Company Profiles

INTRODUCTION

DEFINITIONS

FURTHER INFORMATION

Company Financials

Further Sources

ASSOCIATIONS

PERIODICALS

DIRECTORIES

GENERAL SOURCES

HBI UK INFORMATION SOURCES

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

OTHER SOURCES

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 1996, the UK greetings cards market was estimated to be worth £1.05bn, an increase of 5.5 percent on the previous year's figure. Over the same period, volume sales increased by 2.3 percent, to reach 2.62 billion units.

The greetings cards industry is very fragmented one, with low barriers to entry. In 1996, only 11.6 percent of greetings card publishers recorded a turnover in excess of £1m.

On the whole, it would appear that the publishing side of the industry is surviving difficult trading conditions better than the retail side. This has been indicated by key events such as the acquisition of Strand Libraries Ltd by The Greetings Store Group Ltd. Strand Libraries had been the UK's third largest retail chain, when it was put into administration in 1996. The Group has also acquired Papertree Ltd, the former retail chain of Fine Art Developments PLC. Fine Art Developments has now divested itself of its retail interests, just as Hallmark Cards (Holdings) Ltd and Carlton Cards Ltd have, leaving the retail field dominated by three specialist chains.

The UK greetings cards industry leads the world in innovation and design; and this is reflected in a significant trade surplus, with exports having been worth £64.2m in 1996. Overseas trading has improved every year this decade, with the exception of 1992, but the last 2 years have shown phenomenal growth. This seems set to continue, as inroads are made into an ever-increasing number of foreign markets. Other innovations include the adoption of electronic data interchange (EDI) as a method of stock control.

Each sector, from publishing to wholesaling and retailing, continues to face difficult conditions, but a survey undertaken on behalf of Trade Promotion Services Group Ltd, the exhibition organisers, indicates increased business confidence in the industry.

In 1997, Key Note forecasts a growth of 7.3 percent in the value of the market, to reach £1.13bn. Over the same period, volume sales are forecast to reach 2.69 billion units, an increase of 2.7 percent on the 1996 figure.

Between 1997 and the year 2001, Key Note forecasts a 10.8 percent increase in volume sales, but a continued growth in the price of spring and everyday cards is expected to give a market value of £1.64bn at current prices. This represents an increase of 45.4 percent on the 1997 value.

Text © 1997 Key Note

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