Spring 2024 - 71

What current trends are you noticing in the
gift/stationery industry, and how do you
anticipate the industry will evolve over the
next few years?
ANGIE PFEIFER
TOSHA GREBE PEARSON
Vice President of Sales,
Road Runners West
" The trends that I'm seeing are some
that we've seen for a while. Earthfriendly
and sustainable seem to
still be strong buzzwords, as well as
made in America. I think the shop
small or shop local movements are
still important to consumers' hearts.
Gourmet is a growing category. I feel
that our industry will continue to have
more channels that retailers can do
business through. I also feel like we
will never lose the excitement of a
buyer coming to markets to buy for
their stores. "
CARLOS LLANSO
CEO, Legacy Publishing
" Interestingly, a lot of what we are
seeing now was (not by design) what
we started with - sustainability and
quality. Some of our original retailers,
from 1993, are still in business and
they have evolved in the same ways
we have. However, most of our
newer accounts are run by younger,
more tech-savvy business owners.
Not only are their buying habits
different (where and how they buy),
but they are also more interested in
who they buy from and what their
vendors represent. They are, much
more than in the past, looking to
partner with companies whose values
are more aligned with theirs. In an
industry where most of the retailers
are small and the suppliers are small,
what business schools refer to as
'corporate responsibility' is more akin
to 'personal responsibility.' "
ANDY MEEHAN
President, Greeting Card
Association (GCA), & Consultant
" For me there is all the various
aspects of sustainability and
avoidance of single-use plastics and
packaging. As well as the constant
search for what is new and fresh
being driven internationally and by
micro influencers. "
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Vice President of Sales, Mud Pie
" We are seeing a lot of new retailers
that stock more than just gift product.
They are carrying a larger assortment,
whether it be adding apparel or
accessories, home fragrance, etc.
It's great for Mud Pie because we
always strive to be a one-stop shop
for retailers looking to round out their
assortments. We see the trickle down
to the consumer level as well. Today's
consumers are all about efficiency -
they want to be able to buy everything
at one time, in one place. "
JANINE KWOH
Owner and Designer, Kwohtations
" My goal is to create cards that reflect
and celebrate the lives we actually
lead, from celebrating chosen families
and non-traditional life milestones to
tackling mental health struggles and
navigating grief and loss. I've been
excited to see more independent
brands designing cards for significant
yet often overlooked life events, like
divorce, adoptions, gender transitions
and different types of losses. Also,
I've seen more cards that are made
by and for specific communities, e.g.,
cards that celebrate Black, AAPI,
Latinx, and LGBTQ+ cultures and
communities. I anticipate these trends
continuing, which are both muchneeded
and welcome changes. "
GIFTSHOPMAG.COM 71
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Spring 2024

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