Thinking of You Week 2016 was embraced like never before with publishers, retailers, schools, organisations and consumers participating in the Week to unprecedented levels, reported Progressive Greetings magazine.
The special Week aimed to create a wave of love, caring and happiness by sending cards – but it was of oceanic proportions in its third year!
UKG, Hallmark and online operator thorftful produced videos on the theme, gaining traction on social media; Clintons, Paperchase, Bentalls and Moonpig were among the retail names to get behind the event; Royal Mail spread the word on 36 million items of post and into schools through its Teacher’s Post magazine, while independent retailers and publishers of all shapes and sizes put their own spins on this card-centric celebration.
For the first time, the GCA also took to the streets with a consumer PR event held on the Wednesday of the Week, just outside the busy Kings Cross station in London. Members of the public needed little encouragement to select from over 1,000 free cards, that had been donated by GCA publisher members, avidly choosing cards to send to their friends, family or those who they felt would benefit from receiving a card that week.
“It was so fantastic to see the public’s positive reaction and how much they embraced this opportunity. We had men, women and children from all over the world participating, telling us how much they loved the idea,” commented Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA, who worked with PR expert Laura Barioli on creating the event.
“There is now so much research into wellbeing, looking for ways to improve quality of life, thinking deeply about combatting loneliness and mental health issues. Greeting cards have such an important part to play in all this and Thinking of You Week is the perfect event to help get our message across.”