With ongoing Royal Mail strikes in the runup to Christmas, the GCA and its members have been busy talking to the national media and convincing them that the UK is still a nation of card senders.
Greeting Card Association (GCA) CEO Amanda Fergusson (pictured above) was quoted on the front page of The Daily Telegraph on December 14 in a story about the strikes, saying “…people are still very engaged [in card sending] and are buying cards even if they are worried about the strikes, many are also hand delivering’’.
Danilo MD Daniel Prince was interviewed on Channel 5 News, while Amanda was interviewed by Alistair Stewart live on GB News on Sunday December 18, sharing the traditions of card sending, and the continuing British love of cards.
Meanwhile, Dandelion Stationery’s Jo Wilson appeared on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours on December 12 and even convinced presenter Bob Walker to send Christmas cards for the first time! The piece also included an interview with Amanda.
Thortful’s MD Pip Haywood also made an appearance on BBC Radio 4 – this time on the Today programme on December 14, saying that Royal Mail strikes had cost the business “in the region of £1million” in lost sales.
Amanda also spoke to Tom Swarbrick of LBC radio’s drivetime show, about the impact of the Royal Mail strikes.
- The GCA has continued to meet with other organisations who are concerned by Royal Mail’s request to government to change the USO and drop Saturday delivery.
CEO Amanda met with Linda Stephens, head of postal policy, at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), who confirmed that: “There are currently no plans to change the requirements of the postal service… [The government are] listening to evidence.’’
The GCA states that “Any changes to the USO will require further consultation, including assessment on the needs of the population taking into account the needs of those with protected characteristics, and then debate in parliament. This was confirmed in a response from the Minister Kevin Hollinrake MP.’’
The mail strikes, and the proposed move to lose Saturday deliveries, was raised at Parliamentary questions again on December 13.
