The findings of the latest annual PG Retail Barometer of the independent greeting card industry show naked and nested is preference as indies retailers pledge on eco issues.
By Jakki Brown, Progressive Greetings.
With naked and nested being the preference for almost half of indie retailers, it shows saving the planet and doing what’s right is hugely important to the independent greeting card world.
Continually striving to improve things, 52% of indies who responded to the latest PG Retail Barometer explained they had made further changes in relation to their product stocking and/or the running of their business on the environmental front over the last year.
A total of 84% of indie retailers now opt for eco-friendly packaging on cards – 47% want naked and nested, 18% prefer biodegradable bags, 10% go for card clasps, and 9% would opt for paper banded, leaving just 16% wanting cellowrapping.
And that’s borne out by the statistics that 55% made a reduction in the number of cellowrapped cards stocked through 2025, the top move made on the environmental front for indies in the year, and 26% removed cellowrapped cards altogether, while 16% increased the number of designs in compostable bags.
How customers take their purchases home also made a difference as 39% of shops cut the number of plastic bags used in store, 32% made greater use of paper bags, as 6% introduced bags for life – all helped by the fab #Cardmitment paper bags now available in two sizes through UK Greetings, Ling Design and Great British Card Company, Abacus Cards, Paper Salad, Ohh Deer and Pigment, or through GBCC and Penny Kennedy’s Faire sites.
More vigilant recycling was also a big change for 38% of respondents to the annual Retail Barometer survey, the only one to paint a picture of what’s really happening across the cardie retail world, while 23% persuaded their staff to be more sustainable and 35% expanded the sustainable products they stocked, with the same number reducing the number of cards and gift wrap with glitter.
And it does make a difference to customers too, as 59% felt environmental and sustainability concerns have impacted either greatly or marginally on card buying over the last year.
For indies it can often seem they’re on their own so getting together with others in a similar situation is key, and the top choice is a local retailers’ group for 35% of respondents, while 26% have been involved with the GCA, and the same number with the Federation Of Small Businesses.
The British Independent Retailers’ Association, Just A Card Campaign, and local Chamber Of Commerce are all equally popular sounding boards with 14% getting involved with each organisation, while 24% have helped charities, and 21% worked with local schools.
The full story on the PG Retail Barometer covering conditions in indie cards stores across 2025 can be read in the February issue of Progressive Greetings magazine, pages 47-53, or online here.
