Publications

GCA offers a variety of publications for and about the industry that are designed to help publishers conduct their business better. The GCA staff welcomes suggestions from industry members for new publication topics.

Industry Directories
Now in two easy references -- everything you need to know about the greeting card industry!

Greeting Card Industry Directory (13th Edition)
A complete guide to the social expression industry, this Directory features the names and addresses of more than 3,000 publishers and suppliers within the greeting card industry located in the U.S., Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and more.

Each member listing includes detailed information on key personnel, company history, production and distribution as well as brand names.  GCA publishing members are cross-referenced by types of card and stationery products, while Associate members are cross-referenced by types of services or products offered to the industry.

In addition to complete information on the nearly 300 Regular, International, Affiliate and Associate GCA members, the Directory includes listings of U.S. and international publishers, as well as giftwrap, invitation & stationery manufacturers and those companies in allied industries providing services and products to the greeting card industry.  Allied industry companies (suppliers) are sorted in more than 50 categories.  There is also a complete geographic cross-reference for U.S. and Canadian companies.

The Directory also contains Association background information, stationery trends, listings of trade publications and related organizations, as well as holiday/celebration calendars for 2008-2010.

PD01 Published August 2008.  ISBN#0-938369-45-8. 510 pages.
$75 member, $150 non-member + shipping/handling
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2006-2008 Directory of Greeting Card Sales Representatives & Distributors
A detailed listing of over 100 companies and individual sales reps and distributors, headquartered in the U.S., which represent greeting card and stationery publishers and distribute products at the wholesale level to retailers.

Each listing includes full mailing address, contact names with telephone and fax numbers, email and websites (if available), showroom locations, trade show participation, areas covered, types of retail outlets served, as well as kinds of cards and other products handled.  In addition, information on specific card lines represented by each company or individual is included, along with comments regarding business prospects and solicitations.  Each listing is also cross-referenced by card products and other products represented or distributed as well as by geographic areas served.

General guidelines for working with reps, along with information on major trade marts & showrooms and major trade shows & producers, are also included.  The Directory also contains Association background information, listings of trade publications and related organizations, and holiday/celebration calendars for 2006-2008.

PD02  Published October 2006.  ISBN #0-938369-44-X.  290 pages.
$50 member, $95 non-member + shipping & handling
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Business Basics

The Basics of Starting a Small Business
Responding to the GCA's most-frequently-asked question, this publication contains information on all the essentials of starting your own company. Topics include financing, business planning, legal concerns, distribution, marketing and more.

PB03 37 pages $20 member, $35 non-member + shipping/handling

How to Own and Operate a Card and Gift Shop
This nuts-and-bolts publication discusses all aspects of owning and operating a card & gift shop. This publication includes information on selecting a location, financing, space planning, merchandising/display techniques, hiring and training sales personnel, advertising and public relations.

PB04 51 pages $20 member, $50 non-member + shipping/handling
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Legal Primers

The Basics of Copyright and Trademark Law for the Greeting Card Publisher
A comprehensive and concise review of the basic law on these intellectual property rights including the selection and use of, applications for and legal defense of a copyright or trademark. Resource information is included.

NOTE:  Publication is currently being revised and is NOT AVAILABLE at this time.  Information on copyrighting can be obtained from the US Library of Congress (www.copyright.gov) .  Information on obtaining a trademark or patent can be obtained from the US Patent & Trademark Office (www.uspto.gov).

PL06 44 pages $25 member, $45 non-member + shipping/handling
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Sales & Marketing

See 2006-2008 Directory of Greeting Card Sales Representatives & Distributors under Industry Directories above.

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