News
July 21, 2011
GCA Celebrates 70th Anniversary
The Greeting Card Association (GCA) – the U.S. trade association of the greeting card and stationery industry – is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2011.
The Association was founded in 1941 by a small group of greeting card publishers who established the Greeting Card Industry, predecessor of today’s GCA. The group changed its name in 1947 to the National Association of Greeting Card Publishers and, after several more name changes, became the Greeting Card Association in 1984.
In addition to greeting card publishers, the GCA represents producers of invitations and stationery-related products. In June 2011, the Association’s membership was further enhanced when the Invitation and Stationery Alliance (ISA) – a network of invitation and stationery manufacturers – became part of the GCA. The GCA also has a strong contingent of Associate Members made up of suppliers to the greeting card and stationery industry.
The GCA’s objectives are to celebrate, promote and preserve the tradition of sending greeting cards; to represent the industry before government and regulatory agencies; to serve as an information and service center for its members and to monitor trends and developments impacting the industry.
One of the GCA’s most important roles has been as an advocate for both the industry and the citizen mailer in postal affairs. In 1943, the Association cooperated with the Post Office on the first “Mail Early” Christmas campaign; in 1947 and throughout the years, it fought postal rate hikes for first-class stamps. More recently, the GCA was instrumental in working with the USPS on the introduction of the nondenominated “Forever Stamp” and on the “Butterfly” stamp for square- and irregular-shaped envelopes. The GCA is now actively campaigning to keep six-day delivery service.
Additionally, 2011 marks the 70th year of the GCA’s Annual Convention, which will be taking place from Wednesday, Sept. 14, through Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. All members of the industry, both GCA members and nonmembers, are welcome to attend. The deadline for discounted GCA Convention registration and hotel rates is Friday, Aug.12.
The GCA is headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., and managed by George Little Management, LLC, owner and manager of the annual National Stationery Show.
For more information, visit www.greetingcard.org.
