Feature
The Atlantic is no barrier to a creative
partnership as Greetings Today discovers
Ladies es whwho launch
ike the fi rst snowdrops Spring Scarlett ranges, had mutual appeal. will grow. “Karen and I are both conscious
L
Fair International heralds new For Marilyn it’s allowed her to that serendipity can, and does play a big part
beginnings and the budding of fresh publish and present the range as in creative synergy. When the spark fl ies you
creations. part of her new venture, Marilyn need to grab it with both hands!”
Two years ago, when Karen Robertson Publishing. And for With a presence on both sides of the
Coombes of Scarlett Greetings and artist/ Karen, who is marketing and Atlantic the pair are able to quickly absorb
designer Marilyn Robertson fi rst met at the distributing Catitudes in the UK and market trends and support each other’s
Birmingham show, the seeds were sown for a Eire exclusively, it adds an extra product development in ways that meet their
successful collaboration. dimension which sits very well with customers’ expectations.
Scarlett Greetings is now a thriving, her existing brands and the 2009 Behind every bright idea is a supportive
dynamic design-led business with a trans- Scarlett launches: Bijoux (female team. In their respective design studios
Atlantic twist. Karen hails from London, fashion) and (Blokey Stuff) (male they are fortunate to have versatile graphic
England, and founded her business in Toronto, greetings range). designers, Rachel Fotherby (formerly of
Canada. But faced with an encouraging “This is a really exciting new Tigerprint) in Toronto and Katie Goodman in
international response she opened an English venture for us both – our businesses the UK giving a fully linked studio capability.
offi ce and built a growing presence in the UK have similar core values and our Both Karen and Marilyn are conscious of
card market. design tastes dovetail beautifully environmental concerns and use sustainable
Marilyn is a well-established designer on together giving our customers a components and processes where they
the UK scene and was keen to explore new varied choice with strong appeal to a can. The Catitudes range will be printed with
avenues. One thing led to another and by wide market”, says Karen. vegetable dye inks and an aqueous varnish on
spring 2008 the pair’s fi rst ‘hands across the Running parallel with the greeting FSC certifi ed board. Karen hopes to print the
sea’ collaboration produced the Bella range cards launch, Pimpernel (Spring Scarlett ranges in the UK to reduce the carbon
of smart and sassy girls. It was an unusual Fair 2009, Hall 2, stand B29 / C30) footprint in a cost-effective way. Linking with
joint venture with creative brainstorming made is launching some of the new feline Marilyn makes this more easily achievable.
possible by digital technology. designs as innovative ceramic mug- For UK orders the cards are distributed
“The phone lines, emails and our brains and-coaster boxed gift sets. by ‘A la Carte Business Services’ an
were really buzzing!” says Karen. “Creating Evon Maxfi eld, Pimpernel established fulfi lment house centrally located in
in tandem was great fun and the response Brand Manager at parent company Nottingham.
from our customers has been overwhelmingly Portmeirion, is enthusiastic about
positive”, Karen added. how these new designs will generate
Fast forward nine months and the pair have excitement and dovetail with the
Contact
again chatted across the pond and the seed of existing Catitudes
TM
products within

another co-operative venture has germinated: their range.
Scarlett:
A link up for the joint marketing of Marilyn’s “We were knocked out by the
www.scarlettgreetings.com
iconic cat designs: Catitudes
TM
. funky ‘new cats on the block’ Marilyn
Tel: 0845 8800678
The trademarked brand is already has created. They have already
email: Karen@scarlettgreetings.com.
successfully licensed on a number of products created quite a stir among our
worldwide and over the past year Marilyn has buyers”, explained Evon.
Marilyn Robertson Publishing:
been developing a bevy of new charismatic Additional cat designs are at the
www.marilynrobertson.com
feline friends. So the idea of publishing her development stage and Marilyn says
Tel: 01949 860621
cat illustrations as a co-ordinated range of the partners are keeping an open
email: marilynrobertson@btconnect.com
greetings cards, to be sold alongside the mind about how their businesses
38 Greetings Today
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