GCA Greeting Card Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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11:30am EDT

Breakout Session 1: Show Up. Stand Out. Sell More.

Tuesday August 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

Trade shows are a significant investment of time, money, and energy... but the real return comes from what happens before, during, and after the event. In this session, you'll learn practical strategies for attracting the right buyers, displaying products, creating meaningful connections, and following up effectively. We'll cover ways to maximize every aspect of your show experience, regardless of booth size or budget. Kate and Lindsay will also share some of their best hacks (and biggest flops) learned from exhibiting at over 50 trade shows combined. Leave with actionable ideas you can implement at your very next market!

Speakers

Kate Murray

Owner and Designer, Quick Brown Fox Letterpress

Kate Murray is the owner and designer and letterpress printer at Quick Brown Fox, a letterpress brand and retail shop in Saugerties, New York.

Lindsay Henry

Founder & Creative Director, Inklings Paperie

Lindsay Henry is the founder and creative director of Inklings, a stationery and lifestyle brand based in Plymouth, Michigan.

... Read More →

Tuesday August 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
Mezzanine AB

Breakout Session, Mini Conference

11:30am EDT

Breakout Session 2: Who Will Sell Greeting Cards Tomorrow?

Tuesday August 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT

Mezzanine CD

The greeting card industry relies on sales reps to drive growth, but finding the next generation of talent is becoming increasingly challenging. This panel will examine what's changing, what's working, and how publishers and sales organizations can adapt. From recruiting and compensation to hybrid roles and evolving expectations, attendees will gain practical insights for building a stronger, more sustainable sales network.

Speakers

Tom Shoaf

Founder, Biely & Shoaf

Brad Woods

Maginating

Maginating champions childlikeness to empower others to embrace and express their innate childlike qualities. We endeavor to advocate for qualities like joy, innocence, make-believe, whimsy, kindness, and a dash of silliness, and have been pursuing this goal since 2008 with award-winning... Read More →

Lisa Engler

Avanti Press

Lisa Engler is Vice President of Product Planning & Partnerships at Avanti Press in Detroit, Michigan. After more than 34 years in the greeting card industry, she still loves the people, the creativity, and the relationships that make it so special. She proudly served as the 2025... Read More →

Vanessa Harnik

Notes & Queries

Tuesday August 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:15pm EDT
Mezzanine CD

Breakout Session, Mini Conference

3:15pm EDT

Breakout Session 1: Faire Shop Hot Seat

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT

Mezzanine AB

Speakers

Adrienne Taraborelli

Faire

Sara Becker

Customer Marketing Lead, Faire

Lindsay Henry

Founder & Creative Director, Inklings Paperie

Lindsay Henry is the founder and creative director of Inklings, a stationery and lifestyle brand based in Plymouth, Michigan.

... Read More →

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Mezzanine AB

Breakout Session, Full Conference

3:15pm EDT

Breakout Session 2: The Handwritten Edge: Winning With AI

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT

Mezzanine CD

AI will never sign a card. It can help you run the business behind one. This session gives every card maker, from solopreneur to enterprise team, a practical path for putting AI to work on outreach, operations, and customer relationships while your creative voice stays fully human. You will leave knowing where you stand on the AI maturity journey, how to teach AI your authentic voice, and three prompts to try this week.

Speakers

Martin J King

Founder & CEO, AI-X

Marty King is the Founder and CEO of AI-X, where he helps organizations turn the promise of artificial intelligence into practical business results. A seasoned entrepreneur and strategic advisor with more than 30 years of experience, Marty has built, scaled and successfully exited... Read More →

Tuesday August 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Mezzanine CD

Breakout Session, Full Conference

11:30am EDT

11:30am EDT

3:15pm EDT

3:15pm EDT

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