Sent&Meant wins invention medal for greetings card frame
Fledgling card company, Sent&Meant, has won a bronze medal at the prestigious International Exhibition of Invention in Geneva for its unique integrated greetings card and frame product.
Sent & Meant was founded by Bridget Docking (below right) to develop and market her idea for a one-piece, multi-functional frame that could be sold and sent with a greetings card and then displayed. The frames are constructed so they maintain good condition over time and the integrated double stand and hanger means the frame can be displayed either on a flat surface or hung on a wall.
"The one-piece greeting card and frame is a lasting and elegant way to deliver your sentiments as a card and thoughtful gift in one," Bridget told GT. It's been specifically designed and created to extend the lifespan of greeting cards for economical and sentimental terms. There's no need to purchase a separate frame, the Sent&Meant® Framed Greetings Card provides a card within a frame for effective display and with easy access to the sentiments of the card’s message."
The idea has design protection and is in the process of being patented and the Pontypool-based business has applied to the Welsh Assembly for a grant to help bring the product to market. The Welsh Assembly also exhibited Bridget's invention at the Geneva show.
"I couldn't make it to Geneva," added Bridget. But the WA set up a stand for me and took care of my interests over there. I was so thrilled to hear I'd won because it really is an international competition."
Bridget, who still works full-time as a practice manager in a health centre, came up with the idea when her youngest child went off to university and she decided it was time for her to try something for herself. She realised that there was no way of easily storing and displaying her favourite cards so she set to developing a solution.
Her first product under the Sent&Meant trademark is already selling online and Bridget exhibited at Spring Fair to meet potential retail stockists. Retail pricing is £5.99
"I had a lot of interest at the NEC, but the problem is it's very new and many retailers are wary of buying into something they haven't seen before," says Bridget.
Spring fair also saw the launch of another design, which allows for the separate interchange and insertion of greeting cards and easy access to the inner message from outside of the frame, which then closes flat and securely via its concealed magnetic fastener so the front of the card can be displayed as a conventional image.
Bridget has also been working on a third variation of the patent, which allows any photo to be inserted into the back of the front opening part of the card, it will also have an option for a thin, transparent sheet for protecting photos or memorabilia such as antique postcards.
"I have had a prototype done and it works extremely well and in exactly the same way as the other variations. The beauty of this is it is very flexible in what images can be used, which I believe will be attractive to a lot more markets and publishers alike," adds Bridget.
Tel: 01495 785412
Web:
www.sentandmeant.com
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