Cards for your community

The idea for the playing cards was dreamt up by marketing whizz Emma Sweet after thinking there was a real hunger for towns and villages that hold a special place in their heart for those who reside there. Initially, the idea for the dedicated packs of playing cards was for places that are frequented by lots of visitors each year but it soon became apparent there was an appetite for those have a real sense of belonging but don't necessarily enjoy lots of tourists.

Each card is dedicated to the sponsor and can include landmarks, calendar events, shops, restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and also service-led industries like accountants, solicitors, estate agents, agencies and charities. It's all those businesses and organisations that make your place vibrant; those who always get involved in supporting your annual fair or community initiative.

Nicola Metcalfe is on hand to create beautiful illustrations for each playing cards and they're printed over in Amersham, Buckinghamshire by Hartgraph. Having the cards printed in the UK is important as we want to support our economy as much as we can.

Getting the playing cards into the hands of local residents is a fun and unique way to market the best businesses. They act as a constant reminder and keep your business at the forefront of their minds.

Please do get in touch if your village or town deserves its own playing cards. They bring so much joy and happiness to those who see a pack and they're a true delight to work on. It's a unique and fun way to market all of the businesses included in each pack.

What's involved?

Businesses are invited to sponsor a playing card. The one-time only fee is:

• £750 for a number card (2 to 10)
• £1200 for a royal card (JQK) or wild card/joker
• £1500 for an ace
• £375 reduced rate for up to four charities for a number card

Your one-off sponsorship fee gets you:

• your very own playing card for your business designed for you and in the pack
• a super-sized and signed professionally framed print (by the artist) worth £125
• invitation to the exclusive launch party where all of the super-sized frames will be on show (for one night only or longer if you wish). You’ll meet the artist behind them. The whole town will also be invited to see them. Trust us, it's such a brilliant event. The best part of it!
• Full marketing campaign to let the town know about the playing cards
• Listed on the dedicated website where your business will be featured with full contact details and link to your website.
• 100 packs of top-quality playing cards (printed in Amersham) or how about something really exciting....

Now here's an idea

Instead of each playing card receiving 100 packs to sell or giveaway, you sell each of the 5,400 packs as a collective to raise money for a local project or charity - you decide! Just imagine though, if you sold the playing cards for £9.50 a pack that's £51,300 in the kitty to spend on something to benefit your community - a wildflower meadow, a new picnic area or community space - whatever you think would enhance your ace place. You can also decide to use some of the money to reimburse the sponsorship paid by each business. Whatever you decide, we can help you set this up.

Have you seen?

The first Ace Places playing cards to launch was the really rather wonderful Henley on Thames in March 2023, and then downstream to Marlow in November 2023.

Contact

Feel free to email emma@aceplaces.co.uk