07_09_11-13_15_News_1.qxp_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 02/12/2024 18:11 Page 7
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Golden Openings Greetings retail boost for festive season All out to clinch extra sales in the allimportant Golden Quarter, Utility, Cards Direct, Scribbler, Postmark and Cardfactory, are among the cardies who are going for it, opening 24 fresh new stores between them. Having doubled the number of locations where Scribbler cards are available over the past year, boosted by its kiosk partnership with FujiFilm, the retailer has opened a store in Chester as well as in London’s Fulham Broadway and Clapham Junction. The new openings give Scribbler 37 bricks-and-mortar stores plus there are 34 additional locations housing one of its kiosks, offering print-ondemand versions of its own-brand greetings designs. Greetings retail giant Cardfactory is also forging ahead with the continuing store opening programme as no less than eight have been added to the Top: Scribbler’s new store in Chester. portfolio over the last two months. Above: Cardfactory’s new Preston store. Below left: Cards Direct’s Corby store is Taking it past the 1,060-store mark, its 80th. Cardfactory stores can now be found in Aylesford, Bolton, Leeds, Lincoln, Manchester, Paisley and Prestwick as well as expanding in Ireland with a shop in Killarney. Meanwhile Cards Direct is also pushing ahead with its expansion programme as the privately-owned Hemel Hempstead-based retailer now has 80 shops, thanks to the 11 opened since August. Two stores in Hull were unveiled within three days of each other in the North Point Shopping Centre and Jameson Street, plus Doncaster, Guildford, Leeds, Newport, Scunthorpe and Telford. And, just a couple of days after revealing the fresh look of the store at Kings Cross Station in London, Postmark opened the envelope on a brand-new outlet by the capital’s Liverpool Street Station. The move takes the indie group to 15 stores under the direction of owners Mark and Leona Janson-Smith. Mark said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have officially opened the doors to our lovely new shop in the Octagon Mall right next to Liverpool Street Station. Customers were happy to get a lungful of that brand new card shop smell – for us, we were just here having a little nap. It’s been a bit full-on!” Up north, Utility is celebrating its 25th birthday with the 2 December opening of its newest gift store in Manchester’s Cross Street showcasing the best of the group’s gifts, greeting cards, homeware and fashion accessories. It adds to the current five locations, with The Flint Showroom, Liverpool One, and Utility in Liverpool, as well as the Utility gift stores in Manchester’s University Green and Altrincham.
Glick on the move as Chris Bryan joins the team Popular greeting card stalwart, Chris Bryan is joining Glick, as the company’s head of UK sales. Chris is to take up his new position in January, marking the start of a new chapter in his career, having spent 24 years working for Second Nature. “I haven’t felt this excited for a Above: Chris Bryan with very long time,” Chris told PG. “I a portrait by Paper really can't wait to sink my teeth into Salad’s Karen Wilson that my new role and be a part of the was presented to him at the end of his GCA company’s next growth phase.” presidential tenure. Commenting, Glick’s managing Below left: Michelle Airth director Becky Dobson said: “As is now Glick’s global accounts manager. both our UK sales and international exports have grown over the past two to three years, this appointment comes at a significant time for the company.” The appointment means that Michelle Airth, who used to juggle UK national accounts with the company’s export customers will be able to concentrate on the international key accounts, with Chris looking after sales on the domestic side of the business. Of his long tenure with Second Nature, Chris said: “Yes, 24 years is a long time with one company, but I learned so much from all the different roles that I held over the years. I thank Rod and Trevor Schrager [Second Nature’s co-founders] for the opportunities they gave me and business experience I gained. I learned so much from those two men.” The news coincides with the company’s announced move to a new base in Batley, three times the size of the current Bradford premises.
Pam smashes the #Cardmitment Challenge The dulcet tones of Pam Shipman, the star character in Gavin & Stacey TV show played by Alison Steadman resounded across social media Above: Sean Austin of Austin & Co channels as cardies channelled his inner Pam. embraced the Above right: Two for Joy posted a Be More Pam video. #Cardmitment Challenge, instigated by Heidi Early of Earlybird Designs as part of the GCA’s umbrella #Cardmitment campaign. Seven days of telling everyone how fabulous greeting cards are, and how wonderful it is to send Christmas missives kicked off on 1 November, with a slew of funny reels from retailers and publishers using the voice of Pam, who loves the festive season so much and can’t see the point of a limited time showing off Christmas cards so sends all of hers at the start of November. The lengthy list of Challenge participants included Pencil Me In, Earlybird Designs, Stationery Supplies, Austin & Co, Dean Morris Cards, Cards ’N’ Things, Cath Tate Cards, Ohh Deer, Hugs & Kisses, Wendy Jones-Blackett, Sincerely Yours, Grace Jackson Design, Paper Tiger, Letter Arty, Highworth Emporium, Studio Boketto, Holy Mackerel, The Art File, and Two For Joy. And cardie folk followed up with posts on the other challenges, such as sharing the reasons why you love sending cards, fanfaring fave card shops and sharing a keepsake Christmas card.
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