08_11_13_15_17_19.qxp_9/11/13/15/19/23/25 18/08/2024 12:54 Page 9
NEWS TOP STORY
UKG’s on a sustainable roll
Aussie Billionaire Buys 8% Of Cardfactory shares Share price soars following the investment Shares in the UK’s largest greeting card retailer, Cardfactory are on the rise, with a 20p climb over recent weeks – following Australian Above: Brett Blundy’s stake in Cardfactory billionaire Brett Blundy’s decision to has seen the share price rise. Below: Cardfactory now trades from over buy 8.17% of the company’s listing, 1,000 stores. making him one of the retail group’s largest shareholders. Brett Blundy is the founder of the BBRC private investment company. He is recognised as a leading global retail expert with business magazine Forbes estimating his current wealth at £1.72billion. The move, made through Brett’s BBFit Investments business registered in Singapore, makes him the third largest shareholder in Cardfactory, behind the Britishbased pair of Aberforth Partners with 8.984% share and Artemis Investment Management with 8.572% shareholdings. Brett Blundy taking this significant investment followed only a few days after Swiss investment company, Teleios Capital Partners sold off its entire 9.92% shareholding in Cardfactory. At the time of PG going to press (in mid-August) shares in Cardfactory, which now trades from 1,060 outlets as well as online, were trading at 124.60p, 14.29% up since January 1.
Millions of rolls of sustainable roll wrap with paper tear strip are to be produced in Dewsbury as UK Greetings ups its commitment to sustainability for its greeting cards and gift wrap design and production. In the latest in a series of eco developments, the publisher has invested in Top: The tear strip leaves state-of-the art machinery, including a neat edge on the roll. Above: The Möller a Möller conversion machine, now conversion machine. housed at its Dewsbury site, that has been specifically designed to produce and apply paper tear strips to its roll wrap. UKG’s CEO Ceri Stirland told PG: “Our new paper tear strip represents a significant step forward in our sustainable gift wrap solutions. By eliminating plastic from this component, we're furthering our mission to reduce environmental impact without compromising product functionality.” Debuting in January, initially on 10 everyday SKUs, the paper tear strip will be extended across all of UKG’s branded everyday roll wraps shortly afterwards, followed by the 2025 UKG branded Christmas roll wraps also going to paper tear strip. This will include all single rolls as well as those supplied to retailers in dumpbins. This will mean that there will be no UKG branded roll wrap that is shrink wrapped or in a sustainable labelled format. Given UKG’s wide retail distribution, this development is one of scale. As Julie Huntington-Dale, UKG’s supply chain director quantified: “We will be converting around five million rolls in 2025 to have a paper tear strip meaning that the roll wraps will be 100% recyclable.”
Sir Cliff’s date with media The return of Sir Cliff Richard’s officially licensed calendar has seen the news of the Peter Pan of pop’s 2025 title hit national newspapers and TV as part of a PR campaign driven by licensed card and calendar company, Danilo. The 40th edition of the annual licensed calendar, for 2025, includes a pic of Sir Cliff in the pool despite his vow a couple of years back to give up on topless shots. It has been featured on ITV’s Lorraine show as well as prominent coverage in Daily Mail’s print and online editions. Danilo’s managing director Daniel Prince said the “carefully orchestrated PR strategy” had garnered significant media attention, “leading to a surge in both brand visibility and sales.” The 83-year-old pop veteran has made a date with fans since 1985, with his calendar regularly featuring in Danilo’s top 10 – his 2024 version came fourth in the publisher’s overall bestsellers chart, and second in the music list, behind Taylor Swift in the number one slot for both. Over five million of the licensed Sir Cliff calendars have been sold over the years, notching up sales worth more than £40million,
outselling licensed calendars from the likes of Elvis, Kylie, Madonna, Above: Shots for the A3 calendar were taken by Robin Williams at Cliff’s Barbados and One Direction. home and aboard a cruise liner. In addition to an A3 version, Above left: Cliff topless in the Daily Mail. Danilo also offers a square collector’s edition for pre-order, a slim calendar and slim diary, as well as various greeting cards, including personalised and sound designs.
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