Card Factory is sharing two pieces of early Christmas cheer – one involved financial figures, the other celebrity ‘figures, in the form of Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash, who are fronting the retailer’s launch of Festive Family Photocards.
Card Factory’s trading update, released today (covering the nine months to October 31) show its sales are up 5% and like-for-like sales are up 0.9%. However, despite an increased average spedn, the like-for-like sales in Q3 declined 0.4% due to weaker consumer footfall.
Some 12 new stores, including four in the Republic of Ireland were opened in the third quarter.
Commenting, Karen Hubbard, Card Factory’s ceo, said she was “pleased” with the year-to-date performance. “Our ongoing focus on customer experience, and the quality and range of our card and complementary non-card products, has led to an increased average spend both in stores and online. This has helped us to substantially offset the effect of the lower high street footfall experienced in the quarter and the corresponding impact on our like-for-like sales.”
She assured that the retailer is on track with its new store roll out and is also focused on “pursuing other new growth opportunities and retail partnerships to extend our market penetration in the UK and overseas,” such as its ongoing relationships with Aldi, Matalan and The Reject Shop (in Australia).
The trading statement coincides with the ‘fluffier’ news that popular celebrity couple Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash, together with their children are at the centre of Card Factory’s first ever Christmas PR campaign.
Bringing the value retailer’s #MakeItATradition activity to life, Stacey, Joe and their kids, including new baby Rex are fronting the launch of Card Factory’s Festive Family Photocards.
Spurred on by the likes of the Kardashians, Card Factory is launching pop-up festive photoshoots in stores up and down the country, offering families the chance to have their very own family Christmas card photoshoot. The service will also be available online at CardFactory.co.uk until December 20.
“I absolutely love getting Christmas cards,” says Stacey Solomon on a behind the scenes video about the photoshoot for the Solomon/Swash blended family’s Christmas card that is hosted on Card Factory’s website and YouTube channel.
Card Factory has teamed up with PR agency Taylor Herring to promote the Christmas Family Photocards launch as well as raise awareness of the pop-up photoshoots which are taking place in eight locations from 14-17 November (see below). The cards are available at a cost of £10 for 10 cards.
“Christmas is our most important trading period and we’re delighted that this year we’ve been able to make it the most special yet for our customers,“ said Glyn Williams, customer and digital director of Card Factory. “The Festive Family Photocard service was created to give every Card Factory customer the opportunity to take a proper family portrait -, we want every customer to #MakeItATradition. We are so excited about the creative direction we are taking since hiring Taylor Herring and very much look forward to future projects.”
The stores and dates where the service will be available are
- 14-15 Nov: Leeds – Crown Point Retail Park (LS10 1ET)
- 14-15 Nov: Croydon – Whitgift Shopping Centre (CR0 1UY)
- 14-15 Nov: Cardiff – St Davids Shopping Centre (CF10 2DP)
- 14-15 Nov: Glasgow – Braehead Shopping Centre (G51 4BN)
- 16-17 Nov: Milton Keynes – The Centre MK Shopping Centre (MK9 3AG)
- 16-17 Nov: Rotherham – Parkgate Retail Park (S60 1TG)
- 16-17 Nov: Edinburgh – The Gyle Shopping Centre (EH12 9JY)
- 16-17 Nov: Swansea – Fforest Fach (SA5 4BB)
Top: Celebs Stacey Solomon, Joe Swash and family – including new baby Rex – bring the launch of Card Factory’s Family Photoshoot cards to life.
