House Of Cards’ Team Faces Up To Rules With A Smile

As well as marking Thinking of You Week with special displays in its six stores, Home Counties group, House of Cards put a thoughtful spin on the regulations for all retail staff to wear face coverings with a fun Pimp My Visor competition for all of its team.

Above: House of Cards promoted Thinking of You Week instore as well as celebrating the event with its Pimp My Visor competition for its staff, with Pat Hadfield of Thatcham among those who entered. — **Above:** House of Cards promoted Thinking of You Week instore as well as celebrating the event with its Pimp My Visor competition for its staff, with Pat Hadfield of Thatcham among those who entered.

The competition, which was open to all in House of Cards’ warehouse and retail teams, set an open brief to decorate their visors to add a bit of fun to a serious requirement.

“We’ve been wearing visors/face coverings since the first day of re-opening (a little ahead of Boris!) so we have all got used to them,” commented Miles Robinson, who co-owns House of Cards with business partner Nigel Williamson.

Above: House of Cards retail team have been wearing visors since the shops re-opened on June 15. — **Above:** House of Cards retail team have been wearing visors since the shops re-opened on June 15.

The entries ranged from pretty florals to the rainbow-centric, Halloween-themed to even a one, in a nod to the retailer’s name, based on a house.

The first prize, selected by Amanda Fergusson, ceo of the GCA was created by Deborah Barbour, who works in the Thatcham branch for her hearts and flowers creation.

Above: Deborah Barbour, who works in the Thatcham branch was the winner of the PMV competition. — **Above:** Deborah Barbour, who works in the Thatcham branch was the winner of the PMV competition.

Coming second with her glamorous 1920s incarnation was Lisa Gilbert of the Tring branch while the NHS thank you rainbow themed entry from Sonia Corrall, who works in the Walling ford branch came third.

Above: Lisa Gilbert of the HOC Tring branch came second. — **Above:** Lisa Gilbert of the HOC Tring branch came second.

They each received delicious treats from Betty’s as their prizes.

“I had so much fun judging the House of Cards competition. The entries displayed huge effort and ingenuity, with their creations bringing some fun to the challenges of COVID19 High St shopping!” commented Amanda having just completed the judging.

Above: Sonia Corrall, who works in House of Cards’ Wallingford branch came third. — **Above:** Sonia Corrall, who works in House of Cards’ Wallingford branch came third.

Miles explained that the retail business purchased 2,000 visors from greeting card printer, Windles (who converted some of its machinery to PPE during lockdown) in readiness for the shops re-opening. As well as staff wearing them, they have also been on sale to customers.

“We will shortly be moving to House of Cards branded face masks for our team so thought the Pimp My Visor competition would be a nice swansong for the visors, which have served us so well,” said Miles.

Above: New House of Cards’ branded face coverings have been commissioned. — **Above:** New House of Cards’ branded face coverings have been commissioned.

The entry from Tracey Hunnisett from House of Cards’ Wallingford branch is especially poignant. Tracey turned her visor into a bridal veil to acknowledge all those, including herself, who saw their plans to get married this year put on hold due to the Covid crisis.