Cardfactory, Utility, Cards Direct, Scribbler, Postmark boost greetings numbers for festive season
The golden quarter is upon the greetings industry so the perfect time for new store openings to catch the busiest time of year – and Card Factory, Utility, Cards Direct, Scribbler and Postmark are among those who have gone for it with no less than 19 fresh outlets 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 known for its cheeky humour has now popped up in London’s Fulham Broadway in the capital, in a great location right next to the Tube station.
The new opening gives Scribbler 35 bricks-and-mortar stores plus there are 34 locations housing one of its kiosks alone, offering print-on-demand versions of its own-brand greetings designs – and, according to chief operating officer John Byrne, the retailer has several more new store openings in the pipeline.
Greetings retail giant Cardfactory is making good on promises in its latest results and forging ahead with the continuing store opening programme as eight have been added to the portfolio over the past six weeks or so.
Pushing it past the 1,060-store mark, Cardfactory can now be found in Aylesford, Bolton, Leeds, Lincoln, Manchester, Paisley and Prestwick as well as expanding in Ireland with the latest shop in Killarney.
Meanwhile, relative newcomer Cards Direct is also pushing ahead with its expansion programme as the privately-owned Hemel Hempstead-based retailer now has 77 shops thanks to the eight 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 under the direction of owners Mark and Leona Janson-Smith, who won the Best Greeting Card Small Multiple award at The Retas for the second year running and crowned it with the Greeting Card Retailer Of The Year at the July ceremony.
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 planned 2 December opening of its newest gift store in Manchester, as the 800sq ft of 46 Cross Street showcasing the best of the group’s gifts, greeting cards, homeware and fashion accessories will be unveiled just in time for the festive shopping season.
It adds to the current five locations – The Flint Showroom, Liverpool One, and Utility in Liverpool as well as the Utility gift stores in Manchester’s University Green and Altrincham.
