Pete Goodman, Mike Apicella and Bill Greeno plus new agents set to build up independents service
Carte Blanche Greetings has announced management changes within its UK independent sales division to enable it to further improve its service to indie retailers.
A trio of experienced industry professionals as well as respected agents have come on board to help manage and support the channel for the card and gift company.
Industry stalwarts Pete Goodman, Mike Apicella and Bill Greeno will be working with Carte Blanche helping to manage the company’s salesforce.
And the team, which includes employed business development executives and sales agents, is about to be expanded with the appointment of experienced sales agents Janice Miller for the north east, Brendan Cahill in Wales and Neil Pearson in the south west.
The changes coincide with CBG’s independent sales manager Richard Mortimer leaving the business and Carte Blanche ceo Alister Marchant commented: “We want to thank Richard for his time at CBG and wish him well for the future.
“The independent channel has always been and will always be a vital channel to us, hence we have always been proud to have one of the largest employed independent sales forces in the industry, but we acknowledge the speed of change in the retail landscape and, as such, we need to be flexible in our approach to servicing our customers.”
Alister said the company, the UK’s largest privately-owned greeting card publisher, has created some of the industry’s most loved and successful brands and its independent research shows Carte Blanche’s best-known Me To You brand “remains the first choice brand for 48% of UK consumers when it comes to buying a greetings card or gift”.
He added: “Being able to purchase the brand they love in the places they shop is crucial for customers and the unique offer our independent retailers provide in terms of depth of range, year-round offer and service within the local community means they continue to be a go-to destination for consumers looking for our brands.
“With the investment in this re-structure our aim is to continue to support and develop this important channel.”
