Former Clintons boss opens first Niquea.D store in latest greeting card shop manoeuvres
US greeting card name and former Clintons boss Dominique Schurman has returned to the retail side of the industry with the opening of the first store under her personal Niquea.D brand.
The bricks and mortar outlet in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania – which can be seen in the video here – is the latest move for Dominique as she builds the brand she founded, and which goes backs to her family firm roots as her son Jonathan Magal is director of operations.
Dominique has more than 35 years’ experience with greeting card retail and publishing, having taken over the Schurman Retail Group founded by her parents Marcel and Margrit in 1950, which included the Papyrus greeting card store brand that was sold to American Greetings in 2009, along with a stake in the family firm.
In 2012, when American Greetings appointed SRG to manage the Clintons retail group here in the UK, Dominique led the rebrand. She also was keen to bring the Papyrus brand concept to Britain, but a trademark issue meant she opened a couple of shops under the Jolie Papier brand.
Dominique was the keynote speaker at the GCA AGM & Conference in 2015, and can be seen in the video below sharing her passion for the industry as well as insights into the similarities and differences between the UK and the US market.
She handed the Clintons’ reins over to Eddie Shepard in 2017 to concentrate on her SRG responsibilities. In 2020 all SRG retail outlets closed, and Clintons was sold earlier this year to the Cardzone group headed up by Paul Taylor.
Back to the recent development, Jonathan introduced Dominique at the Niquea.D opening, where she said: “This is really an important moment for us, it’s been quite a journey getting here, lots of ups and down, and fun experiences along the way. We’re very proud to be here.”
And on social media, where Dominique can also be seen here sharing her passion for greeting cards, she added: “The first brick-and-mortar Niquea.D boutique premiers in the Charter Homes and Neighborhood Community located in Cranberry Township. Its open-air store front and stunning interior design showcases our enchanting assortment of greeting cards and gifts for the people we love as we celebrate life’s special occasions!”
Also on the store opening front, greetings retail giant Cardfactory this week revealed the revamped outlet in Manchester’s Arndale Centre, with the social media comment: “We’re back and better than ever, Manchester! Step into our brand-new Cardfactory store and experience our fresh new look.”
And Telford is the latest location for Cards Direct, taking the Hemel Hempstead-based retailer ever never the 60-store mark.
Meanwhile Tracey and Chris Bryant are growing their greetings empire slowly but surely, buying back their original outlet in Portishead, to add to Expressions of Swindon, The Cat’s Whiskers in Bishops Cleeve, and Polkadot in Keynsham.
“We’re delighted to say we are now the owners of The Card Shop, Portishead,” Tracey said. “It’s taken quite a while but we have finally completed.”
Over at Notcutts, which lifted the Best Garden Centre Retailer Of Greeting Cards Multiple trophy at the Retas Awards in July, there are changes afoot as preparations are made for the retirement of trading and operations Graham Walker at the end of the year.
Current category head for the home and gifting department Yvonne Archibald steps up to become trading director from November 1, as well as joining the company’s executive leadership team for the 19 garden centre in the group.
And on the same date Chris Holt will take up his new position as operations and sustainability director, moving from being cluster manager and general manager at the Notcutts St Albans site.
Notcutts CEO Nick Burrows said: “Graham has been hugely instrumental in the success of Notcutts. From planning and redeveloping many of our garden centres, and transforming our distribution operations to leading and aligning operations and buying and merchandising teams in pursuit of the company’s business goals.
“A true testimony to Graham is the fact that two of his own team, Yvonne and Chris, have now come forward to take over his areas of responsibility.”
And finally, WHSmith is expanding its area of operations with the 232-year-old High Street greetings and stationery retailer adding cafés to its repertoire.
With its travel arm now the company’s largest division and already having 590 stores in UK hospitals, railway stations and airports, the first Smith’s Kitchen opened last week at Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton, offering eat-in and takeaway options.
The move came shortly after WHSmith launched an own-brand food range of 30 products, including sandwiches, the concept is set to be rolled out to other UK hospitals.
Whether it’s in a hospital or on their journeys, customers tell us that quality food and drink options are what they prioritise most in the different locations we serve,” Andrew Harrison, WHS’s UK travel managing director said. “That’s why we have been doubling-down on our food ranges and formats.”
