Job changes at Cardfactory, Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Scribbler, WHSmith, Paper Rose, G.F Smith
There’s a whole lot of moving and shaking going on in the greeting card industry on the people front.
As well as the big news announced by PG Buzz yesterday, 24 October, about Cardfactory chief commercial officer Adam Dury heading for retail pastures new in December, there have also been job changes at Sainsbury’s, G.F Smith, Marks & Spencer, Scribbler, WHSmith, and Paper Rose.
Sainsbury’s has recently announced two changes and a return – Claire Fountain joins the team as buyer for cards and wrap, having previously been in the grocer’s Habitat Home team, while Shar Grothier steps into a new role as buyer for party, which is still part of the cards, wrap and party team, and senior buyer Sanjit Dool is back from maternity leave.
Head of buying and design for celebrations Abi Wilson said: “They’re a fantastic team – and Christmas has started really well for us, customers are certainly embracing getting prepped early on this year!”
A well-known industry face is now part of G.F Smith’s team as Simon Davis has joined the paper merchant as insights advisor greetings.
“Joining G.F Smith is not just about craftsmanship, it’s about becoming part of a legacy of innovation and creativity that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary,” Simon said of the move to the Hull-based business.
He was previously with Abbotprint as its first sales executive, and spent almost three years as new business development manager for digital print specialists The Imaging Centre, following five years with Greetings Today magazine.
At WHSmith Stephanie Bastin has moved from the retailer’s Curi.o.city store gift concept brand where she was a buyer for 18 months, to become international buying manager general merchandise for the main business where she had previously been the stationery and card buyer.
Martin Parks has returned to Paper Rose as a part-time consultant. He spent five years as studio manager at the company, now owned by Alison Butterworth and John Lowey, before moving to The Original Poster Company as art director and production manager for 15 years, then set up his own greeting card consultancy, and most recently was operations manager at The Art File for four years.
Over at retail chain Scribbler, junior buyer Izzy Doyle has moved responsibilities to party, packaging and stationery, working up from assistant buyer for cards after joining the business in 2021 from Paperchase where she had been an buyers’ admin assistant for cards, wrap, gifts and celebration.
After nine years at Clintons, head of gift and buying manager Gabbie Peters has moved to Marks & Spencer where she is now a buyer.
Gabbie previously spent five years as the buying manager cards at Tesco, and her first 18-month stint at Clintons as 3D gift buyer, following eight years at Woolworths where she was a buyer for kids’ arts and crafts and stationery.
