# Card Factory
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Card_Factory
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Card_Factory.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_Factory
> Source revision: 1353132903
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{short description|Retailer of greeting cards and gifts in the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Card Factory plc
| trading_name =
| logo = Card Factory logo (updated).png
| area_served = United Kingdom
| logo_size = 200px
| former_name = {{Ubl
| CF Listco Limited 17{{endash}}30 April 2014)[{{cite web |date=17 April 2014 |title=Card Factory plc overview – Find and update company information – GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09002747 |access-date=16 February 2024 |website=[Companies House](/source/Companies_House) }}]
| Card Factory Limited (30 Apr 2014)[{{cite web|url=https://www.cardfactoryinvestors.com/media/rzapjpel/cardfactoryfy26prelimsrns-final.pdf|title=Annual Results for the year ended 31 January 2026|publisher=Card Factory|accessdate=8 May 2026}}]
| operating_income = {{decrease}} [£](/source/Pound_sterling)59.4 million (2026)[
| net_income = {{decrease}} [£](/source/Pound_sterling)31.2 million (2026)][
| num_employees =
| owner = {{Ubl
| [Invesco](/source/Invesco) (27%)
| [Artemis (fund managers)](/source/Artemis_(fund_managers)) (12%)
| [Old Mutual Global Investors](/source/Old_Mutual) (10%)
}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://cardfactory.co.uk}}|
}}
[[File:Card Factory, Southside Wandsworth.jpg|thumbnail|Card Factory, [Southside Wandsworth](/source/Southside_Wandsworth), London]]
[[File:Card Factory - The Piazza Centre - geograph.org.uk - 1701112.jpg|thumb|Card Factory store in [Huddersfield](/source/Huddersfield), [West Yorkshire](/source/West_Yorkshire)]]
[[File:Card Factory store, Mullingar.png|thumb|Card Factory store in [Mullingar](/source/Mullingar), [County Westmeath](/source/County_Westmeath), Ireland]]
'''Card Factory plc''' is a retailer of [greeting card](/source/greeting_card)s and gifts in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) founded in [Wakefield](/source/Wakefield) by [Dean Hoyle](/source/Dean_Hoyle) and his wife Janet. The first store opened in 1997, and by 2020 the company had over 1,000 stores.][{{cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/485108/card-factory-store-numbers-united-kingdom-uk/|title=Number of Card Factory stores in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012–2020|access-date=8 February 2021|work=statista}}] The company also operates two retail websites and has mobile apps for both iPhone and Android. It is listed on the [London Stock Exchange](/source/London_Stock_Exchange).
==History==
===Origins to 2009===
Dean Hoyle left school with no qualifications, having a self confessed greater interest in [football](/source/association_football).[ With his wife Janet, from 1993 they began buying cards wholesale, and selling them from the back of their van at [car boot sale](/source/car_boot_sale)s and public open air events.][{{cite news|url=http://www.retail-week.com/people/profiles/dean-and-janet-hoyle-the-husband-and-wife-team-behind-card-factory/5011601.article|title=Dean and Janet Hoyle|first=Nicola |last=Harrison|work=[Retail Week](/source/Retail_Week)|date=26 March 2010|accessdate=21 May 2014}}]
In 1997, they opened their first shop under within the [holding company](/source/holding_company) Sportswift Ltd, purposefully choosing secondary retail locations which were cheaper.[ After opening a few stores, whilst Janet founded and headed up the internal design and print function, Dean concentrated on expanding the business, with a nominal target of 500 retail outlets.][ This gave the company a profit margin advantage over rivals, including [Clinton Cards](/source/Clinton_Cards).][{{cite news|url=http://www.retail-week.com/city-and-finance/nick-bubbs-verdict-are-the-card-factory-and-game-ipos-growth-stories/5060382.article|title=Nick Bubb's verdict: Are the Card Factory and Game IPOs growth stories?|first=Nick |last=Bubb|work=[Retail Week](/source/Retail_Week)|date=19 May 2014|accessdate=21 May 2014}}]
The couple built a board to expand the business, including: Keith Pacey (chairman of [Maplin](/source/Maplin_Electronics)); Richard Hayes (managing director, their ex bank manager); Chris Beck (commercial director, ex [Grant Thornton](/source/Grant_Thornton)); Darren Bryant (group finance director, ex [PricewaterhouseCoopers](/source/PricewaterhouseCoopers)).[ On 28 November 2008, Card Factory purchased about 80 of the 288 stores from failed [greetings card](/source/greetings_card) company [Celebrations Group](/source/Celebrations_Group) (which traded as Card Warehouse and Cardfair), as part of a rescue package, securing around 500 of the 1,800 jobs at Celebrations.][
{{cite news | title = Wakefield card firm Card Factory's rescue package saves 500 jobs | newspaper = Yorkshire Evening Post | date = 28 November 2008 | url = http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/business-news/business-headlines/wakefield-card-firm-card-factory-s-rescue-package-saves-500-jobs-1-2198793 | accessdate = 15 July 2011
}}]
===2010s===
The couple put the business up for sale in January 2010[ and on 8 April 2010, [Charterhouse](/source/Charterhouse_Capital_Partners) completed the £350 million purchase of the company which at the time operated 480 stores.][{{cite news | title = Card Factory's £350m Private Equity Sale Completed | newspaper = Yorkshire Evening Post | date = 8 April 2010 | url = https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/card-factorys-ps350m-private-equity-sale-completed-1979251 | accessdate = 5 May 2020}}] This enabled Dean Hoyle to later buy [Huddersfield Town F.C.](/source/Huddersfield_Town_F.C.)[
On 14 July 2011, Card Factory purchased gettingpersonal.co.uk, an online retailer of personalised gifts, for an undisclosed sum.][{{cite news|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1426706_gettingpersonalcouk-is-sold-to-card-factory-for-undisclosed-sum|title=GettingPersonal.co.uk (Online retailer of Personalised Gifts) is sold to Card Factory for undisclosed sum|date=14 July 2011|work=Manchester Evening News|accessdate=14 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517142116/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/gettingpersonalcouk-sold-card-factory-undisclosed-865538|archive-date=17 May 2017}}]
In May 2014, the company floated via an [initial public offering](/source/initial_public_offering) on the [London Stock Exchange](/source/London_Stock_Exchange).[
In April 2015, the company launched its own website, cardfactory.co.uk.][{{cite news|url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2015/08/card-factory-sales-boosted-by-new-stores/|title=Card Factory sales boosted by new stores|date=11 August 2015|access-date=8 February 2021|work=Retail Gazette}}]
In 2019, the company began supplying cards to [Aldi](/source/Aldi), [Matalan](/source/Matalan) and [The Reject Shop](/source/The_Reject_Shop).[{{cite news|url=https://www.pgbuzz.net/card-factory-to-supply-400-aldi-stores-with-cards-matalan-trial-extended-to-15-stores/|title=Card Factory To Supply 400 Aldi Stores With Cards, Matalan Trial Extended To 15 Stores|date=24 September 2019|access-date=8 February 2021|work=PGBUZZ.net}}]
===2020s===
Card Factory shops were shut for much of 2020 and the beginning of 2021 due to the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic). Revenue from the website more than doubled during this period,[{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/a557a1a0-f5ae-4ee2-b3ce-9a69a12dd5e5|title=Moonpig float set for lift-off|date=8 January 2021|access-date=8 February 2021|work=Financial Times}}] and the website was relaunched in August 2020 to enable cards to be personalised,[{{cite news|url=https://www.essentialretail.com/news/card-factory-new-mobile-app/|title=Card Factory website launches, new mobile app on way|date=20 August 2020|access-date=8 February 2021|work=Essential Retail}}] matching similar offerings to [Moonpig](/source/Moonpig) and Funky Pigeon. In late 2020, the company launched mobile apps for both iPhone and Android devices.[{{cite news|url=https://www.chargedretail.co.uk/2021/02/02/card-factory-launches-app-amid-scramble-to-expand-online-offering-as-stores-remain-shut/|title=Card Factory launches app amid scramble to expand online offering as stores remain shut|date=2 February 2021|access-date=8 February 2021|work=Charged}}]
In December 2020, [Costcutter](/source/Costcutter) boss Darcy Willson-Rymer was appointed as chief executive.[{{cite web|last=Ackerman|first=Naomi|date=21 December 2020|title=Card Factory appoints Costcutter's Darcy Willson-Rymer as new CEO|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/card-factory-new-ceo-darcy-willsonrymer-b420010.html|access-date=22 December 2020|website=www.standard.co.uk}}]
In 2024, Card Factory sold an exclusive [East 17](/source/East_17) [Christmas card](/source/Christmas_card) to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's [Christmas single](/source/List_of_UK_singles_chart_Christmas_number_ones) ''[Stay Another Day](/source/Stay_Another_Day)''. A portion of the revenue raised by sales of the card were donated to [music therapy](/source/music_therapy) charity Nordoff and Robbins.[{{cite news|url=https://readdork.com/news/east-17-stay-another-day-30th/|title=East 17's Tony Mortimer has released some festive charity items for 'Stay Another Day' 30th anniversary|last=Taylor|first=Sam|date=3 December 2024|work=[Dork](/source/Dork_(magazine))|accessdate=23 December 2024}}][{{cite news|url=https://retropopmagazine.com/east-17-celebrating-30-years-of-stay-another-day-with-charity-reissue/|title=East 17 celebrating 30 years of Stay Another Day with charity reissue|last=Gotto|first=Connor|date=5 November 2024|work=Retro Pop Magazine|accessdate=23 December 2024}}]
On 15 August 2025 Card Factory completed the acquisition of Funky Pigeon from [WHSmith](/source/WHSmith) for £24m; [{{Cite web |date=2025-08-15 |title=WHSmith completes £24m sale of Funky Pigeon to Card Factory - Retail Gazette |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2025/08/whsmith-funkypigeon-card-factory/ |access-date=2025-08-15 |language=en-GB}}] the brand would become one of Card Factory's main businesses and would boost its online presence.[{{Cite web |date=29 July 2025|title=Card Factory snaps up Funky Pigeon from WHSmith - Retail Gazette |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2025/07/card-factory-funky-pigeon/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |language=en-GB}}]
==Operations==
The company operates some 1,000 stores.[{{cite news|url=https://www.pgbuzz.net/card-factory-hits-the-1000-store-milestone/|title=Card Factory Hits The 1,000 Store Milestone|last=Brown|first=Jakki|date=21 August 2019|work=PGBUZZ.net|accessdate=12 May 2020}}] [Macmillan Cancer Support](/source/Macmillan_Cancer_Support) is the company's chosen charity; Card Factory donations to the charity had totalled £1 million by 2008[{{cite news|url=http://www.spenboroughguardian.co.uk/news/Charity-cash-on-the-cards.4435550.jp |title=Charity cash on the cards from Dean – Local |newspaper= Spenborough Guardian|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725225316/http://www.spenboroughguardian.co.uk/news/Charity-cash-on-the-cards.4435550.jp |archivedate=25 July 2011 |url-status=dead |accessdate=15 September 2008}}] and £3 million by 2014.[{{cite web|title=Macmillan has been working in partnership with Card Factory since 2006, and that year saw their total reach £3 million.|url=http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Aboutus/OurCorporatePartners/CardFactory.aspx|publisher=Macmillan Cancer Support|accessdate=10 February 2015}}]
==Controversy==
The company has been successfully prosecuted for Health and Safety infringements on a number of occasions. Incidents have included poor stock management, blocking of fire exits, overstocking of stores,[
{{cite news
| title = Firm fined over safety breach
| publisher =WalesOnline
| date = 30 October 2008
| url = http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/firm-fined-over-safety-breach-2149252
| accessdate = 5 May 2013
}}
]
damaged equipment, inadequate risk assessments and staff training.[{{cite news
| title = Health and safety breaches cost firm over £40,000
| publisher = Leicester City Council
| date = 10 December 2009
| url = http://news.leicester.gov.uk/newsArchiveDetail.aspx?Id=x9688
| accessdate = 5 May 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131102165857/http://news.leicester.gov.uk/newsArchiveDetail.aspx?Id=x9688
| archive-date = 2 November 2013
| url-status = dead
}}]
In 2008, the company was fined £15,000 after an elderly woman tripped over a cardboard box that had fallen from a display area in an aisle and fractured her thigh. She was rushed to a local hospital, where she had to undergo an emergency hip operation. She later died while recovering from the incident, after catching [Clostridioides difficile](/source/Clostridioides_difficile). The company was fined under Regulation 3 of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, for failing to report the incident promptly.[{{cite news
| title = Card retailer culpable for pensioner's fall
| publisher = Health and Safety at Work
| date = 1 October 2008
| url = http://www.healthandsafetyatwork.com/hsw/content/card-retailer-culpable-pensioners-fall
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130629103147/http://www.healthandsafetyatwork.com/hsw/content/card-retailer-culpable-pensioners-fall
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 29 June 2013
| accessdate = 5 May 2013
}}]
In December 2024, the company faced criticism for not meeting recommended gender diversity targets on its board. Despite a prior commitment to achieve 40% female representation by December 2024, the company maintained only two women on its six-member board, stating it was not in shareholders' interests to appoint an additional director solely to meet this target.[{{cite web |date=16 December 2024 |title=Card Factory refuses to appoint extra female director to hit diversity target – despite previous pledge |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/card-factory-refuses-to-appoint-extra-female-director-to-hit-diversity-target-despite-previous-pledge-4910931?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=29 December 2024 |website=Yorkshire Post }}]
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Card Factory}}
* [https://www.cardfactory.co.uk/ Card Factory website]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Greeting cards
Category:British brands
Category:Retail companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Retail companies established in 1997
Category:Companies based in Wakefield
Category:2014 initial public offerings
Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange
Category:Companies in the FTSE SmallCap Index
Category:1997 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Companies established in 1997
---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Card Factory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_Factory) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Card_Factory?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.