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[[File:Card Factory - The Piazza Centre - geograph.org.uk - 1701112.jpg|thumb|Card Factory store in [[Huddersfield]], [[West Yorkshire]]]]
[[File:Card Factory - The Piazza Centre - geograph.org.uk - 1701112.jpg|thumb|Card Factory store in [[Huddersfield]], [[West Yorkshire]]]]
'''Sportswift Ltd''' [[t/a]] '''Card Factory''' is a chain of [[greeting card]] and gift stores in [[United Kingdom]] founded by [[Dean Hoyle]] and his wife Janet; the first store opened in 1997. The company currently employs around 6,500 people,<ref name="yorkshirepost1">
'''Sportswift Ltd''' [[t/a]] '''Card Factory''' is a chain of [[greeting card]] and gift stores in [[United Kingdom]] founded by [[Dean Hoyle]] and his wife Janet; the first store opened in 1997. Th company floated on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in May 2014.

==History==
Dean Hoyle left school with no qualifications, having a self-confesed greater interest in [[football]].<ref name=RWHarrison/> With his wife Janet, form 1993 they began buying cards wholesale, and selling them from the back of their van at [[car boot sale]]s and public open air events.<ref name=RWHarrison>{{cite web|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|author=Nicola Harrison|publisher=[[Retail Week]]|date=26 March 2010|accessdate=21 May 2014}}</ref>

They opened their first shop in 1997, purposefully choosing secondary retail locations which were cheaper.<ref name=RWHarrison/> After opening a few stores, whilst Janet founded and headed-up the internal design and print function, whilst Dean concentrated on expanding the business, with a nominal target of 500+ retail outlets.<ref name=RWHarrison/>

⚫
On 28 November 2008, Card Factory purchased about 80 of the 288 stores from failed [[greetings card]] company [[Celebrations Group]] (which trades as Card Warehouse and Cardfair), as part of a rescue package, securing around 500 of the 1,800 jobs currently at Celebrations.<ref>
⚫
{{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/business-news/BREAKING-Wakefield-card-firm-Card.4742666.jp | accessdate = 15 July 2011
⚫
}}</ref>

having put the business up for sale in January 2010,<ref name=RWHarrison/> on 8 April 2010 [[Charterhouse Capital Partners|Charterhouse]] completed the the £350&nbsp;million purcahse of the company..<ref name="yorkshirepost1"/> This enabled Dean Hoyle to later buy [[Hudderfield Town F.C.]].<ref name=RWHarrison/>

⚫
On 14 July 2011, Card Factory purchased gettingpersonal.co.uk for an undisclosed sum.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Present==
The company currently employs around 6,500 people,<ref name="yorkshirepost1">
{{cite news | title = Card Factory's £350m Private Equite Sale Completed | newspaper = Yorkshire Evening Post | date = 8 April 2010 | url = http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/businessnews/Card-Factorys-350m-private-equity.6214670.jp | accessdate = 10 April 2010}}</ref> mostly in front line positions in its stores. Their advertising claims they have not increased prices for ten years. Year-on-year sales rose 27% from 2008 to 2009 resulting in a £29.4&nbsp;million pre-tax profit and a turnover of nearly £168&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news| title = Soult's Retail View » Blog Archive » Card Factory lined up for Newcastle’s Northumberland Street: | publisher = Graham Soult | date = 18 June 2010 | url = http://www.soultsretailview.co.uk/2010/06/18/card-factory-lined-up-for-newcastles-northumberland-street/ | accessdate = 16 December 2010}}</ref>
{{cite news | title = Card Factory's £350m Private Equite Sale Completed | newspaper = Yorkshire Evening Post | date = 8 April 2010 | url = http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/businessnews/Card-Factorys-350m-private-equity.6214670.jp | accessdate = 10 April 2010}}</ref> mostly in front line positions in its stores. Their advertising claims they have not increased prices for ten years. Year-on-year sales rose 27% from 2008 to 2009 resulting in a £29.4&nbsp;million pre-tax profit and a turnover of nearly £168&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news| title = Soult's Retail View » Blog Archive » Card Factory lined up for Newcastle’s Northumberland Street: | publisher = Graham Soult | date = 18 June 2010 | url = http://www.soultsretailview.co.uk/2010/06/18/card-factory-lined-up-for-newcastles-northumberland-street/ | accessdate = 16 December 2010}}</ref>


Card Factory has donated £1&nbsp;million to [[Macmillan Cancer Support]], the company's chosen charity.<ref>[http://www.spenboroughguardian.co.uk/news/Charity-cash-on-the-cards.4435550.jp Charity cash on the cards from Dean - Local - SpenboroughGuardian] {{WebCite|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5wB4Bcihg|date =1 February 2011}}</ref>
Card Factory has donated £1&nbsp;million to [[Macmillan Cancer Support]], the company's chosen charity.<ref>[http://www.spenboroughguardian.co.uk/news/Charity-cash-on-the-cards.4435550.jp Charity cash on the cards from Dean - Local - SpenboroughGuardian] {{WebCite|url=http://www.webcitation.org/5wB4Bcihg|date =1 February 2011}}</ref>


==Controversy==
The company has been successfully prosecuted for Health and Safety infringements on a number of occasions. Incidents have included poor stock management,<ref>
The company has been successfully prosecuted for Health and Safety infringements on a number of occasions. Incidents have included poor stock management,<ref>
{{cite news
{{cite news
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</ref>
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⚫
On 28 November 2008 it was announced that Card Factory had purchased about 80 of the 288 stores from failed [[greetings card]] company [[Celebrations Group]] (which trades as Card Warehouse and Cardfair) as part of a rescue package securing around 500 of the 1,800 jobs currently at Celebrations.<ref>
⚫
{{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/business-news/BREAKING-Wakefield-card-firm-Card.4742666.jp | accessdate = 15 July 2011
⚫
}}</ref>

On 8 April 2010 the sale of Card Factory to London based equity firm [[Charterhouse Capital Partners|Charterhouse]] was completed for £350&nbsp;million.<ref name="yorkshirepost1"/>

⚫
On 14 July 2011, Card Factory purchased gettingpersonal.co.uk for an undisclosed sum.<ref>{{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}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 19:39, 21 May 2014

Sportswift Ltd
Card Factory
Company typePrivate (Ltd)
IndustryRetail
Founded1997
HeadquartersWakefield, West Yorkshire
Key people
Dean Hoyle,
Founder, Richard Hayes, CEO
ProductsGreeting Cards
Calendars
Revenue£228 million (2011)
Number of employees
5,700
Websitehttp://www.cardfactory.eu.com/
Card Factory store in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

Sportswift Ltd t/a Card Factory is a chain of greeting card and gift stores in United Kingdom founded by Dean Hoyle and his wife Janet; the first store opened in 1997. Th company floated on the London Stock Exchange in May 2014.

History

Dean Hoyle left school with no qualifications, having a self-confesed greater interest in football.[1] With his wife Janet, form 1993 they began buying cards wholesale, and selling them from the back of their van at car boot sales and public open air events.[1]

They opened their first shop in 1997, purposefully choosing secondary retail locations which were cheaper.[1] After opening a few stores, whilst Janet founded and headed-up the internal design and print function, whilst Dean concentrated on expanding the business, with a nominal target of 500+ retail outlets.[1]

On 28 November 2008, Card Factory purchased about 80 of the 288 stores from failed greetings card company Celebrations Group (which trades as Card Warehouse and Cardfair), as part of a rescue package, securing around 500 of the 1,800 jobs currently at Celebrations.[2]

having put the business up for sale in January 2010,[1] on 8 April 2010 Charterhouse completed the the £350 million purcahse of the company..[3] This enabled Dean Hoyle to later buy Hudderfield Town F.C..[1]

On 14 July 2011, Card Factory purchased gettingpersonal.co.uk for an undisclosed sum.[4]

Present

The company currently employs around 6,500 people,[3] mostly in front line positions in its stores. Their advertising claims they have not increased prices for ten years. Year-on-year sales rose 27% from 2008 to 2009 resulting in a £29.4 million pre-tax profit and a turnover of nearly £168 million.[5]

Card Factory has donated £1 million to Macmillan Cancer Support, the company's chosen charity.[6]

Controversy

The company has been successfully prosecuted for Health and Safety infringements on a number of occasions. Incidents have included poor stock management,[7] overstocking of stores,[8] damaged equipment, inadequate risk assessments and staff training.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Nicola Harrison (26 March 2010). "Dean and Janet Hoyle". Retail Week. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  2. ^ "Wakefield card firm Card Factory's rescue package saves 500 jobs". Yorkshire Evening Post. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Card Factory's £350m Private Equite Sale Completed". Yorkshire Evening Post. 8 April 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  4. ^ "GettingPersonal.co.uk (Online retailer of Personalised Gifts) is sold to Card Factory for undisclosed sum". Manchester Evening News. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Soult's Retail View » Blog Archive » Card Factory lined up for Newcastle's Northumberland Street:". Graham Soult. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  6. ^ Charity cash on the cards from Dean - Local - SpenboroughGuardian Template:WebCite
  7. ^ "Card retailer culpable for pensioner's fall". Health and Safety at Work. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  8. ^ "Firm fined over safety breach". WalesOnline. 30 October 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  9. ^ "Health and safety breaches cost firm over £40,000". Leicester City Council. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2013.

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