Card jobs saved by Town chairman buyout

Dec 2 2008 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A GREETINGS card company headed by Huddersfield Town chairman-elect Dean Hoyle has saved 500 jobs by acquiring 80 rival stores threatened with closure.

Card Factory, based in Wakefield, has bought the stores from fellow card retailer Celebrations Group, which owns the Card Warehouse and Card Fair brands.

Celebrations Group went into administration in October, putting 1,700 jobs at risk at 280 stores. The group has a Card Warehouse store at the Piazza in Huddersfield, while Card Factory has an outlet in the nearby Pack Horse Centre.

Card Factory has not identified the stores acquired.

But Richard Hayes, managing director of Card Factory, said: “The Celebrations stores purchased provide a good fit with our existing footprint and enhance our national presence. To achieve this and at the same time save over 500 jobs is very pleasing for us.

“In uncertain economic times, the general public demands ever increasing quality but also wants to see better value for money. Card Factory has always worked on both principles and that has lead to the company becoming the fastest growing card retailer in the UK today.”