Card Factory revenues rise 4.7% over Xmas period

Card Factory has revealed that total revenues rose by 4.7% in line with expectations in November and December, thanks to higher average basket values due to expanded ranges and sales of gifts and celebration essentials.  

For the 11 months to 31 December 2024, the retailer saw total sales rise 6.2% year-on-year to £506.6m.

It comes as total store revenues increased by 5.7% during the period, off the back of 32 new store openings. 

The retailer also saw “encouraging” growth in gifts and celebration essentials ranges of 6.1% like-for-like driven by the introduction of new categories and expansion of existing ranges, alongside positive card growth of 1.4% like-for-like. 

While online like-for-like sales declined by 10%, this was driven predominantly by gettingpersonal.co.uk. Card Factory’s website saw like-for-like sales growth of 0.5%, as it continued to “focus on driving profitable growth through higher margin product ranges”.

Card Factory still expects to deliver FY25 adjusted profit before tax in line with current market expectations, reflecting “robust” revenue growth and the benefits of our previously announced productivity and efficiency programme.  

Darcy Willson-Rymer, CEO of Card Factory, said: “We are pleased to have delivered another successful Christmas trading period. Thanks to the hard work of colleagues across the business, growth was driven by further progress against our strategic initiatives and execution of our commercial offer. 

“Continued revenue growth, combined with the benefits of our productivity and efficiency programme, have enabled us to navigate a challenging retail environment and deliver a robust performance in the second half.” 

He added: “As a result, we expect to deliver full year profits in line with expectations and remain well positioned to manage inflationary pressures in the near term, as we continue to deliver on our strategic growth ambitions.”