Card Factory acquires online rival while EBITDA jumps 20%

Card Factory, which itself does not have a transactional website, has acquired the online retailer of personalised gifts and cards for an undisclosed sum.

The move takes it head-to-head with the established player in the market, Moonpig. Rival Clinton Cards has also recently launched its own personalised cards and gifts website.

Card Factory, which was acquired by private equity firm Charterhouse last year for about £370m, clocked up £64m in EBITDA in the year to January 31. Revenue climbed 12% to £232m. Like-for-likes were positive for the year.

The 577-store retailer opened 45 shops in the period, opening on average at least one a week over the past six years. During that time it has seen turnover increase five-fold from £46m to £232m.

GettingPersonal.co.uk, headed by founder John Smith, has itself grown rapidly. Sales jumped 22% to £11.5m in the year to April 2011.

Last year it received 9 million visitors, and despatched more than 800,000 items.

Card Factory chief executive Richard Hayes said: “GettingPersonal.co.uk’s approach has seen it become a leading light in the online personalised gift market in the UK. We will support John and his management team in establishing the business as the UK’s leading personalised online gift retailer.”