Latest news with #WHSmith
The Independent
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Funky Pigeon sold to Card Factory for £24m
Card Factory has agreed to buy online firm Funky Pigeon from WH Smith for £24 million as it looks to boost its web offering. Funky Pigeon, which operates out of Guernsey and Bristol, specialises in personalised cards and gifts and makes around £32 million in sales on average a year. Card Factory said it wants to expand its online business, with Funky Pigeon's technology platform set to be the basis for its digital business in the UK and Ireland 'over time'. It claims the deal will see it become the UK's second largest online card and related gift retailer. Darcy Willson-Rymer, Card Factory's chief executive, said: 'This acquisition marks a significant step forward in Card Factory's strategy to build a scaled, competitive digital presence in the celebration occasions market. 'It brings a high-quality platform and proven technology, accelerating our ability to compete in the direct-to-recipient card and gifting segment, so supporting our ambition to become the leading omnichannel retailer in our sector.' The deal comes as WH Smith continues to focus attention on its stores based at travel sites, having recently sold off its 230-year-old high street retail business to investment firm Modella Capital.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Card Factory nabs Funky Pigeon brand as WH Smith focuses on travel
Card Factory will buy online personalised card company Funky Pigeon from WH Smith for £24million. It comes as WH Smith sells off its non-core assets, as well as its high street business, to become a pure-play travel retailer with stores in airports and train stations. The deal also marks a significant shift from the high street to online for Card Factory, which told shareholders on Tuesday the takeover will make it the second largest online card and attached gift retailer in the market. Over the last two years, Funky Pigeon has generated around £32million revenue per year and £5million in adjusted earnings before nasties.. The deal, which values Funky Pigeon at £26million, represents approximately five times Funky Pigeon's earnings. Card Factory said the acquisition would accelerate the company's existing digital strategy. Chief executive Darcy Willson-Rymer added: 'This acquisition marks a significant step forward in Card Factory's strategy to build a scaled, competitive digital presence in the celebration occasions market. 'It brings a high-quality platform and proven technology, accelerating our ability to compete in the direct-to-recipient card and gifting segment, so supporting our ambition to become the leading omnichannel retailer in our sector.' The deal will be funded from a drawdown of up to £35million under Card Factory's existing borrowing facility. Once approved, it plans to extract 'annual synergy benefits of more than £5million'. Its outlook for the year - of mid-to-high single-digit percentage growth in sales and adjusted profit - remain unchanged. FTSE 250-listed Card Factory shares were up 8.1 per cent to 96p by midmorning on Tuesday. WH Smith said the Funky Pigeon sale followed a 'strategic review' of the business and 'will be used to improve the group's net debt position.' It marks the latest asset disposal for the high street stalwart, after it group agreed a £76million sale of its high street business to Hobbycraft owner Modella. The sale of its high street arm comes after years of under-pressure sales and profits at the division, while WH Smith's travel business has grown to make up the bulk of its sales and profits, with more than 1,200 stores across 32 countries. It will focus its efforts on its stores in train station and airports, ditching the WH Smith name for the TGJones brand.
Metro
4 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Emirates business class review: I 'turned left' — now I'm ruined for life
On a recent trip to Australia, Mel was a guest of Emirates, flying Heathrow to Sydney in Business Class. From door-to-door chauffeur service to Bulgari toiletries, on-board bar and a seemingly infinite supply of champagne and cakes, this extravagant whirl around the world would make it hard to fly any other way. But is it worth the expense? Here, Mel gives her verdict for anyone eyeing a seat up front. Mel, over to you. The background: I like to romanticise my flights. As soon as I shut the front door, I'm 'on holiday'. From stocking up on books in WHSmith to applying skincare on flights, I want the experience to be as comfortable as possible, no matter how I'm flying. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Which is, I should add, always economy. What were the highlights? The flat-lie beds feel like a cop-out to mention as a highlight because, let's be honest, it's what you expect from a business class seat in 2025. So I'll go beyond that. The lack of airport faff was a real delight. A chauffeur picked me up at my door and dropped me off at Heathrow, and there was a dedicated (and empty) business-specific bag drop, as well as a special security screening section that delivered me from car to Emirates lounge in 10 minutes. It goes to show how quick and painless the process of getting through airport check-in and security *could* be…for a cost. What other perks do you get? If you're flying from Heathrow, there is a dedicated gate within the Emirates lounge, meaning once you're settled in with a snack and glass of bubbles, you don't have to leave the cushy confines to venture back to the general terminal to board the plane. The same goes when flying out of Dubai, where you can board directly from the gate. It's a stealth convenience I didn't realise I needed. What is the cabin actually like? I flew on an Emirates A380, which is the newer configuration with a 1-2-1 layout. This is, I'm told, the more elite set-up (compared to the 2-2-2 layout), where every seat has aisle access, meaning you don't have to climb over a sleeping neighbour should you want to visit the bathroom or bar, or stretch your legs mid-flight. I loved having easy access to the aisle and a window view (even if I did have to lean quite far over to spot the glistening lights of Sydney as we landed). Back to the Bulgari freebies — what were they? It's no surprise that Emirates supplies a bougie toiletries bag on board. There's one for women and another for men (I took bot home, they have different products). The women's bag — a large silver case — included rich hand cream, fragrance, lip balm and deodorant, as well as the usual toothbrush/toothpaste (which was also stocked in the bathroom). The men's — which was a simple, black bag — upped the game with a disposable razor, which I thought was a practical inclusion. My husband and I still use the bags for weekends away as they're the perfect size to fit your essentials. Do I dare mention the noise-cancelling headphones, the soft cotton pyjamas, the eyemask and the slippers I also got on board? What was the food like? I'm one of those people who like plane food, even in economy. Give me a little pot of pasta salad and a slice of lemon drizzle cake any day. But the food in business was ridiculous. After asking the flight attendant to help me locate my tray table (the best way to look like a total business class newbie…) a white cloth was placed atop, with olives and nuts to start. I then feasted on thick cuts of smoked salmon with horseradish cream, a main of seared beef tenderloin and potato gratin, and I ended with a cheeseboard stacked with Stilton blue, a Dutch goat's cheese and Gouda. Breakfast was banana pancakes with a berry compote (which I chose over bircher muesli), while I snacked in between on cakes and fruit from the bar. Anything else? The onboard bar was a brilliant touch and I still enjoy the flashbacks of seeing fellow travellers — who I appreciate were likely C-suite, or very important business people, not journalists who only dream of flying this way every time — sitting in their blue-grey Emirates pyjamas and slides, quaffing back top-shelf spirits in the seating area. Scouting a mid-flight Bloody Mary made with Belvedere vodka was a lovely way to travel, no less the welcome ability to grab a packet of crisps, a sandwich or fruit to take back to your seat to quell mid-journey tummy rumbles. What didn't you like so much? The fact I can't live this life every time I fly? I don't think there was any aspect I didn't like, which is saying a lot for a 24-hour long haul to Australia. I could say the Entertainment options weren't as good as other flights I've been on, but that's got nothing to do with Business and I'd have the same experience in Economy. If I had to be really picky (which you want me to be, don't you?) I'd say food service was a long affair, where I had to wait quite a while for entrees to be removed for mains, then mains to be removed for dessert, then dessert to be removed so I could put my table away and go to sleep. We could've shaved off a solid 40 minutes of waiting there. But truly first world (or at least business class) problems. Ok, it sounds great. How much does business with Emirates cost? London to Dubai in Emirates Business is around £2,995 return. Flying business to Sydney, like I did starts from £5,435. It's not something most people can afford, but if you can spring for it, it's certainly a lovely experience. Final thoughts? I can't deny there wasn't a slight smugness that came from turning left, or, rather, boarding through the dedicated business queue and heading up the stairs because I'm always the sneering economy class passenger trying to pretend I'm totally fine with my tiny cattle class seat. More Trending For 24 hours (well, 48 if you count it as a return journey) I felt utterly pampered. And I got to pretend. My chauffeur chatted to me like I flew in luxury all the time, and I was addressed by name by attentive flight attendants as they dropped by to take my dinner order. As someone who's made the journey from the UK to Australia several times over the years, I'd never believe it if someone told me I wouldn't want the flight to end. Even if you don't care for creature comforts, the whole process of flying was made horrendously convenient. I'm ruined for life. We're doing our best to bring you the inside scoop on what every airline offers. Our Opinion Editor, Jess Austin, recently flew business class from London to Toronto with British Airways. It was her first time travelling outside economy, and the experience was a world away from the flying she's accustomed to. From excessive leg room to White Company freebies , you can read her honest review here. MORE: Plane suddenly drops 500 feet to 'avoid mid-air collision' with British jet fighter MORE: I explored the 'forgotten' islands two hours from UK that most can't find on a map MORE: TUI launches 'extreme day trips' from 11 UK airports that last 24 hours
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Thriller Queen Shari Lapena comes to Glasgow for Bookface Sip & Swap
Shari Lapena, the #1 internationally bestselling author of The Couple Next Door, is coming to Glasgow for a special Bookface Sip & Swap event. Taking place on Thursday, September 11 at Saints of Ingram from 5.30pm to 8pm, the evening promises lively conversation, great company and the chance to hear from one of the world's most successful thriller writers. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Lapena is the author of a plethora of suspense novels including A Stranger in the House, Someone We Know, Not a Happy Family and her latest, What Have You Done?. Her debut, The Couple Next Door, was a runaway global bestseller, selling 4 million copies worldwide. It was WHSmith's 'Book of the Year' in 2016 and the top-selling adult fiction title in the UK in 2017. Since then, all of her books have been bestsellers in the UK, US and Canada, with four selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club and film and TV deals in the works. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Originally a lawyer and English teacher, Shari now writes full time from a farm in Ontario, where she lives with her husband. She says she writes books you shouldn't be able to put down – and her readers agree. Bookface Sip & Swap Guests will enjoy two complimentary drinks (fizz or soft) on arrival, followed by a Q&A with Shari, hosted by Bookface founder Heather Suttie. There's also the popular Bookface book swap, with 300 titles to browse. Guests are encouraged to bring up to four books to exchange, but it's not essential – we know many prefer Kindle or audiobooks. Bookface Sip & Swap events are known for their friendly, informal atmosphere and sell out every month. They're a chance for readers and aspiring writers to meet bestselling authors, ask questions, and enjoy a relaxed evening with fellow book lovers. Previous guest authors include Lisa Jewell, Claire Douglas, Jenny Colgan, Alan Parks, Davinia Taylor, Sophie Gravia, Nikki May, Susannah Constantine, Heather Morris and Val McDermid.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Post Office to re-open on High Street, months after previous branch's closure
The post office in Stockton town centre will reopen in a new spot on High Street with extended hours, months after the previous branch's closure. The Post Office says the former Furniture Express shop will be refurbished to house the post office branch, along with a new convenience store. The previous branch on Wellington Square closed with the town's WHSmith store in May. The new shop at 148 High Street is due to open at 1pm on Monday, September 29, with opening hours 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 4pm Sundays. The Post Office says it will provide '58 hours of Post Office service a week for the convenience of customers". 'This is an extra 11 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service a week, including all-day Sunday and Saturday afternoon. There will be two full-screened counters and one combi counter available,' says the Post Office. It adds on its website: 'Whilst the decision has already been made to reopen this branch, we would still like your views on access at the new location. We welcome feedback that can help inform our plans.' Customers have been invited to share their views on access at the new premises and other feedback in an online consultation with a questionnaire. This chance to give comments closes on August 20. Submissions can also be made via email to comments@ by post to Freepost YOUR COMMENTS, or by telephone 03452 660115 or Textphone 03457 223355. Stockton West MP Matt Vickers welcomed the news, saying: 'It is vital that everyone has access to services, and it is good news that the future of the post office in Stockton town centre is secured.' Stockton North MP Chris McDonald posted on social media: 'This will be a modern, open-plan main-style branch, providing essential services for our community from a central, accessible location."
