Buying group Cardgains, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2024, is among the sponsors of this year’s The Gift Awards, with the company sponsoring the Gift of the Year’s Best Home Fragrance Product or range category.
The group, which recently welcomed three new members on board this year – Lily-Flame, Sock Academy and Tracks – is celebrating its milestone anniversary with a roll out of over 40 special promotions from suppliers in the first half of the year, as well as a new website and increased social media activity.
“Many of the promotions are exclusive to Cardgains and give retailers the chance to trial new products and suppliers at a really keen cost,” explains Cardgains’ managing director Penny Shaw.
The initiative started five years ago with small trials being made available to members for just £30. As demand increased, suppliers were asked to also provide top ups to a larger order. Continues Penny: When our sales team visit members now, they can offer much larger orders of £100+, so suppliers are benefitting from an extra two pairs of hands selling products to the members. During 2023 our team sold around £120,000 of trials, top ups and promotions, the majority of which was new business to the suppliers and new products for members.”
Meanwhile, the Cardgains website is currently in the design process, with Cardgains’ new Instagram page @cardgainsltd and refreshed Facebook page @cardgains and X account @Cardgains going from strength to strength. “The roster of suppliers is growing all the time, adding value to the portfolio and a point of difference,” confirms Penny.
“Over the last 12 months we have introduced 25 new suppliers including gift companies such as Something Different, Letterbox Love, Blade and Rose, The Gifted Stationery Company, Smart Toys and Toynamics as well as greeting card publishers Paperlink, Bexy Boo, Pango, Sooshichacha and Pink Pig. Plus, we have three more names which will be revealed shortly,” adds Penny.
“This is a great opportunity especially for new suppliers who may not have the full sales team coverage of more well-established suppliers.”
Current promotions include offers such as Rainbow Designs’ taster pack and three Bedtime Cuddles packs, plus specific card ranges, new releases, seasonal packs, taster packs, stationery, and gifts from Abacus Cards, Clare Maddicott, Bexy Boo,Blade & Rose, Boxer Gifts, Cherry Orchard, Grass Roots, IC&G, Letterbox Love, Lucilla Lavender, Marina B, Pango, Paper Rose, Peers Hardy, Pink Pig, Pioneer,Scentiment Gifts, Toynamics, Wax Lyrical, and Xystos.
Visit www.cardgains.co.uk
Top: The packed Cardgains Village at Spring Fair.
