Paperchase is forging ahead with its plans for the future, including the launch of a brand new app for customers.
The Paperchase Plus app, launched this week (on the Apple Store and Google Play) which enables consumers to shop a diverse range of one-of-a-kind cards and design their dream notebook – from the page type to the cover personalisation – and spread a little joy by having the option to send directly to someone special.
Sarah House, head of brand at Paperchase explained that the developed the app is part of the “ongoing transformation programme. We’ve seen strong digital growth over the last year and so we wanted to allow our customers to customise our products in a way they have not been able to before with Paperchase.”
Sarah assured that new designs, created by Paperchase’s own in-house design team will be added every few weeks with everything being made to order.
The app’s launch comes in time for Father’s Day with over 100 Father’s Day cards on offer. As an extra incentive to download the app, Paperchase is offering 20% off first orders in June with code NEW20 plus free delivery for the month.
Meanwhile, Paperchase’s history is going under the hammer. Some 2,000 pallets of old Paperchase stock (from its previous ownership) have been put up for auction with Kettering auctioneers Gordon Brothers. Pricewaterhousecoopers, the joint administrators of Paperchase Products put what was marketed as being stock with an estimated retail value of £8 million up for auction. The closing date for bids was yesterday (June 8).
One supplier, who did not wish to be named, commented to PG Buzz: “This is somewhat infuriating when we, along with so many suppliers, suffered substantial losses when the company went into administration in January this year.”
Paperchase went into administration before being sold in a pre-pack deal to new company Aspen Phoenix NewCo, with financial backing from private equity company, Permira, that resulted in the closure of 27 of its stores.
https://www.pgbuzz.net/pre-pack-deal-safeguards-around-100-paperchase-stores-and-1000-jobs/
Positioned as a ‘rescue deal’, the finer points saw PwC being officially appointed administrators of the company while a substantial part of the business (including the brand name and ecommerce side) was acquired by Aspen Phoenix NewCo. The latter is a shell company, backed by Permira Debt Managers, which has provided funds for Paperchase since 2015.
Top: Paperchase is beefing up on the digital front as well as continuing to trade as a bricks and mortar chain.