“What an incredible day it’s been,” said an elated Richard Aylett, owner of Northwest Greeting Cards, the brand new greeting card and gift wholesaler on Sunday evening (October 14) the opening day of the Haydock-based business. “People were queuing before the opening and were still coming through the doors until very late afternoon, I can’t describe how fantastic it’s been,” he added.
The honour of cutting the ribbon to pronounce Northwest Greeting Cards officially open was given to one special lady. “All through my life my biggest supporter has been my Mum and being a family orientated firm it really was a no brainer that she would do the honours and cut that ribbon,” said Richard.
The opening of the Northwest Greeting Cards as a sibling to his Balloon World partyware wholesaler was a gamble, given the demise of so many card wholesalers, but one that Richard was prepared to take. And if the early indications are anything to go by, his tenacity and business passion is paying off right from the start.
“Regular Balloon World customers came in their droves and also lots of new customers, which is a real testament to my colleague Jason’s hard work on the road,” Richard told PG Buzz.
Richard said that the immediate feedback was “incredible” with retailers loving the spacious airy environment – and of course the rousing performance by award winning Golborne Brass Band who played to mark the official opening.
“This has been a long term plan of mine to grow Balloon World, and now with the birth of Northwest Greeting Cards I really feel that we can really reach new heights and set new standards across the industry,” said Richard, buoyed up by the positive response on the opening day. “If today’s customers were anything to go by it’s just what they’ve been waiting for!”
Though someone of a stickler for detail, Richard admitted to PG Buzz that in the run up to the opening he had forgotten to complete one important task.
“On the day of the opening, I woke up with a start in the middle of the night and realised that we had not priced up all the cards!” Richard told PG Buzz. “By the time the rest of my team got in at 7/8am I’d already done half a day! The next couple of hours were just about making sure that everything was ready and that I could get enough coffee into me to keep me awake when the adrenaline started to fade. I need not have feared as it’s now 9pm and the adrenaline is still pumping through my veins. It has been amazing.”
Top: Richard Aylett with two members of the Golborne Brass Band who played at the opening of Northwest Greeting Cards.
