“These are unprecedented times for everyone and without doubt worrying for us all. Working together with our members and suppliers is vital to ensure we have a platform to build on when things start to return to some kind of normality, whatever the new normal will be!” states Chris Dyson, joint managing director of Cardgains, whose members account for 1,000 independent retail stores.
“The furlough scheme, Government grants, business rate changes, Government loans, along with the Cardgains action plan will hopefully be enough to ensure, not just survival but a foundation upon which to build success in months to come,” he told PG Buzz.
Going on what has been mooted, Chris says: “It looks like some small independent stores may be in the first phase of store re-openings. It will mean change, it may mean reduced hours and will certainly mean social distancing measures to be in place in stores, but it’s a start. The objective will be to plan a safe controlled store opening programme…the key word being ‘SAFE’,” he stressed.
The swift action by Cardgains senior management team (headed up by Chris and his fellow joint md Steve Grocott) to react to the challenges of the Covid-19 crisis for its 1,000 members and 100 suppliers, has quite rightly resulted in praise from both sides.
Prior to lockdown, understanding the importance of payment to its suppliers, Cardgains paid all suppliers 10 days early. The second part of the plan has been to give all members a ‘payment break’ for the month of April.
All Cardgains members have been contacted via email or telephone. In addition to weekly emails to members the Cardgains’ website is being regularly updated with information regarding statements/payment options as well as sharing various Government links to grants and furlough requirements.
Here PG Buzz shares just a few votes of thanks from Cardgains’ retail members…
Chris Waters, owner of Giftscene in Barrhead: “Cardgains has done a great job of looking after the members in this first month of lockdown. They’ve reached out to each and every one of us with advice on what help is available for businesses as well as sharing plans on how they were going to manage payments.
While they kindly offered a one month extension to the April bill I’ve chosen just to pay my monthly statement as usual so all my direct suppliers are paid in time as normal.”
Carl Dunne, owner of Cards & Gifts in Sheffield: “I think the Cardgains’ management team has done a fantastic job, offering such support to us independent retailers.
Cardgains’ first response to the Covid-19 situation was to say to all us and all the other members: “Don’t panic, don’t worry, talk to us and we’ll do what we can to support you”. Although I am a member, until now I had no real idea just what an amazing a company it is – they’ve blown me away.
Allowing us to defer for one month was so helpful. As I got my grant from the local authority I did my best to clear my bill, but others have not been so lucky.
It’s amazing to think that a company of Cardgains’ scale and size was so quick to support their customers when others like Ryanair and Virgin ask for bailouts or are only willing to issue vouchers. Really is a testament to how amazing our industry is at supporting itself.”
Debbie and Jerry Brown, co-owners of First Class Greetings in Hadleigh: “We think Cardgains is doing a fantastic job in helping their members and we would like to express our thanks to the whole team.
Because we have Post Office in store we are still open although our retail sales are very restricted.
It is only Jerry and I working because we could not comply with social distancing protocols with staff.
Jerry works the Post Office and I am door security. All staff have been furloughed to keep them safe and to preserve their jobs, but we are so thankful to know Cardgains is there for us.”
Kay West, owner of Cardella in Gerrards Cross and Amersham-on-the-Hill: “I cannot praise the Cardgains team enough throughout this first month of lockdown – they have been brilliant. It is not just the financial help – such as allowing us to skip the April payment – but the caring communication that instils a sense of belonging and assures you that you are not alone.
As I received my grant from the Government I elected to pay our statement as I want to support our suppliers, as we will need them to be there when we all come out of this!”
Top: Chris Dyson (at the front in lime green), with Cardgains’ colleagues, members and suppliers at the start of last year’s charity challenge walk.
