The Hong Kong-based Sandbox Group has acquired Tailormade Design, further bolstering its position in the own brand greeting card sector.
Tailormade Design was founded in 2001, initially headed up by industry stalwart Matthew Sharp. It quickly established itself as a supplier of own brand greeting cards, giftwrappings and stationery to multiple retailers, notably in the grocery channel, taking on the whole process from design through to production and distribution.
Under the recent acquisition, Tailormade Design joins the Sandbox group, founded by Cris and Greg Holmes in 2004. The group also includes Pinecone Design, which supplies US retailers as well as Sandbox Industries which has provided manufacturing services to several UK publishers. The group already produces over 200 million cards a year.
The existing Tailormade team, who are based in Bradford are to remain with the new company. The acquisition reinforces Sandbox’s commitment to vertical integration, combining design, and manufacturing.
While founder Matthew Sharp has not been involved with the company since his retirement as chairman in December 2019, Tailormade will continue to be run by Paul White, finance director and general manager; Gail Lanfranchi, creative director; Belinda Cockburn, marketing and product manager; Craig Moore, operations and production manager and Laura Hague, HR, payroll and office manager.
“We purchased Tailormade Design in order to expand and enhance our portfolio of companies,” said Greg Holmes, Sandbox Group’s ceo. “We know that the new business will provide the long-term approach we need to secure a positive future – a strong workforce, a business-friendly environment and superb creative, manufacturing, and distribution.
We believe in the integrity of Tailormade, which has a long and proven track record of providing exquisite quality and design, and we hope to increase the appeal of the company to an even larger international audience.”
As well as Hong Kong, the group has offices in the UK, Canada and China, and the previous acquisition of Pinecone Design in early 2004 brought marketing access to the North American retail market.
As Cris Holmes, coo of Sandbox Group, stressed; “Our track record speaks for itself,. We’re proud to provide differentiation in the marketplace, with all our designs created on a bespoke and exclusive basis. The company focuses intensely on relationship building with its customers, retailers and partners. Our international approach offers a global vision of emerging trends, innovative packaging options and new revenue streams which we can continue to offer to our valued customer base.”
