It has been an emotional week for Dean Hoyle, chairman and major shareholder of The Works (founder of Card Factory). This morning (9 May), the value retailer revealed an impressive set of results, which showed revenue was up 13.2% and a 3% increase in like-for-like sales receiving a thumbs-up from the City and investors alike.
While the retailer does not specialise in greeting cards, it stocks cards, wrap and stationery instore as well as online. As well as single cards (being offered at £1 each), The Works’ current online selection includes a ‘3 for £2 offer’ on single cards, plus several promotional boxes of 576 assorted greeting cards for only £49.99, which the site claims offers a saving of £289.85!
Going back further than his love of greeting cards, is Dean’s football fanaticism for Huddersfield Town FC. On Saturday (May 4), Dean received a standing ovation from the crowd at Huddersfield Town’s football stadium in tribute of his leadership as owner of the club for the last decade. Saturday’s match against Manchester United (which ended in a draw) was Dean’s final one as owner, having sold his controlling interest to fellow supporter Paul Hodgkinson.
In the 10 years at the forefront of the club, Dean has taken Town to two Wembley promotions, two years in the Premier League not to mention all the fantastic charity work of the Town Foundation.
Some supporters are now calling for a stand at the John Smith’s Stadium to be named in his honour and a statue to be put up outside the main stadium entrance.
Meanwhile, Dean’s current retailing legacy continues to grow, with The Works now trading from 500 stores and with its sights set on growing the estate to 1,000 stores. The Works delivered its eighth, consecutive, record Christmas performance in its last financial year but cites ‘economic and political uncertainty in the UK’ as having impacted on softening like-for-like sales growth since the turn of the year. Consequently, the Company now expects its adjusted profit before taxation2 to be around the lower end of current market expectations.
Top: The Works is now trading from 500 stores with its sights set on reaching 1,000.
