Card Factory holds full-year profit guidance as Funky Pigeon acquisition masks weak store sales
From the Newshound archive · first published 29 September 2026.
Card Factory reported a 5.3% rise in first-half revenue to £260.8m, but the entire gain came from its August 2025 acquisition of personalised cards site Funky Pigeon, with like-for-like store sales falling 2.0%. Adjusted pre-tax profit slipped 3.8% to £12.7m as the Wakefield-based retailer invested in digital and international operations. Chief executive Darcy Willson-Rymer insisted the company remains "confident of delivering full-year expectations" with its Golden Quarter plans in place.
Shares rose 2.3% to 74.4p in early London trading after the guidance was reaffirmed, recovering from a late March low of 60.1p.
Willson-Rymer said the Funky Pigeon integration is on track to deliver expected synergies, with 23 new stores opened in the past year partially offsetting declining footfall at existing sites.
The company, which runs 1,126 stores, is now banking on Christmas trading to rescue its full-year numbers after a flat first half.
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Home of Direct CommerceFunky Pigeon lifts Card Factory sales as own website falters - Home of Direct CommerceYorkshire Post'We remain focused on strengthening our store estate': Card Factory delivers first half results - Yorkshire PostSharecast.comCard Factory reaffirms outlook despite 'uncertain' consumer backdrop - Sharecast.comAskTradersCard Factory Shares Rise as Retailer Holds Profit Guidance Despite Weak Store Sales - AskTraderspluang.comCard Factory keeps full-year profit forecast as sales rise despite weaker UK store trade - pluang.comYorkshire PostCard Factory delivers revenue growth as consumers remain under pressure - Yorkshire PostProactive financial newsCard Factory holds full-year guidance as sales rise despite weaker UK stores - Proactive financial newsInsider Media LtdRevenues rise at Card Factory despite “continued pressure on the UK consumer” - Insider Media LtdRetail WeekCard Factory ‘confident’ in strong golden quarter as revenue rises - Retail WeekUK Investor MagazineCard Factory revenue grows as wholesale sales rise - UK Investor MagazineTheBusinessDesk.comCard Factory sales soar but profits take a hit - TheBusinessDesk.comTradingViewUK's Card Factory H1 revenue rises, helped by Funky Pigeon acquisition - TradingView