cardfactory is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of cards, gifts and celebration essentials, with over 1,000 stores across the UK & Ireland. Our purpose is to make sharing in and celebrating all life’s moments special and accessible for everyone through great quality and value products. We have worked in partnership with Expect Distribution since the beginning of 2017, and along the way have managed to help deliver truckloads of celebrations for less for our customers. 

We partnered with Expect Distribution because we recognised the need to partner with a progressive solutions-based provider who could work at pace and support our business growth. 

Expect Distribution have implemented direct to store deliveries to 250+ local stores, within a circa 100 mile radius of our Wakefield distribution centre, using Card Factory liveried vehicles and dedicated drivers. This has improved relationships between our retail store colleagues and supply chain whilst also delivering a lower cost to serve.  Deliveries to our remaining store estate is through the Expect relationship with the Palletline network. This offers Card Factory high service levels and efficient costs for all other geographic areas.

Expect Distribution have worked hard to drive value to our business whilst improving our service levels with retail stores. Expect has introduced SMS ETA messaging for all store deliveries allowing our retail colleagues to efficiently plan for their store delivery arrival time. Additionally, Expect have taken on ownership of our end of season reverse logistics operation and improved the control, store service, and speed of the returns process.

The two businesses have developed an aligned understanding that has resulted in higher overall service levels particularly during peak trading periods where service is critical.

We have a number of progressive initiatives planned together to drive further efficiency and service levels, and value the strong relationship and “one team” spirit between our two businesses.