# Profit warning at Card Factory amid weak consumer confidence

By Dan Coatsworth — 2025-12-12

Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said: “There is a Nightmare before Christmas for Card Factory as it delivers a festive profit warning.

“It blames a weak UK high street, but it’s hard to look past the fact that a first-class stamp now costs more than one of its Christmas cards.

“Just as the advent of email and text communication kiboshed sending letters, the writing is also on the wall for sending Christmas cards.

“It’s not just the cost of sending an item by post that’s causing a headache. Weaker high street footfall is also a problem as Card Factory is heavily dependent on passing trade.

“Whereas some retailers like clothing companies have the internet channel to drive sales, Card Factory is very much a physical store-led business.

“At the half-year results it bemoaned an 11.3 per cent drop in online like-for-like sales, citing a strategic shift to focus on higher margin sales such as gifts and party supplies.

“Greetings cards are its bread and butter, and most people will buy them in person.”

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