Ramping up its expansion, UK’s largest specialist greetings card retailer Card Factory has launched its first store in the Middle East, at the Bawabat Al Sharq Mall in Abu Dhabi.
The shop is part of the retailer’s franchise agreement with UAE’s Liwa Trading Enterprise, a subsidiary of Al Nasser Holdings
Card Factory’s CEO, Darcy Willson-Rymer, said: “We are excited to be opening our first stores in the Middle East as we continue to deliver on our ambitious ‘Opening Our New Future’ growth strategy.
“Our entry into the Middle East will underpin our position as a global competitor and help drive our transition to become the market-leading omnichannel retailer of cards and gifts.”
The deal between greetings card specialist and Liwa, announced in May, will see Liwa open about 36 stores with Card Factory’s fascia across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
In April, the retailer acquired South African-based SA Greetings to boost its global presence.
Established in 1987, Liwa operates 20 international brands, with 250 stores in the GCC.
According to Market Reports, the greeting cards segment is projected to continue growing due to the surge in demand from major applications industries.
Macroeconomic factors such as global economic expansion, rapid urbanisation, growing middle-class population and the increased spending capacity of consumers will drive the growth.
