Foyles, the UK National & Children’s Bookseller of the Year 2012, is working with Plastic Card Services (PCS) to provide its range of own branded gift cards. The family-run bookseller, which has a strong heritage dating back to 1903, has been overwhelmed by customers requesting Foyles branded gift cards, and has ordered 65,000 cards from PCS to date.
The plastic cards, which are manufactured by PCS in Macclesfield, come in four designs – two featuring nostalgic black and white photography of customers and the store in the early twentieth century, and two aimed at younger shoppers with one designed by renowned children’s author and illustrator, Oliver Jeffers. The cards are available online and in-store in a variety of denominations, with cards starting at a pocket-money priced £5, all the way up to a £250 value.
Miriam Robinson, head of marketing at Foyles, said: “The nature and heritage of our business, along with the dedication of our staff, means we have a very emotional connection with our customers. For many, coming into a Foyles store brings back memories of family trips they took as children, and is an experience they’re keen to share with their own loved ones. As a result, we found we were getting a lot of customers requesting Foyles branded gift cards, rather than the generic tokens which we’ve always stocked.
“Tapping into customer demand, we sought out a card manufacturer who could offer flexibility, high quality and a thorough understanding of our needs in order to provide a wide choice in gift card design. Plastic Card Services has provided all of these things and more. In particular, we’ve been impressed with its fast turnaround times and reliable service which means we’re consistently well-stocked.”
Paul Hansford, national account manager at PCS, added: “People love to give books as gifts for any occasion but often struggle with which is the best title to pick. Gift cards provide a fantastic answer, allowing the recipient to pick up the latest offering from their favourite author or to try out a new genre.
“It has been great to work with a brand steeped in so much history. Our own management team has 100 years’ experience in the plastic card industry and was able to guide Foyles through the manufacturing process from design, to functionality, and ultimately to putting a high-quality, eye-catching and reliable final product on the shelves.”
