Greetings from the company ...

Oct 10 2007 by Chris Knox, The Journal

ENTREPRENEURIAL Andrew Gibson has launched a new card and gift business which aims to improve relationships in the workplace.

Mr Gibson – brother of North-East television newsreader Wendy Gibson – has formed the Card and Gift Company which provides its clients with a software system that alerts managers when staff birthdays, weddings or anniversaries are approaching.

The software then links managers to a website run by the newly-launched business where they can choose from a wide selection of cards and gifts.

Mr Gibson has adopted the idea from the US, where this type of system is common practice among a number of blue-chip companies.

He has high expectations for the business, projecting a £3m turnover and a 50-strong sales force within three years.

He is already looking to expand from his current base at Enterprise City in Spennymoor to premises with larger warehousing capability.

The business has attracted interest from a number of financial institutions including Barclays and Abbey. Mr Gibson says that he is also targeting Northern Rock and Newcastle Building Society in the North-East.

As well as expanding the business in the UK, Mr Gibson wants to expand into the US, where he says it will benefit from a guaranteed market.

The entrepreneur financed the launch of the business through proceeds from the sale of his document shredding business, Securi-Shred, to workplace service provider PHS in 2004. The business, set up in 1991, was the first mobile shredding service in the UK.

Mr Gibson said: “Workforce relations are becoming more important these days and the new business was developed with blue-chip companies in mind.

“It is important to make staff and customers feel wanted and this system ensures that all celebrations are not forgotten. The site is also open to the general public, who can use the system to manage the birthdays of families and friends. Every gift or card comes with a personally written note which we think makes the difference.

“There are more than 62 million people in the UK and they all have a birthday and most celebrate Christmas. That is one hell of a market to go at.” Andrew was able to launch his latest venture with the support of Sedgefield-based business consultants the Enterprise Group.

Mick Wood, business support manager, said: “Andrew has clear targets and goals to make the Card and Gift Company the top performer in its sector within a couple of years.”