Independent Broadstairs card shop competes to scoop top award

Rod and Carrie Saunders-Pope at the Card Shack

An independent card shop in Broadstairs has reached the finals of a UK-wide award scheme.

Card Shack, at 2 Eldon Place, is competing against five other businesses to be named best independent greeting card retailer in the Home Counties in The Retas 2018.

The Retas awards, now in their 14th year, were launched by Progressive Greetings magazine to recognise and reward the UK’s very best greeting card retailers from across the retail spectrum. Greeting cards are sold in one in six shops in the UK, reaching the finals of The Retas is a notable achievement.

The Card Shack is run by Broadstairs husband and wife team Rod and Carrie Saunders-Pope. The set up the business five years ago after Rod left his position as a card salesman.

Carrie works both in the shop and as a language teacher.

Dad-of-two Rod said: “I thought there was a gap in the market and it seems to be working. We have competitive prices and we have a free loyalty basket where you get one free card for every six you buy.

“We chose to open in Broadstairs because it is a little, untouched place. It is Margate and Ramsgate that seem to get advertised most to people in London and then once they have come down to those places they explore and find Broadstairs.

“It is one of those little towns that is almost unchanged, most shops are independents so we are not affected when chain stores close down.”

All Retas finalists were decided as a result of an industry-wide poll of greeting card suppliers, reps and agents and validated by a panel of experts.

The winners of this year’s awards will be revealed at a ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel on London on Wednesday, July 11.

Further details can be found at www.theretasawards.co.uk

Find the Card Shack on facebook here

1 Comment

  1. I’m so proud of what my parents have achieved and I know they have what it takes to go all the way.

Comments are closed.