Wakefield-based greetings card retailer Card Factory has announced the purchase of online rival GettingPersonal.co.uk.
According to a report by the Yorkshire Post, the Manchester-based company sells a wide range of personalised gifts and cards, including wedding, anniversary and birthday items, over the internet.
Sales at GettingPersonal.co.uk hit £11.5m in the 12 months to April 2011, up 22 per cent year-on-year. Card factory has a turnover of £230m and a network of more than 570 stores.
Speaking to the newspaper, Andy Garbutt, corporate development director at Card Factory, said: "We have been thinking about our online strategy for a while and thought that the personalised gift area was exciting and interesting and was growing rapidly. Getting Personal had a strong corporate cultural match with us."
The acquisition is part of a growth plan which could see Card Factory start its own website operation in the long-term. However, Mr Garbutt said the business was committed to the UK high street.
He said: "We are investing in high streets at a time when other people are turning their back on them."
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
