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cardfactory Trading Statement Released : 08 Nov 2021 RNS Number : 5739R Card Factory PLC 08 November 2021 8 November 2021 Card Factory plc ( " Card Factory " or " the Company " or , together with its subsidiaries the " Group " ) , the UK's leading specialist retailer of greeting cards and complementary products , today provides an update on the Group's trading and operations . Card Factory plc Trading Update Further to the trading update in September alongside our interim results , sales performance has continued to recover , with two - year like - for - like sales ( LFL ) ( i.e. compared to the equivalent quarter to 31 October 2019 , pre - Covid ) showing gradual improvement . Two - year store LFL was -3.0 % for the quarter to 31 October 2021. Average basket value over this quarter continued to exceed pre - pandemic levels ( + 22.5 % on a two - year LFL basis ) , offsetting the lower transaction numbers ( -20.9 % on a two - year LFL basis ) . Online is trading in line with our expectations , with the stronger performance of Getting Personal offsetting a reduction in sales from cardfactory.co.uk . Both brands continue to perform ahead of pre - pandemic levels . Customers are responding well to our Christmas ranges , which are selling well at this early stage of the season , leading to the accelerated introduction of the third phase of Christmas cards and complementary products into approximately 350 stores . A relatively small proportion of products sourced from the Far East is subject to the widely reported supply chain delays , but we believe our contingency planning will ensure any delays to store deliveries are minimised and short lived . Recruitment of seasonal store staff has started strongly . Net debt , which is typically at its annual high due to stock purchase in advance of the Christmas season , as at 31 October 2021 was £ 108.4 million ( excluding £ 20.8 million of deferred rents and VAT ) , compared to net debt of £ 142.5 million ( excluding £ 13.2 million of deferred rents and VAT ) on 31 October 2020 . Darcy Willson - Rymer , CEO , commented : " We continue to see improved performance of the business as customers steadily return to shopping in stores . This gives us confidence as we engage to realise the refreshed strategy and build our omnichannel offering . We look forward to the future and the continued implementation of our strategy . We are confident that the Group is well placed to take advantage of the growth opportunities available to it . " Enquiries : Card Factory Plc Darcy Willson - Rymer , Chief Executive Officer Kristian Lee , Chief Financial Officer Tulchan Communications James Macey White / Victoria Boxall / Elizabeth Snow Tel : 01924 839150 Tel : +44 ( 0 ) 207 353 4200