Huddersfield-based direct mail specialist Propack has announced the launch of its own online sustainable greetings card retail business, Planet Bee Cards.
The ‘cards with a conscience’ business is the UK’s first environmentally-focused greetings cards offering, with carbon reduction and guaranteed charitable donations at its heart.
Propack has made a six-figure investment into the launch of Planet Bee, which was created to offer a sustainable and conscious option for greetings card senders.
Its aim is to become a key player in the greetings cards sector and an alternative provider to market-leading brands.
It has the capacity to print and post up to 185,000 personalised cards per day from its 30,000 square foot bespoke site in Huddersfield.
Planet Bee Cards is entering the market with a competitive price point, and will be the most affordable online card retailer on the market, with prices starting from £1.95 for a personalised card.
With charitable giving a core focus for the brand, it has committed to making a donation from each card purchase to one of its two charity partners, Mental Health UK and Action for Children.
Customers will be able to choose which charity to donate to at checkout. All charitable donations will come from Planet Bee’s profits and go directly to support the charities on a monthly basis.
Planet Bee will launch with new-to-market original card designs that can be fully personalised with photos and text for all celebratory occasions, with new designs being added daily.
The online retailer has partnered with numerous fresh creative designers to create a platform for new talent to enter the industry.
With Propack’s extensive print and fulfilment experience and capabilities, Planet Bee will be launching with an impressive turnaround time of a daily 6pm cut off for next day delivery.
The launch of the business has allowed two new roles to be created at Propack, with Nicole Clark and Martin Owen being appointed as head of marketing and graphic designer, respectively.
Nicole has spent the last five years running marketing for start-ups, helping the likes of Dr Alex George, Tom Daley and Mark Wright to create successful businesses from idea to fruition.
CEO and founder of Propack, Neil Lloyd, said: “We are thrilled to be able to launch Planet Bee Cards with such an incredible team behind us.
“The brand is allowing us to bring a new proposition to the marketplace that ties all of our core beliefs together; protection of the environment, carbon reduction, carbon offsetting and charitable contributions close to our clients’ hearts.
“I am delighted to be able to partner with Mental Health UK and Action for Children, two wonderful organisations that do such important work.
“This will ensure that we can continue to support others for years to come and provide opportunities for our customers to give back while still maintaining a competitive price point.
“Through Propack we also have our own ethical postage brand, Ethical Mail®, as well as recently partnering with Ecologi to ensure a climate positive operation.”
Speaking of the partnership Emily Beahan, regional fundraising manager at Action for Children, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Propack and Planet Bee. With 447 services across the UK, in schools and online, Action for Children supported 671,275 children, young people and families in 21-22.
“This is such a huge opportunity for us to raise vital funds and awareness but also to work on some exciting new products together as the partnerships progresses. Watch this space!”
Paul Stewart, Mental Health UK’s senior partnerships manager, added: “Mental Health UK are delighted to be a partner of Planet Bee, a socially-conscious brand that strives to improve society through the support of charities and the environment.
“Planet Bee will contribute 10p per card sold to Mental Health UK to help provide the tools to those who need them to live their best possible lives.”
To find out more, please visit: www.planetbeecards.com
