Card Factory reported first-half revenue of £260.8 million, up 5.3%, driven by the Funky Pigeon acquisition and double-digit organic growth in wholesale partnerships. Adjusted profit before tax fell to £12.7 million from £13.2 million as the company invested in digital integration, while adjusted earnings per share rose 1.6% to 2.9 pence. UK like-for-like sales declined 2.3%, although UK store profitability improved through a 200-basis-point product-margin increase and cost controls. Republic of Ireland like-for-like sales rose 5.6%, and total store sales there increased 24.3%. Free cash flow over the last 12 months rose £9.9 million to £47.8 million, including almost £1 million in positive first-half free cash flow. Card Factory raised its interim dividend 7.7% to 1.4 pence per share and had completed 83% of its £15 million share buyback program. Management said it remains comfortable with consensus full-year adjusted profit before tax of £54 million to £59 million and does not require a sharp recovery in sales or consumer sentiment to deliver its second-half plan.