A partnership between Leeds Beckett University and Riverside Greetings, a Wakefield-based greetings card company, is set to propel Riverside towards its ambition of becoming the largest supplier of greetings cards to convenience and forecourt stores across the UK. This collaboration has led to the development and implementation of innovative Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, which is revolutionising stock management within the industry.
The RFID technology has been patented as part of a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) supported by Leeds Beckett University, with funding assistance from Innovate UK. This initiative aims to enhance Riverside’s operational efficiency and provide real-time business performance data—an area previously lacking for the company.
With the new RFID system, stores can conduct a full stock count of hundreds of card designs in less than two minutes, achieving 100% accuracy. In contrast, the traditional manual counting process takes approximately 30 minutes. This significant improvement has translated into a reported 11% increase in sales at Riverside’s pilot stores.
Dr Akbar Sheikh Akbari, a Reader in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing at Leeds Beckett University, explained the initiative’s objectives. “The challenge for Riverside was a lack of real-time business performance data,” he said. “The KTP aimed to create a sustainable platform for growth by using RFID and AI to develop better data management, tighter stock control, and a clearer understanding of which designs are selling in each store, enabling Riverside to anticipate and meet client needs more swiftly.”
RFID technology employs radio waves to identify tagged objects, providing a method for tracking items in various commercial applications. The decision to embed RFID tags in low-value, high-volume items such as greetings cards is viewed as a highly innovative step.
The KTP has received an ‘Outstanding’ rating from independent assessors at Innovate UK, the highest grade available for such projects. Central to the success of this initiative was Dan Lamsdale, a KTP Associate who was recruited as a full-time member of Riverside’s team. Lamsdale played a crucial role in managing and delivering the RFID pilot programme, which was rolled out across several convenience stores. He also created a strategic marketing framework, campaign plans, and a cultural change programme within the business to facilitate the adoption of the new technology.
Andrew Glen, Managing Director of Riverside Greetings, expressed his satisfaction with the KTP’s outcomes. “The KTP has exceeded our expectations, and we have seen significant benefits,” he noted. “The RFID technology’s patent pending status has positioned us as a leader in our field, allowing us to explore other markets and potential licensing opportunities in the future. Importantly, it has improved our responsiveness to customer needs.”
Riverside Greetings is now preparing for a phased rollout of the RFID technology across its store network throughout the UK, signalling a new era for the company and its operations.
Jo Griffiths, Head of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships at Leeds Beckett University, praised the project’s achievements. “The Outstanding grading awarded to the project indicates the high quality of innovation achieved,” she said. “We look forward to witnessing Riverside’s continued growth.”
