Gift retailer behind Menkind and wholesale brand The Source celebrates the most profitable year in company history and announces continued UK and European expansion plans
Gift Universe, the retail and wholesale group behind leading gifting retailer Menkind and wholesale specialist The Source, has reported its strongest-ever financial performance, delivering a record turnover of £71 million and the highest profit in the company’s history.
For the financial year ending April 2026, the Group achieved pre-bonus EBITDA profits of £7 million. The results mark the first full year under the leadership of Managing Director Gary Wakeman and reflect significant progress across all trading channels.
Three years after transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), Gift Universe will be sharing this historic success directly with its workforce. More than 350 employees will participate in this year’s profit-sharing bonus distribution scheme, including 102 colleagues qualifying for the first time. Notably, the business continues to significantly outperform retail sector norms for employee retention.
Paul Kraftman, Founder and Chairman of Gift Universe, commented: “Becoming an EOT three years ago was a pivotal step, and these results are a testament to the efficacy of the employee-owned model.
“Achieving our highest-ever turnover and profit demonstrates the strength of our brands, our strategy, and, most importantly, our people. Every channel in the business outperformed the previous year in both revenue and profitability, showing that we’re not just growing, but growing smarter. This performance is a direct reflection of the dedication, energy and expertise of our colleagues across every area of the Group.”
Whilst Menkind’s historical strength has been rooted in seasonal gifting and novelty gadgets, a strategic evolution under Gary Wakeman, Managing Director, has successfully repositioned the brand into a major, year-round retail destination. This shift has been heavily driven by the rapidly expanding collectibles and “kidult” market.
Gary Wakeman added: “The ‘kidult’ category has fundamentally shaped our modern DNA. This shift yields a much higher average transaction value through high-quality figurines, collectibles and trending products. Crucially, it is significantly enhancing our revenues outside of the traditional Christmas peak trading period.”
Sales across menkind.co.uk and online marketplaces increased by £1 million, with profitability climbing by 35% as a result of optimised marketing performance and greater operational effectiveness.
The wholesale division, The Source, delivered a 6% year-on-year growth in sales. Driven by a disciplined focus on margin improvement and sustainable growth, profitability within this B2B sector surged by an exceptional 60%.
Gift Universe plans to maintain this momentum by expanding its physical retail footprint across the UK, whilst accelerating growth opportunities in Northern Ireland. The company is investing significantly in ecommerce with a complete website rebuild in progress and due to launch early next year.
The Source is expanding reach by partnering with major retailers’ on-line marketplaces as well as focusing on expanding distribution channels across the UK where there is currently underrepresentation as well as selected European markets.
“The gifting market remains resilient, and we believe Gift Universe is exceptionally well positioned to continue delivering sustainable, profitable growth,” concluded Kraftman.
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Notes to Editors
About Gift Universe:
Gift Universe is the parent company of Menkind and The Source.
About Menkind:
Menkind is one of the UK’s leading gifting retailers, offering a broad range of gadgets, collectibles, toys, games and novelty gifts through its national store network and digital channels.
About The Source:
The Source is a leading wholesale supplier serving major high street retailers and trade customers across both the UK and international markets