A newly formed West Midlands company believes it has solved the problem of buying a birthday card or gift which is just that bit different.

Coventry-based Yoodoo is a web-based design firm which personalises greeting cards and gifts to customers who have played a part in the design process and then use modern digital technology to turn the idea into reality.

The four-strong creative and development team moved into the University of Warwick Science Park's Business Innovation Centre in Binley in October.

Managing director Bob Leslie, who was previously a director at an insurance company in Coventry, said: "People who want to buy a greetings card can go online to our website and select a card by looking at different images or jokes and then personalise it by inserting the recipients name on the front image and either type or select a verse to be printed on the inside of the card.

"Once they are happy with their choice they pay £2.99 plus postage online and then we print and despatch it within 24 hours or on an agreed date within the next 12 months to either them or the person for whom they bought it.

"The unique cards are created by our designers and illustrators and the production of the finished personalised card is undertaken using the latest digital printers each costing over £300,000.

"Yoodoo are all about personalisation and we have already decided to extend the greetings cards service to include fun gifts and calendars which people can send with personalised messages on the gift packages and these services will be added shortly."

Mr Leslie said the Business Innovation Centre provided the size of offices and services that were required for new companies like Yoodoo as well as firms that were growing.

"We were looking for modern office accommodation and it is extremely useful to be able to hire its central meeting rooms and use its reception facilities," he added.

"We like the fact that there are other bigger units that we can move to and that we will be able to re-locate simply without all the hassle that usually entails."

Karen Aston, the manager at the Business Innovation Centre in Binley, said the complex had been set up to help fledgling companies like Yoodoo by offering all the services needed to run a successful business.

"More and more shoppers are buying presents online and internet users can now create their own greetings cards containing their special messages," she said.

"Companies can also contact Yoodoo with the names and dates of their employees' birthdays to ensure they all receive a card on the big day.

"It is an innovative idea and I am sure it will prove a huge success."

Yoodoo's website can be found at www.yoodoo.com