Card Connection

  • Investment: £55,733

Card Connection is the UK’s leading greeting card franchise and is the ideal franchise for those looking for both a money making opportunity and a good lifestyle.

Card Connection

Stirling, Scotland
Seller Ref:FRA0106126566
  • Price: £55,733

Card Connection is the UK’s leading greeting card franchise and is the ideal franchise for those looking for both a money making opportunity and a good lifestyle.

Profile Information

Good Money Great Lifestyle!

If you are looking for a franchise with that golden combination of a ‘good money-making opportunity’ and ‘lifestyle’ look no further than Card Connection.

Card Connection is one of the UK’s largest card publishers and is the market leader in the franchise distribution of greeting cards.  The company was established in 1992 and within a few years grew to be the largest and most successful business supplying greeting cards on a consignment basis.  Viewed as one of the UK’s best run franchise operations, the company has been a full member of the British Franchise Association since 1995.

Using a proven system, franchisees place greeting card ranges in retail outlets on a ‘consignment’ basis.  This means the stock and display equipment is installed on free loan to the retailer.  This is one step beyond ‘sale or return’ as Card Connection customers never have to buy the stock in the first place, only paying for what they sell.  The award-winning merchandising service provided to retailer by local franchisees is second to none and has established the company’s excellent reputation especially within the convenience sector.

Franchisees have their own exclusive territory, calling on their customers typically on a monthly basis.

Customers include convenience stores, sub post offices, petrol station forecourts and staff restaurants in large offices.  There are 64 Card Connection Franchisees servicing 13,000 retail outlets in the UK and Ireland.

Card Connection’s National Account customer include Budgens, Londis, Nisa, Spar, BP, WH Smith, Bargain Booze, Shell and many more.

In 2008 Card Connection, became part of UK Greetings Limited (UKG), the UK’s largest card publisher, and the British subsidiary of American Greetings Inc., the world’s largest publicly owned greeting card company.

Good income from well established businesses

Card Connection has had a complete network for over a decade.  All territories sales are therefore re-sales, which mean they have a detailed sales history and an income from day 1.  All franchisees for sale have had a presale audit by Card Connection and are offered goodwill prices which should ensure a good income and return on capital.  Some territories are providing income in excess of £50,000pa.

Flexible Lifestyle

While your retail customers are trading throughout the day, and often into the night, you can merchandise them at hours convenient to you.

Outstanding Product Ranges

There are around 900 quality greeting cards in our range, which cover virtually every style and taste in the card market.  This means that a franchisee is able to tailor their displays to their retail customer’s requirements.

In addition, there are Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas ranges, plus Gift wrap, Gift Bags and Party.

Training And Support

Card Connection offers a comprehensive training programme.  Training is spread over several weeks and covers every aspect of the business in both the classroom and most importantly in the field.

In an on-going basis, every franchisee is supported by a Regional Sales Manager, who provides support and encouragement, as well as genuine business development within their territories.

Franchisees are encouraged to meet regularly, either through formal meetings/conferences or socially.

Who’s Ideal For Us?

Card Connection has limited vacancies for franchisees that are keen to run an exciting business.  Successful candidates would ideally have a strong desire to run their own business and are able to take on an existing business and breathe fresh enthusiasm into it.

Because the franchise networks in the UK and Ireland are complete, the available opportunities now consist of acquiring an already established territory from an existing franchisee.  These vary in price according to their level of development but start at £12,000 (+ stock).

If you’d like to be your own boss by breathing fresh enthusiasm into an existing business, please fill out the enquiry form below.

News / Success stories

Franchisees Continue to Triumph in Adversity

To say our world has changed over the past 20 months is probably the biggest understatement ever. 

Everyone is painfully aware of the difficulties many sectors of the economy have suffered during the Covid pandemic, but there are examples of businesses who have still thrived - Card Connection being one of them.

Managing Director Michael Johnson explains this phenomenon: “As we supply the convenience sector which remained open during the various restrictions, our 53 franchisees saw double digit  growth, which was the biggest again in the company’s almost 30-year history.  It’s a testament to strength of the publics’ desire to want to stay in touch with their friends and family by sending greeting cards that we’ve seen this increased level of sales. In fact, in a few cases, we had franchisees whose sales grew by 30%.”

“Of course, it was a tremendous reward to our franchise network and all their hard work in continuing to find ways to supply all our customers in a Covid safe ways in incredibly testing environments,” continues Johnson, “but there isn’t a franchisee among them who wouldn’t have given up every single extra sale to have things back the way they were before the virus.”

“Communication with customers is paramount, as we found with feedback from our franchisees throughout the past months, the pandemic has only strengthened relationships with their retailers, who appreciate all their efforts they’ve made to go above and beyond to supply their store through this incredibly difficult period.”  

So, if you’re thinking of investing in a business, a franchise could just be the thing, as you get to be your own boss, but with the backing of franchisor with tried and tested product. Right now, if you live in or near either Bournemouth, Ayr, Stirling or Cornwall, then you’re perfectly placed to consider franchise territories currently for sale from the leading supplier of greetings cards to the convenience sector.  Here are more reasons to look at Card Connection: 

 

  • Proven business model with nearly 30 years successful history
  • Excellent growth patterns, even during the pandemic
  • Fabulous product range, with new product released every 2 weeks
  • Franchises receive full initial training and ongoing support
  • The convenience sector continues to go from strength to strength
  • Greeting cards have proven almost recession proof

Card Connection is part of UK Greetings, has limited vacancies for franchisees keen to run an expanding business.  Candidates would ideally have some management experience as, once established, they could be expected to employ a small team, operate a small warehouse and have several liveried vans on the road.  Since the franchise network in the UK is complete, the available opportunities now consist of acquiring an already established territory from an existing franchisee.   These vary in price according to their level of development, but start at £21k + Stock + Card Connection fee with earnings potential in excess of £50k per annum

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Additional Details

BFA Member: Yes
Part-time: No
Home Based: Yes
Finance Available:

Similar Sectors: Retail Franchises ,

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