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

How do you grow business 14% in the same year as losing your largest customer?

That was the challenge facing Thayalan Markandu, Card Connection’s franchisee for Middlesbrough, when through no fault of his own he lost a chain of his most lucrative stores.

A relative newcomer to the greeting card franchise network, he took this early blow to his business firmly on the chin. “As an ex-retailer myself, I knew how true the old saying that ‘retail is detail’ really is.  So rather than crying over spilt milk, I looked at how I could make the most of the business I still had,” explained Thayalan.

With the able backing of his wife Siva, Thayalan identified several positive steps he could take.

Firstly, he took time to re plan his merchandising routes, calling on his most important outlets more often.  Once there, he maximised on customers’ recent buying trends to trade up to more higher price point cards, whilst also increasing the choice of his Relations cards – another big recent growth area.

Next, he looked beyond his greeting card displays, towards what other non-card product he could supply.

“I found by increasing the quantity of each gift bag, bottle bag and giftwrap design I put on display from six to ten was an easy win, as no empty pockets when I returned on my next visit also meant no lost sales,” reasoned Thayalan.  “Then I looked carefully at each store I supplied, to identify any small areas of unused space and persuaded the owners to allow me to fill them up with Card Connection’s range of party products.”

The increased stock count has meant less disruption to Thayalan’s merchandising cycle through being asked back to make urgent re-stocks, whilst the trading up on price points and inclusion of extra non-card products has meant more profit per store, per visit. 

“The extra £16,000 of sales I’ve seen speaks for itself,” said a smiling Thayalan.   

Card Connection is part of UK Greetings, which is a subsidiary of American Greetings Inc., one of the largest greeting card publishers in the world and has limited vacancies for franchisees that are keen to run an expanding business.  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 £10k + Stock + Card Connection fee with earnings potential in excess of £50k per annum. 

For further information please click on the request details button.

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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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