Leading greeting card publisher and franchisor, Card Connection, has confirmed that Scottish franchisee Munawar Mohammed’s year-to-date, like-for-like sales are up significantly.

Munawar joined Card Connection in 2016, purchasing the Aberdeen franchised territory, and initially supplied 122 retailers with Card Connection’s extensive range of quality greeting cards and accessories. Over the past 18 months, he has grown his business and now supplies 194 stores in the 200 square-mile territory of North East Scotland, which stretches from Carnoustie to John O’Groats. Sales have increased in both the existing and new retail outlets he supplies and merchandises.

“I looked at numerous franchises before choosing Card Connection,” confirms Munawar, who formerly worked for the well-known furniture retailer DFS as one of the company’s top sales executives. “Unlike many other franchisors, Card Connection only charges a low, fixed management fee and so makes its money on the products the franchisees sell. For this reason, it is in Card Connection’s interests that franchisees do well and so the staff are focused on providing an unprecedented level of support.

“At head office, an experienced team are dedicated to opening and looking after a significant portfolio of National retail accounts,” explains Munawar. “In other words, day-in and day out, they are trying to win business on behalf of the franchisees! This approach works brilliantly and only recently I have picked up two new Spar stores as customers in Buckie and Inverness.”

“However, Card Connection’s emphasis on support doesn’t stop there,” continues Munawar. “My Regional Franchise Manager, Andrew Henderson, is also particularly proactive. His experience is invaluable and after a simple suggestion to move an in-store fixture recently, increased sales followed! Similarly, in the summer, he arranged a meeting with a National retail account regional manager and as a result I have gained more space in several stores for our greetings card displays and yet again, sales are on the up!”

“Card Connection also has an in-house design team which really understands the market,” confirms Munawar. “I am planning to introduce Card Connection’s latest collection of 122 new greeting card designs to some more of my carefully selected retail customers soon. The goal is to present a new ‘boutique card shop’ look to the convenience sector for the first time and, so far, there has been a lot of interest. I’m looking forward to another busy year ahead with the support of Card Connection right behind me!”

Card Connection which is this year is celebrating 25 years as a franchisor, is part of UK Greetings, which is a subsidiary of American Greetings Inc., one of the largest greetings card publishers in the world. Since the franchise network in the UK and Ireland is complete, the available opportunities for franchisees joining the network 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 £12,5k + Stock + Card Connection fee with earnings potential in excess of £50k per annum.

Territories currently available include: Fife, Edinburgh/Scottish Borders, Stirling, Brighton, Plymouth, Bath, Cardiff, Liverpool and Macclesfield.

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