Leading greeting card publisher, Card Connection has announced its Scottish franchise territory of Ayr/Kilmarnock is currently available.

“This exciting opportunity offers the chance to purchase an established franchise business supplying almost 150 retail customers with Card Connection’s extensive range of quality greetings cards and accessories,” explains Michael Johnson, managing director, Card Connection. “The successful franchisee will deliver our in-house designed greetings card ranges and supply display equipment to retailers on ‘free loan’, so retailers only pay for what they sell. We call this award-winning approach ‘consignment’ sales and it means retailers are always keen to carry our hand-picked stock.

“Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire and is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The whole territory covers a mix of rural and urban outlets and has been run as a franchise business since 1996, run by the current franchisee since 2009,” confirms Johnson. “Purchasing a re-sale territory such as this not only takes the ‘guess work’ out of buying a franchise but much of the ground work to build relationships with retail customers has already been completed. At the same time, the area also offers the potential for further development for an enthusiastic franchisee.”

Elaine Anderson joined Card Connection in June 2013 and took over the established Scottish territory of Glasgow and Fort William, delivering Card Connection’s range greeting cards to retailers across the region. She says: “Card Connection’s business model is simple. I have around 200 retail customers which I visit on a regular basis every four-six weeks. I visit between five and seven stores on a typical day to supply the new stock of greeting cards and refresh the displays. I’ve been so busy that my son has also started helping me full time! The head office team have been tremendously supportive and really helped me get to grips with the franchise, so I could get up and running quickly.”

Card Connection is one of the UK’s largest card publishers and is the market leader in the franchised distribution of greeting cards. The business’ unique model of consignment sales has resulted in a strong brand and established reputation which has been proven over many years and in 2013 Card Connection celebrated its 21st year in operation as a franchisor. Through its franchisees Card Connection supplies about 12,000 retailers throughout the UK.