Leading greeting card publisher and franchisor, Card Connection, has today announced that its IT manager of ten years, John Byett, has taken over as franchisee for the Basingstoke and Windsor area. John will now supply and merchandise over 130 retail outlets in the area with Card Connection’s range of more than 1,500 high-quality greeting cards and gifts.

John Byett, Card Connection franchisee

“Working in Card Connection’s head office has allowed me to understand the advantages of running a franchise business and when the Basingstoke and Windsor territory became available, the opportunity was too good to miss!” confirms John. “I felt running a Card Connection franchise would be the change from office life that I was looking for I also knew that I could make a good living.

“My experience as IT manager will also be helpful,” continues John. “For example, I implemented the electronic hand-held terminal system for Card Connection franchisees which allows them to calculate stock levels automatically on-site. I have also already programmed my satellite navigation with all my retail customers’ locations, so I can be efficient as possible with call routes. In addition, I will be able to use my knowledge of IT to allow me analyse stock levels on displays to help supply the optimum mix of products merchandised and therefore increase the profitability of the business.”

“Over the years John has made a significant contribution to the company and we are delighted he has chosen to take up a new challenge by becoming a franchisee,” confirms Andrew Cutler, sales and franchise director of Card Connection. “However, John is not the first employee who has swapped his office desk for life on the road. He follows in the footsteps of several other staff members who have also made new and successful careers out of franchising with Card Connection.”

Card Connection is part of UK Greetings, the largest publicly owned greeting card publisher in the world and has limited vacancies for franchisees who are keen to run an expanding business. Successful candidates would ideally have some management experience as, once established, they would be expected to employ a small team, operate a warehouse and have several liveried vans on the road.

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 £20,000 (+ stock) with earnings potential in excess of £50,000 per annum.

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