Leading greeting card publisher and franchisor, Card Connection, has today announced that it has recruited a new franchisee for the Bournemouth and Dorset area. Andy Burchell takes over around 130 retail accounts and will now deliver and merchandise Card Connection’s extensive range of quality greeting cards and gifts to the outlets on a consignment basis.

“Andy Burchell has substantial retail experience having previously worked as a petrol forecourt manager for Esso and most recently for the second largest independent garage organisation: The Park Garage Group,” confirms Andrew Cutler, sales director at Card Connection.  “His knowledge and understanding of a retailer’s perspective will be particularly valuable when it comes to supplying and merchandising Card Connection stock.  It will help him quickly get up to speed and making a profit from day one.  In addition, he will be able to build relationships with retail managers from our national accounts such as Londis, Costcutter, Budgens, Shell and Total, as he fully understands their needs.”

“I have previously enjoyed the flexibility of being self employed, and the opportunity of buying a Card Connection franchise really appealed to me,”  explains Andy BurchelI.  “I think Card Connection’s product range of around 1,200 greeting card designs is excellent and I know it’s well received from the retail side.  I am keen to  grow my business by introducing more retailers in my territory to these quality products.”

Card Connection itself is one of the UK’s largest card publishers and is the market leader in the franchised distribution of greeting cards.  Using a proven system, franchisees place greeting card ranges in retail outlets on a ‘consignment’ basis.  The award winning merchandising service provided to retailers by local franchisees is second to none and has established the company’s excellent reputation especially within the convenience sector.

Card Connection 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.