July 12, 2012 // Franchising.com // Leading greeting card publisher and franchisor, Card Connection has today announced that Gabriel McGeown, franchisee for Armagh, South Tyrone, County Antrim and Belfast has been named as a regional semi-finalist for the prestigious BFA Franchisee of the year awards for 2012.
“We are delighted that Gabriel McGeown has been selected as a regional semi-finalist for the BFA franchisee of the year awards,” confirms Michael Johnson, managing director, Card Connection. “He is an outstanding performer; in the past four years he has increased the number of retail accounts he supplies from less than 100 to more than 220, gaining more than 30 referrals from existing customers in last two years.
“However, as well as introducing numerous innovations and growing his business in challenging market conditions, Gabriel is always willing to support his fellow franchisees,” continues Johnson. “As an example, during the busiest time of the year (Christmas), Gabriel was able to find time to help a new franchisee set up his business. He arranged for a builder to copy the measurements of his stock room and storage area so the set-up could be replicated quickly. He also took one of his staff to the new franchisee’s unit to help him get up and running straight away.
“Gabriel McGeown’s significant achievements have already been acknowledged with our Card Connection Franchisee of the Year Award, two years in a row,” confirms Johnson. “However, to be put forward as a semi-finalist for the BFA award is further recognition of his dedication and commitment to both his business and his fellow franchisees.”
The next stage of the BFA awards will be the Regional Finalist judging on 27 July, with successful entrants then attending a formal judging presentation at HSBC, Canary Wharf in London in mid-August.
Card Connection is part of UK Greetings, which is a subsidiary of the largest publicly owned greeting card publisher in the world and has limited vacancies for franchisees who are keen to run an expanding business. Suitable candidates would ideally have some management experience as, once established, and depending on the size of the territory, they could be expected to employ a small team, operate a small warehouse and have several liveried vans on the road.
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 £20k (+stock) with earnings potential in excess of £50k per annum.
For further information see: www.card-connection.co.uk
Card Connection is one of the UK’s most successful card publishers and is the market leader in the franchised distribution of greeting cards.
The company was established in 1992 and became a Full Member of the British Franchise Association in 1995. It now distributes greeting cards to around 15,000 outlets through its network of 71 franchisees. www.card-connection.co.uk
Mel Betts
Grapevine PR Ltd
01544 318546
melanie.betts@grapevinepr.com
Card Connection is one of the UK's most successful card publishers and is the market leader in the franchised distribution of greeting cards.