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RECOGNITION EXPRESS HAS CRAFTED A SERIES OF INDIVIDUAL BUT LINKED INCOME STREAMS FOR ITS FRANCHISE OWNERS

Recognition Express has been successfully operating in corporate recognition and promotional products since 1979 and is the most successful franchise network in its sector in the UK.

Renowned for its high level of ongoing franchisee support, advice and programmes in the areas of marketing, sales, product sourcing, technology and business planning, Recognition Express has deliberately crafted a series of individual but linked income streams for its franchise owners.

MASSIVE MARKET

From branded business gifts and corporate promotional products to personalised name badges, staff awards, signs and branded corporate clothing, the company’s range is huge and the market massive - estimated to exceed £3 billion per annum.

Franchise owner Kevin Andrews says: “Our business has grown substantially year on year for six years now and over the next three years I would hope to achieve half a million a year in turnover.”

Centrally designed, managed and implemented direct marketing programmes form the backbone of Recognition Express’ marketing system, which are augmented by high quality collateral, marketing tools and ongoing training designed to drive business growth, client contact and brand awareness.

“Marketing is excellent - absolutely top notch,” says franchise owner Sally Findlay. “I get plenty of help with business planning and we are regularly informed of new products. We don’t rely on the franchisor very much for sourcing any more, but they are helpful when we need them.”

A Recognition Express franchise owner from the early days of the company’s franchise development, Paul Mitchell of Slough has seen how the business has gone from strength to strength.

He explains: “I’ve been a Recognition Express franchisee since 1981, which means I’ve seen how the business has developed and improved every year. The business today is very different from when I launched. There’s a huge emphasis on branding and marketing - a focus on making Recognition Express the first choice for our customers.”

Stuart Fisher took the plunge and became a Recognition Express franchise owner in early 2008. “I had always fancied running my own business in some shape or form and following a failed management buyout I decided to research purchasing my own business,” he says.

Stuart came across Recognition Express and after having a chat with Nigel Toplis, the company’s managing director, he thought the franchise had a good connection to the business he’d been involved in previously.

Jan Chidley was born in New Zealand and first came to England at the age of 21 on a working holiday. Twenty-two years later and after having three children with husband Chris - CEO of the Driver Hire franchise - Jan decided she wanted to run her own business.

“I had a business back in New Zealand with my father, growing apples,” she explains. “We sold it and I decided that I wanted to do something in the UK now that my family are nearly all grown up. I like the idea of doing something that is my own business, but where I am supported.

“The support I’ve received from Recognition Express has been exceptional, so much so that at the end of my first year I achieved all my financial targets. I employed my first member of staff, and am now able to spend more time winning new business and with existing customers.”

Stephen and Ciorsdan Price met on a blind date on a night out in Ayr and married in 1989. They bought Recognition Express’ West Scotland franchise in August 2003 from Ciorsdan’s mother, Shonach McFarlane, who had run the business since 1981 from her front room.

GROWN THE BUSINESS

Ciorsdan says: “It’s the best thing we have ever done in over 20 years of marriage. Our skills complement each other very well and we have grown the business to such a point that we hit £500k within five years.

“As a result, we have a much better standard of living and are now the proud owners of a lovely new house. When you go into a franchise you need to be sure it’s a business you can trust with a proven track record.”

Says Nigel Toplis: “Recognition Express provides ongoing support from a team with unparalleled experience in franchising, utilising proven business skills and marketing processes that have made Recognition Express successful for over 30 years.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information call 01530 513300, email stoplis@recognition-express.com or visit www.recognition-express.com. Investment level: £30,000 (plus VAT).

Why did you choose Recognition Express, the badges to business gifts franchise?

The type of work I would be doing each day suited my strengths and preferences. It didn’t require ongoing financial burdens right from the start, like rent and wages, so I could grow the business at my own pace. It required a good combination of using my computer skills, people skills and actually printing products. Running my own business meant I could keep the variety in my work, but not limit my career choices. I also wanted to maximise my earning potential without having to sit on a stuffy board of directors playing political games.

How do you rate the ongoing support from the franchisor in key areas such as marketing, business planning, new product development and sourcing?

Marketing is excellent, absolutely top notch. I get plenty of help with business planning and we are regularly informed of new products. We don’t rely on the franchisor very much for sourcing any more, but they are helpful when we need them.

How do you see your business progressing over the next three years?

Continued growth - we need to make up for lost ground with the recession, but are well placed to grow again over the next three years. My agreement runs for another five years and our premises are very good, so there are no major decisions to be made for at least three years.

As an established business, how has your marketing and customer activity evolved from when you first started?

Now most emails, phone calls, meeting requests and orders are from existing customers. They are less hard work, but we also aim to add new customers each month too. We were a member of networking organisation BNI for the first couple of years, but outgrew it and so no longer do that sort of networking. Order value has increased as well.

What advice do you have for anybody considering Recognition Express as a franchise?

Ask lots of questions and listen to the answers. Speak to a couple of existing franchise owners and then weigh up whether you can make a success of it. It is hard work, especially in the first year, but I have no regrets. So if you don’t mind hard work and you listen to the franchisor - they really do generally know best - then you could get a lot out of it.

Endless possibilities

Recognition express provides franchisees with guidance, support and a proven concept

Recognition Express is one of the most successful business to business franchises in the UK.

In a market now worth over £3billion per annum, the company has become the UK’s leading supplier and manufacturer of corporate and personalised products to business.

From business gifts and promotional products, personalised name badges and staff awards to its comprehensive selection of branded corporate clothing and extensive schoolwear collection, the Recognition Express range is substantial.

Focus

Recognition Express has a franchise package with a focus on training and support, and is ideally suited to those seeking a professional management opportunity. The company has a proven record of trust and success:
• British Franchise Association Franchise of the Year 2003.
• Over 30 years’ experience and profitability.
• Continued growth and business development.
• Top franchise owners turning over £1million-plus per annum.
• Full bfa member since 1980.
• Europe’s number one industry provider.

“I opened 60 new accounts in my first year and started to develop some fruitful long-term relationships,” says Steve Bennett of Recognition Express Croydon. “Recommendations started early on when customers experienced my service and these continue to bring in good business.

“I realised early on how much I enjoyed the creative side of the business and I get a real buzz from making my own products, although the sound of my invoice printer working gives the most satisfaction.”

Alex Newman was a senior employee at Recognition Express and became a franchisee three years ago. He explains: “Buying a Recognition Express franchise has given me a unique opportunity to become a business owner at a young age. The market potential is massive and we have seen a range of companies use our products, from small to medium businesses to international groups. Almost every business or organisation uses some of our range.”

In contrast to Alex, one of Recognition Express’ first and longest established franchisees is Paul Mitchell, owner of Recognition Express Thames Valley. Paul joined Recognition Express in 1980. Prior to investing in the franchise, he was a British Airways steward and had spent five years travelling the world. “One of the fantastic things about the industry is the level of repeat business,” he says. “Once we get them in, they stay.”

Credibility

Franchisees choose Recognition Express because of its excellent reputation, extensive range of products and credibility. In return, Recognition Express provides their franchisees with guidance, support and a proven, sellable concept.

Recognition Express prepares its franchisees with an initial training course that covers all aspects of running the business. There is also a solid, close-knit support network, with colleagues at head office or another franchisee always available for advice and guidance.

“When you go into a franchise you need to be sure it’s a business you can trust with a proven track record,” says Nigel Toplis, managing director of Recognition Express. “With Recognition Express, you can be part of a major success story.”