Franchising Opportunities

No regrets

Invest

£35,000 + VAT

Website

Visit Company Website

Business Type

Print & Promotional Services

Visit Company Website

Recognition Express have been operating in the corporate recognition and promotional products market since 1979 and are proudly market leaders in their field.

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

Furthermore, the market is huge and growing and is currently estimated to be worth in excess of £3billion per annum.

Recognition Express training is comprehensive (3 weeks) and extensive – covering all the key business areas from sales and marketing to products, prices and suppliers, finance and procurement and even specialist areas such as clothing.

All new businesses receive their own Centralised Direct Marketing Programme to help launch their business and additional marketing collateral to support future activity.

Support in all the key business areas is on-going and it is this partnership approach that has ensured longevity and growth of the recognition Express franchise and brand

Our ideal franchise owner has a strong work ethic, is comfortable dealing with people and will follow our proven system.

Unparalleled experience

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.”

Endless possibilities

Recognition Express provides franchisees with training, guidance, on-going 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.
• 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.”

Who is Recognition Express looking for?

There is no ideal franchisee profile. Existing Recognition Express franchise owners come from a variety of backgrounds, all with their own specific skills, including company directors, nurses, an airline flight attendant, sales executives and marketing managers.

However, there are three qualities that are a must:

You must be a ‘people person’ – comfortable sitting in front of, talking to and befriending people.
You must be willing to follow a system.
You must be prepared to work hard.