Case Study - Asif Malik

Former convenience store owner, Asif Malik joined Card Connection in 2009; he has recently expanded his franchise in the Birmingham area by purchasing the neighbouring territory of Burton and Rugeley. His team are now responsible for delivering and merchandising Card Connection’s extensive range of quality greeting cards and gifts to more than 350 retailers, which include the likes of Netto, Budgens, Londis, Spar and Shell. Asif discusses his experiences and his recent expansion.

“I joined Card Connection in 2009 after working with the company for around eight years as a retail customer,” confirms Asif Malik, Birmingham franchisee for Card Connection.  “My business distributing Card Connection’s greeting cards has been thriving, but when the opportunity to purchase the neighbouring territory came up recently, I jumped at the chance to expand my franchise operation further." 

“My team also needed to grow and so we have purchased a new van and hired two more merchandisers–one who is solely dedicated to prospecting and opening new accounts.  Our greeting card picker and packer, my wife and myself now make up a team of five,” explains Malik.  “We are all now focused on an aggressive marketing strategy to expand the reach of the business and with new and exciting greeting card releases available from Card Connection’s dedicated design department every single week, retailers are always keen to take our stock."

“The sheer variety and quality of the products often seems to put us out of reach of the competition, and backed by the support of the Card Connection head office team, who are always on hand for advice when we need it. We anticipate the new area will be great news for our franchise business.”