In 2018 David and Sherran Patient sold their successful convenience store to a multiple chain and took a short but deserved career break. Then, in the 2019 the experienced husband and wife team took on a Card Collection franchise territory that straddles part of Essex and Suffolk.
They took on this new and exciting challenge with their eyes wide open. As ex-retailers themselves, they knew the challenges their customers faced. Plus having stocked Card Connection’s greeting cards as ex-customers themselves, they knew the strength of the range and so had total confidence in the product they would be supplying.
It’s perhaps no surprises then, that after little over 18 months and despite the trying challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic they were awarded the Franchisees of the Year Regional Award East Anglia & Midland Region for 2021.
Card Connection supply greeting cards to the convenience sector, deemed essential stores, changes in shopping habits meant a huge growth in demand and grew sales by over 20% p.a. compared to pre-pandemic levels.
When it came to David & Sherran wanting to strengthen their franchise operation even further, they haven’t had to look very far!
Their team now includes their son Brad and Lucy their daughter and not forgetting their little granddaughter and Mascot Daisy who turns up dressed in work clothes of black fleece, trousers and shoes and mucks in helping them to pack the cards ready for merchandising!
David and Sherran’s approach has always been to apply the old saying ‘Retail is detail’ to all aspects of their business. “And even though we’re keeping it in the family, so to speak, the whole team is still fully committed to maintaining a top professional service,” explains David.
The success of their franchise has been very much based on the trusting relationships they have built with their customers. So, what better foundation to build on that success, than by relying upon the incredibly strong relationship they already have as a family?
Card Connection has run a successful greeting cards franchise for over 25 years and has been a full member of the British Franchise Association since 1995 and the Irish Franchise Association since 1996. We are always on the lookout for the right people to join our franchise network. For more information on available franchise territories please visit www.card-connection.co.uk
