Franchise Focus Alex Newman was a senior employee at


Recognition Express and took the plunge to become a franchisee. He says: “Buying a Recognition Express franchise [Coventry] has given me a unique opportunity to become a business owner at such 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.” Jan Chidley, franchise owner for Hull and


Promoting the goods


Renowned for its high level of ongoing support, advice and programmes to its franchisees, Recognition Express has become the UK’s leading supplier and manufacturer of corporate and personalised products to businesses


Investment level: £35,000


organisations in the UK. A bfa Franchisor of the Year award winner (2003), Recognition Express is renowned for its high level of ongoing support, advice and programmes, particularly in the areas of marketing, sales, product sourcing, technology and business planning. Centrally designed, managed and


R


implemented direct-marketing programmes form the backbone of the marketing system and are augmented by high-quality collateral, marketing tools and ongoing training designed to drive business growth, client contact and brand awareness. The centralised direct-marketing


programme was utilised by Steve Bennett who runs Recognition Express, Croydon. He says: “I opened 60 new accounts


108 | Businessfranchise.com | April 2012


ecognition Express is a franchise that supplies branded business gifts and products, plus posters, banners and signs to businesses and


in my first year and started to develop some fruitful long-term relationships. Recommendations started early when customers experienced my service and these continue to bring in good business.”


“The support I’ve received from


Recognition Express has been exceptional, so much so that at the end of my first year I had achieved all my financial targets”


Recognition Express provides the option


to manufacture and personalise products in-house or to take advantage of an extensive sourcing and supplier resource – or use a mixture of both.


East Riding had been out of the workplace for some 18 years whilst raising her family and was apprehensive about starting her own business. She says: “The support I’ve received from Recognition Express has been exceptional, so much so that at the end of my first year I had achieved all my financial targets and made the transition to business owner. The business is going extremely well.” In comparison, one of its first and


longest established franchisees is Paul Mitchell, owner of Recognition Express Thames Valley. Paul joined Recognition Express in 1980. He says: “One of the fantastic things about the industry is the level of repeat business. Once we get them in, they stay. Customers have an open- ended requirement for the product.” Nigel Toplis, managing director, adds:


“With Recognition Express you will have 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.” In a market now worth over £3bn per


annum, Recognition Express has become the UK’s leading supplier and manufacturer of corporate and personalised gifts and other products to businesses. Recognition Express offers a franchise


package that provides a focus on training and support and is ideally suited to those who are seeking a professional management opportunity. Sir Bernard Ingham, president of the bfa


adds: “I have always found Recognition Express to be a model franchise. It is an outstanding example of a company that takes ethical franchising seriously.


The benefits are shared by Recognition Express, its franchisees and its customers and that is why it is successful.” n


recognItIon express


Website: www.recognition-express.com email: stoplis@recognition-express.com Phone: 01530 513 300 classification: Business-to-business


Investment: £20k-£50k


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