Greetings cards are big business. Every day thousands of people celebrate their birthdays. Add in Christmas, weddings, births, new homes, Mothers and Fathers days and many others and it's easy to see why the market is measured in billions.
Berkshire based Ivory Tower Cards, led by managing director Suzanne Ivory, is a franchise that specialises in shop-within-shop display stands stocked with cards.
Franchisees keep them supplied and take a percentage of the sales.
The package includes an exclusive territory, a number of retail outlets already signed up, 25,000 greeting cards, display units and training and support.
Franchisee Sara Parker was employed by a high street greetings card publisher for 10 years. When she decided to work for herself, it was natural to look at card franchising. After researching the market and visiting several rival companies, she joined Ivory Tower Cards in south-west London in the summer of 2002.
"I knew the market was very competetive, so i wanted to be with a franchise that guaranteed a high level of support" she says.
"Ivory Towers supplied me with 150 shops to service on day one and staff worked in my area for siz weeks. It was very reassuring."
A month before the anniversary of her first year with the company, Parker supplied her 200th shop.
"My franchise means i must merchandise the shops on a regular basis and use my spare time to open accounts." she adds, "Dean, my husband, has now joined me full-time and that's been great."
The Parkers goal is to supply their 400th shop on their second anniversary with Ivory Tower Cards.
"Sales are better than company projections," says Sara, "I never expected to grow so much so soon. It has been a very rewarding time."
