Franchise Spotlight: Gifts and Cards
High profit margins and year round, recession-proof demand.
Australia’s gifting and greeting cards sector generates $2 billion in revenue annually, according to market research. Bought for countless purposes – birthdays, Christmases and wedding anniversaries to name just three – the global greeting card and gift wrap sector benefits from huge, year round, recession-proof demand.
Moreover, that greeting cards are so often last-minute purchases bodes well for the future of high street greeting card retailing despite the industry trend of growing ecommerce competition. More good news for greeting card franchisees comes in the form of high-profit margins, which franchise networks inflate further thanks to their buying power.
Franchise market analysis
Franchisors typically favour franchisee candidates with business acumen, and managerial and customer service skills. Previous experience in the greeting cards and gift wrap sector, or retail or distribution more generally, isn’t usually essential but should boost someone’s candidacy.
The Wild Cards & Gifts franchise is a retailer of greeting cards, gifts and gift wrap. Acquired by UK retail giant WHSmith in 2014, the network currently includes 32 stores across Australia which, the franchisor’s statistics show, welcome 40,000 visitors each week.
The Original Poster Company distributes greetings cards and gift wrap to retailers. This home-based franchise, which offers comparatively low startup costs and ongoing overheads, involves installing and restocking in-store displays and collecting payment for stock sold.
More than 80 Books and Gifts Direct franchisees across Australia distribute books and various gift-worthy products to workplaces. Free of premises and related overheads, franchisees can offers up to 70% off recommended retail prices, five cents of which is donated to charity. Products are also sold online.
Finally, Speaking Roses offers innovative, customizable gifts suitable for any occasion. Franchisees sell fresh flowers and edible products onto which customers inscribe personalized messages – a service that has featured at the Oscars and been used by Tom Cruise, no less.