Recognition Express franchise network goes from strength to strength

Recognition Express has been successfully operating in the corporate recognition marketplace since 1979

With over 50 franchise owners in the UK and Europe, Recognition Express is the most successful franchise network in its sector in the country.

Worth over £3 billion per annum, the UK marketplace in which it operates is huge and while established and robust is still growing, ensuring excellent trading opportunities.

Extensive range
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Recognition Express franchise owners have an extensive range of products at their disposal - from branded business gifts and promotional products to name badges, staff awards, signage and banners, plus a full range of branded and decorated clothing - for all businesses, academia and the public sector.

A market leader with over 33 years’ experience in the business, Recognition Express is looking to recruit franchisees who are hardworking, ambitious, driven, have good people skills and understand how to build relationships with customers.

The company has been a full member of the British Franchise Association since 1980 and is a multiple finalist and past winner of the prestigious British Franchise Association Franchisor of the Year award. It is renowned for its high level of ongoing franchisee support, advice and programmes in the areas of marketing, sales, product sourcing, technology and business planning.

“The support I’ve received has been first class, with excellent material and an ever improving range of centralised marketing programmes,” says Sally Findlay, Recognition Express’ Mid Surrey franchisee. “I can see significant growth and now need to take on extra resources to grow the business further.” Stuart Fisher took the plunge and became a Recognition Express franchise owner in 2008. A qualified accountant, he is married to Beverley and has two children, Laura and Leo.

“The quarterly meetings with Nigel Toplis, Recognition Express’ managing director, are hugely valuable in helping me focus my business in the right direction,” Stuart says.

“He is a great sounding board for new ideas and opportunities. Recognition Express is providing me with the base on which I can build a successful franchise business and achieve my personal and business goals.”

Jan Chidley, 47, was born in New Zealand and came to England for a working holiday when she was 21. Having been a full-time mum for 18 years, she decided it was her time and in 2008 became franchise owner of Recognition Express Hull and East Riding.

“I had a business in New Zealand with my father growing apples,” Jan says. “We sold it and I decided I wanted to do something in the UK now that the family are grown up. My husband is CEO of Driver Hire, a large nationwide franchise, and he was aware of Recognition Express and had met Nigel on several occasions.

“With a wide range of good quality product, a broad spread of potential customers and a sound business model, we both felt this was the right sort of business for me.”

Key decisions
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Nigel Toplis says: “It’s you who makes the key decisions in your franchise business, but you are not on your own because we are always on hand with help and advice, business and financial planning, marketing programmes, training and much more.

“As part of the largest franchise network for corporate merchandise and recognition products, franchise owners benefit from our considerable purchasing power. We get the very best products from the very best suppliers, keeping our network one step ahead of the competition.”

Recognition Express’ centrally managed marketing programmes maximise the efforts of franchise owners and via its appointment generating system the company assists franchise owners to get in front of potential customers.