However, having just bought a disused Welsh methodist chapel, which they had decided to convert into their home, they felt that to start in business at that point would have been one project too many, and so the idea was put on the backburner.

As the chapel conversion progressed, John worked four nights a week in a local supermarket to keep some money flowing into the family purse while leaving him three full days and four part days as a do-it-yourself builder. By mid 2001, with work on the chapel conversion almost complete, thoughts of their own business with the advantages of a franchisor’s backing began to return.

Conscious that they were in their late fifties, the choice of the right franchise was of paramount importance, so the first step was to obtain a copy of the British Franchise Association’s guide and study the advice it contained.

Basically, that advice was firstly to look at all the fields of business in which franchises were on offer, then having selected the field in which they wanted to run, look at all the franchisors operating in that field before choosing the one to purchase.

John sums up:

“Our decision to opt for greeting cards was reached based on four reasons:

1) The product itself is regularly in demand by everyone and not subject to volatile changes in public taste.

2) There was no need to acquire premises to carry on the business, thereby removing the problem of finding the right location.

3) There was no need to employ staff to run it, so removing another possible source of problems.

4) Tricia’s love of cards would add impetus to our efforts to set up our own business.

“Once we had chosen our preferred area of operation, we contacted all the relevant franchisors, narrowing this down to a shortlist of three. After many meetings and visits, we felt that Card Connection was the one which would suit us best.

“However, we wanted to be sure that we were doing the right thing, so to that end we decided that before making a final commitment we should visit the National Franchise Exhibition some six weeks later to look at any other possibilities. Happy that we had reached the right decision, we then went ahead and took on the Card Connection franchise for North Wales in November 2002.”

Trish admitted to a certain amount of trepidation. “As we were taking on Card Connection’s last remaining “virgin” territory, there were only 40 existing customers, so initially I stayed in my existing job until the business built up. We hoped that this could be achieved by September 2003 when I would come into the business full time. In actual fact, the business gained ground faster than anticipated, and by April 2003 I was able to give up my job and concentrate fully on the franchise.”

With their three sons now independent of mum and dad, John and Trish don’t have any problems devoting themselves to the business and are thoroughly enjoying the experience.

John says, “We have been tremendously encouraged by the fact that everyone at Card Connection is so friendly and helpful, and this makes us feel more enthusiastic and acts as a great boost to our confidence.

“Obviously, any new business requires hard work, but so far we feel that things are very much going according to plan and the rewards make the effort worthwhile. My main hobby is horse racing, and I also own a share in a race horse. By organising my schedule, which often means working extra beforehand, I am able to take a day off to go to the races when our horse runs. That is something I could not have done previously, and I regard this freedom to organise our lives as we would wish to be one of the greatest benefits we have experienced so far.”

Inevitably, John and Trish’s success has made them think, ‘If only we had gone ahead in 1999 …’