In 2010, two weeks before his 37th birthday, Matt Richardson decided to abandon his 20 year career in sales and start a new life running his own Recognition Express franchise.

Richardson said: “I thought to myself: ‘Is there something different out there for me?’. I enjoyed my job and loved sales but realised that I wanted to be in control of my own destiny. Two weeks later, I bought a Recognition Express franchise.”

Recognition Express is one of the UK’s leading supplier of corporate gifts, promotional products, badges and branded clothing.

Nigel Toplis (pictured left), Managing Director of Recognition Express, said: “We have been supplying businesses with branded gifts and personalised clothing for over 30 years and the potential market is huge, worth in excess of £3 billion in the UK alone. To maintain our position as a market leader we look for hard-working, ambitious and driven franchise owners with good people skills who are well suited to the ethos of the company.”

Richardson, who opened Recognition Express Bristol North in November 2010, is impressed with the level of support.

“I can combine all the benefits of being my own boss with the advantages of having all the business support from Recognition Express head office.”

Published: 14 June 2011

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