HAZY JEAN NEW BRUNSWICK FRANCHISE HOLDS ALL THE CARDS
CO-SPRING 2010
Author :
Ian Howarth
The greeting card business is a very competitive one and producing high quality cards for the right moment with just the right words is an art. Hazy Jean, a made, founded and produced in Canada greeting card company, has found its niche in a crowded market with panache and artistic flair after less than 10 years in the business.
Hazy Jean founder Heather Jean is involved in all aspects of her four lines of cards – flagship line Hazy Jean, Crewe Avenue, Apple Hill and their latest and newest line of French-language cards, Juste pour toi - even personally putting the final touches on cards before they are shipped out to franchisees. Jean came into the business with over 20 years of experience and employs a top-notch team of artists and writers taking an environmental approach, using re-cycled paper, vegetable-based inks and cardboard shipping, eschewing the normal plastic wrapping.
Nice cards for nice people is Hazy Jean’s motto and that was good enough for Fredericton, New Brunswick franchisee Tracy Alain who bought her franchise in the spring of 2009, which takes in the York and Northumberland territory outside of the province’s capital. The University of New Brunswick graduate and mother of two daughters manages to combine family and working life, taking advantage of the variable hours that a Hazy Jean franchise affords. “The great thing about Hazy Jean is how flexible the hours are. My kids need a mom with a flexible timetable,” she said. “I do a lot of driving around, not only for the business but for my family,” said Alain, whose two daughters are into fiddling, singing and dancing.
After buying part of the original Hazy Jean franchise in New Brunswick, Alain has expanded from 21 to 30 stores in the Fredericton area (York county) who stock Hazy Jean cards and added 7 new ones in Northumberland county which includes Miramichi, where Alain is from originally. “It’s only since Christmas of ’09 that I have really built things up,” she explained. “I’m pleasantly surprised that I have expanded in such a short period of time.”
Before she bought the Hazy Jean franchise, Alain heard from the previous franchise owner who sung the praises of founder Heather Jean and her mother Judy. In fact, after Alain decided to take over part of the New Brunswick franchise, Heather and Judy Jean drove down from their Toronto head office, bringing with them some racks with cards to get her started. “They were so wonderful, helpful and supportive,” said Alain. She signed a five-year contract, something she was not obliged to do. “I wanted the territory and I liked the product so much it was a no-brainer. I’m in it for the long run,” she explained.
Alain figures she puts about 800 kilometres on her vehicle when she goes out to restock the convenience, arts and crafts and grocery stores – not to mention the gas/convenience stops, nurseries and flower shops - that carry the Hazy Jean line of cards. She makes her rounds about every six weeks, chatting up storeowners, replacing damaged cards and adding some to the 48-pocket, 6 cards-per-pocket racks. “Developing a relationship with the store owners is important,” Alain said. “I enjoy that part of the job, getting out there and interacting with people. At he end of the day, it’s all good. Running my own business, setting my own pace; these are the things that make having a Hazy Jean franchise ideal.”
Hazy Jean founder Heather Jean is involved in all aspects of her four lines of cards – flagship line Hazy Jean, Crewe Avenue, Apple Hill and their latest and newest line of French-language cards, Juste pour toi - even personally putting the final touches on cards before they are shipped out to franchisees. Jean came into the business with over 20 years of experience and employs a top-notch team of artists and writers taking an environmental approach, using re-cycled paper, vegetable-based inks and cardboard shipping, eschewing the normal plastic wrapping.
Nice cards for nice people is Hazy Jean’s motto and that was good enough for Fredericton, New Brunswick franchisee Tracy Alain who bought her franchise in the spring of 2009, which takes in the York and Northumberland territory outside of the province’s capital. The University of New Brunswick graduate and mother of two daughters manages to combine family and working life, taking advantage of the variable hours that a Hazy Jean franchise affords. “The great thing about Hazy Jean is how flexible the hours are. My kids need a mom with a flexible timetable,” she said. “I do a lot of driving around, not only for the business but for my family,” said Alain, whose two daughters are into fiddling, singing and dancing.
After buying part of the original Hazy Jean franchise in New Brunswick, Alain has expanded from 21 to 30 stores in the Fredericton area (York county) who stock Hazy Jean cards and added 7 new ones in Northumberland county which includes Miramichi, where Alain is from originally. “It’s only since Christmas of ’09 that I have really built things up,” she explained. “I’m pleasantly surprised that I have expanded in such a short period of time.”
Before she bought the Hazy Jean franchise, Alain heard from the previous franchise owner who sung the praises of founder Heather Jean and her mother Judy. In fact, after Alain decided to take over part of the New Brunswick franchise, Heather and Judy Jean drove down from their Toronto head office, bringing with them some racks with cards to get her started. “They were so wonderful, helpful and supportive,” said Alain. She signed a five-year contract, something she was not obliged to do. “I wanted the territory and I liked the product so much it was a no-brainer. I’m in it for the long run,” she explained.
Alain figures she puts about 800 kilometres on her vehicle when she goes out to restock the convenience, arts and crafts and grocery stores – not to mention the gas/convenience stops, nurseries and flower shops - that carry the Hazy Jean line of cards. She makes her rounds about every six weeks, chatting up storeowners, replacing damaged cards and adding some to the 48-pocket, 6 cards-per-pocket racks. “Developing a relationship with the store owners is important,” Alain said. “I enjoy that part of the job, getting out there and interacting with people. At he end of the day, it’s all good. Running my own business, setting my own pace; these are the things that make having a Hazy Jean franchise ideal.”