Business Details
Your Trusted Discount Card & Gift Shop Destination in Edison, NJ
At Cardsmart, we have redefined the greeting card and gift shop experience by offering unparalleled value to both customers and entrepreneurs. As North America's first and only national discount card and gift shop chain, we provide 50% off every card every day, backed by a proven business model that has thrived for over two decades. Our partnership with Designer Greetings, a family-owned company since 1982, ensures access to the industry's largest selection of high-quality cards, including 20+ designs per title, crafted with premium materials like velvet and embossing. We empower licensees with comprehensive support, from site selection to grand opening planning, while our Preferred Giftware Vendor Program delivers exclusive discounts and marketing resources.Recognized by the Greeting Card Association for design excellence, we combine creative innovation with operational expertise to help retailers maximize profitability. Our community of passionate entrepreneurs benefits from dynamic networking, annual conferences, and field support, ensuring long-term success. With over 22,000 card designs and complementary giftware, we cater to evolving consumer needs while maintaining a commitment to affordability and service. Our strategic focus on impulse-driven gift sales during peak seasons further enhances retailers' average transaction values. By merging tradition with modern retail strategies, we continue to lead the $6.5 billion greeting card industry as a trusted partner for business owners nationwide.
Services
Greeting Cards
Giftware
Boxed Notes
Gift Wrap
Christmas Cards
Retail Licensing
Vendor Programs
Merchandising Support
Seasonal Promotions
Store Planning
Highlights and features
- We offer 50% off every card daily with the industry's largest selection.
- Our proven franchise model has succeeded for over 20 years.
- We provide exclusive access to 350+ preferred giftware vendors.
- Our family-owned heritage ensures personalized support since 1982.
- We guarantee superior product quality with premium materials.
Associations and certifications
- Greeting Card Association
What people say
Proven success formula
Outstanding account manager
Growing card volume
Exclusive vendor discounts
Strong community support
Services
Greeting Cards
We offer the industry's largest selection of greeting cards, featuring over 22,000 designs with 20+ options per title. Our premium cards use materials like velvet, glitter, and embossing to meet all occasions' needs. Backed by 40+ years of design expertise, our cards combine creative excellence with 50% off daily pricing to ensure customer loyalty and repeat business.
Giftware
Our Preferred Giftware Vendor Program connects retailers with 350+ top vendors offering impulse-buy items. These complementary products increase average transaction values during peak seasons. With exclusive discounts and merchandising support, our giftware selections are strategically designed to maximize profitability for retailers through high-margin impulse purchases.
Retail Licensing
We provide a proven franchise model with site selection guidance, store planning, and grand opening support. Licensees gain access to a national brand with 20+ years of success, including marketing programs and field support. Our model ensures entrepreneurs receive comprehensive tools to establish profitable card and gift shops nationwide.
Merchandising Support
Our merchandising experts offer fixture design, product placement strategies, and seasonal promotions. This includes professionally-designed point-of-sale materials and quarterly vendor bulletins highlighting bestsellers. The support ensures optimal store layouts that drive traffic and increase sales through effective product presentation and targeted marketing.
Vendor Programs
The Preferred Giftware Vendor Program provides exclusive discounts, superior payment terms, and marketing assistance. Retailers receive curated vendor lists by category, creative promotion planning, and access to 350+ vetted suppliers. This network ensures competitive pricing and high-margin opportunities for Cardsmart franchisees.
People
Jim Bemer
Director, Preferred Giftware Vendor Program
With 25+ years operating 14 successful card and gift stores, Jim Bemer brings deep retail expertise to Cardsmart. He now leverages this experience to connect retailers with top vendors, optimizing product selection and profitability strategies.
Questions
What makes CARD$MART different from other card shops?
We offer 50% off every card daily with the industry's largest selection, backed by a proven franchise model and exclusive vendor partnerships.
How does CARD$MART support franchise owners?
We provide site selection guidance, merchandising support, marketing programs, and access to 350+ preferred vendors with exclusive discounts and terms.
What products are available besides greeting cards?
Our stores offer boxed notes, gift wrap, Christmas cards, and curated giftware selections through our Preferred Vendor Program.
Can I get financing for a CARD$MART franchise?
While we don't offer direct financing, our franchise model includes cost-saving vendor partnerships and proven profitability strategies to support business success.
How long has CARD$MART been in business?
Our parent company Designer Greetings has operated since 1982, while the CARD$MART franchise model has succeeded for over 20 years.
