![]() ![]() If your line is small, stick with the basic categories– Birthday, Friendship, Blank, Get Well, Sympathy, Thank You, Congratulations, Baby, Wedding and Anniversary. This one category is responsible for 50% of all card sales. The number one bestselling sentiment is Birthday. I go into the subject further in this article. If you simply can’t write greetings, get professional help. It means that your message is well-written and appealing. Greeted doesn’t just mean that “Happy Birthday” is written inside. As a former card rep, I have seen way too many retailers refuse to even consider a new line of blanks. If you are only offering blank cards, you are turning away 90% of the market who buy greeted cards. These cards should all work together visually to give the best impression. My suggestion is to have 48 titles minimum. Some artists create a few cards and want to market them before they have enough critical mass to create an effective collection. It’s easy to get lost in the crowd if you don’t stand out. Your cards will be competing against many other cards in a store. Keep this in mind when planning the layout on the front of your cards to attract shopper’s attention. Notice that only the top few inches of the card will show, not the whole face. If you are selling to retailers, many will have “in-line” displays, which look like stadium seating. This applies to “counter cards” in racks – horizontal is fine if you are selling packaged blank notes. Cards designed in a “portrait” (vertical) format generally show better and sell better than cards designed in a “landscape” (horizontal) format. Most greeting cards are approximately 5” x 7”, which is a good size to stick with, as card racks can easily accommodate them. ![]() (Your mother’s opinion doesn’t count!) Use the right format. Then, ask for impartial opinions from others on whether they would consider buying your cards. Get clear on why you are creating your line and who would actually purchase your cards. That will virtually guarantee you have no chance for success. If you only want to sell divorce/break up cards, you are gearing your work way too narrowly. Do some research first to find out if your idea for a card line will fly. If your niche is the military, keep in mind that Get Well, Sympathy, Congratulations and Love/Miss You cards are big sellers to that group. Do you have a clear idea of who will be purchasing your line, and is it tailored to that buyer? If you are planning to focus on a college audience, for example, include lots of friendship and love cards, and more blanks than a regular mix, which will do better on campus. No one card line will appeal to everybody. Here are six additional considerations that can improve your line and help you avoid pitfalls which lead to slower sales: Know your audience. Whether clever, heartfelt, or edgy, you can design a line that will be successful if you start it with those good “bones.” A catchy image will grab the attention of the shopper. By Carolyn Edlund Greeting card entrepreneurs need a clear grasp on the basics of designing and creating a line that will sell.Īlthough there is no “big secret” to creating a successful greeting card line, there are some basics that are always necessary – compelling images and great writing. ![]()
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