Frequently Asked Questions

Hi and welcome to our FAQ Page! Here you will find answers to the most common questions that our readers have.

The greeting card business has been heavily utilized in more recent years and has proven that even in times of economic struggle, the world over, people still find large sentimental purposes in sending and sharing messages, feelings and overall, love, via a nicely created paper, or digital form of this ancient custom.

When Was the First Greeting Card Created?

There is a bit of a mystery there although the custom of sharing and sending greeting cards is traceable back to the ancient Chinese who began the tradition by the exchange of messages to celebrate each New Year. It wasn’t until around the 15th century or so when the handmade greeting card was applied to paper and exchanged in European nations.

Who is the “Leader” in the Greeting Card Industry?

Founded by Joyce C. Hall in 1916, Hallmark has held this position for many years. Although some may feel that Hallmark cards are expensive in comparison, they continually provide high quality, grabbing and aesthetically attractive Greeting cards, birthday cards and eCards en masse. Additionally, Hallmark has made it their motto that they provide cards to their consumers at prices starting at 99 cents and up.

Are Greeting Cards Eco-Friendly?

Although there are certainly some companies in the greeting card industry who likely still use fresh paper created by the finest mills, there has also been a huge need, and a bit of pressure on any and all industries that use paper products to clean up their acts, and help clean up the Earth by using recycled papers for their cards.

How Do Greeting Card, Birthday Card and eCard Companies Come Up with Their Ideas?

Many ways. Some, of course, have a set group of graphic designers, creative writers and other artist that work together to create top-notch and attractive products for consumers. Others allow everyday people to submit their ideas for the graphic design and writing of any and all types of cards including greeting cards, birthday cards and eCards. Often when these cards are used, the creators will receive payments ranging anywhere from a few dollars, to a few thousand.

How Much Does it Cost to Make One Greeting Card?

Of course this will vary a bit depending on what kind of frills, bells-and-whistles or other additional materials attached to the card, but in general, a paper only, flat design with text and a graphics card may cost its manufacturer anywhere from pennies to even a few dollars. This relies heavily on the caliber and amount of artist, writers and other developers involved in the process far more than it relies on the actual cost of the paper. This is always minimal, though of course on the more expensive end of affordable when freshly created paper is used.

Where is the Oldest Birthday Card?

Although the custom of sending cards dated back to ancient times, the use of Birthday cards didn’t become widespread until the postage stamp was put into use in 1840. It was then that the practice of sending Valentine’s Day cards, that had already been customary for around 400 years, extended to using greeting cards and birthday cards as extensions of personal communications and gift giving. Since there is no one particular card but many from this time, there are still a large amount of them that have been preserved and saved over the last one hundred and fifty years or so.

How Many Different Types of Birthday Cards are Available?

There are many, and in fact, there are endless possibilities, but some of the most common types of birthday cards are:

• Sibling/Parent/Grandparent
• Humorous
• Romantic
• Over the Hill
• Co-Worker
• Personalized or Custom Designs

And again, endless possibilities that are only hindered by the limitations of the imagination, as well as a bit of a sense of humor.

How Many Greeting Cards, Birthday Cards and eCards are Sent By Consumers per Year?

In the U.K. alone, it is estimated that one billion pounds is spent yearly on greeting cards with the average consumer sending out around 55 cards per year.

I Own a Business, Should I Send Out Greeting cards or Birthday Cards to My Employees and Clients?

This can be entirely up to you. However, common etiquette is that smaller companies may indeed send out Birthday and December greeting cards, but most of the larger corporations limit their card sending to once a year in the last month of the year.

Note that due to their being so many holidays of different religions and backgrounds in the month of December, that it is considered politically, and even morally correct to refer to the cards and in fact have the cards reflect nothing more than best wishes during a “Holiday or Festive Season,” this provides well wishes, company personalization and does so without the risk of offending those of different ethnicities.

Is it Feasible for an Everyday Consumer, with a talent for prose, to Create their Own Greeting Card Business from Home?

It is quite possible. With a bit of overhead and foresight, a consumer with a flair for words and graphic design could have a very lucrative business designing Greeting cards, birthday cards and eCards while making a living doing so from the comfort of their own home, or even from their office. With the drive to succeed, this is certainly a lucrative possibility.

Some Forms of Greeting Cards Seem Longer than Others, What is the Longest Greeting Card Ever Made?

Although it may not be official, there is on display a greeting card that claims to be the world’s longest. The card measures 127 meters, by 1.5 meters and is made up of designs in everything from stencils to oil paints. Created as a birthday card for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, it kept its creator busy for 9 full months. The card is now on display at St. Peter’s College in Agra, India.

How Do I Send Out an eCard?

Depending on the eCard website you choose to use, you may be faced with a few options or requirements.

Common eCard Site Requirements

You may be required to register and supply an email address to begin your card creation process, however, there are some sites, specifically sites that benefit charities for each card sent out, that will not even require users to provide any information at all. With so many options in eCard sites, chances are you can find a site specific to your needs.

Common eCard Site Options

Although eCard sites can provide almost limitless options, there are a few common options that users should be aware of so that they may take utmost advantage of them. These options can include:

• Automatic Email Address Retrieval from Your Pop Server
• eCard Receipt Confirmation
• Cards for All occasions
• Create Your Own Design

And other options can make sending out an eCard not only enjoyable, but beneficial to charities, communications and interpersonal relationships.

What Are the Benefits of Using eCards versus Traditional Greeting Cards or Birthday Cards?

• Personalization Options
• A Wide Range of Interesting Designs to Choose From
• Eco-Friendly
• Affordable or Free
• Ability to Send to Your Contacts
• Time Saver
• Cost and Time Efficient
• Card Receipt Tracking Systems

And last but not least, the biggest benefit of receiving an eCard is that it can be picked up anywhere, globally, where there is an internet connection.

Some eCard Creation Sites are Not Viewable on My Computer, What Should I Do?

You should head straight to your operating systems updates and upgrades pages as well as be sure you have updated versions of your graphics card drivers, flash and java applications. Many eCard sites require this type of programming code so that they can provide their users with those much coveted endless customization capabilities.

Can I Use Images from My Digital Camera on eCard Sites for Personalization?

Yes you can. Most sites, in fact even most entirely free ones allow users to upload their own personal photos and create their own messages to add to them. Of course, this will require you to download the pictures from your camera first. Also remember to crop them down to an appropriate size or the uploads can be rejected for being too large, take an incredible amount of time to upload or even cause the upload page to repeatedly time-out.

Can I Send an eCard to a Mobile Device?

Absolutely. However, it depends on the device as to how the receiver may be able to view it. On more advanced phones it may appear in the same quality as you view it, however, on rougher or older technologies, a user may only be able to view a ‘web version’ which is commonly bereft of any bells-and-whistles in digital imagery.

These are some of the most frequently asked questions in reference to the usage, history and troubleshooting tips for greeting cards, birthday cards and eCards. Being such an ancient custom it is highly likely that you may have a question not covered here. Check out your preferred search engines for further information.