How Does a Greeting Card Business Owner Spend a Workday?
Other People Are Reading
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Spend Your Days Spreading Happiness and Fun
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Mark has his own greeting card business, but it's not the kind you're used to. He is not the new Hallmark or American Greetings. The cards he offers belong to his company and they can be customized by anyone. The big advantage to Mark's business is that he sends the cards out for his customers, including licking the stamps and sealing the envelope. He reminds them when cards need to be sent if they like, and even includes gift cards or candy if desired. His automated card business is a new trend in the greeting card industry. His start-up costs were around $400, plus a printer, as compared to a greeting card shop franchise for which rent, payroll, and franchise ownership can cost $100,000 or more.
Finding the Card Senders
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Mark goes to business networking meetings, chamber of commerce events, business fairs and basically anywhere he'll find people who send greeting cards. He offers everyone he meets the opportunity to send one free greeting card of their choice to anyone he likes. That way, they can try his service for free, and he is able to capture their contact information for his database. He also captures the contact data for the card recipients. He uses his constantly growing database to send out email messages, announcements and special promotions.
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Coming Up with the Right Messages
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Mark has a large stable of greeting card templates and designs. He wants customers to be able to find the perfect sentiment for any occasion. All the standard categories are represented, from birthdays and holidays, to all special occasions, but he has a secret weapon that traditional greeting card companies can never duplicate. His software lets customers design their own card, upload their own photos, or customize the cards on the site.
Sending the Cards Out
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Once the card is ready, the customer simply enters the recipient's name and address into Mark's website.The special form to complete includes where to send it and what to say on it. Mark has his customer's signature options digitized and saved, so they can choose to say "Best wishes from A&Z Corporation," "Love, AZ" or anything else. When the customer hits "Send," Mark goes into action.
Getting the Cards Printed
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Mark shops for the best prices in paper and printing. He warehouses a supply of standard size cards and envelopes at his home office, and is able to print individual cards on the high end color laser printer he bought for that purpose. Each envelope is printed right from the computer order. However, when a customer sends out a mass card mailing, Mark goes to an outside printer. His business plan includes a formula that tells him the breaking point at which he will make more money with outside printing than using his own inks.
Keeping Things Up and Running
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Mark sends the cards out to single recipients, to entire mailing lists, one time or as regularly scheduled mailings throughout the year. Mark is always adding to his card selection, making new business contacts, sending out promotional mailings to his own database and completing customer orders.The busier he is the more money he makes, so he isn't complaining.
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Resources
- Photo Credit istockphoto
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Comments
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blabbergirl
Dec 25, 2008
The only thing you have to check is the return address. If you send a car to a client with a South Dakota return address, and you're in Indiana -- you client may think you've moved, or that this is from a different business. -
blabbergirl
Dec 25, 2008
The only thing you have to check is the return address. If you send a car to a client with a South Dakota return address, and you're in Indiana -- you client may think you've moved, or that this is from a different business.
