How to Start Your Own Greeting Card Business

Nearly 7 billion people purchase greeting cards each year. There are two possibilities for starting your own greeting card business. You can do freelance writing for an existing greeting card company. Or, you can create your own line of greeting cards.

Have you ever looked for a card and left the store disappointed? Chances are, someone else is looking for the same type of card. This could be your opportunity to create your own card line.

Here are some tips for starting your own line of greeting cards.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide on what will make your greeting card company stand out from the crowd. What will make your cards unique? Are you going to send a unique message? Do you want to offer beautiful or cute artwork? Are you going to offer personalized cards? Let your creative juices flow, you are your own boss!

2. Choose a business name. Your business name should reflect the type of card company you wish to build. Also, create a logo or pay someone to do so. Make sure the logo is something that can carry your company through future growth. What image will come to your potential customer's mind when they hear your business name or see your logo?

3. Once you have decided what type of cards you will offer, you will need to decide on what type of paper you will use. You can use anything from basic white cardstock to fancy or antique paper. Print out some top-quality cards or, better yet, have a printer print some cards for you.

4. Take good-quality, digital pictures of your cards and build a website showcasing them. Make sure your website designs reflects the image you desire for your cards. Have each different type of card in it's own category. This will help with search engine ranking.

5. On your website be sure to offer free holiday reminder services. Allow your customers to enter all of the holidays, birthdays, etc. they wish to remember and send them a reminder a month prior to the event and again two weeks prior. This will put your card company in your customer's mind at the right time.

6. Be sure to figure out what the cost of your greeting cards will be to have printed, shipped, etc. Contact a printer for a quote. You may want to have top-quality laser prints in the beginning. Once you have large quantity orders, it may be cost effective to switch to a printing company to mass-produce your cards. You will need your cards folded with a commercial folder. Do not fold your cards by hand. Once you have all of these costs figured out, build your company's wholesale and retail price lists.

7. Visit local gift shops, bookstores and boutiques and provide them with samples of your cards. Use your imagination when looking for potential customers. Your cards, depending on style, may sell well in a business where customers are waiting for service such as a salon or restaurant. Be prepared with wholesale costs. Be ready to discuss different options allowing both you and the retail business owner an opportunity to make money.

8. If you are not comfortable making sales calls, another option is to contact a regional sales representative that will find customers and outlets to sale your cards for a portion of the proceeds.

9. Visit the Greeting Card Association website at www.greetingcard.org for useful information.

10. Tell everyone about your greeting card company. Make sure your friends and family spread the word. Carry samples of your cards with you to show everyone you encounter. Have your retail prices and order forms ready at all times.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to obtain all required business licenses. You can contact your local city hall to get started.