I often read or use these resources to get tips and advice from other greeting card designers. I have found them to be helpful in my greeting card and design business.
GREETING CARD GROUPS
Greeting Card Designers
A community forum for professionals in the greeting card industry.
Linkedin Greeting Card, Stationery and Gift Industry Gurus
Networking links of sales, marketing, product development and sourcing people from these related industries and to help entrepreneurs gain access to industry knowledge and 'how to's."
Greeting Card Professionals
The worldwide default network for publishers, distributors, designers, buyers, developers, (online) retailers and anyone else relevant in the business. Feel free to join and don't forget to invite your colleagues and business relations.
Greeting Card Network
A network of professionals involved in the Greeting Card business including the creative and production processes, sales, distribution, networking, social marketing and general promotion of the long standing traditition of sending greeting cards for all occasions including, but not limited to, Birthday Cards, Holiday Cards, Christmas Cards, Thank You Cards, Anniversary Cards, Get Well Cards, Sympathy Cards, Congratulatory Cards and more.
Greeting Card Professionals
The Independent Greeting Card Professionals Association is composed of working professionals--and beginning professionals--who create and sell greeting cards retail or wholesale, at craft fairs or trade shows, or via the Internet. Members produce work in a variety of greeting card genres.
ART LICENSING GROUPS
Art of Licensing
A LinkedIn networking group dedicated to Artists, Illustrators, Designers, Product Manufacturers, and Licensing Agents in the ART LICENSING industry.
Yahoo Group Art of Licensing
A SPECIAL FORUM dedicated to Artists, Illustrators, Designers, Product Manufacturers, and Licensing Agents in the ART LICENSING industry.
MORE GROUPS TO CHECK OUT
Escape for Illustration Island
Illustration Resource Website and Podcast devoted to helping artists to connect and communicate with fellow creators.
Scbwi
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Art & Design Lounge
help Artists and Designers advance their careers and business goals helping them make vital new business contacts.
Stationery Trends
Facebook group for the magazine focused on the products, designers and inspiration that make up the stationery, greeting card and gift industry.
TWITTER RESOURCES
Stationery Show
Leading trade show for the social stationery industry.
Surtex
Selling and licensing art and design for every product, every industry.
Greeting Card Designer
Tips and resources for Card Designer and Writers .
More Resources
Online Greeting Card Class
I have collaborated with skillshare.com to create an online course on Getting into the Greeting Card Business. The content is based
on my experience of working in the industry for over 20 years, and from publishing
over 1,000 cards. Class is self-paced with student/teacher feedback on your final project in the gallery.
Register here.
Topics Covered:
- The fundamentals of professional card design.
- Transforming art into a greeting card.
- Writing sentiments.
- Making designs "market-ready" according to industry standards.
- Top selling occasions.
- How to turn one card into a larger "collection".
- How to make a card out of any image.
- Handmade cards.
- Where and how to sell cards (including online).
- Licensing art on cards.
- Manufacturing and distributing nationally.
Ebooks by Kate Harper
You can support this blog by ordering Kate's e-Booklets starting at only .99 cents! They can be read on your kindle, ipad, ipod, cellphone, or your computer. Free samples and lending options available. You can also view the list of all recommended greeting card books by a variety of authors.
Get Your Greeting Cards into Stores explains how to sell cards nationwide. Included are detailed guidelines on: How to price cards for a profit, get professional feedback, find sales representatives and follow industry standards. Information is also applicable to gift items, magnets, journals, calendars, collectibles, etc.
20 Steps to Art Licensing is a book about how to license your art to companies that publish greeting cards, or manufacture coffee mugs, magnets, wall hangings, kitchen items, and dozens of other gift items. Learn how to prepare your art, what companies to contact, how to find agents, and what trade shows to attend. Includes extensive resources on social media, copyrights, licensing community groups, and lists of interviews with professional designers.
7 Mistakes Greeting Card Writers is a booklet that explains what to avoid when submitting greeting card verse to publishers. Learn how to create a trendy card that reflects the contemporary world we live in, and how to use your own personal experience to create card verse. Topics include: how to avoid limiting your market, when to use adjectives, not creating card for enemies, write like people talk and a list of why card sentiment submissions are often rejected. You can increase your odds of success by 60% just by doing a few simple things. Includes a list of card publishers and their guidelines, links to writer interviews, and writing exercises for how to create good verse.
Unusual Ways To Market Greeting Cards, and 22 places to get your designs featured is a booklet on how to get your cards noticed in non-traditional ways. Everything from why you should send cards to your dentist, to how to get a special feature in national publication. Great tips for designers who are starting out and want to get their cards into the hands of people beyond friends and family. Special Section: 22 Gift Industry Trade Publications who seek out new greeting card designs and feature artists for free.
How to Make an EBook Cover for Non-Designers is an illustrated book will show you how to make your own e-book cover, even if you are not a designer. It is intended to help the indie writer who is on a budget and wants to publish and sell their own book in online stores such Amazon.com and the Apple ibookstore. Selling your book in these stores will allow readers to purchase your book and read it on multiple devices such as the Kindle, iPad, iPhone and many other electronic devices.
