Kate Harper's Blog: 5/17/09

How to Mail Promos of Your Designs to Card Companies

If a card publisher does not accept design submissions digitally, here are some tips for sending your designs the the U.S. mail.

A simple, inexpensive way to reach out to different card publishers, is by compiling a a folder of your designs. Make a practice of doing research, selecting your ideal companies, and then mailing out a packet periodically. Try to Include the following items, and remember to put your contact information on every item in the folder.

1. Any articles or ads about you and your art.

2. It's nice to show a photo of your cards in a group on a shelf. If you don't have a card rack, visit a local store and see if they will give you permission to do a quick photo of your cards on 'their' shelf. Give them your samples to keep as a thank you gift before you leave.

3. Glossy pages with photos of your card line. Include 3 or 4 of these sheets if possible. You could put a different "family" of designs, with the same look, on each sheet. (Christmas, Spring, Pastels, etc). You can also include an artist statement or short resume in this section.

4. Real card samples.

5. Glue on business card (versus sticking it in tabs). They won't fall out and it looks more attractive.

6. Instead of typing up a formal introduction, paper clip a handwritten note on card stock. People are more likely to read a quick personal note rather than a long intro letter.

7. If possible, include a CD of your card images. Label with name, contact information, business name and card line theme (floral, humor, birthday, etc). Put these in jpeg or low resolution formats, so they don't get accidentally forwarded by email and then printed by someone you don't know.

It's easy to make a sticker, or glue on a piece of paper onto the front of your folder to make it look attractive. You don't have to pay to have them printed. Print a dozen from your computer.

Use a glossy folder, and avoid flimsy thin paper folders. Also avoid folders with spine clips, unless you plan on converting your folder into a book style portfolio.

If you have a lot of design ideas, and don't want to flood your folder with too much paperwork, you can scatter cards on the table, photograph it, reduce the size and print it out on a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of glossy photo paper.

Kate's Design Booklets on Amazon

You can support this blog by ordering e-Booklets that are a compilation of different articles on this blog starting at only .99 cents! They can be read on your kindle, ipad, ipod, cellphone, or your computer. Free samples and lending options available.

GET YOUR CARDS INTO STORES

If you already make your own greeting cards, Get Your Greeting Cards Into Stores is a book that explains how to get them into stores and sell them sell nationwide. Included are guidelines on: how to price your cards for a profit, how to get professional feedback, where to find a sales representative and and what industry standards you should follow. All the information is also applicable to gift items, such as magnets, journals, calendars, collectibles, etc.

MARKETING CARDS

Booklet on Unusual Ways To Market Greeting Cards, and 22 places to get your designs featured. A 20 page 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 special features in national publications. 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: Submissions guidelines and contacts for 22 Gift Industry publications and professional gift industry blogs that seek out new greeting card designs to feature for free. (5,000 Words and 17 greeting card images included)

CARD WRITING

Booklet on 7 Mistakes Greeting Card Writers Make A list of 7 things to avoid when submitting greeting card verse to publishers.

Includes a list of card publishers and their guidelines, links to writer interviews, articles, card samples and other current resources. 20-page booklet and 2,300 words and 8 Pages of Card Samples.

ART LICENSING

Booklet on 20 Steps to Art Licensing that is a list of suggested steps to to take for getting into art licensing. How to license your art to companies that publish greeting cards, and manufacture coffee mugs, magnets, wall hangings, kitchen items, and dozens of other gift items. This booklet covers 20 basic steps from how to prepare your art, to what companies to contact. It includes topics on: How to find agents, classes and what trade shows to attend. There are extensive resources on social media, licensing community groups, and lists of interviews with professional designers (5,200 words).

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Cards: What to Write About

So what is the best way to create greeting card verse? Imagine yourself sitting at the kitchen table across from you best. Ask: What kinds of things do we care about? What is crazy but funny about the world we live in today? Grocery store lines, day care, politics or jobs can all be strong topics to write about.

Research as shown that the text on a card is the most important factor customers consider when purchasing a card, the price and art are secondary.

Just like reaching across your kitchen table to hold a friend's hand, writing greeting card verse is the same. The only difference is that you are reaching across the world and touching complete strangers with your words.

Inspiration, love, hope, sympathy and gratitude expressed on cards, come from the heartfelt words of a writer, an important person in the greeting card business.
(photo credit: salvagenation)

Also see:

Mistakes Greeting Card Writers Make Part 7

7. Haven't Read Guidelines

Most greeting card submissions are rejected for a very simple,
avoidable reason: The writer did not read the guidelines. For
example, some guidelines state that all card verse must be submitted
on index cards and be under twenty words. If you submit a lengthy
poem on a sheet of paper, this shows the publisher you have not taken
the time to request and read the guidelines.

Also see:

Mistakes Greeting Card Writers Make Part 6

6. Being Too Literary

Remember to write like you talk. Avoid being too poetic, using
cliché's or going to great pains to be grammatically correct.
Eliminate words like 'whom' or 'alas.' Avoid obscure technical terms
or lengthy words. People just don't talk that way. Think about how
you talk to your best friend. It's better to be casual than formal.

Also see:

Mistakes Greeting Card Writers Make # 4 & 5

4. Using Too Many Adjectives

Are you falling for the myth that, unlike book publishers, greeting card publishers really like adjectives? Eliminate all unnecessary adjectives from your verse. Adjectives slow the reader down. It makes them feel like they’ve just stumbled over a big, gray, hard, lengthy, endless, tiring rock.

5. Putting Too Much Syrup On
Are trying to emulate flowery feelings? It’s best to stick to feelings that you know. Otherwise, you come across as superficial and inauthentic. If you are a male writer, you might not want to specialize on verse about the joys of motherhood or the trauma of PMS.

(photo credit: grzegorz)

Also see:

Mistakes Greeting Card Writers Make Part 3

3. Limiting the Market

Make sure you are not limiting your marketability. Consider the
following Mother's Day verse: "A Mother's Kindness to her Son is
Immeasurable. Happy Mother's Day." The verse has already limited the
market to the 'son' being the buyer, the 'mother' being the recipient,
and the 'time' of year the card is sold being only Mother's Day. But
what if the verse was edited to read: "A Mother's Kindness is
immeasurable."? Now the card can be sent from any person, to any
mother, and not just the sender's mother, and it can be sent at
anytime of year including Mother's Day, a mother's birthday or everyday.

BOOKS FOR THE CARD DESIGN

These are books I own and recommend. Some may be out of print, but used copies may be available. Check link.

Start & Run a Greeting Cards Business Book covers starting a card business in the UK. Good basic info, but financial/measurement info is in different monetary units.

Greeting Card Design Book that shows examples of professional card design.

Publishing Your Art as Cards How to make and sell your own cards for an extra income.

Pushing the Envelope How to work with greeting card sales reps.

Complete Guide to Greeting Card Design and Illustration Great Book on understanding the greeting card profession and how to develop a style.

1000 Handmade Greetings: creative cards and clever correspondence This is not a simple craft book for hobbyists,instead it is a picture book of professionally handmade cards by leading companies and designers.

By the Batch: Creative Cards, Postcards, Envelopes & More Book that addresses how to "manufacture" handmade greeting cards.

How to Write and Sell Greeting Cards, Bumper Stickers, Tshirts and Other Fun Stuff

Sell the Fun Stuff: Writers' and Artists' Market Guidelines for Greeting Cards, Posters, Rubber Stamps, T-Shirts, Aprons, Bumper Stickers, and More!

Writing Card Sentiments

Freelance Writing for Greeting Cards Another good book on how to write for cards professionally.

You Can Write Your Own Greeting Cards Clear guidelines on how to write card sentiments professionally.

Finding the Right Words One of many basic books of this series that tells you how to add words products, cards, etc.

Licensing Your Art to Companies

Licensing Art and Design

Licensing Art 101 Good beginners guide on the art licensing business.

2011 Artist's and Graphic Designer's Market List of greeting card companies, art licensees and agents.Detailed information on submission guidelines.

Gift and Product Design

Start with a Scan One of a kind book that tells you how to transform your art into a scan and what to do with it from there.

Design Your Own Repeat Patterns Simple book on learning repeats.

Twentieth-Century Pattern Design Great book for inspiration and creative approaches to designing patterns.

How to Break into Product Design Overview of product design in all industries.

Designing a Digital Portfolio Shows you how to put a digital portfolio together for the modern era.

Mary Engelbreit: The Art And The Artist Amazing story of how Mary ended up doing licensing.

Principles of Pattern Design Good info on pattern design

Imagery on Fabric Basic info on putting images onto fabric.

Graphic Artist's Guild Handbook of Pricing Yearly updated guidelines for pricing for people in art careers.

5,000 Years of Textiles Far East, Americas, Africa, Scandinavia, and Egyptian. Good for studying fabric design.

Abstract Design and How to Create It Over 380 illustrations, diagrams, designs, border patterns and textile patterns.

Creative Illustration Workshop Exercises for integrating illustration with other mixed-media techniques, and scan and layer your illustrations using a computer.

Print Workshop Hand-Printing Techniques for low budgets. Interesting ways to put imagery on products. Perhaps a good technique for putting our designs on model items to show what they would look like on real products.

Digital Alchemy Printmaking techniques for fine art and how to transfer images to a variety of surfaces. It includes decals and skins.

Critical Mass Cutting-edge developments in international printmaking. Since printmaking is fundamental in most surface design concepts, this book's goal is a modern approach on a traditional printmaking.

Tradeshows and Booth Design