The Greeting Card Business: 101

Where are you at in the greeting card business? Do you want to manufacture cards or sell your designs to companies? Do you just want to know what a good card design is all about?

Here are a list of articles on all these topics. Pick the one that best represents where you are right now.


Card Design Tips
Learn about the fundamentals of card design.

Greeting Card Sales Stats

Greeting Card Design Tips

Things to avoid in Card Design

Greeting Card Association Artist Guidelines

Other Great Card & Illustration Tips

You know you are a greeting card designer when…


Start a Card Business
Learn how to manufacture and sell your cards to retail stores.

Starting a Card Line on Your Own

Backcopy:What to print on the back of your cards

List of Books on the Greeting Card Business

Book Review: How to Run a Greeting Card Business

Book Review: Pushing the Envelope

Setting up Card Ordering Codes

All About Envelopes

Greeting Card Quiz: How much do you know about the industry?

Greeting Card Rep Talks about Trends



Marketing Cards
Learn how to market cards
12 Unusual Ways To Market Your Greeting Cards

List of Trade Shows for Greeting Card & Gift Designers

How to Sell Art Through Social Media

List of Trade Magazines for Card and Gift Industry

How to Use Email to Sell Art & Get Leads

How to Sell Designs Online: Jude Maceren


Handmade Card Business
Learn how to run a thriving handmade card business.

How to make a living in the Handmade Card Business

How to Set Up a Handmade Card Factory

Manufacturing Cards

Making Cards: Questions to Ask

Simplify Card Making for a Profit

Paying People to Make Your Cards

3 Parts of a Greeting Card

8 Advantages of the Handmade Card Business

Interview with Former Greetings etc. Editor, Kathy Krassner


Card Writing
How to Write Greeting Card Sentiments
Meet the Master of Greeting Card Writing

Audio Interview: Getting into the Greeting Card Writing Market

How Poets Can Write Greeting Card Verse

Interview with Hallmark Card Writer

Artist & Writer Submission Guidelines for Card Companies

Breaking into the Greeting Card Writing Market

How to Write Greeting Card Verse (VIDEO)

7 Mistakes Card Writers Make



Licensing Your Designs to Companies
Learn how to license your designs to publishers

Submission Guidelines for Card Companies

How to Mail Promos of Your Designs to Card Companies

How to Organize Greeting Card Submissions

How to get Started in Art Licensing

How to Make a Good "Art Licensing Website."

How to Deal With Rejection: Tips for Card Designers

Resources on Greeting Cards and Licensing

Greeting Card Licensing Information from the UK

List of Licensing Agents in the US

Support
Learn how artists manage their time and set goals.

How to Make Time for Art

How to Start a Buddy Meeting System

How to Start an Art Licensing Support Group

Kate's Greeting Card Designer 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

Get Your Greeting Cards Into Stores is a book for people who already make their own greeting cards. It explains how to get your cards 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).

These are books below 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



How to Design a "Wow!" Trade Show Booth Without Spending a Fortune
Simple tips for your first tradeshow booth.







Tips and Tales from the Booth
Avoiding Trade Show Mistakes







Build a Better Trade Show Image
Professional recommendations for doing a tradeshow. Advice to take before you attempt one.

~ Copyright Legal Books for Artists ~

Legal Guide for the Visual Artist, Fifth Edition



Copyright Law for Artists, Photographers and Designers (Essential Guides)


The Copyright Handbook: What Every Writer Needs to Know

10 Mistakes Card Designers Make When Submitting Press Releases

Note from blog editor, Kate Harper: I asked Kathy Krassner, (former editor of the trade magazine, Greetings etc.), what is was like to be at the editor's desk, receiving press releases from artists. I asked her if she could write about mistakes artists make, when submitting press releases to trade magazines. These tips are not just useful for artists, but for anyone with a product looking to be featured in a publication.

By Kathy Krassner, Owner, Krassner Communications

As a longtime editor of trade magazines in the gift and stationery business, I've received my share of good and bad press releases from greeting card designers and publishers. As an industry consultant, I've also had the opportunity to write press releases for various card and gift companies. Since I've sat on both sides of the publicity fence, I'd like to share the following 10 mistakes that are often made when writing and submitting press releases to editors -- and tips on how to do it correctly!

1. Sending releases to the wrong editor. Make sure you have the correct name and e-mail address of the correct editor to whom to send your press release. Check the publication's website, or call its main number to confirm you have the right information. It's usually best to send your release to the editor-in-chief, and it's definitely not necessary to send the same release to more than one editor at a publication.

2. Sending releases to the wrong industry. If you have a press release about your new greeting card line, be sure the publication to which you're sending the release actually covers greeting cards. Editors at tabletop or home-furnishings magazines who don't ever cover greeting cards shouldn't be on your press list.

3. Sending releases at the wrong time. Check the publication's editorial calendar -- which should be on its website -- for which issues it's covering specific occasions and holidays. Then, be sure to send your press release by the editorial deadline date, which is usually well in advance of the issue's publication date as well as earlier than its advertising deadlines. If you miss a magazine's deadline for its print publication, you might check with the editor to see if it's not too late to submit something to run on its website.

4. Too little product information. Editors prefer to run press releases that contain all of the information they need, since most don't have the time to track down any missing information. Therefore, do provide as many relevant details about your greeting card line as possible, including dimensions, special embellishments or techniques used, inner versing and, very important, retail pricing.

5. Too much company information. It's good to include a short paragraph about what your company does and how long you've been in business; it's not good to provide a multi-page history. Press releases should generally be kept to one page, if possible. It's much better to include a link to your company's website where editors can read your whole story if they'd like.

6. Not enough contact information. In addition to supplying your company's website address, be sure to include your full name, company name, e-mail address, company address and company phone number (toll-free if you have one). If you are submitting a press release on behalf of a card company to whom you've licensed your designs (please double-check with your licensee before you do this!), you should also include that company's name, address, website address, toll-free phone number, and the name and e-mail of the correct p.r. contact there.

7. Not proofing press releases. Editors hate typos! If your release includes the wrong website address or retail price, those errors will end up running in publications nationwide and could cost you business. And, whatever you do, be sure to spell the word "stationery" correctly!

8. No images or low-res images. One way to help guarantee that your press release will run is to include several high-res images of the cards mentioned in the release. Just as they don't like to track down missing information, editors don't want to have to call or e-mail for images. While low-res jpgs are fine for online coverage, most print magazines require hi-res jpgs (usually at least 3 inches big at 300 dpi). Only send a few images that best exemplify the line, and make sure they're not so large that they bounce back.

9. No actual product samples. If an editor isn't familiar with your card line, it's a smart idea to send actual printed samples so that she or he can see and feel the quality of your product for themselves. Be sure to include the envelopes that the cards come with; editors that use your line will definitely remember it.

10. Too much follow-up. In this age of spam filters, it's perfectly fine to follow up with just one phone call to make sure your press release and images made it to the editor's desktop. Making numerous calls, however, is basically the equivalent of editor stalking, and many editors find repetitive calls and e-mails annoying. It's better to follow up by mailing a hard copy of your press release and a few actual samples of your line, as previously mentioned.

Actually, the biggest mistake you can make is to not send any press releases at all! It's surprising how many companies don't take the time to respond to editorial requests or to send in press releases when they have new releases. Take advantage of every opportunity to get free publicity -- and remember to follow the guidelines above.



Here's an example of a press release written by Kathy Krassner:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONTACT: RON KANFI

800-346-6253; rkanfi@nobleworksinc.com

NobleWorks Has New Lines!

(And we don't mean on our face.)

(June 15, 2010) NobleWorks has just launched more than 20 hilarious new greeting cards, including two brand-spankin'-new lines: "RUBES" and "I'm Just Saying." The introduction also includes additions -- some nice, some naughty! -- to several of the company's other popular humor lines.

RUBES

The new "RUBES" line features greeting cards by NobleWorks' newest licensed cartoonist, Leigh Rubin. The initial launch includes six eco-themed illustrations that make "green" funny! These birthday cards (and one get-well card) poke fun at everything from recycling to saving the whales.

I'm Just Saying

"I'm Just Saying" is an original new line featuring a seemingly cute, androgynous little character who pops up on the cover of these cards. Behind this character's innocent exterior, however, hides a sharp sense of humor. The line includes several birthday designs plus a new list-type card.

Among other introductions are new "Talk Bubbles" cards featuring naughty, typewritten messages on brightly colored covers; as well as new cartoons from Daniel Collins, including "The Seven Dwarves of Shoes" ... which everyone is sure to get a kick out of! All of these new NobleWorks cards retail at $2.95 and are available immediately.

About NobleWorks Inc.

NobleWorks Inc. is celebrating its 30th anniversary in business this year! Known as "The Humor Company," NobleWorks' line includes more than 1,500 everyday and seasonal designs, ranging from slightly silly to somewhat risqué. NobleWorks' complete product line can be viewed at its website -- www.nobleworkscards.com -- where visitors to the site can also access the company's blog as well as send free e-cards. A fully functional wholesale version of the site is soon to be launched. NobleWorks is located at 500 Paterson Plank Rd., Union City, NJ 07087. For additional information, please contact NobleWorks at 800-346-6253 or visit www.nobleworkscards.com.

Kathy Krassner is owner of Krassner Communications, a writing-services firm based in Ringoes, NJ. She was previously editor-in-chief of Greetings etc. magazine and has been an editor at Gifts & Decorative Accessories and Giftware News magazines. She can be reached at krascom@yahoo.com or via LinkedIn.