The Handmade Card Business: Backcopy


Backcopy
by Kate Harper

Backcopy is the information that is on the back of the card, such as the card name, publisher, price, copyright symbol. Usually this information is pre-printed on the card, but when your first start your business, you may not be able to afford to pre-printed cards. Use a rubber stamp and then graduate to pre-printed labels. Other ways to put this information on the back is to use Xeroxed paper inserts that you can slip behind your card in the bag.

Most importantly, make sure your company name and address is on the back of your cards. I am surprised at the number of cards that exclude this information. How will anyone ever contact you if they want to order cards? Some retail stores have gotten a hold of me solely from using backcopy information. One card designer also adds a warning "Always have enough information on the back so that people can find you. Your store buyers will be reluctant to give out your name and address to competitors."

Sometimes store buyers get a hold of your card in unusual ways, such as picking it up while vacation. Remember, the back of your card is like your business card.

Besides your company name on the back of your cards, consider including other optional information such as:

  • The recycled symbol, if you are using recycled paper.
  • The price of your card.
  • The code number, or order number of your card.
  • General information about you, as an artist or the art process you are using.
  • A Logo, that represents your business image.



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More Articles on the Handmade Card Business
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Here are books I own or recommend for learning about the card business. Some are out of print, but used copies can be found online.  They cover themes such as starting a card business, writing text, designing cards, technical skills, copyrights and marketing your work.


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The Greeting Card Business
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Get Your Greeting Cards Into Stores: How to Find and Work With Sales Reps (Updated 2017 paperback) If you like to make greeting cards, this book explains how to get your cards into stores and sell them nationwide.  Learn about changing trends in the indie card market and niche opportunities available for artists. Book includes detailed guidelines on pricing cards for a profit, getting professional feedback on your designs, finding sales representatives, pitching your card line to them, approaching stores, and the industry standards you should follow. Information is also applicable to gift items, such as magnets, journals and calendars.




Start and Run a Greeting Card Business From a British author, whose country has a long history of greeting card design, she takes you step-by-step through the process of starting and running your business with lots of useful practical advice to help you, including: - Deciding what type of cards to produce - Finding your market - Dealing with printers - Copyright and licensing - Pricing and profit. Kate's note: Some specs are different (card sizes) since it is UK standards.



Greeting Card Design This volume features a vast array of fun, elegant, simple and imaginative greeting cards designed by internationally-known artists, illustrators and calligraphers. With over 300 full-color photographs of creative, popular, and inspiring greeting card designs, this invaluable sourcebook showcases the very best of what is happening in the industry today. Accompanying text explores the history of the greeting card industry and examines the major contributions from the leading innovative companies.




5 comments:

claire harkness said...

Dear Kate, thank you for these articles! I really enjoyed them. I am just starting out and have a question: can I purchase a printer that will do a good enough job printing cards so that I won't have to outsource the printing?

Thank you,
Claire Harkness

Ashley said...

Excellent advice! thank you so much for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Dear Kate. I love you!

IM said...

Dear Kate, may God bless you for all these information on your blog. I am new in greeting card business and had so many questions.I did not know how to get some of the question answer, and when i called the library I could not really fine the answers.I found you by accident, oh boy!you don't know how much i appreciate you.Thank you,thank you.

Anonymous said...

dear thanks for sharing such a grt information...