Early card sales may help save Christmas!
Discover how easily your can boost early sales in your shop, by getting involved with the GCA’s #Cardmitment campaign!
Sending and receiving Christmas cards is an important tradition. Research has shown that four out of five people think Christmas cards are crucial for maintaining relationships with friends and family and only two per cent prefer to receive digital versions over physical cards.
But rising postage costs mean your customers need to plan ahead to save money this Christmas. To raise awareness, the GCA (Greeting Card Association) has launched their Cardmitment campaign, encouraging people to buy and send their cards slightly earlier this year to avoid expensive postage. There are lots of ways for shops to get involved to boost pre-Christmas sales and encourage the festive tradition of card sending.
“Britain has a special love affair with cards, especially at Christmas. Greeting cards are just amazing little things that boost mental wellbeing, support communities, your local postie, and a thriving, vibrant, creative industry that’s so important to high streets and the wider British economy.” – Amanda Fergusson, CEO of the Greetings Cards Association
Upcoming events...
The Cardmitment Campaign
The Cardmitment campaign encourages everyone to send more cards and emphasises the importance of posting early to take advantage of Second Class postage rates, avoiding the cost increase of First Class stamps.
Find out more.
Festive Friday – 29th November
Festive Friday is the kick-off to the Christmas card-sending season, aiming to get people into the spirit of writing and sending their holiday cards early on the 29th November.
Find out more.
Caring at Christmas – Throughout November & December
Help care home residents who may be unable to shop (or send cards) themselves, by bringing cards to them and helping them write them to reduce loneliness and isolation during the holiday season.
Find out more.
The Write Before Christmas – Mid December
For those that missed Festive Friday, The Write Before Christmas encourages last minute card sales just before the holidays. The last posting date for Second Class is the 18th December or 20th December for First Class, so make sure your customers get their cards sent before this.
Find out more.
How your shop can get involved...
1. Create in-store displays using posters from the GCA’s website and ensure your customers know when the last Christmas posting dates are.
2. Create an in-store ‘card writing station’. Set up a table and comfy chair with a selection of stationary that customers can sit at to write their Christmas cards in store. You could even collect your customers’ cards and take them to the post box at the end of the day to make your store a go-to destination for buying and sending Christmas cards. This is particularly useful near the posting deadline to encourage last minute sends (as customers may feel there isn’t enough time to write and post the cards at home).
3. Host a card writing evening in-store or in your community. Whip out the mince pies and mulled wine and invite your customers to join you to choose, write, and post their Christmas cards. Some people struggle with writing their cards, and this is a great way to tackle loneliness in the community around the festive season. You’ll also create a captive audience as customers will likely buy all their cards in one place, boosting sales in your shop.
4. Provide discounts to customers shopping for cards early. You could offer multi-buy card promotions to customers buying cards in November, emphasising the cost-effectiveness of early posting.
5. Don’t forget to promote the Cardmitment Campaign on your social media to encourage your customers to shop for Christmas cards early and share pictures of any events you have been involved with.
Download resources to use in your shop...
How your friends and family can get involved...
1. Get posting Christmas cards early and take photos / videos for social media. Pop on a Christmas jumper, and take pictures of yourself and friends and family writing and posting Christmas cards.
2. Look for opportunities to help others send Christmas cards. For example, at schools, churches, village halls, clubs or care homes. Get involved within the local community and see if there are ways to spread some festive cheer this Christmas.
3. Share the fun graphics below on socials, to show your support! Free for use, just right click (or long press) and save a copy to your device!
