Top 5 Christmas Card Trends from American Greetings
Cleveland, Ohio (November 2007) – The giving and receiving of Christmas cards has been a tradition for more than 150 years, and this year, the tradition continues as nearly two billion Christmas cards will be exchanged. What can you look forward to seeing in your mailbox this year? Here’s an insider’s look at the top trends in Christmas cards from the creative experts at American Greetings:
- Tech-inspired Cards – Now that every Christmas wish list seems to have one or several new tech gadgets on it, American Greetings will debut tech-inspired cards this holiday season as the perfect pairing for all of the hottest gizmos. The cards will feature special extras like blinking lights, sounds of the season and popular holiday songs. Look for designs for every relationship, from romantic cards to general well wishes and light-hearted humor. One card shows Mrs. Claus kissing Santa on the cheek and says, “All I want for Christmas is you. Merry Christmas with love.” It plays the popular holiday hit, “Santa Baby,” as it opens. Another card shows a dog wearing a Santa hat on the front and reads, “Merry Christmas. Can I take this stupid thing off my head now?” as a group of dogs serenades the reader with their rendition of “Jingle Bells.”
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- Radiating Red and Green – The American Greetings card aisle will radiate with warm, vibrant tones of red and green as more and more people try to infuse plenty of tradition into their holiday season. Some of the newest cards feature bold red and green patterns while others are saturated with one of the two hues and paired with white accents, such as the green card that features a large white, fuzzy snowflake on the front and reads, “Near or far, together or apart, You’re always in my happy thoughts. Merry Christmas.”
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- Strong Connections to Holiday Traditions – Research shows that Christmas is a nostalgic time of the year for most people. Time-honored family traditions are a source of comfort, and many look forward to being surrounded by symbols of the season when they shop and when they open their mail. Look for icons like Santa and his reindeer to make several appearances on this year’s Christmas card collection from American Greetings along with Christmas trees adorned with ornaments and beautifully wrapped packages. To make sure there’s something for everyone, the artistic styles of these Christmas must-haves vary from traditional to contemporary.
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- Fashion, Décor Inspired Hues and Finishings – Just as fashions and home accents show more sparkle and glitz as the holidays draw near, so too do greeting cards. Many households enjoy saving and displaying the Christmas cards they receive from family and friends near and far, so American Greetings created special cards for the 2007 holiday season that compliment the festive atmosphere and make beautiful decorations around the home. Each card features a simple-yet-poignant design with an added touch, like glitter, iridescent paper and sparkling attachments, to enhance its keepsake value and the emotion it creates between the sender and receiver. One such card simply says, “Christmas” on the front in silver lettering on a background of bright, shiny green paper, accented with five small white stars. The warm inside message reads, “It’s about beauty, it’s about harmony, it’s about love. Wishing you Christmas peace all year.”
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- Warm, Heartfelt Messages – Research shows that people view the holidays as a time to stop and show appreciation for the year-long love and support of family and friends, so choosing cards that express heartfelt feelings is a top priority for most people. Whether you prefer a card that says it all for you or you gravitate more towards the short-but-sweet variety, the overall tone for this year’s Christmas cards from American Greetings is from-the-heart to ensure there’s something for every expression of appreciation. A romantic card shows several snowflakes on the front and reads, “Merry Christmas to the One I Love.” Inside, it says, “From the old traditions to our new ones – I love sharing all of them with you.” A heartfelt card for anyone on your list simply says, “Christmas” on the front, with the inside message, “The secret to a merry Christmas is wonderful people like you. Have all the happy your heart can hold.”
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And that’s not all. American Greetings Christmas 2007 line includes even more variety, from holiday humor (inflatable Santa lawn ornaments and gnomes are the subject of new cards at Target) to contemporary religious cards and everything in between.
For an up-close look at these and other card trends, visit the American Greetings card aisle at drug stores, grocery stores and super centers nationwide as well as American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores. Visit www.americangreetings.com/retailers for store locations.
About American Greetings Corporation
American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of social expressions products and greeting cards. Its product lines include gift wrap, party goods, stationery, calendars, ornaments and electronic greetings. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual net sales of approximately $1.7 billion. For more information on the company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.
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