American Greetings Introduces Cards with “Fun Buttons” and More

Contact: Frank Cirillo or Meghan Olmstead, 216.252.4938

Cleveland, Ohio (March 27, 2009) – The greeting card aisle is getting more entertaining as consumers search for light-hearted ways to connect with others. With shoppers focusing more and more on the simple pleasures of life, and recognizing the importance of their relationships, they are looking to greeting cards to help them deliver longer laughs and bigger smiles. To meet this need American Greetings Corp (NYSE: AM) has introduced a collection of new cards with fun interactive features, music, and motion sure to delight recipients.

The new cards are sold in special displays marked Lights, Sound, Action and have an array of features, some of which are turned on with special “fun buttons” on the cards. Offerings featuring these “fun buttons” include everything from choose-your-own-punch-line sound cards, to cards that let the recipient remix the audio, to options that incorporate motion with sound and music. These enhancements will spark even more enjoyment among card enthusiasts, which is exactly the point according to the greeting card company.

“Sending and receiving a greeting card is already fun. Our goal was to add to the fun, and give both the sender and the recipient something to smile about,” said Carol Miller, executive director of new product concepts at American Greetings. “Our new line of cards showcase a variety of innovative features that enhance the greeting card experience ultimately making funny cards even funnier. We know that shoppers will get as much of a kick out of playing with them as sending them.”

One card featuring multiple buttons allows the recipient to “pick their birthday bliss.” Consumers are invited to let their imagination run free while contemplating the options. They can choose from shopping, enjoying a luxurious trip to a café, taking their rightful place as a queen on a throne, or even a day at a gym. Once the recipient makes a selection they’ll hear a sound clip related to the picture. For example, pushing the button under the shopping scene results in a joyous “Shoe shopping! Shoe shopping! Shoe shopping!” chant.

Another card gives consumers a button that can speed up the audio on a traditional sound or music offering. This ability to “produce” your own sound track can lead to a hilarious remix that can be enjoyed over and over again. One example features a unique baby rap to celebrate a special birthday. Imagine the laughs that can be created when a group of babies is "rapping" the song, “everybody in the crib for your birthday" at different speeds.

In addition to these interactive enhancements, new licenses and characters add to the lighthearted nature of the cards. From the popular baby rapping trio to The Three Stooges, Larry the Cable Guy, and Mr. Rogers, the cards have personality to spare.

Consumers can find these innovative new cards from American Greetings at participating drug chains, grocery stores and super centers nationwide, as well as in American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores. Visit corporate.americangreetings.com for additional information and store locations.

About American Greetings Corporation

For more than 100 years American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) has been a manufacturer and retailer of innovative social expressions products that assist consumers in enhancing their relationships. The Company’s major greeting card brands are American Greetings, Carlton Cards and Gibson, and other paper product offerings include, DesignWare party goods, American Greetings and Plus Mark gift-wrap and boxed cards and Date Works calendars. American Greetings also has the largest collection of electronic greetings on the Web, including cards available at AmericanGreetings.com, through AG Interactive, Inc., the company’s online division. AG Interactive also offers digital photo sharing and personal publishing at PhotoWorks.com and Webshots.com, and a one-stop source for online graphics, animations, emoticons, text generators, and more at Kiwee.com. In addition to its product lines, American Greetings also creates and licenses popular character brands through the American Greetings Properties group. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual revenue of approximately $1.8 billion, and its products can be found in retail outlets domestically and worldwide, including company owned American Greetings and Carlton Cards stores. For more information on the company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.