Turkeys have been consumed, parades and football games watched, and the calendar has officially rolled over to December. The holiday season is officially* upon us.
*ask anyone who works in retail and they’ll tell you that it started sometime before Halloween.
It’s this time of year when our minds start to turn to all things Christmas—shopping, baking, and getting our acts together to send cards in time for the big day.
It would seem that Christmas and other holiday greeting cards are one of the last great bastions of our formerly paper-based society.
Yes, as much as digital is the way to go these days, there’s still some things that can’t be replaced. This is one of the major reason why the Global Stationery and Cards Market is still holding steady with a projected CAGR of 5.63 percent from 2015-2019.
Growing Environmental Concerns Putting a Damper on Greeting Cards
Whether you’re a business owner looking to spread some cheer amongst your employees, or just want to wish grandma happy holidays, the socially acceptable thing to do is send a card, right?
Maybe not.
It’s estimated that 1.6 billion Christmas cards are purchased (and, most likely, thrown away) in the US each year.
So while getting a card in the mail is always a nice change from the usual bills, sending such an antiquated communication might result in some vitriol from the more environmentally militant folks on your list.
‘Green living’ is largely shaping the buying patterns of both individual and commercial consumers, who are consciously reducing usage of paper and paper-based products. And with so many digital alternatives to stationary and cards, there’s not much excuse for adding to the heaps of trash come Boxing Day.
Luckily there are some more eco-friendly (and cheaper!) alternatives to cleaning out Hallmark for your holiday greetings this year.
Opt for Ecards
The ecard debate (oh yes, there is a debate) is a tough one. Is sending an ecard environmentally responsible, or just plain lazy? Are people opting for ecards because they can be highly personalized, or because they’re cheap?
Criticisms aside, ecards are becoming popular and creeping up on traditional greeting cards. With many free sites available, the options for sending cost- and environmentally-conscious holiday greetings are nearly endless.
Many people are creating personalized ecards with family pictures, greetings specific to the recipient and even links to family videos. Not to mention, there’s not much chance of an ecard getting lost in the mail.
But like anything else, it really comes down to the amount of effort you put in, not to mention the recipient. Is Great Aunt Betty going to be happy receiving an email with a link, or would she prefer a physical card to stick on the mantle?
Get Crafty
If you think that ecards might not cut it for everyone on your list, then maybe it’s time to get creative.
DIY, Recycle, upcycle…whatever you choose to call it, there’s more than enough pinteresting ideas out there to see you through the next 10 holiday seasons. Crafting is au courant, and recycling old greeting cards and stationery is one way to satisfy any green living sticklers on your list, while ensuring that everyone gets a fun, personalized card in the mail.
For more information on the Global Stationery and Cards Market or any of the other markets we cover, visit www.TechNavio.com.
