Why Online Greeting Card Businesses Are Flourishing In 2023
May 19, 2023
iCrowdMarketing powered by iCrowdNewswire
As many major greeting card store companies, such as high-street favourite Clinton Cards, shut more stores, it’s easy to think that the market is slowing down in the UK.However, in fact, the market is simply changing, as online greeting card marketplaces start to evolve and grow.
Recently, many businesses have started to branch into online greeting card supply, with many major players in the market, like Card Factory enjoying rapidly growing revenues.
Online card sales grew significantly over the past few years, particularly during the pandemic. Many consumers, who weren’t able to go out and meet others, turned to sending cards. As they weren’t able to visit physical stores, they bought them online, and have continued to do so even after the lockdowns were lifted.
But why are online greeting card providers growing so much in today’s corporate environment? There are many reasons why online greeting card businesses are prospering in 2023, and will continue to do over the coming years, as we explore.
Physical Cards Remain Popular
Online communication has become incredibly popular, with instant messages, texts and emails becoming more prevalent and accessible for many of us than physical letters and parcels. However, when it comes to cards for special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries and for congratulating people on major life events, physical cards still reign supreme. While it is possible to get e-cards, many individuals favour physical cards, as they can feel more personal and like the sender has put in more effort. As such, even though digital communication remains popular in almost every other area, physical cards are still the best way to send a special message.
Suppliers Are Upping Their Games
Suppliers of packaging materials, labels and courier services are enhancing their product offerings and aiming to provide a high standard of service to users. As a result, it’s now easier than ever before for greeting card businesses to find the right products and solutions. For example, Sticky Labels offers a wide range of printed labels, and has recently been working hard to offer a wider range of biodegradable and recyclable options, made using energy from the firm’s own solar panels. These products will help card companies to highlight their own green credentials to clients.
Personalisation Options Make Online Card Suppliers Superior
One area in which online card stores excel over their physical stores is that they can offer unique ways for buyers to personalise their cards. For example, many online card stores let customers add names, inside jokes and even images onto card designs. The card is then produced with the custom message and other personalisation, which is then shipped to the recipient or customer. Custom cards are often popular with consumers who are looking to share something that looks personal, or be humorous with their card and share a joke with someone they care about. Personalised cards aren’t usually offered in card stores, which use stock messages and allow the buyer to add their own. With digital stores offering personalisation, and physical stores struggling to keep up and adapt, it’s clear why many consumers are seeking online card suppliers for many occasions.
Online Shopping Is Seen As A More Convenient Solution
During the pandemic, online shopping was essential, so even consumers who didn’t usually buy items online found themselves forced to do so. Once the pandemic was over, some of them started to revisit physical stores, but were still enjoying the benefits of online shopping in some instances. After all, for many products, buying online is incredibly convenient; you can place your order in just a few clicks, and get your items sent directly to your home. It’s a far cry from having to traipse to multiple shops, unsure if the products you need are in stock, then lug it all home. When buying cards, online stores often have an amazing selection and increased options. Also, physical card stores often allow customers to touch the products, meaning some might be damaged or dirtied while sitting on the shelves. Online card shoppers can rest assured that they’ll receive a pristine card.
Consumers Can Send Cards Direct To Recipients
Another way that buying greeting cards online is more convenient than shopping in-store is that you can have the card sent directly to the recipient. That saves on postage and makes it quicker and easier to send cards anywhere. It also means that the sender can track the card and be notified when it arrives safely, which is ideal for many customers. This option isn’t usually available in most physical card stores, which is another reason why online stores are prevailing over their physical counterparts. Sending cards directly to the person you want it to go means you never have to deal directly with the card and can save time and effort, while still ensuring the card arrives on time.
It's Easy To Send Gifts With The Card
Shopping in physical retailers for a card often means you have to trek elsewhere to buy a gift, then wrap it yourself and post both to your intended recipient. With online card stores, it’s quick and simple to find a gift online and send it at the same time as your card. Many online card stores now offer gifts as well as their selection of cards, while others have partnerships with leading providers of flowers, chocolates and other popular presents. So, buyers can simply select the perfect gift and add it to their card alongside their card. They’ll both be delivered together, so you don’t have to worry about them arriving separately and can get everything ordered at once. That additional layer of convenience is useful for busy consumers who want to instantly get everything sorted for any special occasion.
Commercial Rents Are Soaring
Running a physical card store means that you need a property to sell from, as well as warehousing to store the merchandise. With commercial rents rising by almost 13% so far this year thanks to the cost-of-living crisis, and other associated costs such as council taxes and commercial rates also skyrocketing, many physical card stores are being priced out of the market. Online card stores still need some physical real estate, such as storage and distribution centres, but these will be significantly smaller than those required for companies with physical shops. So, companies can reduce their fixed costs simply by reducing their physical commercial real estate needs if they switch to online distribution.
A Brief Summary
As the greeting card market evolves, it’s clear that online suppliers will be at the forefront of the revolution. From providing personalisation to saving on the cost of physical retail spaces, there are many benefits for businesses looking to either move into digital card distribution or pivot away from card retail stores into online spaces. With customers embracing online card stores over physical retailers, it’s likely that many shops will move online and reduce their square footage in commercial real estate over the coming months and years. This unique combination of the physical greeting card market with the online distribution landscape could pave the way for future tech adaptation for a range of other industries, so that they don’t move completely off-line but still make the most of the technology available.
Tags: English