How to Make and Sell Greeting Cards

Get the necessary supplies. Once you've decided on a brand and compiled a team, make a small batch of cards. Aim to make around 50 to 100 and see how well they sell.

• The quality of your greeting cards can help them sell, so use the proper paper. Use premium paper stocks, like 16-point gloss cover or 13-point matte cover. You can find the proper paper at a local print shop.^[5]
• Greeting cards can be printed in a variety of sizes. For the most part, however, they're 3.5-inch by 5-inch, 4.25-inch by 6-inch, or 5-inch by 7-inch. You'll also need big enough envelops to sell alongside the cards.^[6]
• Keep in mind you'll probably need a special printer to print cards. You might not want to buy a printer yourself, as they can be expensive, but you can pay to use the right printer at a local print shop.^[7]
• Stock up on supplies in your local craft store. Glitter, glue, and other items for decoration can help your greeting cards stand out.

Decide on a card type. At the moment, cards that look meticulously crafted and unique are in, so put some extra effort into your cards. Learn about different types of greeting cards.

• Window cards are cards where the cover has sections removed so you can peak inside the card. It creates a window into a scene. These are fun, especially around the holidays. You can have Halloween, Christmas, or Thanksgiving themed window cards.
• Cards with scrapbook-like decorations are also in. These have a homemade feel to them that customers love. A scrapbook card is made with an assortment of decorations glued to nice paper. For example, for a birthday themed scrapbook card you could glue bits of wrapping paper, ribbon, and a stick of a birthday cake on the front of the card. Cut out the necessary letters of "Happy Birthday" from a local newspaper or a magazine.
• More elaborate decorations are also in at the moment. These include cards with pop ups inside, cards that can be folded into different shapes, and cards with slots to place money or gift cards. Use your imagination when creating your cards.

Decide on written content. Are your cards going to be sweet and sincere? Or funny and sarcastic? Decide what written content to include, if any. Many people enjoy having inspirational or amusing quotes inside cards. This could help your cards sell but keep in mind you need to be careful when selecting quotations, especially if you're looking online. It's not unusual for quotes to be misattributed on sites like Quote Garden and Brainy Quote.^[8]

Seek outside help if necessary. If you're not crafty but have a great idea for a card, consult your team. Ask someone with more experience working with their hands to help you with a product. You can also take course at local community centers that go over the basics of things like scrapbooking, decorating, and drawing. This could help you gain the skills needed to make stand out greeting cards.^[9]

Ask if a local store will carry your cards and see how well they sell. You should test the cards out before you attempt to sell them to a big company. In fact, cards that have developed a small local following have a better likelihood of selling. Go to a local store that you're familiar with and see if the owner is willing to carry your cards for a short period of time. Tell the owner you're just interested in testing out your product to see how well they sell. If one owner says no, be persistent. Try several shops around town.

Set up at a local craft shows. Another way to get your product some attention is to set up at local craft shows. Make a batch of cards for craft shows in the area and sign up to get a booth. Pay attention to how people respond to your cards. Try to get a sense of what you're doing right and wrong in regards to your greeting cards. If, for example, many people ask if you make cards using specific colors or for specific events, try incorporating these suggestions into the next batch of cards you make.

Create a social media presence. Many companies got their start by fostering a strong social media presence. If you want to make and sell greeting cards, it's important you market yourself online.

• Create a Facebook page for your cards, with a fun and catchy name. Invite friends who you think would be interested. Ask them to spread the word.
• Share media on a regular basis. Always let your fans know when you've produced a new card and any updates on where customers can buy your cards.

Research well known greeting card companies. Once you've established a small following, start researching greeting card companies. See how you can send in ideas and what guidelines they have for submissions.

• Contact various greeting card companies and see if they accept outside designs and new ideas. Many of the bigger companies, such as Hallmark, may want to stick to established providers but if you're diligent you may find a company looking for new ideas.

Try selling your cards online. A great way to break into the market could be going through sites like Etsy. Selling your cards online can allow you to build a small following. It's also a fairly easy and low cost platform. Many people find it easier to break into selling cards online than in a physical location.

Provide your own fixture to sell your cards. It's hard to break into the greeting card business. However, there are small things you can do to increase your likelihood of getting your cards picked up. Offer to provide your own fixture to display your cards. You can buy inexpensive fixtures online or at furniture stores.^[10]

Follow submission guidelines for bigger companies. If you're submitting your portfolio to a bigger greeting card company, make sure you follow all their submission guidelines properly. As bigger companies get a lot of submissions, they look for excuses to ignore portfolios. Even a small mistake could get your product tossed aside.^[11]

Offer free shipping and avoid order minimums. Once again, offering perks to bigger companies can increase your likelihood of selling their products. Do not require order minimums for your cards. This will entice bigger companies as it lowers risk. Companies do not have to pay for more cards than they think they will reasonably sell. Free shipping minimizes the overall cost of purchase. Keep in mind as you become established, and there's more demand for your products, you'll be able to require minimums and charge for shipping. When starting out, however, it's a good idea to offer perks.^[12]