A blog on issues affecting Australia's newsagents, media and small business generally. More ...

Greeting Cards

Shop for your Christmas cards at your local newsagency and here’s why

Here my 5 top reasons to shop for Christmas cards at your local newsagency:

  1. Aussie made. You’re more likely to find Aussie made Christmas cards in a newsagency.
  2. Aussie designed. You’re more likely to find Aussie designed Christmas cards. You know, there are some card companies that pitch Aussie designed when they take an overseas design and make a small change and claim Australian designed!
  3. Best range of Christmas cards. Your local newsagency likely has a better range than pretty much any other retailer.
  4. Local charity support. Plenty of card purchases in local Aussie newsagencies support local charities.
  5. It all stays local. Local businesses are locally owned, meaning what you pay is more likely to stay local and benefit local.

So, ignore big retailers with their cheap, generic and likely printed overseas Christmas cards. Go local because you’re local and local is important.

Shopping local fuels the local economic engine. When you purchase a card from a local newsagent, you are stimulating the local economy in a powerful way. Money spent locally stays locally. It helps pay the wages of the staff members you see behind the counter, people who are often your neighbours, friends, or local students getting their start in the workforce. By keeping money within the community, you are helping to foster a vibrant business environment and preserving the unique character of our neighbourhood.

Take a look at the back of the cards. See where they are made. Many local newsagencies proudly champion Australian-made products. When you choose an Australian-made card, you’re putting Aussies to work. You are supporting the talented card designers, writers, printers, and the card finishers. 

Newsagents offer a curated selection that you won’t find in the generic aisles of a supermarket. From funny to heartfelt, and from traditional to modern, our range is selected with our specific community in mind. Plus, we are known for convenience. 

Your local newsagency is a vital business that relies on the support of locals like you to survive and thrive. When you choose to shop here, you are contributing to the cultural heritage of your town. You are ensuring that small, family-run businesses remain a fixture of our streets.

The choice you make to shop with us is one for which everyone who relies on this business is deeply grateful. So, this Christmas, let’s spread some cheer and shop local. When you shop local, you’re making a difference, because we’re making a difference.

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Greeting Cards

Charity boxed Christmas card sales up in 2025

I am seeing terrific growth in charity boxed Christmas cards already this year. Retailers who have ranged well and leant into the charity aspect of these products should be up by double-digits over 2024.

For plenty of shoppers, the charity being supported is more important than card design. I see this especially in online sales. Shoppers are actively seeking ways to ensure their spending makes a positive impact. By featuring charity-supporting card boxes, you instantly elevate your store’s appeal. That’s supported in the sales data.

I’ve seen people buy 8, 10 and 12 boxes supporting a single charity. Some only buy 2 boxes – often of the same charity too. People buy by charity usually because on a personal connection. It’s wonderful hearing the stories.

The Christmas customer embraces the opportunity of positive impact when it presents. With charity boxed Christmas cards, the message is simple:

  • Every box sold contributes funds directly to vital causes. This emotional connection makes the purchase inherently more valuable to the consumer than a standard card box.

  • You appeal to the desire for corporate and personal generosity during the season of goodwill, attracting a broader customer base interested in ethical and meaningful purchases.

Range of support is key.

In my businesses, we offer collections that support incredible work across:

  • Health & Research: Including foundations focused on cancer, dementia, breast cancer, prostate health, and mental wellness (e.g., Beyond Blue, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Foundation, NBCF, etc.).

  • Vulnerable Populations: Dedicated to supporting children, young people, and families in need (e.g., Kids Helpline, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Make-A-Wish, etc.).

This diverse support network turns your card display into a powerful platform for community contribution.

This all supports the reputation we nurture. Stocking charity cards is a strong demonstration of your business’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

  • It reflects well on your brand, signalling a shared value system with your customers.

  • Many charity collections feature beautiful, high-quality designs, including those with Australian themes and sustainable printing, ensuring you don’t compromise on product excellence.

My advice is: make your card section a destination for shoppers who want to share cheer while simultaneously making a difference. The choice to stock charity boxed Christmas cards is a simple yet powerful strategy to boost sales, enhance customer loyalty, and align your business with the true spirit of giving.

Now, for clarity and transparency, in one of my businesses we will will do tens of thousands of dollars in charity boxed Christmas cards this year.


Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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Greeting Cards

How are your card sales in the newsagency?

In September 2025, compared to September 2024, unit sales were up 10% and revenue up 16% in our shop. Here’s the headline direct from our newsagency software.

This is a good result, well ahead of the channel average.

While our use of discount vouchers has helped drive this result, it’s the counter pitch, full place display of all lifestyle product and active engagement with the category overall that has helped drive this.

Cards remain a vitally important category for our businesses. Performance reflects investment in the business.

Too many newsagents leave the performance of cards in their shops to their card suppliers. This is a mistake.

If a newsagent says to me they are not happy with card sales, my first question is what are you doing about it? Typically in these situations they blame the card company or companies. This is a mistake. Here are easy things to do to grow card sales:

  1. Review pocket level performance and expand your best caption performers and cut those at the bottom.
  2. Full face display lifestyle.
  3. Always promote 2 or 3 cards at the counter.
  4. Pitch cards on social media: one card per post only.
  5. Have a loyalty program.
  6. Run regular shopper competitions supporting card sales.
  7. Be aware of every order placed for the business.
  8. Put out your own cards – don’t use a merchandiser.

staff training is essential for maximising card sales. Ensure your team understands the importance of the card department and can effectively engage with customers. Providing product knowledge and sales techniques can significantly impact customer satisfaction and purchase decisions. By investing in your staff, you’ll create a more knowledgeable and confident salesforce.

Newsagents have more control over the performance of cards in. their shop than they often think.

Check your card sales for September 2025 over 2024. Look for growth in unit sales and revenue.

Australian newsagents hold a significant position in the greeting card market, accounting for somewhere around 35% of all cards sold  nationally. As the largest single retail channel for greeting cards and with terrific gross profit margins of between 50 and 70%, cards are a cornerstone of the newsagency business.

Go on, check your September results.

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Greeting Cards

Your local newsagent is the best place to buy Father’s Day cards this year and here’s why

For Father’s Day this year, the best place to find your card and gift is your local newsagent. The reasons are simple: better product range, better shopping experience, and best choice for your community.

Your local newsagency is where you are likely to find Australian made Father’s Day cards and Australian made matters to anyone who wants local jobs. If you’re not sure, turn the card over and check where it is made. And, while you’re there, check any charity your Father’s Day card purchase will support – that is usually listed on the back of the card

Buying a Father’s Day card from your local newsagency is a direct investment in your community. When you shop at your local newsagent, your money stays local. These are Australian-owned small businesses, often run by families in your suburb. They are the shops that give local kids their first jobs and support local community clubs and groups. Supporting them keeps your local shopping strip alive.

You’ll find a better card. Newsagents do have the best range of cards, better than supermarkets for sure.

  • More designs: They stock cards from multiple companies, giving you a wider variety of styles to choose from.
  • Specific captions: If you need a card for “Grandpa,” “Pop,” “Uncle,” a mentor or a step-dad, you are far more likely to find it at a newsagent.
  • Higher quality: You can feel the difference. The cardstock is often better and the finishes are superior. You can be proud to give a card that feels special.
  • Australian made: Newsagents are the number one supporters of Australian-designed and made cards that capture our unique sense of humour and style.

In my own newsagency we are grateful to sell cards from Henderson Greetings, an Australian company that makes the cards here in Australia.

Henderson Greetings has helped Australians celebrate life’s special events through beautiful, quality products for over 70 years. Our commitment to quality drives both great product and trusted relationships with our customers. Our Head Office is based in Melbourne. Our products and Sales representatives reach leading retailers and newsagents in every state of Australia.

Buying a Henderson Greetings Father’s Day card supports the wonderful work of the McGrath Foundation, a trusted and beloved organisation.

For almost 20 years we’ve supported families through cancer. McGrath Cancer Care Nurses have a proven positive impact on the lives of people experiencing cancer and their families. Learn more about how we’ve supported over 161,000 people and their families right across Australia.

The shopping experience for a Father’s Day card at your local newsagency is simpler You can browse the cards at your leisure in a calm environment. The staff are there to help if you need it, but they won’t pressure you. Many also offer genuine value through loyalty programs. For convenience, you can often find gift bundles ready to go, making it a quick and easy stop.

A Father’s Day card is a lasting memory A great card is more than just a piece of paper; it’s a keepsake. It’s something Dad can look back on for years to come, a tangible memory of the day. Choosing a quality card makes that memory even more special.

To find the best Father’s Day card selection, be sure to shop early. Do a quick search for “newsagency near me” and you’ll find one of the 2,800 local stores around the country, ready to help you find the perfect thing for Dad.

Where can you find the best Father’s Day cards this year: your local newsagency of course!


Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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Greeting Cards

Why a better discount offered by a card company may not make your newsagency as much money compared to going to a company that does not offer as good a discount

Beware any card company trying to win your business by offering a better discount, especially if the discount is above what is common for your size card account.

The best card  suppliers for your retail business are those producing cards that sell easily: cards that existing customers will buy, cards through which you can attract new shoppers and cards recipients love, and tell their friends about.

By trying to entice you with a big discount, the card company representative probably knows they don’t have the best cards and are pulling the only lever they can: the discount lever.

Discounting by suppliers in a competitive space is lazy and, in my experience, not financially good retailers.

Winning your business with a bigger discount and providing stock that does not perform as well as another company holds you back, it results in you making less money.

I bought a newsagency business three years ago that had a single national card company supplier. The shop was doing around $100,000 a year in card sales. We replaced the one card supplier with two different suppliers and sales jumped 45%. While the discount from the two new suppliers was less than the incumbent supplier, we easily made more money.

A newsagent I was helping had for years had one supplier. They were looking at changing. The incumbent supplier offered a bigger discount and sold them on increasing their card space. fast forward eighteen months and card revenue is the same it was before the move. The card company has more stock in the business and the newsagent is only banking more profit because of a couple of extra points in discount. Indeed, the newsagent is worse off in real terms because there is no growth in unit sales.

A newsagent who purchased their business two years pressured several card companies for their best price. The company that won the account is the company that offered the biggest discount. There was no consideration of product. Card sales in this shop have not kept up with average growth in our channel.

When considering the best card suppliers for your shop be sure about your goal. Hopefully, the goal is to achieve the best return on space and capital possible, to achieve the best gross profit contribution. The most important contributor to gross profit contribution from card sales is card sales volume, not the discount percentage.

Beware any card company trying to win your business by offering a better discount. This is a lazy sales tactic designed to take your attention away from what really matters to you” stocking your business with cards that actually sell.

Footnote: In the Tower Systems newsagency software we make it easy for retailers to compare suppliers in a common product segment. This empowers local small business retailers to advocate for their businesses based on evidence.

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Greeting Cards

Personalised local Christmas cards are a hit

We are loving these personalised Christmas cards because customers are loving them. They show off local wonderfully in the design and that they are made locally to us.

It’s small touches like this that can enhance your local connection and encourage local support. We have found a range of suppliers through which we can do this, including this wonderful local card supplier. We continue to seek out more.

These cards are also helping us drive basket depth at the counter as they are an easy impulse purchase.

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Greeting Cards

Leveraging the Bluey frenzy in the newsagency

The release of the Bluey coin products through Australia Post has provided an excellent opportunity to pitch all things Bluey in the newsagency from the magazine to the toys to the plush to the latest release of Bluey licenced cards from Henderson Greetings.

We have had the Bluey cards since they were first released a few years ago. They have been a hit commercially and creatively. It’s good to see the licence renewed for Henderson as they have served it well with their Aussie made products.

While the magazine, toys and plush are cool, it’s the cards that have the broader appeal given those shopping for cards. We have found counter placement to be terrific for boosting impulse purchases. It’s an easy win.

Bluey is an easy win. Currently, there are 1.4 million Bluey related searches in Australia. If you have an online shop with Bluey products available, leveraging searches for the keyword ought be a priority. You can do this through thoughtful product names and descriptions as well as supporting blog posts. This type of marketing costs in time only. It is easy to engage with.

I’d note that leveraging the Bluey keyword is challenging because so many others are trying this too. You have to be smart and you have to have a range of content. One blog post, for example, is not enough. Publish several on different Bluey topics. Have as much product as possible too. This raises your profile with the search engines.

If you are not an Australia Post LPO and have not had access to the coins, there are other Bluey products you can access to make the most of this mega-licence. My advice to newsagents is to embrace the Bluey opportunity, even if you think you do not currently serve that customer. This is a licence that surprises with its broad appeal.

If you do have the Bluey cards, toys, plush and magazine, my advice today is to place it all together, in the window or somewhere else people will see it. Ride the coattails of the coin release for an easy sales boost.

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Greeting Cards

Australian made cards have an advantage in the card department

It makes sense when you think about it. Unemployment is up, more people are either out of work or not getting the hours they want. These people and those close to them are more likely to preference Australian made is they have a choice.

Buying Australian made is a choice plenty of Aussies lean into. This is more true I think in economic conditions in which we find ourselves at the moment.

In the greeting card space it is easy for us to pitch Australian made in newsagencies. All we have to do is to turn the card over and point to printed in Australia, which you will see on cards from several Australian card companies. That these businesses are also Australian owned is a bonus. That their cards perform well, driving good year on year results, extends the bonus.

If you stock Australian made cards, pitch that on social media and in-store. Be grateful and proud to support Australian made. This is a good shop local pitch without sprouting the cliche chop local lines. A photo is a good social media pitch, each too.

When people talk about unemployment or the economy we can join in the conversation, or we can show through our actions that we are doing what we can to support Australian jobs and the Australian economy. Greeting cards are an excellent place in our businesses for doing this.

I think it is better for us to show through our actions and for me the easiest and best step we can take is to preference Australian made products. It’s an easy step we can take, too, with a guaranteed win based on the data I see from hundreds of newsagencies.

If you have Australian made cards, be sure your staff know how to pitch Australian made, talk about it on social media, talk about your commitment to Australian made in the context of helping address unemployment, show them at the counter, use shelf-talkers in-store and be proud.

card companies with non Australian made cards may pitch deals to buy your business. While it’s up to you, I am of the firm view that Australian made is a big selling benefit here right now, and we have hundreds and hundreds of wonderful Australian made cards we can stock.

The local Aussie newsagency should, in my view, be the best place in town pitching Australian made.

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Greeting Cards

The difference in the performance of cards in newsagencies is considerable

Looking at card sales year to date, their average for 2024 verses 2023 is 2% growth. That average does not tell the real story though.

I’ve seen data for newsagencies achieving 20% year on year growth in 2024 over 2023. Those achieving this are working on their card department, usually with two card companies in place and on the back or a store level data-driven pocket / caption review.

I have also seen data for plenty of newsagents lies reporting a decline of 10% and more. One was as high as 30%. Typically, the stores experiencing decline have these attributes:

  • One card company dominating supply.
  • Orders are done by the card company without store level consultation.
  • The card company has provided cash or fixtures for the business to lock them in.
  • new cards are put out by a merchandiser and not staff in the store or the business owner.
  • There is no card shopper loyalty program.
  • Cards are only pitched in the card department.

Our channel has the best range of card captions in Australia. It’s a foundation category for each newsagency and needs to be managed as such.

If your card sales this year so far are not up more than 2% on last year, you need to take action. If they are in decline, you need to take urgent action.

I see terrific upside for card sales in our channel if we manage the category ourselves and engaged with it daily in our shops.

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Greeting Cards

Strong February card sales in the newsagency

We have  good results for February in our bigger high street newsagency in Melbourne. It did almost $13,000 in card sales, up 6%. This is good growth in what or proving to be a first quarter of low card sales growth, around 2%.

We also did $1,000 in sales from the cards we direct-imported from the US and UK that we pitch away from our traditional card department and to a younger demographic.

The growth is spread across everyday as well as lifestyle. Valentine’s Day was also good.

Cards remain a vital category for our businesses given the margin and that card shoppers are loyal.

In my experience, the card department delivers good rewards for in-store investment by the business. We work the category on social media as well as in-store with co-location promotion in the window and at the counter as well as the more traditional location.

On February comparison, be sure to look at February 1 through 28, don’t use the extra day as that may provide a rosier picture that is unhelpful for month on month analysis.

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Greeting Cards

Fujifilm and Scribbler unite to offer card kiosk in Australia

I have been watching the roll out of the Scribbler branded card vending kiosk from Fujifilm in the UK for over a year. I first used the kiosk myself a year ago and I spoke with Fujifilm people at the Spring Fair in Birmingham in 2023.

Now, Fujifilm Australia have confirmed this is coming to Australia.

In the UK, in addition to placement in the popular Scribbler stores, I am told they have these kiosks placed in some university and non retail commercial locations.

The card printed is on bigger paper that is not as thick as a usual card. The selling feature is the range of cards that you may not find in-store.

The hardware costs around $14,000 in Australia and the initial kit of consumables costs around $1,200.

I don’t have visibility of the licence fee or wholesale cost of each card. They are yet to release integrated payment options for Australia.

It will be interesting to see the take up in Australia. In the UK, where I am at the moment, the Scribbler retail network footprint has enabled a broad roll out to educate shoppers. The company does na excellent job promoting the kiosk cards on the front window of its stores.

While time will tell if this is a disruptor in the creating card space, I do think that this is out in the market is good for cards. I also think it especially works with the Scribbler brand because of their 100% humour focus.

There are a few misses in my view:

  • The paper stock is not ideal.
  • The kiosks I have tried have had some cards that are also in the shop and the kiosk version does not feel as good.
  • There is only one size currently from what I can tell.
  • The shop has to be open to make the purchase in the Scribbler versions I have seen.

The plusses are:

  • The kiosk may broaden card appeal.
  • It can make more products available in less space.
  • You can write on the card from a keyboard.

While I have no knowledge of specific plans in Australia and no connection whatsoever with this product, I expect we will start to hear more about it soon. I expect they’ll have a stand at one or more trade shows to launch.

The innovation by Scribbler and Fujifilm encourages those of us with greeting cards in our shops to innovate, to appeal to a broader range of people and to encourage people to buy more cards.

For more on the kiosk roll out, there was a story by Printweek and a launch announcement by Fujufilm.

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Greeting Cards

Pitching Christmas to younger card buyers

It’s terrific seeing Gen Z and Millennials buying Christmas cards. Their preference from what I’ve seen is humour and relevance to what interests them.

Outside of the regular card department we have around 60 Christmas cards and ornaments selected to appeal to them. We have them situated so they can be easily seen from outside the shop, on the street – we do this to attract them inside.

While not for everyone’s taste, it’s important we play outside tradition if we want to reach more shoppers and, after all, we are not our own customers.

Here are some of the cards from this range.

We started playing in this space two years ago and it’s grown since, without any negative imp[act on traditional card sales. We play in this space all year round now and it’s delivered more than $15,000 in additional card revenue this year.

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Greeting Cards

What’s a good thing to write on a Christmas card?

What should I write on a Christmas card?

What words should I write on a Christmas card?

What’s good to say on a Christmas card?

How should I write on a Christmas card?

What’s the best thing to write on a Christmas card?

These questions and similar are being asked hundreds of times every day on search engines in Australia at the moment. People what to know what to write on Christmas card, how to, and more.

This is an opportunity for local newsagents to provide this advice on social media. be the expert, the helper, the guide. Help them find their way to express themselves on Christmas cards.

Before getting into what to write on a Christmas card, remember that any card you give is for now, and for years into the future. Take your time.

What you write needs to reflect you, how you feel, how you want to be remembered.

The best way to figure out what to write is to take a piece of paper and start writing. This way you can figure it out through trial on paper and not on the card.

But, if you really are stuck, try these suggestions offering varying degrees of expressing feelings:

I never tell you enough how much you do mean to me.

Christmas is brighter thanks to you.

Knowing you is a wonderful Christmas gift.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Thanks for everything you do for me.

I wish I was there to hug you in person.

Cheers.

You’re a good mate and I appreciate you for that.

If none of those give you ideas on what to write, you could go very basic and write to [their name] and at the bottom, from [your name]. But do you really want to be remembers for that?

Sometimes a Christmas card is a good way to share a memory. It shows you thinking of them, that you have fond memories.

Sending a Christas card is not an obligation. It’s an honour to be able to give them something they can cherish for years, something to ignite warmth in their heart years down the track. So, take your time, reflect what you think and feel. It’s okay to be vulnerable. It’s important, though, to be yourself.

What’s a good thing to write on a Christmas card? Write a greeting appropriate between you and the person for whom you are writing the card.

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Greeting Cards

Where is the best place to buy Christmas cards this year?

The best place to buy Christmas cards this year is your local newsagency, and here’s why…

  • Newsagents have the best range of cards, often from different card companies. if you want a card for a specific caption like aunt, uncle, neighbour, teacher and more, your local newsagency is more likely to have these than any other retailer. In the everyday Christmas card range, your local newsagent is more likely to have more designs from which to choose.
  • Newsagents are more likely to stock Aussie designed and made Christmas cards.
  • Newsagents are more likely to have more types of cards such as money and gift card wallets, boxed cards and single cards.
  • Cards in newsagencies are easier to shop. Take your time, browse at your leisure.
  • Newsagents are more likely to have better quality cards, you’ll love how they feel in your hands, how they are finished. You can be proud to give these cards.
  • Newsagency staff are more likely to help when you want. Just ask.
  • You are more likely to save money on cards at your local newsagency as many run genuine value loyalty programs.

So, where is the best place to buy Christmas cards this year? Start at our local newsagent. And be sure to shop early, so you have the choice of more products, more designs.

Your local Aussie newsagency is likely to be locally owned and run. It’s where plenty of locals have got their first job over the years. It’s a shop that often supports local community groups and clubs.

Your local Aussie newsagency is a shop that helps locals connect with locals.

And how do your find your local newsagency? Do a Google search for newsagency near me and the map will present you plenty of options.

Remember, the Christmas cards you give are not for this year alone. Many people will keep them and look back on them over the years, remembering this Christmas, remembering you. Cards are like that, a sweet memory trigger, heartwarming, comforting. Choose your cards for today and for these memories into the future.

Where is the best place to buy Christmas cards this year? Your local Aussie newsagency. There are around 2,800 of us around the country, ready to serve you.

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Greeting Cards

Are Aussie card companies missing a Halloween opportunity

Engagement with Halloween has grown in Australia for sure over the years. we can see that on the streets, in sales of masks, costumes and home decor and in local events.

The one part that has not grown in Australia is greeting cards.

I am in the US at the moment and every card shop (large and small) has a big range of Halloween cards. All fun and spooky. Looking carefully at the ranges here, I am sure we are missing an opportunity in Australia.

Halloween is a good party season. It’s family friendly, and something we can lean into beyond greeting card sales.

It’s also a good season to push us into Christmas.

I’d love to see Aussie card companies play in this space.

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Greeting Cards

Strong boxed card sales auger well for Christmas

For years now I have tracked early boxed Christmas card sales and followed through Christmas season sales and see in data over years a clear indicator for Christmas in early boxed Christmas card sales.

This year, I am seeing boxed Christmas card sales up on last year.

To me, this suggests a strong Christmas in our space.

We’re not doing anything out of the ordinary to pitch boxed Christmas cards. They are out on the shop floor, front of store, and online. No discounting. No deals.

The average early in the season boxed card shopper buys three packs. They often purchase other things at the same time. They are a good customer. Half the time a regular and half the time not.

Charity range is key to sales I have found. Indeed, it’s something customers comment on.

We’ve had boxed Christmas cards out for just over a month,. It’s been well worth it and have already received our first top-up order in a couple of locations.

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Greeting Cards

We need to grow the card shopper pool in Australia if we are to grow card sales in our newsagencies

Australians don’t buy as many greeting cards per capita as in the US or UK. I think our poor performance in per-capital greeting card purchases is, in part, due to the poor engagement of card suppliers and card retailers in nurturing the value of giving cards.

Currently, we offer cards to destination shoppers. It is only rare in retail that there is any consistent and considered effort to guide people to purchase cards on impulse, and to guide people to make their first-ever card purchase.

We have to grow the pool of card givers if greeting cards are to be usefully viable in retail in Australia.

So, how do we do that? I have some suggestions:

  • Co-locate cards outside of your usual card department: in the window, at the counter, next to a high traffic dwell area in-store, among gifts. Count what you place so you can easily check if that co-location worked.
  • Offer to write on cards: from the words to write to the handwriting itself, this offer from you could eliminate two barriers to people giving cards.
  • Show what card memories are worth: connect with some customers who have cards going back many years,. Ask them for a photo with their collection. tell their story and do so with joy. Ensure your words capture the heart warming feeling the card collection has for those who have collected them. People need to see and understand the value of giving a card beyond the few seconds of handing it over and the recipient reading it.
  • Talk about cards you love and why you love them on social media: Especially if you are a bloke. Make cards feel accessible. Give something of yourself in the posts. Show, don’t tell. And, do it in a way that people can connect with, and be encouraged by. This is especially useful it you are talking about cards outside the traditional.
  • Offer first-timer training: host an event for a first time card buyer. Throw on some drinks and food. Offer support for them in making their first purchase. Have some fun. Be sure to actively pitch this at first time card shoppers.
  • Hey check out this new card we just got in. Choose the right card, one you love, one that is truly different, one that pits a pitch you like (maybe locally made, and fun). Think carefully about the card and then, try the pitch for a day at the counter: Hey check out this new card we just got in. Hold up the card. Don’t say it to everyone as you don’t want customers hearing it and thin king it’s a script. Count the times you say it, and track the engagement., If it works, do more of it, with other cards. if it does not work, maybe re-calibrate the pitch, the card, or both and try again.

These 6 ideas are a sample of the ideas I have in this kit. They are all about trying to grow your local pool of card customers. All it takes is for someone giving their first card to see joy and delight on the face of the recipient. If they see that, they are likely to buy more cards, and hopefully do this from you.

Having your entire greeting card pitch in the newsagency in the card department is a missed opportunity in my view.

Expecting your card department and your card suppliers to take card of marketing for you is a mistake in my view.

Growing the pool of people who will purchase cards is critical.

Helping people purchase a card when their destination was another category in-store is critical.

Guiding card shoppers to purchase more cards each visit is critical.

Bringing card shoppers back more often for card purchases is critical.

For too long the Aussie newsagent channel has done well with card sales despite itself. It is time we invested in growing the card shopper pool and nurtured their efficiency for us. It’s on us to do this. We are the card retail specialists after all.

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Greeting Cards

For Arts Sake gone?

I first heard that For Arts Sake was closing last week. I put it down to rumour. A couple of days later I was told staff were locked out of their head office. I reached out to the CEO but did not receive a response.

It does seem like the business is in a challenging situation.

I am sure other card companies are reaching out, seeking opportunities.

I feel for those who worked at the company and for small businesses who may be out of pocket if it comes to that.

If the reports turn out to not be true or if a positive resolution is found – great news for those who do rely on the company.

For what it’s worth, what I want from a card company is:

  • Cards that sell.
  • Cards I am proud to showcase.
  • Regular range refresh.
  • Opportunities to reach new shoppers.
  • Aussie made.
  • On time delivery.
  • Good communication.
  • Differentiation compared to big retailers.

I think the Aussie card market is undergoing change. There is growth in engagement in some co-horts and this is uncovering people buying cards not traditionally offered by the biggest suppliers in Australia.

There is less price pressure, which I like because the $1 and $2 cards look and feel awful.

Shoppers are responding to smart promotion of the category.

Newsagents can shine as specialty retailers compared to supermarkets, convenience stores and Australia Post corporate stores, which tend to mediocre in their engagement with the category in my view.

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Greeting Cards

Language is not the barrier it used to be in the newsagency

Years ago, if we had a card or some other product with a swear word on it, we’d receive complaints all through the day, many complaints. The same product today would attract one, maybe two, complaints a week.

10+ years ago we had a card from Spirit in one of my shops that had a small balloon on the front as the penis. We had a customer who would come in and cut the penis off.

I think what offends people today is different. Swears on cards and other products attract more laughs than complaints. I think the balloon penis would be the same if we had it.

There is a strength in the way swear words are used on some cards, a cleverness, too.

We are careful, of course, to not shine a light on these cards at the counter. rather, they are in the card mix, where you’d expect the shopper likely to purchase this card to look.

The Affirmations card business released their defamations range some years ago. It’s a raunchy range with plenty of swears. It sells very well. Retailers often tell me of the laughs they hear from the part of the store where the defamations products are located.

I guess my point here is that swear words are not the turn off they were 10+ years ago. Today, they will most likely help you win sales, and they will, for sure, make your shop relevant to a wider group of shoppers.

I’ve used cards with swear words on their in social media posts, with success. A common response is people tagging friends in the post.

There are plenty of suppliers now playing in this space. My advice in case you don’t have these types products in store is have a crack as you are likely to find new shoppers.

In the UK, the Scribbler group has built their business on cards like these. You only have to stand in one of their shops and realise the broad age range appeal of raunchy cards – older women, 75+, especially appear to like the humour.

Personally, I am drawn to the more nuanced used of swear words, like you can see on the card included with this post. I think it’s smart and relevant.

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Greeting Cards