There is no escaping the fact that the greeting card industry is huge. There are billions of pounds spent every year and it seems as though there are more and more reasons to buy a card and a gift every year. When we were growing up, we would never have thought of buying a card at certain times of the year, but thanks to massive advertising campaigns, we now feel obligated to purchasing an ever-increasing number of cards each year. Easter cards are now all the rage and it was not so long ago that chocolate eggs replaced the painted variety. There is no end to it all, but one refreshing addition to the trend is the self-made greeting cards.
Arts and Crafts Triumphing
The self-made variety of greeting card has made a comeback in recent years, so much so that local shops that stock hand-made cards regularly outsell them before cheaply and mass-produced offerings that have become the norm. The industry that supplies the materials for homemade cards and other arts and crafts has really taken off because people prefer the personal touch. They appreciate the time and effort that goes in to creating and individual piece of art and that is why they are head and shoulders above the competition when you are trying to convey a special message.
Past Time to Profit
The manufacturing of hand-made greeting cards is not quite a cottage industry just yet, but there are many who have turned a very decent profit from their hobby. The demand for hand-made cards and their relative rarity compared to mass produced products makes them more valuable to shoppers. This is usually reflected in the price of the cards when they are stocked by shops. The cost of a hand-made card is usually much more than similarly sized cards by large companies.
A Professional Finish
Thanks to the popularity of the home arts and crafts among hobbyists, the industry is now full of materials that make the finished product appear very professional. Of course, there is still a great deal of patience and skill to making the best possible presentation piece, but there is everything available to make the process as easy as possible. This not only includes materials, but also the tools, which covers everything from a simple scissors through to rubber stamps for decorating or embossing. The industry has moved on considerably from the days of Blue Peter showing you how to create anything with an empty washing up bottle and a roll of double-sided sticky tape.
Creating professional cards that are worthy of display in someone’s home will take time, but using the correct card making supplies makes the process a great deal easier.