Valentine's day e-cards: Are they putting card publishers out of business?
(Read article summary)Valentine's Day e-cards are getting the attention of big name greeting card manufacturers. But even if they're more convenient than physical cards, Valentine's Day e-cards don't come close to evoking emotion as their card stock cousins.
Searching for the best Valentine's Day e-cards? Here's a preview of what you'll find and it’s very… whimsical.
On e-card site Bluemountain.com, one of the featured interactive cards begins with the following illustration: a little leaf dangling by its stem underneath a tree canopy.
Clicking and tugging the leaf snaps the stem and the leaf glides whimsically through the air toward a picnic table below. In the background is whimsical piano music. On the table, two birds and a squirrel lovingly adorn the fallen leaf with whimsical twigs, wildflowers, and berries. A butterfly lays across the leaf and a click of its wings makes them fold up, only to pop open with a message:
"Wishing you a happy Valentine's Day that’s as special as you are!"
Whimsy. Whimsy. Whimsy. Would you send that to your significant other? Your parent? Your grandparent? No. No you would not.
E-versions of books may be driving brick and mortar bookstores out of business, but e-cards aren’t replacing printed greeting cards, says Kathy Krassner, spokesperson for the Greeting Card Association, which represents more than 200 greeting card publishers.
"We find most people send e-cards to someone they've already sent a real card to or to an acquaintance who you wouldn't have sent a real card to anyway.” Ms. Krassner says. "You won't send your girlfriend or wife an e-card and they'd be annoyed if you did."
