While there is a huge amount of competition in the greeting card industry, and you may or may not become the next Hallmark, making greeting cards is a fun way to make some extra money. If you love creating artwork or writing sentimental prose, this may be the perfect home business for you. Even if you don’t, there are plenty of sources for inspiration for your cards.
Rather than trying to compete with the big greeting card publishers when you are first starting out, consider trying to find a niche market instead. Maybe there is a need for a particular type of card that isn’t well represented. Make sure there really is a need, and then try to fill it. You may be able to sell your cards to florists and gift shops in your area, and you may also be able to sell them at craft shows.
Another good idea is to make boxed sets of cards for all occasions. How handy would it be to have a box filled with cards for any occasion whenever you need a last minute card? I would buy a box, but I’m planning to make my own.
Why not market boxed sets of greeting cards as a sales item for fundraisers at church or your kids’ schools? That would be a great way to get your product into the public eye, as would giving your cards to friends and family members on holidays and special occasions. Make sure you include ordering information on cards or in each box.
You can set up your own greeting card designs with any paint program or desktop publishing program, such as Microsoft Office Assistant, but there is also a variety of other greeting card software available. Cardstock is inexpensive and accessible, and you may even eventually want to make your own specialty paper for cards, or to branch out and add stationary to your line of products.