How To Make Money Selling Holiday Cards

The holiday season brings cheer, celebrations, and of course, holiday cards! Sending warm greetings and heartfelt messages through beautifully crafted cards is a time-honored tradition. And for creative entrepreneurs and artists, these cards present a lucrative business opportunity waiting to be tapped.

Whether you‘re looking to start a side hustle or grow an existing card business, there are numerous strategies and platforms to make money selling holiday cards. This comprehensive guide explores various avenues, niche markets, pricing models, and marketing tactics. Let‘s deck the halls and our bank accounts this season!

Crafting a Standout Holiday Card Business

Creating an eye-catching portfolio is crucial, whether selling online or at craft fairs. Experiment with different styles, materials, and finishing techniques to develop a signature aesthetic.

Focus on 2-3 selected styles instead of overwhelming customers with too many options. For instance, offer a collection of minimalist wood-cut cards, another set of ornate glass-painted ones, and a third bundle of sparkly acrylic.

Incorporate On-Trend Design Elements

Keep up to date with trends by browsing Etsy, Pinterest boards, independent shops and stationery blogs. Notice colors, motifs, textures that strike a chord each season.

In 2022-23, expect to see:

Vintage Postcard Styling with Faded & Muted Tones
Embossed Foil and Shimmering Accents
Juniper Berries, Rosemary Sprigs, Pinecones
Snow-capped Landscapes and Winter Animal Illustrations

Blend classic motifs like Christmas trees and wreaths with one or two contemporary elements for an updated yet familiar look.

Offer Distinct Collections

Categorize cards into clear collections based on major holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year‘s Eve to cater to diverse audiences.

Additionally, create lines for different relationships or purposes:

“With Love on Your Birthday"
“Thank You, Teacher”
Blank Note Cards for General Gifting

This segmentation allows buyers to easily navigate products for their specific needs.

Size Options

Not everyone wants a 5 x 7 inch card. Offer miniature card sets as fun stocking stuffers. Or jumbo 8 x 10 cards for lavish impressions. Square, scalloped edges, or circular shaped cards also make memorable keepsakes.

What About Holidays All Year Round?

While holiday cards peak during their respective seasons, extend branding beyond December.

Mother’s Day: Floral bouquets, breakfast in bed
Father’s Day: Fishing, golf motifs
Valentine’s Day: From romantic to friendly, love fills the air
Halloween: Get spooky and creative!
Easter: Pastel colors, rabbits and eggs
4th of July: Red, white and blue themed Summer vibes

By covering additional celebrations, you continue engaging customers year-round while working on new seasonal releases.

Top Platforms & Marketplaces to Sell

Leveraging the right platforms is vital for reaching target buyers and simplifying logistics. Assess options based on fees, audience, tools for sellers, and branding flexibility.

Etsy

The handmade marketplace leader, Etsy receives over 60 million unique monthly visitors searching for special, one-of-a-kind items perfect for gifting.

While the site takes a 5% transaction fee and additional listing charges, you gain access to an established user base. Make the most of it by optimizing holiday card listings for search visibility. Strong titles, detailed descriptions, high-quality images, smart tagging, product variations, and competitive pricing are key.

Additionally, the Pattern tool provides insights into bestselling styles while Etsy Ads lets you promote products more aggressively during peak seasons.

Amazon Handmade

For those seeking to scale, Amazon Handmade positions your cards before a wider audience. It also enables Prime perks like fast shipping.

However, Amazon dictates policies and fees. You may need to tweak branding or packaging to comply with guidelines. There is also a minimum average order volume to enroll. So evaluate if increased sales outweigh branding control factors.

Print-on-Demand Services

Eliminate the risk and upfront costs of mass production through print-on-demand (POD). Platforms like Zazzle, Redbubble, and CafePress enable you to upload designs while they produce prints as orders come in.

The base is a royalty model where you earn money through markup on products. Some aspects to weigh— POD base costs might make very inexpensive items unprofitable. Check provider printing quality. And you may have limited branding, packaging customization based on their processes.

However, POD makes testing design ideas and expansion easier due to minimal inventory concerns. It’s great for niche cards not produced at scale.

Shopify / Squarespace

A self-hosted store allows the most control over branding, UX, promotions, and margins. E-commerce platforms like Shopify and Squarespace simplify setting up independent web stores.

While requiring upfront investment into site development and marketing, a owned store establishes the business as a distinct brand. The freedom to customize packaging, discounts, collaborations, video content, email campaigns, and partnerships can nurture a dedicated customer base.

Pricing Strategies

Careful pricing enables maintaining product quality and margins over fluctuating material/operational costs.

Wholesale Rates for Bulk Orders

Offer 10-25% off on orders above 50-100 cards for corporate gifting, weddings, retail partnerships. Ensure the reduced rates still retain reasonable revenue. Require 2-3 week lead time for large requests.

Bundled Packs

Bundling allows perceived value enhancement through perceived "bonuses" while increasing order sizes. E.g. “Holiday Card Pack” with 20 Christmas Cards + 5 Blank Notes + Stickers for $45 Or Package Deals like “Bestselling Card Trio” 3 sets for $25.

Limited-Edition Collections

Generate urgency by announcing special card collections only available for a short duration. Maybe a collaboration set or premium designs using Italian marble, 23k gold accents etc. Limit it to 100 cataloged pieces for collectors or high-end gifting at a premium price.

Subscriptions

Offer multi-month subscriptions delivering 5-10 cards monthly. This stabilizes income by securing recurring orders. Provide 10-15% off for 3, 6 or 12-month plans. Include bonus gifts like notepads, bookmarks occasionally.

Dynamic Pricing

During sales events or holidays, run dynamic pricing campaigns with time-based discounts or tiered coupon codes.

E.g:

15% off purchases over $30 for CyberWeek
$10 off a $50+ Boxing Day order from Dec 26-28
Buy 1 Get 1 Free Valentine Cards till Feb 10

These urgently incentivize purchases while the context is peak, allowing periodic higher revenues.

Producing Your Cards Profitability

Streamline sourcing quality materials at wholesale rates. Establish a organized inventory management system. And ensure secure packaging/delivery processes.

Order Essential Supplies in Bulk

Stock up on card sheets, envelope packets, embellishments, adhesives, and tools during seasonal sales in January or July to minimize costs. Shop at warehouse stores, source from Alibaba.com or local manufacturers.

Consider eco-friendly, acid-free, archival quality card stock for durability—this appeals while justifying slight premiums.

Inventory Tracking

Utilize barcode systems, spreadsheets or Shopify‘s built-in inventory tools. Track units sold, materials consumed, and leftovers. Plan future production cycles accordingly, minimize write-offs from product aging.

Presentation Impacts Perceived Value

Invest in creative packaging using custom sticker seals, tissue wraps, ribbons, and boxes.subidized Seekd branded corrugated mailers in bulk.

Handwritten notes cultivate personalization. tiny Thank You stickers and extras like bookmarks turn purchases into memorable unboxing moments.

Promoting Your Holiday Cards

Build engaging campaigns across media both in-season and year-round:

HASHTAG CHALLENGES

On Instagram, initiate a seasonal challenge like:

Incentivize entries with gift cards, freebies for top posts. Don’t forget Pinterest Boards for inspiration too!

LAUNCH LIMITED COLLECTIONS

For special editions like Crystal Snowflake Cards, metallic accents, luxury touches—run short 2-3 week prelaunch interest campaigns on email and social media. Perhaps a contest to name the collection before reveal. This hooks audience anticipation especially for gift-givers seeking exclusive finds early.

GIFT GUIDE PLACEMENTS

Pitch your products through gift guides, roundups in magazine, news and niche sites around year-end holidays. Provide high-res images, samples and suggested copy for seamless integration while gaining credible exposure before mainstream consumers.

CROSS-PROMOTE ARTIST COLLABS

Co-Create cards with a noted stationery designer, calligrapher or painter – pairing strengths for a split audience outreach and leg up over mass producers in quality.

Making an Impact with Charity Support

Infuse heart into your business by pledging proceeds to social causes. This attracts conscientious customers plus spreads joy.

Sponsor Underprivileged School Children

Commit a portion of Christmas cards sales to provide stationery, art supplies or tutoring scholarships. Local shelters and hospitals also appreciate donations.

Non-Profit Card Packs

Bundle exclusive designs with 100% profits given to selected charities. This proposition tugs heartstrings for a worthy purchase.

Year-End Donation Drives

Run end-of-year campaigns seeking customer contributions with a stated target. Match a % of funds raised to make a tangible community impact. Share the beneficiaries’ stories to inspire participation.

While giving seasonally, sustain efforts year-round integrally shaping the brand’s purpose.

Crafting a Standout Holiday Card Business
- Incorporate On-Trend Design Elements
- Offer Distinct Collections
- Size Options
- What About Holidays All Year Round?
Top Platforms & Marketplaces to Sell
- Etsy
- Amazon Handmade
- Print-on-Demand Services
- Shopify / Squarespace
Pricing Strategies
- Wholesale Rates for Bulk Orders
- Bundled Packs
- Limited-Edition Collections
- Subscriptions
- Dynamic Pricing
Producing Your Cards Profitability
- Order Essential Supplies in Bulk
- Inventory Tracking
- Presentation Impacts Perceived Value
Promoting Your Holiday Cards
- Hashtag Challenges
- Launch Limited Collections
- Gift Guide Placements
- Cross-Promote Artist Collab
Making an Impact with Charity Support

Selling personalized holiday cards leveraging creative expression and human connection stands apart from mass merchandise. By identifying niche consumer segments, crafting delightful experiences through communications and packaging, promoting strategically across media channels – artists, makers and side hustlers can nurture rewarding small businesses.

Remember, customers purchase the backstory and perceived uniqueness behind cards as much as the aesthetic product. So weave in your journey, purpose and passion across touchpoints while being responsive to trends. May your holiday cards carry joy, togetherness and a bit of your soul into the world this merry season!