Charities losing £460 million a year on greetings cards
Registered charities are losing out on an estimated £460 million each year because they focus too much on Christmas cards – and don’t supply greeting cards all year round.
An October 2010 Mintel report revealed that 21% of people are desperate to support their favourite charity through everyday greeting cards, and a quarter of those would spend more on a charity card.
A new charity greeting cards platform is helping charities take a chunk of the annual £1.48 billion card industry – with absolutely zero risk.
Charity Greetings allows charities such as the Alzheimer’s Society and Diabetes UK to sell quality, every day, High Street greeting cards to their supporters online, raising funds from every card sold.
There is no stock to print, buy or fulfil, meaning there is no risk or increased workload for the charity.
And the cards can generate on average £155 revenue for every 100 supporters. You can learn more and get a full information pack at www.joincharitygreetings.com.
“This is about helping charities tap into a market worth £1.48 billion a year in the UK alone,” said CEO Craig Hartzel.
“But getting your own cards printed is too risky, as shown by Oxfam recently announcing it may have lost £100,000 on Christmas cards in 2010.”
The Charity Greetings card shops were created by Craig after 11 years’ experience selling cards online.
The company provides each charity with a personalised online cards store that integrates with their website.
All of the technology, stock and card fulfilment is handled by the company. Every card purchased raises funds for the charities.
One in five consumers try to send charity cards, and the average consumer sends 31 cards a year. The average amount raised by each card through Charity Greetings is 25p.
Supporters can also make a voluntary donation as a gift to their recipient when they buy a card.
Already several charities are onboard, including The Alzheimer’s Society, Bullying UK, Diabetes UK, Cats Protection and local Wildlife Trust charities.
Peter Clements, commercial manager of Diabetes UK, said: “We want to sell greeting cards. However with building the technology, buying the cards in bulk and of course fulfilling the orders, it is not really viable and certainly a big financial outlay for Diabetes UK. We are delighted to partner with Charity Greetings who have taken all the financial risks from us. You can visit our card shop at http://greetingcards.diabetes.org.uk”
Craig added: “The days when the charity card stood out on the mantelpiece as looking cheap and dreary are gone. Charity Greetings stock the same quality of cards you would find in the high street. And it’s an easy way for charities to add a valuable new revenue stream.”
Charities can learn more and get a full information pack at www.joincharitygreetings.com.
Charity Greetings is a greeting card company that raises money for charity. They want to make giving as easy and as regular as sending a card. Charity Greetings work with over 100 charities including Help for Heroes, Guide Dogs and Diabetes UK.
It all started when co-founder Miles Hartzel was celebrating his birthday. Once the festivities were over, while he was taking the cards down from his mantelpiece, he realised that the pile of out-of-date greetings was worth well over £100. It was a lot of money, money that could have been used in a much better way, money that could actively support good causes.
In the UK alone we spend £1.47 billion on greeting cards, that’s on average 31 cards each a year. Now charities can benefit from selling greeting cards to their supporters, not just for Christmas.
- For further information or contact Craig Hartzel on 07957 855 638 or email craig.hartzel@charitygreetings.com
- The Mintel report summary can be found at http://oxygen.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen/display/id=537947
- You can always tweet us on @SoMediaCharity if you would like to discuss this report.
