While there are plenty of reminder services online that help people remember anniversaries and birthdays, few connect to the physical world. Which is where Boston-based Jack Cards comes in: a company that delivers pre-scheduled, ready-to-go greeting cards to the card sender, just in time for them to add a personal message and drop the card in the mailbox.
Customers register on jackcards.com, enter important dates for their family and friends and select cards for each person/date. Jack Cards offers a range of cards created by over 40 independent designers. Members schedule when they'd like the cards delivered—1, 2 or 4 weeks in advance—and select whether they would like the envelopes to be pre-stamped, pre-addressed, or both. Jack Cards takes care of the rest and even sends an email reminder to make sure customers don't forget to post the cards they've ordered and received. Membership is free and cards start at USD 1.50, plus postage and delivery (normal shipping rate is USD 0.99 per shipment).
While entering all of the necessary data might be a bit of a chore, it's a one-off time investment that helps customers unload the worry of letting an important date slip by unnoticed, and turns them into thoughtful, organized people who recognize the personal touch of a handwritten paper greeting. Since this is the kind of business that demands localization (language, local holidays, national postage), it's an enticing opportunity for entrepreneurs in other parts of the world. Basic requirements: a knack for logistics and a good eye for design. And, um... major greeting card manufacturers—why aren't you already doing this? (Related: Talking gift tags.)
Website: www.jackcards.com
Contact: info@jackcards.com
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http://www.thecardandgiftcompany.co.uk was originally Sharpcards. Been around since 2002 at least.
I had a look at moonpig.com Ben and while it's a great service I think Jack Cards is still a little different. I'm a Co-Founder of Jack Cards and we started the company with two ideas in mind the first - having a service that did all the fiddly bits (stamping, addressing, remembering dates) so that a customer could spend their time writing a personalized message (with technology at our fingertips it's such a treat to get something in the mail that someone has handwritten!). The second idea was to give independent designers an opportunity to reach a large market and in doing so have the potential to earn an income that is driven by their creativity and consumer popularity. The one thing about other greeting card companies is that designers incomes are capped and their art work is often owned by those entities.
Martin -- thanks for your comment. However, The Card & Gift Company will send a handwritten card for the sender. While that makes the whole endeavour entirely effortless, having someone else write a card for you doesn't seem quite as sincere. ;-)
hi all,
Me too planning for this idea as a website for indian subcontinent with localization (with eight local languages). Glad to look at these websites. My website coming soon.....
Check out Moonpig.com which has been around for a few years now doing the same thing with an added twist. They use some clever digital printing to customise the cards (e.g. the "funny ones") as the user wants. They can even digitally print your signature into the card so you never even have to see it! They have saved my life on many occaisions.
Ben | November 21, 2007 3:41 PM