We spoke with three artists who design greeting card lines to sell their creative work. Each shares her concept and experience.
Beverly Jones – Paper Traveler
I created my first cards in 2003, and sold them on Saturdays at Eastern Market in Washington, D.C.; however, I got serious about establishing a business in 2013, while I worked as a manager/buyer for a card and gift store, also in D.C.
My work was improving, and I was inspired by the talented greeting card designers I met and bought products from at various gift and trade shows. I now sell greeting cards and art prints wholesale to other stores, online in my own shop, and person-to-person at local markets and pop-up shops.
Patricia Rex – Encourage Someone Today
My greeting card collection is created from mixed-media collage as vivid color backdrops for calligraphy. I started this adventure “collage in garage” when I retired from 30 years teaching in public schools. My first efforts were created on backs of my husband’s legal pads. I experienced a year of trial and error in getting printing and packaging for cards, which I assembled in the garage.
Then a gallery owner saw my cards and asked to sell them in her shop. Currently, my cards are in three additional shops. I love encouraging others as I have been encouraged.
I have always liked how imagery and words together can convey thoughts or feelings, so greeting cards were a natural outlet for my creative work.
I have sold cards through retail outlets, agents and other avenues, however now I focus mainly selling on Print On Demand sites. I have niches that sell very well, one being pet sympathy cards. I sell on many different sites but one of my favorites is Greeting Card Universe. There is a submittal process to assure marketability, which in turn keeps my cards ideas saleable. Print On Demands do all the work, which leaves the creative part to me!
