What makes the perfect greeting card?

Since I've moved to New Mexico, the one thing I really miss is the plethora of boutique card shops I would browse in LA. The selection there was endless, with everything from silkscreened cards, handmade cards, letterpressed, and many other charming designs using trusty cymk. Although the selection here is slimmer, I've still been able to find a few good stores. That being said, I now find myself going to Hallmark to find the perfect greeting card. This brings me to my question:

What makes the perfect greeting card?

Greeting cards are a very personal thing, for the sender and receiver. The card must deliver it's message in an interesting and unique way. it must fulfill what the sender wants to say and also warm the heart of the receiver. When you are browsing a card shop, the first thing a card should do is lure you in with it's graphics. The person should want to pick it up immediately to see what it says. The message should complete the thought of the graphic.

Why do people buy cards?

If people knew what they wanted to say, they'd just say it. Buying a card for someone indicates thoughtfulness. It makes the person receiving it feel special and acknowledges the occasion in an individual way. Cards are great because they can be given with a gift, a gift card or they can stand alone. Cards are the basis of the gift giving process and with or without a gift, are a cheap yet thoughtful way to celebrate an occasion. Also, everyone loves getting cards in the mail!

Do people like cards without messages?

This is a controversial point in the greeting card world. Some say that a card should always have a message, so the buyer can simply sign their name. On the other side, some buyers prefer a blank card so that they can write their own message. The buyer may not like any of the messages on any of the cards. When that happens, the buyer will resort to the blank card section.

With that in mind, I have been working on a variety of birthday cards, some blanks that say 'Happy Birthday' on the outside, and some with birthday messages on the inside. I am really curious to see which designs will be our best sellers. This is something I will have more insight on in 6 months or so.

Here is one of my latest birthday cards that is blank on the inside.