Comments on: Book Price Wars and Fine Stationery: A Lesson

By: Richard May

Richard May — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:56:20 +0000

You both are right on target. People who recognize the importance of sending a “special” card will continue to seek out fine stationers and specialty stores that sell unique cards. Seven years ago, we (Therese Saint Clair) donated our entire collection of individual greeting cards to charity (some 5,000 cards). Today, we only carry Constance Kay’s hand-made cards and a few letterpress cards from Oblation and BDesigns and Meri Meri. We think these stylish greeting cards are far more attractive than the cards sold at the supermarket or local car-wash. Thankfully, our customers feel the same way.

By: Renee

Renee — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:49:20 +0000

I would agree with Caroline that it’s likely Wal-mart won’t make a difference to high end retailers when it comes to cards. By offering $0.46 cards, they are competing with American Greetings/Hallmark that offer the cheap cheesy cards. Now, both have a place, but the customers that my store caters to are looking for something extra special. They understand that the cards we carry are special in some way, are understated and lack a mushy greeting so they must write their own. We have many people come looking not only for cheap cards, but also for ones that have the exact sentiment they are looking for so all they have to do is sign the card. That’s not what we are about and it’s not the customer we cater to. And you wouldn’t believe how many of the customers we cater to comment about the beautiful cards we carry and only come to our store for cards because we have the nicest selection they’ve ever seen! Those are the customers we want to serve and Wal-mart can’t touch them. They are people who may be aware of the price, but don’t really care because they want a card they’re sure the friend/family member/business colleague hasn’t received from anyone else. Our prices for cards range from $1.95 to $8.99 per card, the average being about $6. Thank you to the people who want something nice and appreciate the people who work hard to make beautiful cards!

By: Caroline Hamburger

Caroline Hamburger — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:38:25 +0000

I don’t think Wal-Mart’s entry into the greeting-card market will make a difference to high-end producers or retailers. The market for artisan cards has always been limited just because only a certain sector of the population has been willing to spend extra for quality. I think it’s worth the cost to find something interesting, meaningful and memorable and have been told a multitude of times that it’s noticed; to (possibly unfairly) generalize, Wal-Mart clientele probably doesn’t see it that way, and newly impoverished selective customers either will decide to economize on cards or not regardless of what Wal-Mart does.