Thursday, October 6, 2011

Greeting cards: There's an app for that

The Postal Service has partnered with Apple Inc. to develop a new product that lets consumers convert images from their camera into personalized mailpieces. Consumers will go to an Apple  website to create greeting cards which will be printed by a vendor, placed in envelopes and entered as presorted First-Class letter mailings.

The unique Permit Picture Sticker designed for the product launch has a heart image shaped like a paper airplane. It is printed in two different colors—yellow for domestic postage and blue for international.

This may introduce a whole new generation of people using greeting cards.

What do you think? Will this cut into traditional greeting cards, or simply add to the overall volume of greetings?  Comment here.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

As long as it adds revenue to "OUR" business - I'm all for it!!! I do wonder though - how are you supposed to sign the card? With an electrinic signiture?

Exhume said...

Except for the generated image the sender does nothing more..."from their camera into personalized mailpieces. Consumers will go to an Apple website to create greeting cards which will be printed by a vendor, placed in envelopes and entered as presorted First-Class letter mailings".

There is not much put into this..no personalized signature, nothing original..all digitally processed. Maybe it is just me but once again they are asking consumers to use the internet. So why not send an e-mail...Except for the image you provide for the card..it has nothing else from you. You do not touch it..sign it.."Seal it with a Kiss" etc...Who knows...I hope I am wrong and it sells like mad. However I doubt it.

Anonymous said...

I think it's a fantastic idea. There will always be naysayers, but we have to look beyond the negativity and try to focus on the positive. Computers, smart phones and all the other electronic gadgets are here to stay so we better just accept it and move forward.

Grannybunny said...

I think it's a great idea and should generate additional revenue. I do not believe that it will cut into the traditional card market that much, because people who send traditional cards already appreciate the value of a card with a handwritten signature and addresses, with their selected stamp, and perhaps even perfumed and sealed with a kiss. I think the biggest market for this app will be young people sending messages to their parents and other older friends and relatives, for whom an email remembrance just would not be considered adequate.

Anonymous said...

I like the clean look of the stamp and the concept---

Anonymous said...

I like it!

Anonymous said...

I agree, it is absolutely a fantastic idea. It will attract & aquaint the younger generations to the concept of a real hard copy greeting card, instead of e-greetings. It will generate additional revenue. The brand name in itself will be reason enough for some consumers to try the Apple app.

Robert said...

Amen Grannybunny. Innovation is critical now, and kneejerk negative thinking has got to stop.

Barb said...

Whatever it takes to get people back into the habit of mailing out cards is worth it!! Let's make it easier for people to use the mail, and this looks like a great way to generate some new users! I have been creating my own cards with photos for the past 10 years, and I'll have to check out the Apple website.

Anonymous said...

I think it's a great way to meet the younger generation where they live. We need to come up with innovative ways to attract business from those who live on their smart phones, and this is one good way to do it!

Anonymous said...

It kind of reminds me of the hallmark thing the postal service did. Hopefully it catches on. I think it is a great idea.