Five Reasons Greeting Cards Remain in Style

I come from a long line of card-givers. We search high and low until we find that perfect card with the perfect words and perfect image to give to people we love. The senders aren’t just those who are older than me, such as my parents or in-laws or aunts and uncles. My peers and, surprisingly, my children and their friends also send cards. 

Some people incorrectly believe greeting cards are becoming obsolete given our access to online cards, texts, memes and emojis. I offer five reasons why greeting cards remain in style.

1. Greeting cards say, “I care.”

Even if a card doesn’t use the words, “I care,” it still expresses care. Someone has taken the time to personally choose a specific card for the recipient. That single act alone communicates the important message, “I value you. You mean something to me.” 

2. Greeting cards express a variety of emotions.

I tend to be a serious person. That’s just my personality. For that reason I enjoy sending humorous cards—they help me see the lighter side in life. Greeting cards offer a way to express the emotions you’re feeling for the occasion. They bring encouragement, support, prayer, laughter and more. They add levity when humor is needed. They help others feel less alone. Empathy is one of the most important traits one human can share with another, creating a bond no other species experiences. Greeting cards communicate empathy and many more emotions.

3. Greeting cards help you express yourself.

We all have experienced occasions of “I just don’t know what to say.” Other times we know what we want to say, but can’t seem to put the right words together. Greeting cards help us share that precise message. Whether we need to apologize to someone or share sympathy without sounding trite, greeting cards help us get the job done.

4. Images enhance greeting cards’ messages.

Unlike social media with images that are soon forgotten (out-of-sight, out-of-mind), greeting cards offer images that you can keep in front of you. Those printed images communicate an all-important message. A beach scene, for example, communicates tranquility. A sunset reflects God’s glory. An image of Snoopy and Woodstock from the famed Peanuts cartoon shows friendship and humor. Some images are so beautiful, they’re frame-worthy. I think about a friend who lost a baby years ago. The card I sent her of an autumn tree with falling leaves hangs in her office today.

5. Greeting cards are tangible.

I carry a card from my daughter in my purse. A card from my best friend marks my Bible. My anniversary card lies on my night stand. Greeting cards become keepsakes from the senders. With a turn of the head or a reach into a drawer or pocket, I have immediate access to their love. I recently celebrated a birthday and my son gave me a funny card. Because I tend to live my life with a little too much intensity, I kept his card nearby for a while. It reminded me not to take life too seriously. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that greeting cards are a tangible reminder of how blessed I am. 

One more thing: Individual greeting cards in store racks continue to increase in price. But boxed greeting cards, such as those offered by Warner Press, are much less expensive but equally as stylish. Warner Press offers 12 cards in each box, a dozen opportunities to share your feelings with those you love.

Tammy Tilley has compiled and edited numerous books, has written for dozens of print and digital publications, and even co-founded a lifestyle magazine for the town where she once lived. Currently she lives in Anderson, Indiana where she is an adjunct writing instructor at Anderson University and an editor and writer for Warner Press.