I am planning to print a Greeting Cards. Im not certain, if it’s a good idea to use my best images for that purpose. Most of my income comes from the sale of LE prints through some galleries and I don’t want to compromise it. At the same time I want the cards to sale well.
Would you have any experience dealing with it? What kind of effect will Greeting Cards have on sale of prints.
Thank you for the advice.
Posted by Steve Foss on November 2, 2007 at 4:49 PM
I always use my best images on cards. Why sell anything but your best work? I highly doubt a small $5 greeting card will cost you a sale of a larger fine art print. And cards are attractive for those people who want to have and give a little slice of your work but can't afford to buy the larger slice that is a print. In fact, I'd bet that selling lots of greeting cards with your best work would actually increase your print sales over time, particularly if you include conact info like a Web site or gallery in the fine print on the back of the card.
Posted by Bill Chambers on November 2, 2007 at 9:36 PM
I agree wholeheartedly with Steve. My name and web site address is in the fine print on the back of the cards; so basically I'm getting paid to advertise my work. I put the best stuff I can find on the cards!
Posted by Kent Staubus on November 2, 2007 at 11:46 PM
Another agreement with Steve. Never, ever put out anything but your best shots. The market for prints and the market for greeting cards are different. Think someone is going to put a greeting card on their wall?
I am another advocate for using my best work. I've been thinking about greeting cards, as well. They would be a great marketing tool if, as Bill suggests, I put my contact info and web site address on the back.
Besides, someone may tack one to their refrigerator door for all to see. It's not the same as the wall, Kent, but pretty close.
-PB
Posted by Dan Borzynski on November 3, 2007 at 12:17 AM
Kent, for what it might be worth, I have had a couple of people cut my greeting cards and frame them. I'd rather they bought the regular prints, but since the cards cost a lot less and and I won't do prints as prints to 4x6 (its almost as much work as an 8x10)...
What better promo tool could there be for your larger works? Sell lots. Distribute them far and wide. Get them in as many hands as possible, always with your contact info included. Cheap advertizing is one thing, but when people pay YOU to do it for you, what's not to like?
Thank you to all of you for a fast response. You made it very easy for me to decide.
Thanks again.
Wieslaw
Posted by Frank Winters on November 3, 2007 at 8:59 AM
Wieslaw,
By all means use your best images -- IF they look good on a card! Sometimes people like simple images on cards -- and some images don't work as well in small format as they do blown up.
Hi Wieslaw, I am also an advocate for putting good works on cards. I have been selling greeting cards for a few years now and have them in 10 towns around where I live. They do well and I have gotten calls from recipients for orders for larger prints. It can only do you good!!! Also, several people buy in themes (flowers, moose, birds etc) and frame them that way. It's ALL good!!!
Cards are a great marketing tool and when you market yourself always put your best images out there - your print sales will increase by doing so. Darwin
Posted by Youssef Ismail on November 6, 2007 at 10:21 PM
I have to disagree. I have had experience with this and I lose $$$ when someone buys a $3 card of the same 16x20 hanging on the display wall, especially after they comment how much they love the image and then turn around and just buy a card. Likewise, my best selling image, I did not print a card of it, and I always get inquiries if I have a card of it. When I tell them it is only printed as a photo, they will end up buying that as a matted photo.
Now the images on my cards are still some of my best, but those images are no longer printed as prints. So once I retire an image, I will release it as a card.
What I am saying is don't create a price war between your prints and cards. If you have prints out there of images and they will directly compete with the same images on cards, I think people will chicken out and go for the card of the same image.
Your bring up a very interesting point, here. I hadn't thought of that angle at all; creating a 'price war; between prints and cards. It sure is something to think about.
Discussion
13 repliesWould you have any experience dealing with it? What kind of effect will Greeting Cards have on sale of prints.
Thank you for the advice.
Kent in SD
Besides, someone may tack one to their refrigerator door for all to see. It's not the same as the wall, Kent, but pretty close.
-PB
Thanks again.
Wieslaw
By all means use your best images -- IF they look good on a card! Sometimes people like simple images on cards -- and some images don't work as well in small format as they do blown up.
Cheers,
Frank
Now the images on my cards are still some of my best, but those images are no longer printed as prints. So once I retire an image, I will release it as a card.
What I am saying is don't create a price war between your prints and cards. If you have prints out there of images and they will directly compete with the same images on cards, I think people will chicken out and go for the card of the same image.
Your bring up a very interesting point, here. I hadn't thought of that angle at all; creating a 'price war; between prints and cards. It sure is something to think about.
Kind regards,
-PB