Greeting Cards Overview

Product Features

Hallmark’s year-round greeting card selection (not including holiday cards) features more than 19,000 greeting cards. Some of the lines include:

• Classic cards – The core line of Hallmark cards for every occasion with a range of prices, designs and messages. The collection includes cards in Braille for the sight-impaired.

• Shoebox – The nation’s most popular line of humorous cards, featuring timely, topical humor and characters such as hoops&yoyo.

• Cards With Sound – The industry’s first line of greeting cards that feature music, movie and TV clips from original stars and artists.

• Cards With Motion – Introduced in 2007, these cards present an animated scene using 48 photographic frames taken in sequence, creating moving pictures when the card is tipped from side to side. Some also feature sound.

• Journeys – Encouragement cards that help people through a difficult time, celebrate a success, or brighten their day.

• Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED™ – A portion of the sales from these modern cards goes directly to the Global Fund to help women and children living with HIV/AIDS in Africa.

• UNICEF cards – Sophisticated, multicultural card designs that support UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, with every purchase.

• Hallmark Warm Wishes – Value-priced 99-cent cards for casual sending situations and occasions.

• Fresh Ink – Square or round cards with short sentiments and a fresh approach to saying something real, unexpected or random.

• Pop Goes the Culture – Cards that feature some of the best-loved and most-often repeated sayings from TV shows, sports, politics, movies, and popular personalities.

• à la mode – Creative cards that feature eye-catching textures, dimension and attachments.

• Nature’s Sketchbook – Nature-themed cards (as well as a collection of gifts) designed by Dutch artist Marjolein Bastin.

• America’s Heroes – Cards specifically for those in the military and others who protect and serve.

• Cards for pets and their owners – Animal-themed cards for pet lovers to send to their people friends, as well as cards from pets to humans.

• Blank cards – Cards featuring photography and unique, contemporary artwork so consumers can write their own messages.

• 9 to 5: Cards for Co-workers – Cards appropriate for workplace situations and relationships, and business associates.

• Gift Card Holders – Unique mechanical, die-cut or displayable greeting cards that make giving a gift card a more personal experience.

• Between You and Me – Tri-fold cards with longer messages that express deep feelings in a conversational tone.

• Mahogany – Cards developed to reflect the African-American culture, traditions and heritage in year-round and holiday designs.

• Tree of Life – Culturally relevant cards for Jewish holidays, occasions and celebrations.

• Sinceramente Hallmark – Spanish-language and Spanish/English cards for everyday and seasonal occasions important to Hispanic consumers.

Product History

Hallmark’s long history of selling greeting cards began in the early 1900s in Norfolk, Neb., where brothers Joyce, Rollie and William Hall began selling postcards wholesale as the Norfolk Post Card Company.

In 1910 at the age of 18, Joyce moved to Kansas City, Mo., where he continued wholesaling postcards from his YMCA room.

"Hall Brothers" was formed in 1911 when brother Rollie moved to Kansas City. In 1915, the Halls started producing their own greeting cards as the popularity of postcards waned and they recognized the public’s desire for greater privacy with cards mailed in envelopes.

The word “Hallmark” first appeared on the back of a card in 1925. By 1928, the brand name appeared on all the company’s cards.

In Stores

A selection of greeting cards is available at Hallmark Gold Crown® stores nationwide and wherever Hallmark and its brands are sold. Use the store locator on Hallmark.com to find the nearest Hallmark Gold Crown store.