Homemade cards more popular during COVID Christmas
With limits on personal interaction because of COVID-19, many East Coast residents are turning to a lost art.
Etsy (an online marketplace) seller Kate Mitchell from Halifax says sending handmade seasonal cards to connect with loved ones is rising.
"After the pandemic started, my business pretty much stopped for a while, with no local market to attend, and no tourists, things were slow. Many local stores also rely heavily on tourists, so they stopped ordering," Mitchell said, who started her craft business 15 years ago and developed an illustrative card style using paper cutting and collage.
"However, a couple of stores that I sell my cards have a great following of locals, and these stores have seen an increase in greeting card sales overall. I also noticed that card sales on my Etsy store (Cards by Kate) suddenly increased when the pandemic started," she continued.
According to Etsy 2020 Holiday Trends, greeting cards have seen a 73 per cent increase in searches and a 23 per cent increase for holiday cards.
And the trend is likely to grow.
"I think the rise is due to people being stuck inside, isolated from friends and family, and wanting to reach out physically by sending cards and messages in the mail," said Mitchell, while acknowledging she enjoys learning where customers send her cards and what the images mean to them.
She points out the value of the tactile experience of cards, how they allow a degree of personalization and the effort someone took to mail, which can not be replicated through modern technology.
"With so many impersonal ways of communicating these days through texting, email and social media, it is wonderful to see people wanting to reach out in a more personal way with cards and handwritten letters. I think people also appreciate cards made by local artists because they are contributing to their community."
NOSTALGIA FACTOR
Brenda Tobin, a resident of Labrador City, N.L., is nostalgic about cards.
"I remember, as a child, my family were always excited to get the cards in the mail. Mom kept all the cards and we still have a lot of the cards saved; they were beautiful cards. Now, I keep all mine — not only Christmas but Easter, birthdays, etc. But sadly, social media has changed a lot of things. Not necessarily for the best," said Tobin.
She noted, "Handwritten messages are more personal and heartfelt, while social media is a short-cut."
Tobin sells her handmade cards and other creations at Tobin's Convenience store in Labrador City and Arlene Macisaac's craft shop in Codroy Valley. She said her festive cards all contain one crucial message: "You will always see Christmas spelled out on all my cards because I will never leave Christ out of Christmas."
She added, "I do hope the paper cards come back bigger
than ever. Sending cards is a way to reach out to people that you cannot hug. They are a gesture to say 'I love you' or share something important. And when you buy local and handmade, it has that personal, one-of-a-kind, touch — unlike the cold and impersonal manufactured cards."
PRIORITIZING LOCAL
The Retail Council of Canada annual holiday shopping survey conducted across the country in October found that 57 per cent of Atlantic Canadians are more likely to opt for local wares this season.
"When you buy local, there is passion and love put into each detail, and I am immensely proud of the crafts we (my husband and I) produce. For our Newfoundlandthemed cards, we include the Newfoundland dog, provincial flower, moose, screech, etc. And I put a description on the back to explain the images," said Tobin.
"My husband and I like the cards with the mummers (a centuries-old tradition in Newfoundland when people parade the streets wearing creepy masks, fake horse heads and their underwear on the outside for fun), especially because I know each of the people on the (photography) card dressed as mummers."
Etsy seller Lori Smith, who sells her wares under Lori Joy Smith Shop, agrees that sending something handmade, such as a card, goes a long way.
"I feel people still love sending cards for Christmas. It is such a thoughtful gesture. Supporting artists' homemade items is also so important right now because of COVID19. I appreciate every order I get,” says the Prince Edward Island resident.
Smith said a handwritten note, and a few little freebies, are added to her deliveries.
"People like to know they are making a difference with their shopping," she added while noting that sales for her prints and cards went down this year because of the pandemic restrictions.
"I usually have many wholesale orders for local shops, and there were maybe one or two. However, I have been selling steadily on Etsy, so I am grateful to have that as a platform," said Smith.
Smith said she juggles crafting with other creative projects.
"I work mostly as a children's book author and illustrator. And during a quiet work time, I was inspired to make the P.E.I. illustrated map to show my appreciation for the Island because I love living here and wanted to pay homage to it,” she said.
"The rest of my shop grew from that one print because I had so much fun making the map, I kept going. Working on books with editors and art directors sometimes does not allow for a lot of creative freedom, so I love making stickers, buttons, prints, and cards because I get to make all the decisions."
While modern technology has undoubtedly affected sending snail mail, the isolation of the pandemic may have caused a revival of the old-fashion Christmas card with the need to connect in a more heartfelt way to family and friends.
“With so many impersonal ways of communicating these days through texting, email and social media, it is wonderful to see people wanting to reach out in a more personal way with cards and handwritten letters.” Kate Mitchell Cards by Kate