PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Greeting Card Association is partnering with the U.S. Postal Service to celebrate the unveiling of a new “Happy Birthday” stamp with a pop-up party here next week.
The new “forever” stamp comes as the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence. But for greeting card makers, stamp collectors, stationery vendors, writers, and illustrators, the pop-up party also represents an opportunity to celebrate the role greeting cards play in spreading joy in life’s big and small moments.
“It’s a celebration of our incredible analog medium that encourages us to put our devices down and authentically connect with ourselves and others,” Sarah Schwartz, editor-in-chief for Stationery Trends, says of the pop-up party. “And that’s a gift we can all use about now.”
The Happy Birthday stamp, the first the Postal Service has released since 2021, was designed by Lisa Congdon, an award-winning fine artist, illustrator and writer who has made art for clients including The Library of Congress, Target, Amazon, Google, Warby Parker, REI and MoMa.
The card’s unveiling is set for April 18 at Track 15, the food hall and event space located inside historic Union Station in downtown Providence.
“The Perfect Pairing Pop Up Party celebrates the enduring connection between handwritten correspondence and stamps, highlighting the creativity of independent makers while honoring the joy of sending birthday wishes through the mail,” the Greeting Card Association says in a press release. “For anyone who has ever flipped over a card to see who made it, this is a chance to learn more. Expect a fresh, festive atmosphere of discovery for stamp collectors, stationery enthusiasts, greeting card artists, postcard fans, and anyone with a birthday — that is, everyone.”
Americans spend between $7 billion and $8 billion a year on greeting cards, purchasing about 6.5 billion cards, according to the Greeting Card Association. Individual purchasing decisions are driven by five key factors: the right message and tone; pleasing art and design; relationship relevance; appropriate subject matter; and perceived value for the money.
Birthday cards remain the best-selling card type, accounting for more than half of the total cards sold. About two-thirds of birthday cards are mailed, the GCA says. Most greeting card buyers are between the ages of 35 and 60, and women buy more than 80% of all greeting cards. They also spend more time choosing a card than men.
Submit Your Press Release
Have news to share? Send us your press releases and announcements.
Send Press Release
