Shutterfly Survey Shows Holiday Greeting Cards Are Alive and Well in the Age of Social Networks – 85% of Respondents Plan to Send More or the Same Number of Cards as Last Year

Nov 04, 2010

Company Releases More Designs than Ever and Unveils New Story Card Greetings that put a Fresh Spin on the Classic Holiday Newsletter

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– While many consumers use social networks to casually keep in touch throughout the year, the annual tradition of sending holiday greeting cards continues to thrive, according to Shutterfly, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFLY), a leading Internet-based social expression and personal publishing service. Today Shutterfly introduces its widest variety of exclusive holiday designs yet and announces results from its annual holiday card survey. The one overwhelming response? The holiday card is here to stay: 85 percent of people plan to send the same number or more cards than they did last year.

Shutterfly launches nearly 1,400 exclusive holiday designs and announces results from its annual holiday card survey – 85 percent of people plan to send the same number or more cards than they did last year holiday season. Shutterfly’s new Holiday Story Cards is a twist on the traditional holiday newsletter with photos and text. (Photo: Business Wire)

“We continually hear from customers that there is an indescribable joy in receiving a personalized holiday card in the mail from friends and family,” said Meg Bohnert, Shutterfly’s Card Stylist. “Personalized holiday cards have become so central to holiday celebrations that creating the card itself has become a favorite tradition for many families. Whether it’s with a Christmas card, a Hanukkah card or a cheery winter greeting, this year we are offering our largest holiday card collection to help customers truly create their one-of-a-kind greeting.”

Shutterfly’s annual holiday card survey was conducted August 10-16, 2010 by Decipher Inc., and includes responses from 500 participants that either send or receive holiday cards. In what may seem counter to recent perceptions, the survey revealed that nearly half of respondents, who had an opinion, said that they love to receive and write the holiday newsletter, calling them “fun and entertaining.” However, “less is more,” cautioned those surveyed, with 77 percent of those, with an opinion, preferring that families keep the newsletter brief.

This winter, Shutterfly offers a new solution to the common holiday newsletter: the Holiday Story Card. Story Cards feature spaces for one or multiple photos, with corresponding text space for sharing highlights of the year. On many Story Card designs, there is space for 10 lines of additional text, the perfect amount for sharing without over-sharing. In addition to Story Cards, Shutterfly offers nearly 1,400 new holiday designs to warm people’s mailboxes this year. Pricing starts as low as $0.40 per card for greetings on photo paper and $1.29 per card for premium card stock.

Because photo-personalized cards remain among the most anticipated greetings in the holiday mailbox, with nearly half of respondents saying they prefer to receive photo-personalized cards, Shutterfly is offering more design choices than ever this season including a refresh to its popular “Support a Cause” card line. When customers purchase any of the newly designed cards supporting causes such as American Lung Association, Heifer International and LIVESTRONG®, Shutterfly will give 10 percent of net sales from the sale of the “Support a Cause” cards back to the respective causes, allowing consumers to spread goodwill and holiday cheer.

For the first time this year, Shutterfly customers will be able to inspire friends and families by sharing a sneak peak of their card design online to their blog, Web site or Facebook page with Shutterfly’s card sharing feature.

Shutterfly’s Family Photo Day

Each year Shutterfly employees take a break from their hectic schedules to gather their families for their holiday card photo session at the company’s in-house Family Photo Day. This year Shutterfly is extending the fun to families everywhere through its virtual Family Photo Day weekend. At www.shutterfly.com/familyphoto, families can find ideas and tips for creating a one-of-a-kind holiday card.

In a nod to those 47 percent of consumers who say they take their holiday card photo in November, Shutterfly will designate November 12-14 as Family Photo Weekend, providing helpful tips and ideas on Facebook and hosting the #FamPhotoDay Twitter Party on Friday, November 12th at 6pmPST/9pmEST to inspire customers to gather their loved ones and get behind the camera early. For details on how to participate in Shutterfly’s Family Photo Day #FamPhotoDay Twitter Party follow @Shutterfly on Twitter.

Additional highlights from Shutterfly’s card survey include:

  • More than half (56 percent) of respondents send different holiday cards to different people in their lives.
  • Regarding when they typically take their holiday photos, 47 percent said in November; 23 percent said in October or earlier; 8 percent said in December. Other respondents indicated the timing for their holiday photo varies, often to take advantage of a family vacation or significant life event.
  • Almost a quarter (23 percent) of respondents plan to use a professional photographer for their holiday greeting this year.

For more information on Shutterfly’s holiday card offerings, please visit http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery.

About Shutterfly

Founded in 1999, Shutterfly, Inc. is an Internet-based social expression and personal publishing service. Shutterfly provides high quality products and world class services that make it easy, convenient and fun for consumers to preserve their digital photos in a creative and thoughtful manner. Shutterfly’s flagship product is its award-winning photo book line, which helps consumers celebrate memories and tell their stories in professionally bound coffee table books. Shutterfly was recently named one of the top 25 Best Midsized Companies to Work For by the Great Place to Work Institute. More information about Shutterfly (NASDAQ:SFLY) is available at www.shutterfly.com. Shutterfly and Shutterfly.com are trademarks of Shutterfly, Inc.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6496953&lang=en

Shutterfly, Inc.
Gretchen Sloan, 650-610-5276
gsloan@shutterfly.com

Source: Shutterfly, Inc.

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