In our increasingly digital world, the act of going to the store, buying a greeting card, and putting it in the mail is becoming rarer and rarer. A Facebook post on a friend's birthday and a congratulatory text for a job promotion is becoming for of the norm for many millennials. But those methods lack the personality and thoughtfulness of sending a paper greeting card (and let's not even talk about the lameness of an "e-card.")
But an Elgin-based software company has developed an app that combines the personal touch of sending an actual card with the ease of doing so from your phone. And they're working with a network of artists to create one-of-a-kind greeting cards.
Solid Interactive launched its Paperwoven app in April, letting users choose cards to send out on demand, or set up a recurring delivery so you never forget another Mother's Day. Users can customize a message, add an actual signature with the touch screen, and choose the date for it to be delivered all from an iPhone. Cards cost $3.99 per card, or $0.99 a month and $1.99 per card for a yearly subscription. The price includes shipping.
"Our customers love that they can shop for cards any time, day or night, when they have the time to do it," said Gretchen Hoffman, Paperwoven general manager. "Scheduling cards in advance is a huge win, too. How often do we think about birthday, etc. ahead of time and mean to send a card but then forget when the time comes around? With Paperwoven that can be avoided."
But what makes Paperwoven more interesting is its network of artists who are designing the greeting cards. Similar to Chicago startup BucketFeet, Paperwoven pays artists on a per-card basis, and they have the ability to see their sales through an account on the company's online portal. So far 30 artist have signed up to contribute their work.
"[Artists] upload their art to a portal where we review and determine what’s the best fit for us," Hoffman said. "From there we post to our app and it’s ready for the world. It’s amazing how quickly we can turn things around. From the moment an artist uploads it can be just a matter of minutes until the card is available to the public."
Only live four months, the app is already generating some positive buzz. It won a silver award at the Best Mobile App Awards and received a 2014 Webby Nomination for Best Mobile App in the Lifestyle Category. And the company is currently involved in the Heartland Mobile “Brands+Startups Challenge," Hoffman said.
Currently Paperwoven is only available as an iOS app, but it is developing the web version that will roll out later this month.
"In terms of product offering, we’re going to be adding a wider range of items," she said. "New items are being added every day to our product line."
Image via Paperwoven
