News

According to the Greeting Card Association (GCA), approximately 160 million greeting cards will be purchased for Valentine’s Day this year. (This number does not include children’s packaged valentines, which include multiple valentines and are typically exchanged by students at school.)

The GCA is optimistic that the number of greeting cards purchased for Valentine’s Day will be slightly greater than last year, since more cards tend to be exchanged when Valentine’s Day is celebrated during the week – as it will be this year with Feb. 14 falling on a Monday.

Because of their affordable price points, Valentine’s Day cards are not as affected by the economy, and these cards are often given in addition to or even in lieu of a gift. Additionally, there are designs available to suit every taste – from traditional to contemporary. Still, hearts and flowers continue to be dominant motifs, and red and pink remain the most popular colors on Valentine’s Day cards.

Valentine greetings have been exchanged since the Middle Ages in Europe. In 1850, Esther Howland, an American printer and artist, was among the first to publish and sell Valentine’s Day cards in the U.S. Exchanging valentines has since become a deep-seated part of our American culture and today Valentine’s Day is the second most-popular card-sending occasion in the U.S., following Christmas.

The GCA is managed by George Little Management, LLC, owner and manager of the annual National Stationery Show. For more information, visit www.greetingcard.org .