Butterflies are forever

I'm that girl who goes to the post office and asks to see all of the stamps they have before buying. Sometimes, I am just handed a pack of Forever stamps and ignored. Other times, there is a limited supply (only Simpsons and National Parks? Really?). But there have been rare times, usually in smaller P.O.s in rural places, when there is never a line and the postal clerk gets a glint in his eye and we end up spending 10 minutes poring over the books together. Yes, dear readers: I'm a stamp nerd.

So, Christmas will come early for me in 2010. The USPS, in conjunction with the Greeting Card Association, is creating a new stamp just for greeting cards that aren't shaped to take traditional postage. The 64-cent butterfly stamp, which will be dedicated May 17 at the National Stationery Show in New York City, is designed to take the guesswork out of how much postage is required for those irregular-shaped pieces of joy. Under this new program, participating card manufacturers will print a silhouette image of a butterfly on their envelopes so senders know they need to get a butterfly stamp or equivalent postage at the time. The USPS will issue snew stamps as prices increase, and the first image will be a monarch -- likely the most iconic in the Lepidoptera order and a fitting symbol for a new beginning.

About JibJab

Personally, I think JibJab cards are creepy and weird. But with 80 million shared cards in the fourth quarter along -- the Spiridellis boys are definitely doing something right. USA TODAY had a great profile last month; some of the highlights:

• JibJab Facebook application has 1.2 million active monthly users.
• $12 for an annual subscription for their e-card service.
• 1,200 different possible card combinations.
• Company was started in 1999 and now has 35 employees -- and will be profitable this year.

I may not be into jiggly heads, but I always love a good small business story. Especially one making it work online.

Helping men everywhere to appear to actually care for their loved ones

MrThoughtful.com makes me more angry than excited about innovation in the card community. Why do companies continue to enable men's thoughtlessness? And who designed this Web site, a pack of moths? I was going to write monkeys, but monkeys undoubtedly have better HTML skills.

For the record, if you can't remember my birthday -- considering what a huge deal I make about it every year -- you'll need more than an e-reminder service to inform you of the world of Hell you're going to be in.

PEP Greetings: Potpourri-free since 2006.

Did you get a card instead of a gift this year?

I'm just wondering, because this Cardstore.com poll indicated that 20% more of you may have. It also indicated that:

• 43% of Americans prefer a greeting card from a loved one over $10
• 53% of Americans display greeting cards at least through the holidays
• 42% of Americans hold onto holiday cards as a keepsake, such as in a photobox or scrapbook

I keep all of my birthday and holiday cards. Every one. And I am definitely in the 43% of people who would rather get a card with a personal note versus something someone just grabbed at CVS. I have plenty of generic bath salts and themed wine tags at this stage of my life, but I'll never have enough cards with special notes inside from the people I love the most. OK, it helps if the card has glitter or features a particularly hilarious greeting, but you get the point. It is always the thought that counts.

Is American Greetings on the move?

Word out of New York indicates that the chiefs at American Greetings are considering moving the company's global headquarters out of Brooklyn, Ohio, where it is the area's largest employer:

American Greetings cites Brooklyn's increase of payroll tax by 25% to 2.5% But Mayor Richard Balbier wonders if there's more too it.

Balbier tells WTAM that he wonders how Brooklyn would survive the loss of another 2,000 jobs.

So if they pull up stakes, where to next?

The King wishes you happy holidays

I know, I'm late. But please tell me if you were among the 50,000 people who got a greeting card this Christmas with $1 for a ¼lb Double Cheeseburger at BK inside! Brilliant.

My only complaint -- how did the Promo Magazine writer get away with this kicker?

The Double Cheeseburger features two flame-broiled burger patties, crunchy pickles, ketchup, mustard and two slices of American cheese on a sesame seed bun.

I mean, who doesn't know what's in a double cheeseburger? What are we, farmers?

A Facebook app for greeting cards

In November, Hallmark announced it had invested in the developer of the SocialCalendar application for Facebook, and relaunched it as the Hallmark SocialCalendar. The SocialCalendar application (in November) had more than 13 million total users and more than two million monthly active users -- according to Hallmark. It is designed to help people "remember and acknowledge birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other events and occasions." Kind of like the FB birthday reminder on greeting card 'roids.

As someone who is NOT a fan of most Facebook apps, but loves Facebook, I decided to give it a try. Not shockingly, it's completely unnecessary. Virtual gifts. Wish lists. Invitations. Doesn't Facebook already offer all of these tools already? It is, however, good to see Hallmark continue to further its online strategy. If anything, it leaves more paper space for us little guys.

Did your holiday cards make you laugh ... or cry?

I only got two holiday cards at my "desk job" this year -- normally I get at least a half dozen. I know that companies are cutting back, but considering the long days and uncertainty in the workplace these days, a few more happy snowmen and foil envelopes would have been much appreciated. And for the first time in eight years, my company didn't send out holiday cards either. A missed opportunity? I think so.

Very little WORK gets done in the last few weeks of the year. People are working remotely (wrapping gifts, shopping, maybe checking their Blackberry or checking voicemail, but mostly driving around town fighting people for parking). However, if they are in the office you know what they are definitely doing -- anything at work that isn't really actually WORK. Company parties. Building parties. Pillaging gift baskets from vendors. Secret Santa. Hot chocolate with rum at 3 p.m. OK, maybe that's just me.

They are also opening holiday cards. And reading them. And passing them around and hanging them up cube and office walls. Why? Because it's one of the few times of year that workers actually have time to do something other than work and usually no one is there to watch them. So, next December, send holiday cards. Funny, cute, thoughtful, smart or just plain thankful. Your partners -- and customers -- will remember you for it.