First Newspapers, Then Greeting Cards?

As goes the Star Tribune (and Chicago Tribune, and Rocky Mountain News, and any number of now-bankrupt or extinct newspapers) . . . so goes Hallmark Cards?

It’s hard to avoid that thought watching three kids — mine — react to the cards my five-year old daughter received on her birthday today.

The paper cards were barely glanced at.

By contrast, the eCards — with their dynamic graphics, sound effects, and story lines — kept them transfixed for eons (OK, a few minutes, but that’s an eternity for small kids).

Hard to go back to black-and-white — or 2-D — once you’ve seen 3-D.

P.S.: Ironically, my guess is that paper cards will survive if only because they serve as the “delivery system” for another anachronism: a personal check as birthday gift (vs. gift cards and other forms of digital money).

About the author

Ross Kaplan has 19+ years experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities. He is also a 12-time consecutive "Super Real Estate Agent," as determined by Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ross was an attorney (corporate law), CPA, and entrepreneur. He holds an economics degree from Stanford.

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