A majority of consumers say they want a good laugh in the greeting cards they receive from companies with which they do business, according to a survey.
Maybe they’re seeking a respite from the sluggish economic recovery, high home foreclosure rate, deep consumer and government debt and rising unemployment rate.
A Harris Interactive survey for Hallmark Business Expressions of 2,300 consumers found that 62% want to receive cards with humor just in general this year and 51% like humorous cards this holiday season. Forty-nine percent prefer traditional Christmas cards.
In response, Hallmark Expressions, the business-to-business subsidiary of the greeting card giant, has released 16 humorous cards among its 161 holiday cards for businesses. The one pictured above is an example.
Here’s another:
“The goal of our humor holiday cards is to relate to everyday business people and office situations, as well as more specific occupations that lend themselves to industry humor,” says Angela Nelson, art director for Hallmark Business Expressions humor cards. “Humor has worked in the consumer world for years. We saw an opportunity to expand our business holiday cards to translate what’s been sucessful with consumers for the business customer.”
Hallmark’s research has found that some industries can get away with humor better than others. The most acceptable:
- Real estate, 47%
- Health services, 44%
- Human resources, 44%
- Insurance 37%
Other interesting stuff:
- Poll: Is economy affecting workplace morale?
- Which business icon do teens idolize?
- Poll: When WASN’T economy the top concern?
- Home-based firms create more jobs than venture capital
- ‘Job-creating machine is in reverse’
- Weirdest requests in the office suggestion box
- Calif. small businesses cut jobs, wages in October
- California lags as good place to locate a business
