At the tail end of the noughties it was predicted that Christmas Cards would be replaced permanently. Sending e-cards, text messages, and Christmas GIFS would mean that surely by 2020 no one would be sending physical cards through the post?

And in fairness, the naysayers were partially correct. In 2019, the Head Christmas Buyer at John Lewis noticed a decline in Christmas Card sales,

“The cost of postage has gone up, it perhaps isn’t as fashionable as it was to send cards, people don’t have as much time as they used to – and there’s an element of people not wanting to waste.”

Dan Cooper 2019

But were we really sending less Christmas cards than before?

If you're like us, you may have noticed that you were receiving fewer cards when the festive season rolled around in previous years. And certainly before the pandemic, our lives were far too frantic and busy to pick up that pen and write to our far away friends and relatives.

Reasons such as wanting to stay sustainable, recycling, and saving money were at the forefront in the decline. And there really was a substantial dip in card deliveries during the tail end of the 2010's.

But, it does seem as if the pandemic has shifted our outlook when it comes to Christmas Cards. Retailers have reported a rise in sales for the first time in five years. And the Royal Mail predict that they will deliver over 150 million Christmas Cards this season.

Why are Christmas Cards making a comeback?

Our perspectives have certainly changed following the pandemic. As a nation we are feeling more nostalgic, and the need to connect with people we feel close to has become a priority. With all of the uncertainty globally, we are looking for ways to reach out and let people know that we are ok. And we also want to check in on how they're doing. It's a win for mental health awareness, as studies have shown that receiving a personal piece of mail boosts the mood and makes people feel truly joyful!

Thinking of you gifts, thoughtful gifts, and keepsakes were top trending search terms during the pandemic. People were desperate to let friends and family know that they were in their thoughts, regardless of distance. The postal service has blossomed once again and we are sending more and more personal and personalised love through the post. A small act of kindness. A smile in an envelope! It's called Happy Mail, and there's even a whole movement encouraging people to send some!

This guide gives you a great list of things you could pop inside a card to make someone's day:

65 Things To Send With Your Happy Mail - The Reading Residence

How have our Card habits changed?

While we may be reaching out for our favourite pen again at last, some things have changed about how we send Christmas Cards.

Sustainability

We have grown as a society to understand that waste is bad. Certainly at Bombus we have looked at many ways to reduce our over-consumption and depletion of natural resources. People searching for Christmas Cards are looking for recycled, recyclable, and sustainably sourced materials. Cards wrapped in plastic are an absolute no-go for most of our customers, and we feel the same way. Likewise, cards that contain plastic, or glitters, that stop it from being recycled are being overlooked for more eco-friendly alternatives. As consumers we are deliberately choosing better alternatives.

Forever Gifting

Choosing cards that are also gifts, means that the card will be kept for much longer than the usual seasonal piece of card that ends up in landfill. Something that can be framed, or used as a decoration, means that the life of your piece of post is extended.

Charity starts with cards

The most popular way to support local charities has always been through the large range of Christmas Cards available every year. The classic packs of cards still benefit your chosen charity and it's a lifeline to them at this time of year. But you can also send a card to your loved ones that includes a prepaid donation. Check out the MacMillan Gifts that Give here:

Gifts that Give – Macmillan Cancer Support Shop

Opening up and telling our stories

With the return of the Christmas Card, we're also relearning how to write! And we're not just giving a simple To, and From, anymore either. Card writers are taking the opportunity to really update their recipients. We are all being encouraged to share our emotions, and open up about the ups, downs, triumphs, and struggles of the past few years. So our cards are being filled with updates and tales from the last year. Which really does make for a wonderful thing to receive! If you're sending a card or two this year, take the time to write something about how you're doing. We promise, the person reading it really wants to know.

Postage

Trends show that while we are sending plenty of Christmas cards, we're not giving quite as many to the people we see regularly. And this makes total sense! The Christmas card is a once a year opportunity to contact those you may not get to see in your day to day life. And when it comes to posting our cards, we're all still looking to save a little bit on the postage costs. Second class mail has surged in popularity. Which not only takes the pressure off of our wallets, but it's also helpful to the posties who can spread out the enormous load of mail accordingly.

Fun Facts about Christmas Cards

• Postmen in Victorian England were called robins because their uniforms were red. Many Christmas cards from that time depicted a robin delivering Christmas letters.

• Only 15% of Christmas cards are bought by men. (There is a campaign out there about trying to encourage more men to make more friends. Here's why it's so important: Male Friends: The Importance of Making Male Friends (mensgroup.com) Start by sending those Christmas cards!)

• The Dutch send the most Christmas cards in the world. In fact, 90% of Dutch households send cards at Christmas! This article here gives really sweet examples of a typical Christmas card across different countries:

Christmas card designs around the world | Brightlines Translation

Christmas Cards and Bombus

At Bombus we love a handmade and personalised card. And we strive to make sure our cards are emotive, sustainably sourced, hand crafted, and something NO ONE will want to throw in the bin. So if you are feeling up to writing those cards this year, check out what we've got to offer!