Wishing the e-way

There are a wide variety of greeting cards on display at Giggles, one of the oldest gift shops in Connaught Place, but owner Harjit Singh Kochhar despairingly tells you there are few takers, reports Manoj Sharma.

There are a wide variety of greeting cards on display at Giggles, one of the oldest gift shops in Connaught Place, but owner Harjit Singh Kochhar despairingly tells you there are few takers.

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Kochhar believes both individual and companies have turned to e- cards and SMS in a big way this year.

So do not be surprised if instead of the annual paper greeting card, your business clients send you an e-card.

“Sales have gone down by 50 per cent. Companies, which have been our regular customers for many years, have not come this year,” said Kochhar. Last year, Kochhar had bulk order from about 30 companies, but this year only six companies have come.

Pramod Arora, Joint Managing Director, Archies Limited, admits the economic slowdown has affected sales. “This year, many of our corporate customers have not placed orders,” he said.

“Sale of charity cards has declined by 25 per cent, because of both recession and the prevailing mood after the Mumbai attacks,” says Rajinder Singh, head, CRY division at Archies.

There are many who believe e-cards make sense in the present economic climate.

“I need to wish at least 20 people. If I were to send paper cards to everyone, it would cost me about Rs 1,000, including postage cost. It is better to send an SMS greeting or e-cards that are free,” said Adesh Gupta, a government employee.