Category: greeting cards

Storytime. Ashley had been looking at cards for 10 minutes before asking for help. “My wedding has been cancelled again, because of the new lockdown,” she said, “it’s okay, I mean, I’m okay but it’s Ryan, he’s not a groomzilla or anything crazy like that but he is scared and I want to tell him that it will be okay, that we will get married, eventually.”

We had a chat about it. It turns out Ashley and Ryan had plans that were cancelled months ago and then cancelled a second time because they really want family from interstate from both sides to make it.

Ashley wanted to let Ryan know it would be okay. We proposed a 50th wedding anniversary card. She loved it and wrote these words: “I know it’s sad we had to postpone the wedding, again. So you know how I feel, I have already picked out the 50th wedding anniversary card for you. I love you Ryan.”

A card lets you say what you want to say in a way that can be kept forever.

Storytime. Sandra and Barry had been friends since Barry moved into the retirement village. We’d see them out and about having coffee and lunch in local cafes. It was a sweet romance that we loved seeing. “I want to let her know I care about her, that’s all. I miss her.” Barry was telling me how he missed their coffee and cake together. “The lockdown means we have to keep to ourselves, for our health, we understand that.” I could see Harry was sad. “I’m not great with the phone so I thought maybe a card. I could slip it under her door.”

We found a card with the sun shining on the front, which Barry loved. “Perfect,” he said, “I’ll send her some sunshine.”

These days are difficult and any way we can find to let someone know they are missed and loved is wonderful.

Storytime. Ethan has had a tough couple of years being bullied at school. His aunt, Teresa, a regular in our shop, wanted to send him a card to let him know that he is not alone. “I was bullied when I was a teenager too and felt so lonely,” Teresa told us with the pain of the memory clear on her face. “Even though he lives interstate, I figured a card is a good way to let him know that he’s not alone, that I care.”

Teresa found one of our R U OK? cards from Henderson. On the front it said You are not alone. “This is so perfect.” Teresa was happy with her purchase.

We get that a card does not fix a bullying situation. The “you are not alone” message could be comfort they need as those who support them help them in other ways.

We hear stories from our customers and the kindness in their hearts that guided their purchase. It is heart-warming.

Storytime. A customer, we’ll call her ‘Tess’ for this story, bought one of our R U OK? cards a few weeks ago because she liked the design on the front of sending a hug in the from of a card. She also liked that the cards were made in Australia. She sent the card to her son with whom she’s had a challenging relationship. Anyway, ‘Tess’ was in yesterday and told us that her son had called her to say things were not okay. He’d been laid off and had some health challenges. ‘Tess’ was grateful that she has been able to reconnect with her son.

‘Tess’ told us the story since she bought on impulse from a display at the counter, and saw it was supporting R U OK?. “Serendipity,” she called it. The card opened a discussion through which ‘Tess’ and her son have become reconnected.

The R U OK? cards from Aussie company Henderson Greetings are helping people connect and reconnect in the most wonderful ways.

Storytime. This one’s from many years ago. Beth’s marriage had ended unexpectedly and she found herself needing to learn to drive so she could ferry the kids around. After a frantic few weeks grinding gears and learning the road rules, Beth got her licence. I found out about this because Gary, her second eldest came in and told me. “I’ve got to find a card for mum,” he said, “she got her driver’s licence and us kids want to give her a card. Is there a card for that?”

I found the one card we had. “She’ll like that,” said Gary, as he pulled out a handful of coins to pay. He was thrilled to find a perfect fit card.

We still have a card for people who get their driver’s licence. We don’t sell that many, but when we do, people usually tell us the story. We love that.

Storytime. We got a lesson in being a prankster a few months ago by Shirley, a 92-year-old who visited every Thursday before the lockdown, when the nursing home bus came into town. Shirley loved giving birthday cards. This day, she put a 18^th birthday card at the counter. “I need your help with a prank,” Shirley smiled cheekily. “My great great grandson Tom is a prankster. He’s turning 18 and I always give $100 for their 18^th.” I was intrigued. “Okay.” Shirley took out a pen and wrote on the card and put a $100 note carefully in the middle. “Now,” Shirley said, “I hope I can borrow some double-sided tape from you.”  I gave Shirley the tape and watched as she proceed to stick the card together, from the inside, carefully using the double-sided tape. Then, she stuck double sided tape on the border of the back of the card before carefully putting it in the envelope, ensuring it was well stuck. Shirley beamed at what she had done.

Who knew that sometimes a birthday card was a perfect prop for an awesome prank on a great great grandson! Customers teach us the most wonderful things.

Storytime. “She’s so sad,” twenty-something Mick said, “I want to give her something, but I don’t know what.” Mick is a local tradie and regular in the shop. His mum’s mum had passed away a few weeks earlier. “I want to give her something, so she knows I care but not over the top like.” “How about a candle?,” I said. “A candle?” Mick seemed unsure. “Yeah. We have these Aussie made candles. They last for ages. The scent is fresh and calm, like the bush. Maybe your mum could light it each night in memory.”

Mick bought the candle. A couple of weeks later he told us how much it meant to his mum to light the candle each night. “Thanks,” he said with a smile.

Some days, it’s not what we sell but the stories we hear that bring us the most joy.

Storytime. Joe is 89 years old. He lives in a nursing home. When he moved there, he was limited as to what he could bring. The old shoebox with the collection of cards he’d received was the first thing he chose.

In that box are cards from his time as a local community Aussie rules coach. Parents and players had written cards over the years and Joe had kept them. “Each card is a memory”, he says with a smile, looking through his collection.

The oldest card Joe has is from 40 years ago from a player grateful for Joe’s help. Here it is so many years on, making Joe’s day.

Greeting cards hold the most wonderful memories.