Christmas cards are declining in popularity among UK residents, according to the Belfast Telegraph, which cited data that 141 million less will be sent during this holiday season compared to five years ago.
Around 36 percent fewer people will send the cards as a form of festive greeting during the holidays, compared with five years ago, charity card maker Oxfam told the Telegraph.
Only around 882 million cards will be sent out this year compared with 1.02 billion in 2005, the report said.
The Daily Telegraph reported that only 73 percent of households this year will send cards, compared with 84 percent in 2009.
Reasons why households decided against sending out cards include concerns over the environment, the need to save money, email, and increases in the prices of stamps, according to the report.
“While at Christmas, people want to celebrate and send happy greetings to friends and family,“ Michelle Strutton, Senior Consumer Analyst at research firm Mintel told the Daily Telegraph, adding, “it seems the market for Christmas cards has been weak and hit by consumers opting for lower priced cards and bulk packs or just not sending any at all.”
But Oxfam’s David McCullough said that people should not undermine the cards’ “social importance,” according to the Belfast Telegraph.
“This is even more the case when you realise that the £1 million ($1.5 million) of Christmas card sales Oxfam receives every year is enough to feed more than 140,000 families,” he added.
Around 36 percent fewer people will send the cards as a form of festive greeting during the holidays, compared with five years ago, charity card maker Oxfam told the Telegraph.
Only around 882 million cards will be sent out this year compared with 1.02 billion in 2005, the report said.
The Daily Telegraph reported that only 73 percent of households this year will send cards, compared with 84 percent in 2009.
Reasons why households decided against sending out cards include concerns over the environment, the need to save money, email, and increases in the prices of stamps, according to the report.
“While at Christmas, people want to celebrate and send happy greetings to friends and family,“ Michelle Strutton, Senior Consumer Analyst at research firm Mintel told the Daily Telegraph, adding, “it seems the market for Christmas cards has been weak and hit by consumers opting for lower priced cards and bulk packs or just not sending any at all.”
But Oxfam’s David McCullough said that people should not undermine the cards’ “social importance,” according to the Belfast Telegraph.
“This is even more the case when you realise that the £1 million ($1.5 million) of Christmas card sales Oxfam receives every year is enough to feed more than 140,000 families,” he added.
