Birthday Cards for Pets - Dogs, Cats, Rabbits and so on

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iArtist

  • #1
    I was talking with a fellow dog lover today and about card making (subject arose as it is Fathers Day) which I've dabbled in a few times before.

    We were discussing how dog lovers she knows nearly always buy cards FROM the dog for family members birthdays and so on.

    That got me thinking...

    What about Birthday cards for the Dog? (or cat. rabbit etc.)

    When my dog had a birthday this year my children not only wanted to buy him cards/pressies but to throw him a birthday party. So I was wondering is there perhaps a small untapped niche market for cards for pets, dogs, cats, rabbits and so on?

    As an experiment, I've created a Birthday card for Dogs using an existing cartoon I drew recently.

    Please view it here

    Please let me know your opinion.

    The cartoon on the greeting card for dogs features a dog dressed in a ballet dress with the words 'The X-Factor has a lot to answer for!' above it.
     
    LicensedToTrade

    LicensedToTrade

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  • #2
    Unique Gift said:
    is there perhaps a small untapped niche market for cards for pets, dogs, cats, rabbits and so on?
    Click to expand...

    If by untapped niche market you mean a product that is widely sold by the UK's largest Pet retailer (pets at home) then yes, otherwise I am afraid you haven't stumbled across a new idea :D

    If you are an existing retailer (offline or online) then it is definately worth extending your lines to include cards for pets, providing that you carry out due diligence on the research front. How big is the current UK market? Which companies hold the largest shares in this market? etc.. etc..
     
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    mobyme

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  • #5
    Some years ago I had a friend that used to make edible birthday cards for dogs; he also used to make birthday cakes for them.

    He was regarded as a bit of a nutter (he wasn't he was just a bit eccentric) but he used to sell an awful lot of them.

    He died and his idea seemed to die with him because I haven't seen any Birthday cards since edible, or otherwise, although I have seen the odd cake.

    I know he only used to sell on a local basis and all of this was before the internet but like I say he used to sell an awful lot of them so the idea definitely has legs (4 ideally)

    It's funny, but just remembering him brings a smile to my face; they don't make guys like him any more.
     
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  • #7
    mobyme said:
    Some years ago I had a friend that used to make edible birthday cards for dogs; he also used to make birthday cakes for them.

    He was regarded as a bit of a nutter (he wasn't he was just a bit eccentric) but he used to sell an awful lot of them.

    He died and his idea seemed to die with him because I haven't seen any Birthday cards since edible, or otherwise, although I have seen the odd cake.

    I know he only used to sell on a local basis and all of this was before the internet but like I say he used to sell an awful lot of them so the idea definitely has legs (4 ideally)

    It's funny, but just remembering him brings a smile to my face; they don't make guys like him any more.
    Click to expand...


    Awww that's nice how you remember him. I'm also eccentric although my friends prefer the term 'mad', my enemies too funnily enough! ;)

    Edible cards ay? I wonder what they'd need to be made of...do dogs eat rice paper? They'd be too flimsy surely?
     
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    iArtist

  • #9
    I've just created a couple of thank you cards from the dog (for people who've looked after them while their owner is away) and a Birthday Card from the dog so yes, get well soon doggy card would be a nice addition to my

    'niche cards that no one is ever gonna buy but I'll design them anyway' set :)

    thankyou-card-from-dog.jpg
     
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    iArtist

  • #10
    Dawg said:
    I've just taken a call asking if I sell pet strollers.*
    I can only imagine they are for sick dogs, so how about a range of get well soon cards for dogs.
    In fact edible get well soon cards laced with placebos would fit the market well....

    *American. Known in the trade as completely barking.
    Click to expand...

    Do you wish to add a link to my doggy cards (better ones coming eventually) on your shop for whatever reasonable thing you suggest in exchange?
     
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    iArtist

  • #11
    Here's a cuter one

    If I can establish a market I'll spend more time designing nicer cards, but at the moment I just need to know if anyone buys doggy cards. I posted this query on a pet forum and so far 2 out of 7 doggy owners would buy their dog a card!

    thank_10.jpg
     
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    LicensedToTrade

    LicensedToTrade

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  • #12
    Unique Gift said:
    I never found a single card for dogs when I went Googling. Just checked their site too, can't see any cards for dogs on it?
    Click to expand...

    I looked on the site and couldn't find them either...but take my word for it, I was in two pets at home branches on Saturday and they both had them for cats, dogs, rabbits etc. Happy Birthday ones primarily.

    Nevertheless, the fact that they don't have them on their website opens this up for you again. I'm just wondering though, how many people actually search for 'pet birthday cards' or 'birthday cards for dogs' etc. Have you checked?
     
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    iArtist

  • #13
    LicensedToTrade said:
    Nevertheless, the fact that they don't have them on their website opens this up for you again. I'm just wondering though, how many people actually search for 'pet birthday cards' or 'birthday cards for dogs' etc. Have you checked?
    Click to expand...

    Probably not many. I think it'd be more a case of letting people know (via pet forums and so on) that these crazy little cards exist and building on it from there.

    Meanwhile, the cards you've seen were perhaps provided by local people...hand made, not mass produced.
     
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    NuBlue

  • #15
    Birthday cards and pet strollers! What is the world coming too :)

    Sorry, not the most helpful reply but to me it beggars belief that people buy these things for pets! Best of luck with it if you can sell them though, could be very lucrative!
     
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    iArtist

  • #16
    NuBlue said:
    Birthday cards and pet strollers! What is the world coming too :)

    Sorry, not the most helpful reply but to me it beggars belief that people buy these things for pets! Best of luck with it if you can sell them though, could be very lucrative!
    Click to expand...

    Poll results on the pet forum are thus far that 50% say yes they would buy their dog a card!
     
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    iArtist

  • #22
    LicensedToTrade said:
    Nevertheless, the fact that they don't have them on their website opens this up for you again. I'm just wondering though, how many people actually search for 'pet birthday cards' or 'birthday cards for dogs' etc. Have you checked?
    Click to expand...

    Ok, just checked search results re Dog cards and they ARE HUGE!

    dog xmas cards 8,100
    dogs cards 18,100

    as an example

    Loads more re sympathy and so on.

    Away I go!
     
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  • #25
    Stretchy said:
    Those search results are tiny, especially if they are for a year. If so, and you sell a card to 1 % of people who search for dog Xmas card, you will prob turn over about 300 quid a year.
    Click to expand...

    I wouldn't expect this to enable me to earn my living, it might just provide some pocket money though.

    Meanwhile I used to make more than £300 a year selling cards from an ink-refill shop with a very small footfall.
     
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    iArtist

  • #28
    Stretchy said:
    Maybe selling in shops would be worth concentrating on above the net. As I think I said earlier there is a large margin in cards so it might be worth thinking about.
    Click to expand...

    I would approach a few of my local suppliers to see if they'd be interested.

    But the Internet is also a market I'd like to tap, not neccessarily just via Zazzle though. The profit share is too teeny.
     
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    debbidoo

    debbidoo

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  • #30
    Dawg said:
    I've just taken a call asking if I sell pet strollers.*
    I can only imagine they are for sick dogs, so how about a range of get well soon cards for dogs.
    In fact edible get well soon cards laced with placebos would fit the market well....

    *American. Known in the trade as completely barking.
    Click to expand...


    Saw these advertised in a Sunday magazine a good few years ago. Made me PMSL so much, I cut it out and stuck it to the wall by my desk. It travelled with me to my next job, where it was also stuck to the wall by my desk, and when I left there and started my business, it got stuck to my office wall here too. In fact, I only binned it a few weeks ago (it had got tatty where the cats kept shredding the edges - think perhaps they were trying to tell me something :D)

    Back to the matter in hand. Birthday cards for pets. I suppose it's something that might appeal to very small children, and to people who are weird/potty/idiotic enough to think their pets are human. I have a dog and three cats, and would never, NEVER buy a birthday card for them, or a birthday cake or whatever. It's silly. They're animals. They don't understand the concept of "birthday". If you buy them a card, you're actually buying it for yourself, because it amuses you. I love my pets dearly, but I understand that they are animals and not small, furry people* :)

    Just my opinion Leah - don't hate me for it :p

    I also remember the edible cards for dogs - my sister bought one for my mum's mastiff one Christmas and I ripped the p*ss out of her for it :D

    *I will, however, on occasion, dress my cats up as Santa. Not because they enjoy it - they don't, they hate it - but because it means I can take photos like this. Slightly cruel, but rather amusing :) I make it up with treats and huggles :)
     
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  • #31
    Hi Debbidoo, I don't hold it againt you :)

    The pet forum results show that so far a good % of dog owners are potty enough, meanwhile I will mainly focus on sympathy cards, thank you cards and cards from the dog as they already seem to be in demand but not well catered for.

    I've just had my first search engine referral for an article re dog cards I posted a short while ago from someone looking for birthday cards with dogs so it will be interesting to see if there are any from people looking specifically for cards for or from dogs.
     
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  • #33
    debbidoo said:
    Oh there's no denying there are people potty enough to do it :) There's always someone potty enough for anything, really :)

    I'd be interested to see how this turns out for you, Leah - do post up the results, won't you? :)
    Click to expand...

    I will, as long of course that some other barmy idea hasn't popped into my head next week which I decide to pursue instead.

    I do also want to create some step parent cards and gifts. Another gap there I feel.
     
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    debbidoo

    debbidoo

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  • #34
    I've seen mother's/father's day cards saying "you're like a mother/father to me", which I thought were rather nice. So step parents, step children etc - good idea :)

    There are loads of cards that don't exist but probably should. "Brother from another mother" would be good, hehehe :) Greetings cards for goths - "have a miserable birthday, lots of hate, Batilda xxx" etc. "Congratulations on your first pube, little man". "Wow, you got your period - aren't you grown up!"

    Too much? :S
     
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    iArtist

  • #35
    debbidoo said:
    I've seen mother's/father's day cards saying "you're like a mother/father to me", which I thought were rather nice. So step parents, step children etc - good idea :)

    There are loads of cards that don't exist but probably should. "Brother from another mother" would be good, hehehe :) Greetings cards for goths - "have a miserable birthday, lots of hate, Batilda xxx" etc. "Congratulations on your first pube, little man". "Wow, you got your period - aren't you grown up!"

    Too much? :S
    Click to expand...

    The goth card idea would be a good one as I've seen xmas decorations go on eBay for silly prices because you can't get them in the shops, a gothic xmas tree fairy for example.
     
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    papverpoppies

    papverpoppies

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  • #37
    Fuzzy said:
    I love my doggies, but wouldn't buy cards for doggies/owners, but there are people out there that will;) Lots of luck Leah :D
    Click to expand...

    If you look in large card shops they often have cards for animals, these days (limited selection) as they are not huge sellers.
    Hallmark, as I have seen them for sale in supermarkets.
    Ebay,
    cafe.press.co.uk
    sallymitchell
    Zazzle
    Not to mention dozens and dozens of artists who do a doggie line of cards..

    If I went through my collection I could probably come up with dozens of different outlets/resources/artists.

    If you know where to look, they are out there, but that does not mean to say there is not room for more!

    Poppy xx
     
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