Invitations and Greeting Cards

Invitations: counting backwards

Planning an invitation starts from the event date and counts backwards. The chain runs: event — time needed for distribution (post or handing over) — print time — approval and design cycle. If the invitation carries foiling or special finishing, another one to two days are added to printing. The mistake that happens most often: starting invitation design when a week remains before the event — by then premium finishing no longer fits.

• Start from the event date, counting backwards
• Distribution time + printing + approval
• Foiling — one to two extra days
• A week before — premium finishing no longer fits

Greeting cards: seasonal planning

New Year greeting cards are one of the rare products where the entire market orders within the same two weeks. From mid-December production load is at maximum and lead times stretch. So New Year card orders should start in early November — the choice is wider and the timeline comfortable. A second practical point: if cards go by post, allow for postal time too, which adds several days to the whole chain.

• New Year orders — early November
• Mid-December — maximum production load
• Sending by post — additional days
• Ordering early — wider choice, comfortable timeline

Format and finishing

A flat card is more minimalist and cheaper — it works well when the message is short. A folded card leaves room for text inside and reads as more traditional — the usual choice for a personal message written by hand. If handwriting is planned, the inside must be uncoated or matte, because a pen will not write on gloss lamination. Among finishes, foiling is the most effective for greeting cards, especially on dark stock; spot UV gives a more contemporary effect.