Community Chat

[151949]

Both the Hallmark stores in my small town have closed. I think people now buy cards & wrapping  at the dollar stores because they had gotten so expensive at Hallmark. I wonder if those stores are corporate owned or if Hallmark stores are a franchise. I will miss that one of our local stores carried Vera Bradley bags. I would go there each season to check out the new patterns.

[Lipstickdiva]

We had 2 Hallmark stores in my area that closed at least 10 years ago, if not more. 

I was in one after the holidays and bought a couple of decor items that were 50% off.  Most of what I saw I thought was really overpriced, even with 50% off.  It's not a store I ever go into because I just grab cards from either the grocery store or a drugstore.  All my paper and/or gift bags are from Dollar Tree.   

[Mj12]

I have not been in a Hallmark store in over 15 years. 

I think some people buy cards, wrapping papers etc online, I know I do, from Papyrus and Etsy. I love to give beautiful and interesting cards for some people.  For others, yes I pick up at the grocery or Target.  I still send out the same # of cards throughout the year.

ETA - I once bought a greeting card/birthday card box the Q sold once - it was awful.  I was leftover with a lot of juvenile cards I would never send out. 

[Solar Is My Name]

End of an era. Less greeting cards are sent in general. Texting, social media, email, instant messaging seem to have crowded out cards. Found memories of REAL cards received.

[StylishLady]

The one nearest me is doing well. A while ago with obviously dwindling stock, I thought it was going to close. Recently it is well stocked with current Easter things and no empty spaces for greeting cards. Could be a regional issue.

[Winkk]

I used to love walking around a Hallmark store.  But, now that their cards have gotten so expensive I rarely go in.  I am not spending $5 or $6 for a card.  Their card section has gotten smaller and now they are selling other "stuff". 

I get pretty nice cards at the dollar store.

[jpie]

I went into a Hallmark store two days ago.  I ended up spending almost $10.00 on two cards!  

First of all the prices were too expensive. One card was a birthday card for my brother and the other was a "thinking of you" card.  I could not find a decent card for the latter and ended up buying a blank card for $3.99.  Then, I had to add extra postage to it (so two stamps) because it was a square shape.

I really think that Walgreens and Wal-Mart have a better selection and lower prices.  

[gidgetgh]

While we’ve had some Hallmark stores in my area close, we still have several. There are 3 that I go to on a regular basis. One is a company store and two are franchise stores. 

We have 2 others that are a further drive, but if I’m in that area and I need something, I’ll stop in. 

[OKPrincess]

I used to collect their ornaments but thankful stopped about 10 years ago. I have bought Jim Shore figurines and purchased our Vera Bradley iPad covers from Hallmark. Sad but a sign of the times.

[Lucky Charm]

Hallmark's are franchized.  We looked into buying one about 30 years ago.

My usual grocery store carries Hallmark cards and I was in there yesterday to buy 2 more Easter cards. 

None of the cards had any religious reference to them.

They were either bunnies, chickies or pictures of flowers.  No images of Christ, the Cross or biblical scripts.

I noticed that too, with their Christmas card selection.  I wonder if it's just that way they stock [my] grocery store?