Hallmark stores in Ann Arbor area selling job loss sympathy cards
Comforting a friend who just lost a job can be difficult.
Now, there's a greeting card for that.
At least two Hallmark stores in the Ann Arbor area said they're selling new greeting cards the retailer developed to console a friend whose job was eliminated due to the tough economy.
Margaret Leftridge, manager of Crown House of Gifts on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor, said the cards are "relatively new" to her store and were designed to "test the market."
Although many people want to express sympathies to an unemployed friend, it's a difficult message to deliver, Leftridge said.
"It's hard to put that in a real nice way," she said. But "you want to tell them you're concerned because of what happened to them."
Some customers, she said, choose the customized route.
"A lot of people just come in and they'll buy a blank and write their own note for something like that," she said.
Teresa Jagielski, a manager of the Little Green Apple greeting card shop in Saline, said the store is not carrying the Hallmark job-loss sympathy cards but plans to ask its corporate ordering service about it.
According to a report in the Dallas Morning News, one of the job-loss cards features a cat exclaiming: "Is there anywhere I could hack up a hairball, like say, on a former employer's head?" And another reportedly says: "Losing a job is just plain painful. So I want you to remember I'm in your cheering section."
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
nixon41
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:57 p.m.
Why should we spend $ on useless cards when the economy is so bad??? Ever hear of the dollar stores? Some good deals in there.
jns131
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:18 p.m.
Again, back to what case was saying. Made in China. The Hallmark store does sell dollar cards.
thinker
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:03 a.m.
Incredibly tacky, unless there is one that says: I am so sorry to hear about your job loss. I'll pray that you find another very soon.
Basic Bob
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 11:29 p.m.
Not *all* Hallmark cards are made in the U.S, but many are. You can see the country of origin on the back of the card if you care enough....
nixon41
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:14 p.m.
That is SICK. Anything to make a $$$$$
jns131
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:01 p.m.
I just read that obama is trying to make it illegal to discriminate against being unemployed. Sounds interesting and would like to know how to prove that one as well. I should get down there and get myself one. Otherwise, nope. I would never send one to anyone unless they were celebrating unemployment. Interesting concept.
Cash
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.
As far as jobs and the card industry...... I have toured the Crown Center/Hallmark building in Kansas City...and Hallmark cards are made in United States and many are still handcrafted. The tour of how they are made is great! I have made it a point to buy only Hallmark after this visit. Interestingly American Greeting cards, carried at Walmart and Meijer....are made in China.
Cash
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:43 p.m.
I love Hallmark stores...fun places to shop. I was pleasantly surprised to find Hallmark making cards in Kansas City. They even have a person sitting there carving out the molds for the pictures etc....something I did not know still existed. It's a good feeling to know some companies have stayed here and employed Americans.
nixon41
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10:15 p.m.
Good to know. I won't support China.
jns131
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 10 p.m.
Remember the Hallmark Crown store near Broadway? I miss that place. Thanks for the tourist trap tip. I will definitely check that one out.
jkselberg
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:17 p.m.
I have encountered a few people who don't know what to say about the loss of my job (and it's now been 21 months ) and I don't blame them. If I received a sympathy card instead of a simple, sincere "i'm sorry to hear that", though, I would be tempted to ask them to loan me the $4.00 cost of the card, and skip the Hallmark middleman. Did this new product line add a single job to the economy?
visiongirl
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
Seriously... We can report of job loss cards but we can't report on the protest on Wall Street which is currently on DAY 11. It is because what is happening on Wall Street that these tacky cards exists. Unfortunately the protest is not getting alot of media attention. CNN just started covering it. Check it out <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/27/business/wall-street-protests/index.html" rel='nofollow'>http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/27/business/wall-street-protests/index.html</a>
Cash
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 9:14 p.m.
Amen, sister!
visiongirl
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8:23 p.m.
Here is the actual to the Wall Street Protest that is on Day 11. Please check it out if you care about the economic injustice that is currently plaguing our country. <a href="https://occupywallst.org/" rel='nofollow'>https://occupywallst.org/</a>
Cash
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:52 p.m.
I wish they made cards for: Loss of real local news source. I'd send it to myself. And all of you as well.
paxsolace
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:23 a.m.
Good one Cash!
Lewanster
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:49 p.m.
I mean...seriously, is this what annarbor.com calls news ?
Bob W
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.
Before buying one perhaps you should ask yourself, would you appreciate receiving one. If so, then go ahead.. perhaps.
Gary
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 7:23 p.m.
Great Idea - we can use them instead of issuing pink slips.
From Nearby
Tue, Sep 27, 2011 : 8 p.m.
Roses are Red Violets are Blue The economy stinks We no longer need you