Tips and Tricks: Alternative to Christmas
Some artists find it impossible to capitalize on Christmas holiday card sales—which is the busiest time of year at GCU since Christmas is a big card-giving holiday—for a number of reasons including religious or personal convictions. That’s cool, we totally respect your decision. This article is meant to offer tips on what might be an alternative to Christmas cards for those seeking a way to boost their sales at that time of year.
Festivus
\A secular holiday created by the writer of the Seinfeld sitcom, Festivus (learn more here) has grown into a pop culture alternative to Christmas. While some Festivus cards do offer traditional Christmas images meant as a tongue-in-cheek homage, you can use Festivus related images instead. See the Festivus cards category.
Tip: When designing Festivus cards, keep the tone light and humorous.
Winter Themes/Snow Scenes
If Santa Claus, elves, reindeer, decorated trees, mistletoe, or nativity scenes aren’t your cup of tea, perhaps generalized winter themes will work better for you. You do not have to say “Merry Christmas” anywhere on the card. You would, however, be expected to include verse such as “happy holidays,” “wishing you the joy of the season,” “season’s greetings” or a more creative holiday-type verse of your choosing to be approved for the right categories.
Tip: Once you’ve got a basic design approved, expand your sales potential by taking advantage of the relationship specific categories AND personalized text and/or photo cards. Yes, it’s tedious, mind numbing work, nobody likes doing it, but the work’s worth the pay-off.
I hope this article has given you some ideas on how to take advantage of the Christmas card rush without compromising your personal beliefs. Good luck and happy designing!
GCU Community 
Hi, Corrie,
These are good tips for non-Christmas holiday cards, however I think that they still may not work for some people due to their religious beliefs. If I may suggest? Cards that I think will be acceptable to people of certain faiths would be wedding congratulations/announcements, baby congratulations/announcements,new home/new address – – all with winter themes but no mention of the holiday season. (Not birthday cards for some religions.)
Penny 🙂
True, Penny, those are good categories to put in cards. I was addressing Christmas holiday cards in my article in the hope of helping some people who don’t want/can’t design blatant Christmas scenes but would still like to get in on the biggest card selling holiday of the year.
Corrie
Yes, Corrie, you’re right and your suggestions are very good, of course.
Penny 🙂
I appreciate this post, Corrie. For me this info is particularly interesting because I don’t create religious or political cards. I hadn’t thought of alternatives. I have some lovely winter scene photography I’ve wanted to use, but couldn’t think what to do with them. But a winter themed thinking of you card, or other neutral occasion, just might be the thing. Thank you 🙂
As always, good advice Corrie. Thanks for trying to make our transition easier in what we’re going through. The only problem I have had with making the same card into different categories is when one card is approved, it doesn’t always guarantee it being approved by other reviewers. Even if I put that into reviewer notes, sometimes one reviewer may find a problem and not approve the card. I’ve had to make my cards pretty much one at a time. Thanks again,
Gail Pepin
I appreciated this also. Gets me geared up to think outside the box. Thanks Corrie.