The new way to send a postcard is born
New Irish tech start-up to create jobs in export market
A new business, sendmypostcards.com (SMP), is launching on 1st July 2011 to target the growing online card market in UK&I.
The Dublin-based team is aiming to create 10+ new smart-economy jobs within 18 months of launch. The service enables a user to quickly create and edit a personalised postcard using their computer and then SMP prints and sends the postcard on their behalf.
Images can be added from facebook, flickr, the 15,000 global image gallery or their own camera/phone/computer to create a memorable postcard.
An estimated 135 million plus postcards are sent and received per year in UK&I – summer holidays are a peak period.
Why is this news?
- Service launches this Friday on the 1st of July
New job creation in tough Irish economic climate
135 million postcards are sent every year in UK alone (source Royal Mail)
Size of greetings card market in UK – estimated value of £1.5 billion (source GCA below)
Inbound tourism numbers to Ireland & UK are forecast to return to year on year growth later this year (source UK&I quarterly tourism reports below)
Emerging Irish start ups that public have yet to hear about (follow on story to Kaufman Fellows survey: 3 of top 8 European seed companies are Irish)
Why use sendmypostcards.com?
Have you ever been on holidays and intended to send a postcard home, but found it a hassle finding some stamps, the right card and postbox?
Not everyone is handy with a camera. That’s why we at SMP are lucky enough to work with talented local photographers.
Cards can be personalised with your own image (or one from), a selection of handwriting and unique messages for front of card.
The service costs €1.79 for the printing and postage of a single postcard yielding a consumer saving versus the high street. Cards can be created quickly and easily while on the go.
The site also includes a simple “copy card” feature, which enables quick replication of the same card – suitable for sending to many recipients or also for occasions requiring announcements or thanks.
Form your own opinion by availing of a free trial here:
http://www.facebook.com/sendmypostcards
www.sendmypostcards.com
click “sign up” on top right of homepage , enter email and password for free credit
Who are we?
A team of Irish entrepreneurs from various backgrounds – Caroline (print & design), Steven (marketing), Alan (accounting) & Michael (technology)
Key Service Aspects
Sendmypostcards.com dates: The service launches this week on the 1st July.
Key target audience: Ireland & UK travelling consumers
Quality: Product focus on postcard excellence, 330g high quality product with glossy image front and high print quality. Our print partners, Kilmartins are an established print company with approximately 145 years experience.
Convenience: The consumer does not have to find a shop or stamp or post box. SMP does all the work, speedy delivery service through franking arrangement with An Post. We are a one-stop-shop for consumers’ postcards needs.
Global range and high image quality: achieved through partnerships with Lonely Planet images and local photography talent.
Personalisation: the consumer can design their own card: chose image, message on front and back with selected font type. The user’s tailor made postcard is printed and posted for less than the price of sending a generic high street one with stamps.
The team is currently developing an easy to use version of the site for smart phones to be released later in the year.
Background
The new start-up aims to use technology to re-invigorate a traditional product – revamping the postcard!!
Guttenberg’s press kicked off the paper wave of sharing information rapidly through print media and the internet has accelerated our communication and sharing potential.
The way we communicate has evolved significantly from king’s couriers and telegraphs to instant messaging and iPad Skype sessions. However what remains common is that a picture combined with a message evokes more emotion and pleasure for the recipient.
So, sendmypostcards.com – making sharing easier this summer! And say “Wish you were here” not “wsh u wr ere”.
Quote from key contact
“With this service, we are bringing the postcard bang into the 21st century. I love sending postcards to friends and family. Like many friends, I hate the hassle when on holiday trying to find the right card, stamps and postbox from where to send them. We hope to make sending postcards easier and more fun. With thousands of beautiful images to chose from, go on and share some happiness today.”
