Moonpig research shows 58% have kept designs for over a decade
Fresh research from Moonpig proves the huge importance people put on greeting cards with almost two thirds revealing they have cherished a card for more than a decade.
Keeping mementoes to remind us of loved ones is a tradition going back more than 2,000 years, with a University Of York study showing Iron Age folk kept items such as spoons and grinding stones as a bond with the deceased.
So online greetings and gift retailer Moonpig conducted a survey to discover what uncover the modern-day habits when it comes to holding on to greeting cards as keepsakes.
Market research agency OnePoll spoke to 2,000 respondents of all ages in the UK for the retailer, and discovered 82% of women stating their love of receiving greeting cards, in contrast to 58% of men and half of non-binary people.
Despite living in a digital age, the Moonpig study showed 54% of Brits still like to receive physical cards and letters, with this growing among the younger generation where 64% of 18 to 24-year-olds admitted they like to get something in writing in comparison to 45% of 35 to 44-year-olds.
Looking at the reasons why Brits enjoy receiving cards, 68% said it shows a personal touch from the sender, while 43% appreciate the designs of the greetings given to them and 40% enjoy the celebration it represents.
The survey found that 53% of women agree they appreciate the designs of the cards given to them in comparison to only 32% of men and 17% of non-binary people while the younger generation appreciate it more than any other age group at 48% of 18 to 24-year-olds in comparison to 38% of 35 to 44-year-olds.
Sarah-Jane Porter, Moonpig’s global design and licensing director, commented: “We understand the impact that a card’s design has upon adding a personal touch to the overall message. Therefore, selecting a card that’s reflective of the recipients’ interest is a direct way of showing how much they understand their loved one.
“At Moonpig, we strive to provide a range of card designs from sentiment to humour, capturing a variety of themes through to topical cultural references to ensure we have a card to suit all tastes.”
The survey uncovered the number of greeting cards Brits have held on to, finding 29% have kept more than 20, compared to only 14% of who have kept none at all.
Taking a deep dive into who is most likely to keep cards, the research found women are more than twice as likely (42%) to keep over 20 cards in comparison to just 15% of me, while half of non-binary people have kept more than 20 cards.
And there’s a generational gap here too with 21% of over 65s and 18% of 55 to 64-year-olds not holding on to any cards, while only 9% of women don’t, compared to 21% of men.
Moonpig found 66% choose to keep cards because they were sent by a loved one, while 54% said it was because of the message inside, and for 45% it was because they’d received the greeting to celebrate a milestone.
Unsurprisingly, women were found to be more sentimental than men, with 71% admitting they’d keep a card because it was sent by a loved one in comparison to only 58% of men – but, at 12%, the guys are more than twice as likely than women (5%) to keep a design because it features a favourite hobby or interest.
Sarah-Jayne added: “There are many reasons why we keep cards given to us by specific loved ones. Whether that be because we value the relationship that we have with that person or because they are no longer with us. Either way, greeting cards are always bought with the recipient in mind, and many of us treasure our cards because we know how much consideration has been put into them.”
The study discovered that a staggering 58% of people have kept a card for over 10 years, with women (67%) are more likely than men (47%) and non-binary people (40%) to squirrel them away.
“We understand how much impact receiving a greeting card can have on a person, to many they are expressions of the emotions of our loved ones,” Sarah-Jayne said, with Moonpig’s personalisation services helping people create the perfect message and sentiment.
“Not only that but, due to the amount of thought and consideration that we place upon choosing the perfect card and creating the most heartfelt message, it’s clear to see why so many of us cherish the cards sent by our loved ones, as they help us feel loved and valued by those closest to us.”
