Guest Blogger - Eric Gainer @ the Red River Paper Blog

Birdseye Cards Blogs for Red River Paper

This week's guest blogger for Red River Paper is Eric Gainer of Belleville, Ontario. Eric's story is an excellent example of how inkjet printing empowers small business to start, expand, and offer unique products once only available from large companies.  Enjoy the story of his work and card images.  Many thanks to Eric for sharing his experience!

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Birdseye Cards was started by Eric Gainer in Belleville, Ontario as a supplemental business in October, 2007.  The line up grew to offer 200+ cards and card sets made to order using 3 Epson inkjet printers.  After months of extensive R&D with North American paper suppliers, Red River Paper was selected for their blend of quality variety and affordable high end scored card stock offering great color holdout.  The price point also helped maintain a profit contribution to the bottom line while offering a competitive advantage to both traditional retail specialty shops and a growing online consumer demand for a quality finished product not available through mass market channels.

Birdseye Cards has since grown to a full time profession, now selling social stationery for weddings, mini cards, on line image licensing and creative studio services.  With a recession setting in, Birdseye Cards used Aurora Fine Art White scored stock to expand the boxed 3x5 mini cards, by printing on flat 7x10 sheets cut in half, with images printed 2 up on a sheet, double sided, then sold with matching envelopes.  The growing demand for cards that offer more value at a reduced price point continues to be their strength in 2009.  With feedback from the test site, Birdseye mini cards expanded to include Everyday blank, Thank You, Birthday, Holiday and Personalized stationery as well).

Rebranded cards are also sold through gourmet cookie retailer Zelcovia Cookies www.zelcoviacookies.com  who offers their customers a Birdseye card with gift purchase, printed on 60 lb Premmatte Plus 2.0. 

The Birdseye brand is marketed through four web sites updated on a monthly basis, as well as e newsletters, and online advertising.  The main site consumer site is www.birdseyecards.com, the product testing and prelaunch site is www.birdseyecards.etsy.com, a monthly blog at www.birdseyecards.blogspot.com and image licensing through www.alamy.com (search by Birdseye Cards or Eric Gainer)