Research by Royal Mail has found that one in ten Brits (11%) plan to send up to ten more Christmas cards this year, as lockdown restrictions limit the amount of friends and family they can physically mingle with over the festive period.
One in ten (11%) UK adults plan to send more Christmas cards this year than they usually would, due to concerns over lockdown restrictions. More than half of Brits (55%) believe that sending Christmas cards to loved ones is more important than ever.
Of those who do plan to send more cards, the results showed little difference between age groups. 15 per cent of 18-24 year olds will be sending more Christmas cards this year, compared to just under one in ten (8%) of those aged fifty five plus.
Three quarters (75%) of UK adults believe that sending a Christmas card is a more meaningful way of letting loved ones know that you are thinking of them than a social media message or a text. Previously released figures reveal that more than six in ten (64%) also preferred receiving a Christmas card over any other form of festive greeting, including via social media (4%), text message (3%) or even face-to-face (19%).
When asked why Christmas cards are so synonymous with the festive season, over half (53%) love displaying them in their homes. 45% look forward to reading the messages inside, and 45% also enjoy the particular thrill of receiving something through the post.
Just under half (46%) of 18-24 year olds prefer Christmas cards as a way of spreading festive cheer than via any other medium, including text (38%) and WhatsApp messages (24%)[2].
London, the East of England, the North West and the East Midlands (12%) are where most people plan to send additional Christmas cards this year, as a result of lockdown restrictions. Figures released in 2018 also suggest that the residents of Newcastle (91%), Birmingham (86%), and Leeds (86%) place the most value on Christmas cards in the UK.
The 2020 Christmas Card List
Loved ones living on their own are key priorities for the nation’s Christmas card lists this year. Extended family members living outside the sender’s household are most likely to receive a card (71%), followed by friends (65%), parents, current or ex work colleagues (25%), grandparents (17%) and great-grandparents (2%).
Local postmen or women are also popular additions, along with other community key workers, including nurses, doctors and teachers.
Mark Street, Head of Campaigns at Royal Mail commented: “This has been an immensely challenging and sometimes isolating year for so many, which is why it is more important than ever to find a truly meaningful way of letting loved ones know that you are thinking of them – even if you can’t be there in person.
There’s something inherently festive and heart-warming about sending and receiving a physical card through the post, that someone has lovingly taken the time to write. Put simply, sometimes a letter or card is better.”
The last posting date for 2nd Class mail is Friday 18th December, and Monday 21st December 2020 for 1st Class mail. For Special Delivery, it is Wednesday 23rd December.
Christmas card images from top to bottom are BCTF exhibitors: Lauren’s Cows, Jane Crick and Little Hotch
2 thoughts on “Royal Mail reveals boost to Christmas Card sending”
It would be good to think that people will be sending Charity Christmas cards.
COVID and lockdown has meant that Charities are desperate for funds, as money for them has dried up this year.
Research funded by Charities, will now be effectively delayed by a year or more.
New treatments for Cancer, Heart disease and Motor Neurone Disease for instance will all suffer.
Besides cheering up your lovely friends and family with a card, you would be doing something positive for the Charities.
Win win!
Hi Sheila, thank you for your thoughts on this, I agree that this is a good time for people to both send cards and to think about charities during this very challenging time. It must be very worrying for charities, as indeed it is for so many businesses and especially retailers. Greetings Cards generally and charity cards in particular, are a wonderful British tradition and long may they continue. I’m very happy to carry more news about this side of things if you ever have something you’d like to share. Charlotte x (charlotte@giftwaremagazine.com)