Connecting people in an increasingly disconnected world
Physicality of greeting cards
how vinyl is increasingly popular
polaroid-style photos
handwritten notes
What is Q&P?
We are a two-sided e-commerce marketplace that makes it seamless for people to order beautiful cards made by local artists. So consumers get automated reminders sent to their email or phone, along with a curated selection of cards for the person that they’re buying a card for. e.g. mom’s favorite color is blue and she likes birds - we send cards that fit that profile. Plus the cards come already addressed and already stamped. All you need is three minutes and a pen.
Increasing accessibility to local artists cards
Mission / Vision
Triple bottom line company: financial bottom line, environmental bottom line, and social bottom line
Responsible consumption and environmental sustainability
carbon neutrality to offset shipping, card comes pre addressed and stamped
Fostering local communities
Supporting Maine jobs
Tapping into rich artist community in Maine to begin
Current Status and plans for growth Began working full time on company not long ago
Started with a very simple subscription service in mid 2024 which was:
Email reminders once a birthday / holiday / anniversary is approaching
Select from pool of available cards catered to the user’s preferences
For example it is their friends birthday and they like lobster and their favorite color is pink
Fast forward and today people can also select a card from the online platform.
Starting with a subscription service, and we’ll be adding artist tools/dashboard later this year.
Soft-launched in May 2024 - trying to prove the concept first here on our home state
Looking to expand and work out the kinks
Artists for beta program & MVP launch in the fall (will talk more about this)
3. Artist background
Ask about art and business background
Experience selling on etsy and other sites
Are they selling cards?
If yes - where are they selling their cards currently? Do they have high-resolution images? Wholesale prices? Profit margins?
Printing and sustainable packaging?
Ask about printers that they know of or what printer they use
4. Pitch: Artist Beta Program
What it is
Being one of the first artists to participate in the program -
We need feedback to shape our approach
Artists willing to try this, knowing that it will change
If the artist doesn’t sell cards, talk about the printing program we are currently researching
Similar to other printing services, but we market and sell the card for you and looking to form a more personal partnership with artists
Including free proofs to artists so they know that their work is bein g represented accurately
We buy the cards and warehouse them:
Model for most cards:
We buy cards at $2.00 wholesale PLUS royalty of $1 (or 10% of $10 to be exact)
Looking to increase royalty in the future and decrease card price
Royalty is designed so that artists self select their works and what they want to represent them, as well as what they think will sell the best
Model for more bespoke / limited runs:
Card with hand pressed flower detail
Custom rate
Cards that people might want to frame
Artist who said she had someone frame one of her cards
Limited edition run
What we provide
Additional income stream
Artist’s platform
Serves as advertisement
Links to their other work
We are mindful of and will protect their IP/Copyright - (legal and through technology)
What we expect
What we look for with the cards:
No barcode required
Name on back, copyright in their name
No cellophane preferably
Potential collaboration on social media
Feedback to us on what’s working and what isn’t (we may solicit, but we encourage active feedback as well)