A new Dublin-based start-up aiming to use technology to re-invigorate traditional postcard sending plans to create more than 10 jobs within 18 months of launch.
Launching on 1 July, sendmypostcards.com’s service enables a user to quickly create and edit a personalised postcard using their computer and then the company prints and sends the postcard on their behalf.
Images can be added from Facebook, Flickr, the 15,000 global image gallery or a user’s own camera/phone/computer to create a memorable postcard.
The company has been set up by a team of people from various backgrounds: Caroline Mac Aodha (print and design), Steven Donaldson (marketing), Alan Beirne (accounting) and Michael O’Connor (technology).
Beirne brought the team together, all of which have invested in the company while continuing for the moment in their full-time jobs. They expect to hire three people in the first 12 months with the rest to follow.
“Alan identified the potential in online postcard ordering and the five of us decided to pool our resources. I work for Alan’s family business, Kilmartin Printing, while Stephen is general manager of PJ Carroll and Michael is digital manager at L’Oreal,” said Mac Aodha.
“An estimated 135m plus postcards are sent and received per year in the UK and Ireland, and the UK greetings-card market is estimated to be worth £1.5bn.”
Cards can be personalised with your own image, a selection of handwriting and unique messages for the front of the 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.
