Shape of Christmas cards

[reinganum]

Can anyone, but particularly if you work in the greetings card industry, tell me why nearly all Christmas cards have been square for the last few years? It's quite a difficult shape for posties to handle, I believe.

Before about 1995 most Christmas cards were rectangular but it seems to be quite difficult finding them these days.

[what..the?]

A hard question that, off the top of my head is it possibly because:

- Letters (round robins) fold up better in a square cards
- They are easier to stack on the shelves in shops
- more pleasing to the eye
- are less top heavy so stand better, don't blow or fall over
- so birthday cards can be found amongst xmas cards
- easier or more cost efective to produce
- are more structurally sound and bend less
- better shape to attach to present
- more tidy when hung across string
- modern shape prefered by shoppers

[reinganum]

Many thanks, what...the? I never realised there were so many possible reasons for this. I always thought square cards a little awkward but now I know there's probably a good reason for it. And a merry Christmas!!