Is Halloween really a card-giving occasion?
Plus: Top news of the week — CMS students get 4-day weekend — Burr investigated for insider trading — police shooting case dismissed — Novant must pay $10M in reverse discrimination verdict
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Column: Somehow, the U.S. greeting card industry stays afloat with both traditional holidays and newly created ones
By Colleen Brannan
In this electronic world we live in, I’m often surprised the greeting card industry has survived. In my opinion, some holidays don’t deserve greeting cards — like Halloween.
Have you seen the rack space dedicated to Halloween at CVS and The Teeter? Is it really a card giving occasion, or am I just being grinchy? Does the cat really send cards? Does a baby know it’s their first Halloween? Do we really need a Halloween pandemic version?
The only thing scarier than the sea of spooky cards is the prices: A simple one can be $3.99 and double that if it makes noise, is oversized or has any pop-up features.
I’m not just picking on Halloween. This goes for most greeting cards. With the exception of Valentine’s Day, Mother’s/Father’s Day and Season’s Greetings, I just don’t get why a mass manufactured card is needed to express yourself or to celebrate someone else. We banned them long ago at the Brannan house and encourage homemade ones instead.
This brought on a whole new level of creativity, competitiveness and even shortcuts. My husband, Scott, is so proud of his card creations complete with clip art, he uses a copyright symbol. At the other end of the spectrum, in the name of not being wasteful, I’ve been known to cross out a holiday on a leftover card and repurpose it for another. No reason “Happy Hearts Day” can’t become “Happy Anniversary” with the help of a Sharpie:
Happy Valentine’s Day — no wait, anniversary! Example of Colleen Brannan’s time- and money-saving card repurposing.
As if established holidays competing for rack and mind space were not enough, would you believe there are new card-giving occasion entries in the mix? Some mind-blowing favorites include:
“We’d Like You to Join Our Play Group.” What? Sounds like a group text or phone call to me. Boom. I just saved you $3.99 plus a stamp.
“Sorry to Hear About Your Diagnosis.” I know bad news makes it difficult to find the right words, but if you have the time to go to the store to purchase a card, do better with a call, meal or visit.
“Congratulations on Your Weight Loss.” Probably something better said in person punctuated with, “You look great!”
Seeing these awkward occasions that somehow made the commercial card cut got me thinking: Why not address the following delicate situations with the help of a greeting card?
“Why Did You Ghost Me?” When your texts/calls/emails go unanswered, this is a great option to say your piece that can’t be blocked.
“I’m Dating Your Former Best Friend. Thanks for Introducing Us.” Who wouldn’t want to hear they played a pivotal role in their ex’s future happiness?
“I’m Worried About Your Binge Drinking.” For the friend who pounds five drinks in the time you have two, there’s probably a reason for concern but certainly not one you’re going to address when they’re drunk.
“You Should Close Your Blinds.” We all have that neighbor, oblivious to the world outside, so this is a way to tell them what exercisers and dog-walkers see (or can’t unsee).
“You Need a Mint.” This one is delicate and something only a friend would tell you — but probably not to your face, for obvious reasons.
Those are mine, and soon to be copyrighted, so don’t get any ideas. However, if you have your own aspirations to become a greeting card writer, Monster.com tells you how here.
Ironically, while writing this story, I received a Halloween card in the mail from my oldest sister. While it didn’t make me cave on my “not a card-giving occasion” position, it did make me chuckle. “What did the zombie say to the vampire? You suck.” “What’s a mummy’s favorite kind of music? Wrap.” Two points for her and Recycled Paper Greetings. OK, maybe I like to receive them. But I will still never send.
If you must rely on greeting cards, avoid the scary prices by using some of these hacks:
Dollar Tree has cards 2 for $1 — that’s 50 cents each, and you don’t have to buy two. Get yourself some readers and dog treats with your savings.
Bitmoji: Download it to your phone to jazz up your texts and make your teens cringe. It’s customized to you, for every occasion and free.
E-Cards: Most have free versions. Jib Jab allows you to personalize videos with photo faces upping the entertainment value but they often go to spam.
On the topic of electronic greetings, my Public Service Announcement as the holiday season approaches: It is not OK for companies to wish their entire database “Happy Holidays” via mass email. It will in no way make anyone want to do business with you and in fact may do the opposite.
Colleen Brannan owns BRANSTORM PR and says her best Halloween costume ever, when she was six months pregnant, was a nun. Follow her on social: IG (Colleen_Brannan), Twitter (@colleenbrannan) and LinkedIn or email her at colleen@branstorm.com
Today’s supporting sponsors are Soni Brendle …
… and Veterans Bridge Home, a 501c3 that supports veterans and military families from all eras with tailored support for their unique employment, housing assistance, social capital building and human service needs. They do this by leveraging all public, private, and nonprofit resources in the region. Since 2010, VBH has supported over 10,000 individuals filling more than 24,000 requests …
Pumpkin wall lit in Elizabeth
The Elizabeth neighborhood lit its annual pumpkin wall for the 17th year on Friday, revealing this year’s theme: “gratitude.” It’s at 2229 Greenway Ave. (the corner of Greenway and Laurel avenues), and runs until Monday. (Photo courtesy of John Short)
This week in Charlotte: Teachers are still struggling; Burr investigated for insider trading; Covid numbers drop but masks stay on; Hornets are hot
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
Teacher exhaustion: (Observer) Some teachers in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools say they are exhausted from having to cover for staffing shortages, and they’re pushing for higher pay. About 500 teachers have resigned since August, with 91 more set to resign by December.
Day after Halloween: (WCNC) With six days’ notice, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education voted on Tuesday night to make Monday, Nov. 1, a teacher workday.
Politics
Burr investigated: The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating whether Sen. Richard Burr violated federal insider trading laws by selling more than $1.6M in stocks before the market crashed last year. The agency is also investigating whether Burr’s brother-in-law made similar stock sales based on information he received from Burr in a phone call the same day Burr liquidated his stock holdings after receiving classified briefs about the emerging coronavirus pandemic. (ProPublica)
Governor’s race: Republican N.C. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson says he’s “about 95% sure” he will run for governor in 2024, rather than seek a second term in his current post. He made the statement during a public conference call Tuesday. Robinson has been called on to resign recently after comments he made about sex education in schools that disparaged LGBTQ people. (AP, via WSOC)
Local news
Covid vaccines for kids: (Observer) A number of local healthcare companies are scheduling children ages 5-11 for the Covid vaccine, with shot appointments starting next week.
A transit plan in flux: (Transit Time) A Charlotte City Council meeting this week showed that the city still has a long way to go on its plans for a new light rail line, enhanced bus service and more greenways and bike lanes. Elements of the plan keep changing and council members disagreed on messaging and strategy.
Still wearing masks: (WCNC) With Covid numbers continuing to fall, state health officials updated their guidance on mask-wearing in schools that allows districts to discontinue masks when the spread of Covid falls to the “moderate” or “low” range. But most of the state, including Mecklenburg, remains classified as having high spread. Mecklenburg health director Gibbie Harris said she’s not ready to recommend discontinuing the county’s mask mandate, either, until numbers drop farther.
Business
$10M reverse discrimination verdict against Novant: (Winston-Salem Journal, first reported by Charlotte Observer, subscriber-only) A federal jury awarded $10M to a former Novant Health executive who said the hospital system discriminated against him because he was a white male. David Duvall said he lost his job as senior vice president of marketing and communications because of Novant’s efforts to diversify the company’s leadership. His lawyer, Luke Largess of Charlotte, said the verdict is “a message that an employer cannot terminate and replace employees in order to achieve greater diversity in the workforce.”
Charlotte as future ACC HQ? (Biz Journal) Charlotte seems a likely choice as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s next headquarters. Conference leaders are considering whether to stay in Greensboro, and have said they want a city in the Eastern time zone with a diverse and growing population, access to a hub airport and reasonable operating costs. Johnny Harris, CEO of real estate firm Lincoln Harris, said he thinks it’s “fairly obvious” that Charlotte meets the criteria.
Sports
David Tepper gets what he wants: (The Assembly) The Assembly takes an in-depth look at Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, the bullish billionaire who has the money to leave a big mark on Charlotte but who expects plenty from the city — and its leaders — in return. (The Ledger excerpted the article with permission on Friday.)
Hornets are hot: (Sports Illustrated) The Charlotte Hornets are “the NBA’s most exciting team” so far this season, according to SI’s Chris Mannix. Fueling the excitement is the undeniable talent of LaMelo Ball and the strong growth of fourth-year guard Miles Bridges.
Good reads
Charlotte cosplay: (Charlotte Is Creative) Just in time for Halloween, our friends at Charlotte Is Creative introduce readers to people who make a hobby or even a career out of dressing up as their favorite characters from movies, books, comics or video games year-round.
Medical billing headaches: (Ledger) Charlottean Dan Hurst says that a colonoscopy he was told by Atrium Health would cost him $1,500 out-of-pocket wound up being nearly $10,000, largely due to undisclosed “facility fees” he was never told about. His experience illustrates the confusing and frustrating problem of the lack of transparency in medical billing, which makes it nearly impossible for patients to shop around for the best prices or know what they can expect to pay for medical treatments and procedures.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Bojangles rapped for code violations: (Wednesday 🔒) Bojangles has been repeatedly cited for violating zoning codes in Charlotte and in South Carolina by wrapping their restaurants in vinyl — including the new Carolina Panthers blue and black at the spot in Midtown. The company could face fines, but a spokeswoman says it’s “all in good fun.”
Police shooting case dismissed: (Wednesday 🔒) A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit stemming from a 2017 fatal police shooting, saying that officers acted reasonably in shooting a man holding a gun but not pointing it at them. Lawyers for the estate of Rubin Galindo say they will appeal.
SouthPark development: (Friday) The new owner of an office complex by the SouthPark Regional Library has filed rezoning plans that could let it put in a coffee shop and wine bar in the quickly redeveloping area.
Airbnb regulations: (Friday) The city of Charlotte is proposing to regulate Airbnbs and other short-term vacation rentals, as part of the new Unified Development Ordinance.
Business recruitment departure: (Friday) The city’s assistant economic developer is leaving after three years, in which she was part of a team credited with landing business relocations and expansions including Centene, Robinhood and AvidXchange.
Portrait artist remembered: (Ways of Life 🔒) Lucie Dulin was one of Charlotte’s most renowned portrait artists, who painted the portraits of 400 to 500 Charlotteans during her long career. Her personality was as colorful as the oils she used in her work. She died at the age of 95.
Plans for former United Way building: (Wednesday 🔒) In this installment of the “You Ask, We Answer” reader development question series, we unveil new plans and renderings for the former United Way building on South Brevard Street in uptown.
American Airlines elite status changes: (Wednesday 🔒) American Airlines unveiled changes to its elite status program, which will now be called “Loyalty Points.” It allows the airline’s most frequent fliers to earn upgrades and other perks and is designed to be more simple than the previous program.
Ledger happy hour. (Tuesday 🔒) What happens when you invite 2,400+ people for free beer in SouthPark on less than 24 hours’ notice? The Ledger found out on Tuesday, when we held our first-ever in-person happy hour for our paying members and picked up the bar tab. About 60 people showed up, and a good time was had by all (we think). We’ll do more in the future, maybe with more notice.
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