Christmas cards are big business and charity Christmas cards are an even bigger gold mine, but the number of charity cards being bought is in decline this year. Ireland is probably unique in that about 70 per cent of the Christmas card market is made up of charity cards.
Oxfam has the widest range of charity Christmas cards with 100 per cent profit on all cards sold going to charity.
Prices range from €3.50 to €8 for a pack of 20.
Last year, Oxfam Ireland made €140,000 profit from the sale of cards but will not be expecting the same good fortune this year.
"Sales are definitely down and have declined in recent years, this year to try and entice customers to purchase from Oxfam Ireland shops, we are offering three for the price of two. But, like everything else, sales of Christmas cards have been hit by the current difficult economic climate," said Paul Dunphy, Media & Communications Executive from Oxfam Ireland.
"We have worked to control our costs very closely this year to ensure that our cards are as profitable as possible in order to deliver funds to our overseas projects, but final figures won't be known until the New Year," he added.
Christmas cards are a core part of fundraising but many people are choosing to send e-cards for free and "text cards" instead, which is having a dramatic effect on postage and charity fundraising.
Focus Ireland are also suffering as their card sales are slightly down on last year.
"Our supporters are telling us is that they have decided not to spend money on cards this year or they have decided not to buy as many cards. Given that 50 per cent of the cost of each card goes directly to support Focus Ireland's services for people who are homeless, and with demand for these services increasing, we would appeal to people to buy their Christmas cards from Focus Ireland," said Focus Ireland's Lucinda McNally.
Mail volumes generally have been down this year by about 10 per cent according to An Post, but Christmas mail volumes seem to be holding up well.
Angus Laverty of An Post said: "An Post normally handles about eight million mail items per day during the Christmas season and this pattern looks to be holding this year. It looks likely that mail volumes will continue to climb over the coming days."
Michael O'Shea, Chief Executive of the Irish Heart Foundation admits fundraising has been difficult this year, with their Christmas card sales also down.
"In these times a charity like ours which is 90 per cent funded by public and corporate donations, has to work even harder to raise money to carry out our work because saving lives is just too important," he said.
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