MushyGushy Fact Sheet

• According to the Greeting Card Association (GCA), consumers bought 7 billion greeting cards in 2003. More than $7.5 billion in retail sales were generated. Source: iMedia Connection.com, “More Web Users Getting Carded,” March 1, 2004
  
• According to Jupiter Research, in 2003 an estimated $52 million in electronic or e-greeting cards were bought and sold. Jupiter Research predicts an increase to $79 million in sales by 2007. Jupiter Research assesses greeting card sales data for the online greeting card industry. Source: iMedia Connection.com, “More Web Users Getting Carded,” March 1, 2004
  
• 32% of Internet users (more than 30 million people) sent e-greetings to loved ones and friends over the holiday season. Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project, The holidays online: Emails and e-greetings outpace e-commerce
  
• Hispanics (45%) proved more likely than any other ethnic group to send e-greetings. Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project, The holidays online: Emails and e-greetings outpace e-commerce

The public is responding in record numbers to the growing trend of e-greetings. The lure is that they offer customization and personalized design and creativity.

• The recent Office Max e-greeting campaign "Elf Yourself" generated more than 11 million customized elves between November 27 and New Year's. At its peak, more than 40,000 were created per hour. Source: USA Today, “Interactive Campaigns Build Buzz with Fun”- January 18, 2007
  
• Last year, CareerBuilder.com developed the successful Monk-e-Mail.com site to allow users to send a one-of-a-kind e-mail. Monk-e-Mail’s site lets individuals record a message through text-to-speech or by calling an 800 number that a chimpanzee lip-syncs for the e-mail’s recipient. 85 million Monk-e-Mails have been sent out so far. 90 million Monk-e-Mails have been created since its launch in 2006. The site has attracted more than 12 million unique visitors. Source: USA Today, “Interactive Campaigns Build Buzz with Fun”- January 18, 2007 and CareerBuilder.com, -January 23, 2007
  
• During the “American Idol” premiere on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, M&Ms promoted the “character creator” technique on its new site, created by Masterfoods USA called BecomeAnMM.com. Users can create an animated M&M character using separate body parts, a photo of themselves for the face, and accessories to form a self-portrait. The day after the ads debuted, 34,000 visitors went to the site and spent an average of 11 minutes making characters. BecomeAnMM.com is number one on Google’s List of Most Traveled to Sites and it has reached 900 blogs since its debut. Source: USA Today, “Interactive Campaigns Build Buzz with Fun” -January 18, 2007 an d Masterfoods USA, -January 23, 2007
  
• CareerBuilder.com recently launched Age-O-Matic.com where consumers can upload a photo of themselves or someone else and alter the image to age 50 years. They can also record audio and ponder the question, “What is your job doing to you?” Source: USA Today, “ Interactive Campaigns Build Buzz with Fun”- January 18, 2007