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Hallmark launches unemployment sympathy cards

By Zachary Roth | The Lookout – Wed, Sep 28, 2011

A sign of the times doesn't begin to cover it ...

We've all received our share of greeting cards meant to celebrate, comfort or console us over life's big or small events: "Happy Birthday," "Get Well Soon," or "Sorry for your Loss."

But one new line of cards acts as a grim reminder of our bleak economic climate. Hallmark recently started producing cards designed to console the unemployed, an NBC station in Indiana reports.

One reads: "Don't think of it as losing your job. Think of it as a time out between stupid bosses."

Hallmark has said the cards are selling well. It's not hard to see why. Although layoffs are relatively low, 14 million Americans are officially unemployed and the unofficial tally is much higher. Perhaps just as important, the average duration of joblessness is now 40 weeks--higher than its been since the 1940s. That means there's a lot of people who could use a little levity, however brief.

In fact, Hallmark might want to send its new cards to some of its former employees. At the height of the downturn in 2008, it laid off 335 employees.

On second thought, they might not see the funny side.

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All Comments

23 comments

Bevilaqua • 8 mths ago
If I lost my job, I'd rather someone give me the $3 that they would have spent on a card.
holly • 7 mths ago
Now this is taking American Greed to a new low. Yes it seemed like a great thought, but how will the person on the receiving end feel? I have been looking for 3 years now and am about to give up. I have either been told I am overqualified or they (the business companies are not hiring unemployed persons. Maybe I am wrong but I feel bad enough being reminded that my husand and I are in the 10% of american struggling to get by. While others go on their merry way in their bubbles.
- A. Smith 7 mths ago
  The percentage of Americans struggling is way higher than 10%, that's just the official unemployed percentage, which only counts those eligible for UE checks. If someone would do the research that included people who are long-term unemployed and ineligible for UE benefits, the numbers would double, at least. Keep in mind 1% of this nation's population controls 90% of the wealth.
LarryH • 8 mths ago
profiting off of the unemployed Hallmark how about hiring some unemployed once you sell the millionth card.
- holly 7 mths ago
  They should put the money where the mouths are and help get those of us who need financial help through no fault of our own. At least offer to use a % of each cards proceeds to help local agencies help the unemployed in the communities. Then it would not be a bad idea.
- QQ 7 mths ago
  They also "profit" off of people getting sick, dying, graduating, getting married, having babies, etc. Why in the world should this be any different? It's the american way.
Norm • 8 mths ago
Hallmark should come out with a card that blocks post office scanners from detecting money so when you send a kid a few bucks overseas for his birthday, the money isn't stolen.
KCD513 • 7 mths ago
Add hallmark to my list of companies to boycott & never, ever purchase from again.
Reno Benteen • 8 mths ago
Hallmark has hit an all time low in marketing. Whats next happy recession cards?
Tapestry • 7 mths ago
That has got to be the stupidest idea Hallmark ever came up with!!
SH-89 • 7 mths ago
Zachary Roth again tries to minimize and play down the seriousness of the current economic situation and the plight of the American worker.
R_USA76 • 8 mths ago
Don't give me the stinking card Halltard.
Zoltan • 8 mths ago
I plan to start a competing card company and go toe to toe with Hallmark’s unemployed target customers..

Announcing “Depression Impressions”..
I will not employ any writers as I will use exclusively the spoken words of Barack Obama.. A few samples of our cards

1. Hope and Change..SUCKER
2. What, Me Worry? (includes pix of President waving with UN members)
3. Good news! Unemployment is down as we are only counting 50 of the 57 states
4. Shovel Ready Jobs..LOL..You fell for that one big time!
- Revolution 8 mths ago
  you will have PLENTY of material.
- QQ 7 mths ago
  Despite the fact that I'm a democrat, I find that hilarious. I'm sure you can come up with some more.
S • 7 mths ago
three years too late . . .
Just Me • 7 mths ago
Hmm well those will not sell well in the illegal immigrant sector, most of them are working :)
- holly 7 mths ago
  And they are taking mine and other American's jobs to boot. Lets hope they are not stealing our SSN's also while they work doing our work.
- Yahoo User 7 mths ago
  Sad thing is....they are stealing SSNs.
Cord S • 8 mths ago
Hallmark should offer a chance for jobs with Hallmark based on card ideas submitted by the unemployed. Send us jobs not cards. Oops, I lose.
Happy Camper • 8 mths ago
Jump at a chance to make more money in this economic times?
Not dead yet • 8 mths ago
Very innovative, Hallmark. Innovation used to drive the country but if you aren't an established business, there is almost no hope that you could start one up. Bureaucracy and miles of red tape keep us from doing it. Even sidewalk lemonade stands that kids run are shut down by the government because the kids do not license them and provide tax information to the IRS!
Delsey Witt • 7 mths ago
Seriously, that's just wrong. Save a tree and buy the guy lunch instead. I assure you, Hallmark is not doing this to employ more people.
silentworld • 7 mths ago
Don't shop at Walmart.... Walmart is anti USA. I looked at these clothes, dishes, towels, etc...95 percents from outside of USA.
- Delsey Witt 7 mths ago
  I've been telling friends and coworkers this for months! No one cares! They just want to save thirty cents on a piece of junk.
CharlesC • 8 mths ago
Send a card to Obama....
Funny Girl • 8 mths ago
"...the average duration of joblessness is now 40 weeks"

Hmmmm, isn't that the same length someone can receive unemployment checks????
eeCoonass • 8 mths ago
Follow the Northwind vrs the Sun Model……………………………………………………..The Obamanistas and the ObamaNazis got together and threatened to raised Taxes on Small Businesses Owners and Banks in Speech after Speech. And they trotted out False poll after False poll showing how much Americans hated the Rich (and the American Dream) and how the Rich should be Over Taxed at much higher rates that the Middle Class. And they even had a Poll that said the Poor and the Middle Class should not pay any Taxes at all. (Wonder of Wonders) And the NE New England Bigtime #$%$ Wind blew for 2 years. And the Small Business Owners tightened up their coats, cut their expenses, cut employees, put their money away in the Banks and/or moved their companies away from America……………………..And then, in 2010, the SunLight of the Tea Party Republicans came along with promises to make the Bush Tax Cuts permanent and Americans were very receptive and they helped shut down the Big Bad West Wind from ObamaNista Nazi Piglosi. But the Northwind from ObamaNazi and ObamaNista Harry Reid continued to blow from Washington and overcame the Sunlight of the Tea Party and dragged Small Business into a further tightened posture…………………….. But in Nov of 2012, the SunLight of the Tea Party Republicans came along and swept the NE Wind of ObamaNazi from the White House and brought in the Sunlight of Making Tax Cuts permanent. The Small Business Owners took off their coats and started hiring again. New Regulations allowed Government to hire Non Union Companies that submitted smaller bids and Government was able to do a whole lot more with a lot Less Taxes. And the ObamaNazis Union Wind shrunk ever further allowing the Economy to take off.

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