American Greetings is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. The privately owned company was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Today, American Greetings offers more than 6,000 products including greeting cards, home decor, gifts, and books.
In July 1957, the company moved its headquarters to Brooklyn, Ohio. The Weiss family, descendants of founder Jacob Sapirstein, retained a 40% stake when American Greetings was taken private in 2018 by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. The company has owned Carlton Cards, Tender Thoughts, Just For You, Gibson brands, and Holly Hobbie characters.
American Greetings has struggled with increased competition from e-cards and social media platforms. However, etiquette experts still recommend tangible cards to show appreciation and care. Hand-written notes are seen as more personal than digital messages.
Most American Greetings greeting cards are made in the U.S. Plants are located in Ripley, Tennessee, Osceola, Arkansas, and Greeneville, Tennessee. The company aims to make cards relevant in the digital age by driving deeper connections. Although it’s not an easy task, American Greetings continues finding new ways to cope.