Meggie Palmer Founder & CEO of PepTalkHer chatted with Alexis Monson from Punkpost. They spoke about The Art of Card Writing. Learn from Alexis how she started Punkpost and how a simple gesture of sending cards affects people.
Meggie: I met Alexis at The Wing a couple of years ago. And for anyone who hasn't used Punkpost, it's an app. It basically lets you send a handwritten card to anyone from your phone. It's not so expensive either, is it?
How much does sending a card with Punkpost cost?
Alexis: The first card is free if you download the app, and then no card startup $5.99. I think and a full date card is $7. So yeah, we try to keep it comparable to what you pay in the store.
Meggie: Yeah, and it's good for people like me who personally love handwritten cards. I love writing people notes, but I've got to be honest, sometimes I am a little lazy and I don't get to the post office or buy a stamp. So I love that Punkpost kind of make it easy. You can go to a meeting with a client and just send it straight from that.
Can you tell us a little bit about why you started Punkpost?
Alexis: I guess it was just I've always loved sending handwritten cards and receiving handwritten cards, but my husband, but at the time, he was traveling a lot. And so one time, I just sent a card to his hotel beforehand. And he was just like, so touched, moved by it. And I guess it was like, you see the big reactions these cards get. And it's kind of what you're talking about. Like I think people have the best intentions of sending cards like I also am guilty of buying all these cute cards and then like sticking them in a little shoebox and sticking them under my bed and that's why there's a stain.
So our whole idea was like “God, these cards, they're so simple.” They kind of take a lot of steps to put together so if we could just help people make good on their good intentions and like they have a good intention of sending someone a card. Why don't we just do the lifting for them?
What is it about receiving a handwritten card that is so special?
Alexis: But I think it's even more than that. It's kind of like, you know, you can always be there for your friend's birthday or like when you really want to be there for someone. So it's a physical way to like, be there without eating there. There's something about sending a card that I feel like people really are so genuine with each other and so kind and able to show their love that way.
I also think there's just something about a card. I could get the nicest email or text in the world but you won't go back to it like, you know, these cards will make you feel something like 100%. People hang it up on the wall or put it up next to their desk and it's just something you continually go back to and it's like a continual reminder that someone loves you, is thinking now view and I don't know what they're just like have this sort of connecting faster to them.
Do you feel right now that people are craving connection even more so and maybe actually the written word is even more powerful at the moment?
Alexis: When I started Punkpost it was kind of during the 2016 election, which was also crazy and people were really confused and I think also feeling like they were divided and like so I think even then it felt like super important for us to be like, let people have a way to talk to each other in like a really positive way. support each other, um, through words.
So now I think we're seeing that again. I mean, it's kind of like we keep going through these crazy things. But I think right now, we have been seen it these past couple weeks that you know, people… you can't be with your loved ones right now like physically but it's like a go wave for people. You know, it's hard. It's like, especially for some people who really need that like constant physical connection or just to see family members like your grandparents in bed. It's hard for them to be alone right now. I'm so sure of it. And like the cards we've seen are a good way to be like, for example, Grandma, Grandpa I still think of you. Know we love you. We'll get there as soon as we can. Or even people with birthdays, you know, having a birthday right now. You're gonna have a party at home, which is still fun, but like it's a way for your friends to show up for you.
What are your tips like for people who don't think they have good handwriting or don't really know where to start? What are your top tips for sending a handwritten card?
Alexis: That's a thing about a card. Like it doesn't need to be something so prolific or poetic. You know, it's just that someone took the time to think of you they send you a card. So I think just telling someone you're thinking of them. inside jokes are always super cute, like something that you and that other person share your love of just mentioning that I think puts a smile on someone's face.
If you have the ability or desire to like, make doodles or make it colorful, I think, you know, just that, like, speaks to people too. I think that's the thing. I think it doesn't you don't need to overthink it. You have a relationship with this person, and you're just telling them you love them.
Meggie: Well, I think that's something about Punkpost as well, right? It's not just a normal card. So as I said, the app is free. And you can actually also use the code PEPTALKHER, and you get a free card anyway. And then you can actually just use the code PEPTALKHER and you'll get another free card, which is cool.
But yeah, I often use it. I'll come out of a meeting and then I'll just send a card to a client or if I know someone's going to begin, anniversary coming up, for a birthday, I can just send it. You can send them internationally as well. So it's not just for cards in the US and they're really pretty.
Alexis: Yeah, I mean, they are super cute. So, um, one thing sometimes people get confused when they post the front of the card is like if you were going to a card so I say you pick that but then the inside like we can write your message something really cute like this. Yeah, Michael who is one of my co-workers, he just sent me this really funny one of me.
Okay, so yeah, you can send I don't know, Meggie. What kind do you send like more formal ones that you send like colorful fun ones?
Meggie: Yeah, good question. So I didn't vote so you can choose your handwriting style. So if it's like a professional card or sometimes I have to send a condolence card if there's been you know, someone's passed away, so I will just say, Hey, this is like a VIP work thing. Keep it simple. No, like love hearts, or like fancy lettering. Or obviously if it's like for a birthday I'll be like, yeah, go nuts. Do what you want. So I do a bit of a combo.
Alexis: Cool. No, that's good. Yeah, and you know, I think that's the thing like right now like probably a lot of people have stationery they can make use of right now but like, also if you can get out, you know, can totally help you out and our artists all work from home. So they're all doing this in the comfort of their home right now. They're just we're just like around to help people out if you need it.
So, but yeah, we have fun and it's kind of like you really see what's going on in the world through these trends. You know, I mean, people really talk about what's going on. So it's we saw right away that people were gravitating toward Punkposts when they started so we've written like, a few articles on like, how to be there for someone on their birthday during this, how to be there for your grandparents during this, or just like people that reach out in general who might need a little extra support right now.
Is practicing gratitude being part of the reason why you started Punkpost?
Alexis: Yeah, I mean, I think in general, I guess it is gratitude, appreciating the people in your life and like, taking moment. I mean, I feel like I can't even keep up with the number of thank you’s. I feel like I need to send or should be sending.
So yeah, I think it does help you. A lot of times you're like, “Oh, I need to thank someone for this and that” and just a card helps you really show that gratitude. I think when you're able to show that gratitude to the extent that you want to, I think sometimes it's so hard to let someone know just how thankful you are. So like being able to extend that gratitude in a way that really feels like it's showing the level that you have helps you feel better too and like so I think it's like a good cycle for yourself to get into and just focusing on the good and what you do have is always just like the good thing to do in life.
So when we sold our house we have one that says, life is tough but so are you. So that one's currently sold out. We're getting more in and then our crew in general kind of like funny ones. We have one that says, I love you and your butt is perfect. That one's forever popular pre-Corona or not. So I think kind of more like thank you, love you, miss you. Ones that have been popular, like lately, Sending the vibes, Miss your face… that kind of thing.
Meggie: Very cool. I just wanted to see if there's anything else that you wanted to let people know that you think that they should be thinking about when they're using their own stationery at home to send cards right now or if they're going to be using Punkpost.
What are your tips for people to keep in mind if they want to send a card?
Alexis: Yeah, I think just like if you think of someone send them a card. I think a lot of times people get hung up on like, oh, I don't want to sound a certain way or I'm worried about my handwriting. They think like that. It's so much beyond that, like, yes. When you send a postcard that kind of writing is the next level. That's part of what we're doing.
But like, I think, don't hesitate. Like, even if you're someone that you're like, Oh, is this person here feel weird getting a card for me? I can guarantee they won't like I've sent birthday cards to people I haven't talked to in years, and they've reached out that like, Oh my god, that was so nice. So like, anyone you're thinking of, that you think could use a little love or you just want to give them love. Send them a card you like will break bread and they'll totally make their day.
“I could get the nicest email or text in the world but you won’t go back to it like, you know, these cards will make you feel something like 100%. People hang it up on the wall or put it up next to their desk and it’s just something you continually go back to.”
You can check out the Punkpost app for free on the App store, and you can follow them @Punkpost on Instagram as well. You can use the code PEPTALKHER to get a promo. Check out more info on Alexis here.
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