By The Letter

With tattoos leaving their mark on scores of teens and twentysomethings nationwide, perhaps it was inevitable that greeting card manufacturers would eventually get into the act, too--albeit in somewhat of a different manner. Seeking to make an impression on card buyers everywhere, trend-savvy manufacturers such as Beverly Hills, California-based Marooner's Rock are putting tattoo art on their cards.

"Tattoos are so popular today and are only getting more so," observes Anthony DeMasi, editor in chief of the monthly gift industry magazine Giftware News. "The designs that are being used [on cards] are making social statements in and of themselves."

In DeMasi's view, this new venue for tattoo art is reflective of the enormous popularity of rubber stamps--indeed, he thinks of the artwork as interchangeable. "Rubber stamping is one of the oldest forms of decorating," he says, "but, at the moment, it's also one of the most popular."

Speaking of popular, the tattoo art that DeMasi says he sees most often on greeting cards includes such perennial favorites as teddy bears, angels and flowers. What can we say? Whether it's on skin or on paper, folks still care enough to put on the very best.

This article was originally published in the October 1997 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: By The Letter.