Yesterday I talked about the popularity and convenience of Netflix. Let’s look at exactly how popular Netflix is. Netflix has been around for about 11 years. At the close of 2008, there were 9.4 million subscribers which was a 26% increase over the 4th quarter of 2007. The revenue for the 4th quarter of 2008 was $360 Million – a 19% increase over the 4th quarter of 2007. Netflix 2008 fiscal year Revenue was $1.36 BILLION – an increase of 13% over 2007. Now that’s a lot of movies! How would you like to share in the profit? I obtained this information from Netflix.com.

I have “heard” but can’t substantiate that Netflix will PROFIT $100 million in 2008. How would you like to share in that profit?

This blog is geared toward people who are interested in starting their own Home Based Greeting Card Business. Would you be interested in sharing a pool of 50% of the profits of a greeting card company that works just like Netflix? A greeting card program where people can send cards from their computer yet they show up in the mail?

Here are some numbers on this company….
In 2004, this company’s annual revenue was $200,000
2005 – $2.5 million
2006 – $12 million
2007 – $24 Million
2008 – $41 Million

At the close of 2008 there were 160,000 users of this service which was a 78% increase over the prior year. In all likelihood, 3-5 years from now, this company will be where Netflix is today. Now I ask you again… How would you like to share in the profits?

I ask people this every day…. everyone has heard of Netflix and most people use the service. Why?

Who wants to drive to the store, look around for a DVD, ask at the counter for a particular title (which they may or may not have), drive home, then back again before the deadline to avoid late fees!

With Netflix you log onto a website, choose your movie, hit send, and it shows up in the mail. Send it back when you’re ready. It’s easy, fast, very affordable and you have thousands of titles from which to choose.

What if you could…. log onto a website, choose a greeting card, type your message, hit send, and have that card show up in the mail? I’m thinking real mail, with a stamp, same place as our Netflix DVD’s arrive.

Well, actually you can! Same as Netflix it’s easy, fast, very affordable and you have thousands of cards from which to choose.

Now what if you could get in on the profits that Netflix is making? Yeah, I think we’d all like a piece of that pie. No problem, you can get in on the profits of sending greeting cards through your own Home Based Greeting Card Business. Want to look at some numbers? Stay tuned, I’ll work on that now and share them with you tomorrow!

Is it possible that a home based greeting card business could have something in common with Netflix? Let’s look at some facts and figures and see if we can find any similarities:

• According to their 4th quarter 2008 financial statements, Netflix profited $90 million in 2008 on $1.4 billion in total sales to 9.4 million subscribers. This is a 13% annual increase in sales and a 26% increase in subscribers.
• Netflix sends out 1.9 million movies every day.

So, what can we assume from these facts so far? Netflix is growing. And as a result, because most people prefer going online and picking out a movie to rent and having it delivered, I would guess that brick-and-mortar video rental stores are shrinking. This impact of technology of an industry is similar to what is happening in the greeting card business.

There has been a technological breakthrough that allows a person to go online and create a custom greeting card that is printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed. This means that person did not have to go to a greeting card store, pick out a card, buy a stamp and drop it off at the post office (or walk out to the mail box). This technology, like the advent of Netflix, should have the same impact on the greeting card business and the brick-and-mortar stores that sell greeting cards, because like Netflix, there is a particular greeting card company that offers a more convenient and cheaper way. In their case, to send a greeting card. So, in 3 to 5 years, why wouldn’t they be where Netflix is today?

In 3 to 5 years, most of us will be doing more or less the same thing we are doing now. What if 3 years ago, people were given the chance to sell Netflix subscriptions and keep a percentage of the monthly payments? Do you think some people would have gotten rich doing that? What if they saw what was happening in the greeting card industry , realized it was in the same paradigm as Netflix, and took advantage of the opportunity to sell greeting card “subscriptions” and keep a percentage of each card that was mailed? How do you think that would impact them after 3 to 5 years? Do you think some people would get rich doing that?

It is an interesting world we live in. Netflix has shown us how powerful the internet is in our lives and our businesses. We all need to pay attention to the trends and changes so we don’t “zig” when we should “zag”. If a home based greeting card business ever interested you, now would be the time to get started. For more info on starting your own greeting card business, click here.