AG decks the card aisle with LCD-enhanced cards

CLEVELAND — American Greetings is decking card aisles with its LCD-enhanced cards, preloaded with Christmas images or ready to be customized with favorite photos. The four designs feature full-color LCD displays and high-quality audio.

American Greetings was the first to bring LCD technology to greeting cards last year. The patented innovation allows consumers to upload photos into a digital slideshow card. This year, the company has expanded its card selection.

The digital slideshow card can feature a maximum of 50 photos, which can be uploaded into the card through a self-contained 1-in. retractable USB cord and then will be brought to life on the 1.8-in. LCD screen. Instrumental music and the customized slideshow play automatically each time the card is opened. The card is rechargeable and requires no software installation.

Preloaded versions of the cards feature playful, multi-image slideshows set to music. For example, one card features a combination of pets in Santa hats set to barking and meowing renditions of "Deck the Halls," while another follows the story of two penguins building a snowman to the tune of "Jingle Bells."

"We're so excited about our LCD cards and believe they will be the gift that gets passed around and bragged about at family gatherings," stated Carol Miller, executive director of new product concepts at American Greetings. "We can't wait for consumers to experience them — both as the person who has fun sending the card and as the lucky recipient opening up the mailbox."

Both versions of the cards can be found at participating drug chains, grocery stores and mass retailers nationwide, as well as in American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores.