Hallmark Gold Crown® Stores and Shutterfly Partner on New Personalized Photo Gift Line

KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hallmark Gold Crown® stores and Shutterfly Inc., the leader in digital personalized photo products and services, have joined forces to offer customers more creative ways to display their favorite photos. One-of-a-Kind Creations, a new personalized gift collection from Hallmark and Shutterfly, takes the "frame frustration" out of DIY photo projects with a unique combination of simple in-store gifts and easy online digital tools.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130402/CG86629)

No more trying to cut or re-size photos to fit a special frame — the One-of-a-Kind Creations collection offers 13 creative frame designs, including two customizable family tree designs and two collages of photos with a silhouette or monogram. Other products include personalized designs for baby birth details, birthday ages, pet names, kid awards. Just in time for Mother's Day, there are acrylic frames that feature a photo cut into the shape of the words "MOM," "LOVE" and "HOME." (Plus one for "DAD" at Father's Day.)

"This is a great way to merge the online and in-store experience for consumers," said Amy Ferry, Hallmark product manager. "Shutterfly is the leader in digital personalized photo products and services, and Hallmark creates meaningful ways for people to capture their memories and milestones. This partnership makes customizing one-of-a-kind gifts easy and convenient."

"At Shutterfly, we understand the benefit of making it easy for customers to put their personal stamp on their favorite photos," said Karl Wiley, general manager of Shutterfly. "In a recent Shutterfly survey, more than 44 percent of people told us they want solutions for displaying their photos beyond traditional square picture frames, and One-of-a-Kind Creations are the perfect mix of DIY creativity and online convenience."

Making a One-of-a-Kind Creation is simple:

1. Visit a Hallmark Gold Crown store and purchase a frame from the One-of-a-Kind Creations collection
2. Go to the www.shutterfly.com web address provided on the package, and log in or create a Shutterfly account
3. Enter the two promotion codes found inside the product packaging
4. Customize the design with photos using online templates
5. Finish the gift by inserting the precut insert that arrives in the mail from Shutterfly

The purchase of a One-of-a-Kind Creations product at a Hallmark Gold Crown store covers the cost of the Shutterfly print and shipping. Shipping times will vary. If creating the item as a gift, Hallmark and Shutterfly recommend allowing five to seven days for delivery.

This collection of gifts is the first in-store product line to come out of Hallmark's alliance with Shutterfly that was first announced in June 2012. Other current Hallmark and Shutterfly partnerships include offering Hallmark personalized greeting card designs on Shutterfly.com, TinyPrints.com and Treat.com.

Later this year, Hallmark and Shutterfly will introduce two holiday designs, and additional One-of-a-Kind Creations products will be coming to Hallmark Gold Crown stores in 2014.

About Hallmark Cards Inc.
Hallmark makes the world a more caring place by helping people express what's in their hearts and spend time together – a privilege few other companies in the world enjoy. Hallmark greeting cards and other products are found in more than 39,000 retail outlets in the United States, including the network of flagship Hallmark Gold Crown® stores. The brand also reaches people online at Hallmark.com and on television through Hallmark Hall of Fame original movies and cable's top-rated Hallmark Channel. Worldwide, Hallmark offers products in more than 30 languages available in 100 countries. This privately held company is based in Kansas City, Mo., and is led by the third generation of the founding Hall family. Visit http://corporate.hallmark.com for more details.

SOURCE Hallmark Cards, Inc.