Our story

Greetz is the first online service for real greeting cards in the Netherlands. It was set up by Johan van Vulpen and Simen Schimmel.

A flying start

Johan and Simen set up their concept agency, Venspro, while studying Business Studies in Rotterdam. In 2001 they launched their first successful product, ‘Centiment’, a keepsake box for Dutch Guilders, which had just been replaced by the Euro. The profits were invested in a new concept: BliQje, a greeting card in the shape of a can. Personalised BliQjes soon became very popular and that inspired Johan and Simen to create a ‘print-on-demand‘ version of the traditional greeting card: and so Greetz came into being.

Shortly after the launch of the platform in 2004, Greetz entered into a partnership with Hallmark and TNT for the production of white labels. The partnerships with Hallmark and TNT ended consecutively in 2008 and 2009. Both parties then went on to launch a similar online service under their own names, while Greetz entered a new phase as an independent brand With their improved platform and printing plant, Greetz was ready for the future. Greetz was introduced to the wider Dutch public as ‘The new way of sending cards’ via a fairytale-like TV campaign. The combination of this campaign and the viral effect of the cards – enthusiastic recipients quickly became senders – led to exponential growth and a place at the forefront of the Dutch e-commerce world.

The power of Greetz

With more than 15 million greeting cards sold to date, Greetz has become the largest online greeting card service in the Netherlands. An enthusiastic team of more than 50 employees is constantly working to build on this success.

We believe that our greatest strength lies in our approach to the greeting card: we see it as an expression of emotion, a symbol of the relationship between two people at a particular moment in time. We strive for perfection right across the board: from the largest range of cards and the most user-friendly website to the many ways in which a card can be personalised, the print quality and even the unique postage stamp. And with success too. For example, in December 2010 Greetz won first place in a test conducted by the consumer TV programme Kassa, and in March 2010 Greetz was the consumer’s choice in the Hobby & Gift category at the Thuiswinkel (Homeshopping) Awards.

Boundless ambition

We will continue to innovate into the future and also endeavour to capture a large slice of the international market, starting with Germany. ‘Think warmhearted’ will become ‘think Greetz’. In the Netherlands and abroad. That is our ambition, our dream. And we intend to fulfill it. With the same passion that inspired our very first greeting card.