Finnish printing company produces 100,000 postcards daily despite declining demand

A Jyväskylä-based printing company manufactures the majority of Finland’s postcards—around 30 million annually—even as Finns send fewer of them each year, reports Yle Keski-Suomi.

Kirjapaino Kari, also known as Kariteam, prints nearly 100,000 postcards every weekday, totaling roughly 30 million per year—about five cards for each Finn. Despite this output, the tradition of mailing postcards is fading. According to Sami Määttä, who oversees Posti’s domestic consumer letter services, postal mail volume has dropped by about 75 percent over the past decade.

Christmas cards remain the most popular, though their numbers have also declined. Last year, Finns sent nearly 9 million Christmas cards, down from over 10 million the previous year and around 12 million in 2023. Other peak seasons include Valentine’s Day, Easter, and spring graduations.

Jari Pynnönen, CEO of Kariteam, notes that the company begins Christmas card production as early as April, with machines running at full capacity through the summer. “We operate about half a year ahead of the season,” he says. While fewer people now mail cards—often handing them directly to recipients—Pynnönen believes postcards will retain their appeal.

Määttä attributes the decline in postal cards to digital communication, though he suggests their rarity has increased their perceived value. “Recipients appreciate the effort behind a physical card,” he says.

Founded in 1966, Kariteam employs 30 people, half of whom work on postcards alongside other printed products like brochures and business cards.