Hallmark Cards got its name from Joyce C. Hall, who bought an engraving shop along with his brothers in 1910. Would it have taken off had they just called it Hall Cards? This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Naming Hallmark”
We talked earlier about how products get their names, and I have another story for you.
This one starts with a boy named Joyce. His full name was Joyce C. Hall, and he was born in 1891 in Nebraska. And the reason he was named Joyce is that his parents were very religious. And it so happened that the day that he was born, a Methodist bishop came to town to visit. And this was a big deal. And the bishop’s name happened to be Isaac W. Joyce. So they named their son Joyce.
Well, when Joyce was a teenager, he and his brothers formed a company to sell imported postcards. And in 1910, he moved to Kansas City and they opened up a card shop there. And the card shop burned down. So the Hall brothers decided instead that they would buy an engraving firm and start making their own cards under the name Hall Brothers Company. But Joyce, who had a problem with names, didn’t like that name. He wanted a more positive name, something that didn’t sound so old fashioned. And so he pushed for a term that incorporated the family name, but also the idea of excellence or purity.
I know where you’re going with this.
Where am I going?
Hallmark.
Hallmark. Isn’t that great? You know, because the brand names, they don’t just arise from the earth. They don’t spring fully formed. There’s a thought behind them. There’s a human there.
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Somebody planned this. Maybe badly planned it. A boy named Joyce. The flip side of the Johnny Cash single, right? A boy named Sue.
Yeah. Do you think we should change the name of the radio show?
No, I don’t think so.
877-929-9673 is the number to call with your questions about language.
