Lorain
County, Ohio's One-Stop-Shop
For "All Occasion" Lawn Greetings!!!
Putting 
s on People's Faces is Our Business!!!
Also Proudly Serving Cuyahoga, Medina, Erie, Huron and Ashland Counties
(Delivery Charges May Apply Outside of Lorain County - Call or Email For A
Quote!)
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or by email at info@YardCardSurprise.com
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April 1, 2008 - April Is Lawn Greetings Month
Amherst, OH - April 1, 2008 - Yard Card Surprise, LLC, Lorain County’s
One-Stop-Shop for All Occasion Lawn Greetings announced today that
President/Executor Michelle Reed of the Lawn Greetings Association, Inc. (LGA)
has declared that April be considered as "Lawn Greetings Month". The purpose of
Lawn Greetings Month is not only to promote awareness of the industry to the
general public, but to help bring smiles to those who are celebrating a special
occasion or event.
The lawn greetings industry can be defined as small local businesses which help their customers celebrate various special occasions and events by renting displays that are set up in a recipient's yard. The displays vary greatly from giant wooden character signs and small "critter" signs, as they are referred to in the industry, to a wide array of elements for decorating a front yard such as 3 dimensional plastic or 2 dimensional characters and shapes.
Every business is independently owned and operated, unless a company is part of a franchise or dealership. Therefore, terms, prices and inventory vary greatly. However, they all have one common goal in their businesses, to create pleasant surprises by decorating lawns with out-of-the-ordinary items for everyone to enjoy. These items could include anything from a yard full of plastic pink flamingos, smiley faces, cows, ducks, to buzzards, or even hearts, stars or other funny characters.
Reed states that she and members of the industry are very excited to declare their first holiday. "This is a stepping stone in gaining national exposure and awareness of the industry. We all love to help people celebrate the special moments in their life, and a lawn greetings display is a unique and fun way to do it." As a part of this celebration, lawn greetings companies across the nation will be putting out displays in honor of this milestone event, most are guaranteed to make you smile.
Association members are also planning on celebrating another important event based on the creator of the original Plastic Pink Flamingo, Mr. Don Featherstone. In the birthplace and hometown of Featherstone, (Leominster, MA) Mayor Dean Mazzarella declared June 23 as Pink Flamingo Day. On this day, lawn greetings company owners across the country plan on setting out pink flamingo displays in honor of the pink lawn ornament.
"I just love the idea that all across the states, people will randomly see yards full of pink flamingos, all in tribute to Don Featherstone. It will be a hoot!" Reed states.
The LGA is the leading authority and only non-profit trade association of the lawn greetings industry which consists of members from across the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, England, and New Zealand. For more information, visit the Lawn Greetings Association, Inc. on the web at http://www.Lawn-Greetings.org or to find your local Lawn Greetings Company visit The Flamingoed Lawn Greetings Directory at http://www.flamingoed.com/. Information about Lawn Greetings month can be found at http://www.lawngreetingsmonth.com. For more information about Yard Card Surprise, LLC, visit http://www.YardCardSurprise.com and remember - "Don't Send A Card - Say It In Their Yard!"
December 3, 2007
Lorain County "Lawn Greetings" Company Launches NEW Unique Baby Gift Online
Store
Amherst, OH – December 3, 2007 – Yard Card Surprise, LLC, Lorain County’s
One-Stop-Shop for All Occasion Lawn Greetings announced today the launch of its
NEW Unique Baby Gift Store.
Marlene Osborne, Owner of Yard Card Surprise, LLC, who recently was the “center
of attention” in a November 28, 2007 article that appeared in the Amherst
News-Times by Anne Price, entitled “Someone sneaking around the yard
at night?” states that “after doing research in the local area, there’s not
a lot of baby specialty stores nor unique baby gift items available in Lorain
County that are available in other parts of the country. We have worked with
several vendors around the country to be able to bring such items into the local
area and they will be a welcomed add-on addition to our Storks for Baby Showers
and Birth Announcements.”
Items being offered are the Daddy’s/Grandpa’s Tools of the Trade? Diaper
Changing Tool Belt, Baby’s Time Capsule, Boxes of Microwave Birth Announcement
Popcorn which pop blue or pink and are flavored Blueberry and Cream or
Strawberry and Cream which can be personalized with a label, a Mommy’s Cute Baby
Corsage, a Daddy’s Cute Baby Boutonniere, Baby Carriage Diaper Cakes, Baby
Bootie Diaper Cakes, 12 packs of Diaper Cupcakes, and Baby Washcloth Lollypops.
Osborne is also working on several more items for release in the near future.
Osborne further stated that currently, the items are not available for Internet
purchase, but only as an add-on to a Stork rental. Plans for a future booth at
the Elyria Flea Market, where Yard Card Surprise offerings will be available for
the public to view, will allow for individual purchase of the unique baby items.
“Putting smiles on people’s faces is our business”, Osborne states. “We
sincerely hope that this will be something that new parents in the Lorain County
area are looking for and will welcome.”
Yard Card Surprise, LLC delivers free to anywhere in Lorain County and delivers
to adjacent counties for a delivery charge based upon mileage. Osborne has
recently traveled as far West as Port Clinton, as far East as Lyndhurst, and as
far South as Ashland on her nightly “flockings”.
Prices for 1-day Stork rentals for Baby Showers are $45.00 and a 3-day rental
for a Birth Announcement is $65.00. Prices for the New Unique Baby Items will
range from $8.95 - $28.95. Storks for Birth Announcements come with a
personalized bundle that includes the Baby’s Name, Date of Birth, Weight, and
Length.
Yard Card Surprise, LLC offers Storks for Baby Showers/Birth Announcements and a
wide variety of 3D/2D characters/shapes or “critters” for all occasions. These
include bats, beer mugs, biker hogs, cows, crows, dinosaurs, donkeys, flowers
and bugs, frogs, hearts, ice cream cones, penguins, pigs, pink elephants, pink
flamingos, roosters, rubber ducks, sheep, smiley faces, sports balls, and swans.
For more information, visit Yard Card Surprise, LLC on the web at
http://www.yardcardsurprise.com and remember – “Don’t Send A Card – Say It In
Their Yard!”
November 28, 2007
Marlene Osborne and Yard Card Surprise, LLC
September 13, 2007 - Yard Card Surprise! is pleased
to announce
that it is the Nation's FIRST "Lawn Greetings" Company
to offer the NEW
Skel-A-Flamingos to our Customers!!!
NEW Skel-A-Mingos
Yard Card Surprise Owner Marlene Osborne
With a Small Flock of Skel-A-Mingos
Lorain County “Lawn Greetings” Company First in Nation to Offer Skel-A-Mingos
to Customers
Amherst, OH -- September 13, 2007 – Yard Card Surprise, LLC, Lorain
County’s One-Stop-Shop for All Occasion Lawn Greetings announced today the
arrival of the Skel-A-Mingo. The Skel-A- Mingo, manufactured and sold by Pink
Inc. of Lake Forest, IL, is the first change in the plastic flamingo technology
in the last 50 years. The Skel-A-Mingo has a black plastic body and is painted
with a skeletal design. His cousin, the traditional pink plastic flamingo was
created in 1957 by Don Featherstone in Leominster, MA, manufactured, and
distributed by Union Products, Inc., which closed its doors in November 2006.
Marlene Osborne, Owner of Yard Card Surprise, LLC states that the Skel-A-Mingo
is a very welcomed addition to her inventory and should be very popular alone in
a “flock”, as an addition to her already favored “Over The Hill” displays for
milestone birthdays, and arrives just in time for Halloween, with its associated
festivities.
Yard Card Surprise, LLC offers Storks for baby showers/birth announcements and a
wide variety of 3D plastic characters or “critters” as they are referred to in
the industry. These include bats, cows, crows, dinosaurs, donkeys, ice cream
cones, penguins, pigs, pink elephants, pink flamingos, roosters, rubber ducks,
sheep, swans and 2D collections of beer mugs, cutesy cows, flowers and bugs,
frogs, hearts, biker hogs, smiley faces, and sports balls.
Osborne is currently working on adding 2D displays of cupcakes, a clown for
children’s birthdays, which will include circus animals, skunks, trophies, a
mouse on a wedge of cheese, and a barrel of monkeys.
Osborne, 39, a Lorain County native, was previously employed as an IT Security
Administrator in the local data center of a national retailer. That retailer
merged with another national retailer and her job was eliminated as a part of
that merger. Osborne was offered the opportunity to relocate to the Atlanta, GA
area, but declined due to not wanting to leave family and friends. She was given
a severance package for her 17 years of service. Osborne decided that she wanted
to give entrepreneurship a try as she has always wanted to start her own
business and several years ago had a very small business making and selling
“Yard Art” via eBay. In researching possible business opportunities, Osborne
came across the “Lawn Greetings” Industry and thought it would go hand-in-hand
with her talents in wood crafting and painting.
This past January, armed with a portion of her severance in hand, Osborne was
able to realize her dream of owning her own company. Osborne was able to
purchase the business assets of her local competitor, Creative Cutouts, whose
name has been around the area for approximately 20 years and has already laid
the groundwork in educating the public in “Lawn Greetings”.
Osborne then found and became a member of the International Lawn Greetings
Association. A Trade Association for “Lawn Greetings” Business Owners across the
US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the UK whose purpose is to network and share
ideas with others interested in this growing industry. The ILGA has 600+ active
members, is growing on a daily basis as more Lawn Greetings companies pop up
around the country, and is based in Fremont, OH with President Michelle Reed at
the helm.
On any given early morning between midnight and 6am, under the cover of
darkness, you can usually find Osborne in her van or in a local yard sneaking
around and setting up displays to make someone’s special occasion even more
memorable. It could be a Birthday, Birth, Anniversary, Graduation, Retirement,
Marriage Proposal, Good Luck, Thank You, an Apology, or Welcoming One of Our
Fine Soldiers Home. Osborne does it all.
“Putting smiles on people’s faces is our business”, Osborne states. “It is a
very heart warming feeling to get a phone call, email, or note stating how much
the recipient loved their display and how it made their day, it’s just great to
be able to make a living at making people happy.” Yard Card Surprise, LLC
delivers free to anywhere in Lorain County and delivers to adjacent counties for
a delivery charge based upon mileage. Osborne has recently traveled as far West
as Port Clinton and as far East as Lyndhurst on her nightly “flockings”.
Prices for displays range from $65 - $85 and include 25-30 “critters” and a
larger theme sign or standard message board with a personalized message for the
recipient. Birth Announcement Storks come with a personalized bundle that
includes the Baby’s Name, Date of Birth, Weight, and Length. Osborne adds, “Many
people don’t realize it, but this is a year round business, although during the
winter months when the ground is frozen solid, we limit our displays to 3D
“critters” that sit on top of the ground rather than being staked.”
When asked how business was, Osborne stated “Booming and continuing to grow.
Since opening in June 2006, Yard Card Surprise, LLC has helped 305 area
residents with celebrating their special occasions. Everyone has a birthday and
many other special days to commemorate. With the recent announcements of more
jobs coming to Lorain County, thus improving our local economy, and the already
estimated population of 1.9 million in Lorain and its adjacent counties, Lorain
County is a great place to live, raise a family, and work.”
For more information, visit Yard Card Surprise, LLC on the web at
http://www.yardcardsurprise.com and remember – “Don’t Send A Card – Say It In
Their Yard!”
Lorain County "Lawn Greetings" Company Launches NEW Unique Baby Gift Online Store
Marlene Osborne and Yard Card Surprise, LLC
September 13, 2007 - Yard Card Surprise! is pleased
to announce
that it is the Nation's FIRST "Lawn Greetings" Company
to offer the NEW
Skel-A-Flamingos to our Customers!!!
NEW Skel-A-Mingos |
 Yard Card Surprise Owner Marlene Osborne With a Small Flock of Skel-A-Mingos |
Lorain County “Lawn Greetings” Company First in Nation to Offer Skel-A-Mingos to Customers
Amherst, OH -- September 13, 2007 – Yard Card Surprise, LLC, Lorain County’s One-Stop-Shop for All Occasion Lawn Greetings announced today the arrival of the Skel-A-Mingo. The Skel-A- Mingo, manufactured and sold by Pink Inc. of Lake Forest, IL, is the first change in the plastic flamingo technology in the last 50 years. The Skel-A-Mingo has a black plastic body and is painted with a skeletal design. His cousin, the traditional pink plastic flamingo was created in 1957 by Don Featherstone in Leominster, MA, manufactured, and distributed by Union Products, Inc., which closed its doors in November 2006.
Marlene Osborne, Owner of Yard Card Surprise, LLC states that the Skel-A-Mingo is a very welcomed addition to her inventory and should be very popular alone in a “flock”, as an addition to her already favored “Over The Hill” displays for milestone birthdays, and arrives just in time for Halloween, with its associated festivities.
Yard Card Surprise, LLC offers Storks for baby showers/birth announcements and a wide variety of 3D plastic characters or “critters” as they are referred to in the industry. These include bats, cows, crows, dinosaurs, donkeys, ice cream cones, penguins, pigs, pink elephants, pink flamingos, roosters, rubber ducks, sheep, swans and 2D collections of beer mugs, cutesy cows, flowers and bugs, frogs, hearts, biker hogs, smiley faces, and sports balls.
Osborne is currently working on adding 2D displays of cupcakes, a clown for children’s birthdays, which will include circus animals, skunks, trophies, a mouse on a wedge of cheese, and a barrel of monkeys.
Osborne, 39, a Lorain County native, was previously employed as an IT Security Administrator in the local data center of a national retailer. That retailer merged with another national retailer and her job was eliminated as a part of that merger. Osborne was offered the opportunity to relocate to the Atlanta, GA area, but declined due to not wanting to leave family and friends. She was given a severance package for her 17 years of service. Osborne decided that she wanted to give entrepreneurship a try as she has always wanted to start her own business and several years ago had a very small business making and selling “Yard Art” via eBay. In researching possible business opportunities, Osborne came across the “Lawn Greetings” Industry and thought it would go hand-in-hand with her talents in wood crafting and painting.
This past January, armed with a portion of her severance in hand, Osborne was able to realize her dream of owning her own company. Osborne was able to purchase the business assets of her local competitor, Creative Cutouts, whose name has been around the area for approximately 20 years and has already laid the groundwork in educating the public in “Lawn Greetings”.
Osborne then found and became a member of the International Lawn Greetings Association. A Trade Association for “Lawn Greetings” Business Owners across the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the UK whose purpose is to network and share ideas with others interested in this growing industry. The ILGA has 600+ active members, is growing on a daily basis as more Lawn Greetings companies pop up around the country, and is based in Fremont, OH with President Michelle Reed at the helm.
On any given early morning between midnight and 6am, under the cover of darkness, you can usually find Osborne in her van or in a local yard sneaking around and setting up displays to make someone’s special occasion even more memorable. It could be a Birthday, Birth, Anniversary, Graduation, Retirement, Marriage Proposal, Good Luck, Thank You, an Apology, or Welcoming One of Our Fine Soldiers Home. Osborne does it all.
“Putting smiles on people’s faces is our business”, Osborne states. “It is a very heart warming feeling to get a phone call, email, or note stating how much the recipient loved their display and how it made their day, it’s just great to be able to make a living at making people happy.” Yard Card Surprise, LLC delivers free to anywhere in Lorain County and delivers to adjacent counties for a delivery charge based upon mileage. Osborne has recently traveled as far West as Port Clinton and as far East as Lyndhurst on her nightly “flockings”.
Prices for displays range from $65 - $85 and include 25-30 “critters” and a larger theme sign or standard message board with a personalized message for the recipient. Birth Announcement Storks come with a personalized bundle that includes the Baby’s Name, Date of Birth, Weight, and Length. Osborne adds, “Many people don’t realize it, but this is a year round business, although during the winter months when the ground is frozen solid, we limit our displays to 3D “critters” that sit on top of the ground rather than being staked.”
When asked how business was, Osborne stated “Booming and continuing to grow. Since opening in June 2006, Yard Card Surprise, LLC has helped 305 area residents with celebrating their special occasions. Everyone has a birthday and many other special days to commemorate. With the recent announcements of more jobs coming to Lorain County, thus improving our local economy, and the already estimated population of 1.9 million in Lorain and its adjacent counties, Lorain County is a great place to live, raise a family, and work.”
For more information, visit Yard Card Surprise, LLC on the web at http://www.yardcardsurprise.com and remember – “Don’t Send A Card – Say It In Their Yard!”