Hallmark, the greeting card giant, has announced it will close a Kansas manufacturing plant after sales continue to decrease. The plant output generated roughly one-third of all cards manufactured, and some 300 employees will lose their positions. Hallmark attributes the decrease in sales to the rise of social eCards. A study conducted by the U.S.P.S. showed that correspondence using greeting cards delivered through the mail decreased by over 24% between 2010 and 2011. “Competition in our industry is indeed formidable… Consumers do have more ways to connect digitally and online and through social media,” said Pete Burney, Hallmark’s Senior Vice President who oversees production. Pam Danziger, an industry analyst and president of Stevens, Pa.-based Unity Marketing said, “It’s no surprise that in the 21st century with so many other communication vehicles available that the old idea of a greeting card being sent by mail just doesn’t work anymore.”To learn more about the closing of the Hallmark plant and rise of social eCards, please visit HuffingtonPost.com.