A Personal Touch: Brits Prefer Handwritten Notes from Loved Ones Over Emails Says Sainsbury's Report

LONDON, April 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

New research reveals true extent of the demise of handwritten correspondence in the 21st century;  

Tech generation set to revive flagging penmanship skills 

• The average Brit last sent a handwritten card or letter 17 months ago (with 45-54 year olds the worst offenders)
• 1 in 10 Brits last sent a handwritten card or letter over five years ago
• 1 in 10 men haven't sent a handwritten card or letter for over 11 years
• However: 7 in 10 Brits would prefer to receive a handwritten card or letter rather than an email or e-card
• 74% of 16-24 year olds would prefer to receive a handwritten note from friends rather than e-communication

A whopping 74% of 16-24 year olds would prefer to receive a handwritten note from friends rather than a typed note busting the myth that young people have moved on from writing by hand. Ironically the iGeneration could be the ones to save the dying practice of penmanship.

The research, commissioned by Sainsbury's Home, found the average Brit hasn't sent a handwritten card or letter in nearly a year and a half (17 months ago); whilst the average 45-54 year old hasn't sent a handwritten card/letter for 20 months. Over 1 in 10 Brits (11%) said they have not sent a handwritten card/letter in the past five years.

Yet despite these statistics it's clear the nation is still in love with traditional penmanship - almost 7 in 10 (68%) Brits prefer to receive a handwritten letter or card rather than a less personal email or e-card. A carefully penned love letter appears to be the stuff of fantasy in the UK; 12% of men haven't sent a handwritten card or letter for over 11 years although 71% of women would prefer to receive a handwritten note from their loved one than an email.  

The national survey of 2,000 people across the UK shows a significant decline in handwritten communications although in contrast the national supermarket chain has seen a 10% YOY uplift in pen & pencil sales. Suggesting the nation is using their pens & pencils to write shopping lists, doodle & draw or take notes at work rather than handwrite cards and letters for friends and family. Over 4 and a half million pens and pencils were sold across Sainsbury's stores last year - which if lined up end to end in a single line would be long enough to stretch the length of Great Britain (approximately 700km long).