About Us
ALIGATOR company founded in 1994.
Our story began on 1st March 1994 in a basement of a family home in the Prokocim district of Krakow.
As a small family business, we took our first steps at a time when the Polish economy was just gaining momentum. Together, with great commitment and the support of our loved ones, we delivered the first postcards and occasion cards in a trusty Polonez Truck. From the very beginning, we were strongly connected to Krakow and local partners who helped us develop production during a period when printing finishing techniques were still taking shape.
As cooperation with local printers grew and the number of recipients increased, our business began to take on a stable form. Access to solid technological infrastructure allowed us to improve production quality and gradually expand our offer. This naturally led to the company’s growth, resulting in a move to a larger building on Sielska Street — a place that remains our home to this day. This stage was the moment when the family venture began to transform into a well-organised, professional company.
With the beginning of the 21st century, our company entered a period of intensive development, founded on strategic partnerships. Signing an agreement with Polish Post opened new possibilities and strengthened our position on the domestic market. In parallel, we developed international contacts, exporting to Scandinavian countries and to the East. It was thanks to the trust of our partners and consistent cooperation that we were able to expand our offer, introducing as one of the first on the Polish market flocked cards and experimenting with new formats and shapes.
The period beginning in 2011 became one of the most technically demanding stages in our company’s history. Cooperation with the Graf printing house, and then with key partner Multigraf, allowed us to reach a completely new technological level. We expanded our offer to include 3D folded cards, which required not only precise print preparation, but also the design of multi-layer spatial structures. Each card consisted of many elements cut using complex dies, then hand-folded and assembled so that upon opening they would create an impressive, movable form.
2014 brought another important stage in our development — entering the world of handmade cards, which allowed us to create products of an exceptional, unique character. Thanks to cooperation with Farion, we introduced cards with glued elements, embroidered patterns and prints on fabric. Each one was a small, refined piece of craft, differing in details and texture.
In 2018 we reached for another advanced technique, introducing hologram cards to our offer. Produced using precision hot-stamping with holographic foils, they achieved a characteristic shimmering effect and colour changes depending on the angle of light. Thanks to this, our cards gained exceptional depth and a modern look, becoming an impressive complement to Christmas and Easter collections.
2020 brought us another important partnership — cooperation with Artis-Collage, which significantly enriched the character of our offer. Through this, we introduced products distinguished by hand finishing, expressive aesthetics and attention to detail. Among the new collections were elegant gold-plated glamour cards, cards featuring the characteristic chimney sweep on a stick — a symbol of good luck — as well as cards with wishes written in the Silesian dialect.
In 2021 we further expanded our portfolio, introducing a line of cards with decorative elements laser-cut from plywood. The purchase of specialist laser plotters allowed us to create precise, openwork patterns and fine details. Thus three collections were born: Eco Madera, Eco Wood and Eco Leaf. Less than a year later we introduced the Crayon Art collection, in which the main elements are drawings made with crayons — a beautiful original collection created by the hand of our talented graphic designer Ania.
Today’s offer of our company is the result of many years of searching, trials and bold decisions. We create cards that combine the tradition of craftsmanship with modern techniques — from delicate, hand-folded 3D forms, through elegant cards with wooden elements, to collections adorned with gold plating, embroidery or soft applications. Each product line has its own character, but all share one thing: attention to detail and the conviction that a greeting card can be a small, beautiful object that stays with its recipient for a long time.