Marketplace Morning Report – February 13, 2026

Episode Title: Remember to grab that Valentine's Day card?
Host: Sabri Benishour (in for David Brancaccio)
Featured Guest: Michelle Byrne, Founder of Paper and Stuff
Topic: Health care access, the economic impact of greeting cards on Valentine’s Day, and a greeting card entrepreneur's story

Overview

This episode blends urgent business and health stories with a lighthearted but insightful profile of a greeting card entrepreneur as Valentine's Day approaches. Starting with news about tariffs and health care access, the episode's highlight is an engaging interview with Michelle Byrne, a graphic designer turned full-time greeting card maker, sharing the behind-the-scenes of her career and how personal connections drive card design.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tariff Policy Updates & Consumer Costs

• [00:46] Sabri Benishour reports multiple sources say the Trump administration plans to reduce certain steel and aluminum tariffs.
  • The move comes as officials increasingly acknowledge what was previously denied: tariffs raise consumer prices and complicate business cost calculations.

2. Primary Care Access & Health Care Costs

• [01:37] Kaylee Wells summarizes new research from the Robert Graham Center:
  • Adults with chronic diseases who have a dedicated primary care doctor cut healthcare costs in half.
  • Hospitalization risk falls by 20% for these adults.
  • For children with chronic conditions, the benefits of primary care are even more significant.
• Dr. Morgan MacDonald (Milbank Memorial Fund) highlights obstacles:
  • "One in three adults in the US can't get primary care. Lack of insurance can be a significant barrier. Cost can be a barrier. And the other barrier? Only 5% of US healthcare spending goes toward primary care." [01:57]
• JB Silvers (Health care finance professor, Case Western Reserve University) adds:
  • "You make a lot more money as a specialist than you do as a primary care doc." [02:35]
  • U.S. medical institutions steer new doctors toward lucrative specialties, leaving a shortage of primary care providers.
• The report recommends increasing investment in the primary care workforce to preempt larger health crises (and costs).

Notable Quote:

"One way to avoid major medical bills is to catch major medical problems early or prevent them."
—Sabri Benishour, [00:54]

3. Health Care as a Subscription (Preview)

• [02:55] Sabri Benishour teases an upcoming segment on subscription-based fast medical care, airing later that day.

4. Greeting Cards Industry & Valentine’s Day

• [04:56] Greeting cards are big business for Valentine’s Day:

  • Americans buy 6.5 billion greeting cards annually (Greeting Card Association).
  • Valentine’s Day drives a significant share of yearly sales.

• Spotlight Interview: Michelle Byrne, Founder of Paper and Stuff

  • Michelle pivoted from graphic design to full-time cardmaking during the pandemic.
  • Her creativity is deeply rooted in family tradition:

  "My mom is a fine artist and she's always encouraged us to draw and create as kids... She loves a handwritten, hand-drawn [card] more than anything." [05:29]

  • Success emerged organically:

    • Started with crafting for friends and family, then signed up for the National Stationery Show thinking it was a local craft fair, catalyzing her wholesale launch:

    "It was kind of like it went from hobby to full time wholesale real quick." [06:06]

  • Creative Process & Brand Ethos:

    "My brand and my cards are a reflection of me in that they are silly, yet they're sincere and caring. Like, I could be sarcastic... but I'm also…emotional, I am super nostalgic." [06:20]

  • Memorable Card Ideas & Consumer Connection:

    "One of my first cards ever says, 'I love you enough to build IKEA furniture with you,' and it is still a top seller because it really resonates with people." [07:19]

    • She describes her mission as connecting with customers in "specific relationships" and providing cards that truly "get" them.

  • Reflections on Growth:

    "When you think of all the times that someone has opened up one of my cards and read what was written on the inside…it's shocking to think of how many little moments my cards have been a part of." [08:03]

5. Valentine’s Day Spending Trends

• [08:36] U.S. consumer spending for Valentine’s Day is expected to hit a record $29.1 billion (National Retail Federation).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On health care barriers:

  "Only 5% of US healthcare spending goes toward primary care."
  —Dr. Morgan MacDonald [01:57]

• On the economics of medicine:

  "You make a lot more money as a specialist than you do as a primary care doc."
  —JB Silvers [02:35]

• Entrepreneurship revelation:

  "It went from hobby to full-time wholesale real quick."
  —Michelle Byrne [06:06]

• On card design and connection:

  "This card really gets me. So I think it was just like kind of putting my own little stamp on the world with those moments."
  —Michelle Byrne [07:39]

• Top-selling Valentine’s card inspiration:

  "I love you enough to build IKEA furniture with you."
  —Michelle Byrne [07:19]

Important Timestamps

• [00:46] Start of episode content: Tariffs, health care access.
• [01:37] Report on primary care and health care cost savings.
• [02:16] Barriers to primary care access.
• [02:35] Commentary on med school and specialty selection.
• [04:56] Shift to Valentine’s Day greeting cards, Michelle Byrne interview begins.
• [05:23–08:36] Michelle Byrne shares her story, process, and impact.
• [08:36] U.S. Valentine’s Day spending data.

Episode Tone & Style

The episode maintains Marketplaces' signature blend of brisk, factual reporting and personal storytelling, employing an easygoing, genuine tone—especially during the interview with Michelle Byrne, which is both lighthearted and reflective.

Summary

This episode of Marketplace Morning Report provides a fast-paced primer on overnight business and policy news before settling into a thoughtful, inspiring look at the Valentine’s Day greeting card business. Listeners are taken behind the scenes into a creative, entrepreneurial journey and learn about the economic and personal significance of exchanging cards. Health and business news are delivered with clarity, while the human interest segment enriches the day with heart and a reminder of the power of small, shared moments.