18th Annual Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest – Round 8 Finalists Announced!

Congratulations to our Round 8 Finalists!
[slideshow_deploy id=’11736’]

18th Annual Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest – Round 7 Finalists Announced!

Congratulations to our Round 7 Finalists!
[slideshow_deploy id=’11718’]

How to Avoid Feeling “Burnt Out”

Burn out in the workplace is almost inevitable during busy periods throughout the year or when you’ve been at the same job for many years. Stress can sneak up on you so the best thing you can try to do is get ahead of it. Here are a few tips to keep yourself going:

  • SLEEP: Sleep is crucial because it allows your body to recharge. It is tempting to go, go, go until you can’t anymore, but this only sets you back. Just think of what happens if you leave your computer constantly running – starts to overheat, slows down and eventually crashes. Just like your computer, you need to shut off for a while as well. It is suggested that adults get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. If you can keep to a consistent routine and turn off your phone, computer and TV at night this will help you to feel more energized each morning when you get to work.
  • EAT: There are two things that can happen when you are stressed out at work – you either forget to eat or you reach for the unhealthy snacks. Both are equally bad for you! Food is what fuels your body and you want to opt for nutritious snacks that will not cause you to eventually crash. Stay far, far away from energy drinks and limit sugar. You can get healthy, natural energy from snacks like almonds, Greek yogurt or fresh fruit and you should make sure to drink water throughout the day to remain hydrated.
  • TAKE BREAKS: Though it might be tempting to eat at your desk and cram in as much work as possible, your eyes need a break from staring at a monitor all day and your mind needs a break as well. Step away from your desk to recharge. If your office is near a park or has an outdoor area, go for a walk or sit outside and get some sunshine and fresh air.
  • SAY NO: Sometimes you just have to learn to say no when asked to help out with a project or take on additional work. If you already see that you are starting to get overwhelmed then no one will fault you with being honest and saying you are too busy. If you stretch yourself too thin you run the risk of seeing a decline in the quality of your work because there just isn’t enough time to devote to each task.
  • TIME OFF: There are sick days and vacation days for a reason. If you are sick use your sick days and take care of yourself, rather than further push your body by coming into work. Allow yourself the time to recover or you will only feel worse for a longer period of time. Take advantage of vacation days as well. Even if you can’t take yourself away to a tropical island for a week, a short staycation can still work wonders. Visit friends or family or do something you love. Take a day to focus on you!
  • LEAVE WORK AT WORK: Try not to take work home with you every night. You need time for yourself and if home becomes a second office you increase your stress and lose that precious personal time. Finding a work/life balance is key.
  • TALK TO YOUR BOSS: If you are feeling burnt out due to job boredom or overwhelmed by the amount of work on your plate, see what your boss can do for you. Most managers will want happy employees because that just leads to better work. Whether you feel you need some new projects to challenge you and break up the monotony or you need help with the ones you already have, you’ll never know until you ask.

If you can adhere to these tips you should be feeling better in no time!

18th Annual Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest – Round 6 Finalists Announced!

Congratulations to our Round 6 Finalists!
[slideshow_deploy id=’11699’]

Assortment Boxes: HR’s Best Friend

Those of you who work in an office—perhaps specifically in a company’s Human Resources department—know that things can happen in a moment’s notice.  An employee or that employee’s family member becoming ill or passing away, a special anniversary or birthday—whatever the occasion—can and should be acknowledged quickly when possible.

In order to react expeditiously, it makes perfect sense to have handy different types of greeting cards for those times when a speedy, politically-correct response is critical.   What better way to do this than to have Gallery Collection’s variety of assortment boxes available at the blink of an eye.  The assortment boxes—containing 35 cards and 38 self-seal envelopes—come in different categories: Birthday, Sympathy, Get Well, Anniversary, Holiday, Religious, as well as the All-Occasion ones which have a cornucopia of the previously-mentioned types.  All card designs contain the beautifully embossed foil markings The Gallery is known for as well as the thick paper stock which is the best available paper found anywhere.  The cards are pre-printed with appropriate greetings in a variety of beautiful colors for a lasting impression.

Having a selection of these assortment boxes available will certainly ensure that no time will be wasted in communicating best wishes, congratulations, or the proper sympathetic support to a valuable employee at their time of need or happiness.

Groundhog Day Advice: 3 Business Mistakes You Should Avoid Repeating

What are the Finger Lakes?”  If you recognize this question, you may have watched the movie “Groundhog Day.”  Maybe more than once.  Maybe so many times that it feels like you’ve been watching it in a never-ending and repeating day.  In the film, Bill Murray’s jaded meteorologist character Phil lives out February 2nd in seeming perpetuity in the heart of Punxsutawney, PA, the home of the illustrious prognosticating groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil.  Stuck reliving the same day over and over again, he continually encounters the same people, events, and happenings of the day.  He has watched that day’s episode of “Jeopardy!” so many times that he is able to divine “What are the Finger Lakes?” before the answer is even read aloud to the amazement of others watching the show with him. 

In the real world, this sort of anticipatory behavior may at first seem to be advantageous for a business.  There could be a benefit from predictability for sure.  However, predictability is bred from static behavior and practices, which can hinder creativity, growth, and new ideas.  Repetition is not necessarily a good thing.  In this vein, here’s some pertinent Groundhog Day advice: 3 common business mistakes you don’t want to repeat.

  1. Overpromising Customers – It is always better to be realistic in what you can offer customers rather than promising the world.  Customers will respond much more positively to the exact same result if that result is presented honestly from the outset as the best you could provide rather than as a missed deadline, poor measure of quality, etc. that was promised to be sooner or better but not quite met.
  2. Undervaluing Employees – Unless your business is a one-person show, you must acknowledge that your business is nothing without your employees.  It is essential to not overlook the contributions they make every day to help continue the business itself.
  3. Complacency – Even though your business may be at the pinnacle of your industry today, it is never a good idea to assume things will never change.  Even through no fault of your own, it’s possible that your industry itself may become obsolete as newer and better technology comes along.  Periodically looking for innovations or improvements is an important part of maintaining the health of any business.

Birthday Cards – Let’s Get Personal

When I was a kid, I loved getting mail.  I’m not sure I can really explain it but I got such a thrill from getting any type of mail.  I had tons of pen pals and learned such interesting things from my overseas pals especially.  Didn’t really matter what type of mail it was but it was an extra special bonus if it was a birthday card or Christmas card and if it contains money, well then it made my whole year! 

Now that I am an adult, and social media is alive and well, my mail is not what it used to be since it now mostly consists of advertisements I didn’t solicit.  If you’re wondering, I do make every effort to go paperless and discontinue any mail that I can (and you should too!) but I do still make it known to friends and family how much I like seeing a personal birthday card or letter in my mailbox every once in a while. 

I’ll take a birthday greeting on Facebook, Instagram or anywhere else but there is something just so special about receiving and opening a birthday card that someone picked out for me, thought enough to send out and took the time to write a personal message.  Now I’m on a mission to bring back the personal touch.  Instead of just wishing my nephew a happy birthday last week via text, I sent him a card and included his name spelled out in origami dollar bills.  He couldn’t say enough about how that was one of the best gifts he had ever gotten.  So I say, let’s get personal!

Handling Change in the Workplace

Many of us hear the word “Change” and immediately get anxious.  Why do we have to change?  What’s wrong with the way we are doing things now?  From now on when you hear the word “Change”, you should imagine the word chance in your mind.  A change in the workplace is a chance to make your workplace better.  Stay optimistic and change will be a good thing.  Here are ten tips for you to follow:

  1. Stay positive. 
  2. Remember that the entire workforce family is facing the same changes.
  3. Know that change is constant and that without change neither your business nor you can move forward.
  4. Take this opportunity to learn new skills.  We recently made a change in my office on how we are going to train new hires.  I was able to enrich my portfolio by learning how to use a new training system.
  5. Talk, Talk, Talk.  Keep everyone in the loop on what is going on.  Ask questions if you do not know the answer.  Communication is the key to success.

When a change is coming down the pike in your workplace, accept the change and celebrate the positives!

Invitations for Every Business Occasion

Through my years I have worked for many companies with different theories on how to celebrate their business success.  Most held holiday parties for their employees in order to honor them for their hard work and dedication.  Some sent invites to special clients to show their thanks for their continued patronage. 

But what about other reasons to celebrate?  My last company sent the invitation on the left to all its clients and employees.  They do a big celebration every February because during the holidays things were always so hectic. 

Another company had this light hearted party invitation on the right to celebrate what they called the Spring Fling.  It was always such fun.  They would host the party at an outdoor venue so everyone could dress down, enjoy some cocktails and munch on delicious appetizers catered from a local hot spot.

The type of invitation you select for your next party will send a clear message of what time of party you are hosting.  It is obvious in the first that it is going to be a holiday party boasting all the traditions.  The February Fiesta invitation reads as a swanky soiree whereas the Swing Fling invite seems to let you know that this party is going to full of fun and relaxation.

Cure for the Office Winter Blues

We all know that summer time is fun time.  The weather is beautiful, many people go on vacations during this time and pretty much enjoy not having to deal with shoveling, snow and freezing temperatures any longer!

Once the summer is over, however, we seem to somehow skip through Fall and head straight to Winter, both physically and mentally!  Many people feel an emotional shift during the months of January through March, after the Holidays are over, which can change people’s moods in the office.  One way to cure the office Winter Blues is to have a “Winter Celebration” party!

Just think how excited you and your coworkers would be to have a themed-lunch or breakfast party to bring some life to the mundane winter day.  It will break up the winter months and add some excitement to employees and their tastebuds!  If it can’t be lovely warm weather outside the office, why not just pretend it is inside the office?!  Go ahead and party away those cold weather blues!