Author: Evangeline R.

3 Easy Costume Tips to Follow for This Year’s Halloween Office Party

Even though Halloween in the office is all about getting dressed up and having a blast, there are a few costume tips to follow. First you want to make sure you follow the dress code if your office has one. All of the basic office rules still apply even during a party. Follow these three costume tips at your next Halloween office party:

  • Keep it simple – A Halloween office party doesn’t call for a full body costume. Keep it simple by dressing down, so to say. Go for a funny hat or a themed t-shirt. Try not to pick a costume that requires props, they can get in the way of the festivities.
  • Keep it safe – Safety is still important even during a party. When you are on work premises you must abide to the rules. Be safe this Halloween and avoid wearing a mask or any loose fitting clothing that might get stepped on or caught in something.
  • Make it fun – Instead of wearing a mask, wear a crazy colored wig or try to paint your face! Use bright colors to look like a clown, or get creative and do your makeup to look like a hungry zombie.

Winter Is Coming: When Should I Send My Office Holiday Party Invitations?

Winter is coming! Winter is coming! Most people don’t get too excited about the news that the dreary, snow filled days of winter are approaching. I really don’t either, but what I do get excited about is all the holiday excitement and celebrations that are on their way.

The hectic holiday season fills me with a rush like no other. Between work, family and friends, I am always rushing from one event to another. This is not a complaint, but getting the invites on a timely basis is extremely important. I hate to miss even one gathering.

Sending a holiday party invitation too late becomes an issue if your invitees are busy. They may already be booked. If you send your office holiday party invitations too early, then you run the risk of being forgotten. Although there is no concrete guideline on when to send an invitation, I suggest you get those invitation out about four to six weeks before the holiday party. This timing gives your guests plenty of time to save the date, find a sitter, pick out the perfect ensemble and still have time to generate excitement. Try to be respectful of your employees. They have many obligations outside the office and understand the importance of attending the annual office holiday party.

Why Proper Grammar is Key in Letter Writing

There complementary desert is grater than hearse. Their complimentary dessert is greater than hers. The first sentence states that there exists a matching area of arid land that functions as an implement that grates in some unidentifiable relation to a vehicle that transports those who have passed away. The second sentence states that someone’s free cake tastes better than someone else’s cake. I believe these two sentences clearly illustrate the undeniable and unquestionable importance of grammar.

Perhaps you are not convinced. All grammatical errors are not as blatant as the above, and you may feel it is perfectly fine to ignore some rules of grammar once in a while. You might want to have your complimentary cake and eat it, too. Resist that temptation. Grammar is not meant to be a tedious set of rules. Its function is to assist in the accurate and coherent expression of thoughts and ideas. Certain forms of communication rely more heavily on grammar than others. In particular, proper grammar is key in letter writing. This is the case for many reasons, two of which are listed below.

Perceived Intelligence – Whether it is fair or not, most people judge the intelligence of others based upon the quality of their writing. An individual may be ignored or dismissed despite their intelligence simply because of poor grammar.

Meaningful Communication – Ideas, beliefs, and thoughts only exist outside oneself if they can be properly communicated. Faulty grammar hinders true expression as it can serve to frustrate or confuse the letter reader who may, in turn, abandon the letter without ever grasping its inherent value.

12th Annual Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest – Round 3 Finalists Announced!

Congratulations to our Round 3 Finalists!

Christmas Cards Throughout History

As with all things, Christmas cards have changed dramatically since their inception. Cards actually originated way back in the Victorian Era. In the 1920’s, Christmas cards really took on steam. At this point in history, the card designs and greetings were all religious cards. They had their own unique charm. In the years that followed, changes started to take place, and by the 1940’s, cards were moving further away from the religious theme. You could find Christmas cards with characters such as Mickey Mouse and Betty Boop.

From the 1960’s until about 2000’s, things really took a turn. Cards were getting cheekier in their humor. This period of time in general is known for the freedom movements and edginess. Naturally, Christmas cards followed suit. While there were still plenty of classic religious cards to be found, the majority of people were looking at cards with pushed towards humor and varying themes. Commercialism rose to an all-time high. Along with this change, the cost of greeting cards began to rise.

Present day greeting cards have evolved to include all extremes and everything in the middle. You can find cards truly inspired by the spirit of Christmas. As you browse the selections, you will also see some middle of the ground – not overtly religious but just offering peace and happiness. Then, there is the totally funny and outrageous. There are cards for everyone out there these days. Throughout time, greeting cards have evolved into a booming industry.

Types of Customizations for Your Greeting Cards

Sending greeting cards are a great way for a company to show appreciation to its customers and business acquaintances. They are also a great marketing tools, so why not customize your cards and make the most of the opportunity.

From the simple to the complex, there are many ways to customize the inside of your greeting cards. Like the simple way? Select a standard greeting and upload your logo. Your logo can be imprinted below the greeting and adds that personal pop to the card. Another option is to go with your own greeting. Instead of choosing one of the standards, add your own flair by writing something specific to your company in the greeting. This will certainly make your card more memorable. Something a little more complex in the way of customizing would be to add signatures to your cards. You simply pick a card, upload your signatures, arrange them on the inside of your card, and place the order for print. It is a great way to add the personal touch to your greeting cards.

Another opportunity to customize your cards is to do front customizations. You can upload an image to the front of your card. I have seen people use pictures of their employees or of the outside of their offices. You can also take a look at digital cards where you have the ability to add your company name to the front of the card in distinct colors and fonts.
Use your greeting cards not only as a way to show appreciation but as a marketing tool using personal customizations.

How to Choose Your Christmas Card for a Small Business

You company is in the process of ordering this year’s Christmas cards. But there are so many options! If you are feeling overwhelmed, here is some advice on how to choose your small business’s Christmas cards.

If you already know that you would like to send out Christmas cards for your company—as opposed to “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” cards— that is already a huge decision made. But now what? There are still so many options! The next thing to consider is which kind of Christmas card you’d like to send. A religious card? A traditional red and green? Silly? Industry-related? Foil and embossed? A winter scene? Ornaments? A photo-mount of your employees or your store front? Once you narrow that down, the other choices should be easier.

Next, you’ll want to think about which color ink or foil to use for the inside of your company Christmas cards. Examine the design you’ve chosen and pick the most complimentary hue. Also, you might want to consider the text you’ll have featured inside. Will you include your logo? Then maybe company colors will look sharp. Are you adding signatures? Which color will you sign in or are you having your signatures printed inside? All these small decisions come together to form your perfect card. There is no right or wrong—just whatever you like! So have fun and dazzle your recipients with your company’s own style!

Foil Folders and My Presentation

I have been trying to sell my new online ordering business to every restaurant you can imagine. Yes, you can send the marketing email hoping that the right person reads it. Yes, you can do some cold calling hoping you talk to the right person. But let us be honest the odds of that working is slim and none and slim just left town. That is why I turned my idea into reality wrapped up with a nice bow called Presentation Folders.

I took my company logo and slogan and slapped it on the front of this sweet black folder in some sweet gold foil. I also made sure to pop my website on the bottom of the front as well. The key is to also add in some business cards to the inside so make sure your folders have slits for that. Print out nice documentation to put in the actual folder. Now you have something of substance to sell. Since I have started doing this my business has noticeably gone up. The best part is this is without a big financial investment. I buy the Presentation Folders, print the documentation and then drop them off where I think I can drum up some business.

12th Annual Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest – Round 2 Finalists Announced!

Congratulations to our Round 2 Finalists!

Celebrating Labor Day And Its Importance

Labor Day. While sort of a misnomer (we don’t refrain from giving thanks on Thanksgiving Day, so why refrain from laboring on Labor Day?), its meaning should in no way be diminished by its unfortunate title. Celebrating Labor Day and its importance are really ways to celebrate the fruits of living a purpose-filled and meaningful existence. Whether your form of labor is toiling away at your job, studying hard in school, raising children or grandchildren, caring for aging parents, helping others through volunteer or charity work, or through any of the other multitude of ways to work, Labor Day offers the opportunity to pause and reflect on those contributions. It can be a moment to take pride in a job well done. Or, conversely, if you feel you could do more or improve in some way, this time provides a chance for valuable introspection on your own personal growth.

Another worthwhile aspect of the Labor Day experience is to shine a light not just on yourself but on the labor of others. In the course of daily living, our lives are consistently touched by the work and contributions of others. The clerk at the convenience store, the people at the power or water company, mail carriers, crossing guards, etc. all play a part in our lives. We all make each other’s existence and the quality of that existence possible. If everyone decided one day to labor no more, life as we know it would cease to exist. So, while stuffing your face with a foot long hot dog drowning in massive amounts of highly unhealthy yet delicious toppings on Labor Day, remember the contributions of yourself and others. No matter how small they may seem, they all matter.