Happy Birthday to…….
Must Do’s for Business Email Etiquette
Doing business via email has never been easier or more convenient. From laptops, smart phones, or tablets, you can read and send emails pretty much anywhere at any time. Despite how easy it is to send an email, it is extremely important to make sure that you are always presenting yourself in a positive light. When sending business emails, employees, associates, and customers will always appreciate courtesy and respect. These are our “Must Do’s” for proper business email etiquette.
- The Subject Line – Make sure your subject line properly reflects the contents of the email. If the subject is too vague, the email may end up being accidentally ignored. If it is not spelled and cased correctly, it could end up in a Spam box.
- The Greeting – Always include a greeting. “Good Morning –“ or “Hi (Insert Name Here)” will open your email with a friendly tone so you do not sound demanding or brusque.
- The Message – Keep your emails as concise as you possibly can. It is overwhelming to send huge paragraphs and people may skim over them and miss what you’re really trying to say. Always spell check and read over your email before hitting send. Remember the email is a refection of you and your business.
- The Closing – Always include a closing. As with the greeting, the closing indicates courtesy and keeps you from sounding too terse. Let them know you appreciate that they’ve taken the time to read your email or assist you. “I appreciate your help,” “Thank you,” or “Best regards,” are nice ways to close.
- The Signature – Do make sure you always include a signature in your email with your contact information so your recipients have this on hand without having to search for it.
Those are the most basic “Do’s” for composing a great, business appropriate email. Remember to follow similar rules when replying to emails:
- Reply in a timely fashion. If you do not have the answer or cannot reply when you receive the email, it is appropriate to reply that you have read the email and will find out what the sender needs to know and reply by (Insert time or date).
- Along the same lines, if you are going to be on vacation or unable to check your email for longer than usual, do set up an out of office reply with information on who the sender can contact instead while you are away.
The final “Do” is simply to always remain professional. Use the “Bcc” blind copy option courteously to hide contact info from large groups of recipients, not as a way to talk behind anyone’s back. Be careful of “Reply all” if you do not want everyone reading your responses, but always keep it professional regardless! Happy emailing! And don’t forget – for a birthday, anniversary, or holiday greeting, it’s always best to put down the smartphone and show you care with a physical card. Email is easy and convenient for conducting business, but it really shows effort, respect, and care to take the time to send a card for a special occasion!
Gallery Collection Charitable Donations – Friends of Jaclyn Foundation
As part of The Gallery Collection’s charitable donation program, we recently donated 250 Birthday cards and 250 Sympathy cards to The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation (FOJ) mission is to help improve the quality of life of children battling pediatric brain tumors and their families.
In 2004, 9-year-old Jaclyn Murphy was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor. In 2005 Jaclyn became connected to and later adopted as an honorary member of the Northwestern Women’s lacrosse team. Jaclyn’s strength, courage, and joy for life inspired the players, and they in turn inspired Jaclyn. Later that same year the Murphy Family started The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation so that other children battling pediatric brain tumors can have the same wonderful experience that Jaclyn had.
FOJ pairs up children and their families battling pediatric brain tumors with college and high school sports teams. The teams give these children love, support and friendship as they fight this devastating disease. They celebrate each day by creating lasting relationships between student athletes, the child, and their families. This greatly improves the quality of life for children with brain tumors, as well as those who support them.
For more information about the The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, and how you can help, please visit their website at http://www.friendsofjaclyn.org/.
Get Well Messages To Write In A Card
It is difficult to know the right words to write in get well cards, but sending cards to someone who is battling an illness is so important to keep their spirits up. The tone you choose to you write with is dependant on who the person is to you, a close friend, a co-worker, a member of the family. Most importantly is to find out the nature of the illness; this will make your choice of words a little easier. For example, a broken foot is less serious than heart surgery. I had a very close call recently when I was sending my father-in-law a get well card and neglected to read the preprinted verse. He was terminally ill and inside was a cheery wish for a speedy recovery. Thankfully I had the sense to look before I mailed the card.
Here are some suggestions for get well messages to write in a card:
• I am so sorry to hear that you’ve been ill
• I’m wishing you the very best during your recovery
• I hope you’re doing well and are on the road to recovery
• You are in my thoughts/prayers
• Best wishes for a speedy recovery
It is also important to remember what you shouldn’t write as well:
• Don’t compare illnesses
• Do not tell stories you heard about the hospital, doctor or your Aunt Jane who had sort of the same thing
• Don’t let the tone of your message be morose or sad
• Don’t tell them there are people who have it much worse
A short, simple message is all you need to convey your feelings.
Make Your Company Stand Out With Unique Birthday Cards
Did you ever wake up on your birthday and feel depressed about getting older or reaching a milestone that you thought wouldn’t come about for a long time? I guess we could put a name on a birthday and call it reality. As we awaken to the day’s celebration, we begin to realize that it just might be a great day we can be thankful for. Most of us would love to have a day off from work to do our own thing to make the day feel worthy. The feat of making it to another healthy year is more than special. But, reality strikes, and we find that your business office is waiting for you.
Upon arrival, you discover that your home away from home, where we spend most of our time, has become your place of celebration. Our friends greet us with special treats, maybe a birthday cake and a birthday card signed by all of our coworkers. What a special feeling to find unique birthday cards, even signed by the President of the company too! Another successful, healthy, happy year and a day of happy memories!
Ten Simple Exercises You Can Do At Work
Exercise is a love/hate relationship to most of us. Some exercise faithfully, and there are others who wouldn’t think of it. I was raised in a physically active home as a child with a Dad who played semi- professional baseball, and parents who engaged in bowling, tennis, swimming, dancing and walking. There was no way around it, and I am happy for the healthy education of exercise. I began teaching fitness, from infants to seniors, in 1985 and for 22 years brought the gift of healthy living to many of my clients.
In many professional offices, employees sit at a desk for approximately 7 hours per day. Ten simple exercises you can do at work can make you body feel energized, provide a clear thinking mind and grant you good health in your professional journey. While you sit at your desk, make a conscious effort to:
1. Rotate your ankles
2. Perform heel raises
3. Raise your toes
4. Stretch your arms over your head and bend to each side while in your chair
5. Roll your neck to reduce tension
6. Do knee lifts in your chair
7. Perform straight leg lifts
8. Be mindful to sit up straight
9. Tap your toes to keep the blood flowing
10. Stand up often
These ten simple exercises that you can do at work will make you feel more alert, hold your energy level high, keep your muscles strong, keep your mind stimulated and your attitude enthusiastic!
Happy New Year From The Gallery Collection!
Christmas Cards and Warm Family Feelings
When I was a little girl of six, I received a beautiful Christmas card in the mail. It was not addressed to the family, but just to me. You cannot imagine the thrill of seeing my name on an envelope with a stamp. It came from my girlfriend who lived just around the corner and she spent three cents to send me my very own Christmas cards. This was huge. I still remember the red cardinal sitting proudly on a barren branch with snow falling. Strange how those certain areas of our life are shaped by one small memory. My love of the Christmas season blossomed along with a life long love of greeting cards.
I cannot go into a store without looking at the greeting card display or pass up a greeting card catalog. The thought of sending a card on any occasion fills me with anticipation. Part of that is the thought of how someone will feel when they receive the card. I always imagine someone getting the mail out of the box, and the expression on their face when they see a card addressed to them. I suppose I am projecting my feelings of joy forward. I certainly hope that a small measure of my feelings can be felt through the card by the recipient. Good wishes should always carry through the paper, don’t you think?
Although, every occasion warrants a card, the holiday season will always be my favorite. There are so many beautiful cards to select. A lovely winter scene with smoke curling from a chimney, a frolicking quartet of snowmen or an ornament in brilliant colors festively displayed. The choices are so vast it makes me smile for days when I finally decide. Just imagine when I sit down and write out the cards, address the envelopes, then mail them off. Nothing says Christmas louder or more clearly than sending out the cards.
How lucky I am to have found a job later in my life working for a greeting card company? Going to work is a joy, pleasing people with our quality cards is a joy and most of all the hectic holiday season is joyful, tiring but joyful. I leave you with a wish for a wonderful holiday season filled with a mailbox of fabulous greeting cards!
Gallery Collection Charitable Donations – The Joyful Child Foundation
The Gallery Collection is proud to announce a donation of 750 Thank You cards to The Joyful Child Foundation. The Joyful Child Foundation is dedicated to preventing crimes against children through programs that educate, empower, and unite families and communities.
The Joyful Child Foundation was formed after the kidnapping, molestation and murder of 5-year old Samantha Runnion in July 2002. Formed by her mother, the Joyful Child Foundation aims to prevent child sexual abuse and abduction through programs that unite and uplift communities, such as by providing child safety empowerment programs to children and adult education to parents and other caring adults.
The Joyful Child Foundation plans to use the cards to thank their donors and their sponsors for all the contributions made to this important cause.
For more information about The Joyful Child Foundation, and how you can help, please visit their website at http://www.thejoyfulchild.org/.
Merry Christmas From The Gallery Collection!
