The Favorite Summer Pastime of Your Boss – The Golf Course!
In The Business World Corporate Greeting Cards Make All The Difference
Whether it’s a hotel, a financial management firm, a gym, a restaurant, a lawyer’s office, or a grocery store – businesses know that reaching out to customers is what makes or breaks them. In today’s market, consumers have more than enough choices when it comes to where they take their business, which means they can be as picky as they want. Sure, some of us might not care much as to how friendly, genuine or in touch a business is, but believe me, the majority of people care about these things and more. People feel that purchasing something is an endorsement, a vote, as to who is worthy of their hard earned cash. So it’s very important to rise to these demands and meet the challenges of today’s market with ease and grace. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through corporate greeting cards, especially birthday cards. Everyone loves to be remembered on their birthday and what better way to advertise your business or to keep your business fresh in people’s minds? It’s genius I tell you. In the process of wishing your customer a Happy Birthday, you’re essentially advertising your business. Your customer will hang the card up along with all their other birthday cards, and people will see what a caring business you are. It certainly sets yourself apart from the competition.
Let me reiterate that: corporate greeting cards are a must in today’s business market. There really is no better way to make a subtle statement about your top rate services. Not only will you be happy to portray the right image, your customers will be satisfied knowing you keep them in your thoughts. Making someone smile is a great thing and if that smile means more success for your company, it makes it all the better.
I know I personally love it when the hotel I booked knows I’m there for an anniversary, and they leave a nice anniversary card for us on the pillow. It really gives the hotel experience that extra magical touch. Attention to detail is important for me. Or that time my gym noticed I hadn’t attended in a few days, found out from my sister that I was trying to get over the flu, and sent me a really thoughtful get well card in the mail. My stock broker has event sent me various cards, most recently, you guessed it, a birthday card. I still shop at these places who have taken the time to forge strong bonds with me and that makes me think that greeting cards are without a doubt the best thing you can do for your business.
Birthday Cards Are A Real Necessity
I have been a small business owner for 27 years now. I know a few things about ups and downs and how to deal with them. Like many people out there, I have never experienced a “down” as bad as the past 5 years. I went from a thriving business to struggling to just pay the bills. I am the type of owner who puts his employees first and while I have had to cut costs, I have not laid anyone off. I take pride in this and I know my employees appreciate it as well. While they aren’t happy I had to get rid of Bagel Friday and summer trips to Great Adventure, they understood the reasoning behind the decisions. I only had one cost cutting idea backfire on me, and it was definitely not the one I expected. Every year I would give my employees a birthday card with a very nice personal message in it thanking them for their hard work. While the birthday cards aren’t overly expensive, I figured why not save a few bucks? I did not foresee the disappointment following this decision.
A long time employee’s birthday happened to be the first one to come after this decision. He was actually upset and thought that I had forgotten his birthday. The mix up was quickly cleared up but I could tell he was still disappointed he didn’t get a card. I got similar reactions from other employees as well. Everyone seemed to be ok with losing the impersonal events like Bagel Friday but not getting business birthday cards really seemed to affect morale. They truly appreciate the personal touch I gave to their birthday. Needless to say I began spending the extra money again to get those wonderful birthday cards. I even wrote out cards for those birthdays that I had missed. Even after 27 years of owning a business I am still learning new lessons every day.
Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Look Back Series – 2010 Winning Entry Transformation
In today’s entry for our Scholarship Look Back Series, we wanted to give you a better look into some of the additions that were made to the 2010 Scholarship Winning entry that was submitted by Dawnee Burson. In the below image, you’ll see some of the enhancements that were made to the beautiful winter scene that Dawnee painted in order to really transform it into an amazing card.
If you look at the below slideshow, which is zoomed in on the cottage on the left side of the painting, you really begin to notice some of the details that were added in. You can see that the trees in the background as well as the garland on the fence have been covered in gold foil in the form of glitter to really help give them a snow covered feel. You can even see that the window in the cottage has been filled with little ice skates. We look at every detail when we transform entries into cards!
Below you can get a better view of the little enhancements that were made to the trees with the addition of the gold foil to really make the snow pop on the final card design!
In the end, the entry only needed a few little touch ups to become the final image you see in the Log Cabin Greetings Holiday Card you see in our line today. That is a true testament to the amazing skill and creativity of Dawnee Burson. Come back next week as we continue to give you a behind the scenes look at our $10,000 Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest.
An Unexpected Turkey Day Treat – Business Christmas Cards For Thanksgiving
Business Christmas cards are standard practice when it comes to the business world. If you have clients, if you have employees, there should not be a Christmas that goes by where you do not show your appreciation with a card. There is no more personal of a message than one you wrote and signed yourself. There is also no more of a commercial than a card that says your company name that sits right on your client’s desk for a month or two. But there may be something you are overlooking. There is another opportunity to share your message of appreciation.
There is nothing more American than eating turkey on Thanksgiving. The Detroit Lions have just finished up losing to whoever they are playing and the wife is ready for you to carve up the bird. The stuffing has filled up everyone’s nostrils and you cannot wait to see how that turkey injection you did for the first time tastes. Now what is more personal than that? Thanksgiving Cards can be a way to entrench your brand along with this American standard. It will not hurt that for an extra month your company name will be sitting on former, current, and potential client’s desks. So keep sending those Christmas Cards, but do not forget to go the extra mile and celebrate turkey day. Don’t forget the Thanksgiving Cards.
Business Birthday Cards – What A Great Concept
One day on my way to my office, I was trying to think of a way to boost the morale of my co-workers, as well as try to find a way to improve the way we interact with our clients. As I approached the elevator, I noticed someone was holding a birthday card they had received. “That’s it!” I said to myself. “I’ll send out business birthday cards!” I headed to my desk and went online to The Gallery Collection. They had such a wonderful selection of birthday cards I was bound to find a few I liked. Well, I not only found birthday cards, they also had assortment boxes for all occasions. I was having a ball ordering everything I needed to fill my needs. And I couldn’t believe how easy it was.
After I ordered my birthday cards and all occasion cards, I went in search of lists for birthdays and anniversaries of co-workers and clients. Wow, I can’t believe how many are coming up so fast. I made my list, and once I received the cards I got started on signing and sending them all out. I was thanked by the people I work with and business seems to have picked up. All from a birthday card. What a concept!
Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Look Back Series – 2010 Winning Entry
In our first installment of the 2010 Scholarship Contest Look Back Series, we wanted to give you a behind the scenes look into the very interesting and creative idea behind 2010 Scholarship Winner Dawnee Burson’s winning entry.
As Dawnee explained it in her letter that she submitted along with the entry, “I wanted to do a Christmas calendar card with four layers, one for each season that could be pulled off the front of the card as the seasons change”.
In order to accomplish this, Dawnee started with a base farm scene illustrating the fall season. She then provided us with acetate overlays (sheet of clear plastic laid over a background) which depicted different seasons for the same farm scene. Each overlay would have its own painted details which we would then use to lay on top of the base painting in order to change the seasons. In the slideshow below, you can look through Dawnee’s interpretation of the four seasons. Look at the differences in the details between each version from tire swings in the summer version to a scarecrow in the fall version. We think Dawnee came up with an amazingly creative way to show off different seasons all while using the same painting as the base!
Below is the summer overlay which Dawnee provided. As you can see, the empty areas allow for the details from the original painting such as the mountains and forest to show through while also being overlaid with the new additions such as the tire swing and roof.
We hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes look into just how creative Dawnee’s winning entry really was. We hope you come back next week as we continue to reveal even more about the 2010 Scholarship Contest!
Don’t Let Social Media Ruin Your Summer Vacation!
Happy Fourth of July from The Gallery Collection!
The Gallery Collection would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July!
An Assorted Birthday Cards Bonanza
I’m not talking about that crazy TV western that spanned the 60s and 70s starring Lorne Greene, Michael Landon and Pernell Roberts. (By the way, did you know that Bonanza is the second longest running western series of all time? You’ll have to go look up what number one is, or perhaps you’ve already guessed it.) I’m talking about birthday cards. The Gallery Collection has so many birthday designs that it is a literal bonanza of cards. Offering everything you can imagine…balloons, cupcakes, presents, corporate cards that highlight your company name and so much more.
You can’t go wrong keeping assorted birthday cards on hand. The assortment gives you everything you need to stay on top of all the family, friend and office birthdays that you want to be sure to celebrate. Nothing makes a person feel more special than receiving a birthday card. They may say they don’t want any fuss or muss on their birthday but deep down, it gives them a warm fuzzy feeling to know that you thought of them on the anniversary of their birth. So be sure to pick out your favorite amongst the bonanza of birthday cards available. You’ll be sure to find something you like as much as that western TV show that so many of us enjoyed growing up. Whoops, I think I may have just inadvertently revealed my age!