Sympathy Cards – What’s Your Grief?

Nobody enjoys composing sympathy cards. It means that someone has died. Someone we care about is hurting. Instead of listing all the ways we could possibly console our dear friend or family member, let’s take a look at what not to say. Sometimes words just pour out of our mouth or pen, that do not diminish the pain someone is feeling. It adds to it. It’s human nature to want to comfort someone, but more often than you think, people make these oversights. Here are a few taboos that we unfortunately have a lapse in our brains and do.

1. Avoid electronic greetings at all costs! You may think it is appropriate to send corporate sympathy cards to say maybe Bob in the cubicle a few rows down, but it is in bad taste. A handwritten card is always the way to go.

2. Do not attempt humor! We instinctively want to cheer people up but maybe save that for a night out with the boys. What you may find to be a funny story may not be the right time for someone who is grieving.

3. Do not rehash the tragedy! Nobody wants to recall all the horrid details about the deceased. Especially if it was tragic and messy. Instead talk about the good memories of that loved one.

4. Don’t compare! “I know someone who”…Enter a tragic story here. This person is in the worst pain imaginable and they don’t want to hear about how someone died worse than your beloved.

5. DO NOT BRING UP DEBTS! Just because Rachael borrowed $100 bucks for that killer outfit does not mean her relatives have to pay for it. Let it go.

A few more sentences you may not want to throw out there are the clichéd “I know how you feel”. You don’t know how they feel. “At least he or she lived a good life”. “He or she is in a better place”. No, to the grieving person they should be here. “It will get easier”, “It was God’s will” and the classic “I know something good will come of this”. Can you predict the future? Many people may question their faith at the loss of a loved one. You will truly never know how someone may interpret these phrases. Give them a break people and keep it simple. Offer a sympathy card with words from the heart, your friendship and time.

Birthday Cards Are More Meaningful Than You’d Think

When people think of birthday cards, they often think of family and friends, but what about business associates and co-workers? In today’s time-is-money society, we often find ourselves with tunnel vision, and fail to notice what—and who—is really around us. Sometimes it’s important to take a minute and recognize those that we deal with on a daily basis. A simple birthday card can convey to someone that you care and are thinking of them. From personal experience I can tell you how appreciated I have felt when my co-workers and employers have remembered my birthday; it has made me happy to spend my special day at work with people that care.

You may be thinking, “Okay, it’s important to give out business birthday cards, but where can I find some that are appropriate and tasteful?” Imagine finding an entire collection of cards dedicated for just this purpose. That is exactly what The Gallery Collection can provide. The best part is you’ll be paying much less than chain store prices for superior quality and personalization. It’s great to find a company that can make your life just a little bit easier, and help you to make someone else’s day brighter. Now there’s no excuse—recognize your business associates and co-workers on their birthdays; they’ll surely remember you fondly for it.

Assorted Birthday Cards Show Employee Appreciation

Working as an office administrator in a small office I am always coming up with new ways of showing appreciation to our employees. This is a little easier to do than working with a larger office because of the number of employees and costs. Here is my tip on birthdays and birthday cards for cozier offices. If you work in a small office like me assorted birthday cards are a better alternative than getting a “one size fits all” card and this is why. We all know that time when a birthday card gets passed around the office because a co-workers birthday is coming up soon. Now imagine signing the same exact card 10+ times. By the time your birthday comes along you would probably already know what card you’re going to get and that’s no fun! Well ordering bulk birthday cards was the solution!

We all appreciate it when it’s our birthday and we get a different card then what we signed for Bill’s or Jane’s birthday. The surprise element really adds a nice touch to an office birthday. I found the perfect assortment from the Gallery Collection. They don’t sacrifice quality for costs and the cards are beautiful! If you are an office admin please take this tip and get your birthday cards today. Trust me, you will thank me later!

The Gallery Collection Donates to Boston Marathon Victim Fundraiser

The Gallery Collection is pleased to announce a donation to Boston Marathon bombing victim, Heather Abbott, through a special fundraiser to be held in her honor.

The event will take place at 2pm on Sunday, April 28th at the Dockside 1 Waites Wharf in Heather’s hometown of Newport, RI. There is a $20 suggested donation for entry, and there will also be raffles, a silent auction, and live music with 100% of the proceeds going directly to a recovery fund for medical and rehabilitation costs. Heather, who sustained serious injuries to her left leg during the attack, recently underwent an operation to amputate the leg below the knee. “It will be a long road ahead for Heather, and we are hoping to relieve some of the impending financial burden by raising funds in her name,” reads the event website. “This will allow Heather to focus all of her energy on getting better.”

Boston Marathon Fundraiser Cards

In a show of support for Heather and this Sunday’s fundraiser, The Gallery Collection will be donating nearly $5,000 worth of products to support the day’s events, including a $300 gift certificate to the silent auction, thirty greeting card assortment boxes to be sold throughout the day, and 500 personalized cards that will be distributed as a thank you to all those in attendance.

“The events on April 15th in Boston were a shock to everyone,” said H.L. DeVore, Chief Marketing Officer for The Gallery Collection. “As I learned more about the individual stories of courage and heroism that occurred that day, I was particularly touched by Heather’s story. The Gallery Collection’s donation to her fundraiser is our way of providing both financial and moral support on her road to recovery, as well as being a gesture of solidarity to all the victims and those affected by that tragic day.”

For more info on Sunday’s fundraiser, visit the event Facebook page. Those wishing to donate to Heather’s recovery fund but are unable to attend the event can make a direct donation at the following website: http://www.gofundme.com/HeatherAbbott. For general donations to the Boston Marathon fund, visit the One Fund homepage.

Business Birthday Cards – A Unique Office Experience

The morning routine is definitely a little different today. My morning commute normally doesn’t involve making a pit stop to get a dozen bagels and delicious donuts. It’s a special day indeed. A unique tradition has been implemented at the office for these types of days. If it’s your birthday, guess what? You get to go out and get everyone gifts or in this case, breakfast bare necessities. Things are a little backwards at my office, but it’s great to see others enjoying my birthday festivities. My co-workers do give me something that I think is even better than gifts or junk food – a business birthday card signed by my entire department expressing their well wishes for me on my day of being born. Business birthday cards are the perfect way for an employee to feel cared about. These cards are given by the company to their employees and are well received by everyone.

Once the storm of co-workers has finished devouring each and every piece of the breakfast presents, the day continues to move along. Then, in the afternoon, right after lunch, there it was in all of its glory (insert exaggeration here). It was the office birthday card. Seeing all of my co-workers say a little something with their signatures meant a lot. It made me feel a part of the group, a part of the office tradition, and definitely feel special. Office birthday cards are the ultimate display of appreciation. The gesture itself is more than gratifying in my perspective. As people get older, you tend to forget the value of your birthday and often do not even want it to come; another year older doesn’t sound too appealing in the eyes of many. Then you remember, “Wait, I have a job to go to and have to be reminded that it’s my birthday by other people.” The bitterness then goes away when you see that birthday card at your desk. The day instantly gets a little brighter. When you know you can share your birthday with such great people, you do not regret your birthday from happening, you embrace it.

Announcing The Finalists of The 2nd Chance – $1,000 Christmas Tree Design Contest

The Gallery Collection is pleased to announce the finalists of our 2nd Chance – $1,000 Christmas Tree Design Contest. This exciting new design contest was open to the finalists from the Gallery Collection’s 6th Annual Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship contest. You can see all of the amazing submissions that we received below.

All finalists from the 6th annual scholarship contest were invited to submit designs that feature Decorated Christmas Trees. One of these beautiful designs will win a $1,000 prize for a very talented artist. If there is a design you love and want to share on a social network, just click the image you would like to share and use the URL from the new page.

Stay tuned! The winner will be announced on May 15, 2013!

Business Greeting Cards Keep You In The Minds Of Customers

I’ve noticed lately that when I visit a new store or restaurant and join their “frequent visitors” list, one of the questions they ask is “when is your birthday” or “when is your anniversary”. I guess in the back of my mind I wondered if they’d send business greeting cards, but that seemed so personal and I always thought of most businesses as just the opposite. Imagine my surprise when I got a birthday card from my favorite new restaurant.

Aside from the good will something like corporate greeting cards spread, there is the word of mouth that, as we all know, can make or break many businesses today. I was on the phone and Facebook immediately telling all my friends about getting birthday cards from the restaurant we had all just eaten in a few months ago. Without exception, everyone commented on how thoughtful it was that they actually acted upon the information they collected.

Then there was the Thank You card my daughter received from the sales woman at the furniture store. Yet another example of business greeting cards showing that someone took a little extra time to show appreciation. We all know, there are lots of stores out there, not to mention all the online options for shopping. When a business takes the time to say “Thank You for Choosing Us” it leaves a real impression. I know the next time I am shopping for furniture, I will think about going back to this particular store. They were kind enough to thank us for our business; I will return the gesture by shopping there and recommending them to friends and family.

It’s not just restaurants and retail establishments that have realized the value of business greeting cards though. I changed dentists last year and now I get a greeting card from him on my birthday or whenever I refer someone to his practice.

It’s a good feeling to be appreciated or remembered – whether it’s a restaurant, furniture store or even my dentist!

A Warm Reception At My New Job With Personalized Birthday Cards

It was my first day back to work at a new company after a long hiatus taking care of my young daughter. I was about to begin a week long training session, and it was also my birthday. I walked into the training room filled with anticipation for this new chapter in my life. I was surprised to find a card placed on top of my employee manual. The card was to welcome me to the company and congratulate me on my birthday! It was personally signed by the managers and executive staff. It put a smile on my face and made me feel at ease. I couldn’t believe that my birthday had been recognized, and on just my first day; on top of that, the executives took the time to hand sign all their personalized birthday cards!

Today, I still have the card proudly displayed at my desk. It is so beautiful with the company’s name and logo in the card. I now do the purchasing for the company, and I make sure that I order the same business birthday cards (from The Gallery Collection) that I received on my first day. That day set the tone for what has turned out to be an exceptional workplace. It’s amazing, but true, that the smallest things can have a big impact.