Assorted Birthday Cards Work For Everyone

You can never go wrong with assorted birthday cards. When you send birthday cards at a company the recipient always expects it to be the same as someone else’s card. We think things like “they wouldn’t spend all of their time personalizing something for just me.” In all actuality the thought is what truly counts. Everyday we think about how we can send out birthday cards and not be repetitive. Assorted cards are the perfect way to tackle that issue. This make employees feel special and appreciated.

I actually have my own set of bulk birthday cards to send to friends and family. I purchased this same birthday box for myself. I was thoroughly impressed with the quality and scenic look of all the cards. All I have to do is slap some labels on the cards and away they go. It makes my cards sending process reasonable and affordable every year. Creativity isn’t one of my strongest suits. After getting a great deal on a box of assorted birthday cards from The Gallery Collection, I created a list of birthdays. I wrote each name from my birthday list on a post-it and stuck it to the card that represented each person best. Problem solved!

Business Birthday Cards – Even If You Hate Your Birthday

I have a niece who loves her birthday. She looks forward to it every year and is very disappointed if we don’t make a big deal about it. On the other hand, I can’t say I ever loved my birthday – and I love it even less so as the years add up. I guess it beats the alternative but I was never one to look forward to my birthday. I don’t like being in the spotlight and I don’t like to receive gifts. At the beginning of every year I check the calendar and hope that my birthday falls on a weekend so that I miss all the hoopla that takes place at work – even though weekend birthdays are celebrated on Friday or Monday so your birthday cannot be avoided. But I have to say I do enjoy the business birthday cards I get from my boss each year. Having worked in the same company for 27 years that adds up to 26 cards and counting. Every year, without fail, when I arrive at work on my actual birthday, or the Friday or Monday before, there is a card for me waiting on my desk.

My boss orders personalized birthday cards at the beginning of each year and he marks his calendar for all upcoming birthdays. Even though we all know we are getting a birthday card it is still a pleasant surprise to see the card waiting for us when we arrive at work. He orders birthday cards – his name and the company name are already printed – but then he adds some personal notes. This is what makes the birthday card so special. He tells us all the nice things he should be telling us all year long instead of just on our birthday. But hey, at least he tells us!

Helpful Tips for Sending Sympathy Cards

For obvious reasons, no one likes to send sympathy cards. But they are needed, as they help bring comfort to the bereaved and also enable you to express and share your grief. Knowing the right things to say and do can be difficult. Here are some tips for sending sympathy cards.

Writing the Sympathy Cards
• Opt for a black or blue pen. Do not use colorful pens.
• If you’re not sure what to say, keep it simple. Messages such as “I am sorry for your loss.” and “My thoughts and prayers are with you.” are always appropriate.
• Avoid saying things like “He is in a better place.” or “Time heals all wounds.” Hearing trite clichés like this might be painful for the family.
• Be heartfelt and respectful.
• If you knew the deceased well, you can include a memory or acknowledge how much the person meant to you.
• Be sure to include your last name when signing the card.

When and How to Give the Sympathy Cards
• If you are attending the wake or funeral, you can give the card to the family at that time. The funeral home usually has a dedicated holder for everyone to place their cards.
• If sending the card via mail, write the mailing and return addresses by hand to make the envelope more personal.
• Some people are able to visit the bereaved in person and like to bring flowers or food to help the family during this difficult time. Sympathy cards can accompany these gifts.
• The sooner the better, so your card reaches the person grieving when needed most. However, it is never too late to share your condolences.

Types of Sympathy Cards and Thinking of You Cards
• A nice touch would be to select a design that honors the deceased. For example, if she loved going to the beach, an elegant card with seashells or peaceful ocean scene would be appropriate.
• If the deceased or the family is religious, a card with that theme would be well-received.
• “Thinking of You” cards can be considered instead of traditional sympathy cards. These designs and sentiments are just as appropriate.

Business Birthday Cards Can Be As Important As Morning Coffee

I worked for the same company for 15 years and never heard of business birthday cards. Over the years I’d received a lot of notices like: there would be no more profit sharing, 401k matching was over, you will now pay for your own healthcare, and there would be no raises this year. That one I’ve actually gotten 3 years in a row. A cheery card of any kind would have been so out of character.

Friends would always tell me to move on, get a new job. They’d give me leads and contacts but I always had some kind of excuse. My father worked for the same company from high school to retirement, and I guess I always thought that was a great accomplishment. And it is, if it’s a company that treats you with respect.

One day they stopped providing free coffee in the office. No notice, there just wasn’t any more. After a couple days someone asked about it. It was a cost cutting measure, sorry. Not so much as a heads up for the people who expect to get a cup in the morning when they come in. Like me, for instance.

Well, that was it. Now they’re messing with my coffee. I told a friend I was serious about getting out, and within a month I had a new job.

You know, it’s tough all over, and a lot of businesses are feeling the pinch. And big companies can be a little cold anyway. Where I work now is better all around. They even send out birthday cards. On your desk, right on your birthday, personally signed by the Company president. I get cards for Christmas and Thanksgiving, too. Last week I got a congratulations card for the new house we bought. Call me old fashioned, but it really makes me feel appreciated. It looks like I’ll be staying put for a while.

Decorating with Business Greeting Cards for Christmas

I love getting cards. I love the fact that someone went to the time and the trouble to pick out a card, write some stuff in it and actually mail it to me. It doesn’t matter if they are birthday cards, Christmas cards or even business greeting cards, I love them all because it means someone took the time to think of me.

I am passionate about the whole recycle reuse concept and, after I have enjoyed reading and looking at the cards, I immediately set my sights on breathing new life into them.

For the smaller size Christmas cards I am a fan of cutting the back off of them, punch a hole at the top right corner of the front of one and using them as a gift card. When I receive both personal holiday cards and company Christmas cards I use them as part of my Christmas decorations. The bigger and brighter they are, the more I enjoy decking the halls with them.

Here is how I make a greeting card Christmas tree:

1. I take a large piece of felt and cut it out in the shape of large rectangle about 16 x 16 inches.
2. I then cover the front a 14 x 14 piece of old cardboard.
3. I wrap the excess material in the back and staple it.
4. I then take my cards and I begin arranging them in the shape of a Christmas tree. Just put them on a slant and overlap them until you have the angled corners sticking out until you create a tree shape.
5. I then take a solid piece of holiday ribbon and glue it down the front of the tree.
6. I use whatever I have on hand to make the tree stump.
7. For a finishing touch, I add snow to the bottom of the tree by gluing some poly cotton fiber fill to by board.
8. If I am really feeling creative, I dig up some of my previous year’s “gift cards” or Christmas cards that have not yet been repurposed and look for ones that have gifts on them and cut the presents out and place them under my tree.

There you have it! A Christmas card tree.

The Gallery Collection Announces the 2nd Chance – $1,000 Christmas Tree Design Contest

The Gallery Collection is pleased to announce our 2nd Chance – $1,000 Christmas Tree Design Contest. This exciting new contest is open to the finalists from the Gallery Collection’s 6th Annual Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship contest.

After receiving such a large number of outstanding entries, we wanted to run an exciting new contest to give one finalist from the 6th Annual Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship contest a second chance to win.

All finalists from the 6th annual scholarship contest are invited to submit designs that feature Decorated Christmas Trees. The finalists are allowed to submit as many decorated tree designs as they would like in the allotted time. Submissions to the contest can be an original photo, artwork or computer graphic. The winner with the best design as chosen by a panel of judges will receive a $1,000 award.

The contest begins on March 27th and will end on April 21st. The winner will be announced on May 15, 2013, so all of our 2nd chance finalists won’t have long to wait to see if they are the winner! The finalists of the scholarship contest created such beautiful and unique designs that there is no doubt the Christmas Tree Design contest will have equally wonderful art.

Congratulations to all the finalists of the 6th Annual Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship contest. Everyone at the Gallery Collection looks forward to seeing the amazing decorated Christmas tree designs that are sure to be entered.

 

Design 76ECW - Merry Christmas Trimmings Card

 

2nd Chance – $1,000 Christmas Tree Design Contest Guidelines:

Submission Deadline: April 21, 2013

Winner will be announced: May 15, 2013

Eligibility: Must be a 6th Annual Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Finalist
Official Rules

Type of Holiday Card: Decorated Christmas Tree

Format: Original photo, artwork or computer graphic as a jpeg* accompanied by your name and contact information to designcontest@gallerycollection.com

Preferred Size: 7.875” x 5.5”
While the design itself would need to fit within those
dimensions, it is not necessary for you to submit in
this exact size.

Orientation: horizontal or vertical

Maximum File Size: 2 megabytes

Minimum Resolution: 300 dpi
Keep original layers in tact.

Business Birthday Cards That Show You Care

In every stage of my life the most important thing I’ve learned is that people will appreciate being appreciated. From my time in the Army when our commanders acknowledged our birthdays or anniversaries to when I was working in a corporate environment and smiled every time my bosses praised me for a job well done. Even walking down the street and someone saying a simple “Thank you for your service” when they saw my military shirt. It just feels wonderful to know that people care. And it’s a great motivational tool. That’s why when I started my own small business, I didn’t hesitate to order  business Birthday cards from the Gallery Collection. I knew from experience that it was well worth the few extra dollars to let my employees and clients know that they weren’t just a number to me and that they were valued. More so, I wanted them to know they were worth the best quality cards out there, not some cheap dollar store card.

Once you give your employees and clients their special card on their special day, it’s hard not to light up inside just as much as they do. The feeling of making someone smile is great. And you know what, I notice that once you give cards your employees and clients will be more loyal, friendly and appreciative back. It’s not only a good thing to do, but it’s also a great business investment. I find that throughout these years since I started sending cards my business has only gotten stronger. In fact, now I buy my birthday cards in bulk, in case I have new clients who come in. As the Army taught me, it’s always best to be prepared. I wouldn’t want to miss a single chance to reach out to a client and dazzle them with the beautiful cards that we have. They create a lasting impression and it’s always nice to let people know that we’re much more than your average business.

Sympathy Cards and Treasured Thoughts

Sending sympathy cards is not the most pleasant task, as we all know. It is however, a part of life. Our logical minds tell us that but our hearts aren’t as easily convinced. Just conveying condolences can be stressful. We are never quite sure what to say. We don’t want to upset anyone. If you are like me, just the thought can bring on the waterworks. What if we send the wrong type of card or say the wrong thing? Sometimes this means we may do nothing at all.

As one that has been on both ends as a sender and a receiver, way too many times I might add, I can vouch for the value of sympathy cards. After losing my daughter several years ago I received many, many sympathy cards. Every single one was so greatly appreciated. I placed all of them in a plastic container. Once in awhile, I would pull them out and read them. It was so comforting to read all of the kind words. Some were just simply signed, while others had handwritten notes. It didn’t matter. Each one was a great source of comfort. I still have that little plastic container with the cards.

At work corporate sympathy cards come into play. Over the last few years I have lost a few more family members. Each time I was sent a sympathy card be my employer, as well as my co-workers. These too were treasured more than words could ever say.

Whether you’re a business or sending out personally, consider keeping a supply of sympathy cards on hand. Choose a couple or order an assortment box of cards. Include a few words if you like or just sign your name. It doesn’t matter if it is simply signed or includes words of remembrance. The receiver will be eternally grateful.

Keeping the Tradition of Birthday Cards Alive

Need to talk? Send an email! Not sure how to spell a word? Spell check! Ah, the wonderful age of technology. Now don’t get me wrong – we have come a long way with the help of computers and other digital gadgets. But where does it end? Is it possible we are using technology a little too much these days? It’s sad that even a simple practice like sending birthday cards is slowly diminishing. I recently received an automated email (the kind you cannot reply to) wishing me a happy birthday from one of my business associates. How impersonal!

While I can’t stop the rapidly-changing world we live in, I can pick and choose the traditions I’d like to preserve. I pride myself on the fact that I still send high-quality birthday cards to my employees, family and friends. Besides, it’s quite an enjoyable process. At the beginning of each year, I buy a box of assorted birthday cards from The Gallery Collection and keep them at my office. As birthdays roll around, I pull out the box from my drawer and select the perfect design (this is my favorite part). After jotting a note inside, I hand-address the envelope, slap on a stamp and off it goes. The responses I get are overwhelming! I think it reminds everyone that a touch of humanity every now and then is still very much needed and appreciated.