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

The Gallery Collection is pleased to announce the winner of our 2nd Chance – $1,000 Christmas Tree Design Contest. Karen Kuhlman of Aloha, Oregon is our winner, and she was so excited to win that she had this to say:

“The Gallery Collection is a very generous and fantastic company to allow students like myself to apply for these contests. Thanks so much again, the money will come in handy for those expensive college tuitions.”

All finalists from the 6th annual scholarship contest were invited to submit designs that feature Decorated Christmas Trees. So many beautiful tree designs were submitted it made our decision quite difficult!

 

Karen Kuhlman
Karen Kuhlman of Aloha, Oregon

Christmas Tree Design Contest
Karen Kuhlman’s Winning Entry

 

Corporate Is Never Too Stuffy For Business Birthday Cards

Doesn’t the corporate atmosphere seem so stuffy? Everything so routine and monotonous? Where the big bosses play while all the employees do all the work? Where the atmosphere is so hushed and rushed? In corporations it always seems as though the only focus and main goal is to get work done. To make those big deals, bring in the best clients, and make the big bucks. So where does showing these hardworking employees recognition and appreciation fit in? With business birthday cards!

Everybody loves to be recognized and remembered on their birthday. Whether it’s by friends, family, neighbors, or that place where they spend most of their time at, the job! Imagine that. Waking up on your birthday and having that feeling of dread going to that place where it’s all work and no play; only to arrive and have that elegant envelope with your name sitting on your desk. Not sure what could be in the envelope, you slowly open it expecting to maybe hear bad news. And to your pleasant surprise, it’s beautiful, brightly colored, yet classy and professional birthday cards. “We sincerely appreciate your contributions to the success of our company. Best Wishes for a Wonderful Birthday.” What a way to show employee appreciation! Now how’s that for stuffy?

What To Write In Office Birthday Cards – Humor Edition

It’s Monday morning. You come back to your desk to find a manila envelope with office birthday cards inside. It’s for Bob in Accounting. You really don’t know Bob in Accounting. You stare vacantly down at the spots left on the card and your mind blanks. This is the third card to sign this month and you are running out of things to say. How can you keep yourself entertained as well as leave co-workers with a chuckle? Instead of the same monotonous scribbling, I came up with a few wittier comments to jot down that may get a little more attention. As an alternative to Happy Birthday Bob, give one of these a try…

For general birthday cards write “I’m sorry for your loss” or “my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time”. I have yet to build up the guts to write happy birthday in a sympathy card. How about “See a penny, pick it up, all day long, you’ll have a penny”. Or my favorite, simply cross out someone’s name who has already written something and put yours underneath. They can still read the message and see who it’s from but it saves time and may be interpreted as humorous. For someone who is retiring write “Quitter”! For just about any occasion you could jot down “Have a great summer”. Maybe randomly sign “It was a pleasure working with you on that weird pointless project”. The creative options are endless. This time leave Bob with a giggle or a puzzled look rather than another boring Happy Birthday.

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!