Christmas Cards Help Stretch My Happy Season

Christmas Cards herald, what was always to me, the happiest time of the year.  That first card to arrive by mail, usually the day after Thanksgiving, from the one early bird sender of my acquaintances, was often the first thing that really confirmed it – Christmas was officially coming!

You may say, and I’m sure you would be right, that stores are trotting out their Christmas sales and decorations earlier every year.  To me, that seems more nagging than festive.  Sometimes I can see a reason for it: for instance, if Hanukkah is early that year, early sales and Hanukkah decorations allow equal opportunity for all holiday shoppers.  Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the New Year, however, are celebrated on the same calendar dates every year, starting way late in December.

Why am I seeing Christmas decorations everywhere before we’ve even reached Halloween?  Am I the only one who thinks it looks tacky enough to see the dregs of last-minute Halloween costumes, candies and decorations, mixed in with the occasional and obligatory cardboard pilgrims with turkey-shaped candles?  Adding insult to injury are the hastily added mechanical Santas, trees, ornaments, stockings, and cotton “snow” that have apparently been gathering dust in storerooms all summer.

And, yes, I know that I have to think about ordering my custom-made, personalized Christmas cards well before Christmas, but that’s my personal choice, not something that’s forced on me everywhere I go.  And, isn’t it enough to hear Holiday music everywhere you go during the traditional four-week Advent between Thanksgiving and Christmas?  Why must we listen to it for eight weeks?!  (Composers take note: clearly, we need more Halloween and Thanksgiving songs.)

While I find that receiving Christmas cards over the course of a month helps to stretch out the joy of the holiday, I hate seeing the commercialism stretched to the point of warping.

Now… if you really want to get my goat, we can discuss the sad, dirty, sagging, bedraggled outdoor Christmas decorations that are such an eyesore long after the holidays have passed…

Sending Business Birthday Cards Is Still the Right Thing

Who would think that something so small with a few words of expression could light up someone’s day? Receiving business Birthday cards from your employer says a lot, especially in today’s economy. We all read or hear about the struggles of everyday life, whether it is in business or your personal life.  In the era of “cutbacks” it’s nice to know that my employer shows thoughtfulness to his employees by recognizing our birthdays.

It was made even more special when my boss walked up to me while I was working to personally hand me the card with his birthday wishes.  I felt appreciated for the work I put for the company.

Not only was it a nice gesture, but the card itself was beautiful!  It was a tropical beach scene (just where I wanted to be) but yet it had just enough sparkle on it that it made me smile and I will never forget that day as I still have the card. Three years later and still working at the same company even though my boss has retired, the tradition is still carried on by receiving our annual birthday cards.  I still look forward to it every year.

I have great birthdays!

Business Christmas Cards for an Entrepreneur

When I was laid off a few years ago, I decided to start my own business (I’d always thought about it, so I figured it was finally time to go for it).   At first, business was slow but steady, but my clients were great.  I was so happy to have survived the first 18 months of business ownership that I decided to send out personalized business Christmas cards thanking everyone for their loyalty.  They were so well received that I’ve continued the tradition every year since (and Gallery Collection never disappoints with its beautiful selection of designs).  I’ve also begun stocking up on assorted birthday cards so there’s always one handy when a client’s birthday approaches.

When I first started out I was fortunate to be able to quickly develop a very loyal client base.  Fast forward several years and my company is still doing well.  I know that I’m only able to do what I love because my clients continue to put their faith in me through repeat business and referrals.  Every year I get so many compliments and expressions of appreciation for the birthday and Christmas cards I’ve sent.  It reminds me that going the extra mile for my clients is as important as providing excellent service.  More importantly though, I know that my small gesture makes my clients feel good so I will continue to send Christmas cards (and birthday cards) to them every year.

Get Well Cards Turned my Frown Upside Down

Ever have one of those weeks? You know the ones that I’m talking about – where everything that can go wrong does. It’s almost like being in quicksand. The more you try to do, the further down you go. I had one of those weeks recently and it turned out that  get well cards was all it took to get me turned around. I know that sounds sappy, but it’s true.

I had a really big presentation at the corporate office in Cincinnati that Monday so there was enough pressure on me already. Then it hits me, my dog of 12 years became very sick. His name was Randy. I say “was” because my little pooch passed away a couple days after the presentation. It turns out he had an issue with his kidneys and they started to shut down.

The Cincinnati presentation did not go as I had planned, with most of my ideas getting shut down. I get home to find Randy very sick. My sister was taking care of him, but there was nothing she could have done. The vet said there was only a matter of days left before I had to make that decision nobody wants to make. So there it was the end of our great run. Randy had gotten me through a lot of hard times – girlfriends leaving, friends flake out – but a loving dog never leaves your side.

I took off Thursday when Randy passed on; I guess it was my day to reflect. It’s hard to lose a part of your family. So the next day you do what everyone else does…get up and go to work, living your life like you’re “supposed” to do. As usual, I got off the train and took that 10-minute walk.

That 10-minute stroll was one of the saddest walks of my life. Then I arrived at my cubicle and saw get well cards from everyone at work. Never could a piece of paper have meant more to me. To know that everyone around me cared enough to think about the loss of Randy made it all the more special. There’s something about people caring that just brings hope to you. So yes, a card can turn your frown upside down.

Employee Birthday Cards For The Whole Office

Every year my company celebrates my birthday by giving me some great employee birthday cards. I’ve been receiving these cards since around 1995; they are from Gallery Collection and are superb. It seems wherever I’m working they all seem to get these birthday cards from the same company.

Employee birthday cards have made such an impression on me and my co-workers that I started sending cards to my business customers also. I just started a small dot com business and I’m still working on the website, but people know me from local advertising. So when I get new customers they start an account and fill in an info form with their name, address, phone etc. When I complete repair work on their computer, I get to know these customers more. They are so happy with the job I do, especially saving them tons of money by not having to buy a new computer, we usually become friendly.

So the next time their birthday comes around, guess what, they receive one of my Gallery Collection business birthday cards with a special greeting saying what a valuable customer they are to me and I wish them many more birthdays in the future. This has such an impact on my customers they soon tell friends and family. Then I would get a phone call or email saying “I’m a friend of Debbie and she spoke well of your service” and they need me to repair their computer. This is such a great way to build a customer base. I continually follow up with them through greeting cards.

Company Holiday Cards Are Good Reminders

Recently I received very classy company holiday cards from a group I had done business with about 3 years ago.  When it arrived I thought it was from my cousin who owns her own business and it is doing very well.  It was a beautiful envelope with a gold foil lining and a frilly edge.  The return address was in gold foil and it really was impressive.  At that point when I saw the company who sent it I was surprised.  While they did a great job for me a few years back, I had forgotten about them.  I thought about it and as it just so happened I realized I could utilize their expertise on an upcoming job I was involved with.  I contacted them and we set up a meeting to discuss doing business together again.

I am so happy that this group decided to do company Christmas cards to all their past customers and business associates. If they had not contacted me I would have had to put out this job for bid. I now can deal directly with a company I have first hand knowledge does a really good job. What a time saver those holiday cards were for me, and more business for them!

Business Christmas Cards Give Holiday Thanks

What joy it brings when we see sparkling lights and bright faces, people with bags and packages scurrying everywhere and the feeling of holiday cheer is in the very air you breathe. Tis’ the season for goodwill toward all and it is as easy as using business Christmas cards to say Thank you to spread that goodwill to your customers and clients.

Whether your customer is a once a year or once a week customer; they want to be given good customer service and they want to know that their business is appreciated. With that in mind, why not give them great customer service? To take the time to go the extra mile will earn you points in the “I will return to business again” column. Although, it certainly is not a new practice to send business Christmas cards, and it is almost expected, saying thank you in that same card will just add a fabulous closing to your business year. Your customers will experience the feeling of goodwill you are sending and look favorably when they have need of your product or services again. Just knowing that you appreciate their continued patronage will realize an immeasurable benefit to your company. Really, everybody can use as much goodwill as they can get if their business is to flourish in today’s market.

In the impersonal computer age it goes a long way when we take a more personal approach to our customers. The human touch is so much more welcome for having become such an infrequent occurrence and you will be heads above your competitors by providing that touch. Taking the time to let your customers know that you are aware of how much they have contributed to your success is an easy step. Sit down and send corporate holiday cards and you have taken a huge step towards great customer service.

Business Birthday Cards – Good for Morale

Are business birthday cards good for morale? You bet they are! Yesterday was my birthday. When I got into the office, inserted into the slot above the number keys on my keyboard was an envelope with my name on it. Inside was a birthday card hand signed by the management team. Each of them, and there are six, wrote a brief personal message wishing me a happy birthday and thanking me for my contribution to the success of the company. It really made me feel special and appreciated. The card was not one of those funny or off-color cards I like to get for and receive from friends. It was definitely a business birthday card – formal, but modern and definitely appropriate for a corporate environment.

The management team started sending birthday cards for employees a few years ago. I really think it makes a difference that they acknowledge employee birthdays in this way. I mean it’s not like kindergarten so no one brings cupcakes and goodies and no one is singing happy birthday or handing out birthday gifts but the card is a small gesture that says: we care about you. And in return, they probably got more work out of me that day. So are business birthday cards good for morale? I’d say so.

Sending Boxed Sympathy Cards to Co-Workers

Although you might not know the person in all the cubicles in the office or in every department, when someone loses a loved one something tugs at the heart strings especially. The need to send boxed sympathy cards and acknowledge their loss looms large. Family is so important to many of us; it is a void that never gets filled.

It happened to me. I lost both my grandparents and they were waked together.  Although they died under different circumstances, their deaths made all the local papers. It was such a love story even at the time of their passing away.  They were married for 75 years and were never separated, so when they died in this manner it was emotional reading for the romantic at heart.  I received sympathy cards from people I hadn’t heard from in many years from all aspects of my life, personal and business.  My grandparents were a big part of my life, my friends and business acquaintances knew them, some better than others. My grandfather’s smile is so vivid in my mind; it makes me laugh when I think of him. Talk about lighting up a room! My grandmother would cook for any one that mentioned that they were hungry. They would even deliver the food!

Sharing these stories to others while my grandparents were alive, made their time of death remembered by so many.  It was comforting to me that so many people knew of them and respected my family ties.

When to Give Employee Anniversary Cards

When it’s your wedding anniversary you’d better give anniversary cards, this is a lesson I learned years ago. I could get all the jewelry money could buy, but if I don’t get that card it’s as if I hadn’t done a thing, which means no sleep for a week. I buy flowers, jewelry, etc. and here’s the reaction, “What,  no card?! What kind of husband are you?”

With that said, let’s talk about employee anniversary cards. You know, the ones your company, if you are lucky enough, give you every year. The business anniversary card that tells you how much they appreciate you and the many years of loyal and dedicated service you have given them. That makes such a big impact on an employee who is dedicated to his company. Personally, I like that acknowledgement. At my company everyone receives a card every year to mark the length of their employment. Not only do you receive a card, it’s given to you directly from the CEO or President of the company.

In a week I will be receiving corporate greeting cards from either the president or the CEO of the company I work for. It will be my 5 year anniversary. Having my hard work recognized gives me a good feeling. Sending anniversary cards to employees and co-workers is good for everyone.