Tag: christmas cards

7 Reasons Why Christmas Isn’t the Same Without Christmas Cards

If you’re like me, then you love sending and receiving thoughtful Christmas cards around the holiday season. Here are seven reasons why it just wouldn’t be the same without them!

1. It gives you an excuse to get in touch with a lost connection.

Sending Christmas cards are a great way to reach out to someone you’ve lost touch with. It is a simple way to show someone that you are still thinking of them, and cards are much more thoughtful than a Facebook message or text. Your recipient will know that you put the time and effort into picking out a card, handwriting a message and stopping by the post office to mail it. Who doesn’t like to be surprised by a personally addressed letter? It doesn’t happen as often as it used to and will definitely make an impression.

2. Picking out holiday cards is part of the holiday fun.

One of the most fun parts about Christmas cards is picking them out! There are so many different options when it comes to the designs and greetings. And unlike Christmas presents, you don’t have the stress of worrying about getting the best deal, because they are so affordable. You also don’t have to worry if your recipient will like it because there are so many beautiful cards out there. So you can just relax and browse to your heart’s content!

3. They make your home look festive.

If you love receiving Christmas cards, I’m sure you also love displaying them on your fireplace, desk and end tables to get your home into the holiday spirit. Even the most beautifully decorated homes don’t feel the same without thoughtful cards from loved ones scattered throughout the living areas. They will also pique your guests’ interest, which brings me to my next point…

4. They’re a conversation starter.

Whenever I display my holiday cards, people always take notice of them. This is usually because Christmas cards tend to be very eye catching due to the glitter, foil or beautiful winter scenes. People love looking at them and asking about them. This could easily start up a conversation especially with new people during a holiday gathering.

5. You can remind people how much they mean to you.

People love hearing that they are admired, cared about, loved and thought of. Sending Christmas cards are a great way to show the people most important to you that they are in your thoughts and that you care. It also gives you a chance to express your feelings through handwriting, which is happening less and less with the advent of cellphones and social media. Your friends and family with be able to have a physical token of your meaningful relationship.

6. People will remind you how much you are appreciated.

Of course you will not only be writing and sending cards, but you will also be receiving them. What would the holiday season be without the people closest to you sending their thoughts and warm wishes?

7. Christmas cards remind us what the holiday season is about.

The holidays are a hectic time of year for most of us. We get so caught up in buying gifts, getting deals, going to holiday parties, and hoping we get what we asked for that it’s easy to forget we already have what’s most important to us. Christmas cards bring us together and remind us that it is our family and friends that make the holidays worth celebrating.

Holiday Cards: Should Your Business Send Them?

I remember when I use to check the mail in the morning as a kid. I’d shuffle through envelopes as if I had important mail coming, but I never had any mail for me. It wasn’t like I was paying the bills. I just liked sorting through mail; don’t ask me why. I’d look through it and anything with my dad’s name went into his pile, mail with my mom’s name went into hers, etc. I was basically the in house mail sorter. I thought I had their mail all figured out until companies began to send them huge calendars and Christmas cards. They were interesting because they usually would send them around the holiday time. They always caught my eye with all the cool Thanksgiving and Christmas designs, and some even had the companies’ names printed on them which stood out even more. One day, my mom was helping me sort through the mail and I remember her saying about one of the holiday calendar cards, “you always need these calendars around and I might need this to get the info about the company who sent it.” So, if you’re a small local company on the rise or an internationally known business with thousands of locations,  does sending Holiday Cards make sense? I would emphatically say yes.

I know some may say no because people will receive them in the mail and simply toss them. But, I have come to believe it is more than worth it to send out holiday cards. This is a chance for new customers to learn about your business or spark their interest in you. Of course, some will be thrown out, but there’s a better chance of people who won’t and will need your services. They will be more likely to contact you instead of the competitor who didn’t pay to have those cards made and sent out, since they have your info at the ready.

So yes, sending out holiday cards are one of those decisions you weigh out the pros and cons on. But personally, I feel they are more than worth the effort because I can potentially make new clients in the process. New customers will have all my contact info I’ll have new business along with new friends to enjoy the holiday season with. It’s a no brainer for me. 

Christmas Cards Throughout History

As with all things, Christmas cards have changed dramatically since their inception. Cards actually originated way back in the Victorian Era. In the 1920’s, Christmas cards really took on steam. At this point in history, the card designs and greetings were all religious cards. They had their own unique charm. In the years that followed, changes started to take place, and by the 1940’s, cards were moving further away from the religious theme. You could find Christmas cards with characters such as Mickey Mouse and Betty Boop.

From the 1960’s until about 2000’s, things really took a turn. Cards were getting cheekier in their humor. This period of time in general is known for the freedom movements and edginess. Naturally, Christmas cards followed suit. While there were still plenty of classic religious cards to be found, the majority of people were looking at cards with pushed towards humor and varying themes. Commercialism rose to an all-time high. Along with this change, the cost of greeting cards began to rise.

Present day greeting cards have evolved to include all extremes and everything in the middle. You can find cards truly inspired by the spirit of Christmas. As you browse the selections, you will also see some middle of the ground – not overtly religious but just offering peace and happiness. Then, there is the totally funny and outrageous. There are cards for everyone out there these days. Throughout time, greeting cards have evolved into a booming industry.

How to Choose Your Christmas Card for a Small Business

You company is in the process of ordering this year’s Christmas cards. But there are so many options! If you are feeling overwhelmed, here is some advice on how to choose your small business’s Christmas cards.

If you already know that you would like to send out Christmas cards for your company—as opposed to “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” cards— that is already a huge decision made. But now what? There are still so many options! The next thing to consider is which kind of Christmas card you’d like to send. A religious card? A traditional red and green? Silly? Industry-related? Foil and embossed? A winter scene? Ornaments? A photo-mount of your employees or your store front? Once you narrow that down, the other choices should be easier.

Next, you’ll want to think about which color ink or foil to use for the inside of your company Christmas cards. Examine the design you’ve chosen and pick the most complimentary hue. Also, you might want to consider the text you’ll have featured inside. Will you include your logo? Then maybe company colors will look sharp. Are you adding signatures? Which color will you sign in or are you having your signatures printed inside? All these small decisions come together to form your perfect card. There is no right or wrong—just whatever you like! So have fun and dazzle your recipients with your company’s own style!

Should I Add A Logo To My Christmas Cards?

Adding your company’s logo to your Christmas cards is entirely up to you. This choice hinges on your business, your intended recipients, and your purpose for sending the cards. 

Having a visual representation of your company helps customers associate your logo with your business. This recognition can be especially helpful if your logo does not use your company’s name or any other identifying factors. If this is the case, it could also be helpful to add the company name to be clear. Plus, using your logo makes you look more professional and established. Additionally, if your logo represents many branches, it could help unify your location with the rest. 

There is a reason your company has developed a logo in the first place. Maybe it was to better illustrate the type of business you do, to send a subliminal message while marketing (showing compassion, modernity, etc.), or maybe your logo was created to boast a reboot/refresh (new owner or direction). Whatever it is, the point is your logo was formed with specific intentions in mind, consciously or not. Think about if using your logo in a Christmas card could better support your intentions.

5 Grammar Mistakes You Might Be Making On Your Business Christmas Cards

All companies want to put their best foot forward when sending Business Christmas Cards; the cards are chosen carefully, the best card stock, the best embossing and foil but if there are grammatical mistakes, all is ruined. Remember all of the times you receive an email or letter and the grammar is atrocious, your reaction is, “oh my, didn’t they read this before sending?” well proof reading also applies to Corporate Christmas Cards.
Here are five of the most common grammatical mistakes:

  • Season’s Greetings is correct not Seasons Greetings – use an apostrophe.
  • However, there is no apostrophe after a family’s last name for example, The Wards is correct The Ward’s is not.
  • Please write Happy New Year, not Happy New Year’s or Happy New Years, this even sounds wrong.
  • The word Christmas should always be capitalized, but the word merry should not be capitalized unless you are starting the line with the greeting “Merry Christmas.” If merry falls in the middle of a sentence, it should not be capitalized.
  • When writing a message in your Corporate Christmas Card please remember that it is correct to say “The Board of Directors and I wish you a…” not “The Board of Directors and me wish you a…”

Asking someone to proof read your Business Christmas Cards may seem silly but sending out the “wrong message” is even sillier.

Brand The Holidays

There is no place like home for the holidays. And why not make sure your company name and logo is in everyone’s home? Design Your Own holiday card and send it out to all your perspective clients, your employees and vendors. With a little in house graphical work you can really create something magical.

Your company name and logo is your identity. And let us face it Christmas is a magical time that everyone enjoys. Why not meld the two together this season and not only get good will out there…get YOU out there. Another thing you can do is take a company picture. Maybe everyone wearing some Santa hats, maybe some elves mixed in. Slap a little “Happy Holidays from” your company and you have a whimsical card that will get you on the side of someone’s cubicle all season long.

Keep in mind there are many other ways to do this. You can do a card that has a regular “Christmasy” type image on the front with some text that has your company name on it as well. Either way works just fine. The key is do not forget to tell everyone happy holidays and do not forget to tell them who is saying it to them.

The Best Time To Mail Your Christmas Cards

Christmas cards are an essential part of getting the full Christmas experience. Unlike gifts under the tree, cards are not only relevant on Christmas day but are also part of the buildup and excitement for the Christmas Season. Receiving lovely cards from our relatives, friends, and loved ones always is a welcoming surprise in the mail. So rightly, you want to send some nice cards back their way. The Gallery Collection has so many different designs to choose from including the Ornamental Ornament Christmas Card that features a beautiful photo of an ornament on the front. The Wintergreen Christmas Card, for the businesses out there sending holiday cards, is a heartwarming simple card that shows you care. Knowing when to send them out so they can be received on time for the full effect is crucial for anyone, maybe even more for businesses.

A good rule of thumb for delivery dates is any time after Thanksgiving but preferably within the first ten days of December. This way even if there are any problems with the postal service, like mail getting lost or mixed up,etc. you’ve sent it out early enough to avoid being late. Of course this all depends on where you are sending them and taking that into consideration by researching shipping times for that address. If the shipping time for example is 3 weeks or over, giving a 5-7 day buffer with delivery is a good countermeasure to take to ensure delivery on time. Here’s hoping you all send and receive your lovely Christmas cards from The Galley Collection this holiday season and Merry Christmas!

Feature Your Company Name on Your Holiday Cards

You’ve decided to distribute holiday cards this year because you could use the business. Are you worried the product won’t be worth the price-tag? Well wipe that concern from your mind if you’ve chosen to order from The Gallery Collection. Their premium quality cards will impress your recipients every time—and with so many designs options, you’ll never have to send the same card twice (unless you want to )! This post will shine a spotlight on how to feature your company name on your holiday cards.

It’s pretty unique that so many components of The Gallery Collection’s cards are editable. Feel free to browse the hundreds of holiday cards that allow you to have your company name right on the front: Feature Your Company Name Holiday Cards. With options like using an ink card with a customizable cover or a foil and embossed card with a peek-through window, you’re going to have a difficult time narrowing it down!

It’s a smart move to have your company name blazoned on the front of your holiday cards. This marketing move gives your company visibility while also showing gratitude. Chances are your customers or business partners will display your card where other potential clients will see. You could even add your logo or printed signatures inside your cards for that extra touch of professionalism.

Product Highlight – Custom Photo Mounts

When the Holiday season comes around, it is essential to pick the perfect card, border, or background. But, you might find yourself unable to choose one after scrolling through thousands of design options. If you fall under this category, don’t worry! You could simply create your own design using the new Custom Photo Mount cards from the Gallery Collection.

Do you have a specific picture you would like to turn into an elegant Holiday card? Save yourself the stress of running to the store and printing out the pictures, and then finding the right card and scribbling a somewhat personal message inside every single one. That’s just too much work.

With the Gallery Collection’s Custom Photo Mounts, you can have your photos printed for you, mounted onto the card, AND imprinted with a personal message, name, and etc. All you have to do is pick a card stock, white, black, red, etc., and a border color, silver or gold, and then directly upload your picture. The Custom Photo Mounts give you the option of choosing a gloss or matte finish for the photo, and then you can get the inside of the card personalized. Pick one of the standard greetings, and then add a custom imprint such as, “From all of us at the Gallery Collection,” or “The Gallery Collection Family.”

No more worrying about finding the perfect card because now you can create your perfect card!