Tag: corporate greeting cards

Facts about greeting cards…

  • Annual retail sales of greeting cards are estimated between $7 and $8 billion. Americans purchase approximately 6.5 billion greeting cards each year.
  • The most popular Seasonal Cards are Christmas Cards, with some 1.6 billion units purchased (included boxed cards). This is followed by cards for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Graduation, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and St. Patrick’s Day.
  • Seven out of Ten card buyers surveyed consider greeting cards “absolutely” or “almost essential to them. Eight out of Ten of these buyers expect their purchases to remain the same going forward. Of the balance, twice as many card buyers say they will “increase” their purchasing as say they will “decrease” their purchasing in the coming year.
  • Women purchase an estimated 80% of all greeting cards. Women spend more time choosing a card than men, and are more likely to buy several cards at once.
  • Younger card buyers and those who are more technology savvy are currently the ones most engaged in buying paper greeting cards online.
  • Most people now acknowledge many more birthdays than ever before because of Facebook, but they aren’t necessarily sending fewer cards as a result.
  • The tradition of giving greeting cards as a meaningful expression of personal affection for another person is still being deeply ingrained in today’s youth, and this tradition will likely continue as they become adults and become responsible for managing their own important relationships.

Dark vs. light Stock Greeting Cards

This has been an ongoing debate for years.  Do I go with the dark stock paper or the light stock paper for my greeting card?  Which is more elegant? Which makes more of a statement?

On the one side, the dark stock paper, whether it be black, blue, green or red, has a unique flair.  It is not something you see all the time.  When you add the gold or silver foil imprinting, the words just jump off the page.  The negative feedback to the dark paper is that it is a little down beat.  It doesn’t scream cheer as you would expect from a greeting card.

The other side of the debate is the light stock card.  Whether you are looking at a white or buff background card, it is the norm.  You will find cards printed on these two colors everywhere.  There is no distinction to these cards.  In this case, you have to rely on the front picture and the inside message to really make your point.  These cards do exude a brightness and perkiness to your sentiments.  You also have more options as far as imprint colors.  You can use blue, black, green or red ink besides the option of silver or gold foil. 

I feel it is all personal preference.  No matter what card stock, dark or light, that you choose to go with, it is the message you are sending that counts.

Why Everyone Still Appreciates Greeting Cards

In a world taken over by computers, technology and social media, it is refreshing to get a greeting card in the mail.  Sure it is nice (and important) to be able to send an email or text message in a matter of seconds, but there is still something to be said about the power of a greeting card.  I think the personal touch and extra effort is why everyone still appreciates greeting cards.

I send greeting cards often, both on a professional and personal level.  At work, during the holiday season, my department sends Gallery Collection Christmas cards to vendors that we’ve worked with throughout the year to express our gratitude and greetings.  The response we receive each year is so nice!  I also receive cards from vendors and it always feels great to feel remembered and appreciated. 

In my personal life, I send greeting cards to family and friends throughout the year, mainly for birthdays and Christmas.  I actually love taking the time to pick out the perfect cards and writing a personal message.  There are also unfortunate moments where I need to send a sympathy card.  I sometimes feel odd sending condolences through a text or Facebook, which is why I still choose to send a card.  I’ve also received such great response from the greeting cards I send out… I’ve even had people tell me they look forward to my card each year! 

I’m not against newer forms of communication, in fact I love it and use it daily.  But this doesn’t mean that you can no longer send greeting cards.  Based on my experiences, both professionally and personally, people still appreciate greeting cards.  I don’t think I’ll ever stop sending them!

Why Greeting Cards are Important in the Corporate World

For a variety of good reasons, businesses oftentimes send greeting cards to customers and clients. These cards can include holiday cards, thank you cards (for past business) invitations to upcoming company events or reminder cards for an upcoming appointment.

To make the most positive impression, the cards your company sends should be personalized to the recipient. For holiday cards, it would be ideal if the cards are signed by your company’s CEO or a high-ranking official. If this is not possible (due to a high quantity of clients), it would be best to at least have the cards sent to your largest accounts hand-signed.

When your card is received, it is likely to be shared with the management of the company and, sometimes, many employees. Those who receive your card are likely to think more fondly of you and more likely to conduct business with you in the future, especially when compared to a business that doesn’t bother to contact them.

The other type of corporate greeting cards are those that are sent to employees. Just as it is important to keep on the good side of customers and clients by sending cards, an employee birthday card or anniversary card is sure to keep your workers feeling valued and increased loyalty generally means increased productivity. As with other corporate greetings, a small investment can have a much larger positive impact!

Add a Personal Touch to Your Greeting Cards With Signatures

Sending greeting cards has been a time honored tradition for centuries. It is always such a delight to send and receive cards with good wishes for a special occasion or even just because. Now with all the modern day advancements in printing, you can take the personal touch to a whole new level.

Most businesses take advantage of the customization process by having a thought out greeting and their company name printed in their cards whether it be for the holidays, birthdays or anniversaries. Did you know you can also have your own signatures printed inside of your greeting cards? The signatures will give your greeting cards a much more personal touch.

After placing an order for 500 birthday cards, it can be a daunting project to have everyone in the office sign each card. Now you can place your order and request a signature layout. You will receive a mockup of the inside of your card including your greeting and your custom imprint. Everyone can sign this piece of paper just one time. You scan it then email it back. Your customization will be manufactured.

All of your greeting cards will then be imprinted with not just the greeting and customization but also with everyone’s signature. It is an easy way to put your personal touch on your greeting cards without the stress of having to physically sign each cards.

Sending Anniversary Cards to Employees

Sending anniversary cards to your employees send a message to them that their time with your company means something to you.

When I celebrated my one year anniversary, my boss stopped by my desk and dropped off a beautiful card and actually sang a quick song. (I know a little corny, right?) The card was signed by her, my immediate supervisor, the owner of the company, the CEO and the COO. It was wonderful. I have to say, all of this attention from my boss and supervisor made me feel like my work was valued.

The greeting inside the card not only said, “Happy Anniversary” but it stated that they “Appreciated my contributions and they realize I am part of their success.” What a fantastic thing to hear from the people you work for.

This type of inspiration motivates me to give all I can to my company. Sometimes all it takes is a small gesture to give an employee the encouragement they need to do everything in their power to make the company a priority. Sending anniversary cards to your employees will instill loyalty and promote a positive work environment. Inspiration and motivation stimulate effective employees. Take a little time to show appreciation with employee anniversary cards and your business will create and maintain a high-quality workforce.

Why Greeting Cards Are Important in the Corporate World

For a variety of good reasons, businesses oftentimes send greeting cards to customers and clients. These cards can include holiday cards, thank you cards (for past business), holiday party invitations, or reminder cards for an upcoming appointment.

To make the most positive impression, the greeting cards your company send should be personalized to the recipient. For holiday cards, it would be ideal if the cards are signed by your company’s CEO or a high-ranking official. If this is not possible (due to a high quantity of clients), it would be best to at least have the cards sent to your largest accounts hand-signed.

When your card is received, it is likely to be shared with the management of the company and, sometimes, many employees. Those who receive your card are likely to think more fondly of you and more likely to conduct business with you in the future, especially when compared to a business that doesn’t bother to contact them.

The other type of corporate greeting cards are those that are sent to employees. Just as it is important to keep on the good side of customers and clients by sending cards, an employee birthday cards or anniversary card is sure to keep your workers feeling valued and increased loyalty generally means increased productivity. As with other corporate greetings, a small investment can have a much larger positive impact!

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? What to Write on Your Business Christmas Cards

Christmas is a great time during the year, even for those who don’t celebrate it like myself. Even without celebrating all the cheer and joy of the season spills over into your life regardless as people celebrate all around you. Beautiful decorations are all around and stores have awesome Christmas sales we can all enjoy. However, as a business, Christmas is considered a religious holiday. Therefore, some may be hesitant to send out greeting cards with “Merry Christmas” written on them. The default alternative being to simply wish “Happy Holidays” instead to avoid any concerns.

Happy Holidays helps the company appear more inclusive of other holidays such as Hanukkah, which occurs around the same time. While doing so, it doesn’t exclude Christmas or favor any particular holiday. This is perfect for the workplace considering it is likely employees within the business do celebrate different holidays. As a company, using Happy Holidays when you want to appeal to a group of diverse workers or clients shows that you respect their cultures and beliefs. If you visit the Other Seasonal Greetings category, you’ll see perfect examples of greeting cards you could send out for your business and be confident none will be offended. That is not to say for those who are specifically targeting the Christmas holiday that “Merry Christmas” is a bad greeting, it is completely fine. If you’d specifically like a Christmas card with the words “Merry Christmas”, you may browse the Merry Christmas category and find a beautiful card which fits exactly what you need.

Why the Small Details Matter When Sending a Greeting Card

Sending a greeting card is a wonderful gesture of kindness. For some reason the art of sending a greeting card is becoming very rare. Younger generations seem to be more into e-cards or shooting a text. However, it is important to keep this tradition alive. A lot of people receive tons of mail every day – junk, bills, political flyers, magazines for shopping or hobby reading. When you receive a greeting card it makes you feel special. Someone was thinking about you and wrote you a card, it is personal.

Every detail matters big or small. It could be a sticker, a stamp, a label, a seal, to the color of the envelope, deckled edge, or seal fast so many things you can see before getting to the prize, “the card.” I have always decorated my envelopes with a personal return label, stickers (that remind the recipient of me or themselves). Sometime I just do cupcake, balloons, presents, etc. … for birthday. Or I follow whatever holiday is around the time I am sending a card, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and St. Patrick’s Day.

The postage stamps – I look up every year what stamps are coming out and I stock up on the ones I like. Could be Disney, Pets, American Flag, Purple Hearts, Landmarks, Planets, so many to choose from – last year at Christmas I used Snoopy and Charlie Brown. They are good for Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays. So many details and they all count. I have always had a nice response to my cards.

My aunt was in a nursing home for 3 years. I sent her 2 cards a week. Decorated with stickers, special labels, picked out stamps (tried to be as different as I could for everything) – and most cards were sent with photos. Could be of our family, or flowers, or places I have gone, mostly animals – dogs and cats. She loved them and she started writing more too and moved herself out of the nursing home. It was wonderful and it really raised her spirits to be receiving such nice cards with all the effort.
The card is a symbol of love. It is the first thing you open as a gift. It shows love, kindness, celebration, prayer, some can be funny or tell a story, or just have a sentiment to say Thank you or I’m here for you. Cards can show off your family, the city you vacationed in, the city you live in, animals you love, and so much more. And then we have greetings, sympathy, with love, birthday, holidays, thank you, thinking of you, and so many more. Color of ink or foil, embossing, digital, foil stamping, refractive foils, glitter and sparkle, the quality of a good card the thickness and vibrant color – so many wonderful things.

Then what we write inside the card our personal messages. I know my family love seeing the personalization with our names printed in the card, but they also want gossip and news about our lives. So writing in the card is crucial. If you have great handwriting – perfect, but if not type it up. I have a friend that draws a picture in all his cards. I love it.

When sending a greeting card remember to put a little bit of Love in it and you will enjoy the response you receive too. I almost do a mini scrap book on all my cards. A small detail goes a long way. Happy Writing and remember the little things.

Why Company Logos On Corporate Greeting Cards is a Good Idea

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We all know sending corporate greeting cards is a great way to create a good customer relationship and adding your company logo is a smart idea. You spent time creating the perfect logo, you chose the right colors, the right shape, the perfect tag line-what better place to put it than on your holiday cards. When you send holiday cards to your clients, it sets your business apart from others; your logo should work for you. Since holiday cards are welcome you are creating goodwill and not a sales pitch. Your logo is like a small ad for your company and people remember images better than they remember words – I am sure you have heard that a picture is worth a thousand words!

I patronize the companies that care enough about the business I give them to remember to thank me during the holidays; sending Christmas cards is a cost effective way to let your customers know that you appreciate their loyalty. Putting a visual reminder on the inside of the card is a great way to promote your business. You’re sending the cards out anyway, so why not make it work for you?

And remember, it is incredibly important to send the highest quality Corporate Greeting Cards your budget will allow.