Month: September 2012

Christmas Cards from my Cousin

Working for 25 years for a company that produces Christmas cards has made me very aware of the cards I receive during the holidays. I like to look at the quality of paper and the original designs.  I have a cousin who is an exceptional artist and every year she designs her own cards. The cards she draws are beautiful, but they can only be appreciated by family members.

Last year she painted a beautiful likeness of our grandparents, when they were first married. It was such an amazing creation that all the cousins had the painting framed and displayed in our homes. As we got closer to the holidays I couldn’t help but wonder what the theme for her card would be this year.

When the card arrived in the mail I could not wait to open it. My first impression was that it’s just a painting of Santa. He is sitting on a recliner looking at what appears to be a list of good and bad children. As I looked further at the card I recognized my aunt’s living room, and the gentlemen with the white hair and white beard was not Santa at all. The man in the recliner was my Uncle Jim. On the inside of the card, my cousin had written at the top “My Father Christmas.” I can’t wait to see next year’s personalized Christmas cards.

Mrs. Robinson’s Ode to Corporate Birthday Cards

Receiving corporate birthday cards have saved a few years of my life. How so? I’ll start by explaining that when I thought of “birthdays” I thought of hard labor. To write or not to write? Which card and/or gift is appropriate? How much should I spend? Where is this neck pain coming from? Do I really have to?

However, one fortunate day while I was celebrating the one birthday I look forward to – mine – I received a very nice, classy, and preprinted (the concept alone brings a tear) birthday card from my employer. It was beautifully designed with my boss’ and other executive’s signatures, a greeting, a logo, all printed in the inside of the card. And after a few days, when I was sober again, I found out that I’m not really their preferred employee, but instead they use personalized birthday cards to acknowledge all of their employees’ special days. After that initial shock, I had an epiphany; I said to myself: “Self, you can do this; you can order your own personalized birthday cards to give out without the god-awful handwriting. This sassy lady can get classy and preprinted too!”

My idea proved to be a good one for once. Looking at the back of my birthday card, I found the manufacturer and using my keen googling powers I found The Gallery Collection. After a full five minutes I had placed an order for my own, classy, and if I may, very tasteful personalized cards. Mrs. Robinson is riding the super highway to the next level in personalized greetings!

Making Business Christmas Cards Personal

Sending business Christmas cards is an ideal way to pass on cheer and goodwill to your colleagues and clients.

There are so many cards to choose from out there – how do you find one that stands out from all the others?  You personalize them to make them your own!   I can confidently say that now but a couple of years ago I was sending out the same ole same ole cards and greetings until one day I was the recipient of a Christmas card that caught my attention.  I realize that I was one of many to receive this card but I honestly felt the message inside the card was sincere and personal and directed only at me.  I guess that’s the trick when searching for Christmas cards – find one that has a festive cover then find the perfect sentiment to make the card your own.  The difference really can bring a smile to the faces of those who receive them; it certainly brought one to mine.

I have a small business and enjoy sending cards to my clients each year.  I no longer send cards with a common greeting inside; I choose a card cover that suits my style and then express my sincere thanks and good wishes using my own words.  I have to admit, when sending out holiday cards in the past I don’t recall anyone bringing up the subject of even receiving my cards.  Since creating my own messages and making them a little more personal, I have received compliments and thanks for them.

Business Thanksgiving Cards Put You A Step Ahead

This year more than ever businesses must get their names back out there. What better occasion than Thanksgiving to show how grateful you are to still be in business through these hard economic times? Thanksgiving cards are the best way to enhance your current relationships, remind old customers that you still exist and attract new customers.

Honestly, I did not know that companies actually sent business Thanksgiving cards instead of Christmas cards until I began working for The Gallery Collection. Thinking about it however the idea is a pretty good one; it is unique in the sense that a Thanksgiving card will most likely be the first received during the holiday season and it will be displayed the longest. Everybody reads holiday cards to see who sent them so imagine this scenario; you’re a dentist, you send a Thanksgiving card to a patient, they display it and everyone that sees it says “I’ve been looking for a good dentist, can I have her number?” Well, it could happen!

Thanksgiving cards put you a step ahead on both a business level and a personal level. Warm seasonal greetings can help strengthen continuing relationships with customers and clients, and showcase the kind of thoughtful and personal company you work for.

Yes, I Intend to Send Corporate Christmas Cards

Did you say this is socially unacceptable and politically incorrect? Bah humbug. I know the reason for the Christmas season and will stay with its original purpose. Peace on earth, goodwill to men, a Christmas Eve service at a hometown church with a tranquil nativity scene in front to remind us of what is most important in life. Corporate Christmas cards will be mailed out this year because there is nothing more American.

Exactly what are these seasonal greetings? They are verbs of action representing communications for the purpose of expressing good will. It can be the impetus to a productive conversation or a brief, sweet acknowledgement of an individual’s attendance on this earth. Think about it; even through the mailing of business Christmas cards we shamelessly accost one another with professional friendship, pay our due respects, and express kind wishes. Then through the discovery, reading, and handling of a brightly adorned Christmas card, a private moment in time is created in what could be a dreary, as-usual day. The recipient’s heart is warmed and made glad.

This uncomplicated extension of corporate kindliness is a sign of cultured society where perceived differences can be put aside to bring parties together in mutual regard for each other. Christmas is a national celebration that developed as our nation expanded and matured, and today the celebration still stands.

Company Holiday Cards Can Help Your New Business

Due to the economic downsizing my husband lost his job and went on the unemployment line for a while. He had a passion for food and wanted to start a business with this idea. Having a culinary background in college it seemed like a great idea!  They say do what you love and it won’t feel like you are working.  He had a brainstorm for a small business venture just before the holidays.  We were thinking of different ways to market our new business, we wanted it to be a little personal and reach people in a timely matter.  It would be beneficial to reintroduce ourselves to our community.  While our children were growing up he was very active in coaching sports and volunteering his time, now we were reinventing the wheel. I mentioned to him to send out company holiday cards to our prospective customers. We would be advertising and sending Season’s Greetings at the same time.

Sending corporate Christmas cards is a perfect way to be introduced to our new business associates. We included our company name, telephone number and website information on the bottom of our calendar card.  Potential customers can use them as a reference to remind them we are open for business year round.

Christmas Cards – Adding a Personal Touch

Christmas Cards are a great way to keep in touch with clients, family and friends.  Just a simple wish of peace, prosperity and happiness is all that is needed to let a person know they are in your thoughts.  That is why I always make sure to send cards to everyone in my contact list, both business and personal.

However, this year, I didn’t want to send the same old Christmas card that you buy in a package at a retail store.  I wanted to send people a card that was really from me, not just a generic piece of cardstock.  That is why I sent out personalized holiday cards this year.  Aside from standing out from the rest of cards, it just looks so much nicer!

I decided to get my cards this season from The Gallery Collection.  Aside from having such high quality cards in a wide variety of designs, they gave me the opportunity to add my personalization.  I chose the “Season’s Greetings Red Berries” card because not only was it strikingly beautiful, I was able to add my personalized touch in an elegant gold foil.  When I received my cards, I was really blown away by the look and even the feel of them.  I knew that I was going to make a great impression with the people I sent the cards to.

I sent my personalized Christmas cards last week and have already heard back from several people thanking me and telling me how nice the card was.  I actually have received more feedback this year than ever before, and I attribute a great deal of it to the personalization I put into these cards.  I was very happy with how my holiday cards came out this year and will certainly do the same again next year!

Rose the Card Lady and Assorted Birthday Cards

My name is Rose, “The Card Lady,” and I would like to tell you how my name came to be…

A few years ago I purchased a box of assorted birthday cards from The Gallery Collection. One week after I received them, I threw a surprise anniversary party for my parents at my house. A discussion arose about upcoming birthdays and events, when my sister chimed in and said she forgot her mother in-law’s birthday (it was the very next day!). I went into the house and grabbed the assortment box for her. I quickly had a group of people surrounding me going through the box. They remarked how beautiful the greeting cards were and that they had never seen such cheerful cards in any store. A few of my guests picked out cards that were perfect for an upcoming birthday… I was more than happy to let them have the cards.

A week after my party, my neighbor knocked on my door; she had attended my party last week and remembered I had a boxed birthday cards assortment. She asked if she could have one for a party she had the very next day. So, that is how it began, and till this day, I still have people stopping by for thank you cards, birthday cards, and get well cards. My only dilemma is I’m running out of cards…I have to drop subtle hints on how my guests can get their own boxes.

So now my friends introduce me as Rose, the Card Lady.