Some may be inclined to cut their business budget by eliminating unnecessary expenses, such as employee anniversary cards. I’ve heard the reasoning on this: “In this economy…,” “They should be happy they still have a job…,” “They get paid so what more do they expect?”

Fair enough. Just as fair as the employee who does only what he or she must do, and not a lick more.

You see, it’s all in the attitude, and attitude is contagious. It’s like Karma. What goes around comes around. If you accentuate the positive, you can eliminate the negative. You’ve got to give, to get. Give gratitude and you’ll get gratitude. Give enthusiasm and you’ll get enthusiasm. Give appreciation and you’ll be appreciated. And, not just you; your clients, customers and vendors will feel the effects of that good vibe and react in a like manner.

If you walk through your workplace with a smile and cheerful greeting for each person you see, you’ll find service with a smile spreading throughout your ranks. If you honor workers with employee anniversary cards, you’ll see their pride and confidence flourish. And that will lead to more energy, greater cooperation and bigger efforts, where going above and beyond becomes your company’s form of business as usual.

Do you think I’m using a lot of clichés? Try substituting “truth” for “cliché” because clichés came into being because they are, pretty much, universal truths.

Employee anniversary cards are small, simple, low-cost gestures. But think of their value in helping to retain your skilled, knowledgeable, and dependable staff members. And think of the money you save by not having to solicit, train, and gamble on new replacement personnel. That, and optimum productivity, is money in your pocket. I’d say those cards are worth their weight in gold now, aren’t they?

Every year I receive employee anniversary cards to acknowledge yet another 365 days with my company. When I hit my first year anniversary and I received my first anniversary card, I was presently surprised. Along with a personalized imprint, it was hand signed by my managers and more impressively, by the Executive Team. Why is that impressive? When you think about how busy the company leaders are one can then appreciate that they took the time out of their hectic schedules to let you know that they indeed feel that you are important to the success of the company. Our company leaders acknowledge every single employee’s anniversary for each year completed. Oh yeah, they acknowledge birthdays, as well.

The Gallery Collection is indeed successful. Smart too! This company is 80 years strong. This doesn’t happen without a solid team. From the executive members on down, each person is an important component to the success of the company. It is not only important to let your customers know that they are special, but to let your employees know that they are, too! Now I know that receiving personalized anniversary cards might not seem like a big deal to some, but I for one appreciate the attention given to these “little” details. Employee anniversary cards are just one simple way to boost morale.

I have worked for companies in the past that for the most part didn’t even know that I existed. I consider myself a good, loyal, and dependable worker, but even I found it hard to accept that not many people in the company knew who I was. After over six years on that job, other than my direct supervisors, management didn’t even know my name, let alone what I did. Sad, don’t you think?

Appreciated employees are happy employees! Happy employees are productive employees! Productive employees make happy customers! This sounds like a win-win-win situation to me.

How can I incorporate my love of reality television with my love of cards? This question has been on my mind as of late. I’ve decided to come up with a pitch for a new show called The Great Anniversary Cards Caper. The premise will have a group of contestants who will give out business anniversary cards to employees of a chosen company.

We will keep the number of contestants to ten. The contestants will be given an assignment at a different company every week where they will have to discover who is having an anniversary with the company that week. They cannot say who they are or what they are looking for. They will need the gift of gab to get people talking about their time with the company and incorporate that into the business anniversary cards they will design. The cards will be in the form of a sandwich board and used to celebrate the anniversaries of employees for that week.

The companies will also be happy to participate as they will get an employee to help out for a week, they will get free anniversary cards for their employees, and they will be on television. Can we say free advertising?

The contestants will be judged on their ability to get along with others, the amount of information they acquire, and their imaginative anniversary cards presentation. I love this idea. The second season can be birthday cards for employees. I am sending this idea to Mark Burnett as we speak. Wish me luck.

Merriam Webster tells us that the word anniversary is made up of two parts. The first part is the Latin, “anniversarius,” meaning returning annually. It is the second half of the word, “versus,” that gives the word its depth.

Versus adds dimension because it means, “to turn.” Whichever wedding anniversary one is celebrating, it is the turning to look back at what has happened during the year or years that makes the anniversary important and special.

It is always wise to consider the recipients of the anniversary cards you are sending. For instance, if you are unsure about the “state of the union” yet you want to acknowledge it, keep your selection on the light side. Perhaps a little humor will remind the couple of what made them laugh and enjoy each other’s company.

Of course, if the anniversary couple is obviously blissful, you can feel free to send an anniversary card that extols the virtues of love and marriage. There again, you will find a range. You know how much schmaltz the traffic will bear. Symbols such as flowers, wedding bells, and doves will epitomize the serenity and beauty that long lives together make possible. The greeting you choose can take these themes further or just cut to the chase by saying Happy Anniversary.

Even if the couple celebrating their 50th anniversary is known to be slightly quarrelsome, they will hopefully think, “All in all we have had a good life together.” What is important is that you don’t just count the years, but you acknowledge the years with wedding anniversary cards.

I love the joy of design #340AY, Sparkling Stars Anniversary Card. Anniversaries mean so much to people. Of course we all think of wedding anniversaries, but there are many business anniversaries to be celebrated as well.

The absolute happiness that this embossed star exudes is intensified by the beautiful rose hued gold foil with overtones of bronze. The liberally sprinkled “star dust” adds a delicacy that offsets the bold and brilliant star.

Business anniversary cards can serve a few purposes. You can honor individuals for their loyal service or you can announce the fact that you have been in business for so many years. Either way you are able to remind workers, or customers, and to announce to prospects that you have been here for them and are always ready to fulfill needs.

Design #340AY - Sparkling Stars Anniversary Card

This card is an eye-catcher. The person who receives it – a customer, worker, vendor or friend – will appreciate your thoughtful gesture.

My company sends out business greeting cards to all its employees for their birthdays and for the anniversaries of their employment. Since I’m usually the one signing the cards and not the recipient I never gave much thought to how I’d feel if I didn’t receive a card for one of my special days. And, on occasion, I have forgotten to send business anniversary cards out, which is not a very good thing for morale as I soon learned.

I was celebrating my 40th year at my company and kind of felt like I was being ignored because I hadn’t received any type of card to acknowledge this day. Each of the Executives stopped by in person and congratulated me but I felt let down because it seemed like any other day to them – not my special day!

Then later that morning I found the nicest business anniversary card on my desk. It was signed by all the Executives with kind words of recognition for all my years of service. I never realized just how good it could feel to be on the receiving end of an anniversary card! Each person made it a point of writing a special remembrance to signify the importance of this special time for me. By giving me this card they made me feel that my anniversary mattered and was special to them.

I send a lot of greeting cards to a lot of people. But I have just realized that I rarely send anniversary cards. I don’t know why…

There are certainly enough reasons to send anniversary cards. Everyone celebrates an anniversary of one form or another. Think of all the different reasons you can send an anniversary card: wedding anniversaries, anniversaries of moving into the perfect home, anniversaries of finishing paying for the perfect home, the anniversary of the day your pet joined your family, or even the anniversary of the day you passed the BAR exam (or insert your professional exam in place of BAR).

But do you ever give much thought to sending employee anniversary cards to someone in order to commemorate how long they have been working in a particular company? Admittedly, I probably would never have given this topic much thought if I didn’t work for The Gallery Collection…a company that manufactures corporate greeting cards (including anniversary cards).

When I received my first anniversary card from The Gallery Collection (hand signed by our company’s President and the Chairman of the Board), I was truly delighted…and shocked. This occurred just a week after receiving a birthday card from The Gallery Collection (again, signed by both the President and Chairman), which had shocked me as well. I had never worked anywhere before where the company (as opposed to just the people who worked around you) would acknowledge a birthday, and certainly not an anniversary. Since we manufacture business greeting cards, I suppose you could say that commemorating how long we have worked here is part of our corporate culture. But I think it might be more than that.

Receiving a card that acknowledges an anniversary shows that you are considered an important member of the team and that your contributions are valued. When I received the first of many employee anniversary cards here at the Gallery Collection, especially since at the time I didn’t work in the office but at various vendor locations, it gave me a sense of belonging and made me feel that I was appreciated. I couldn’t believe how good it made me feel. And I returned to work the next day looking forward to my second anniversary at The Gallery Collection.

Anniversaries are a milestone whether personal or business. Sending business anniversary cards is a wonderful way to recognize the importance of your employees. Design #401AR, Anniversary Balloon Wishes Card, is a light-hearted card. Pastel balloons and streamers float along glossy paper stock with good wishes for a Happy Anniversary. This design is sure to bring joyous feelings to employees on their special day. Making someone feel special is a great way to show employees you care.

Design #401AR - Anniversary Balloon Wishes Card

A “Happy Anniversary” sentiment-filled banner, accompanied by bright stars of varying colors makes design #634AY, Anniversary Wishes Card, the perfect design for your business anniversary cards. The variegated nature of the foil will show slight differences in each card. This design is both classic and joyful suiting the tastes of all recipients. We often have a hard time determining whether the card we want to send is appropriate for a man or a woman. This thought does not need to cross anyone’s mind that selects design #634AY for their employees. The smooth ecru paper stock compliments this design. Anyone would be happy to have the day they started with the company remembered in such a tasteful way.

Design #634AY - Anniversary Wishes Card

I love anniversary cards! And, business anniversary cards are the best! I’ll tell you why. If you’re someone who’s blessed with loving family, caring friends, and congenial co-workers, you may find yourself just a bit jaded about receiving lots of birthday cards and Christmas cards, and even get well cards when you’re ailing.

If you’re married, you pretty much expect to exchange anniversary cards with your mate. But, how many wedding anniversary cards are sent to you every year? Odds are, if you’ve been married for over a year, unless you’re celebrating a special anniversary such as your 25th or 50th, you are receiving few or none outside of your own household. However, that’s not the only type of anniversary you might be celebrating!

For instance, a wonderful realtor helped me to find my current home. I hope to live in this house for the rest of my life. I remember the realtor’s name but don’t know which agency she may now be working with. I’d be pleased to recommend her to others. If she had thought to send me business anniversary cards each October to note my happy purchase, not only would it make me feel great, it would also let me know where to send my house-hunting friends.

Employment anniversaries are something of a big deal where I work. That’s probably because it’s such a great place to come to every day that it’s common for employees to stay for decades, and for them to work so conscientiously that they are encouraged to stay. One means of encouragement is the business anniversary card each employee receives annually to mark their date of hire. These cards are proudly displayed by each recipient. Not only is there a hand-written note in each to denote which anniversary is being acknowledged and to whom, but all of the company’s executive officers along with the recipient’s department managers writes his or her own personal note and signature. This seemingly small gesture means a great, great deal.

I had just celebrated my ninth anniversary with my company. I was so happy to receive business anniversary cards acknowledging my years of service that I proudly displayed them on my shelf at work. A few days later, I was nice enough to allow a friend of mine to borrow my car to run a few errands while her car was in the shop. Meaghan was dropped off at my office to pick up my keys and was going to pick me up after my work day had ended. I was busy assisting a customer with an order when she arrived so she quickly busied herself by looking at all the knick knacks, decorations, and photos I had displayed around my desk. She picked up one of the anniversary cards on my shelf and began to open it with a puzzled look on her face. She caught my eye and mouthed “who sent you an anniversary card at work?”

I had completed the call at that point and explained to her who the card was from. The card has been signed by both of my managers and the president and owner of the company. The brief but thoughtful comments made by the people I work with even brought a smile to my friends face. She couldn’t believe that the company took the time to send personally signed anniversary cards to all their staff members. “What a morale booster!” Meaghan stated. She quickly asked for a catalog she could bring into her office the next day. She wanted to show her human resources department the cards. Meaghan couldn’t think of a better way to recognize an anniversary with the company and come to think of it, neither could I.