Sending personalized greeting cards is one of the easiest and most economical ways to keep your company name foremost in your customers’ minds. When you think about it, they are a low cost form of advertising. When you pay for advertising, you are never sure of who will actually see it or whether it will be seen at all. A greeting card actually ends up in the hand of a live person. Most of us enjoy receiving cards and will most likely hang on to them for a while. Unlike newspapers that end up in the recycle bin, greeting cards are actually displayed, so that everyone in the office can view them.

Assorted greeting cards abound these days. There are so many choices. There are cards to fit every situation. Fun, elegant, simple, feminine or masculine are just a few. There are thank you, congratulations, get well or sympathy cards and let us not forget the most popular, holiday cards. Calendar cards are another good option and are a great way to have your company name displayed every day of the year.

Personalized greeting cards can be typeset with an imprint or can be signed by hand. They can even be a combination of both. One can choose from a provided list of greetings or be creative and make up a customized greeting. Logos can be added to the card or can simply have the company name imprinted. There are so many choices and options available.

When you send a greeting card, you are letting your customers know that they are not just thought of part of the time, but that they are an important component in the success of your business. Everyone wants to feel appreciated and personalized greeting cards allow you to convey this very important message. Sending greeting cards keeps your customer in mind, but more importantly, it keeps you in the mind of your customer.

I’m not a sentimental person. In fact, my co-workers would be more likely to describe me as a cynic by nature; always playing “devil’s advocate”. Holiday cards meant little to me, especially the ones from my employer. I always thought they were just an attempt to get everyone to work harder.

I changed my mind last Christmas.

It was a snowy morning, and it had been snowing much of the night. I was just getting around to opening the mail from the previous day, and had one envelope in my hand as I looked out my back window at the falling snow. The landscape was bleak. An ominous sky, deep snow, icy bare trees. A scrawny evergreen provided the only sign of life. I opened the envelope in my hand and it was this year’s corporate Christmas card. Without thinking I took minute to look at it. On glossy white paper was a photo of a brilliant red Cardinal on an evergreen branch. It was in an embossed “window-like” frame, with sparkling snow falling and a simple “Season’s Greetings”. A classic and timeless scene: the beauty of nature braving the harshness of winter.

Then, I had to smile. When I looked out the window again, there was a hardy Northern Cardinal in the evergreen, brightening up the yard…and my day. The card in my hand had come to life! I’ve been singing a different tune ever since. Maybe I am just a little bit sentimental after all…  Live and learn!

The holiday season is a great time to thank all of your clients, employees, and peers for supporting your business throughout the year. The problem is how to say thank you. For years, our firm has sent out corporate holiday cards but, a few years ago, we began to look at other tokens of appreciation as well. We looked into ordering flowers, calendars, gift cards, and many other small gift items. Thankfully, we stumbled upon calendar cards, and they have proved to be exactly what we were seeking.

For the past two years we have sent out calendar cards as our holiday cards, and they are quite a hit. We have the cards imprinted with a holiday message and a Thank You from our business. I have had more clients remark on these beautiful cards than ever before. Not only do they look great, but they’re functional, too! I am so glad we switched to calendar cards. I hang one by my desk so that I have a calendar there, but also a reminder to be grateful for all the people in my life who help make my business work.

In this age of political correctness where we have to decide between Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, it may be tempting to forget about the practice altogether. I submit to you that no matter what your message there is always a good reason to send corporate Christmas cards. Our customers and clients, or just those people or organizations that are dear to our heart, remember the little ways you say thank you to them. Sending holiday cards is one way to do that with class and elegance.

While everyone is debating over how to say it, just make sure it gets said! The holidays are such a time of thanksgiving and sharing that it is always appropriate to show those who help your business run that you appreciate everything they do for you.

To everyone out there who isn’t sure what holiday greetings to send, do not let the debate over the message prevent you from spreading your cheer. The message that you appreciate your business relationships and that you were thinking of them during the holidays is one that will always be appreciated.

As a child growing up in the 70’s I always associated the exchange of holiday cards with Christmas. I can remember the excitement of Christmas preparation and with that the picking and choosing of our family’s holiday card. My Mom would look forward to the holiday for weeks in advance. Carefully choosing our family card, my Mother would then meticulously develop the card list, and beautifully personalize everything with all of our names, even the family dog.

Although it is indeed better to give than to receive, we all excitedly anticipated receiving our cards in the mail. It was a race to see who got the first look at the incoming cards. Some personalized holiday cards were signed with just names, while others had paragraphs of stories. Friends we talked to every day and cousins we hadn’t seen for years. All incoming cards were displayed for all to see hanging from the archway into our living room. Every year we counted them all to see how many we received. When family and friends would visit during the season you could see them looking for their card on display.

Now that I am all grown up with children of my own, I continue the tradition started by my mother. Every year we choose our family holiday card and mail it to family and friends. My kids enjoy reading the cards and displaying them in our living room just as much as I did.

It may seem strange, but I’m really looking forward to my employer’s holiday cards this year. Especially the Christmas selection.

In most workplaces getting Christmas cards from the boss is nice but hardly a cause for excitement. The sentiment is appreciated but… corporate Christmas cards are so often colorless and boring and a little cold. Why bother? I used to say take that money and put it in my paycheck!

That all changed last year when my company started getting their cards from the Gallery Collection. Design 822CX – Shimmering Skyline Card, was a real stunner of a card. An artist’s vision of a glimmering city skyline against a dark blue night sky, with windows glittering as if lit, and glistening snow swirling in the air. It was a card worthy of a frame.

So I started wondering which one my employer would send this year. If anyone had told me that corporate Christmas cards would ever be worthy of any kind of testimonial, I’m sure I would have laughed. But it’s no joke. Sending a card can be more than just an impersonal formality. If your boss chooses the right card, it can really add to the joy of the season.

I always like to get things done early.  In college I was never that person to pull an all nighter to finish up a paper…I had it printed out days before it was due. Everything in my house needs to be in order hours, not minutes, before company arrives. Because of this, it came as no surprise to my business partners when I suggested we order our holiday cards in June. Sure, most people wait until the temperature drops below 80 to even begin thinking about this, but I figured, why not get them now?  That way if someone sends out the same cards as me, I can be sure I got them first!  The nice summer sales on holiday cards are good reasons as well.

To tell the truth…it’s not just because of my “Get things done early” nature that has me purchasing our corporate Christmas cards in June.  It’s part of it, but there is something else.  The holidays are my favorite time of the year.  I wish everyone had the Christmas spirit all year round.  By ordering my cards in June, I get a little bit of that feeling again.  Looking around at all the holiday images gives me a little taste of what I can expect come November and December.  Something about Santas, Christmas trees, and snow just puts me in a good mood.  I even once had the urge to send out mid-year Christmas cards just to see what kind of reaction I would get.  That idea was one my business partners were able to talk me out of, however.  Well, I’m still glad to say my 2011 corporate Christmas cards are ordered and I plan to have them written out by the end of the summer.  As to when I actually send them out…that’s not decided yet.  I think around Thanksgiving sounds nice.

It was a beautiful Christmas Eve day with just a hint of snow falling, enough to enjoy the spirit of the holidays but, thankfully, not enough to cause a traffic calamity. As we were getting ready to leave for our annual Christmas party I was sure I had planned everything that was necessary to make this day complete. As I was going over my checklist, the first item to cross off was gifts. They were all festively wrapped, something in which I take great pride; making sure the lid of the box and the box itself are wrapped separately so that only the lid needs to be removed to reveal the surprise inside. Although this takes “talent” and time (chuckle) it saves a lot of wrapping paper and the boxes can be reused with the same wrapping paper. After checking each name, one by one, and placing the appropriate tags on the presents, it was time to carry them to the car, and, luckily, the snow at that time had stopped completely. The next items to be crossed off on my list were the hors d’oeuvres I had prepared for the party along with my famous, absolutely delicious, baked lasagna. This, too, takes “talent” and a lot of time to make. (Chuckle again). After carefully covering the lasagna with heavy duty aluminum foil, and arranging an array of appetizers on trays, these goodies were also carried to the car. I was almost finished, so back to my checklist. There was one item left to check off. Holiday greeting cards. Where were they? After checking my desk drawers, night tables, credenza and every other place that I thought I may have put them, to no avail, I could not find them. I was grateful that there was still time to go to the store and purchase holiday cards. Fortunately the stores were still open and I was able to select individual cards for everyone on my list.

Is there a lesson to be learned? Yes, indeed. I now have a supply of holiday cards on hand at all times. There is an assortment box of holiday cards that I keep in my desk, ready for me to sign and send. What a pleasure to know that it will no longer be necessary to have to rush to the store at the last minute to purchase cards. These include not only Christmas cards, but an assortment of holiday cards. I now have on hand cards for thanksgiving, birthdays, sympathy, thinking of you, thank you notes, congratulations and more. Merry Christmas to me; this was a gift I gave to myself.

Thanksgiving has always brought a feeling of warmth to my family. The chill in the air, the smell of cinnamon and apples as pies are baking in the oven, and the thrill of excitement on the city streets announce the time of year. Design 717CX – Thanksgiving in the Park Holiday Card, reminds me of those wonderful holidays spent growing up in the city. I can feel the anticipation as I prepare the dining room table for our sumptuous feast and several heads peek around the corner trying to judge just how long a wait there is. Finally everyone takes their places and the joy that is on their faces lights my day. Oh, Thanksgiving in our city apartment is wonderful. Thanksgiving cards can share that wonderful warm feeling with everyone.

Design 717CX - Thanksgiving in the Park
Holiday Card

Design 717CX – Thanksgiving in the Park Holiday Card, showcases an array of vibrant colors set in front of stark city buildings. It brings a feeling of awe for the beauty of nature with Happy Thanksgiving simply stated beneath the lovely setting of autumn in the park. The tone on tone embossing surrounds the central picture featured in yellow, rust, green, brown, and flecks of gold on a buff card evoke a feeling of pleasure. I can feel the crisp air and smell the roasting turkey as I look at this richly displayed scene. Just like we do in my family, you will want to take a walk in the park after dinner.

The feeling of warmth that the Thanksgiving season brings will spread as you send these exquisite cards to associates, clients and family.

The old family Woody! Design 725CS – Vintage Holiday Greetings Card, is the perfect image for personalized holiday cards. Most people love to see that old automobile in photos or drawings; it may bring back fond memories of times past, a reminder of friends and family and holiday traditions that you still pass on to this day. What a great way to put a smile on the face of everyone who receives this treasured holiday classic!

Design 725CS – Vintage Holiday Greetings Card, is a beautiful watercolor of the woody wagon automobile all dressed up for the season, carrying home the beloved family Christmas tree and all decked out with a wreath pinned to the grill of the car. The bright Christmas red of the automobile against the green tree makes this card a true stand out. It is finished off with a hint of silver foil to add a little bit of sparkle. This holiday card is so beautiful it can be framed and displayed, and bring joy to all who see it, all year long.

Design 725CS - Vintage Holiday Greetings Card