Month: May 2013

Birthday Cards Put A Smile On My Face

So, today is my birthday. It’s always fun waking up, and knowing that today is your special day. I’m not one to like being the center of attention, but it’s always an exception on your birthday. I like the gathering of all my friends and family to celebrate the day I was born, in an epic fashion. Usually we go out into the city and decide on a fun looking bar. Other years, we’ll opt for the club scene. And some years, I even feel like being low key and just want everyone to gather at my favorite restaurant. The gathering of everyone dear to me is one of my favorite things about my birthday… aside from the presents of course! Do you know what another of my favorite things about my birthday is? Birthday Cards! Birthday cards are something that I enjoy receiving so much because I can go back at the end of the day and look at each of my “Happy Birthday” greetings one by one, after a fun day of partying. Some are hysterically funny, some are sincerely touching. People can say it directly, but it’s always nice to be able to look back and see what special things everyone had to say about you.

Birthday Cards

So today when I walked into work, I made my way through the office and finally got to my desk. My face lit up with a smile bigger than ever as I walked closer and closer to my chair, already seeing a bunch of envelopes with my name on them sitting on top of my keyboard. I was ecstatic to open each and every one of them! I had some from my co-workers, some from my boss, some from my supervisor. I thought it was so sweet that they got me cards. The outpouring of love filled my heart and made my birthday start off in the best way. After settling down, I put all my cards around my desk, displayed nicely for everyone to see. My mother had commented to me about how she loves the place I work at because they appreciate me and are kind enough to give me a birthday card. I thought to myself “Why don’t all places have business birthday cards?”. For what it’s worth, if everyone gave business birthday cards like my job does, I’m sure their employees would be just as thrilled and touched as I was. It’s just a nice gesture and it’s smart motivation. Even the restaurant that we ended up gathering at gave me a birthday card right before they brought my cake out! That also put a smile on my face… all in all, it was an excellent day!

Environmentally Friendly Greeting Cards for The Green Team

Our town’s Environmental Commission put together a birthday celebration for the Green Team’s President. The Mayor and City Council attended. I only knew the president for a short while and she didn’t smile much. I had just ordered environmentally friendly greeting cards from The Gallery Collection and gave her one. I was thankful I did because after her speech on saving trees she read her birthday cards. The first thing she did before she read the card was flip the card over and look at the back of the card. She got to my card, paused, looked at me, then she smiled and passed my card around to everyone, even the Mayor! She was so impressed that I had given her an exquisite birthday card. Most importantly she was extremely impressed that the cards and envelopes were made out of recycled paper.

Not only were the cards eco-friendly but they were made from renewable energy and manufactured in a paper mill powered by wind-generated, renewable energy. Wind power energy produces zero greenhouse gas emissions, is fully renewable and reduces the need for imported oil. I was the talk of the party! Now she sends everyone eco-friendly personalized birthday cards. There is so much waste that effects our planet and ultimately affects our health. Being part of the Green Team and the Environmental Commission makes me very aware of the negative effects waste has on our planet we call Earth. As I learn more about the environment I realize how much waste is really accumulated, I also realize that the more I do my part in being green the more I can contribute to the future of our planet. I am thankful that there are companies like the Gallery Collection that goes a step forward in preserving our planet.

Sincerely Keeping In Touch With Personalized Birthday Cards

Isn’t the internet great?! How did we ever live without it? And cell phones? And smart phone apps? And tablets? Finding my way through my busy days is so much easier with these wonderful conveniences. And, just think: the younger generation doesn’t even know what life was like without today’s technological tools.

Many of my friends are addicted to Facebook and Twitter, and many other social media sites. They are all so connected, always knowing what’s going on, and with whom, and always keeping everyone else informed of their every activity and thought.

Imagine my surprise when I heard one of them bemoaning his loss of privacy these days.

When I say “heard,” I actually mean that. You see, my friend phoned to say, “Thank you for the personalized birthday cards!” We noted how good it was to hear each other’s actual voice again; it had been so long since we had a live talk with one another!

He’s on Facebook and I’m not, so I was unaware of all that had been going on in his life. He, on the other hand, mistakenly went along assuming that everyone was still connected to him because of Facebook.

He told me he’d gotten a few emails from friends who remembered his birthday, although he couldn’t remember who from. But he was so touched by receiving actual, hold-in-his-hand and display-on-his-shelf birthday cards from me, he felt the urge to call and really catch up with a give-and-take conversation. We spent so much phone time laughing; we set a date to meet for dinner and a good long chat.

Just a little reminder that the internet, while great for gathering information, is not the warmest way to share your real life with the humans you truly care about. And, typing LOL to the world is not the same as the contagion of laughing with each other.

Bulk Greeting Cards Can Help You Save Face

I know I can’t be the only absent minded person who constantly forgets my friends and families major or sometimes minor, life celebrations, i.e.: wedding anniversaries, birthdays, etc. It seems no matter how much I plan out the following months calendar, these items are often left off. So, since I am unable to mentally accomplish this task, I found a great way to save face, I purchase bulk greeting cards. I get a fantastic assortment that covers all my needs, and I never miss anyone’s special day, and better yet, I don’t have to make that embarrassing phone call to apologies several days after the event.

Now, I am willing to share another great tidbit of information with you all. You may be wondering which greeting card companies would have such awesome quality cards and a great price. Well look no further than right here at The Gallery Collection. You won’t find better quality cards anywhere, these cards are made from a nice thick paper and have exquisite designs, and they will stand out when sitting on a mantle next to lesser cards. They really are great, buy and box and you will not be disappointed!

Announcing The Winner of The 2nd Chance – $1,000 Christmas Tree Design Contest

The Gallery Collection is pleased to announce the winner of our 2nd Chance – $1,000 Christmas Tree Design Contest. Karen Kuhlman of Aloha, Oregon is our winner, and she was so excited to win that she had this to say:

“The Gallery Collection is a very generous and fantastic company to allow students like myself to apply for these contests. Thanks so much again, the money will come in handy for those expensive college tuitions.”

All finalists from the 6th annual scholarship contest were invited to submit designs that feature Decorated Christmas Trees. So many beautiful tree designs were submitted it made our decision quite difficult!

 

Karen Kuhlman
Karen Kuhlman of Aloha, Oregon

Christmas Tree Design Contest
Karen Kuhlman’s Winning Entry

 

Corporate Is Never Too Stuffy For Business Birthday Cards

Doesn’t the corporate atmosphere seem so stuffy? Everything so routine and monotonous? Where the big bosses play while all the employees do all the work? Where the atmosphere is so hushed and rushed? In corporations it always seems as though the only focus and main goal is to get work done. To make those big deals, bring in the best clients, and make the big bucks. So where does showing these hardworking employees recognition and appreciation fit in? With business birthday cards!

Everybody loves to be recognized and remembered on their birthday. Whether it’s by friends, family, neighbors, or that place where they spend most of their time at, the job! Imagine that. Waking up on your birthday and having that feeling of dread going to that place where it’s all work and no play; only to arrive and have that elegant envelope with your name sitting on your desk. Not sure what could be in the envelope, you slowly open it expecting to maybe hear bad news. And to your pleasant surprise, it’s beautiful, brightly colored, yet classy and professional birthday cards. “We sincerely appreciate your contributions to the success of our company. Best Wishes for a Wonderful Birthday.” What a way to show employee appreciation! Now how’s that for stuffy?

What To Write In Office Birthday Cards – Humor Edition

It’s Monday morning. You come back to your desk to find a manila envelope with office birthday cards inside. It’s for Bob in Accounting. You really don’t know Bob in Accounting. You stare vacantly down at the spots left on the card and your mind blanks. This is the third card to sign this month and you are running out of things to say. How can you keep yourself entertained as well as leave co-workers with a chuckle? Instead of the same monotonous scribbling, I came up with a few wittier comments to jot down that may get a little more attention. As an alternative to Happy Birthday Bob, give one of these a try…

For general birthday cards write “I’m sorry for your loss” or “my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time”. I have yet to build up the guts to write happy birthday in a sympathy card. How about “See a penny, pick it up, all day long, you’ll have a penny”. Or my favorite, simply cross out someone’s name who has already written something and put yours underneath. They can still read the message and see who it’s from but it saves time and may be interpreted as humorous. For someone who is retiring write “Quitter”! For just about any occasion you could jot down “Have a great summer”. Maybe randomly sign “It was a pleasure working with you on that weird pointless project”. The creative options are endless. This time leave Bob with a giggle or a puzzled look rather than another boring Happy Birthday.

Sympathy Cards – What’s Your Grief?

Nobody enjoys composing sympathy cards. It means that someone has died. Someone we care about is hurting. Instead of listing all the ways we could possibly console our dear friend or family member, let’s take a look at what not to say. Sometimes words just pour out of our mouth or pen, that do not diminish the pain someone is feeling. It adds to it. It’s human nature to want to comfort someone, but more often than you think, people make these oversights. Here are a few taboos that we unfortunately have a lapse in our brains and do.

1. Avoid electronic greetings at all costs! You may think it is appropriate to send corporate sympathy cards to say maybe Bob in the cubicle a few rows down, but it is in bad taste. A handwritten card is always the way to go.

2. Do not attempt humor! We instinctively want to cheer people up but maybe save that for a night out with the boys. What you may find to be a funny story may not be the right time for someone who is grieving.

3. Do not rehash the tragedy! Nobody wants to recall all the horrid details about the deceased. Especially if it was tragic and messy. Instead talk about the good memories of that loved one.

4. Don’t compare! “I know someone who”…Enter a tragic story here. This person is in the worst pain imaginable and they don’t want to hear about how someone died worse than your beloved.

5. DO NOT BRING UP DEBTS! Just because Rachael borrowed $100 bucks for that killer outfit does not mean her relatives have to pay for it. Let it go.

A few more sentences you may not want to throw out there are the clichéd “I know how you feel”. You don’t know how they feel. “At least he or she lived a good life”. “He or she is in a better place”. No, to the grieving person they should be here. “It will get easier”, “It was God’s will” and the classic “I know something good will come of this”. Can you predict the future? Many people may question their faith at the loss of a loved one. You will truly never know how someone may interpret these phrases. Give them a break people and keep it simple. Offer a sympathy card with words from the heart, your friendship and time.

Birthday Cards Are More Meaningful Than You’d Think

When people think of birthday cards, they often think of family and friends, but what about business associates and co-workers? In today’s time-is-money society, we often find ourselves with tunnel vision, and fail to notice what—and who—is really around us. Sometimes it’s important to take a minute and recognize those that we deal with on a daily basis. A simple birthday card can convey to someone that you care and are thinking of them. From personal experience I can tell you how appreciated I have felt when my co-workers and employers have remembered my birthday; it has made me happy to spend my special day at work with people that care.

You may be thinking, “Okay, it’s important to give out business birthday cards, but where can I find some that are appropriate and tasteful?” Imagine finding an entire collection of cards dedicated for just this purpose. That is exactly what The Gallery Collection can provide. The best part is you’ll be paying much less than chain store prices for superior quality and personalization. It’s great to find a company that can make your life just a little bit easier, and help you to make someone else’s day brighter. Now there’s no excuse—recognize your business associates and co-workers on their birthdays; they’ll surely remember you fondly for it.