December 2015 - Gallery Collection Blog

New Year’s Resolutions For Your Business

It’s the fourth quarter of another business year and it’s coming to a close. As such the respective parties in your business are probably reviewing and planning for the New Year, and if not should be! In modern day business New Year’s resolutions are crucial to the success of a company. New companies are starting up overnight, current businesses are competing for the position at the top. To make sure your business stays on top, here are some resolutions that will definitely help ensure that spot.

New Year, New You

Has your company hit a dry spell? If so, step outside your everyday perspective and take an overall look at the company, are there any outdated policies or methods you are still using? Speak with your employees, make sure they have the tools to compete in the present day business world. How effective is your marketing and advertising? Even rebranding just to freshen things up can help get your business back on the map.

Revisiting and Reviewing

The only way you can figure out what’s wrong is looking at what you’ve done. Find out where you went wrong in a deal, or maybe just how you could’ve handled it better. Look at your list of clients or customer base and analyze who makes up this group and why they choose you then capitalize on it. Start a loyalty program for those clients who have revisited you to let them know you appreciate them. Even small things like greeting cards wishing them a happy new years can be what keeps that relationship going.

Evolution and Commitment

Punctuality, efficiency, customer satisfaction, etc., all of these practices you may take on in this upcoming year only matter if you dedicate yourself to them. Commitment to the new you is all it takes to transforming your company into a more successful one so come up with those New Year’s resolutions and stick to them!

New Year’s Cards – March to Your Own Tune

“Dare to be different”. This is the motto I try to live by. Sure being conventional has its pluses but doing the expected tends to make a person blend in with the rest. I want to be remembered by my quirkiness and somewhat exotic take on life. This year I am making a statement by sending my customers, friends, and relatives New Year’s cards. Marching to my own tune is the way I want to live my life.

I found a creative way to make a lasting impression is to celebrate New Years by mailing cards to all the people in my life. New Year’s cards are so exciting and fun to share with others. Most companies and individuals send out Thanksgiving or Christmas cards between the beginning of November and December 15. People receive these cards excitedly and they get put in a pile of similar other cards. Sadly, they are soon forgotten. My New Year’s card will arrive right after the Christmas rush with wishes of a prosperous, healthy, and successful New Year. They will be ornamented with glasses of the bubbly and blowing, colorful confetti. These are sure to bring a smile.

Marching to my own tune is made easy with the ability to send New Year’s cards to everyone on my list. Not only do I show my unique style, but I am remembered for my thoughtful touch after the crazy Thanksgiving and Holiday season.

Business Christmas Cards Make for a Joyful Office

I think the nicest decorations any office can have at Christmas is to display their Christmas cards received from friends, clients and customers. What a beautiful way to spread some Christmas joy and it’s absolutely free and almost effortless.

Business Christmas cards come in all shapes and sizes, all colors and designs, almost built in decorations for the office setting. It takes very little time or planning on anyone’s part to simply display and arrange Christmas cards around the office and immediately you can’t help but get in the Christmas spirit.

It’s so much fun to see the cards that come in at the holidays. Some are photo cards and show the entire company standing in front of the building or company truck or van. Some of the ones I’ve seen lately are themed for different professions and it’s really nice to see those since they’ve gotten a little more relaxed recently. Some of the ones I saw at my dentist’s office were so funny they had everybody standing around laughing when one person pointed out a particularly silly card from another dentist in the same building. I got the impression, some folks wait until the holidays to let their guard down a bit and send a card that may be a little out of character, just for fun – knowing that everyone will enjoy and have a good chuckle.

The holidays are a fun time in general and being able to share good wishes only adds to that. Having people come together for any reason at the holidays especially is heartwarming. So, if the first step is appreciating business Christmas cards and that starts a dialogue about the beauty of the season, then all the better.

Holiday E-cards: Not So Thoughtful or Nice After All!

Ecards might be a quick and easy way for you to get your message sent to loved ones during the holidays, but are they really as thoughtful as you think?

I’ve sent ecards that I thought were beautiful to some friends last year for the holidays. Let’s face it: it’s quick, easy, and usually free. Unfortunately, these days everyone’s mailbox is swamped with spam and junk mail, and many ecards are flagged depending on the receiver’s e-mail provider and privacy controls.

I’ve received many e-mails that look like this:

I have to download the images and even then, sometimes the greetings do not show. Just overall impersonal and there is little personal touch.

Here is another example – this one is even worse:

Aside from the subject line, nothing in the e-mail loads and so although I might think the ecard looks nice when I send it, the receiver sees something completely different.

Overall, ecards do not add the level of personal touch and care that a real physical card does. The verdict on holiday ecards: not so thoughtful or nice after all!

Christmas Cards are just as important as Christmas Gifts

With all the Black Friday commercials and sales buzzing around, Christmas gifts are already on everyone’s mind. What am I going to get my mom? My brother is so hard to shop for! Should I get my boss a little present? Christmas shopping is no easy feat; you have to find just the right thing for everyone close to you, all in a very short time. However, sometimes we forget that Christmas Cards are just as important as Christmas Gifts.

The reason we get people gifts is to let them know we’re thinking about them at a special time of year. Christmas Cards are a wonderful way to let them know that too. Especially on a tight budget, we can’t always get everyone as grand a gift as we’d like. A beautiful Christmas card can be a wonderful alternative. Especially if you write a personal message inside, it can go a long way to remind someone they’re special to you. Getting a Christmas card is a wonderful surprise for the friends and family who you may not get the opportunity to see during the holidays. Plus it looks great on the mantel! Besides, getting real mail these days is so rare that it’s pretty exciting to receive an envelope with a familiar name on it in your mailbox.

Sending New Year’s Cards Makes Your Business Unique

Sending holiday cards pronouncing “Merry Christmas” or “Season’s Greetings” has become the norm for most businesses. It is important to create a relationship with clients or customers by remembering them during the crazy holiday season and making them feel a special warmth. But why not take the opportunity to be a more original and really stand out from the crowd? Sending New Year’s Cards will definitely make your business unique.

Your company can take a break from the tradition by sending New Year’s Cards wishing people the hope for a healthy and prosperous New Year. These cards can be mailed out any time before January 15 which means that they will not have necessarily be received with the tons of other cards companies are mailing. This will allow your company the unique advantage of standing out. Another plus to mailing New Year’s Cards is that no matter what the recipient’s faith, this card will be appreciated. You will not take the chance of offending anyone.

Sending New Year’s Cards can make your company unique because you will not just be another holiday card. Your card will not display the typical snowman, tree, etc. but will instead, have a fun lighthearted theme sure to be remembered. It will ease the hustle and bustle of the season because you can mail them after the rush. Don’t let your business greeting be lost in the shuffle! Have your New Year’s themed cards delivered after the rush.

Fire Tragedy Christmas Wish

When we think of the Holidays and Christmas, we often think of happy times spent with family and loved ones. We think of wonderful presents and enjoying delicious homemade food. There are so many things to be grateful for during the holiday season. Unfortunately, not everyone’s Holiday season is as bright as it should be.

Sa’fyre Terry’s world was turned upside down on May 2^nd 2013 when she lost her family in a terrible fire which left her severely burned. Her father who was killed in the fire, was told to be protecting her from the flames on that fateful day.

Sa’fyre was 5 years old at the time of the fire. Now 8 years old, she has undergone over 50 surgeries and still has a long road of recovery ahead. Although she’s suffered so much at such a young age, Sa’fyre is still said to wake up every morning with a smile on her face. She has been strong during this tough time. Sa’fyre is an inspirational symbol of strength we can all admire. This year, her sole Christmas wish is to receive cards from all around the world. Out of all of the things in the world, this is her only wish.

The Gallery Collection is proud to announce that it will be sending Christmas cards to Sa’fyre this year and helping in granting her this wish. Employees are currently signing cards and are very happy to be a part of granting Sa’fyre’s wish.

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” ― Kahlil Gibran

If you want to send your own Christmas cards to Sa’fyre, address your cards to:

Sa’fyre Terry

P.O. Box 6126

Schenectady, NY 12306

Have a very safe & happy Holiday Season.

Wreath Holiday Cards – A Traditional Symbol of the Season

Wreath Holiday Cards are more than just beautiful; the wreath’s circular shape represents eternity, no beginning and no end.

Symbolism of wreaths and the meaning has undergone quite a change over the years. Now during the holiday season the wreath is used to adorn the front door of a home and has come to symbolize welcome for visitors and invited guests. And of course, there are Wreath Holiday Cards.

Wreaths have been used as symbolic icons as far back as ancient Greece and Rome. They were usually worn on the crown of the head, used to represent good health and life and to recognize royalty, the upper class, and athletic victories. Some early Europeans displayed evergreen wreaths in the hope that it would bring an earlier spring; evergreens symbolize strength as they last through the harshest winters.

Today, wreaths are made of many different materials such as dried flowers, twigs or pine cones and can be displayed all year long depending on what is used on the arrangement. When used as a focal point on a Greeting Card, brightly colored leaves make a stunning design on a Thanksgiving card, a wreath of flowers on a Sympathy card is gracious and on the lighter side a wreath of playful icons on a Birthday card can be delightful.

Wreath Holiday Cards are probably the most popular because of the wreath’s rich history and the endless variety of material it could be made of. The Wreath Holiday Card is an easy choice for a Holiday card to send.

Staying Fit at the Office during the Holiday Season

With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, finding time to squeeze in exercise to stay fit may seem like a monumental task. Who has the time with all there is to do?! What if I told you that you can find that extra time to exercise during the holiday season during your work day? It may sound crazy, but with some creativity and a few simple changes to your everyday routine, staying fit at the office during the holiday season is possible.

One easy way to stay fit at the office during the holiday season is to get more steps during the work day. That could mean that you start parking further away from your building to make the walk farther; if it is cold outside, then just walk faster or even jog! Either way, you are doing something good for your health. Another way to add more steps is to take the stairs instead of the elevator. You can also walk over to a colleague’s desk instead of emailing or calling them. These all seem like small things, but every little bit helps!

You can also suggest that your weekly standing meetings actually become “standing” meetings by having attendees stand or walk around the room for the duration of the meeting. Another strategy for getting more steps in during the day is to take a walk during your lunch break. You can even multi-task by also getting some holiday errands done during your walks; maybe you can walk to the post office to mail your holiday cards, or walk to a nearby shopping area to pick up some gifts!

Besides getting more steps in a day, squeezing in some toning exercises is another example of ways to stay fit at the office during the holiday season. You can do isometric exercises right at your desk without anyone knowing! Here’s a few to try:

-Lift your legs straight out off the ground under your desk and cross at the ankles, push your bottom leg up against your top leg. This tones your hamstrings and quadriceps.

-Place palms flat up under your desk and push. This tones your biceps and triceps.

If you have your own office, you can get very ambitious and lift dumbbells or use exercise bands during teleconferences, or complete a strength training routine during lunch. There are also now many websites that offer free streaming workouts; workouts range from under 10 minutes to an hour, so you are sure to find something to meet your need and can stream using your smartphone.

If you follow these tips for staying fit at the office during the holiday season, you are sure to enter the New Year being “ho-ho-healthy”!