Month: October 2018

3 Easy Costume Tips to Follow for This Year’s Halloween Office Party

Even though Halloween in the office is all about getting dressed up and having a blast, there are a few costume tips to follow. First you want to make sure you follow the dress code if your office has one. All of the basic office rules still apply even during a party. Follow these three costume tips at your next Halloween office party:

  • Keep it simple – A Halloween office party doesn’t call for a full body costume. Keep it simple by dressing down, so to say. Go for a funny hat or a themed t-shirt. Try not to pick a costume that requires props, they can get in the way of the festivities.
  • Keep it safe – Safety is still important even during a party. When you are on work premises you must abide to the rules. Be safe this Halloween and avoid wearing a mask or any loose fitting clothing that might get stepped on or caught in something.
  • Make it fun – Instead of wearing a mask, wear a crazy colored wig or try to paint your face! Use bright colors to look like a clown, or get creative and do your makeup to look like a hungry zombie.

Winter Is Coming: When Should I Send My Office Holiday Party Invitations?

Winter is coming! Winter is coming! Most people don’t get too excited about the news that the dreary, snow filled days of winter are approaching. I really don’t either, but what I do get excited about is all the holiday excitement and celebrations that are on their way.

The hectic holiday season fills me with a rush like no other. Between work, family and friends, I am always rushing from one event to another. This is not a complaint, but getting the invites on a timely basis is extremely important. I hate to miss even one gathering.

Sending a holiday party invitation too late becomes an issue if your invitees are busy. They may already be booked. If you send your office holiday party invitations too early, then you run the risk of being forgotten. Although there is no concrete guideline on when to send an invitation, I suggest you get those invitation out about four to six weeks before the holiday party. This timing gives your guests plenty of time to save the date, find a sitter, pick out the perfect ensemble and still have time to generate excitement. Try to be respectful of your employees. They have many obligations outside the office and understand the importance of attending the annual office holiday party.

Why Proper Grammar is Key in Letter Writing

There complementary desert is grater than hearse. Their complimentary dessert is greater than hers. The first sentence states that there exists a matching area of arid land that functions as an implement that grates in some unidentifiable relation to a vehicle that transports those who have passed away. The second sentence states that someone’s free cake tastes better than someone else’s cake. I believe these two sentences clearly illustrate the undeniable and unquestionable importance of grammar.

Perhaps you are not convinced. All grammatical errors are not as blatant as the above, and you may feel it is perfectly fine to ignore some rules of grammar once in a while. You might want to have your complimentary cake and eat it, too. Resist that temptation. Grammar is not meant to be a tedious set of rules. Its function is to assist in the accurate and coherent expression of thoughts and ideas. Certain forms of communication rely more heavily on grammar than others. In particular, proper grammar is key in letter writing. This is the case for many reasons, two of which are listed below.

Perceived Intelligence – Whether it is fair or not, most people judge the intelligence of others based upon the quality of their writing. An individual may be ignored or dismissed despite their intelligence simply because of poor grammar.

Meaningful Communication – Ideas, beliefs, and thoughts only exist outside oneself if they can be properly communicated. Faulty grammar hinders true expression as it can serve to frustrate or confuse the letter reader who may, in turn, abandon the letter without ever grasping its inherent value.

Holiday Cards: Should Your Business Send Them?

I remember when I use to check the mail in the morning as a kid. I’d shuffle through envelopes as if I had important mail coming, but I never had any mail for me. It wasn’t like I was paying the bills. I just liked sorting through mail; don’t ask me why. I’d look through it and anything with my dad’s name went into his pile, mail with my mom’s name went into hers, etc. I was basically the in house mail sorter. I thought I had their mail all figured out until companies began to send them huge calendars and Christmas cards. They were interesting because they usually would send them around the holiday time. They always caught my eye with all the cool Thanksgiving and Christmas designs, and some even had the companies’ names printed on them which stood out even more. One day, my mom was helping me sort through the mail and I remember her saying about one of the holiday calendar cards, “you always need these calendars around and I might need this to get the info about the company who sent it.” So, if you’re a small local company on the rise or an internationally known business with thousands of locations,  does sending Holiday Cards make sense? I would emphatically say yes.

I know some may say no because people will receive them in the mail and simply toss them. But, I have come to believe it is more than worth it to send out holiday cards. This is a chance for new customers to learn about your business or spark their interest in you. Of course, some will be thrown out, but there’s a better chance of people who won’t and will need your services. They will be more likely to contact you instead of the competitor who didn’t pay to have those cards made and sent out, since they have your info at the ready.

So yes, sending out holiday cards are one of those decisions you weigh out the pros and cons on. But personally, I feel they are more than worth the effort because I can potentially make new clients in the process. New customers will have all my contact info I’ll have new business along with new friends to enjoy the holiday season with. It’s a no brainer for me. 

12th Annual Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest – Round 3 Finalists Announced!

Congratulations to our Round 3 Finalists!