Should your business send Thanksgiving cards, holiday cards, or both? Plenty of office managers and marketing teams go back and forth on this every fall. The good news is that you do not have to pick a side. Sending both is one of the smartest moves your company can make all year.
The debate around Thanksgiving cards vs. holiday cards comes up a lot. Some companies have always sent December greetings and wonder if adding a November card is worth the time. This post breaks down the difference between Thanksgiving and holiday cards, explains why each one matters, and shows how both can strengthen your business relationships.
Why Do Businesses Compare Thanksgiving Cards Versus Holiday Cards
The main reason this topic keeps coming up is timing. Most companies already send holiday cards in December, and they worry that adding a Thanksgiving card means doubling the effort. But these two cards serve different purposes at different moments in the season.
A Thanksgiving card is about gratitude. It lands in your recipient’s mailbox in mid-November, when the holiday rush has not started yet. Your card is not competing with dozens of other envelopes for attention.
A holiday card is about celebration and goodwill. It arrives in December alongside festive wishes from other businesses. It connects your brand to the warmth of the season.
Together, they create two separate touchpoints that keep your business visible from November through December.
What Is the Real Difference Between Thanksgiving and Holiday Cards
Here is what sets them apart when it comes to the difference between thanksgiving and holiday cards.
Timing and Tone
Thanksgiving cards go out in early to mid-November. They carry a tone of appreciation and reflection. Holiday cards go out in late November or early December. They carry a tone of celebration and seasonal cheer.
Message Focus
A Thanksgiving card says “we are grateful for you.” A holiday card says “we wish you a joyful season.” Both messages matter, but they hit differently when a client or employee reads them.
Mailbox Competition
In November, very few businesses send cards. Your Thanksgiving greeting arrives when the mailbox is nearly empty, which gives it more visibility. In December, your holiday card joins a stack of other seasonal greetings. It still matters, but it has to share the spotlight.
Inclusivity
Thanksgiving is a national holiday with no religious ties, which makes it one of the most inclusive card-sending occasions on the calendar. Holiday cards carry a wider range of seasonal and religious associations depending on the greeting you choose.
Why Should Your Business Send Both Cards
When you compare thanksgiving cards versus holiday cards side by side, you see that they are not competing with each other. They are working together. Here is why sending both makes sense for your business.
First, you get ahead of your competition. While other companies are still planning their December mailings, your Thanksgiving card has already arrived. You are the first name on your client’s desk, and that kind of early visibility is hard to replicate with digital outreach alone.
Second, there is more time and energy available in November. Your team is not yet caught up in end-of-year deadlines and holiday parties. Addressing and mailing Thanksgiving cards in early November feels manageable because the hectic schedule of December has not kicked in yet.
Third, you double the number of personal touchpoints with the people who matter most. One card in November shows gratitude. A second card in December shows celebration. Together, they tell your clients and employees that your business values the relationship all season long.
And fourth, a premium printed card does something no email ever can. A textured, foil-stamped greeting with your company name on the front stays on a desk for weeks. It keeps working for you long after it is opened.
When Should You Mail Each Card for the Best Impact
Timing matters just as much as the card itself. If your Thanksgiving card arrives after the holiday, it loses its punch.
For Thanksgiving cards, plan to have them in the mail by the second week of November. Order your cards by early October so your team has time to personalize and address them.
For holiday cards, aim to mail them in the last week of November or the first week of December. Early December is the sweet spot for maximum impact, though late December arrivals still work if they carry a New Year’s message.
Space the two mailings about three to four weeks apart so each card gets its own moment of attention.
What Should You Write in a Business Thanksgiving Card
The best Thanksgiving card messages are short, warm, and specific. A few sincere lines go a long way.
For clients and customers, focus on gratitude for their trust. Something like, “Your continued support means the world to our team. Wishing you a warm and happy Thanksgiving.”
For employees, acknowledge their effort. Try, “We are thankful for everything you bring to this team. Enjoy a restful Thanksgiving with the people you love.”
For business partners, express appreciation for the relationship. A simple “Thank you for a great year of collaboration. Happy Thanksgiving from our team” works well.
Adding your company name to the front of the card and a personalized sentiment inside makes every greeting feel genuine and on-brand. The Gallery Collection offers customizable Thanksgiving cards with gold foil accents, rich autumn designs, and a range of sentiments that fit any business relationship. You can also add your logo, choose your imprint color, and include staff signatures.
Can You Send Thanksgiving Cards Instead of Holiday Cards
Some businesses choose to send Thanksgiving cards as their only seasonal greeting, and this approach works well for a few reasons.
Thanksgiving is inclusive and unlikely to create sensitivity around religious observance. Your card arrives when no one else is sending one, so it gets noticed. And it still shows your clients and employees that your company values them.
That said, if your business has always sent holiday cards and your clients look forward to them, there is no reason to stop. The strongest approach is usually both. But if you can only send one, a Thanksgiving card is a distinctive choice that sets your company apart.
The Gallery Collection has been helping companies create memorable printed touchpoints since 1929. From thank you cards to holiday greetings, every card is printed on premium paper stock and backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Sending both gives your company two separate chances to connect with clients and employees during the busiest season of the year. Each card serves a different purpose and arrives at a different time, so they work together rather than overlap.
Thanksgiving cards focus on gratitude and go out in November, when mailboxes are quieter. Holiday cards focus on seasonal celebration and go out in December. The tone, timing, and message of each card are different, which is why many businesses send both.
Aim to mail your Thanksgiving cards by the second week of November. This gives them enough time to arrive before the holiday. Order your cards by early October so your team has time to personalize and address them.
Thanksgiving is a national holiday with no religious ties, so a Thanksgiving card feels welcoming to recipients of all backgrounds. Holiday cards can be inclusive too, especially when you choose a “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” message, but Thanksgiving naturally avoids any seasonal sensitivity.
Yes. The Gallery Collection lets you add your company name, logo, a custom message, and staff signatures to each Thanksgiving card. You can also choose your imprint color and envelope style to match your brand.
Love Thanksgiving Cards, mainly because Autumn is my favorite time of year.
I like sending for Thanksgiving. This way you get to be the first card people get!
I do both. Might be a bit of overkill, but I love the holidays!
I think it’s a good idea to send both a Thanksgiving card and a Holiday card. We have a lot to be thankful for here in America. So do that first, then celebrate the holidays.
Thanksgiving is a national holiday, not really associated with religion. I don’t think anyone is offended by a Thanksgiving card.
Canada has a Thanksgiving day in October and I wonder if Canadians send cards for that holiday? I think we should send cards for Thanksgiving to keep in touch before the Christmas rush starts.
Have you noticed that on Labor Day all the Halloween candy was on display at the supermarket? Get an early start to the holidays and send a Thanksgiving card from your business.
If you want to get a head start on the holiday season and a jump start on the competition, please send a Thanksgiving card. Most people are too busy around Christmas to even read through a Christmas card and remember your company’s name.
Why not send a Thanksgiving card to those extra special customers? Then send Xmas greetings as well. It’s a personal touch that I know I would appreciate getting.
Thanksgiving cards are so alive with fall colors. It’s a pleasure to get one to remind me to be thankful for our country and my family.
Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie! It’s kind of a last hurrah before snow & ice. Sending a card for Thanksgiving is a friendly thing to do. I send both Thanksgiving & Christmas cards.
My husband runs a small insurance office and the competition for getting new group policies is fierce. I think a Thanksgiving card keeps our name out in front of the holiday rush of Christmas cards. We send Christmas cards, too.
Thanksgiving cards are a wonderful idea, since it is the season of thanks. Everyone sends out Christmas cards, so I may be sending Thanksgiving cards this year just to switch it up.
Things are so politically correct now that it’s better to send Thanksgiving cards instead of cards around Christmas. You’re giving thanks for blessings, I guess, but it’s kind of religion neutral.
I’d be surprised to see Thanksgiving cards in my office, but we do get a lot of Happy Holidays & Season’s Greeting cards in December from our vendors.
Very cute & clever turkey “feathers” for your blog illustration. I think Thanksgiving cards should be sent because in troubling times we need a reminder of how fortunate we are in this country.
I read what Josette said – Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie. But I have to say that you should have the symbolic turkey featured on one of your cards. I’m all for sending Thanksgiving cards out to my clients before the holiday craziness. I actually send holiday cards as well.
With natural disasters as well as political turmoil capturing the headlines it’s a perfect time to express thanks for the good things we still have. Send Thanksgiving cards this year.
Business shouldn’t always be a rat race, a competitive jungle. Take the time for some thankful thoughts and send a card to your customers for Thanksgiving.I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised and it’s a great way to begin the holiday season.
I like the fact that your company has a greeting that takes in Thanksgiving plus the holidays. For me, on a tight budget, I can send my Thanksgiving cards with holiday wishes. If my budget stretches next year I can send out both types of cards.
It’s always good to send another card and make someone feel appreciated. If others aren’t doing it, then I think that gives you even more incentive to send them because you will be seen as unique. The receiver and sender will both feel great. It’s really a win-win situation.
Thanksgiving is a much more relaxing holiday IMO. I would rather send cards then before the hectic Christmas season.
Thanksgiving is the best! Love sending cards for holidays other than Christmas and they always pleasantly surprise recipients.
This is a great idea. Be first and be thankful. I’ll be getting Thanksgiving cards this year.
By sending Thanksgiving cards you are probably making more of an impression. Once the Christmas rush starts and cards are piling in businesses are making less of a mental note of who the card came from – I vote for the early jump and sending Thanksgiving cards especially from a business
I never thought about Thanksgiving cards but its actually really cute idea. Coming from a company that would be a nice gesture for the holidays. I like it .
Thanksgiving cards make a lot of sense to me! It’s a gorgeous time of year, and a time to be appreciative for all of our blessings, whatever they may be! Plus, we can take our time to write a personal note because the holiday rush has not quite started yet!