Is it Necessary to Send Business Christmas Cards?

If your company is working under budgetary constraints, not sending out holiday cards may seem like a no brainer. Why would you spend money on that, when there are so many other things that are needed to run a company? Inventory, supplies, salaries, to name a few. If you are trying to get the word out, you are likely spending money on some type of advertisement. If you run an ad in the local newspaper, you are likely putting out a good chunk of change. You have no guarantee that your customers or potential customers will even see it. So, is it necessary to send business Christmas cards? That is the question!

Sending Christmas cards may not seem like a very important task. However, when you think about it, it becomes clear that it is. Everyone wants to feel appreciated and thought of. The holidays are a cheerful time of year and a perfect time to remind people of how much they are appreciated. By sending Christmas cards you are letting your customers and clients know that you are thinking of them. Not just when they are utilizing your services, but for the rest of the year as well. Along with great service, these small measures are what keep customers coming back.

You may wonder how this would attract potential new business. Most offices that receive Christmas cards, hang them up on display. People are walking in and out and most likely will stop to look at the cards. When they do, they will see your company name, proudly printed on the inside. While spending a very nominal amount per greeting card, you have sent out an advertisement that will be seen by many.

Flip the Script…Send Calendar Cards This Holiday Season

Last year we sent our customers a holiday card that we all individually signed and included in it a business card and a calendar with our company name and contact information printed on the other.  This was a good idea, so we went with it.

However, I later learned that some clients felt the actual calendar was too small to use so they tossed it.  So our idea of having our information available for them throughout the year didn’t work out as planned.

This year, I was hoping to find something unusual for our holiday cards.  I kept thinking the calendar idea was good, we just had the wrong version.  I searched around for holiday calendar cards. 

Our searched produced plenty of results from the Gallery Collection, and they even let us place a picture on the front of the calendar with all the employees. The calendar then opens from a fold, which drops down to be a very long full size calendar under our picture!  The best part of this whole card type is that there are a bunch of lines at the bottom of the calendar to put ALL our company information so they will remember us and contact us all year long!

I wanted to be different and send a calendar card this holiday season, and now, I have found one that is the absolute perfect presentation which clients will be sure to keep all year round! 

17th Annual Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest – Round 5 Finalists Announced!

Congratulations to our Round 5 Finalists!

Is Holiday Gifting A Thing Of The Past Within The Corporate World?

Sometimes the corporate world can come off as a sterile, emotionless environment because of how cut-throat it can be. Many pleasantries are a thing of the past in today’s modern business word as things become more and more digital and disconnected from individuals. One such tradition is that of holiday gift-giving. What with an increasingly politically-correct work atmosphere and a lack of old values, many corporations are veering away from the annual gift giving the holiday season brings.

Especially as a new hire, it can be hard to know what your office does for the holidays and to find out with enough time to prepare before the holidays arrive. Should you be getting gifts for everybody? Is that what they typically do there? Some offices do a Secret Santa, others throw a holiday party, and some don’t celebrate any holidays at all. It’s good to find out what is appropriate for your office as some companies restrict exchanges like holiday gift-giving.

Once you know what is acceptable for your corporate environment, you must become aware of the additional guidelines for appropriate gift-giving. Look at what gift you’re giving, the cost and implication of said gift(s), your relationship with the recipient, etc. While giving and receiving gifts for the holidays can be fun, many offices have strict expectations for their gifting etiquette. Keep in mind, it is almost always appropriate to give corporate coworkers seasons greetings cards to wish them well during the holidays.

Why I Enjoy Penguin Holiday Cards

Accuracy and precision are probably not the words that you expected to comprise part of the introductory sentence to a blog about penguin holiday cards, but they are at the heart of an inherent controversy over such Holiday cards.  At first blush, penguins seem like a great, non-controversial addition to any holiday card.  They are loving, exotic, impeccably dressed animals who typically reside in very cold weather environments.  So, they should fit right in the North Pole scenes that commonly adorn holiday cards.  But there’s one pesky, miniscule, infinitesimal problem that threatens to ruin the joy of the season for persnickety and discerning connoisseurs of all things holiday.  Our penguin friends live on the other side of the world, which would either render these North Pole penguin scenes inaccurate or make for the world’s worst commute for those penguins.

            Some will contend this inaccurate depiction of penguins residing and working at the North Pole is a foolish oversight by the cards’ conceivers.  Despite the innate irony of such an assertion, a negative view of penguin holiday cards based on veracity misses the point of the season.  Holiday cards are not historical documents, legal precedents, or binding contracts.  They are meant purely for joy, and imagination, creativity, and wonder are all directly at the heart of joy.  A factually incorrect holiday card that brings joy – send me one anytime.

Religious Christmas Cards: Are They Appropriate to Send to Clients?

This year your company has settled on the idea of sending out religious Christmas cards to your clients, but now, you’re nervous about sending them out. Are they appropriate to send as a business?

First off, if your business is somehow affiliated with a church — then absolutely this is fine. Even if your recipients are not religious, it is completely fitting for you to use religious cards. Bottom Line: It is not offensive if your business outwardly represents or endorses religions that celebrate Christmas.

When it comes down to it, Christmas is a religious holiday. Although it has since strayed from that in the modern age, it is still founded in religious beliefs and ideals. If you know you want to send a “Christmas” card and not a “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” card, then you’ve already made your choice. Taking it a step further and using a Christmas card with a nativity scene really isn’t that far of a leap.

If you do find yourself unsure, you may browse The Gallery Collection’s Religious Christmas Cards. They have a large selection of designs and greetings that vary in how solemn they are — some designs feature a stained glass depiction of a dove or a “A Christmas Blessing” message. Another option is to have the design less rigidly religious and include a more religious sentiment inside the card. Consider you recipients and your company to make the best choice for you.

17th Annual Create a Greeting Card Scholarship Contest – Round 4 Finalists Announced!

Congratulations to our Round 4 Finalists!

Photo Holiday Cards for Business

People always think of sending Christmas photo cards of their kids and families during the holiday season, but they don’t put much thought about doing Holiday photo cards for their business. I say, “Why not?” Wouldn’t it be nice to see the faces of the people you talk to on the phone and conduct business with?

The holiday custom photo mount cards are a great way to share your holiday photo. There is a whole collection of these Christmas cards. You can select black, green, red, cream, blue or white card stock. They are available with gold or silver borders. Some of them offer messages below the photos such as “Merry Christmas”, “Happy Holidays” or even “Thank You”. There is even an option to fill the entire front of the Holiday card with your photo instead of having it framed. All you have to do is take your photo and then upload to the site. The process is simple. You just need to take the right photo!

If the custom photo cards aren’t quite what you are looking for, there are many other options to upload your photos. I love the idea of sending photo cards for business. Putting a face to the name that you deal with often makes it a touch more personal.

Showing Thanks to Employees During Thanksgiving Season

Showing thanks to your employees during Thanksgiving season shouldn’t be the only time you let them know that they are appreciated and valued. It is however, the perfect time to ramp it up. After all, that is what Thanksgiving is all about. Giving thanks!

Often, depending on the type of business you have, the holidays are usually busy. Production has to increase. This means that your employees are putting in extra hours. It also means they have less time at home to do their own preparations. They need to know that their hard work and dedication means something. An appreciated employee equates to a more productive employee. If a person knows that they are a valued team member, he or she tends to be more loyal to doing what needs to be done, to get the job done!

There are many small things that can be done to boost morale. Here are a few:

  1. Send them a Thanksgiving Card. A simple greeting card can go a long way in making people feel appreciated.
  2. Create a Thank You wall! Post names and what the person has done to help things run smoothly. If you can’t list all the names individually, post the departments and their contributions.
  3. Provide treats at break times.
  4. Have a raffle. The prize(s) don’t have to be huge, but be sure that all employees have a fair chance to participate.
  5. Post words of encouragement and thanks throughout the building.
  6. If possible, provide a luncheon. This doesn’t have to be huge. Maybe a Pizza Party.
    These are just a few suggestions. You can likely come up with some others. Regardless of what you decide to do, please don’t underestimate the power of showing appreciation. Be visible, be present and be sure to say thank you.

Celebrating Halloween can Make for Happier Employees

Seriously, who doesn’t love Halloween? There’s something for everyone whther it is costumes, games, scares, and of course tricks and treats! It’s definitely no longer a holiday just for children so getting your office in on the fun is a win-win.

Remember the saying about all work and no play? Multiple studies have proven that making sure employee morale is a priority is good for your bottom line . Happy employees are more productive; they are more willing to foster teamwork and are more loyal to their company. And really, who says work has to be boring anyway?
It really doesn’t take much effort to celebrate.

Most everyone in our office already decorates their cubicles and work areas. Add a few decorations and some music in the breakroom (think Thriller, Sympathy for the Devil, Zombie, Werewolves of London and of course Monster Mash) and you’re all set. If you have a TV in a common area you could stream some scary movies (stick to the old classics like Frankenstein and Dracula rather than newer ones like Halloween and Friday the 13th which might not be for everyone due to their gore, violence and adult themes).

Spring for lunch that day or have a pot luck so everyone can bring in their best Halloween themed dish. Candy is of course a MUST! Make sure there’s something for everyone so keep in mind any dietary restrictions your employees might have.

Everyone loves some healthy competition. Have a contest for the most creative costume, best Halloween dessert or scariest decorations and give the winners a prize. If you have some employees that aren’t comfortable dressing up or just want to give everyone a chance at a prize, you can always put everyone’s name into a raffle and give away some gift cards or a coupon for a free lunch from one of the local take-out places.

Whatever you do to celebrate in your office, “don’t be scared” to have fun.