Sending greeting cards: Got a thought? Get a Card!

In our busy hectic lives it can be all too easy tocard shops, and their opening/closing times. That's
forget to send a greeting card to those we carevery important if you're coming a distance or in a
about. It's not that we forget it entirely. Wehurry.
forget to remember to go fetch, go buy, go3. Level of service is important too. I've been
trawl.known to blacklist certain stores because of their
So instead of relying on your memory to get arude, or indifferent customer service.
card, why not do it when you get the thought?4. Being impulsive though isn't always easy when
Do the unexpected thing and go send one whenyou've got to go fetch every time, so having
you think of it.your own store of cards to turn to is a great
It's so easy these days to send a card online thathelp.
many of us just don't do it. Some of us find it5. Many companies sell boxed cards these days.
difficult, others find it impersonal. Whether you'reI'm not talking of those individual padded cards but
an online or a bricks and mortar card sender isn'tsets of say 6-15 note cards, often blank with
important - unless you want the recipient to havefront photographs or paintings for all occasions.
a paper card to stand on their desk.Museums and Galleries are often a good source.
There are a number of ways that you can beLook at postcard sets too. You can always buy a
impulsive with your card-giving.pack of sized envelopes to accompany them.
For email cards 1. If you're an online fan then6. If you keep a selection of such cards you will
bookmark the best card sites. Make these onesnever be caught out again and you'll be able to
that aren't just packed out with masses ofsend that thought when you get it.
choices, but those sites that you personally findSending a card unexpectedly shows that you
easy to navigate.aren't just limited by the main card giving events
2. Spend a bit of time going through the variousin our lives, but that you think of others at other
sites seeing what they offer.times to. It shows your sensitivity to others' life
3. Do they make it easy for you to completeexperiences and reinforces your friendship and
your request? Any email card company worth itscharacter.
salt will offer some sort of membership programIt's often this unexpectedness that matters more
which will give you more flexibility andthan card giving at traditional events such as
personalization.birthdays. We usually expect those, and yes,
Remember, making it personal will always winsometimes it can be hard to come up with
over the rest.something original.
4. Do they have a Reminder Service as part ofOf course there's always the possibility that our
the package so that you can be prompted to getunexpectedness at giving cards to others may in
that special card before the date arrives? If theytime become almost part of what THEY expect
don't then look elsewhere.from us.
These programs are a life-saver (if card-giving isMotive is what matters - the reason why you
one of your priorities). Most prompt you a fewdecide to act on impulse to send that card with
days before the dates you've entered.hand-written message.
5. It's also possible to set up a reminder inActing on the thought is the thing that separates
Outlook.us from the rest. It's easy to say we've thought
For paper cards 1. These days you aren't limitedof someone, but didn't have time to or couldn't
to bricks and mortar shopping for paper cards. Aget around to turning the thought into reality.
number of online companies will personalize andMaking it happen is the difference. It's the
send your selected card for you. You enter all theconnection between showing that we had the
details and they do the rest - usually with athought and thinking enough of them to make the
guaranteed next day delivery.effort.
It's worth spending a bit of time looking into theseThinking of someone in our heads doesn't allow us
options, because depending on where you live,to show them that we care. Thinking of them
and your schedule, it isn't always possible to walkwith a card translates that into action.
to the store, select, write and then post yourSubscribing to one of the options above can help
card. There are so many other variables like theyou to develop your own unique style of card
weather, have you got the address and agiving by sending a card when you get the
postage stamp!thought.
2. If you really do like walking around the mall orGo make someone's day and get them that
local shops then you probably know your favoritegreeting card you were thinking of!