| In our busy hectic lives it can be all too | | | | your favorite card shops, and their opening |
| easy to forget to send a greeting card for | | | | closing times. That's very important if |
| those we care about. It's not that we forget | | | | you're coming a distance or in a hurry. |
| it entirely. We forget to remember to go | | | | |
| fetch, go buy, go trawl. So instead of | | | | 3. Level of service is important too. I've |
| relying on your memory to get a card, why not | | | | been known to blacklist certain stores |
| do it when you get the thought? Do the | | | | because of their rude, or indifferent |
| unexpected thing and go send one when you | | | | customer service. |
| think of it. | | | | |
| | | | 4. Being impulsive though isn't always easy |
| It's so easy these days to send a card online | | | | when you've got to go fetch every time, so |
| that many of us just don't do it. Some of us | | | | having your own store of cards to turn to is |
| find it difficult, others find it impersonal. | | | | a great help. |
| Whether you've an online or a bricks and | | | | |
| mortar card sender isn't important - unless | | | | 5. Many companies sell boxed cards these |
| you want the recipient to have a paper card | | | | days. I'm not talking of those individual |
| (of substance) to stand on their desk. | | | | padded cards but sets of say 6-15 note cards, |
| | | | often blank with front photographs or |
| There are a number of ways that you can be | | | | paintings for all occasions. Museums and |
| impulsive with your card-giving. | | | | Galleries are often a good source. Look at |
| | | | postcard sets too. You can always buy a pack |
| For email cards | | | | of sized envelopes to accompany them. |
| | | | |
| 1. If you're an online fan then bookmark the | | | | 6. If you keep a selection of such cards you |
| best card sites. Make these ones that aren't | | | | will never be caught out again and you'll be |
| just packed out with masses of choices, but | | | | able to send that thought when you get it. |
| those sites that you personally find easy to | | | | |
| navigate. | | | | Sending a card unexpectedly shows that you |
| | | | aren't just limited by the main card giving |
| 2. Spend a bit of time going through the | | | | events in our lives, but that you think of |
| various sites seeing what they offer. | | | | others at other times too. It shows your |
| | | | sensitivity to others' life experiences and |
| 3. Do they make it easy for you to complete | | | | reinforces your friendship and character. |
| your request? Any email card company worth | | | | |
| its salt will offer some sort of membership | | | | It's often this unexpectedness that matters |
| program which will give you more flexibility | | | | more than card giving at traditional events |
| and personalization. Remember, making it | | | | such as birthdays. We usually expect those, |
| personal will always win over the rest. | | | | and yes, sometimes it can be hard to come up |
| | | | with something original. |
| 4. Do they have a Reminder Service as part of | | | | |
| the package so that you can be prompted to | | | | Of course there's always the possibility that |
| get that special card before the date | | | | our unexpectedness at giving cards to others |
| arrives? If they don't then look elsewhere. | | | | may in time become almost part of what THEY |
| These programs are a life-saver (if | | | | expect from us. Motive is what matters - the |
| card-giving is one of your priorities). Most | | | | reason why you decide to act on impulse to |
| prompt you a few days before the dates you've | | | | send that card with hand-written message. |
| entered. | | | | |
| | | | Acting on the thought is the thing that |
| 5. It's also possible to set up a reminder in | | | | separates us from the rest. It's easy to say |
| Outlook. | | | | we've thought of someone, but didn't have |
| | | | time to or couldn't get around to turning |
| For paper cards | | | | the thought into reality. Making it happen |
| | | | is the difference. It's the connection |
| 1. These days you aren't limited to bricks | | | | between showing that we had the thought and |
| and mortar shopping for paper cards. A | | | | thinking enough of them to make the effort. |
| number of online companies will personalize | | | | |
| and send your selected card for you. You | | | | Thinking of someone in our heads doesn't |
| enter all the details and they do the rest - | | | | allow us to show them that we care. Thinking |
| usually with a guaranteed next day delivery. | | | | of them with a card translates that into |
| It's worth spending a bit of time looking | | | | action. |
| into these options, because depending on | | | | |
| where you live, and your schedule, it isn't | | | | Subscribing to one of the options above can |
| always possible to walk to the store, select, | | | | help you to develop your own unique style of |
| write and then post your card. There are so | | | | card giving by sending a card when you get |
| many other variables like the weather, have | | | | the thought. |
| you got the address and a postage stamp! | | | | |
| | | | Go make someone's day and get them that |
| 2. If you really do like walking around the | | | | greeting card you were thinking of! |
| mall or local shops then you probably know | | | | |