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