From Moment to Meaning, the Holiday Card Delivers It

There are few things better than opening the mailbox to a sea of greeting cards during the holiday season. According to the Greeting Card Association , over 1.6 billion holiday cards are bought and mailed each year. With that in mind, a company holiday card seems like the perfect way to connect with customers and even pursue potential clients. How do you make your holiday card stand out among the rest?

In a recent survey, the USPS found that 55% of people shared that they look forward to seeing what’s in their mailbox, and 56% stated that receiving and reading mail is a “real pleasure.” Holiday cards offer companies a welcome opportunity each holiday season to send a salutation and generate goodwill. Thinking about holiday cards as part of a broader marketing strategy means setting aside a budget that positions the company holiday card as more than just a greeting and more of a promotional piece. Planning allows companies more time to put together a well thought out message and design for card and envelope.

Picture a beautiful pearlized, colored, or textured envelope, amongst a pile of plain, white enve-lopes just begging to be opened. The envelope shouldn’t be an afterthought; it’s a valuable part of the design process; it sets the tone for the card inside. It’s the unboxing moment of the holiday card. Popular, shimmering STARDREAM® Papers are available in 33 stunning colors to make envelopes guaranteed to stand out in a crowded mailbox. For a luxurious, yet sensible envelope, CLASSIC® Linen Papers in Natural White Pearl, White Pearl or Gold Pearl offer the feel of fine fabric and a tactile sensation meant to last. Neenah makes ordering envelopes easy with an of-fering that includes the widest variety of brands, color, and finishes available in writing and text weights.

The Right Sentiment for the Season

While the envelope sets the stage, inside waits an elegant card that offers a foil-embossed thank you for doing business this year or promises for a prosperous year ahead. A stunning, yet simple design on a beautifully colored or textured paper ensures that your message connects with your intended audience. Eye-catching and festive, Imperial Red or Military Green from the CLASSIC® Papers line, shine bright with metallic silver or gold ink that ties in nicely with your pearlized envelope. Innovative materials open the mind to new possibilities. If your design calls for a variety of colors or effects, try using a more substantial weight sheet to create more interest and long-lasting touch. There are many options available to use color and texture to bring the card and envelope design together to wow clients and create conversation.

It’s great to plan, but with so many marketing priorities, sometimes the holiday card can, unfortunately, become a last-minute marketing project. Advances in digital print technology allow marketers to print small-runs of holiday cards without sacrificing quality quickly. Neenah’s growing digital portfolio of over 400 of the most popular colors, textures, and weights, provides a wide range of versatile, high-performing paper and envelope choices for any holiday project. Work with your print service provider to choose the right solution for your card design.

Sending a holiday card for your business is a wise decision and can make an impact on your current or future clientele. Ideally, your tasteful card will be the one posted in the break room, displayed on the wall of the office or the fireplace mantle!

Once you’ve created a stand out card and envelope, there are several other considerations to keep in mind when mailing out your cards. Choose messaging that is short, authentic, and cheerful. Try messaging that is not overly concentrated on one holiday within the holiday season. Show appreciation for business gained or for potential opportunities to help keep you top of mind going into the new year. Send your cards out promptly, so they kick off the holiday season with your company leading the way.

Now is the perfect time to get started on your holiday card design and consider Neenah as your partner in the creative process. Providing the products and services — the solutions — Neenah helps transform ideas into results. Whether designing holiday cards, packaging, business cards, or retail environments, Neenah provides the products to help designers create the experience for each brand touch point.