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November 29, 2013

Tips for Your Company Holiday Party

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — Tags: — PDWriter @ 3:13 pm

The holidays mean it’s time to party! Nearly 90 percent of offices hold a yearly holiday party to celebrate and reward employees for their hard work. When you’re brainstorming company holiday party ideas, you might run into some road blocks. Don’t stress! These holiday party tips will help you achieve a fantastic Holiday office party!

Tips for Holiday Party Costs:

Tips for your Company Holiday PartyIf you have a tight budget for your holiday party, there are plenty of ways to keep the cost down. Firstly, keep the party at the office and ask staff members to each bring a dish or drink. You can keep the party festive and fun with simple Christmas or holiday decorations. Here are some inexpensive ideas:

  1. Hang Christmas Lights around the Office (turn off those fluorescent lights!)
  2. Purchase some Christmas Cookie or Cinnamon Scented Candles
  3. Purchase inexpensive, yet eloquent table settings. Grab some Christmas plates, cocktail cups and festive napkins.

These small ideas and tips can really make a difference! If you end up booking a restaurant or private room, make sure to confirm well in advance!

Tips for Conversation

When people who work together spend time together outside the office, one of the more popular things to talk about tends to be the job. Guests and employees themselves might feel bored if the conversation centers on work for too long.

Have a few icebreakers handy to encourage conversation that focuses on things outside of work, whether you limit the party to staff or open it up. For example, fill a bowl with holiday themed M&M’s or other colorful candy. Have guests pick out one piece of candy. Tell guests that they should reveal something about themselves based on the color they chose. For example, if a person picked a green candy, they can share what they want for Christmas.

Other ideas can be setting up a karaoke machine or ping pong table. You can rent these inexpensively and be entertained all night.

Tips for the Kids

Holding a holiday party for the whole family can be stressful. If the party is held after work hours, it can be difficult for parents to make it, since finding a sitter during the holidays is harder than at other times of the year.

Kris Kringle Fill-In-The-Blank Gift Certificates by PaperDirectIf a lot of your employees have kids, consider hiring a team of babysitters to keep an eye on them in a separate area during the party. The office can cover the cost of the sitters or parents can each chip in. Set up a TV so that the kids can watch a movie or play video games. Board games and activities will also keep the kids happy during the event. Give each child a small gift or certificate to thank him or her for coming to the party.

Whether you decide to limit your holiday party to employees only or invite others, check out PaperDirect for all of your party planning needs.

5 Business Email Holiday Etiquette Rules

Filed under: Online Marketing Ideas — Tags: , — PDWriter @ 2:12 pm

The holidays are almost upon us. To maintain your professional polish and keep inbox stress to a minimum, remember these rules of business email etiquette over the holidays:

One: Reply Promptly and Helpfully

Rules for Business Email Etiquette Over the Holidays

Everyone gets a little harried during the holiday season. But, if input from you holds up important projects, you are slowing colleagues down at this hectic time. Try to set aside a chunk of time every morning to respond to emails and take care of the ones in your box every day. Create special alerts that will notify you of emails from those who need to hear back sooner.

Two: But, Be Patient with Those Who Don’t

Compassion for those who are dealing with holiday strain goes a long way toward building goodwill in the workplace. Send gentle reminders if you need to hear back soon. But, try to keep calm when dealing with delays, as they are often unavoidable this time of year.

Three: Set a Vacation Responder

Are you going to be out of the office? Set up an auto-responder to keep colleagues informed. Keep it professional (no bragging about daiquiris on beaches!) and make sure that you include contact information for the person who will fill in for you or a number where you can be reached in emergencies.

Four: Keep Your Correspondence Professional

Some people are tempted to add colorful holiday graphics to their email signatures during the holidays. Don’t give in. These graphics increase the file size of messages and can be a distracting eyesore on professional messages.

Five: There Are Times When Nothing Replaces Pen and Paper

An e-card just doesn’t convey the appreciation you feel for the people you work with the way that a few well-chosen lines on a charming greeting card do. Give cards to your coworkers to let them know how valuable they are to you. Important vendors will be touched when you express their importance to your firm with a holiday card.

happy holiday poinsettia greeting card

Looking for the perfect holiday card to express your appreciation to the people who make your life easier all year long? Browse our wide selection of holiday cards here at Paper Direct.

5 Ways to Recognize Your Superstar Employees

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — Tags: — PDWriter @ 1:58 pm
Golden Star Casual Certificates by PaperDirect

Without your employees, you wouldn’t have a company. That’s why it’s so important that you take the time to properly recognize and reward the performances and achievements of your team. After all, research shows that feeling appreciated is one of the leading drivers of employee engagement and it’s that type of boost that can really motivate your staff members to continue to raise the bar with their work.

So just how do you go about recognizing and rewarding your employees for a job well done? Here’s a look at five ways to recognize achievements:

Swirly Stars Casual Certificates by PaperDirect
Award Certificates

Award certificates are a great low-cost way to honor your staff members. Have them ready for your monthly staff meetings and present them to the top employees of the month in front of the rest of your staff members. The employees being recognized will appreciate the gesture and feel good about being lauded in front of their peers. And their peers will see something that they too can strive for.

Exclusive Parking Spots

Rewarding employees with the best parking spots is another creative, inexpensive way to show your appreciation. However, make sure that the spots that you’re awarding are clearly marked “Employee of the Month Parking” or something similar. Use a custom banner or customized flyer to mark the spot. Also, make sure that the spots are actually better than others in the lot. For example, the employee of the month spots might be covered and steps away from the office entrance.

Gift Baskets

Everyone needs a night out. And if you reward your top employees with a “night out” gift basket, it’s a gesture that will be appreciated and used. Include things like restaurant and movie theater gift cards, a bottle of wine and perhaps even some chocolates or candies.

Give Kudos in Company Newsletter

It always feels good to get public recognition. That’s why giving kudos to superstar employees in the company newsletter is a great way to honor the work of your top staff members and have them feeling good about themselves. Not only are you giving them props, but their peers will surely be stopping by after reading the newsletter to do the same.

Simply Show You Care

Make a special trip over to the superstar employee’s desk or office during some point in the day and simply spend a few minutes talking about how much you appreciate them and thank them for their commitment to your company. It’s simple, yes – but simply showing you care can go an extremely long way.

Use one or all of the above ideas to recognize and motive your employees to always give 100% a your workplace.

Songs for the Company Christmas Party Playlist

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — Tags: — PDWriter @ 1:10 pm

Songs for the Company Christmas Party You’ve created your guest list. You’ve selected the Christmas invitations. You’ve picked out party favors, office-appropriate decorations and have made food and drink arrangements. Yes, the office Christmas party you’ve been tasked with planning is
humming along nicely – all that’s left to really take care of are some of the smaller, minor details. But with that being said, one small detail that you absolutely don’t want to forget about or put off until the last minute is a music playlist. After all, every party needs some sort of background music – but with a Christmas party the tunes that are heard can really help people get into the holiday spirit.

Songs like “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” are a must, but here’s a look at some other songs for the company Christmas party playlist that are sure to get your guests in the holiday spirit:

  • Winter Snow Casual Invitations by PaperDirect“Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney: This is a feel-good Christmas tune with a peppy, catchy chorus that’s impossible not to sing along with.
  • “Jingle Bell Rock”: There are a lot of different artists that have recorded “Jingle Bell Rock” – and just about all of them are really good. Let’s face it – when it comes to a Christmas party, you want music that is more up-tempo. “Jingle Bell Rock” definitely falls into that category.
  • “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”: Like the above track, there are a lot of different artist renditions of this popular holiday classic, but we recommend the ones by either Hanson or Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
  • “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey.
  • “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”: For a modern take on this song, consider putting the version that Miley Cyrus sings on your playlist.
  • “12 Days of Christmas” by Tony Bennet: A holiday classic.
  • “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” by Elmo and Patsy: A fun, holiday song – regardless of what the title might imply.
  • “I Want a Hippopontomaus for Christmas” by Gayla Peevy.
  • Funny Christmas songs: If it’s the type of holiday party where you can afford to get a little edgy, consider Adam Sandler’s “The Hanukah Song,” South Park’s Eric Cartman’s version of “O Holy Night” or Weird Al Yankovich’s “The Night Santa Went Crazy.” They’re all sure to elicit lots of laughs if taken in good fun.

10 Christmas Card Greetings to Celebrate Your Partnership

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — PDWriter @ 12:01 pm
Tis the Season Note Cards by PaperDirect

As the company’s executive assistance, your boss counts on you to create and deliver a great deal of communication on his or her behalf. During the holiday season, your Christmas card greeting ideas are an especially important part of maintaining successful partnerships with clients and vendors. While others in the office might view Christmas note cards as a frivolous, unnecessary gesture, you know that they help create the building blocks of a positive business partnership.

Christmas Card Greeting Ideas for this Year’s Cards

Our hearts fill with joy as remember the special people we’ve met and spoken with throughout the year. Wishing you a joyous Christmas season, and a happy, prosperous New Year.

With appreciation for your good will, friendship and patronage this year, we wish you the merriest of Christmases and a joyous New Year.

During the Christmas season, our thoughts of gratitude go out to those who’ve made our progress this year possible. Thank you for being one of those people; we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

happy holiday poinsettia greeting card

A special Christmas greeting from us to you for your loyalty and confidence in our service. We’ve appreciated our partnership with you, and wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.

With sincere appreciation for our association this year, we wish you a happy Christmas season and good will throughout the New Year.

Because the loyalty and good will of those we serve is the foundation for our progress, it’s our pleasure during this Christmas season to say “thank you” as we wish you joy, health and success in the New Year.

Throughout the year, but especially at Christmas time, our thoughts turn to those who’ve made our success a possibility. In this spirit, we’d like to thank you, and wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

As the year comes to a close, we gratefully say “Merry Christmas” and wish you a prosperous year.

pinecones holiday greeting card

Wishing you the warmest of Christmases as we look forward to another prosperous year together.

This simple yet to-the-point Christmas card greeting ideas let your customers and clients know you’re thinking of them. Your boss will thank you for the effort, and you’ll know you’ve done your part to spread a little Christmas cheer.

5 Steps to a Genuine End of the Year Thank You Letter

Filed under: Designing Your Business Communication — Tags: , — PDWriter @ 10:38 am
Snowy Splendor Specialty Border Papers by PaperDirect

As another year draws to a close, it’s time to look back and think about the role your clients and customers played in supporting your business over the past 12 months.

An end of the year thank you letter sent to customers will let them know how much you appreciated working with them over the last year and how much you look forward to working with them in the future.

You want your company’s thank you notes to come off as sincere and genuine, not forced. Here’s how to do exactly that.

1. Hand Write Your Notes

Pick out festive Christmas thank you notes and fill them with handwritten sentiments.

Enchanted Christmas Specialty Note Cards by PaperDirect

Writing your thank you letters by hand shows your clients that you really do appreciate their business and that you’re taking the time to let them know. Who knows, they might be impressed enough that you took the time to actually write the note that they tell their friends.

2. Address Each Client by Name

You’re taking the time to hand write the notes. You should also take the time to write out individual customer names on them.

Instead of a simple “Hello” or “Dear Customer,” write “Dear Mr. X.”

3. Say Thanks

The whole point of a thank you letter, of course, is saying thanks to your client. Say “thank you” first thing in the letter, before you move on to discuss the reasons why or to write about the highlights of your company’s year in business.

4. Give a Reason for Thanks

Address each client individually in your thank you notes. For example, if a customer has been buying from your company for five years, write “Thank you for choosing us as your supplier for five years.” You can also list other reasons for saying “thank you.” If the client referred other customers to you over the past year, state that in the letter and say thanks.

Tiffany Personalized Thank You NoteCards by PaperDirect

5. Talk About the Future

Close the letter by briefly mentioning your company’s plans for the coming year. Mention that you hope your customer or client will decide to continue to work with your business in the years to come.

Remember to sign the letter with your name before sending it off to your client.

Taking the time to write thank you letters might seem like a big task, but it is one that will pay off in terms of continued customer or client loyalty.

Shop for Thank You cards at PaperDirect.

November 27, 2013

The 15 Most Creative Employee Recognition Categories

Filed under: Recognition & Motivation Ideas — Tags: , , , , — PDWriter @ 3:56 pm
creative employee recognition categories

Creative employee recognition categories make the people who work for your organization feel truly appreciated. They show that you have thought about each person’s contributions and chosen to recognize the unique benefit they bring to the company. Awards are also a great way to boost morale among your employees. Here are 15 creative employee recognition categories for your next awards ceremony:

Creative employee recognition categories

Excellence in Humor and Entertainment
An award for the person who keeps morale high and makes people look forward to a day at the office.

Outside the Box Thinker: 
Recognize the people who look at a problem and see a different solution.

Sanitizer award for healthy employee
Use sanitizer as a funny healthy prize!

Healthy Living Promoter: 
Got an employee who encourages walks during lunch and morning stretches? Give an award certificate to recognize their contribution to employees’ health.

Outstanding Innovator: 
Have someone on your team who comes up with great new ideas? Make it known with an innovator award.

Clipboards help you stay organized

Excellence in Organization: 
This worker knows where everything is and keeps it where you can find it, saving you time and money.

Outstanding Memory Award: 
An award for the person who always knows where to find little-used tools and files and saves your organization time.

Food-themed stationery paper

Office Lunch Expert: 
For the one who knows the best places to eat and enriches the working day.

Outstanding Philanthropist: 
Show your appreciation for the charitable work he or she does.

Motivational cards for employees

The Risk Taker: 
Reward those fearless enough to take your team in a new direction.

The Asker of Good Questions: 
Those who seek clarity help us all become more effective.

The Human Handbook: 
Is there one person who always seems to be up on policy, style guides, and rules? Reward this employee’s diligence.

Marvelous Multitasker: 
Show how much you value their abilities to keep the plates spinning!

Calm in the Eye of the Storm: 
Show how much you appreciate this person’s resilience when things are hectic.

The Behind the Scenes Wonder: 
Recognize someone whose quiet daily management makes everything go smoothly for everyone else.

Motivational Certificates for Employees

The Encouraging Word Award: 
This is for the employee who recognizes others’ strengths and lets them know when they are doing a great job.

Rookie of the Year: 
Have an outstanding new addition to your team? Reward them with Rookie of the Year.

Mr/Ms. Congeniality: 
If there is someone in the office that deserves recognition for being kind, reward them.

Pop Culture Pro: 
This award is for the person that is always up to date on the latest shows, trends, and technology.

Last Words

While some categories are fanciful and others more serious, all are heartfelt and sure to be appreciated. Make your recognition awards count with certificates from PaperDirect that your employees will be proud to display.

How to Write Warm Christmas Greetings for Your Valued Clients

Filed under: Designing Your Business Communication — Tags: , , — PDWriter @ 2:51 pm

Star Tree Deluxe Holiday Greeting Card by PaperDirectWhen you’re the one put in charge of writing the Christmas cards for the holiday season, it may seem to be a bit of an overwhelming task. You want to write warm Christmas greetings for clients and you don’t want to come off as sounding phony or impersonal. The best way to handle it is to start off with a great, high-quality card, such as the ones we offer, and then personalize it.

  • Pick a design that works with your holiday message, whether it’s religious or more neutral
  • Keep your language natural
    • If you sound stilted or too formal your message becomes impersonal
    • Write to your customers in the same way that you would speak to them
  • Thank your customers for their business over the past yearCrimson Thank You Deluxe Holiday Greeting Card by PaperDirect
    • Tell your customers clearly how important their business is to you
    • Express your desire to continue working with them
  • Take some time to talk a bit about your company
    • Let customers know what you’ve done during the year
    • Give them some information on what you hope to accomplish in the new year
    • Point out any big changes or improvements you may have made during the past year
  • Include a separate sheet on Christmas paper with cards that are too thick to work in your printer
  • If your business is small, mention customers by name
    • If you name some customers you should name them all
    • If you have too many customers to mention individually, don’t name anybody
  • Offer customers your wishes to them for a wonderful holiday season and a great new year
  • Use cards that are either professionally printed with your company name or signed by hand
  • Place your cards in high-quality envelopes – foil-lined envelopes usually impress customers
  • Cards can be heavier than regular letters, so check the postage before you send them
  • Get your cards to the post office in plenty of time to get to your customers before Christmas

Snowy Day Deluxe Holiday Greeting Card by PaperDirectRemember that while you may not have time to write an individual Christmas greetings for clients, to keep things warm and friendly your greeting should be relevant to all of them. Avoid focusing on events that many of your customers won’t know about and instead talk about those things that impact most, if not all, of your customers. Don’t forget that your customers’ very first impression is the card that you use; make it a great one.

14 End of the Year Company Party Ideas

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — Tags: , — PDWriter @ 1:43 pm
Party Santa

Looking for end of the year company party ideas? We have compiled 14 of the trendiest party ideas to help you ring in the new year in style at this year’s Christmas or holiday gathering.

End of the Year Party Ideas:

Comedy Show

Comedy shows are typically inexpensive if you buy tickets in bulk. These are sure to make everyone laugh out loud!

Murder Mystery Party

If you have a smaller company (under 30 employees) consider hosting a murder mystery party. These fun events have everything a normal party has – food and drinks- but gives also employees an interactive experience. Everyone can work together to solve the mystery!

cupcake invitation for any party

Dessert Dash

One of our favorite end of the year company party ideas involves desserts. Rather than laying out a huge spread at the gathering, consider sending guests home with a carry out dessert box and a hot cup of coffee or cocoa to wrap up the event.

Poker Night 

Play for real or play for fun to raise money for a charity at casino-style gaming tables at this year’s event. Funds from chip purchases can go to a good cause, while winners can trade in chips for raffle tickets to win prizes.

perfect invite for casino nights

Karaoke Fun

There’s no quicker or more cost-effective way to get the party started than by letting the staff loose with a microphone to sing along to favorite tunes.

Beer/Wine Tasting

If your crew loves craft beer or gorgeous wines, consider renting out a brewery or vineyard for a tasting. Just don’t forget to arrange transportation after the event!

the perfect invites for wine tastings

Entertainer

Many companies have discovered the benefits of hiring a few wandering entertainers over one big headliner for entertainment. Think magicians, card tricks, comedians, and those offering engaging amusements where they interact with the guests.

Custom Cocktails

These can be alcoholic or alcohol-free cocktails. Simply hire a professional and have your mixologist whip up custom cocktail blends geared to honor the company. Or, you can simply change the name of a favorite cocktail that already exists!

Recognition Party

The most rewarding end of the year company ideas are those that reward the staff. It’s fun and easy to order printable blank certificates that can be transformed into an appropriate employee recognition to present at the party. And don’t forget other rewards, like lapel pins, plaques, and trophies.

Destination Parties

Maybe you want to “travel” to Hawaii or Paris. Hire a caterer to serve traditional foods and drinks of your favorite location- it will be like a mini vacation you give your employees.

Turn Paris NoteCards into unique invites

Themed Parties

Cirque du Soleil, Masquerade balls, and classic Hollywood star parties are all in-demand themes; however, coming up with a clever theme or concept that relates to your company’s services or products will delight employees and their guests.

Ultimate Trivia Night

Have your business split into multiple teams at a local restaurant or bar. Do an office trivia (or whatever you want) and give the winning group a stellar prize- maybe cold hard cash to take home?

Post-New Years Party

If the end of the year is just too hectic, consider throwing a party in mid-January. It gives people something to look forward to after the holiday jolt is over.

Simple and Elegant

You don’t have to hire an entertainer to have a great end of the year party. As long as you provide a nice location and some drink tickets, your employees will have a blast!

Other Things to Consider:

Decorations

Neutral colors and metallic hues are in, and more event planners are opting to use special effects lighting in lieu of costly floral arrangements within the decor.

Swirls of Stars Casual Invitations by PaperDirect

Buffet Concepts

Comfort foods are back, and caterers are whipping up sophisticated twists on southern style classics for many company Christmas parties this year. Most in demand are gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches!

Location, Location

In-office parties have a tendency to make everyone feel “at home,” and because these gatherings are cost-effective, more of the budget can be spent on activities, entertainment, and those gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.

Disposable Cameras

Sure, capturing amazing moments at the part is essential, but it doesn’t take a professional photographer to do so. Add a few disposable cameras to each guest table and collect them as they are filled for developing and sharing later.

Guest Gifts

No party is complete without a take-home party favor; hence, why the dessert and coffee idea is so hot – it covers two essentials! Office bigwigs love offering personalized employee motivational gifts or other goodies to the staff.

Find top quality printable Christmas invitations, employee recognition gifts, blank certificates, and other holiday essentials to help make your end of the year company party ideas a reality – shop PaperDirect.

Staff Christmas Party Ideas They’ll Remember Long Into the New Year

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — Tags: , — PDWriter @ 12:06 pm

Starstruck Specialty Flat Invitations by PaperDirectIt’s not an easy task planning the big corporate Christmas party, as there’s a very fine line between “dud” and “success” when it comes to events like this. That’s why it’s important that you take every measure possible to make sure that this year’s Christmas party is a smashing success – something that will be talked about for years to come, rather than something that’s easily forgettable.

Of course, this is all much easier said than done. So how do you go about planning the holiday party that’s not to be forgotten? One way is to come up with some staff Christmas party ideas. Here’s a look:

  • Assign Christmas place cards, but not just any old place card. Instead, try to pair staff members’ names with the names of a famous Christmas character. If everyone in your office is a good sport and if this idea is Pretty Poinsettia Folded Place Cards by PaperDirectexecuted with nothing but fun in mind, this can be the recipe for a lot of party laughs. For example, if someone in your office has a beard and is good with tools, you might pair his name with Yukon Cornelius from the “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” children’s movie.
  • Fun gift exchange: Secret Santa is one thing, but have you ever heard of “Yankee Swap?” It brings out the competitive nature in staff members and can be a ton of fun. Simply select a gift amount and have everyone bring a wrapped gift. Place the gifts in a central location, determine an employee order and begin selecting gifts. Each staff member can decide to either select a gift from the pile or steal a gift that’s already been opened. Staff members will be talking for months about who stole from who.
  • Set a theme: Not every office party needs a theme, but setting a theme can certainly make a party more interesting. Some themes include “ugly sweater” and “most festive attire.” To encourage people to participate in the theme, be sure to give out prizes to those decked out the most elaborately.
  • Christmas carols: What could put staff members more in the holiday spirit than some Christmas carolers? See if any staff members would be interested in forming a group and entertaining the rest of the attendees with some notable Christmas ongs. It’s sure to bring a smile to the faces of those in attendance.

November 26, 2013

B2B Christmas Gifts – How to Make Your Business Stand Out

Filed under: Business Marketing Ideas — PDWriter @ 1:46 pm

Ely Pocket Calendars 2014 Ruby Red by PaperDirectChristmas is a wonderful time to keep in touch with all of your business clients, letting them know how much you value and appreciate their business. People love to get gifts at the holidays, and when it’s done right sending your clients a small thank you present is fun for them and it helps them to think of you throughout the coming year. Done wrong, however, it might have the opposite effect.

Never Send These Things

As a general rule, B2B Christmas gifts shouldn’t include alcohol. Not everybody consumes it and for some people it is completely forbidden, so it’s best just to avoid it from the start. Candy is a bit the same way; while not forbidden for religious reasons, not everybody can eat candy, it may arrive in poor condition and it’s soon gone anyway, leaving your client nothing to remember you by for the rest of the year but a couple of extra pounds.

B2B Christmas gifts What You Should Send

When sending B2B Christmas gifts, choose something that your clients will appreciate and that can help to get your business noticed in the future. If you’re going to send a calendar, send a great one that your clients will love and use, not toss in a drawer or throw away. Other gifts to consider include mouse pads, coffee cups, or golf and bowling towels, all printed with your business name and phone number. If you have a big budget, tailor your gifts to each client, sending such things as a golf accessories basket or an exotic coffee sampler.

Always Include This

No matter what kind of a gift you send to your clients, always include a nice card. A high-Shiny Facets Deluxe Holiday Greeting Card by PaperDirectquality Christmas card adds a touch of class and sets your business above those that send cheap cards or even none at all. We have a large selection of magnificent Christmas cards printed on premium paper that can be personalized for your business. Choose the one that you like the best to give your clients something they’ll surely want to display during the holidays.

Check it Out

It’s a good idea to do a little testing before deciding on what type of gift to send to your clients. Show the item you’ve selected to other people in your office, perhaps a client or two or anyone else whose opinion you trust. Get some feedback on the gifts before you send them out at the holidays. If the feedback is good, then go ahead and send the gifts, but don’t forget the card.

The Top 5 Customer Appreciation Event Ideas

Filed under: Event Planning Tips — Tags: — PDWriter @ 12:51 pm

Holiday Holly Postcards by PaperDirectIf you’ve recently started a new company, then you recognize the importance of your customers. You know that your customers have taken a chance on working with your company, and you want to show them that you are committed to them and that you appreciate their business. The best way to do this is through customer appreciation events. These customer appreciation event ideas will help you get started on planning something that all of your customers will enjoy.

5 Customer Appreciation Event Ideas

  1. Throw a Christmas gathering for all of your clients and customers. During this festive time of year, your customers will appreciate having the opportunity to relax and enjoy pleasant company. Use Christmas post cards to announce your event formally to your clients.Fairy Light Holiday Postcards by PaperDirect
  2. Host an art class at an art supply shop or a gallery that features a local artist. This unique event allows your customers to experience something new, and they will be grateful that you gave them the opportunity to do so.
  3. Set up a picnic at a local park. There’s not much that is better than free food and time spent outdoors. Choose one of the best local parks in your area and throw a barbecue that your clients and their families can attend.
  4. Host a wine tasting event, complete with appetizers and desserts. If you have a brick-and-mortar storefront, consider hosting this event in your own space. If you don’t have a physical location and are an online entity, rent space at a museum or at a local restaurant.
  5. Plan a casino night and invite your clients along to play. This is a bit more exciting than your average customer appreciation event, and it is enticing to many different groups of people. Set your event up as a charity casino night, and pick a worthwhile cause. This will allow your customers to know that you are not only committed to them, but also committed to your community.

Tartan Sleigh Bells Casual Invitations by PaperDirectThe art of customer appreciation is lost on many presidents and company leaders, but it’s an important piece to the marketing puzzle. Recognizing your customers and proving that you appreciate their loyalty to your company will help you earn a reputation among the business community. These small events will help you gain prominence and ultimately allow your company to continue to grow into the 21st century. For all of your event supplies and paper products, visit PaperDirect.com today.

November 25, 2013

The Rules of White Elephant Gifting in the Office

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — Tags: — PDWriter @ 1:37 pm

Old Fashioned Santa Fold-Up Invitations by PaperDirectSick of the usual gift card exchange? It’s time to insert a little creativity into your tired office party — what better way to accomplish just that than with a white elephant party? In a white elephant gift exchange, participants find the goofiest, most ridiculous presents possible and then exchange them with one another.

A white elephant exchange can be handled in a number of ways, such as passing presents around in a big circle or playing a game in which, at the end, everyone is forced to keep the gifts in their hands. No matter how you plan your white elephant event, you and your coworkers will be sure to have an amazing time!

Planning Your White Elephant Party

White elephant might not be as fancy as those seen in a traditional
Rules for White Elephant holiday party, but that in no way necessitates skimping on other elements of the occasion. Kick things off with a set of quirky white elephant party invitations. These invites should make the intent of the party clear, while also offering detailed instructions for purchasing white elephant gifts. For example, you may want to impose a monetary limit on presents in order to prevent a huge disparity in present value. Also necessary for the party invitations are such specifics as the time, date and location of the party.

Themed White Elephant Gift Exchanges

Typically, white elephant exchanges have no themes, as the concept is largely considered a theme in and of itself. But if you want to further distinguish your party, you might want to consider attaching some sort of theme requirement to the gifts. This will depend largely on the demographics and interests of your office friends; a group of sports enthusiasts might want to stick to an athletic memorabilia exchange, while crafty types may prefer exchanging kooky scrapbooking embellishments.

Rules for White Elephant presents White Elephant Party Decorations

Your white elephant party will be quirky and unique, so why not go the same route while decorating? Whether you’re holding the party in the office, at an event center or in your own home, you can amp up the silliness with some well-placed decor. For a holiday white elephant party, look for goofy Santa designs, or, if you’ve attached a gift theme, decorate your surroundings accordingly.

On the hunt for white elephant party decor or invites? Stop by the PaperDirect website for the ultimate selection in party supplies!

[photo via]
[photo via]

What to Serve at an Office Christmas Party

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — PDWriter @ 11:34 am

what to serve at an office Christmas Party

Amidst the busy holiday season, it’s important to take the time to appreciate the hard work your office has done during the year. A holiday party gives you the chance to all kick back and enjoy some good food and drinks as you celebrate the end of the year and the cozy holiday season. As you plan what to serve at an office Christmas party, think through the details to come up with food and drinks that everyone will enjoy.

Start with an array of appetizers so people can begin munching on delicious snacks as soon as they arrive. Some traditional Christmas favorites are:

  • Baked brie: Serve with cranberry sauce, crackers and bread!
  • Hot spinach and artichoke dip: Serve with crackers, bread or raw vegetables.
  • Bacon-wrapped Dates
  • Meatballs
  • Stuffed Mushroom Caps
  • Candied Nuts

You’ll also need to have drinks, but you probably won’t want to bring in a whole bar. Instead, choose just a few specialty beverages to serve. Consider having mulled wine, a fizzy punch, and an array of craft beers. List the drinks on a festive sign at the drink station so people know what they can choose from. And of course, don’t forget the water and soda! If you have time before the party, consider taking a poll of favorite office drinks. That way, everyone will be happy.

what to serve at an office Christmas party truffles You don’t have to serve a full meal at the office Christmas party. If you do, it’s probably worth getting a caterer to handle it. Instead, just finish up the evening with a spread of desserts. You have plenty of festive sweet treats to choose from. Some delicious options include:

  • Eggnog Bread Pudding
  • Peanut Brittle
  • Chocolate Fudge with Peppermint
  • Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing
  • Truffles

As you plan the office Christmas party menu, select items that will give guests plenty of options. Dietary restrictions are common, and chances are that you have people who eat low sugar, low carb, gluten free, dairy free, or vegetarian diets. After you determine your menu, shop for festive Christmas border paper so you can print a list of the items on each table and help people select things they can eat and will enjoy!

[photo 1 via]
[photo 2 via] 

November 22, 2013

25 New and Improved Office Christmas Party Ideas

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — Tags: — PDWriter @ 2:11 pm

Christmas is around the corner, and with it, the opportunity to partake in the usual awkward office festivities. But why should your company party be awkward? Throw a bash employees can actually enjoy — try incorporating one or more of the following unique office Christmas party ideas:

1. White Elephant Party: Have all attendees bring gag gifts and then randomly distribute. The unraveling will be hilarious!

Office Christmas Party Ideas watch the Office2. View A Christmas Episode Of The Office: You work in an office, so why not watch The Office? Recommended episodes include A Benihana Christmas, Moroccan Christmas and Secret Santa. Extra points if you mimic the party planning committee’s hilarious themes!

3. View A Christmas Episode Of Parks And Recreation: Basically, idea number two with a government employee twist. Check out these episodes: Christmas Scandal and Citizen Knope.

4. Christmas Movie Marathon: Funny movies are best, which is why The Christmas Story should be on your list.

5. Bowling: Take your office party away from the office and head to the local alley for a fun field trip.

6. Christmas Brunch: The best Christmas presents are wrapped in bacon. Switch up the usual office holiday party menu with a brunch buffet.

7. Volunteering: Remember the real reason for the season and use your Christmas party to wrap up those Toys for Toys donations.

8. Wine Tasting: Class it up this year. If you’re in an appropriate climate, visit a winery; otherwise, simply have each attendee bring a different bottle of wine to share.

9. Caturday: This only works if your office is full of feline obsessives. Ooh and ah over cute, Christmasy cat videos and give kitty-themed gifts!

10. Christmas Baking: For smaller office settings, a baking party is both tasty and fun!

11. Chocolate Indulgence: Also super fun and tasty: making and tasting truffles!

12. Ugly Sweater: Take a break from the usual office apparel and hold an ugly sweater party!

Office Christmas Party Ideas gingerbread houses13. Gingerbread House Building: Hold a competition for the prettiest or goofiest gingerbread house.

14. Nutcracker: For the artistic minded — attend the Nutcracker as a group.

15. Bible Trivia: For a more religious take on the office party, answer questions about important Christmas passages in the Bible.

16. Pop Culture Trivia: A more secular take on the above concept — cover popular Christmas songs and movies.

17. Christmas Karaoke: A karaoke machine is all you need for this fun Christmas party!

18. Mad Men Christmas Party: Take the Mad Men party trend and apply it to your annual Christmas party. Ideally, both outfits and Christmas party invitations will be classy and straight out of the 50s.

19. Snowman Building: You’re never too old or too professional to play in the snow. Have a contest for the best snowman!

20. Snowball Fight: In keeping with the idea above, hold a snowball fight, pitting office departments against one another.

21. Christmas Ties: Ditch the ugly sweaters and wear tacky Christmas ties instead!

22. Christmas Pinata: Combine holiday candy with good old-fashioned party fun!

23. Crafting Party: If your office consists of crafty types, why not scrapbook Christmas cards?

24. Ice Skating: Get up and get active with this nostalgic winter activity.

25. Halloween At Christmas: You never need an excuse to wear costumes, even when Christmas rolls around!

This year, when Christmas arrives, think outside of the box and host a holiday party worth attending! The Christmas food may not last a lifetime, but the memories certainly will!

Business Holiday Wishes that Don’t Sound Like You Googled Them

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — PDWriter @ 12:36 pm

Tis the Season NoteCards by PaperDirectAre you looking for a way to personally recognize your staff this Christmas, and let them know you value their contributions? Along with the usual holiday round of cookies, parties and small workplace gift exchanges, Christmas cards will provide you with a straightforward method of offering business holiday wishes to each member of your staff in memorable words.

Personalize your Christmas cards

Christmas Note Cards from PaperDirect give you the perfect opportunity to completely customize your message for each recipient. These note cards are essentially blank Christmas cards, allowing you to print out or handwrite an individual greeting to each of your employees. Since they feature holiday images, but no pre-printed words, these cards are totally versatile: they can be thank-you notes or invitations as well as Christmas cards. Each notecard is one 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of card-stock folded in half, so they are easily printable on your office equipment.

Include family members’ names

Too many Christmas cards sent out from places of employment have boring standardized messages printed inside. In order not to sound generic, you have to add some individual element to each card you send. At the very least, you should include your employee’s family or household members in your standard good wishes: “Dear Tom, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Alison, Emma and Jaden.

Use the card as an invitationWinter Rose Frost NoteCards by PaperDirect

You’ll delight your employees if they open the Christmas card envelope expecting something generic from the boss — and find an invitation there to a special festive lunch at a nearby restaurant, or a weekend Christmas skating party for the whole family. Even if you’re issuing the same invitation to everyone on your staff, be sure to personalize it with each person’s name, and sign it by hand instead of on the word processor.

Plan ahead

The holiday season gets extra-busy, with extended hours of business and staff people taking time off. If you let the task of writing Christmas notes pile up, you’ll feel overwhelmed and end up resorting to something generic just because you don’t have time to be personal. By taking a few minutes in the weeks before Christmas to jot down some achievement that you specifically want to thank each person for, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy writing out your notes.

Merry Christmas Holiday NoteCards by PaperDirectThe art of communicating warm holiday wishes is based on human connections. To offer your employees a Christmas greeting that’s authentic, you just need to write something on each note that wouldn’t apply to anyone else. By taking just a few minutes to personalize your message, you will create an atmosphere of acceptance and positivity that will extend well into the coming year!

15 Ideas for Employee Only Christmas Parties

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — Tags: — PDWriter @ 10:25 am

Poinsettia Petals Casual Invitations by PaperDirectBudget reductions have led many companies to host employee only Christmas parties instead of holiday gatherings that include partners and family. Your employees will quickly look forward to the next employee only Christmas parties once they discover the fun you’ve planned for them. These ideas will help you increase turnout as well as fun.

Plan Your Best Employee-Only Holiday Party

  1. Host the Party During Work Hours. It’s convenient for your employees and doesn’t require them to head back to “work” during free time.
  2. Schedule it Toward the End of the Day. Because there’s no better way to kill the joy than by sending them back to work after a party.
  3. Cover all Charges. Employees should never have to pay to come to the party.
  4. Cover the Skeleton Crew. Hire temps or close down completely so everyone can attend.Snowman Delight Vinyl Banners by PaperDirect
  5. Promote and Encourage with Christmas Signs. Using Christmas signs with fun themes and bright colors will pique curiosity and encourage party attendance.
  6. Have Door Prizes and Incentives. Have enough so that no one leaves empty-handed.
  7. Hire Entertainment. Fifteen minutes of a hilarious local comedian is much better than two hours of listening to a horrible band.
  8. Do Something Unexpected. Tell them the party’s at the office, and then have limos drive everyone to a local club.
  9. Get Employees Involved with the Planning. Involvement in planning increases employee enjoyment at the party.
  10. Scrimp on the Party. But only if your savings will be applied toward employee bonuses.
  11. Show Up to Your Own Party. It’s a real morale-buster for employees when the boss doesn’t show up.
  12. Find an Alternate Location. Such as the zoo or a museum.
  13. Make it a Surprise Party. Schedule a “meeting” and have it be a party instead.
  14. Create Purpose. Give the gift of giving by having each employee bring a canned good or pair of mittens to donate to a local charity.
  15. Don’t Ditch the Party. You can scale down your party, but don’t eliminate it altogether to cut costs.

Snowflake Dazzle Specialty Flat Invitations by PaperDirectA Celebration to Remember

Sometimes employees opt not to attend the office party in favor of other activities or an evening at home. Incorporate some or all of the ideas above to plan employee only Christmas parties your staff won’t want to miss out on. Put yourself in their shoes, and trust your judgment. If an idea makes you smile, then chances are your employees will enjoy it, too.

9 Dazzlingly Simple Office Christmas Decorating Ideas

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — PDWriter @ 8:17 am

Holiday Party Etiquette - Snowman

Bedecking your office for Christmas can be fun, festive and dazzlingly simple. Check out 9 easy office Christmas decorating ideas that can add instant oomph to the workplace.

  • A Tree (or Several): A larger Christmas tree in the lobby, or small, pre-decorated desktop trees strategically placed around the office can add several doses of Christmas cheer. Keep it easy with artificial trees that can be boxed up and stored.
  • Perked-up Plants: If your office is already blessed with several plants, deck their boughs with ornaments, tinsel, stars and holiday-oriented figurines.
  • Christmas Card Displays: Use pushpins or tape to display your incoming Christmas cards around doorways, on bulletin boards or centered on the wall in the shape of a wreath.Season's Sparkle Vinyl Banners by PaperDirectChristmas Signs: Invest in vinyl, re-usable Christmas signs you can easily roll up to store and then bring out year after year. They’re ideal as a welcome sign for the lobby or as holiday color in the hallways or break room.
  • Christmas Wrapping Paper: Go for a magnificent Christmas makeover by wrapping up your office doors, your interior front doors, bathroom doors, cubicle walls or other large, flat surfaces.
  • Bows: Bows peppered around the office add dashes and splashes of colorful cheer. Go for the big, fat velvet bows, the smaller Christmas gift bows or a combination of both. Try them on the doors, around windows, on the coat rack and cabinets.
  • Stuffed Santa: Prop a happy, stuffed Santa in your lobby, break room or on his own special chair somewhere around the office. Perhaps your receptionist would like a pal?
  • Office Snowman: A stuffed snowman can be just as fun as Santa, and your crew can make him themselves. Simply stuff three white pillowcases with shredded or crumpled paper, secure them with twist ties in a three-tiered pile, and use a marker to draw on a face and buttons. Add a hat and scarf for extra festivity.
  • Screensavers and Desktop Images: Offices with loads of computers can add loads Christmas Curlicues Vinyl Banners by PaperDirectof Christmas color by going for holiday screensavers and desktop imagery. You can download sleigh loads of screensaver options online and encourage employees to post their favorite winter scene or Christmas photo as their desktop image.

While these office Christmas decorating ideas may be simple and economical, their impact can be huge. You may notice a few extra smiles around the workplace, which often merrily leads to the gift of increased productivity.

November 21, 2013

5 Christmas Display Ideas for the Office: Winter Wonderland

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — Tags: — PDWriter @ 3:03 pm

Holiday decorations in the office can help spread the festivity and good cheer of the season. Whether a subtle effect is your preference or a more ornate, elaborate scene is desired, there’s no shortage of Christmas display ideas for the office. Before you start, be sure to check your office’s policies and be considerate of your co-workers; a large display can be distracting, and some of your colleagues may not celebrate Christmas. If everyone is open to decorations, consider these Christmas display ideas for the office:

1. A Christmas TreeChristmas display ideas for the office

An evergreen tree is the classic holiday symbol and if you have the room, it’s easy to set up in an office or reception area. Choosing an artificial tree will be less messy and reduces the risk of fire. A small artificial tree can be perfect for an individual cubicle. Add a strand of lights and decorations. Wrap some empty boxes and place them under the tree for effect. Use cotton batting to simulate snowfall around the tree. If you’re feeling extra-creative, make some origami ornaments out of paper.

2. Lighting

Holiday lights can put any office into holiday mode. Hang a strand or two of indoor lights in colorful hues or all white for a more subdued winter wonderland effect. Specialty lights with ornate plastic covers can customize the display. String them around the perimeter of your office or cubicle.

3. A Gingerbread House

Why not make an office or individual cubicle into a gingerbread house? Use brown paper for the base and decorate it with simulated “frosting,” windows and “candy” accents made of multi-colored papers to simulate a gingerbread house effect. You can even attach some actual candy and offer it as treats to your co-workers.

4. Garland

Garland is an easy way to liven up the office without too much effort or cost. Select festive garland in long strands and tape them up where the walls meet the ceilings. Decorate the edges of desks, counters and doors. Hang lights with the garland if you wish. Drape it around the room and hang small Christmas ornaments on it for additional decoration.

Christmas display ideas for the office paper ornaments 5. Personalized Ornaments

Add a personal touch by creating a custom holiday ornament for each employee and then hang them on the Christmas tree or around the office. Use colored paper and base each design on their interests. Include their name and photo and embellish with glitter, foil and/or sequins.

Office holiday decorations can help spread the holiday cheer and put everyone in the holiday spirit. Whether you end up going with low-key decorations or create an elaborate winter wonderland setting, there’s no shortage of office Christmas display ideas to choose from. Use these office Christmas display ideas for inspiration or come up with some brand new ideas of your own.

[photo via]

[photo via]

Walking in a Winter Wonderland: Christmas Party Icebreakers

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — PDWriter @ 8:54 am

christmas party icebreakersThe office Christmas party gives people from different departments a chance to mingle. But, since people from one department might not get to see people from another department on a regular basis, throwing them all together at the office party might be a bit awkward. Once the Christmas party invitations have been sent, start thinking of Christmas party icebreakers for large groups so that everyone who attends has a great time and gets to know their co-workers.

Christmas Party Icebreakers:

Who Am I?

Tiny Christmas Post It Notes

Write the names of famous characters or real famous people on a collection of Post-It notes. You can pick names that are relevant to Christmas, such as Santa Claus, the Grinch, or Clark Griswold (from “Christmas Vacation), or choose everyday famous people. Place a Post-It on each employee’s forehead, so that they can’t see the name on it. Employees can ask each other yes or no questions to help them figure out whose name they have on their head.

Shoe Game

Ask each employee to remove their left shoe when they enter the party. Place the shoes in a pile in the center of the room. Tell the employees to take a shoe that isn’t theirs from the pile and put it on. The employees then have to track down the person who has their other shoe and stand next to that person. By the end of the game, employees should be standing next to each other in groups.

Charades

Charades is a classic icebreaker for a big group. Divide the employees into teams, making sure to put employees from one department with employees from different departments. Go with a Christmas theme and give your employees Christmas movies or songs to act out or mime for their teammates. The team that guesses the most correctly should win a small prize.

What I Want for Christmas

Glee Tree Casual Invitations by PaperDirectSplit employees up into groups. Ask each person in the group to list one or two things they want for Christmas. The group should then discuss the items while one person takes notes. After a few minutes, bring the groups back together and have the note-taker from each share what was talked about.

Giving employees a chance to get to know each other at the company Christmas party can mean that they’ll have a better working relationship with each other as they move into the new year. Hopefully one of these icebreakers will help your office party be the best it can be.

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