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December 23, 2015

Holiday Contests Ideas to Get the Most Out of Your Employees

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 12:19 pm

Arm wrestling

For businesses, the holidays are a time to sell, sell, sell. Whether you’re working in the retail sector or have an office job, your boss wants to see the company’s monthly profits soar this time of year. To boost those numbers, why not host a few friendly holiday contests among your employees to motivate them to do their best?

Per Transaction Race

If you manage a grocery store, home improvement center or store with several lanes of cash registers, create a contest for your cashiers. Since they are the customer’s last point of contact, urge the employees to suggest small add-on sales to boost their average transaction dollar amount.

At the end of the day, pull the numbers from the POS system and see who has the highest per transaction average. Post these numbers daily in the office or break room, and at the end of the month, see who wins the race! Offer a cool prize, like a new tablet or substantial gift card to the store, to increase employee enthusiasm.

Close More, Earn More

Does your office work on a commissioned sales basis? If your employees earn a set amount for each sale they complete, offer an added incentive to be as persuasive as possible and close as many deals as they can during their shifts.

First offer an added bonus payment for each sale (a five percent add-on or flat rate cash tip is encouraging), then offer a grand prize to the person who makes the most deals at the end of the month.

Increase Loyalty Members

From grocery and pet stores, to clothing shops and nail salons, several stores off loyalty cards to their customers. Businesses rely on new customers to sign up for these cards, so they can use their contact details to keep them in the loop about on-going marketing efforts.

Hold a contest with your staff to see who can get the most new loyalty card sign-ups in a month. Help them along by offering an added incentive (such as a coupon or percentage off their sale) to each customer who signs up during the special promotional period. The employee who gets the most new loyalty card members should earn a special bonus payment or an extra paid day off during the holiday season.

Speed Dial Contest

If you’re not directly involved with sales, but reach out to customers or do a lot of follow-up with potential customers, track it! This holiday season, hold a contest to see who can make the most points of contact by phone or email. This will encourage your staff to revive old sales leads, work on new opportunities and finally tackle those tough calls they’ve been avoiding.

Then, reward the person who makes the most calls each day, week or month during the holiday season. For small daily prizes, stock up on gift cards to the local coffee shop and favorite lunch place. For larger prizes, consider a weekend getaway at a posh hotel or a new tech device like a fitness tracker or e-reader.

Ready to organize a contest? When you announce the winners, make them feel extra special by presenting a personalized holiday certificate. Paper Direct has dozens of styles and designs for you to browse. Shop today!

December 17, 2015

Creative Ways to Your Ask Wedding Party

Filed under: DIY Invitation Ideas — PDWriter @ 10:28 am

“Will you be my bridesmaid?” is an exciting question to begin with, but you can make it even more intriguing with a few creative ways to ask your wedding party to be part of your humongous day. Check out our lineup of ingenious ideas for popping your big question to bridesmaids, groomsmen and even the flower girl and ring bearer.

Bridesmaids

bridesmaids

Heartfelt Personalized Cards

You can never go wrong with personalized wedding party invitations, especially when those invites reflect your winter wedding’s color and themes. Personalized invitations can be particularly creative ways to ask your wedding party when you get to choose the cardstock, font, size, shape and amazing envelope options to go with them.

Sweet Treat

Invite your chosen gals to brunch and present them with a cupcake in a jar that pops the bridesmaid question on a matching napkin and jar lid. MarryThis serves up a tasty recipe and downloadable template for the napkin and jar lid.

Tasty Toast  

Present each of your bridesmaids-to-be with her very own bottle of wine, complete with a customized wine label that asks her to be part of the celebration. Here you can pick each lady’s favorite vino as the gift, coupled with removable vinyl labels that double as mementoes of the occasion.

Charming Keepsake

Pick a charm, any charm, and have it inscribed with the bridesmaid question or simply the word “Bridesmaid.” A small silver heart charm can do the trick, and your posse can wear the charms anywhere they please: on a bracelet, anklet, necklace or even as a zipper pull.

Groomsmen

groomsman

Just because groomsmen are guys doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy creative ways to ask your wedding party. It does mean, however, you may want to pick something other than cupcakes to pop the question.

Classy Personalized Invites

Personalized invites still work, especially since you can choose the colors, font and wording to reflect a masculine vibe. Reflect the classiness of your upcoming winter wedding with thick cardstock and font colors in warm brown, eggplant or navy blue.

Personalized Beer Labels

Those removable vinyl labels still work, too, and they don’t have to be dedicated only to wine bottles. Personalized beer labels are an option for asking your groomsmen to be part of the party, as are personalized beer cozies.

Flower Girl and Ring Bearer

Sweetening up your selected tykes is a surefire way to help ensure they say yes to your special question. Two delicious ideas include an edible puzzle that asks the question once the puzzle is put together or a ring pop in a box or with a card that asks if the flower girl or ring bearer will be part of your festivities.

Opting for these creative ways to ask your wedding party sets the tone for the creatively dazzling and fun winter celebration that’s sure to come.

December 7, 2015

How to Send Last Minute Greeting Cards to Clients & Partners

Filed under: Business Marketing Ideas — PDWriter @ 1:51 pm

greeting card

It happens. Running a business is a multi-faceted series of tasks, and sometimes, you forget to do something. This time of year, many business owners are realizing it slipped their minds to send out holiday greeting cards. With Black Friday a distant memory, the holiday season is already in full-swing and you’re wondering how to send last minute greeting cards to your clients and partners. Give these last minute options a try if you’re scurrying to send season’s greetings.

Last Minute Mail 

The United States Postal Service offers super speedy delivery options, if you’re willing to pay more than the cost of a standard postage stamp. With 1-Day, 2-Day, and Overnight options available, your company can mail holiday greeting cards days before Christmas and rest assured your clients will receive them in time.

Additionally, we offer next day shipping on holiday greeting card orders, so get your purchases in by December 17 at the latest.

Video Greeting Cards

Maybe the cost of expedited shipping exceeds your budget. Instead, invest in a holiday video message that you can email to your partners and clients, as well as use as content on your company’s social media channels, website, and blog. This last minute greeting card option requires a bit of digital savvy and creativity but the impact will be Santa-sized.

Greeting Cards On-The-Go

With apps like JibJab, last minute greeting cards can still be thoughtful, festive, and best of all, made on your smartphone. A convenient, user-friendly, and inexpensive option for last minute greeting cards you can send via email to clients and partners, download these apps now to begin creating a customized holiday message.

In-Person Holiday Greetings

Put the pedal to the metal, and hit the road to share good cheer with your partners this holiday season. Dropping in to wish people a “Happy Holidays” is an effort you can make on the slow days leading up to Christmas that demonstrations your company’s dedication to personal service. A quick appearance at your clients’ workplaces also affords you the opportunity to personally deliver a holiday greeting card.

New Year’s Greeting Cards

You don’t have time to make the Christmas deadline for sending out cards, but sending warm tidings for a happy, prosperous new year is always an option for businesses. Sending out Happy New Year’s greeting cards also avoids offending people who might not celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other winter holidays. Kick off your clients’ 2016 with a new year’s greeting card.

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