PaperDirect Blog PaperDirect Blog

December 21, 2016

Old School Rules That Don’t Work in a Modern Office

Filed under: Uncategorized — PDWriter @ 9:27 am

Old School Rules That Don't Work in a Modern Office

Times are a changin’. As your business reviews the employee policies and procedures manual for the new year, it might be time to ease up on some of the old school rules in the workplace. Modern offices are giving their staff some pretty cool perks — and they’re expected by your new recruits!

Set Number of PTO and Vacation Days

Businesses want their employees to get the rest and relaxation they need. Why? It makes them more productive when they are at their desks and have a positive attitude about their employer. A new trend to offer unlimited PTO days (pre-approved by management, of course) and the ability to earn additional vacation time through the year isn’t uncommon. Heck, Adobe employees get two months off each year and HubSpot offers paid sabbaticals after a 5-year tenure.

Punching in from 9-to-5

Hello, flex schedule.

Many offices are allowing employees to create their own work hours to accommodate fitness classes, daycare drop-offs and pick-ups and even to encourage long lunches with friends and family. As long as employees get their required hours per day in, who cares if they work at 5 am or 11 pm?

Spending all Day in a Cubicle

With the accessibility of digital devices, there’s no reason to be tethered to a workstation any longer. Working from home full time, or even a few remote days a week, are commonplace in the modern office. So, take your laptop to the park or snuggle up to the fireplace at the coffee shop and bang out those reports on your laptop!

All-Weather Work Policy

There are so many jokes about coming into work no matter what. If the streets are flooding or your car is covered in 18-inches of snow, you better be at your desk bright and early. This rule needs to go! Again, with laptops, emails, smartphones and wifi, we really can work anywhere. Let your employees stay home on bad weather days and work remotely.

Chair and Desk Workspace

The modern workplace is evolving to meet more health conscious standards. Treadmill desks, standing desks, balance ball chairs, yoga mats and colorful hand weights are commonplace in personal workspaces. GeoEx in San Francisco even offers yoga classes to employees in-office! Is it time to give your office a makeover?

Fish Only Pets Rule

Remember when it was super cool to have a fish tank in the lobby or hallway? Now business culture is embracing the calming nature of pets in the workplace. So, why not allow workers to bring their well-trained dogs to the office? Or encourage people to have an office cat to cuddle on their lap?

Annual Employee Recognition

It’s pretty old school to have an annual employee award presentation at the company Christmas party. Why not celebrate employee achievements all year long? Have a monthly staff potluck and give shout outs for work anniversaries, birthdays, milestones and remarkable achievements. Don’t forget to present colorful certificates to the recipients!

PaperDirect has a variety of office supplies available online, including certificates, that you can order with just a few clicks. What are waiting for? Shop online today!

December 9, 2016

Why January Company Parties are Rising in Popularity (+Planning Tips)

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — PDWriter @ 8:24 am

Holiday Party in January

More and more, companies are shifting their traditional holiday parties into January. For an incredible variety of reasons, a January party is the perfect capper to a bustling holiday season. If you’re not planning a party this year, you absolutely should consider it, and if you are planning a party, consider postponing it a few weeks to start the New Year off right.

If it’s done correctly, a January company party can set a positive tone for the coming year.

Just Have the Party

Any self-aware boss knows that a night of partying can be an awesome opportunity. A rocking January company party will give you an opportunity as a manager to go a step beyond a simple thank you for a job well done. It will also give you an opportunity to interact with people you might not otherwise get a chance to talk to. Finally, a great holiday party is a good excuse for your people to let their hair down, get to know each other, and just have a little bit of fun.

You Should Absolutely Be Having Your Parties in January

It’s probably pretty tempting to schedule your company holiday party smack dab in the middle of the holiday season. Before you do, though, consider the following:

It’s Cheaper: In January, venues will likely be less expensive, which means you can save money, or double down on your food and beverages.

People Can Actually Come: People are far more likely to be able to attend a January party. After all, December tends to get pretty busy.

It’s For Everybody: A January company party is a bit more inclusive for those of your employees who might not celebrate Christmas.

It’s a Party in January: A company party held at the tail end of the holiday festivities can be a nice way to break up the January doldrums, as well. It can be a really nice way to bridge the gap between New Year’s and Valentine’s Day.

Kick Your January Celebration Off Right

Now, there are a lot of directions you can go with a January company party, because you’re not hamstrung by the holidays. That said, don’t go “generic party” as your theme. Do something to commemorate the New Year or the Winter, something that focuses the party a little bit.

Be sure to really do things up right for your employees, too. Book it somewhere outside the office and have it on a Friday afternoon or early evening. A late afternoon party will provide even more incentive for your employees to show up, plus it’ll seem like an extra treat since they’ll get a few hours off from work.

If there’s alcohol at the party, consider letting everyone know that taxi receipts can be sent to you for reimbursement. It’s an extra touch that might cost you a little bit of money, but it’ll still go a long way in terms of morale.

Finally, be sure to include a small gift for your employees. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy (think: gift certificates or movie tickets), but something tangible to take home is never a bad idea.

December 6, 2016

5 Holiday Mocktails for your Company Christmas Party

Filed under: Office Fun — PDWriter @ 9:47 am

Whether your company is having a totally alcohol-free party, or simply wants to offer an alternative to alcohol, holiday mocktails can be a delicious route to take. Holiday mocktails provide the festive flair and zippy taste of your typical holiday cocktail concoctions – just without the alcohol. And believe us, your mocktail options can go far beyond the kiddie cocktail containing plain ole ginger ale and grenadine.

Cranberry-Apple Cider Punch

Cranberry-Apple Cider Punch

Enjoy holiday flavors infused with a bubbly chill when you whip up a batch of cranberry-apple cider punch. It’s easy to whip up massive quantities of the stuff, with straightforward ingredients that include apple cider, ginger ale, orange juice concentrate, and cranberry juice. Garnish with cherries, applies, slices, orange slices, or frozen cranberries, which you can mix right into the giant punch bowl.

Get the recipe at BettyCrocker.com.

Wine-Free Sangria

Sangria Mocktail

No workmates will be whining about an after-party headache if they stick with this wine-free sangria. Featuring all of the fruity fun of traditional sangria, this refreshing tea drink can be presented in big, fat pitchers or a punch bowl perfect for the larger crowds. Ingredients include red grape juice, tea, orange soda, frozen raspberries, and sliced lemon and lime.

See the full recipe at MyRecipes.com.

Pleasing Pear Tree

Pear mocktail

Even without the partridge or 12 drummers drumming, the pear tree is sure to be a holiday mocktail hit. Its splashy success relies on pear juice mingled with lemon-lime juice and garnished with fresh mint leaves or other herbs. Texture. Taste. The absence of a dozen annoying drums. What more could you want for holiday fun?

Pucker up with the recipe at MyRecipes.com.

Grinch Punch

Grinch Punch

Image courtesy of Simplistically Living

The name of this mocktail alone makes it a holiday favorite, especially for work parties where you may have your fair share of Grinches on staff. We’re kidding about the Grinches. But we’re not kidding about this delightful drink serving up quite a punch of taste, thanks to a base of Sprite mixed with lemon-lime Kool-Aid, pineapple juice, and lemonade concentrate. Get extra Grinch points for serving up this bright green drink in a glass trimmed with red sanding sugar.

Check out the recipe at SimplisticallyLiving.com.

Ravishing Raspberry ‘Champagne’

raspberry Champagne

Image courtesy of Poofy Cheeks

This bubbly, fun raspberry mocktail gives you all the fizzy pizzazz of champagne – without the alcohol, shooting corks, or nasty hangover. The bubbly comes from sparkling white grape juice. The fun comes from being served up in flutes. And the raspberry comes from frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate and actual frozen fruit you place in the flutes to add flavor and flair to the experience.

Give it a go with the recipe at PoofyCheeks.com.

Whether your holiday office party serves up only a few or nothing other than alcohol-free holiday mocktails, these recipes will ensure you’re imbibing in the greatest holiday tastes. And we here at PaperDirect hope your holiday party is a supremely tasty one indeed!

November 28, 2016

How to Hold Engaging, Useful Meetings Each & Every Week

Filed under: Helpful Resources — PDWriter @ 10:54 am

Business Meeting

Meetings are a necessary evil. Nobody likes to see them pop up on their calendar, but the results often lead to constructive collaboration and much-needed face time with colleagues. Make your next get together productive and appreciated by following these tips!

Prepare and Distribute an Agenda

At least 24 hours before the meeting, send a copy of the agenda via email to everyone in attendance. This allows them time to browse the topics, and come ready with questions and ideas. If you’re going to be discussing a specific document, attach a PDF of it to the mass email so the information can be reviewed prior to the meeting.

Pick an Offsite Meeting Location

On the agenda, include the meeting location and time frame so everyone can block out space on their schedule. If your business has a lot of drop-in traffic, plan to have the meeting away from the office. A lunch meeting at a local sandwich shop or gathering at a nearby park to soak in the sunshine will make you more productive than being interrupted by phone calls and visitors.

There are a handful of team members here that hold their Monday morning meetings offsite at different coffee shops around town. Suddenly Monday morning isn’t so bad. If your business is flexible like this, a change of scenery might be a productivity booster.

Set a Goal

Before you officially start each meeting, declare what you’d like to accomplish. Example: “From this meeting, I want to set a Q4 budget number and submit it by Dec 1st.” It easier to see whether a meeting was successful when you set clear goals.

Adhere to the Meeting Agenda

Once the meeting gets started, stick to the items on the list. If a new topic comes up, or something seems to be taking more time than expected, table it for another meeting. If you tend to have frequent tangents, block out time at the end of the meeting to address new business briefly.

Make Decisions and Follow-up Steps

During the meeting, as items are discussed, the facilitator should confirm that decisions have been made and what the next steps will be. Point out, by name, who will do what to move projects forward. If it’s a lengthy project, send a follow-up email showing a task list of items to be completed, by whom and due dates.

Keep it Fun and Engaging

Finally, meetings don’t have to be so ho-hum. If you’re gathering at the end of the day or on a Friday afternoon, bring snacks for everyone to enjoy. Or, bring a silly hat that must be passed around and only the person who dons the funny headgear gets to speak. And always offer colorful, unexpected office supplies such as bold highlighters, novelty paper clips, and colored ink pens for use during the meeting.

Need a few extra supplies to make your meetings more fun and productive? Check out Paper Direct online for festive paper, sticky notes and awards!

November 23, 2016

Holiday OOO Email Scripts to Make People Laugh

Filed under: Office Fun,Phrases & Wording — PDWriter @ 8:21 am
Holiday OOO Messages

Holidays are a time for frolic and fun, and you can have tons of fun with your out-of-the-office (OOO) email over the holiday season. Instead of the standard, ho-hum message that simply notes the date of your return, go for an unexpectedly wise, witty, or downright hilarious missive.

In addition to giving someone a good chuckle, your clever holiday OOO email can serve as a subtle reminder that no one in their right mind works over the Christmas season. Feel free to borrow and adapt any of the scripts we came up with below. Consider them our gift to you!

A Christmas Ditty

Santa’s hat is red

His fingers are blue

If you’re working over Christmas –

Bah Humbug on you!

—

Time Off, Kind Of

Merry Christmas!

I’m busy playing Santa, or maybe one of his elves. Or I might be baking cookies, eating cookies, wrapping presents, unwrapping presents, or putting up a tree. Of course, I may also be untangling lights, building a snowman, skating, sledding, skiing, slipping and sliding, or otherwise covered in snow.

I’ll be back in the office to recuperate on mm/dd/yy.

—

Kids Rule the Holidays

Happy Holidays!

My kids would kill me if I worked over Christmas – so I’ll be back in the office mm/dd/yy.

—

Emergency Contact

Season’s Greetings!

I’ll be out of the office until mm/dd/yy.

If you need assistance in the interim, please contact Santa Claus at 1-800-NORTH-POLE.

Since he always seems to magically know what my kids want for Christmas, you might be amazed at what he can do for you, too!

—

Automated Season’s Greetings

My computer is sending your computer an automated message since computers don’t celebrate Christmas. He’s kind of a Grinch that way.

I, on the other hand, require time off for the holidays.

I’ll be returning to work mm/dd/yy.

If my computer continues to send out automated messages after that time, it’s without my knowledge or consent, and I would appreciate if you could alert the authorities.

Merry Christmas!

—

Another Christmas Ditty

Tis the season of Christmas

And to the east and the west

Not a creature is stirring

Not a one at their desk.

Your email has landed

On a big inbox stack

To be viewed after Christmas

When I get back.

I shall return to the office mm/dd/yy.

Happy Holidays!

—

Holiday Wishes

All I wanted for Christmas was some time off from work.

Don’t you love it when your holiday wishes come true?!

I’ll be back in the office mm/dd/yy.

—

Make sure to set up and schedule your automated replies before you head out the door for your holiday break. In fact, you can set up an automated email to yourself that reminds you to do just that. Then you can truly kick back, relax, bake cookies, eat cookies, or do whatever else you love to do over the very merry holiday season.

November 18, 2016

Thank You Messages from Hiring Managers: Post Job Interview

Filed under: Phrases & Wording — PDWriter @ 9:02 am

Classic Thank You Greeting Card Set

Good etiquette and common sense dictate interviewees should send thank you notes to prospective employers after the interview. But not much is said about the interviewer doing the same.

Thank you cards can be a spectacular way to not only thank the candidate for taking the time to share their experience and interest in your company, but it gives your company an edge over the competition. It’s not every firm that sends out classy, snazzy or otherwise memorable thank you cards, now, is it?

Sending a thank you card to interviewees can help your company stand out as a winning organization, so keep a deck of captivating thank you cards on hand. In fact, you can keep several decks on hand with different thank you card messages for job interviews in each.

Standard Thank You Card Messages for Job Interviews

Your first order of business is to establish a standard card message you can use for all candidates across the board. This message can contain three key elements:

  • A thank you to the person for meeting with you
  • A notable fact about the company
  • A quick rundown on what they can expect next

An example:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me for an interview.

As a [company fact here], we are always looking for top talent to join our thriving organization. We appreciate your interest!

We’ll be reviewing all candidates before we make our final decision, at which time we’ll reach out to those selected to move to the next interview phase.

Thanks again, and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Sincerely,

You’re on the Shortlist Messages

many thanks

Sometimes candidates are dazzling enough to nearly hire on the spot. And you certainly would, if you didn’t have 12 other candidates still waiting to be interviewed. Thank you card messages for job interviews, in this case, can follow the same format as above, but with a note they’re on the shortlist.

An example:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me for an interview.

As a [company fact here], we are always looking for top talent to join our thriving organization, and you’re definitely on the list of candidates who impressed us the most!

We’ll be reviewing all candidates before we make our final decision, at which time we’ll reach out to those selected to move to the next interview phase.

Thanks again, and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Sincerely,

You’re Out of the Running Messages

thank you cards

On the opposite end of the impressive candidates are those you feel would be totally wrong for the job. While they should still get a thank you for taking the time to meet, you can also use this opportunity to let them down gently.

An example:

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me for an interview.

As a [company fact here], we are always looking for top talent to join our thriving organization. Although the position for which you interviewed does not appear to make the best fit, we shall keep your information on file for other potential opportunities down the line.

Thanks again, and best of luck.

Sincerely,

One more option is to have a batch of thank you cards that are blank inside so you can pen a personalized message to select candidates after their interview. This option can be reserved for those who truly stood out for any reason, letting them know they made an impression that’ll stick around whether they get the job or not.

Shop for thank you cards from PaperDirect today!

November 15, 2016

Christmas Gift Ideas for your #Ladyboss

Filed under: Office Fun — PDWriter @ 9:36 am

Gift ideas for your Ladyboss

She’s confident. She’s strong. And she deserves a gift that’s much more impressive than a $5, “I’m the Boss” coffee mug. While you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on your lady boss, you do have to show her that her yearlong efforts are not only noticed but totally appreciated. You can do exactly that with these spectacular Christmas gift ideas for your boss.

Top-of-the-World Trophies

Go for a from-the-heart personal gift with a customized trophy or plaque hailing your lady boss’s achievements and power. Go with no-nonsense sayings that are as straightforward as she is, or add a little humor into the mix.Ideas can include:

  • Best Lady Boss. Make that BEST BOSS, period.
  • Best Boss this Side of Venus
  • Top Role Model: Little girls grow up wanting to be you.
  • No. 1 Lady Boss: Kicking butt and taking names.

Power Oils

Essential oils have the power to beat stress, boost performance and otherwise enhance a day at the office. And if that doesn’t impress your lady boss, you can always mention they’ve become a $1.2 billion business. Essential oil Christmas gift ideas for your boss include an office essential oil diffuser and select oils geared toward achieving great things. Power oil examples include:

  • Cinnamon for increasing focus and concentration
  • Orange for decreasing anxiety and perking up mood
  • Peppermint for stress relief, fatigue reduction
  • Rosemary for elevating brainpower and energy
  • Sage for boosting memory and attention

Pinch Me Stress Relief

Desktop punching bags are so passé when it comes to relieving stress. You can give your lady boss a much more sophisticated method of working out workday angst and annoyances with Pinch Me scent-infused therapy dough.

Billed as a “portable mood-shifter” the pliable dough invites your boss lady to indulge in the texture, color, and aroma to help her refocus. OK, perhaps pinch-able dough is not all that sophisticated. But it sure can be fun.

Luxury Throw

Even if they’ll never dare let you know it, lady bosses can like to get warm and cozy, too. Give her that option with a luxury throw she can use at home or leave at the office to help her get through those all-nighters. Luxury throw fabric options range from alpaca to cashmere bamboo, from silver foxtail to ribbed mink faux fur.

Super-Stoked Spa Basket

Take the luxury route a bit further with Christmas gift ideas for your boss that’ll give her the pampering she deserves. Go for a super-stoked spa basket packed with bubble bath, scented candles, salt and sugar scrubs, peppermint foot rubs and all other sorts of goodies that make her feel sensational from her head to her toes.

Gift Certificates

No, we’re not talking about a $25 gift card to a random department store. Christmas gifts for your boss in the gift certificate category can instead include any number of events or adventures. Rock climbing, whitewater rafting, kickboxing classes, yoga studio passes are all fair game. Review your lady boss’s favorite activities to bucket list entries, then gift her with a way to experience them.

No matter if you gift your lady boss with a spa basket or a top-of-the-world trophy, one thing is for sure. Any of these Christmas gift ideas for your boss will outshine and out-impress far greater than any $5 coffee mug.

November 11, 2016

Business Thank You Messages: Examples for Christmas

Filed under: Designing Your Business Communication — Tags: , , , , — PDWriter @ 12:14 pm
business thank you messages

This holiday season, you should absolutely plan on thanking the people who worked with you this year. Assuming you want to continue doing business into the next year and keep the mutually beneficial relationship going strong, a few select words is a simple gesture that will leave them feeling appreciated and humbled.

Take the time to do it right and end the year with business thank you messages that will have your customers and partners excited to continue working with you next year. Here are some ready-to-use examples.

Like it or not, holiday-specific greetings can be seen as controversial because they’re viewed as somewhat exclusive. Depending on which industry you are in or which customer/partner you’re trying to thank, it might not matter and you can just “Merry Christmas” the season away. In other cases, an equally festive “Happy Holidays” might be in order. Below are some examples of both, so use your best judgment and you shouldn’t have any problems.

Fun and festive holiday card for clients

Business Thank You Messages For Clients

Holiday cards geared toward your clients can be either traditional or more whimsical or modern. Choose a design that you and your company like, and also make a big impression on your clients.

  • Without you, Christmas Wouldn’t Be Very Merry. Thanks So Much For Everything!
  • Sending You a Heartfelt Thanks and Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays!
  • This year, your patronage made all the difference. We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we hope to see you soon! Merry Christmas From All of Us at ________.
  • Thanks For Everything This Year! Here’s Wishing You Happy Holidays and a Great New Year!
Holiday Card with traditional artwork

Business Thank You Messages For Partners

Your holiday message to your partners should be a little more serious than a card you send to your clients. However, don’t be too stuffy! Choose a card that complements any of the message ideas below and also conveys a business-like style.

  • Thanks For Helping Make Your Business Our Business This Year
  • Thanks For a Great Year and Best Wishes For a Productive New Year
  • Thanks for everything! We can’t wait to continue thriving in the New Year!
  • Thanks so much for a productive year! We hope to continue helping make our success your success into the New Year.
  • Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and most of all, thank you for your partnership. Looking forward to keeping things rolling next year.

More than anything, it’s important that your business thank you messages simply be genuine. You know best how to address your customers and partners (it’s why they came to you in the first place, right?). If you’re true to yourself and your business, you shouldn’t have any problems finding the right words! If you’re ready to start spreading holiday cheer, shop PaperDirect for eye-catching holiday greeting cards today!

November 8, 2016

Handwritten Letter Services We Love

Filed under: Designing Your Invitation,Helpful Resources — PDWriter @ 9:51 am
Handwritten Letter Services

Admit it. You smile each time you see a hand-addressed card arrive in your mailbox. So, why not put that same smile on your customers’ faces? There’s a cool new trend among business owners to send handwritten notes to their top supporters. But before you groan at the thought of spending hours penning witty words of gratitude, listen up. Handwritten letter services are a thing. A big thing. There are eager busy bees with great penmanship ready to help you out.

Letter Friend

Handwritten letters have a 99 percent open rate, according to the folks at Letter Friend. They also claim these personal bits of mail get a three to six time higher response rate than other printed mail pieces. They will print on stationery and cards you supply, or work with you to print your logo on their paper products. Best of all? This company can integrate with your CRM so you can track who’s received a handwritten note and when, so following up is a breeze!

Handwrytten

This company uses custom-designed handwriting robots that hold real pens to write out the notes in the handwriting style of your choice. So, you get the personalized you want and you don’t have to worry about writer’s cramp. You can even add an insert for a small fee. The handwriting robots at Handwrytten write your message on their cardstock–and they even write on the envelopes, too!

Task Rabbit

Finally, Task Rabbit is a cloud-based matching service. You pick the task you need completed, like hand writing cards to your most prized clients or penning personalized thank you notes, and a freelancer (who has passed a background check and in-person onboarding process) will get the job done for you. All payments are taken care of via Task Rabbit, so you don’t have to deal with invoicing or phone calls from the tasker asking when they will get paid. Simply use their app to pay with a company credit card, and you’re done.

Need some gorgeous seasonal cards for your upcoming handwritten notes? Browse Paper Direct’s huge selection of holiday greetings online today!

November 3, 2016

20 End of the Year Superlatives for Rockstar Employees

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 9:44 am
End of Year Superlatives for Rockstar Employees

At the end of the year, it’s only natural to take a few minutes and reflect on the great work your employees did over the previous twelve months. What better way to show them that you sincerely appreciate all the great work they’ve done for you and the company than with a little recognition that’s unique to them.

As an employee, few things are more rewarding than being singled out and having your individual contribution to the team recognized publicly. You might be surprised how much mileage you will get out of a certificate with a personalized message on it.

Short on ideas (or short on time)? Here are some suggestions for the rockstar employees in your office.

Pop Culture

  1. David Bowie Award. The David Bowie Award is for the employee who never fails to make magic when given an assignment.
rockstar lapel pin for employee

2. Beyonce Award. Got a worthwhile diva in your office? Someone with loads of personality who’s always willing to help a coworker?

3. BB-8 Award for Pluck. Who’s more lovable than Star Wars’ spark plug of a droid. He may not be the star of the show, but BB-8 is always an invaluable member of the team.

4. The Sansa Stark Award for Perseverance. Have you had an employee take on a particularly expansive, exhausting project this year? This is the perfect award for them!

5. The Steel Magnolias Award. Have you got a team of ladies who’ve banded together to get the job done? Celebrate that achievement with the Steel Magnolia Award.

steel magnolia stationery paper

6. The Eleven Award. Have you got a newcomer who’s risen to the occasion in a big way? They’re your Eleven.

7. The Luke Cage Award for Toughness. For the salesperson or customer service rep who’s responsible for handling a particularly ornery client, a little toughness is always part of the equation.

8. The Tony Stark Award for Innovation. If a member of your team has managed to make an invaluable process more efficient or figured out some new means of capital, they deserve to be compared to one of comics’ greatest geniuses.

9. The Chimichanga Award. Got an off-kilter joker in your office? Someone who never fails to brighten everyone’s day with their weird perspective? Celebrate like a Deadpool fan with the Chimichanga Award.

General

  1. Lamplighter Award. Is someone always at their desk when everyone else is long gone? They’re your lamplighter.
  2. The Office Mom Award. If someone in your office is always willing to listen to someone’s problems or bring in some food for an office potluck, they’re your provider, the Office Mom.
  3. The ‘Glued To Your Seat’ Award. When there’s somebody in your office who always seems to be at their desk, they might deserve this little bit of recognition.
  4. The Awwwww-Ward. Admit it, there’s someone in your office who’s always quick to share the newest cute animal pic. These pics are perfect for a short break in between assignments, and your employee should be rewarded for it.
  5. The Great Communicator. With all the means of communication available in a modern office, people who actually take the time to use them are few and far between. Why not celebrate those members of your team who are always clear and open about their plans?
Academic-themed stationery papers

6. The Reader. Let’s be honest, of all the emails and memos that run through the typical office, how much do you think really gets read by employees? Most people are probably lucky to read about 40 percent of the text that comes through their inbox. Then, there’s this person, who seems to read everything that’s put in front of them, whether it applies to their department or not. That’s something to be commended.

Funny

  1. The Know-it-All. Every good office has someone who seems to know everything. Whether it’s in-depth details on the company’s latest project or the results of the 1943 World Series, you can ask this person and they’ll know. Know-it-all isn’t an insult if it’s true.
  2. The Unofficial Techie Award. Before you call the tech guys, you always call this person, someone who gladly takes time out of their busy day to help you figure out why your mouse won’t work, or why your computer keeps freezing. They’re a hero.
  3. The Worm Award. Who’s the first person in the office every morning? They’re your early bird, and what is it that early birds are after? Make their dream come true.
  4. Captain Coffee Bean. Offices run on coffee, right? No one knows that more than the brave soul who’s always the first one to fill up a pot of coffee for consumption. It’s a real public service and it deserves to be rewarded as such.
  5. The Bogey. Every office has a cool guy or girl. They’re the one everyone seems to admire, the one everyone invites out for a few relaxing drinks. They’re your Bogey (or Bacall, as the case may be).
tech award for technical employee

Make the award ceremony extra special with eye-catching certificates from PaperDirect – browse our options today!

October 31, 2016

How to Create a Seating Chart for Your Holiday Party

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — Tags: , , — PDWriter @ 3:17 pm
How to Create a Seating Chart for Your Holiday Party

Ah, the holidays, a wonderful time of year when you can happily gather all your friends and family for a great holiday party. And no holiday gathering is truly complete without a scrumptious meal to keep everyone’s tummy happy. Of course, any veteran host can tell you that the meal takes some strategy, not just in the kitchen, but in the dining room, as well.

A seating chart can make or break your meal. You don’t want grandpa sitting next to your best friend from college (no need to open up that lane of awkward, polite conversation). Fortunately, with a little planning, you can easily whip up a great seating chart that will keep your guests happy throughout the evening.

Step 1: Make Sure You Know Who is Coming

Send out invitations before the party and make sure those invitations provide some easy way for your guests to RSVP (try an email address or even a Facebook message). Once you’ve got a full list of your guests, you’re ready to begin your seating chart.

Step 2: Rearrange Your List

Shift party guest names up and down your list to loosely group friends with friends, family and family, and any potentially dramatic pairings as far from each other as possible. This is far from your final list, but it will give you a good idea of how big your tables should be and where they will need to go.

Step 3: Visit Your Site

Wherever your holiday party will be and however many people are coming, you’re going to need to look at the space you intend to fill. You should also get an accurate idea of the room’s dimensions. After all, nothing will kill a dinner party quicker than having to cram too many people into too small a space. The general recommendation is that you want about 42 inches in between tables.

3 Ways to Create a Seating Chart

Use Microsoft Excel

Screenshot from Microsoft's Tool
Screenshot from Microsoft’s Tool

Microsoft Excel has a spreadsheet for party planning, downloadable here. This allows you to do a lot of things related to party planning and has an entire tab devoted to seating charts.
Ease of use: This is a useful option but it’s hard to visualize because the standard table dimensions they have are in inches while their grid is based off square feet. You also will need to create your own tables and shapes which might take longer than you think. Either way, it’s a FREE tool to get you started.

Wedding Wire Seating Chart

Wedding Wire's Seating Tool
Screenshot from Wedding Wire

While they advertise this as a wedding tool, it can work for any party. This tool allows you to select round, square, or rectangular tables, and drag and drop them within the app. Then you can easily add names before downloading or sharing it.
Ease of use: We like this tool! Check it out here.

Draw Out a Floor Plan

It may be “old school,” but drawing a floor plan is still a fantastic way to visualize a seating chart. Simply take out a large piece of paper and sketch out your floor plan. Include the measurements of your room and the measurements of your tables (and don’t forget to include the chairs) so that you don’t overstuff.

Then put your guests’ names on sticky notes and put your sticky notes around the tables you’ve sketched out on your big piece of paper. You should start by simply putting the names around each table in the order they’re written on your list. Then, the top-down view afforded by your sketch will let you know if you’ve got any potential controversies brewing.
Ease of use: All you need is paper and some time. If this is your style, it can be a fun way to kill an afternoon.

If you keep your eyes open and keep in mind that conversations (and conflict) can jump tables, then you should be fine. Just be sure that all your planning doesn’t go to waste by leaving a properly-designed table tent at each of your guest seats. It will add a little flare — and maybe a little order — to you whole holiday event.

Shop PaperDirect for Holiday Name Place Cards.

October 28, 2016

Corporate Holiday Messages to Employees

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 12:43 pm

Corporate Holiday Messages

With the holidays fast approaching, it’s almost time to express thanks for all your employees’ hard work over the previous year. While you’re likely thinking of giving them a bonus or some other token of your gratitude, don’t underestimate a personal note that expresses your gratitude and deepens your employer-employee relationship.

If you’re looking to thank your employees for a year of hard work this holiday season, but you’re coming up short on what to tell them, then let some of these suggestions help grease the creative wheels.

Happy Holidays From the Jerk Who Bothers You Five Days a Week

You may not actually be a tough boss, but there’s no harm in poking a little fun at the image that a lot of bosses have nationwide. On the off chance someone actually agrees with you, they’ll still give you points for poking fun at yourself.

Wishing You the Happiest of Holidays and Thanks for a Hard Year’s Work

It’s an oldie, but a goodie. It’s very possible to overthink your message to your employees, which can lead you to some pretty convoluted season’s greetings. Your employees just want to know that you notice and appreciate their hard work; sometimes the best course of action is to say exactly that.

For All You’ve Done All Year Long, Thanks Doesn’t Seem to Be Enough … But That’s All You’re Going to Get

This one is a bit of a dice roll, but if you have an employee or two with a wry sense of humor, they might really appreciate this sentiment … especially if you’re padding it with a $15 to $20 gift certificate or trinket.

The Holidays May Not Last a Long Time, But at Least You’re Not Here!

It’s okay to jokingly acknowledge the fact that your employees may very well have lives outside the office. As the boss, you might be super invested in your job, but it’s possible that a lot of your employees prioritize their friends and family above being in a cubicle. If you’re willing to acknowledge that you understand that fact, it’ll go a long way.

Seasons Greetings to an Invaluable Member of the Team

Another serious angle, this one is really buoyed by adding a specific trait you appreciate about the employee or giving a specific compliment on a previously completed project. The real key to making a “serious” thank you work is to inject a little specificity into the message. It doesn’t need to be super precise, but it should be tailored to your specific audience.

Shop PaperDirect for 25-packs of greeting cards– perfect for sending a corporate message to an employee.

October 25, 2016

Corporate Party Checklist 2016: Big & Bold Holiday Party

Filed under: Christmas & Holiday Party Tips — PDWriter @ 10:24 am

corporate holiday party checklist

If you’re in charge of overseeing your company’s corporate party, the task can seem like a daunting one. Sometimes, expectations are low: employees haven’t been wowed in the past, and don’t expect to be wowed this year. Other times, though, someone truly rocked it the year before, and you’ve got some seriously large boots to fill.

Whatever scenario you’re facing, being solely responsible for your company’s holiday party success can be intimidating, to say the least!

Even if you’ve got hundreds of guests showing up, a little foresight can go a long way in making the planning process easier and less stressful on you. Here’s our ultimate checklist for creating a rocking corporate party all your teammates will love.

Start early

Know when you should start planning your big corporate holiday party? Yesterday. That should give you an idea of how important early planning is to ensuring a great celebration. It’s never too early — there’s a reason event planners start planning next year’s event the day after that year’s event is over!

Here at PaperDirect, we’ve already started to reach out to venues and it’s only October 25th. We also use Evernote to capture ideas as they pop into our minds.

Create a team

No one should tackle such a massive undertaking alone, so connect with your colleagues about who can handle what. If you know them well, allocate the most sensitive or challenging tasks to those teammates who you know will come through. If you aren’t as familiar with your team’s work ethic, err on the side of caution by only assigning one or two manageable tasks to teach person.

Get clear about your financial freedom

Knowing what your budget is can have a huge impact on how big and bold you can go. It can also help inform what top-dollar items are important, and which ones can get put on the backburner. You’ll need to work with your HR department or whoever handles budgets. Typically, you’ll take a budget to them and they’ll modify or approve. To get a clear budget, factor in things like:

  • Venue
  • Food
  • Alcohol
  • Activity
  • Taxi vouchers
  • Decor
  • Cleanup

Send Invites

Whether you’re sending a simple Evite or stepping up your game with heavy cardstock invitations, you’ll need to amplify the who, what, when, and where to your attendees.

Settle on a theme

Your theme should reflect the time and atmosphere of your event — ie, a party that is expected to be a swag, fancy gala probably shouldn’t have an “ugly sweater contest” theme. Make sure you know what leadership’s expectations are for the classiness (or casualness) of this affair.

Decide what you can do in-house, and what should be outsourced

This can be dependent on budget, but in general, it’s extremely helpful to outsource things like entertainment, food and drink, printing/invitation sending, and other high-volume, high-touch tasks.

Leave enough time to do a “dry run.”

A dry run can illuminate issues early, from traffic jams in the loading and unloading areas to technology snags with the microphone. Run through your party itinerary multiple times before the big day to ensure a smooth operation.

Technology can help keep your seemingly endless to-do list under control, so check out apps such as Pro Party Planner— even Evernote for note and list making — to keep all your plans and thoughts in one central place.

Shop PaperDirect for Christmas invitations, table tents, and more paper products to make your corporate party pop. 

October 21, 2016

Employee Office Awards Inspired from 2016

Filed under: Employee Recognition Ideas — PDWriter @ 2:12 pm

Office Award Ideas inspired by 2016

Giving out employee office awards at the end of the year is a great way to celebrate the year and boost moral. While traditional office awards are tried and true, you may be wanting to spice things up with some relevant, clever superlatives.  Some consider this year quite the trainwreck, so let’s bid farewell with these office award ideas- 2016 style.

The Moderator Award

Coming to you from the presidential debates, The Moderator Award goes to the person in your organization that easily mediates issues between fellow employees or properly elevates issues so they get fixed.

Schumer Humor Award

Amy Schumer had a rockstar year in 2016. If there’s a funny lady in your office, give them this award.

The Final Five Award


This award should go to a team (ideally five) of employees that came together, worked hard, and got stuff done. Inspired by the goal medal winning USA gymnastics team, this is quite the honor.

The Eleven Award

This award is inspired by the hit show Stranger Things (if you haven’t seen it, do it!) The Eleven award could be awarded to someone who came from another business and adapted quickly or to someone who sent an evil client back to the underworld.

The Reboot Award

Inspired by allll the recent reboots (Fuller House, Gilmore Girls), this should be awarded to someone who was maybe stuck in a rut, but changed their attitude and came out a stellar employee.

The Mmm Tasty Award

@Goodful slays! These are a nice healthy treat – follow them for more healthy eats! Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls Serves 12 INGREDIENTS 1 cup all-natural peanut butter 1 cup almond flour ⅓ cup honey 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ¾ cup dark chocolate chips PREPARATION 1. In a medium bowl, mix together the peanut butter, almond flour, honey, and vanilla extract until the mixture thickens and sticks together. 2. Roll the mixture into balls half an inch in diameter. 3. In a small bowl, melt the dark chocolate chips in the microwave no more than 15 seconds at a time. 4. Using a spoon or fork, dip the peanut butter balls in the melted chocolate and toss to fully coat. 5. Transfer the balls to a wax or parchment paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate at least one hour. 6. Enjoy! NOTE: For this recipe, be sure to use a no-stir, all-natural peanut butter.  Using a natural peanut butter that separates may cause the ball mixture to be too loose.

A video posted by Tasty (@buzzfeedtasty) on


If you haven’t been bombarded with delectable Facebook food videos, you’re missing out. This award should go to someone who is always bringing in food to the office. We salute you!

Spock Award

Star Terk forever! If anyone on your team is both smart and a Star Trek lover, this is the perfect award.

The Car Karaoke Duo Award

This award should go to a dynamic duo in your office.

Be sure to show them a popular duo karaoke video as you present this one.

Better Than Phelps Award

If there’s someone on your team that has been kicking butt for years, they deserve the better than Phelps award.

The Perseverance Award

In honor of Leonardo Decaprio who finally got an Oscar, give out a perseverance award to someone who has been pushing for success for a long time.

The Comeback Award

This one’s in honor of LeBron James and the entire Cleaveland basketball team. They were facing a 1-3 win/loss ratio when they came back to win 3 consecutive games and the national championship. This award could go to a person who brought culture back into the company or came back from a tough personal experience.

The Lemonade Award


Did someone turn lemons into lemonade this year? Good! This fits perfectly into the viral Beyonce HBO special that was released last April.

The Hodor Award

For the most polite person in your office, who always holds the door for people.

Level Up Award

Pokemon Go was the app of the summer. Nintendo stock shot up, people got outside, business were attributing growth to the game. It was (and still is) impressive. This award should go to the person that grew the most in your company.

There you have it. Hopefully, these inspired you for your end of the year company party. If you’re looking to present physical certificate papers, stop by PaperDirect. We offer all styles and colors of certificate paper.

Shop now.

October 18, 2016

Christmas Messages from Teachers to Students

Filed under: Christmas,Phrases & Wording — Tags: , , , , — PDWriter @ 10:45 am
Christmas Messages from Teachers to Students

Students are often the shining stars of your day, and the holiday season is a great time to let them know it. Sending a holiday card to your students shows them you care, can help strengthen your bond, and may even serve as a subconscious, cheery reminder that they have homework due right after Christmas break.

Your holiday greeting cards don’t have to be textbook boring. By choosing an image that catches your eye and writing a personalized message, you can send a memorable holiday card that reflects your own teaching style and personality or your school’s personality and traditions. We’ll even help you out with a few examples of traditional, funny and clever Christmas messages from teachers noted below.

Feel free to use the holiday messages verbatim, or simply as a starting point to jumpstart your own creativity.

Peace Hope Love Joy Traditional Holiday Card

Traditional Christmas Messages from Teachers

Traditional Christmas messages from teachers can stick with the standard themes of peace, goodwill, and joy for the holiday season. But you can also add a dash of teacher influence by mentioning things like wisdom, intelligence, creativity, and other elements that you cherish as a teacher. Traditional messages are also a good place to bring up common Christmas references like shining stars and angels.

May your Christmas be filled with

Merriment and bliss – and your

New Year with infinite learning.

Happy Holidays!

***

The Christmas star shines bright in the sky.

Star students like you do the same in my class.

Merry Christmas!

Funny Snowmen Holiday Card

Humorous Christmas Messages from Teachers

If your class typically leaves students in stitches, one of our funny Christmas messages might be right up your alley. Humorous messages on these holiday greeting cards can mention specific teaching topics or subjects. You can also write them as a math problem or other equation that gives your students yet another chance to chuckle.

If one elf had 12 candy canes,

And another elf had 12 candy canes,

How many candy canes did Santa have?

He got all 24 of them, of course. He’s Santa!

Hope your holidays add up to a fabulous season.

***

Don’t worry.

I told Santa you always showed up and handed in your homework on time.

You should definitely end up on the “Nice” list.

Merry Christmas from your favorite teacher!

Snowman Angel Holiday Card

Modern and Clever Messages from Teachers

Modern and clever Christmas messages from teachers are known for putting a twist on something typically associated with the holiday season. Your choices are huge, with options that include reindeer, twinkling stars, Santa and his elves, angels, blinking lights, and any member of the group included in the traditional nativity scene. We went for the wise men.

The three wise men didn’t get that way

without listening to their teachers.

You’re well on your way to their status.

Merry Christmas to an exceptional student!

Warm Winter Wishes Holiday Card
One of our favorite Christmas cards!

Teachers that get remembered are those that make a notable impact on students of all ages. The impact can come from captivating lessons, building positive relationships, and showing you really care. Sending holiday cards to your students can definitely contribute to the latter two. While you’re on your own for lessons plans, PaperDirect has your holiday card needs covered – shop today!

October 14, 2016

Christmas Message Examples from Realtors & Agents

Filed under: Phrases & Wording — Tags: , , , , , — PDWriter @ 10:27 am
Christmas messages for realtors

Realtors and agents are likely to have a sprawling Christmas card list, packed with names of new homeowners, prospective buyers, and even folks looking to lease or purchase office space. An ideal way to wish them well is with holiday greeting cards that feature an image and message that align with you or your company’s style, tone, and overall personality.

We have five different messages you can use to portray that personality while sending very merry Christmas greetings.

Traditional Snowflake Holiday Card

Traditional Christmas Messages from Realtors

Just because a Christmas message from realtors is traditional doesn’t mean it has to be ho-hum. You can give your traditional Christmas message a “realtor-spin” by focusing on the joys of the holiday season – particularly when they’re coupled with family, friends, and a cozy home. Traditional messages are especially nice with any of our vintage-inspired holiday cards.

Christmas is all about

Family, friends, and a cozy home

In which to enjoy them all.

We here at ABC Realty wish you all of the above for the holiday season.

***

May your heart be filled with laughter

Your soul with joy

And your home with love

this holiday season.

Merry Christmas from ABC Realty!

Whimsical Polar Bears Holiday Card

Humorous Christmas Messages from Realtors

Realtors and agents known for their sense of humor can have tons of fun with Christmas messages. Funny ideas can range from the damage reindeer hooves can make on roofs to real estate prices in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’s birth. Keep in mind using Biblical references may offend some, so you may want to steer clear of potentially offensive verbiage. Instead, keep your message merry, bright, light, and worth a chuckle. Don’t forget to match the lighthearted message with an equally whimsical holiday card.

Best holiday wishes for a solid, happy home

that can stand up to Santa coming down the chimney

and reindeer pawing at the roof.

Merry Christmas!

***

Christmas is a time to

count your blessings.

Like the fact you don’t live in

a gingerbread house.

Merry Christmas from ABC Realty!

White and Gold Modern Trees Holiday Card

Other Messages from Realtors

If your real estate agency has a quirky and clever vibe, by all means let it shine through with a modern Christmas message. Here you can put your cleverness to the test by reviewing some of the more common real estate terms, and then running with any that catch your fancy. Messages like these can be used with a variety holiday card designs, from funny to classic styles.

No adjustable rates.

No closing fees.

Just an honest-to-goodness wish

for the very best Christmas ever.

Happy Holidays from ABC Realty!

Sending out Christmas cards to your clients, prospects, associates, and pals can be a great way to pass along merry wishes while keeping your real estate agency fresh in their minds. After all, you never know when Santa and his reindeer may indeed create the need to buy a new house or sell the old one ASAP.

Shop now for Holiday greeting cards from PaperDirect. 

October 12, 2016

Christmas Message Examples for Your Church Holiday Cards

Filed under: Phrases & Wording — Tags: , , , — PDWriter @ 9:55 am
Christmas messages for churches

Christmas is a time for glorious jubilation, and churches can easily spread that happiness to parishioners and friends with the perfect holiday greeting cards. These cards refer to those that have an image, tone, and message that mesh with the personality of your church. Whether your parish is known for being traditional, humorous, or clever and quirky, we have a lineup of example messages you’re welcome to use.

Traditional Christmas Messages for Churches

Traditional Christmas messages for churches can definitely include the very reason Christmas is celebrated in the first place. In addition to celebrating Jesus’s birth, traditional messages can also include references to family, love, peace, joy, and other elements that come from being part of a compassionate parish.

Celebrating the birth of Christ

is so much more meaningful when it’s shared

with people like you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

***

Peace, love, and joy are what the Christmas season brings.

Our job is to keep it alive all year long.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

from your family at Church ABC.

Humorous Christmas Messages for Churches

Sermons that ignite a chuckle, ongoing laughter at church gatherings, and parishioners that just can’t stop smiling are some of the hallmarks of a church that has a humorous vibe. Keep that much-loved humor alive with funny Christmas greetings on your annual holiday cards.

God loves you

No matter what.

That’s more than Santa can say!

Merry Christmas from your friends at Church ABC.

***

Thou shalt have a

Very Merry Christmas and an

Extraordinarily Joyful New Year.

All the best from Church ABC!

Modern Christmas Messages for Churches

Modern and clever messages can be a little quirky, a little funny – and give recipients a lot to think about. Putting a modern twist on a traditional scenario can be a fun way to go about it.

If young Jesus had a Christmas list,

We bet an Xbox wouldn’t be on it.

He’d ask instead for love and time spent with family.

And we wish you exactly the same!

Christmas cards are a great way for churches to keep spreading the love, peace, and joy that their community is about all year long. They let you touch base with regulars, reach out to parishioners you may not have seen in some time, and otherwise show your church is always there to care.

Shop PaperDirect for holiday greeting cards!

October 7, 2016

Christmas Messages from Doctors Offices: Examples

Filed under: Phrases & Wording — PDWriter @ 11:00 am
Christmas Messages from Doctors Offices

Even the most knowledgeable and experienced doctors’ office can score bonus points with elevated bedside manner. A good bedside manner stems from taking a little extra time to show that you care while developing positive patient-doctor relationships.

Sending out  a warm thought over the busy holidays can contribute toward achieving both, especially if you include a Christmas message that matches the personality of your practice or facility.

Check out five examples below you can cut and paste directly or use as a springboard to create your own.

Traditional Christmas Messages from Doctors

Traditional Christmas messages from doctors can pretty much stick to the standard greetings folks typically receive around the holidays – with one small tweak. Since the card is coming from a doctor or medical office, you can certainly take advantage of wishing your patients good health for the holidays. Good health, after all, is what you’re all about.

From our practice to your home,

We wish you a Merry Christmas and

an exceptionally healthy New Year.

Wishing you peace, joy and very good health for the holiday season and beyond.

Merry Christmas!

pinecones holiday greeting card

Humorous Christmas Messages from Doctors

If your office or practice has a fun and playful vibe, you can match it with fun and playful holiday card messages. Humorous Christmas messages from doctors can still make a reference to good health, but with a layer of humor on top. Add yet another layer of merriment with the mention of reindeer, elves, or even jolly ole St. Nick himself.

Hope your holidays bring health, wealth and happiness –

And don’t forget we’re always here if you want more of the first one!

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

You’re never too old to believe in Santa Claus –

Although we do have a cut-off age for giving out stickers and lollipops after exams.

beach chairs holiday greeting card

Modern and Clever Christmas Messages from Doctors

Medical practices or offices that pride themselves on being modern, clever and a wee bit quirky can go for a message that has a creative twist. The example below focuses on the colors of the season then uses a kitschy idiomatic expression to wish the recipient well.

Happy Holidays!

As the world is swathed in red and green,

We hope you are perfectly

in the pink.

happy holiday poinsettia greeting card

Sending out holiday cards or holiday newsletters to your patients – and even your vendors and associates – serves multiple beneficial purposes. It wishes them well, it shows that you care, and it keeps your doctor’s office in the front of their minds should they be chatting at holiday parties with someone who may need a referral.

October 4, 2016

Sneak Peek: PaperDirect’s Christmas Stationery Line

Filed under: Event Planning Tips — PDWriter @ 10:39 am

Right now, the air is crisp with autumnal richness. Kids are picking out Halloween costumes and the entire world seems to be seasoned with pumpkin spice. But before you know it, you’ll be up to your ears in snowmen and reindeer, and it’ll be time to prepare for the Christmas season. One of the most important parts of Christmas is giving your love and best wishes to family, friends, colleagues, clients, and other acquaintances. That’s why the time is now to pick out your Christmas stationery, and consider bundling products to save.

Cards

From greeting cards to postcards, you’ll always find a reason to use these stationary pieces. Whether you want to send a thoughtful message to your favorite aunt or share a quick note to your children’s teachers before winter break, Christmas notecards are a winter wonderful way to spread holiday cheer.

Our Favorites

Some of our favorites include

Holiday Owl Christmas Notecards

Holiday Owl Christmas Notecards

Crystal Candle Postcard

Crystal Candle postcards

Single Snowflake Christmas Greeting Card

Simple Snowflake greeting cards

Invitations

It wouldn’t be Christmas without festivities. From holiday open houses to company soirees, you’re definitely going to need some Christmas invitations this season.

Our Favorites

Crimson Delight Flat Invitations

For family-friendly events, use something casual and fun-loving like the Crimson Delight Flat Invitations. 

Plaid Fold Up Invitations

If you’re hosting an elegant Christmas affair, the Traditional Plaid fold-up invitations might be more inviting to your guests.

Christmas Stationery for Businesses

The Christmas season isn’t just about family and friends. It’s also an important time of year for businesses. Depending on the industry you’re in, your Christmas stationery needs might go beyond cards and invitations. For instance, holiday themed banners and brochures might be the extra special touch that your business needs to attract more customers. 

These additional fourth quarter expenses are worth finding the room in your budget to share the holiday spirit with your staff and customers alike.

Clever Communications

People are receiving a lot of mail during the Christmas season. You, of course, want your Christmas tidings to stand out in a deluge of yuletide cards and letters. Make an impact with your holiday greetings using something clever such as newsletters, calendar cards, photo cards, and decorative border papers. Deliver more than an ordinary holiday message, using an extraordinary piece of Christmas stationery that truly conveys a warm, meaningful seasonal sentiment.

Our Favorite Festive Border Paper

[one_half]modern christmas border paper Modern Christmas Paper[/one_half][one_half_last]Christmas Memories Letterhead Chritmas Memories Letterhead[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Stacked presents border paperStacked Joy Border Paper[/one_half][one_half_last]ugly Christmas sweater border paperUgly Christmas Sweater Paper[/one_half_last]

Christmas Stationery Accessories

It’s the little touches that make the Christmas season magical. When preparing your holiday season mail, use Christmas seals and address labels. Complement the church’s Christmas pageant with nicely printed tickets. Holiday party hosts can add an elegant touch with Christmas place cards.

The sky’s the limit, so have fun this holiday season with your Christmas stationery.

shop now holiday paper button

September 27, 2016

It’s Already Q4! Where to Spend Your Time & Money

Filed under: Business Marketing Ideas — PDWriter @ 9:13 am

Seriously, where did 2016 go? 

Time & Money

It seems like the year just began but actually, 2017 is rapidly approaching and the fourth quarter is in full swing. This period is a crucial time of year for small businesses, ripe with opportunities to set goals, improve sales, and communicate with your clients.

During the fourth quarter, a small business should focus their efforts, time, and budget in the following areas.

Complete Projects

It’s been a busy year, so some projects were moved to the back burner. Now is the time to make these projects a priority. Look back to the end of 2015 to determine what initiatives you wanted to complete this year, and get them done now.

Start 2017 with a clean slate, without old projects looming over your head. You don’t want to begin a new year, trying to catch up with projects you thought of over 12 months ago.

Try New Sales Strategies

The fourth quarter is also an excellent time to review your sales team’s work and empower these employees to try new strategies to increase profit for your small business. Pull your sales staff into a brainstorming session to consider different methods for securing new business from existing clients as well as reaching out to potential leads.

Think Snapchat, Facebook advertising, new email subject lines–anything that you can test during the busy season ahead.

Also, consider ways to bundle products and/or services to make it easier for your sales team to sell more at once.

Build Marketing Momentum

The holiday season is right around the corner, which is the perfect time to enact new marketing initiatives, from social media outreach to paid search campaigns. A

Allocate some of your fourth quarter budget to engaging new customers and loyal clients with creative marketing techniques, both traditional and digital. Consider everything from new banners and signage to an Instagram photo contest to reach your audience during the end of the year.

Set Goals

Work with department heads, each team, and individual employees to determine the best direction for your small business in 2017. End the year with a clear plan for the goals you want to accomplish so you are ready to go come January 1.

While you are setting end of year goals, reflect on areas where your business could improve by learning from missed opportunities and unfortunate mistakes made throughout 2016. Set goals that require your small business staff to strive for the best while still being realistic and attainable. You don’t want the goals you set to discourage your employees.  

Have a great Q4 by planning and executing properly. See you in 2017 when the dust has settled!

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress