Ok, ok I know I’m always grumbling on about one thing or another but I just wanted to know if anyone has seen the humble Christmas card wandering around the streets looking aimless, bereft, alone and unwanted this year?
Christmas cards are two fold for me, I really like receiving them and I like the thought of sending them but I’m always – and I mean always – rushing around at the last minute making sure I get them in the post on time. Irrelevant of how organised I try to be it’s always the last thing on my list.
What I especially like about cards is when people put the time and effort into making them or adding something extra… but this year has been beyond depressing with most of our contacts choosing to send e-cards.
Now don’t get me wrong, some of them have been exceptionally good – Simon Carter and the Intersnack team take a bow – but I have been really surprised at how many we have received. Some people have chosen to make contributions to charity and again I understand this entirely but does this signal the end of the good old printed card? Will this be the last year we get to open an actual card that has been written by hand and sent in the post?
I think in all honesty that we’ve all become so time poor that sending an emailer to a database of contacts is just a simpler solution all round – let’s be honest it saves in stamps, no one has to lick the envelopes and it’s undoubtedly ‘greener’ plus you can add dancing elves, flashing lights and other quirky animations.
But and this is a big list of BUTS digital cards don’t stand on your desk proudly for all to see. They don’t adorn your walls with splendour and colour. They don’t cover your house unexpectedly in glitter and give small children something to pull off the sides and chew the corners off. And they don’t signal to all others how popular you are – oh come on, you all feel smug when you have more cards on display than others in the office.
I don’t mind admitting that I’m a little sad to see the humble card reduced to the recycling bin and am pleased that as a business we decided to stick to the traditional rather than the digital. Although I appreciate the need and benefit to social engagement I will leave that to twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn updates and with stamped foot (and envelope) will stick up for the printed version of the Christmas card.
We chose this year to send a ‘singing’ card to our clients and a branded card to our suppliers and contacts. We hope that they bring some colour and song to your offices and that you will rejoice in knowing that for some time yet you will always have at least one printed card for your desk.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year.