Florists create an floral arrangement that their customer rarely sees, for people that they don’t know and are paid by people thousands of miles away. Do florists really know how vulnerable the customer on the end of the phone or the Internet form feels, when placing an order like that?

Florists also make more money on an order when it comes to them directly, instead of through the floral services, like FDT or 1-800-FLOWERS.

Florists provide a service for the purchaser at either a very high or very low time and for someone they really  care about. When florists get the order, they get the address of the purchaser and usually know the about the occasion, whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, get well, or funeral.

Florists are in a unique position to build a relationship with the purchaser, and they almost never think about it. Florists, think out of the box!

If you added $1.00 to the cost of the arrangement and $1.00 to the delivery charge, which in my opinion would not break a deal, you could cover the cost of a terrific marketing strategy, build referrals and addition business down the road. That is if you use the greeting card service that I use. It’s a no brainer!

For under $2.00, a florist could send a thank you card to the purchaser with a picture of their arrangement on the front of the card. Inside the card they could upload a photo of their quaint shop or a picture of themselves with a bubble saying, “Thank you for the order.”

On the other side of the card they could write a note saying, “I really appreciate your business, because I know that you had many other florists to choose from, and you picked me. I wanted you to see the arrangement that Jennifer received. We did our very best to convey the feelings that you wanted. I hope you are pleased and that you will think of us next time you would like to send an arrangement.” Sign your name;add your phone number.

Chances are that if they ordered through one of those services this time, the next time they’ll call you directly. You will have begun a lengthy relationship with a customer from out of town.

Always, when I receive a floral arrangement, I send the one who sent it to me a greeting card with the photo of the arrangement on the front. It’s a wonderful way to say thank you. Then they get to see what the actual flowers looked like. Below is the greeting card I sent my grandson, Jansen, and granddaughter, Jaya, thanking them for my Mother’s Day arrangement. I’m also going to send the card to the florist.

The card a florist would send out could be similar to this one.

I always wonder what the flower arrangement looks like, when I order one, even when it is from a florist across the county, much less across the country. Don’t you?

A florist wise enough to send a card is bound to get return business by building a lasting relationship. What do you think?

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If you can send an email you can create and send your own custom, photo greeting cards.  Fill out this form and I’ll be happy to show you how.  It’s easy, fun, and builds relationships and lasting connections with your friends, families, and business clients.

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April is a great month, from tax day to spring to usually Easter to Earth day. My favorite designation is National Card and Letter Writing Month! Here’s the Month Observances for April:

Health Related

African American Women’s Fitness Month
Autism Awareness Month
Cancer Control Month
Child Abuse Prevention Month
Global Child Nurtition Month
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Month
International Cesarean Awareness Month
International Pet First Aid Awareness Month
Emotional Overeating Awareness Month
Month of the Young child
Month of the Military Child
National DNA & Genomics & Stem Cell Education & Awareness Month
National Donate Life Month
National Occupational Therapy Month
National Parkinson’s Awareness Month
National Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Month
National Sexual Assault Awareness Month
National Youth Safety Month
Pharmacists War on Diabetes Month
Physical Wellness Month
Prevent Lyme in Dogs Month
Prevention of Animal Cruelty  Month
Rosacea Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
Women’s Eye Health & Safety Month
Workplace Conflict Awareness Month

Enrichment & Recognition Related

Couple Appreciation Month
Fair Housing Month
Financial Literacy Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
National Decorating Month
National Garden Month
National Humor Month
National Landscape Architecture Month
National Poetry Month

Business/Relationship Related

International Customer Loyalty Month
International Twit Award Month
National Card and Letter Writing Month

Gender-related

Informed Women Month
Note: A couple women related holidays are in the health section

I Don’t Know Where Else to Put it Month

Amateur Radio Month
Care Care Month
Celebrate Diversity Month
Fresh Florida Tomatoes Month
Holy Humor Month
National Kite Month
National Knuckles Down Month
National Pecan Month
Straw Hat Month

WEEK ONE OBSERVANCES

Int. Pooper-Sooper Week
Laugh at Work Week
Golden Rule Week
Medication Safety Week
Testicular Cancer Awareness Week
April 3-5: Alcohol-Free Weekend

Week Two Observances

Hate Week (4-10)
Holy Week
National Blue Ribbon Week
National Week of the Ocean
National Women’s Nutrition Week
National Networking Week
National Public Health Week
National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week

Week Three Observances

Pesach or Passover
National Environmental Week
National Library Week
National Personal Training Week
National Crime Victims Rights Week
Pan American Week

WEEK FOUR OBSERVANCES

National Occupational Health Nursing Week
National Wildlife Week
Administrative Professionals Week
Coin Week
Customer Awareness Week
National Karaoke Week
National Park Week
National Volunteer Week

LAST 5 DAYS OF APRIL OBSERVANCES

Cowboy Poetry Week
Fish Fry Week
Int. Whistler’s Week
National Dance Week
Police Officers who Gave Their Lives in the Line of Duty Week
Astronomy Week

If some of these don’t remind you of somebody and
give you a way or reason to connect to someone in your life, I’d really be surprised. Have
fun and remember you can always send a card on me

EVERYDAY!

This list was compiled with the help of my DayTimer,
Brownielocks.com, squidoo.com, and holidaysmart.com. For more details,
please check out all of these wonderful websites.

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Living in Indiana where Basketball is KING, I must recognize March Madness.  So all you basketball fans, enjoy. What a great month to connect with the sportsmen in your life! People enjoy custom greeting cards! Greeting cards build relationships when you send genuine, even humorous messages. This is true for churches, business owners, and families. Take a look at the list of holidays and surprise someone with your special greeting card message!

The Month of March

Health Related Observances

American Red Cross Month
Deep Vein Thrombosis Month
Deaf History Month
National Caffeine Awareness Month
National Cheerleading Safety Month
National Chronic Fatigue Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
National Eye Donor Month
National Multiple Sclerosis Month
National Kidney Monh
National Nutrition Month
National Poison Prevention Month
Save Your Vision Month
Spiritual Wellness Month
Workplace Eye Health and Safety Month

Enrichment and Recognition Related

Employee Spirit Month 
Honor Society Awareness Month
International Expect Success Month
International Ideas Month
International Listening Awareness Month – National Convention in Milwaukee
International Mirth Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
Music in Our Schools Month
Optimism Month
Youth Art Month

Gender-Related

Expanding Girl’s Horizons in Science and Engineering Month
National Women’s History Month

I Don’t Know Where Else to Put it Month

Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month  (so cute-if only they could be potty-trained)
Humorists are Artist Month
National Clean Up Your IRS Act Month
National Frozen Food Month
National Social Work Month
National Umbrella Month
Play the Recorder Month
Small Press Month
Supply Management Month

The Weeks in March

First Week: 

National Consumer Protection                                                                            National Words Matter Week
National Write a Letter of Appreciation Week                                 Return the Borrowed Books Week National Professional Pet Sitters Week                                                                          National Sleep Awareness Week

Second Week

National School Breakfast Week                                                                        National Procrastination Week
Newspaper Education Week                                                                                                       Orthodox Lent
Iditerod Race                                                                                                                           Teen Tech Week

Third Week

Turkey Vultures Return to the Living Sign                                                                      National Money Week
World’s Rattlesnake Round-up Week                                                                    YoYo and Skilled Toys Week
National Toad Hollow Week (they wake up?)                                     National Animal Poison Prevention Week
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Week                                                                                           Act Happy Week
International Brain Awareness Week                                                         National Inhalant and Poisons Week
American Chocolate Week                                                                                     National Spring Fever Week

Fourth Week +

National Solidarity with People Struggling Against Racism and Discrimination
National Bubble Blowers Week                                                                               Doctor-Patient Trust Week
National Cleaning Week                                                                               Passion Week (extends into April)
Root Canal Awareness Week                             Traditional Important Days in March

  8               Daylight Savings Time Starts
17              St. Patricks Day
20              Spring Starts

Holidays and Birthdays
 1 – Beer Day, Peace Corp Birthday, Pig Day
 2 – Namesake Day, Orthodox Green Monday, Read Across America Day, Dr. Seuss’ Birthday
 3 – B-day Alexander Graham Bell, National Anthem Day,
 4 – Benjamin Harrison Day, Intn. Scrapbooking Industry Day, National Grammar Day
 5 – St. Piran’s Day, Nametag Day
 6 – Sherlock olmes Day, World Day of Prayer
 7 – Genealogy Day, National Be Heard Day, US Snowshoe Day
 8 – International Women’s Day, Check Your Batteries Day, Daylight Savings Time Begins
 9 – Barbie Day, Get Over It Day, Napping Day, Panic Day
10- Purim, Organize Your Home Office Day,
11- Dream 2009 Day, Johnny Appleseed Day, Registered Dietician Day
12- Girl Scout Day, World Kidney Day
13- Uranus Discovered Day, Earmuffs Day, Good Samaritan Involvement Day,
14- b-day Albert Einstein, Int. Ask a Question Day, Int. Day of the Seal, Int. Fanny Pack Day
15- Brutus Day, Ides of March, Peeps Day, Buzzards Day, True Confessions Day
16- Freedom of Information Day, Curfew Day, Lips Appreciation Day, Well-Elderly Day
17- St. Patrick’s Day, Campfire Firls Day
18- Awkward Moments Day, Forgive Mom and Dad Day, National Biodiesel Day
19-Swallow Return to Capistrano Day, Nat. Chocolate Caramel Day, Operation Iraqi Freedom
20- Great Am. Meat Out Day, Spring,Proposal Day, Nat. Agriculture Day, Shabbat Across Am
21- Maple Syrup Day, Nat. Common Courtesy Day, Nat. Quilting Day, World Down Syndrome
22- World Day for Water, Int. Day of the Seal, Int. Goof-off Day, Spring Fairy Fun Day
23- National Puppy Day, Near Miss Day, World Meteorological Day
24- b-day Harry Houdini, Nat. Chocolate Covered Raisin Day, Am. Diabetes Assoc. Alert Day
25-Nat. Day of Celebration of Greek & American Democracy, Kick Butts Day, Pecan Day
26- Legal Assistant’s Day, Make up You Own Holiday Day
27- Celebrate Exchange Day, Education and Sharing Day, Viagra Day
28- Eggsibit (Decorating Egg Shells) day
29- Knights of Columbus Founders Day, Nat. Mom & Pop Business Owner’s Day
30- Doctors Day, Grass is Always Browner on the Other Side of the Fence Day, Pencil Day
31- Bunsen Burner Day, National She’s Funny that Way Day

If some of these don’t remind you of somebody day and give you a way to connect to someone day, I’d really be surprised. Have fun and remember you can always send a card on me

EVERYDAY!

Our list was compiled with the help of my DayTimer, Brownielocks.com, squidoo.com, and holidaysmart.com. For more details, please check out all of these wonderful websites.

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Here’s an example of a business owner who sent out this custom, photo card to his friends, family and the customer’s that he felt had a sense of humor.  I think it is priceless.

The front cover is self-explanatory.  If the inside doesn’t make you laugh, you need to have your sense of humor checked.

(inside photo below)

Inside this clever greeting card, the businessman wished every one a laugh for 2009 and announced that his son had finally accomplished his life-long dream of becoming a fireman for the local fire department. He also included a picture of his swearing in on the inside of the card.

See how using a custom, photo greeting card can get you remembered by your friends, family, and even your customers? He could be proud of his son without being a pompus idiot. People will share the card with others. It’s a great referral marketing piece, because people will think of this business owner when someone asks if they know someone who provides his service.

(We have no word how the son took to the card, especially if the firemen in his department got a hold of it. Oh, well, it is small town. Who knows?)

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If your Christmas greeting cards are still in the box they came in, you may be experiencing Pain #5 in the song, The 12 Pains of Christmas. It’s all over the Internet, and pokes fun at all the stresses that we’ve invented to celebrate the Holiday. It is rather clever, and my friend Diane, who owns Evochi.com, sent it to me. She uses my greeting card system, and we love her wonderful spa soaps and products.

Well, if you’re suffering from Pain #5, you have a couple of choices, if you haven’t gotten around to sending out your Christmas Greeting Cards yet:

1. Admit to procrastinating or having a Holiday meltdown and tell your friend and family that you would rather be late and let them know how important they are to you…even if your wishes arrive a couple days late.
2. Give up and just don’t send them at all.
3. Accept you have poor time management skills. How did it get to be 5 days before Christmas anyway? Send them all out after New Years, and tell them your 2009 resolution was have your greeting cards out before anyone else. Here’s your 2009 Christmas card…in advance.
4. Change your tactics and instead send out New Years Cards, which is really a great way to get people’s attention after the rush of the Holidays and reality of the long winter sets in. If you own your own business or are in sales, this is a great idea anyway.
5. Use the system I use everyday to send cards, and yes, I send greeting cards everyday. To check out the system, start by requesting your gift account at www.RememberChristmasCards.com and fill out the form. If you’re in a hurry and want immediate help you can always reach me at (219) 947-5478 or 888-256-5478. If you go to voice mail, just leave a detailed message, include your best phone number, and I should receive a page that you left a message. (Remember here in NWIndiana, we are just digging out from a serious ice storm, and technology is often weather challenged, but I’ll do my best.)

The system I use makes sending a greeting card extremely easy, quick, and cards start as low as $.98, with custom greeting cards, starting at $1.49, plus postage. What if all you had to do was type in your message, add your contact and click SEND. The next thing you’d see was this message–Your card has been successfully sent!

Worried about large lists? They can be uploaded! Ask me how?

Questions about using a system new to you? You think it will be so hard that it will take way too long? I’ll help. The answer is just a phone call away or check out the step-by-step walk through by our CEO. That’s a part of your FREE gift account.

Confession time: Before I found this wonderful system that I’ve been using since 2005, I ALWAYS did my Holiday cards on Christmas afternoon, after dinner. Since then, I did send out a Happy New Years card just for a different change of pace. This year my Cocker Spaniel, Mulligan, was in charge of sending the holiday greeting cards. See, it’s so easy my dog can do it!

Peace to you all. After all that is what the season should be about. Peace and love and enjoying each other.

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I just wanted to share one of the customized Christmas Cards I did last year.  Here’s the front of the card.

I fell in love with this photo of a sculpture of Santa at the Beach. While his permanent home is on the West Coast, I couldn’t help but borrow his likeness and turn him into a dear old Santa at Miller Beach, Indiana. Miller Beach is my home, along with a whole lot of really cool people, who love living on the southern shores of Lake Michigan.

Maybe this is not the way you imagine Santa, but he is just too cool! He is a sculpture, designed and created by Lisa Gapen, who I’ve known for about 13 years. In fact in another life, she helped us train our blind and deaf cocker spaniel, long before we realized that he had any vision problems. He was a “ring-tail tooter” of a puppy. He’ll be featured in another custom Christmas Card soon.

One of Lisa’s hobby’s is custom designing Santas. She is quite an artist. Because I wanted to give her credit in my custom greeting card last year, I  inserted the information below into this card that went out to my Miller Beach neighbors.

Here’s the credit insert that was in the card last year:
We are so excited to share my favorite photo of Lisa Gapen’s
holiday creations with you. May it bring you a smile.
Lisa Gapen is a sculptor and artist in Northwest Indiana. Each piece is a
one of a kind sculpture made from plymer clay with a wire frame and soft
sculpted body with handmade costumes. Many of the accessories are hand
made by the artist as well. More of Lisa’s work can be seen at
www.theGrandfatherClaus.com

Hint: if you have a friend who is an artist, maybe you can use a photo of their work and turn it into a custom photo greeting card that gets framed by some of the people who receive it.

Share the Joy, spread the smiles, build connections.

Click on the button below, fill in the form, and you can send two custom photo cards of yours on me.

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Are Christmas Greeting Cards on your mind today or are you exhausted after getting up at 3:30 this morning to take advantage of all those great sales at the malls across America? 

Did you take the time last week to get out your Thanksgiving Greeting Cards? Whether you are a business-minded person, in sales or an entrepreneur, if you didn’t take advantage of Thanksgiving holiday to remind your clients or customers how much you really appreciate them, all is not lost, but it is an opportunity that I hope you will take advantage of next year.

I’ll come up with some other ideas as we travel this holiday and 2009, building connections that deepen relationships in your personal and busines life.  Below you will find a custom card that I designed and sent to all the members of my Garden Lane Community Supported Agriculture friends. I promise it isn’t the most beautiful Thanksgiving card ever designed, but it was a meaningful one to me and the farmers. It was my small tribute to their great contributions to me personally, to our neighborhood, and agriculture as a whole.

Thanksgiving and harvest end go together, and this card was meant to celebrate our organic farmers, their hardworking crews, the challenges they faced from Mother Nature and our connection as fellow shareholders from our neighborhood along the southern shores of Lake Michigan.

This is the cover of my custom card:

 Autum leaves, surrounding and a blue IKEA bag…
Probably doesn’t mean much to you, but to members of Garden Lane Community Supported Agriculture, it means anticipation of late Wednesday afternoons full of delicious produce.

That’s the purpose of a custom greeting card. One of the farmers commented, “It is one of a kind!” Don’t think you’ll find one like it at Hallmark. But that really is the purpose of the card store. They create generic cards to meet the needs of people who think generically. That may be fine with medications, but not so with greeting cards. Besides this greeting card cost me a fraction of the cost of one of the generic brands.

Here’s the inside of the card, featuring pictures of the farmers, their crews, farm creatures, and the flood. 

Here’s the crew harvesting or planting garlic, a diversity garden, boats used to harvest squash and pumpkins after the flooding, more crew and farmers, and flooding. Then more pictures of the crews and the beautiful veggies. The labor that it takes to get those blue bags to the shareholders is incomprehensible. They work in sleet, rain, mud, flood, heat, drought and mosquitoes.   How noble and organic!

Then there’s pics of the farm creatures, including the canines, spider, a frog, and praying mantis-an eco-system in action. This is followed by lament that the season is over. Notice this was a campaign I designed so I could send it to all the members & farmers. The system I use has a mail merge feature (FirstName & SpouseName), which personalizes my cards for large mailings. I did go back in and wrote special notes in the cards to the farmers & neighborhood leaders of our CSA.

The front of the card ends with my comment, brought to you by….  So when someone opened this 3 panel card, there are the pictures of our farmers. One shows 4 generations of one family and the other is from a newspaper article, featuring the other farmers.

Custom greeting cards are vitally important, if you want to connect to the people who are important to you. Graphic designers could probably add a lot to my idea, but with the system I use I did this in minutes, from pictures the farmers included in their weekly email newsletters. And it was terrific fun, too!

If you would like more information about the fantastic system that I use, please email me at Patricia@GreetingCardTips.com or visit my site www.RememberChristmasCards.com. Anyone visiting the Remember will receive a FREE gift account and will be able to send a couple greeting cards, using your own photos in the cards, on me for FREE. You will also receive a FREE CD IN THE MAIL from me describing the system, so make sure your mailing information is correct.

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