GCA campaign to send Christmas cards early gets underway
Festive Friday stirred up the seasonal spirit with the greeting card industry getting behind the annual initiative to have Christmas missives arriving through letterboxes.
Publishers, retailers and suppliers were all busy writing their cards on Friday, 1 December, as part of the GCA’s Festive Friday and Caring At Christmas events.
At greeting card printers Loxleys in Sheffield, directors joined the customer service and sales teams in writing over 100 cards to customers, suppliers and supporters, as can be seen in the video below.
“Getting your cards written and posted early does a number of very nice things. For instance, right now I am suffused with an enormous sense of self satisfaction and smugness that is thoroughly enjoyable. Also, knowing that you’re starting the festive feels for your card recipients gives you a warm feeling of goodwill to all.
“And there’s something else. You’re able to send all your cards using Royal Mail second class stamps. Just 75p to send a card from one end of the country to the other. Magnificent.
“Cards make people happy – that’s a fact. So, make sure you spread some joy among your family and friends, and make sure that you send cards this Christmas! I’m writing mine with the glow of the candles and a bar of our chocolate. Now, where did I leave that glass..?”
Above: At B2B software firm Aspin, its social media post read: “A Christmas card sent by one human being to another human being is more than a piece of coloured stationery sent by one log of wood to another log of wood: it is an inspiring and reassuring message of high value,” from The Feast Of St Friend by Arnold Bennett. And their staff can be seen in the video braving the cold to post their beautiful Love From Romsey cards, specially made by Dandelion Stationery.
Lucy said: “It was a wonderful day, the residents were so happy and grateful and we felt like we really made a difference to their day. We told everyone about our #Cardmittment campaign, lots of people went away proudly wearing their ‘Send a card, deliver a smile’ badges and we heard stories of cards being written to be sent all over the world. We definitely bought card sending to the forefront of people’s minds and we were able to spread some GBCC Christmas cheer – it was a really joyful event!”
And the home’s lifestyle lead David Ible added: “You really warmed my heart with all the kindness you and your team offered our residents, team and families. Christmas really is a time for giving and making a difference to as many people as possible, and that’s what you did!”
Andrea commented: “We also delivered Christmas cheer, mince pies, mulled wine and sang Christmas tunes to help the residents choose cards to send their loved ones and help them write them. Once all written, we dropped them into envelopes, supplied stamps and popped them in the post box. Everyone was thrilled and couldn’t thank us enough. They couldn’t quite believe they had something for free!
“One lovely lady asked why we were doing this and we explained it was to try to encourage people to carry on sending cards especially at Christmas. She said her heart warms when she receives a personal card through the post addressed to her, it means more than any gift, knowing it has the special message.”
Marketing manager Patsy Gould said: “We all really enjoyed the afternoon and it was lovely to know that residents had the opportunity to send Christmas cards to friends and family, especially their children who may not be expecting a Christmas card from their mother or father.
“We thoroughly enjoyed getting out into our community to see just how important sending cards are. Residents came with their address books and lists and enjoyed writing their cards while tucking into a mince pie.”
