A Little Touch of KindnessBeing kind is important in business networking as well as in life. Build customer loyalty with wholesale greeting cards from Send Out Cards

Every year, on the 14th of February we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Cards and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of Saint Valentine. But the question comes up about who is this mysterious Saint Valentine and what has he got to do with this day which we celebrate each year in his honor rushing to the store for the perfect card and perfect gift?

Find out here: “The History of Valentine’s Day”

Valentine’s Day is one of the most celebrated holidays on the calender. It is second only to Christmas as far as most cards sent, followed by Mother’s Day holding spot number three.

When you think of it, Valentine’s Day is a day when we express our love to those we care about. We send a card. We send a gift, flowers, chocolates, etc. But do we only care about them on February 14th? Of course not. But why then do we only treat them that special on Valentine’s Day and the rest of the year we don’t.

Let’s change that. Let’s remember those we love and care about more often during the year. Let’s send them a card (and/or gift) just because. Because they are special. Because we are just thinking of them. Because the sun is shining. Because it’s Wednesday. Who cares why. Just because.

Every year on New Year’s, or sometimes even before, we sit down and write down our New Year’s Resolutions. What we’re trying to accomplish during the coming year is different for each one of us. Some of us want to lose weight. Some of us want to improve our overall health. Some of us want to be better parents…and so on.

I am usually very careful about what’s going on my “Resolutions List.” I consider New Year’s Resolutions like promises to myself and I don’t want to make any promises that I may not be able to keep.

Last year I made a New Year’s Resolution that I kept the whole year through. And I’m still keeping it. Namely to stay in better contact with my customers, family and friends. I stay in touch with them through greeting cards. I’ve always been good about sending thank-you notes to my customers letting them know that I appreciated their business. But now I’m also sending birthday cards, let them know when new products are introduced, or I send cards ‘just because.’ This keeps me on top of their mind and has made a great difference in the orders I get. I have noticed an increase of re-orders during the past year where before I had more one-time orders.

How do you keep in touch with your customers? Do you remember their birthdays? Do you send ‘thank-you’ notes for their orders and for the referrals they send you? Do you think it would make a difference to your business if you would?

Let me know your thoughts below in the comments box.

I don’t think there is any other time of the year when we feel more like giving than right now, in the month of December. We’re making our lists of customers, clients, neighbors friends and family. All those people whom we want to remember and show our appreciation to. Even though times are  tough we still want to show that we think of those who mean something to us.

It’s the holidays. Forgotten is the doom and gloom of November and the struggles we had all year long. Our hearts are open. We’re happy. We’re smiling….And then realitiy sets in. Oh dear! Looking at our list of people we realize there’s way to many to send cards to. We start sorting and scratching off people even before we headed to the store. Then standing there in front of endless racks of cards that don’t say what we really want to say, we get frustrated because we can’t find the right card.  And gosh, look at these prices!

That was me until a year ago. Sounds familiar? Then I found SendOutCards. Watch the video below and find out how I solved my Long-Christmas-Card-List problem.

Then visit my website at www.SendThemASmile.com and send out a couple of FREE Greeting Cards (on me) to experience this incredible system first hand for yourself.

Happy Holidays!

Okay, what are promptings? Promptings are those powerful thoughts that enter your mind and prompt you to do something and in a flash are gone again like … I really should give Mary a call and see how she’s coping after her divorce. Or, I better not forget Joe’s birthday next Tuesday. Or, I haven’t seen Mike in a while. I should give him a call. Or, I should go over and welcome that new neighbor. Or, that nurse at the doctor’s office was really helpful. I should send a thank-you note. Well, those kind of thoughts. You know. You probably have them every day. But are you acting on them or do they just leave your mind unanswered?

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” _Maya Angelou

Some years back when my kids where playing Rollerhockey, I found an article about a young goalie in a Rollerhockey magazine. His name was Jason and he was a great fan of then Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy. Now, all in itself that is nothing unusual. But Jason had a heart condition and was waiting for a transplant. The article told his story about his love for the game and his never-give-up attitude. It really touched my heart. Jason wasn’t about to let a failing heart slow him down. He played whenever his health would allow it and he was the star of his team. He loved the sport of hockey and Patrick Roy was his big idol. He wanted to be just like him. What a fighter!

After reading Jason’s story, I couldn’t help but feel a strong prompting to do something special for this amazing kid. Since Patrick Roy lived just down the street from us at the time, I came up with the idea to make a color copy of the article and have him sign it. Patrick Roy is a great guy with a big heart. Especially for kids. (I remember him playing hockey out in the street with all the neighborhood kids.) So I went over to his house and left the article with his wife Michele for Patrick to sign because he was out of town. A few days later I picked it up. Not only had Patrick signed it, but he had also written a personal note of encouragement for Jason. It was very nicely done.

When I got in touch with Jason’s dad, who lived in Longmont, CO, I found out that Jason was living back east with his mom and sister. He was due to come to Denver for a check up at Children’s hospital soon and that’s where we planned to surprise him. I never forget the look on his face when I presented him the framed and autographed copy of his article. I still get goosebumps just thinking about it. I wanted to do something special for this great kid. Make him feel good. But it made me feel great at the same time. Jason’s huge smile will forever be edged into my memory and I’m forever grateful for having had the privilege to meet him. What an inspiration he was for other young athletes…and for my own kids. Unfortunately, just  a few months after the transplant, Jason got an infection and he passed away at the age of 16. His dad told me that he was laid to rest in his #33 Avalanche jersey (Patrick Roy’s number). His sister now has his autographed copy of his article.

I am so glad I acted on my prompting. The experience of this small act of kindness changed my life forever. It also made an impact on my boys. Do you sometimes get promptings to do something? Are you acting on them or do they just pass? Is somebody waiting to hear from you? Don’t let those feelings go by unanswered. Act on them!

I know it has happened to me in the past. Maybe it has happened to you at some point as well? In our busy fast-paced world it is easy to loose track of our customers, clients, well even friends and family members for that matter. We have every intention to keep in contact and want to give the best customer service, but we just get so wrapped up in the happenings of every-day life. We may be thinking of getting in touch with a customer one moment and in the next get interupted by a phone call or email and the ‘prompting’ is lost forever… or at least until we think about that person again sometime down the road.

When I found SendOutCards my life became much easier. SendOutCards makes staying in touch with my customers as easy as sending an e-mail, but as personal as sending a handwritten card. I can choose from 15,000 cards to find just the right one for the occasion, or I can make my own using SendOutCards Picture Plus feature. (I used this feature here to make a very special thank-you note for one of my customers.) No more running to the store and picking out a card. No more searching through drawers for the right postage stamp. No more walking out to the mailbox in bad weather to mail it. SendOutCards does it all for me. I pick the perfect card from the Card Catalog, type my personal message and click send. The elfes at SendOutCards print the card in my own handwriting and with my own signature. Stuff it into an envelope. Lick the stamp and put it in the mailbox.

That “Personal Touch” is so important, especially in this time and age where impersonal e-mails seem to have become the norm and the quick way of staying in touch. Just think how your customers or clients will feel if you remembered their birthday. They walk to their mailbox and there among all of the bills and advertisements is that handwritten card from you. (Btw. you can even include a gift with your card.)  Whom do you think they will remember the next time they’ll need your kind of products or service? SendOutCards’ Contact Manager makes it easy to keep in touch with customers, clients, friends and family. Never again forget a birthday or anniversary or that special occasion.

Try it out for yourself. Just visit my website. Click on the red banner that says “Click to Send a FREE Card.” Select the greeting card you want to send from the card catalog, type your message, upload an image and click “Send Card.” Tada! You’ve just sent your very first card. (Here is a video you can watch beforehand that will show you how to send a card.)

Pretty simple, huh? And fun! And pretty easy on the budget as well. You can send a greeting card for as low as 62 cents plus postage. That’s very reasonable considering that the average greeting card costs between $2 and $4 according to the Greeting Card Association. You can also send a postcard for as little as 31 cents (plus postage.)

Well, enjoy sending out your FREE greeting card, and please don’t forget to leave me your comments below.

Say “Thank You” with Style
How to Write a Thank-You Note

Think about it. Everyone likes to hear the words “thank you” once in a while. But in our fast-paced, super-connected world handwritten notes of thanks are in danger of becoming a thing of the past. So don’t let your busy lifestyle get in the way of good manners. Thank-you notes don’t have to be a burden. They can be fun, sometimes for the whole family. Thank-you notes are an age-old way of keeping communication between friends and family open and healthy. Here are some tips on how to thanks quickly and creatively:

1. Do it yourself. Forgo the pre-inscribed cards with “Thank You” printed inside. Choose some nice, plain notecards or paper to show genuine gratitude.
2. Set aside enough time to write. You don’t want to rush through a thank-you note, as ti’s meant to be an expression from the heart.
3. Get personal. In your note, be sure to use the name of the person who gave you the gift or helped you out.
4. Mention something you liked about the gift or gesture or tell the person how you plan to use it or how it helped you.
5. Include the kids. Encourage children to draw a thank-you picture or sign their own cards. It’s never too early to set a good example.

Source: “Success From Home” magazine October 2009 issue

Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver who provided outstanding customer service.

He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey .

He handed my friend a laminated card and said: ‘I’m Wally, your driver.. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk I’d like you to read my mission statement.’

Taken aback, Harvey read the card.

It said: Wally’s Mission Statement:
To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the  cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, ‘Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.’

My friend said jokingly, ‘No, I’d prefer a soft drink.’

Wally smiled and said, ‘No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.’

Almost stuttering, Harvey said, ‘I’ll take a Diet Coke.’

Handing him his drink, Wally said, ‘If you’d like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.’

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card, ‘These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you’d like to listen to the radio.’

And as if that weren’t enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him.

Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he’d be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

‘Tell me, Wally,’ my amazed friend asked the driver, ‘have you always served  customers like this?’

Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. ‘No, not always. In fact, it’s only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard on the radio one day that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad  day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, ‘Stop complaining!  Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don’t be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.”

That hit me right between the eyes,’ said Wally. ‘That was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers.. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.’

‘I take it that has paid off for you,’ Harvey said.

‘It sure has,’ Wally replied. ‘My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I’ll probably quadruple it.  You were lucky to get me today. I don’t sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can’t pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.’

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab.
I’ve probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn’t do any of what I was suggesting.

Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles..

How about us?

Smile, and the whole world smiles with you… The ball is in our hands!

Ducks Quack, Eagles Soar

Another great Simple Truth movie landed it my inbox this morning. I will share it with you below.

“Gratitude is the king of all virtues. Without it…there is no happiness in your life.” I totally agree. Being grateful for even the littlelest things in our lives gives us a feeling of peace. Being thankful for every blessing no matter how small and insignificant it might be opens our hearts for more. A simple “thank you” and acknowledging someone’s kindness can make their day.

Here’s what Melody Beattie said:

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Truly understanding the power of gratitude can change your life forever!

Watch the 3 minute movie: “Learning to Dance in the Rain”

P.S. By the way, Send Out Cards was founded on the principle of gratitude. Show someone your gratitude today. Send a FREE greeting card!

That special greeting card for that special person on that special occasion.

My mother-in-law’s 85th birthday was coming up on July 25th. I had been thinking for a while what kind of card I would send and what it would say. I knew I was not going to find a card like that at the card store. Yes, they have beautiful cards there, with nice words, even poems specially written for any occasion…But written for just anyone. I wanted something really personal.

My mother-in-law was a very special person and I wanted her to have a very special card for her very special birthday. So I made one. My husband Randy and I were looking around for some pictures of her and her grandkids and we found just the right ones. 

For the front of the card we picked a beautiful shot of her and my sister-in-law when they were at the Rose Bowl some years back. She had always dreamed of going there so it finally had happened and she had a blast. I thought that was the perfect opener to personalize her greeting card and make it special.

On the inside we wrote a very personal message and added some pictures of her and her grandkids as they were growing up. Special shots that we thought she might enjoy. We ended the card with a picture of her blowing out candles on her birthday cake and “Happy Birthday!” wishes.

She LOVED the card.

Sadly, my mother-in-law passed away this week. Just 4 days after her 85th birthday. She was a wonderful person and will be sorely missed by her family and her many friends.

I am so glad I didn’t just go out and buy a card at the store but took the time to make a special one for her. She so deserved it.

(After I had gathered all the photos I was going to use, it took me just a few minutes to put the card together with SendOutCards and add that special birthday message. I had created a very special personalized greeting card at the fraction of the cost of a store-bought one. And I touched someone’s heart in a way I could never have accomplished with just any card.)

This story landed in my inbox a couple of days ago and I just had to write about it today. It seems, although we all are so very busy with our lives and don’t seem to care, customer appreciation is still very much alive. Especially in our small towns.

Read this heart-warming story…

The Richest Man in Town

CHAPTER ONE
The Handshake

It’s amazing what can happen just by paying attention. Besides, I never thought I would have a life-changing experience at Wal-Mart.

I don’t remember the exact date I met Marty for the first time. Up to that moment, nothing that day seemed particularly important – certainly not what brought me to the store in the first place. Like a lot of people who want to get through a checkout line, my thoughts were on speed, nothing more. The line I was standing in wasn’t moving as quickly as I wanted, and I glanced toward the cashier.

There stood and affable-looking man in his seventies. Slightly stooped and of average build, he wore glasses and a nice smile. I thought, well, he’s an old guy and it probably takes him a little longer to get the chores done.

For the next few minutes I watched him. He greeted every customer before he began scanning the items they were purchasing. Sure, his words were the usual, “How’s it going?”  But he did something different – he actually listened to people. Then he would respond to what they had said and engage them in brief conversation.

I thought it was odd, but I guess I had grown accustomed to people asking me how I was doing simply out of a robotic conversational habit. After a while, you don’t give any thought to the question and just mumble something back. I could say, “I just found out I have six months to live,” and someone would reply, “Have a great day!”

This old cashier had my attention. He seemed genuine about wanting to know how people were feeling. Meanwhile, the high-tech cash register rang up their purchases and he announced what they owed. Customers handed money to him, he punched the appropriate keys, the cash drawer popped open, and he counted out their change.

Then magic happened.

He placed the change in his left hand, walked around the counter to the customer, and extended his right hand in an act of friendship.

As their hands met, the old cashier looked the customers in the eyes. “I sure want to thank you for shopping here today,” he told them. “You have a great day. Bye-bye.”

The looks on the faces of the customers were priceless. There were smiles and some sheepish grins. All had been touched by this simple gesture – and in a place they never expected.

Some customers would walk away, pause for a moment, and look back at the old cashier, now busy with the next customer. It was obvious they couldn’t quite comprehend what had just happened.  They would gather their things and walk out the door, smiling.

Now it was my turn. As I expected, he asked me how I was doing. I told him I was having a good day.

“That’s good,” he said. “I’m having a good day, too.” I glanced down at the name tag on his red vest, the kind experienced Wal-Mart cashiers wore. It read, “Marty.”

I said, “It looks like you enjoy your job, Marty. “He replied, “I love my job.” Marty told me how much I owed and I handed him some money. The next thing I knew he was standing beside me, offering his right hand and holding my change in his left hand. His kind eyes locked onto mine. Smiling, and with a firm handshake, he said, “I sure want to thank you for shopping here today. Have a great day. Bye-bye.”

At that moment I wanted to take him home and feed him cookies. It was as if Sam Walton had come back from the dead and invaded this old guy’s body.

I left the store, walked through the parking lot and got into my car. On the drive home I couldn’t shake what had just happened. I had been in that store a hundred times and had never walked away feeling like that.

Who was that guy?

He did something different – he actually listened to people.

Click here to watch the 3 minute DVD movie: “The Richest Man in Town”

And if you liked the story, please share it with your friends and leave me your comments