Guide To Choosing Your Business Holiday Cards from Hallmark Business Expressions
New survey reveals the right business holiday cards for certain audiences

(KANSAS CITY, Mo. - December 1, 2009) With the holidays approaching, Hallmark Business Expressions estimates that more than half of companies will send business holiday cards this year. To help ensure businesses pick the right holiday greeting cards, a new survey from the company provides an analysis of the types of business greeting cards different consumer segments prefer.

“There are so many options available for the holidays, from traditional holiday cards and environmentally-friendly designs, to light humor and those that benefit non-profit organizations,” said Julie Cunnyngham, marketing director for Hallmark Business Expressions. “Companies that want to make a lasting impression with those individuals who matter most to their business can customize their business holiday cards in a way that represents their company’s brand and also helps to establish a connection.”

New Survey Statistics
Before choosing your company’s holiday greeting card, consider the following statistics from a recent Hallmark Business Expressions and Harris Interactive October 2009 survey of more than 2,300 consumers:

• Business greeting cards improve company perception. When asked which cards would affect perception of a company, respondents said that humorous (55 percent), cause-related (53 percent) and eco-friendly (50 percent) cards would lead to a more positive perception.

• Gender definitely matters. Across all card-types, females are more likely than males to be interested in receiving greeting cards from a company. However, humor has an equally positive effect on both males and females at 65 percent. Cause-related and eco-friendly cards are more likely to have a positive effect among females than males, with 63 percent and 62 percent respectively.

• Income level affects card style. Among those interested in humorous greeting cards, those who earn $50,000 to $74,000 yearly are most interested. Traditional cards are more acceptable among those with higher incomes.

• Regional preferences do exist. All regions across the country are interested in humorous greeting cards, with the West, South, Midwest and Northeast each scoring at 60 percent interest or higher. However, for the upcoming holiday season, the West shows a preference for humorous greeting cards, while those in the South are more likely to have a positive reaction to traditional greeting cards.

Guide to Choosing Your Business Holiday Cards
Sending business greeting cards this year, more than ever, provides an opportunity to make a lasting impression. Taking the new survey statistics into consideration, Cunnyngham says the next step is to carefully evaluate the type of card, the message it conveys, and the note on the inside. She offers the following tips for those planning on sending business holiday cards this year:

1. Choose a style that reflects your brand. From formal cards with traditional season’s greetings messages to more light-hearted sentiments, selecting business holiday cards that demonstrate corporate culture and values reinforces branding and will resonate with your customers and employees.

2. Include specialized branding elements. The options to add a company logo or tagline, and to personalize the inside sentiment provide more opportunities to make an impact. More importantly, they tastefully reinforce your brand image and the value your business relationship provides to your customers.

3. Consider going green. Organizations wanting to minimize their impact on the environment may consider choosing business holiday cards made from recycled materials. Hallmark Business Expressions’ Green holiday collection features cards made from 50 percent sugar cane pulp and 50 percent recycled paper. The envelopes included with the cards are also made from 100 percent recycled materials.

4. Contribute to a charity. Greeting cards with a charity donation link are an effective way for companies to donate this holiday season. Studies show consumers like companies that support causes. In fact, among those ages 18-34, 60 percent said a cause-related card would yield a positive effect.

5. Add a personal note. Adding a personal note to each card, or at a minimum hand-signing each one, shows the recipient you value them. If several members of your team work with the recipient, have them sign the card as well. Then, be sure to send the card early so it arrives in time to celebrate the season.

About Hallmark Business Expressions
Hallmark Business Expressions helps businesses cultivate relationships using greeting cards to communicate with key customers, prospects, employees and donors. Serving a wide variety of companies, from the Fortune 100 to small businesses, Hallmark Business Expressions provides distinctive ways to stay in touch and make a lasting impression. The company offers a full line of Everyday and Holiday greeting cards for businesses and a variety of personalization and mailing services at http:// Hallmark.BusinessGreetings.com. The company also offers custom design services for customers who require a unique card to meet a specific business objective.

Created by the company that has helped people express themselves for nearly a century, Hallmark Business Expressions offers businesses that same knowledge and expertise in business greeting cards. Hallmark Business Expressions is a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., headquartered in Kansas City, Mo. Follow Hallmark Business Expressions (@HallmarkBiz) on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/hallmarkbiz.

Media Contact:
Jessica Gardner
913-660-9638
jgardner@morningstarcomm.com