Ask yourselves, how often do you receive a greeting card or even a friendly handwritten note? Probably not that often, right? Your birthday doesn’t count, by the way. Just kidding, it does but once a year for a birthday or holiday card isn’t that often, is it? Now, think about that last handwritten message you received and just how much it meant to you. I’m sure it meant something.
The time we take to write out our personal thoughts, feelings, and appreciation for one another is written proof to the person receiving the message that the writer truly cares. It doesn’t take much but it does make an impact. And, a big one at that.
Customer Service Goes Beyond the Sale
There is a man in the Guinness Book of World Records that made his claim to fame by being the best car salesmen in the world. His name is Joseph Samuel Girardi, better known as Joe Girard. Girard sold 13,001 cars at a Chevrolet dealership between the years of 1963 and 1978. That was just 15 years of service as a car salesman. In 1973 alone, Joe sold 1,425 cars. Any idea of how he could’ve become the best car salesman in the WORLD? Well, the answer is simpler than you’d think. Greeting cards.
Joe would write a thank you card within the first few days after selling a vehicle to each customer he sold to. Within six months after selling to his customer, Joe would reach out with a thoughtful note in a greeting card. The message was always simple and personable. He’d let his customers know that he was thinking of them and their purchase. He’d wish them the very best in the coming months and express to them that if they ever needed help with anything related to their purchase he’d be there for them, always. Every few months Joe would check in with a genuine message written in his own hand.
And, after years and years of owning their cars, and years and years of greeting cards received, Joe’s customers would eventually find themselves in need of another vehicle. Who else would they go to and purchase their next car from, but Joe? No one else! Because Joe kept the connection, that human connection, alive between himself and his customers.
Joe Girardi did more than just create connections through the use of greeting cards. He developed life long relationships with his clients through his handwritten messages. This is what made Joe the BEST car salesman in the world. He is living proof that writing your customers a personal note in a greeting card from time to time has some serious benefits.
Thank You Goes a Long Way
Thank yous are a lot more powerful than you think. Especially when they’re received in a hand written format. There are so many ways to express our gratitude through the use of your own words.
- “I appreciate what you did.”
- “Thank you for thinking of me.”
- “Thank you for your time today.”
- “I value and respect your opinion.”
- “I am so thankful for what you did.”
- “I wanted to take the time to thank you.”
- “I really appreciate your help. Thank you.”
- “Your kind words warmed my heart.”
And, the list goes on! But no matter how you chose to say your thanks, writing out your words of gratefulness hits a note that rings truer than any other. When someone takes the time to not only express their gratitude but also write out their words of thanks, the receiver of these words truly feels appreciated.
Take the time to write thank you notes for your co-workers and staff when they go that extra mile for you. Make that good impression last with a customer or client by sending them a thank you card with your personal message of appreciation. Thank them for their purchase(s). Thank them for reaching out. Thank them for writing a wonderful review. Thank them for just being them.
Trust me, it makes all the difference to the receiver when they read those well thought out words of gratitude instead of just hearing them in the passing moments of your time spent together.
Thinking of You
It’s easy to find ourselves lost in our busy workload, crazy schedules, important responsibilities, and the scramble of everyday life. It’s even easier to feel that we ourselves are lost in it all. But when someone takes the time to write you that you’ve been in their thoughts well,… it impacts all of us on a far greater level than we could ever measure. Reading a message from a dear friend, a colleague, or even an acquiescence that says we’re being considered by them provides a sense of reassurance in us that we’re truly not alone. That someone out there, somewhere, cares for us. At least enough to take the time to convey their thoughts on paper and by their own hand.
Sending someone a greeting card with a simple message like “thinking of you” makes an impression that stays with a person for longer than you might think. Sometimes it even stays with that person for their entire life.
Here are a few ways to let someone in your life know they’re in your thoughts.
- “I’ve been thinking about you.”
- “You’ve been on my mind a lot lately.”
- “Thinking of you always makes my day.”
- “Just wanted to send some happy thoughts your way today.”
- “I just came across an old photo of us, and it got me thinking about how much fun we always have together…”
Now, you might find this hard to believe but writing someone a message as simple as the ones listed here could be life saving. One of the biggest correlations for those suffering from suicidal ideation is the feeling or belief of being completely and utterly alone in this world. Those that deal with suicidal thoughts have a false sense that no one cares for them. They suffer from these negative thoughts, feelings, and beliefs often isolating themselves. By cutting themselves off from daily communications like emails, social media messaging or even in-person conversations these individuals put their lives at great risk. Take the time to tell someone today that they’re worth thinking of. Who knows? You might even save a life.
Get Well & Greatest Sympathies
Two other common occurrences in life are illness and the passing of loved ones. We’ve all been sick or injured at some point in our lives. We all have had someone close to us or have known someone within our circle of family, friends and co-workers to have passed away. No one likes to discuss these hard and hurtful moments but they are apart of life. Whether we like it or not, we’ll all face such troubling times.
Sending someone encouraging words in your own handwriting or expressing your sympathy for their loss through a greeting card is as kind a gesture as it is a powerful one. Similar to the effect a “thinking of you”, get well and sympathy greeting cards provide the recipient words of encouragement and assurity that they have support. Even in their darkest hour.
Here are a few ways to express your heartfelt sympathies to someone who could use your support.
- “Get well soon.”
- “Wishing you a speedy recovery.”
- “Our deepest condolences to you upon the passing of _______.”
- “So sorry to hear of _______’s passing.”
- “Please accept our heartfelt sympathies on the loss of your loved one.”
- “Words can’t express how saddened we are to hear of your loss.”
Congratulations!
There are so many reasons to celebrate life! Whether it be an engagement, a new baby, a graduation, or just about any other huge life achievement, sending the accomplished party a commendation is always appropriate. And, much appreciated.
Celebrating each other and our achievements brings people together. Congratulating others brings joy to both the receiver and sender. The receiver is thrilled about being recognized for their accomplishment(s). For the sender, seeing others achieve their goals and wishes reaffirms the idea that we too can have such happiness and success in our lives. And so, it feels as good to give congratulations as it does to get them.
Here are a few ways to let someone you know that their accomplishments haven’t gone unnoticed.
- “Congratulations on your well-deserved success.”
- “Heartfelt congratulations to you.”
- “Warmest congratulations on your achievement.”
- “Congratulations and best wishes for your next adventure!”
- “So pleased to see you accomplishing great things.”
- “Well done!”
- “You’re amazing!”
Reviving A Lost Art Form
Handwritten notes, thank you and greeting cards are not a new practice. But like the Latin language, it’s become a dead language in today’s society. Thankfully, also like Latin, it’s a root form of communication. One that we can all understand and relate to. At least to a certain degree. The gesture of giving greeting cards has been around for a long time. It’s just been forgotten.
It’s important to remember to take the time to express your words in writing. Although kind words said are always appreciated, written words of personal intent often leave a greater impact on others than those same words spoken.
At Abby Connect our greeting cards are here to remind our people that EVERY CONNECTION MATTERS. Over the phone, in passing, or in a handwritten message. We take the time to write out our thoughts in notes and greeting cards. Whether it be for a connection made over the phone with a client, a wonderful written review of our services, a birthday celebration, a loss of life, words of encouragement, or the plain and simple fact that we’re just thinking of you, we make sure our words are conveyed through our own hand. And so, we invite you to join us in bringing a lost art form back to life. Write out your thoughtful words to those that matter in your life. And, I promise you, your message will mean all the more for it.
