About Thank You Cards!

All About Thank You Cards

"Thank You" is a simple phrase, yet one seldom said frequently enough. We all have numerous opportunities to say "thank you" every day, to family, friends, co-workers - everyone, but we are sometimes reluctant to do so. There are times when a verbal thank you suffices, but there are occasions when a more formal, written thank you would be better.

The impact of a thank you card is often overlooked today. A well written and sincere thank you card is much more thoughtful that a phone call or an electronic message. A thank you card always makes a special impression. It shows you really appreciate what someone has said or done, and it also shows the other person you care enough, because you have taken time to write a thank you card.

There really isn't an inappropriate reason to send a thank you card, but there are occasions when it is inappropriate NOT to send them. All gifts should be acknowledged with a thank you card. Thank you cards should be written to thank someone for a gift, a meal, or for a favor done. Thank you notes seem much more sincere when they are expressed promptly

It is reported that Americans bought thank you cards in more than 42,000 retail stores during the past year, and they give about 7 billion cards a year. Of the 7 billion cards annually, approximately 3% of them are thank you note cards.

A very wide range of people write thank you cards including:

The return of our interest in tradition, a renewed interest in "being nice" in the workplace, intensified interest in nurturing relationships, a refocusing on manners and etiquette, and more home entertaining are some of the forces that could be fueling this fire of sending and writing thank you note cards.

The personal thank you note card is increasingly being valued in the workplace. The message conveyed is that someone cared enough to take the time to sit down and think about you, and pen a message by hand. It seems as though people remember a thank you card long after they have forgotten what they gave you or did for you, but they remember even longer when they didn't get a thank you from you.

It is not uncommon for people to have trouble finding words to express their gratitude for the gift or gesture they received. Here are some helpful hints and etiquette to consider regarding writing thank you cards:

Timing is critical: If possible, a verbal thank you should be extended at the time a gift is given. Additionally, even though a verbal thank you was given, a written thank you card should be sent as soon as possible, but no later than two weeks after receiving the gift.

Selection of the thank you card: Whenever possible, the personalized thank you card shouldreflect your personality and the occasion. The design of the thank you card will be a reflection of you and is helpful if they are personalized.

Children should begin writing their own thank you cards as soon as they can hold a pen but with the assistance of a parent. By the age of 10 to 12, they should be able to write their own thank you cards without much supervision from a parent. More details for children thank you card writing is presented in Children Thank You Cards.

Sincerity, thoughtfulness and meaningfulness: A thank you card does not have to be long and wordy to be effective. It can be only a few words, as long as it expresses your sincere and true feelings of gratitude to the recipient. A thank you card should be sent regardless of the size or cost of the gift. Remember, it is the thoughtfulness of the gift more so than the actual gift itself.

Suggested procedure for writing thank you cards: You should be aware of the proper etiquette in writing thank you cards, but you should not be so mindful of the dos and don'ts that it intimidates you. Thank you cards should reflect your genuine and sincere thanks. Some suggested ideas for writing thank you cards include: