It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Holiday Greetings from Your Small Business

Ready or not, 2014 is packing its bags, making room for the hustle and bustle of a new year.  With 2015 just three weeks away (seriously?), you’re probably scrambling to do what’s expected of you this season – send out holiday wishes. And chances are, you’re going to do what you’ve seen done before.

Like me, many of you have worked in a corporate job or two, and around the holidays, your firm sent out the basics – gourmet cookies in the little red tins and beautiful holiday cards, signed “The Company.”

And while it’s unrealistic to expect a large firm to send out hundreds of handwritten notes this holiday season, one of the perks of being a small business owner is that you can choose to do it differently.  Many of us have the unique opportunity to really get to know our clients. From their families down to footwear, favorite teams to politics, you know their interests. Here’s your chance to show them that you care enough to remember.

So how about this…

1.  If you choose to send cookies, opt for the kind you know they like.

2.  If you make a gift basket, fill it to the brim with treasures you know they’ll enjoy.

3.  When you mail out a card, write the words they’d expect to hear only from you.

And consider dropping by on a cold winter morning with a steaming cup of hot cocoa and a simple gift in hand, they’ll appreciate your extra effort.

Be of good cheer!

This year, resist the ease of just signing your name to a generic greeting card.  Second guess your decision to send a mass email, regardless of how cool the e-card is.

To end 2014, let’s all toast to authenticity.  Let’s make each holiday exchange count, for what you put in today, can pay off in 2015.

Be sincere because that’s the best gift of all.