Birthdays are a good excuse for businesses to contact their customers. That’s the conclusion of a new survey by Hallmark Business 
Expressions, the business-to-business subsidiary of Hallmark Cards.
In fact, besides special events like Christmas, birthdays are the number one everyday occasion businesses send cards to customers. The card pictured at the right is a sample of Hallmark’s business birthday cards. Click here for more examples.
According to the survey:
- 69 percent of respondents had received a birthday greeting card from a company
- Of those, 47 percent said the card made them more likely to do business with that company
- 75 percent said a birthday card with a discount during their birthday month would make them more likely to do business with the company.
The logic goes like this: Everyone has a birthday, and most people like others to be glad they were born even if they’re not to crazy about the number of candles crowding onto the cake.
“Customers notice and appreciate when a company sends them good wishes around their birthday,” said Marc Wagenheim, product marketing director for Hallmark Business Expressions. “Our study confirms what our business customers experience: birthday greeting cards make a lasting impression and encourage repeat business.”
Hallmark claims that when you remember to send business birthday cards to your clients, they’re more likely to keep thinking of you for their business needs. And for employees, thoughtful gestures like sending business birthday cards can help create loyalty in the workplace.
Have you ever received a birthday card from a business? If you own a business, do you send birthday cards to customers?
Thanks for this post! I certainly agree with Mr. Wagenheim - my own business is a specialized card company that makes it easy and inexpensive to send birthday cards to customers. So I send birthday cards daily to my own clients and prospects, and many of them do the same.
Almost without fail, we’ve had positive responses from customers - it certainly helps people remember us with a smile!
Hi Jan,
Yes, I use a system (www.SendOutCards.com/jsaeman) that helps me keep track of birthdays so that I can send out cards. I do try to personalize them as much as I can as receiving a generic card from a business does nothing for me. I think the time and thought it take to send a personal card is much better.
I also use the system to periodically send out ‘unexpected’ thank you’s for their business. I think receiving a card without reason is more heartfelt and better received than the ‘expected’ birthday card from a business.
Jane
I know many people who use a service called Send Out Cards. This is a terrific way to stay in touch with clients and prospects. The service not only includes birthday cards but any other type of message and for all occasions and the cards can be customized to your specifications. Best thing yet is that they will personalize the cards for you and send out on the date you request.
A great service and it seems to work based on everyone I’ve spoken to who’ve used it.
I have always had a passion for sending cards to people & I agree that a personal card has a big impact on others. I find myself looking for a reason to send someone a card, because I love making people feel valued & appreciated & that makes me feel good too. As Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I am also blessed to be an entrepreneur with SendOutCards, a system that enables me to send amazing cards with my own photos, handwriting, signature, & even gifts & gift cards, all from the comfort of my own home. Check it out at SendOutCards.com/stayingconnected. It is life changing & fun!!!