Holiday Cards and New Year Mailers: What to Order Now So They Arrive on Time

Every December we hear the same thing: “I meant to send cards this year.” Holiday cards and New Year mailers are some of the easiest ways for a small business to stay top of mind, but they only work if they arrive on time. The good news is that if you start in early November, there’s plenty of time to do it right.

Here’s what to order now, and a simple timeline to keep it stress-free.

Why holiday cards still work for businesses

Inboxes are packed in December. A printed card in the mailbox gets opened, read and often pinned to a fridge or office board. For customers, past clients and referral partners, a card is a simple thank-you that says you value the relationship, and it keeps your name in front of them heading into the new year.

The businesses that get the most out of holiday cards usually do three things:

• Use a real list. Customers, past clients, vendors and referral sources, not just whoever is in your phone.
• Keep the message personal. A short thank-you beats a long sales pitch. Save the offer for January.
• Get them out early. Cards that arrive in mid-December get noticed. Cards that arrive on December 27th get tossed with the wrapping paper.

The timeline: work backwards from delivery

For delivery before December 25, USPS recommends mailing First-Class Mail by December 17. That’s the last safe date, not the target. Here’s how we’d plan it:

• Now through mid-November: Pull together your mailing list and decide on a design and message.
• Mid to late November: Finalize the design, approve your proof, and send the cards to print.
• Early December: Cards printed and in your hands, so you can sign, address and mail them well ahead of the holiday rush.

We design and print custom cards with your logo, your photo and your message, along with matching envelopes, so they’re ready for you to sign and send.

Don’t forget January: the New Year mailer

While everyone else goes quiet after the holidays, January is a great time to reach new customers. People are setting goals, starting projects and looking for local businesses. A New Year postcard with a clear offer can fill your calendar for the first quarter.

Popular options include:

• Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM): Reach every home or business on the mail routes you choose, without buying a mailing list. Great for restaurants, contractors, salons and any business that serves a local area.
• Targeted postcards: Mail to a specific list, such as homeowners, new movers or businesses in your industry, with addresses verified for accurate delivery.
• Kickoff offers: “New Year, new look” promotions, spring booking discounts, or a reminder of seasonal services.

One planning tip: EDDM and bulk mailers travel as Marketing Mail, which is slower than First-Class. If you want a mailer to land in the first week of January, plan to have it designed and approved in December.

What to order now

If you only do a few things this month, do these:

1. Holiday cards and envelopes for customers and referral partners.
2. A January postcard or EDDM mailer to bring in new business for the first quarter.
3. Signage or banners for any winter events, open houses or New Year promotions.

Let us handle it

Ink Etc Marketing in Acton, MA designs and prints custom holiday cards, and for New Year postcards and EDDM mailers we handle the whole job: design, printing, addressing and mailing. Fill out the short form below and we’ll put together a quote, with a timeline that gets your cards in your hands in time to send.