Holiday Tip Sheet
Stress Free Holiday Card Sending

Cleveland, Ohio (November 2007) – Every year, almost two billion holiday cards are sent! In fact, postal employees will handle more than 900 pieces of mail on their busiest day (December 18) alone. However when we think of sending holiday cards, someone from the post office is not our first thought – we think of ourselves.

While we all love receiving a thoughtful holiday greeting, we also recognize the time that goes into sending the perfect card to friends and loved ones. Some people claim to not have enough time to participate in this heartfelt tradition. Others feel the pressure of finding the right card, for the right person, and getting it out in the mail before the December 24 deadline.

Even the most loyal card sender is looking for ways to maximize their time at the holidays, so American Greetings etiquette experts offer the following tips to make the tradition of sending holiday cards more enjoyable for anyone.

Get an early start

• Plan ahead to ensure timely delivery
  
  The post office recommends allowing between three and seven days for cards and packages to arrive around the holidays due to the heavy volume. That means sending your cards out early to arrive anywhere between December 10 and December 24 – Don’t wait!

• Shop early for the best selection
  
  Black Friday (AKA the day after Thanksgiving) has moved from the starting gate to the mid-way mark for many eager shoppers. Get a jump on the competition and take advantage of the best selection. This year, consumers will start to see American Greetings holiday cards in stores by November 1, with the full collection available before Thanksgiving. This will give them extra time to choose their cards and begin the writing process.

Set small goals

• Divide up filling out cards and addressing envelopes
  
  According to the Greeting Card Association, more than half of all card buyers will send up to 25 cards, but nearly 15 percent will send more than 50 cards. Even for those more ambitious card senders, writing out 10 cards a night for one week and then addressing all of the envelopes the next week will make life much easier.

• Take advantage of downtime to complete cards
  
  Keep 3-5 cards in your purse or work bag to fill out while waiting to pick up the kids from practice or while on the train to work. If you typically eat at your desk, use this time to also complete a few holiday cards each day. TV time and doctor’s office waits are also a good time to finish up.

Be detail oriented

• Tailor card choices to recipients
  
  While close family and friends might appreciate a photo of the kids sitting on Santa’s lap or funny cards that express your sense of humor, more formal “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” messages are more appropriate for business associates. Individual cards, with their more personal sentiments, are the best choice for parents, spouses, siblings, extended family and close friends. Boxed holiday greetings work well for others on your list. This year the newest boxed cards from American Greetings feature more designer card appeal that look hand-picked for the V.I.P’s and coworkers in your life.

• Always reciprocate cards you receive
  
  Keep a few extra boxes of cards on-hand to respond to cards you receive from folks not on your original list. Keep them out on the kitchen counter or in your desk at work with labels, stamps, a pen and your address book handy so you can respond quickly and add the new recipients to next year’s list.

Most importantly…

• Have some fun with your card sending
  
  As the famous song says, it is the “most wonderful time of the year,” so get into the spirit. There’s something special about opening the mailbox everyday and seeing who has sent a card! One easy way to pick up your holiday spirit this year is to head to the greeting card aisle.

It seems that every year there is a new must have toy or personal gadget, so why not the newest must have card? This season, American Greetings is offering new lines of song, sound and light cards to help shoppers take their celebration up a notch. These dazzling cards will get anyone into the holiday spirit with traditional seasonal tunes like “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” and “Santa Baby,” cards featuring lights fit for the most festive house and even offerings with holiday sounds, like Santa bellowing “Ho, Ho, Ho,” and dogs barking “Jingle bells.”

The new collection of holiday cards from American Greetings can be found at participating drug chains, grocery stores and super centers nationwide, as well as in American Greetings and Carlton Cards retail stores. Visit www.americangreetings.com/retailers for store locations.

About American Greetings Corporation
American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of social expressions products and greeting cards. Its product lines include gift wrap, party goods, stationery, calendars, ornaments and electronic greetings. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual net sales of approximately $1.7 billion. For more information on the company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.