Christmas Card Protocol

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified)
in
General Questions and Comments
Dear Forums, I am doing up Christmas cards, sending them out to other attorneys and law firms I have regular dealings with, clients, and other professional relationships. I have two questions. 1. Is it tacky to sign just myself if the firm is picking up the tab on postage (as opposed to signing just the firm's name.) For example, signed- Joe Smith, XYZ Corp as opposed to simply XYZ Corp. 2. Is it ok to simply address the card to the head of the firm I sending the card to, or should I name everyone over there if the firm is small. (Including secretarial staff.) 3. Are there any other pitfalls or common traps I need to avoid? Thanks!
Submitted by Gwen Pearson on Wednesday December 10th, 2008 6:16 am

If you aren't a religious group/company, Please don't send Christmas cards.
Send general Season's Greetings or Happy New Years.

I can't tell you how alienating it is to have Christmas, Christmas, Christmas 24/7 right now when you are not part of the celebration.

It might seem like it's just a secular celebration.... but it's not.

Submitted by BJ Marshall on Wednesday December 10th, 2008 6:36 am

I echo bug_girl: Not everyone celebrates Christmas, though it would be OK to wish them Season's Greetings.

As far as how to address the card, I would state your name. As far as your clients are concerned, YOU are the company. They do deal with you, after all, right?

I would think you could address the card to the head of the firm, and any other main contacts you have with that firm.

BJ

Submitted by Anton Federkiewicz on Wednesday December 10th, 2008 9:29 am

Mike and Mark actually say something about this somewhere.

I wouldn't even send them to business associates.

Submitted by Roger Shank on Wednesday December 10th, 2008 1:15 pm

While I don't send cards, an alternative I learned was to send New Year's cards to business contacts. Not every has Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa (or my favorite... Boxing Day) on "their calendar," but everyone has 12/31. Thank them for their business/support over the last year. Tell them that you look forward to working with them in the upcoming year, etc.