Ho-Ho-Ho Holiday Card Season is Back!

 

Holiday cards have been a tradition for generations of families across the globe. What started as a way for ordinary people to use the postal service more regularly has become one of the biggest mailing and shipping events of the year. Proper planning is important when it comes to getting cards out on time.

 

This year, make sure your cards make it to the mantel by getting your order in ahead of time.  If you’re creating cards for clients, you’ll want to make sure they’re ready, too.

 

TOUCH BASE

 

Get in touch with your client base (if you haven’t already done so) to make sure they have scheduled their family photo shoot. If they haven’t, this is an ideal time to set something up.

 

Once you’ve had an opportunity to touch base with your clients, or potential clients, make sure you follow up consistently to remind them of holiday order deadlines for their prints. There is nothing worse than getting your prints just in time, only to realize you’re too late to order Holiday Cards!

 

PREACH PRINT

 

While e-cards and online photos have officially become a part of our culture, we’ve started to lose touch with how much it means to receive a message in the mail. A tangible card is a personalized, sentimental opportunity to share a memory with those you love, admire, and appreciate.

 

Here are some other great points to keep in mind:

• JPGs deteriorate.  Over time, as you open and close, well as duplicate files, quality of the original image saved as a jpg will get worse.  Print it while it is in its prime!
• Technology can fail.  As most of us have learned more than once in our lifetime, technology can fail us.  From corrupt hard drives to water spills that ruin a motherboard, anything can happen.  Backups are safe, prints are safer.
• Keep then rotated.  If you have some favorite frames, keep new images printed and available to switch them out from season to season.
• Great for gifts.  While digital photos are nice to have for saving and sharing, a printed photo is the best gift to give, especially during the Holiday season.  Give a gift of love that will last a lifetime.

 

CALCULATE COSTS

 

If you’re planning on offering print products to your clients this season, you’ll want to make sure you know your suppliers’ prices going into the holiday season. Although many professional print labs increase their pricing from year to year, Artsy Couture hasn’t. We’re ready to roll out the red carpet for our customers so they can shop with even bigger discounts this year.

 

Check out our pricing charts here, or email us for bulk prices at info@artsycouture.com.

 

 

TRACK TIME & DEADLINES

 

USPS deliveries increase during the month of December, but so does the volume of mail being sent. This means that if you’re planning on getting cards delivered by a certain date, you’ll want to account for EVERYTHING.

 

• Consider the following:
  • Shoot timeline
  • Editing
  • Image approval
  • Product Proofs
  • Final Order

Plus, you’ll want to tack on a few extra days for shipping to your client.  All-in, you’re looking at at least a month turnaround – even more of a reason to get moving today.

 

 

CONFIRM CONTENT

 

• Before placing any orders, make sure that you know exactly what your clients are looking for with regards to content on the cards. Some families will prefer that you offer some suggestions, or even design something on their images.

 

• If you’re having trouble coming up with the right things to say, say it from the heart.  Here are some great ideas you can use to help you write your cards this year.

KEEP IN TOUCH

 

• Once your photo shoot is over, make sure to check in with your clients by setting reminders for yourself. Plan out an “email drip campaign,” or series of emails to send to clients, with important ordering deadlines and print details.

 

• Garner customer feedback and reviews by using Facebook, Google, and/or Yelp. Send a follow-up email once orders have been shipped and received. You’ll find that a huge number of this year’s customers return the following year.

 

• The more communicative you are with your customers, the better their experience will be. By following our outlined steps, you’ll be sure to have the best holiday service around!

Do you have any tips worth sharing for this holiday season? Send us an email at marketing@artsycouture.com. You could be featured in an upcoming blog post or newsletter feature!