The business holiday card is probably the most sent, least remembered piece of mail of the year. It arrives in the same two weeks as everyone else's, says the same thing, and ends up pinned to a break room board next to thirty others.
That's not because people have stopped caring about cards. Christmas cards have long been the most popular seasonal card in the US, according to Greeting Card Association figures shared by USPS. The problem is timing. When everyone sends at once, nobody stands out.
This guide makes the case for holiday mail that lands just before the rush or just after it, and shows you how to plan it now.
Because every other business has had the same idea. Your card is competing with suppliers, banks, nonprofits, retailers and the recipient's own friends and family.
Black Friday offers and year-end appeals pile in too, so the mailbox only gets busier from late November on.
A standard business card adds very little to that pile. A printed signature and "Happy holidays from all of us" don't tell the reader anything they'll remember in January.
Send it before the rush or after it. Both windows give your mail room to breathe.
Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year, and it's the natural moment for a thank-you in the US. A thank-you that lands before the holiday feels considered rather than seasonal. It will share the mailbox with Black Friday offers, but that works in your favor. A thank-you with nothing to sell stands out next to a pile of discounts.
Timing matters here. On Stannp.com, 6x9 postcards are sent First-Class, so a 6x9 sent now gives you the best chance of landing before Thanksgiving. Other mail can take longer, so if you miss this window, aim for January instead.
The first two weeks of January are quiet. The cards have come down, the inbox is full of returns emails, and a well-timed piece of mail stands out.
If you're deciding how often to mail through the year, our guide to direct mail frequency covers how to space your sends.
Send something with a reason behind it. A message that refers to the year you've had together will always land better than a generic greeting.
For format, the 6x9 postcard is the natural choice. It's our most popular size, with room for a strong image on the front and a personal message on the back. There's no envelope to open, so your message is on show the moment it lands.
Looking for more seasonal ideas? Last year's 5 Christmas direct mail campaigns and our New Year campaign ideas are good places to start.
Yes, and arguably it works better. Business holiday cards are the most predictable mail of all, and they tend to pile up on front desks.
A thank-you that arrives in the first week back after New Year's lands on a quiet desk. It reminds your clients, suppliers and partners that you value the relationship before any new year budget conversations start.
It's also a strong retention move. Mail to people who already know you consistently outperforms cold mail. The 2024 ANA Response Rate Report found that house lists average response rates of 5% to 9%. Our guide to adding direct mail to your retention strategy goes further.
Use your data. Stannp.com charges the same price whether every postcard is identical or completely personalized, so there's no reason to send a generic one.
Merge fields let you add first names, company names, account managers and customer start dates. Variable images let you change the picture for different groups, such as one design for long-standing customers and another for people who joined this year.
Add a QR code that links to a personal video, a thank-you offer or a short year-in-review page. QR code tracking then shows you who scanned and when. Our guide on how to personalize direct mail has more ideas.
The best time to plan a January send is November. Here's how to get it done before the holiday rush.
This year, skip the pile. Create your free Stannp.com account, design your thank-you or New Year postcard, and schedule it to land when your customers will actually notice it.
Already using Stannp.com? Log in to design and schedule your postcard from your dashboard.
Yes, as long as it earns its place. A generic card sent in mid-December tends to blend in, so make it personal or move it to a quieter window. A thank-you sent before Thanksgiving or in early January usually gets more attention.
Before Thanksgiving, or in the first two weeks of January. Both windows avoid the December rush, so your card has a better chance of being read and remembered.
A thank-you with a specific reason, a year-in-review postcard, a New Year welcome, or an early offer for the new year. Anything that refers to the customer's own relationship with you will stand out more than a seasonal greeting.
Not if it's well designed and personal. A 6x9 postcard gives you room for a strong image and a real message, and there's no envelope standing between your customer and what you've written.
Upload your customer list and use merge fields to add names, company details and other information to each postcard. On Stannp.com, personalization costs the same as sending identical mail.
Yes. It lands when mailboxes are quiet, gives you a fresh reason to get in touch, and lets you look ahead to what's coming rather than back at the year.
The best holiday mail isn't the card that arrives with everyone else's. It's the one that arrives when they're ready to read it. Get started for free and plan yours today.