BLOG - Top tips on writing the perfect Christmas card message – by a shop owner who has sold hundreds of them!

6 December 2023

It’s that time of the year again when we start sending Christmas cards to our relatives, friends, neighbours and colleagues.

Whilst this should be seen as a joyous task, by spreading a little bit of festive cheer and helping us to get into the Christmas spirit, it can be tricky getting the right message across.

You don’t want to sound too formal in a card to a loved one, likewise coming across as too informal can be a pitfall if the card is to a work colleague or someone you don’t know too well.

Thankfully, help is at hand.

Elaine Yarrow, who bought the popular Alexander’s Cards and Gifts in Market Place, Selby, in the summer, and has renamed it Elaine’s card and gifts has sold hundreds of Christmas cards.

Here, she has put together a list of handy tips if you’re sat with pen in hand suffering from writer’s block!

Know your audience

It is important to think about who is receiving the card and how well you know each other. If it’s somebody who is an acquaintance, then an in-joke about a long-forgotten conversation you had several months ago might fall flat. Better to play it straight with a simple message, just wishing them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Conversely, if you are writing for a loved one, then writing something a little more heartfelt and meaningful – such as ‘There’s nobody else in the world I would rather make Christmas memories with than you’ – would be more suitable.

Personalising the message

It’s a special time of the year and is an opportunity for all of us to show our appreciation to those closest to us.

If you’re on someone’s Christmas card list, then you mean something to them.

You can show how much you appreciate them by personalising your message.

This could be an in-joke that only you and the receiver will get, perhaps they have an unusual quirk or eccentricity that you could cheekily refer to or there could be a cherished, shared memory you could refer to that will bring a smile to both of your faces.

Hitting the right word count

It’s important to think about the length of the message you are sending, based on who is receiving the card.

If it’s for an acquaintance, neighbour or colleague then maybe stick to the basics, wishing them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The sentiment can be taken care of by the image on the front of the card.

If it’s for a loved one who you don’t get to see too often then it’s better to go into more detail over the course of several paragraphs, and maybe you could give a bit of an overview of your year so far.

Think of it as a postcard sent from a holiday destination – but festive-themed and covering a whole year and not just your vacation!

Signing off in the right way

We’re all different in how we prefer to sign off our Christmas messages, and everyone’s personal relationships with each other differ.

To a colleague or acquaintance, it may be best to sign off with something like ‘Season’s Greetings’.

If you’re writing to a close relative or significant other, then the tone could be much more familiar and loving. Why not sign off with something like ‘Lots of love from….’, or ‘Love you always….’.

Now you have some creative ideas, who not check out Elaine’s cards in store

Located at Market Place, close to Market Cross shopping centre, Elaine’s specialises in a wide range of cards, confectionery, personalised gifts and other items perfect for any celebration.

As well as a wide range of affordable celebration cards the store has built up a great range of personalised t-shirts, cushions, aprons and other gifts.

The store has also grown a reputation for providing stunning balloon displays for all occasions.

The shop is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and orders and enquiries can also be made through the shop’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Elainescardsandgifts/

For more information about Market Cross, visit www.marketcross-selby.co.uk

ENDS

Picture shows Elaine Yarrow displaying some of her cards.

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: admin@dransfield.co.uk