A holiday card is one of the simplest ways to maintain client relationships. It costs less than a lunch meeting and takes five minutes per card. The hard part isn't writing them. It's remembering to start before the window closes.
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
Physical mail cuts through digital noise. The numbers back it up.
of business professionals say a holiday card positively influenced their perception of the sender
Hallmark Business Connections, 2022
average cost per card including postage, making it one of the cheapest client touchpoints available
vs. $50+ for a client lunch
target arrival date for business cards, before clients leave for holiday breaks
Business etiquette guidelines
Personal holiday cards can arrive anytime before Christmas. Business cards operate on a tighter window. Many offices close or go to reduced hours after December 15. Cards that arrive during the holiday break sit in an empty mailroom.
The target is arrival by December 10. Working backward with USPS delivery times, that means mailing by late November or December 1 at the latest. For a business list that might include 50 to 100 cards, you need to start even earlier than personal card senders.
A holiday card mailing reminder set for late October gives you the lead time to update your CRM, order branded cards, and write personal notes without rushing through Q4.
The goal is warmth without sales. A holiday card that pivots to a pitch defeats the purpose. Keep the message about the relationship, not the revenue.
"Thank you for a great year. Wishing you and your team a wonderful holiday season."
"It's been a pleasure working together in 2026. Here's to another strong year ahead."
"Happy holidays from our team to yours. We appreciate your trust and partnership."
Business pitches or upsells disguised as holiday greetings.
Generic printed messages with no signature or personal note.
Religious greetings unless you know the recipient's preferences.
A stale mailing list means returned cards and missed contacts. Update it once a year, ideally in October before you need it. Pull current addresses from your CRM. Check with assistants for key accounts. Remove clients you're no longer actively serving. Add new relationships from the past year.
The list itself is a business asset. Treat the annual update as part of your relationship maintenance, not just a holiday card task. Some firms use the card list review as a chance to assess which client relationships need more attention in the coming year.
Business holiday cards should arrive before the holiday rush, ideally by December 10. That means mailing by late November or the first few days of December. Cards that arrive early stand out. Cards that arrive late get lost in the pile.
Default to "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" for business clients unless you know their preferences. It's inclusive and professional. The gesture matters more than the specific greeting. Avoid religious imagery unless it aligns with your brand and your client base.
Keep it brief and genuine. Thank them for their business, mention something specific from the year if possible, and wish them well for the new year. Avoid sales pitches. A good template: "Thank you for a great year working together. Wishing you and your team a wonderful holiday season."
Update it once a year, ideally in October. Check CRM records for address changes, confirm with assistants for key accounts, and remove clients you're no longer actively working with. A stale list leads to returned mail and wasted effort.
Yes. A 2022 Hallmark Business Connections survey found that 88% of business professionals said receiving a holiday card positively influenced their perception of the sender. In a world of digital noise, physical mail stands out. The return on a $3 card and a stamp is hard to beat.
Sign each card by hand at minimum. For key clients, add a one-line personal note. Fully printed cards with no handwriting feel like a mass mailing and lose most of their impact. The handwritten element is what turns a card from marketing into a genuine gesture.
Set a reminder for late October. When it arrives, you'll have time to update your list, order cards, and mail before offices close.
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