Greeting Card Success Stories

Jake Hesseltine, a professional photographer and new entrepreneur with our greeting card company, was doing a gift account with his Uncle and they came up with a creative way to send a card to the Uncle's daughter. She is 9 and is beginning to question the authenticity of Ole St. Nick. So, Jake suggested that they send a card to his cousin using the following return address:

Santa Clause

# 1 Christmas Lane

North Pole, Artic 00001

 When she receive the greeting card from Santa Clause letting her know that she had made the "Nice" list she started to cheer with tears in her eyes and said, "Mom...Dad ...finally, HE answered my one of my letters!!!"

 The whole BNI chapter erupted with laughter. Just thought we would share that testimonial and let you in on our new Holiday season “close”.

 Best wishes,

 Mike & Juliana Gulitz

"A gal at the eye doctor's office went out of her way to help me with some billing from the Surgi-Center (not even her office) where my wife had cataract surgery recently.  This was clearly above and beyond her job description (she is not even in billing), and I really appreciated it, so I sent her a thank you card with a $10 Starbucks card in it.  Today she called me to let me know she got the card and that I had "made her day."

Andy Steiker

GREAT STORY!

I had six things to do this past Saturday. One of them was to stop by the hardware store and get some picture hooks. I went to Blackhawk Hardware rather than Home Depot, because Ace Blackhawk Hardware, the Ace Hardware store in the Park Road Shopping Center, is right by Corners (my framer) and the Suarez Bakery (best donuts on the planet).

Oh, did I mention that Ace Blackhawk Hardware also gives away popcorn? They pop popcorn in the store and they give it to all their patrons. Their popcorn is so popular and prolific that several of the stores next to them have signs on the door that say, “No popcorn.”  Pretty interesting.

You’d think a retail store would say, “Welcome” on the door, but instead they say “No popcorn.”  Anyway, I’m at the store, and it’s all about the popcorn. (You know how you go to a place and you can already taste the food before you get there?) I’m thinking “popcorn” as I park the car. Not “hardware store,” “popcorn.” You know what I mean.

I go in the store, head for the popcorn machine, and there’s a guy in front of me scooping it in the little bags they give away. I look down in the popcorn thing, and there’s only enough for one bag. It was almost all gone. Then, I looked inside the popcorn popper hopper, and there’s none in there. I’m thinking, “Oh rats, this guy’s taking ALL the popcorn, and there’s none left, and none cooking.”

Then, I thought (positive thinker that I am), there might be enough for two bags. But the guy in front of me keeps scooping, and he’s taking it all. Come on pal, leave me five kernels.  Finally, he finishes scooping, turns around, and hands me the bag and says, “Here, this is for you.”

WOW! 

My mindset was completely against the guy when I first arrived. “This guy’s a pig. He’s taking it all. What the heck is this?” Then, all of a sudden, 30-seconds later, he hands the popcorn to me. “Whoa… thanks!” What a nice guy. Now, he’s all of a sudden the nicest guy in the world because of manners and a random act of kindness. AND, this guy was just like me -- a beautiful, blonde guy. His mom probably taught him how to share when he was growing up.

I didn’t know how to thank the guy, so I kept walking around the store. I didn’t need anything anymore. I already got what I wanted. I was hoping I would bump into “Mr. Kindness,” so I could thank him again. I thanked him three times. Then I saw him in the parking lot and I said, “Hey, popcorn guy, thanks!”

Now, I could have just said no. But I thought it would be more of an insult to him to say no to his gesture, his random act of kindness. I was so humbled by the surprise ending.

All day long I was holding doors, smiling at everyone, saying hello to everyone – being kind to everyone I came in contact with. I told everyone the “popcorn story” and I decided to tell you -- to challenge you… I even sent out a campaign of 25 unexpected cards that day when I returned home.

When is the last time you performed a random act of kindness? What kind of random acts of kindness are you performing on an everyday basis?  And what kind of impact are you (could you be) making on other people -- your customers, your co-workers, your friends, your family?

You don’t have to save the world, just give them some popcorn, or send them a card. I promise you, you can change minds, you can changes attitudes, and you can create an attitude of friendliness that will be passed on to others. How powerful is that?

Random acts of kindness are almost always passed on. Pass it on. Pass it on. 

Sincerely.... and Expect Success! ... It Is Waiting For You,

Phil & Sheila Barnhart

INSPIRING . . .

I have only one child,  a son, now 25, who had been addicted to meth for almost 6 years. Those years were spent in more moments of agony than I care to remember, coupled with intense hope and utter despair at the thought of losing him. I spent countless hours leaning on the back of my car in the middle of the night under the stars talking to God.  During these moments I had the sense God was always with me , but not necessarily that things would  turn out ok. Life offers no guarantees. I still prayed for strength, discernment, courage, and redemption of a life that at times looked beyond repair. I actually slept during  the times my son was incarcerated knowing where he was and that he had a place to sleep and food to eat. During what would turn out to be his last incarceration I visited him only to be met with anger and volatility. I went home and wept and while I wept I looked at pictures of the little baby I brought home from the hospital; innocent and beautiful. Then I looked at his school pictures , scuba diving shots, BMX race shots, moments on the ski slopes and a host of other moments caught on film that I knew would be all the memories I would have left if he died in his addiction. I decided to upload several of these pictures and send them to him in jail, hoping he would remember who he really was.  One card just said" look what I can do" with him jumping his BMX bike 20 feet in the air at a dirt jumping competition. Another said "Guess what, I love you" with a picture of me holding him on my lap at 14 months on a trip to Alaska. And another said: "I think of you often. Each night as I lay my head down I pray to God for your physical safety, your emotional and physical healing and the resources to become available to fix your teeth. I think of how you make me laugh out loud. Your talent in music and art. All the effort you put in to becoming an accomplished diver and biker. I also think about you being almost 25 and worry that your life could become a revolving door in and out of jail. I believe that you will have to make a choice to not live by situational ethics. You need to adopt ethics that stand firm in the face of the choice before you. Then, and only then will you really be free in this life.  I hope you will not let your life be of so little purpose and value. Sometimes people allow themselves to make bad choices for so long that it becomes their lives and they are considered bad people, rather than people who have made some bad choices. Think hard on that. On a lighter note, it was really good seeing you last night. I love your laughter and smile. I look forward to better times. Love always Mom." There were more cards sent during the month he was there and I got collect calls when these cards started arriving. The anger melted away to rivers of tears and a softened heart that wanted to change. I realize SOC is not the entire reason for his change, but I can tell you when you are alone in a jail cell you covet your mail and read it over and over again, and it has the potential to grab your heart.

That was the last time my son was in jail. He has been clean for 10 months now. He works full time, has renewed his license, purchased a vehicle and is applying to school. He says the cards reminded him of what he once was and all that he had lost in his addiction. The cards are powerful. Add a picture of a memory and you add more power. My son is living testimony to that.

Anonymous

THE TRUE VALUE OF SENDING CARDS . . . MAY 2006

Hello,

A close family friend passed away this week.  Her name was Ginny Mohr.  Ever since I can remember, Ginny was always there for my mom.  She never forgot a birthday or Christmas present for my sister and me.

Ginny had Alzheimer's and her passing was inevitable.  My mom called last week and said she only had a few more days to live.  So I sent Ginny a card.  I told how her much I appreciated everything that did throughout the years.  I told her that I appreciated her for being a friend and confidant for my mother through thick and thin.

The night before her passing, my mom said that she saw Ginny's
mother-in-law, Barbara, at the nursing home.  Barbara looked in her purse and pulled out the card I had sent.  She read it to Ginny with my mom there.  I got to say what I needed to say to Ginny before it was too late.

I'm not telling you this to feel sorry for us or for Ginny.  I am telling
you this because every day I use a special online greeting card account, I realize how important it is to say the things and acknowledge the people in your life for the contributions that they make.

If you are sending out cards to people and acknowledging them for who they are for you, then I commend you.  You are making a difference in people's lives.  If you are not using your online greeting card account, then I would encourage you to start.  Start using it before words that need to be said are left unsaid.

Who needs to hear from you today?

Thank you for the contribution that you make in my life.

Sprock

GREAT IDEA FOR FINDING NEW CUSTOMERS!

I met an Insurance Agent at a Trade Show and he told me about one of his
ideas to get customers names.

He goes to Starbucks and gives the casher $100.00. He tells the Cashier that he will pay for the next $100.00 of food or drinks. When the customers ask who paid, she points out the Insurance Agent to them. Everyone goes over to thank him. This is when he tells them about his service and gets their name and phone number.

Now a person does not have to pay up $100.00 you could do $50.00. By going
to Starbucks their Internet service is free. You could set up a laptop and
let the customers send a card right then a there. As you know many Business
People use Star Bucks for business meetings. Doing it this way, you might get a bigger bang for your buck.

Just an idea,

Don

Well the story starts out with the seminar I attended and the instructor telling us to send a card to three people that had effected my life. Two of the people I had chosen were the Pastor of the Christian school I attended and his daughter which was my best friend in high school. I haven't seen or talk to them in over ten years. As I was writing the card to my Pastor I called my sister to tell her my prompting and she told me not to send the card because he wouldn't react the way I was hoping ,so I didn't send it. Then I told my mother about the card and she told me to send that card anyway, so I did. When the pastor read the card he was touched. He told my sister that Sunday at church, " I received a beautiful card from your sister," and she said pretty on the outside and he said" no on the inside, the words she wrote touched me" he told her he would keep the card in his office and never through it away.  Then I sent a card to his daughter my best friend growing up. She went up to my sister and asked her " is Darcy dying" my sister said " not that I know of, why"? She said " because she sent me a card and the words she wrote made me cry and she sent my father a card and when I read it I cried". My sister giggled and said "she not dying she is just letting people know how she feels about them.

After ten years with no contact with my friend we are now emailing each other.

 I am the type of person that never sent cards or ever expressed how I felt about someone. But now that I have my special greeting card account it's easy for me to tell people how much they mean to me.  I feel closer than ever to my friends and family. Thanks Kody for encouraging me to follow my promptings.

 Darcy Davis

I set up Daniel (my son) with a retail card account last week.  Daniel was talking this morning about his best friend that moved away to Pennsylvania this last fall, so I suggested he send a card!  I showed him how and he sent out his first card this morning before school to Caleb in PA.

It was amazing to watch, Daniel had a certain "Glow" on his face and I could tell he was please and a little proud that he sent his friend a card!  I told him, "You see Daniel, sending out cards is something you do for yourself first, then it impacts others in a most marvelous way!"  I hugged him and told him he was now "a sender of cards". 

His day started off better than probably 98% of anyone else in the Valley of the sun.  He was pleased with himself, and encouraged, and self confidence is a lesson that is priceless throughout life.

Caleb will be most pleased to receive a card in the mail from his pal and a picture of his pal standing with his 6^th grade teacher!  Cool stuff.  Imagine all the relationships that fade away and become lost, because that's just what happens as we journey through life. 

Just a little card-sending short success story to share!

Blessings with Passion,

Laurel

 "Magic happens when you send out cards" 

send an unexpected card

at an unexpected time

MAKING LIFE A LITTLE EASIER DURING TOUGH TIMES (FROM KATIE HILL):

"When my brother left for Boot Camp to become a Sailor in early December, it
was one of the hardest goodbye's I've ever had to make. I knew that there was
nothing I could do to help him, he was on his own to experience a tough
transition and months of rigorous mental and physical training. My friend Jeff
had sent me some cards for months, but I really wasn't interested in my greeting card business very much. But as soon as we received my brother's mailing address at Boot Camp, and told that snail mail was our only method of communication with him, I knew I had to get involved with a greeting card account. I signed up as a retail customer and began sending him cards everyday. I'd write him about everything going on at home, putting pictures in almost every card to brighten his day. I chose Motivational cards, Military (Navy), Thinking of You, Christmas, Congratulations...just about every category! I had so much fun picking out new cards everyday, changing the fonts and colors. When we finally got his first letter weeks later, he told me how
encouraging my cards had been to him. That was the only nice part of the day, at
night receiving my mail. He said it was "like clockwork"!! (which it was)  For 9
weeks I sent him a card every weekday, but my mom sent him only a total of 4
cards. 4 CARDS!!!! In 9 weeks!!  I can't tell you how comforting it was to know
he was getting my encouragement everyday. He knew I cared about him, supported
him, believed in him. Now that he has graduated, we have heard of all the dark
days where he felt like he wanted to give up. Some guys cried every night, some
never got more than 1-2 letters in two months, most felt hopeless. Some would
write their family and friends, while receiving no response. My brother said he
got more mail than the majority of recruits in his division. I try to find one military person a week and send an unexpected card, even though I don't know them! I haven't had any returned, so they must be getting to somebody. I want to show our armed forces that Americans care about what they're doing, believe in them, and appreciate their personal sacrifices."

I just had to share this with you.  This is the first time I've had someone react in this way. I copied the card and message I sent and his reply is below.  His wife had an unexpected stroke and I sent an UNEXPECTED card.  I have never met this couple, but we have worked with him for a couple of years.  I have sent several lately, but anyway.

Judy Buchfeller

 Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 5:30 PM
To: J Buchfeller
Subject: .thanks so much...

Joel and Judy,

I received your card yesterday.

I wept.

It's possibly the most meaningful card I've
ever received - beautiful too.

I showed it to my wife.

She cried too.

She held me tight and said I was indeed
the world to her.

Words can't express my gratitude for your
kindness and thoughtfulness.

Please know that  the "Thank You" note that
went in today's mail I penned before I received
your card; it's for your web site membership,
not for your beautiful card.

You are very special folks, we are both very
grateful for your thoughts.

Check out this Card Sending Poem from Dave McGrath!

Tis the season to be jolly,
Going through the shopping card folly
Dressing up to keep me warm
Off to the store in a freezing storm
Could have stayed at home and shopped on line
Could look at cards while I dine
Greeting cards and a bottle of wine
Now this is better I feel just fine
All my cards are done are done this year
I do this next time and have no fear
With greeting cards it's nice and easy
I say this now, I am no liar
My wife and just sit by the fire.
Knowing that the cards are done
We can kick back and have some fun

Merry Christmas!

Story of the Week:

My friend Marc became a user of greeting cards  because he thought it would be a good tool for his business.  He liked the idea of being able to follow up with clients.  A couple of weeks ago, I gave him a call to do some training, and was informed by his secretary that he was off to have surgery.  I asked her what the surgery was for and if it was serious.  Apparently, Marc had a seizure a couple of days before and came to find out that he had a brain tumor and had to have brain surgery.  I was blown away.  Immediately I sent him a card, wishing him well and telling him that I was praying for him.  This was something that came out of the blue  because Marc was a completely healthy and athletic person. 

Apparently there had been some complications after the surgery  and he had to be re-admitted to the hospital.  He told me that being re-admitted was the scariest part  he really thought he was going to die.  Marc began thinking to himself, if I died, who would come to my funeral??  He realized that he had not been keeping in touch with people, telling him how much he loved them and cared about them.  Marc told me that he had been thinking of both me and the cards while he was in the hospital.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  Here is a man who is going through brain surgery, and he is thinking about greeting cards. 

Immediately when he got home, he called me to let me know that everything was getting better.   He let me know that he could not wait to learn how to best use greeting cards  and was so anxious to start sending all kinds of cards telling people how much he loved them and appreciated them.  Marc also told me that he can't wait to share the service with other people  and is looking at really making a business out of this.  He is a very successful financial advisor, and doesn't have a need to make extra money  but a light bulb went off in his head while he was in the hospital and he realized how important it is to help others become senders of cards and is looking forward to building this business.

Marc gets it now  and he realizes the meaning behind what we are doing.  Never again will he lose touch with the people in his life."

--Adam Packard

From Sally Haslett in Tucson AZ:

"We live in a community where our Post Office employees are residents. One of the ladies ( she reminds me of Angela Lansbury ) is always so pleasant and cheerful when I go in there. I had not been in for about a month and when I did go last week, I noticed that she was bald and had a hat on. We all know what that means!  

    I immediately came home and looked up her address ( she did not know me and I looked at her name badge to see her name .)  I sent the Spirit, Serenity, Strength card to her with a message about how much she always brightened my day with her smile and pleasant personality and expressing wishes for good health. 

   This week when I took another packet in to mail, I was leaving when she picked up the packet to put in the mail bin. As I was at the door, she shouted, "Whose package is this?". I turned around and saw it was mine. When I answered, she said, " You sent me a card!". I said "Yes ". She then proceeded to tell me how much that card meant to her and how she had it on her desk at home. She finished by saying, "That card is a real keeper. I will always save it!"

   I am  a retired teacher, and I KNOW what a simple message of hope, congratulations or kindness can mean to a student. But, Jordan, you are so right when you say that sending an unexpected card  can mean even more in OUR lives

GREAT SUCCESS STORY FROM DAVID:

I followed Joe Girard's sales techniques back in the mid 90's and got to a point where I was sending out 3000 handwritten cards a month, and finally had to hire someone to help me write the cards. I had a customer named David Helm who bought a
truck from me, and used to stop in the dealership every  month to pick up oil and oil filters for his truck out of our parts department, and always say thank you for the
Valentines card St Patrick's Day card the Christmas card etc. I sent out a card every month to everyone I knew asking for referrals. One day David came in and said that
his father had died and he had to go out to Hemet California and take care of the estate. I immediately went next door to the K-Mart and bought a sympathy card and
sent it to him. A month later I saw him again, and he made it a point to tell me thank you and how much the card meant to him. He was in a hurry because he said his wife
just had a baby boy and he had to get back to the hospital. I immediately went next door and bought a congratulations card for the new baby and sent that off.
Two weeks later David, his wife and three daughters pulled up into the dealership and asked for me. I figured it was to show me their new baby and greeted them, where David said "I need a new truck, My wife needs a new mini van, and I want to buy each one of my daughters a new car also. I sold 5 cars that evening to one family and made a family and my dealership very happy. Ninety percent of all customers who buy cars from a dealership do not remember the salesperson's name who sold them their last car. This family remembered me, and those additional car sales that month made me a  huge bonus and a trip for 2 to Cancun. What took me a half hour of my time, only takes 30 seconds today with send out cards. I became 13th in the nation in Toyota sales because of my card sending, and if I would have had this system in the mid 90's I would have been #1 or 2 I'm sure. Show people you care, and people will take care of you.....they remember......making people feel good will come back to you tenfold!

 David Diener

SUCCESS STORY #1

Wanted to share a greeting card Success Story with everyone that Triple J Ductwork (Jeremy Macbeth) had with Target Marketing.

* Triple J Ductwork had a custom card made with their company logo & contact information on the front of a card ($25.00).

* They manually entered 80 Roofing Contractors into their Contact Manager (it's possible to import contacts if you have them in a contact manager already).

* Using their Company Custom Card they created a Postcard advertising their capability to manufacture Custom Chimney Caps and uploaded a digital photo of a stainless steel chimney cap to the bottom of the Postcard.

* They sent 80 Custom Postcards to the Roofing Contractors with 1 click ($56.00).

Results:

* Gained a new Roofing Contractor client who's first order was for 24 chimney caps .... $4,600

* Triple J is confident this Roofing Contractor will become a long-term client. 

From feedback they received, Triple J will next use this same Campaign Postcard to send directly to Chimney Repair companies.

Triple J has other Target Marketing ideas and will not hesitate to utilize greeting cards --- "Greeting cards are definitely worth it."

SUCCESS STORY #2

The Vice President of a major national bank recently gave a presentation to the Owner/President of a business.  The VP knew she was at least 1 of 3, maybe 4, banks who have made presentations to this business owner in the past 2 weeks.

Immediately after returning to her office from the presentation she created a personalized Thank You card using a special greeting card system.  She knew she had to further separate herself & her bank from the competition ... make a lasting, professional impression.

Well the following week she received a phone call from the Owner/President of the business ... she had earned his business:

$100,000 business loan

The Business' banking account

The Owner/President's personal banking accounts

The Owner/President told the VP of the bank that she was the only person who sent him a Thank You to express her appreciation for the opportunity and for meeting him.  Professional & Sincere treatment like this made him feel confident that she & her bank will provide him with the service his business needs.

I learned about this success story at my BNI meeting when the Bank VP gave this testimonial to our entire BNI Chapter.  WOW!

 Chris Nesbitt

(all of these comments are excerpted from thecoolbuzz.com)