November 8, 2011: Hallmark Business Connections infuses warmth and authenticity into the 2011 business holiday greeting card collection

Hallmark Business Connections infuses warmth and authenticity
into the 2011 business holiday greeting card collection

Bridging the gap between work and home elevates cards
to a new level of meaning and significance

Minneapolis, Minn.— The 2011 business holiday card collection from Hallmark Business Connections, the b-to-b subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., identifies a major trend in corporate holiday greetings for the 2011 holiday season: bridging the gap between work and home to exude warmth, making a personal connection.   

“We believe in the importance of enriching the lives of our employees and customers at both home and work,” said Keith Fenhaus, president of Hallmark Business Connections. “For businesses sending holiday greetings, we know how to deliver a message that is more than just an advertisement, it’s sincerely a message of thanks and hope, reflecting the spirit of the season and the genuine sentiment of the business.” 

In addition to the warmth factor, there are three more “must haves” for 2011 business holiday greetings, according to the Hallmark Business Connections business greeting card experts: 

1.  Personalization lets businesses’ true colors shine. Personalization continues to be a popular statement for businesses who want to create a branded holiday greeting. With Hallmark Business Connections, businesses can choose from a variety of personalization options involving both card design and messaging. They can incorporate their logo into the cover design, craft their own distinctive message or choose from a refreshed library of available sentiments. New font choices were also introduced with a variety selections resembling the look of real handwriting and emphasizing the trends toward warmth and personalization.    

2.  Displayable cards turn greetings into decorations. People enjoy showing off their cards – whether on their desk or mantel - especially when it’s from a company or client they respect and appreciate doing business with. Hallmark Business Connections offers new 3D displayable card designs that are one part greeting card and one part holiday decoration. These displayable, dimensional cards evoke works of art and can be enjoyed every day of the season, making a lasting and memorable impression.

 3.  Cards incorporate latest fashion and home décor trends. The trendy looks in fashion and home décor come to life in the 2011 holiday card collection, showing businesses can be on top of “the look” of the season, too. The Hallmark Business Connections holiday collection incorporates trends straight from the runway using pops of color, and bold blues and reds mixed with eye-catching neutrals, as well as layers and texture. The collection introduces new designs using premium paper stock with foil imprinting and broadened holiday categories, including one design for Thanksgiving and one design to celebrate the New Year.

“Our customer’s needs are as diverse as our customers themselves. With this 2011 Holiday Line, we provide the full range of cards that truly have it all,” said Pamela Martin, Creative Director, Design & Editorial. “We have everything from classic to contemporary. This collection is full of energy, sparkle and most-importantly, meaning.”

Cards are available online at Hallmark.BusinessGreetings.com. The site has undergone numerous improvements making it even easier to select the right message this holiday season. It now features an enhanced zoom capability allowing web viewers to see the details of the card’s design, premium paper quality, foil imprinting and embossing nearly as well as if you were holding the card in your hand. Hallmark Business Connections also offers free shipping on all holiday business cards with an online account. 

“While we have a variety of card styles available, collectively these cards share the warmth and true sentiment of the holidays,” Fenhaus said. “A card that invokes a smile is a statement that will never go out of style.” 

About Hallmark Business Connections

Hallmark Business Connections, the business unit of Hallmark Cards, Inc., leverages more than 100 years of Hallmark heritage, creativity and innovation in the business arena to provide meaningful, memorable and measurable solutions that strengthen business relationships with employees and customers. Serving a wide variety of businesses from small to medium sized companies up to the Fortune 50 to 500, Hallmark Business Connections provides innovative and customizable solutions to recognize and reward employees; attract, retain and re-engage customers; deliver turnkey, custom sales programs; and, create incentives for corporate health and wellness programs. Hallmark Business Connections is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., with locations in Kansas City, Mo. and Duluth, Minn. For more information, visit www.HallmarkBusinessConnections.com and www.Hallmark.BusinessGreetings.com.