Christmas card question

[Sigarms]

Just curious as to everyones thoughts on sending out Christmas cards for business?

I have good relationships with most of my customers, and usually I send out handwritten Christmas cards to each business.

Do you think it's appropriate to write "Merry Christmas" on the holiday card for your business?

 

[dave1949]

Just curious as to everyones thoughts on sending out Christmas cards for business?

I have good relationships with most of my customers, and usually I send out handwritten Christmas cards to each business.

Do you think it's appropriate to write "Merry Christmas" on the holiday card for your business?

Well, this can cause a lot of discussion.

For a business card, I wouldn't do that. Some of your customers will be offended perhaps or think you presumptious or whatever. I would stick with a more religion-neutral message. It doesn't have to be as uninspired as 'Happy Holidays'.

I don't blame people for pushing back on the Merry Christmas thing. I'm sure many disagree, but I am used to being in the minority on this anyways. So, from my minority viewpoint - I don't appreciate how many Christians (and other religions) want to make their version of their religion all pervasive and see nothing wrong with making our country into a religious theocracy. Everything is politicized these days. I will never comprehend how some people can claim to being persecuted while pushing to have their own view point embedded in every aspect of life on every street corner. One or more of your customers is bound to agree with me. It's just push-back is all.

That said, I personally wouldn't hold it against you if you or your business sent me such a card.
Dave.

 

[bp fick]

Christmas has two meanings. The one is merely a national holiday not significantly different than Thanksgiving, Memorial Day or the 4th of July. Schools, banks and Post Office closed kind of holiday. Period. It is fine to say Merry Christmas.

The second is indeed a Christian Holy Day, celebrating the birth of Christ.

Don't personally care for the generic Happy Holidays. Silly and unnecessary. To say "don't say Merry Christmas", a national holiday, is as silly as saying "don't say Happy 4th of July or Happy Thanksgiving".
Some celebrate the birth of our nation on 7/4, while others merely see it as a long weekend. Some "give thanks" on that Thursday in November, while others just feast and watch football. Some combine elements of all.

A little perspective. Christians have a right and the privilege of celebrating the birth of our Savior on Dec 25th and the U.S. has every right to declare that day a national holiday, for whatever reason, along with all the other national holidays.

Merry Christmas.

 

[Big Bri]

i own a retail store, and we do send out Christmas cards, the all say Marry Christmas. I also go one step further we thank every custmor who shops with us in the month of december and finish with "you have a Marry Christmas"
I'm not changing over 200 years of American tradition for a few.
Even if you don't believe in god it's just a tradition.
Brian

 

[dave1949]

Christmas has two meanings. The one is merely a national holiday not significantly different than Thanksgiving, Memorial Day or the 4th of July. Schools, banks and Post Office closed kind of holiday. Period. It is fine to say Merry Christmas.

The second is indeed a Christian Holy Day, celebrating the birth of Christ.

Don't personally care for the generic Happy Holidays. Silly and unnecessary. To say "don't say Merry Christmas", a national holiday, is as silly as saying "don't say Happy 4th of July or Happy Thanksgiving".
Some celebrate the birth of our nation on 7/4, while others merely see it as a long weekend. Some "give thanks" on that Thursday in November, while others just feast and watch football. Some combine elements of all.

A little perspective. Christians have a right and the privilege of celebrating the birth of our Savior on Dec 25th and the U.S. has every right to declare that day a national holiday, for whatever reason, along with all the other national holidays.

Merry Christmas.

Good points. Keep in mind we don't have a Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Passover, Solstice, etc. national holiday. I don't think some Christians appreciate the extent to which traditions and practices in the US fly in the face of the 'establishment of religion' clause in the constitution. That's the push-back aspect I refer to.

I am happy to wish a Christian, and receive, a 'Merry Christmas' from anyone since I think it represents that person celebrating something important to them, so why not share in their joy? I honk my horn at 'Just Married' cars too in the same spirit. Others don't always see it that way.

In the conext of the original post, a business situation, why risk offending a customer when there are many nice things to be said other than 'Merry Christmas'? If I knew a Jewish, non-religious or Muslim person was across the counter in a store, I would sure try for a different greeting. Often, you just don't know.

It's a very personal topic and probably well outside the bounds of this forum. For that I apologize.
Dave.

 

[Sigarms]

In the conext of the original post, a business situation, why risk offending a customer when there are many nice things to be said other than 'Merry Christmas'?

My personal opinion (not business opinion) is that if a customer is actually going to be offended by myself saying "Merry Christmas", I'd probably not want to do business with him because we're not going to "click" anyway. I'm good at what I do, and sooner or later when and if there's a problem, I don't think if I offended that person by saying "Merry Christmas" they would hold it against me to the point where they wouldn't call for me to help them.

Keep in mind we don't have a Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Passover, Solstice, etc. national holiday

If someone wanted to wish me a happy Kwanzaa, I'd wish them a happy Kwanzaa right back. I wouldn't be offended in the least, but I may have no clue as to what I wished

I just happen to think that we've become to politically correct. IF I'm going to send out "holiday cards", the holiday is Christmas. Now, if I say "Merry Christmas", I figure you can take it's meaning anyway you like. Personally, Christmas isn't some day off work and when kids expect presents, but something else.

I find it funny when other businesses send out holiday cards (nothing denoting Christmas) with their company name imprinted on the card, and perhaps a signature. I figure if you're going to make sending a holiday card that impersonal, why even waste your time? Becomes more like junk mail than anything else.

 

[brin]

I totally agree sigarms....MERRY CHRISTMAS to all...but that is just me.

 

[2manyrocks]

The establishment clause is intended to prevent the establishment of an official state religion as they had experienced in England where for many years meant that the Church of England was the official state church, and people that believed otherwise were forbidden from preaching or assembly for worship outside of the Church of England. So we have not only a Constitution that forbids the establishment of an official state church, but a Constitution that assures the right of freedom of speech and the right of peaceful assembly.

 

[dmccarty]

I would send out the Happy Christmas card. We get some from our local businesses and it one one of the reasons for the holidays. The reason to send the card is to send happy wishes, good cheer, and all of that stuff. On the other hand there is the New Years Holiday, Hanaka and I am sure others in the season so Happy Holidays is not inaccurate and does cover a wide range of celebrations. Either would be fine with me. Its not like you are knocking on my door selling your beliefs.

I spend way too much money with a photography, well at this point they are a technology, store in NYC. My local guy's company went out of business years ago. The NYC company is owned by Jews, I assume Orthodox, since they close for business on Friday as well as other Jewish holidays. Should they not close for business on their holidays because it might offend some other person's religion or lack of religion?

I don't think so. It does not offend me in the least. I just have to work around their schedule a bit. Not a big deal.

I do wish my local guy was still in business though. He gave EXCELLENT service.

Later,
Dan

 

[kthompson]

I think Sigarms said it well. As to the business, I own a business and it is Merry Christmas. Let me wish a Merry Christmas to a person I am buying from to get a dull Happy Holidays back is the best way to loose my business. Have no problem with them as Sigarms said some other reply. It has lead to some good friendly short conversations if from the heart. If you really have a problem with Merry Christmas or Happy Hanuka then have a card printed for your business that says something along the line: in reviewing this past year we wish to express our thanks to you for your business.

Never forget the reason for the season. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year and may 2010 be a blessed year for this great country and each of you.