CBC Radio News interviews Pamit Inc.

CBC Radio News interviews Pamit Inc. listen to the podcast online

http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningcb/2010/12/dreaming-of-a-write-christmas.html

Tips to write your own greetings:

Not everyone is creatively inclined and may need some help when it comes to writing a greeting card, but don't let that discourage you from writing your own card. The few moments it takes to write your own message will make all the difference to the recipient. No matter who you are writing for.. your Mom, a brother, a teacher, a priest, distant friend, business partners, customers, coworker or your boss.. a personal message written by you will send a direct message that you really care.

To make things easier, here are a few tips to get you started….

1) Think of why you are sending the card and focus on communicating that message. For example a Christmas card should focus on wishing good cheer and many blessings.

2) Remember that greeting cards are a way to communicate, so use it to update family and friends about your own family or something new in your life. A photo upload card is the perfect way to show off a new baby, pet, house, car ect,, but keep your text short and to the point and always include something about the recipient as well, otherwise you make come off as only wanting to show off your own achievements.

3)Write something with power or influence by using a quote or a poem, but make sure to include the author and reference where you found it. Or you can make up you own poem, start with one line or message you want to say than let the ideas flow from that, often a rhyme can help bring ideas together and be cute and funny at the same time, for example,

I hope this Christmas finds you well
From what I hear your doing swell
I know Santa's list tells no lies
I hope I'm not in for a big surprise!

4) Sometimes people can't think of what to write when they are writing to a piece of paper, instead try pretending you are talking to the recipient and say what you would say in conversation, talk out loud, then translate this to paper.

5) Listen to Christmas music while you write your Christmas cards to help get you in the mood.

6) Think of something you know about the person you are sending the card to and use that as a base to stem from. This shows that you really thought about your message. You could use an inside joke that only you and the receiver would understand to make the card more intimate.

7) Often cards are used to thank someone, so mention something that the recipient has done for you whether it be a physical gesture or an emotion and tell them how much you appreciate it. For example, to a loved one you could write, "you make me proud everyday and I am so thankful and happy to share this life with you"

8) For those who are close to you, a card is a way to open up and share your warmest thoughts and emotions. Just say how you feel.

9) Mention a shared moment, something you have done in the past like an event, a trip, or a party. This shows that you value this person in your life.

10) Always be genuine and sincere, your message should reflect that you are thinking of them.

11) Mention something you hope to do in the new year and ask about what the recipient hopes to do.

12) Mention hobbies, personal interests, and achievements, all these show that you are genuinely interested in the recipients life.

13)You can include an email or phone number and suggest you keep in touch.

14) If you are still having trouble, there are always free greetings online for every occasion, the following are some of the best:

greetingcardmessages.com

bestcardmessages.com

poemsource.com

verses4cards.co.uk/

giftcardmessages.com

A Brief History of the Greeting Card

The oldest known greeting card to exist is a Valentines Card made in the 1400's and is on display at the British Museum in London England. It is believed that the origins of the greeting card began with the Chinese who sent good will tidings for New Years and with the ancient Egyptians who wrote greetings on papyrus scroll.

The traditional greeting card originated in England over 150 years ago. In 1843, Sir Henry Cole employed John Calcott Horsley to paint a greeting card that depicted the helping of the poor. The card featured a family celebrating Christmas festivities and sipping wine, the text wrote "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you" At the time, the card was criticized for its immoral picture of children drinking wine but the custom of sending greeting cards began anyway. Christmas and Valentines cards were the most popular. Greeting cards were often elaborate with all types of accents such as silk, satin and fringe. They were even cards that folded like maps and resembled a jig-saw puzzle while others made noises or had pop-up images.

In 1840, the postage stamp was introduced and is what really helped make greeting cards popular and more accessible. No longer were greeting cards only for the rich and elite. Now greeting cards could be made more affordable and it grew to become a way of personal communication. Also with the advance of printing machines in 1860, new companies like Marcus Ward & Co. began mass producing greeting cards. In 1930, new developments in lithography continued to expand the greeting card industry. By the 1950's, humorous cards became more popular called "studio cards" and it consisted of a long card with a short punch line.

Greeting Cards came to Canada in the 1870's often depicting winter activity and sport scenes, and until 1918, most cards came from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Today, Pamit Cards is helping to keep the tradition of sending greeting cards alive with a personalized service allowing people to conveniently purchase and send paper greeting cards from the comfort of their own home.