Christmas Cards

Is it just us, or has there been a dramatic decline in the overall quality of Christmas greetings this year?  An intense piece of internal research monitoring all Xmas messages/cards received by LOVE has generated the following dramatic results;

46% - "we've donated the cost of sending cards to charity, so here's a really cheap and boring Merry Christmas message by email"
40% - "here's our pretty basic "off the shelf" digital Xmas card (cos we're in the digital age don't you know) with a pretty crap looking bit of snow animation and some irritating music overlaid that is impossible to switch off"
9% - really nicely produced pieces of digital work, either a santa game (e.g glue london) or a beautiful/thoughtful piece of film.
4% - your good old Xmas card with lots of scribbled signatures inside because the sender has only set aside 5 minutes to sign 900 cards.
1% - painstakingly produced 'concept mailers' - like the entertaining Balti Nights piece we've received from W+K London.

The annual 'send out a Christmas message to clients/colleagues' can be a bit of a ball-ache if it is seen as a painful necessity rather than an opportunity to make people smile, but it's Christmas and we think that everyone should put a bit more effort in - especially those who use the charity excuse cos they've left it too late to do something memorable.

Whilst we're on the subject, we think everyone should send out more tasty edible stuff.  We're running perilously short of chocolates and we've only been saved by the immense generosity of the lovely Yorkshire Tea who have just sent us a massive box of cakes.

Anyone received anything else of note - either because it is really great or really rubbish?

Posted by Jonathan Rigby

Comments

[Rob Mortimer]

I hope those charities get some money, because all of the charity driven digital emails I have had are awful boring things that look like they have had no effort at all put into them.

Google sent us an lcd picture frame, which was really nice; though it did highlight just how much money they take from us every year if they can afford to do that...

If I continue to praise yorkshire tea do you think they might send me some? I can be a good test consumer for them, after all im the only person I know who has ever bought those wonderful biscuits. (that everyone else ate)

[Jonathan Rigby]

it'll definitely work. they sent us a load of mince pies and fat rascals yesterday. if you haven't had a fat rascal you haven't lived, by the way. we'll raid the biscuit barrel for you the next time we're over there.

[Rob Mortimer]

Sounds good to me.
I (actually) got asked why Tetley wasnt good enough when I bought some Yorkshire Tea yesterday.
I figure I'll wait for them to taste it and theyll understand!

It would be great if some of the Love crew could make the next Nothern Planning Summit (not sure if youve heard about them). They are usually in Sheffield and Leeds but we might be having a Manchester one. More intelligent people WITH Yorkshire cakes and biscuits would add icing to an already nice cake.

[Jonathan Rigby]

we'd be delighted to come along. tell us when the next one is.

[Rob Mortimer]

The next one should be (barring cancellations) on Thursday 18th January in Leeds. The exact time and location isnt final yet, but probably 7ish in the city centre.

I will try to arrange the next one for Manchester if no one from Love can make it.

[Simon]

I live over in Leeds anyway Rob, so Love will be represented by at least one. Will get some of the head honchos to write some stuff down for me so I've got something useful to contribute...

[Rob Mortimer]

Excellent, i'll let you know when we have decided a venue for sure. If you want to email me i'll add you into our email loop!

[hawaii helicopters]

My heart would melt if i received something like this. Beautifully done.