This just in from the Texas Motor Speedway…

While taking a practice run this morning in preparation for tonight’s qualifying race, CardsDirect car #411 hit the wall, taking a nasty tumble. Word from the track is that a greeting card competitor may have been responsible for the mishap which is still under investigation.

Driver, Sam Steady, was uninjured but the car is not in good shape. In fact, according to the pit crew, it cannot be repaired in time for qualifying. And so, unfortunately, CardsDirect’s Nascar run has ended before it’s even really begun!

The experience has, however, put CardsDirect out in front of the personalized greeting cards race and sparked some creative discussions opening up a new line of cards perfect for fast paced corporations interested in powering up their businesses. New card designs will include, “Rev up Sales by Sending Customer Appreciation Cards” and “Lead the Pack by Remembering Loyal Clients with Corporate Birthday Cards”. Still others include, “Drive Sales with Business Referral Cards” and the unfortunately popular, “Sorry I Passed you on the Last Lap Sympathy Cards”.

Hopefully with Thank You Cards for the pit crew and some repair and recycling, #411 will be back in the race by April Fool’s Day next year!

We at CardsDirect are pleased to announce our entry into Nascar’s Samsung 500 this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Yes, although plans have been in the works for months, we have just now added the paint to our car and selected our driver. He is none other than one of Grand Prix’s best, Sam Steady. Know as “Mr. Speed” in the racing community, Sam was quite excited to be named CardsDirect’s driver of choice and looks forward to leading the pack at Sunday’s race.

At CardsDirect we believe that the race for business is key in today’s challenging economic times and personalized greeting cards sent to commemorate big events like birthdays or anniversaries or just to say thank you for your purchase are key to maintaining and growing your business. To enhance this mission we feel the buzz surrounding Nascar is the perfect vehicle for carrying our message forward and leading the pack in the greeting card industry.

Buckle up for a fast passed run for the checkered flag when CardsDirect and Mr. Speed take on the pack this weekend. Cards and Cars, a great winning combination!

The office birthday party is a great opportunity to gather, converse, and build moral. Sure, the lucky birthday boy or girl may insist they don’t want the attention but we know better. Who doesn’t like to have cake in their honor? And pulling co-workers away from their desks for a mid-afternoon break is a great treat.

Need an alternative to the sheet cake from Sam’s to commemorate the event? Try this newly popular treat, Cake Balls! Easier to eat than cut up squares of layer cake and fun because you don’t have to pick between chocolate or white, cake balls come in all sorts of flavors and colors and are a mouthful of heaven. You won’t even need to invest in paper plates and plastic forks and clean up is a snap.

You can even make them yourself if you like to do that sort of thing. I did and I’m certainly no baker! They were fun to decorate and can even be made the weekend before. Or, if you have the funds, order them online.

Put out a tray full of delicious bite size cake balls and a fun birthday card signed by all and let the party begin!

How does your company celebrate office birthdays?

As we did last year, CardsDirect is now accepting your unused greeting cards. We sort and send those that can be reused to non-profit organizations that can make use of them. This is a great way to de-clutter your surroundings as well as do something nice that will benefit others and the environment.

We can accept printed and unprinted cards as many charities will take the front of the cards and paste them on blanks or use them for craft projects. Christmas and holiday cards, unused birthday cards and sympathy cards; all are welcome. For those cards that are not in the best of shape or suitable for reuse we will deliver them to an approved recycling center.

If interested, send all your unwanted greeting cards, with or without envelopes, to:

CardsDirect Recycling and Reuse Program
200 Chisholm Place, Suite 220
Plano, TX 75075

Click here for more information on the CardsDirect Recycled and Reuse Program.

And, if you are or know of deserving non-profit organizations that may be interested in these donated cards, let us know.

I have a nephew who was born on January 5. Unfortunately, his birthday is nearly overlooked each year as it comes just after the big holiday hoopla season. When he was young my sister would celebrate with a party for friends and family on June 5 just so he would get some special attention. He, of course, never knew it wasn’t the real day of his birth but that didn’t last long.

My mother was born on the fourth of July. Until she was around 6 she thought all the parades and fireworks were in celebration of her birth. I doubt my grandparents did much to correct her misperception.

I would love to hear from any of you out there who know of someone born on or close to a holiday and how you help them celebrate and feel special.

Speaking of which, CardsDirect has an entire line of wonderful Birthday Party Invitations you just have to see.