Corporate Holiday Cards in Canada: What to Write, Choose and Send

Published by Vinay Tewathia · New Era Print Solutions

December has a way of arriving before the to-do list is ready for it. Somewhere between finishing projects, arranging staff time off and closing out the year, someone remembers the holiday cards.

Then come the questions. What should we say? Does the logo go on the front? Should we choose a folded card or something simple? And will there be enough time to get everything mailed?

A good corporate holiday card starts with a clear thank-you, a design that suits your business and enough time to reach the recipient. You don’t need a long message or an elaborate design. A few thoughtful choices will do more than trying to fit everything your company stands for onto one card.

This guide will help you choose custom holiday cards, write a message that sounds like you and plan the steps between approving your artwork and sending the envelopes.

Start with the people receiving your cards

Before looking at designs, work out who’s on your list. Clients, employees and suppliers have different relationships with your business. The same greeting can work for everyone, but the thank-you should reflect what you appreciate about each group.

For clients, that might be the trust they placed in your team. For employees, it could be the care they put into their work. For a supplier, it might be the way they helped you meet a difficult deadline.

You don’t have to write every card from scratch. Create a message for each group, then add a personal line to the cards where it matters most. “We really enjoyed working on your showroom launch” says more than another paragraph about partnership.

What to write in a business holiday card

Keep your message to three parts: a thank-you, a seasonal wish and a clear sign-off. Read it aloud before approving it. If it sounds like something you would never say to the person, simplify it.

Here are a few starting points. Change the details so they fit your relationships.

For clients

For a longtime customer

For employees

For suppliers and business partners

For real estate clients

For a short, understated card

For a Christmas greeting

For a New Year card

Should a corporate card say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?

For a mixed business mailing list, “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” is a sensible choice. If you know the recipient celebrates Christmas and it fits your relationship, a Christmas greeting can feel perfectly natural.

The useful question is whether the wording suits the person receiving it. You can choose a winter design and a general seasonal message without making the card feel impersonal. The warmth comes from what you say inside.

Leave the sales pitch for another mailing. A discount code or request for a referral can pull attention away from the thank-you. Your company name and a discreet logo are usually enough branding.

Flat or folded holiday cards: which should you choose?

Choose a flat card if you want a compact greeting with a photograph, a strong design and a short message. Choose a folded card if you want more space for a note or team signatures.

A team photograph doesn’t have to be formal. A good image of the people your clients actually speak to can feel more personal than a stock holiday scene. If you prefer a graphic design, choose something that fits your usual style. A quiet botanical pattern, simple typography or a dark background with a small metallic detail can all work.

Classic printing, raised gloss or foil?

The same Midnight Snowflakes design, shown in existing NEPS finish illustrations. Your proof confirms placement; ask for physical samples to compare texture and reflected light.

Start with the artwork, then decide whether a special finish adds anything to it.

Classic full-colour printing lets the design and message do the work. It’s a good starting point for photographs, colourful illustrations and larger mailing lists.

Raised gloss adds a clear, shiny texture to selected details. It can bring out a greeting, a logo or part of a pattern without changing the printed colour underneath.

Raised foil adds metallic shine and dimension. A simple greeting or a small design feature gives it room to stand out.

Our design recommendation: give the finish a specific job. Highlight the greeting, or pick out one part of the artwork. Covering every detail can make the card feel busy. Keep areas intended for handwriting free of decorative finishing, and confirm placement in the proof.

For NEPS holiday cards, raised gloss and foil are applied to the outside of folded cards or the image side of flat cards.

When should businesses order and send holiday cards?

For a December greeting, we recommend planning for arrival in early December, before recipients leave for their holiday break. This is a planning target, not a postal delivery guarantee.

1. 1 · ProofCheck artwork and approve the layout.
2. 2 · ProductionAllow time for printing and your selected finish.
3. 3 · Receive cardsPick up in Mississauga or allow shipping time.
4. 4 · Prepare & mailAdd notes, address envelopes and allow postal delivery time.

Work backwards from the arrival date. You’ll need time for artwork, proof approval, production, delivery to you, signatures, envelope preparation and the final mailing. If cards are travelling outside Canada, allow more time and check the current postal guidance for the destination.

Before preparing envelopes, review Canada Post’s addressing guidelines. For Canadian postal codes, use uppercase letters and a space between the two groups of three characters. Confirm current delivery guidance before choosing your mailing date.

An October or early November start gives you room to choose a design and tidy up the mailing list. If you’re reading this later, ask about the available production schedule before deciding on a finish.

If December gets away from you, choose a New Year greeting deliberately. A thoughtful January thank-you makes sense on its own; there’s no need to open with an apology for being late.

What should you budget for corporate holiday cards?

Compare the total cost of sending the cards, rather than the print price alone. Your budget may include printing, finishing, envelope upgrades, addressing, postage and the staff time needed to prepare the mailing.

NEPS flat holiday cards currently start at $40 for 25, and folded cards start at $50 for 25, before tax and shipping. One matching blank white envelope is included per card. Your selected size, design, quantity and finish determine the final price.

For larger mailings, ask about envelope printing and inserting and sealing services. These are quoted separately. It’s worth working out who will handle those steps before the finished cards arrive.

Keep a few extra cards for missed contacts or last-minute additions. How many you need depends on the size of your list and how often it changes.

Check these details before approving your proof

• Names and wording: check company names, spelling and the year if one appears in the design.
• Logo quality: supply a vector logo where possible, rather than a screenshot.
• Photographs: check resolution, cropping and that no one is cut off.
• Writing space: leave room for the signatures or personal notes you plan to add.
• Finish placement: make sure the proof identifies the details receiving gloss or foil.
• Mailing list: confirm addresses separately from the artwork proof.

A digital proof helps you check the layout and text. It can’t show exactly how a raised surface feels or how foil reflects light. If the finish is an important part of your decision, ask to see a physical sample.

Find a design that fits your business

Prefer quiet botanicals, a dark winter palette or a simple festive illustration? Start with one of these NEPS designs, then add your own message and company details.

Evergreen Elegance - FT201

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Winter Botanicals - FT202

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Midnight Snowflakes - FT203

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Modern Evergreen - FT204

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Golden Evergreen Trees - FT205

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Golden Geometric Reindeer - FT206

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Make this year’s greeting feel like your business

The cards that feel most personal usually have something simple in common: the sender has thought about the person opening them. A familiar name, a relevant thank-you and a little room for a handwritten line can do a lot.

At New Era Print Solutions, you can personalize a template or supply your own artwork, with local printing in Mississauga, service for Toronto and the GTA, and shipping across Canada.

Explore NEPS holiday cards to choose your format and design. If you’re planning a larger corporate mailing or want help choosing a finish, email our team with your quantity and the date you want the cards in hand.