As I have mentioned before, I write thank-you notes every day and each of my employees does the same thing.  It is just part of our daily practice of gratitude! It sets a great tone and attitude in our office and we love the change it makes in the attitudes of all those for whom we are grateful.

With all this talk about fabulous secretaries in my post from yesterday, I thought it would be great to parlay into writing the proper thank you note! There are several rules of thumb one needs to know before writing a thank-you note.  And there are so many options for the perfect paper on which to construct it! So here are a few tips that might inspire you to start writing!

1. Send your note as quickly as possible! Don’t procrastinate or you may never send it.  Good intentions are not good enough when it comes to a thank you! Thank-you notes really should be sent within a week of receiving the gift or gesture and for wedding gifts, within three months of receiving the gift. My suggestion, stick to the week-after rule for wedding gifts too, so the task won’t be so monumental after all the gifts have piled up!

2. Use beautiful stationary out of respect for the giver (plus it’s more fun for you too!). If someone took the time, energy and money to give you a wonderful gift or host you in their home, then treat them in return with special paper to show them they are equally important to you!

3. I know I am old-fashioned, but do not send your thank you via email!! And on the chance that you just cannot wait but to mention a kind gesture via email, then certainly follow it up with a proper hand-written note immediately!

4. Add a personal touch! Never give pre-written or standard thank you notes. It is likely that the gift was specially chosen for you and so the thank-you note should be specifically written for the giver and acknowlege the specific gift!

5. Be gracious! Even if the gift is not something you love, thank the person for their “thoughtful” selection! And remind them that you will think of them whenever you use it!

6. Make a habit of gratitude at any age!! It is never too early to start teaching the importance of saying thank you! My daughter is 3 and she and I sit down toghether and write thank-you notes for all of her Christmas gifts, Birthday gifts, and any other gifts she receives during the year.  I write the note and talk to her about what I am writing. We always discuss how much she loves the gift and though I sign her name, she always adds a little “personalization” to the note.  She just learned to write an E which is what her name starts with, so all her Christmas thank-you’s had several additional “E’s” on them.  Believe me, her grandparents especially love knowing that she took part in the note! 

7. Hand-address the envelope.  Using labels on the outside of the envelope defeats the personal nature of a hand-written note.  Even if your penmanship is not great, it is the thought that counts!

If you need a little help getting started, try this great little book by Kelly Browne! It tells you everything you need to know for both personal and business thank-you’s!

And my favorite option for stationary…letterpress! I guess it is that old-fashioned part of me again, but there is just something so sophisticated about letterpressed stationary.  Letterpress is a technique that is the opposite of engraving.  It is experiencing a great resurgence of late as the “hip” choice for stationary, but it has actually been around for a long time and for many years was a lost art!

Once you try letterpress you will be hooked!! The texture feels so fabulous! My favorite source for letterpress stationary is Wiley Valentine from Orange County, California.  It is a neat little company started by two friends who were inspired by their grandmothers artisitc abilities.  And not only do they make beautiful paper, they care about the environment to boot! Check out their website to get all the details. And the perk for me, my personal paperie, Molly’s Paperie, is the exclusive retailer for Wiley Valentine for the whole state of Arkansas!

So get to writing those thank-you notes! It is a new year so this would be a GREAT new resolution for you! You will be surprised at how good it makes you feel, not to mention the feelings of the receiver!