The final jobs of the year are being ticked off, and there is one small task still waiting: finding the right words for your business Christmas cards.
You want to thank the people who have supported your organisation without sending everyone the same impersonal line. The answer is usually a clear, sincere message that reflects the relationship you already have.
Start with what you appreciate about the recipient. Add your good wishes, sign it from someone they know, and leave enough room for the words to breathe.
Decide who you are writing to before choosing the wording
A client who has worked with you for ten years deserves a different message from someone who placed their first order last month. A supplier may value a thank-you for their reliability; a project partner may appreciate a reference to something you achieved together.
Try finishing this sentence before writing the card: “I would like to thank this person for…” If the answer is specific, you already have the most useful part of your message.
- Clients: acknowledge their trust, loyalty or decision to work with you.
- Business partners: recognise the work you have done together.
- Suppliers and service providers: thank them for the care or support they bring to your organisation.
- New contacts: keep the message warm without implying a long shared history.
Use the tone you would use in a normal conversation with that person. A company that is usually friendly and direct does not need to sound like a formal letter for one week in December.
A simple message you can make your own
Most cards need only a greeting, a thank-you and a wish for the year ahead. For example:
Dear [Name],
Thank you for your trust and support this year. It has been a pleasure working with you.
Wishing you a very happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year.
With best wishes,
[Name] and the team at [Company]
The personal detail matters more than adding another paragraph. If you can, replace the middle sentence with something that belongs to that relationship: a first commission, a useful conversation or a project you enjoyed working on together.
Christmas messages for different business relationships
Use these examples as starting points. Choose the one that sounds closest to you, then adjust the wording before sending it.
For a valued client
Thank you for choosing to work with us this year. We are grateful for your trust and look forward to keeping in touch. Wishing you and those close to you a lovely Christmas and a happy New Year.
For a client you have known for years
Another year of working together, and another opportunity to say thank you. We greatly value your continued support. With our warmest wishes for Christmas and the year ahead.
For a new client
We have really enjoyed getting to know you this year. Thank you for putting your trust in us. Wishing you a happy Christmas and a positive start to the New Year.
For a project partner
Thank you for the ideas, care and hard work you brought to [project]. It has been a pleasure working alongside your team. We wish you a restful Christmas and look forward to our next project together.
For a supplier or service provider
Before the year ends, we wanted to thank you for your reliable support. We appreciate everything you do to help keep things running smoothly. Happy Christmas to you and your team, with best wishes for the New Year.
For a friendly, informal relationship
Thanks for all your help this year. It has been lovely working with you. Have a wonderful Christmas, enjoy the festivities, and we look forward to catching up in the New Year.
For a more formal business contact
With our thanks for your continued confidence in [Company], we send our best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. We look forward to continuing our work together.
When you want to acknowledge a difficult year
Thank you for your patience and support throughout the year. We have appreciated working with you through its challenges. Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and good things for the year ahead.
Only use this wording where it fits what the recipient has experienced. A cheerful claim about a “fantastic year” can feel misplaced when you know things have been difficult.
Short messages for a small card
A few considered words can be enough, especially when the design already carries the greeting.
- Thank you for your continued support. Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.
- With thanks for a year of working together, and warm wishes for Christmas.
- Wishing you a lovely Christmas and a happy New Year. It has been a pleasure working with you.
- Thank you for your trust, your ideas and your time. With our best wishes for the festive season.
There is no need to repeat a large “Happy Christmas” on the front in every sentence inside. Let the inside message add the thank-you or personal detail.
When a seasonal message is a better fit
Your clients and partners may have different beliefs and traditions. If you do not know whether a Christmas greeting is appropriate, a message about the end of the year can express the same appreciation.
As the year draws to a close, thank you for your support and the work we have shared. Wishing you a peaceful festive season and all the best for the year ahead.
For an international contact, plain English is often easier to understand than a joke or an idiom. Check names, titles and the recipient's preferred language, and avoid assuming that everyone will be taking time off.
Personalise one line, then choose the right signature
You can use a common printed message for a larger mailing and still add a handwritten sentence to selected cards. For example:
Alex, thank you especially for your help with the studio move in May. Your calm approach made a real difference. With best wishes, Jo.
This works because it refers to a particular person and event. A carefully chosen line says more than adding their name to a message that could be sent to anyone.
The signature should make sense too. If the client deals mainly with their account manager, a message from that person may feel more familiar than a signature from a director they have never met. A team signature is a useful option when several people share the relationship.
Card, email or both?
A printed card gives you space for a personal signature or note. An email may be more convenient for a contact whose postal address you do not have, or for a widely distributed group. You can choose different approaches for different recipients.
If you send an email, give the subject line the same attention as the message. “Thank you from everyone at [Company]” is clear and modest. Keep a seasonal thank-you separate from a sales offer so the purpose of the message stays clear.
For a printed design, allow space around the wording. Check the text at the actual card size: comfortable type and a few short paragraphs will be easier to read than a small block squeezed into the corner. Consider how a handwritten addition will fit before filling the whole inside panel.
A final check before sending
- Is the name, job title and company name correct?
- Does the thank-you reflect your actual relationship?
- Does the message sound like your organisation?
- Are references to this year and the New Year correct?
- Is the greeting appropriate for the recipient?
- Have you left room for a signature and checked the final printed size?
When you are ready to put the message on paper, explore Greeting Cards for a folded format or Postcards for a shorter greeting. Start with words you would be happy to say in person, and let the design support them.