Posted on: January 4, 2019
By Nancy Marshall, The PR Maven®
I believe in handwritten thank you notes. Emails are okay for the little things, but when a big thanks is in order a personal note sent the old fashioned way — through the mail — is much more memorable and appropriate.
I learned about the power of a thank you note from Warren Cook, who served as president of Maine’s Sugarloaf ski resort starting in 1986 and later became general manager of Maine’s Saddleback ski resort. He has always had flat cards printed with his name or his company’s name on them along with matching envelopes.
Warren has always made it a practice to write several notes of gratitude a day. I remember receiving my first “thank you” note card from Warren back in the ’80s, and it really made an impact on me. I received many more over the years and saved each one in my desk drawer. I’d take them out and give them a quick read whenever I needed a little boost in my day.
For many years now, I have made it a practice to have my own Marshall Communications note cards at the ready. I use them to thank people for gifts, for special efforts at work, for inviting me for dinner, or for any other act of kindness or generosity.
It’s important to give thanks every day to people who do special things for you — don’t wait for holidays or special occasions. When you write a thank you, the recipient will remember you, the note you wrote especially for them, and the time and effort you took to recognize them. The practice of writing handwritten thank you notes is becoming a lost art, unfortunately.
