Business Sympathy Cards Key Terms

Familiarize yourself with business condolence cards key terms

By Sherry Grant

An appropriate supply of business sympathy and bereavement cards is beneficial for a company, so when it’s necessary to send condolences to employees, colleagues or friends, you have cards right at-hand. Condolence cards express care and thoughtfulness to the employee or person who has suffered misfortune or loss. There are distinct choices in condolence and bereavement cards. Bereavement cards can be personalized, electronic or traditional. Sympathy acknowledgment cards are also important for the employer or employee who has received cards and memorial gifts of condolence from co-workers.

Condolence, sympathy

Condolence is an expression of sympathy and compassion to an individual who has suffered loss, misfortune or grief, typically following the death of someone close to them. Sympathy is to share in the sorrowful feelings of another who is experiencing anguish or bereavement.
Try: WriteExpress presents helpful information on writing sympathy notes for circumstances such as divorce, injury in an accident or other personal losses. Journey of Hearts.org helps you to have empathy and understand what a business associate or employee who is grieving and suffering from loss may be feeling.

Sympathy etiquette

Sympathy etiquette is the proper social decorum or correct manners for expressing condolences or sympathy to another individual or group, and even more so when the expression of sympathy is from your business.
Try: Biz Greeting Cards offers sympathy card etiquette advice for businesses. There is also a link to tips for writing a sympathy card at the bottom of the page. How To Write A Sympathy Card addresses general sympathy card etiquette. Also provided are examples of sympathy cards and additional pointers on flower etiquette.

Sympathy e-cards

Sympathy e-cards are Internet cards sent by electronic mail. Online cards are chosen by browsing the cards offered on the website, typing in your personal message and sending it to the recipient. Online sympathy cards are a good choice when you cannot obtain an actual greeting card and need to send your condolences quickly.
Try: London Bytes compares the pros and cons of sending e-cards. The Funeral Directory gives sympathy card etiquette advice, including tips for online e-cards.

Personalized business sympathy cards

Personalized business sympathy cards are condolence cards that are tailored for use by a specific business. The business name and logo may be printed on the sympathy card. Personalized cards might also be personally signed by the company owner or other management official.
Try: The Free Library gives advice on the use of personalized greeting and sympathy cards for businesses. Squidoo gives the top ten reasons for sending out business greeting cards along with advice on setting up a personalized greeting card program.

Memorial gifts

Memorial gifts are bequests given to memorialize or commemorate a deceased person's life. They include, but are not limited to benches, markers, stones, statues and even birdbaths.
Try: My Deepest Sympathy answers frequently asked questions regarding sympathy gift etiquette. Classic Memorials gives suggestions for appropriate memorial and remembrance gifts.

Sympathy acknowledgments

Sympathy acknowledgments are cards or other gestures of thanks and recognition for expressions and gifts of condolence and sympathy.
Try: The Golden Rule explains the etiquette of sympathy acknowledgments. Passages and phrasings of acknowledgments and suggestions for various recipients are provided. Dempsey & Carroll give a description of sympathy acknowledgment notes and advice on how to write them.