Sending business holiday cards to clients, suppliers, and colleagues is one of those things that feels simple until you’re the one managing it for 300 people. Suddenly you’re thinking about logo files, mailing addresses, design approvals, and whether there’s any chance cards will arrive before New Year’s.
This guide walks through everything a business needs to order holiday cards at scale: how pricing works by volume, how to handle addressing and mailing, and tips for planning your holiday card order.
How Volume Pricing Works
Holiday card pricing follows the same logic as most print products: the more you order, the lower the cost per card. The example below uses a standard flat holiday card to show how pricing can change at higher quantities.
Pricing shown is an example based on a standard flat holiday card. Actual pricing varies by card design, paper type, trim, quantity, and available promotions. Cards with foil accents, premium cardstock, specialty trims, or folded formats may have a higher per-card price.
| Order Size | Example Card Price* |
|---|---|
| 50 Recipients | ~$2.26/card |
| 250 Recipients | ~$1.44/card |
| 500+ Recipients | ~$1.19/card |
*Example pricing based on a standard flat holiday card.
Mail For Me is worth calling out specifically for businesses sending holiday cards at scale. With Mail For Me, Shutterfly prints recipient addresses, stuffs and stamps envelopes, and places eligible holiday cards in the mail for you. Mail For Me is available only with plain white envelopes. Companies can upload a recipient list, approve the final design, and let Shutterfly handle the mailing process. Mail For Me is available for an additional per-envelope fee and includes domestic postage.
Businesses that prefer to mail cards themselves can also add recipient address printing or return address printing to eligible envelopes for an additional fee. Address printing is available for $0.42 per envelope, while Mail For Me is available for $1.49 per envelope with domestic postage included.
The Production Timeline (Work Backward from December)
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is waiting until the holiday season is already underway to start planning. Corporate holiday card orders often involve internal approvals, multiple stakeholders, recipient list management, and design reviews, all of which can take longer than expected.
Suggested Timeline
| When | What to Do |
|---|---|
| September | Explore holiday card designs, estimate quantities, and align on messaging. |
| October | Finalize artwork, branding, signatures, and recipient lists. |
| November | Place your order and prepare cards for mailing. |
| Early December | Mail cards to help ensure they arrive during the holiday season. |
Businesses using Mail For Me can upload recipient addresses and have Shutterfly address and mail eligible cards directly to recipients. This can help reduce the time spent preparing large mailing lists and handling envelopes manually.
If you’re ordering later in the season, check the current production and shipping estimates shown during checkout. Delivery timing can vary based on card style, quantity, personalization options, and shipping method.
Handling Addresses and Mailing Logistics
One of the most time-consuming parts of a corporate holiday card order is managing recipient addresses. Whether you’re sending cards to clients, partners, employees, or vendors, it’s worth deciding early how you’ll handle addressing and mailing.
If you’re mailing cards yourself:
- Organize your recipient list and confirm addresses before placing your order.
- Add recipient address printing to save time and avoid manually addressing envelopes.
- Add return address printing for a more polished, professional presentation.
- Set aside time for assembling, stamping, and mailing cards once they arrive.
If you’re using Mail For Me:
- Upload recipient addresses directly through Shutterfly.
- Shutterfly prints recipient addresses, stuffs and stamps envelopes, and mails eligible cards on your behalf.
- Domestic Mail For Me service is available for $1.49 per envelope, including postage. International Mail For Me service is available for $1.99 per envelope, including postage.
Businesses that want to save time without handing off the entire mailing process can choose address printing instead. Recipient address printing and return address printing are available for an additional $0.42 per envelope, allowing teams to receive fully addressed envelopes while still handling mailing in-house.
Before placing your order, decide whether you’d like to include a company return address. For most businesses, a printed return address helps create a more professional appearance and makes mail easier to manage if any pieces are returned.
Corporate Holiday Card Checklist
Before you place your order, run through these items. A quick review now can help keep your holiday card project moving smoothly.
- Logo file ready. Upload a high-resolution JPG, JPEG, PNG, BMP, HEIC, or HEIF file. HEIC and HEIF files are supported through the website, mobile web, and iOS app, where they’re converted to JPG during upload.
- Brand colors selected. Choose from Shutterfly’s available color options for your design and make sure they align with your brand guidelines.
- Recipient list complete. Review your mailing list and update any addresses before placing your order.
- Design approved internally. Gather feedback and final approval before submitting your card for production.
- Quantity confirmed. Consider ordering a few extra cards for new clients, employees, or last-minute additions.
- Return address decided. Choose whether you’d like to use a company address, department address, or individual sender information.
- Mailing method chosen. Decide whether you’ll mail the cards yourself or use Mail For Me to have Shutterfly address, stamp, and mail them for you.
If you’d like to reorder the same holiday card design next year, your project is saved in your Shutterfly account. You can return to it anytime, make updates if needed, and place a new order without starting from scratch.
Need Help Writing Your Business Holiday Card Message?
Once you’ve chosen a card design, it’s time to decide what to say. From professional season’s greetings to messages of gratitude for clients and employees, the right wording can help your card feel personal and memorable.
For message inspiration, visit our Business Holiday Card Messages and Wording Ideas guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order holiday cards in bulk from Shutterfly?
Yes. Shutterfly offers business holiday cards in a range of quantities, making it easy to order cards for clients, customers, employees, and business partners. You can choose your card design, personalize it with your company information, and order the quantity that works best for your business.
Does Shutterfly offer volume discounts on holiday cards?
Shutterfly offers volume pricing on many holiday card orders. Pricing may vary based on card style, quantity, and available promotions, so check the product page or your cart for current pricing details.
Can I add my company logo to holiday cards?
Yes. Many business holiday card designs can be personalized with your company logo, business name, and custom message. Upload your logo during the personalization process to create a card that reflects your brand.
How do I manage a large holiday card mailing list?
If you’re sending cards to a large group, start by reviewing and updating your recipient list before placing your order. For added convenience, you can use Mail For Me to have Shutterfly address, stamp, and mail your holiday cards for you.
How far in advance should a business order holiday cards?
It’s a good idea to order business holiday cards early in the season, especially if you’re sending a large mailing. Ordering ahead gives you time to personalize your design, review your recipient list, and schedule delivery before the holiday rush.
Can I send business holiday cards directly to recipients?
Yes. With Mail For Me, Shutterfly can print recipient addresses, stuff and stamp envelopes, and place eligible holiday cards in the mail for you. Mail For Me is available on plain white envelopes.
Can I reorder the same business holiday card design next year?
Projects are saved to your Shutterfly account, making it easy to revisit previous designs, update details, and place a new order when you’re ready.
Additional Resources:
- Business Holiday Card FAQs
- Easily Make Custom Christmas Cards
- What to Write in a Holiday Card
- What to Write in a Christmas Card
- Christmas Card Sayings & Wishes
- How to Sign a Christmas Card
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