Unbox the 2025 Happy Mail Package
Who doesn’t love fun snail mail?
One thing I wanted to do when I launched The Social Question was make sure I came up with a good end of year thank you plan. Companies I worked for before did a mix of cards and pizza parties yet I had always been twitchy to do something more personalized, more Kayte, and was shy about bringing my ideas forward. That’s the beauty of being self-employed, I can easily tell myself no (in fact all those intrusive thoughts and imposter syndrome symptoms are truly real), but I can also tell myself yes. So I gave myself permission in 2022 to be a little daring, a little creative. This mailing has grown every year, with some things that stay the same/evolve. Does it look a little DIY and less corporate? Absolutely, and I feel this represents me a whole lot more as a result. Let’s dive in!
The Art
While it’s a little impractical to send my entire client and partner list a real bouquet of flowers (I love logistical planning though even I have my limits!) - I discovered the next best thing at a Market for Makers event in 2022. I absolutely adored Laura’s floral style at her booth and snagged her card and immediately asked about commissioning a custom thank you card. We settled on the brand colors from TSQ’s logo (and each year if you look closely there’s a mini TSQ hidden in the design!). I deliberately wanted something that was holiday agnostic, that was fresh, and happy. So for the last four years we’ve done a new design, emphasizing different colors and sizes. This year I leaned hard into my antiquing hobby and we added a whimsy teacup to go with the blooms.
The Frame
This item really brings to life my attention to details for a little #HumbleBrag. I knew if I was going to send an art print I wanted people to actually display it. And what’s worse then having to go buy a new frame or swap out your own photo, or worse - just not do it. I wanted to eliminate that step in the process and send a way to display the print in the package. Each year it’s been different. From a hanging frame, to tabletop versions, and this year we did a mini square print and matching easel. While everyone gets the art print, the display piece is reserved specifically for client work and influencer partners. They have all been a basic, unfinished wood variety. I think I will have to change that up in 2026 if my next shape and size come to fruition.
TSQ Branded Promos
It’s no secret I love a good to-do list! The 1st notepad I sent included actual bullet bubbles and lines. Next came a sticky notepad and to be transparent, I somehow double ordered in 2023 so these sticky notes have been in for awhile. Will definitely be switching up the design to something fresh now that I have officially run out of supples! Not pictured is also a coordinated floral bookmark that matches the art print as a nod to my obsessions with reading. In my newsletter I’ve been documenting my journey to reading 125 books combined with a daily reading challenge, both of which I met and exceeded.
The Pin
(Just realized the pin card is upside down in this photo 🤦🏼♀️)
Earlier this year we went on a family vacation to Disney World with my older nephews. While there we got in on the pin game (and by we I mean my little sister and I, the boys didn’t seem overly eager to collect but I love a good souvenir!) I contemplating making my own pins this year, though with all of the tariff shenanigans I made a judgement call early in the year. There were about a dozen different daisy pins mixed in. Why daisies? Well besides the fact they obviously fit the floral theme, daisies also represent…(straight from the Google!):
New Beginnings & Growth: Perfect for new projects, new employees, or company anniversaries, symbolizing fresh starts and potential.
Purity & Simplicity: Their classic look suggests transparency, honesty, and a straightforward approach, fitting for ethical businesses.
Joy & Positivity: Bright daisies uplift any space, symbolizing happiness, cheerfulness, and a positive outlook, ideal for corporate gifts.
Loyalty & Friendship: Especially yellow daisies, they signify strong, reliable relationships, good for client appreciation or team building.
Resilience: Though delicate, daisies are tough and bloom in diverse conditions, symbolizing inner strength and endurance in business.
Honestly all of these symbols felt appropriate in one way or the other and I wanted to pass along the good vibes as well as add in a nod to a personal experience I had this year.
The Tea & Tea Spoon (and Lip Balm)
One thing I did sorta kinda by accident with my first mailing was include individually wrapped mints and the feedback was really strong and powerful about having a scented box. I thought it was simply a nod to the holiday season though I underestimated the power of smell and connection. Then I did pink starbursts because quite frankly they are my favorite. This year I wanted to try and bring a new scent and flavor to the mix and found these floral teas that smelled amazing. If I am not drinking a sugary Starbucks concoction then I am drinking a fruity tea to warm up. The floral teaspoons were a no-brainer to fit the floral theme and tied in with the tea. Then, because of course there’s something else, I found these (mostly) fruit flavored lip balm bundles and tried coordinating paired scents with the tea flavors. I don’t think anyone has picked up on that yet!
The Whimsey
Something else I’ve been focused on heavily this year is the power of hobbies and leaning into how these “side quests” really fuel my creative side and energy in a traditional “desk/computer” type job. I found these mini coloring books from a social media ad (because of course I did!) and matching mini colored pencil sets and honestly planned this entire box and sizing around fitting these items in. Square coloring book, square print and frame, square box. The coloring books came in 5 different designs so people got all different ones. And likewise to the print + frame, why send a coloring book with no way to actual color? Didn’t want to assume people had access to crayons or colored pencils and they deserved their own set. Pictured just outside the box is a floral sticker to add to an item of your choice (computer, phone, desk - add a little more sunshine to your day). And cut off from the photo are mini mushrooms! I thought these would be adorable added to a plant or even just a little desk ornament. It was spontaneous and a last minute addition.
The Collabs
A goal of mine was to eventually begin incorporating some partner materials into the mailing and this was the first year I added not one, not two, but three different promo items! First and foremost, the Fieldwork Chicago team is literally across the street from me and those colleagues are such gems to work with. They are always down for a walk (okay not always like right now in these freezing temps!), they also let me come steal their Wifi and good lighting anytime I need. And what a perfect representation of Chicago with the deep dish pizza critter/squishy. These nestled perfectly inside the mini frame. Next, I’ve been working alongside Little Bird Marketing for a few years now on a social selling LinkedIn course so invited them to add a little funny with their magnets. Finally, a new-to-me team and client in Polybalm. We started collaborating over the summer on some social media ideas and promotions and quite literally everyone knows someone who has had or currently has cancer. Polybalm is a unique nail treatment for those going through chemotherapy. First launched in the UK, they had their US debut in 2025. This flyer was probably the most of out of left field for people because we haven’t done anything public facing yet, but we wanted to share a discount code in case anyone wanted to consider their product as a holiday gift. It’s a great product with a great cause.
The DIY
Oh the hopes and dreams I had for the DIYs in the box this year! First, I was very adamant I was going to make coordinated bookmark tassels to go with a resin bookmark. When the paper bookmarks came I did try a few resin options to encase the print (all resulted in total failures, not going to lie). They looked wet after being dipped in the resin, they dried uneven and lopsided. Wasn’t a good look. Then the tassels themselves took a hot minute to figure out the sizing and and consistency - totally easier just to buy them I realize that now. But without the more substantial resin size and weight the tassels were out of place on the mini bookmarks so skipped entirely. Then I wanted to do something custom. One year I did custom magnetic name tags, then I did friendship bracelets with names/company names or research phrases. I thought I could make some custom initial magnets since I had bought so.much.resin. The first set of letters I purchased ended up being too thick to fit the molds (could I have bough a deeper mold, probably!). The second set of letters were literally the same beads I used in the bracelets from last year and I totally lol’ed. While they did work in terms of sizing. It turns out my storage unit was too cold and the resin was drying cloudy and bubbly. These might be on the docket next year if I do them in the right temperature. So instead I tried my hand at a 3rd craft - still did magnets since I had the supplies, but made them in TSQ branded colors. Some were opaque, some were glittery. Are they perfect? Absolutely not. Were they made with warm fuzzies inside? Absolutely.
Bonus Goodies!
I had the absolutely honor of hosting loads of guest speakers in my undergraduate marketing courses. For those lovely individuals they had a bonus item or two representing ODU (from a 3rd magnet to another pin).
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Whew! Needless to say the box was packed to the brim. And to be clear not everyone gets this exact box and the full shebang. My core client and partner list was in the 60 person range. Followed by nearly-there clients and supporters. Followed by cheerleaders and friends of TSQ. The hierarchy dwindles all the way down to the art print which still came in a bright yellow envelope stamped with Happy Mail that was sure to bring a smile on.
