Article | What to Write

3 Ways to Express Sympathy and Care with Business Greeting Cards (Plus What to Write in Business Sympathy Cards)

Daryl Forkell
L doctor nurse smiling at male patient hand on shoulder
L doctor nurse smiling at male patient hand on shoulder

If you’re in the business of caring for others, you know how important it is to reach out to clients during tough times, either face-to-face or with a handwritten note. It’s never easy to express concern or sympathy, but with a trusted resource by your side, you can be reassured you’re sending business sympathy cards and greetings that are appropriate and appreciated.

Messages that express care, concern and sympathy for clients can be some of the most difficult—yet important—messages for you to write. If you’re in the business of caring for others, you know that reaching out to your clients during tough times, either face-to-face or with a handwritten note, can make a huge difference. In fact, professionals who work in hospitals, medical offices, hospice facilities, funeral homes and other places of care, say that sharing caring words with family, friends and patients is an integral part of the job.

Medical sympathy cards and hospice sympathy cards are universal ways to express sympathy, but it can be difficult to feel confident in sending just the right message. For this reason, more and more businesses are turning to Hallmark for help as they reach out and connect with the individuals and families they work with. With more than 100 years of experience helping people build relationships and share just the right messages, we’ve got you covered when it’s time to express care and concern.

Below, you will find the three top ways businesses leverage Hallmark custom sympathy cards to reach out to clients and share sincere messages during their time of loss. Heartfelt messages can also be crafted to demonstrate care and concern for those going through difficult times, which is a great way to humanize your business.

1. Hospital systems, funeral homes and hospice facilities send sympathy cards to grieving families and friends.

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Many hospitals, funeral homes and even hospice facilities stock up on bulk sympathy cards so they will be prepared to send caring greetings at a moment’s notice. Sending a meaningful greeting card with a custom message is a simple yet impactful way to share a caring moment with clients and their families during a sad and stressful time. A sympathy message from your company shows your human side, and you’ll stand out as a business that truly cares about its clients as individuals.

As a business, it’s important to remember to touch base with clients regularly during difficult times. When a patient has passed, or after a funeral, you should continue to connect with the family. By reaching out to express sympathy with a genuine greeting within a couple days after their loss, you’re letting them know that you care about their circumstances and are keeping them in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time.

The steps you take now to comfort family and loved ones will be remembered for a long time, and your company will be known for the care and love it puts into the world.

$1.88 | As low as $1.15
$1.88 | As low as $1.15

What do you write in a business greeting card to express sympathy?

Here are some ideas for meaningful messages that clients and families will love. Send professional, yet comforting, greetings that will make an impact:

  • “Wishing you comfort, peace and hope in this time of sadness.” 

  • “All of us at [business name] are thinking of you and wishing you comfort.” 

  • “Just a note to let you know you’re thought of with sincere sympathy in this difficult time.” 

  • “Honoring your sadness, celebrating a life well-lived and wishing you warm memories and peace.” 

  • “We know it hasn’t been an easy road. Just a note to express our sympathy at this tough time.” 

  • “What you’ve gone through hasn’t been easy. But we’ve seen your strength day in and day out. We’re here for you now—and always.” 

  • “With deepest sympathy to you and your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you now and always.”

  • “[Deceased name] brought much joy to us—even in [his/her] final hours. We cannot express our deepest sympathies enough. You and your family are in our prayers.”

  • “To you and your entire family, we wish you peace, comfort and love during this difficult time.”

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While you can always add your logo to custom greeting cards, we recommend you leave it off when sending a sympathy greeting card. That way the focus remains on your caring message rather than on branding.

2. Hospitals and medical offices send care and concern cards to patients. 

When people are ill or hospitalized, they may receive several greeting cards and caring messages from friends and family members, but when they receive a special message from a business, it really stands out. When you reach out to clients and their families, be sure to focus on positive messages that are geared toward brighter days and healthier tomorrows. Especially when going through a hard time, people need to hear supportive messages that let them know someone is in their corner and cheering them on.

Clients who receive warm sympathy cards from your business, as well as thinking of you cards, will feel remembered and cared about during their time of need. Plus, when they are back on an even keel again, they are more likely to remember you as a caring and empathetic provider, and they will want to do business with you in the future.

Another good time to reach out to clients is when they are struggling with health issues. A care and concern greeting with a simple message of “you’ve got this,” “hang in there” or “thinking of you” can go a long way toward showing the humanity and caring nature of your business.

3. All businesses send employee appreciation cards to recognize staff's hard work. 

There’s something special about the professionals who work in hospitals, hospice facilities, dentist offices, medical offices, schools and other highly empathetic careers. From day one, they are asked to open their hearts and experience love and loss right alongside the families who have loved ones admitted with life-threatening illnesses. They experience happiness and heartbreak on a daily basis, and their employers know they need encouragement to continue to do their best work.

Many jobs require employees to be giving and self-sacrificing—and this can take a toll.For a business, one of the ways to express sympathy and caring is by reaching out to its own employees. Employee appreciation cards are a great way to let employees know you care and that you see their sacrifice every day. In fact, a message of appreciation can increase employees’ confidence and productivity, adding even more quality caregiving to your company.

After an emotionally draining day, an uplifting greeting card can be just the pick-me-up members of your staff need. It’s a small gesture on your part, and it can make a big impact when it is received.

Hallmark is the best at sending just the right message, so you’ll never have to worry about what to say when you have a collection of our care and concern cards on hand. From professional greetings for employees and co-workers to meaningful messages for patients and their families, you will always have the right card on hand. We recommend purchasing a care and concern assortment pack so you’re always prepared with the right message in the right moment.

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PRO TIP: We also create cards especially for nurses! So, whether it’s Nurses Appreciation Day or a just-because day, we’ve got you covered.

Not sure what to write in an employee appreciation card? Read through our ideas: 5 Tips for Writing Employee Recognition Messages

Whether you need to convey the deepest sympathy message to console a grieving family, thank an employee for the care they put into the world or to tell a patient to keep their chin up, you can count on Hallmark to help you and your business deliver the right greeting cards and messages to show you care. Go ahead, give it a try and see just how much your business will stand out!