I approve of the e-mail greetings and a newsletter, it's the distribution list which was tacky, tacky, tacky. Get thee to a nunnery dearie and ask forgiveness of those you offended. Even though I approve of newsletters, neither a business nor an individual should dare submit one without personalizing each and every one of them. If you don't have the time, then consider don't doing it. You risk insulting people and you hurt your standing with them.
Nothing says tacky like a mass mailing, whether it be from an individual or a business.
However, it had the reverse effect on the recipients of these mass-produced greetings. A holiday greeting is your annual opportunity to say hello, in a personal way, to people you know and care about. Although we've turned the season into a whirl of activities, don't forget to set aside time to do what really counts. The bottom line is that you shouldn't skimp on the personal touch during the holidays. Anyone who has e-mail knows how easy it is to use.