The Stationers Guild

Most bridal couples just simply don’t have either time or the experience to sort through the countless personalization alternatives available for wedding invitations. Regardless of whether you plan to create and print your own invitation, buy wedding invitations over the internet or make use of the guidance of an informed stationer in your neighborhood, these helpful tips and hints may be of benefit is selecting a great invitation

Five Wedding Invitation Suggestions

1. Selecting the right paper that looks and feels “right”for you is the most important consideration. The substance and quality of the invitation speaks to the the importance of the event. Good quality wedding paper is, in my estimation, a necessity for a well-made wedding invitation.
2. If you have decided to design and print your own wedding invitation, make certain that you’ve matching envelopes for the paper size and style that you have selected. Also, if you’re going to print your own invitations, #96 paper is about the thickest that will fit through an inkjet printer without jamming.
3. We recommend using white or ecru paper rather than brightly colored papers and merely print in strong ink colors or use patterned envelope liners to fit your wedding color concept.  Dark colored papers are difficult to print on and retain color consistency.
4. Purchase enough wedding invitations.We recommend buying at least 25 more invitations than you need in case someone was unintentionally left off your list or you’ve got last minute guests. A second printing of your invitation is very costly.
5. It’s to weigh you wedding invitation and enclosures at the Post Office. There is  nothing more agonizing than having your invitation returned because you didn’t have sufficient postage.

For more practical information, please download our FREE Wedding Invitation Guide by becoming a Fan of Therese Saint Clair.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

William Arthur, one of the foremost creative designers of fine stationery and customized invitations and announcements, is now holding its yearly Christmas greeting card and Holiday photo card sale. Until the end of September, take 10% off William Arthur’s 2011 personalized Christmas greeting cards and personalized photo cards.  Free ground shipping if you order before August 15th.

William Arthur, renowned for their well-designed line of photo-mount greeting cards, has gone to digital printing this year. Now, consumers have the option of either digitally producing their photograph directly onto William Arthur’s formal card stock or mounting their pictures right on the holiday greeting card utilizing adhesive tape. Actually, some designs give the buyer the choice of both printing options with the same desirable style.

Though digital printing of Christmas cards has fast become quite popular as a result of its flexibility, comfort and cost, the traditional technique of adhering photographs on beautifully-crafted card stock still is of interest to many purists. In fact, professionally printed photos tend to have far more contrast and pure color quality than pictures that are digitally imprinted.

Whatever method you end up picking to do, William Arthur’s stunning fresh designs and high-quality printing will definitely help make your Christmas family pictures stand out. William Arthur now gives its dedicated consumers with the option of ordering their greeting cards or Christmas photo cards on line or at approved William Arthur retailers. Visit the Stationers Guild website and get a hold of a skilled stationer in your area. When shopping for high-quality stationery and custom Christmas cards, it is often most effective to examine paper and design and style possibilities in person.

Act now well before September 30 and save yourself 10% on William Arthur’s holiday greeting cards and holiday photo cards.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

Need some helpful hints in planning your Fall wedding, visit the Stationers Guild Wedding Timeline and determine what needs to be done when.   Also, please download our FREE Wedding Invitation Guide which contains much practical advice on designing your wedding invitations.

We have been commonly asked if it is advisable to acquire wedding invitations on-line or from the stationery retail store. This is a tough question to answer as the reply frequently is dependent on on the objectives and prerequisites of the customer. Bridal couples frequently have completely different aspirations and, consequently, it is extremely not easy to give an opinion.

Buying wedding invitations online may seem like an simple and easy undertaking because there are many websites that claim to offer you completely unique, or eco-friendly, or inexpensive wedding invitations. In most cases, these assertions are deceptive and frequently not true. More importantly, internet image quality is poor and it is most challenging to see “true” ink colors, printing  styles and paper texture and consistency.

A well established stationery shop in your neighborhood commonly represents twenty wedding invitation accounts. At these retail stores you can check out many a variety of paper choices, see thousands of layouts and receive expert assistance on making a wedding invitation that suits your very own needs. A skilled stationer has oftentimes served a large number of bridal couples develop a custom-made wedding invitation.

As a rule of thumb, we highly recommend that you simply use a skilled stationery retail store found in your town if a lot of personalization is anticipated. Most web-based customization alternatives are restricted in functionality and it is often complicated to ensure that the end wedding invitation satisfies your objectives. All the same, for people that prefer the ease of internet shopping we encourage readers to have a look at Crane & Co. and William Arthur. Both these printing companies have very strong customer satisfaction, superior themes, attractive papers and card stock and a number of printing possibilities that are simply hard to get at from the majority of web-based dealers.

For anyone looking for experienced professional advice, please visit Therese Saint Clair in downtown Greenwich, CT.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

William Arthur, among the best designers of high-quality personalized stationery and customized invitations and announcements, is having its once-a-year Christmas greeting card and Christmas photograph card sale’s event. Until the end of September, take 10% off William Arthur’s 2011 customized holiday greeting cards and customized photo greeting cards.  If you order now before August 15th, William Arthur is offering free shipping.

William Arthur, long known for their sophisticated selection of photo-mount greeting cards, has moved digital in 2011. At this time, consumers have the choice of either digitally publishing their photo right onto William Arthur’s formal paper stock or mounting their beautiful photos directly on the greeting card utilizing adhesive stripes. In fact, some designs give the customer the option of both printing options with the very same appealing style.

While digital stamping of Christmas cards has become well liked on account of its flexibility, simplicity and cost, the conventional process of adhering photographs on beautifully designed paper stock still is of interest to many traditionalists. After-all, traditionally printed photos tend to have significantly more contrast and pure color resolution than photos that are digitally reproduced.

No matter what selection you ultimately choose to do, William Arthur’s lovely new patterns and high quality printing will certainly make your holiday family photographs shine. William Arthur now gives its dedicated buyers with the choice of purchasing their greeting cards or Christmas photo cards on the internet or at licensed William Arthur dealers. Visit the Stationers Guild website and get a hold of a skilled stationer where you live. When you shop for fine stationery and custom holiday photo cards, it is often most effective to sort through paper and design options in person.

Take action now before September 30th and save 10% on William Arthur’s Christmas greeting cards and Christmas photo cards.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

This is the last week for Crane’s summer stationery sale where you can receive 25 FREE personalized stationery notes or sheets if you order 75 or more.  This great summer promotion makes you want to get off the beach and visit a Crane dealer in your neighborhood.   This great promotional offer is available at Crane dealers across the United States or at Crane online.

We’ve always had a love for cotton paper and striking designs and styles. I still think of how delighted I was by the engraved seal of a European royal family that appeared to float just above their menu card. My enthusiasm hasn’t diminished over these many years and I am fortunate enough to have a stationery store and can indulge my obsession.

There is certainly something special and personal about finding the time to send a hand-written note to a relative or good friend. I prefer to use a half-note with my engraved monogram while my spouse prefers the correspondence card with his name engraved near the top edge. We each enjoy the advantage of switching our stationery every few years whenever we get tired with the colors or a particular envelope lining. As such, we were fired up to receive a new Personal Stationery Album from Crane.

For over two hundred years Crane & Co. has set the standard for custom-made stationery and personalized announcements. In June, Crane released its brand new Personal Stationery album that contains everything a consumer needs to have for communicating in style: half-notes, correspondence cards, calling cards, pocket jotter cards and note pads. Crane has rejuvenated many of its vintage stationery choices along with including a number of completely new contemporary designs that are without doubt very likely to appeal to stationery lovers.

Crane’s Personal Stationery album contains a new page layout featuring a comprehensive stationery wardrobe for both business and social stationery. Its easy product presentation shows quite a few color and paper-size alternatives as well as attributes call-outs highlighting premium capabilities, artistry, etiquette and design suggestions.

The latest stationery album also is designed with a useful summary of Crane’s premium papers, double hand-bordered cards, engraving and monograms. There are some 80 envelope liner alternatives to pick from in addition to Crane’s proprietary fonts and motifs. Simply speaking, it is a virtuoso showcase of Crane’s rich traditions for making sophisticated stationery.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

I participate in a number of forums related to the stationery industry.   For the most part, these forums are used by the participants to promote their products rather than provide useful advice to newbies and a few old-timers (like myself).  As the groups grow larger, the level of relevant communication diminishes which I guess helps explain why those who speak loudest or more often tend to dominate forum discussions.

Over the last couple of months a couple of themes have emerged:

• How to outsource to China and get cheaper products
• Advice on how to market store retailers to sell products that are now currently sold online.

Outsource to China

I have often been accused of denigrating the quality of products from China.  This is simply not so.  Let’s face it, the people who outsource to China are Gringos who insist on the “lowest price,” not the “highest quality product.”  I have no doubt in my mind that Chinese craftspeople can (and do)  make or design products of unmatched quality and design.  The problem is that these “outsourcing Gringos” want the “cheapest product” rather than the “best” product.

Therefore, if you are buying greeting cards manufactured in China, would you really like your client to lick the envelope?

Should you promote “new” products that are now sold exclusively online?

A common problem for many “new” artisans in the greeting card industry is that they first begin to sell their greeting cards online directly to the consumer.  It is a relatively inexpensive way to get your product out in front of wider audience, but requires a great deal of online marketing skills that these artisans don’t possess to develop a sustainable business.

Frustrated, they now reach out to store retailers to market their greeting card line.  Should your store carry their line?   In most cases, I would simply say “no!”  The reason is quite simple:  Why should I invest my time and resources to market an undifferentiated product for a new vendor that sells the same product online?    I am often told in these forums that “the customer wants the convenience and choice of shopping online or in a store,” as if that were sufficient justification for marketing a new line.  Sorry, but it simply doesn’t make  business sense.   Why use my expertise, store space and limited marketing budget which often tends to drive clients to an online store?

As most of my advertising and promotion is online, I am extremely careful to market stationery products and custom invitations lines that have either an affiliate program or do not sell online.    The goal of my online marketing campaign is to drive people to my store.  Nevertheless, we need to talk about products and lines that we actually carry in the store and, I suspect, that the first thing the online buyer does is to visit the suppliers website.  While I am certainly disappointed not to make the sale in the store, I feel my marketing efforts have not been lost if that “marketing lead” generates an affiliate commission.

Affiliate programs by leading companies in the stationery industry is, in my opinion,  an important way to raise the standards in the industry and provide the consumer with useful information about quality stationery.  Personally, I no longer feel threatened by promoting the brand of our vendors, using their images and promotion campaigns.   In effect, it is good business for my store, my supplier and the industry as a whole.

I do hope other stationery stores will soon embrace affiliate marketing to help the cream rise to the top.   Read more on how affiliate marketing can help your business.

Is that Fall wedding slipping up on you?  Take control now and get into action.  If you haven’t yet got your wedding invitations, please  download your FREE Wedding Invitation Guide.    While many couples believe that shopping for wedding invitations online is faster and less expensive, it is actually easier and often times cheaper to work with an experienced stationer in your neighborhood.  Get the wedding invitation that you deserve by shopping wisely.

We have been commonly asked whether it is advisable to choose wedding invitations on the web or from the stationery store. This is a tricky question to reply to because the response often is dependent on on the objectives and needs of the customer. Bridal couples frequently have completely different goals and, consequently, it is quite not easy to give an opinion.

Shopping for wedding invitations on the internet may seem like an easy task as there are numerous online sites that promise to offer unique, or “green,” or inexpensive wedding invitations. Most of the time, these assertions are deceptive and quite often not true. More to the point, online image quality is poor and it is most challenging to determine “true”  ink colors and shades and paper texture.

A proven stationery shop in your town generally represents 20 wedding invitation accounts. At these shops you can sample many different paper styles, see a huge number of variations and receive professional help and advice on making a wedding invitation that satisfies your personalized needs. A skilled stationer has often assisted many young couples create a custom-made wedding invitation.

As a general guideline, we highly recommend that you simply work with a skilled stationery retailer based in your local community if significant personalization is needed. Most web-based personalization selections are restricted in functionality and it’s often complicated to insure that the end product satisfies your expectations. All the same, for those that like the comfort and ease of shopping on the internet we encourage readers to give consideration to Crane & Co. and William Arthur. Both of these firms have strong customer care, superior layouts, appealing papers and heavy card-stock and a range of printing alternatives which are simply unavailable from most web-based stores.

For anyone looking for expert professional advice, please visit Therese Saint Clair in downtown Greenwich, CT.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

William Arthur, among the foremost manufacturers of fine personalized stationery and custom made invitations, is now holding its once-a-year holiday greeting card and Christmas photograph card promotion. Now until September 30th, take 10% off William Arthur’s 2011 personalized Christmas greeting cards and custom photo cards.  In fact, if you order by August 15th, you will receive FREE Shipping.

William Arthur, long recognized for their unique line of photo mount greeting cards, has moved digital this year. At this time, consumers have the option of either digitally printing their photo directly onto William Arthur’s elegant paper stock or adhering their beautiful photos right on the holiday greeting card utilizing adhesive stripes. Actually, some designs give the buyer the option of either printing method with exactly the same desirable design and style.

Even though digital printing of Christmas cards is currently well-accepted as a consequence of its flexibility, convenience and cost, the conventional technique of adhering photographs on beautifully designed card stock still appeals to many traditionalists. After-all, commercially printed pictures tend to have far more contrast and real color resolution than images that are digitally imprinted.

Whatever alternate you choose to do, William Arthur’s stunning new styles and high-quality printing will unquestionably help to make your holiday family pictures stick out. William Arthur now provides its loyal consumers with an opportunity of purchasing their Christmas cards or holiday photo cards on line or at licensed William Arthur retailers. Visit the Stationers Guild website and get a hold of a qualified stationer in your area. When shopping for fine stationery and customized Christmas photo cards, it’s usually most desirable to sort through paper and design and style alternatives in person.

Take action now before the end of September and save 10% on William Arthur’s holiday personalized greeting cards and Christmas photo cards.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

Now through August 2nd, received 25 FREE thank you notes or personalized stationery from Crane when you order 75 or more.  This great summer promotional offer is available at Crane dealers in the United States or at Crane online.   We recommend shopping locally at your local stationery store to see Crane’s great new designs and customization options.

I’ve always had a love for cotton paper and eye-catching patterns. I still recall how stimulated I was by the engraved crest of a European family that appeared to float on a correspondence card. My ardor has not yet diminished through these years and I’m fortunate to own a stationery store and can indulge my interest.

You will discover something very special and completely unique about making the effort to send a hand-written note to a loved one or close friend. I opt to make use of a half-note with my personalized monogram while my husband prefers the correspondence card with his name engraved across the top edge. We each enjoy the luxury of switching our stationery every couple of years whenever we get tired of the color styles or a particular envelope liner. As such, we were excited to take delivery of the newest Personal Stationery Album from Crane.

For more than two hundred years Crane & Co. has elevated the bar for personalized stationery and custom invitations. In June, Crane launched its latest Personal Stationery album that contains almost everything a customer really needs for communicating in style: foldover notes, correspondence cards, thank you notes, jotter cards and note pads. Crane has rejuvenated many of its vintage stationery styles and designs as well as incorporating a number of fresh modern designs which are certainly very likely to catch the attention of stationery lovers.

Crane’s Personal Stationery album contains a brand new page layout displaying a comprehensive stationery wardrobe for both business and social stationery. Its straightforward product presentation shows many color selection and paper-size options as well as features call-outs highlighting premium features, craftsmanship, etiquette and design ideas.

The latest stationery album also provides a helpful summary of Crane’s premium papers, double hand-bordered cards, engraving and monograms. There are approximately 80 envelope lining alternatives to pick from in addition to Crane’s proprietary fonts and motifs. In short, this is a virtuoso showcase of Crane’s rich traditions in making exceptional stationery.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

Wordpress, often thought of as a blogging platform, has emerged as one of the most useful applications for people with few technical skills to build and manage their own websites.  I’ve experimented with most other alternatives and found that Wordpress helps you  create successful websites with little third-party support.  Best of all, it is FREE!

Several years ago, I signed up for an online course called The Joy of Code.  The course was designed to explain the basics of html coding (the language of the internet) and CSS, which is a programming language to help separate content from design for websites.   During the course of these classes, I got a chance to get to know the instructor, Bud Kraus.

We have become good friends and often get together in New York for lunch to discuss website design and topical social and economic issues.  We prefer to talk about websites, since the other subjects are often too depressing.

Bud, whose specialty is website design, has become a fervent convert to Wordpress.  In fact, he teaches several courses for aspiring artists and website designers on how to use Wordpress to build websites.  On Thursday, July 28th, Bud is hosting a one hour Wordpress webinar explaining some of the features and useful functions of Wordpress.

For those who have dated websites or those contemplating setting up their first website, I recommend that you give Bud’s Wordpress webinar a go.  He certainly know his stuff and I am quite sure that you will soon recognize the benefits of using Wordpress to develop your own online marketing strategy.

Richard W. May
www.Rite4u.com