The Stationers Guild

One of the more promising developments of online search is the reemergence of  ”local search.”  This is occurring at a frenetic pace as more search engine companies are targeting mobile phone or mobile device users who prefer to shop locally.  With Geo-targeting and GPS positioning, a mobile phone user can quickly find local stores within his shopping radius when he enters in a search such as “best pizza” or “business cards” or “wedding invitations.”  The search results will target stores that meet that search criteria within his or her immediate vicinity based on the embedded GPS in the phone.

The conversion rate (sales to search ratio) is reportedly 8 to 10 times higher than traditional search since the mobile phone user  generally appears more willing to act on his search results.  If true, this will bring about a huge upheaval in Internet search trends.  Companies like The Knot and Martha Stewart Weddings have corrupted local search by allowing online companies and Internet resellers to “purchase” zip codes and metro-centers at the expense of local resources they claim to tout.

In effect, if you are looking for an experienced stationer in your neighborhood to craft a wedding invitation, your search results on these wedding portals will be compromised by online dealers that have co-opted this space on the pretext that they are “serving” this market.  I have been unsuccessful in convincing either The Knot or Martha Stewart Weddings that they are deliberately misleading their clients.  Needless to say, advertising dollars are more important than integrity.

With the growth of the use of mobile devices for search, wedding portals and online stationers will necessarily suffer as search results will be truly local based on the embedded GPS system in your mobile device.  Search results will once again target brick-and-mortar stores selling products and services within the vicinity of the user.  Those stores that have optimized their website and store for local search will stand to benefit.  This could bring about a much needed change in an industry where product quality has been compromised by deceptive advertising and the predatory practices of companies like The Knot and Martha Stewart Wedding who place the interests of their advertiser in front of the consumer.

If you are a stationery store, looking to optimize your website and/or bricks-and-mortar store for the mobile search revolution, please contact rmay@stationersguild.org .  We can help.

Richard W. May
Founding Member of the Stationers Guild

As a stationery store with an online presence, we receive many requests for a catalogue or samples of  wedding invitations.  Visitors are surprised that Thérèse Saint Clair has no catalogue nor do we send out “sample” wedding invitations.  Usually these visitors to our website come to understand that there is more to selecting a wedding invitation than looking at paper samples or limiting oneself to a few designs in an catalogue or online store.   Let me explain why.

Like most of the fine stationers found on the Stationers Guild website, we represent many excellent design companies and printers.    In the case of Thérèse Saint Clair, we represent over 60 companies that print wedding invitations; each of whom has their own unique style or designs, custom printing process and papers.   It would be presumptious of me to select sample designs for someone I have never met without having the benefit of a conversation and, most likely, a meeting to discuss their requirements, budget and style preferences.  If there is one piece of advice I can give prospective bridal couples, it is this:   If you decide to purchase a wedding invitation from a catalogue or online be prepared to be disappointed.  The outcome is unlikely to meet your expectations.  Let me show you why.

My responsibility as a stationer is to help my client select a wedding invitation and reply card set that reflects their preferences and design features – not my own!  For instance, I find Vera Wang wedding invitations to be particularly stylish in that they seemlessly incorporate many of Vera’s latest fabric designs into the actual invitation itself as shown below:

Vera Wang Wedding Invitation

While this is obviously a very striking invitation ensemble, the colors, the paper and, indeed, even the elaborate styling may not appeal to you.   For instance, you may be more attracted to the classic simplicity of Crane & Co.’s classic wedding  invitations or, perhaps, the bold designs of Oblation’s letterpress wedding invitations.

Oblation Letterpress Wedding Invitation

Imagine the complications of being faced with samples from over 60 companies:  Your head would likely be spinning.   There is a tendency for people to throw up their hands in frustration at the seemingly endless number of choices.  Nevertheless, working with an experienced stationer can often help narrow down the viable choices fairly quickly.  There is  a distinct advantage to working with an experienced stationer who has many samples of custom invitations, printed ink colors and paper swatches to help insure that your printed invitation meets your expectations.  This is simply not possible in the online world where low image resolutions distort ink colors and, most certainly, don’t begin to pick up the subtle textures of paper and their different weights.

The Stationers Guild has hyperlinks to many fine paper companies who sell wedding invitations.    Some of these printing companies sell online, but many do not.  Let  these designers and craftspeople tell you their story in their own words and see samples of their great designs.  While this is a useful way to do your research, there is no substitute to visiting a qualified stationer in your neighborhood.  While Guild member stores may not carry all the lines shown on our website, spending an hour with an experienced stationer will help point you in the right direction and will probably save you both money and many hours of frustration.

Sheila P. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

With some of the most talented designers in the country, Louella Press has been breath of fresh air in the stationery industry.   Using the ancient and noble printing process of engraving,  Louella Press creates luscious engraved invitations for weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs and milestone events.  Words are not enough to describe their stunning custom invitation designs which are rich color, texture and boldly printed using engraving.

Engraved Invitation by Louella Press

Now through June 30, the folks at Louella Press are offering to engrave the outer envelopes free of charge with one ink color (or, get 2-color envelopes for the 1-color price).  This is an exceptional offer for those looking for an engraved custom invitation, but trying to keep the budget in line.  Schedule an appointment with a Guild member store in your neighborhood who carries Louella Press to take advantage of this great promotion.

Louella Press Custom Invitation

Important events should be celebrated in style.  Doing so with a custom invitation from Louella Press could be the start of something big.

Fashionable letterpress stationery designer Elum has a special promotion for wedding invitations through June 4th.  Elum will print the return address on your invitation and reply card envelope for free with your wedding invitation order.  Only one color is permitted under this promotion.   If you have been in the searching for distinctive letterpress invitations but opertating under a tight budget, Elum is certainly worth a look with this great promotional offer.

Now through June 1, 2009, Crane & Co. will be offering customers who purchase 75 or more personalized invitations, announcements, or stationery, 25 additional pieces free of charge.  This promotion is good on all personalized purchases from any of the Crane customization albums. 

Personalized stationery is a great gift for graduations, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.  Contact an experienced Guild member store in your neighborhood and take advantage of this great promotional offer from Crane.

William Arthur, one of the leading custom invitation and fine stationery companies in the United States, has extended its very successful wedding promotion through May 31st, 2009.  Order 75 or more William Arthur wedding invitations, rehearsal dinner invitations, wedding programs or wedding stationery and receive 25 more free with the compliments of William Arthur.

Don’t put your wedding on the back-burner, contact an experienced Guild member store in your neighborhood to see William Arthur’s exciting new designs and customization options.  Whether you are looking for letterpress invitations or fine wedding stationery, William Arthur is certainly worth a second look.

The 3/50 Project grass-roots project has been launched to help preserve the brick and mortar stores in the United States.  The brain-child of Cinda Baxter, a leading retail industry expert, is a call-to-arms to encourage people to shop locally.  While this new website will evolve over time, Guild Members are encouraged to become a 3/50 supporter and spread the word to their customers and suppliers.

Today I came across a news release by Paper Divas discussing wedding trends for the 2009 season.   They claim to be a “preferred resource” for wedding style and etiquette, but I have always thought of them as a tech-savvy company selling template-based online invitations and stationery.   Paper Divas has done an outstanding job optimizing their website for search.  Nevertheless, their real challenge is to convince bridal couples to buy wedding invitations online.

While expediency sometimes gets in the way of common sense, buying fine stationery and custom invitations online is downright silly.  Gosh, would you would risk $500 or more for an online wedding invitation when the odds of getting what you want are stacked against you from the get-go? 

First, internet image resolutions are of poor quality and often purposely distorted to avoid reproduction.  With a limited internet color range, different monitor resolutions and poor quality image reproduction, it is almost impossible to determine the outcome of your printed invitation.

Second, paper texture and the weight of the paper stock are vital components in selecting your invitation.  Why not visit a qualified stationer and feel hundreds of paper samples rather than the one or two that might be sent to you by an online store? 

Third, colors change dramatically depending on the printing process you use.  Wouldn’t it be nice to see true color reproduction on different paper stock rather than leave it to chance with your online dealer? 

Fourth, most quality paper companies and designers recognize that crafting a custom wedding invitation is more than filling-in an online template.  In fact, many of the leading fine paper companies do not sell custom invitations online. They simply want the buyer to feel their papers, discuss printing options and receive expert advice from an experienced stationer before making a major financial commitment.  In short, they want the buyer to have a positive outcome based on “real” samples and expert advice rather than the “luck-of-the-draw” with an online store.

If you want expert advice, simply consult a qualified stationer in your neighborhood.  Many of the leading stationers can be found on the Guild website.  Don’t be seduced by the online hype.  Some things are best done in person and creating a custom wedding invitation is certainly one of them.

Richard W. May
Founding Member

Being the stylish person that he is, Prentiss Douthit has an aversion to capital letters.  Out of respect to him and his talented craftspeople we will refer to prentiss douthit as “pd”.   We met Prentiss several years ago at the National Stationery Show and he continues to be one of the most engaging and throughful people in the stationery industry.

pd’s stationery and invitations are refined, clean and tasteful.  Despite their apparent simplicity and subtle use of colors, pd’s stationery is quite original and easily recognizable.  Furthermore, we have found pd to be attractively priced and great value for those looking for distinctive correspondence.

Now through February 28th, all custom stationery is on sale at pd.  See 14 new designs at a Guild member stores in your neighborhood and order your personalized stationery before the end of Februrary and get a free return address printed on the envelope:  No minimum quantity!

On behalf of the members of the Stationers Guild, we would like to send our heartiest best wishes for a most happy holiday and prosperous New Year.  Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or simply the joys of season, we are hopeful that you are sharing these special days with family and friends.

Late this Christmas Eve day, I will hang the hand-painted Greenwich ornament and my husband Rick will hide two German pickles in the Christmas tree for our grown daughters to find on Christmas morning.  The rituals and family traditions of Christmas and, indeed, all religious holidays, continue to enrich our lives and those of others.

Hand-painted Greenwich Ornament

From snowy Greenwich, Connecticut we wish you peace, good health and most importantly:  Joy!

Sheila P. May
Founding Member