The Stationers Guild

Now through March 28th, buy 75 wedding invitations, rehearsal dinner invitations or wedding stationery and get 25 free during William Arthur’s Wedding Stationery Promotion.    During this time of economic difficulty,  this exciting new promotion will make your wedding budget dollar stretch longer.

William Arthur, based in West Kennebunkport, ME is one of the leading designers and printers of fine stationery and custom invitations.  Known for their outstanding service quality, responsiveness and cutting-edge designs, William Arthur is a most popular choice for save-the-date announcements, wedding invitations, direction card and wedding thank you notes.

If you are a bridal couple looking for high-quality wedding invitations at affordable prices, William Arthur is certainly worth seeing in person.  Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to see William Arthur’s beautiful wedding invitation designs and schedule an appointment with a Guild Member store in your neighborhood.

The first quarter of 2010 will determine wedding invitation trends for the year.   In fact, I suspect that wedding invitation designs have pretty much been defined long before the “Will you marry me?” question was asked this holiday season.  I have it on very good authority that this is so:  Google.

Google Trends tracks the number of web daily searches for a particular term (in this case “wedding invitations”) over the course of a year.  As the chart above demonstrates, searches for “wedding invitations” peak toward the end of the year and early January and then begin to tail-off rather significantly after the first quarter.  The chart above also compares the search term “online wedding invitations” (shown in red) to “wedding invitations” (shown in blue).   As suggested by the chart, prospective bridal couples do not feel the need to distinguish between wedding invitations sold online and those that are offered exclusively through storefront stationers.

The New York Times (December 29, 2009) reports that bridal magazine ad pages are down significantly in December, 2009.   Quoting sources the Nielsen Company and Mediaweek, bridal magazine ads for December, 2009 were down 8.4% in Brides magazine, 25.5% in Bridal Guide and 23.9% in Martha Stewart Weddings.   While ad pages are booked far in advance and certainly reflect the rather depressed economy, the battlefield for wedding invitations has shifted to the Internet and the public is indeed poorer as a result.    As I have written on numerous occasions, low image resolutions, limited customization options and the inability of the online client to compare different papers and printing processes greatly diminishes a company’s ability to distinguish their brand.

It is interesting to note, that of the top 10 companies listed on the first page of Google for the search term “wedding invitations,” only one is a credible printing company:  Crane & Co.  Not surprisingly, Wedding Paper Divas, remains in the top position.    It does so because it has the most aggressive and intelligent application of paid search and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies of any company in the business.   In a revealing New York Times article, Tiny Prints (a sister company of Wedding Paper Divas), describes how it competes for holiday greeting cards and photo cards by paying up to $50 to acquire a client.   I would suspect that they will pay that and possibly more to acquire a client willing to purchase a wedding invitation online.

While Wedding Paper Divas has certainly upgraded its line in recent years with companies such as William Arthur merchandizing their line through them, one wonders whether this business model is sustainable.    In fact, William Arthur now sells directly online and other companies such as Minted offer a wider range of quality invitations from craftspeople who do not generally market their equisite designs online.

For those seeking quality wedding invitations coupled with superior customer service, I strongly recommend that you visit a stationer in your neighborhood.    Most of these stores carry a far wider range of wedding invitation samples than any online dealer.  Customization options are limitless and you can actually feel the paper samples and see how ink colors change depending on the printing process.  In 2010, do yourself a favor and see why choosing your invitation in person makes all the difference in the world.

I just received an announcement from Hank Beresin, Vice President of Sales for William Arthur, advising me that William Arthur had launched a new website affiliate program for their dealers.    The program is open to all registered William Arthur dealers.  The affiliate program provides dealers a 20% commission on each retail sale that links from a dealer’s website to William Arthur.  The website affiliate program is managed by  LinkShare, “a well recognized and respected third party agent who will track and manage all outgoing activity and payments.”

In a very simplied form, the William Arthur website affiliate program works like this:

1. You signup for the program by linking to the website provided in Hank’s letter (I am not providing hyperlink for reasons of confidentiality).
2. You complete the application at LinkShare (about five to ten minutes of your time).
3. You then provide the William Arthur Sales Department  your “Site ID number” which is generated by LinkShare.
4. Using  your unique LinkShare’s ID number, you will be prompted to auto-create some html code that must be copied and pasted into your website.  Some have images and some are text links.  You can and should use both. 
5. Insert the LinkShare code into your website and each time a visitor clicks on that link, it will take the visitor to the William Arthur website.
6. Your unique code tells William Arthur and LinkShare that you are the referring website and should the client buy online from William Arthur, you will receive a 20% commission.

Let me provide a hypothetical example.  Let us assume that you write a Blog article about William Arthur or include a link to William Arthur on your website.  Instead of using the standard hyperlink to the William Arthur website:  http://www.williamarthur.com , you will now use the  special SiteID html code generated by LinkShare.  It might read (entirely fictional):  http://www.williamarthur.com/linkshare/?!xdbTr33.  Somewhere in the html code provided by LinkShare is a unique code that identifies your website/Blog as the referring website to William Arthur.  If the client closes the sale online with William Arthur, you receive a 20% commission on the sale.

While one can debate the conceptual merits of this program and online selling in general, I for one applaud this bold initiative by William Arthur.    It sends a clear message to its dealers:  Let’s work together to promote the William Arthur brand in whatever media or distribution channel the buyer prefers to use.  Furthermore, it is a strong inducement to storefront dealers to adopt “21st century” marketing and advertising strategies.    The quicker we start using these affiliate marketing strategies, the stronger we will become as independent dealers.  This is just the first of many changes I see sweeping through the industry.   As independent dealers, we have the best product(s) in the industry and far more experience and knowledge than online newbies.  Get started now!  This is one industry where a little knowledge goes a long way.  As Heraclitus said “A man with one eye is King in a land of the blind!”  Go for it!

Richard W. May
Therese Saint Clair

P.S.  Heraclitus also threw himself into a volcano to prove that he was a god.  Just settle for being a king.

As a stationer, I am often asked whether digital Christmas photo cards are “better” than 4″x 6″ photos mounted on a personalized holiday card.  There really is no simple answer to this question, but I will share a few insights that might be useful to consider when making your choice.

While the reproduction quality of digital photos has improved significantly, photographs developed commercially still have an edge.  This should not be surprising since commercially developed photographs are produced under ideal printing conditions using papers specifically designed to create uniform quality prints.    While I have seen exceptional digital prints using high resolution ink-jet printers on archival papers, this printing technique is best left to professionals.

Digitally-reproduced holiday photo cards are generally less expensive than photographs mounted on Christmas greeting cards.   The price of digital photo cards is generally a function of the paper stock and quality of the design templates.   While some photo cards resemble commercial mailers, some leading design companies have beautiful frames to enhance the setting of your photograph.

There is a common misconception that “it is easier” to select a digital holiday card than a conventional photo-mount Christmas photo card.  This is certainly not the case.  When you print digitally you have an unlimited range of color options.   I have personally witnessed the frustration than sets-in when a buyer is faced with so many design and color options to print their digital photographs.    Pre-designed frames from leading paper companies are generally of much higher quality than the limited template selection provided by most online printers.

William Arthur, one of the leading holiday photo card designers, provides the consumer with the option of using photo-mounts or having the photo imprinted digitally on the same high quality paper stock.  The price of William Arthur’s holiday photo card is the same regardless of which printing  process is chosen.  While the quality of photo prints is better than digitally reproduced images, printing your William Arthur photo card digitally can save you time and $0.19 per photograph print.

To see all of the printing options available, we suggest that you contact a Guild member store in your neighborhood to see which printing process works best for your family photograph this holiday season.

Richard W. May
Therese Saint Clair

Several years ago when I was doing some research into the origins of exchanging Christmas greeting cards, I discovered that President Abraham Lincoln may have inspired the creation of the popular image of Santa Claus during the Civil War.   Famed political cartoonist, Thomas Nast, is credited with the creation of the Santa Claus by “taking a minor Central European folk saint, dimly recalled from his German childhood… coming down the chimney and shaking with joy… “   According to some long-lost hyperlink that has now faded into Internet oblivion, President Lincoln requested Thomas Nast to create a holiday figure to raise the morale of the Union troops during the Civil War. According to legend this was the birth of the now iconic Santa figure.

Recent “revisionist” history – probably closer to the truth – suggests that the image of Santa Claus evolved over time culminating in the classic Santa in a 1931  Coca Cola ad.

1931 Coca Cola Advertisement

Some have suggested that the popular Santa icon is a symbol of American materialism.  I prefer to view him as a belly-full of joy and excitement that fuels the energy of children of all ages during the holiday season.  Nevertheless, I might suggest that in this age of over-indulgence, a Diet Coke would be more appropriate for our collective waistlines.

While the popular Santa figure continues to grace many Christmas cards as this example from William Arthur’s latest holiday collection demonstrates,  I believe that holiday greeting cards featuring Santa have greatly diminished in recent years.

William Arthur Christmas Card

I have no idea if this trend is similar in other parts of the country, but clearly the celebration of Christmas and the holiday season has become distinctly less frivolous if this year’s selection of holiday greeting cards is any indication. While Santa greeting cards may not be quite as popular, the craftspeople and designers have been hard at work producing this year’s beautiful selection of Christmas cards, holiday greeting cards and stunning new photo cards.   Greeting cards and photo cards continue to be the perfect way to share your family’s news with friends this holiday season.

Visit a stationery store in your neighborhood to see this year’s selection of inspired Christmas cards and creative holiday greeting cards.  Better yet, act now and take advantage of many sales promotions for holiday cards.

Richard W. May
Therese Saint Clair

I have been closely following the evolution of digital photography and its impact on the holiday photo card industry.  For the most part, I have been quite disappointed with the poor resolution of digital images, particularly those that are mass-produced by commercial printers.   Furthermore, the holiday designs and motifs that often frame the holiday photograph are generally quite pedestrian.  The end result is a holiday photo card that often resembles a business flyer that does little justice to your family photograph.

At this year’s National Stationery Show, I had the opportunity to chat with David Evans of William Arthur, a leading designer of holiday photo cards.  David explained that William Arthur planned to extend the options available to its loyal clients by offering the same classy designs regardless of whether one uses photo mounts or digital imprinting.  As the image below suggests, William Arthur has been remarkably successful in maintaining their traditional high design standards while providing their clients with an exciting new array of printing options.

Digital Holiday Photo Card and Card with Photo Mounts

William Arthur’s Holiday 2009 photo album is broken down into three broad sections:  Digital, Transitional and Traditional.  Sample designs in the Traditional section use photo mount adhesives to mount a 4″x 6″ photograph directly on the card stock.  Clients can choose from a variety of holiday greetings and personalize the photo card with their family names. 

Sample photo cards from the Transitional Section can be printed digitally or with photo adhesives to mount your photographs directly on the personalized greeting card.  William Arthur has done a remarkable job maintaining the elegance of the photo frame to showcase your photograph regardless of which printing method you select.  From a casual glance, it is often difficult to determine whether you are looking at a digital image or the actual photograph.  Clearly, William Arthur has invested a considerable amount of time and energy to maintain this high standard of excellence.

William Arthur Digital Holiday Photo Card

While William Arthur makes it rather easy to work with both printing options, digital printing is far more complex.  Specifically, most digital photographs need to be cropped and often need some minor editing (i.e. “red eye”).  Furthermore, since you are printing digitally, you are no longer restricted to a limited number of ink colors.  While the end result may be easier since you don’t need to mount the photos on the greeting card, the design options require careful consideration and a not insignifcant investment of your time.

William Arthur holiday photo cards are definitely worth a look if you value excellence in design and execution.  We strongly encourage you to visit a qualified stationer in your neighborhood who can walk you many design options available from William Arthur’s delightful 2009 holiday photo album.

Richard W. May
Founding Member Stationers Guild

Rita Renning is always a popular choice for elegant wedding invitations for bridal couples on a strict budget.  Now through August 31st,  save 20% on Rita Renning wedding invitations ordered from the Rita Renning wedding album carried at many Guild member stores.

Rita Renning Wedding Invitation

Rita Renning wedding invitations are designed and printed by William Arthur, one of the leading fine stationers in the United States.  Sheila May, the owner of Therese Saint Clair, says that “Rita is a popular choice for budget-conscious brides.   With Rita you get a quality custom wedding invitations without breaking the bank.  This is one of the first albums I bring out when asked for a great invitation at an affordable price.  Furthermore, you are getting William Arthur’s outstanding service capability.”

If you are looking for an attractively-priced custom wedding invitation alternative, Rita Renning should certainly be on your radar scope.

 With the lavish introduction of the new Vera Wang On Weddings at the 2009 National Stationery Show, I was curious to learn how Vera’s inspired fabric creations were so faithfully recreated on paper. I was fortunate to have an extended discussion with talented designer Meghan Carey, Lead Vera Wang Designer for William Arthur, and Lisa Blinn, William Arthur’s Vice President of Design. The fruits of that enlightening discussion are summarized below.

Meghan Carey with Vera Wang Necklace

I think it is fair to say that Vera’s new wedding invitation designs have matured since they were first introduced at the 2005 National Stationery Show. The original designs were unmistakably Vera’s: the stylish oyster-colored paper, the geometric rigor applied to paper sizes and envelopes and Vera’s ever-present wedding motifs that permeated the invitation and envelope lining samples. The new designs reflect an unwavering confidence in translating Vera’s inspirational patterns to paper. As Lisa remarks, “we understand Vera’s aesthetic and tactile sensibility.”

It is hard to believe that the new wedding invitations album went from design to approval by Vera in just over 3 months. Most paper designers take between 12 to 18 months to produce a new line. Meghan and Lisa immersed themselves in Vera’s world by attending Runway Shows and design and fabric conferences to distill the elements that make Vera’s designs so unmistakably Vera. The secret was to translate these tactile designs to paper using the cutting-edge printing capabilities of William Arthur.

New Vera Wang Wedding Invitation

One new design element that features prominently in this new album is the kalogram: a term that refers to a monogram using a person’s full name. Note: This is a great word for Scrabble enthusiasts when you have an “a” rather than an “i”.  Their beauty is unmistakable and adds a level of sophistication not often encountered in fine invitations. New type styles and exaggerated motifs add a level of stylish playfulness that was not generally available in Vera’s initial wedding album.

Grosgrain is a textured pattern ribbon often found in Vera’s clothing designs. This grosgrain pattern is faithfully reproduced on the invitation sample above through engraving. I actually had to run my finger across the ridges of the engraved design to convince myself it wasn’t ribbon. There are many more surprises as you leaf through Vera’s new album, but I encourage you to visit a Guild Member store in your neighborhood that carries Vera to “touch” these great designs for yourself.

I could go on and describe how the ruched tulle or damask patterns in Vera’s ready-to-wear line have been incorporated into these new invitations, but it is best to see her new album in person. While William Arthur will sell Vera’s invitations online, there is no substitute for visiting an experienced stationer who can assist you with customization options that are not easily available online. Contact a Guild Member store in your neighborhood to see the new Vera Wang On Weddings invitation album.

Sarah Schwartz, the talented editor of Stationery Trends magazine, gave two standing-room only presentations at the National Stationery Show last week.  The topic was Stationery Trends for 2009.  There was so much useful and practical information crammed into Sarah’s colorful presentation that it was sometimes difficult to keep pace with her rapid-fire overview of 2009 stationery trends.  With apologies to Sarah for missing something significant, I would like to comment briefly on the six key themes highlighted in her presentation.  I am doing so without graphics since I don’t want to overload the server.

Trend 1 - The Value Proposition:  Clearly, the economic recession has had a marked impact on consumer purchasing decisions.  There were numerous examples of companies offering different printing alternatives (flat-printing or lithography vs. letterpress) to provide more affordable options for the consumer.  Along that same line, several companies were offering less expensive substitutes.  For instance, Demby and Solomon have an attractive line of return address stickers rather than the generally more expensive printed envelope.

Trend 2 – Colors to Covet:  Purple is emerging as a “hot” new color.  Orange and yellow have been around for several years and both remain popular choices for today’s young consumer.  Gray features in many upscale designs.

Trend 3 – New vs. Old Patterns:  Several companies have created a modern twist on old patterns.  For instance, Elum Designs has created some truly contemporary stationery letterpress designs using old patterns.  Lucky Onion is another company that comes to mind that is producing some “hip” invitations using traditional designs.

Trend 4 – The Perfect Green Storm:  Many companies are offering Eco-friendly stationery or invitation papers.  Playing the “green” card has become quite fashionable.  I did give the papers made from elephant dung a pass, but Night Owl Paper Goods has some attractive greeting cards and invitations made from wood.

Trend 5 – Designer Cachet:  A number of fashion trend-setters have added their name to stationery and invitation lines.  Vera Wang branches into new territory with the debut of Wedding Invitations II in June.  This follows Vera’s very successful Wedding Invitations I with William Arthur in 2005.  Martha Stewart has partnered with Crane & Co. to produced a line of 24 wedding invitation styles.  Lilly Pulitzer, MOMA and several others are adding their own distinctive touch to new stationery and invitation lines.

Trend 6 – Design Trends:  Sarah cited so many design trends that I will only highlight a few.  Animal prints (particularly wild animals), birds and butterflies are popular across many invitation lines.  Cityscape patterns found in Lallie and Faux Designs are also proving to be quite popular.  For me, the most distinctive trend was the introduction of texture into the design process.  Lattice, lace, damask and toile were evident across may lines and in some cases, like the new Vera Wang wedding invitation line, were the most riveting feature of the stationery ensemble.   Personalization, through monograms or names, continues to a growing trend in stationery.

Sarah seminar is clearly a must-see for those who are looking for something new and distinctive.  While the National Stationery Show was somewhat smaller this year, I did manage to discover 10 new companies that were not on my initial target list.  Thanks Sarah for a great introduction to this year’s National Stationery Show.