FRESH PICKS

INDUSTRY PROFILE
Q & A: Shannon Ferguson
The Inviting Pear

Q. When and how did you start working in this business?
A. When I was planning my wedding, I was completely uninspired by the invitations available. I've never been a "cookie-cutter" girl. It's always been important to me to express my own individuality — the unique qualities, quirks and passions that make me ME. As a graphic designer with more than 15 years of experience, I decided to create my own invitations. I had a clientele of wedding couples and corporate businesses requiring my design services, and The Inviting Pear was born in 2005.

Q. What is your signature style?
A. I love designs that use pops of color and geometric patterns. I'd describe my style as modern and whimsical.

Q. What are your most popular stationery offerings?
A. My custom-designed Envelopment pocketfolder wedding invitations are always popular, as well as my own four-stacked staggered invitations held together with a decorative brad. The bundle includes the couple's wedding monogram, invitation, directions card and response postcard, that is perforated to be torn off and placed into the mail.

Q. Please share the direction your line will be taking.
A. I'm always trying to come up with new and inventive ideas for wedding stationery. Currently, I've started a line of prop signs for couples to use in engagement photo sessions or during their photography session at the wedding. The signs are designed to match the wedding's colors with fun statements such as "I'm his Mrs." and "I'm her Mr." or "I'm with Him" and "I'm with Her."

Q. If you couldn't do this, what would you do instead?
A. I love food. I mean, I really love food. I'd be a food critic for a magazine and I'd travel all over the world getting fat and loving life.