Stationery Trends Magazine

Stationery: Not So Stationary

No, this is not a rant about the hazards of spelling "stationery" incorrectly - although many might argue it's warranted. Rather, it's a rant about those who are quick to deem this industry dead. Honestly, it's come to be as predictable as the seasons: Every time the economy nosedives, the stationery eulogies begin. Obviously as an editor of a thriving trade publication focusing on stationery, I'm going to disagree. But even on a personal level, I always recall some excellent advice I received years ago: Never listen to naysayers. As a result I've tuned out a lot of negativity that I've encountered. I've come to realize that most of these statements are typically reflections of the speakers' own insecurities; so rather than viewing them with disdain, I've tried to counter them with compassion. That doesn't mean I enjoy hearing people take potshots at our beloved…  » Read more

---

The Four B’s

"Another bride, another June, another sunny honeymoon ..." goes the standard that always remains true. In addition to the brides each season offers, there are babies born, birthdays celebrated and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs commemorated. While the numbers hopefully grow in tandem with our population, what changes are the trends related to these four B's. Stationery Trends queried several industry insiders on the most recent looks in each market. Jilly Jack Designs B#1: BridesFancy Finishes: Brides still swoon over letterpress, but marry it to elements like "blind hits or printing with varnish, poster style typography, die-cuts, extra thick cards and foil and edge painting," noted Kendra Bellah, Dauphine Press' sales and marketing director. "Any of these elements can be added to a suite to make them look current, or a few can be paired together in the same suite." Marvelous Muses: Bellah cites vintage china…  » Read more

---

Designer Profile: Kseniya Thomas

Like many letterpressers, Kseniya Thomas runs a shop, Thomas-Printers, in Carlyle, Pa., where she prints both her own work as well as that of other designers. She also recently launched Thomas-Printers Invitations, which licenses designs from select designers, then prints and sells them. "A lot of people don't understand that you can design and have someone else do it, not that I am the Kinko's of letterpress," she laughed. Unlike many letterpressers, Thomas teamed up with Jessica White, of Heroes & Criminals Press in Asheville, N.C., to found Ladies of Letterpress (LOLP), a trade organization for letterpress printers and lovers of print of all kinds. "This is a community where you can read about our adventures in commercial, fine press and zine printing, learn from other printers, share resources and get inspiration for your own business and work," their website described. "Our mission is to…  » Read more

---

Belle of the Ball

Much like a union between groom and bride, a perfect partnership was born in April 2010 when entrepreneurs Jane Bensel, owner of The Stationer, a paper and gift store, and Amy Casbarian, owner of the bridal boutique Wedding Belles, united. Together, these dynamic women created Wedding Belles & The Stationer - a cozy stationery shop and bridal boutique located on bustling Magazine Street in New Orleans. Just as a couple may meet serendipitously, the shop also got its start rather unexpectedly. Casbarian first went to The Stationer in search of wedding invitations for her own upcoming event. Both entrepreneurs clicked as they realized they shared a passion for offering a specialized merchandise assortment in a customer-centric environment. A few years later, the landlord of Wedding Belles' original store decided to sell the space and suggested that Wedding Belles "move in" with The Stationer. Today, the…  » Read more

---

Email Etiquette

Between managing our Twitter accounts, Facebook pages and email inboxes, there is a lot to juggle. That doesn't even include following up with our clients so projects go off without a hitch. In today's digital world, how we choose to communicate on a professional level is key, and each interaction can make or break our personal and professional brand. As we depend more and more on technology, let's be honest: It's easy to become sloppy with so much on our plates. Regardless, statistics show that people still value the art of a professional, well-written email. With that in mind, here are a few etiquettes that will keep your emails professional from the beginning to the end: Let's Start at the Beginning. Always use a greeting such as "Hi," "Hello" or "Greetings." I know it sounds old-fashioned, but it's true: Opening an email without a greeting…  » Read more

---