Category Archives: Stationery

What’s your client worth?

Posted on November 3, 2011 | Leave a comment

I like this little news magazine called Open Forum by American Express because it’s written just for small businesses.  A recent article titled Shopping Local Can Save Us All focused on how local businesses can help communities.  In the latter part of the article the author challenges Charles Matthews, a professor for Entrepreneurship at the University of Cincinnati, on the value of customer service that small businesses claim.  And specifically is customer service a reason to pay more.

“Matthews is quick to answer. “It’s never a question of why spend more, it’s a matter of why you are spending at all”.

During the holidays, many businesses send greeting cards to their clients.  So when they ask how much they should spend, I now reply, what’s your client worth?  Really.  Why are you spending at all?  What impression do you want to make?

Custom greeting cards can range from $200 to more than $1000 for 100.  But that’s about $2 to $10 per card.  Do you think your client is worth $10?

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Posted in My Thoughts, Stationery

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Did you take your child to college this weekend?

Posted on August 22, 2011 | Leave a comment

It seemed a bit quiet around town this weekend.  Maybe because it’s that time of the year again.  Yes you guessed it!  It’s back to school.   So that means much more traffic with school buses and carpools. And don’t forget about the new drivers….careful!  I think they should be required to drive with a big bumper sticker that says “Don’t like my driving?  Call my mom!”

Many of you took your child to college this weekend.  Some are returning students and the weekend probably didn’t come fast enough.  But many of you took your first child, your “baby”, away to school.  I’m sure it was emotional and sad and happy and exciting all at the same time.  I stopped by my neighbors’ house to say goodbye to her son going to Indiana University.  Their entire dining room was transformed into a receiving dock!  All of this “stuff” had to fit in their suburban.  Yikes! I didn’t stay around for that part.

Congratulations to all the new “parents of children in college” and welcome to the beginning of life’s next chapter!  And remember that even with all the technology of texting and messaging and emailing…nothing beats a letter in the mail.  When I was in college, it was the coolest thing to walk past the bank of mailboxes and see an envelope, positioned at an angle, through the window of my box, #1127.  And to get a package…wow!  The good ol’ days….

Want to ensure you get a note from your collegiate?  Check out our Sale Stationery section of the website.  Just select what you like, view the proof, and drop ship the stationery directly to them.   You might need to send a separate note with a book of stamps.  They’re on their own, sorta, but they are still kids….

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Posted in KIDS, My Thoughts, Stationery

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Desk, “to go, please.”

Posted on June 28, 2011 | 1 Comment

Do you travel, need a nice writing surface and would love to have all of your accoutrements with you?  Then look no further than Pineider, Italian makers of exquisite leather goods and fine stationery.

This elegant writing desk set, made in smooth calfskin with a cherry wood interior, contains 14 nibs, a dip pen, a black ink well, a leather notebook, Pineider water-cut cards, writing paper and envelopes.  It’s the perfect blend of what Pineider does best, leather and paper.  Every single item can be personalized, including the desk!

To place and order, just call us and say “I’ll take the desk.  To go, please.”  But don’t get in a rush.  Remember the leather is made in Italy and the stationery engraved there.  So is it worth the wait?  I’ll let you know when it arrives in a couple of weeks.

Spoiler Alert:  Pineider dates back to 1774 and doesn’t usually disappoint.

About Pineider
Francesco Pineider opened his first shop in Florence in 1774, and for more than two hundred years Pineider has remained a point of reference for people who love style, beauty and the refined culture of writing. Pineider continues today with this tradition and still produces hand-made papers and hand-engraved stationery, luxury leather goods, writing instruments and wedding necessities of the highest quality.

If you’re in Italy, say hello to my friends in Piazza della Signoria.  But you don’t need to travel to Florence to get great stationery.  Pineider is sold right here at TT Patton in downtown Barrington.

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Posted in Corporate Gifts, Leather Goods, Stationery

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