Getting Back to Nature

I love the Adirondacks. Located in upstate New York, the Adirondacks National Park is the largest national park in the lower forty-eight states. I have gone there with my family every year since I was born, some years more then once.

This year I was on the lookout. Of course I knew that there were greeting cards in the ADK (as it is referred to by those who go there), but I never really realized just how many different types there were. As I looked over the cards in probably two dozen different gift stores, I realized that there was one broad category of cards that predominates there – nature themed cards were everywhere.

One company who I had the pleasure of speaking to at the 2009 NSS was “Haymaker Press”. A Vermont based company; they specialize in nature photography from the Adirondack and Vermont region. Their cards really evoke the sense of peace and beauty of the area. Just looking at a picture of a still lake surrounded by green, rolling mountains has the ability to calm me.



But it is not just nature photography that predominates. Take this beautiful boxed Christmas card set of snow on birch trees from “Peter Pauper Press”:



Nature has a way of calming the soul. I believe that everyone needs a little bit of nature in there life in order to thrive (I need a lot). Help someone you know thrive, you never know who needs a peaceful mountain lake in their life!

- Aaron

When the message really matters, it’s paper!

Over the past few weeks, several items arrived in my mailbox, and they have reminded me once again about the power that paper has to inspire, touch and brighten our lives.

First, I was delighted to receive a lovely wedding invitation, showcasing a beautiful, floral-inspired design from imprintables pioneer Colors by Design. Several days later came a handwritten note of thanks from a friend. Then our mailbox overflowed with cards helping to celebrate my husband’s birthday. All of these items from the social stationery industry could seem insignificant in the rush of our daily lives, but for my husband and me, they delivered messages of connection, caring and celebration that made us feel cherished.

Like everyone, I receive hundreds of emails per week—a never-ending flood of information, requests, spam, unwanted sales pitches, and every once in awhile, an occasional laugh. But except for business purposes, I have never kept an email, let alone saved one in my keepsake box for treasured memories. And I know that the greeting cards, invitations and personal notes I send other people are tucked away in their keepsake boxes as well.

There’s no doubt we are living in challenging times right now. Many people feel disconnected, unappreciated, and under siege. A card, a personalized note, an invitation—these are small actions make a huge and positive difference in someone’s life. I know that the power of paper continues to make a wonderful difference in mine. I’ll surely do my part to keep this enduring tradition going.
--Debra

A Whole New World of Paper Possibilities!

Long before I started at GLM®, I was an art major in college, hoping to do interior design. My art classes required me to sketch all my design projects on graph paper. Graph paper or lined paper helps the artist to correctly measure and accurately proportion their drawings according to the original reference point. Now, if you ever used graph paper, you’ll remember that it begins to get extremely difficult to differentiate between the actual drawing and the lines from the page especially when drawing with black pen or pencil. The dark, harsh lines cause your eye to sway from the drawing to the line. This sway causes the lined paper to compete with the drawing, rather than display the drawing. This distraction can, in fact, drastically alter the completed drawing. Instead of the viewer seeing the picture, they also see dark squares and/or dark lines intruding on the finished work. There is another crucial factor in drawing; this is known as the eraser. Once an eraser hits the surface of lined paper, it can cause the dark lines to smudge, further destroying the art. As an alternative to lined paper there is plain paper. Plain paper is just a blank slate, hoping to display art, writing, etc. However, when an artist uses plain paper they almost always have to use a ruler to make sure that the picture is level and proportionate. I thought there was no other way, until recently…

Whitelines® a new company, was started because of this very struggle. Just as the company name describes, Whitelines® has developed a paper with white lines. So that the dark markings from pens, pencils etc. do not interfere between the lines on the paper, making the writing, sketches, and drawings really stand out.


Whitelines® sells a plethora of products such as: notebooks, graph paper, notepads, journals and more. Each of their products helps to show off the picture and not the line. This is a genius idea, that not only helps artists but also mathematicians, bringing geometry equations to a whole new level!


I was so happy to meet a couple of the guys behind the company and this brilliant idea at the National Stationery Show® this past May, and I look forward to seeing them again next year! To all the artists out there, check out their website www.whitelines.se for a whole new world of possibilities.

Until next time,
Rachel Veach

My Daughter's Baptism - Oh the Decisions!

August 30 marks my daughter’s first momentous occasion – her baptism. So this oh-so-proud mama has been on the hunt for the perfect invitation and party accessories…right down to the napkins. What I’ve discovered is that the market for baptisms is expansive, with both practical and luxurious options. Who would have thought? And the colors! I never expected to see baptism invitations with bright hues and patterned ribbon embellishments. In fact, I very much expected to start my hunt for invitations, favors and party décor and be done 30 minutes later. Instead, 4 hours later I returned home with several options floating in my head.

But alas, the winner of the invitation is revealed...SanLori Designs! (And for the record, my deadline for this blog forced the decision.)



And after much debate, I decided that my daughter’s guests will leave her baptism party with these cute little Crystal Angel keepsakes, which are custom cut from crystal and packaged in a cushion-lined gift box adorned with a customized ribbon featuring my daughter’s name and date of her baptism.



…and of course…the napkins “I just had to have,” as my husband says.



Who would have thought a baptism would be so much work. Long gone are the days of just a few options…and only white options!

Melissa

Comfort is in the Cards….

It’s probably no surprise that I grew up a greeting card addict. I had boxes and drawers filled with cards, piles stashed under my bed and even in my book bag. My friends and I designed and wrote cards after school for years – an old fashioned version of a play date I suppose. I actually thought at one point, I’d write cards for a living. But, I found a better niche for this card-passionate, aspiring PR professional, first working for the Greeting Card Association and later – for 20 years - as the show manager of the single most important event for greeting cards – the National Stationery Show.

So, when HOPE is in the Cards (www.hopeisinthecards.org) launched @ the 2009 show my propensity for activism kicked into gear. I vowed I would pick up the torch again to promote the power of the written word in this age of digital sentiments that have little staying power once the delete button is pushed. I’ve decided my focus will be local, taking the lead from Russ Haan, HOPE’s founder, and get into the elementary schools to orient tech savvy kids to the high touch concept of ink on paper. Our social culture is starving for this, in my humble opinion and it’s up to the next generation of humans to carry on the tradition.


Now, fast-forward to two weeks ago when so suddenly, my father passed away. The greeting cards have been pouring in since, and I cannot express with enough emphasis the comfort that I derive daily from every read, every passing by the area in my home or in my office where these sweet offerings embrace me. I have come to rely on them when I least expect the grief to take over, and more than ever this reinforces the quality that cards possess to comfort, support, help heal, help cope, feel the love of another human being, understand the power of the written word – this only next to the hug of my husband, mom or very best girlfriend.


The cards I received vary in style, size and shape, printing sophistication, paper quality, eco chic, philanthropic orientation. Some are versed, others are blank. Some are layered, others are flat. Still others are handmade. I counted the number of companies whose cards I received – 17 in all! And, while stylistically very different one from the next, the enduring fact remains that when the message really matters, there’s absolutely nothing more powerful, more personal than ink on paper. Yes, indeed, comfort is in the cards.

-Patti

GLM Summer Outing

There is a proverb that says “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Well, we don’t have any Jacks on the NSS team but we sure have a lot of people who would enjoy a little play time! So twice a year GLM shuts its doors, turns off its phones and puts all trade show related work aside to have some much deserved fun. This year we took a trip to West Point a.k.a. the United States Military Academy located about an hour from our office here in New York. Our day began with a tour of the grounds:







We then returned to our army themed tent for a hot lunch, flight simulator games, a rock climbing wall and our annual GLM softball game. The NSS Marketing & Sales teams cheered on our co-workers who were adventurous enough to play – one of which being our Show Manager, Patti Stracher.


Kelly Bristol, NSS Sales Manager with Kristen Hamilton from the NYIGF team


NSS Marketing Team: Melissa Gray, Jessica Reiche, Rachel Veach & Stephanie Leon-Santiago


Here’s wishing everyone a happy summer – make sure to take a little time off!

Jess

Celebrating Our Independence

Aside from the occasional birthday or mid-summer wedding, the summer months do not offer a lot in the way of celebrations or occasions to reach out to friends and family through greeting cards and the written word.

Fortunately, there is the 4th of July.

When I think about the 4th, I think of fireworks, John Philip Sousa marches, Uncle Sam and, of course, cookouts. And that is where stationery comes in. How are you letting everyone know that you are firing up the old grill and that your backyard is the place to be this Saturday? Why not let everyone know about your party with this simple blank “American Flag Invitation” from Checkerboard –



Or, maybe you could send out some of these blank “BBQ King” cards from Louie Award winning Meri Meri –








And how do you plan to set your picnic table? Yes, you could pull out every dish that you own and then spend the 5th washing them, or you could put out these “Stars and Stripes Square Paper Plates” from Caspari –


And to keep the kids hands and faces clean, use the “Red, White & Blue Paper Luncheon Napkins” also from Caspari -


Regardless of how you invite guests to your get-together, you’re going to have a blast (pun intended). There is a shared sense of wonder on the 4th. As we sit with our friends, family and community members to stare up into the night sky, waiting for the next explosion of color and sound, we grow together. We are all kids again.

Have a happy and safe Independence Day.

- Aaron Hazard

Hi Bloggers

Arque talking! Some of you may remember me from my days as sales manager of the National Stationery Show. I worked on the Show for 15 years, and a year ago I moved to the Operations Department. As part of “Ops”, I now work on all of the Shows behind the scenes. So, I remain an integral part of the Team, now seated on the logistics end.

In my new position, I work with the operations managers and show managers to coordinate all the logistics to get the Shows up and running. One such piece – near and dear to our exhibitors -is the set-up bulletin which is packed with information from move-in procedures, to shuttle service, to special features unique to the NSS, such as the product donation program, Operation Caring Connection.

This program is really special and popular. Now in its third year, in conjunction with the United Service Organization (U.S.O.) we collect exhibitor donations to ship to our troops stationed in various parts of the world – things like greeting cards, notepads, writing instruments, journals, and books.

This year we had a tremendous response from our exhibitors and sent USO 20 cartons and 1 pallet of great products. I want to recognize the exhibitors who generously donated:

• Allport Editions
• Art Sales International
• Avanti
• Candle-lite
• Christoper Vine Design
• Knock Knock
• Laughing Elephant
• Sourcebooks,Inc.
• thestepcardcollection
• The Time Factory

And, give kudos to Freeman Decorating Company and Yellow Roadway Corporation for their donation of freight consolidation and trucking services.

This community effort is one of the things that I love much about this industry - its generous spirit. It’s like giving a big hug to the troops from all of us!

Until next time, Arque

Father’s Day First-Timer

This weekend is my husband’s first Father’s Day…and let me tell you, I feel the pressure. You see, for my first Mother’s Day last month, he presented me with the ultimate new mom gift – a surprise trip to a photography studio for our first family photo shoot.

The. Perfect. Gift.

So now I’m left to compete with a gift that cannot be matched. I waved the white flag early in the gift search process. He wins.

But what I did discover while attempting to “one up” him, is that Father’s Day doesn’t have to include a “#1 Dad” coffee mug or “World’s Best Dad” t-shirt. There are keepsakes out there that my husband will actually adore, that won’t be shoved to the back of the kitchen cabinet or the bottom of his t-shirt stack. Here are some of my cool finds, sure to be a hit with the hubs on his first Father’s Day:



The photo note cube by Making Memories®…perfect for my husband, who thinks one more framed photo of his daughter or wife in his office will make it “too girly”.






Personalized men’s tie by His Favorite®…because he finds no shame in showing off his precious 6-month-old.








Daddy & Me frame by EtcTrade…engraving tugs at the heartstrings, “I may outgrow your lap, but I’ll never outgrow your heart”.








And of course, the card, from Great Arrow Graphics…perfect for this daddy, who lulls his daughter to sleep every night with his guitar.






Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there, especially those who are celebrating for the first time. Here’s hoping you receive a keepsake that puts a smile on your face when your child is 16, in the thick of those infamous teen years.

Till next time,
Melissa

Post-Show Bliss

Wouldn’t it be nice if we all could just put our feet up and relax after the Show? And by “all” I do mean “all” – exhibitors, attendees, and show management! Okay, yes, we did have the Memorial Day holiday long weekend, and that was bliss, but right after that, it was back to work.

For buyers, I am sure you have dumped out your bags and luggage and are wading through all the information you collected at the NSS. If you didn’t place orders at the Show, I know you are deciding right now on what you want to bring into your stores. Hard work, I know! I can’t imagine being in your shoes, with all the great products you must have seen! All of us on the Show team have already received calls from many buyers who are trying to remember someone or something seen at the Show, but somehow the contact information has been misplaced. We’re always relieved to be able to help in this situation! Feel free to call us if you find yourself in this predicament: 914-421-3250. As it happens, exhibitors sometimes find themselves in a similar situation, and we can help you find a buyer, too.

Of course, lots of buyers placed orders at the Show, and we are also already getting calls from exhibitors who have not had a break yet because once they got back from the Show to their offices and warehouses, they just started fulfilling those orders. Whew! We all agree, this is a nice “problem” to have.

Many exhibitors have been doing their post-show follow-up with buyers, by calling, emailing information, and mailing catalogs and such to those they met at the Show. This, too, is hard work, but is always appreciated. The buyers you met at the Show are swamped when they get back, and a friendly follow-up call goes a long way.

For us here at the NSS HQ, we do still have some work to do to wrap up the 2009 Show, such as finishing labeling all those photos we took at the Show! (Aaron is the lucky one on the team with that task). I can’t wait for us be able to put up our 2009 “photo gallery.” Today we spent some time running the final edits on a video documentary of the Show - it was fun to watch it and relive the Show a little bit. Simultaneous to this, we are working on our plans for the 2010 Show. I’m already getting excited. We’re going to be looking at a new website design in the next couple of weeks, and we have been dreaming up new programs for exhibitors and attendees alike. It might be practically a year before the next Show, but there’s no time to stand still! I’d be willing to bet it is the same for you “Dear Reader” (as Ann Landers used to say).

So… so much for bliss, right? Bring on the hard work and let's keep our businesses moving forward, full steam ahead!

Until next time,
Kelly