Getting Personal

With an uncommon name like Arque, I had to develop a fondness for personalization because I cannot find my name on anything. There is a story behind how I got my name and I can share that with you at another time. I’m a fan of sending personalized greetings (especially for Christmas), although I have not done so in a while. These last few years, I have gone to the Hallmark Store, found a design that fits who I am, filled out the cards, and popped them in the mail. Sounds simple enough, right? Well here’s my latest dilemma. I just purchased a co-op, (thanks to Kelly Bristol, who introduced me to her realtor), and now I need to decide from which company to buy “I’ve Moved” personalized cards, and give them the honor of announcing my relocation to friends and family. My colleague Lori Robinson (if the name sounds familiar she used to manage the National Stationery Show) chuckled when I said the word “honor,” but then she thought about it and realized that it really is an honor. Think about it, whichever company I choose will communicate one of the biggest and long lasting decisions I will ever make in my life!

I could invest in an Epson Printer (or borrow Kelly’s) and do it myself, but I’m not sure I would do as good a job. You see, although we are living in the age of technology, I’m not ashamed to say that I’m technologically challenged, in large part because I am not a fan of reading directions (it always frustrates my sister, Kenda). I’m the one who thinks that with a little common sense I could figure out how an item works by ripping a box open, plugging up whatever is in it, and them pushing a few buttons. I’ll have you know that this approach has worked for me on a number of occasions! Ask me sometime about my IPOD experience!

If I had the luxury of time, I would probably try printing them myself. But I’d like my new whereabouts to be known this century. So I have decided to leave it to the experts this time. I have worked on the National Stationery Show for 15 years, and have developed hundreds of wonderful relationships with exhibitors that specialize in personalization. How do I narrow it down? I could simply choose from the pool of exhibitors who have given me personalized thank you gifts over the years- Perfect Printer (see the pink heart notepaper at top); Olivia Mullin – I really love this notecard below -


Personalized Expressions, (here’s what they gave me at this year’s Show, below – love the stripe, Patti was right, stripes are in!)


and NRN – they gave me this, right after I got married.


But that would be too easy. I want to put more thought into it and expand my options.

I have decided to start by doing a search on the National Stationery Show website and looking at those companies in the personalization, imprintables, or invitations and announcements categories; then visit their websites and check out the designs, colors, and typography. I’m looking for simple, but elegant. My favorite color is navy blue, so I will definitely be drawn to anything that has blue in it.

I’m not sure who will end up with this important job, but I will update you in a future blog. I’ll even post the winning company and the design I chose. I’d love to hear who you suggest! Does anyone have any recommendations?

-Arque