Getting Personal with Giftsin24

Each month Daily Notes Journal will introduce a new member from the Giftsin24 team.  Our last introduction gave us the pleasure of meeting one of our zombie fighting graphic designers.  Today we would like to present one of the mad geniuses behind the Giftsin24 website.  His name is Dustin Baker, a direct marketing sage, a devoted bears fan and a biker who pops one heck of a wheelie.

Position: Director of Direct Marketing and supervisor of Giftsin24

Years with Giftsin24: 3.5 years

In ten words or less please describe what you do?

I supervise the navigation and content for Giftsin24.

What is the most exciting and most difficult part of your job?

Coordinating all of the creative workers and seeing all of their creative work: writing and artistic.

How has marketing changed over the years in respect to what you do?

Search Engine Optimization by far – at first it was to advertise and work on the best offer, but the focus has turned into SEO.

Give me (a new customer) your perfect sales pitch…What would you say to convince me that stationery is relevant to my life?

To open an email, read and delete it is very impersonal.  But to receive a letter, not only hand written, but personalized with their name is something that I will never want to throw away.  It is something more special than receiving a text or an email.

 Some may say you have a bad side because you ride a motorcycle is this true?

I ride a motorcycle because it is what my family grew up on.  It is more enjoyable than riding in a car, and I get to save on gas.

Bears or Packers?

Bears…..BY FAR!!!!!!!!!!!

Which comic book superhero or villain would you choose to be and why?

Bobby Drake (aka: Iceman).  He is considered one of the 4 most powerful mutants in the marvel universe, yet he is still the most underrated Hero.  This guy needs some love.

What is your favorite Giftsin24 item?

I love the new Family Photo Lists.  They are exciting to have and easy to create.  I can add any photo to these items, and the prints come out nice and clean.

Where do you see Giftsin24 in the near future?

Giftsin24 will still be an industry leader in personalized stationery, notepads and napkins.  This is because we are competitive in our prices as well as being the fastest in the industry in production and shipment.

If you were stuck on a deserted island, but could have three luxuries what would they be?

• Pencil and paper (I can draw all day long and not get bored)
• Water Filter pump (yes, I need clean water)
• Toilet paper (I can’t be using leaves now, you never know what are on those things)

Stationery at Center Stage

Part review and part introduction, today’s journal entry will focus on two new products.  Our product line is growing each month and we need to share all the goodies we currently have in our collection.  We have appropriately called this entry center stage because today’s products have earned their right underneath the spotlight.

The Importance of Family

What is your definition of family? Your experiences will probably skew your response.  The importance of family can be summed up in one picture.  Say cheese! Count the number of times you have taken a family photo.  You don’t have enough fingers or toes to keep track of all those humiliating experiences.

Daily Notes’ Spotlight: Photography

Look through your photo album or take out that shoebox filled to the brimful with old photographs of you and your family standing in front of a fake backdrop.  Yes, what you are looking at is your reflection – a younger you – dressed in an odd getup and a dated hairstyle.  There is nothing wrong with visiting the past.  It’s an opportunity to remind ourselves of who we were once and to remember the people who are the most important to us.

Your Busy Lifestyle

We tend to let our schedules dictate our relationships. Is this true? Yes.  No.  Maybe.  There isn’t a right or wrong answer to this multiple-choice question.  All you need is just a bit of honesty and a game plan to change your relationships.  Human beings are natural list takers.  Believe it or not, when things get more hectic than usual, our first reaction is to organize what is chaotic – your busy lifestyle.

Each product review is divided into four categories.

Design: We will discuss elements like layout, color scheme, placement of lettering style, and monograms.

Personalization Options: This category answers the question: how can I make this item my own? Elements like ink and paper colors, lettering styles, and print methods will be discussed.

Class: Who would like this item?

The HUB: This is what we call the main feature of the item.  In other words, this is the reason (among others) why you should order this item.

Landscape Photo List

Design: A horizontal design features two lines of customization located at the top left and bottom right corner.  A photograph is placed on the right side of the page suggesting a playful arrangement.

Personalization Options: Two lines of customization are strategically positioned on each side.  A photograph emphasizes the landscape design.

Class: For moms and dads on the go.  For list takers who want a different experience.

The HUB: The horizontal design is unlike what list takers are used to.  This makes for an interesting and fun time at the grocery store.  A high quality reproduction of your photograph is a fun bonus.

Vertical Photo List

Design: A photograph is placed between two lines of customization and centered at the bottom of the page.  Each element is significant to the design.  Consider your options carefully.

Personalization Options: A top and bottom line can be customized any way you like.  Sing the alphabet twice.  That’s how many characters you can fit on each line.  Include any photograph in this design – a family portrait, your significant other or a photo of your pet.

Class: Moms, Dads, grandparents, and kids.

The HUB: The vertical design fits perfectly in your hands.  The photograph is a standard jpeg, but it’s printed using the highest quality inks.

I will be the first one to say that high fashion doesn’t make sense.  The hair, the makeup and the costumes, it’s all a reminder of how much I don’t know about the fashion world.  Most guys are clueless about the latest fashion trends.  Give us a white t-shirt, a pair of torn jeans and a bandana and you’ll have us singing – Born in the U.S.A – while we walk down the catwalk.  Fashion, what ever that might be at this given moment, is not just personal style, but a reflection of how we feel.  We are the end result of every stitch, fabric, pattern and design element that encompasses our wardrobe.  Your closet is a roller coaster of emotions, so hold on tight.

Your Notepad…Your identity

If you’ve ever had the trouble of choosing an outfit for a wedding ceremony, a birth day party or a Tuesday, then choosing a notepad is not going to be easy.  Notepads now come in a variety of customization options, which means that you are probably going to be at odds with what’s available.  Choose from a variety of ink and paper color options, upload your own artwork or a personal photograph, or simply decide on a lettering style you like.  In the end, your notepad is like the outfit you chose to wear today.  It is a reflection of how you want the world to perceive you.

Don’t Take It Personally!  

Personalization is a word we use quite often.  It implies freedom…William Wallace would be proud.  Personalization is a word used to describe the freedom that you are given to express yourself visually on a piece of stationery.  Acknowledge a family member or friend on a card by saying thank you or honor the birthday boy or girl with a fun note.  Personalization also suggests personality.  The way you personalize your next stationery item can say a lot about what you do and who you are.

Your Daily Notes’ Check List

Consider the following features before choosing your next notepad.

• Paper quality: Shuffle through the paper like you would a deck of cards.  If it feels firm to the touch then you have a winner.  Also, listen for the sound your notepad paper makes.  Ever hear the propeller of a single jet airplane roaring in the distance? Yup, that’s the sound of paper gold.

• Ink: It’s the print quality of the ink that will make a notepad stand out.  First impressions are everything.

• Personalization: The way you choose to customize your notepad is important.  Factors like your career, personal taste, and location (like your home or office) may way heavily in your decision.

Introducing Three Designer Notepad Mockups

The following notepad mockups all have different themes and design elements inspired by the four cardinal points, the ocean or geometric shapes that feature a digital Arabic look.  Each notepad has a distinctive font, one line of personalization, and feature ink colors that are appropriate to the look of each concept.

Digital Canopy List

Surfs Up List

Nautical Name List

Giftsin24 will continue to introduce new design concepts each month.  We want to know what you think.  Should we incorporate more design elements like those featured above? 

The winner: Stationery!

I See Dead Pixels

Technology is constantly changing.  It is unpredictable.  This means that most of your beloved gadgets and gizmos are only good for eight months after purchase.  What a lousy deal, right? Well, it’s part of the wonderful world of making a profit.  If things were meant to last then powerhouse companies like Microsoft and Apple would be out of business.  Let’s be frank, most tablets and smart phones used by the average tech eccentric will seek their demise at the given time frame above.  Congratulations, you just purchased the most expensive paperweight on the face of the earth.

It’s alive! It’s alive! It’s alive!

Dr. Frankenstein may have been out of his mind, but he was on to something.  I don’t mean raising the dead – that can get messy – no, I mean turning something out of nothing.  We create with the combination of our words meaning and emotion that may break or build relationships.  Texting and email only define the brief moments of our lives.  Turn the special moments in your life into keepsakes that can be treasured forever.

You Have a Code to Uphold  

This is a code all swashbucklers and gentlemen live by, a code defended by the use of a pen rather than a sword.  This is not a post to convince you that technology is, well, bad.  This is a post to remind you that stationery has a place in your life regardless of how many gadgets are attached to your hip.  That place is determined, believe it or not, when you choose to write something down – a note, a message or letter that is well written and thought out.

Shop all personalized cards and notes today!

Stationery and Your Digital Camera

Stationery in many ways is not just stationery any more.  The integration of different materials is more common now than before.  This mixture of inks, papers, paints, objects, and photographs has transformed stationery into a long lasting form of communication.  One of the most popular trends, one that has been revived over the past few years, is the use of photos in wedding and birthday invitations.  Some would even say that this visual detail is necessary to accentuate a planned event or occasion.  Your digital camera has proven to be a vital tool.

Wedding Invitations and Announcements – A Timeless Trend

Wedding invitations, some would say, easily cross the threshold of what the art connoisseurs call art.  Invitation design has become just as extravagant as any other detail carefully planned by the bride and groom.  It’s a big deal.  Incorporate your photograph in your invitation or announcement and give your design a polished look.

The Importance of Recording Your Memories 

Weddings, birthdays, even a child’s first step, we use technology like our beloved smart phones to record the important memories in our lives.  Today, we can turn any moment into a keepsake by a click of a button.  Let’s not debate about the positive and negative effects of technology in our daily lives.  It is an open-ended discussion.  The importance of recording your memories has become even more extraordinary on paper.

Family Photos – Do You Want Cheese With That?

Your family photos are now an intricate part of the design.  Stationery has evolved into a more refined art form.  Photography can now be added to any personalized card at a much higher resolution.  This means that your photos are reproduced using better equipment, richer ink colors and higher quality photographic paper.  Be assured that your pictures will get the accolades they rightfully deserve.  It’s just a matter of uploading each snapshot.

Birth Announcements – It’s a boy! It’s a girl!

Include a photograph for this special introduction.  Proud parents have a tendency to show off and that’s understandable.  Stationery is their new platform.  Visit our birth announcement’s gallery for more items that incorporate photographs, colorful patterns and adorable illustrations.

Upload your photo – It’s Easier Than You Think…

All you need is a basic digital camera with a resolution of 4 megapixels.  An expensive camera with a higher megapixel count and all the fancy features doesn’t always mean that your photographs will come out flawless.  Don’t make the mistake of spending a hefty sum on a piece of equipment that takes practice to learn.  A point and shoot camera will do just fine.  Once you take your prized shot it’s all up to the printer now.

Many of our stationery items feature easy to follow instructions, but if you need more assistance contact our customer service team.

Cupid’s Dilemma

Once again we are forced to stare cupid in his smug little face and conform to this gaudy holiday.  No, I’m not bitter.  I’m intrigued like all of you by this yearly ruse of sweets, flowers and romance.  O.K. – maybe I’m just a little cranky.  Cupid’s dilemma is when you’re counting down the seconds to Valentine’s Day, confused and empty handed.  In other words, you just can’t decide on the perfect gift for your sweetheart and time is ticking fast.

At the Heart of a Legend

For being one of the most venerated saints, Saint Valentine didn’t make it any easier for us did he? Granted, Saint Valentinus didn’t have it easy either, after all, he was a martyr or so the legend goes.  In one of the most popular tales, a priest named Valentine is imprisoned for performing the sacrament of marriage.  The Roman Empire outlawed this exchange of vows along with many other Christian traditions.  Soldiers were also forbidden this rite on account that the emperor believed that they made lousy soldiers.  Once imprisoned, Valentine heals the blind daughter of his jailer and before he is killed, he sends her a note with the words, from your valentine, as a gesture to remember him by.

To My Valentine,  

The importance of giving your beloved stationery as a gift has become more relevant over the past few years.  It’s true.  Significance surpasses monetary value.  Due to factors like the economy this sentiment has become even more apparent.  The act of sharing your feelings or thoughts on paper is a tradition that extends far beyond any culture, country or generation.  It’s a universal expression of the heart.  Here are our gift choices for this Valentine’s Day.

Each product review is divided into four categories.   

• Design: We will discuss elements like layout, color scheme, placement of lettering style, and monograms.
• Personalization Options: This category answers the question: how can I make this item my own? Elements like ink and paper colors, lettering styles, and print methods will be discussed.
• Class: Who would like this item?
• The HUB: This is what we call the main feature of the item.  In other words, this is the reason (among others) why you should order this item.

Heart Squares with Crystal Clear Holder

Design: A heart is centered on this spacious square and customized with one line.  The layout makes a clear statement by incorporating positive and negative space in its design.  You are in love…

Personalization Options: Choose from eight different ink colors.  Customize one line with up to 45 characters or a brief sonnet.

Class:  Made for the one you love.

The HUB: Each Heart Square comes with its own sturdy crystal clear holder.

Chromatic 7 Tablet Set with White Linen Holder

Design: Your first and last name is printed on the top of each tablet.  An ellipsis is also added to give a sense of intrigue.

Personalization Options:  Choose from four different paper colors: pink, blue, green and orange.  Daily Note’s Reminder: If you want your full name printed on all 7 tablets leave the first name box empty.

Class: Students, teachers, professionals and slackers – this item makes a wonderful gift all year round.

The HUB: There are 7 tablets in this set, three different sizes and one handy linen white holder…enough said.

Shop all of our unique Valentine’s Day gift items for him and her!

Two Hearts Foil-Stamped Napkins

Design:  Two hearts are intertwined at the top of this 3 ply paper napkin.  Three lines of customization are placed stylishly underneath.

Personalization Options:  Choose from a variety of paper and foil colors.

Class: Appropriate for birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries or any romantic gesture you can possibly think of.

The HUB: The number of paper and foil color combinations is astounding.  Find the right one to compliment your decor.

Notable Note

Design: A monogram is placed in the center of this 6.2″ x 4.5″ note.  The lettering style adds a sense of whimsy to the overall design.

Personalization Options: Choose from ten ink colors and two paper colors.  Matching envelopes are included.  Daily Note’s Reminder: Return address on envelopes for this item is free.

Class: If you are looking for a playful, modern and sophisticated design this note is for you.

The HUB: This monogram is contemporary and playful enough for the home or workplace.

Correspondence in the workplace  

Reread your favorite book, memorize a scene from a memorable film or learn the lyrics to a catchy song, we are all compelled in some way to take action.  This indiscernible force, a fire which burns endlessly inside each of us, is a poetic representation of something greater.  We, the working drones in this industry, call this flame the spirit.  It is this that motivates us to create stationery intended to thank, revere, congratulate, and celebrate the people in your life.  What inspires you?

Daily Notes’ Paper Picks

Our book picks of the month examine the use of paper in creative ways, the etiquette behind stationery and a timeless history of paper gifts that many of us are probably unaware of.

·Origami Stationery Kit: Elegant Folded Note Cards and Envelopes for a Personal Touch – Authors: Michael G. LaFosse & Richard L. Alexander

·The Complete Engraver: Monograms, Crests, Ciphers, Seals, and the Etiquette of Social Stationery – Author: Nancy Sharon Collins

·Paper Made! 101 Exceptional Projects to Make Out of Everyday Paper – Author: Kayte Terry

·A Splendor of Letters (An examination of the many materials used to record information) – Author: Nicholas A. Basbanes

Great things to come…

The month of February works to transform the outdated office environment into an electrifying playground for professionals.  The message is quite clear – you work hard everyday, so why not play hard too? The office of the future brings modern furniture, equipment, paper goods and stationery that are both stylish and functional.  The following events will feature workshops, lectures, award ceremonies and exhibitions geared to making the average office environment a more pleasant one.                     

Please visit the appropriate event website for more information.

Hong Kong International Stationery Fair (Hong Kong)

This leading trade fair is Asia’s largest and most popular stationery fair, bringing paper gifts and office products to the public.

High-Tech Office Expo Rudrapur (Rudrapur, India)

Architects, interior designers, paper manufactures, communication and office managers, IT gurus, office equipment importers and exporters and every other professional who work hard to give us a pleasant working environment will present their products and equipment.

Ambiente (Frankfurt, Germany)

This consumer goods fair will house over 4,500 exhibitors presenting products relating to the kitchen and household sector including interior design, stationery and decorative furnishings.

Office Automation Stationery and Printing Fairs (Nonthaburi, Thailand)

This four day event will feature new products like office furniture and equipment, stationery and paper goods, audio visual, security and IT services and solutions.

Valentine’s Day is next month and we admit that this may have something to do with the inspiration of this post.  We are fools for romance.  It’s the price we pay for working in this industry.  Now, press pause.  Your brain needs the rest from watching all those sappy love films.  Get off the couch and place the carton of ice cream back inside the refrigerator.  Each year the number of weddings on Valentine’s Day increases.  Please ignore the clichés.  The data makes an interesting discovery.  Your chances of getting hitched on this day is greater than the ever before, so you might want to take notes.

…I have everything covered, I think…

• Typos: Your guests are critics in disguise.  Every period, comma and misspelled word is a reflection of the kind of ceremony your guests will expect.

• Forget to sign your name? It’s not just your John Hancock that people will expect to see.  Your name also implies personality and that should echo out naturally.  Your signature just like your personality is a unique representation of who you are.

• Quantity: This is a simple equation to figure out.  All it takes is knowledge of basic arithmetic and knowing who your B.F.F is.  This bit of honesty will determine your guest list.

• Email: No matter how savvy you may think you are behind a keyboard and a computer screen a wedding e-invite is no excuse.  Your wedding is an important gala and your guests should see it as that.

• Timeline – save the date – the right date.  Always remember to double and triple check the information you provide your printer.  You can never be too safe.

• Formal or traditional – Choose your words wisely.  A wedding is a formal occasion.  Getting married in Las Vegas by a lousy Elvis impersonator is no reason to be nonchalant with your personalization.

• A must have – Be smart about postage.  Your invitations should include the following: a wedding response card, a reception card, directions and maps.  Oh and don’t forget stamps.

• Budget: Be decisive.  This is easier said than done, right? A budget is easy to abide by.  It’s just a matter of knowing how much you can spend – not how much you want to splurge.

• Anatomy – What should your wedding invitation look like?

• Hosts – traditionally meant to identify the bride’s parents or whoever pays for the wedding
• Request – the official invite: request the honour of your presence
• Bride and groom line – who is getting married?
• Date and time – spell it out – always start with the day of the ceremony
• Location
• Closing – your invitation should contain no such thing – each word should be precise and should answer the following: who, what, when, where, why and how.

• Wrong font – We have given you the tools to be a better judge of character – literally.  Choosing the right type will help establish the look of your wedding.  It all starts with the invitation.

Start here for Best Selling Wedding Invitation Ideas

Which font did you choose for your wedding announcement? Nuptial? Rook? Brittany? How about your birthday party invitation? Finding the right font can be overwhelming, especially when your options are much greater than before.  Graphic designers call this search of fonts a shell game.  Why? Well, because there are endless amounts of fonts available and only one fool with the same amount of bad luck.  Want our advice? Here is your chance to break that losing streak.

According to Ryan Monahan, Giftsin24 resident type designer, choosing the right lettering style is a matter of preference and three important elements.  “I think a font should have three things, consistency, style, and personality,” Ryan says.  But is it really that easy? Yes and no.  Your favorite font might be right in front of you.  How can you tell? Let’s start at the beginning and learn the basics.  “Most type design is derived from the motion and strokes of the human handwriting motion,” he explains. “We need consistency to comprehend that what we are seeing is the letter r and not an n.  What about style and personality? Those elements Ryan says are “a big part of the design process and are learned through the observations of everyday life.”

Cram for it: This will be on the Pop Quiz

Let’s review the following terms again:

• Placement – How are words used?

The placement of your message on a card or note signifies importance.  Whether your personalization is centered, set right or left, each position carries meaning.  After all, your words are important, are they not?

• Letter size – What is the content of the message?

A magnifying glass, unless you are a gung-ho sleuth for hire, is unnecessary if your favorite font is the right letter size.  What is the right letter size? A ten point font or higher is suitable for most readers.  The content of your message will be determined by the celebration or special event in question.  Remember, a larger font may be more appropriate for a birthday card than a card meant to share your sympathy.

• Clarity – Is it readable?

If you need a code breaker to decipher your message then you might want to rethink about using that font.  Clarity, other than the terms mentioned above, is the most important design element in a lettering style.  Your words should be easily read – it’s that simple.

For Your Eyes Only: Three Original Lettering Styles

In a prior post we wanted your take on three mock-up personalized notes.  Today we present, with much anticipation, the following fonts.  They are perfect examples, to say the least, of how bold shapes, relaxed strokes, and vertical lines can make an unforgettable impression by incorporating conventional design elements.

Font name: Cynthia

Ryan’s advice: Look for characteristics that draw the eye in like bold shapes. 

“Any type designer or letter lover like me would say that oversized unbracketed ball terminals are the first features that jump out at you.”

Font name: Conord

Ryan’s advice: Imperfections are sometimes good design elements.

“This font’s imperfections give it a hand drawn look that calls your attention.  I try to make sure it all looks consistent in looking inconsistent.” 

Font name: Empire Heights 

Ryan’s Advice: Vertical lines will get you noticed.  

“Most people tend to gravitate towards tall vertical typefaces.  They have a classier aesthetic regardless of other more prominent characteristics.”

Visit our online catalogue to see more lettering styles, ink and paper color choices.

What now?

Use this information at your own discretion.  A lot of the decisions that graphic designers make are based on trial and error.  There are no secrets or tricks of the trade that will turn you into a pro overnight.  When in doubt study the fundamentals like the advice given above.  But if you are still at odds with how much you know or don’t know remember this last piece of advice from our type design master Ryan Monahan,  “When shopping for stationery I would definitely put legibility at the top of my list.  If I can’t read the font it defeats the purpose of using it.”

We want your input.  What do you think about the above lettering styles? Should we incorporate them in our collection of personalized cards and notes? Let us know.

Barbaric may be a harsh word.  It means cruel, savage, primitive and unsophisticated.  I am sure that most of you will probably take action and search for the definition on Google.  I don’t blame you.  While I expect many terse comments from all those who read this post, allow me first to explain why I chose this term.  It is by no means a reflection of what I think of you.  In fact, many of you are confident and poised individuals who do not care about the ramblings of a writer who suffers from a mild case of gobbledygook.

What I really mean

The word barbaric can also indicate chronology as in time.  Technology, the knowledge applied to a given field of study, is often labeled by an accepted measure of continuity.  This length of action or timetable is determined by two factors: current advancements and how much of a dreamer you are.  Jetpacks and flying cars look exciting on paper, but can these sorts of machines one day become a reality? Ah, yes, the definitive question.  Eggheads, academics and the pundits from Silicon Valley would be the first to differ.

I, like all of you, am curious about the next high tech gimmick.  Years ago, we couldn’t even imagine the fruition of flat or touch screens, 3D cinema or CGI and now, our brains are overloaded with visual dribble.  There is much to be said about what passes for great cinematic achievement when every film is shot in 3D.  A 55-inch flat screen is insufficient.  Every child must learn how to text before they learn how to write and your car must park itself.  This post may be the ramblings of an ill-mannered stringer, but he will gladly convince you that we are all barbarians living in a digital society.

Make up your mind already 

If we measure how far we have come by my undisclosed and unsystematic method, then we are by no means barbaric.  The fact that you are reading this post on your computer, tablet or smartphone supports my outlandish notion.  The gadgetry we use today has made it easier for us to communicate with our family and friends in ways that are more convenient and quick.  Long since the invention of the telephone, the Internet has made this even more apparent.

Where does stationery fit in all this?

Well, we still value the emotional and fundamental significance of a handwritten response.  The human psyche is just that uncomplicated.  With the transition of print media currently taking its toll, which one can argue is a clear sign that more people are escaping to a digital format, our need to stay connected to the world remains the same.  As a result, we have become more critical about how we communicate with each other.  Is the pen mightier than the sword? Are we barbarians because we like to take arms by writing things down or heaven forbid read a sentence in black ink? The answer is quite apparent – yes!  But is that such a bad thing? In the midst of what technology has become, a fleeting contraption after another, stationery prevails.

One image comes to mind

Last year, Hurricane Sandy left 9 million people without electricity leaving those with smartphones, tablets and laptops without a working socket to plug into.  The media went frantic reporting hundreds of people roaming the streets trying to find a place to power up their beloved gadgets.  Gasoline stations and hotels offered their limited resources, but only a few reaped the benefits.  Many others were left communicating with loved ones by writing letters, notes and messages on pieces of discarded paper, brown paper bags, wrapping paper and stationery.