Despite our technology-advanced world, some people still prefer the old fashioned ways of snail mail because it is still widely considered more professional and formal than email. To send a letter through the mail system, for example, thanking job prospects for their time following an interview in a stamped and sealed envelope may merit more credibility than just some crummy old basic email. But to send a letter on personalized stationary is to go that extra step and say “I care about my work as a professional individual.” Especially when in the midst of a job hunt, personalized stationary can be that one key differing factor that makes you stand apart from everyone else, and that ultimately lands you the job over anyone else. Set your letter, and yourself, apart from others with matching designed stationary and envelopes. Personalize your stationary to achieve that high quality, business ready attitude.

Whether it is for career advancements or friendly correspondence, personalized stationary offers a personal detail of care and class that can not be attained by anything else. Reawaken lost friendships through letters by correspondence. Send holiday letters on the full size length of 8×11 paper instead of those basic holiday Hallmark cards. Your recipients will surely feel the love through your decision to start your own tradition through a thought-bearing letter on stationary with matching themes on the envelopes.

No matter what the occasion, your stationary will merit the most response. People will comment on the elegance and notice the professionalism and care you give to all aspects of your life. Why not say what you want not only with words but with a carefully selected theme for matching stationary and envelopes. Amaze your family, dazzle your boss and connect with your friends this holiday and all the more to come with stationary that is personal to you and captures the passion and uniqueness of your personality and quirks.

Stationary is good for anything where a card or phone call would work. It requires extra time to do, so the time is automatically seen in the arrival of a stamped and sent letter. If you are congratulating someone on the new birth of their baby or thanking someone for their thoughtful birthday gift, or just rehashing the good old days with a high school chum, you never have to gyp yourself on the quality that makes you proud to be you.

Personalized napkins are always a hit at weddings, showers, and anniversary parties. People love seeing napkins laid out on the table in coordinating colors with the celebrant’s name and the date of the party. Personalized napkins always lend sophistication to the party’s table; why not enjoy them at your own dinner table?

The possibilities are endless for special occasions in which you can have these napkins made. But they are also great for ordinary dinners that are not celebrating anything special except for a dinner that is shared amongst family and friends.

You can have personalized napkins made with your family’s name and any message that you choose. Imagine impressing your dinner guests with a welcoming message on a napkin from your family. You don’t have to wait for a special occasion to use these napkins in your home.

Picking out napkins for entertaining is easy. Have them customized with your family’s name and something simple, such as “Welcome to Our Home.” Perhaps you would like to thank your guests for visiting, in that case you can have your family’s name and a simple massage such as “Thanks for Joining Us” monogrammed onto the napkins.

And there are so many different colors of napkins to choose from that you will have no problem finding a color that matches you tablescape or that coincides well with a theme for a dinner. If you are hosting a summertime barbeque go with a bold bright color, or if you are entertaining for the holidays pick out something seasonal.

Or, are you having a guest of honor at a dinner or upcoming party? Even if it is just a small celebration in honor of a family member napkins with a personal message will certainly be a hit. Having napkins personalized in order to commemorate a special occasion is a great idea, no matter how big or small the occasion may be.

Remember these napkins can be used for any occasion, big or small. Welcome a child home from college with a special message. Congratulate a spouse on their retirement on a special napkin. You’ll never run out of ideas or messages to have monogrammed onto personalized napkins.

The possibilities are virtually endless when it comes to selecting your own personalized napkins for your dinner table. They will lend an air of sophistication and add warmth to any occasion in which you use them.

A new year just started, a new decade begun, and resolutions are swirling everywhere. One great one that has come up on many people’s list is to connect more with those around them. For many people, connecting means talking on the phone or meeting for coffee. An even more retro take on this is to break out the personalized stationary and start corresponding with loved ones via letter.

In this day and age of email, text messages and social networks, personalized stationary seems quaint and silly. Who needs to send a letter when you can send a quick email? Why waste the time and money to pop off a note to a friend across town? Any mail that comes through which isn’t a bill is a welcome sight, and getting a note from a friend is heartwarming and kind.

People love to be told they are appreciated, and using personalized stationary to let them know is a great way to do this. One woman started writing a little note to friends and business associates any time she recalled a thing they did for her that was helpful or kind. Sometimes she would recall instances way in the past in which a friend was helpful. Those moments were small – a kind word when she was fearing for her job, or helping her pick up and move new furniture – but they meant a lot to her.

Sometimes spoken words aren’t enough. Thank yous often come easily when you see someone face-to-face. They become like water – necessary but not really fully appreciated. Find the time to write down your gratitude. A man who had a lukewarm relationship with his boss decided to send a small note thanking him for especially sage advice on dealing with a difficult client. This man had made the resolution to send more actual letters versus email, so he sat down at his desk one day and jotted a quick and genuine thank you. His boss was so touched that their relationship began to warm.

A few months down the line, the boss began throwing more valuable work in this man’s direction and letting him take the lead on a few more projects. The boss later told the man that by taking the time to send that note, he proved that he was thoughtful and could build relationships around the office and with clients.
Sending notes and thank yous shouldn’t be a means to an end. This sort of correspondence can have a great effect internally. Knowing that you are sending something that won’t just be deleted or archived in an email folder can be incredibly satisfying. Stepping away from the computer screen is a satisfying reward for the sender the receiver alike.

If you’re a rabid fan of personalized stationary or unique greeting cards, you have probably seen a lot of cards that boast embossed lettering or images. Cards are going retro with this technique, which has been used for centuries on stamps, in books and on notarized documents. This technique is accomplished by using heat or pressure, placing paper between two heated plates with the embossed feature on the plates.

You don’t, however, have to use dated styles to create your embossed personalized stationary. The technique has often been used on notes and letters by embossing a monogram at the top of the paper or on the front of the card. There are many ways to use embossing to create a stylish, unique and classy look without relying on the old monogram standby.

One great way to use embossing on your personalized stationary is to create an image on your cards or paper. This can be a take on your monogram, or initial, in order to tie your stationary to you. You could create an image of your profile – Hitchcock used his profile as part of the introduction to his movie series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents. If you have a unique profile, an interesting feature or a noteworthy hairstyle, it’s a great way to make your mark on your stationary.

Or create a little graphic that can be used for certain events. If you are a sucker for Valentine’s Day, you can create a beautiful card that’s personalized from you. Create a Christmas card embossed with your family’s name.
Another way to personalize your stationary is to use your signature as an embossed feature on the card. Your personal touch will be noticed by whoever receives your card or letters.
Borders, repeated patterns and textures could also be embossed on your stationary. Create a pattern that you appreciate. You could pull something from a book or magazine that you like, use a standard pattern or create something on your own to be embossed on your stationary. Use your last name’s initial letter and create a pattern out of that. If you have a girly side, use a flower image to create a patter, or even a border. If you have a western flair, emboss some cowboy hats on there.

This little bit of raised detailing is a great way to create a beautiful and high-class card, for everyday use or those special occasions where you just want to give a personal touch.

In this difficult economic climate, anything you can do to stand out is helpful when applying for jobs. Using personalized stationary for thank you notes, follow-up correspondence and general uses is a great way to make your mark on an employer’s memory. Your stately stationary in a pile of business correspondence will surely stand out.

Finding a great personalized stationary can let you send hand written notes and thank you letters, but can also be used in your printer to send invoices, cover letters and even resumes. If your paper is not a standard size, you might have to adjust your printer’s settings in order to properly print your items. This is a great way to coordinate your resume and cover letter – often, the letter and resume can look like completely different items from separate people. Using the same paper can make sure that your cover letter and CV stay together.

Personalized stationary can take on a professional feel. It’s important to consider how a business will look at your stationary. You might enjoy flowers, pink flourishes, or hunting motifs, but these shouldn’t be used for work correspondence. Adding your own touch is acceptable, but it should be subtle and adult. If you are in a creative field, you can stray from the beaten path and use bold colors and unique graphic treatments. If you are in a traditional business setting, stay with classic treatments. Use whites, creams and grays for your paper and ink colors and stay with traditional serif fonts.

Your stationary can even go beyond just paper – getting envelopes printed with the same details as your paper is a great additional detail. It creates a correspondence package that stands out in a stack of letters. It’s often possible to get business-sized envelopes to match, so you can send out your standard paper sizes in an envelope that matches. You can create a set of hand correspondence cards, with smaller envelopes to match, and larger paper and business envelopes for your resume and cover letter.

This sort of personalized correspondence is great if you are a freelancer. It can be used for additional items, like proposals, invoices and contracts. Using the personalized correspondence is a way to brand yourself as a freelancer, which is a great way to get repeat business.

To make a really solid business package, create a business card that matches the font and color of your personalized correspondence papers and envelopes. This can be given out at networking events, or can be tucked inside a resume or thank you card. It gives an added display of professionalism.

Writing business thank you notes is the just the first step in mastering business thank you note etiquette

They say that golf is essential to doing business. I don’t know about that, but I do know that etiquette is. Practicing proper business etiquette takes you (and your business) to the next level of professionalism in the eyes of your business partners, vendors and clients. That’s why learning how to write business thank you cards is so important.

Writing business thank you notes gives you a competitive edge

Knowing how to write a business thank you gives you the leg up

Business thank you note etiquette ranks among the top skills all professionals should hone in their arsenal of business etiquette tactics. Writing business thank you notes is as important as paying your bills on time and knowing your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. Believe it or not, learning how to write business thank you cards gives you a competitive edge. Continue reading ‘How To Write A Business Thank You Note and When To Send It’ »

The Customer Service Team at Giftsin24.com works hard to make sure all of our customers get exactly what they want. It’s safe to say that they’re more familiar with our personalized gifts and custom stationery products than just about anyone. So I thought it would be fun to find out what their favorite personalized gifts from Giftsin24.com are and why.  Here’s what they shared.

Customer Service Team Leader Brandon’s favorite personalized stationery:

• Classic Cotton Memo Square – “I actually got one as a gift before I started working here and I used it all the time. Now I make sure I always have one handy.”
• California Classic Frame Monogram Note in Red Pepper – “The quality and color of the paper are outstanding. The red is so vibrant and different from just about anything else we carry.”
• Mother Earth Banner Card – “I really like the paper used to make this embossed card. Some people call it “Desert Storm,” which I think is a cool name. I also like that it’s made from recycled paper.”

Brandon's favorite, the California Classic Frame Monogram Note in 'red pepper'

Jessica brings a feminine side to the team

Her favorite custom stationery products include:

Jessica's favorite, the Motherly Memo Square

Zeke, the newest member of the Giftsin24.com Customer Service Team, prefers:

• Vegas Cards – “I like the variety of colors offered in one set.”
• Caslon Note – “The lettering is simple but also sophisticated. I spent several years in the Marines, and for some reason, it reminds me of the formality and respect associated with military service.”
• Magnet Mates – “It’s so convenient. I like to keep my ‘to do list’ right there on my fridge.”

Zeke's favorite, the Vegas Cards

Although I’m not on the Customer Service Team, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite personalized gifts from Giftsin24.com, too:

• Deco Note – I think this embossed note is just beautiful. I’ve always been drawn to art deco motifs. The combination of the embossing and raised ink lettering give it such elegance.
• Splendor Lettersheets – This is one feisty lettering style! It gives the stationery a kick, especially when you choose a fun color like emerald, or the gold or silver metallic.
• Strasbourg Guest Towels – My mom always kept guest towels in her powder room, and I thought it was such an elegant touch. These embossed guest towels look luxurious but don’t come with a hefty price tag.
• “Hello” Bookplates – I wish I’d known about these earlier! The “Hello Cub” personalized bookplate is my favorite, but I think all of the designs are adorable.

One of my faves, Hello Cub Bookplates

Well, there you have it…a few favorite personalized gifts from the Giftsin24.com team.

 I hope this inspires you to get creative in your gift giving and also to find places in your life that can be brightened by personalized paper products!

Restore That Personal Touch With Custom Business Stationery

When did business get so impersonal? What happened to the days when the best business deals were done with a handshake or, better yet, a hand-written note? Of course, times change, but some things should stay the same…like using stationery to personalize certain business communications.

Granted, we need to streamline processes to keep up the pace, especially in today’s cutthroat market. Online communication certainly has its place. However, sometimes reverting to seemingly old-fashioned practices – sending personalized business note cards, for example – can actually catapult you ahead of your competition. In a word, it’s all about ‘personalization.’

The Intimate Impact Of Custom Business Stationery

That personal touch. Personalized attention. You know what I’m talking about – we hear it all the time. People appreciate and remember being treated like they’re special. Continue reading ‘Personalized Business Stationery Makes Business Sense’ »

Harrison Ford’s 1991 Film “Regarding Henry” And Personalized Stationery

In 1991, Harrison Ford starred in the movie ‘Regarding Henry,’ a film about a high-powered attorney who experiences an astonishing change of heart and soul after surviving a gunshot wound to the head.

A pivotal part of the storyline revolved around Henry Turner’s personalized stationery, which served as evidence of his infidelities prior to his injury. I vividly remember the stylish leather case of blue on blue engraved, personalized stationery being pulled from his armoire. Henry’s personalized stationery reflected his character: handsome, refined, rich.

Personalized stationery similar to that used in "Regarding Henry"

The Lasting Impact Of Personalized Stationery

I was a college student when the film appeared on the big screen, on the verge of adult life. Continue reading ‘Regarding Henry’s Personalized Stationery’ »

On June 15, we received the following email from a customer:

“In this tough economy jobs for college grads are hard to come by. My son applied for a position and was one of over a hundred applicants. Only 3 of the 100 wrote a personal thank you note for the interview. His was the only one on personalized stationery. His boss recently told him that the personalized stationery was the deciding factor…the difference that set him apart from the other applicants.  Thank you “Gifts in 24″ for turning out a quality product at an affordable price for your customers such as my son.”

Wow. Does it get any more convincing than that? Out of 100 applicants, this college grad distinguishes himself with a hand-written note on personalized stationery.

I got to talk with Tyler Stricklin and his mom, Pauline, who originally shared his story with us.

Giftsin24.com: Why did you choose to write a note on personalized stationery instead of sending an email?
Tyler Stricklin: Well since I was young I was always taught to write thank you notes. They started when I was young on construction paper and over the years they have developed in to your general cards with blank space to write comments. As I graduated college I wanted to be sure that my thank you notes to employers got the point across, made a bold statement, and stuck out from the other applicants’ notes. My personalized stationery accomplished everything and more. Continue reading ‘New Grad Lands Job with Help from Personalized Stationery’ »