We're excited to finally have some pictures to share of one of our favorite products we launched back in May at the National Stationery Show. Our Executive Note Pads come in three different sizes (small, skinny and large) and in a bunch of different combo packs. Best part? The pricing! Our small pad retails for $11, skinny for $13 and large for $16! Each pad comes with 75 sheets of paper personalized with your color (or colors), monogram, motifs, etc! With over 80 fonts, 80 monograms, 80 motifs and an endless abundance of different ink colors, it doesn't get much more customized than this!!! To order, give us a call (866.740.4222) or email us at info (at) hautepapier (dot) com!!
Walton Street Stationers
Walton Street Stationers is a consult only location. In the heart of Alexandria, Virginia, Nancy helps clients create wedding stationery and gifts personalized for each person in their lives. I wanted to ask Nancy some more information about Walton Street and how she started.
How many years have you been in business? I started my business in 1999.
Do you have a website, if so, what's the address? www.waltonstreetstationers.net
If you were to sell something other than stationery, what would it be? I would sell fabulous bespoke cashmere from Scotland...just like stationery, it is about color and texture and finding the perfect thing
Besides the obvious (stationery ), what is your favorite thing to give as a hostess gift? Some of my favorite things for hostess gifts, (besides notepads and coasters from Haute Papier) are: treats for the hosts pets, if they have them, or some special confections....once again, it is about finding the perfect thing for that person
Here at Haute Papier, we love to eat! When in NYC for the National Stationery Show, where is your favorite place to grab dinner? Two of my favorite spots in NYC are: Osteria al Doge at 142 W.44th Street. It is a great place to relax and enjoy fresh and fabulous Italian food, after being at the Show. Another favorite little spot, although further away, is: Bistro Chat Noir, at 22 E. 66th Street. It is a delightful little french bistro.
Any other tidbits about your store you'd like to share? Without a storefront, I work by appointment and will go wherever my clients are. The beauty of this is that I can give them my complete, undivided attention as we pick out their personal stationery, invitations, holiday cards, baby announcements, and gifts. It is such a treat to get to know clients over the years and to be a part of the milestones in their lives, as well as the everyday. Since I do not have a storefront, my business is based largely on referrals, which is the best compliment anyone can give. I also donate to causes that are important to me, as well as to my clients.
The Paper Shop
The Paper Shop in Winter Park, Florida draws you in! Ellen has been in business for 30 years! I just had to hear some of her stories and of course learn more about her dog Nikki! Ellen's store is a desired place for all wedding paper needs. The Paper Shop offers gifts, stationery, baby goodies and much more!
How many years have you been in business? I've been in business 30 years (how did that happen??). The shop opened in January 1981.
Do you have a website, if so, what's the address? www.papershop.com is our web address... our site went up in 1994 and we were doing e-commerce all over the world for a while (this was long before finestationery.com and wedding paperdivas,etc.)... now our site is just a marketing tool for the store.
If you were to sell something other than stationery, what would it be? What else would I be selling? Well, in the mid-'80's one of my customers talked me into opening a high-fashion shoe store with her .... it was great, but after 2 years I decided "partners are for dancing" and she bought me out (closing the shop 8 months later)... and, in 2000, I opened a linen shop, called Luxe Linens, which lasted 8 1/2 years... I closed it 3 years ago when the economy started to falter... but, we still carry linens in The Paper Shop.
Besides the obvious (stationery ), what is your favorite thing to give as a hostess gift? My favorite hostess gift to give is a silver wine stopper topped with Lapis or Malachite - if there is a drop of wine or champagne left over, it seals the bottle airtight, and looks pretty ... or, a fabulously scented Rigaud candle. My closest friends sometimes rate a small tin of good caviar.
Here at Haute Papier, we love to eat! When in NYC for the National Stationery Show, where is your favorite place to grab dinner? As for dinner in NYC ... after working as hard as we do, from 9 am until 6 or 7, there is no such thing as "grabbing" dinner....no, dinner is what gets me through the day and the thing I look forward to the most.
Several of my favorites have sadly closed last year, but my standby favorites are: Park Avenue Cafe (now known as Park Avenue Fall; Park Avenue Winter, etc) and 11 Madison Park. On that one night when I really can't face an entire evening out, I like to fall into the Brasserie (53rd St).
Any other tidbits about your store you'd like to share? I had one employee who worked for me (part-time) for 22 years, until she retired; another who has been with me for 13 years; several who leave (to go back to school, to get married, to move out of town) and then keep coming back (makes training a snap).
I am now writing wedding orders for brides whose birth announcements I wrote .... bar/bat mitzvah invitations for children whose birth announcements I've done ..... we've done some brides' first and second wedding invitations and currently are working on our first double wedding.... Every day brings a fresh new challange and a new story ... that's what keeps life interesting.
A little science experiment!
We had a fun moment last year at the National Stationery Show while visiting our friends at Sapling Press. Their collection of correspondence cards in cahoots with dearblankpleaseblank.com are great! They are super funny and there is something for everyone in the bunch. We were laugh out loud belly laughing in their booth! There was one card, though, that brought on confused looks rather than chuckles. It really stumped us. It was a note to Diet Coke from Mentos. We didn't get it ... at all! Lisa (owner extraordinaire of Sapling Press) had to explain that when you drop a Mentos into a Diet Coke an explosion occurs. Who knew? Okay so I guess it's sort of well know, but when we found a Diet Coke - Mentos - Geyser toy we knew we had to try this little experiment out ourselves. See the shenanigans below! Kuddos to Sapling for a great collection of greetings!
Give her a whirl, Pearl!
We had a bittersweet moment at Haute Papier this weekend as we said farewell to our first letterpress, Pearl. Our lovely Golding Pearl No. 11 Improved 7×11 press has officially been adopted by Sarah Hanks, Ltd. We're super excited for Sarah to get started on Pearl and can't wait to see what they print together for this year's National Stationery Show! We will of course miss our girl, but we have countless fond memories of our time together!
