More than a card, it's a memory.: March 2009

Find Your Inspiration using real orders from real customers...

I frequently receive phone calls from stores about custom designs. Armed with a sketch of their ideal design, the question is almost always consistent: Is it possible? And how much will it cost? I've found that we can almost always find an existing item within one of our 4 portfolios that pretty closely matches what their customer is looking for, with only a few minor tweaks.
The benefit of this is that the customer will be able to visualize the end product AND they won't have to pay custom design prices! A win-win for everyone! That's the great thing about Take Notice, we'll help you be as creative as you'd like with your customers! Your only limitation is your imagination!

A complete breakdown of a "real life" custom order:

Last month, Kate's Paperie associate Susan Schweitzer, had a customer with a very specific idea for a her Birth Announcement.

Customer requests:

A small 2 layered card, with a side-fold
A pastel pink ribbon tied on the fold side, with an additional score separating the ribbon from the folded announcement.
Plus a matching "thank you" without a photo.

The Diagnosis: After asking Susan a few questions about which requests were most important to the customer, we were able to find an existing item number that satisfied almost all of the customer's requests. We established that the customer was just as pleased by doing the ribbon tie at the top of the card, versus the side with an additional score. (Note: the great thing about using an existing item number is it will be more 'budget-friendly' for your customer versus doing a fully-customized card!)

The Design: For the Birth Announcement, we started with item BC018 (shown to the right), then we:

Selected the paper: Uncoated White
Choose the mat layer: Stardream Quartz
Customized the photo in Black and White
Choose the typestyle (Trajan) and font colors (Pastel Pink). note: You can use a second ink color or typestyle for no additional charge!
Customized: We added a pink grosgrain ribbon to the cover note: You can add a "pull-through" ribbon to almost any design for around a dollar per card
Selected an envelope liner: in Stardream Quartz, which matched the mat layer!

For the coordinating "Thank you" note we started with item BD123, to customize it, we:

Simplified the design by removing all existing patterns and text from layout
Omitted photograph note: if you find a card you like, but don't need a photo you may be eligible for a "photo credit" call for a quote!
Added text: the baby's name in a matching typestyle and ink color.
Customized: by adding the same Pink Grosgrain ribbon as announcement.

The Result: A unique, customized matching set that her customer was absolutely thrilled with!