Make social media a window, not a wall.

As a small business it can be very intimidating to dive into the culture of Social Media.  What is it? How can it benefit my business? What if I don't even have a website? The idea of even dipping a toe into the social media scene can be extremely overwhelming.  

There is no need to fear. All you need is a desire to learn, the willingness to try and a basic understanding the idea behind social media.

So, what is social media? Daniel Nations, (Webtrends), does a fantastic job at putting this into simplistic terms.  He writes “Think of regular media as a one-way street where you can read a newspaper or listen to a report on television, but you have very limited ability to give your thoughts on the matter. Social media, on the other hand, is a two-way street that gives you the ability to communicate too.” 

We must recognize that the market is shifting. The way in which customers find products and research companies has greatly changed. As small businesses, we must keep up with the pace so that we aren't left in the dust of our larger competitors.  I encourage you to check out Social Media Revolution, a video that illustrates how social media has impacted the marketplace.  

The key is to engage in conversation with your customers and allow them to be interact with your brand—allowing the 2 way street to happen.  When consumers begin to build a relationship with you it becomes easier for them the recall your name when they have a need for your service or product in the future. 

Let’s apply this idea to our industry. Most people commonly think of stationery products for certain events in life—the holidays, weddings, a new baby… this usually means that a significant amount of time passes between their purchases.  Utilizing social media as a stationery retailer allows you to stay connected with these customers all year long. Bottom line? Better customer retention and an increase in purchase frequency.

If you have a desire to learn more about how to use social media, where to begin, or how to more effectively use an existing platform, I encourage you to check out Mashable: The Social Media Guide.  This site is truly the mecca for all things related to social media.  Check out this links to all things Facebook and Twitter .         

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A great way to bring in the New Year...

It was incredibly stormy in Oregon on New Year's Eve. I had a front row seat watching Mother Nature's work as waves crashed against the sand, while sheets of the rain beat down on my window. It was an incredible sight from Oceanside, Oregon-- a small town along the Pacific Coast.  On New Year's Day, the sun came out just long enough to take my two dogs for a run on the beach-- which they LOVED!

Engagement Photo Tips from the Wedding Channel

Over the holidays three of my close friends became engaged.  As a loyal friend, it is my duty to peruse EVERY wedding website and magazine to ensure that my brides have all the latest and greatest information available to them! (Shh! We don't need to tell them that it's also part of my job!) 

This morning I stumbled upon a FANTASTIC article on  that offers great advice to couples interested in engagement photos.  Given that I have a background in photography, plus I'm surrounded by photographs all day for life's biggest occasions, I often get asked for the secret to creating the perfect photograph.

My number one answer? Be yourself.

Check our these great tips from the Wedding Channel!

  4 Fun Engagement Photo Shoot Trends

- Heather

Order of the Week

Check out this absolutely adorable design (B0911) from an actual customer in Seattle, using a new design from our 2009 Birth Announcement portfolio.

Congratulations to Ann at Silberman & Brown Stationers in Seattle, on her new grandson, Liam Reilly.

This small horizontal gatefold that features the newborn's name and monogram on the cover.  The top and bottom flaps open to showcase a darling photo along with all of the details on their new bundle of joy!

Retailer Spotlight...

A special thank you to 

Luv it! in Hinsdale, IL

This retailer was ROCKIN' in the month of October! The sent in orders back to back all month long! Their associates are always fun and easy to work with, plus they are open to suggestions from our creative team!  This is always a recipe for success!

Thank you to Jo and her crew!

Introducing a new face at Take Notice...

Wow, I realized this morning that it has been quite awhile since my last post-- needless to say that things have been quite crazy here at Take Notice over the last 2 months.

In early October, we moved into a new location in NE Portland's Beaumont district.  We quickly realized that moving is always so much more work that anticipated, but even through all the headaches we couldn't be happier about it!

Another big change in the office! Meet Lauren! We brought her in as our new customer service lead, to allow me to move into my new position-- Sales and Account Manager.   

Lauren (right) joined the company in September, which gave is just enough time to break her in for the holiday rush! She comes to us with a creative background in photography & video productions.  She is fluent in Spanish an loves to sing & dance! Her ultimate career goal is to take pictures and make films while traveling around the world. 

We are thrilled to have Lauren on our team-- she has already added some spice to the office!


Cheers! - Heather

Love is in the air...

Last night I watched the movie, 27 Dresses.  

Although I had already seen it on more than one occasion, I was reminded again how the thought of a wedding makes my heart flutter.  Maybe it's the proclamation of love between the bride and groom or maybe it's the exquisite attention to every last detail, from the save the date all the way though the last thank you note.  Maybe it's because I've secretly been planning my wedding since I was about seven (let’s not tell my boyfriend about that last one).  Whatever the reason, the point is that I am a sap for anything and everything wedding. 

So today, in the midst of my wedding high, I was perusing through theknot.com and came across come fantastic real-life photos from weddings around the country.  

As a fellow wedding enthusiast, I hope you enjoy these favorites, featuring the crisp hot colors-- orange and yellow.   – Heather

Slideshow photos courtesy of theknot.com-- please visit these links to see photos from these weddings.  Parasol bridal party  - Cupcake Birdcage Display - Cookie Recipe Favor - Lemon Centerpieces - Elegant Yellow & Crystal Centerpiece  - Orange Flower Cake - Summer Cocktail