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Here’s a sneak peek of the wedding slideshow I just made for the Carolina Inn Bridal Fair in Chapel Hill this weekend, featuring loads of luscious letterpress. Enjoy the drop-dead gorgeous photography by superstars Richard Israel, Smock, Nancy Ray, and Kristin Vining. What’s your favorite? |
Can you feel it? There is a shift in the air that is palpable. Brought about largely by the economic downturn that ushered in the New Economy, there is a clear shift away from Rampant Materialism and toward The Meaningful ~ meaningful relationships, meaningful communications, and meaningful purchases. In other words, toward Things That Matter.
Retail store owners who are in the glass-half-empty camp are crying in their soup over this shift. It is not easy to be a retailer these days. It is no longer enough to have great products and excellent service. People are no longer looking for ways to spend their freely flowing money, but are instead carefully considering nearly every purchase.
I happen to be firmly in the glass-half-full camp and I have not been this excited in years!
On Christmas Day, as I reflected on 2010 and pondered the advent of 2011, I found myself asking several questions that began with the phrase “What if?” {Those who know me know that my sentences often start with this phrase.}
What if my business could make a real difference in the lives of others?
What if my retail stores sold Things That Matter, rather than just things?
What if Salutations inspired, and even fostered, The Meaningful?
What if my business could serve as a vehicle to give back in a larger and more meaningful way to causes that greatly impact the lives of others?
What if my boutiques attracted a community of positive, inspired people who feel the same way?
And then, in a flash of true inspiration, the answer to all of these questions hit me in the form of another question . . . “Why not?!”
So here goes. . . . Salutations is redefining the meaning of “retail therapy” and I hope you will come along with me.
Going forward, my product selection process for Salutations will be based on a framework known as the “triple bottom-line”: People, Planet and Profits. As of January 1, 2011, any new product or line that I bring into Salutations must meet one or more of the following criteria:
~ positively impacts people through economic empowerment, education, and/or enhanced quality of life for a community {think TOMS Shoes} or by simply inspiring the end user to live more fully or more healthily {like the 5 Book}
~ positively impacts the planet by being eco-friendly and employing sustainable manufacturing practices {think Smock, our fabulous line of wedding invitations made by a company that really walks the walk}
~ contributes a portion of profits in a meaningful way to at least one cause that makes one of the above positive impacts {Smock does this too!}
In addition, I will contribute a percentage of Salutations’ annual profits to two high-impact charities that are close to my heart:
~ Wine to Water, founded by Doc Hendley {named 2009 CNN Hero} when he was a bartender in Raleigh, North Carolina. The mission of the charitable organization is to provide access to clean water in developing countries. {Did you know that more children die from water-related illnesses than AIDS, malaria and measles combined?}
~ Room to Read, founded by ex-Microsoft executive John Wood, whose mission is to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. This organization recently received a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator, the highest rating possible, due to Wood’s business-based approach to the non-profit, charitable entity.
I am proud to say that a large number of the products already carried by Salutations meet these criteria, including:
Smock ~ wedding invitations and stationery letterpress printed on paper made from bamboo, a truly sustainable and renewable resource. Smock’s printing facility is also wind-powered and 100% carbon-neutral. In addition, they routinely give back to environmental causes.
Blabla ~ beautiful, cuddly dolls and other items hand-knit by Peruvian artisans from natural fibers grown in Peru
Compendium ~ inspirational gift books and greeting cards
TableTopics ~ sets of cards with thought-provoking questions that help families stay connected by engaging in conversation
Candles, diffusers, and bath & body products made from natural ingredients like soy and essential oils
Banner Bags ~ stylish and durable tote bags made from upcycled event advertising banners
As a part of this new direction, we will begin to post informational signage throughout the store that will let you know the positive impact of these products, as well as offering more detailed information about the products and their producers for those who are interested in learning more.
Of course, the products must still be stylish, functional and high-quality. My goal is to have people fall in love with a product because of the product itself, with the “cherry on top” being the story of the positive impact created by the product. {You won’t be seeing any wood-carved tribal masks gracing our shelves ~ while beautiful in their own way, they don’t really fit the Salutations look and feel.}
What do you think of this new Retail Therapy, as redefined by Salutations? Do you know of any great products that meet one or more of the new criteria? Please leave a comment ~ I would love to hear your feedback and product suggestions. I’d also love to hear any “What if?” stories that have sent you in a new direction this year.
On the twelfth day of Christmas gifting, inspiration came to me . . . in the form of personalized note cards printed on the spot! Are you in a crunch for time but would really like to give a personalized gift? We have the answer for you!
Salutations has just launched the Stationery Bar from Harmony Row Press. This innovative program allows you to select your note card design, select your envelope color, and get the personalized cards printed while you shop. There are more than a dozen designs available, with most designs offered in a choice of colors. Sets of 10 personalized note cards and coordinating envelopes are just $16.50. Add a return address for just $5 per set.
Have you ever heard the saying “Quality, Speed or Price ~ Pick two, because you can never get all three”? Well . . . with this new Stationery Bar program from Harmony Row Press, you can get all three! Great designs, personalized and printed while you shop, and at a fantastic value!
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On the eleventh day of Christmas gifting, inspiration came to me . . . in the form of stylish stamps. Give the gift of endless possibilities for personalization of just about anything ~ note cards, calling cards, bookmarks, wine tags, stickers, gift tags, and more.
It’s not too late to give this terrific and personalized gift for Christmas! We have all sorts of options for gifting these stamps.
We have stamp kits themed for the Book Lover, Cook, Gift Giver, and Weddings. We also have mix-and-match options where you can purchase a blank stamper, along with your choice of several ink colors, changeable motif sets, as well as a gift certificate so the recipient can decide exactly how he or she would like the stamp personalized.
With so many options, you can take care of several people on your list. The only hard part will be in picking who should get which set!
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On the tenth day of Christmas gifting, inspiration came to me . . . in the form of a year’s supply of the most eco-friendly toothbrushes. This unique gift set provides a foolproof way of remembering when to change your toothbrush. Each toothbrush, made from sustainably forested bamboo, displays three months of the year etched into its handle.
There are two other sets available ~ one set features the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the handle, while the other set reminds you to Meditate, Ruminate, Concentrate, and Contemplate. Each set comes in a giftable kraft box with a clear lid. {Set of 4 toothbrushes, $12.50}
On the ninth day of Christmas gifting, inspiration came to me . . . in the form of the most beautiful writing instrument. This Limited Edition Walden Woods rollerball pen from Faber-Castell epitomizes fine writing. The barrel is made from historic, naturally fallen ash wood from the famous Walden Woods. Platinized metal parts provide the finishing touches to this German-made pen. Each pen is individually numbered.
The gorgeous barrel, which darkens over time from the oil on your hands, features a passage from Henry David Thoreau’s Walking manuscript in his original handwriting.
Faber-Castell supports the efforts of the Walden Woods Project and American Forests Historic Trees. With each purchase, a new tree will be planted in the Walden Woods. The pen comes in a beautiful wooden gift box with a limited edition certificate. {Walden Woods rollerball pen, $600}
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On the eighth day of Christmas gifting, inspiration came to me . . . in the form of very sad news of the passing of one of my most beloved and loyal customers, and a $25 credit through Small Business Saturday. What does this loss have to do with a promotion from American Express? {Bear with me on this one, it does end well.}
Yesterday afternoon, I received a call from Sara in the Chapel Hill store letting me know that our treasured Mrs. Mangum had passed away. Elizabeth “Liz” Mangum, for those who did not have the good fortune to know this jewel of a woman, was 80 years young and the epitome of warmth, grace and generosity. I had only been open a few short months in Chapel Hill when she first visited Salutations in 2002. She captured our hearts instantly by engaging us in her witty conversation, laughing heartily at the Patience Brewster cards that she so dearly loved, and enriching our lives with her stories of foreign travel, the opera, museums, and her family and friends.
It was always a treat when Mrs. Mangum would visit our store, chauffeured there by her husband Ben who {after spending several trips waiting in the car} began to accompany her into the shop and engage in the always fascinating conversations until he became one of our family as well. Mrs. Mangum would leave with dozens of greeting cards that she would faithfully send to her friends and relatives at every occasion and every holiday. Every year, she would order 200-300 Christmas cards {usually a Crane engraved card with her favorite combination of fine art and religious sentiment} and she would painstakingly {literally, due to severe osteoporosis} spend months signing each one with a special handwritten message inside. In fact, when I first saw the Madonna & Child holiday card pictured above in the Crane album this year, I thought “Ooh, I know Mrs. Mangum will love this card.” Now, I’m heartened by an image of Mrs. Mangum skipping merrily through the pearly gates and waltzing up to introduce herself to the Virgin Mary!
For Liz Mangum, the act of sending a holiday card was not done out of duty or obligation. It was the expression of a true desire to share her love and friendship with those for whom she cared. I have no doubt that every lucky recipient of one of Mrs. Mangum’s cards and letters had their day brightened and their heart warmed when they opened that envelope.
Salutations was often a lucky recipient of Mrs. Mangum’s heartfelt thoughts and cards. In fact, I have a collection of several handwritten cards from Mrs. Mangum in which she took the time and effort to let me know how special the Salutations shop was and to thank me for our wonderful products and services {including one sent to me in my Charlotte store after I’d moved}. We have also on several occasions received wonderful treats sent to us by the Mangums to express their love and gratitude for Salutations and its staff. {I am always amazed and deeply grateful when we receive such gifts from our customers ~ feeling that their continued business is their thanks and we should be sending notes and gifts of thanks to them.}
Yesterday afternoon, Ben Mangum and his daughter made a trip to the Chapel Hill store to personally let us know that our dear Mrs. Mangum had passed away on Friday. They told Sara and the girls that we had always made her feel like a princess when she visited our store. {In a way, I’m glad that I was in the Chapel Hill store the day before and not yesterday, as I would not have been able to contain the tears that are flowing now.} Sara and Lesli will be attending the memorial service in her honor.
When Sara called to give me the news, I was saddened and then in disbelief. Had Mr. Mangum really visited the store just to let us know in person of the loss of his life partner? Yes, he had. Had Mrs. Mangum really handwritten so many notes and sent such wonderfully thoughtful gifts to our business just to thank us and express her appreciation? Yes, she had. Mrs. Mangum was truly a remarkable woman and she will be deeply missed.
I started to ponder all of this and wonder, “What kind of a business relationship involves an 8-year friendship with people who repeatedly send cards and gifts to the store just to let the staff know that they are appreciated? What kind of a business has a grieving husband deliver the sad news in person so that we didn’t need to learn of his wife’s passing in the obituaries? What kind of a business has staff members who attend memorial services of a customer?” Then the answer came to me loud and clear, “Small businesses. Every day, in every city across America. That’s the kind of business.”
As more and more small business owners decide that the blood, sweat and tears is no longer worth the return, or that it is simply impossible for them to continue, and they close their doors, stories like this beautiful friendship with Mrs. Mangum will continue to become more and more rare.
This Saturday is Small Business Saturday, a movement created by American Express. To support small business, American Express is giving registered cardholders a $25 statement credit when they spend at least $25 at a small business on Saturday, November 27th.
Did you know that for every year in the last decade, 60-80% of new jobs were generated by small businesses? Did you know that for every $100 spent at a local small business, $68 returns to the community? These are just a few of the economic reasons to support your small businesses and help to ensure that they will continue to survive and thrive ~ the intangible, human reasons are too numerous to count.
So, this Saturday, stop by Salutations. Emulate Mrs. Mangum and pick out the perfect holiday card to really let your friends and family know how much you care, or find a great holiday gift. While supporting a small business, you can also receive $25 for yourself. It’s a win-win-win.
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Just in time for the holidays {and the need for more stationery on which to write thank-you notes}, Crane has launched a fabulous promotion. Through December 15th, you can order personalized stationery {50 folded notes or flat cards, with lined envelopes} for only $99!
The stationery is thermographed {raised printed}. You choose white or ecru card stock, one of 8 popular ink colors, and a matching or contrasting envelope liner in one of 8 colors. You also pick the monogram, lettering style, or motif from a huge selection in Crane’s correspondence album.
For additional options, you can get a set of 100 thermographed stationery sets for only $160. You can also add a return address printed in the same ink color for only $56 for 50 and $58 for 100. This fantastic offer is only available for a limited time, so get your order in soon!
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On the third day of Christmas gifting, inspiration came to me . . . in the form of love and laughter in the eyes of a child. We have just the thing to evoke the most heartfelt giggles from children of all ages . . . the Tickle Monster Laughter Kit.
The kit has everything you need to bring the loveable Tickle Monster to life. Just slip your hands into the super-soft fluffy blue mitts and start reading and tickling. Finger holes in the mitts make it easy to turn pages and tickle too. The result is joy, laughter and lifetime memories for a child. The Tickle Monster Laughter Kit comes in a colorful reuseable gift box, and makes a wonderful gift for parents, grandparents and children. {Tickle Monster Laughter Kit, $34.95}
The book, written by actress Josie Bissett, features a loveable monster with big puffy mitts who has just flown in from Planet Tickle. His mission is to bring joy and laughter to Planet Earth. How? By tickling any child who happens to follow along in this book. Adults read aloud and do the tickling while the children squirm and giggle with delight. Tickle Monster is a winner of the Mom’s Choice Award, Parent’s Choice Award and the Parent Tested Parent Approved Award.
Speaking of awards, don’t miss the great selection of educational and eco-friendly games and art supplies that we have by eeBoo!
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Next week, I’m launching a series of 12 blog posts filed with inspiring ideas for your holiday gifting. The ideas will target something for everyone on your list in a wide variety of price ranges. You can check in on the blog daily or, better yet, follow Salutations on Facebook and you won’t miss a thing!
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