Trends

July 14, 2014 •
Rolling Out the Red Carpet

The results are in, and the winners of the fourth annual Stationery Trends Trendy Stationer of the Year have been determined. These awards recognize retailers for their commitment to and excellence in the stationery industry, and retailers were self-nominated, peer-nominated or manufacturer-nominated.

Trendy Stationer of the Year honors went to Cora Burns of PaperDolls of Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, New York, while runners-up honors went to Liz Quinn of Stationer on Sunrise in Palm Beach, Florida, and Melinda Morris of Lion in the Sun in Brooklyn, New York.

PaperDolls of Saratoga has become a respected wedding and invitation resource in the Capitol District. While having the ability to source a high-end customer, they also have the ability to take an imprintable and show the customer how to embellish it for a one-of-a-kind piece that is affordable. PaperDolls gives back to the community by offering print or design services to local non-profit agencies and participating in many Downtown Business Association events.

“Our goal at PaperDolls is to help our customer reconnect through the simple gestures of life. Whether it be a simple note, the perfectly wrapped present or just a beautiful gift,” Burns said. “It is these small acts, or simple gestures that define us as human beings.”

PaperDolls believes their success is built on the support and friendships they have made in the stationery industry.

“Paper is my passion and to be recognized by our industry leaders, whom I hold in such high regard as fellow ‘paperphiles’ and business owners, is both humbling and gratifying,” Burns added.

“The shop and owner sound ‘inviting’ to say the least,” commented judge Kim Kreis of Sweet Pea Designs. “I think the mark of a Trendy Stationer is that you want to visit their shop and it appears that making a trip to PaperDolls is a must see.”

Runner-up Lion in the Sun’s Morris is dubbed “The Expert Stationer” as she joined the industry when she was nine years old by lending her parents a hand at the original Lion in the Sun location in Huntington, Long Island. Her passion for paper only grew from there. Now, her second-generation offshoot is widely recognized for combining a deep appreciation for tradition and etiquette with an understanding of the evolving stationery market and its latest trends. Along the way, Morris championed countless emerging invitation collections, supported independent artists and designers and counseled small stationery businesses in order to start them off on the right foot.

“We are always working hard to keep things fresh and new, and strive to ‘always do better’ for our clients, staff and for our own satisfaction,” Morris said. “It is such an honor to have my peers in the industry step up and say ‘job well done’.”

Lion in the Sun nominator Kimberley Yurkiewicz of Crow & Canary noted that Morris has built a meaningful business and a dedicated team, both of which embody the creativity and compassion at the heart of the stationery industry, and that she has a lifetime of experience, but a fresh perspective on the ever-evolving stationery industry, as well as client trends and interests.

The other runner-up, Stationer on Sunrise, understands that its clientele requires a certain level of customer service where convenience and privacy is as appreciated as much as quality. For larger custom orders of invitations or holiday cards, Quinn and her staff will print addresses, stamp envelopes and deliver to the post office.

Quinn’s professional life, in addition to childhood dreams, has helped shape her approach to running the shop and to customer service. Stationer on Sunrise is available to help with every aspect of party and wedding planning, including invitations, save-the-date cards, place cards, menu cards, escort cards and gifts. Brides, hostesses and event planners alike can feel confident that they will find everything they need in the shop or through custom orders.

“I’m so grateful for this recognition,” Quinn said. “There are so many wonderful stores all over the country, so it feels amazing to be recognized. It is especially an honor to be recognized within our industry by peers and business associates for doing something that I used to only dream about. Each day feels more like a passion or a hobby than a job.”

Highly esteemed stationery professionals judged the entrants and included: Whitney English Kolb, Whitney English; Abbey Fowler, 6.25 Paper Studio; Annabelle Stefanski, Annabelle’s Creations; Holly Bretschneider, Boutique profits; and Kim Kreis, Sweet Pea Designs. The judges reviewed the nominations and graded them on range of items, product knowledge, customer service, shop environment, store appearance, marketing and merchandising/display.

The Trendy Stationer of the Year is sponsored and managed by Stationery Trends, the resource for greeting cards, gifts and all things stationery.

For more information on the Trendy Stationer of the Year, visit www.stationerytrendsmag.com; call 616-887-9008, ext. 121; or email [email protected]. Get updates and information about the awards by liking us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StationeryTrends.

— By Sara Middlebrook, events & communications coordinator




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