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Seventy years after its own establishment, the Occasions Group unveiled TOG.ink as the ultimate custom print sidekick. With its introduction, small-scale creatives could access the large-scale services and decades of exacting craftsmanship experience offered by the massive Minnesota print company.

“TOG.ink opened for business in March of 2018, but started gaining traction after we presented it at the National Stationery Show that May,” recalled Eric Manske, who as art director, sees TOG.ink printed pieces travel from conception to completion.

“The thought was to be a one-stop fulfillment shop for makers who want to work with wholesalers. Low minimums, a variety of print processes, competitive pricing and an easy upload-your-art tool are all cornerstones of TOG.ink that keep designers coming back.”

Manske shared more about what goes on behind the TOG.ink scenes — and showcased some of its exquisite artistry!

Stationery Trends: How would you describe the TOG.ink design community, and what do you think attracts them?

Eric Manske: The community includes everyone from artists creating their own wedding invitations to online stationery shop owners to designers/studios working with wholesalers to scale their growing businesses. TOG.ink offers a unique marriage of large-scale price breaks and a small-scale devotion to the print process, and we have a dedicated team of customer service folks ready to answer questions.

ST: Can you share more about the breadth of design businesses you partner with?

EM: Most have been smaller design studios working to launch their dream, and that has been amazing to watch! Some have storefronts, but most are online shops. Although most of the product revolves around weddings, we’ve been seeing more and more stationery for milestone events, boutique greeting card lines, printed art and signage. Early on, our focus was around standard- sized cards, folders and napkins with custom printing like digital, foil stamping, letterpress and thermography. We now offer approximately 1,500 items and have added new print processes like enhanced foil and sublimation!

ST: To your mind, what design elements are makers and end users focusing on as they design their stationery to make it stand out in 2025? What is splurged on?

EM: Foil was the go-to splurge, but it’s become more standard these days. Now, designers are exploring other exciting options like these for that wow factor:

• Letterpress: This classic printing technique continues to be a favorite for its tactile elegance and timeless appeal.
• Thicker Papers: There’s a growing love for lush, substantial paper stocks that add weight and importance to a piece.
• Trim Options: This is the big one! Unique shapes and edges are stealing the spotlight in 2025. These details are adding layers of creativity and individuality to wedding invitations and beyond.

ST: Are there any design elements that may have been popular in the past that you now see falling to the wayside? Why do you think that is?

EM: Watching design trends come and go over time is fascinating. Design is often cyclical. What was once new becomes common, until it’s been gone for a while. Then a few people put their twist on it, and it becomes fresh and new again. For example, ornate damask patterns were huge when I first started, but now we see more geo patterning in its place.

ST: Are there any smart decisions you see small businesses making as they work with TOG.ink that you wish others would adopt?

EM: As I went through our latest group of samples, I found many taking advantage of low minimums. That’s smart for so many reasons! Here’s other business-building ideas I’ve noticed:

• Create multiple versions of an invite to explore different possibilities with clients. The rehearsal dinner invitation by Molly Macy with a painted mountain scene is a great example of printing two versions of the same piece to decide which is best.
• Build product suites for photoshoots or in-store samples without ordering huge quantities.
• Experiment and take risks without worrying about overcommitting to a design.
• Test everything! Print processes, ink colors, paper options, fonts, intricate motifs and more. The Designer Tool Kit is great, but there’s nothing like testing the specifics firsthand.

ST: How has working with the TOG.ink community informed your understanding of stationery?

EM: It’s refreshing to see stationery and paper continue to hold a special place in today’s culture. The tactile nature of paper creates a genuine connection, turning beautifully designed and crafted pieces into meaningful experiences. From concept to completion, custom stationery is truly an art form worth celebrating.

The 2025 Trend Forecast

Eric expanded on some of the fresh design currents he’s been seeing come on press.

Earthy Tones are Back! After the last few years of brighter, vibrant colors we are heading back to more subtle, earthy tones.

Painterly Florals. Wildflowers and microflorals make a strong showing as both all-over patterns as well as motifs to fill corners and break up type layouts.

Venue Illustrations. From watercolors to intricate line art, venue illustrations make stationery stand out. Line art in particular looks stunning in foil, thermography, and letterpress printing.

QR Codes. These are immensely popular on RSVP cards. We see them used in many ways, across most print processes, though they can be tricky with foil.

Blind Embossing. This technique has been in high demand lately but it can be pricey. So we introduced inkless (blind) letterpress, which achieve