professional courtesy?

i read a blog today from a president of an ad agency about the days of business being conducted on a hand shake and that being as good as gold -- but yet today there is no guarantee even when you have a contract...i found that beyond interesting and to that same note, what happened to communication? how is it that now in a society where there is constant "connection" - there is so much disconnect? sure blogging is fun and connecting with old friends on facebook is overall a neat concept -- but are we getting even more disconnected with all these new ways of communication? 

we all now rely on emails and text messaging to keep in touch and while i too enjoy the perks of that - i truly believe something is lost. professionally speaking - well yes, i am blessed with running a business from home - and having clients all over the country because of the internet and technology but emails again only go so far. my business is successful because i am personally involved with my clients. i am vested in their success as much as i am my own. i meet them face to face, i talk to them on the phone - its not just about sending an email. 

and ironically - even with these extra means of communication and constant contact -i think that businesses lose site of something even more important - professional courtesy. that is what the crux of the other blog was -- losing site of those foundations of business and this to me is one that is evidently losing out. 

when i am asked to give put together a proposal - i do it and i get it to a client ahead of deadline. i do that so that they have the information they need to make an informed decision in a timely manner. whether that leads to new business for me or not - sometimes things just don't work out. but just like i respect their time - i would expect that out of respect of my time, a client would respond accordingly. whether you are moving forward or not moving forward, extend the professional courtesy to your vendor to give them the feedback they deserve. no matter how big or how small a client or a business - everyone's time is valuable.

so the next time any vendor or client contacts you to follow up - take a minute and make a call or if you really don't have the time - send an email - but at the very least have the respect and professional courtesy to let them know where they stand. because even if business is no longer built on the integrity of a handshake - its not too late to have communication and professional courtesy.

invitations and stationery

i have been designing stationery and invitations for a while but i seem to be doing more of it and i really love it. the wedding invitations are the most fun - because it allows me to be the most creative and create something that truly is special to the client. i just finished 2 more invitations and i will post photos of them as soon as they are put together. 

i learned this in my own search for invitations - you can find very creative ideas from many different sources but if you truly want something that fits your style and your day and your budget - going with a graphic designer who will sit down and really work with you on customizing something - is really the way to go. there are so many creative ways to brand your wedding and make it your own...it shouldn't be a "cookie cutter" experience.

the invitations i just finished exemplify that - both different style weddings and people and both invitations are beautiful expressions of just that!

the same thing goes for stationery. i know a lot of people don't send traditional notes anymore but there is still a market for it believe it or not. so i created this idea that i really believe in. companies have a logo, a brand, a mark that fits them and their demographic - it allows them to stand out from the rest -- well why not cross that over to individuals. i am my own person - you are your own person - so why not have a brand or a mark that identifies you...

identify-you.com is my way of integrating this concept into stationery, notepads and luggage tags...you pick a color, an identifier and a style and you create a brand that can you can use to identify yourself. and if you don't want to go that route - i can custom design something to fit your own personality and use it in the same way. these are some of the latest designs done for baby gifts -- yes baby gifts - mom's love having personalized items for their new bundle of joy and note cards give them the perfect medium for thank you notes or to send new photos to family...