The End Of The Personalized Stationery Industry

The Massachusetts Company that makes paper for U.S. currency has laid off 70 employees in its personalized stationery division in response to a drop in demand for the product. Officials at Crane & Co. also announced Tuesday that the roughly 200 remaining employees in the division would take a 9 percent pay cut. Chief Executive Charles Kittredge called the layoffs "extremely difficult." He says in a tough economy people do not have the discretionary income to buy personalized stationery. Fifty of the eliminated positions were in Crane's personal design services facility in North Adams and 20 cuts were at the company's factory in Dalton. The company, founded in 1801, also makes currency and passport paper, and water filters.

Recession is taking its toll and it is saddening that more and more employees are getting laid off. The story of this company laying off employees in its personalized stationery division has been everywhere lately. Is the combination of the recession and the increasing use of technology the beginning of the end for personalized stationery? Perhaps not, it should be noted that the personalized stationery industry is still going strong.

Many people still value the tangible paper and pen over the e-mail. There is plenty of research on the impact of technology on our lifestyles. Just 5% of people aged 15 to 24 communicate by paper, preferring to send emails, mobile phone texts or internet SMS messages. But even with this heavy dependence on our technological forms of communications, there is an element to a traditional thank you note, gift card, note card, or invitation that no electronic media can deliver.  Sending a physical note of gratitude to family members and all the people who have a special place in your heart is one of the purest forms of giving your honest sincerity. From a professional standpoint, good stationery is often underestimated.

A business’ stationery can be the first impression a potential client gets of a business. Stationery plays a vital role in whether or not a prospect chooses a particular business. The company letterhead, envelope and business card are the three items clients see most, and have a deep impact on their decision to do business with the organization. Despite knowing the importance of good stationery, there are still businesses that have poorly designed business cards, letterhead and invoices. Many companies fail to understand the necessity of using quality stationery.

Good stationery is important for every company regardless of size. Custom stationery is the best way to show business professionalism to the clients. Having custom stationery demonstrates that you welcome and appreciate the client’s business. An easy way to increase business is by sending correspondence on quality stationery because it lends to the quality of the business. One of the biggest advantages of custom stationery is the unique patterns and designs that are exclusive to the business. Custom stationery requires that a pattern be created according to the ideas given by the customer. The resulting stationery is distinctive and can set a business apart from the competition. These essential factors only imbed the importance of good customized stationery helping maintain this industry for a long time to come.

For more information please visit www.TagItYours.com