Etsy Pick-Of-The-Week

We salute and hold close to our hearts the people of JAPAN, as they struggle to come to terms with the devastation caused by the recent earthquake.

Sheryl Iledan, a talented San Francisco graphic artist with a shop on Etsy, has created several 81/2x11 prints and is generously donating the proceeds to the American Red Cross.  Be sure to check out her shop , purchase a print and 'like' her on Facebook!

Etsy Pick-Of-The-Week




I love these witty Letterpress messages from Lisa Krowinski of Sapling Press.

Check them out in her store on Etsy.

  

                        

You Are The One

  


 

The cards are 'printed one by one on 100%  post consumer paper made from recycled clothing'

Image Credits:  Sapling Press

 

     (Image Credit:  Nicole LaFave)

At Chic By Design, we're  committed to the craft and elegance of Letterpress.  Both our business cards and gift notes were made locally for us by Dependable Letterpress and  designed  by the multi-talented Nicole LaFave. 

The cards, though expensive to produce, always elicit raves!

And on that 'note', it's time to send out my weekly handwritten notes to everyone I came in contact with this past week...

Happy Gifting!

Heather

 

On The Hunt In New York City

When it comes to finding the stuff that makes my heart sing, I am relentless in my quest.  You cannot call your company 'Chic by Design' and offer anything less than, so finding those ‘pearls’ takes drive and abundant energy, not to mention shoe leather.  When I find ‘it’, I know it at once but oh!  the journey getting there could be a prescription for the next great fitness workout, especially at a gift show the size of the Jacob Javits convention Center, with 675,000 square feet of exhibition space!

February’s trip to the New York International Gift Show, two days after a blizzard had blanketed the city, was no exception.  I hit the aisles running, despite a sleepless night on the red-eye from San Fran. After a welcome shower and nap, I put on my winter gear and headed out on foot (my preferred way of navigating NYC), trudging happily through Hell Kitchen’s snow covered side streets, stopping for a delicious lunch at my favorite bakery on 9^th Avenue, Amy’s Bread. Restored, I was primed and ready. 

Last year, my first at the show, I was determined to find the ‘perfect’ wine holder, but it wasn’t until my 3^rd day there (and many, many vendors of less-than-chic wine holders) that I discovered the charming duo, Holger Graf & Daniel Lantz, and their eponymous LA based company, Graf & Lantz. I instantly fell in love with their felt and leather wine holders, and returned the following day to propose a bespoke order of felt baskets with which to anchor our collections.

This time, my all-consuming objective would be to discover exceptional items to merchandise as part of a Baby Collection.  With that I became obsessed with finding the perfect mobile to hang in the nursery.  Two days and countless miles of aisles later, far away from the Baby/Child section, I fell upon a small company from Canada called Pi’lo .  There, hanging above my head, were the most perfect mobiles - handmade, white felt, fairies, angels, birds and tiny teddies.   Pure whimsy!  Delightfully etherial!

Eureka!

Heather

Happy Gifting!



 

Gifts, Bosses and the Workplace

We recently fielded  the following request from a Senior Manager at a high profile tech company:
                 

‘Can you make recommendations for potential gifts for someone I work with - she's an admin, not my admin but has helped me a bunch.  Should I wait for Secretary's day?’

Waiting for a Hallmark Holiday, such as Administrative Assistant’s Day, April 27, is too far off in the future.  Express your appreciation once the job is done and the memory is still fresh.  This will go a long way towards cementing an ongoing positive working relationship.

Knowing only that the Admin is female, I would suggest a gift that she can make use of on a daily basis, at home or in the office, one that is practical but also attractive, a gift that indicates that  you have gone to some trouble to find something unique, and of good quality.

After all, flowers fade, and chocolates could send the wrong message (too personal, flirty) but a distinctive picture frame makes for a much appreciated desk accessory and is great way to express gratitude. 

At Chic by Design Collections, we feature three unique choices:

The leather  'Croc' Embossed Frame  is the more conservative and luxurious of the three. Pictured here with the Old World Paperweight, both make for excellent corporate gifting.

The Stainless and Wood  frame, which can be engraved, is a sleek, modern option.  Pictured here with the Globe Puzzle, another great corporate gift option since it, too, can be personalized.

The Mini Frame by L'Objet, aglow in Swarovski crystals and backed in leather, is bound to delight the Moms in the office.

Happy Gifting!

Heather

At Chic By Design, our 'Raison D'être' is to assist individuals, businesses and corporations in finding, quickly and efficiently, creative and distinguished gifts with which to make a lasting impression. Call us at 800.745.9239 for immediate service and check in with us regularly by visiting our Facebook page, for updates about events and exciting additions to our collections.

What a Boy Wants…What a Boy Needs

We’ve been darting all over San Francisco, displaying our collections, tallying up sales and getting some great feedback!

Men were overwhelmingly drawn to the Tokens & Icons 'recycled nostalgia' items on display - in addition to the sterling silver backed Golf Cuff Links and Golf Money Clip featured on the website, they also loved the thin leather Buffalo Nickel Money Clip;  and the MBA Baseball memorabilia. Gently priced, fun yet distinctive gifts that men can wrap their heads around. 

The black and red leather  Backgammon set is proving to be the perfect gift for couples and  families on the go, with the additional bonus of being not only sharp looking but also beautifully made.  Love the smell of leather...

Men of all ages dig the sleek and sexy Mini Cocktail 'bar', while the magnetic Globe Puzzle/Paperweight attracts the  A-type personality  kind of guy who just has to put it all back together (it’s challenging!).  Engraved, this is a fun keepsake desk accessory.

 On the more 'practical' side, guys were also wowed by the distinctive  stainless and walnut 'box' Frame, and the 'croc’ embossed Leather frame. 

As expected,  the burl wood  Humidor and the zebrawood Watch box, both from the  Out of Africa collection, are a hit with those seeking to make a distinguished, elegant  yet useful gift.

And finally, we love the attention the Nick Munro Cafetiere has received, and are thrilled to be able to help launch this uber talented young British designer in the United States.

As always, shipping is free, and every gift comes beautifully wrapped with a personalized note. 

Call us at 800.745.9239 for the best customer service around - bar none!

New York Celebrity Assistants: The Perfect Audience

We are back from our first marketing event, sponsored by the NYCA – New York Celebrity Assistants.  Once a year, this veritable ‘who’s who’ of personal assistants based in and around the Tri-State Area, gathers for a festive, pre-holiday party in Manhattan.  A dozen vendors were on hand to display their products.  Each of the members took a turn at introducing themselves, telling us who they worked for.

Having ‘walked in their shoes’ working for luminaries on both coasts, this was an ideal venue  for me to introduce Chic By Design ‘Smart Gifting’.  Assistants, tasked with finding fabulous gifts for their employers, were visibly excited by the choices and swarmed the display table.  Nick Munro’s Bistro Cafetiere – a French 'press' coffee pot, and the Leather Cocktail Box  sold at once, and are slated to be amoung this season’s hottest gifts  The beautiful Zebra Tray by Annie Modica  was purchased by one of the Assistants’ for her employer to use as a desk accessory.  Commenting on ‘A Country Affair’ Collection, one member noted that it made the perfect wedding shower gift for her and her friends to offer jointly -  we couldn't agree more! 


Back in San Francisco, the inbox hummed...

 'I met you at the NYCA unique gift meeting last week and purchased that beautiful tray - thank you so much - I can't wait to give it to my boss for Christmas.'


'I need a wedding gift idea for a very rich couple who has everything. They like "Texas" but live in NYC. The cost isn't a concern, but the idea has to be great... can you help?'


The niche business envisioned ten months ago - to create a service that was tailor made to assist busy professionals with gift giving - has found it's market.  Next week, we head to LA  to do the same for the ACPA – Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants.  In the meantime we are busy tweaking the website, making it more ‘user’ friendly, adding a gift registry page.  Soon we’ll have a ‘search by price category’.

Stay tuned, this is just the beginning…
Heather

5 Easy Tips For Thank You Note Writing

Call me ‘old school’ but the power of the handwritten note should not be casually dismissed. 

When expressing gratitude, certain age-old standards of etiquette still rule, despite the ease and convenience of our digitally linked world.  The simple, straightforward gesture of penning a note of thanks conveys both respect and thoughtfulness.  As important as this can be in your personal life, it will resonate even further in business – yet it’s astonishing how rarely it’s done.  By committing to making note writing a priority you will set yourself apart from the crowd and make a lasting impression.

Come to think of it - when was the last time you received a thoughtfully written, hand addressed note in the mail?  I recently made a contribution to a friend’s charity drive - I get more and more requests each year and do my best to support my friends in their worthy endeavors - but when I received a generic digital thank you email after the event, I felt my generosity had been marginalized by the ‘convenience’ and remoteness of the mass email thank you. Instead of achieving the goal of thanking me, the gesture felt cold and meaningless. 

At Chic By Design Collections, our ethos is Smart Gifting, and a big part of ‘smart’ includes sending a hand calligraphed note to each gift recipient on our elegant stationary.  We wouldn’t expect anything else, and nor should you. 

Here are our top 5 recommendations for gentrifying your life and that of others' with the 'gift' of a handwritten note:

• Keep a supply of simple yet elegant note cards and matching envelopes, as well as postage stamps, on hand at all times.
• Commit to making note writing a weekly habit.
• Don’t let an opportunity slip by to express appreciation in writing, no matter how insignificant you may think the gesture is, you never know where your next big opportunity is going to come from.
• Be prompt.  No more than 2-3 days should pass before sending a Thank You note, be it for a gift received, contributions for your favorite charity/fundraiser, a business introduction, or to the host of a party. The exception would be for wedding gifts, but even that deadline should not exceed 3 months.
• Keep your notes short, focus on the positive, make them light hearted and above all, sincere.

Happy Gifting!

Heather