Paper Stationery Touches in Old-fashioned Fidelity October 18, 2007
Posted by wenbi in : Stationery , trackbackttnet.net - [2006/06/02]
Paper stationery functions as a corner stone of each civilization, which incorporates each and every commodity like greeting cards, schoolbooks, journals, notebooks, photo albums, etc. Aesthetics as a visual appeal is an increasingly common concern while features and functionality are also inevitable. For instance, greeting cards with high-style looks and eye-catching embellishments are gaining favor with consumers who are itching for “something special”. We also see a rise in the use of nostalgic and vintage photos on greeting cards, especially those with a scrapbook feel. Personalization is a key element in paper stationery territory, often seen in customized invitations or initial-emblazoned memo paper when consumers want their possessions as reflections of themselves. Retro-inspired designs jump particularly on greeting cards, scrapbooks and giftwraps. Paper stays prevailingly white even though we can economically use virtually any color. Colors for 2006 tend to be warmer, clearer and brighter. Here, reddened orange will take the place of coppery hues as yellow will regain its importance. We also see a rising demand for 2006 World Cup themed items especially in paper stationery sector.
GREETING CARDS
The exchange of greeting cards is one of the most widely accepted customs around the world. It is regarded as a convenient way and inexpensive way to deliver good wills and draw family and friends closer. Basically, there are two types of greeting cards, namely seasonal cards (mostly for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc.) and everyday (such as birthday, anniversary, get well, etc.) both in 50% share respectively. Noticeably, women consume over 80% of all greeting cards in spite that men tend to spend more on single card than women. Although there are too many options for correspondence and communication, ranging from email or e-cards, text messaging, phone calls and Internet chat-rooms, the majority of people who see family and friends as the most significant priorities in their lives still prefer the old-fashioned handwritten card to make recipients feel important and truly special. It’s interesting that the popularity of electronic forms of communications doesn’t erode the sales of traditional greeting cards but somewhat triggers an upswing in demand while most consumers see e-cards as something transient or even treat, which can’t be saved and cherished as a way to bring “yesterday” once more- any reminder of something deeply felt or dearly loved.
Farewell to “personal fulfillment and “cocooning” in the past decade, consumers are focusing outward and pleased to nurture their relationships with others, by means of making use of greeting cards to accompany a gift, as memories for their sentimental value with illustrations and ready-made poets, which help express emotions they might not otherwise dare to speak of. Each year, more than 90% of all U.S. households purchase greeting cards, raking in nearly $7.5 billion in retail sales or 7 billion greeting cards in number.
“More is more” comes with an increased zeal for luxury items. When it comes to greeting cards, consumers are looking for upscale and sophisticated designs that will make a unique statement. Pure cotton papers, textured papers or handmade papers enable a luxuriant sense while writing on them, which is a pleasure for both senders and receivers. Other than greeting cards, high-end bookmarks can also be perceived as “luxurious”, some even beaded with elegant tapestry fabrics.
SCRAPBOOKS & JOURNALS
The drive to preserve memories and respect family lives will boost the sales of scrapbooks and photo albums. Scrapbooking puts a new spin on the importance of photographs. Nowadays, there are different scrapbook kits, available in different packages and themes, including handmade paper, photo corners, photo frame templates, sponges, scissors and tags. According to a survey, consumers spend an average of $54 on scrapbooks, as compared with $38 on greeting cards. In order to collect and share memories, consumers even use scrapbooks for reaching out and communicating meaningfully with others. People indulge themselves with scrapbooking greeting cards as a fashionable way to preserve or document lives’ precious moments. To meet this demand, here come up decorative boxes and files with pages or dividers for taking notes and dates, designed specifically for organizing and storing greeting cards. Journals come in decorative elements such as jolly stripes and spots and exotic, folkloristic designs. Fashion colors are brisk, clear and inspiring, including sunshine yellow, violet, mint, olive and turquoise blended with gray.
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