Archives for: September 2009

With brands like Stardream, Vice Versa, and Aspire Petallics, just to name a few, LCI Paper has brought together custom products utilizing some of the finest papers in the world. To compliment these lines and our existing LCI brand, we are pleased to announce a new line of specialty paper, envelopes, program folders, invitation and response cards, and response folders. We exclusively introduce Old World.

The essence of Old World is a traditional style of paper with a smooth velvety, matte finish combined with a strong framework and environmental soundness. Old World has the distinction of being chlorine and acid free. It is also pH neutral, allowing it to be age-resistant, yielding finished pieces that will last a lifetime.

The envelopes have an elegant design, most notably for a European style flap.

Barry Levine, Vice President of Sales & Marketing shares, "For those who are looking for distinguished style with a touch of tradition, we feel that with this new line of paper, we are answering a call. We have strategically kept our color palette simple and to the point with a traditional white, called Blanco, and a soft white or cream color, referred to as Perla. Elegance permeates these papers, allowing for yet another option of style for our visiting clients."

At launch date, LCI Paper's Old World product lineup includes:

Specialty Paper

8 1/2" x 11" 111lb (300 gsm) card stock
8 1/2" x 11" 91lb (135 gsm) text

Envelopes

A4 (3 5/8" x 5 1/8")
A9 (5 3/4" x 8 3/4")
#10 (4 1/8" x 9 1/2")

Blank Cards

A4 Respond (4 7/8" x 3 1/2") 111lb
A9 Invitation (5 1/2" x 8 1/2") 111lb

Invitation Folders

A4 Respond (4 7/8" x 3 1/2") 111lb
A9 Invitation (5 1/2" x 9 1/2") 111lb

All products are available in Blanco and Perla color choices.

Shop Old World specialty papers, envelopes, invitation cards, and folders

On our 21st episode of the LCI Paper podcast, you'll hear comments from the president and founder, Larry Chase as he talks about two new features just implemented at LCIPaper.com.

To save the audio to your computer, right click and "save as."

Customer Product Reviews

First, you might have noticed that customer reviews are starting to appear on product pages. Larry explains how the new review system works.

After a customer places an order for the products that they want, about two weeks or so after they receive the order, we will send out an e-mail to them asking if they would like to submit a review about the products that they received and about their experience that they had shopping on the web site. We're offering a review that's open to the public, so it's out there for anybody to view. We're putting the good and the bad and the ugly--are all going to show on the web site for people to see. And we also allow the customer to send some private comments if they want to discuss something private with us.

An actual customer review:

Larry on the benefits the new review system has for other customers shopping on the site:

I think it's helpful for other customers. A lot of times people will comment on the color or the quality of the paper or the service or how fast they're getting it, and this gives it from the perspective of the customer and not just us telling people what they want to hear.

Improved Customer Account Functionality

The LCI Paper customer account login screen:

Now onto the second feature. This relates to easy access to your customer login so you can reorder the same product from a previous order. Here's Larry to explain:

We redesigned the whole flow of the login system so it's easier for a customer to be able to know exactly what to do once they get to the page. If they forget their pass code, it's a fairly easy system to retrieve it. Once they're inside of the admin area, it will allow them to update their profile. If they want to change their shipping address or billing address, they're able to do that. And we've also implemented an area for all their history so they can go back and see the items that they've ordered and from one screen to actually place a reorder of any of the items from previous orders. And they can look at all the orders at once and order from each of the orders with once click and reorder at one time. For privacy and security reasons, we're not maintaining any type of credit card information.

An example of one click reordering from a previous order:

However, our customers are not compelled to create an account to place an order.

You do not have to create an account to check out. You can check out without it. It's definitely optional, but it's really a nice feature as opposed to you don't have to retype your billing or shipping information. If you're a customer that orders on a regular basis and you order a lot of the same items, it's going to be very simple to go in and have one click and you can reorder, as I said, from any of the orders and place an order and just go.

That is the latest on our updated customer account functionality and our new product review system. When you have a chance, please stop by our shopping site at LCIPaper.com and have a look.

Joshua Birch

Perhaps it is because throughout the past six years, I have read aloud hundreds of children’s books, or perhaps because I happen to adore the Shel Silverstein story from which this idea is derived, but in either case, after finding this save-the-date card idea on Intimate Weddings this morning, I felt compelled to share (no pun intended).

For those of you who do not recognize the children’s book I am referring to, it is Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree.” A moralistic story about a relationship between a child and a tree in the forest who unselfishly provides the child with things he needs throughout his life, “The Giving Tree” is a Silverstein classic that tends to resonate with all who read it.

As stated in the Intimate Weddings posting, the couple choosing to use this theme for their save-the-date cards found personal meaning in the story, which is what makes this custom idea such a great one. By creating their own custom save-the-dates, they were able to incorporate their personalities and creativity into their event, one of the main perks of any do-it-yourself project.

Another great aspect of this DIY project is its versatility. Story line aside, the graphic provided in this template is fun and unique, and may be used for a variety of events, not simply weddings. The image of the tree with the engraved hearts may bring to mind ideas of fall or spring, children or adults, formal or casual, all depending on how you work with it. For example, with the fall season now upon us, why not add some reds, oranges, and browns to the graphic’s falling leaves, change a few words, and send out a simple invite for an autumn housewarming party? Experiment with wording, colors, and a variety of colorful paper to see what your imagination creates!

As mentioned in the Intimate Weddings posting, one of the best things about this template is that it is absolutely free. Simply navigate to the Intimate Weddings page as linked to above to download your free graphic template, font, and even envelope label template, if you choose. (Please note, Adobe Illustrator is required to edit the graphic template, and Microsoft Word is required for editing the label template). Instructions and a list of necessary materials is also available, making this a simple and fun way to put a personal spin on your event!

Recommended Links:

LCI's Slim-Blank Cards
LCI's # 10 Policy Envelopes
LCI's #10 Square Flap Envelopes

Kristen Desrosier

Have you ever attended a wedding that seemed to lack the personality and input of the bride and groom? With that wedding in mind, are you planning your own wedding with the intention of injecting as much of your personality as possible while remembering that your guests' enjoyment will also be key? That's where I am. My wedding is one and a half weeks away.

I recently wrote an article for Christina of IntimateWeddings.com where I wrote about my plans the big day. I noted a bland wedding that my fiancée and I had attended. The memories of that wedding was saved by a tremendous reception where real connections were made between my friend the groom and the honored guests. That experience has inspired me to strive for that type of connection in my wedding planning. To ready about my plans, follow the link to the Intimate Wedding Blog:

Planning an Intimate Autumn Wedding in Massachusetts

Joshua Birch

You have assembled the perfect wedding invitation. From the overall appearance, to the specific color scheme, to the precisely chosen wording, it is just what you were after to create the mood for your event and stir your guests’ anticipation. Now, all that is left to do is address your envelopes and send them on their way! After all of your hard work, you want to be certain this final step is done properly, and that your invitations arrive at your guests’ doorstep looking as beautiful as they did leaving yours. Like many people, though you may have the basics of wedding envelope etiquette down, you still may have a few lingering questions, and a few new tricks you may wish to learn.

The first step in addressing your wedding envelopes is of course to go through your guest list and determine how to properly address each guest or pairs of guests. Where a typical Mr. and Mrs. Joe Smith is an easy one, how do you go about addressing the doctor and the judge who are a couple, yet do not live together? What about the freshman in college who still lives with his parents; should he get his own invitation, or be included in his parents’? Scenarios such as this may make envelope addressing complicated, which is when traditional etiquette guidelines may come in handy. The following chart contains these traditional guidelines.

Click to View Traditional Guidelines Chart

Here are a few additional wedding envelope tips to keep in mind:

• The previous chart contains traditional guidelines. Of course, you may address your envelopes to fit the style of your wedding, or in a way that feels comfortable to you.

• You would not want any of your beautiful, perfectly addressed invitations returned to you covered in postage markings. Be sure that your invitations have the correct addresses and amount of postage on them. Remember, invitations of unique sizes or weights may require extra postage. Consider bringing one complete invitation to your local post office to determine how much postage will be necessary.

• You may also consider requesting that your invitations are hand canceled at the post office with a stamp, rather than being run though a machine. This will eliminate ink smudging and unsightly black marks. Most post offices do not have a problem with this request.

• Last, be sure to mail your invitations six to eight weeks before your wedding day. This will allow for adequate delivery and response time.

Recommended Links:

Wedding Envelopes: Lined, Double, Single - How To Choose?

Kristen Desrosier