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Sneak Peek from the NYIGF

We just returned from the New York International Gift Fair, one of the world’s largest “shows” for people in the retail world. While we were a bit more modest with our buying this season, we did find some great items from new companies, and from those we have been carrying for a long time. We were particularly smitten with a special pattern from one of our all-time favorite design teams in the world – Robert le Héros. This company consistently wows us.

We will be updating our site as we begin to receive merchandise, so be sure you are signed up for our online newsletter.

New Patterns!

Staff Party at Essentials

Pizza, Presents, and Games

We had our staff party and it was tons of fun. The theme was “DIY pizza” with a Secret Santa gift exchange, and then a roaring Apples to Apples game at the end. I didn’t make it all the way through as I had to put our child to bed, but I hear that it ended in blows with several tears shed. Ha!

Sydne and I have the best staff and were thrilled to have them all over to the house. It is hard being in retail during the holidays and these people have weathered the storm well. We couldn’t have done it without them!

Happy Holidays!

Books Out Loud Dance Party

From left: Kelly Link, Ed Skoog, John Hodgman, Thurston Moore, Rachel Sherman

Well, the big event – Books Out Loud Dance Party – is over and it was a smash success. Of course, with Thurston Moore, John Hodgman, poet Ed Skoog, Kelly Link, Rachel Sherman, and alt rock band Who Shot Hollywood how could it be anything else. There were around 300 people for what John Hodgman called a “bookish dance party” and I think everyone had a great time – I know I did. Who Shot Hollywood opened the evening with a rockin’ set,     

followed by some cool DJing by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore.

Next up came Rachel Sherman who read from her work-in-progress, “Jews on a Hill”.

Thurston spun some more tunes while Athena Maroulis did some video. Next came the excellent poet Ed Skoog followed by the fantastic Kelly Link. Finally, John Hodgman walked on stage, and, well, hilarity ensued. The excellent evening closed with Thurston once again spinning his records and showing us all how to mix Noise and melody in an oh-so-special way.

Check out our videos by going here.

An Open Letter of Apology…

In the interest of reflection in the New Year, we have done some soul-searching. For that reason, we feel it appropriate to issue an Open Apology to friends, family, vendors, and all of those who have sent us holiday greetings—not only this year but in the past.

We own a card shop. Okay, it’s more than a card shop, but sometimes, we acknowledge that label. (Although we prefer “design” store—especially in response to anyone who says, “why should I buy a sofa from a card store?”)

We sell cards. We sell more and more cards each year. Boxed cards, single cards, postcards. Letterpress cards and flat printed cards. Screen-printed cards and hand-sewn cards and collaged cards. We sell serious cards and a few funny cards. We sell whimsical cards. We sell cards that have words and cards that have just images. We sell gift tags and, well, you get the idea.

We scour stationery shows for the newest cards and styles, careful to make sure our choices work with our carefully established aesthetic. We buy birthday calendars so our customers can remember the birthdays of Great Aunt Helga and cousin Pixie, or that woman they knew from grad school who they exchange once a year cards with. We even sell card organizers so that they can follow up on those birthday calendar entries. We sell personalized stationery, business, social, and even some Thank You’s you’d buy for your kids so they can get in the habit of sending their own notes.

We sell custom wedding invitations. We work with couples to refine their vision of their wedding day. We help them find matching invitations, RSVP cards with abundant meal choices, and matching thank you notes.

We sell stamps and card making supplies, host card-making classes, and wax seals. We sell inkpads and even stickers to close envelopes.

We sell books on how to write letters. Books on HOW TO WRITE CARDS AND LETTERS!

And yet, when it comes to doing these things myself? When it comes to sending cards, we suck.

Okay, I am including John in that “we”, but really, I suck.

One would think I would have a vast stationery collection. Catalogued cards waiting for just the right occasion. Arbor Day? Executive Assistant Week? Grandparent’s Day?

I should have box after box of letterpress goodies and single cards I can send out to congratulate someone on their adoption, or sympathy for the loss of their dog.

Instead, I have a half-used package of thank you notes, taken from the sale bin last year. The card organizer I forced myself to take home last year remains woefully empty. Well, except for the opened but unused Christmas cards I never sent out last year but have carefully put in the “Christmas” category.

It has been years since I sent a holiday card that actually arrived in time for a holiday related to Christmas or New Year’s. And the slippery slope has begun. It started with holiday cards, but now I forget birthdays. I take too long to send a thank you, and I rarely RSVP on time when I receive an invitation.

And my big confession—last year, our son didn’t even send out thank you’s for the birthday presents he received.

In short, I do almost everything the wrong way when it comes to the art of correspondence. And yes, part of that is neglect of you, our friends, family, vendors, and general folks we care about. For that, we apologize.

Holiday Bowling

Dancing bowling pins, neon balls, and formal dress—Team Essentials knows how to throw a party. Sporting handmade corsages, and our best bowling finery, Essentials hit the lanes on Sunday night for our first bowling party and DIY Secret Santa event. No threat of dangerous ice storm and hazardous road conditions was going to stop us from rocking out to a little Eddie Murphy singing “Party all the Time” (and when was the last time you heard that song??) while showing off our mad skills. The best part was our Secret Santa exchange. This year, we insisted that all gifts be handmade, and wow, did people deliver! Bound journals, knit scarves, individual works of art, a poem, one website, and cool record album bowls were all among the amazing things our staff surprised each other with.

This is definitely going to become an annual tradition! And of course, what bowling night would be complete without an Essentials variation on the bowling shirt.

In the Valley of the Literate

Our friend Tony Maroulis of – wunderarts fame - got his name in the New York Times when he was quoted for an article on literature in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. Now, even though no one needs to tell us how important books are (we sell so many at essentials that we can’t keep enough in stock to sell on our website) it is very cool to see a friend get quoted in the Times. Great job Tony!!!! Read the article.