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The Massachusetts Company that makes paperfor U.S. currency has laid off 70 employees in its personalized stationerydivision in response to a drop in demand for the product. Officials at Crane& Co. also announced Tuesday that the roughly 200 remaining employees inthe division would take a 9 percent pay cut. Chief Executive Charles Kittredgecalled the layoffs "extremely difficult." He says in a tough economypeople do not have the discretionary income to buy personalized stationery.Fifty of the eliminated positions were in Crane's personal design servicesfacility 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 waterfilters.
Recessionis taking its toll and it is saddening that more and more employees are gettinglaid off. The story of this company laying off employees in its personalizedstationery division has been everywhere lately. Is the combination of therecession and the increasing use of technology the beginning of the end forpersonalized stationery? Perhaps not, it should be noted that the personalizedstationery industry is still going strong.
Manypeople still value the tangible paper and pen over the e-mail. There is plenty ofresearch on the impact of technology on our lifestyles. Just 5% of people aged15 to 24 communicate by paper, preferring to send emails, mobile phone texts orinternet SMS messages. But even with this heavy dependence on our technologicalforms of communications, there is an element to a traditional thank you note, giftcard, note card, or invitation that no electronic media can deliver. Sending a physical note of gratitude to familymembers and all the people who have a special place in your heart is one of thepurest forms of giving your honest sincerity. From a professional standpoint,good stationery is often underestimated.
A business? stationery can be the firstimpression a potential client gets of a business. Stationery plays a vital rolein whether or not a prospect chooses a particular business. The companyletterhead, 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 businessesthat have poorly designed business cards, letterhead and invoices. Manycompanies fail to understand the necessity of using quality stationery.
Good stationery is important for everycompany regardless of size. Custom stationery is the best way to show businessprofessionalism to the clients. Having custom stationery demonstrates that youwelcome and appreciate the client's business. An easy way to increase businessis by sending correspondence on quality stationery because it lends to thequality of the business. One of the biggest advantages of custom stationery isthe unique patterns and designs that are exclusive to the business. Customstationery requires that a pattern be created according to the ideas given bythe customer. The resulting stationery is distinctive and can set a businessapart from the competition. These essential factors only imbed the importanceof good customized stationery helping maintain this industry for a long time tocome.