Allisa Harvey, The King’s Scribe
Photos by Kevan Full, at kevanslens.com; see more in Photo Gallery
February 3, 2012
by Rob Greenstein
With Valentine’s Day approaching, I dropped in to The King’s Scribe to see how to score some points with my wife.
How long has your store been a member of our community?
My store, The King’s Scribe opened on May 1, 2011. Retail is a new endeavor for me, but I have been a graphic designer and illustrator with an online stationery design business since about 2008.
Besides Valentine’s day, which is right around the corner, what are you other busy times of year?
Mother’s Day was a fantastic time to have a grand opening, and I’m looking forward to another busy Mother’s Day coming up. The holiday season starts for me with custom photo cards and holiday greetings in October. Though I expected a bit of a lull after December, I’m actually busier than ever with wedding invitations and bar and bat mitzvahs. There are so many newly engaged couples around the holidays who begin their wedding planning in the new year!
I know you sell specialty papers and envelopes, is it tough to compete in this computer age?
I don’t like to think of “competing” with the digital age. I’m really conscious of the fact that people communicate in a different way now, and it’s important for me to keep up with that. So I do carry things like iPhone and iPad covers. But my passion is just trying to remind people of the impression that hand-written correspondence still makes, and remind people that certain sentiments just can’t be expressed with a text message or email. Words on paper represents time spent, in a sincere way to make a statement.
I also know you sell all sorts of invitations - wedding, birth announcements, holiday cards, bar/bat mitzvah, graduation, corporate and birthday parties, baby shower—do you have nightmares about eVite?
It does break my heart a little (ok, a lot) when people tell me they are going to send an eVite for their kid’s Bar Mitzvah. What I remind people of in reference to the invitation is that this is the preview of the event to come. It needs to make a statement—now, that doesn’t mean it needs to be frivolous and expensive. But it should be thoughtfully designed, especially considering the importance of such an event as a Bar Mitzvah or special anniversary.
I know your web site http://www.kingsscribe.com is near completion. What type of services will you offer on your site?
I’m hoping its done within the next week or so! There will be capability to shop online and I will ship globally.
I offer shipping services via UPS at a rate below standard retail and I will pack and ship your packages anywhere.
Is your main customer base the creative community?
Not necessarily, but I do really get the warm fuzzies when a customer walks in and says they are a total “paper person” and they really GET what I’m trying to do here! I sell greeting cards for all occasions which gets people in the door on a regular basis
What would you recommend to make our downtown hamlets more vibrant?
As merchants in a small community I think we all have the same hope—that people will appreciate the contribution that our businesses make in their town, and consciously commit to supporting us, because it does go back into our community via donations, events and other outreach.
Any special discounts for NewCastleNOW readers who mention this article?
Sure. With orders of 150 or more Bar Mitzvah invitation suites I will give free digital calligraphy on the guest’s envelopes.
_____________________
Visit NCNOW.org’s Business Section to see other “Merchant of the Week” pieces by Rob Greenstein.
The slideshow requires javascript and Flash
Copyright 2012 NewCastleNOW.org