Celebrating 50 Years of Personalized Stationery: A Journey Through Time and Trends

Fifty years ago, Embossed Graphics’ story began with a simple dream: to create personalized stationery that was as special as the people who used it. This year, as we celebrate five decades of affordability, production speed, and craftsmanship, we reflect on our humble beginnings … and how today we’ve become one of the most trusted names in personalized stationery and gifts. It’s our journey through time and trends.

The Early Days: A Passion for Personalization

In the 1970s, the world was a different place. Communication was more personal, and handwritten letters were the norm. Our founder saw an opportunity to reduce the costs of stationery production, while still maintaining a high level of excellence. With a small team of artisans, we started by creating custom letter sheets and cards.

Back then, personalization was a luxury, not a standard. We prided ourselves on being able to make stationery at a lower cost, which helped more people be able to purchase it. We studied how to increase our production speed while maintaining a high degree of precision. It was this commitment to quality at affordable prices that set us apart and laid the foundation for our future success.

Embracing Change: Technology and Trends

As the years went by, technology began to change the way people communicated. In the 2000s, the rise of email, social media and texting posed challenges to our industry, but it also opened up new possibilities for creativity and customization.

People increasingly crave the feeling of handcrafted items, appreciating the unique charm and personal touch that mass-produced products simply can’t replicate. It turns out, people still want to send physical thank you notes. They want to use their handwriting to express their love for one another. And people still want to send printed invitations for their weddings and other important milestone celebrations.

We harnessed technology trends in other ways, introducing digital printing techniques that allowed for even more colorful designs and new, less expensive price points. We honed our ability to work fast and accurately, and in the process, became known for our reliability.

Personalized napkins and guest towels quickly became popular choices for customers looking to add a special touch to their events. Notepads and memo squares also gained popularity, becoming go-to items for those wanting practical yet personalized stationery options. And we added engraved gifts to our line, including charming cutting boards, glass and cork coasters, personalized ornaments, fragrant soaps, and solid wood picture frames.

And through the years, we never let up on introducing new designs that reflected the times. Our lettering styles and monograms are second to none. Our embossing is renowned. And, as they say, “the devil is in the details” … and our attention is unwavering to the principals of design, the most pleasing and correct spacing between letters, the open and lovely characteristics of our lettering styles.

Looking Forward: The Next 50 Years

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we’re proud of how far we’ve come. We’ve followed the trends, but we’ve never been beholden to them. And we’re excited about what the future holds.

The heart of our business remains the same: a dedication to craftsmanship, affordability and production speed. And we hold a the belief that even in a digital age, there’s something special about putting pen to paper. Here’s to the next 50 years of helping people express themselves in bold and impressive ways, one personalized piece of stationery at a time.

Depend on us for your personalized stationery, home decor and gift needs. Please buy local! Use our store locator to find and visit your nearest Embossed Graphics retailer. Shopping small keeps people employed and contributes to local taxes. Your purchase of Embossed Graphics stationery not only enriches your lifestyle, it enriches your community. Want to become a retailer? Learn more here.