The Dandelion Patch
The Dandelion Patch is pretty much my heaven. The local stationery stores are filled to the brim with beautiful paper and fabulous gifts. I actually am quite certain that I could go on a shopping spree there daily.
Next week is the grand opening of it’s fourth retail location in Leesburg, VA – June 29, 2011 in The Village at Leesburg Shopping Center from 7pm – 9pm.
Just in time to celebrate, I was able to catch up with Heidi Kallett, owner and business guru, to hear more about The Dandelion Patch .
What is your background and how did you get into the industry?
I was the President of the Junior League of Northern Virginia and in the middle of my term, my husband asked what I was going to do after my term expired. He encouraged me to do the same thing that I’d done successfully with the JLNV in a business of my own: motivate, inspire, lead and grow.
So after a dinner with my girlfriends, it was determined that I was “that mom” … you know… the kind that for my kids’ birthday parties had all the matching paper goods, the paper invitations (of course!), the party game that matched the theme, and the perfect favors.
Soon afterwards, I learned that The Dandelion Patch was for sale in Vienna. Now, the store wasn’t what you see now– it had about 75 loyal customers and a reasonable reputation in the local marketplace. But no website, no logo, located in a small, warehouse district in Vienna and no real brand. However, I know enough about myself to realize that I am much better “editing a piece of paper, than starting from scratch”… so buying an existing company was the best option for me.
The best thing I did when I started was to write a master business plan. That research made me quickly realize that there was a need in the DC area for a brick and mortar retailer that focused on the high end, custom invitations of all life milestones.
Now, 7 years later we are part of the fabric in thousands of family households through our experiences in working with their birth announcements, Bar/Bat Mitzvah invitations, and of course– our custom wedding suites.
What are the different types of stationery that you offer? What other products can you find at the Dandelion Patch?
We offer all kinds of solutions for your paper needs. From boxed Crane thank you notes, to Caspari plates and napkins and monogrammed notepads to boxed imprintables for about every party you can imagine.
In addition to the lovely custom paper products and the beautiful boxed goods we have in our stores, we also have a wide selection of gifts that you’d love to both give and receive. Need a sweet baby gift? Try a soft plush lovie from Bunnies by the Bay. Need a wonderful and special hostess gift? How about a gorgeous piece of Mariposa or Julia Knight? Need a wedding gift? We have Vera Wang crystal frames and silver pieces guaranteed to wow any new couple. Seriously, our stores are a one-stop LOCAL shop for your gift-giving and paper needs.
How can couples best convey their design ideas to you and your team?
This is where we really thrive! We LOVE it when our customers have done just a bit of research and come to us when they know their theme, colors and/or location. From there, we can ask a few questions, show a few examples of products, and instantly get a feel for a couple’s own personal style and that of their event. I call it the “style-tone of a couple.”
We always start with a blank piece of paper and with a few answers and an hour, we should be able to narrow the choices (and there are oh- so-many!) so our brides don’t get overwhelmed. We do love it when brides bring along samples and pictures of invitations that they adore.
But even better– we love it when brides show us what they DO NOT like. Everyone has their own style-tone. And although a preppy navy and green combo would be off the charts for one couple, others may prefer a clean, modern palate of white and platinum. From fonts, to format– we really do love our clients’ individuality and love creating one-of-a-kind stationery suites that are as unique as the couple.
What is the most unique stationery set that you have ever created or helped to produce?
We regularly have exciting and very special projects in our stores– it keeps us focused and up to the minute with trends. We’ve had hand-painted watercolor and art work and several pencil drawings that we’ve transformed into stunning custom invitations and holiday cards, and we’ve color-corrected aged photos of couples celebrating 50th anniversaries and have used those photos in all kinds of custom paper products. And all kinds of poems, quotes and renderings have shown up on everything from invitations to napkins.
We’ve used pressed tree bark for the back layer of invitations, bamboo fans for programs and etched glass as table numbers. Although most of our clients prefer something slightly more traditional and timeless.
As I said before, each client is unique and different from the next– just like our custom work. We value the collaborative and creative process, but even more– we value the opportunity to build real relationships with the couples that come to our stores and become part of the “Patch” family.
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