Being the Last and Being the Best are One in the Same for Minneapolis Stationery Store

With the buy out of yet another stationery store in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, Cinda Baxter finds herself the last remaining Professional Stationer in a marketplace filled with consumers hungry for fine papers and custom invitations.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) January 31, 2006 -- Sometimes, last is best, and best is last.

That's the reality when it comes to fine stationers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. With the recent buy out of a long time Deephaven stationery store, only one original-owner operation remains in place: Details Ink, located in the heart of the Minneapolis lakes district.

"For so long, I thought of myself as the new kid on the block," says Cinda Baxter, owner and president of Details, "yet over the past decade, I've seen every other full service stationery store be sold or close down. Given the fact so many consumers have returned to hand written notes and custom invitations, the timing is admittedly ironic."

When opening in 1994, Details pre-dated the use of email and internet sites in customers' homes, which was then relegated mainly to the office and other workplace environments. Two years later, however, the story was different. Customers were beginning to ask Baxter if she regretted opening a fine stationery boutique in an era when letter writing was being edged out by the use of home computers.

"I would smile and gently remind them that everything comes full circle at some point...and it didn't take long. The first customers to come running back for personal stationery were our corporate clients, quickly recognizing that a hand written note goes a lot further with their own customers than a cold, digital email."

Over the course of the following few years, each of her full service competitors would drop out of the marketplace as they retired or sold their stores to new owners. Until recently, only one other full service stationery retailer held more years of experience; with the January sale of Letter Perfect in Deephaven, the title now belongs solely to Baxter.

"If you look at the names of stationery stores in the area, you don't see the change. But the reality is that not a single one has even half as many years in the business as we do. They're all still learning things that take years to perfect and master."

With twelve years as a Professional Stationer, a resume that boasts more national recognition than local, and two national Retail Excellence Awards, Baxter smiles when asked if Details has become a household name.

"Being the biggest or most visible store in town isn't my goal and never really has been," she responds. "It's being the best. That feels a lot better at the end of the day."

About Details, Ink.:
Details, Ink. opened in 1994 for the sole purpose of filling a gap in the Minneapolis marketplace. Until then, no other stationery store owner had taken it upon themselves to become a Professional Stationer, complete with in-house graphic design capabilities and special event experience. As a Crane's Model Store and nationally recognized industry expert, Details has successfully bridged the gap between old world products and high tech capabilities. Their goal continues to be to provide the best possible selection, quality and service to customers seeking fine papers and invitations.

Contact:
Cinda Baxter, President
Details, Ink.
612.927.4842
http://www.detailsink.com

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