Colorful and Custom: Holiday Cards at D2P
by Gary Scott Beatty, Editor, On the Shore Magazine
Finding a greeting card that reflects the style, beliefs and character of your family or business can be difficult. Design 2 Print at 2881 Henry St. in Muskegon has the equipment and the expertise to help you customize cards with photos and text to ensure the card you send is uniquely yours.
Jennifer VanHassel, store manager, said she and the D2P staff are there to talk customers through the many options. Unlike internet printing services, customers deal with a person at D2P, face to face. "You get to look at everything before we print it and make sure it looks like what you wanted. You can hold samples to select papers and envelopes.
"We also have envelopes to fit your cards so you don't have to worry about finding the right size to use," said Jennifer. There are no minimums on family Christmas cards. Customers can print from five to 50, or more.
D2P can print return addresses and holiday graphics on the larger envelopes. "Or we can print personalized address labels with a little Santa or snowman on them." Rubber, preinked stamps can also put return addresses on envelopes, or say, "Happy holidays!"
Many don't realize D2P can make their holiday card in a postcard format so it can be mailed like a postcard, without the added work and expense of stuffing envelopes.
Stamps, ornaments, calendars, garments and embroidery are also part of D2P's custom gift offerings. People enjoy giving and receiving personalized cards and gifts, said Jennifer. They are intimate and friendly. "And you can make them exactly how you want them."
Design 2 Print at 2881 Henry St. in Muskegon is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about offset printing, digital printing and prepress design, call (231) 755-4100 or visit d2pstore.com.
Benefit Yourself and
Your Community: Buy Locally
by Gary Scott Beatty, Editor, On the Shore Magazine
Americans invest in businesses with their purchases every single day. In an increasingly homogenized world, Muskegon County residents should seriously consider local purchases FIRST to encourage local prosperity and preserve the distinctive characters of our own city centers.
The benefits to communities and residents are well-documented. Buying locally spurs the regional economy, benefits non-profit organizations, helps keep our area unique, reduces environmental impact, increases customer service and contributes to our range of product choices. With so many benefits to purchasers it makes practical sense to explore regional buying options first.
You can contribute to yourself and your family's welfare by buying locally. Studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned business, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms. This strengthens the community economic base. Economic impact studies repeatedly reveal that locally-owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and tax base.
Small businesses are the backbone of our national economy, creating and providing jobs. Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know shoppers. If we're interested in customer service we should shop local businesses.
Our shopping habits also contribute to our range of choices. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.
Owners who live in our community are more invested in the community's future. Non-profit organizations also benefit from local and regional shopping, making our own community a better place to live. Town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.
Where we shop, eat and play keeps our community unique. One-of-a-kind businesses give our area a distinctive character and add to our sense of home. Tourism also benefits from this, as people on vacation seek out businesses that give them a sense of being somewhere, not just anywhere.
Local purchases requiring less transportation also reduce our environmental impact. Town centers contribute less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
We at On the Shore magazine are proud to be a locally owned, produced and printed publication. We are continually impressed by the local experts who contribute the useful information you find here every month. We are happy to be serving friends and neighbors who overwhelmingly appreciate the articles we offer.
If you haven't visited the local businesses we feature in this, our Salute to Small Business issue, we at On the Shore magazine encourage you to explore the services these businesses offer. Regional purchases benefit you, your family and your community.
Xeric awarded writer and illustrator Gary Scott Beatty is editor of On the Shore magazine. He administers the entertainment website comicartistsdirect.com and jazzstylegifts.com.
Thrift Stores Offer Both New and Used
from the Muskegon Rescue Mission Thrift Stores
Most county residents know the Muskegon Rescue Mission Thrift Stores accept community donations to offer for sale. Many don't realize new furniture, mattresses and beauty care products are also there for purchase.
"The new has been going very well," said Sharon Anderson, manager of Muskegon Rescue Mission Thrift Stores on Apple Avenue and Sherman Boulevard. "We buy wholesale and keep it very affordable."
Affordable products for the needy and the general public are what the Muskegon Rescue Mission Thrift Stores are all about. The stores support the work of the Muskegon Rescue Mission while providing an outreach to the community and work in conjunction with the mission's Community Ministries providing clothing, used furniture as well as household items to the needy and homeless at little or no cost.
Furniture choices can include sofas, love seats, coffee tables, end tables and recliners. New mattresses in twin, full and queen sizes are offered, as well as bed frames in different sizes.
The stores are also training centers. Employment and Training Program participants clean, sort and price merchandise and stock store shelves while at the same time gaining marketable job skills and valuable experience.
The stores' reasonable prices are not just to benefit the needy. Everyone is encouraged to take advantage of the stores' revolving inventory.
"A good reason to visit the stores often is we get new things in every day," said Sharon. "We have customers that come faithfully to both stores every week. They don't want to miss anything."