Rediscovering the Niceties of Life at Invitations, Etc.
By Elizabeth Bobbitt
Photography by Paola Longoria
This year, owner Pam Haney is celebrating forty years of Invitations, Etc., a fine stationery and gift shop that has become a Sunset Ridge institution since she bought the store in 1985. For Pam and her customers, stepping into the shop means becoming part of the rich 78209 tradition of celebrating life’s most meaningful moments as a tightly knit community.
“I love the store, but most of all, I love all my customers. We are currently working on wedding invitations for a young customer, and I also did her birth announcement. Our work goes through the generations” Pam says.
Like her customers at Invitation, Etc., Pam’s own life has been indelibly shaped by the unique rhythms of the 78209 community. Little did Pam know that when her father retired from the military and was transferred to Fort Sam Houston, she would be living just across the street from the shopping center, which would one day house her own much-loved store.
“Sunset Ridge is a wonderful place to shop and work. I know all the shop owners here. They are all friends,” Pam says.
The Lost Art of the Handwritten Note
Invitations, Etc. is an extension of Pam’s own personal philosophy when it comes to paying attention to what she calls the “niceties of life.” The aim of the store is to guide customers through the step-by-step processes of polite etiquette social events such as weddings, baby showers, and birthday parties often require.
“With the advent of being able to email and text, we lost the art of the handwritten note, but I think it’s coming back. I think people are realizing how important it is. I learned from my mother how to write a thank you note, and I hope I taught my children,” Pam says.
Invitations, Etc. is a monument to such gracious traditions, and she believes that the 78209 community shares the same appreciation for the thoughtful protocols of the handwritten word and the stationery needs that accompany it.
“The families in 78209 were taught the value of the handwritten note,” Pam says.
Invitations, Etc. also works with various groups to hold workshops on how to write and address handwritten notes. Students also learn how to make and design their own custom envelope linings.
“These workshops introduce students to skills not taught in school anymore,” Pam says.
The “Invitations, Etc.” Difference
Pam’s attention to the niceties of life at Invitations, Etc. is also demonstrated by the emphasis Pam places on in-person service.
“Our goal is to be very customer-oriented. Our website offers certain services including an RSVP section that customers can use in the planning of their events. It gives customers a feel for the store, but it’s better to come in and see what we have because we have so many design options,” Pam says.
The shop offers an impressive array of services and products such as the addressing, stuffing, and stamping of envelopes (including mail service), gift-wrapping, calligraphy, and the designing of custom stationery, including event programs and invitations, table cards, napkins, and beyond.
“The most important part of the store is the people who work in it,” says Pam. It is clear that her tangible passion for her business inspires customers and employees alike.
“My own wedding invitations were white with gray ink. Back then everyone used black, so I guess I was already thinking about design even then. I had a wonderful lady at Frost Brothers who helped me through the etiquette of the occasion. I find joy in being able to do the same thing for others,” says Pam.
