Local Stationary Store Stays Relevant in Changing Times

The world is becoming a vastly paperless place, as intangible communication has reduced letter writing to something that now seems as antiquated as cave drawings and has many opting for more informal methods of updating one another.

However, on both the end of the sender and the receiver there are still plenty who appreciate the personal touch that is best delivered signed and sealed.

At , 22 S. Prospect Ave. in Clarendon Hills, Ashley Killpack has rolled with the times, as the economy and changing norms pose challenges to her business.

“There are many more 40- through 70-year-olds sending out cards than there are 20- and 30-year-olds” Killpack said. “I've had to readjust in the last several years. I also sell a lot of gifts and home décor accessories to bring people in the store ... other papers goods, frames and Christmas decorations during the holidays.”

Due partly to tradition and partly to being the last store standing, Ashley's does a lot of bridal business. Killpack said they do invitations for every aspect of the wedding and also have many contacts for photographers, caterers and other essentials.

“Wedding invitations are still custom and put in the mail; it is very rare to see the digital side of those invitations,” Killpack said.

She said that when ordered digitally, there is often less variety of embossing and fewer specialty cards.

While Killpack said she focuses her advertising on Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale and Downers Grove, some customers are beginning to come from further away as fewer stores offer stationary services.

Weddings aren't the only thing Ashley's cards can announce. They do everything from birthdays, to anniversaries, to cocktail parties.

Killpack said she has enjoyed having her business in Clarendon Hills because it is where her home is and she wants to be close by. Of the 20 years she's been in business, Killpack spent the first eight at her home before utilizing space in two different store locations. She's been in her current downtown digs for eight years.

“I do like Clarendon Hills and it's a nice downtown but I wish there was business to draw foot traffic," she said. "It would be nice to have more destination businesses to bring in more people.”

Killpack said she has been very impressed with the recent edition of The English Garden to the downtown community and said it's they type of business that will bring more people to town.

Even the though the times are changing, with 20 years under her belt, Killpack has no plans to do anything but keep the store going and continue to adapt. She said she has been able to take a step back because employees who have been with her for a long time have become more than capable of running the store.

Denise Arenz has been with Ashley's for 11 years and said it's as great a place to work as it is to shop.

"[Killpack] is just so great to work for and she's so flexible," she said. "I had both of my kids while working here and she was so flexible."

Arenz is the store manager now and said that business has remained good, in large part because no one else is left.

"[Two stationary stores] in Hinsdale closed and there just are not many other options at all in the local area," Arenz said. "But I also think a lot of people are going back to more traditional invites, to show that they really put time into the event and the person's attendance is important."

Get more information on Ashley's hours and products and at their website.