Service, service, service – ideas – time, and lots of TLC are ways Leslie and
Marcia set themselves apart. Their warm and inviting nature set me right at ease
when I visited them in their quiet, neighborhood studio office on the
Oakland/Piedmont border. Friends for many years, Leslie and Marcia conceived
Printed Affair in June 1994 and opened their doors in October that same year.
Oddly enough, they were highly recommended to me by their competition.
The assortment of printed papers for weddings, showers, rehearsals, Bar/Bat
Mitzvahs, anniversaries, and every social occasion complement their large stock
of invitation lines, from theme-oriented designs to a full line of traditional
Crane’s invitations. Leslie and Marcia enjoy finding the right invitation. "It’s
like pieces to a puzzle," explains Leslie.
They are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday by
appointment. Their doors are open for anyone to browse for ideas, and they
welcome the opportunity to create an invitation to fit the individual style and
event.
I enjoyed browsing through some of their customized invitations. They have a
good sense of design and thoroughly enjoy working with their customers. "It’s
our cup of tea," adds Marcia.
They enjoy a steady stream of repeat customers. During my visit, an exhausted
woman stopped by after an endless search for odd-size envelopes for her
daughter’s birth announcements. Every place she visited either did not have the
unique size or did not want to sell envelopes without an invitation order. After
she showed Leslie and Marcia the announcement, not only were they able to find
her envelopes, but they actually stocked the entire matching set. This very
satisfied customer was thrilled to find a new source for her invitation needs.
