Usually when the mail comes I'm quick to toss it on Douglas' desk because it's an invoice or statement or other uninteresting transmittal. But today there was a beautiful, hand-addressed card on top of the mail pile and the stamp had a Trident Maple Bonsai tree on it.  How intriguing.

So I kept this letter for myself.  Inside was a check (always my favorite mail to open) and a "racy" greeting card from one of our customers in West Yarmouth, MA.

The card was made by Tree-Free Greetings in Keene, NH which is just down the road from us.  It's a small company I've never even heard of.  But their cards are made from recycled content and Kenaf– an American grown plant that grows 15 feet in 5 months, uses no harmful chemicals in processing and is fully recyclable.

I have to say… our customers are the ultimate.  They keep us going when times get tough.  Sending us money in a locally made,  eco-friendly card on Arbor Day…  how cool is that? 

Many thanks to the Merrill family!   

And happy Arbor Day, everyone.

The post Tree Free Greetings on Arbor Day appeared first on Vermont Woods Studios.

Check out Jacquie Lawson Greeting Cards… the best I've seen on the web.

Hard to believe we're turning over another year already, isn't it?  2011 was a year of huge challenges at Vermont Woods Studios Fine Furniture Store.  Let's see, there was:

• Moving out of the spare bedroom in my house (all 5 of us) and into our first official office space in the "heart of downtown Vernon"
• Making our sales goal of doubling last years sales
• Welcoming our newest staff member, Shannon
• Adding Polywood, recycled outdoor furniture to our store
• Adding sustainable, Vermont made Copeland Furniture to our store
• Sponsoring a number of charitable events, including fundraising for Hurricane Irene victims

Oh, and I finally got an iphone for Christmas this year.  That was big too.  Plus many other milestones I can't believe we actually achieved– thanks to our hot-shot staff, our visionary customers, all the talented Vermont craftspeople who build our fine furniture and the many vendors and supporters who help us out every single day.  To all of you, we are immensely grateful.

2012 is going to be even bigger, better and more challenging as we look to again double our sales and become smarter, faster, and more efficient at sending Vermont's fine furniture out to the rest of the country and the world.

To me the most exciting project next year will be transforming the American icon that was Skyline Restaurant  on Hogback Mountain into an environmental learning center– that showcases Vermont made furniture and tells the story of how it makes it's way from the trees in our Green Mountain Forest to the dining table in your kitchen. 

I hope you'll continue to join us as our unlikely, but unstoppable journey moves into 2012.  We wish you and your family a very Happy New Year!

Thanks to Jacquie Lawson Greeting Cards for our New Years Card

The post Happy New Year! It’s 2012 Already? appeared first on Vermont Woods Studios.