Sorry for being so Picky

Sorry for Being So Picky

I have been working with customers on their wedding favors for many years you could say I am an old hack at it by now.

Over the years I have heard many apologies for being “too picky”

We send proofs of your wedding favor or save the date before we print that goes with any order. When ordering something personalized we are working with a visual on what you picture your card will look like. Even picking out a design does not mean your card will look exactly like that. Most of the time myself, or whoever else is working on cards can get approval on a proof after one or two tries.

When it goes beyond that a customer will apologize for being picky, it has nothing to do with that at all. I am a visual person so I understand what they are going through, they can see it in their head how it should look. It is up to us to capture that it has nothing to do with being picky but for us to see what you see.

We know these are keepsakes not just something for your special day so its important we get it right. Sometimes I cannot get it so I have passed an order to another designer and will get it on the first time, it does not matter to us who gets it just that we do.

I have had customers hand draw with stick figures what they want as funny as that may sound it helps and it works you don’t have to know photoshop to get your idea across.

So relax my young friends you are not picky it just part of the process.

It is a privilege to us to make wedding favors for your special day.

Warm regards

~Pam

The Cards That Have Touched Us

The cards that have touched all of us have been from Make a Wish, Cystic Fibrosis, parents whose children have rare diseases desperate to raise awareness to find a cure and so many more.

Sometime we get so caught up in our own day-to-day life we forget others are hurting.

I have never forgotten their names faces or their stories. Sometimes I wonder what happened to them.

There was a mom who emailed about her 3 year old daughter who had tumors all over her body, I could feel the desperation in a mothers letter. It was at the end of the day and I was shutting down, I stayed to answer her, I asked her to email me pictures, information, favorite colors whatever she wanted. I stayed that night until it was done it was the prettiest card I had ever designed.

It was being used at a walk on thon, she was reluctant to tell me how many she needed, it was not unreasonable at all I know for some its hard to ask for help and sometimes we find our self in a position we have to, a lot of us know what that is like.

Then there is the first card we did I can still remember his sunny smile his green shirt and his little blue bucket hat. He died at 18 months old of cancer and the parents were celebrating his short life here on earth. I asked instead of payment to consider a donation to Make a Wish or Children’s Hospital in their sons name. They made a donation to Make A Wish, which happens to be my favorite charity.

This last one was one of the kids form cystic fibrosis who were using the cards at a fundraiser to share what the disease is and what each child goes through on any given day. One of the children was graduating high school who needed a lung transplant. She had beautiful big brown eyes soft light brown hair and delicate features her picture just drew me in. I thought of other kids her age preparing for college or at least the next chapter of their lives. This young lady was really preparing for her final days on earth.

We are not a big company by any stretch, none of the stories I have shared were looking for free cards at the very least a discount.We saw it as a way to help, sometimes its not about our bank account, filling your heart at times can be more fulfilling. I believe the world gives back so nothing I have ever done through our company or on a personal level has always come back some how someway, I am always mindful of that.

You will not find these cards on our site, I feel families should have some respect and dignity they do no t need to see their loved ones card plastered on our site.

When you celebrate we celebrate when you hurt we hurt too, that sums up who we are, no different than many of you.

Warm regards,

Pam

www.customsportscards.com

What we Won't do

Our Company, what we WON”T DO,

As any of you know who start a business you get excited over every call and the potential to grow you customer base. In the early days it was like that at Goldie and Company (Goldie was my dogs name)

Some of the calls caught me off guard, my vision for the cards were not only sports but of children who were great at music or science etc.

I thought all kids should have cards to show off their accomplishments.

A number of times I received calls to create cards for the porn industry. One caller took it as far as to tell me how much money I could make and I was stupid for turning it down.

On a personal note I will never create cards that would exploit another human being I would go back to working in a factory or janitorial before that would happen.

I do not judge what others do for a living, but in this case you are talking about someone’s child, daughter, friend, family member whatever you want to call it.

Like any business we have struggled but never will we do anything under the table or behind anyone’s back just to make money.

We are proud of the company we created and want you to feel the same way when you do business with Custom Sports Cards.

We love the family celebrations we have become a part of and appreciate each and every one of you.

What I Miss

Do you know what I miss doing? In the early days of Goldie and Company/Custom Sports Cards I use to handwrite every customer a hand written note, more than just to thank them for their order but to acknowledge the special messages I would read on birth announcements knowing someday that baby will grow up and read how their parents felt about them and how valuable and meaningful that would be. The weddings where couples remember they met, their first kiss, the simple thing is in life that should matter the most.

I’ve never thought of our product as just another trading card or something mass-produced and your card is like everyone else’s.

Each one is special, a keepsake that you kids or grandkids will someday love to read.

When all is said and done those cherished moments are what keep us together and what should matter the most.

Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your special moments.

Made in the USA

Where are our cards made? Right here in the USA they always have been they always will be. I am aware how work can be done cheaper abroad I worked in factories for years and saw work go over seas and jobs were eliminated here. I am also aware of the world’s problems I feel for others but I know I cannot solve them. I believe the best contribution our company can make is to continue to grow and hire here and give people a chance to make a living and pursue their own hopes and dreams.

A little History on Custom Sports cards

Custom Sports Cards started out as Goldie & Company. I had attended a home business show and within 6 months found out it was a scam, some of you may remember Summit Photographix. Goldie is the name of my dog I decided on that name because I am pretty sure a dog would never do something like that. My business partner & I literally have built Custom Sports Cards by the seat of our pants. We learned everything from scratch we had have no background in graphic design or printing. I loved the idea of all children having a trading card whether it was sports, music, science, etc. I hated the thought of people like myself who were only looking to supplement my income being ripped off. So with an inkjet printer and laminator from Costco Goldie and Company was started.

We now find ourselves in a privileged position to not only create sports cards but have become part of so many family celebrations, birth announcements, weddings, birthday parties, Bar Mitzvahs….

We know the trading cards are really keepsakes and proud you have chosen us to be a small part of your family memories.

Best regards

Pam

Custom Sports Cards (Owner)

Custom Sports Cards has two trading card categories that are my favorite: birth announcements and weddings. I have to admit the Rookie Card Birth Announcements are my favorite.

Birth announcements have traditionally been to announce the birth of a child and have limited information; time, date, babies name, the hospital and a picture. The trading cards have provided so much more, in addition to traditional information the trading cards allow the parents - or should I say managers/coaches to announce their new addition as a part of a team with a guaranteed lifetime contract.

What's become apparent to me from reading so many cards is that someday your baby will become an adult and he or she will be able to look back and read what you thought about them. Go on our site and read what parents write to their baby's under career highlights on the backs of the cards. I love interacting with the parents and it's nice to see how involved the dads are in making sure the content and message to their baby is just right.

The weddings are so much fun, helping couples with there save the dates and wedding favors. To remember when you met, first date, first kiss, to your wedding day or as our sports loving couples like to say Single A, Double A, Majors, World Series. It's another family celebration where the cards mark the occasion and it will be another keepsake to share with your own kids someday. You would think with our busy lives we might forget those milestones but our customers remind us what is important in life, and time and again our customers share those important times. I feel so fortunate; we have the nicest customers.