Preparation for our spring sale is under way! Starting on Friday, March 1, come shop our “back room” sale at M. Hopple & Co. We will have a large variety of items on sale, including: -2013 Calendars -Seasonal Items -Gifts -Frames -Scarves, jewelry, and accessories -Baby items -Lily Pulitzer phone cases -Imprintables -Wrap ….  and more!   Items with a red line will be 75% off and green line will be 50% off. We’re looking forward to seeing you!  

More of what’s trending, from the style and merchandise team at M. Hopple & Co.   While in Atlanta for the Spring 2013 Gift, Home Furnishings and Holiday Market, we confirmed what our customers have known for years – personalization and monograming are trending UP for 2013.  M. Hopple & Co. has been ‘making it personal’ for 30+ years, and that trend is only getting stronger.   Personalized note cards, stationery and pads continue to be popular.  But there’s more interest than ever in personalization on bags, acrylic products, items for the home, even iPhone cases.   We especially like our extensive line of Clairebella products – affordable, well made, colorful – and great for graduations, Mother’s Day, showers and weddings, and more.    

  More of what’s trending, from the style and merchandise team at M. Hopple & Co.   We recently visited the Atlanta Spring 2013 Gift, Home Furnishings and Holiday Market – what a wonderful place to see what’s new, what’s hot and what’s trending!   A big theme we spotted is COASTAL.  Lots of sea foam green, turquoise blues, navy, and of course, the 2013 Pantone color of the year – emerald.  We love these fresh colors and think you will too.   Along with these great colors, we saw coastal motifs – ranging from beach to nautical to seaside.  We already have a nice assortment of coastal looks in stock, with more to come this spring.  Stop by to get inspired!  

 

  From our friends at Crane & Co:   Love is in the air. And, hopefully, on paper. Dozens of the finest roses and boxes of the most decadent chocolate can’t top a beautifully crafted love letter. Here’s how to create an amorous ode that’ll capture her or his heart forever.     Be Sincere It may seem obvious, but don’t write a love letter unless you’re, oh, in love. If you’re not in that point in your relationship yet, don’t force it — better to share your desire for a romantic trip to Paris when you actually want to take one.   You’re Not a Poet, and Know It Keats, Wordsworth, Shakespeare. Poetry of the amorous variety should be left to the experts. Unless you’re intentionally attempting to be cheeky, there’s no need to struggle with finding a word that rhymes with “mon cheri.”   Keep It Sweet A love letter shouldn’t read like a chapter in a romance novel. There is a time and a place for content rated for Mature Audiences, but Valentine’s Day is about love, not lust. That said, you’re not in junior high school. Hence, a love letter shouldn’t read like a chapter of a Young Adult novel, either.   Be Original Many a lovely sonnet, movie quote, song lyric and novel has been written about love. But those are their words, not yours. If words from any of the former sources have special meaning to you and your special someone — first date, where you met, etc. — then by all means, incorporate them into your love letter in a subtle way. But if they’re just words you happened to have found while searching “love quotes” on the Internet, skip them and include something straight from the heart instead.   It’s all in the Details If you’re writing a love letter, you’ve hopefully made many cherished memories together. A love letter should be a reminder as to why you love the recipient so. You don’t have to recount your entire first date, but rather the smaller moments — the way he eats his pasta by twirling it on his fork; the way she laughs with abandon during movies.   Make it a Looker You’ve taken the time to craft the perfect love letter, don’t skimp on the paper and presentation. Make it a note she’ll want to tuck in her drawer and keep forever.    

We all love a good box of chocolates or even a bouquet of roses. . . but this year, why not get creative for Valentine’s Day?  Here are some ideas we love and think your Valentine would too!   For your techy Valentine we have the new Lilly Pulitzer iPhone 5 cases,  keychain 2GB flash drives,  ear buds,  and a mobile charger for all your mobile devices from iPhones to iPads!       For your adventurous Valentine we have temporary tattoos from Susy Jack     And of course, we have the best assortment of Valentine’s Day cards in town!    

  More of what’s trending, from the style and merchandise team at M. Hopple & Co.   While in Atlanta for the Spring 2013 Gift, Home Furnishings and Holiday Market, we confirmed what our customers have known for years – personalization and monograming are trending UP for 2013.  M. Hopple & Co. has been ‘making it personal’ for 30+ years, and that trend is only getting stronger.    Personalized note cards, stationery and pads continue to be popular.  But there’s more interest than ever in personalization on bags, acrylic products, items for the home, even iPhone cases.    We especially like our extensive line of Clairebella products – affordable, well made, colorful – and great for graduations, Mother’s Day, showers and weddings, and more.    

  I am Mary Hopple and have been the owner of M. Hopple & Co. for all 32 years.  We are proudly a local, woman-owned small business.  Some of you I know well, others I’ve met casually through the years, and for those who don’t know me, here’s a little background!   How it all started I moved here in 1979 from Chicago, having been an assistant buyer at Marshall Fields, where my love of stationery developed into a passion.  Cincinnatians could buy stationery from a few small stationery stores, jewelers who sold wedding invitations, plus department store greats like Pogues and Shillitos.  I thought I could bring fresh ideas to the stationery business!  M. Hopple & Co. first opened in 500 square feet in the then-new Westin Hotel building downtown. It was fun right from the start and still is!   What’s in a name? I am related by marriage to the Hopples of Hopple Street.  My friend Phyllis Weston suggested I use the Hopple name in some way because people would know it because of the street….and it would have the sound of “Tiffany & Co.”  And I did…great advice from Phyllis-a recently-named Greatest Living Cincinnatian!    Location, location, location I’m sorry to have left downtown, where it all started for me, but the retail environment had changed dramatically there since 1979.  We are now in our third location in the Kenwood/Montgomery/Madeira area, near Kenwood Towne Centre.   We love our new space at 7920 Hosbrook Road, which is technically in the terrific community of Madeira, but still close to all the fabulous Kenwood shopping, too!    So, now you know there really is an M. Hopple!  Come see me at our new store, introduce yourself and have fun shopping at M. Hopple & Co.    

We’ve got just what you need for your iPhone 5. Two great case options in stock and perfect for you or as a gift!   Lilly Pulitzer Just arrived – hurry in for the best selection. Not available online until later in December. . . so M. Hopple & Co. is THE best source for this hot new item. Just one other retailer in Cincinnati has these! Three styles: Garden by the Sea, Lucky Charms & Ugotta Regatta. Each retails for $28.00. (not included in Lily sale)   RuMe This fun iPhone 5 case is actually 3 cases! You get two cool designs plus a third that is totally customized. You simply upload the image you want and within 10 business days, your personalized faceplate is delivered to you, at no additional charge. Each faceplate is aluminum and recyclable! $39.95 for all 3 faceplates.

Ever wonder how your stationery is engraved? Our friends at Crane & Co. shared this video about how they produce engraved stationery and invitations. The video takes you through the process step by step.

We are M. Hopple & co. love everything about Christmas and holiday cards.  Over the years, we’ve seen design options, printing methods, paper styles, and color choices explode — which makes selecting the perfect card challenging and fun all at the same time! While e-cards are growing in popularity, we believe that a traditional ‘paper’ card offers so much more, especially this time of year.  For the sender, it gives an opportunity to write a personal note, to share a photo, and to express your own personal style.  For the recipient, a card received by mail can be displayed, shared with others,  and enjoyed even after the holiday rush has passed.     Click on the links below for some interesting articles about the etiquette for sending holiday cards.     http://etiquette.about.com/od/Notes/a/Christmas-Card-Etiquette.htm   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-mirza-grotts/holiday-card-etiquette_b_2115408.html   http://corporate.hallmark.com/Newsroom/Christmas-Card-Sending-Tips   Be sure to stop by our store to see the amazing assortment of cards — appropriate for Christmas, Hanukkah, and for warm winter greetings, too!