Custom stationary boutique opens above Capitol Theatre
In an age of electronic communications, entrepreneur Judene McCalla is making her mark in the business world creating custom paper stationary.
McCalla is opening her first bricks and mortar boutique, See You There Invitations, this week in downtown Windsor. After years of working exclusively out of her home office, she maintains the market is strong for printed products.
“People still like to get snail mail,” McCalla said with a laugh. “The first time I’ll do a sample for (an engaged couple) for their invitation and … when they see their name on it, they ’re so excited,” she said. “Yeah there is still a need for printed invitations.”
But she hasn’t abandoned the use of electronic mail or social media. “I do get some couples, they’ll do the formal (invitation) portion but in terms of responding … for the younger generation, they’ll have like a wedding website for them to respond,” she said. “For the older folks, they’ll basically have the actual RSVP card, just to save on costs.”
McCalla designs customized creations for all occasions, using beautiful embellishments of glitter, rhinestones, ribbon and finely detailed laser-cut overlays. Photographs or small trinkets that represent a couple’s interests or the theme of the event can be added. Her primary business is weddings, but she also does corporate events, baby showers, birthdays, retirements and other occasions. McCalla gently guides clients through the process including timing for ordering, help with wording and reminders of all the extra items that can make an event special — everything from menu cards, seating charts, place cards, table numbers, banners and thank you notes.
The 40-year-old businesswoman is making her dream of opening a storefront a reality with help from the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association’s rent subsidy program, an incentive that subsidizes rent for the first year of a new establishment. “When you’re starting out in a business you need some help,” McCalla said. “It’s just having that extra help until you can get (established) and bring in good revenue. It’s very helpful.”
Months of sweat equity helped create a light-filled space awash in soft colours and plush seating with glittering gold light fixtures and whitewashed display cabinets that showcase samples of her work. “As soon as I came up here, I knew that it was it,” McCalla said. “I just had to have it.
“I love the idea that it’s downtown. I like the downtown core.” The boutique is housed above the Capitol Theatre, with its entrance off Pelissier Street. McCalla works in conjunction with Capitol staff because the venue offers space for rent for weddings and other events. Born in Jamaica, McCalla came to Canada at age 14 and eventually to Windsor at 18 to attend the University of Windsor hoping to become a lawyer.
“That changed. I am not a lawyer,” she said. “I like the creative side of things. That gives me great joy.”