Per Annum Company Blog | The Forward Thinker

Classic Product Review: The Newbury Tied Scrapbook

I've been part of the Per Annum family for a long time, and I've seen new products come and go. But there are a few that have stood the test of time and remain bestsellers to this day. One in particular is Kolo's Newbury Tied Scrapbook, a versatile old favorite that can be used for pretty much any occasion, from newborns to weddings, vacation days to school days, and all points in between.

The album cover measures 8.5 x 10", and is bound with a matching ribbon tie. It comes with 25 pages but can fit about 40 comfortably, so there's plenty of room to arrange your pics and stuff. Over the years, customers have praised how easy it is to simply untie the ribbon, put in new pages, and tie it back up. Can't argue with that. It's available in Kolo's varied color palette, so you can find a use for it regardless of your occasion's theme or color scheme. Personally, I like the Sage fabric, but you can't go wrong with colorful Mango or Ocean, or classic Black or Ivory.

The Newbury Tied Scrapbook is indeed an old favorite that will never go out of style, and it comes highly recommended... by me! Check it out on our website, and enjoy!

AMC Empire 25

Aside from being Per Annum’s resident customer service manager and mail order guru, I am also a huge movie buff.  I love watching movies of all kinds and am a big fan of the theatre-going experience.  As a result, I think I am pretty well-versed in the NYC movie theatre scene.  There are a few that I visit often... others that I avoid at all costs... but one that I consider my home away from home:  The AMC Empire 25 in Times Square.

Now, granted, any self-respecting New York tries his or her best to avoid the madness of Times Square, and generally speaking, I am no exception.  But step inside this massive giant of a multiplex, and the vast movie selection will quickly make you forget where you are.  It is home to an incredible TWENTY-FIVE screens (including one IMAX), which show movies spanning all genres.  No need to scour the listings for that little indie film you want to see -- there’s a good chance it’s playing at the Empire, while the next theatre over may be showing the latest big Hollywood blockbuster.

In terms of comfort and quality, the Empire is first-rate.  All 25 theatres have stadium-seating with comfy seats and ample leg room (and adjustable arm rests for you lovebirds out there).  The screens are large, the picture is crisp, and the sound system is booming.  Even the popcorn somehow tastes better than other AMC theatres in the city.  Plus, if you have time to kill before, after or between movies, there’s a little café on the top floor, as well as balconies so you can step outside and take in the bright lights of the city.

I’ve visited almost every movie theatre in NYC at least once, but the AMC Empire 25 is the one I keep coming back to.  You can find it on page 47 of your 2009 Manhattan Diary.  Enjoy the show!

More From the Per Annum Mailbag

Okay, folks, it’s time once again to dip into the mailbag and take a look at some of what you, the customers, are saying about Per Annum and our products! As always, we sincerely thank everyone for all the e-mails, customer response cards, phone calls, etc.-- your loyalty and feedback is what has allowed us to keep going for almost 30 years!

First off, Rachelle from Astoria, NY writes to let us know how much she loves our new variety of colors. “I started with red and have decided to work my way through all of the colors offered before returning to one. The addition of orange was a great surprise!”

Thanks, Rachelle -- looks like lots of people felt the same way about Purple and Pink, too! Any thoughts from you readers on what colors should come next?

Through the years, one of the top-rated features of our diaries has been the full-color maps. Take it from David from Sunnyside, NY, who says, “The subway map in the back is the best and quickest reference that I use the most. It's awesome.”

Megan W. from NYC seconds the motion, saying, “It is the perfect size and the maps (subway, bus and street) are the best.”

Gretchen from NYC agrees and takes it a step further: “I LOVE the maps! The size! The pocket! The ribbon!”

Lastly, random high praise from a few more valued customers, because it just feels good:

E.H. from San Francisco says, “I like having so much information at my fingertips without needing a computer or PDA. I can look at maps, find restaurants, library and post office locations, area codes, metric conversion, wind chill. It almost eliminates the need for a computer and is like carrying the yellow pages in your pocket. You've really hit on all the things I need, and I love it.” That’s what we like to hear!

Longtime fan, Tom from Chicago, explains why he has chosen our diaries over others he has tried: “Your diaries are best for me because of the combination of space to write, pocket for personalized fillers and note cards, the wonderfully handy lists up front and the calendars and maps in the back. It's easy to use, looks cool, and I've been buying 'em for many years. Keep it up!” We certainly will!

R.G. from West Hollywood, CA simply says, “I've been using your city diary for three years now -- it's a life saver!” That’s what we’re here for!

And finally, we have John, a big fan from way over in Amsterdam: “I have used and loved your diaries for years, with so much pleasure. I would never call it an organizer – no, no! Your planner has meant so much more to me. And beyond offering a great product, your company has a very keen staff, and they are immensely helpful to their customers. Top rate!”

As the customer service manager, I hope you all won’t mind if I give myself a little pat on the back for that one. :)

And the winner is...

The votes are in, and the winner of our Holiday Spirit Photo Contest is.... JESSICA, whose vibrant photo of 5-month old Elias' enchantment with the Christmas tree struck a chord with an overwhelming percentage of voters! Congratulations, Jessica! Your Per Annum Prize Pack will be on its way shortly.

Thanks again to our other three finalists... not to mention everyone who came out and voted for their favorites! This was our most popular contest yet, so you can bet that there will be more in the near future, with more great giveaways!

Don't Forget to Vote

Just a quick reminder to vote before midnight tonight for your favorite holiday spirit photo! Vote now! As a thank you, enter coupon code BLOG during checkout to save 10% on your next Per Annum order.

Special Savings for Our Loyal Readers

As a special thank you to all of our loyal blog readers, I'd like to offer you an exclusive coupon for 10% off your next order at Per Annum - find gifts, photo albums and accessories, scrapbook supplies, and more. You can use the links on the left to navigate by brand or by category. Simply enter coupon code BLOG at checkout. You'll also get free shipping if your order is over $100!

Don't forget to vote in our photo contest, as well. Voting will end on Thursday at midnight!

Holiday Spirit Photo Contest - Voting

NOTE: We'd like to offer you, our loyal blog readers, an exclusive coupon for 10% off your next order at Per Annum. Simply enter coupon code BLOG at checkout.

A big thank you to everyone who entered our Holiday Spirit Photo Contest! We received an overwhelming number of photos, and have decided to post our favorite four for you to vote on - we couldn't pick just three! Place your vote before midnight on January 15 - the photo with the most votes will receive a Per Annum prize pack! Take a look at our favorites, and scroll down to place your vote:

Photo 1: Submitted by Jessica. We picked this photo for the great composition and fabulous colors, and because we love how enchanted 5-month-old Elias is by the shining ornaments.

Photo 2: Submitted by the Bullocks. We picked this photo because family time is what it's all about at the holidays - and the Rock Band theme is pretty clever, too!

Photo 3: Submitted by Liz. We picked this photo because we love hearing how the holidays are celebrated in other parts of the world. Liz says, "Of course here in the Southern Hemisphere it is summer, so we don't have a white Christmas, we have a seafood, bbq and swimming pool Christmas. Check out the crayfish (a southern hemisphere form of lobster) in the bowl - YUM."

Photo 4: Submitted by Shawn. We picked this photo because we love this little girl's expression. Shawn says "The holidays are so special to me because I get to share it with my sweet daughter and husband!"

Good luck to everyone! Remember to place your vote by midnight on Thursday, January 15.

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Merry Armenian Christmas!

Don't forget to submit your favorite holiday photos by January 8 for a chance to win a Per Annum Prize Pack. Submit all photos to nora@perannum.com.

Merry Armenian Christmas!

That’s right, I said Merry Armenian Christmas. I find it interesting that there is so much information we don’t know regarding different cultures and religions. Being an Armenian American, I get to enjoy both traditions and also get to share them with my friends. Since today is Armenian Christmas I wanted to tell you why we celebrate Christmas on January 6th instead of December 25th:

Why Do Armenians Celebrate Christmas on January 6th?

It is frequently asked why Armenians do not celebrate Christmas on December 25th with the rest of the Christian world. Obviously, the exact date of Christ's birth has not been historically established— nor is it recorded in the Gospels. However, historically, all Christian churches celebrated Christ's birth on January 6th until the fourth century.

According to Roman Catholic sources, the date was changed from January 6th to December 25th in order to override a pagan feast dedicated to the birth of the Sun which was celebrated on December 25th. At the time Christians used to continue their observance of these pagan festivities. In order to undermine and subdue this pagan practice, the church hierarchy designated December 25th as the official date of Christmas and January 6th as the feast of Epiphany. However, Armenia was not affected by this change for the simple fact that there were no such pagan practices in Armenia on that date, and the fact that the Armenian Church was not a satellite of the Roman Church. Thus, remaining faithful to the traditions of their forefathers, Armenians have continued to celebrate Christmas on January 6th until today.

Now, there is a lot more where that came from but I wanted to keep it short and sweet.

I would love to hear from my fellow Armenians, and I would also love to learn about any other cultures/traditions that the rest of the world may not know!