Per Annum Company Blog | The Forward Thinker

The Votes Are In....

Okay, folks, our Baby's First Year photo contest has come to an end and the winners have been selected!  First, the prize for Best Portrait goes to.... TORY M. and her sleepy bundle of blanket-swaddled cuteness, who eked out a victory with 42.6% of the vote!  (Second place had 42.2% -- our closest vote yet!)

In the Best Candid division, the winner is.... ERIN L., whose adorable depiction of dessert gone awry won handily, with 45.8% of the vote.

Tory and Erin, we hope you enjoy the special Per Annum Prize Packs that will be on the way to your doors shortly!  Congratulations!

Big thanks to our other finalists and entrants, and to the masses who came out and voted.  As always, keep your cameras clicking and stay tuned for another contest in a few weeks.  We just can't get enough!

The Polls Are Now Open!

Thanks to all who submitted photos to our Baby's First Year photo contest!  We received a deluge of entries and boy, there are some cute babies out there.  All entrants will receive a special coupon via e-mail, which can be used on a future Per Annum order, so if you sent us an entry, be on the lookout for that very soon.

Now, the tough part.  Picking our top three favorites for Best Portrait and Best Candid was not an easy decision, as we were overwhelmed with both cuteness and funniness, but here are our finalists:

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BEST PORTRAIT

 
PHOTO 1:
"Sleepytime" by Tory M.

 
PHOTO 2:
"At the Park" by Angie M.

 
PHOTO 3:
"Smiley" by Amy N.

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BEST CANDID

 
PHOTO 4:
"Doggone Good" by Leah D.

 
PHOTO 5:
"Still Hungry" by Erin L.

  
PHOTO 6:
"A Little Skeptical" by Jes T.

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Whew!  There you have it.  Use the applications below to place your votes by midnight this coming Monday, March 30th.  Feel free to share your comments and thoughts on your favorites, as well!  (And after you vote, be sure to use coupon code BLOG to take 10% off your next order at www.PerAnnum.com with our compliments!)

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Good luck to all our finalists!

Last Chance to Enter Our Baby's 1st Year Photo Contest

Just a quick reminder that our Baby's First Year photo contest ends TONIGHT at midnight!  We'd love to see more photographic evidence of your baby's cuteness, playfulness, sense of humor, originality, or whatever you want.  Remember, this time we will be judging TWO categories -- Best Portrait and Best Candid -- so that means TWO chances to win a special Per Annum Prize Pack, chock full of photo & scrapbook related goodies!

Once all the entries have been collected, the Per Annum panel of judges will pick their favorites in each category, and the final vote will begin on Friday.  Please send your pics to lisa@perannum.com today!

Cutest Little Baby Face

If you’ve been following our blog, you probably read that I recently had a baby boy.  What you might not know is that I am one camera crazy momma.  This is my first child and I have already taken nearly 2,000 pictures in just 3 months.  But hey, with digital technology you don’t have to pay per print anymore AND it inevitably takes dozens of shots to get those really spectacular images!

We want to see your best baby pictures for our March photo contest.  We’re looking for shots from your Baby's First Year.  This time we will be judging 2 categories -- Best Portrait and Best Candid -- one that makes us melt and one that makes us laugh.  The winners will each get special Per Annum Prize Packs!

Here are some of our favorite baby photos:

 
  

Submission deadline: March 26th
We’ll pick our “fave 3” then our readers will get to vote for the best.
Voting: March 27th through 30th
Winners announced: March 31st

Will your baby be "in pictures?"  Send all submissions to lisa@perannum.com.

A Few of Your Favorite Things

Every year around this time, we at Per Annum perform the important task of making sure that all of our listings for next year's City Diaries are as current and accurate as possible.  This involves making lots of phone calls, checking websites, deciding which establishments to keep, add or eliminate.  Needless to say, it's quite an arduous undertaking -- but a necessary one!

Of course, it's always possible that some of YOUR personal hot spots might fly under our radar -- which is why we'd love to hear from you!  If you have any favorite restaurants, bars, shops, etc., that you'd like to see listed in one of our 2010 City Diaries, by all means drop us a line and let us know.

Please provide the name & location of the establishment, a website if possible, a reason why you think it should be listed in our Diary, and any other pertinent info.  You can contact us through our website by clicking here, or just post a comment on this blog.

Please note, we can't 100% guarantee that we'll be able to add ALL responses we receive, depending upon space limitations and such -- but we are always on the lookout for new listings, so don't be shy -- we look forward to hearing your suggestions!

Kind Words From Our Wonderful Customers

As Per Annum prepares to celebrate its 30th Anniversary, it's time again to dip into the mailbag and bask in the glow of some of the nice things people are saying about our products and services!

Let's start with Matthew from New York, NY, who explains how he came to love the Manhattan Diary: "I have used several paper and electronic appointment books and calendars, and I have never seen one this good. The street and transport maps are fantastic!"

Kristina from Chicago likes how her Chicago Diary allows her to become a better samaritan: "I love when tourists stop me in Chicago and ask for directions and I can whip out the map or even phone number of a museum or restaurant to help guide them."

Along similar lines, Rachele from Astoria, NY, admits, "It is discreet enough that if I get disoriented in New York, I can do a quick check to get myself back on track without looking completely clueless."

Meanwhile, Tracey K. from Monterey Park, CA, expresses her joy at how we've expanded our color palette in the past year:  "I have used Manhattan diaries since 1990 and am THRILLED the L.A. diaries now come in COLORS, too!"

Metro Diary user Lizbeth A. from Eastsound, WA agrees: "The bright colors are a great way to locate a calendar in the dark reaches of a handbag!"

Here at Per Annum, we take customer service very seriously and always do our best to to ship orders as quickly as possible -- a fact to which Erin from Stamford, CT can attest: "WOW!  The order has arrived, in less than 24 hours.  I am thrilled.  You are simply amazing!"

Christie J. from Downingtown, PA, a fan of our photo albums and scrapbooks, expands on that sentiment: "I just wanted to let you know that I think your company is doing an excellent job. I have ordered from you many times and have never been dissapointed. Not only do you provide unique products, you personalize and deliver them amazingly fast. Your staff is very helpful and quick. Thank you for providing such an efficient service. Keep up the good work!"

Finally, K.K. from NYC simply says, "You are a great company and that is rare in today's world."

Thanks, everyone, for the kind words, and you can bet that will do our best to keep giving you great products and top-notch service.  And as usual, don't hesitate to contact us with any questions, comments, suggestions, concerns, etc., you may have!

(By the way, don't forget to pre-order your 2010 City Diaries now -- we're offering 20% off plus Free Shipping through 3/31 -- plus, use coupon code BL10 to receive an additional 10% off.  It's our Best Offer Ever!)

HALLLOOOOO Good Food!

I really wanted to share with you a special place called Hallo Berlin -- it's a fantastic and very affordable German restaurant at 626 10th Ave. (Hell’s Kitchen Area).

I was so excited to see this listing in the 2009 Manhattan Diary -- page 37 to be exact. The first time I went was about 5 years ago and I've always sworn to go back.

What I like about NYC is that you can have exactly what you want whenever you want it. The best music, dancing, food, libraries, museums -- you name it! The best thing for me is that you have so many different cultures right at your fingertips. Hallo Berlin has the perfect mix of culture, good food, great prices, and a splash of a tradtional German environment right here in our own concrete jungle. It doesn’t get too crowded, and with its picnic table setting, it makes for a great night of laughing the night away with friends. After all, what’s better than award-winning German food and beer!

I am getting hungry just writing about it. Next time you are in the neighborhood, check this place out and bring your old friends along with ya!

2010 City Diaries Now On Sale

Thirty years ago, the Manhattan Diary made its first appearance and revolutionized the lives of New Yorkers by offering a one-stop resource for everything the city had to offer -- a veritable "city in your pocket."  Over the years, as more cities, products and styles were added, Per Annum became a household name and the City Diaries became an annual necessity for people all over the country, and even the world.

Now, as Per Annum celebrates its 30th anniversary, I am happy to announce that the 2010 City Diaries are available for pre-order!  Just visit the links below to order your 2010 Diaries at special early-bird prices, and they will ship automatically when the books become available later this summer.  The entire Per Annum family of products is on sale, including:

• The classic Per Annum Pocket Diary, available for Manhattan, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and the 18-City Metropolitan edition -- available in genuine and simulated leather covers, in a variety colors.

• The popular Manhattan Daily Plan-It and Metropolitan Desk Diary for those who prefer all of that great City Diary info in a larger size.

• The InfoLine series (InfoCord, InfoPrint and InfoPlan), featuring three styles of general information diaries.

• The New Yorker Desk Diary for fans of the magazine and its cartoons.

• The MyBook Adaptable Planner, which continues to gain popularity as it enters its third year.

We are currently offering a 20% discount + Free Shipping on all 2010 pre-orders until March 31st.  But as a special thank you for being a loyal blog reader, you can also use coupon code BL10 to receive an ADDITIONAL 10% off.  (Offers expires 3/31/09.)

Click Here or use the links above to start shopping... and don't forget to wish us a happy anniversary! :)

Let It Snow?

It's a pretty nasty, snowy day here in NYC -- but fortunately, neither snow nor rain nor sleet can stop Per Annum from helping you find some of the best deals and selection around.  If you're finding yourself snowed in on this cold winter's day and feel like doing some shopping, here are a few links that can help you on your way:

• 2009 City Diaries: They're going fast, so get'em while you can!

• American Crafts Binders: A popular new addition to our site -- great 8.5" x 11" and 12" x 12" three-ring binders in various styles.

• Sale Items: Special markdowns on select products, old and new.

• Clearance Items: Price reductions on discontinued, but still great, products.

• Wrapped-and-Ready:  In-stock items that can ship right away -- perfect for quick gift ideas.


Hope this helps brighten your day!