FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SALUTATIONS RECEIVES
2003 BUSINESS NEWCOMER AWARD

CHAPEL HILL, NC (January 23, 2004) – Salutations, the Triangle’s newest upscale stationery and gift store, has been dubbed the Business Newcomer of 2003 by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce. The award was announced at the Chamber’s 2004 Annual Meeting held at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel on Thursday, January 22, 2004.

The Chamber of Commerce annually grants three Business of the Year awards to small, medium and large businesses that have been in operation for at least three years. This year, the Chamber created a new award to recognize outstanding businesses that are in their infancy. In order to receive the Business Newcomer Award, the business must have demonstrated innovation in its field, creativity in start-up, likelihood of long-term success, and contribution to the community.

Since opening its doors in Meadowmont Village in Chapel Hill in July 2002, Salutations has created quite a stir in the Triangle, becoming known as the place to find unique invitations, personal and business stationery and one-of-a-kind gifts. Owner Holly Bretschneider had a background in law and corporate management (formerly the Vice President/General Counsel of a health plan in California), but no experience in retail management. However, after moving to North Carolina in November 2000 with her husband and two young children, she saw an opportunity for a stylish, friendly paper store that was unique in the Chapel Hill area.

Holly Bretschneider describes the typical experience at Salutations as follows: “People are excited to walk in the store (after marveling at the latest high-fashion dress in the window made entirely out of paper!), to be greeted with a smile (usually by name!), to get inspired by the myriad of choices available to make their event or gift that much more special, to be told that they really can get their items personalized within two days (often sooner!), to be offered free gift-wrapping (or, for a small fee, gifts wrapped to look like stylish purses!), and to receive their personalized items printed on time and correctly.” And, although no business can achieve perfection all of the time, Bretschneider states that any issues that arise are resolved promptly and fairly. Not content with “customer satisfaction”, Holly Bretschneider and her staff attempt to delight every customer by exceeding their expectations.

Through these experiences, Salutations’ customer base has grown exponentially, mostly through referrals from “wowed” customers. The store has such a loyal following that many customers continue to place orders after moving out of the area – even from as far away as Okinawa, Japan.

Holly Bretschneider is thrilled to be the first recipient of the Chamber’s Business Newcomer Award. Says Bretschneider, “The Chamber of Commerce and the community in general have been so welcoming and supportive of Salutations. I have drawn on many of the valuable resources made available by the Chamber and its members, and it really has made a difference. I am also very fortunate to work with a group of really fun and talented women who have helped to make the store so successful.”

Salutations is located in Meadowmont Village on Highway 54 in Chapel Hill. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays, and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Salutations can also be found on the Internet at www.salutations-nc.com.

Salutations
106 Meadowmont Village Circle
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517
(919) 918-1008
info@salutations-nc.com
www.salutations-nc.com