Long Valley stationery designer caters to the stars
Posted: Friday, January 27, 2012 3:00 am | Updated: 12:19 pm, Wed Jan 25, 2012.
WASHINGTON TWP. Hilary Duff has Jessica Gattones original stationery and maybe Robert DeNiro will be next.
The Long Valley businesswoman previously gifted her Sparetire Design work to Duff and actress-singer Zooey Deschanel. The next stop for her stationery will be among the items to be given out to celebrities prior to the Oscars ceremony on Feb. 26 at the W Hotel in Hollywood, Calif.
A former freelance writer, Gattone started her own stationery design company two years ago. She said her work got a big boost when she joined The Artisan Group, a national, non-profit organization that helps promote business among the rich and famous at events like the Academy Awards, Emmys and Golden Globe awards.
She created special thank you cards that were given to Duff at a gifting event after the actress had a child in March. The blue cards, for Duffs baby boy, are designed in a retro pattern.
Members of The Artisan Group pay no dues but create products that will be marketed in gift bags and given to celebrities. The products range from handcrafted jewelry and spa and bath products to designer stationery apparel and toys.
Celebrities sometimes have photos taken with the items that Gattone or others can use in their marketing.
Celebrity Marketing
The Artisan Group is one of many such organizations that are based on the marketing method of having a famous person use the item. As one of the many perks of stardom, the celebrities are invited to view the gift bags and can speak with representatives of the various artisans and take home their products.
Celebrities sign up in advance so that the various artisans know who to expect and who might take a fancy to their products.
The members pay a fee to be included in the gifting bags that ranges from $400 to ha! ve a pro duct in a gift bag and on a display table for two days, down to $75 to have business cards distributed to members of the press. The Artisan Group uses the fees to pay the celebrity hosting groups to reserve exhibit space to display members products.
Gattone said it has been worth the investment. In addition to the gifting, The Artisans Group offers members guidance in the areas of sales, marketing, social media, and public relations. It also hosts a message board that helps artisans network their ideas.
The Artisans Group has been very active in helping each other and lending support, Gattone said. Its quite amazing how quickly you can get to know someone. The group has really helped business expand.
Gattone said that even competing artisans support each other, as they have different styles and appeal different potential customers.
Gattone attended the School of Art and Design at Alfred (N.Y.) University. She worked for several design studios and started her freelance work after she had her first child, Jake, 8. Since then she and her husband, Sal, have had two other children, Tyler, 6, and Emily, 4.