Question about Marketing Stationery: Custom Drawings of Inn

Hello! I am a calligrapher and stationer who makes goods primarily for weddings. I've recently been tinkering with the idea of adding a B&B specialty to my offerings.I've noticed that when I stay at B&Bs, I often receive notes from the innkeeper on generic stationery or note cards. I do a lot of hand drawn venues for wedding invitation suites--this is actually often one of my favorite parts of designing invitations--and had the idea of creating an "Enchanting Escape" stationery offering specifically for inns and B&Bs where I would hand draw venues for personalized cards, stationery, and other branded items to give out to guests. Printing options could vary depending on budget and desire of the inn (ranging from flat printing or embossing to letter press or foil) and after a one-time design fee with the initial order, all re-ups of stationery would be offered at a much lower rate since the design is already made. I am in the final stages of readying my website for launch, and if this offering would be appealing to innkeepers, I would love to add it before the website goes live!
Since I'm a new vendor to the B&B arena, I'm curious: is this something innkeepers would be interested in?

We have note cards with the inn drawing on them. Guests take them all the time. We use them for gift certificates, too.
So, yes, good idea.
We used the same drawing for our mugs.

Yes but if you want more business do a buy the PDF service I am in the UK don't want to pay shipping and customs every time from you but would pay for the design merrily

Well just as some background this was how B&B's operated for decades, line drawings, used for branding on everything. It is not new, and now that we are in the digital age people can use real photos, which is why I think you see it lacking. There is still a special elegance to a line drawing, and many of us as innkeepers and inn-goers still appreciate them.
I guess the point I am trying to make is, show us the cost. With any business proposal or idea to get off the ground, we need a cost estimate.

I was blessed with an artist husband who did a line drawing off our house for my logo. He did them for several innkeepers at a ridiculously low price because he knew money was one thing we innkeepers did not have. I did a scan of his drawing and the program I had at that time let me save it in 310dpi (several computer systems ago) but it is still in my computer. I use it reduced to being on my address labels and enlarges to fill the bib of a bib apron.
He was also in the printing industry so knew what size to make the original so this could be done with clarity. The address label is clear and crisp and so is the apron.
I did like to use Gillum House note cards.

gillumhouse said:

I was blessed with an artist husband who did a line drawing off our house for my logo. He did them for several innkeepers at a ridiculously low price because he knew money was one thing we innkeepers did not have. I did a scan of his drawing and the program I had at that time let me save it in 310dpi (several computer systems ago) but it is still in my computer. I use it reduced to being on my address labels and enlarges to fill the bib of a bib apron.
He was also in the printing industry so knew what size to make the original so this could be done with clarity. The address label is clear and crisp and so is the apron.
I did like to use Gillum House note cards..

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

I was blessed with an artist husband who did a line drawing off our house for my logo. He did them for several innkeepers at a ridiculously low price because he knew money was one thing we innkeepers did not have. I did a scan of his drawing and the program I had at that time let me save it in 310dpi (several computer systems ago) but it is still in my computer. I use it reduced to being on my address labels and enlarges to fill the bib of a bib apron.
He was also in the printing industry so knew what size to make the original so this could be done with clarity. The address label is clear and crisp and so is the apron.
I did like to use Gillum House note cards.

Click to expand...

Wait, breaking news! I am quoting this so you can't go back and change it, you said you were "blessed" no pudding today, I guess.

JBloggs said:

gillumhouse said:

I was blessed with an artist husband who did a line drawing off our house for my logo. He did them for several innkeepers at a ridiculously low price because he knew money was one thing we innkeepers did not have. I did a scan of his drawing and the program I had at that time let me save it in 310dpi (several computer systems ago) but it is still in my computer. I use it reduced to being on my address labels and enlarges to fill the bib of a bib apron.
He was also in the printing industry so knew what size to make the original so this could be done with clarity. The address label is clear and crisp and so is the apron.
I did like to use Gillum House note cards..

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

I was blessed with an artist husband who did a line drawing off our house for my logo. He did them for several innkeepers at a ridiculously low price because he knew money was one thing we innkeepers did not have. I did a scan of his drawing and the program I had at that time let me save it in 310dpi (several computer systems ago) but it is still in my computer. I use it reduced to being on my address labels and enlarges to fill the bib of a bib apron.
He was also in the printing industry so knew what size to make the original so this could be done with clarity. The address label is clear and crisp and so is the apron.
I did like to use Gillum House note cards.

Click to expand...

Wait, breaking news! I am quoting this so you can't go back and change it, you said you were "blessed" no pudding today, I guess.

.

Click to expand...

Yes, I even took him to lunch at the place of his choice today. No need for pudding - he opted to try a burrito place we have never gone to before. Don't need pudding tonight - he had tacos and the obligatory "taste" of my burrito.
Nuff grease there for 3 pots of pudding.
Seriously though, he is getting weaker and getting closer to ordering his Who ppers. I told him a long time ago that when he reaches the point of "it ain't worth it" I will buy the favorite sandwich of his youth myself. HE asked if the wheelchair was in the car. Getting up from chairs is now difficult - I have to hold onto his belt at his back to help sometimes. Even with a brace, his "good" knee bends in so far that it almost kisses his bad knee. There is nothing straight to support him as he stands.
He will be 76 in August and has been on "borrowed time" since Feb 1964 when he survived a motorcycle wreck (son of a gun - the tree did not move) that should have killed him or any one of his medical disasters since then. As long as he is still drawing (keeps him out of my hair) and not whining, all is well. Obviously, today is a good day. Last week however.....

JBloggs said:

Well just as some background this was how B&B's operated for decades, line drawings, used for branding on everything. It is not new, and now that we are in the digital age people can use real photos, which is why I think you see it lacking. There is still a special elegance to a line drawing, and many of us as innkeepers and inn-goers still appreciate them.
I guess the point I am trying to make is, show us the cost. With any business proposal or idea to get off the ground, we need a cost estimate..

Click to expand...

Thanks, good to know. I'm still working out the cost since most of my wedding goods are more luxury items but I understand many B&Bs will potentially have budgets on the smaller end.

Jcam said:

Yes but if you want more business do a buy the PDF service I am in the UK don't want to pay shipping and customs every time from you but would pay for the design merrily.

Click to expand...

Ahh, good point! I will definitely keep that in mind.

Morticia said:

We have note cards with the inn drawing on them. Guests take them all the time. We use them for gift certificates, too.
So, yes, good idea.
We used the same drawing for our mugs..

Click to expand...

Thank you for the feedback. I greatly appreciate it!

gillumhouse said:

I was blessed with an artist husband who did a line drawing off our house for my logo. He did them for several innkeepers at a ridiculously low price because he knew money was one thing we innkeepers did not have. I did a scan of his drawing and the program I had at that time let me save it in 310dpi (several computer systems ago) but it is still in my computer. I use it reduced to being on my address labels and enlarges to fill the bib of a bib apron.
He was also in the printing industry so knew what size to make the original so this could be done with clarity. The address label is clear and crisp and so is the apron.
I did like to use Gillum House note cards..

Click to expand...

That's great! Thank you for sharing. I'm glad that this is something innkeepers could have an interest in.

I would recommend you use what you do everywhere, ie why not start out here with a really cool avatar line drawing. Funny how you are here to ask this question but show up to class unprepared? You may have already made a sale!

Yes! We are always looking at really unique material for the Inn; people come for something different from chain hotels, and sometimes it can be a struggle to provide this without breaking the bank. I would say go for it and let us know if and when you ship to Canada! We would also love to see a few samples!