Hana Hou Productions Wholesale catalogue
View the Hana Hou Productions Portfolio Available Services The Studio & More Upcoming Scrapbooking Items Try on the Hana Hou Designs before you buy! Shop Online for Merchandise
 
 Meet Melissa
 Awards
 Press
 Current Projects
 Ordering
 Order Form
 Testimonials
 Featured Orders
 Q & A
 Links
 Contact
 
 
 
 
Questions and Answers
  
If you do not see an answer to your question here in the Q & A section, please Melissa for further information.
  
  
  
General
  

Q:

Where was Hana Hou Productions founded?

A:

Honolulu, Hawai'i. Due to a move in 2002, Hana Hou Productions is now located outside Chicago, Illinois.
     

Q:

What does "Hana Hou" mean and how is it pronounced??

A:

"Hana Hou" is a Hawaiian phrase meaning "encore", so "Encore Productions". It's pronounced Ha-na-Ho (not "Ha-na-Who").
     

Q:

Do you have a mortar-and-brick storefront or a place where your designs can be viewed??

A:

Currently, no. Melissa would LOVE to eventually have her own store one day! However, samples are available for purchase via this website.
     

Q:

Do you sell wholesale to store fronts / businesses??

A:

SOON! Melissa is planning to have select note cards and thank you cards, and possibly blank invitations available for wholesale in mid-2007. The minimum order will be $275. If you wish to receive information about this service and when it is available, please send an to be placed on the mailing list.
     
  
  
  
Envelopes
  

Q:

Do you offer inner envelopes??

A:

Yes, but only for select designs. Please review the details for each design closely. If you really desire inner envelopes, please Melissa. She may be able to change the size of the invitation design you are interested in ordering, so that you may use the inner and outer envelope sizes she has in stock. Otherwise belly wrap bands are a great way to add a guests names to the invite, as are tags (for 3D boxed invites).
     

Q:

Do you offer guest addressing services for envelopes?

A:

Yes, but only for clients who order their invitations from Hana Hou Productions. For a fee of $1.55 per main outer envelope, Melissa will Modern Guest Address (ink jet print) your guests names and address (up to five lines) in the font which coordinates with your invitation wording. If you also order inner envelopes, the cost is $1.35 per envelope for up to three lines of text. The fee reflects the time it takes Melissa to layout, format, and then print your guest addresses. It also includes the cost of the ink.
     
  
  
Printing
  

Q:

Why are PRESS PRINTED invitations so expensive??

A:

Many individuals new to the invitation world are surprised by the high end cost of printed items. What they do not realize is that when invitation pieces are printed by a printing press (rather than a high quality inkjet or laser jet printer), there are often medium to high costs involved for operating the press. A negative (like a photo negative) needs to be made of your text, and then from the negative, a printing plate which is used on the press. You're also paying for the cost to operate the press, to create a custom colored ink (for certain orders), as well as, the cost to "wash down" the press (from the colored ink) when through printing. Everything adds up - and thus the cost. Then factor paper and envelope costs and the invite designers time and use of their design.
     

Q:

Can my invites be printed in more than one color?

A:

Certainly. But each additional color adds additional costs, as with letterpress only one color can be printed at a time.
     

Q:

Do you only print letterpress?

A:

No. Melissa can use letterpress, offset, embossing and/or foiling. Currently thermograph printing is no longer available.
     

Q:

How can I tell what type of printing is done for an invite or design Hana Hou Productions offers?

A:

Melissa specifies on each design page how the design/text is printed, so you always know what you're paying for. Some companies offer "printed" invitations, but do not specify how they are "printed". Be sure to enquire what "printed" means - inkjet, laserjet, letterpress, thermograph, offset, etc. Inkjet printing is the least expensive method, so be sure to compare the price to the type of printing to determine what you're really paying for in the long run.
     
  
  
Shipping
  

Q:

Are shipping and handling charges included in the invitation pricing?

A:

No, unless otherwise stated.
     

Q:

Who pays for the shipping of the product(s)?

A:

You are responsible for the full, actual shipping charges plus a $10 handling fee, unless otherwise stated. You are invoiced via PayPal.com once your order has been packaged and weighed for the shipping costs. It would be greatly appreciated if you would pay this invoice ASAP.
     

Q:

How are orders shipped?

A:

Orders are shipped via UPS or FedEx Ground, USPS Priority Mail (with Delivery Confirmation) or USPS Express Mail, depending upon how soon the client desires their order. If you'd prefer 2 Day Fed Ex, or have a Fed Ex or UPS account you'd like to use, please let Melissa know.
     

Q:

Are shipped orders insured?

A:

YES. Your package will be insured based upon the paid dollar amount. Melissa includes this in the shipping fee.
     

Q:

Who ships orders?

A:

All orders will be shipped by Melissa from her studio in Illinois.
     

Q:

Is a signature required?

A:

YES. If you have a signature "on file" and the package is left, Hana Hou Productions is not responsible for theft or damage of the package. It is recommended that you ship to your place of work so that someone will be able to sign for the package - call it peace of mind!
     
  
  
Text & Fonts
  

Q:

Can you print Japanese or foreign language characters/text?

A:

Yes. Melissa has printed Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish, to name a few. However, in some instances you must provide the text/artwork (esp. for Japanese/Chinese lettering). Melissa will need for you to email a high resolution EPS file that is formatted to fit the invitation design you select. The actual useable text space varies based upon the design you choose, so please eMail Melissa for further information regarding the design for which you're interested.
     

Q:

What if there are multiple fonts I'd like to "try on" on my invitation?

A:

When ordering your invitations, if you are unsure of the font you'd like used, that's not a problem. Provide Melissa with the fonts you're debating between on the Hana Hou Productions Order Form (the one after the PayPal.com order form), and she'll provide you with your invitation proof to start in those fonts. Since your invitation is the main piece, once you see your wording in the given fonts, you'll be able to make your decision. Melissa will then proceed to work on your remaining proofs (RSVP, etc.) in your newly decided on font.
     
  
  
Samples
  

Q:

What is the processing time for samples??

A:

Melissa typically tries to have samples out via First Class Mail within 2-3 business days...at times it can be 5-10 business days, depending upon the number of requests received.
     

Q:

Why do you charge for samples??

A:

As a one person studio, it is time consuming to assemble, package and mail samples. One must consider the cost of the paper, the press time for the design & text printing, and then the actual cost of mailing samples - it all adds up and can get quite expensive. By charging for samples, Melissa ensures individuals order only those sample designs they are most interested in ordering for their event.
     

Q:

Does the sample fee reflect the actual cost per invitation?

A:

Not at all. Sample costs are based upon the time it takes Melissa to assemble and then some materials fees.
     

Q:

If an invitation order is placed, are the sample fees refunded?

A:

No, they are not.
     
  
  
Ordering
  

Q:

Can you accommodate rush orders for press printed custom invitations?

A:

Melissa cannot accommodate RUSH orders at this time.   
     

Q:

How long will it take to create my proofs?

A:

Proofs are ready within 24-48 hours of receiving your payment and wording. They are then eMailed to you as a PDF file for review and approval.
     

Q:

When should invitation orders be placed for wedding and anniversary celebrations?

A:

Ordering your invitations 3-6 months prior to your event date would be ideal.  You'll need to allow: (a) one month to order invitations from Hana Hou Productions, (b) perhaps 1-3 weeks for you to address your envelopes (depending upon the number of guests, if you work during the day and will only have time at night, etc) and affixing postage, and then (c) 4-6 weeks for mailing the invitations out prior to the event date.
     

Q:

Do you accept credit card payments?

A:

Yes, we do via PayPal.com They accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover, as well as, personal check payments (which take 4 business days to clear). Please visit their website for more information or call PayPal's toll free number: 888.221.1161. Additionally Money Orders and Certified Bank Checks will be accepted, made payable to: Melissa Casey.
     

Q:

How long will an order take to process?

A:

a. Basic Orders - Proofs are ready within 24-48 hours of receiving your payment and wording. Upon approval of your proofs, your order is sent to press. Orders for those designs currently available should be ready for shipment within 4-6 weeks. If the order is ready earlier, the client will be called (or emailed) and notified. The sooner the approval is received, the sooner the invitations will be taken to press. The minimum time is 4-6 weeks, and the max during the PEAK ordering season of January through June is 6-8 weeks (for designs currently offered). For Clay Flower Invitation orders, you will be given a time frame based upon the quantity you order. Custom designs may take longer, so please plan ahead.
    b. Guest Addressing - If you've ordered an additional service such as "Guest Addressing" for envelopes and place cards, please add 2-5 business days depending upon your quantity.
    c. Custom Designs - Can take anywhere from one week to one month. A timeline is set on a client by client basis.
   
  
  
Etiquette
  

Q:

How do I determine the "reply by" date for the response card (for engagement, wedding and anniversary celebrations)?

A:

The response card "reply date" should be approximately 3-4 weeks before your event, but you should check with your caterer [or reception site] and find out when they require the final guest count - some require a time frame of one month prior to the event date, some one week.
     

Q:

How far in advance should invitations be mailed out for wedding and anniversary celebrations?

A:

Four to six weeks prior to the event is the norm. However, if you plan on inviting out-of-town guests who will be flying in, you may want to consider mailing them out as early as eight weeks (or 2 months) prior to your event date, assuming no Save the Date has been sent.
     

Q:

How far in advance should Save the Date cards be mailed?

A:

Not all bride have time to send out a "Save the Date", but if you're planning well in advance, six to eight months before the wedding is perfect. What Melissa and her husband did for their wedding was to send out a "Save the Date" card six months before the wedding. They set up airline, car rental, and hotel discounts and enclosed all that information with the "Save the Date" cards. That way their guests had plenty of time to make their arrangements and even use their Frequent Flier Miles to travel to Hawai'i.
   
  
 
 
home  |  welcome  |  design portfolio  |  services  |  the studio  |   scrapbooking  |  samples  |  boutique  |  catalogue  |  wholesale
etiquette  |  ordering  |  clientele  |  Q&A  |   links  |  contact  |  site map  |  search  |   send this page to a friend
  

 

Website Design & Photography by Melissa Casey
© Copyright, 2007, 2008 - All Rights Reserved
Give a HHP Gift Card!
Shop online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
OR 630.346.5886

A NOTICE TO COPYCAT ARTISTS AND INDIVIDUALS: ALL DESIGNS, IDEAS, AND CONTENTS ON THIS WEBSITE ARE THE PROPERTY OF HANA HOU PRODUCTIONS. WRITTEN PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FOR USING ANY IMAGES, DESIGNS, TEXT, OR LIKENESS.
SPIN-OFF / KNOCK-OFF DESIGNS ARE NOT ALLOWED AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! PLEASE BE HONEST.

WEBSITE LAYOUT DESIGN COPYRIGHT: THE HANA HOU PRODUCTIONS LAYOUT AND WEBSITE DESIGN IS COPYRIGHTED, AS IS THE PHRASE "ALOHA AND WELCOME...TO INVITATION PARADISE". MELISSA HAS NOTICED SEVERAL COMPANIES COPYING BOTH.
A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND ENERGY HAS GONE INTO THIS WEBSITE RE-DESIGN ~ BE ORIGINAL ~ FIND YOUR OWN PATH!
   
Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape