The Written Word

We ordered our wedding invitations here in November and are extremely pleased with the results. We received our invitations within 3 weeks. The owners were patient with us during the design process. They emailed many samples to make sure it was exactly what we wanted before printing. I did find the pricing to be a bit high, but everything was created on site with a template that was a figment of our imagination.
…HOWEVER…
I walked by on 1÷24÷12 to find that their location on 17^th and U was covered in «SEIZED» signs. It looks like they have been seized by the DC government. For what, I am not sure, but all of their property was sealed inside. I don’t know what we would have done if we were in the middle of the process. Too bad, because we did have a great experience.

I am signing up to post just for this store. Oh man, what a horrible experience. First off, these people could not be less welcoming. They actually have a sign on the door that says «shut» even when their business hours note they are open. It’s as though they aren’t even interested in new business. I walked in this am on my day off and was greeted with dirty looks and snarls. I cracked a joke about my attire being informal and I apologized since I was just walking the dog so thought I would just stop in. No sense of humor. Against my better judgement I stayed to look at some of there merchandise since I am looking for wedding invitations. They could not have been less helpful. This process is confusing for a new bride and it would be smart to have someone walk you through the process in a cordial, sensitive way instead of just shove some options and prices at me and ignore me. Finally I was asked if I need any help by the owner and when I asked questions he basically gave me direct answers that didn’t help me understand the process any more and didn’t make me feel like I could ask follow-​up questions without being made to feel like an idiot. Don’t go hear! Customer service is everything with invitations, especially wedding ones, and they don’t have any!

I was extremely impressed with Paul and Marti’s customer service. I just received my order this week and I was delighted with the quality of their letterpress printing, and with the custom design they created for me. Highly recommend!

I got the gf a «just because» gift and wanted to wrap it up real nice. I went into the Written Word. If you’ve read my reviews, you know I like to patronize local businesses. From the outside, it looks like your typical paper/​card store. So I went inside and began browsing at the gift bags, etc. Outright rude staff is all I can say. I’m sorry I wasn’t in your shop to order expensive print materials. Why do you even sell cards and gift bags if its too much of an inconvenience when a customer comes in to buy these items? Finally, maybe you don’t need the business, but did you ever even think that maybe at some point I would be in the market for a large print job? All I can say is terrible!

Haven’t purchased anything yet so can’t give a five, BUT, way to be a great local business!!! Super helpful and informative on the phone and willing to go above and beyond in terms of customer service. I’m basically just waiting for the opportunity to buy a ton of stuff from them!

1.25 stars. I have to parrot a number of Unilocal reviews and note that I was horrified by the non-​commital, judgmental «service» provided by this stationary shop.
While it should be noted that this place has beautiful products (nice paper bags, tissues, stationary, etc.), the complete disregard for the customer at the Written Word is simply offensive. While at least the older gentleman was nice enough to point me in the right direction concerning a simple gift bag I was trying to purchase, he did hurry off to the back before finishing up with the other items I intended to purchase. When I had simple questions about certain decorations I wanted to place in the bag, I was met with the dead eyes of his assistant. I got the impression that while she was rather non-​comittal regarding my presence in the store; she certainly did not want to help me. I ended up not getting any tissues for the bag.
I’m sure that this place does great business based on the quality of the product, but if you don’t want to provide simpler products for tinier special occasions, then don’t provide them. It is that simple. But if you do provide them, I expect that you should at least attempt to do your job. Judging from other reviews of the Written Word, this clearly is not an isolated incident.
I wish there was another nice stationary store in the general vicinity of Logan Circle. It would be a shame to give this place business again.

I am a sucker for expensive paper goods. It’s a vice. I absolutely swoon over nice card stock, embossing, beautiful colors, and a friendly staff who share my adoration and will gently coax me into parting with my money. However, after about 3 trips to the Written Word (I live in Logan and it’s the closest store to me) I absolutely cannot get over how cold the staff is. It’s always the same short man and overweight woman, so perhaps they are the owners, but the literally can’t seem to crack a smile. They don’t let you ask many questions either unless, it seems, you’re ready to drop a few grand on custom wedding invites. Whenever possible I make the trek to Paper Source in Georgetown or The Papery in Clarendon because I don’t want to give these angry people my business. The one thing I can say is that they actual have boxed letter stationary which is pretty hard to find these days.

Umm… No.
Non-​whites – please be aware, the male owner is a bit rude. I honestly do not know if its just the way he is, but I have gone to this store on three different occasions, one being when it used to be located on Dupont Circle and have been made to feel like a second class citizen. The stuff is wonderful, but honestly, I’d rather take my business to another store where they treat me with respect.

Don’t waste your money or your self-​respect on this place.
I ordered custom wedding invitations at the Written Word. When there was a mistake in the text color in the printed invites (vis a vis the digital proofs), they busted out a level of rude that I have never seen before or since!
Not only did they insult me personally (and my taste in supposedly picking a bad color!) but they refused to work with me to re-​do them or to give me a discount on the sub-​par invitations. i have never worked with a more obnoxious, self-​righteous, sneeringly rude individual than the owner/​manager (not sure which) of this business.
Wow. I am still angry about this a whole year later. I encourage you to think twice on this one…

This place ties with Commissary for the best recent addition to the Logan ‘hood. For those who remember when the Written Word was off of Dupont Circle, imagine WW version 2.0. Prettier layout, more cards and gifts and an awesome assortment of gift bags.
Oftentimes, paper stores either carry traditional missives or wacky cards. The Written Word does both, with Kate Spade and Crane stationary for formal correspondence (think: boss, parents, general adults) as well as others that state simple truths such as «Stinkin’ Sick» (for a get well card) and «Mmm, MILF!» (for any awesome occassion).
Be sure to ask for tissue when you buy a gift bag– the owners/​managers always make sure to find a matching hue to make my goodie bag complete.

Had quite a negative experience at the store. Within a minute of walking in and looking at one of the stationary books, an employee (maybe the owner given a previous review) came over and asked us quite bluntly if we were planning on buying something from the store of if we were simply doing research and then buying the stationary we like on line. Depending on our answer, he would tailor his «service» appropriately. This caught us completely off guard and was quite distasteful in my opinion. Instead of trying to win our business by being helpful and polite, he convinced two prospective customers never to return to the store. You’d think in a difficult economy people wouldn’t be so rude to customers.

Even before I was a writer, I loooooved paper. Like, as a kid, I’d rather have gone to Office Land than a toy store. I love smell of paper, the smooth feel of a thick block of it under my hand, the taste… I still haven’t grown out of my paper fetish, so thank goodness for the Written Word.
Around the holidays, I dropped dough like it was hot at this store, for gorgeous, ‘silkscreened by hand’ New Years cards, but they’re expensive as sin. Really, it’s quite awful how expensive cards can get these days (Of course, some are more expensive than others, like the Kate Spade collection). I just picked up birthday cards for my mom and my aunt. Written Word’s got a pretty good selection, but Papyrus has more cards of more variety. The selection of stationery can’t be beat, though.
WW also specializes in wedding invitations and fancy notes of that sort, and they are good at what they do. The staff is quite nice and they’re well talented graphic designers. (Just a note: They’re not open on Mondays.)

I really like this paper store. It is much smaller than Paper Source, and they do not have scrapbooking supplies, but what they do have is beautiful stationary, invitations, and cards. I have bought some wonderful gifts in this store and often walk into the store whenever I am walking around P street.
I also highly recommend their letterpress invitations. I had my wedding invitations made here and they were absolutely gorgeous! They even ended up being cheaper than the letterpress invitations at Paper Source. Moreover, the staff was extremely helpful and friendly as we discussed the design and what we wanted. They helped us stay within our budget and gave us a few ideas we never even thought about.
Definitely check out if you are looking to make invitations for an important event.

I ordered invitations here for my sister’s bridal shower and they were beautiful and way less expensive than anywhere else. The staff was friendly and very helpful, which was good for me, because I had never designed invites before, and had no idea what I was doing!

You paper freaks who are all about The Paper Source, you should check out this store. It is in a basement of a old, stone row house, but that doesn’t mean you can miss it. The name is on the front window, written (of course) red, script neon.
As John B noted in his review, there is an actual letterpress inside. Brides and parents-​to-​be flock here for the beautiful, high end invites, baby announcements and stationery.
From outside appearances, it may look like this store is just like the pseudo Hallmark place right down the street. But, don’t let the unimposing façade fool you. The greeting cards here are handcrafted and unique. And the ribbons are more than a finishing touch, they are pieces of art on their own.

Despite an unassuming storefront, this store wowed me with its artistic value. It looks like your ordinary card shop from outside, but it turns out to be more like a printing press. Benjamin Franklin himself couldn’t make a finer letterpress than these guys.
Posters for the «West Virginia Apple Butter Festival» adorn the walls… turns out these guys also have a store in West Virginia. I was just shopping for some Christmas cards, and they don’t have a lot in the way of sentimental or Santa-​happy greetings, but all of the cards are tastefully and elegantly printed. This is a family run business, and there are always people collaborating over the printer behind the counter, solving their customer’s problems and making quality art all at once.