CASE STUDY: Schriebler Stationery, New Market, MN
CASE DETAILS: [Note that the merger of Elko and New Market, Minnesota are real. However, the companies and people people mentioned in this case are entirely fictional.] The focus of this case study is business correspondence.
Gordon Weise started his stationery shop in 1997, after trying to follow his father's occupation as a printer. The popularity of personal computers and laser printers, Gordon says, "kilt little printing" business. Now Gordon does printing as a side line, but his primary income comes from his shop that carries office supplies, cards, gifts, balloons, and party supplies. Gordon has ten employees. His wife, Lucy Weise, is his office manager and accountant. He always employs two high school students to deliver in the afternoons between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. That practice started when he hired his own children for deliveries. Gordon is thrilled that Elko and New Market are merging in 2007. He has printing orders from friends and acquaintances all over both cities. Gordon has a high school education, and the English he learned at home was sprinkled with German expressions and constructions. He is a stern, proud man who does not like to appear weak or flawed to his wife or employees, so he has sought documentation assistance from R&A.
Gordon needs three document solutions: all business letters.
Gordon's first document requirement is an advertising letter he wants to send to small businesses in the Elko-New Market area letting them know that he can take care of their printing needs resulting from the Elko-New Market merger. He knows that most small businesses will not have the graphic design software normally required by large printing firms for printing visuals, so a key idea he wants to convey is that his customers can deliver their designs to him in MS Word format. He also wants to convey the ideas of personal attention to every customer, quality and on-time delivery, and his guarantee of satisfaction. Gordon stated, "The letter, it must be right English. I must not look like not knowing right from wrong. I sign every letter."
Gordon's second document requirement is letter of complaint to a paper supplier that sent the wrong weight paper. The paper order arrived on time, but one ream of paper—that was intended for an order of invoices—arrived as 20 lb bond instead of the 12 lb bond Gordon ordered. This situation will cause Gordon to miss his customer's deadline unless the paper company rushes the correct paper immediately. When Gordon called the paper company, an officious employee said that they needed the request in writing. Gordon is angry, but he needs the right paper for his customer.
Gordon's third document requirement is a letter to a customer who has not paid a $250 invoice for a printing job that has been delivered. Lucy notified Gordon of this problem last week, but Gordon is reluctant to act. Gordon stated, "This is good customer. He has another order coming up, and I don't want him thinking we unreasonable."However, he doesn't want Lucy calling this customer, so to satisfy her, he agreed to send a letter.
Teacher Options: For a visual design assignment, students can create the advertisement letter. For editing assignments, students may be provided with letters to correct. For writing assignments, students can write the one page letters focusing on the good-will Gordon wishes to convey.
Use the drop-down list in the navigation bar to access other case studies.
Gordon Weise started his stationery shop in 1997, after trying to follow his father's occupation as a printer. The popularity of personal computers and laser printers, Gordon says, "kilt little printing" business. Now Gordon does printing as a side line, but his primary income comes from his shop that carries office supplies, cards, gifts, balloons, and party supplies. Gordon has ten employees. His wife, Lucy Weise, is his office manager and accountant. He always employs two high school students to deliver in the afternoons between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. That practice started when he hired his own children for deliveries. Gordon is thrilled that Elko and New Market are merging in 2007. He has printing orders from friends and acquaintances all over both cities. Gordon has a high school education, and the English he learned at home was sprinkled with German expressions and constructions. He is a stern, proud man who does not like to appear weak or flawed to his wife or employees, so he has sought documentation assistance from R&A.
Gordon needs three document solutions: all business letters.
Gordon's first document requirement is an advertising letter he wants to send to small businesses in the Elko-New Market area letting them know that he can take care of their printing needs resulting from the Elko-New Market merger. He knows that most small businesses will not have the graphic design software normally required by large printing firms for printing visuals, so a key idea he wants to convey is that his customers can deliver their designs to him in MS Word format. He also wants to convey the ideas of personal attention to every customer, quality and on-time delivery, and his guarantee of satisfaction. Gordon stated, "The letter, it must be right English. I must not look like not knowing right from wrong. I sign every letter."
Gordon's second document requirement is letter of complaint to a paper supplier that sent the wrong weight paper. The paper order arrived on time, but one ream of paper—that was intended for an order of invoices—arrived as 20 lb bond instead of the 12 lb bond Gordon ordered. This situation will cause Gordon to miss his customer's deadline unless the paper company rushes the correct paper immediately. When Gordon called the paper company, an officious employee said that they needed the request in writing. Gordon is angry, but he needs the right paper for his customer.
Gordon's third document requirement is a letter to a customer who has not paid a $250 invoice for a printing job that has been delivered. Lucy notified Gordon of this problem last week, but Gordon is reluctant to act. Gordon stated, "This is good customer. He has another order coming up, and I don't want him thinking we unreasonable."However, he doesn't want Lucy calling this customer, so to satisfy her, he agreed to send a letter.
Teacher Options: For a visual design assignment, students can create the advertisement letter. For editing assignments, students may be provided with letters to correct. For writing assignments, students can write the one page letters focusing on the good-will Gordon wishes to convey.
Use the drop-down list in the navigation bar to access other case studies.
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©Ida L. Rodgers, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Updated January 15, 2012
Updated January 15, 2012