Scene One.
A business meeting: a handshake, a lively conversation, and then that micro-instant that decides whether we will remain in the other person’s memory… or fade away, becoming yet another contact reduced to a name.
In that moment, a well-designed business card — used intelligently — carries more weight than any “I’ll message you on LinkedIn.”
Scene Two.
The party is over, the guests are saying their goodbyes, “thank you so much!” echoing as they slip back into their coats… Then, unexpectedly, two days later an envelope arrives: fine paper, a few carefully chosen lines, words handwritten with care. It’s more than a thank-you note: it is a quiet sign of presence, something that lingers and gently strengthens the relationship, making it a little more special.
We live in a fast-paced world, connected across a thousand channels. And yet — ironically — precisely because communicating is so easy, we end up giving each other very little real attention.
Sending a card, offering a thoughtfully printed business card, writing a few lines by hand become almost revolutionary gestures that, in a “now-or-never” world, speak of a desire to do things with care, taking the time they require. It is the lifestyle Pineider has cultivated for centuries: slowing down the gesture, choosing with intention, valuing authenticity over haste.
But precisely because written communication comme il faut is increasingly rare, the very idea of taking pen and paper in hand raises a thousand doubts…
How should addresses be written on envelopes?
When (and how) should one hand over a business card?
Is it possible to write a thank-you note without resorting to clichés?
Should one strike out the printed name on personal correspondence cards?
And what about the signature — initials, first name only, or full name?
Do these rules also apply in business contexts?
These are only some of the most common questions.
To answer them, Pineider, together with the Italian Etiquette Society, created the experiential workshop Galateo dei Biglietti, held on Saturday, October 18th at the Pineider boutique on Via Manzoni in Milan.
During the event, led by Elisa Motterle, participants rediscovered the essential rules of correspondence. They explored how to build a stationery wardrobe suited to their needs, the differences between personal and professional communication, and how to turn a simple courtesy note into a meaningful communication tool that leaves a mark.
Participants also had the chance to practice through hands-on exercises, transforming uncertainty into confidence and the gesture into an elegant habit.
If you want your communication to work for you even when you’re not there, start with your stationery. Here, form is substance.
Stay tuned for future events to discover everything behind the world of etiquette.