Stationery Shop Celebrates 21st Year in Hinsdale

 has seen its fair share of changes during two decades in Hinsdale. 

The stationery store was first located on Washington Street, where its initial owner sold gag gifts, cards, and balloons. The shop eventually moved to the 1st Street space currently occupied by Splendor, and has been located for the last several years across the street at 19 W. 1st St.—first in the basement, and now at street level. 

Sass-N-Class' building is around 100 years old, and was once occupied by a mortician. (The handles on the front door are actually handles from a coffin.) The interior highlights many of the building’s homey features, including a fireplace.

Mary Beth Copeland is the store's third owner and has headed Sass-N-Class for the past seven years. Copeland was initially an employee at the store and took over when the previous owner decided to retire. Since then, Copeland has focused on providing the best possible customer service to Sass-N-Class’ shoppers.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do [for my customers],” Copeland said. “I mail out a lot of invitations. I have customers in the city and I deliver to them.”

Sass-N-Class sells a variety of paper products, including invitations and stationery. Copeland has enjoyed working with local families multiple times over the years.

“Some of the families came in to do [their children's] First Holy Communion invitations, and now those kids are getting married,” she said. “It’s fun to see the kids growing up.”

Copeland and her staff of five do their best to make the shopping experience at Sass-N-Class as convenient as possible.

“The Internet allows us to have customers out of state,” she said. “We can email them choices, and it works out great.”

Customers can also work with Copeland to customize their products in a timely manner.

“We have so much cardstock, customers can walk out with their stationery same-day,” Copeland said.

In addition to stationery, Sass-N-Class produces corporate materials. Copeland is currently working with a construction company to create paper products for a seminar that features their business’ logo.

Copeland acknowledges that being in the paper business is difficult these days.

“There’s no way you can compete with the Internet,” she said. “But there’s nothing like a personal connection. [Sending a card] shows you really made an effort.”

Copeland also enjoys working one-on-one with customers in person.

“I like the social aspect of it,” she said. “I love seeing people and helping them out.”

Copeland has seen many businesses come and go in her time in Hinsdale and she hopes that residents will continue to support the local economy.

“We’re happy to still be here, and we’re grateful for the local support,” she said.

She is also thankful that her shop is usually an enjoyable place to work: “Everyone’s usually in a good mood because they’re planning a party.”