October 2021 by Melinda C.
I've been an Appointed customer for a while, but I usually buy their products online or at other local gift shops/stationery stores. They have now opened up their own storefront next to their office, complete with a "Notebook Bar," but there is little reason to buy the products here instead of another store, unless you are in immediate need of a notebook while in Ivy City (but at that point, just go to Target, unless you are really want something fancy). They do have a small selection of items from other companies, but none of it is must have, unless you must have $20 paper clips. A selection of items at different price points would be nice.I booked an appointment at the Notebook Bar (with a giftcard that covered most of it). I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was pretty underwhelming. You just fill out a form and watch someone build it for you. I guess I would have liked to have been a part of the building process somehow. I have more fun buying their products off the shelf from cooler stationery stores. I did build a "half and half" notebook, which maybe is supposed to be something special. It was just lined paper in the front, then dotted grid paper in the back, which is essentially two different notebooks, so I might as well buy them separately elsewhere. My favorite part of the whole experience was the plastic button envelope that protected my notebook.In short, products are great and the staff is nice, I am just unlikely to visit this specific store in the future. It's skippable, especially if you don't live in the area.
