Notes from Joseph Albino:
A few years ago, I began
making Holy Hours at a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel
in Syracuse,
NY and
noticed
that Holy
Hour Gift Cards were available just for that chapel.
I decided
to design, copyright, and have printed Holy Hour Gift Cards that
I could use at any Eucharistic Adoration Chapel where I might
make a Holy Hour, particularly because I travel extensively.
I am accustomed to attending Daily Mass, so I next decided to
design, copyright, and print Daily Mass Gift Cards.
The
thought then occurred to me that others might be interested in
purchasing the spiritual gift cards. Using the services of a graphic
artist and local printer, I obtained stationery letterhead, price
cards, mailing envelopes, and labels.
I
also began to advertise our cards in Catholic newspapers and began
having the spiritual gift cards printed in larger quantities because
the larger the print order the lower the unit price.
In addition, I retained the services of a web designer to develop
a Meljo's Artifacts web site.
When
my youngest daughter, Melody Jo, was about 8 years old, she and
I began making
rock jewelry and selling it on consignment at
local gift shops. We took the name Meljo’s Artifacts based
on the combination of our first names: Melody and Joseph. Rather
than develop a new name for the spiritual gift card business, I
decided to continue to use the name Meljo’s Artifacts. However,
I added the logo of a dove as a sign of the Holy Spirit.
Subsequently, I decided to develop a Most Holy Rosary Gift Card
but made it of a larger size in order for it to hold a booklet
(optional) about the Mysteries to be meditated upon. I might add
that for each card that I designed, I obtained approval from my
spiritual advisers.
