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Published on 08/18/1999 All articles from this issue

Los Altos resident makes custom greeting cards

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By Jeff Eisenberg

Special to the Town Crier

Business Profile

For more than 30 years, Beverly Taxin and her camera practically have been attached at the hip. She hauls a camera with her while on vacation, at a friend's house or at the mall.

However, even Taxin is surprised by the amount of positive feedback she has received since she began creating greeting cards by tacking reprints of her photos onto fold-over cards.

The photo receiving the most positive feedback is perhaps her simplest, a picture of several wooden chairs around a kitchen table. "I like the photo because it is interesting and has good composition," Taxin said.

In late June, Taxin opened "At Your Request," an Internet greeting card company that sells her cards for $3 each. She displays 30 of her best photographs on the Web site.

"I enjoy the creative outlet," said Taxin, a Los Altos resident for 16 years. "I always knew I was going to turn my hobby into a business venture."

Despite the success of "At Your Request," Taxin is not looking to start the next Hallmark. She has no plans to sell the cards in stores, but she is considering selling them at local craft shows.

Greeting cards are not Taxin's only business interest. For the last 15 years, senior citizens have hired her to do a variety of jobs. She has filed papers, taken care of insurance and Medicare payments, cleaned up houses, and kept them company.

"Fifteen years ago a lady called to ask about her Medicare payments," Taxin said. "I went to her apartment, and it was one room with papers strewn everywhere. Since then I saw the need."

Since starting her greeting card business, Taxin does not have time for new clients, but she keeps her old ones because she would miss them too much.

For more information on "At Your Request," access the Web site at www.atyourrequest.net or call 964-2727.