1
                                                                 EXHIBIT (a)(1)

                        [LETTER FROM KAYSUN HOLDINGS LLC]


Dear Day Runner Inc. Stockholder:

        On September 14, 2001, KAYSUN Holdings LLC intends to take Day Runner,
Inc. (the "Company") private through a "short-form" merger. The purposes of this
letter and the Schedule 13e-3 Transaction Statement that accompanies this letter
are to:

      -     tell you more about the merger,

      -     explain why we think that the $0.10 per share that you will receive
            in the merger is fair consideration for your shares and

      -     let you know about your rights for an appraisal hearing under
            Delaware law.

        Neither you nor the Company's Board of Directors is being asked to
approve the merger. Under Delaware law, KAYSUN Holdings LLC beneficially owns a
sufficient number of shares to cause the merger to occur. After the merger,
KAYSUN Holdings LLC will be the only shareholder of the Company. In the merger,
which we hope will occur on September 14, 2001 or as soon thereafter as
possible, you will receive $0.10 in cash for each share of Day Runner stock that
you own as of that date. If you do not believe that $0.10 is a fair price for
your shares, you can follow the procedures described in the Schedule 13E-3
Transaction Statement and exercise appraisal rights under Delaware law. YOU
SHOULD READ THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 TRANSACTION STATEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING
WHETHER TO ACCEPT $0.10 PER SHARE OR TO HAVE A DELAWARE COURT DETERMINE THE FAIR
VALUE OF YOUR SHARES. The amount determined by such court may be higher or lower
than $0.10 per share.

        Stockholders of record on the date the merger becomes effective will be
mailed a Notice of Merger and Appraisal Rights and a Letter of Transmittal.
Stockholders receiving such documents should carefully read them. Detailed
instructions for surrendering your stock certificates, together with a detailed
description of statutory appraisal rights, will be set forth in the Notice of
Merger and Appraisal Rights and the Letter of Transmittal. Please do not submit
your stock certificates before you have received these documents.

        After the merger, the common stock of the Company will not be publicly
traded. The Company also will not be required to file reports with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the merger will have federal
income tax consequences for you, and you should consult with your tax adviser in
order to understand fully how the merger will affect you.

                                            Sincerely yours,


                                             KAYSUN Holdings LLC