Bridesmaid proposal cards, engagement ring-embellished wrapping paper, anniversary love letters. If you’re distraught about the closing of Papyrus, in a way, the brand lives on. National stationery retailer Paper Source just scooped up 30 of the now-shuttered Papyrus stores around the country, so the act of thoughtfully picking out a card in a sea of aisles lives on.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Paper Source purchased all the leases for the Papyrus stores from a Delaware bankruptcy court for $575,000. Just last month, Papyrus’s ownership filed for bankruptcy protection and closed its 254 locations. The umbrella company of Papyrus was American Greetings, a heritage stationery brand under Schurman Fine Papers.
A press release to The Knot confirms the rebranding of the closed Papyrus stores will take place over the course of the next two months, with the first of its new locations opening in March. This means Paper Source will have close to 165 stores in its growing portfolio, including nine, former Papyrus locations in New York City alone. “Like Papyrus, we believe in embracing life’s moments,” Paper Source CEO Winnie Park said in the release. “We want to honor that mission while also bringing the best of Paper Source to customers who value our mix of product and experience.”
Paper Source is a 36-year-old company that hasn’t shuttered any of its stores since it was founded close to four decades ago. In fact, the company has seen continual year-over-year growth even as technology continues to evolve how customers interact with paper goods. Over 1,000 makers and creatives help Paper Source sell 10 million cards every year, which is surprisingly a 24 percent growth since 2015.
The company’s wrapping paper bundles, party supplies and other cute gift items have also helped boost Paper Source’s business, in addition to stationery, over the last five years. “We have created an experience that focuses on unique products and services you can’t find anywhere else,” Park added. “Our stores are a respite–we are a happy place where you can discover new products and we are a destination for creating something personal. We try to make it fun for anyone who walks through the doors.”
Of course, if you’re more of an online shopping person, there are other ways to pick out the stationery of your dreams beyond in-store experiences. Both stationers (and some of the brightest pros), along with online retailers such as Elli, Minted and Shutterfly, cover all of your wedding-related events in this space. Check out our wedding invitation checklist and ultimately, do what makes you happy.
