This global pandemic has impacted so many small businesses we have loved for years, from indie bookstores to local restaurants. And, now, one of our favorite letterpress cards and gifts shop, Sapling Press has raised the alarm that they — along with about 250 other small print shops and stationers –are in big trouble. All because of one big mall company’s decision to file for bankruptcy protection.
The news of big stationery and card chain Paper Source filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy is shedding light on not just their own financial difficulties, but is raising serious some questions about sketchy things they did in the weeks leading up to this announcement, and the huge number of small businesses that are impacted.
If you are are in the need of awesome letterpress cards or beautiful one-of-a-kind gifts, we hope you’ll join us in supporting Sapling Press and the other small businesses featured on this ever-expanding list of affected companies.
We can’t feature all 250 shops, so we’ve picked a few favorites to highlight below.
We hope you can take the time to find ones to support the next time you need to order greeting cards or gifts. Hey, maybe now?
So Tired Card, Sapling Press ($5.50)
Funny and irreverent cards are what have kept Sapling Press on our radar since 2014 (!), and this one pretty much sums up how we’re feeling about this year so far. From pandemic woes, to worries about our kids, and Post-Traumatic Trump syndrome, there’s a card for all you awesomely wry people out there.
Soup Tea Towel, Sapling Press ($16)
Print shops don’t just make cards! In fact, maybe you’d like to gift a cool tea towel to your favorite wild child — or you know, as wild as we get nowadays. I don’t know about you, but soup nights can get pretty spicy around here.
Thank You Note Card Set, Noi, $9
If you love bright, colorful prints, the UK’s indie stationery shop Noi has loads of cards that will cheer up any dreary March day. As someone who still handwrites out thank you notes (really!), I love this pack of six notecards. Look at their site — surely you’ll recognize their designs if you’ve ever frequented Paper Source.
Bottom Half letterpress card, Pretty Alright Goods ($5)
Remember seeing entire faces? That was nice. Spend some time going through the options at Pretty Alright Goods for so many great letterpress cards. Besides, sending a “just because” card is always a way to brighten someone’s day unexpectedly.
Hard to Buy For Gift Bag, Pretty Alright Goods ($6)
I also adore the plain statement gift and wine bags from indie stationery shop Pretty Alright Goods like this one, which sums up how I feel about buying gifts for my husband pretty perfectly. Hey, Father’s Day will be here before you know it!
Black Lives Matter Poster, Power and Light Press ($10)
Power and Light Press has so many great gifts — candles, cocktail mixers, and even women’s rights notebooks — but it’s this poster designed by Ben Blount that really caught my eye. All proceeds go to Black Lives Matter Chicago, so make sure you buy lots of other cool things too to help this small business out.
Whether it’s one of these gorgeous journals, an iPhone case, greeting card, or even wall clock, indie stationery shop Mōglea’s beautiful artistic items make wonderful gifts to your favorite person, or even yourself (hey, we’ve earned it, right?)
What Day Is This? face mask, Sad Shop ($15)
Sad Shop is another longtime favorite small, woman-owned, indie stationery shop that you might recognize from our funny card roundups here over the years. They have so much you’ll want — besides stationery. We can all relate to this mask, right ? And is it the weekend yet?
