Welcome New Members

We are pleased to welcome new members, including Design House Greetings and Waste Not Paper by Paper Source. We are glad you are part of our association!

Member Profile – Waste Not Paper by Paper Source

Over 15 years ago, the founder of Paper Source was on a mission to buy natural raffia ribbon. Only available in large quantities, she purchased the bulk ribbon and set out to sell smaller portions of this natural product to other retailers. And thus, Waste Not Paper was born.

Waste Not Paper by Paper Source is the wholesale division of Paper Source, a 33-year-old stationery and gift retailer, operating over 120 stores in the United States. Waste Not Paper by Paper Source extends the Paper Source brand into new markets by selling our in-house designed and sourced product at wholesale to premium retailers and boutiques, globally.

Their greeting cards are hand-drawn by our in-house Paper Source design team, who pride themselves on bringing trend to life, designing for a broad range of design tastes and applying innovative printing techniques. Cards are proudly printed on 100% recycled, 30% post-consumer Eco White paper and packed with an exclusive Paper Source pointed flap envelope here in Chicago.

The wholesale division is a small but mighty team within the overall company, consisting of 3 headquarters and 3 call center associates. And the company’s goal in joining GCA is to connect with others managing a wholesale greeting card operation, to share best practices and support each other in growing and scaling our businesses.

Member Spotlight

Hey there members!  I’m Kristen Stewart of Isabella James Fine Stationery.  I am a pretty new member, so the GCA asked me to write a little something for this issue of Card Talk.

So far, the GCA has provided me with a discount opportunity to exhibit at the National Stationery Show (read about the GCA Village here).  I was also able to provide my “villager” neighbor a great contact for envelopes, so she is saving thousands of dollars a year.  And GCA members also receive discounted registration on LOUIE Award card submissions.  If you are creating beautiful things, why not submit them for consideration for an award?

I am on the Membership Committee, and it’s fascinating to hear some of the great things underway in which members can partake.  For current and even perspective members, there are new Meet-and-Greet sessions in New York, Los Angeles (coming soon!) and Minneapolis; read more about those events in Card Talk.  If you can’t attend, no worries! Some fun webinars are coming up too.  We want to make sure everyone knows what is going on and gets good value for their membership.  So, if you have ideas or concerns, let us know!

Check back in a few months and I will have more updates for you!  Until then, create something beautiful!