Card of the Month: May

This month, we’re excited to highlight one of our favorite cards from our collaboration with Old Try. We love their aesthetic, and this message is one of our simplest.

“Y’all” is one of those southern-staple words that’s comforting, warm and a reminder that you’re home.

This card is special because of how open-ended it is. Sending a card just to say “hey” is something none of us do enough, and we hope that seeing this card can remind you to reach out to a friend or loved one and just check in. It makes a difference.

Remember: Never. Stop. Sending. Love. Notes.

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Meet: Beer Greetings

It’s the season of collabs! We worked with Atlanta company and friend, Ashley Edmonds of Beer Greetings, on an awesome “Happy Hangover” 6-pack holder and some fabulously festive cocktail napkins. Perfect for craft beer (or wine!) lovers. And just in time for the holidays. We’re obsessed, and we think you will be too.

>> EMAIL TO ORDER <<

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BPC: How long have you been in the "Beer Greetings" business?

We launched Beer Greetings in time for Holiday 2014 with just one design to test the Market.

BPC: Tell us a little about the scope of what you do and how the business has grown.

Beer Greetings is a part of our broader company, Smartsy Brands, which strives to provide innovative solutions to everyday problems - big or small, silly or serious. Our products and brands are all born from needs we see in our own personal lives with lots of input from our customers, family and friends. It started with our eco-friendly gift wrap line, Lilywrap, and then expanded to others including Beer Greetings.

BPC: What do you love most about your job?

I love the process of taking an idea for a brand new product and guiding it through the development process all the way to launching on store shelves. It's a very surreal, exhilarating (and sometimes frustrating) process.

BPC: How did you begin working with Breathless Paper Co. (BPC)?

I connected with Jessica through our collaborative group comprised of Southern brands, Deep South Social. We both found an instant appreciation for each others' work (and for each other!) 

BPC: Describe to us a little bit about the line of 6-pack holders, etc, that you designed with BPC.

I love the witty humor of Breathless Paper Co. So when working on joint six-pack carrier, we knew it had to be funny and perhaps a bit edgier than our standard boxes. I basically told Jessica and Matt that I'd love a box appropriate for all occasions and let them run with it. I loved what they came up with so much that we made no edits whatsoever!

BPC: Outside of Beer Greetings, what do you do on your day to day? Any other business ventures/artistic projects/etc.?

Too much! Ha. Seriously, I get excited by so many things and tend to jump in right away. Like I mentioned, my company Smartsy Brands has several brands that I run, including Lilywrap gift wrap, Beer Greetings, Cheer Greetings, and the Vortex. We also have a real estate business renting out properties on the coast. I'm also very involved in the community at our girls' schools, at church, leading a girl scout troop and with the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House charities. In between all of that, I love to travel, watch football, picnic and just enjoy the small pleasures in day-to-day life.

BPC: BPC believes in the importance of a handwritten note and sending snail mail -- what are your thoughts on this?

I think there is no better way to show love and appreciation than through a handwritten note. I have three young daughters (5, 3 and 1) who LOVE creating cards, mailing them to family and leaving me sweet notes and pictures around the house. (My Kindergartner recently made the cutest postcard to reply to her grandparents who were on a long trip!) If I ever forget the importance of expressing sentiments in this way - I need to look no further than the effect the little notes floating around my house make me feel.

BPC: What's your favorite part about running a business like Beer Greetings, and what's the hardest part about running a small business?

My favorite part of running Beer Greetings is all of the amazing people I am able to meet - through social media, collaborations, my retailers, trade shows, and more. I have met the most interesting people. The hardest part of running a small business is running into issues like production delays and bad product that are beyond your control. These issues, unfortunately, happen - but I hate seeing progress stall and customers disappointed.

BPC: What's your favorite BPC card?

My all-time favorite is probably "Y'all Are Gonna Make Pretty Babies" - makes me laugh every time.

Old Try Collaboration

Collaborating with other makers is one of my favorite things about being in this industry. Recently, we got together with one of our favorite companies, Old Try, to create some amazing (if we do say so ourselves) cards inspired by the South that we love so much. 

By putting our talents together, we've created this line of cards that glorifies the "new south" and all of its corners and crevices. Plus, they're so pretty you may just want to frame one and stare at it. 

Wholesalers - contact me to place an order! Everyone else, check out your local boutiques to purchase a card, and keep your eyes peeled for an announcement on the next place you can buy ;)