Don’t you just love it when you find it? When you are out and about doing something and then, unexpectedly, you find this gem of a store. You were not looking for it. But it found you. This was my experience when I first came across Paper Root Studios in Market Mall in Calgary, Alberta. Right away I knew I had to learn more about this place. It wasn’t just every store that carried such a wide variety of cards, journals, and gifts.* Yes, a store that still does the bulk of their business in selling cards!
Elena Evanoff, an art grad who can often be found in her art studio, is the owner of this store. She leaves the day-to-day management of the store to a dynamic team duo; Donna Kemp and Tamara Chiswell. It is all about their customers. Stories were unlimited about a loyal “fan” base. I call them fans because they have been known to drive all the way from British Columbia to come to this store! How crazy is that!
As you probably know looking for the perfect card can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. At Paper Root Studios it is not uncommon for a customer to come in and describe a single card that they saw somewhere and ask Tamara if they have it. OK, now let’s just think on that for a moment. One store. Thousands of cards. Impossible you say? Well, not for this dedicated card aficionado. Tamara can often go directly to the exact spot that single card may be at and pull it off the shelf and say “this one?” I was completely impressed.
When I met with Elena and Tamara for an afternoon coffee break, I could hardly get a word in edge wise over their very amiable, friendly, laughter filled banter. It was infectious. They shared with me how each person who works at Paper Root Studios, 5 card loving folks, are involved in hand picking what products they bring in the store. Everyone chooses different things, perhaps based on their personal preferences, demographics and knowing what people are looking for. And yet, it all gels together in a complete sort of way.
We share something in common, Paper Root Studios and Ritewhileucan. Our love of letter writing and all things stationery. It is with that in mind that we offer you the following:
*Between May 8- 31 we will be offering 20 people a free gift provided by Paper Roots Studio! How do you enter? Simple. The first 10 people that walk into the store and mention this blog will receive a gift on the spot. The first 10 people that subscribe** to this blog during this time (see upper right hand side of the blog and enter your email) will have their gift mailed to them – no matter where you are!
** all subscribing does is ensures you receive emailed notification of new blog posts 2-3 times per week.