Paper Plane Cocktail Hour: Banish the Bunny

Sometimes all you need is a fresh perspective to achieve real progress. Just ask Victoria Venturi of Paper Epiphanies. The comedienne-turned-card creator turned the industry — to say nothing of modern stationery messaging — on its ear with her distinctive feminist voice, rife with vulnerability and authenticity, seasoned with copious humor and sass, all presented in meticulous letter pressed form. But Victoria was just getting started! Her award-winning Portland flagship, opened April Fool’s Day 2021, enables her vision to bloom into full flower with a tightly curated offering of books and other feminine pleasures. As a result, Victoria redefined not just the entire card shop concept, but has created a space in which her clientele can explore exactly what it means to be a 21st-century woman.     

RESOURCES   
Guest Websites:
https://www.paperepiphanies.com/

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Transcript

Amy Loewenberg: 0:23

Hello everyone and welcome to the paper plane cocktail hour. I am one of your hosts Amy Lowenberg, senior relations manager for New York now, community spotlight podcaster and all around retailer advocate. My focus is to bring you important information, conversations and perspectives from both sides of the aisle.

Sarah Schwartz: 0:42

And I'm your host Sarah, you may know me as the founding editor and editor in chief of stationery trends magazine, my site, the paper nerd or possibly my other podcasts that paper fold. I have been covering the stationery and gift industry since 1997. But Never did I imagine that I'd one day be covering the market here in the virtual space.

Amy Loewenberg: 1:02

So throughout 2022, Sarah and I will be raising our glasses alongside our pencils as we share stories, compare notes, and celebrate three of our all time favorite topics, dictionary connection and cocktails

Sarah Schwartz: 1:16

chooser. So payment plans, listeners will know that we have divided 2022 into phases. In January through April, we examined members of our community in their initial phase of their careers. So last month in May we move to the next phase, which can be just as difficult as getting established, but in a different way. Now you have an audience that is actually expecting something from you. Nothing like a little pressure to accomplish.

Amy Loewenberg: 1:46

Right? Yeah, yeah.

Sarah Schwartz: 1:48

But that's why I think today's guest is so perfect for us to have on. Every time I see her she's reinventing herself and her range and putting a spin on what I thought I knew about the stationery and gift markets. Amy, why don't you spill who we're having for cocktails on this lovely June evening.

Amy Loewenberg: 2:10

Victoria venturi who is the founder and creative director of paper epiphanies, a paper and lifestyle brand that empowers women. In the last eight years, Victoria has grown paper epiphanies from an idea to a global brand. Paper epiphanies is a five time Louis award winner and to time noted at noted winner I say that right noted at noted winner noted a noted noted and noted whose gratifying, outspoken range can be found in over 2000 stores globally. Paper epiphanies opened its flagship store on April Fool's Day, which was no joke in 2021. Victoria's writing is in high demand. She also ghost writes for a variety of greeting card companies and publishing houses. Prior to launching paper epiphanies. Victoria was a marketing and publicity executive for over a decade, writing and launching successful campaigns for agencies, television networks and big brands including Fox American Idol, Glee, Disney, Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers, Hilton Hotels and more. That was a mouthful. Wow, it is Victoria it is. Victoria is passionate about volunteerism and currently serves on numerous boards, including the Portland five Arts Foundation, and the United States greeting cards Association. She also dedicates time to advocacy and community services which focuses on the arts, education and women's services. Victoria lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, their two children and a corgi named Twinkie.

Sarah Schwartz: 3:53

Okay, not to digress but Twinkie is a really good cork.

Amy Loewenberg: 3:59

It really is actually they look like Twinkies.

Sarah Schwartz: 4:03

Spot on. Move away from the dog and a little bit about the paper. It's brands. It's committed to celebrating the wild rebellion of women and their powerful presence in the world. Its mission is in its name. epiphany is quote unquote an aha moment a sudden realization that changes the rest of the story. We women can suddenly change the story history or her straight event. Yeah, with a simple note someone needs to put that on a card. Women are a force and with the right words and support we have the power to strike inspiration in others and ourselves. Paper epiphanies is here to write those words.

Amy Loewenberg: 4:51

Oh, yeah. And the mission statement gets real good here. We are not a lifeless corporate card company or a row badhak design and production machine though we do have a good 4000 pound machine. We're proud.

Sarah Schwartz: 5:08

We're on our way through this. I'm sorry to continue.

Amy Loewenberg: 5:17

We're proactive in the best way, refusing to settle for boring messaging or a stuffy designs. Instead, we create, curate, and Id products and stores that tell real stories and sometimes change them. We encourage bold, authentic conversations, we shine a light on women and their creations. We pour heart, soul and humor into our work to create products that speaks volumes.

Sarah Schwartz: 5:46

Wow. Personally, I just love how whatever Victoria does seems to come out of left field at first glance, but then it makes sense. And it's all I can think about afterwards. So take for example, her booth at noted which was called out which just occurred and was co located with SF now this past April, Victoria decided to integrate long drips of hot pink ink, which is like the signature color of her range alongside all the cards and the effect was distinctive, feminine and somehow, like very powerful it was it really offset the messaging of her letterpress cards, reading things like don't censor your spark in a really, really big way. And honestly, I don't see how any store could pass it up. On the side note, I even took a photo of Victoria's valore flats at the show they read pink as fu CK all spelled out on them. And that fact really provides as much of an introduction as to what kind of individual we are dealing with as you're going to need here. Of course, Victoria

Amy Loewenberg: 7:01

will have those shoes, not only the height of profanity, but the height of style as well. Well, let's kill those drinks and bring the girl of the hour on. Okay. All right. All right. Well, Victoria, thank you so much for joining us today.

Victoria Venturi: 7:22

Thanks for having me. I'm so excited. Oh, fair. And

Amy Loewenberg: 7:25

I've been talking about you for a while Sarah was like we have to have Victoria and we do we're so happy. I'm gonna jump right in. Okay,

Victoria Venturi: 7:35

perfect. Let's do it.

Amy Loewenberg: 7:36

All right. So we know what you do. But we also know that you are a woman of many talents. Some are known and some may be unknown. I did a little sleuthing. And I learned that you did some stand up comedy for a few years. So we're going to absolutely have to hear a little bit more about that. It takes a strong perspective and competence to perform. So did doing stand up point you in the direction of your empowered, elegant edge. Or were those characteristics embedded in your DNA and simply flourished when you got down to business with a five and a half by four and a quarter inch greeting card made by hand on an antique German letterpress no less. So take us on your journey of finding your signature voice and presenting it to us and what was a clear path for you and what bumps did you encounter along the way.

Victoria Venturi: 8:29

There's a lot to unpack there a lot to unpack. I definitely think that humor is something that it runs in your DNA. My father was a very, very funny man and I grew up in a house where you had to have thick skin, lots of jokes, lots of sarcasm. And so that was that that was definitely in my DNA. However stand up is its own its own beast for sure. I was a double major in college and one of my majors was theater. So I definitely enjoy speaking, performing things like that. And when I decided to do stand up, I just had this plethora of life experience. My parents have a very funny track record in their lives, which we won't get into today but I had a lot of good material to use for stand up.

Amy Loewenberg: 9:17

And it seems like we may have to do like a second episode we're gonna have to dive into that.

Victoria Venturi: 9:23

Like like the the hilarious trauma episode grade

Amy Loewenberg: 9:28

family episode.

Unknown: 9:30

I think there are a lot of parallels when it comes to writing greeting cards and comedy. You draw from what you know you pull from life experience. The older I get and the more experiences I go through like becoming a mother or you know, getting married, things like that. It's all new material to make integrating cards. And so I think in that in that perspective, I definitely was able to utilize some of those skills of taking real life encounters or stories or experiences And, you know, making bits out of them, so to speak, in in the same way that I write greeting cards. So I do think that that has some parallels for sure.

Amy Loewenberg: 10:10

But it sounds like your cards are like your crib notes.

Unknown: 10:13

Yeah, exactly. And I don't have to perform in front of drunk men at bars when I write them. So that's, that's always a plus. You know, I definitely think when I was doing stand up, but it was what was in 2007 to 2009. That was pre Netflix, you know, it was, it's, it's still hard to be a female comedian, but I think then it was still, it was before me too, it was before Netflix, it was still a lot more challenging in some regards to be a stand up female comedian. so props to those women who, who held strong and still did it. And then, you know, I went into the corporate world, and I actually think the corporate world honed my voice even better than Stand Up Comedy in a lot of ways. There is so much so much politics, and so many rules and regulations to navigate as a woman in the workplace. And I think a lot of that experience is what shaped my desire to encourage women to break the rules and write their own roles.

Amy Loewenberg: 11:13

Yeah, I think anybody going through the corporate landscape, great, you could probably create an entire collection. Absolutely.

Sarah Schwartz: 11:25

And I mean, your, your cards, like enable other people's comedy acts, like, you know, like that card that I showed a while I showed it somewhere a while back, there's like, I'm sorry, you married the Manson family. Taking like a really dark situation, putting a really funny spin on it and empowering someone who's friendly Americans for the Manson family to like, you know, like, write a really nice thoughtful note. And, you know, if we're gonna cry about things, we have to laugh at them too. So, you know, like, improperly.

Unknown: 12:06

And being seen, I mean, so much of what I love about greeting cards, and what encouraged me to start the company was to be able to see myself more in the words that we that we read, and that we write, and so that's one of our missions, that paper epiphanies is to kind of have people pick up our cards and be like, holy, are recursing on here. Holy shit. So far, every podcast I've ever been on has had the explicit e so I feel like I have to keep it going, you know, across the board all ease. No, but I think I think that's one of the beautiful, beautiful thing is is you picking up a card and laughing and being like, how did this person get in my head? Or, or how do they know my family or or having someone feel, you know, really seen as something that you know, brings us a lot of joy?

Sarah Schwartz: 12:55

Absolutely, I'd love it. So you know, if you're you're really approaching you know, the kind of almost like what greeting cards do some of the like emotional heavy lifting. But, you know, meanwhile, your flagship really does reconfigure the entire concept of the card shop. Gone, thank goodness, our overfilled displays and dusty rusty card fixtures, replaced by an award winning neon accented card wall books that I would characterize as having like really, really great covers and thoughtful women oriented subject matter. And something else that has come into the Clifton industry domain these past few years that I started noticing it shows just before the shutdown of vibrators. So when I interviewed you every time you were talking about designing your store, you kept saying well, I had to make sure that it doesn't look like a porn store with all the with all the hot pink, neon, and then vibrators. So I want to ask you a little bit more about this seriously about this new emerging gifts category because it does to me seem to tie in to a lot of other things that are going on culturally right now. As women are becoming more open about our needs, our pleasure has come to the forefront. You know, obviously you're in Portland, which is a pretty evolved city. But so I but I want to hear what kind of response that you're getting when you introduce this merchandise. How does it sell? How often do you update your offerings? Do you approach this like any other product category? Does it require a little finesse? To see it, no pun intended? And do you see it getting a little more mainstream? Looking ahead?

Unknown: 14:49

Yeah, um, great question. I think for us, this product category was a no brainer because our mission is to empower real conversations and empower women and to your point You know, for a long time, pleasure was associated with men and you know, kind of our role in that. And how can we reclaim that power? And how can we honor ourselves as women. And so that ties directly into paper epiphanies mission. And so having this category for us, started out as part of our story, and in some ways and has really flourished for us. Interestingly enough, most of the vibrators we sell are to women over 50. And I think what's what's kind of enlightening about that is I think that when we opened, this was a category people didn't realize that we sold, and now word has kind of gotten out, I think that that we offer this product and women feel comfortable in our space. It's beautiful. It's empowering. It's, there's no shame around it. It's not hidden, it's right next to candles on the middle shelf of our store, removing a lot of the stigmas placed around it. And so I think in that regard, women who maybe wouldn't go into a sex store, or wouldn't shop online for this item, come to paper epiphanies for it. And we're all about it. I think, I think the fact that we don't do something weird with it, either making it a big deal or hiding it is what makes it really accessible,

Amy Loewenberg: 16:21

just so you don't have to walk through like a curtain into like some other room in the back.

Sarah Schwartz: 16:26

Here's the stuff.

Unknown: 16:30

And we actually the one the one finessing we have encountered is we've had requests for, like, Do you have a test? Like, can we see it? Can we touch it, which I had always said, No, we're not going to have them out because this isn't a sex store. And so now we have like a little sign that says like, if you'd like to see one, like ask an associate, and then we have a little box in the back that has, you know, an open version of the item, so people can see it if they'd like, we've only had that request twice, but some of our vibrators cost, you know, $95. And so if you're going to spend that amount of money, you might want to kind of have a little more information on the product. So that is the one thing we've encountered. But the category started out for us, I would say slow and more. So people didn't know we had it. And then now it's a really great selling category for us. I think, like I said, people have kind of now know that we offer this product. A lot of people buy them for you know, bachelorette parties or just for themselves or gifts. And removing that stigma has increased the amount that we sell, because we are taking the shame away from it. And it just makes me happy. Because that just goes back to what I want to keep doing and keeping offering keep offering women opportunities to write their own stories.

Sarah Schwartz: 17:46

I love it. So it almost sounds like you're becoming a destination. But I wouldn't say that, but it's also an add on.

Unknown: 17:55

Yeah, definitely. I mean, you know, the location of our store, I was very picky. That's definitely in a good way I wanted a corner, I wanted a big footprint. And we got that we're on a street that has some restaurants and you know, a great brunch spot, but it's not, I wouldn't say a heavy foot traffic area. So we are driving a lot of our own traffic. And that's obvious when people come in and they say, Oh, I looked on the website and I want this or oh, you know, I came for this vibrator or this candle or whatever. So it's definitely a combination of some foot traffic. But we are we are driving a lot of the people that are coming to shop here.

Amy Loewenberg: 18:31

That's pretty cool. You know, you sit down and get your eggs Benedict and a really great cappuccino and then you know walk in. Yeah.

Victoria Venturi: 18:38

Later Sunday.

Sarah Schwartz: 18:41

Take care of your other needs.

Amy Loewenberg: 18:43

Exactly. Well, I mean, I can say it definitely is an area of growth or it's going to be you know, or recognition I should say because you're probably gonna see the expansion of this sexual wellness just even within our aisles in New York now I mean, it definitely it's, it's more than a movement. Thank goodness brand. I don't know Victoria.

Unknown: 19:17

The brand of vibrators that we carry is female founded female owned and most of their intentions around creating products are not to replicate. male parts are not to do things like that and really just empower women. And so that was part of going into choosing which products we were going to carry that was definitely important to us to to identify a brand that was created by women for women. And so that goes back to that as well.

Amy Loewenberg: 19:47

Well, the great parallels between just that product and let's go back to your greeting cards for a moment but the lines are right there and the language you use it's very female driven. I mean, I'm reading statements on on You're cards that are like in my voice, it feels like you're using my words. So I definitely I definitely have related to more than just a few. One of them is, and I certainly don't want to emulate any sort of preconceived notion about me. But I do love life updates, still a shit show. You know, it doesn't get old, it doesn't get old, you really do a really lovely, lovely job of emulating. Well, you are a female, but the female voice and just really resonating. So congratulations on that. And it's so like you I have not been into your store. I will definitely when I jump across the country, but I mean, I am like, I can't wait to see the black and white checkered floor and the neon card wall. I mean, bravo. I think it looks fantastic.

Unknown: 20:57

Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. I mean, I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves as, as women and business and business owners. So for me opening the store was a lesson in vulnerability of putting ourselves out there and in a really profound, expensive way. But you know, the, the reception has been unbelievable. And it just reaffirms, for me kind of what we're doing and how I want to continue to develop this brand and see, you know, what we can do with it nationally?

Sarah Schwartz: 21:29

Oh, I can't wait, I love it. And you know, when I look back over the noted it noted Awards, which I've helped run for the past three years. You have one two so far, but not the way most makers do for the cards they themselves. Design and categories like best use of profanity, which you could be a major contender in, by the way. But no, both of yours were for retail driven categories. Last year in 21, you want best card wall for your one of a kind neon creation in your flagship that puts like every other card. Well, I've seen pretty much to shame. I'm sorry,

Amy Loewenberg: 22:09

that Dave and Sarah,

Sarah Schwartz: 22:11

I know. You have to see this card wall. And then and then this year, you won best new product line, but it was not. You know, technically your cards. It was for a collab with Colleen Harrington, I have two of the cards here. And she was your artist in residence this past January. And now as I'm a creative myself, who works traditionally in publishing, but also with private companies. And so I'm always appreciate having like a corporate MIDI CI family, so to speak, to support me. So I want to hear more about this program and this model you have established. When did you start it? What led you to start it? Tell me about Colleen. Hi. And and where are you in? Where else you're going to take this program?

Unknown: 23:06

Well, going back to the note of the note awards first. If you are an exhibitor at noted, you get one free entry. i Right. So I have only taken advantage of the one free entry, both years being a little thrifty. And so I figured if I get one free entry, I'm gonna go with the biggest bang for my buck. And that's why I didn't submit for like, most profane card. And And honestly, that's obvious, right? Like people know that we use profanity in our line. But I think what a lot of people maybe don't know is how that's really secondary to the voice that we use in empowering women and opening new conversations and creating new categories. And so I often think about that as well, like, how can paper epiphany show up in a way that's not just like, fuck it. I mean, we do that, but we do a lot of other stuff too.

Sarah Schwartz: 23:58

And then in terms of getting your vibe to a larger space, like it's not just about a cart, it's about, you know, conceptualizing brands, first through your card wall and then being like, I'm bringing in art, you know, and then I'm taking it to a different place,

Unknown: 24:13

which totally our artists in residence program sort of stemmed from prior to opening the brick and mortar, we had a bi yearly collaboration that we debuted, which we already did as part of our kind of creative process. And so when we open the store, I was like, How can we extend this collaborative process in a really tangible way. And so in October of 2021, we launched our artists in residence program, Jessica Poundstone, was our first artists in residence and we created a line of custom art prints that are available only in the store. Her work can now be seen and Louis baton and a variety of other really amazing brands. And then calling Harrington was our second artist in residence. And she really had an interest in greeting cards specifically, which is why we decided Do this collaborative line together. And essentially, the way that the program works is the artist comes into our space for a month, and they have the ability to sell work, if they'd like to, they keep all the proceeds, I'm available to them to talk about business strategies, or creative works, they're allowed to move into the store. So we have a footprint in the store where they can actually come and write or draw or paint and work from the space, which they find really inspiring just because it's a new space for them. And it's colorful, and they can talk to people and they can really use the program, however, best suits them. You know, coming up, we have another acrylic artist. And then in the fall, we have a quilt artist, actually, that's going to be our artists and residents trying to explore different mediums. All these artists so far are Portland based artists, women who want to expand their voice or, you know, maybe want to learn from me in terms of some business questions. And for me, I do want to give back, but my time is limited. So this is a really great way to have a structured program, where I can share my knowledge, I can also learn from the artists. And then at the end of the program, the collaborative creation, like the one I did with Colleen is optional. So the artists can choose to do a line like that. And if they if they do, then they're paid for their works completely separately from the artists in residence program. But it's been it's been so well received. Our applications are through the roof for the program. And we have the application on our website. And you know, just having these first three artists has really the word Scott now in the city, and it's exciting. So we have a lot of really cool stuff coming down the pipeline in this program.

Amy Loewenberg: 26:47

It's the best form of marketing is word of mouth. Absolutely.

Sarah Schwartz: 26:51

Yeah, I hope that I hope some other retailers start adopting that, you know, or maker retailers, however you

Unknown: 26:57

I mean, based on my track record of copycats, I'm sure there'll be a plethora of artists in residence program soon.

Amy Loewenberg: 27:05

All right, the biggest form of flattery, let's just say that. I do like that you're moving into or that you are exposing other mediums. I mean, quilting, has been kind of coming up in a much louder statement over the last couple of years. And there's such a beautiful heritage and legacy that goes along with quilting. So yeah, that's really lovely.

Unknown: 27:30

Yeah, the storytelling is there. And I mean, now with the opportunity for use of color and texture and different textiles. There's a lot of cool stuff happening. So yeah, I'm excited for that to come to fruition, too.

Amy Loewenberg: 27:41

So a lot of cool things happening. But you know, let's talk about the events over the let's not talk about the events over the past few years. We already know what they are, we've talked about them enough. But let's talk about how the events of the past few years have kind of changed the way we see stationery. So like one I can hear, we're kind of branching into other mediums for you and your store through your residency, but your your program, but how do you think that the category of stationery is going to continue to evolve? You know, are you seeing any trends? You know, what do you feel about consumer perception? Like? What where's your head on this?

Unknown: 28:20

Yeah, um, for me, I think, I guess fortunately, or unfortunately, sympathy is becoming an everyday category, in my opinion. You know, it's it's a support and sympathy for us is outselling every other category almost, almost birthday, even. Wow. So I think obviously COVID goes into that. But there's a lot of other stuff going on in the world. And I think people the morale maybe is the way to put it, the morale of the world is a little bit down. And as a result, I think people are wanting to support and show up for the people in their lives. And so I have really the categories that we sell sympathies, much larger than it used to be. The cards that I write, I definitely write with with, you know, support and sympathy in mind a lot more often. And so I definitely think we're going to see that as a more everyday category support, encouragement, you know, definitely. And I think finding a way to be vulnerable and authentic and humorous without necessarily being crass. You know, that's one of the things I think we do best is you know, word Smith those tough times. They can often be funny, but oftentimes they're not. And so how do we still feel real without being on angel's wings? You know, like, I've mentioned it before, but my father passed away in 2013. I received a lot of cards like that, and that just was not his personality. And so I often go back to that time in my life and think about what what I've wanted to read or receive, and how can we continue continually challenge ourselves Just writers here to show up in an authentic way for people that are grieving or that needs support.

Amy Loewenberg: 30:06

Well, I have to say we have asked this question of so many. And I really love your response. When I'm taking with his, usually what we're hearing is, and I think Sarah will agree it has to do with like the support and encouragement and that category has grown and grown and grown. But this is the actually the first time I've heard anybody blended in with sympathy, and then thinking about sympathy in a different light, it almost feels like you're, you're changing the perception of what a sympathy card is. And by bringing support and encouragement into that fold, you're you're kind of blending these, these different categories. I

Unknown: 30:45

love it. Thanks. I'll give you a spoiler alert here. Yeah, press. But every Christmas card we're releasing this year, that's going to be debuting soon they're all support sympathy. Oh, nice. So basically, it's a completely new take on holiday, and it's celebrating a holiday without that person with you, whether that's a divorce, or a loss, or a change or a move. And so we thought, hey, let's just completely try something new this year. And so all the cards we're releasing, are all focused in that regard for holiday.

Sarah Schwartz: 31:18

Yeah, I mean, sympathy doesn't necessarily have to mean someone died. I mean, like, you can have sympathy for someone, no one has to die in that equation to like, be sympathetic towards, you know, like, yeah. And I definitely feel like there's, there's a bigger, you know, there's more cognition of that, and also, like, a little bit more of just a recognition that like, you know, this sending someone a card is a great way to sort of pull someone aside and be like, Hey, I know you're really going through it, I just want to let you know, I'm thinking of you in a way that like most of other social interactions don't, can't quite do.

Unknown: 32:00

Absolutely. And I think, you know, for me, when I was grieving my father, I think one of the things people often forget, unless you have experienced profound grief is that it's a process and it's long, and so you receive a lot of support initially. And then what happens at those people's birthday or Father's Day or Christmas, when you're still really profoundly grieving, those that loss, and there's just not the same support. And so reminding people that cards can be a vehicle for encouragement at many different times. Yeah, just acknowledgement

Amy Loewenberg: 32:31

and bringing people together. I mean, my brother and I still communicate on our father's birthday he passed, as well, you know, we still acknowledge it, we still recognize him and support each other. And it's actually happy thoughts. Yeah,

Unknown: 32:44

I know when you get to that place, it's really meaningful and special when you can for me, you know, when I when I when I could stop crying and start to reflect and share memories and those times are really fun. But to your point, yes. Still recognizing and honoring that moment in time?

Amy Loewenberg: 33:00

Yeah, moment in time. Absolutely. That's the title of this Sara moment in a moment and

Sarah Schwartz: 33:06

it's far better than the one I was thinking of, which was manage the bunny Okay.

Amy Loewenberg: 33:23

Well, I mean, I don't know about y'all, but on that note, it feels like a perfect place to say thank you so much for joining us today.

Unknown: 33:30

Absolutely. Thank you for having me. I have to know though so the paper plane is it based on the cocktail or actually the paper plane or both? Because it's a cocktail hour, right?

Amy Loewenberg: 33:41

It is it is I you know what? It's both it is? Absolutely both Sarah and I are known to enjoy a lovely libation once in a while, but the fact that you know, we deal with paper, both in our in our own worlds, it just seemed like a natural. perfect marriage of both. I

Unknown: 33:58

love it. Well, we'll have to do a lovely libation soon, hopefully.

Sarah Schwartz: 34:01

Exactly. And I was just gonna say everyone we have on the show is definitely someone we would have a drink with. Love it.

Victoria Venturi: 34:07

There you go. That's that's tagline ever.

Amy Loewenberg: 34:11

Yeah, yeah, it is it there. There you go. Yeah. Well, hopefully soon, we will have everybody for a live cocktail. Maybe this August. You never know. Before we officially say so long. How can people reach you? And connect?

Unknown: 34:28

Yeah, we paper epiphanies.com is where all of our goods are and then we're most active on Instagram. And our handles paper epiphanies and we're always having fun and you know, getting wild over there. So that's a great way to find us.

Amy Loewenberg: 34:42

All right, well, you heard it here. Let's get wild over Instagram people. Thanks so much. Have a great one. Thinks. Well, that was fun. I feel like that was definitely as much fun as going and cocktails but with no alcohol involved somehow. You know, I guess I'm just getting in touch with my vulnerable slash authentic slash humorous slash slightly crass side.

Sarah Schwartz: 35:11

Just love that side of you. In addition to being so much fun, Victoria is just so empowering. I just feel like I can handle anything after 20 minutes with her. It was such a treat to see her in San Francisco. I knew we had to have her here for drinks virtually or not. And it sounds like the next time we meet, we're definitely downing a $12 drink or two. But in the meantime, we can only catch up with each other in the virtual space. Where can our listeners find you there? Amy?

Amy Loewenberg: 35:48

Well, you can always connect with me on Instagram, LinkedIn or email me at work. I always want to highlight our amazing community on my New York now spotlight podcast. And to feature you on my Instagram story tours. I'm available to help connect you to new and needed resources and of course answer any of your new york now market or San Francisco now market or digital market questions. And how can we connect with you Sarah?

Sarah Schwartz: 36:12

How does it best place to connect with me is at the paper near.com You can see more fabulous stationery coverage, check out my podcast, the paper folds, and access stationery trends, the industry's award winning design driven trade quarterly as well. It's always a pleasure to learn more about makers and spotlight their work, whether it's in publication blog or podcast forum. If you want to connect, I'd love to hear from you. So please don't

Amy Loewenberg: 36:38

hesitate to reach out to either of us with comments questions, feedback, suggestions for guests or when I view New York now is an online 365 sourcing and connection platform. Make sure to sign up and sign in and definitely connect with us when you do. So thank you so much and we will talk with you soon. Cheers.