If you’re anything like us, you probably have Allison and Jamie Nadeau to thank for remembering holidays…and maintaining relationships. This dynamic duo started INK MEETS PAPER, a line of colorful greeting cards, stationery, and other paper goods made right here in Charleston, SC. Each INK MEETS PAPER item is crafted on printing presses from the 1920s, and their thoughtful designs have garnered attention from the NY Times, Design*Sponge, and retailers around the country. 

More than a letterpress company, INK MEETS PAPER believes in the power of connections. Through events, calligraphy workshops, and their motto “Text Less. Write More,” this small-but-mighty company is on a mission to make the world more human one card at a time. 

Here, find out how they turned a side hustle into a national business, why they love what they do, and how they find creative inspiration, and make sure to grab tickets to their talk on “Craft” on Friday, June 22nd! 

What do you love most about what you do?
Allison: I love being involved in the physical process of creating. Every time we print a new card or product, it’s always like magic seeing the first time it comes off the press. Expanding on that, I love how many places our cards go and how many people connect through our cards. It’s absolutely humbling and amazing.Jamie: Constant improvement. Running our business offers continuous opportunities for “doing it better.” The more that we can refine the experiences (both internally amongst the team and externally for our customers), the better we are as a business. I feel lucky that we get to make a product that isn’t truly “completed” until someone has put part of themselves— their thoughts & feelings—  into the card through writing. We put so much love into our business, and it’s a complete honor to support the love of people that we may never meet.  

How did you get into letterpress printing and stationery design? Did you always know you’d be entrepreneurs and/or own a creative business?
Allison: INK MEETS PAPER initially started as a side/hobby project back in 2006 with custom stationery and invitations for friends and family (very very very small scale). Along with a move to Charleston, SC and corporate jobs as an editor and interaction designer, we discovered a love for the craft of letterpress printing in 2008 with a printmaking class at Redux Contemporary Art Center. After spending so much time behind the screen, it was refreshing to be so hands-on and involved in the physical process of creating a printed piece. 

That same year, we purchased our first press, a 1,000+ pound Chandler & Price printing press (made in 1923!), and moved it into a spare bedroom in our house. At first, we focused solely on learning the craft of traditional printing, rather than immediately trying to turn it into a business (we weren’t exactly sure what we wanted from this). We were both working other full-time jobs at the time, so we were able to take things slowly. 

As we became comfortable printing, we started to explore more of the industry (stationery/greeting cards, wedding invitations, custom printing for others). Handwritten correspondence really resonated with us — it’s such a beautiful and timeless way to connect with those you love. In particular, we saw greeting cards as an easy and accessible way for people to connect with one another. We started work on developing a collection of greeting cards to help spread a bit more love and kindness and launched the INK MEETS PAPER® greeting card line in 2010. Since then, we’ve continued to add new cards and paper products to the collection, all with the goal of inspiring people to send more handwritten love. Jamie: I think we always leaned towards owning a creative business. I started freelancing in high school, and our first side-business was an eBay store where we focused on packaging & customer experience to drive sales of used tech products. As we were working to leave the corporate world, we worked together as freelance designers before starting INK MEETS PAPER. INK MEETS PAPER built upon many years of attempts and failures to create a sustainable business that fit both of our skillsets in a way that we could build and build and build without feeling burned out.

How do you start your day?
A+J: With a pot of french-press coffee while sitting on the couch in the living room.

Tell us about your proudest moment or accomplishment.
Allison: Being able to be full-time with INK MEETS PAPER and designing a business that we love. Jamie: Building INK MEETS PAPER encompassed massive amounts of personal growth as I learned to take risks, live authentically, and to face fears about what I could accomplish as an individual. As a couple, we learned to find comfort in the “uncomfortable” times and to always work on business/personal growth. That work has benefited every aspect of our lives, and while I can’t pick a particular moment, I certainly feel pride as we tackle the continual journey of life & business-building together.

Do you have a hidden talent?
Allison: Jamie can juggle!
Jamie: Ha! I can get pretty ‘locked in’ when working on a project at work. Juggling is the perfect quick break when I need it. :)

Who or what gives you creative inspiration?
Allison: Since we’re a greeting card company, we’re very copy driven. We want the sentiments on our cards to be a starting point for the person adding their message to the interior— which we always keep blank. As a result, a lot of our card inspiration comes from relationships, both our own and those we observe.Jamie: I LOVE music, and am always listening to a wide-range of different artists. Music helps me get into flow, and I have specific playlists for different types of work I may do throughout the day, so it really drives the creative work I do.

What’s your go-to coffee order?
Allison: almond milk latte
Jamie: whole milk latte

What is your favorite place in or around Charleston?
Jamie: Ahhh, such a tough question! We’ve lived here for 12 years now and there are so many incredible spots to enjoy. Honestly, I think our favorite places in Charleston change with the seasons. I love the perfect Lowcountry views at Bowens Island, a cocktail at Stems & Skins in Park Circle, and dinner at Leon’s or Little Jack’s. When we need a break from routine, we go for walks downtown together. Since we live & work in Park Circle, downtown serves as a great place to disconnect and spend time in the moment.

How do you unwind or de-stress?
Jamie: going for a run, dialing in cocktail recipes, or relaxing outside
Allison: with a glass of wine while spending time outside in our backyard

Rapid fire: 

• morning person or night owl?
  Allison: night owl
  Jamie: morning person
  
• summer or winter?
  A+J: summer
  
• mountains or beach?
  A+J: beach
  
• pancakes or waffles?
  Allison: pancakes
  Jamie: waffles (with fried chicken!)
  
• fiction or non-fiction?
  Allison: fiction
  Jamie: non-fiction

Photos by Keely Laughlin Photo, https://www.keelylaughlinphoto.com/