Handcrafted Papers Prove a Big Hit with Brides-to-Be
Decorative papers offer unique, thoughtful look for those planning weddings, receptions and special events.
Churchville, PA (PRWEB) March 21, 2005 -- For Shelly Gardner-Alley, the idea
to start a specialty paper store online was a way to target the blossoming paper
arts and crafts market. "I had done web design and e-commerce development for a
number of years and decided that I would like to build a web based business of
my own instead of just designing them for other people." With that in mind, she
set about to find a product she would enjoy selling; and the rich, colorful,
specialty papers she had worked with proved just the ticket. "I started out in
graphic design and loved working with various paper stocks that offered
different tones and textures. I had come across some hard-to-find decorative
papers that worked well for scrap books and invitations and other unique
applications, so I began ordering some and putting them online."
What
happened next surprised even the veteran site builder. "As our selection of
papers grew, more and more brides-to-be began contacting us in search of
something unusual... papers with thread woven in, and bark bits, and flower
petals and feather weight tissue papers to layer and wrap around traditional
printed pieces. There's a trend now to express both uniqueness and
thoughtfulness in invitations and one way to do that is by taking the time to
design your own invitations made from specialty papers".
Wedding
planners have also seized upon the trend, using the papers as a theme and
utilizing it from the invitations to the ceremony - right through to the
reception. "We have people using the invitation paper for programs, table
decorations, centerpieces, escort cards and guest books as well. That's why they
really like the handcrafted stocks. With them, you can make everything match and
develop a theme."
The papers themselves come from as far away as India,
Thailand, France, Italy, Japan and Nepal as well as local US hand crafters.
"We're a business founded by women, catering to women and supporting women",
Gardner-Alley stated. She runs the business with her daughter. "A lot of these
papers are created by women in small cottage industries throughout the
developing world. This supports their efforts while providing an outstanding
example of the creativity and craftsmanship these women possess."
Patterns run from vintage elegance to modern simplicity; and as exotic
as Japanese silk screened Chiyogami prints to translucent mulberry paper. "The
diversity in styles, colors and countries represented allows wedding planners to
visually display the merging of the cultures of the bride and groom in the
wedding stationary and reception theme" Gardner-Alley continued.
The web
site itself (http://PaperMojo.com) is rich with photos and ways to browse
the many choices. "We've gotten this far with no big ad budget to speak of, it's
just been word of mouth and a smattering of pay-per-click advertising." This has
Gardner-Alley concerned as the wedding season heats up. "There's a tendency to
wait until the last possible moment, so we're encouraging our brides-to-be to
order early." Excitement over the site has helped the two owners to turn a part
time passion into full time fun. "We're fortunate to have hit upon this idea and
for it to take off as well as it has." As far as future growth, Gardner-Alley
intends to take on more and more selection as resources allow. "We'd like to be
the source of unique and decorative papers for both invitation designers and
crafters." For a company named Paper Mojo, they seem to be making all the right
moves.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/3/prweb219726.htm