Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Angela Swinford. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Angela, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

One of our products at Paper Towns is a custom location map key ring. As you can imagine, I’ve gotten some really wonderful stories from customers over the years about the locations they choose- where their child was born, where their family came from, their destination wedding city, etc. but one story sticks out in my mind. A few years back I received an order from a young woman for two pieces, and each with a different location. She explained to me that her life was saved by a kidney donor- an older gentleman that she had never met but felt immense gratitude toward. She ordered her hometown on one key ring and his home town on the other. She then met her donor in person for the first time since her surgery and gave him the key ring with her town on it and kept they key ring with his town so that they would always have a visible connection to each other as well. That was such a touching story and an honor to be a part of the occasion.

Angela, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I (Angela Swinford) started Paper Towns Vintage jewelry over a decade ago as a brand that offers high quality handcrafted jewelry and accessories created from maps and old books.

This journey started many years ago while studying ancient history, archaeology, and Latin in college. My studies nurtured a love of maps that I carry to this day. We may soon live in a world without paper maps. That has inspired our twofold mission: to preserve the legacy of maps, and to let them live on in a meaningful way.

Today we offer necklaces, key rings, bracelets, cuff links, wedding accessories, and more all customized to our clients’ needs.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe that my unique background and passion for history has helped me build a reputation within my market and stand out from the competition. Since I started Paper Towns over a decade ago, many “copy cats” have come and gone over the years but none of them had my special sauce- I went to school for history and archaeology and therefore my love for the maps and mission of historic preservation really shines through with my clients. When customers buy into you as a story and not just buy your product, it creates a type of magic that is really hard to duplicate.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Piggybacking on the question above- I would say that word of mouth has been the best source of clients for me. Not only the best source of new clients, but the best source of high quality clients that appreciate the love I put into my work and the story behind it. The customers I find via word of mouth or referral are extremely valuable as they usually become loyal customers and make multiple purchases from me for different occasions.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.PaperTownsVintage.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/PaperTownsVintage