We were lucky to catch up with Carolyn Chu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Carolyn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Growing up in a family business really taught me the value of entrepreneurial ventures and showcased to me that my entrepreneurial journey could be more than just business and that it could ultimately create a platform for social impact as well as helping others feel good and encouraging them to be unapologetically themselves.

Along with that foundation, I also noticed a gap in the market for stylish and unique smoking accessories, especially with rolling papers. I’ve been a partaker in the cannabis industry my whole life and prior to Papers + Ink, I couldn’t find many products beautiful enough to leave out on my coffee tables or distinct enough that would resonate with myself and my friends who are all professional badasses who consume too. This is what initially sparked the mission behind Papers + Ink. Papers + Ink is truly a labor of love, and life is a journey, so people should have some fun and celebrate being unapologetically themselves while embracing plant-based medicines.

Carolyn, 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 founded Papers + Ink Studio in 2019 to build an entity that celebrates creativity and inclusivity through design, and to support the cannabis community. As I mentioned before, I noticed that there weren’t any high-quality, well-designed, and consciously produced rolling papers made in the United States that celebrated uniqueness. I’ve always been obsessed with colors and patterns and when I took a look at all the rolling papers on the market, they felt so plain and boring to me. This lack of playfulness in the industry motivated me to create my own line of premium rolling papers and accessories for people who like to have fun, are aesthetically inclined, and seek luxurious and sophisticated experiences without forgoing function.

Additionally, I also love to support and collaborate with truly unique artists to produce exclusive items! I am so fortunate to have collaborated with such incredible badass artists all telling their unique stories through their honed skills and techniques. Some of our collaboration pieces are exclusive to us and limited in runs and truly are just so beautiful. One of my favorite parts about these collaborations is that they really showcase all forms of art! Additionally, I have always loved a kit, so when I designed our signature rolling papers kits, I created them as a full experience, meaning each one contains beautiful printed hemp papers, premium amazing slim filters, a packing tool (or tamper is what many call them), and a how-to roll guide. We love teaching life skills and these kits are a great way for eager beginners to get started or for the seasoned connoisseur!

When it comes to Papers + Ink, we’ve always stayed true to our core company values, providing the highest quality products, creating unique exclusive product offerings, and having a strict “no assholes policy.” That’s something I will always be proud of. We all inspire each other on this journey, and I’m often asked what being a female entrepreneur is like or what it’s like for a company to be women-owned and led, and it just goes back to having different obstacles and intersections. Being a strong but balanced leader is so important. You won’t find me yelling in meetings, but rather a collaborative spirit both internally and externally with our vendors, suppliers, and collaborators to create unique product offerings.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I think resilience is a key quality in every entrepreneur’s journey in all industries. There were a few times when I was getting started when people just didn’t get it. They didn’t understand. They weren’t consumers themselves nor did they understand the benefits of the plants. Also, this industry is different because it has these very, very strong archaic old negative stereotypes that don’t lend themselves to all the different types of consumers now. There are still layers of sexism, racism, and misogyny. Everyone has an opinion and advice for sure, but perhaps everything in life just teaches us to follow our own instincts and build up our confidence as long as they aren’t hurting people and to follow your guiding north star. I think with more representation and more exposure of professional fashionable people in this industry, it showcases and inspires others to follow their dreams and create something with impact in this world.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Papers + Ink is the leading provider of organic pure hemp rolling papers with unique designs in full kits for the sophisticated smoker. Our premium kits are handmade in the United States from responsibly and respectfully sourced components. Our customers repeatedly tell us that they can feel the love and intention in our products and that they just make them smile. We even include lucky star filters mixed in with our smart slim filters. It’s the little details also that make people smile. They truly make for the perfect special gift. Each all-in-one kit includes unbleached organic hemp rolling papers, premium smart slim filters, an untreated bamboo packing tool, and a how-to-roll guide that leads you to video tutorials.

Standard (boring) rolling papers can be found in every corner liquor stores and headshops. Many rolling papers are made from wood pulps and rice and contain harmful additives like bleach to create the “white” color. Papers + Ink’s premium rolling papers can be found in boutiques, high-end design gift shops, premium dispensaries, and online. Our organic hemp papers are unbleached and we print using vegetable-based colorings. Our papers have been third-party lab tested. Additionally, they are incredibly slow-burning and smooth, and adding our filters provides an even better experience. Many customers use Papers + Ink for everyday use because our papers just make them happy and they know the quality is always at its best. People also love the ability to customize our products for parties, special events, corporate gifts, or other activities. It just goes to show that when you put love into product manufacturing, your customers will notice and will ultimately love your product that much more.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://papersandink.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papersandinksesh/?hl=en

Image Credits
Credit: Papers + Ink