We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Gregoire & Jim Lee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer Gregoire & Jim Lee, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

We’ll never forget our very first real order. It was 2014 and we had our first collection of cards printed. We didn’t have any sales reps or much of an online presence yet, so we knew we had to approach potential stores directly – which was really nerve racking for a pair of creatives with no prior sales experience! We nervously walked into a beautiful flower shop located between Los Feliz and Silver Lake in Los Angeles called Clementine Floral Works with zero expectations and were thrilled (and relieved!) when they placed an order. I remember feeling hopeful and so excited that our cards were going to be sold in a real store. Clementine has since moved to Oregon, but I’ll always remember them as our first account and appreciate the fact that they took a chance on us!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

We’re Jen and Jim, siblings and co-owners of Yeppie Paper. We make and sell greeting cards, stickers and notebooks. All of our products start with hand-painted gouache illustrations by Jen, who has a background in fine art. Our line is playful and quirky, while being sophisticated and sincere. We’re thankful to be carried in over 500 stores across the US and abroad, including gift shops, bookstores, stationery stores, florists and more.

We started Yeppie Paper in 2014, after Jen left her job in interior design and decided the time was right to return to her first love of drawing and painting. She wanted to find a way to share her art with the world and realized that greeting cards were an excellent way to do so. Jim was intrigued by this idea and together we started figuring out all the steps required to start our business.

The first few years were filled with trial and error, but it was also when we found our distinct voice. There are so many amazingly talented designers and brands out there, so we knew we had to be unique and authentic to stay alive. Now with more years under our belt, our ongoing goal is to continue putting out fresh products that keep our buyers interested, while maintaining the highest quality in every card and sticker we make. Customer service is also hugely important to us, and we’re proud to have a positive reputation for being friendly and reliable.

We love what we do and truly appreciate every opportunity we get to share our products with all kinds of customers, across all ages and in different parts of the country. It’s amazing that we can create cards that help strengthen the connections that humans have with each other – being a small part of someone’s important day or celebration, or providing a way to support a friend or loved one during a time of need.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I think that when we grow up we all naturally want to be liked and when you start a business, particularly one where you’re creating a product that comes directly from your own two hands, there’s this additional pressure to have it be well received. But we had to learn and accept that not everybody will like our products… that we can’t be everything for everyone – and that’s okay! Instead of trying to please all kinds of tastes and opinions (which can dilute our creative process), we try to put blinders on and focus on maintaining our own style. This has led to us finding our niche and ultimately an audience that understands and appreciates our line. In turn, we appreciate their support and continue to create products with them in mind.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

It is so important to shop small and to shop local if you can. Go to your neighborhood bookstore, coffee shop, mom & pop, gift shop and bakery. Every dollar you spend there allows them to not only stay in business and pay their employees, but it also allows them to keep buying from independent vendors and creatives who make the products that line their shelves. We remember how scary it was when the pandemic started and small businesses were shutting down left and right. Thankfully so many people made a point to support their local stores and it reverberated throughout our industry. You have a powerful choice in what types of businesses you choose to support with your money. It’s important to remember that there are real people behind all of the products you’re browsing and your purchase (no matter how big or small!) can really make a difference in their lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.yeppiepaper.com
• Instagram: @yeppiepaperjen and @yeppiepaperjimlee
• Other: Wholesale: www.yeppiepaper.faire.com