2024 events & happenings review

2024 was filled with events and happenings. I didn't post much about it BUT it was our 20th Anniversary in business. 20 years is an entire lifetime for some. A whole lot has happened since 2004 in my business. Much like life, it's been good and bad and everything in between. For now, I'll share a list and summery of events and happening that we hosted and organized in 2024, our 20th year.

Love Thyself Workshop

In March, I collaborated again with Him + Her Vintage and The Scent Queens Candle Co. to create Your Albany Park Neighbors (YAPN) to help bring awareness to Albany Park Businesses and create community.

In the Spring we mentored two Roosevelt High School students. The students interned with us through North River Commission and taught them all about production, restocking, cleaning, receiving products, shipping orders and inventory management. We also relaunched our Letter Writing Meet Ups and hosted seven of them from April until November. Fulfilling our mission since 2004 to encourage long distance warm fuzzies through snail mail.

storage cabinets & ABH workshop

In June I customized cabinets and installed a second layer of storage in our production area. We ran out of space in the area almost as soon as all our boxes were unpacked in 2019. The higher cabinets require a ladder but the extra space is worth the hassle. Perhaps we'll add a library ladder in 2025. On the 23rd we hosted a letterpress workshop with Artists Book House. Students worked together and on their own to create a custom letterpress piece. Projects ranged from a poster to book cover and a memorial. We also participated in Flavors of Albany Park and hosted Miko's Italian Ice for the event. This was the fifth Flavors we'll been a part of and the fifth time we've hosted Miko's. It's always a busy event for the neighborhood and a lot of fun.

July is notoriously slow for retail stores. I took the time to update the storefront with new, larger shelves. It was an investment but created a more open shopping experience and immediately, we saw our average customer purchase increase. I also organized Albany Park Sidewalk Sales with YAPN. We had 19 businesses and a great turn out. I've found Sidewalk Sales are a great opportunities to liquidate old products or the last of some and make space for incoming 4th quarter inventory. Plus is helps get people in the door and make sore sales. A win-win for us to make space and customers to get a deal.

Stationery Store Day & Shoppe Object

August we hosted our 3rd Annual Stationery Store Day. This is the best day! It's also proven to be our most profitable day of the year for us. This year we collaborated with several other Chicago stores to create a passport of participating Stationery Stores. It was a great event! We created a custom print for customers to pull and had a letter writing station for guests to make out their free postcard. So much fun. The following Monday, I headed to NYC with my bestie, Jaime to attend Stationery Fest. We also shopped NY Now and Shoppe Object, two industry tradeshows. We both discovered new brands and placed orders for our stores. You can read all about it here.

September was busy organizing Sip or Treat. with YAPN. Creating graphics, asking businesses to get involved, printing posters and postcards and getting the ord out. September was also prepping for the holidays. We usually ship the majority of our wholesale holiday cards in September. However, this year, it was much quieter than usual. Everyone waited until October when we were prepping for our own holiday retail. It ended up being a very last minute holiday season and honestly, a very stressful one.

Typewriter guestbook & Jacob Mayfield

October we lent our space to Donovan for her October Mail Art Party. The party was filled with creativity and many hauntingly beautiful envelopes created by the guests. I loved sharing my space with so many mail lovers. I gave a studio tour and spoke to North Park University Seniors as well. I also hosted an Epic 20th Anniversary Party! We had food from Jackie Style, a Charcuterie Table from Him + Her Vintage and delicious homebrew from Mr. Favorite. Guests had a chance to pull a letterpress anniversary print on the Vandercook. As a gift to my guests, I offered letter writing analysis with Jacob Mayfield, the highlight of the event. Jacob was insightful and intuitive and just a dream. I highly recommend him for any party. I also had typewriters set out for guestbooks and inflatable pencils as decor. It was quite the event and it filled my heart to have so many friends and customers celebrate with me. I even had friends from my Paper Boy years travel from Rhode Island to celebrate with us. Truly a heartwarming evening and highlight of my business year. The Thursday before Halloween, I also launched a neighborhood business event with YAPN, Sip or Treat. It was very well attended and a great evening of neighbors, sips and shopping.

20th anniversary print & Customer Jerry

November was all hustle and bustle without any motivation. I was quite discouraged (still am) after the election and struggled to get in the holiday spirit. Every single day felt like a slog. But I persevered. Instead of having holiday set up on November 7th, as planned, I slowly transitioned the shop from the 11th to the 22nd and sadly, never got to decorating entirely. For the first time since being open, we had a disappointing Small Business Saturday. I know many people travel but it honestly just felt like another day. It seemed like people just forgot. When I mentioned to our customers about hidden gift cards and discounts over $100 purchase, I kept hearing, "I didn't realize it was Small Business Saturday". Strange but I get it. Chicago overall felt disheartened, I heard it daily from friends and customers. During November I was printing like crazy for One of a Kind Show and I was also working hard on YAPN's Sip, Shop, Trolley Hop. Which you would think would be easy since it was the second year but nope. Graphics still had to be modified. maps had to be created, as well as an Eventbrite, QR codes printed on posters and postcards and communicating with all the businesses that participated as well as reminding everyone of deadlines. And all during the busiest time of year. It's an overwhelming amount of work, during an overwhelming time of year BUT it brings the community out and that's important to me.

Sip Shop Trolley Hop & Holiday Cards

December felt like all work, all the time. Between wholesale, the brick and mortar, One of a Kind Show and Sip, Shop, Trolley Hop, the month was a complete blur. But a good one. We really have the best customers and I loved seeing you all and chatting throughout the season. I love knowing that my cards are a part of all your important milestones and events - birthdays, graduations, babies, holidays, and even really tough moments like comfort for the grieving. It's an honor that you chose us to share those times with your friends and family. Thank you. It's because you all keep showing up that I get to keep creating.

I'm gonna take a couple weeks and consider what our plans will be for 2025. I know we'll be participating in some new shows and launching our Letter Writing Meet Ups again. We'll be participating in Chicago Stationery Fest in March and have re-signed our One of a Kind Holiday Show contract. I'm considering more workshops but will definitely need more help to be able to host guests in the print shop. Stay tuned! I'll be sharing happenings in our newsletter and here.

Here's hoping 2025 is the year we all get it right. Thanks for coming out and supporting us!