20 Stationery Business Success Stories
A stationery business sells stationery products such as paper goods, notebooks, greeting cards, and envelopes.
The best part about starting a stationery business is that it's relatively easy and inexpensive to get started.
Since there are so many different types of products available in this industry, there are endless opportunities for creativity, customization, and expansion.
You could even start out small by selling your products on Etsy or eBay before opening up an actual storefront.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a stationery business:
1. Seniman Calligraphy ($156K/year)
Ruth had a passion for creating things with her hands, especially during the holidays when she loved to give gifts. She picked up modern calligraphy as a hobby and soon discovered that making bespoke custom wedding invitations allowed her to combine all the things she loved. After three months of regular practice, she decided that her skills were good enough to do calligraphy work for others, so she started the business.
How much they make: $156K/year
Current team size: 0
An inspiring case study of how one woman turned her passion for calligraphy and bespoke wedding invitations into a successful business that now grosses an average of $13,000 a month, using Instagram as the main driver for attracting and retaining customers.
2. Raghaus ($300K/year)
Markus Hartel, the founder of Raghaus Studios, came up with the idea for his business after moving to a new town and wanting to get back into the printing industry. He purchased vintage letterpress machines and started creating unique stationery products, such as custom wedding invitations and artist's books. Through word-of-mouth and organic growth, his business has steadily grown, allowing him to expand his product line and attract new customers.
How much they make: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $25K
Current team size: 2
A specialized letterpress printing business started by Markus Hartel, whose micro-batches have caused his monthly sales to soar above $15k, discusses his experience creating custom invites and expanding his product line.
So... can you actually make money with a stationery business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesnβt.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Jordyn Alison Designs ($48K/year)
Jordyn came up with the idea for her business after making hand-lettered greeting cards during her boyfriend's boot camp. With a background in graphic design, she started Jordyn Alison Designs in 2016, but it wasn't until three years later that she saw significant growth and began expanding her product offerings. Now averaging $3,000 a month, Jordyn focuses on wholesale and the digital side of her business, with plans to get her products into over 100 stores nationwide and start licensing her artwork.
How much they make: $48K/year
Current team size: 0
Jordyn Alison Designs owner Jordyn, has grown her hand-lettered stationary business to average $3,000 a month by expanding her product line to include greeting cards, vinyl stickers, notepads, apparel and more, while also using social media to promote her launches and gauging customer interest.
4. Sheedo Paper ($480K/year)
Gonzalo and Gala, founders of Sheedo, came up with the idea for their sustainable paper business while researching plantable tags for an espadrilles brand. They realized that no one was producing printable plantable paper in Spain, so they took it upon themselves to create it. Now, Sheedo has grown into a successful business, generating around 40K⬠per month and working with big brands like Coca-Cola and Sony.
How much they make: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 5
Spanish-based startup Sheedo is making waves in the traditional merchandising industry with its seed-infused, tree-free and non-toxic paper concept and pulling in β¬40k in monthly revenue, supplying customers including Coca-Cola, Inditex, Sony, Deloitte, and Air France.
So... can you actually make money with a stationery business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesnβt.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. Ferrotype Ltd ($240K/year)
Dominic and his sister Jo launched Ferrotype after being asked to start again by one of their suppliers. With a ready-made customer base and a focus on premium stationery, the company has worked with major tech companies like Google and Microsoft. In their first year, they have achieved flexibility, a solid base with $150,000 in revenue, and are now focusing on attracting new customers through PPC advertising.
How much they make: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 2
Learn how a new branded stationery business achieved a profitable first year with almost no office costs and flexible work arrangements, focusing on premium stationery for corporate clients, and plans to expand into sustainability and offline marketing strategies in 2020.
6. Cinquanta Cox-Smith ($120K/year)
Cinquanta Cox-Smith, a Multipreneur from South Carolina, stumbled upon the Print On Demand industry 12 years ago when she wanted to create a unique shirt and discovered Spreadshirt.com. Through her creativity and networking skills, she found success in designing and selling catchy, conversation-starting shirts. This eventually led her to create multiple POD brands on various platforms, generating an impressive $120k per year in revenue.
How much they make: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 1
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
So... can you actually make money with a stationery business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesnβt.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
7. Bookblock ($3.12M/year)
Tom Strickland, co-founder of Bookblock, came up with the idea for his gifting business while manufacturing notebooks. He saw the success of Moleskine and decided to launch a real leather notebook brand, Monsieur Notebook, at a similar price point. While the notebook business ultimately failed, it led Tom to discover a market for corporate notebooks, which eventually paved the way for Bookblock's growth and expansion into the consumer market.
How much they make: $3.12M/year
Current team size: 30
Bookblock co-founder shares how they grew their corporate gifting platform to a Β£2m annual turnover, and their plans to expand to the consumer market through their new gifting platform.
8. Chirps & Cricket Design Studio ($13.2K/year)
Abigail Butler, the founder of Chirps & Cricket Design Studio, originally launched as a freelance graphic design business. After five years in a corporate job, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a freelance artist. Combining her love for graphic design and stationery, she developed her own line of handcrafted paper goods and bespoke invitations. She launched her business using Wix and created her website and e-commerce shop on a small budget, doing everything herself.
How much they make: $13.2K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 0
Chirps & Cricket Design Studio is a small, Denver, Colorado-based design studio specializing in graphic design services, custom illustration, handcrafted paper goods and bespoke invitations, with notable achievements including illustrating New Mexico State Universityβs Campus Map, while providing freelance services for small and large businesses, startups, engaged couples and a freelance writer.
9. Planner Peace ($270K/year)
Jess, the founder of Chasing Planner Peace, initially started her business on Etsy, selling planner inserts. As an avid planner user herself, she saw a gap in the market for colorful inserts, great quality paper, and a wide range of options in Australia. Over time, she expanded her product range to include dividers, notepads, and her own brand of planners. Through word of mouth and good reviews, she has been able to attract and retain a loyal customer base, with a 39.9% return customer rate.
How much they make: $270K/year
Current team size: 1
Chasing Planner Peace is a planner company that has expanded from selling planner inserts on Etsy, to offering a one-stop shop customizable planner experience with over 300 inserts, a planner line, and various other related products, gaining a monthly revenue of around $25,000 at its busiest time of year.
10. The Food Diary ($9K/year)
Laura, the founder of The Food Diary Co., came up with the idea for her business after her own struggles with chronic illnesses. Frustrated by the lack of food diaries designed for people with digestive and autoimmune issues, she created her own journal to track her symptoms and triggers. Seeing the positive impact it had on her health, she decided to create a beautiful diary for others facing similar challenges.
How much they make: $9K/year
Current team size: 0
The Food Diary Co. founder Laura created a beautifully designed food diary to help people with digestive and autoimmune disorders better understand their trigger foods, and has grown her business with organic marketing, influencer partnerships, and the goal of beefing up SEO, email newsletters, and affiliate marketing.
11. Penny Portrait ($15K/year)
Maury McCoy came up with the idea for the Penny Portrait Kit after seeing a story about a father and son who created a giant portrait of Abraham Lincoln out of pennies. As a graphic designer/animator, McCoy quickly created a proof of concept in Photoshop and after several iterations, developed a version that he was happy with. The Penny Portrait Kit has since sold over 6,800 kits and is on display at prominent institutions like the U.S. Mint and Lincoln's Presidential Library.
How much they make: $15K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
Current team size: 1
This case study is about a graphic designer who created a fun and unique product called Penny Portrait Kit that allows customers to create a portrait of Abraham Lincoln out of 846 pennies, which has sold over 6,800 kits and brought in approximately $10K of profit per year.
12. Seph Crafts ($2.4K/year)
Sephora, the owner of Seph Crafts, started her business after struggling to find a planner that met her needs. Frustrated with using sticky notes that would fall out of her planner, she decided to create her own that prioritized goals, schedule, and motivation. Since launching during the pandemic, Seph Crafts has expanded its target audience beyond mothers and now serves teachers, event planners, college students, and entrepreneurs.
How much they make: $2.4K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100
Current team size: 0
Sephora turned her hobby of designing planners into a full-time business during the pandemic, offering handmade and customizable planners and journals with a flagship design that encourages time management by aligning daily tasks with annual goals.
13. Fernaco ($120K/year)
Ricardo Fernandez, the founder of Fernaco, came up with the idea for his business after realizing there was a market for improved, stylish, and highly durable office accessories. He specifically focused on designing and manufacturing Grade A silicone pen/pencil holders that could be used for multiple purposes. Since launching in 2017, Fernaco has consistently brought in between 9 to 11 thousand dollars per month in revenue and plans to expand into other office-supply categories in the future.
How much they make: $120K/year
Current team size: 1
This case study follows Ricardo Fernandez, the founder of Fernaco, who started an Amazon FBA private-label brand with a line of Grade A silicone pen/pencil holders and has grown his revenue to consistently bring in between $9,000 to $11,000 per month.
14. The Goulet Pen Company ($12M/year)
How much they make: $12M/year
Current team size: 24
The Goulet Pen Company grew from a hobby to a global retailing firm providing high-quality items with exceptional customer service, all via an internet platform which had never been done before in the writing industry.
15. StickerJunkie ($1M/year)
How much they make: $1M/year
Current team size: 10
"Founder turns sticker-making hobby into $1M/year online business" - Learn how Andrea Lake transformed her passion for sticker design into a profitable venture that offers customizable stickers on various materials and sizes.
16. Paper Saver ($72K/year)
Jon Yong, an architect, came up with the idea for the Paper Saver after constantly printing off draft designs that became obsolete moments later. He devised a handmade "Paper Saver" out of cardboard with a pocket inside, which allowed him to insert used paper and access the blank sides as pages of a notebook. Intrigued by the interest it generated from colleagues and clients, Jon and his partner launched the Paper Saver in 2015, and it has since grown year-on-year by an average of 20%.
How much they make: $72K/year
Current team size: 1
The Paper Saver is a sustainable notebook that reduces paper waste by utilizing used paper as pages, and has grown YOY on an average of 20% since its 2015 launch, with an expanded range including the Leather Paper Saver and the Sparkle Paper Saver for Kids.
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