Blog– Page 27 – Smudge Ink

Jun 14, 2017 • #Our Team

We're Hiring! Calling All Designers!

UPDATE: POSITION FILLED

Interested in joining a friendly and hardworking team with a passion for paper? We have a full-time design position opening this fall and we'd love to hear from you. Contact us if you or someone you know would be a good fit! To apply, email a resume, cover letter, link to your design work, and a PDF of 1 birthday card design that would fit in with our line to april@smudgeink.mom.

FULL-TIME GREETING CARD DESIGNER
Hours: 40 hours a week Start date: Fall 2017

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Developing fresh, new designs for Smudge Ink’s wholesale card and gift line based on our current look and industry research. The Designer must be able to push the envelope by introducing new ideas and techniques that will help further develop the line while remaining true to our vision.
Researching and understanding current trends in the fashion, stationery and home décor industries.
Submitting designs promptly based on the given release schedule. Working with others to make sure product releases are efficient and organized.
Regularly discussing feedback, sales analysis, scheduling, and projects.
Preparing design files and ordering polymer plates for production as needed. Printing and delivering all spec sheets to Print Manager for each new product.
Working on special design projects as needed (example: company holiday card, customer mailings, custom wholesale cards).
Assisting at trade shows (e.g. National Stationery Show in May) and with social media posts.
Managing your time as you juggle designing for our wholesale line, for licensing opportunities, and for special, in-house projects.

Qualifications:

College degree preferred
Experience in graphic design is required
Very strong Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop skills
Strong organizational and communication skills required
Must be flexible and a reliable team player
Knowledge of both Macs and PC platforms
Social networking (Instagram and blogging) experience is desirable
Basic knowledge of the letterpress printing is desirable

To apply for this position, please send a resume, cover letter, link to samples of your design work, and a PDF of 1 birthday card design that you think fits in our line to april@smudgeink.mom.

As part of the application process, anyone considered for the position will be asked to participate in round two which involves the submission of additional designs.

Jun 13, 2017 • #Retailers

Retailer Spotlight: Noteworthy Paper & Press

If we ever make it to Missoula, Montana, Noteworthy Paper & Press will be our very first stop! We've been following along with this gorgeous shop on Instagram, but we're even more enchanted after this interview! Not only is this shop well stocked with an excellent selection of cards and gifts, but they also host an annual "Letters to Santa" event! Read on to learn more.

(image: Amy and Taylor at Noteworthy Paper & Press)

When did Noteworthy Paper & Press open? What was the inspiration or motivation behind the opening of a brick and mortar store?

Noteworthy Paper & Press opened in June of 2008 in the same space we currently occupy. The two owners of Noteworthy Paper & Press, Taylor Valiant and Amy Dolan, met through mutual friends in the fall of 2007 and quickly discovered each other’s desire to open a brick and mortar stationery shop in downtown Missoula. Amy had been working as an independent graphic designer doing small business development work from her home office and was eager to try something new. Unbeknownst to her, Taylor was developing her letterpress business just blocks away in her home’s garage. With a shared vision, the two opened Noteworthy in June 2008.

(image: wood type spelling out "Noteworthy")

Is there a story behind the name?

After tossing around a million ideas, “Noteworthy” stood out as a simple, but fun play on words. The “Paper & Press” part of our name refers to what we sell, as well as the fact that we have 5 letterpresses on site for printing our own wholesale line, as well as custom work.

Do you have a fun fact about your store that most people wouldn’t know?

Noteworthy is located in historic downtown Missoula, Montana. The building in which we currently reside was reconstructed in 1934 after the original structure, built in 1890, was destroyed by fire. The foundation and basement level remained intact however and still holds many historic features, including windows that once faced the river (now a shared wall to the building next door) as well as a tunnel to the building across the street! Our basement is now home to our bustling letterpress workshop, which is slated to move into it’s new, much larger home in the fall of this year.

What do you love about your shop’s neighborhood?

Our shop is located on downtown Missoula’s main thoroughfare, near the Clark Fork River, and on the same block as our historic Wilma Theater. Our downtown has seen a lot of changes in the last nine years, but its growth is evident in the amount of thriving shops, bustling restaurants and pubs and new construction! Missoula is a city surrounded by mountains and rivers and we love being able to balance our work life with our desire to enjoy the outdoors. We love being able to ride our bikes to work and take lunches in the park.

(image: Noteworthy Paper & Press display)

What’s the most memorable thing that has happened in your store?

Well, definitely the most popular event we host every year is our “Letters to Santa” letter writing day in conjunction with Missoula’s annual Parade of Lights kick-off to the holiday season. We put out tables, crayons, markers, paper and envelopes for the mobs (!) of children to write out their lists and notes to Santa. We also have a magic mailbox for the kiddos who can’t make the event to drop off their letters during the month of December. One by one, we read and personally reply to every letter we receive. We have official “From the Desk of Santa Claus” letterhead, sparkly red envelopes and a bold Santa Claus autograph to complete the look. Last year we replied to 325 letters and have been told that it has become a tradition kids look forward to every year.

What’s your favorite Smudge Ink product?

We love Smudge Ink’s bold, colorful boxed notes! We always have a good selection for each season.

What song or album is playing in your shop right now?

The Sturgill Simpson Pandora station

noteworthy paper & press inside the store

(image: Noteworthy Paper & Press display and cards shelves)

Is there a fun new stationery or gift trend that you particularly enjoy or that customers are responding well to?

We get a lot of questions about the products we sell and the companies we buy from, and we’re proud to say the large majority of product in our store is made in the USA. Customers love hearing personal stories about these companies (like Smudge!) to help make what they are buying more meaningful. People love to have a connection to what they are buying and I don’t think that trend is going anywhere anytime soon!

We are also still seeing a strong response to lapel pins … and tea towels! So many tea towels!

(image sources: Noteworthy Paper & Press)

Jun 06, 2017 • #Events

NSS Recap Part 2: The Show

Welcome back for part 2 of our NSS journey. If you missed part 1, find it here.

After months of planning and days of set-up, the show is the fun part! We were thrilled to see the. It was so exciting because we really saw Clayton's 2- and 3-D models come alive.

Smudge Ink's NSS2017 Booth

Hanging out in the booth is always fun because we have such a great team. Sunday and Monday, Erin and George helped out in the booth for the very first time. They both did great and got to meet lots of customers. Additionally, Melissa Wert, the owner of Print Therapy, was kind enough to fill in for several hours when we needed an extra pair of hands. When they headed back to our studio, veterans Clayton and Sarah stepped in and worked the show like the pros that they are.

We were lucky to be super busy during the show. It was hard to even step away to grab lunch! I always love chatting with customers, reps, and other exhibitors because it's really wonderful to catch up in person and put faces to familiar names.

Smudge Ink NSS2017 Booth Giveaway Every year we dream up a fun giveaway for booth visitors to take home. This year, Clayton turn our birthday dachshund into a paper doll complete with a fanny pack!

Smudge Ink at NSS2017 Card detail
We made a serious effort to display almost every non-holiday card on the walls this time around. It was pretty impressive to see them all lined up and looking so colorful together.

April May for Smudge Ink NSS2017 Booth display This was the first time the April May for Smudge Ink line was shared at NSS!

E.B. Goodale for Smudge Ink NSS2017 booth display The E.B. Goodale for Smudge Ink section of the booth was super sweet and drew a lot of attention. Seriously adorable!

Smudge Ink 2018 Wall Journal Calendar
Here's a first look at our 2018 Wall Calendar Journal and our Animalia Mini Calendar. They'll both be available soon.

Smudge Ink new gift wrap Have you seen our new gift wrap styles yet? They're super fun -- shop for them here!

Smudge Ink NSS2017 Booth Ostrich I obviously couldn't resist getting my photo taken with our ostrich!

Smudge Ink NSS2017 Puffer Fish When it comes to blowing bubbles, Clayton and I have got skillz.

As you can see, we had a blast at the show. But by the end of day 4, we were very ready to head home.

Smudge Ink NSS2017 booth breakdown Sarah and Clayton helped Eric and me pack everything up and take down the walls. Then we had to navigate the escalator (it was off) and cram everything back into the minivan. We worked quickly and were on the road about two hours after the show officially ended! We hit lots of traffic, but by 8:45 pm the minivan was empty and everything from the show was back in our garage. BAM. DONE!

Next week I'll be back with our final post about NSS where the team will share some photos of their favorite booths.

Jun 01, 2017

Father's Day Card Round Up

It's already June! Do you know what that means? Father's Day is just around the corner! This year it's on the 18th, which is coming up quickly. Dad's are awesome, so Sarah and I have rounded up some of our favorite Father's Day cards to get you started.

smudge ink's father's day card round up 1. This Star Wars-inspired card by Wit & Whistle is seriously great.

2. If your dad's a little bit retro and he totally rocks, snap up this card today.

3. Your dad is all about the legends and now his credibility is questionable but that's why you love him. This Yeti card by Hello Lucky is just what you need.

4. For classy dads with sartorial know-how, a card with a tie pattern from Sky of Blue Cards is a winner.

5. Sapling Press never disappoints! Only for dads with a sense of humor, clearly.

6. Sometimes a low key card is what you need. This design by Wishbone Letterpress is understated and beautiful.

7. A perfect collection of classics for your classic dad will make you both feel totally sentimental. E. Frances knows how to pull at those heart strings.

8. Does your dad deserve an award for being the best? Probably! Here's a great one by Egg Press.

9. Near Modern Disaster really makes us laugh with this one for your favorite parent!

10. Dads give great hugs, so this Father's Day show your love with our bear hug card!

May 30, 2017 • #Events

NSS Recap Part 1: Set Up

So. The 2017 National Stationery Show happened. It's done. We did it! Now that we've had a long weekend to recover from the annual whirlwind I'm here to share some behind-the-scenes of setting up our booth.

THURSDAY, May 18
Eric and I did all of the building in our garage, so we started by hauling everything into the front yard and very carefully packing it all into my father-in-law's minivan.

nss17_01 nss17_02 We left for NYC around 11:00 am on Thursday and by the time we got to the Javits Center, unloaded our walls, made our way to our space, and parked the car it was about 6:00 pm. We spent 2½ hours setting up the walls and then we headed to my Aunt's house in New Jersey for a good night's sleep.

we arrive to these lovely black curtains delineating our space

the walls are up!

FRIDAY, May 19
Eric and I arrived back at the Javits Center around 8:00 and unloaded the rest of our booth materials from the minivan. Erin and George joined us a little later. Together, we put up the shelves, laid down our flooring, built a few pieces of furniture, and put together a little endcap cabinet. The hardest thing we did was to apply a huge curtain decal to the E.B. Goodale display. It took forever! We worked until 6:00 pm and then called it a night.

nss17_05

SATURDAY, May 20
We got so much accomplished on Friday that Saturday was a total breeze! We put all of our product onto the shelves and tables, arranged the furniture just so, touched up the walls and furniture, and (most importantly) we hung up our big blowfish, hedgehog, and ostrich!

nss17_06

We were completely done with set up by noon and we parted ways for a relaxing afternoon off before showtime. I was lucky enough to get some much-needed sister time

Come back next week for Part 2 our of NSS Recap and to see the finished booth!

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