A lover of paper from an early age, Joan Schnee has realized a lifelong dream in her brick-and-mortar and online store, On Paper. Creating On Paper has allowed Joan to combine her loves of papermaking and collage with her extensive retail experience. Located in Columbus, Ohio, On Paper features everything paper — from exquisite, letterpress stationery and personalized note cards to custom, couture invitations, heirloom quality photo albums, and everything in between.

Joan Schnee

On Paper

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I’ve loved paper for as long as I can remember. Admittedly, it’s a strange obsession for a child. But my parents tell me that I used to sneak in to their desk drawers in the wee hours of the morning, pull all of the carbon paper from their checkbooks, and hoard it in a box in my room. If any of the readers out there are old enough to remember carbon paper — that gives you an idea how long I have loved the crunchy, crispy crackle of paper.

Over the years my interest in paper grew beyond those wonderful blue sheets and I discovered the art of handmade paper — soft, cotton-y, wispy textures — and I developed a deep appreciation for how paper is made. I first made paper with the DIY techniques learned at an evening class where we boiled kozo, hand beat it to a pulp, and formed crude paper sheets. I loved the instant gratification and was amazed how a mixture of 90 percent water and 10 percent mystery could be turned into something so delicate but also so durable. I was hooked!

In the early ,90s I took some papermaking workshops at Rugg Road and Dieu Donne in New York City. Papermaking became a full-blown hobby and I set up a makeshift workspace in my apartment where I made paper on the occasional weekend when I

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could fit it in my schedule. Time was limited; at this point I had developed a professional career in retail visual merchandising and the majority of my time was spent climbing the corporate ladder. I worked for Macy’s in NYC and then moved to Boston and Columbus, where I worked for Limited Brands. For many years I was immersed in my retail profession and focused on building fashion brands by creating inviting store environments.

As many retailers are wont to do, my ultimate dream was to have my own store. For years I collected paper samples, cards, ephemera, and product that I would someday feature

in my “dream store.” Two treasures that I still cherish are a handbound baby journal and a book made from cast paper. What a thrill it was to purchase these gems for my shop; I carried them for years.

I did a lot of research and by the time opportunity knocked, I was ready. The concept of turning my hobby into a business was a natural development for me despite the mild state of insanity and huge risk involved! Building the store of my dreams incorporated all of my knowledge of retail and store design, and my love of paper and stationery. Thus, in 1997, On Paper was born, and as they say — the rest is history!

TipTurn to nature for an inspired color palette. Grab a Pantone book and head outdoors. Need a perfect green? Match it to a pine needle or a blade of grass. Yellow? Pluck a daffodil. Violet? Blueberries, lavender, or sage blossoms …

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On Paper features handmade and letterpress greeting cards, wedding invitations, stationery, gifts, and jewelry — most of which is inspired by the written word or vintage ephemera. I studied set and costume design so I am drawn to details and textures. I wanted to create a space with layers of texture that would not only serve as a backdrop for the artistry of the product, but also be an artistic and inspiring space in and of itself.

The visual concept and metaphor for the store is a blank sheet of paper. Everything is white — the floor, the furniture, the fixtures. Not a hard slick white, but a warm, distressed white that is symbolic of the texture of our lives. I really believe that the more immersed we become in digital media and

communication, the more we crave texture. I think my greatest thrill is that on a daily basis, even after 14 years, someone comes into the store and exclaims how beautiful the space is. And how inspiring. How lucky I am to be able to hear that every day!

On Paper, which was always intended to be both paper and gift store, has evolved over the years — less stationery and more gifts. I’ve had to respond to economic waves and flex the business to re-create the concept over and over. We no longer teach papermaking or offer classes, and it is an ever-flowing challenge to keep the core focus on paper while expanding into new venues like jewelry, candles, and home décor. It’s hard to balance your emotional attachment to certain products with basic practical business principals. If it simply won’t sell —

create … itEnvElopE linErsAdd a quick-and-easy personal touch to your correspondence with envelope liners. Use a pre-cut liner (from Green paper Company or Envelopments) or create your own liner using your favorite paper. Cut, insert, glue edge, fold the flap down, and voilà! Finished!

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sooner than later you need to let it go. I confess that for certain favorites, it happens later rather than sooner. But letting go also creates business opportunities that are creative and enterprising. Wedding invitations are a huge part of On Paper’s business and I’ve developed an in-house line so we now feature many of our own designs. With a growing need for recycled paper alternatives, I launched a new venture called Green Paper Company, which is a wholesale purveyor of recycled paper that caters to the wedding and greeting card market. Necessity really is the mother of invention.

For me, my latest personal and professional challenge is to grapple with what’s next. What does one do after one fulfills their dream? I have been living my dream for 14 years. I spent the first five years pinching myself (could this possibly be real?!), the next five years building (what’s new?!), and the recession years refining (stay the course!). Having survived still standing — and on most days, still smiling — I often ask myself, “What’s the next dream? The next chapter?” But that’s another story …

Where Women Create would like to thank Joan Schnee for her involvement in our Spring Issue. To

learn more about Joan, visit onpaper.com.

Favorite Quote“What goes around comes around.”

— Anonymous

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