<p>Chris Sargiotto of <a href="http://apartment2cards.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apartment 2 Cards</a> not only creates his own greeting card line, he successfully reps — that is, wholesales — several other small greeting card lines to retail businesses within probably one of the more challenging greeting card markets: New York City.</p>
<p>The companies Chris reps can be seen on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/apartment2cards?utm_source=google&;utm_medium=cpc&;utm_campaign=Search_US_DSA_GGL_ENG_Paper-Party_Categories_Ext&;utm_ag=Birthday%252BCards&;utm_custom1=_k_CjwKCAiA5Y6eBhAbEiwA_2ZWIe-a6SCxtS5kRBksORRZ5SPdltZQYsUyLYrdyXupRAEts4ncuWCfphoCdpMQAvD_BwE_k_&;utm_content=go_9740954377_102679100394_544379266209_aud-1411287462424:dsa-403065309251_c_&;utm_custom2=9740954377&;gclid=CjwKCAiA5Y6eBhAbEiwA_2ZWIe-a6SCxtS5kRBksORRZ5SPdltZQYsUyLYrdyXupRAEts4ncuWCfphoCdpMQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">his Sales by Apt2 site</a>; the group encompasses some of the most interesting talents in the industry, including: <a href="http://jfalkner.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">J. Falkner</a>; <a href="http://www.ileepapergoods.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ilee Papergoods</a>; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anemone_press/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Anemone Letterpress</a>; Red Oak Press; <a href="http://skyofbluecards.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sky of Blue Cards</a>; <a href="http://www.paisleytreepress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Paisley Tree Press</a>; <a href="http://www.ruffhouseart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ruff House Art</a>; Fresh Frances; Bella Ink Designs; <a href="http://www.paperandinkstudio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Paper &; Ink Studio</a>; <a href="http://www.cardtorial.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cardtorial</a>; <a href="http://greetingsfromfrank.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">From Frank</a>; Improper Greetings; and Olive Sandwiches.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a few colorful designs from Apartment 2. I&#8217;m a little partial to the Oy Vey! design.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4473" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Apartment2Cards-850x523.jpg" alt="Apartment2Cards" width="850" height="523" /></p>
<p>And these letterpressed designs, from <a href="http://www.ruffhouseart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ruff House Art</a>, yield what is pictured when planted.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4481" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Ruff_House_Art.jpg" alt="Ruff_House_Art" width="800" height="487" /></p>
<p>That represents just a tiny taste of Sales by Apt2 and Apartment 2 offerings. With that kind of perspective, Chris makes a great Five Questions subject. And, Apartment 2 will be exhibiting in booth 1951 at <a href="http://www.nationalstationeryshow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Stationery Show</a>, now a section within signature mix marketplace.<img class="aligncenter wp-image-4475" src="https://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Chris_Sargiotto.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="933" /></p>
<p> ;</p>
<p>1. SS: How did you get into this crazy business?</p>
<p>CS: I started out studying design and illustration in art school. My next 15 years, working for the same company, took me on a path that eventually strayed away from these interests, so I decided to figure out how to get back to doing what I enjoyed. Months later I had my first 48 greeting card designs and took them to a small gift store in Brooklyn, where I made my first sale. I was thrilled! Exhibiting a month later at NSS helped me find my way into some impressive stores like the American Folk Art Museum and The Breakers in Palm Beach. That gave me the confidence to pursue this full time. It wasn’t until three years later that I thought about taking other lines with me when meeting with buyers in the New York area. That’s how Sales by Apt2 was started. I was lucky enough to find really great lines by some amazing artists, and it’s been a lot of fun showing these lines over the past year. Buyers have been thrilled that I have so much more to show them when we meet.</p>
<p>2. SS: Are there any design or lifestyle trends you are finding yourself particularly intrigued by these days?</p>
<p>CS: Lately, I love anything hand drawn. Cards with bright colors and mixed up type fonts. Anything with animals, or better yet, animals doing something you wouldn’t expect. One of my favorite cards is from <a href="http://www.ileepapergoods.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ilee Papergoods</a>. It has a quartet comprised of an alligator, a bear, a raccoon and a rabbit. It’s so fun!</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-4476" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Ilee_Papergoods.jpg" alt="Ilee_Papergoods" width="800" height="640" /></p>
<p>3. SS: What letter, card or invitation first comes to mind as the best you&#8217;ve ever received?</p>
<p>CS: There’s a holiday card by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anemone_press/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Anemone Letterpress</a> with an illustration of Yul Brynner that reads “HAVE A COOL YUL” that I remember being so much fun to receive! I have since started to rep the line and Carrie’s quirky but sweet designs are so much fun.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4472" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Anemone_Letterpress.jpg" alt="Anemone_Letterpress" width="1000" height="1000" /></p>
<p>4. SS: What are your three favorite paper lines apart from your own?</p><div class="inline-post clearfix"><div class="see-also byline">See also</div><div id="block-wrap-82246" class="block-wrap-native block-wrap block-wrap-23 block-css-82246 block-wrap-classic columns__m--1 elements-design-3 block-ani block-skin-0 tipi-box block-wrap-thumbnail ppl-m-1 clearfix" data-id="82246" data-base="0"><div class="tipi-row-inner-style clearfix"><div class="tipi-row-inner-box contents sticky--wrap"><div class="block block-23 clearfix"><article class="tipi-xs-12 clearfix with-fi ani-base tipi-xs-typo split-1 split-design-1 loop-0 preview-thumbnail preview-23 elements-design-3 post-1150 post type-post status-publish format-gallery has-post-thumbnail hentry category-the-five-questions post_format-post-format-gallery" style="--animation-order:0"><div class="preview-mini-wrap clearfix"><div class="mask"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/the-five-questions-jason-arbuckle-3/" class="mask-img"><img width="100" height="100" src="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/jfalkner2-anchor-heart.jpg?resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/jfalkner2-anchor-heart.jpg?resize=150%2C150&;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/jfalkner2-anchor-heart.jpg?resize=200%2C200&;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/jfalkner2-anchor-heart.jpg?zoom=3&;resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" /></a><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/the-five-questions-jason-arbuckle-3/" class="media-icon icon-base-1 icon-size-xs"><i class="tipi-i-camera" aria-hidden="true"></i><span class="icon-bg"></span><span class="image__count font-1"></span></a></div><div class="meta"><div class="byline byline-2 byline-cats-design-4"><div class="byline-part cats"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/category/the-five-questions/" style="color:#b79b0d" class="cat">The Five Questions</a></div></div><div class="title-wrap"><h3 class="title"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/the-five-questions-jason-arbuckle-3/">The Five Questions: Jason Arbuckle</a></h3></div><div class="byline byline-3"><span class="byline-part date"><i class="tipi-i-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> <time class="entry-date published dateCreated flipboard-date" datetime="2013-10-14T12:35:40+00:00">October 14, 2013</time></span><span class="byline-part likes-count"><a href="#" class="tipi-like-count " data-pid="1150"><span class="likes-heart"><i class="tipi-i-heart-o" aria-hidden="true"></i><i class="tipi-i-heart" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><span class="tipi-value">0</span></a></span></div></div></div></article></div></div></div></div></div></tipimidc>
<p>CS: I was very excited to start repping the <a href="http://jfalkner.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">J. Falkner</a> line about a year ago and it’s still one of my favorites. Jason’s designs are clean and modern. Everyone seems to love his cards, and you can’t get much better quality.<img class="aligncenter wp-image-4477" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/J_Falkner.jpg" alt="J_Falkner" width="800" height="419" /></p>
<p>I like <a href="http://skyofbluecards.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sky of Blue Cards,</a> especially the new designs that Karla is introducing this summer. I also appreciate that her cards are usually greeted inside, which you don’t always see with letterpress.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter wp-image-4482 size-full" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Sky_of_Blue_Cards.jpg" alt="Sky_of_Blue_Cards" width="800" height="554" /></p>
<p>I also love Red Oak Press, especially some of their newest designs that they created this year!</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-4480" src="http://thepaperchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Red_Oak_Press-850x425.jpg" alt="Red_Oak_Press" width="850" height="425" /></p>
<p>5. SS: Is there anything you do personally to keep card-sending, invitation-using and letter-writing alive?</p>
<p>CS: I have to admit that I usually don’t get birthday cards in the mail on time, which makes me happy that there are so many great belated birthday cards out there to choose from. I send thank you cards for just about everything. I also love to give stacks of cards from my own line to family and friends so they can use them on their own.</p>
<p> ;</p>