Want to grow your brand?
There’s no shortage of consultants, courses and masterminds designed to grow stationery brands. In this climate, it’s always a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to privately consult with stationery makers large and small. Whether you’ve been in business for decades or just set up shop, an honest, informed set of eyes can be just the spark needed to ascend to the next level.
It’s been my experience that everyone’s challenges are unique to them, so my goal is to present a realistic plan tailored to your vision. Let me articulate your story and brand so it better resonates with your audience. I can take a deep dive into your offerings, catalog, social media feeds, Faire page, and site, comparing it to competitors and suggesting pertinent, immediate solutions. I assist in every element of fine-tuning, positioning and evolving a range, from trade show advice to back-of-card copy to suggesting industry contacts from my expansive network built over several decades.
I am a fantastic listener who truly enjoys learning every last maker’s story — and brainstorming to help showcase it better.
Drop me a line, and let’s chat!
Client Roster
Testimonials
Sarah’s deep knowledge of the greeting card industry, combined with her genuine support for publishers at every level, is an invaluable resource. She has a remarkable ability to see what others miss and offer guidance that actually makes a difference.
Last year, I reached out to Sarah for input on my card designs. She immediately noticed that the back of my cards was underutilized and pointed me toward a more effective approach. Those cards have been selling steadily ever since, and more importantly, I feel a newfound confidence in my design decisions.
Whether you’re just starting out or years into your business, I highly recommend connecting with Sarah. Her feedback is both honest and actionable, and her steadfast cheerleading for card publishers comes through in everything she does.
Dana Lynch
Sarah’s humility, down-to-earth nature, and authenticity never cease to amaze me. As “the” voice of our industry, The Paper Nerd, she truly sets a remarkable example.
After starting my paper goods company three years ago, I felt it was time for a brand assessment. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have received Sarah’s appraisal and forward-thinking ideas, as she genuinely has her pulse on the industry.
Regardless of where you are with your business, I highly recommend Sarah’s services as she takes the time to provide honest and caring feedback. What’s more, her talent as a writer, editor, and podcaster shines through. Listening to The Paper Nerd podcast consistently offers valuable insights and inspiration.
Sharna Fulton
Hannah Pearlman
My product is great! Stores that order from me, regularly reorder. But I had really been struggling with my pitch in writing and in person at a trade show, getting stockists to say yes that initial time. I knew I needed help putting into words what was in my heart in a way that connected. Sarah listened, came prepared, asked thoughtful questions, and helped talk me through the dots that I had not been able to connect. She offered great insight from her many years of experience, read between the lines, and helped me create an About Me text that feels authentic.
I feel much more confident pitching now. It was definitely worth it!
Cora Hardin
When I made the decision to start publishing my own cards, I knew I needed someone with deep industry knowledge to help guide me through the process — and I couldn’t have found a better resource than Sarah. She has been instrumental in helping me weigh options, make strategic decisions, and navigate the journey of launching my own brand. Her longevity in the industry, her intuitive understanding of relationships and business, and her wealth of knowledge in the gift and stationery world make her an invaluable asset. Beyond her expertise, Sarah is simply an amazing human — thoughtful, insightful, and incredibly generous with her knowledge. I’m beyond grateful to have her as both a trusted advisor and a friend.
Vicky Barone
Sarah’s advice is spot-on, no fluff, just pure insight. I recently collaborated with Sarah at The Paper Nerd, and it was a fantastic experience. She helped us at fntsma fine-tune our cannabis-themed stationery line, making our brand shine. Her keen insight into the stationery industry and genuine passion for helping brands shine are unmatched. Working with her has been an absolute pleasure, and her thoughtful, constructive feedback has helped us confidently move forward. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enhance their brand in the stationery industry!
Hector Gonzalez
I reached out to Sarah during a period of transition in my business, when I was struggling with how to balance creating a more scalable and sustainable business, with keeping the handmade elements and diverse sentiments that I felt were core to my business. Sarah played a crucial role in helping me think through the myriad of considerations, creating a tangible plan, and then executing on the plan. From helping me hone in on what sets my products apart in the industry, to reviewing draft emails and determining which products to discontinue, Sarah really jumped in with a willingness to help on every aspect of the problem.
Sarah has an amazing breadth and depth of knowledge about our industry, and it was incredibly helpful and affirming to have her as a sounding board for these decisions. Sarah is a thoughtful and responsive partner, and also so clearly cares about her clients’ success and well-being. I felt supported every step of the way, and she was truly a joy to work with!
Janine Kwoh
After jumping into an industry I knew very little about, finding Sarah at my first trade show was the best outcome I could have asked for. Always generous with her feedback, her positive attitude is contagious and she spreads inspiration wherever she goes.
She is one of the few people I’ve come across who truly looks at everything with the same weight of importance, from the tiny start-ups to the big names. As a completely new brand, she immediately identified what would become my best selling card (long before I ever knew it would be). After she shared it just once on the social media account of the trade show, I received one of my largest wholesale accounts directly from her post.
When I was looking to dramatically scale my wholesale offerings by introducing three entirely new product lines, it was clear who I needed to go to for feedback. In addition to her vast expertise in the field and eye for good design, she is an incredibly genuine person who can give honestly helpful, constructive feedback while still remaining positive and upbeat. Knowing that Sarah believes in my business — and me personally as a business-owner —is one of my greatest sources of confidence.
Emma Lewis
Sarah was instrumental in getting our products to the next level and honing in on our brand. We struggled with the best way to tell our story in two seconds. Sarah took away the fog and helped us have a narrow focus on how to move forward. Highly recommend her in consulting small businesses. She really is an expert!
Christy and Jon Asper
Sarah is a person you quickly hear about as you enter the stationery world and her notoriety is well deserved. I approached Sarah about my desire to participate in a market within the next year, but it all felt very intimidating and I was questioning if I was ready. She suggested I walk the Atlanta Market and immediately set about finding me a badge.
She introduced me to another stationery brand (a rockstar within this amazing community) whom I could help with booth setup and ask all the questions. Her industry contacts, knowledge, and kindness are second to none. Walking the market, meeting other designers, and talking with members of the GCA was eye-opening and provided a wealth of knowledge.
Chrissy Koczenasz
Sarah is a miracle worker! She is incredibly generous sharing her unique and vast knowledge of all things stationery.
She understands how buyers think and want to review a line — this is priceless guidance!
We put Sarah under the most insane timeline, and she didn’t flinch. Her comments + suggestions were on point and delivered with clarity at lightning speed. Our catalog is infinitely better because of Sarah! We would be remiss if we didn’t mention just how LOVELY + KIND Sarah is — a total pleasure and honor to work with.
Nicole Couto
Sarah’s industry knowledge has been invaluable. As a U.K. based company, we wanted to improve our product offering to best suit our U.S customers. She listens to your needs, offers tailor-made advice, and provides constructive and insightful reporting. Overall we’ve benefitted enormously from consulting with Sarah and tapping into her vast experience. On top of all that, she has a wonderfully sunny disposition and is an absolute pleasure to deal with!
Caitriona Farrell
I just had a chance to go over Sarah’s report thoroughly — it’s excellent! Thank you so much, Sarah. It’s worth every penny! Sarah’s report was well researched, and she is extremely knowledgeable about the industry.
As I reenter the market with a ‘fresh face,’ I have the information I need.
Marsha Vayvada
I reached out to Sarah in a moment of last-minute panic about my business bio for my catalog and website. After staring at and working on it for so long, I wasn’t sure if it even made sense anymore. With Sarah’s keen editing skills, we were able to fine-tune the wording to sound like me while being welcoming, informative, and geared to my audience. Sarah is fun to work with and I enjoyed bouncing ideas back and forth with her. I would reach out to her again if and when I need a set of discerning eyes on my writing! Highly recommend her!
Krishna Chavda
Sarah has great product instinct combined with sensitivities to retail and consumer preferences. She is masterful at defining and contextualizing the role greeting card brands play in the market, identifying key attributes and points of differentiation. Her fresh perspective on the ever-changing market is a unique gift earned through years of experience in our industry.
Rick Ruffner
