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<p>It&#8217;s tough getting any stationery brand off the ground, but one that goes an entirely new direction is a real challenge. Just ask Sharon Glassman of <a href="https://smilesongs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Smile Songs">Smile Songs</a>. This Brooklyn fashion writer turned Colorado songwriter actually came to stationery circuitously — as she was envisioning a way for her listeners to access her anytime, she actually was planning on making music boxes at first!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Smile-Songs-Wild-Child-musical-sticker-for-paper-fold-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10012436"/></figure>



<p>Sharon quickly realized that our smart phones ARE our music boxes &#8230; with a little help from QR codes, that is. But a product that requires explanation can feel incongruous to its category counterparts, so Sharon decided that rather than exhibiting at a traditional gift show, she would instead try the resort and souvenir route. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/3-smile-songs-natural-happiness-collection-musical-greeting-cards.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10012435"/></figure>



<p>So, she created her Natural Happiness Collection, featuring earthy symbols like mountains, water, flowers, and sun, pairing each with an inspirational message and a song about personal growth and happiness. Then, she took a deep breath and set up her very first table at her very first trade show, <a href="https://www.lvsouvenirshow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="The Las Vegas Souvenir &; Resort Gift Show.">The Las Vegas Souvenir &; Resort Gift Show.</a> </p><div class="inline-post clearfix"><div class="see-also byline">See also</div><div id="block-wrap-46315" class="block-wrap-native block-wrap block-wrap-23 block-css-46315 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="46315" 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-10630 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-off-the-press tag-art-prints tag-calendars tag-gingiber tag-graphic tag-greeting-cards tag-hartford-prints tag-letterpress tag-national-stationery-show tag-sarah-schwartz tag-smarty-pants-paper-co tag-stationery tag-stationery-trends tag-thank-you-stationery tag-the-paper-chronicles tag-washi-tape" style="--animation-order:0"><div class="preview-mini-wrap clearfix"><div class="mask"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/great-graphics-at-nss/" class="mask-img"><img width="100" height="100" src="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.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/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?w=700&;ssl=1 700w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=150%2C150&;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=200%2C200&;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C355&;ssl=1 350w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=460%2C466&;ssl=1 460w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=500%2C506&;ssl=1 500w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=293%2C297&;ssl=1 293w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=75%2C75&;ssl=1 75w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=390%2C390&;ssl=1 390w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=585%2C585&;ssl=1 585w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=24%2C24&;ssl=1 24w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=48%2C48&;ssl=1 48w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/gingiber-copy.jpg?resize=96%2C96&;ssl=1 96w" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" /></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/off-the-press/" style="color:#b79b0d" class="cat">Off The Press</a></div></div><div class="title-wrap"><h3 class="title"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/great-graphics-at-nss/">Great Graphics at NSS</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="2015-06-23T12:37:30+00:00">June 23, 2015</time></span><span class="byline-part likes-count"><a href="#" class="tipi-like-count " data-pid="10630"><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>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Smile-Songs-Reach-Your-Peak-musical-sticker-with-type-showing-where-name-drop-goes-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10012433"/></figure>



<p>Sharon relaxed once she got her first sale within the first hour, but was really surprised on her last day, when she received the show award for Best New Product! Flush from her success, Sharon drops in The Paper Fold to discuss how she developed Smile Songs, and that although the paper medium may evolve, the message is just the same. She shares lessons learned from her first trade show, and how she is bringing next-level collaborations to her most harmonious brand. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/sharon-holding-best-new-product-award-at-Las-Vegas-show-768x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-10012430"/></figure>



<p>Top image courtesy of Laura McDonough</p>

Sharon Glassman of Smile Songs
