<p><iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *; clipboard-write" frameborder="0" height="175" style="width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;border-radius:10px;" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/susan-january/id1517156345?i=1000685003036"></iframe></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">How better to kick off January 2025 — ;and the eighth season of this podcast — ;than with a visit from this bona fide industry legend? While Susan January has been at the helm of <a href="https://leanintree.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leanin&#8217; Tree</a>, a mid-sized Colorado house of stationery, for over a quarter century, she has also served as president of the <a href="https://www.greetingcard.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Greeting Card Association,</a> from 2011 to 2013. More recently, she spearheaded a team of women from across generations to debut <a href="https://willowandivypress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Willow &; Ivy</a>, a boutique brand devised solely for our times — and the women navigating them.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_8861.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017627"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Susan January</figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">With such an illustrious career under her stylish belt, Susan&#8217;s perspective on the greeting card category is unparalleled. Our discussion delves into how diverse, rich voices — ;from <a href="https://www.emilyonlife.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emily McDowell</a> to <a href="https://www.thenoblepaperie.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Noble Paperie</a> to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/colleenharrington_studio/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colleen Harrington</a> to many, many others — ;have united to create a dynamic marketplace awash with offerings that authentically speak to today&#8217;s discerning greeting card audience. In this forum, ideally no one should feel isolated — ;all that&#8217;s required is the right card in the right card sender&#8217;s hands.</p><div class="inline-post clearfix"><div class="see-also byline">See also</div><div id="block-wrap-58533" class="block-wrap-native block-wrap block-wrap-23 block-css-58533 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="58533" 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-10014039 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-favorites tag-chelsea-shukov tag-design tag-gift-boxes tag-gift-wrap tag-greeting-cards tag-jamie-grobecker tag-letterpress tag-los-angeles tag-planners tag-sarah-schwartz tag-stationery tag-stationery-blog tag-stationery-design tag-sugar-paper tag-thank-you-stationery tag-toppers" style="--animation-order:0"><div class="preview-mini-wrap clearfix"><div class="mask"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/the-ultimate-gift-from-sugar-paper/" class="mask-img"><img width="100" height="100" src="https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.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/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=120%2C120&;ssl=1 120w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=275%2C275&;ssl=1 275w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=372%2C372&;ssl=1 372w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=567%2C567&;ssl=1 567w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=882%2C882&;ssl=1 882w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=24%2C24&;ssl=1 24w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=48%2C48&;ssl=1 48w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=96%2C96&;ssl=1 96w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=150%2C150&;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=300%2C300&;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?resize=50%2C50&;ssl=1 50w, https://i0.wp.com/thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sugar-Paper_Target_Everyday-Wrap_Lifestyles_40-web.jpg?zoom=2&;resize=100%2C100&;ssl=1 200w" 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/favorites/" style="color:#b79b0d" class="cat">Favorites</a></div></div><div class="title-wrap"><h3 class="title"><a href="https://thepapernerd.com/the-ultimate-gift-from-sugar-paper/">The Ultimate Gift from Sugar Paper</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="2023-08-29T19:40:16+00:00">August 29, 2023</time></span><span class="byline-part likes-count"><a href="#" class="tipi-like-count " data-pid="10014039"><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-full"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6701.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017631"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">These graphic + amusing Jane Austen-inspired offerings above are from Colleen Harrington </figcaption></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Meanwhile, the distinctive path upon which Willow &; Ivy was brought to exquisite life enabled it to truly reflect the 21st-century woman&#8217;s shared experiences, dreams, and needs, regardless of generation, as it seeks to connect us. Whatever you already know about greeting cards and stationery, prepare to have your perspective tweaked, courtesy of this month&#8217;s five-star guest.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://thepapernerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_6697-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-10017632"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A framed Wolf &; Wren design rounds out the Jane Austen offerings.</figcaption></figure>

Susan January
