In today’s digital landscape, this duo is convinced that paper planners enhance productivity.
Alitzah and Brandon Stinson, the founders and proprietors of Ivory Paper Co, provide exquisite organizational items infused with a contemporary flair. Their boutique stationery business focuses on crafting planners, journals, stationery, and additional products aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, self-directed individuals, and go-getters as they tackle the numerous challenges that arose during the COVID pandemic. We inquired about their strategies for managing everything together.
What sets Ivory Paper Co planners apart?
Alitzah & Brandon: In a sea of planner brands emerging daily, our in-house production truly distinguishes Ivory Paper Co. We manufacture each planner on demand, enabling our clients to customize their orders to fit their needs. They can inscribe their names on the covers and select their own start dates. Unlike many competitors, who restrict choices to either January or mid-year (July or August), our model provides two start date options for every month, which our customers genuinely appreciate. This innovation has helped us eliminate unnecessary wasted pages and waiting times.
Do you utilize your own planners?
Alitzah: Absolutely! I rely on the All-In-One Planner, which was our very first product and continues to be our top seller. I adore this planner as it allows me to map out my months, weeks, and days in one consolidated space. Brandon became a planner enthusiast shortly after we launched Ivory Paper Co and currently uses the Ultimate Weekly Planner.
Do you feel apprehensive about running a stationery business in a world that’s moving towards being paperless?
Alitzah & Brandon: Not at all. As the world progresses and technology advances, people are yearning to disconnect from their devices like never before. This trend is reflected in tech through monitoring screen time and enhancing “do not disturb” features. While technology offers many benefits, it often leads to distractions. For individuals seeking to unplug, be more productive, and minimize distractions, paper planners remain essential tools for achieving their objectives. We are confident that the demand for paper planners will persist, despite the growing digital landscape.
What has been the biggest obstacle encountered with Ivory Paper Co to date?
Alitzah & Brandon: The most significant challenge arose during the COVID pandemic. In December 2020, we saw remarkable growth, but scaling up in the midst of a pandemic proved daunting. Generally, scaling presents its own set of challenges, but the unique difficulties brought on by 2020—such as supply shortages, recruitment struggles, and delays from shipping carriers—compounded the issue, resulting in fulfillment lags for our production team. We realized the importance of incorporating redundancy into our fulfillment process to prepare for worst-case scenarios like a pandemic. Since then, we’ve collaborated with our team to modify our production workflow to better facilitate scaling when necessary.
Are there advantages to collaborating closely?
Alitzah: Absolutely! There are countless perks, like enjoying midday motivational talks paired with a hug, sharing lunch, and indulging in spontaneous dance sessions. We’re serious—there’s a lot of dancing at the Pink House, which is what we affectionately call our manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio. Evidence of this can be seen on our social media channels!
However, operating a business alongside family or a partner certainly has its challenges. Brandon and I have built a solid foundation of trust, avoiding micromanagement. He oversees our marketing efforts and works closely with our creative teams, which include design and product development, while I manage the administrative aspects, serve as the brand’s face, and oversee our entire production operation.
How do you regain inspiration when facing burnout?
Alitzah: This can indeed be challenging, especially in the startup phase. Thankfully, Brandon and I have established a strong foundation, with family time being a priority. Spending quality moments with our two daughters helps us stay grounded. Their innocence and playful spirits remain consistent, whether we’ve had a great or trying day. Additionally, we give ourselves permission to rest. When we start feeling burnt out, we try to heed our bodies’ signals and take a step back—perhaps a day off or a weekend free to recharge for the upcoming week.
Have your children gained insights from witnessing how you run Ivory Paper Co?
Alitzah & Brandon: We sincerely hope our daughters grasp the significance of diligence and hard work. We want them to see through our example that hard work in pursuing their ambitions can lead to incredible achievements.
What’s one principle you uphold in your business endeavors?
Alitzah & Brandon: Gratitude. We’ve embedded a sense of gratitude into every Ivory Paper Co planner and included a message about gratitude in every planner from our 22-piece collection at Target. Embracing gratitude has empowered us to become better, happier individuals. Worrying about the past or fretting over the future detracts from truly living. Practicing gratitude assists us in centering ourselves and embracing the present moment.
