Meet Allison and Jamie Nadeau | co-owners, INK MEETS PAPER

We had the good fortune of connecting with Allison and Jamie Nadeau and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allison and Jamie, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When we first started INK MEETS PAPER, we operated out of our home. It was great because it allowed us to grow slowly (and learn the craft of letterpress printing), and we were really able to be immersed in our work. Being surrounded by our work was really helpful in these early stages. Everything was new, and there was so much to learn! From sourcing supplies (paper, ink, envelopes, random parts for a press from 1923!) to building internal businesses processes (to ensure consistency across products and customer experience), we were very much in the starting stages, and everything just took time. As partners in business and in life, it was our primary topic of conversation too! Much of our conversation naturally was about work and business as we shared what we’d learned and what we’d struggled with. While it definitely dominated our conversations (and lives!), it was important as we built the foundations to the business (and early on, it was just the two of us doing all of the work). We kept at though and continued to push ourselves and the business forward. Our team grew to more than just the two of us. We moved operations from our house to a separate studio space. While the work was still there, we were faster and more proficient. We also recognized that burnout is real, and finding connections and activities outside of work is important to physical, mental, and emotional health. Business-ownership is a job that affects all aspects of your life, so it’s never really possible keep life and work completely separate. The word balance feels inadequate when trying to speak about business-ownership now. That word lends itself to visuals of a scale where the ‘ideal’ is 50/50 or something like that. Instead, we have learned to work hard and focused during work hours and to really appreciate and enjoy our time away from work. From a creative perspective, the time away from work allows our subconscious to work on the tough problems and we’ve developed an intuition and trust for that ‘invisible’ work that our brains are always doing.

What should our readers know about your business?
The INK MEETS PAPER greeting card line emphasizes the beauty and humanity that comes with handwritten correspondence, and we’re all about spreading more love in the world. At the core, love unites us, and it’s what we believe everyone should experience. Sharing love (handwritten love) matters. It keeps us human.

Why handwritten? Because it requires thoughtfulness and deliberateness these days. It allows us to bare our soul to another human. It’s not just about doing it for social media. What’s so carelessly and thoughtlessly dashed off in a text or post requires a deeper dive when you sit down to put actual pen to paper. It’s the extra step. The extra thought.

Our line is known for hand-lettered and illustrated details paired with fresh and original sentiments. We love bold and vibrant colors. Since we’re a greeting card company, we’re very copy driven. We want the sentiments on our cards to be a starting point for the person adding their message to the interior— which we always keep blank. As a result, a lot of our card inspiration comes from relationships, both our own and those we observe. Our company is a big proponent of the power of the handwritten note— we believe that with each card sent, the world gets a bit more love and humanity. Our motto is “Text less. Write more.®”

All INK MEETS PAPER cards are letterpress printed at our studio in sunny South Carolina. Our oldest press is a Chandler & Price platen press from 1896, and our youngest press is a Heidelberg Windmill from 1959. We love a good piece of antique equipment around here— they just don’t make ‘em like they used to! We take craftsmanship and quality seriously in order to produce a finished product that is delightful to the senses, visually and tactilely.

After printing, every single product at INK MEETS PAPER is assembled by one of our team members at our Greenville, South Carolina studio. From sliding a single greeting card into a cello sleeve and affixing the paper label to painting the edges of our social stationery cards, it’s a hands-on, human process that supports the hands-on, human process of writing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Ooh, this is a hard one! There are so many wonderful places in Greenville! We love spending time outside and also love supporting local businesses… they’re what make our city so vibrant and unique. Here’s just a starting point for a short five-day visit to Greenville, SC.

Day 1 – Downtown
Start the day with a baby five-spice latte at Coffee Coffee before meandering down Main Street of downtown Greenville. The sidewalks are lined with trees, and it’s really walkable. Browse offerings from local shops. Need an afternoon pick-me-up? Head to Methodical Coffee for one of their beautiful (and delicious) lattes— they roast all of their coffees (and supply many of the coffee shops in town with beans too). Pop into M. Judson Booksellers and find a new favorite vacation read. Spend the afternoon in Falls Park along the Reedy River. Grab dinner at Mr. Crisp (we especially their oysters and a side of frites) with an ice cream from Clare’s Creamery for dessert.

Day 2 – Downtown
Grab a coffee and liege waffle from Mountain Goat before heading to the Greenville County Museum of Art (it’s free!). While the museum isn’t huge, they have a solid collection of works by mainly American artists, and it’s a fun way to spend the morning (a great rainy day activity too). For the stationery and paper peeps, a stop by Dear Greenville is a must too (and they’re only a short drive from downtown). Afterwards, head to lunch at The Commons (we love the OG burger at GB&D) and enjoy the fresh air (and amazing playground if you have kids) at Unity Park. Walk through Unity Park to get more fresh air and a pre-dinner drink at Community Tap (great NA options here too!) before getting ready for seasonally-focused menu for dinner at Urban Wren.

Day 3 – Sans Souci / Paris Mountain / West Greenville
Start the day with coffee and good vibes from the newly opened Daydrinkers in the Sans Souci neighborhood before venturing to Paris Mountain State Park. Even though it’s in the city, you’ll feel like you’re a world away surrounded by nature, and they have trails for all different levels of difficulty. Head to the arts-focused Village of West Greenville for the afternoon. Grab pizza for lunch at Coastal Crust and pop into local shops like Page & Post (for a refreshing selection of stationery and gifts), Savereign for houseplants, and various local art galleries. Drinks at Bar Margaret and dinner at The Anchorage will make sure you’re refueled for much needed rest after all of that hiking from the morning.

Day 4 – Traveler’s Rest
Head to Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery for a local and seasonal breakfast and coffee before hopping on a bike to explore the Swamp Rabbit Trail (a multi-use paved path that currently runs from Travelers Rest all the way through the city to the Verdae area of Greenville). On this route, you’ll be heading north along the shaded trail, and it’s one of our favorite ways to navigate the city. Enjoy a break around the lake and gardens at Furman University before heading into Travelers Rest. Don’t miss the sweet and savory crepes at Tandem Creperie and Coffeehouse to refuel from your ride. Enjoy visiting the shops along Main Street. (And it’s worth noting, if you’re a road cyclist like Allison, the rural roads of Travelers Rest make from some really scenic rides— take a ride out to Campbell’s Covered Bridge or the climb along the Greenville Watershed into downtown Saluda, NC). For dinner in Travelers Rest, we’re all about grabbing a pizza on the patio at Sidewall before heading back on the trail.

Day 5 – Table Rock / Caesar’s Head
More coffee! This time we’re starting at Due South in Hampton Station before taking a short trip out to Hester General Store in Easley for lunch. From there, head to more hiking at either Table Rock or Caesar’s Head. The views are expansive, and the hiking is fantastic. Once you’re back in town, most likely, you’ll be ready for a nap! Rest up and then head to dinner at Lewis Barbecue to get your fill of smoked brisket.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We wouldn’t be where we are today if it hadn’t been for the first printmaking class at Redux Contemporary Art Center in Charleston, SC that sparked that initial interest in letterpress printing.

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Image Credits
INK MEETS PAPER