Schurman Retail Group

Schurman Retail Group is an American stationery, greeting card, gifts, and paper products company based in Fairfield, California. The company operates brands and retail stores under the names Papyrus, NIQUEA.D, and Paper Destiny.[1][2][3] It also sells the American Greetings brand and manages its subsidiaries, including Carlton Cards (in Canada and the U.S.). Schurman Retail Group has over 450 retail stores across the United States and Canada [4][5][6] It is currently the second-largest American specialty retailer in the greeting card industry.[7]

Schurman Retail Group
TypePrivate
IndustryStationery
Founded1950
FounderMarcel Schurman
Margrit Schurman
Headquarters
Fairfield, California
,
U.S.
Area served
Global
Key people
Dominique Schurman (CEO)
Products
Brands
  • Papyrus
  • American Greetings
  • Carlton Cards
  • Niquea.d
  • Paper Destiny
OwnerSchurman family
American Greetings (15%)
Websitewww.srgretail.com

History

Schurman Fine Papers

The company was founded in 1950 by Marcel and Margrit Schurman in their Berkeley, California kitchen. It was originally known as Schurman Fine Papers and operated as a wholesaler, importing fine art-inspired greeting cards, stationery, and other paper products from Europe.[8][5] The Schurmans would sell the imported paper products to local gift and book shops. In its first year of operation, the company earned $20,000. It earned its first $1 million in 1961, and, by 1965, it had a warehouse and several employees.[8]

In 1973, Margrit Schurman opened the first Papyrus retail store in Berkeley to exclusively sell the company's products.[8][2] Over the next five years, the company opened more Papyrus retail stores across the United States and eventually opted to start selling franchises. In the 1980s, Schurman Fine Papers had salespeople and showrooms across the country and began pulling in around $10 million in annual revenue. In 1982, the Schurmans' youngest daughter and current CEO, Dominique Schurman, began working at the firm.[4][8][5] In the 1980s, the company began domestic production of papyrus products.[8]

Dominique Schurman became the company's Vice President within a few years.[9] When her father, Marcel, retired in 1991, Dominique took over as CEO.[1][8] Her primary goal was to promote the Papyrus brand and continue to create in-house greeting cards. By 2005, Schurman had increased the number of Papyrus retail stores from 37 to 146.[9]

Schurman Retail Group

In 2009, Schurman Retail Group sold the Papyrus brand and wholesale division to American Greetings, while buying 341 American Greetings retail outlets. In addition to the American Greetings retail stores, Schurman Retail Group also acquired Carlton Cards outlets in Canada.[1][5][6]

Following the American Greetings deal, the company began earning $200 million in annual revenue.[1][2] In 2012, American Greetings, which owns a 15% stake in Schurman Retail Group, appointed the company to manage Clintons retail stores in the U.K.[5][10] The company operates over 400 retail stores in North America with brands including Papyrus, NIQUEA.D, Paper Destiny, and Carlton Cards.[1][3] Due to trademark issues, Schurman Retail opened in the UK as Jolie Papier in 2014 with its first store at Bluewater Shopping Centre followed by a second location in Newcastle.[11] In August 2017, American Greetings took back management of Clinton.[12]

By November 2019, Schurman Retail Group was looking to get rent reductions from landlords and consider closing stores.[13] As of January 21, 2020, it was announced that all 254 remaining Papyrus, Paper Destiny, Niquea D, American Greetings and Carlton Cards would be closed.[14] The company filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.[15]

Brands

Papyrus
Main article: Papyrus (company)

Papyrus is the Schurman Retail Group's flagship brand. It also operates as a retail shop with over 450 stores in the United States.[1][2][16] It sells a variety of products including greeting cards, gift wrap, stationery, note cards, journals, customized invitations, and other gift and paper products.[1][9][17] The first Papyrus retail store was opened in 1973 in Berkeley, California.[8] Papyrus-branded products feature a pink hummingbird logo.[1]

American Greetings
Main articles: American Greetings, Carlton Cards, and Clintons

In 2009, the Schurman Retail Group purchased over 300 American Greetings retail shops, eventually rebranding them into Papyrus shops. Papyrus currently sells American Greetings products.[1][4][5] Additionally, American Greetings owns a 15% stake in the Schurman Retail Group.[10] American Greetings also owns the Carlton Cards (in Canada), the Schurman Retail Group began operating Carlton Cards shops.[6][7] In 2012, American Greetings appointed Schurman Retail Group to manage the Clintons brand in the U.K.[5][10]

Other brands

The Schurman Retail Group also offers several other brands including NIQUEA.D and Paper Destiny. NIQUEA.D is a line of gifts, jewelry, and other accessories that are sold at Papyrus outlets. Paper Destiny is another retail outlet that sells greeting cards, stationery, and other products. It is similar to Papyrus shops, but is considered a mid-market alternative.[1][3]

References
  1. "Selling Sentiment". Success. January 20, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  2. Lee, Ellen (August 11, 2012). "How Papyrus greeting cards still connect". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  3. "JOLIE PAPIER IS CLINTONS' NEW SIBLING BRAND". Progressive Greetings. 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  4. Bammer, Richard (May 1, 2011). "Fairfield firm finds success in paper, gifts". The Reporter. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  5. Simpson, Emma (December 24, 2012). "Clinton Cards has a new look, but can its reinvention work?". BBC. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  6. "American Greetings Sells Retail Stores to Schurman Fine Papers and Purchases Papyrus Brand". PR Newswire. April 17, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  7. Pazornik, Amanda (December 9, 2010). "'Congrats' card in order: Papyrus CEO from East Bay named a 'Jewish woman to watch'". j. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  8. Eng, Dinah (August 29, 2013). "Schurman Retail Group: Crafting a real paper success". Fortune. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  9. Fried, John (December 1, 2005). "Things I Can't Live Without: Dominique Schurman". Inc. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  10. Thompson, Jennifer (July 24, 2012). "US owner of Clinton Cards reveals new look". Financial Times. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  11. Brown, Jakki (January 21, 2020). "Papyrus, The US Leading Specialist Card Retailer Closes All Stores". .pgbuzz.net. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  12. Brown, Jakki (August 6, 2017). "Eddie Shepherd takes over as ceo of Clintons". PGBuzz.net. Max Media Ventures. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  13. Unglesbee, Ben (November 7, 2019). "Debtwire: Papyrus considers store closures as it negotiates with landlords". Retail Dive. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  14. Hays, Holly V. (January 21, 2020). "All Papyrus stores to close, including 2 Indiana locations". Indianapolis Star. USA Today Network. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  15. Thorbecke, Catherine (January 24, 2020). "Beloved stationery shop Papyrus closing all stores". ABC News. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  16. Lepore, Meredith (June 26, 2012). "Executive Suite: Papyrus CEO Dominique Sherman Says It Is A Misnomer That 'You Can Have It All'". The Grindstone. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  17. Golden, Fran (August 27, 2007). "There's something about a letter—still". The Register-Guard. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
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