AliShops Blog » Paper

Mara Mi’s big store

Ali — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:50:32 +0000

Love when national brands celebrate their hometown. Stillwater-based Gartner Studios, which makes stationery and invitations sold everywhere from Target and Wal-Mart to Anthropologie and independent boutiques, has closed its Pulp Fashion paper shop in downtown Stillwater to build a bigger store, cafe and studio across the street under the name of one of the brand’s higher end lines, Mara-Mi. The flagship store will feature the entire Mara-Mi line plus Russell + Hazel, which Gartner acquired last year, and custom invitations. And hoping to fill the void left by Starbucks, the store will include a cafe with light lunch fare and cupcakes (yes, brides, they can be custom ordered for events.) If it’s a hit, the cafe could expand to evening hours and perhaps even serve wine. Gartner Studios will be located upstairs. Sounds extremely promising. The opening is scheduled for mid July.

Stamp of approval

Ali — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:59:27 +0000

Ah, the instant gratification. Shop for Valentine's Day cards and stationery online at Redstamp.com, and then run over to their Minneapolis showroom and pick up your stuff in person. The girls just announced a cool offer: buy online, have your orders boxed, pick them up in person (4850 W. 35th St., St. Louis Park) and shop exclusive off-line sale selections while you're there. Now that's showing some love to the hometown customers!

Can’t swindle me, Office Max

Ali — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:53:52 +0000

I needed sheets of crack and peel sticky paper to create some odd-sized labels. Wish I had known what a production that would be before creating the odd-sized labels. Kinkos couldn’t help me. I found the 8 by 11 sheets at Office Max, 10 for $17. Not quite satisfied, I started asking around and got a referral to Minneapolis-based wholesale paper distributor Xpedx. Turns out, individuals can shop there. In fact, the facility at 1401 W. River Road in Minneapolis is extremely inviting — clean, helpful staff and set up like a store with tons of paper products that just make you feel like getting organized. And here’s the best part: Xpedx sells that same sticky paper, 100 sheets for $13! So, let’s recap: 100 sheets for $13 at Xpedx or 10 sheets for $17 at Office Max. Can you believe the nerve? I’ll never be able to buy paper products at retail again.