The Oh So Paper Story
In 2016, I joined a Facebook group that forever changed my life.
That group centered around Black women that were into planning, stationery and crafting. I would sit in that group for hours reading through their post and one day something caught my attention.
There was a post where members were sharing which markers to use to recolor the skin of the characters on the stationery and planner products they had purchased.
This overwhelming sense of sadness coupled with a bit of anger hit me that in 2016 Black women could not find products that represented them.
In 2016 Black women could NOT find
products that represented them
After sitting with it for a little bit I decided that something needed to be done and that I was ready for the challenge.
I had always loved planning, stationery and graphic design.
Up until this point I had been designing printables for my blog and for a number of Kohl's campaigns (yes that Kohl's!).
One thing I had never done was character design. It was a completely new world for me (side note: I am not an illustrator).
I decided that something needed to be done and that i was ready for the challenge
On November 15, 2016 Oh So Paper officially opened.
Those early days Oh So Paper was run out of a spare bedroom in my home.
The only equipment I had was a $30 Epson printer I got during a Black Friday sale and a Silhoutte Cameo that had a mind of it's own.
I was a company of 1.
I made it work. I put everything I had into this little business.
Today that little business has grown into a full scale commercial print facility. Most of our paper products are made in our print shop located here in Moore, OK.
That team of 1 is now a team of 16 with 8 international employees and 8 in house employees.
As we grow our mission will remains the same...
Create fun yet FUNctional products that represent Black women in an uplifting and positive light.