Oh So Beautiful Paper

Rifle Paper Co. is based in Winter Park, Florida and headed up by husband-wife team Anna and Nathan Bond. Anna grew up in New Jersey, just outside New York City, and graduated college with a degree in graphic design. She ended up in Florida for her first job after college as an art director at a magazine. Nathan was born and raised in central Florida and the two met soon after Anna’s move and were married in 2008.

After about a year as an art director Anna left her position to work as a freelance illustrator from home. It wasn’t until a few friends asked her to design their wedding sets that she realized her love of stationery. It seemed to be the perfect mix of her passion for both illustration and graphic design. What was few projects for friends quickly, and almost unexpectedly, turned into a business after posting images of her work online. A few blogs found and posted the images and the requests immediately started pouring in. The wedding invitations Anna did were unlike any other at the time. They were hand-painted, whimsical, creative and printed in full color. Within a few weeks Nathan stepped in to help manage the requests and the business aspect of things and Rifle Paper Co. was born. What started out as a home-based business in their bedroom was on its was to becoming full-scale stationery company. Now, Anna handles all of the creative work while Nathan manages the business side including client relations, managing accounts, production and so on.

After nearly 6 months of designing custom wedding stationery for clients Anna and Nathan decided to launch their Rifle Paper Co. greeting card collection. The collection debuted online in November 2009. By February they had picked up their first wholesale account, Anthropologie. In the past two years since the launch Rifle Paper Co. has grown from two people to 8 full-time employees. They’re now carried in over 300 retail stores around the world and have been featured in numerous publications such as Martha Stewart Living, Southern Living, O Magazine, Country Living, InStyle and many others.

One of the reasons the company has seen so much buzz is because the designs are unique, whimsical, approachable, and unlike any other cards on the market. Anna’s illustrations are full of color and charm and while trying to stay fresh and new, also strive to have a sense of nostalgia. The collection tends to appeal to a range of customers, both young and old in a variety of markets from the hip boutiques of New York City to the quaint shops in the South.

Looking forward, Rifle Paper Co. is continuing to grow. They’re in the midst of doubling their studio space and adding more employes. Other than greeting cards they also carry notepads, calendars, coasters, invitations, and art prints. In the coming year to hope to add even more selection including journals and wrapping sheets. Rifle Paper Co. also plans to launch a full wedding & event stationery collection through a sister website in early 2012.

If you’re in the area you can visit the Rifle Paper Co. storefront at their studio location in Winter Park, Florida. The quaint shop carries the full Rifle Paper Co. collection as well as gifts and books.

558 W. New England Ave.

STE 150

Winter Park, FL  32789