Meet Loren Statia of STATIAnery in Marietta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Loren Statia.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Loren. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
STATIAnery began as an invitation business focusing solely on high-end custom invitations in the late 1990s. With one phone call from Loren’s mother, almost overnight, it metamorphosed into a personalized stationery company producing completely customizable monogrammed note cards, gift tags, monogrammed desk supplies, return address labels and business cards.

From a small show in Miami in 2005, its trajectory changed and I began designing and printing stationery items on demand. All of that first show’s profits were turned into the next show in Philadelphia. I took a blind chance on the Philadelphia opportunity and two days into the show, I had buyer’s remorse. But that didn’t last long. By the end of the third day, I was confident I was headed in the right direction. And by the end of the show, I knew that a smart business idea had been born. One show has led to the next and the next and the next. There was and continues to be a learning curve and constant refinement of the products and the process. I started with just one catalogue of six designs. I now have more than 75 catalogues — including some affinity groups. My latest product is a stand-alone desktop calendar, and I am constantly in search of the next cool design and the next intelligent stationery item.

Has it been a smooth road?
No matter how smoothly something begins, that momentum is impossible to sustain. There are always challenges and setbacks. It has been a fun, but a sometimes, rocky journey. I have learned so much. But the biggest things are persistence and faith.

Designers’ block is the most pervasive struggle. Creativity cannot be held to a clock. I design in the middle of the night, in the middle of having lunch, on my way to sleep — whenever creativity presents itself. I have had a customer take my designs and resell them as their own.

There have been financial setbacks; more than one computer crash (including the one where the backup drive simultaneously crashed) and shows where I have lost significant amounts of money. I have literally been curled up in the fetal position in my office trying to figure out how to fix a design problem with no foreseeable solution.

Two summers ago, a repairman spent an entire day in my booth trying to fix my printer. The more challenges, though, the more resilient I become. I have even had someone refuse to accept my company name as accurate because it was a misspelling, in their opinion, and not a play on words. You have to roll with the punches. And so far, I been able to continue getting up after a fall.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with STATIAnery – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
STATIAnery is a wonderful source of completely customizable stationery. We specialize in giving you what you want, when you want it. Printing on demand satisfies several human traits. We are a safe haven for your vain side because we recognize that people love to see their names in print. And speed. We also take care of that part of you that needs to be gratified immediately. It’s a win-win.

I can make changes to most of my designs within minutes and you can walk away with exactly what you want in about five minutes. We also normally ship within 24 hours. I am most proud of the loyalty to our brand that we have built. And I love the interaction I have with all of our customers. I benefit greatly from that interaction and have even made changes to designs in my catalogues based on some requests.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the diversity of Atlanta more than anything. There are as many different designs and catalogues that I can produce as there are people in this city. I have a number of culturally diverse catalogues and am adding new ones constantly. I learn a lot about a new culture or group of people with a specific interest or hobby when I try new shows.

So many businesses and organizations convene here, that I could technically never leave the city and just vend here in Atlanta.

I am probably no different than anyone else here in Atlanta. Traffic is the bane of my existence. Especially because I do not like to be late…

Pricing:

• Note cards are $20/dozen or $50/3 dozen (every third dozen is discounted $10)
• Memo trays are $35 each and come with 100 sheets of personalized paper, a 5×7 acrylic tray
• Labels are sold in sets of 4 sheets for $20
• The desktop calendar is $45 for the decorative stand and a 6×6 card for each month
• Business/calling cards are $20 for 4 dozen

Contact Info:

• Address: 3260 Ground Pine Drive
  Marietta, GA 30062
• Website: www.statianery.com
• Phone: 7703210251
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/statianery/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/STATIAnery.write.now/
• Twitter: @STATIAnery

Image Credit:
juliaelliottphotography.com

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