It's a noteworthy achievement for any boutique to grow beyond its retail incubator space and move to an independent storefront. Downtown Grand Rapids-based 6.25 Paper Studio is doing it after just two years.
The fun, creative atmosphere of
6.25 Paper Studio prevails in its new digs just one door west of the tiny shop where it all started. No longer part of the retail incubator
MoDiv (Shops @ Monroe Center & Division) at 40 Monroe Center Ave. NW, the new store kept the same address, but relocated to the former Lia Rose storefront, doubling its size.
"I can't exactly expand double in product right now, but will have a place for kids to come and write letters to Santa Claus. If they include their address we'll write back to the kids," says owner and designer Abbey Fowler. "I also plan to have a workshop where families can make their own ornaments -- paper, of course. The space is also conducive to classes, so I'm preparing to do a calligraphy class and some holiday gift wrapping classes."
Fowler started with a 350-square-foot shop in September 2011, and expanded that to 850 square feet after seven months. The newest shop opened this week, with her own custom-designed gift cards, wedding and party invitations, wedding albums, giftwrap, and calendars. Fowler also carries journals, specialty envelopes, gift cards, and small paper gift items from unique companies not carried by other shops in town.
After the holidays, the store will offer a few basic office supplies in response to requests from downtown businesses.
Some 20 stores around the country also carry Fowler's wholesale line of custom-designed paper goods.
"I figured [a retail space] would be a 10-year goal, and the opportunity came eight years early," Fowler says. "Downtown residents and people who work downtown are my best customers. The people that live down here want walkability and they want to shop local and live local and not drive to the mall for everything."
Humanity Boutique will occupy part of the former 6.25 Paper Design space in MoDiv.
Read the article here.
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
Photos courtesy of 6.25 Paper Studio
Related Articles
6.25 Paper Studio is first small retailer to join MoDiv retail incubator in downtown Grand Rapids
6.25 Paper Studio growing into downtown location
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.