ps paper

135 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo

(415) 459-4984; www.pspaper.com

What do they offer?

The cottage-style store, perched behind a black-wrought iron fence next to the San Anselmo Post Office, specializes in “everything paper,” including items such as stationery, place cards, colorful binders, wrapping paper and photo albums.

"We started out as an invitation studio,” said co-owner Jill Sassa. “Over the years we have added personalized invitations, announcements, greeting cards, thank you cards, holiday cards plus some unique and fun gifts. Many of the paper items are designed and created by us." 

The owners often work with event planners to create escort cards, menus and party favors. They can suggest calligraphers or they can personalize and print place cards on the computer to match the colors and design of an event. One wedding they collaborated on was recently featured on the Martha Stewart Weddings website.

“The design aspect is what sets us apart from other stationery retail stores and online stores,” said co-owner Johanna Sedman. Both women feel that the stationery order books on their shelves are just starting points. They are not bound by what their vendors offer. Their in-house design services even include items that are 3D or dye-cut.

“Our love is designing from the ground up, not necessarily in helping our customers find things in one of our books which, of course, we also do,” explained Sedman. 

Sassa also makes what she has dubbed “house portraits,” a hand-drawn water-color painting of your home. She starts with a photo and the finished artwork can be used on notepads, announcements of address change, personalized stationery and holiday cards. Clients often grace their walls with her original art.      

Who are they?

The story starts at The Gap’s corporate office in San Francisco, where both women worked and became friends. Each began a side business in stationery. They were not competitive, but rather compared notes and asked each other for advice.   

Sassa was an international merchandiser. One year, she made personalized holiday gifts of hand-painted stationery for her large staff.  “Somebody decided to put it in a catalogue,” she said, “and it grew from there." Travel eventually took its toll on Sassa, who wanted to spend more time with her son Jackson, so she left the corporate world fourteen years ago to start her own stationery business out of her San Anselmo home.   

Sedman, who resides in Berkeley with her family, worked at The Gap headquarters in planning and distribution. On weekends and evenings, she began designing baby announcements for friends and co-workers. The first wedding invitation she created was for her sister-in-law. Within a short time her after-hours business started booming.   

“Jill left The Gap before I did, but we stayed friends,” Sedman said. “She kept calling and telling me I needed to quit and come to work with her. In 2001, I finally did.” 

Sassa's son Jackson, who is in the shop most weekday afternoons, even has his own thriving business within the store. And because they live further away, Sedman's son Zachary helps out on weekends and during school vacations. The women's dogs, Sherbert ("Sherbie") and Nyack, are on site as official mascots.

How long have they been there? 

ps paper has been in San Anselmo since 2001. They moved into the current space three-and-a-half years ago. Prior to that time, the shop was just up the street. 

Why are they business of the week? 

“Because we have so much paper,” said Sedman, “we wind up with many scraps, so we support the local schools in whatever ways we can.” They have donated art supplies to The Cedars, where Sassa and her son often go to help residents create holiday and Valentine's cards. 

After Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, the duo invited customers and their children to sponsor a crane or to learn the art of origami to fold one themselves. The project sent over $2,500 to the Tsunami Relief Fund. “We have a thousand cranes in the window,” said Sassa. “Japanese legend says that anyone who folds a thousand cranes will have their wish granted." Their wish was for the well-being and healing of the Japanese people.

It is not too late to order holiday cards online or from the store. The turn-around for something personalized is about a week. If you choose to include a photo, the borders offered are graphic and clean in pretty colors - typically a dot, stripe or pattern. 

At ps paper, clients and owners are on a first name basis. Hugs abound. The bustling vibe is helpful and friendly. Many repeat customers drive from San Francisco and beyond. “We are very creative and artistic. Our customers appreciate that," said Sassa. “We enjoy helping them design whatever they need,” added Sedman.