Startup Profile: Papier

 

  • Papier is a direct-to-consumer personalised stationery brand founded by Taymoor Atighetchi in 2015.
  • Papier collaborates on designs with a range of designers, artists and iconic brands including Disney, the V&A and Matthew Williamson. 
  •  The startup raised £12m from JamJar Investments, Felix Capital, Beringea, Downing Ventures.

 

About Papier

 

Papier was launched in 2015 to inspire people to connect more meaningfully and with a personal touch. After leaving his job at consultancy firm Bain, Taymoor Atighetchi created online stationery and card company Papier. Atighetchi had no lightbulb moment for the company but developed the idea after identifying a gap in the stationery market that fell between mass-market operators like Moonpig and high-luxury brands such as Symthson. He was following the trends of other sectors which were moving towards premium but accessible products. Initially, Papier products included personalised greeting cards and stationery, but now their range extends to wedding invitations, photo albums and personalised children’s books. In 2018, Papier launched in the US and is now selling in 38 countries around the world.

 

 

 

How Does It Work?

 

The stationary company runs through its online website, delivering directly to its mostly millennial consumer-base. Papier promotes personalisation, giving the customer the final say on designs. The platform uses cutting-edge technology to make personalising your stationery quick and easy.  

 

Papier
During the back-to-work period, Papier sells a notebook or diary every two minutes.

 

It pushes premium products, printed on gallery-quality paper including prints, photo books or cards. Their wedding stationery products cover everything from save the dates and invitations, table plans and menus, to photo albums and thank you cards. The wedding collections are particularly popular, with design choices including Pineapple Paisley by fashion designer Matthew Williamson and the V&A’s Chinese Floral Porcelain. The design company stays relevant through its continually evolving collaborations and unique curated collections. Papier collaborates with a range of up and coming designers, independent artists, children’s illustrators, fashion labels and iconic brands. They have previously worked with Disney, Luke Edward Hall, Fee Greening, House of Holland and Desmond & Dempsey, to name a few.

 

Papier’s Success

 

Papier has seen rapid growth since its foundation and is now the leading direct-to-consumer brand in personalised stationery. The startup currently has 68 employees, including 20 new hires in 2019. Demand in the industry is set to increase, and analysts predict a UK market value of £2.1 billion by 2021. Following its launch in the US in 2018, US trade now accounts for 15% of Papier’s total revenue and is seeing a growth rate 40% month on month. Papier plans to further this growth by collaborating with more US designers. 

 

The Papier
The Papier X Matthew Williamson Pink Collection.

 

Papier has attracted funding from some top early-stage consumer investors and has raised a total of £12m from JamJar Investments, Felix Capital, Beringea, Downing Ventures. In the most recent funding round in September 2019, Papier raised £9.1 million, used to accelerate its growth in the US and build new collaborations. Founder and CEO Taymoor Atighetchi stated ‘We are entering our most exciting phase yet’.

 

For more information visit: https://www.papier.com/