The Full Story

My Paper Box History

My Paper Box began as a creative hobby while I was working at my current print shop, where I started in 2015. Through that job, I developed strong hands-on experience in printing, production, paper goods, finishing, and customer-focused print work.

In February 2018, I bought my first house and began working more seriously on the idea that would become My Paper Box. What started as a hobby grew into a personalized stationery subscription box built around my love for design, paper, printing, and thoughtful details. The first My Paper Box subscription box shipped in October 2018.

The business grew quickly. By March 2019, I purchased my own commercial printer and installed it in my home so I could produce products in-house. In May 2019, I left my job at the print shop to run My Paper Box full time.

At its peak, My Paper Box grew to approximately 600 subscribers. The business proved there was real demand for personalized stationery, themed subscription boxes, and handmade paper goods. Customers connected with the creativity, personalization, and joyful experience of receiving a curated box each month.

However, the business grew faster than my systems and support structure. When COVID hit, and with me trying to manage design, printing, production, fulfillment, marketing, customer service, and operations mostly on my own, the business slowly became harder to sustain. After exactly five years, I made the decision to pause My Paper Box and return to working at the print shop.

Since then, I have continued My Paper Box on a smaller scale, intentionally capping it at 25 subscribers so I could balance both the business and my job. That smaller version has allowed me to keep the brand alive, continue serving loyal customers, and refine what I want the next version of the business to become.

Now, as the print shop where I work is struggling and I recognize that I am not fully using my creative and production strengths, I am ready to rebuild My Paper Box the right way. This next chapter is not simply about restarting a subscription box. It is about building My Paper Box into a stronger stationery brand with better systems, support, and space to grow.

The long-term vision is to create a dedicated print shop and production studio, with a retail stationery store in the front. My Paper Box will combine personalized subscription boxes, custom stationery, one-time gift products, local print services, and a storefront experience rooted in creativity, quality, and handmade Austin charm.