Pen to Paper
Stationery shop also showcases local artists’ talents
PEGGY MAHAN is surrounded by artists – her mother, her cousin, her daughter, her sister – so it’s no surprise that she chooses to showcase artists in her downtown business.
At OCCASIONS..JUST WRITE, more than a dozen local and regional artists find an audience. It’s one of the things that makes Mahan’s relatively recent venture into retail exciting and rewarding for her.
Since purchasing the shop (313 North Front Street) in 2013, she’s added many new items. It goes to customer service, Mahan says. She has customers who request particular items, and she has artists approach her about stocking their creations in the shop.
“I’ve brought in pens, inks, stationery … because I have customers ask for them. I can’t order just one of anything, so I have to make it worthwhile,” she says.
When Mahan purchased the business, three local artists were featured. Now there are at least fourteen creating items using photographs, mosaics, acrylics, and wood.
Essentially a stationery shop, Occasions…Just Write has more than twenty brands of greeting cards with the most popular being Papyrus and Recycled Paper Greens. About a half-dozen of the local artists contribute to the collection of greeting cards, which include dog humor and coastal themes among others.
The shop also carries pens, art supplies, journals, handmade papers from around the world, and other handmade items.
“It’s always fascinating to see who comes in to look at pens,” she says, adding that she sees collectors and people trying fountain pens for the first time. “Not having been in the business for several years, I’m still impressed by the number of people using fountain pens.”
Owning a retail shop has been part of a major transition for Mahan.
A Massachusetts native, she worked in marketing in corporate America until her husband died two years ago. Her sister was living in the Wilmington area and heard that her favorite card shop was for sale.
“I flew down with my daughter, and we looked at the store. I quit my job,” Mahan says.
Mahan had never owned a business, much less a retail business, so it’s been quite a learning process, not just with the shop, but the bookkeeping and all the behind-the-scenes requirements, she says.
“The biggest challenge is always trying to make my customers happy,” she says. “It’s the balance between making the customers happy and trying to make a living.”
That also seems to be the goal that has made her shop a haven for artists and those looking for carefully, thoughtfully made greeting cards and stationery.
“There’s a large group of artists in Wilmington, so they’re always looking to display their wares somewhere and get recognition,” Mahan says.
Among them is Mahan’s daughter who produces postcards.
In November, the shop sponsored a signing event for artist Chrissy Marsh.
“People love her cards. She does black and white photography. A lot feature local scenes – Wrightsville Beach, downtown. She started her line after her sister passed away, and she did the funeral program,” Mahan says.
In addition to the artists’ work, she handles customized stationery and wedding invitations and recently purchased a system to do in-house printing because she had such demand for personalized party and shower invitations.
As the holiday season approaches, one artist is supplying the shop with hand-painted Christmas ornaments, another has photographs made into ornaments. Stocking stuffers, wrapping paper, tissue, and bows abound.
“I’ve learned in a year that some people like very traditional lines, and some like very nontraditional cards,” Mahan says. “Coastal-themed Christmas cards are big.
To view more of photographer Katherine Clark, go to www.katherineclarkphotography.com
