When you think of a paper company, does your mind go to the infamous Dunder Mifflin from The Office?
What about stationery businesses? That just might summon thoughts of Hallmark or Papyrus, two chains that have seen a steep decline over the years, even in our local economy.
Well, Wilde House Paper is technically in both of the above categories, but like none of the above companies.
That’s why, when Hailey Nagma and I, Miranda Knight, were brainstorming a story subject, we were immediately drawn to this newly Central Coast-located small business.
Not only did the company open its storefront in August 2020, months into the COVID-19 pandemic, it did so with seemingly no need. Wilde House Paper began as an online business and has amassed a following of over 64,000 on Instagram alone — to say the least, their e-commerce efforts and digital community-building were going just fine.
Not to mention, they were already gaining wholesale partnerships with stores like West Elm and Anthropologie as is. So, we wanted to know, why even open a storefront, especially here in a small college town?
Before talking to them, we thought we might know the answer. From the moment you walk under the “Wilde House Paper” sign above their Monterey Street shop doors, you’re met with soothing neutral tones, handcrafted wall prints and paper goods, and warm smiles from co-founders Megan Heddinger and Connor Drechsler.
These seemed like obvious reasons to have a space that allowed visitors a tangible Wilde House Paper experience (and offered great visual content opportunities for our story).
However, their purpose for opening a physical retail shop ran much deeper than that.
“The store was our way to enter into the San Luis Obispo community in an intentional way,” Heddinger, the Cal Poly alumna and lead graphic designer behind the business, said. “The retail part is not a second thought, it’s more like a bonus on top of having this space to connect with the community.”
As it turned out, they specifically moved back to the Central Coast to engage with locals, from consumers to female creatives to Cal Poly students. It was never about making sales.
From that point on, Hailey and I were enamored by their story.
“I think one of the coolest things they mentioned in their interview was how grateful they are to have met at Cal Poly and how that inspired them to give back to the college community by providing internship opportunities for students,” Hailey said. “I also love that they’re focused on sustainability and empowering women entrepreneurs.”
For me, the inspiring takeaway was how the duo views the idea of their work being part of a dying industry in the digital age.
Heddinger and Drechsler didn’t skip a beat responding to that looming question. They confidently explained that it’s not a paper focus that is the reason for other stationery businesses’ decline, it’s those companies’ lack of brand identity and meaningful connection — two facets of business that are forefronts of Wilde House Paper’s mission.
It was clear that these two didn’t come back to their college town without a positive outlook to spread and a dedication to those around them. As Hailey said, their “obvious chemistry, both romantically and professionally” is apparent in everything they do.
And what they’ve done is simply created a stationery (and beyond) company that is more socially-responsible and people-oriented than their (fictional and actual) counterparts.