Change is Good

Photo by Christina Wnek

Change is good. It can also be exciting, nerve-wracking, stressful and just plain old scary but sometimes it is also exactly what is meant to be (in a very good way).
Just over seven years ago, I (along with my husband, father & stepmother) took a leap of faith as I left my career as an Epidemiologist at the state health department and became a stationer (a HUGE change)! And it has been a wild rollercoaster ride ever since. Within weeks of signing a Purchase & Sale Agreement we found out we were expecting our first child. A new business, a new home & a new baby all within a year – WOW! Things happened quickly and haven’t slowed down since. With the arrival of a second bundle of joy a couple of years later, I’ve been busy commuting 1.5 hours a day, carting our two little ones to/from daycare (not to mention having each of them in the store with me as infants) all while my husband traveled regularly for his work. During this busy time, I’ve also worked very hard to build Papier Gourmet into the full-service stationery store it is today.

Well, times-they-are-a-changing! Today is an important day as I pass the torch onto Papier Gourmet’s new owner (drum roll..): Valerie Beman Kyros, Yup, that’s right – Papier Gourmet is under new ownership! Valerie worked for the store’s original owner when it first opened in 1996 and always had dreams of owning it one day. Valerie and I have been discussing the idea of ownership changes since 2008 (when I had both a 3.5 year old and a 10 month old and was realizing that I couldn’t ‘do it all’) and the time has finally come for me to step down and for Valerie to take the reigns. She brings with her an extensive background in interior design, a great sense of style & taste as well as a great pen collection. I’m really excited about her vision & plans for the future of the store, as I’m sure you will be too!

Although this transition is somewhat bittersweet for me – I’m very much looking forward to spending more time with my now 6.5 and 4 year old sons, but yet I will miss seeing all of my wonderful customers I’ve come to know so well over the years. Papier Gourmet has provided me with so much flexibility to bring my children to work with me as well as many wonderful opportunities to meet and work with incredible people, including the customers, sales reps, area business owners, vendors, wedding industry experts, brides & grooms and, of course, last but not least, my employees over the years – many who have become dear friends and would not be a part of our lives (and each other’s) if not for the store.

So, I thank you all for your support & confidence throughout the years – it means more than you could ever know! I’ll still be around through the holiday season as I assist Valerie with the transition but I hope you’ll stop by to say hello and introduce yourself as she puts her own mark on & breathes new life into Papier Gourmet!

Pamela