Like all my guests, Dominique Schurman is a paper nerd .... but one with a most distinguished stationery pedigree! In 1950, her father Marcel founded Schurman Fine Papers, which, informed by his global "treasure hunts," brought exquisite stationery artistry and bespoke paper traditions to American shelves. Meanwhile, her mother Margrit opened the first PAPYRUS store in Berkeley, California, in 1973. That one exclusive stationery shop would grow to over 450 stores throughout the US and Canada. Dominique joined the family business in 1982, so when she founded NIQUEA.D in 2020, she drew on decades of wisdom gained from her many sourcing trips as well as her extensive retail experiences.

With NIQUEA.D's founding, the artisanal embellishments that can elevate stationery from commodity to fine art were officially back in circulation. From flocking to letterpress to ornate foiling to tipped-in pages, this upscale card range is treasure to send and receive — every last one a joy to pull out of the proverbial drawer to revisit in posterity. Moreso, its Collector's Edition Cards raise the handmade stakes exponentially, presenting larger-than-life designs full of striking surprises, like double envelopes and wooden papercuts inside. Combined with a heartfelt message from a loved one, the opening of every last one of these texture-rich keepsakes is a experience to remember.

Dominique shares what it was like growing up in a stationery family, and also provides a glimpse into her famed eye. How exactly does one go about generating not just the right card at the right time with the right words, but something that has never been created before? Listen in to truly appreciate the enormous gift Dominique is to the entire stationery community.

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