Our Story

In the year 2000, PAPYRUS celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The year was an opportunity to look back proudly upon the successful growth of a family business, as well as a chance to venture into the new century as a strong and energized corporation with a single, focused goal: To become the premier destination and provider of personal expression and gift products in the Specialty Retail Channel. In 2009, this dream expanded through an acquisition. PAPYRUS acquired the American Greetings and Carlton Card retail stores, thus creating our new corporate banner Schurman Retail Group – the leading privately held specialty retailer of personal expression products and in North America.

Today, our goal to continue as the premiere destination remains our guiding principle. Under the leadership of Dominique Schurman, Schurman Retail Group continues to grow and flourish, and is recognized and celebrated as one of the finest organizations in the social expression industry. Founded in 1950 as an importer of European paper products, the company is now comprised of a dynamic family of retail brands. Together, these divisions offer the marketplace a diverse and ever-expanding array of products including Greeting Cards, Gift Wrap, Gift Bags, Stationery, Note Cards, Journals and unique gift products.

At Schurman Retail Group, tremendous growth and successful expansion have been fueled by a company-wide creative spirit that encompasses superior product planning along with targeted retail expansion and a keen focus on sales and marketing.

The concept of providing the very finest products has driven Schurman Retail Group from its inception. The company’s ongoing mission is to establish itself as the undisputed destination and brand of choice for social expression products and services of exceptional quality, diversity and taste. It continues to achieve this goal through the expansion of PAPYRUS, American Greetings, Carlton Cards and Paper Thread with its creative approach to merchandising and strong focus on customer service, supported by the provocative and wide-ranging product offering of the publishing division. All PAPYRUS products are designed with PAPYRUS customers in mind, and the stores provide a cheerful, inviting atmosphere for browsing and being treated to friendly and highly professional service.

Founded by Margrit and Marcel Schurman, PAPYRUS and each of its uniquely creative divisions continue to uphold the principles by which the company began: To always offer products of the highest possible quality, to lead the market in product innovation, to remain focused on superior service and to strive for continued customer satisfaction.

TIMELINE

1950 Company founded.

1965 - 1989 Company facility in Oakland, California. Housed warehouse, product packaging and all administrative departments. The original facility in Emeryville was burnt to the ground in 1965.

1973 PAPYRUS was established in Berkeley as the first retail store.

1982 Dominique Schurman joined the Company and worked over the years in many capacities.

2006 All brands unified under the PAPYRUS brand.

2009 Company acquires Carlton Retail and sells wholesale division to American Greetings. Schurman Retail Group is established with 500 stores in North America.