Today we’d like to introduce you to Adair Johnson.
Hi Adair, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Cheraw, South Carolina in a family that valued creativity and imagination. Making art, writing stories, and journaling came naturally in a home with open access to paper and all the supplies needed to create. When we went on vacation, stationery stores were my favorite places to visit. The smell of paper, the stacks of pretty things, the endless potential represented by a blank page made me excited to start on something new. I would carefully pick out writing paper and envelopes, stickers, and pens for my growing collection of stationery.
As an adult, creating and connecting with paper seemed to mark every milestone. I made my own wedding invitations, birth announcements, and party invitations. Once my youngest child began kindergarten, I decided to go back to school to study graphic design. I wanted to make and share my own designs.
I worked for a few years as a graphic designer. I created a collection of free printables for parents called playwithCMYK.com. I did a little bit of freelancing. I kept thinking about what it would be like to open a stationery shop of my own. I’d have pens in every color of the rainbow, journals, and letter-writing sets. I dreamed of rolls of stickers and having my own line of stationery. After talking and talking about it, I eventually decided to take the leap and opened Dear Greenville in the fall of 2021.
It was important to me that Dear Greenville was a brick and mortar store. I did not dream of creating a website but a real place where people could feel the paper and test out pens. Where they could discover new things, express themselves, and connect with others.
Dear Greenville first opened in Hampton Station in a small studio space. As I began to establish my business, I realized that my vision of a stationery shop that helped people connect and create needed a bigger space. I dreamed of calligraphy workshops, calligraphy classes, room for storage, and space for more paper goods.
In September 2022, Dear Greenville moved across town to Orchard Park Drive into a space that was five times as large, much bigger than I had ever anticipated. As well as adding new product lines, our bigger space allows us to have a tester table where you can sit and take your time while testing out pens. Hosting workshops is also in the works.
I’m so excited about what’s to come for Dear Greenville. As I explore new opportunities for my no-longer-so-little-shop, it feels like I’m sitting down to write on a blank paper. I don’t know exactly what is coming next, but there is endless potential here.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The road has been fairly smooth. I have been welcomed into the Greenville community. One of the challenging things about owning a small retail business is that you are responsible for just about everything—from paying bills to ordering stock to checking out customers. I am continuing to learn how to prioritize and how to put on my CEO hat and make decisions.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Dear Greenville?
Dear Greenville is a modern and fun stationery shop. We want you to try things, touch things, and ask questions. We want you to love the things you use every day to write notes or schedule appointments.
We offer paper goods from around the world and from local makers and artists. We LOVE finding new things that spark creativity and bring joy to the everyday.
We believe that there’s no “best” pen. We want you to discover what your best pen is. Our tester table is the perfect place to try out a brush tip or a fountain pen. It’s a great place to discover the difference between Blackwing 602 and Blackwing Pearl pencils.
Dear Greenville will be offering pencil customization, beginning in November. You’ll be able to order small batches of pencils with your message on it.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’ve been so fortunate to have family and neighbors who have run successful retail businesses, so I haven’t done any sort of structured networking. If I didn’t have those connections, I would look to Village Launch, in West Greenville. I’ve also found other small business owners to be very transparent about the highs and lows of running a small business. I’m also a huge fan of the Creative Shop Talk with Wendy Batten podcast.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.deargreenville.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/deargreenville
Suggest a Story: SouthCarolinaVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
