Paperless Post was founded in 2009 by Alexa and her brother at the age of 23 and 25, respectively, on the idea that people would use the internet to send wedding invites. It is an e-commerce company focusing on design-driven online and printed greetings, invitations, birth announcements, etc. The company is partnered with leading fashion designing companies including kate spade new york, Kelly Wearstler, and Oscar de la Renta. The company is based in New York City and so far they have secured $6.3 million in funding and brought it to profitability in 2010. In November 2011, e-card competitor Evite created a copycat product that copied many of Paperless Post’s designs. Industry backlash caused Evite to withdraw their new product from the market for over a year. Soon after, Paperless Post partnered with leading stationery company Crane & Co. to produce the first collection of hybrid online-offline wedding suites. These designs are available online as well as on fine cotton paper with engraving and letterpress. To date, the company has raised nearly $12.4 million in capital.
Today the company is continuing to grow as they bring the formal and personalized feel of offline communication to people with the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the online world.
It seems that these two found a way to change the perspective on something many people use within their life time. With so many looking towards the internet for very basic things, this falls right into place. It also appeals with those who want to be environmentally friendly, and go paperless. At the same time, I know that some people would differently miss having a paper invitation to keep and look back on.
Brilliant introduction of a new take on a tradition heavy industry – neat find!