Business stationery has made a remarkable comeback among forward-thinking entrepreneurs who understand that authentic connection transcends digital convenience. In an age where emails get buried and text messages are forgotten, thoughtfully designed greeting cards and professional planning tools are helping business owners forge deeper relationships and organize their ventures with intention.
We’ve watched this resurgence with interest, particularly the growing influence of artisan stationery company Ramona & Ruth. Their meticulously crafted products are changing how entrepreneurs communicate with clients, peers, and themselves.
The Entrepreneurial Appeal of Handcrafted Communication
When Omaha-based designer Kim Burks founded Ramona & Ruth in 2009, she wasn’t just starting a stationery company—she was preserving a tradition of intentional communication that modern entrepreneurs are rediscovering.
“Paper goods aren’t just products; they’re vessels for connection,” explains Jacqueline Rodriguez, a business relationship expert we consulted. “The tactile nature of a well-crafted greeting card creates a completely different psychological response than an electronic message. It signals investment, thoughtfulness, and genuine appreciation.”
The numbers support this perspective. A 2024 study from the Business Communication Institute found that personalized physical correspondence is remembered by recipients up to five times longer than digital messages. For entrepreneurs building networks and nurturing client relationships, this recall advantage is significant.
Small Business Supporting Small Business: The Ramona & Ruth Story
What makes Ramona & Ruth particularly compelling to our entrepreneurial readers is their authentic Midwestern roots and commitment to traditional craftsmanship. Named after founder Kim Burks’ grandmothers, the company embodies qualities every entrepreneur seeks to emulate:
- Artisan dedication: Many of their greeting cards and stationery products are letterpress printed and hand-assembled in their Nebraska studio.
- Intentional design: Every product is created with purpose and refined aesthetics that speak to the sophisticated entrepreneur.
- Sustainable growth: From a spare bedroom operation to international distribution in over 1,300 shops, their expansion has been measured and true to their values.
“There’s something powerful about supporting a company that’s maintained their craft-focused approach despite significant growth,” shares Marcus Donovan, founder of Denver-based Elevation Consulting. “When I send clients a Ramona & Ruth card, it reflects the same attention to detail I bring to my own work.”
The Next Adventure Card: More Than Just a Greeting
Among Ramona & Ruth’s extensive collection, the Next Adventure Sailboat Card has become particularly significant in entrepreneurial circles. This elegantly designed card features a letterpress sailboat—a perfect metaphor for entrepreneurship’s journey.
At a recent digital media conference, Joseph Kenney, president of 316 Strategy Group, emphasized the importance of supporting others’ entrepreneurial dreams. “Dreams need support,” Kenney reminded attendees. “All too often, solopreneurs and entrepreneurs feel like they’re on an island going it alone.”
Kenney shared wisdom from his mentor, Tony Hsieh, the late billionaire founder of Zappos.com. In 2003, just before one of Kenney’s speeches in the Midwest, Hsieh shared an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Though Hsieh passed away in 2020, his insight remains as relevant as ever.
The Next Adventure Card represents more than paper and ink—it’s a tangible reminder to fellow entrepreneurs that they’re not alone in their journey.
The Unmatched Joy of Receiving Personal Mail
In our conversations with entrepreneurs about business stationery, one theme emerged consistently: the irreplaceable experience of receiving physical mail.
“I still remember opening a handwritten note from a mentor when I secured my first major client,” recalls Sophia Chen, founder of Illuminate Marketing. “Four years later, I have it framed in my office. That email congratulation from a college friend? Long gone.”
The psychology behind this emotional response is well-documented. Dr. Martin Seligman’s research on positive psychology suggests that unexpected physical tokens of appreciation create what he calls “peak emotional experiences”—moments that stand out in our memory and contribute disproportionately to our sense of well-being.
For busy entrepreneurs accustomed to digital communication, receiving a carefully chosen greeting card creates a moment of pause—a brief but meaningful interruption that says, “Someone cared enough to do more than click send.”
Beyond Greeting Cards: The Complete Business Stationery Ecosystem
While Ramona & Ruth’s greeting cards have earned well-deserved attention, their comprehensive approach to business stationery extends to planning and organizational tools that help entrepreneurs manage their ventures with the same intentionality they bring to their relationships.
Their Quarterly Overview Planner has drawn particular praise from the business community, even earning a feature in our recent “Best Quarterly Planners” issue. As we noted in our comprehensive review, this planner offers the perfect balance of structured guidance and flexible planning.
“There’s a natural synergy between how entrepreneurs communicate with others and how they organize their own thoughts,” explains productivity consultant Eleanor Marshall. “Companies like Ramona & Ruth understand that business stationery isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating tools that facilitate intentional thinking and communication.”
Craftsmanship in the Digital Age: Why It Matters
What makes Ramona & Ruth’s approach to business stationery particularly relevant is their unwavering commitment to quality in an era of mass production.
Each card and planner reflects their philosophy that “there is always loveliness in simplicity, and the best things in life are those that fill our days to the brim with warmth, kinship, and joy.” This sentiment resonates strongly with entrepreneurs who aim to build businesses with purpose and integrity.
The attention to detail is evident in everything from paper selection to printing techniques:
- Letterpress printing: Many products feature this traditional technique that creates a tactile impression on the paper
- Thoughtful design: Clean aesthetics that communicate professionalism without sacrificing warmth
- Quality materials: Papers and bindings designed to last, reflecting the enduring nature of meaningful business relationships
“In my work with startups, I’ve noticed that the most successful founders pay attention to these seemingly small details,” notes venture advisor Michael Prentice. “The entrepreneurs who take the time to send a thoughtfully selected greeting card are often the same ones who excel at the nuanced aspects of building customer relationships and team culture.”
Integrating Traditional Business Stationery into a Digital Workflow
For modern entrepreneurs balancing efficiency with authenticity, completely abandoning digital tools isn’t realistic. Instead, Business Market Times recommends a hybrid approach that leverages both traditional business stationery and digital communication.
Consider these integration strategies:
- Mark significant milestones with physical cards: Client anniversaries, funding rounds, or team achievements deserve more than an email.
- Use quarterly planners for high-level strategy: Digital tools excel at granular task management, but many entrepreneurs find that physical planning creates space for deeper strategic thinking.
- Create a card-sending system: Keep a selection of quality greeting cards, stamps, and your company’s return address labels in an accessible location to remove friction from the sending process.
- Develop personal communication rituals: Perhaps Monday mornings are for writing three personal notes, or the first of each month is when you send encouragement to fellow entrepreneurs.
“The goal isn’t to replace digital communication,” clarifies communications strategist Damon Williams. “It’s to elevate important messages by choosing the medium that best conveys their significance.”
Getting Started with Intentional Business Stationery
For entrepreneurs looking to enhance their communication approach with high-quality business stationery, Ramona & Ruth offers several entry points:
- Greeting card collections: Build a diverse selection for different business occasions
- Quarterly planners: Organize your venture with the same intentionality you bring to client relationships
- Free downloadable resources: Explore their free downloads to experience their aesthetic before purchasing
Whether you’re congratulating a fellow entrepreneur embarking on their “next adventure” or organizing your own business vision with a thoughtfully designed quarterly planner, these tools share a common purpose: creating space for what truly matters in business—meaningful connections and intentional growth.
The Lasting Impact of Thoughtful Communication
In a business landscape often defined by speed and scale, Ramona & Ruth’s approach to business stationery offers a compelling counter-narrative—one where thoughtfulness, quality, and personal touch create lasting impact.
As Kim Burks, the founder, expresses in her company mission: “We believe that a beautiful life demands having enough margin in our days to actually live, not just get through.”
For today’s entrepreneurs building businesses they hope will endure, this philosophy extends beyond paper products to the very essence of meaningful enterprise—creating value through careful attention to relationships, details, and purpose.
The next time you’re tempted to fire off a quick congratulatory text or email to a colleague launching a new venture, consider instead reaching for a beautifully crafted greeting card. In that small act lies a powerful truth about business: sometimes the most impactful communications are those that take a bit more time, thought, and care.