Iris & Marie

Something I am passionate about is featuring female-owned businesses in the creative realm, so when Josie Derrick submitted this gallery of Shana, owner of Iris and Marie press, I was thrilled to start this new part of the blog.

Iris and Marie was named for Shana’s middle name, Marie, and her Chandler & Price letterpress, Iris. Shanna quit her 9-5 to pursue a her own venture in letterpress, and she hasn’t looked back. Read on for our interview and for a peek at her work and rad studio space.

Many stationers decide to simply offer stationery and lettering and outsource letterpress. What drew you to letterpress when you saw Iris in the classifieds rather than going with a stationery business and outsourcing that bit of it?

I first learned about letterpress in college & loved the process of it. I knew that whatever I did, I wanted it to include letterpress in some way. The reason I don’t outsource is simply because, like I said, I love the process! Having control from the initial consultation with the client to then seeing the project all the way through onto the letterpress is exhilarating & rewarding. I do outsource some other pieces of the business that I know someone else can do better, but I’m too proud of letterpress to let that go.

How small is the letterpress part of the industry?

It’s hard for me to say how small it is because I’m immersed in the community, so to me it’s large! Letterpress has really made a comeback in the wedding industry & has become a really interesting way to create stationery. Clients are more open to new, unique & interesting ideas using letterpress & the print method has transformed into something it was never intended to become. Printers & stationers are pushing the letterpress limits!

What helped you get over your initial fear of taking the leap into owning your own business?

I was in an unpleasant work situation that put an idea in my head to start my own business. It was never my intention to work for myself one day, but with the encouragement of my parents, close friends & my husband I felt more confident to purchase Iris (my letterpress) & do this thing! I think there was some anxiety about starting a business, but never really a fear for me. I knew the situation I was in needed to end, & starting a business was my way out.

I love the story behind the name Iris & Marie. What made you decide to give your Chandler & Price a name?

Naming things is, I guess, one of my quirks. I like that it personifies an inanimate object & makes it something more than what it is. Without Iris I wouldn’t have this business & I think she deserves some of the spotlight.

Do you think you will continue your business in letterpress and stationery until retirement or are more plans on the horizon?

That’s a really tough question. I get anxious about the unknown & the future, yet I don’t have any plans for it. The pandemic has taught me to focus on what is right in front of me instead of what’s ahead. As small business owners, we are asked what our 1 year, 5 year, 10 year plan is & I have never really had an answer - it stresses me out. I see Iris & Marie continuing in the wedding industry & in letterpress, but not certain what exactly it will look like. I know for sure that my heart could never handle parting with Iris.

How do you fill your time when not working?

Most of my time is spent at a thrift store or antiquing if I’m not working. I love to thrift & I would say 95% of my house & wardrobe is secondhand. I’m very proud of that & will convince anyone at anytime to stop shopping fast fashion.

What does female-owned mean to you? How does it feel to be a female business-owner?

It feels amazing to be a female business owner, but I try not to get too caught up on being a female in a man's world. Since I’ve paved my own way, I feel like I can do whatever I want to do & not have anyone in my way. If there is, I’ll find my way around them. This isn't true for all females, though, which is the really sad fact. I’ve had negative interactions with other female-owned business owners & knowing what that is like, I feel it’s really important for me to lift up other women in business & those wanting to start. Almost all of the vendors we work with are female-owned businesses & we have awesome relationships with them. On top of letterpress & wedding stationery, we create brand identities for small businesses & have worked solely with other female-owned businesses. That is really exciting for me because I get to share with other women what I’ve learned throughout my entrepreneurship & learn something from them, too.

What challenges have you faced in business and what advice would you give to aspiring female business-owners to overcome similar challenges?

I think I block challenges or hardships out of my brain, but I will say the biggest challenge has been to speak up for myself & the business. I’ve realized that no one will love your business, defend your business or help your business as much as you. I’ve had to learn how to become a more confident person & it’s still a work in progress. I am much more confident now in my work than I was 3 years ago. Confidence is hard, & my advice to others is to surround yourself with people who actually care. Building relationships is key & investing your money into others that are able to help with good intentions is beneficial. Know when to say no, know when to say yes & be confident in who you are.

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?

There are two parts that are rewarding to me: the first step in the creative process & the last. I feel really inspired & giddy when I start to plan out colors, textures & ideas with a client, & then move all that into a mood board. The last step is rewarding because I know that all our ideas & tangible stationery have been delivered to the client’s guests, & they are now involved in the experience we worked so hard to create. The client then gets flooded with beautiful messages that usually get forwarded to me & make me smile knowing that we have produced paper that fully represents the couple.

Is there anything else you would like to note?

Iris & Marie is small & operates out of a small-ish home studio in a small-ish city. This is to say, if you want to start something new, do it. Don’t let your lack of resources or timing hold you back. The timing for me wasn’t the best, but I would never change anything I did 3.5 years ago when I started the company. Also, if you want to have some extra inspiration in your life, I am constantly creating mood boards for myself or for clients that I share on my Instagram, @irisandmariepress. It’s a fun way for me to express my emotions & discover new people doing cool things.

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