Features Industry Profiles

Holly Camp
Holly Camp Cards
Richmond, Va.

1. When and how did you start working in this business?
Holly Camp Cards began with a very simple idea – “I think this will be fun.” I’m a freelance illustrator and designer and I had spent too much time creating “work” paintings, so I began my line of greeting cards about six years ago so I could have a “fun” painting option. There are currently more than 50 designs in the ever-expanding collection, and they are distributed in shops and galleries across the country.

2. What is your signature style?
Whimsical and humorous, incorporating organic paint splatters and thin washes of layered color. I prefer to work with acrylic paint and ink, and I like to make use of my mediums to the fullest extent. I want to create stylized animals with big personalities and tiny details, little creatures that don’t exactly follow the look of their real-life counterparts. I love the way anything can change once you pick up the pencil.

3. What are your most popular stationery offerings?

My party and love-themed offerings in particular seem to appeal to a wide audience. My favorite design is the Jellyfish in Love greeting card that was inspired after a fantastic trip to the Baltimore Aquarium. I was fascinated by their jellyfish displays, so I just had to paint them.

My cards are definitely based off the animals I’m currently infatuated with, and my single most popular design is the Drunktopus greeting card. What can I say? I guess a lot of people have those days where you wish you had eight arms full of wine!

4. Please share the direction your line will be taking.
I’m thrilled to see Holly Camp Cards expanding to more shops, more people and more mailboxes and am excited to focus on 2013 as a year of growth. I would love to see these cards in more shops internationally, and hope to print on a wider range of products, including calendars, journals and gifts wrap. I see room to grow in a variety of markets, and would love to expand my line in the future to include apparel, accessories and toys.

5. What are your top three tips for success?

1. Research. I always try to visit gift or stationery shops when I’m in new places, and I look up stationery shops online that I haven’t had a chance to visit yet. I check out their websites to see if their products are relevant to the look of my line.
2. Be persistent. Email, snail-mail samples, email again… and email again.
3. Carry a sketchbook. Bring it everywhere and use it. That second part is definitely much harder, but it’s worth it. You don’t want to forget all your brilliant ideas!