JC Woods on Founding Anvil Cards and the Art of Greeting Cards

The Genesis of Anvil Cards

• 💡 Anvil Cards was founded by JC Woods, driven by the belief that happiness stems from heartfelt gestures and sharing love through paper.
• 🚀 The business began almost by accident when Woods, who worked at a blacksmith shop in college, started making custom cards for friends.
• 🎯 Woods transitioned from a corporate design and marketing job to pursue his passion, impulsively opening his own store after a period of reflection.

The Unique Anvil Cards Experience

• 🎨 Anvil Cards boasts around 400 unique designs, with many originating from Woods' own ideas and puns, often inspired by everyday moments.
• 🛠️ A key differentiator is that cards are made in-house, allowing customers to see the creation process and reinforcing the identity of a working paper goods store, not just a retailer.
• ✍️ Woods emphasizes the importance of originality, with each card being a unique thought, sketch, and creation that cannot be found elsewhere.

Craftsmanship and Curation

• ✨ The brand prioritizes unique paper, printing styles, and high-quality packaging, including a signature, sustainably sourced, American-made paper for a superior tactile experience.
• 🤝 While Anvil Cards focuses on its own creations, it also curates and stocks cards from other artists nationwide whose work aligns with the brand's ethos of humor and heartfelt expression.
• 📍 Described as a neighborhood greeting card shop, Anvil Cards aims to be more than just genre-specific, fostering a sense of community and connection.

Entrepreneurial Spirit and Personal Fulfillment

• 📈 Woods encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to try something new, viewing failure as a learning opportunity and a chance to pivot to another venture.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 He finds immense personal fulfillment in his work, enjoying the ability to draw, create, spend time with his children at work, and bring his dog along, highlighting a life integrated with his passion.
• ✅ The core philosophy for continued success is to keep treating people well and making good stuff.