In recent weeks we found ourselves in a paper debacle. Well, really the baby-shower-planning half of us was in the debacle. The invitations had to go out, as in yesterday. And they were being mailed in special little cardboard boxes. Yes, boxes. These were elaborate invitations.
We ordered the boxes online - often our go-to source for unusual items - a couple weeks ahead of schedule . But they became lost and were never to be found by a package carrier who shall remain nameless. No time to reorder, nor online customer service willing to make it happen.
After running from Durham big box to big box - craft supply stores, office supply stores, general enormo stores full of cheap things from China - we still had no luck on replacements on what was really the last possible day to find them. Until we called Not Just Paper, 1010 W. Main St. You may be thinking how silly we were for not running to Not Just Paper in the first place, but please forgive us. We're learning Durham as we go.
What we know now is one: where teachers get all that stuff for those themed bulletin board's they make. And two: If we ever need anything related to paper, parties or other shipping/crafting supplies, NJP will be our first stop. See how we've already become tight with a little nickname? NJP had every single little box we needed, held the doors open for me when I called five minutes after they'd already closed on a Saturday, AND gave me the case price on my order since I bought so many of those dern boxes. All to help a shower-planning damsel in distress.
The moral of the story is to find and then stick with the local folks who have been doing this for 20 years. And then tell your friends.
