
About this episode
Vicky Barone discusses her transition from a behind-the-scenes designer to the founder of her own greeting card brand, Barone & Co.
Just because a maker isn't already a household name, that doesn't mean you're not already a big fan! You have most likely seen (many times!) and possibly even purchased the uplifting, inspiring and heartfelt greeting card designs of my guest today — and not even known it. For the past 24 years, Vicky Barone has been quietly licensing her designs behind the scenes to larger card brands like Papyrus and American Greetings. While she has stayed behind the design curtain, her thousands of cards have generated millions of dollars in products sold. Now Vicky has officially entered the stationery spotlight solo with her own brand, Barone & Co. While it’s a huge shift and a big risk, it’s also an enormous creative opportunity. We discuss Vicky's transition from freelancer to founder, but also the evolution within greeting cards and communication over the past quarter century. What is the difference between humor and relatable humor? How difficult is it to debut an inclusive brand in these times — to say nothing of this challenging economy? We also discuss the role of social media, specifically Instagram, to a brand. Vicky's personal IG page, starring much of the same work that adorns her…
People in this episode
Guest: Vicky Barone
Topics covered
- greeting cards
- design
- entrepreneurship
- social media
- branding
- creativity
Keywords
- greeting cards
- Vicky Barone
- Barone & Co.
- social media
- entrepreneurship
- design
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Barone & Co., Papyrus, American Greetings, Instagram
More episodes of The Paper Fold
- Ray Wu of Ferris Wheel Press · May 29, 2026 · 45 min
- Erin Dayhaw · May 5, 2026 · 46 min
- Carissa Potter of People I've Loved · March 24, 2026 · 46 min
- Mark Woodman of Mark Woodman Design · February 25, 2026 · 1h 5m
- Monika + George of UWP Luxe · January 14, 2026 · 44 min
- Rachel Kroh of Heartell (2 of 2) · December 18, 2025 · 49 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Paper Fold podcast page.