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Stationery retailer Papyrus is closing all stores

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
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By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 21, 2020, 1:00 PM ET

Stationery chain Papyrus, which once had over 450 stores throughout the U.S., is shutting the doors of its standalone stores.

The company that has operated the retail chain is reportedly closing all of its locations nationwide, citing “current challenges of the retail industry.” Liquidation sales are already underway at several stores. (The company’s cards and branded products will continue to be sold at other stores, but will no longer have standalone locations.)

Schurman Retail Group, which licensed the Papyrus brand from its owner American Greetings, has not issued a statement about the closings and calls to its customer support lines went to a voicemail. The Papyrus website, though, now clearly states that all sales are final and no returns or guarantees will be honored.

As of Tuesday morning, all merchandise online is 20% off.

Papyrus was founded in 1950, specializing in greeting cards, gift bags, paper products and writing accessories, and most recently had 260 stores, according to its Website. The chain focused on major markets in the Northeast, the San Francisco Bay area, Tampa, Chicago, and Indianapolis. American Greetings Corporation acquired the Papyrus brand in 2009. Schurman then licensed the brand and ran the specialty retail locations. The shutdown of those stores will not impact sales of the company’s products at other retailers.

The closure of the Papyrus stores is the turn in the ongoing retail apocalypse, which has seen A.C. Moore shut its doors and both Barney’s and Forever 21 file for bankruptcy in the last several months. Pier 1 Imports, meanwhile, announced plans earlier this month to significantly increase the number of stores it was closing.

Clarification: While standalone Papyrus stores are closing, Papyrus-branded products will continue to be sold by other retailers.

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About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

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