Meri Meri

Meri Meri  is an American design house and children's lifestyle company, founded in 1985. Started as a greetings card company, it was a major member of the  alternative card movement of the 1980s. It has been influential in the development of the greetings cards, party and lifestyle markets and is credited with the creation of the children's party product sector.[1] Meri Meri is both the company name and the principal brand of the American designer Meredithe Stuart-Smith.

History

Greetings Cards

Meri Meri originated in 1985 in Los Angeles when Meredithe Stuart-Smith started making greetings cards at home and selling them to stores under the Meri Meri name. There were no commercially-sold hand-made cards in the market at that time.  Stuart-Smith's cards were different from the standard styles of the time, using materials and design sources previously unknown in that sector.[2] 

Following local success, Meri Meri exhibited in NYC in 1987, where the company attracted the attention of Bergdorf Goodman and began to establish a nationwide customer base.  By some measures, Meri Meri was the most successful member of the alternative card movement of small design-led companies that started to compete against Hallmark and American Greetings in the 1980s.  Between 1987 and 2005, it won 81 Louie awards, a record for any company.[3]

In 1990 the company moved its base to Belmont, California.  

In 1996 Stuart-Smith moved to England and set up a UK arm of the company: the HQ remained in Belmont.  The company continued to expand, with a growing design team in the UK.

Design Expansion

The growth of internet communication in the early 2000s put pressure on the company to move into different product areas.  The company moved initially into party and event invitations, followed by a focus on paper products for children's parties.  In 2008 Meri Meri showed six collections of children's party accessories at the New York Stationery Show.[4] They developed the first cupcake kits and introduced them to the market that year.[5] It expanded further into other children's party products in the following years.  The company is credited with creating the children's party sector.[1]

Around 2017 it moved into children's bedlinen and soft furnishings,[6] together with homewares,[7] children's jewelry[8]  and other sectors.

Current Operations

The company currently has bases in the US, the UK and the Netherlands.  Its managing director is Paul Cripps.[9]

The company's products continue to be used by an international clientele.[10]

Media

Collaborations

Meri Meri has produced design collaborations with a variety of artists and brands:

In 2017 it produced a homewares range in collaboration with design-focused store The Hambleton.[6]

In 2020 it produced a range of plates and other products in collaboration with French artist Nathalie Lete.[11]

In 2021 it produced a collaboration with Liberty of London[12]

It has also produced collaborations with London store Harrods[13] and with French Patisserie House Ladurée.[14]

 References
  1. Moss, Victoria (2023-09-24). "Inside the world of the super-sized kids' party — starting at £4,000". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  2. "FANCY CARDS HAVE THEIR MOMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT". Chicago Tribune. May 25, 1998.
  3. "Greeting cards take Belmont company on a successful ride". November 25, 2005.
  4. Dawkins, Gemma (2020-05-05). "Meet Meri Meri Founder Meredithe Stuart-Smith (And Get A Tour of Her Cotswolds Studio)". The Grace Tales. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  5. "Rousing return for Giffords Circus as Cheltenham gift firm launches circus themed party ware". The Business Magazine. May 10, 2022.
  6. "Meri Meri at The Hambledon collaboration". Caroline Rowland. 2017-05-09. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  7. Fokschaner, Serena (2019-10-26). "A touch of magic for an old rectory". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  8. "Brands We Love : Meri Meri". www.lepetitsociety.com. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  9. "Paul Cripps - Managing Director at Meri Meri". THE ORG. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  10. "This is where you can buy Meghan Markle's favourite partyware (and Beyoncé and Michelle Obama are obsessed too)". Glamour UK. December 19, 2022.
  11. The4. "An interview with Nathalie Lété". Meri Meri. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  12. "23 LIBERTY PRINT MERI MERI PARTY ideas | liberty print, meri meri party, party tableware". Pinterest. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  13. "https://twitter.com/Harrods/status/1066006160153677825/photo/1". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-09-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  14. "Ladurée x Meri Meri | Maison Ladurée". www.laduree.us.
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