Ashley Campbell, Owner
Coral & Blue Paper Co.
For those who find themselves living in a world focused on improving technology and speeding up progress, it may come as a surprise that one local company has established itself on the ideals of not only slowing things down, but also connecting with neighbors through the invention of upscale old fashioned children’s stationery. This Saratoga Springs small business, owned and operated by Ashley Campbell, is sending its luxury quality stationery, alongside countless other supplies, to Africa’s poorest nation to better the globe through community engagement. This would be an ambitious exercise in charitable giving for just about anyone in today’s modern business scene. A recent discussion with Ashley Campbell reveals immeasurable insight into the makings of her startup business’ evolving mission, particularly in how it redefines the measures of business success while working to guide the future of human connectivity.
Southern Charm
Chatting with Ashley, it becomes clear that her childhood exposure to southern United States culture instilled in her a great appreciative awareness of sincere social etiquette. So, when Ashley’s Southern home-grown values faced new challenges upon settling her family in upstate New York, a hole in the market was realized. Ultimately, the efficiency and elevated pace of her new home foregrounded a need; quality stationery that would allow her children’s developing fine motor skills a chance to fit “Dear grandma” on a single card. Ashley then combined her talent for aesthetics and love of good manners to make Coral & Blue Paper Co., where the simple guidelines, graphics, and space for original artwork awaits eager children. The stationery speaks for itself as a high-end product locally sourced from concept right down to the Mohawk Paper it is created on. Reflecting on the elegant design, Ashley says, “I wanted something sort of timeless that reminds people of before the digital era. I really wanted people to harken back to a time that predates digital. So doing a silhouette of a kid to me is old fashioned and traditional and timeless. But also, I wanted them to be fun for kids!”
More than Thank You Cards
Named for the color of old-fashioned elementary level writing guidelines, Coral & Blue was born out of a need seen in the local market for children’s stationery. For Ashley, however, the creation of the stationery ignited a much larger movement. The reason that she wanted the stationery in the first place, namely human connection, drove the creation of a higher calling for the young paper company. Through free gratitude workshops, charitable collaborations, and an oversees mission, Ashley has been connecting Coral & Blue Paper Co. to the needs of people from diverse backgrounds.
“We need to connect to our neighbors. Despite our political opinions, as Christians it’s part of our job to just get back to that human connection. We need to operate above the media and politicians. This place where we are connecting as humans again.”
Enter Coral & Blue, its impressive, sophisticated stationery, and the woman who then took it a step further… much further.
Poorest of the Poor
Since we are living in such a tech savvy time it seems fitting that a reader can google “poorest country in Africa” to discover that Burundi is your top hit. But this isn’t why Coral & Blue decided to pair up with a local Sunday School teacher there.
A faith connection united Ashley and her new friend in Burundi down a path where today, all profits from Coral & Blue Paper Co. are focused on giving back to the disadvantaged communities of one of the poorest and underdeveloped nations in the world. While sharing pictures of her stationery being used for schooling in Burundi’s rudimentary classrooms, Ashley explains:
