2021 Co. and Biely & Shoaf Co., two award-winning specialty greeting card and stationery companies, have entered into a licensing and operational partnership, effective July 1.

According to the companies, this partnership will allow Nicole Couto and Emily King, the visionary founders of 2021 Co., to focus their efforts on the design, sales and marketing of their brand, while retaining 100% ownership of 2021 Co.

2021 Co. will continue to operate as a distinct brand, maintaining its unique product line, catalogs, sales representatives, websites and social media presence. Biely & Shoaf will oversee warehousing, shipping, manufacturing, customer service, finances, general management and sales support for 2021 Co. out of its Seattle-based headquarters.

“Emily and I are beyond thrilled to have entered into this partnership with Biely & Shoaf,” Couto said. “We’ve known Glen and Tom for almost as long as we’ve been in the industry, and we could not think of a better team to help us grow and ease the operational pressure that exists with our two-person studio!”

Tom Shoaf, principal of Biely & Shoaf, echoes this sentiment: “We first met 2021 Co. four years ago at a trade show, and their talent, passion and vision for the company were as evident then as they are now. We are very excited to be partnering with them and doing whatever we can to help them continue to grow their company and positively impact the world around them.”
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