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LOCATION:
1629 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702

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10am – 5pm
Friday – Saturday
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Sunday
10am – 3pm

Archive for the ‘Store News’ Category

Farewell Interviews + April Deals

Monday, April 1st, 2024

Farewell Interviews with Paper Plus Employees

As we approach our store closing on July 1, we have amazing sales going on! Now, we’re pausing to reminisce about the wonderful experiences we’ve shared in our 40+ years in business.

So many of our team members have dedicated 15-20 years of service. These skilled individuals will be an asset to any local company once Paper Plus officially closes its doors. We encourage you to consider them for jobs.

During the lead-up to our final day, we will spotlight one of our employees each month, offering you the opportunity to get acquainted with the incredible individuals who have been important to our store’s success. Last month, Jila was featured, and this month, we’re introducing Ronny.

Meet Ronny Carillo

Ronny Carrillo behind the counter at Paper Plus

How long have you been working at Paper Plus?

22 years

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas is my favorite holiday because people have a great attitude and are very friendly.

Tell a story about a customer you helped.

A grandmother came in to buy yellow balloons to release for her grandson. I knew exactly who she was and remembered her a few years later when she came in and told me that her grandson had passed. She asked me about getting those yellow balloons again. I was glad that I could help her with this small thing during a hard time for her and her family.

Ronny’s Story at Paper Plus

Ronny started at Paper Plus stocking shelves and doing heavy lifting. His creative flair soon led him to become a talented balloon artist under the guidance of Don Daniels, the store’s original balloon expert. Ronny’s keen eye for color and design quickly made him a favorite among customers.

As Paper Plus prepares to close, Ronny’s reputation as a master of balloon art and his aspirations to be an event coordinator shine brightly. His transformation from a laborer doing the store’s heavy lifting to a cherished part of the community’s celebrations showcases his passion. A passion he just couldn’t stay away from. He left and came back to Paper Plus no less than 3 times!

Buy Holiday Items on Clearance Now

Halloween accessories on display

Now that you’ve met Ronny, come in and talk to him about your balloon art and party ideas.
Some examples of the deals you’ll find include:

Spring Celebrations

  • Easter Supplies: 50% off
  • St. Patrick’s Day Supplies: 50% off (limited stock available)

Mardi Gras

  • Mardi Gras Decorations: 50% off

New Year Celebrations

  • New Year’s Supplies: 50% off

Everyday Greetings and Calendars

  • Everyday Cards: 50% off both boxed and single cards
  • Papyrus Closeouts: 50% off a limited supply of NEW everyday boxed Papyrus closeouts
  • Calendars: 80% off all calendars

Decade-Themed Decorations

  • Themed Decade Decorations: 50% off decorations from the 50s to the 90s

Major Holiday Discounts

  • All Single Cards: 75% off all single cards for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s, Easter, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day
  • Boxed Hanukkah Cards: 90% off
  • Papyrus Christmas Cards: 75% off a brand new closeout batch of the latest boxed Christmas cards for 2024
  • Christmas and Hanukkah Supplies: 90% off
  • Halloween Items: 75-90% off
  • Thanksgiving Decorations: 75% off
  • Wrapping Paper: 50% off holiday Christmas and Hanukkah wrapping paper

$1 Deals

  • Costumes, Wigs, and Cookie Cutters: $1 deals including costumes, wigs, and sets of 5 cookie cutters

 

We Are Still Making Donations to Local Schools, Nonprofits and Religious Organizations

 We are also bidding farewell to the community by providing donations to local schools, charities, and religious organizations. If your group needs items, please reach out by completing the contact form on our website: www.paperplusoutlet.com/contact

This is a great opportunity to equip your classroom or activity. Be sure to take advantage of this offer.

Stay Tuned for More Deals

Paper Plus will continue running amazing clearance deals up until the closing day on July 1. Donations will remain available until closing day.

Don’t miss your chance to visit us before we have to say goodbye this summer. Shop Paper Plus today!

Posted in Sale, Store News | Comments Off on Farewell Interviews + April Deals

Farewell Interview + March Deals

Friday, March 1st, 2024

As we prepare to close down permanently on July 1, we’re launching our final sales and taking a moment to reflect on the great times we’ve had.

Many of our staff have been part of the team for 15-20 years. They’re all talented individuals who would greatly contribute to any local business once Paper Plus says its final goodbye. I hope you’ll consider them for your teams!

In the months leading up to our closure, we’ll feature one of our employees each month, giving you a chance to learn more about the great people who’ve been the backbone of our store. Last month, you met Itala. Now, meet Jila!

Meet Jila Sebzevari

jila behind counter at paper plusHow long have you been working at Paper Plus?

15 years

What is your favorite holiday?

Iranian New Year (Nowruz). It is the time that we get together with our friends and family to celebrate and welcome the spring.

Tell us something you enjoy about working at Paper Plus.

I have helped a lot of customers but one is so special to me. I helped a couple with their balloon order for their wedding and they came back for their son’s baby shower. He is now 9 years old. Seeing them coming after all these years and bringing their family too is so touching. We have seen people coming back generation after generation. First with their kids and then their grandkids. I will miss all of our customers!

Jila’s Hiring Story

Jila’s story with us started just before I began managing Paper Plus, which at the time was a store known for its distinct lack of organization. Loyal customers would hide items they wanted to buy later, always finding them in the same spot. Single cards were randomly placed in big boxes, making it difficult to find something specific, like that perfect 70th birthday card.

Jila came in to shop and it was clear to her that an organized store would be a lot better for customers. She came right up and told me as much! So, I figured she might be the perfect person to make it happen and offered her a job on the spot. She has been working ever since to bring order to the chaos.

However, not all customers were pleased. Some were disappointed to find their strategically placed items being reshelved and sold, disrupting their plans to buy them later!

Buy Holiday Items on Clearance Now

Now that you’ve met Jila, come see her in person so she can help you find all the best clearance deals.

Some examples of the deals you’ll find include:

  • decades decorations90% off all Christmas and Hanukkah supplies
  • 75-90% off Halloween items
  • $1 costumes
  • $1 wigs
  • 50% off Thanksgiving
  • 50% off New Years
  • 70% off all calendars
  • 90% off cookie cutters
  • 75% off all greeting cards and boxed cards
  • 50% off on themed decade decorations – from the 50s to the 90s

We Are Still Making Donations to Local Schools, Nonprofits and Religious Organizations

We are also bidding farewell to the community by providing donations to local schools, charities, and religious organizations. If your group needs items, please reach out by completing the contact form on our website: www.paperplusoutlet.com/contact

This is a great opportunity to equip your classroom or activity. Be sure to take advantage of this offer.

Stay Tuned for More Deals

Paper Plus will continue running amazing clearance deals up until the closing day on July 1. Donations will remain available until closing day.

Don’t miss your chance to visit us before we have to say goodbye this summer. Shop Paper Plus today!

Posted in Sale, Store News | Comments Off on Farewell Interview + March Deals

Farewell Interviews + February Deals

Thursday, February 1st, 2024

As we gear up to close our doors for good in summer 2024, we’re running clearance sales and reveling in fond memories.

Many of our employees have been here for 15-20 years, and we have enjoyed working with friends from around the world.

Any one of them would be a fine addition to any other local area business once Paper Plus closes its doors. I hope some of you will consider snapping them up!

Every month until close we’ll be featuring one of our employees so you can get to know them better.

Meet Itala Rojas

Paper PLus employee Itala Rojas

How long have you been working at Paper Plus?

21 years

What are your favorite holidays?

Christmas and New Year’s and getting to spend them with family.

Tell us something you enjoy about working at Paper Plus.

Our customers!  I love seeing the familiar faces come in time and time again and especially love helping multiple generations of the same family.

Buy Holiday Items on Clearance Now

Now that you’ve met Itala, come and talk to her in person while taking advantage of some of these awesome clearance sales.

All Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Halloween, and Thanksgiving items are 50% off, which means you can stock up for next year!
Some examples of the deals you’ll find include:

  • All boxed Christmas cards are now available for 50% off!
  • All calendars are available for 50% off.
  • Hanukkah gift bags at 75% off
  • Cookie cutters at 75% off!

We Are Making Donations to Local Schools, Nonprofits and Religious Organizations

We are also saying goodbye to the community by offering donations to area schools, nonprofits, and religious organizations. If your organization needs merchandise, get in touch with the store by filling out the Paper Plus Contact Form on our website.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to fill your class or activity room while saving a great deal of money on supplies, so don’t forget to take advantage of this opportunity.

Stay Tuned for More Deals

Paper Plus will continue running amazing clearance deals up until the closing day on July 1. Donations will remain available until closing day, as well.

Don’t miss your chance to visit us before we have to say goodbye this summer. Shop Paper Plus today!

 

Posted in Sale, Store News | Comments Off on Farewell Interviews + February Deals

After Four Decades, Paper Plus Says Goodbye

Friday, January 5th, 2024

Paper plus staff and owner

In the mid-1980s, Berkeley local entrepreneur Philip Schurman founded “Papyrus First Class Seconds,” now the Paper Plus store we know and love.

When the Papyrus inventory became more difficult to obtain, Philip knew it was time to change inventory, yet he still sought to bring joy, laughter and the spirit of celebration to the Berkeley area.

It started with a single balloon

Michele and Philip Schurman“We used to pass a balloon out to children whose parents were waiting to be rung up,” says Michele, Philip’s wife.

The store soon grew to encompass other categories: office supplies, cooking supplies, licensed plates and napkins, calendars and specialty items. Eventually, Paper Plus established its reputation among Berkeley residents as the go-to place for all things balloons and party goods.

The years brought many challenges, changes and warm moments, both for the Schurmans and the community.

By 1995, they had expanded to five stores and Michele began managing full-time.

The five stores were soon consolidated into one large store, Paper Plus, which many local residents remember from childhood.

In 1997, the building was sold. Philip made arrangements with the owner of the space next door (today’s Paper Plus location) so that they could move in without ever closing down the business. It still took nearly four months before all merchandise was completely transferred and the register could be moved to the new location.

A world of wonder

A place of balloons and pretty papers, party favors and specialty items. It was fun to see kids enjoy the sticker wall and come back years later with their own kids, stocking up for birthday parties, anniversaries, holiday bashes and gender reveals.

Michele remembers those occasions fondly and became invested in them. She’d laugh with mothers while helping them fill pink or blue balloons with confetti, in awe of the privilege of getting to know the baby’s gender before the rest of the family. She’d listen with empathy while helping stressed, sad family members choose arrangements for beloved sick family members or napkins for funeral after-parties.

“Coming out parties. AA sobriety celebrations. Life celebrations. Accomplishments and struggles. I got to be part of it all,” Schurman smiles.

Through thick and thin

Flash flood before Christmas

In the early 2000s, they proudly served the community through a flash flood that sent a three-foot wall of water through the store the Sunday before Christmas. That flood destroyed most of their merchandise at the worst possible time. To this day, Paper Plus makes sure storm drains stay clean, raking leaves before any rain to ensure the store doesn’t flood again.

Economic downturns

They continued to bring smiles and laughter through two economic downturns, one pandemic and shifting city streets.

Fun memories

They hosted Shaquille O’Neal and Wanda Sykes. Shaq bent his massive body through the door frame and ducked under the beams, smiling and joking as he took a break from filming an AMEX commercial down the block to load up his arms with calendars, cartoon character erasers and balloon arrangements. “He was very kind and even bought a Peruvian sweater for one of our young customers,” Michele remembers.

Perseverance

They retained their employees at a time when other retail stores were struggling to cover their floors. Many employees remember Michele as warmly as many community members do, and some have remained with the company for decades.

The last ballon

Paper plus exteriorSeveral deaths in the family have left Michele with a second, unrelated family business to manage, requiring frequent travel to San Francisco and bringing a host of new responsibilities. Philip’s schedule is full with his successful online ceramic business. The Schurmans can’t be in two places at once, plus the current brick-and-mortar business model has been impacted significantly by Amazon, thus a closure became their only option.

“It’s truly been a pleasure to serve the community of Berkeley as a unique and eclectic store,” says Michele, who hopes people will remember Paper Plus as a fun, friendly environment where community members could get supplies, help and advice for their various holiday and party needs.

 

Seasoned Wisdom for aspiring local business owners

Michele offers the community a last bit of advice, this time for aspiring business owners rather than party hosts.

“When you’re just starting out,” says Michele, “you can succeed if you can offer a product that has a fairly broad appeal, while doing it better than anyone else. But start slow. A good long-term business is built slowly: one customer at a time.”

Paper Plus will remain open through June 2024

Liquidation sales will be announced monthly until the final big goodbye. Paper Plus will also be announcing its new January 2024 hours soon.

Current deals

Check out our blog for the current deals.

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Helium Shortage – June 2022

Thursday, June 16th, 2022

mickey mouse balloons and minnie mouse balloons

Right now, we are facing a helium shortage. This has happened before, so we have lots of ideas for gorgeous, playful, and eye-popping non-helium balloon displays. Think columns and sweeping organic air-filled displays for every occasion. These can inspire such awe that you might not miss helium at all!

If you really want helium, we do have a little right now!  We want to be as equitable as we can be with the little we have, so we have a few guidelines for our helium buyers.

Until further notice:

  1. Limit of 20 helium balloon fills per customer.
  2. You must purchase your balloons to be filled with helium from us. We don’t want to fill a potentially leaking balloons and we know the chances are low with our high-quality balloon options.
  3. No helium fills of our larger balloons – like the 24″ and 36″ ones.
  4. We are paying more for helium and that means our pricing will be adjusted accordingly.
  5. No helium tank rentals.

Thank you for your understanding & patience during this shortage. We are doing everything we can to source more helium. As soon as we get the call, we drop everything and go pick it up!

In the meantime, get inspired with these ideas for non-helium balloons!

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What to Do When Your Favorite Party Goods Aren’t in Stock

Wednesday, September 1st, 2021

rainbow balloon arch

You had your heart set on the perfect supplies for your carefully orchestrated party plan. Yet when you get to your favorite party store, some of the items you really wanted weren’t in stock. What gives?

More importantly, what are you going to do now?

Don’t worry! We’ve got solutions for all your party planning challenges, and items being out of stock is a party challenge just like any other.

Where are we seeing shortages?

Latex, helium, and certain balloon colors have been hard to get ahold of lately. We’ve also struggled to keep posterboards, signs, and banners in stock. We’ve also had trouble keeping pinatas in stock.

Banners have been really hard to find too. That’s because demand was quite great when everyone was doing everything outside, and suppliers struggled to keep up.

The Reasons

Some of our customers really want to know why we’d ever experience a shortage, so we thought we’d devote a little time to explaining. There are quite a few things that could be going on behind the scenes.

First, there are times when the item is being made at a higher cost and so we have to sell it at a higher cost and don’t order as much.

Another reason is that some of our goods are shipped from China, and right now shipping and trucking costs have gone through the roof. That means we are bringing in fewer shipments. The items will be here, but you may have to wait!

Sometimes there are shortages because the supplies are needed in other industries. For example, latex is used to make medical gloves.

Sometimes the problem is that we’ve lost our manufacturer. Some of them went out of business during the Covid-19 pandemic. The ones we were working with aren’t making those goods anymore. Some companies have also let their representatives go or the company has moved to another state, which can slow down the process of reordering.

Unfortunately, going to another shop won’t always even help when these problems rear their heads. If your favorite store is dealing with these issues then chances are your second choice will be dealing with them, too.

Fortunately, there are workarounds. Read on!

The Solutions

birthday spelled in balloonsIf you’re having trouble finding latex balloons, don’t worry. There are lots of other balloon types to choose from!

Can’t find helium? All sorts of stores are having trouble getting it, which is why there’s been a huge surge in organics. Create columns, pillars, arches, and strands of multi-colored, multi-sized balloons. They are light, portable, and can replace other things that are getting hard to find, like banners.

Can’t find the balloon colors you want? Did you know we can make balloon colors? It’s just a matter of slipping one balloon inside the other.

birthday girl with non helium balloons

For example, purple and green are the hardest balloons to find right now. So we just take a blue one and put it inside the red one. We blow them both up and voila! Purple.

As for a lack of posterboard, signs, or banners, we have a couple of solutions. One is to use rolls of paper in solid color to create the banners yourselves. Another is to use mylar balloons with the messages pre-written on them. Another way would be to find the individual letters, which we often have as big individual items, and then linking them together with brads.

Can’t find piñatas? It’s easy enough to make your own. By the way, piñatas can hold a lot more than candy. You can stuff them with all sorts of favors. They can be an adult-friendly party game, too!

homemade-heart-shaped-balloon-pinataWhen all else fails, you can become a maker! Create things instead of buying them. Use the raw resources you have at your disposal. Get creative! You’d be surprised what you can upcycle into incredible party decorations.

Looking Ahead

Nobody can predict how supply shortages will continue to play out as America recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet Americans are ingenious. We’ll come up with other avenues.

As a consumer, it’s important to hold on to your patience and your sense of humor. Unfortunately, these shortages aren’t anybody’s “fault.” They’re just conditions we’re all facing as we all try to get back to normal.

Here at Paper Plus we are devoted to helping you solve all your toughest party challenges. Can’t figure out what to do? Come on out and see us!

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Keeping Safe During Covid

Wednesday, October 21st, 2020

Close up of Paper Plus storefront

Last updated: 2/10/22

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paper Plus has made some changes, both in what we offer and how we offer it. Here’s what we’re up to.

Vaccination

All of our employees are vaccinated.

Hours

Starting Saturday, May 9th, 2020 our hours will be:

Monday-Thursday
10-5

Friday-Saturday
10-6

Sunday
10-3

These hours are subject to change, so check our website in the top right or call ahead at 510-525-1799.

Precautions

We want everyone to be safe when they shop at Paper Plus, so here are some of the precautions we’re taking and the services we’re offering.

Masks

Shoppers must wear masks when entering the store.

Delivery Services

The balloon-mobile is back in action!

We are offering balloon delivery in some areas, but it’s contingent on many factors.

Your best bet is to call the store at 510-525-1799. We’ll let you know if we can accommodate your balloon request.

Here’s our guide to ordering balloons.

Party Rentals

We’re back at it with our concession machine rentals, which includes nacho cheese machines, cotton candy machines, sno-cone machine, popcorn machines, tables, or chairs. You can still rent our helium balloon tanks as well.

Thank you for supporting us!

We’re proud to be your local party store of choice, and we appreciate you considering us as you consider where to shop for supplies during these challenging times.

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Announcing the Paper Plus Grand Reopening

Thursday, May 7th, 2020

Close up of Paper Plus storefront

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Paper Plus has made some changes, both in what we offer and how we offer it. The big news? We’re stocking up on essential items like masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and paper towels. If you can’t find it anywhere else, you can find it here!

Of course, we’re continuing to offer all of the great paper and party supplies that we’ve always offered. Get your supplies for your next home school project, birthday party parade, or crazy Zoom event while you’re here. If you’re tearing your hair out looking for something to keep the kids busy we’ve got quite a few options for you to explore.

Here’s what we’re up to.

New Hours

Starting Saturday, May 9th, our hours will be:

Monday-Thursday
10-5

Friday-Saturday
10-6

Sunday
10-3

These hours are subject to change, so check our website or call ahead at 510-525-1799.

Precautions

We want everyone to be safe when they shop at Paper Plus, so here are some of the precautions we’re taking and services we’re offering.

Doorside Pick-up

Park and come to the door for doorside, contactless pickup. You can call ahead 510-525-1799 and we’ll get everything ready for you.

In-Store Social Distancing

If you prefer to shop in-store then you are welcome. Please maintain at least six feet of distance between you and other customers at all times. Shoppers must wear masks and gloves when entering the store. We will provide you with disposable gloves. Please pull on your gloves as you enter the store and throw them away after loading your items into your car.

Sanitizing

Every basket, door handle, and door will be sanitized regularly. We’re paying attention to every high-touch surface. The baskets will be sanitized before they’re returned to the front so you know you’re getting a clean one from the beginning. We’re also leaving the door open as long as we’re open, so it’s not necessary to touch the door in order to come inside.

Limited Delivery Services

We are offering balloon delivery in some areas, but it’s contingent on many factors.

The balloon-mobile is unavailable because it’s not currently serviceable. We’re sad to see it go!

Your best bet is to call the store at 510-525-1799. We’ll let you know if we can accommodate your balloon request. If we can’t, we’ll still make doorside pickups available to you.

Available Products

As mentioned, we’ve added all sorts of essential products to our store shelves. That means you can pop on down to Paper Plus to find masks and gloves without having to wait days for online delivery. We’ve got three types of masks available, both large and medium size latex gloves, sanitizer, towels, and TP.

Just want to run in and out for those essentials? We’ll have an endcap in the front so you can grab, pay, and go.

Of course, you are also welcome to shop for party and art supplies while you’re here.

Unavailable Products and Services

Right now we’re not offering any machine rentals, which includes nacho cheese machines, cotton candy machines, sno-cones machine, popcorn machines, tables, or chairs. You can still rent our helium balloon tanks.

Thank you for supporting us!

We’re proud to be your local party store of choice, and we appreciate you considering us as you consider where to shop for supplies during these challenging times.

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