Stationery shops are a must-visit in Montreal to uncover local treasures like original greeting cards, artistic posters of Montreal, notebooks, and other accessories with unique designs. Whether you’re looking to send personalized wishes for a birthday or simply decorate your home in style, there are several boutiques specializing in these locally-made creations.
This article presents four Montreal online stationery shops that stand out for their diverse offerings: Petit Happy, Marlone, Hallmark and Paperole. Each has its own particularities, be it the breadth of the selection, proposed designs, or the philosophy behind the brand.
Petit Happy
Petit Happy is a charming Montreal stationery boutique located on trendy Rue Duluth Est in the vibrant Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood. Co-owners and local artists Geneviève Lebleu and Hamie Robitaille opened the boutique in 2015, which has become renowned for its colourful, lighthearted and artistic flair.
Beyond the quirky and welcoming retail shop featuring original illustrations, Petit Happy offers greeting cards, posters and prints, temporary tattoos, fun stickers and DIY activities for both children and adults. Their diverse product range includes everyday, seasonal and special occasion greeting cards, artistic Montreal-themed posters perfect as unique gifts or city souvenirs, as well as free printable coloring pages and clever craft ideas for kids.
Visitors can browse in-store or shop online at PetitHappy.com to discover delightful, thoughtfully designed and locally-made paper goods as well as whimsical stocking stuffers.
To visit the Petit Happy boutique or contact the owners:
Address: 68 Rue Duluth E, Montreal
Phone: (514) 379-3568
Pros
- Original illustrations and designs
- Encourages local creation in Montreal
Cons
- Smaller product variety than chain stores
Marlone, Montreal (Permanently Closed)
Founded in 2016 by co-owners Céline and Mélody in Montreal’s hip Mile End neighbourhood, Marlone made a name for itself with contemporary, retro-inspired illustrations of beloved landmarks, neighbourhoods, parks and more captured within the city of Montréal. Their signature artistic style reflecting a passionate appreciation for their home province of Québec was then screened on stationery, notebooks, agendas, apparel and paper goods.
The collection of locally designed and produced items, including greeting cards, planners, posters and accessories, supported emerging creators in Québec as well as the provincial economy. In just a few short years, Marlone had cultivated a remarkably strong local brand presence throughout Montréal. However, the former co-owners had to permanently close the business in the summer of 2023 upon facing challenging growth decisions ahead that conflicted with their longstanding commitment to sustainable local manufacturing.
Hallmark Canada
As Canada’s flagship store for the celebrated American greeting card giant Hallmark Cards, Hallmark Canada first opened in 1958 and now proudly operates over 40 Hallmark Gold Crown boutiques in addition to branded displays within 3,000+ Canadian retailers across the country. With over six prosperous decades of local presence, Canadians can find Hallmark’s vast array of premium quality greeting cards fit for every special occasion, lively gift wraps, festive Keepsake ornaments, home décor objects and fashionable stationery – all offered at remarkably accessible price points.
While the expanse of products now available locally undeniably rivals any independent store in terms of sheer diversity suited for mass commercial appeal, the Hallmark Gold Crown collections mostly focus on imported items from their Kansas City headquarters rather than spotlighting designs from local Canadian indie artists and makers. Yet discerning shoppers can still visit a conveniently located Hallmark Gold Crown near them or browse online to discover charming finds at a competitive value.
Pros
- Large product selection
- Numerous Montreal stationery outlets
Cons
- Few local or unique creations compared to independent boutiques
Paperole
This independent Montreal publisher and specialty shop/gallery, located in the Mile End neighbourhood along Rue Saint-Denis, proudly focuses exclusively on promoting illustration and graphic arts through imaginatively designed paper goods and stationery. Co-founders Mathieu Dumont Chalifour and Vicky Poirier established Paperole’s niche boutique in 2013 as a passion project showcasing diverse collaborative works from local rising artists and talented designers.
Aside from their meticulously curated boutique itself offering greeting cards, notebooks, planners, posters and accessories that celebrate artistry through specialty paper formats, Paperole also extends their services in creating fully customized private label collections and beautifully crafted paper merchandise for local businesses and organizations.
Across Paperole’s product offerings – be it their in-house designs or custom commissions – particular commitment is placed on partnering with emerging homegrown talent, utilizing eco-friendly materials from recycled to FSC-certified paper stocks, and keeping manufacturing operations based provincially to sustainably support Quebec’s creative economy.
Information to visit the Paperole boutique:
Address: 3915 Rue Saint-Denis, Montreal
Phone: 438 386-6808
Pros
- Focus on contemporary art and design
- Encourages emerging creators in Montreal
- Eco-conscious
Cons
- Higher prices due to high-end materials and unique designs
We see that locals have several options when it comes to finding outstanding greeting cards, artistic posters of their hometown or other original stationery items. From small boutiques to chains, it all depends on everyone’s needs and preferences.
It is, therefore, important to take the time to visit the various Montreal stationery shops to encourage their creators while picking out truly unique pieces to offer loved ones or to beautify one’s daily life.