Erickson Design

What Erickson Design does

Erickson Design is a privately held, founder-owned custom wedding invitation and stationery design studio based in Chicago, Illinois, established on February 6, 1998 by Peggy and Bill Lambert. The firm produces custom-designed paper stationery for weddings and adjacent life-event celebrations, offering multiple printing techniques including letterpress (metal plate pressed into paper), offset printing, thermography, and foil stamping, with specialty lines such as Chicago Architecture Inspired Invitations, Bar/Bat Mitzvah invitations, pocket invitations, and coordinated event-day items (programs, place cards, table numbers, favor tags, welcome bag letters, door hangers). The studio emphasizes eco-friendly production using tree-free and recycled papers, in-house printing to eliminate plates and chemicals, and tree planting through the National Arbor Association for every set of invitations sold.

The core technology is a traditional craft-based design and print production process rather than a software platform; client engagement is conducted via phone, email, and in-person appointments, with Pinterest boards and emailed images used to communicate visual direction. Design cycles typically run 2-3 weeks followed by printing time dependent on technique, with delivery via USPS 2-day Priority Mail and free local delivery for Chicago clients. The business extends modestly into B2B logo and branding services through its Design Studio offering, and participates in the Green Wedding Alliance and Wish Upon a Wedding cause-related affiliations.

The commercial model is sales-led and direct: orders are placed via [email protected], pricing is custom per project with unit-priced add-ons (e.g., $1.00 per envelope for printed addressing), and payments are accepted via credit card, check, and PayPal. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer with an auxiliary Etsy storefront for pre-designed templates and a portfolio-driven social media presence on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Flickr. Revenue is structurally tied to U.S. wedding and celebration cycles, with no disclosed funding, institutional investment, or enterprise contracts.

Name

Erickson Design

Legal name

Erickson Design

Website

https://ericksondesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Erickson Design is a Chicago-based custom wedding invitation and stationery studio founded in 1998 by Peggy and Bill Lambert, serving primarily wedding couples with bespoke printed invitations, event-day stationery, and select branding services using letterpress, foil, and offset techniques.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Wedding Stationery & Invitation Design

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Graphic Design Services (54143)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Design, Decor & Styling (HSACAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bridal & Wedding Party Styling (Attire, Hair/Makeup Coordination) (HSACABAF)

Keywords

• Custom wedding stationery
• Letterpress invitations
• Event day paper goods
• Logo and branding design
• Custom invitation printing

Headquarters

HQ city

Pelham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Custom Wedding Stationery: Custom-designed wedding invitations and stationery. Design time typically 2-3 weeks with printing time dependent on technique. Prices include envelope addressing at $1.00 each. Accepts credit cards, checks, and PayPal.
2. Logo and Branding Services: Logo and branding design services including logos, branding, brochures, letterhead/stationery suites, and business cards. Lead designer Peggy offers consultation directly via email.
3. Event Day Items: Coordinating event day items including place cards, escort cards, wedding programs, table numbers, favor tags, stickers, welcome bag letters, door hangers, menus, and favor boxes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Erickson Design is a Chicago-based custom graphic design and printing studio that creates bespoke wedding invitations and stationery. They design, print in-house using letterpress, offset, thermography, and foil techniques, and coordinate full suites of paper goods from save-the-dates through thank-you notes, including event-day items such as programs, place cards, and welcome bag letters, with a smaller Design Studio offering logo and branding work.

Product overview

Erickson Design is a custom wedding invitation and stationery design studio offering a unified suite of paper-based products and design services. The core offering centers on wedding stationery including Pocket Wedding Invitations, Letterpress Wedding Invitations, and Foil Invitations, with specialty lines like Chicago Architecture Inspired Invitations. The portfolio extends across the wedding event lifecycle from Save the Dates through Thank You cards, encompassing Shower Invitations, Brunch Invitations, Birthday/Anniversary Party Invitations, and Bar & Bat Mitzvah Invitations. On the day-of, they provide Wedding Programs, Place Cards & Escort Cards, Table Numbers and Markers, Favor Tags & Stickers, Welcome Bag Letters, and Door Hangers. Add-on customization services include Envelope Lining, Custom Maps, Envelope Addressing, Custom Stamp Design, and Monogram Design. Their Design Studio also offers Logo and Branding services for non-wedding clients. Most invitations are custom-designed per client, with some standard designs available via their Etsy shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wedding Invitations Custom wedding invitation stationery produced in multiple printing styles (offset, letterpress, thermography, foil), available in booklets, pockets, and stacked formats, designed to match the couple's wedding style.
• Pocket Wedding Invitations Custom pocket-fold invitations designed to match a couple's wedding style, ranging from funky and fun to classic and fancy or formal and clean.
• Letterpress Wedding Invitations Wedding invitations produced using letterpress printing, where a metal plate presses an image into soft, thick paper for a tactile, classic finish.
• Foil Invitations Wedding invitations produced with foil stamping for a metallic finish in colors such as silver, purple, gold, and rose gold.
• Chicago Architecture Inspired Invitations Custom wedding invitations inspired by Chicago architecture, featuring designs based on local landmarks such as the Adler Planetarium and The Rookery building.
• Save the Dates Save the date announcements for weddings, available in traditional, photo-driven, or themed formats such as ticket-style or fun pet designs.
• Birthday and Anniversary Party Invitations Custom invitations for birthday, anniversary, baby shower, and other celebratory events.
• Bar & Bat Mitzvah Invitations Custom invitations for Jewish Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations, tailored to theme, colors, and budget.
• Shower Invitations Custom shower invitations themed to reflect the bride and groom's interests, home, hobbies, or chosen colors and shapes.
• Brunch Invitations Custom invitations for pre-wedding rehearsal dinners and post-wedding brunches, designed to match or complement the wedding invitation suite.
• Wedding Programs Ceremony programs that recognize wedding party members, thank parents, and help guests navigate readings, traditions, and other ceremony elements; available as booklets or single sheets.
• Place Cards & Escort Cards Custom place cards and escort cards that guide guests to assigned seating at the reception, offered in styles ranging from fun to formal.
• Table Numbers and Markers Custom table numbers and markers featuring numbers, Chicago landmarks, or band names, available as tented cards, frames, clips, or easels.
• Favor Tags & Stickers Custom tags and stickers to brand wedding favors and gifts, featuring images, monograms, names, or wedding dates.
• Welcome Bag Letters Welcome letters placed in hotel guest welcome bags, containing itineraries, directions, recommendations, transportation advice, and custom maps for wedding weekend locations.
• Door Hangers Custom door hangers for hotel guests at wedding venues, featuring wedding logos and information to extend branding throughout the property.
• Logo and Branding Services Custom logo and branding design services for businesses, including logos, branding, brochures, letterhead/stationery suites, and business cards, delivered by lead designer Peggy via direct email consultation.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Carasco PhotographyminorOthersRecommended photographer partner for wedding events. Website: carascophoto.com
• Entertainment CompanyminorOthersRecommended entertainment and catering partner. Website: entertainingcompany.com
• Boutique BitesminorOthersRecommended catering partner specializing in boutique-style food. Website: boutiquebites.com
• J&L CateringminorOthersRecommended catering partner. Website: jandlcatering.com. Featured in real wedding events.
• So Stacy (Stacy Saltzman Swislow)minorOthersRecommended wedding planner. Website: sostacy.com
• Honey Bee Weddings (Misse Daniel)minorOthersRecommended wedding planner. Website: honeybeeweddings.com
• Soiree Weddings & Events (Tiffany Munster)minorOthersRecommended wedding planner. Website: soireechicago.com
• SQN Events (Beth Bernstein)minorOthersRecommended wedding planner featured in real wedding events. Website: sqnevents.com
• Exquisite Designs (Alexandra Jusino)minorOthersRecommended floral and decor partner. Website: exqdesigns.com
• Art of ImaginationminorOthersRecommended floral and lighting design partner. Website: artofimagination.com
• Okyne MedialabminorOthersRecommended DJ/Music partner. Website: okynemedialab.com
• Poetic Productions (Keith Jorgensen)minorOthersRecommended videography partner. Website: poeticweddings.com
• Green Wedding AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with Green Wedding Alliance, an organization promoting environmentally sustainable wedding practices. Aligns with company's eco-friendly printing and paper choices.
• Wish Upon a WeddingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with Wish Upon a Wedding, a nonprofit that provides weddings for couples facing terminal illnesses. Website: wishuponawedding.com

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Mixbook: Online design platform for custom photo products including save the dates, invitations, and albums. Partial overlap with Erickson Design's photo-integrated save the date and invitation offerings, primarily competing on self-service design tools.
• Paperless Post: Digital invitations and stationery platform offering customizable online invitations for weddings and events. Represents a format substitute for Erickson Design's print-based wedding invitations, particularly for couples who prefer digital-first or hybrid communication.
• Zazzle: Online custom printing marketplace allowing designers and consumers to create and sell personalized stationery, invitations, and paper goods. Overlaps with Erickson Design in the custom invitation and stationery category at a lower price point with mass-market production.
• Greenvelope: Digital invitation platform with a strong eco-friendly positioning (no paper waste, tree-planting partnerships). Competes with Erickson Design in the sustainability-minded wedding segment, though via digital rather than print delivery.

Direct peers

• Cards & Pockets: Specialty online retailer focused on pocket-fold wedding invitations and custom stationery suites. Directly comparable to Erickson Design's pocket invitation product line with similar format focus and customization options.
• Basic Invite: Online custom wedding invitation company offering hundreds of designs with unlimited color customization and sample kits. Overlaps directly with Erickson Design's custom wedding invitation offering but competes primarily on configurability and price rather than bespoke consultation.
• Minted: Online marketplace and design platform offering custom wedding invitations, stationery, and day-of paper products with a crowdsourced designer network. Directly competes with Erickson Design for custom and semi-custom wedding stationery, though at much greater scale and with a self-serve online model.
• Engaging Concepts (Duo Collection): Boutique custom stationery studio offering handcrafted letterpress and foil wedding invitations with personalized design services. Comparable to Erickson Design in scale, custom-design approach, premium printing techniques, and target client base.

Broad incumbents

• Shutterfly: Large-scale online printing and personalization platform with a dedicated wedding stationery business (including the legacy Wedding Paper Divas brand). Competes broadly with Erickson Design across invitations and save the dates, but operates at platform scale with template-based offerings.
• Etsy: Global marketplace hosting thousands of independent wedding stationery designers, including Erickson Design's own Etsy shop. Functions as both a distribution channel for Erickson Design and a competitive alternative for couples seeking custom or semi-custom invitations from small studios.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ericksondesign
• Facebookfacebook.com/ericksondesign
• Instagraminstagram.com/ericksondesignchicago
• Pinterestpinterest.com/ericksondesign

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Erickson Design