CoinOp

Chad Doane is the innovator behind Doane Paper. His ever-growing line of paper goods combine utility with style. We caught up with Chad to learn about the inception of his paper, running a business, and what’s in store for 2010. And guess what! Today marks the launch of Doane Paper’s newest product, the Flap Jotter. Proudly printed at Pinball, these sturdy pocket-sized notebooks can be found at their shop. Read on for more!

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Doane Paper products combine the best of both worlds, utilizing grids and lines in a single page design. Can you tell us more about your “big idea” moment; when you realized that it would be magical to merge the two? And please tell the truth, did you have a hard time concentrating in that meeting after having such a stroke of brilliance?

One of my daytime duties is to manage the retail packaging design direction for a 90 year old sporting goods manufacturing company. I was in a meeting to discuss initial packaging for a football mouthpiece. We had brought in an outside design firm to help us. All the guys from the design firm were using grid Moleskine notebooks while the rest of us were jotting down notes on yellow legal pads. We broke for lunch I was headed out the conference room door and for whatever reason took one last glance at everyone’s notebooks and legal pads on the table. That’s where the idea sprouted from. Yes, it was a little tough concentrating after we got back from lunch. I can remember drawing little square boxes in between the ruled lines on my legal pad over and over again.

Flap Jotters, Doane Paper’s newest release.

You have released a steady stream of amazing paper goods since the initial launch of the line with your writing pad in 2006 (some of which Pinball has had the enormous pleasure of helping produce). Do you have any personal favorites so far? How do you keep up the pace?

For the first two years of DP’s existence one product was produced: a standard sized writing pad. My favorite product so far is the Black Utility Notebook because it broke the perception that Doane Paper was going to always be a one trick product pony. In 2009 the product pace was a little feverish. The Black Utility Notebook was well received at the beginning of ‘09 (thank you Uncrate) so that generated the resources to establish new products and diversify the line further. We started the year with two products and ended with six.

A peek at the beauty of grids and lines, together.

You are an internet superstar! I am so impressed with the “attention” section on your website. Have you found it challenging to manage the PR portion of your business along with the design, production, and shipment of orders?

Requesting somebody to do a story on the Doane Paper in the beginning was easy because there wasn’t a lot going on and it was free! The first two years of DP’s life maybe 100 orders of writing pads total went out the door. I would make a goal of sending out 3 emails a day to blogs I followed and luckily a few of them picked up the DP story. Coolhunting in December of 2005 was one of the first to give DP a wink and that was a much needed attention snowball starter for us. Lately getting attention has gone from being proactive to reactive which is a nice change. Instead of trying to get individuals to generate press for Doane Paper, it’s now about making sure that the unsolicited press that is generated for DP gets found and that a spotlight is placed on it.

Utility Notebook Traffic Light series. (Printed at Pinball!)

Along that same line (or grids, ha ha), what is your favorite aspect of running your own biz? Least favorite?

The favorite part about running Doane Paper is getting an online store order and recognizing that it’s a return customer. That shows that we’re doing something halfway right and that the products are being used up. My least favorite aspect happens every year at this time, preparing the books for Mr. Tax Man.

Fun stickers on Doane Paper.

You have mentioned elsewhere that you also hold down a full-time day job while expanding the Doane Paper empire. Bravo! Do you have any secrets to share with other people who are aspiring to launch their own project, product, business, etc while being full-timers?

The advice I would give anyone who is aspiring to launch something on the side is to start the adventure in the spring (you’re in luck!). The days get longer, everything starts growing again, and it starts warming up. There’s just something energizing about the spring. Also be prepared to start doing some serious mental juggling. Take care of yourself, get your rest and try if possible to chill on the caffeine.

Ceramic coaster (no, it’s not made out of paper!)

I imagine you have a family full of notebook lovers. Would you care to share with us some of your favorite uses for Doane Paper goods around your home?

Right now we’re putting a new Flap Jotter to use with possible car shapes for this year’s Cub Scout pine wood derby. I always love checking out what the kids fill them up with. Emma our 11 year old is an aspiring fashion designer and Connor who’s 9 dreams of being the next Jeff Kinney. My wife is a chronic list maker, she’s a 3-pack-every three-weeks small writing pad user.

How to say “Grid Plus Lines” in Japanese.

What are your three biggest inspirations for Doane Paper? Three biggest distractions?

Inspirations: New Products, Return Customers, Making New Friends

Distractions: Post Office runs, old tape guns, keeping up the books

Doane Paper featured in the book Squares, Checks and Grids by Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire (Available in Doane’s shop)

What’s on the horizon for Chad and Doane Paper in 2010?

For Doane Paper in 2010 we’ll continue to diversify the DP product line up with new products and fill in some holes. We’ve also got a couple exciting collaborations in the works that should start to take shape in the spring. For me in 2010 just keep the steering wheel steady and enjoy the ride.

Planning for the Cub Scout pine wood derby!