The technological advances we are continually making in many different industries are amazing, but they come with sometimes very unforeseen impacts on other areas of the commercial world. When it comes to paper products like books, legal documents, paychecks, receipts, and even greeting cards, digital replacements for these items have largely taken over.
This has severely affected creators and sellers of paper media, including, recently, the greeting card and stationary company Papyrus. The Papyrus bankruptcy, in particular, could give small business owners important information. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy in Owatonna, MN as a small business owner or an individual, Behm Law Group, Ltd. can help you decide which chapter to file and guide you through it.
The Papyrus brand, owned by Schurman Fine Papers, is closing all 254 of their stores after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January of 2020. In addition to the Papyrus brand, the Schurman Fine Paper company owns American Greetings and Carleton Card. The stores that provide all of these paper greeting cards are shutting down because of the oversaturation of digital and e-card media. Papyrus and other Schurman cards will still be sold through department stores, supermarkets, and other companies.
What does this tell you?
Simply put, the replacement of paper cards with digital media dramatically decreased the demand for Papyrus products. If you’re supplying a product that’s losing demand due to the increase of digital versions of that product, you’re looking at a market that may become obsolete. However, you may still be able to maintain a market if you’re able to work through other retailers or transition your product into a digital format.
Ideally, if possible, your product should be available in a digital and physical format. Papyrus’s choice of filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy means their income is still high enough to make monthly debt payments pursuant to a Chapter 11 reorganized plan. In the future, if they’re able to successfully pay their debts pursuant to the modified payment terms of this plan, Papyrus may be able to reopen stores or create a whole new product line of digital greeting cards. All of this means there’s still hope for companies making products that are slowly being replaced by digital versions.
If you’re a sole proprietor or partner of your business in Owatonna, MN, Behm Law Group, Ltd. can help you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy and reorganize your debts, or Chapter 7 bankruptcy and work through the liquidation process. Give us a call today at (507) 387-7200 or contact stephen@mankatobankruptcy.com for more information.
