I've never really put much thought into how big client relationships are until recently, and I have a feeling that way of thinking is quite common. I mean everyone knows that without a client or customer the business stands no chance of existing, but I think the actual relationship is overlooked more often than not.

Then I found out about a realtionship between a design firm and paper company (suprise suprise) that's on the verge of 25 years, and it got me thinking on the idea of the relationship in accordance to the brands, and how they actually strengthen each other.

French Paper company used to be a run of the mill, pun intended, paper mill until Jerry French met Charles Anderson in the mid-eighties. At that time, the French Paper brand was lacking the visual edge for a paper that is still pretty incredible. That's where Charles stepped in. The first design took French's worst selling paper to top selling in 6 months. Thus the beginning of a relationship.

At the time French had lackluster paper sales and Charles Anderson was designing at a firm he didn't own. Fast forward to today and Anderson is the head of his own company, Charles S. Anderson Design, and French Paper is one of the most respected paper companies out there.

I think if everyone were more open to the possibilities of long term relationships, everybody wins, including the kids.

_gern

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