For about a year, brightly colored stationery and paper goods featuring lovable bunnies have been turning heads around St. Louis, popping up at spots like the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market and Left Bank Books. Now Clem & Co — the company behind those birthday cards, washi tapes, wrapping paper, and more — is opening its first brick-and-mortar store in Soulard.
Kinsey Ratzman and Claire Capelli, partners in business and in life, are the creative minds behind Clem & Co. Visitors to the new store are greeted by a six-foot-tall wooden cutout of Clementine, the couple’s pet bunny and the brand’s mascot.
“When you walk into the shop, you’re transported into Clem’s world,” says Ratzman.
Located at 1300 Sidney, the store aims to offer a family-friendly environment. With hand-painted murals, streams of natural light, and even a pen housing Ratzman and Capelli’s pet bunnies, the space welcomes visitors of all ages.
“Soulard and the [Benton] park area have become so family-oriented over the years — there are so many strollers,” says Ratzman. “We’re making space for that.”
As customers browse, they’ll find products inspired by fresh produce, St. Louis pride, Italian pasta shapes, and pop culture icons. “We started off primarily with art prints, stickers, greeting cards, and bookmarks,” says Ratzman. “Those are still our core products, but we’ve expanded. The collections now feature fun accessories like magnets, scrunchies, earrings, and bracelet charms.”
Each collection offers an immersive experience, Capelli says. The farmers’ market collection includes stickers shaped like the familiar green berry baskets; the St. Louis collection features a mural with the Gateway Arch and the city flag. From the pop culture section, “Missouri Princess” stickers and magnets nod to Chappell Roan, alongside products inspired by the novel Heated Rivalry.
With the new storefront, the team is leaning into collaborations with local artists and displaying their work prominently throughout the shop. “St. Louis makers tend to be very proud of St. Louis, so it’s important to incorporate that,” says Capelli.
The “Claude Bunet” collection, for instance, is inspired by French fine art and includes a lily-pad candle from local candlemaker Ginger Snapped. Other St. Louis collaborations include Sweets for Reese, Stella & Sage, and Frankie Blue.
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The expansion also brings an opportunity to give back. The shop is partnering with St. Charles rabbit rescue Dolly’s Dream Home to support the animals that inspire their designs.
“Bunnies are one of the most abused pet animals in the country,” says Ratzman. “The month after Easter each year is when rescues are most inundated, because people breed baby bunnies and then dump them.”
Many domesticated bunnies rely on humans for survival, making abandonment especially dangerous.
“We always find it interesting that big companies don’t give back more,” says Ratzman. “If we could build that into our core model, why wouldn’t we?”
Clem & Co is open Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 7 p.m.
