“There’s nothing better than a friend, unless it’s a friend with chocolate!”  - Lisa Grayson
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In between honoring our parental figures, graduates, and teachers, there is another holiday that should not go unnoticed. This week it’s time to celebrate National Best Friends Day, which falls on Thursday, June 8th. Friendship makes life sweeter, brighter, and a heck of a lot more fun! 

Whether they are the Samantha Jones to your Carrie Bradshaw, the Chewbacca to your Han Solo, or the Patrick Star to your SpongeBob Squarepants; friends are there for us in good times and bad. They help us navigate love and loss, serve as co-pilot during important space missions, and protect our secret Krabby Patty recipe at all costs. 

This week, show your friend how much you appreciate the impactful role they’ve had and will continue to have in your life for years to come! Our in-store collection of Simply Curated travel candles are adorned with loving messages and affirmations. The Kedzie Quilted Crossbody Bag also makes for a great gift. And of course, nothing says “I’m grateful for you” or “I’m thinking of you” better than a chocolate bar! 

Does your friend live in a different state or country? Our skilled teammates will make shipping easy while giving personalized product recommendations and wrapping presents up with the perfect bow. It’s all in the details; thoughtful gift, flawless presentation, and efficient mailing services. 

While you’re in-store, stock up on cards and gifts for Father’s Day to save yourself a trip; celebrating more of our parental figures is right around the corner. Sip and Ship has a pastry that is sure to satisfy Dad’s sweet tooth, or a delicious rosemary cheddar scone for the savory fans. We love giving gift ideas and recommendations to our customers. Look for our Instagram stories this week for more awesome partner spotlights and gift pairings! 
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                                                                                                                            Staff Writer: Megan Pavek

It’s time to get outside, take that trip, try something new and experience an adventure! Sip and Ship is here as your home base to iron out the details, finish up those last minute tasks, and help you complete errands without the headache. You deserve to relax, get out of the office and enjoy some sunshine–let us handle the rest.

Our friendly staff are eager to assist you in-store with any printing, copying, scanning, or faxing needs. Navigate dreadful paperwork with ease and let our notary public team lend a helping hand. Best of all- skip the line and hassle of the post office, stock up on graduation cards and thoughtful gifts, and do some personal shopping through our thoughtfully curated gift shop.

Having a mailbox with Sip and Ship allows you to be spontaneous and travel with ease. Live on your own schedule all summer long without having to worry about packages being delivered when you’re gone. Whether you’re beaching it at Saltwater State Park, having a picnic at Lake Sammamish, or watching the sunset over Mount Si, Seattle is near countless sights and hikes worth taking advantage of! The endless recreational opportunities is what makes living here so special. 

We hope you enjoyed a lovely weekend with family and friends in nature; a prelude to the priceless summer months ahead of us. Memorial Day is many things; a federal holiday, a day off and a day of mourning, an occasion to honor the fallen, the last Monday in May, and a turning point into summer. Sip and Ship acknowledges the incredible bravery, commitment, and selflessness of past military personnel who have died for our country. From the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate their service and sacrifice.
                                                                                                                           Staff Writer: Megan Pavek

Graduation season is quickly approaching and we can’t wait to help pick out the perfect gift for your favorite overachiever! It’s time to celebrate the sleepless nights spent studying, tears and laughs, countless memories, and everything else that went into crushing final exams and closing the yearbook.

Congratulations to the Class of 2023; the world is your oyster! As you close one chapter and begin the next, we encourage you to take chances, be messy, and make mistakes. Experience as much as possible on your journey while continuing to leave your beautiful mark on this world. And before you go, be sure to stock up on mementos that remind you of home: Ballard t-shirts, mugs, and more.

Don’t forget to thank the mentors who have shaped your academic experience; behind every student is a strong teacher who has invested hours into their success! We can all acknowledge that being a teacher is no easy task, and even the smallest gift, card, or gesture can mean the world to your school support system. 

Send your favorite teacher off to a relaxing summer vacation with scented lotions, shower steamers, or a delightfully scented candle. A gift card from our Sip and Ship cafe is a great way to ensure they are staying caffeinated and treating themselves. Our sparkling lavender lemonade is the perfect refreshment for a hot summer day, and a fresh-baked cookie is sure to put a skip in their step. 

This is a special time as both students and teachers get to see their hard work pay off and relish in their accomplishments. Looking back, it seems like just yesterday you were taking your kindergartener to their first day of school. Looking forward, the future is bright and full of endless possibilities for your graduate. No matter the stage of life, Sip and Ship is proud to support you in every endeavor, and grateful to be along for the ride!
                                                                                                                             Staff Writer: Megan Pavek

Sip and Ship and CoCreate Work have joined forces to bring other small businesses their ‘Hiring the Right Team For Your Business Course’!

It’s aimed for entreprenuers, business owners and small businesses may have found themselves in a hiring rut. A rut where you need and want the perfect team, aligned with your values and the direction on how to hire with passion, efficiency and a plan. 

“La’Kita listened, provided encouragement and taught me how to layer the right questions to imagine what’s possible. Our team is paramount, because exceptional customer service is at the core of what we do. I want other businesses to feel that same sense of empowerment and reduce the loneliness they can feel when making such important business decisions”  says Diana, co-founder at Sip and Ship. 


La’Kita’s guidance and mentorship helped me to:

• Understand the strategic, creative process and practical possibilities 
• Hire our the best Managers for our stores after a long tenure in our shops

Which has helped MY team and business grow, strengthened our leadership skills, and build an inclusive culture.

If you’re planning on building or growing your team this year, I highly recommend connecting with La’Kita and CoCreate Work’s updated course, ‘Hiring the Right Team for your Business’ 

This is a self-paced course for leaders who want to grow their team with intention, reduce turnover rates, and want to step into the next level of their business growth. The course includes on-demand videos, hiring templates, interview question bank, advice for onboarding, and building out an inclusive hiring process.

You’ll learn…

• How to identify the right role for your business, so you have the support you need
• What a step by step, inclusive hiring process looks like and entails, so you build your company culture
• How to create principles for your company and use them for hiring, so the best fit person joins

And a lot more! The course is available now until April 30th. Enroll here!

I know you’ll be in GREAT company with our friend La’Kita and the team at CoCreate Work - especially if you want to step into your next level of business growth with a team.

We're here to answer any questions you may have! 

Sincerely, 

Diana and La'Kita

“A vibrant, fair, and generative future is possible – not when thousands of people do climate justice activism perfectly but when millions of people do the best they can.” – Xiye Bastida

Nature gives us so much to be grateful for; a home, health, sense of purpose, and of course some amazing views! On Earth Day, and every other day of the year, it’s critical we challenge ourselves to reflect on practices and lifestyles that are causing harm to our planet. Reimagining small changes can we make individually to reduce waste, promote clean resources, and protect the environment? What large changes can we make together to encourage a wide-spread impact? 

The aforementioned quote from Xiye Bastida reminded us of our priorities in this season of life, as we focus on being gentle with ourselves, eachother, and most importantly Mother Earth. As an activist, Xiye Bastida is influential in highlighting the intersectionality of the climate crisis. She is also a co-founder of the Re-Earth Initiative which strives to create an accessible environmental movement for all people.

As Earth Day passes, we continue conversations on how Sip and Ship does its part in protecting the environment while continually identifying areas for improvement and opportunities to expand in the future. Whether it’s composting with Cedar Grove, being an active participant in the Too Good To Go program to reduce food waste, partnering with Herkimer to provide ethically sourced coffee, and collecting and upcycling packing peanuts, bubble wrap and shipping boxes. 
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Sip and Ship is proud of the work we do furthering our commitment to you and our environment. We hope you had a great weekend and we're excited to help you start the week on a the right foot!
                                                                                                                        Staff Writer: Megan Pavek

As the month of March comes to an end, our coffee cups are filled with gratitude for the amazing female business-owners we’ve collaborated with during Women’s History Month. Feeling especially thankful to know these women, support their endeavors, experience their brilliance, and share their stories. Here at Sip and Ship, the hard work that goes into running a business does not go unnoticed. What makes it worthwhile is knowing that the impact will resonate within our personal and community journey where we intersect and ultimately create something more beautiful together. 

In the fourth and final installment of this series, we are eager to spotlight virtual mailbox customer Priyanka Raha, founder and CEO of PopSmartKids. As Women’s History Month seeks to educate and empower all generations, Priyanka and PopSmartKids have a similar mission to support and inspire students. Serving as a reminder that investing in one another is one of the most powerful tools to create a better future. 

PopSmartKids is a learning solution that offers writing programs for K-12 students and digital citizenship programs for parents and families. The goal is to empower every child with the skills and confidence to express themselves clearly and effectively through writing. By developing a research-based writing program which takes a thoughtful approach to teaching writing skills, the company meets students wherever they are in their growth journey. The curriculum stands apart from anything else available on the market today by using a variety of interactive and collaborative activities to inspire and engage young writers. Instead of feeling like a chore, students actually want to come to these writing classes!

As an entrepreneur and small business owner, Priyanka recognizes the importance of a strong support system.  She knows that she can’t do it all on her own and can always rely on Sip and Ship. Being a virtual mailbox customer means she can skip the hassle of going into a post office. Sip and Ship’s digital mailbox provides her with 24/7 remote access. Giving her the freedom to scale her businesses from anywhere, at any time. Priyanka can view delivered mail and packages from her phone or laptop dashboard. Giving her quick and easy access with a click of a button instructions to Sip and Ship to recycle, shred, deposit or forward her mail and packages to wherever she is in the world. The sky's the limit! 

“My experience with Sip and Ship is nothing less than stellar. Their virtual mail platform for my business is easy-to-use, and I appreciate the variety of different actions I can take on any mail that I receive. Their team is incredibly friendly, professional, and efficient. I like that they provide me with a mailing address that is a step up from a typical PO box, so it is convenient and acceptable for all business purposes. I no longer have to use my personal address as my business address or worry about missing my mail. Sip and Ship is not just a mailing service, they have been a pillar in the community for over two decades and I feel confident that I am in good hands.”

Priyanka is one of the many female founders who inspire us not only during Women’s History Month, but year-round! We hope this four-part series has given you a chance to know and connect with these brilliant entrepreneurs who are creating an impact in your community and around the world. What’s your dream? 

                                                                                                                          Staff Writer: Megan Pavek

“Here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.”
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When women empower and uplift one another, the result is pure magic! Fearless leaders who plant seeds for others, inspire growth, and marvel at the force that blossoms before them. As Sip and Ship continues to celebrate women in business, we thought the aforementioned quote perfectly matched the values of Greenwood mailbox customer, Sara Dean.  

Sara Dean is no stranger to being a force who positively impacts others! As a keynote speaker, leadership and business coach, and mindset trainer, she supports women in leadership who want to become more courageous in their thoughts, actions and conversations. Sara moves her clients and audiences of all sizes to deeply understand that their voices have value by giving them tools to get out of their own way, retrain culturally ingrained negative thought patterns, and cultivate a deeper sense of intuition and self trust.

From mom conferences to women’s empowerment events to corporate training series, Sara teaches women and moms how to identify and own their greatest strengths in order to show up and shine in the areas they most want to grow and evolve! 

Sara has been leading women through growth and transformation for the last 20 years. She has spoken for Amazon, the City of Seattle, Charles Schwab, Maricopa County Public Health, Dendreon Pharmaceuticals, Junior League of Seattle, Alt Summit, and She Podcasts Live. She was recently featured on the Dr Phil Show. When she’s not speaking and coaching, she is hosting the Shameless Mom Academy, her top rated podcast that has been downloaded over 5 million times across 140 countries.

“I have been a customer at the Greenwood Sip and Ship for years. It started with me needing a safe and convenient place to receive business mail. But that relationship quickly evolved as I had ongoing mail and gift needs.  While I'm grateful to have a trustworthy mail partner in Sip & Ship, what I truly love is being able to stop in and grab fun gifts and cards for folks. Whether it's gifts for my son's teachers, super sweet birthday cards for loved ones, or fun treats for myself, I always find more than I need when I stop in Sip and Ship. I feel like Diana curates the shop just for me! I'm also consistently impressed with how Diana and the Sip and Ship team show and lead in our community. They are a special asset to our neighborhood that I’m very grateful for.”

We are filled with gratitude for Sara Dean and the Shameless Mom Academy for participating in part three of this series. Thank you for inspiring us to show up every day and lead our best lives! 
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Staff Writer: Megan Pavek

Women’s History month invites revelry and reflection. In an ode to the achievements of past female generations, we are loud and taking up space. Here at Sip and Ship, we spend our days deep in thought, drawing parallels between the remarkable women of the past and the ones we admire in the present. 

Setting aside this special month to honor dynamic innovators and acknowledge all of the ways- both big and small- that they’ve truly touched our lives. Every Monday in March, this newsletter will give you a chance to know and connect with talented woman-owned businesses in your community. In part two of this series, Sip and Ship proudly spotlights virtual mailbox customer Moji Igun, founder and CEO of Blue Daisi. 

Passionate about preserving and protecting the environment, Blue Daisi is making a lasting impact in Seattle. Offering accessible support to businesses that want to grow their sustainability practices, the ultimate goal is to inspire integral change by pursuing zero waste.

Moji Igun founded Blue Daisi to make it easier for small businesses to practice the world they want to see on a small scale. She combines her professional experiences in engineering, education, and business operations with the deep knowledge she’s gained from her personal sustainability journey to help her clients push past the frustration and overwhelm of getting started.

Since 2021, Moji has been working with the City of Seattle’s Green Business Program to offer free support to local small businesses including targeted outreach, waste management training and connecting them to funding, incentives, and other resources. She's excited to continue working to help make Seattle a more sustainable and waste-free city. You can learn more about Blue Daisi here.

Understanding the busy lives of business-owners better than most, we know the importance of reliable services to save you time and provide peace of mind. By partnering with Sip and Ship, your business can use our commercial street address as its new mailing address, your business headquarters, giving you the opportunity to optimize SEO and google searches and scale with a team of support! No one should go it alone. Experience additional flexibility as a virtual mailbox customer and use your 24/7 access to your private online portal to view all incoming correspondence and packages.

“I love having a virtual mailbox at Sip and Ship! Having a separate mailbox for my business helps me stay organized and maintain my privacy. I also occasionally buy gifts for friends and colleagues or a treat for myself from the lovely product selections. It feels so great to be able to spend some time in the heart of Ballard and knock out the majority of my errands in one spot thanks to the whole team at Sip and Ship!”

Supporting fellow woman-owned businesses is always a priority at Sip and Ship. We are inspired by this partnership with Blue Daisi and look forward to learning more about ways to increase our sustainability in the future!
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Staff Writer: Megan Pavek

Always jumping at the chance to root for female movers and shakers, we look forward to celebrating Women’s History Month with you at Sip and Ship! Recognizing how women inspire and shape our worlds by creating progress and amplifying the entrepreneurial spirit. 

Every Monday in March, Sip and Ship will proudly spotlight mailbox customers who are strong female business-owners making an impact in our communities. Giving you a chance to know and connect with these talented women and also support their businesses. 

Did you know that the National Women’s History Alliance selects a theme each year to guide community celebrations? The theme chosen for 2023 is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories” so it felt appropriate to begin part one of this series with traditional mailbox customer Sabra Gertsch, co-founder of Side Road Media. 

Drawing on her past life as a news journalist, Sabra is a gifted storyteller who uses her expertise to empower others through sharing their experiences. Her company Side Road Media helps uplift other businesses by employing effective communication strategy and brand enhancement through a combination of different mediums. An active mailbox customer since 2016, Sabra and her team rely on the Ballard Sip and Ship as a safe haven for trusted shipping services and efficient customer service, complete with the best coffee and salted chocolate chip cookies in town!

“I showed up in a frenzy with 30 boxes of chocolates, a couple bottles of wine, and handwritten holiday cards. I looked desperate because I was late, as usual, to accomplish this one big thing I was expected to manage: special deliveries from our small business. For the first time, Side Road Media could afford gratitude in the shape of physical gifts. Gifts that had to go out that day. I handed Diana and her team a list of addresses and left my mess of gratitude on the long counter near the window. They handed me one of their crazy delicious chocolate chip cookies and told me to scoot. That was it. A couple of hours later they sent me a photo of the beautifully packaged gifts and the shipping receipt. 

For the past six years, Ballard Sip and Ship has been a transfer hub for our company, a landing place where members of our team stop for baked goods, hot drinks, and hard drives waiting for production. We are a bunch of documentarians who get to tell stories  –– video shorts for social media and websites, commercials, long form content and documentaries –– for amazing and global companies based in Washington and points beyond. We are reminded often about how relationships connect us, how one small business can support and lift another. Thanks to Diana and team for being a lovely and reliable partner in our story.”

We are grateful for our continued partnership with a fellow woman-owned business and look forward to continually supporting and growing with one another in the future!
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Staff Writer: Megan Pavek

At Sip and Ship, our employees are our most valuable assets. They are our partners and we are an extension of each other. Working together to create a special place for our community to experience excellent customer service and care through our shared core values. Together as each other's biggest allies and cheerleaders, eager to provide support where it’s needed, and ready to celebrate each victory whether it’s big or small. Familiar with failure, and disappointment too —in the face of it right at our service counters and behind closed doors to support and get through together.

Which makes our annual CHWAG (pronounced sh-wag) awards event one of the important ways we honor our employees, reminding them how special they are and making sure they feel appreciated. CHWAG is an acronym used to describe Sip and Ship’s core values: courage, hard work, authenticity, and gratitude. Peer nominated, each year we spotlight our teammates who go the extra mile to serve and connect with others daily. Sometimes it’s as simple as making a customer laugh over a cup of coffee, connecting over life milestones, or showing up for a struggling coworker to assist them during a hectic day. 

This year we were grateful to gather with the Sip and Ship team for a night filled with good food, great camaraderie, and even better company! We announced our 2022 CHWAG achievers and celebrated every employee with dinner from Sunny Hill and goodie-bag gifts from one of our favorite local vendors.

We are delighted to share with you how our achievers help create the magic that happens at Sip and Ship.

Always up for a challenge, Yasmin puts herself and her heart on the frontline every day, making it her sole mission to leave our guests with a positive experience.

Joe is a jack of all trades, assuming any role with an open mind and an unreserved willingness to support in any capacity needed.

Competent and gracious, Maddie shows up as the best version of herself each day to serve others and make an impact.

Going the extra mile, Megan connects with others over conversation and coffee, leaving lasting impressions on our customers.
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Carrie exemplifies all Sip and Ship values through leading by example, thoughtfully nurturing relationships, and maintaining an outstanding repertoire with guests and staff alike. 
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It seems fitting to wrap up the month of love with this evening of appreciation. We hope this sentiment may inspire you to acknowledge the people in your life that leave a positive impact by making your days a little brighter! For us here at Sip and Ship, our team and our customers are of the highest value, so go forth knowing that you are treasured!

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but they will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou​

As most of you know, the Sip and Ship team loves being a bright spot in your day. It’s our thing! Handing you your mail and packages, making your favorite cafe beverage, sliding a warm salted chip cookie in a pastry bag –made for easy nibbling on your way to your next stop. We also get a kick out of helping you find that special little something to show your love. Sure, we can all say it, but there is something to be said about the action behind the words that can really make an impact. Honestly, it doesn’t have to be with a tangible gift. 

In my house emptying the dishwasher, folding laundry, and making dinner are all gestures of love that don’t come wrapped up in a pretty bow; they are service actions that speak my love language. I also love the spoken word, especially on paper so that I can touch the paper and revisit the message —treasures from friends, former bosses, crew members, family members, customers, and neighbors that remind me that I have touched them in some small way. These are my keepsakes safely tucked in my night stand that I pull out every once in a while. I’ve got a few Valentine’s Day, birthday, and holiday cards in there too! Have you ever given thought to your love language? What captures your imagination, touches your heart, and lights up your soul?

Team Sip and Ship loves what we do and we act from the heart - this is what ignites our joy and makes us happy--serving customers like you every day, one human at a time, with great attention and intention. 

As a matter of fact, we believe there is enough love for everyone through a simple hello and smile, gathering with friends to share a walk, one of our local wines, chocolates and cocktail mixes, or jotting a note to someone you think of often but never seem to find the right time to check in with. We’ve got an array of Galentine and Valentine cards so you can pull back cupid’s bow and let it fly! 

And remember, we are teaming up with Greenhouse Nail Spa to sprinkle a little extra on top of your acts of love and kindness. With every $50 purchase at Sip and Ship (Ballard & Greenwood stores), your receipt goes into a draw to win a $100 gift card at Greenhouse Nail Spa. Two winners will be announced at 4pm on February 14th. 

A wonderful bonus to whatever brings you through our doors. 

With love,

Diana and Team