Pipsticks

Pipsticks was founded in 2014 by Mo Vazquez and her husband Nathan in San Luis Obispo, California. Mo, a designer and sticker lover with a background in corporate brand management, launched Pipsticks as a side hustle to motherhood using Shopify for an initial three-month beta test in June 2014. The positive response transformed the project from hobby to business, with Pipsticks joining Cratejoy in November 2015 to expand subscription capabilities.

Company Mission

Pipsticks’ mission is to spread joy, creativity, and whimsy through beautifully designed stickers that inspire imagination in kids and adults alike. By curating monthly themed sticker collections and expanding into stationery, planners, and physical retail, they aim to make sticker collecting accessible and delightful for enthusiasts worldwide.

Products & Services

Pipsticks offers multiple subscription options and retail products:

• Kids Club: Classic ($14.95) or Petite ($9.95) with age-appropriate designs
• Pro Club: Classic ($14.95) or Petite ($9.95) for adult sticker enthusiasts
• Hello Kitty Club: Licensed collaboration featuring Hello Kitty designs
• Stationery Club: Cards, notepads, and paper goods subscription
• Physical Retail: Flagship store in San Luis Obispo opened 2017
• Publishing Partnerships: Planner and sticker book line with Workman Publishing in Barnes & Noble and major retailers

The company ships to over 60 countries and has grown from a small side business into a magical world of creativity with partnerships spanning major retailers and publishing houses.

What Sets Them Apart

Pipsticks differentiates through designer-quality curation and whimsical aesthetic. Mo’s design background brings cohesive artistic vision to monthly themes, with stickers featuring illustrations, kawaii styles, vintage designs, and seasonal motifs. Each monthly pack includes 7-15 sticker sheets plus extras like storage pouches, postcards, and coloring pages, creating unboxing delight beyond just stickers. The expansion into physical retail (flagship store 2017) and major publishing partnerships (Workman Publishing line in Barnes & Noble) demonstrates business growth from subscription roots.

However, operational challenges undermine product quality. With 2.3/5 Trustpilot rating from 15 reviews, recurring complaints include double charging, late shipping or non-delivery, charging for next subscription before receiving current one, and difficulty canceling (cancel button not working on mobile devices). Some customers report waiting six weeks without receiving boxes despite multiple customer service emails going unanswered. The BBB profile documents complaints about deceptive billing practices with shipments continuing two months after cancellation requests. While Knoji shows 4.0/5 from 56 reviews suggesting product satisfaction when received, fulfillment and billing inconsistencies create customer frustration disproportionate to the low $13-15/month price point.