America Publishing Company

Welcome to a ‘happier’ life!

Meet Bart, the 'Cosmic Cat' and his whimsical friends. Do you love smiling cartoon cats, intriguing quotations, and thoughtful greetings. Send one to a friend. They’ll feel better, and so will you!

The FeLines Story

John, a publisher from Central Florida, married Susan, a Portland artist. Susan wanted to become a "professional artist." A friend suggested quotations on cards with sketches of cats. Susan hand-painted a dozen card samples with their cat, Bart, dancing through life. John showed the sample cards to a bookstore owner friend, and a new venture was born!

 

Students and retired friends helped hand-paint the first 60,000 cards. Thousands more were color-copied, then color-printed, filling orders from stores across the Northwest and beyond. Quotations, art and greetings were continuously revised. Only recycled paper was used for cards and envelopes. Out of consideration for the environment, only soy-based inks were used. There was also experimentation with tree-free papers.

 

Quotes were selected if a smile or laugh resulted. Authors and artists – famous and infamous – provided quotations that could be matched with art. Greetings had to “snap” when the card was opened and read. Thousands of stores across the country carried the line. From 1991 to 1999, thousands and thousands of lives were brightened when folks got a FeLines card.

 

Art & Sol

In addition to the card line, the Art & Sol Gallery was launched and Colorful Coos Bay art prints and posters were produced on the Southwest Oregon coast. When John and Susan's marriage ended, Susan went back to being an artist in Portland and John continued the business.

 

John moved on to new adventures, converting the gallery into the Art & Sol card and gift line, featuring work from more than a dozen great artists, photographers and artisans. Nationwide, 1,000 stores carried FeLines and Art & Sol cards and gifts. At the 1999 New York Stationary Show, John realized "the times were a-changin'. " One era was ending and a new one beginning.

 

Be Cause Business Resources, Inc – Smart Exit

John carefully stored the cards. He became a management consultant for an international firm, got a Master of Science degree in management, began a Be Cause Business Resources team to do small firm optimization, succession and exit. He wrote articles and books - Smart Exit: Steer Your Business To Success and a Smart Exit companion workbook.

 

He became a speaker at various business meetings and trade shows. He taught management at a state university and currently mentors students and aspiring consultants. John owns Be Cause Business Resources, Inc. which supports clients in launching, developing and passing forward their businesses, online and on Main Street.

 

Forward!

FeLines are now available again, re-introduced after a 20-year nap. We hope you enjoy Bart and his friends. Send one to your friend. They will feel better, and so will you!