Behind The Shop is an ongoing series that features our talented and devoted shop owner community. Each time, we talk one-on-one with a shop owner/s to hear first hand what shop life is all about. Whether it’s a new shop that just came onto the scene or a popular community favorite – we want to share more about their journeys and stories with you. 

As far as shop beginnings, Poi & Hun definitely had a unique one. It all started during a long distance relationship between Mr. Poi and Ms. Hun (Holly).  Being a long time planner, Holly first found the planner community around 2016 after being laid off from her full time job.  At the time, she was dabbling in the world of TNs and vintage journaling but ultimately found her passion in a more minimal and functional aesthetic. Around 2018, Mr. Poi moved to the U.S. while Holly was still living in Vancouver and they decided to start a business together.  With Holly’s graphic design background and passion for planning, Poi & Hun was started. 

Then, in 2020 when the pandemic started, Poi & Hun faced the challenges of navigating a new business and their personal lives remotely. Although not being able to visit each other, they continued to pursue their goals for the business. Holly focused on the product design and marketing side while Mr. Poi focused on order fulfillment and business operations. Now, Poi & Hun has grown from a small space in Mr. Poi’s basement to a new warehouse space and retail shop with an expanded product line that includes a variety of planner goodies. 

We talked to Holly all about her planner journey, starting Poi & Hun, opening their new warehouse/retail shop and what’s coming next. Take a listen to our chat below: 

POI & HUN PRODUCTS

Starting out with a few half letter disc bound inserts and sticky notes, Poi & Hun has developed into a complete product line with a signature style for minimal and functional planning. They offer a wide array of undated insert styles (daily, monthly, weekly and functional on 80lb paper) in half letter, mini HP, classic HP and rings (pocket, personal, A5) as well as printables, planner accessories/essentials, notepads, acrylic organizers, journaling cards and more. They have also expanded into vegan leather products with the introduction of Vegan Leather Pouches and Compact Desk Agenda Covers. The agendas are a beautiful vegan leather croc design in A5 and mini HP size and can fit up to 1” discs or any coil or bound notebook or planner (like a Hobonichi).  They also released an Acrylic Collection of desk organizers as part of their lifestyle vision for the brand.  There may even be a possible Poi & Hun planner coming soon. 

POI & HUN SHOP

This year, after outgrowing their work-from-home space, Poi & Hun decided to open a warehouse/studio in Redmond, WA. The space serves as a facility to house products, fulfillment, office space and an exciting retail shop. They have turned the front end of the space into a shop filled with Poi & Hun products as well as complementing products from other shop owners and brands, a collaborative project they started online as well. One of the best parts about having the shop is so customers can see and feel products in person as well as pick up orders if they are local. 

Be sure to follow Poi & Hun on Instagram, Facebook and visit their website or new retail shop.   P.S. they also got married and finally live in the same place.