1990
In this year, Pipsqueak Productions’ artist and founder, Mary Badenhop, received a birthday gift that still surpasses any gift she has ever received. Her future husband, Giovanni, the Sicilian from a little farm town in Sicily, arrived at JFK in New York City with guitar in hand ready to serenade the USA.
Giovani didn’t speak a word of English but with his guitar and Mary by his side, he was ready to take on the challenge of starting a new life in the United States. This same year, Mary decides to try a booth at a Pet Trade Show instead of the usual Gift Trade Shows she attended in previous years. WOW, was it a hit. Pipsqueak Productions was one of the first to start a greeting card company featuring solely pets, so Mary’s unique pet-centered business plan takes off.
This same year, Mary gets her first book commission for a book series called The Super Squad. She illustrates 4 Super Squad books for Troll Publishing, and is asked to illustrate a cardboard book about pets for McClanahan Publishing.
Meanwhile, Giovanni is having similar success with his business, entertaining with his romantic Italian music in the Pocono circuit and recording his first album. His music attracts American-Italian music lovers. Mary remembers his fans used to say Giovanni’s singing reminded them of home.
Mary and Giovanni spent these early years working hard and supporting each other’s passions. Giovanni could be found behind the Pipsqueak booth at the Pet Trade Show and Mary even took the stage in a few of Giovanni’s performances. An artistic power couple!
1991
Mary stayed busy with her pet portraits and by 1991 had over 200 art designs in over 50 dog breeds and cats. Greeting Cards were at their peak and articles written on Pipsqueak started appearing in trade magazines.
In February of 1991, Mary and Giovanni decide to get married. They were first married in Sicily, followed by a honeymoon in Malta and Rome, then celebrated again in New York City with friends and family from the states. They had a second ceremony at a church in the city followed by a reception at the Plaza Hotel, where they arrived by horse and buggy. Can you even imagine a more smiley couple?!
1992
The year of another creative idea that was a hit! A friend of Mary’s suggested that they create a pop-open cardboard coloring book playhouse. This was very on-brand for Pipsqueak and Mary created designs that she launched at the NY Stationery Show. One pop-open playhouse featured her cat and dog drawings and the other was an ABC Schoolhouse. Lillian Vernon loved the idea and featured the pop-open house on the cover of their catalog. Their first order was 20,000 playhouses. Mary continued to create new pop-open house designs throughout the year, and was interviewed in Entrepreneur Magazine.
1994
To keep up with Pipsqueak’s growth, Mary rents a bigger office space in Honesdale, PA with a warehouse packed full with greeting cards!
This same year, Mary is commissioned to do a calendar for North Shore Animal League (NSAL).
1995
1995 was the year of licensing deals with Hamilton Collection and US Tin Company.
Mary made beautiful tins and plates that were incredibly popular during the holidays.
Stay tuned for our next Meet the Artist blog series to see how Pipsqueak continued to grow in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.
