Paper Tiger in Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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Telephone:	+44 131 226 2390
Website:	www.shoppapertiger.com
Address:	6A/8 Stafford Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, EH3 7AU West End
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:	340 ftWest End - Princes Street 570 ftShandwick Place 640 ftQueensferry Street
Categories:	Cards & Stationery

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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards	Yes
Parking	Street

Bike Parking	Yes
Wheelchair Accessible	Yes

Today

Today	9:30 am – 6:00 pm Closed now
Local time (Edinburgh)	7:23 PM Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Business hours

Monday	9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday	10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday	9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday	9:30 am – 7:00 pm
Friday	9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday	9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday	11:00 am – 5:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Paper Tiger is the Edinburgh destination for exciting, innovative and distinctive cards, wrap, stationery and gifts. We are dedicated to creating collections of cards which inspire and excite. Cards are used to express personal sentiments and our cards aim to be as distinctive and individual as the people who give them. Alongside our amazing cards, we have a fantastic range of beautiful wrapping papers, journals and stationery, calendars and diaries, and books and small gifts. We are also very excited about our growing collection of things for making your own cards. What we do is very varied but at our core is a commitment to offering our customers interesting and well designed cards.

History

Established in 1982.

Paper Tiger was founded in the early 1980s as part of the Studio One group of companies. As well as Studio One, we also have our Studio One Furniture sister stores in Morningside. Paper Tiger trades from its stores in Stafford Street and Lothian Road it is the perfect place to find a special card and stylish gift-wrap. The three businesses continue to be run as a family of shops.

Meet the Business Owner

Michael A.

Business Owner

John Johnson is the founder and Chairman and still sets the creative direction for all our stores. Daniel Johnson is the Creative Director and has been working in the business since 2008 with responsibility for buying and commercial strategy. Michael Apter is the Operations Director for Paper Tiger and Studio One. Our team at Stafford Street is lead by Jenny McGarry and Nicole Marsh, ably supported by Fiona Purves and Emily Mills.

Paper Tiger also recommends

Studio One Furniture

1

review

Furniture Stores

Michael A. says,

«Our sister store selling fantastic furniture in Morningside»

Studio One

16

reviews

Flowers & Gifts

Michael A. says,

«Our sister store selling amazing home accessories and gifts on Stafford Street!»

Paper Tiger

30

reviews

Cards & Stationery

Michael A. says,

«Our newly refitted little sibling store!»

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14 reviews of Paper Tiger

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Nicola C.

Place rating: 5
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Squeee!
Five straight up giddy stars for Paper Tiger after just one visit because I legitimately want everything in the shop and am already excited for visit number two.
There’s such an extensive selection of unique and quirky cards and gifts. For this reason, Paper Tiger is my kind of shop. And staff welcomed with us a cheery ‘hello’ and bid us an equally friendly farewell. — An affirmation, for sure, that Paper Tiger is a darn good place for your stationary/gifting needs.
I’m looking forward to heading here when I’ve cards and gifts to buy for special people. Or a little something-something for myself. I imagine it’ll be hard to resist the latter with Paper Tiger now part of my life.

Denise M.

Place rating: 4
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

They have a card for almost every occasion, and the cards are lovely too!
Not only cards, they stock a range of beautiful wrapping paper and other wrapping paraphernalia. I have been known to buy some of their wrapping paper to use as backing for framing photos, it’s a fab selection!
In addition, they have a fun collection of paper based gifts, think daily desk calendars, journals, pretty puzzle books, origami sets and quirky coffee table books.
It’s hard to go in here and leave empty handed, and always good if you’re stuck for a last minute gift!

Rachael C.

Place rating: 5
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

I love paper tiger and they always have the perfect card.
They have an excellent selection of cards, birthday, occasional and blank cards. Sometimes it can be a bit difficult to find the exact card you want as there are so many to choose from that I get card fatigue before I’ve looked at even half the options.
Paper Tiger also stock a good range of wrapping paper by the roll and sheet.
This location also sells small gift items which make great stocking fillers and presents for people that you don’t know what to get for.

Alex R.

Place rating: 4
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

I don’t really like the name of the shop, therefore I gave it 4* but the staff were awesome and totally helped me out lots with buying a blank photo album and some glue dots for use with the photo album.
They were helpful and very polite.
Almost too polite, like they were secretly trying to get me out of there as fast as possible. Come to think of it there was a man and a boy there talking to a staff member about Ipad covers.
They seemed to be taking their time over it.
Maybe they were there for some more nefarious reason. Maybe they were just pretending to talk about ipad covers until I left, then they’d get on with whatever illegal activity they were up to.
Maybe it was illegal gambling? Maybe narcotics? Perhaps, in a cruel twist of irony, this «paper tiger» shop is actually the hub for a worldwide cyber crime syndicate?
Maybe… just maybe it is the national base for the hacker known as Anonymous.
I have been growing a moustache recently, so perhaps I’ll have to get all Poirot on this shizzle.
Anyway — they have a lovely selection of notebooks and «quirky» card. Great place to buy wrapping paper too.

Ursula D.

Place rating: 5
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Oh no. I shouldn’t be allowed into these places as I 100% spend the whole time mumbling to myself ‘oh loooooook at the sweet little notebook/mug/invitation set/mini plastic cactus. I don’t quite know how anyone puts up to me in these situations. When I am presented with an abundance of cute stationery, it’s like nothing else exists.
This place breeds ye olde ‘I don’t need it, but oh how I want it’ thoughts. Admittedly, they stock a large range of pretty cards and (pricey) notebooks, but I would hedge my bets no one actually needs floral ‘mini bunting’ (define ‘need’…).
It’s a great place to go for novel birthday gifts and kitschy Edinburgh/Scotland themed souvenirs, but be prepared to walk in at any time and emerge at least £5 lighter.

Hamish D.

Place rating: 5
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Lovely unique cards and small gifts which are so different from the normal high street offering that they always impress the receiver.

Jen Y.

Place rating: 4
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

I think Amy G got it right when she said that you go in for a look, and come out buying something you probably don’t need. As a stationary and small gift store, Paper Tiger is really quite sweet and at the higher end of the Stationary scale. There’s beautiful moleskin journals, quirky diaries, cards, a little section for new born babies, some badges and trinkets, and a collection of those ‘books’ that cover things like «How to be A Lady Who Lunches» or «Feel Fabulous» and the like.
I am something of a stationary addict. It’s no secret. I buy notebooks and then don’t use them for fear of sullying their gorgeous pages with my useless drivel and scrawly handwriting. In fact, that’s a point, maybe I should enrole in a caligraphy course and put some of the notebooks and journals to use… Anyway, I digress. I type prettier than I write, but I still love stationary.
I popped in here and duly came out with a new, gorgeous notebook. The cover is wonderfully bright and floral, and the pages are all decorated. I spent a good 20 minutes picking up, flicking through, and putting down many different notebooks. It’s that sort of place.
The staff were patient with this, as I know sometimes this can make them edgy. I’d highly recommend Paper Tiger if you’re in need of a new journal, notebook or perhaps a wee trinket and want it to be that bit more special (jotters for to-do and shopping lists this is not).

Angels

Place rating: 5
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

So I bought all my christmas wrappers, papers, ribbons, gift boxes, cards, some desk stuff for my office staff and some knick-knacks for stocking stuffers. As usual, the place is a gem. It hasn’t failed me… ever. It’s a bit pricey but thinking of the people I will give them to, I think it is worth it! Family and friends are definitely worth the extras.

Natalie K.

Place rating: 5
Sonoma, CA

Paper Tiger gets me excited like Paperchase gets me excited. But I think Paper Tiger might be better. Wait, did I just honestly say that?
I could probably spend a whole day in this shop, and it’s not even very big! The cards here are amazing, unique, and so tasteful with lots of local artists to choose from. Without a doubt you can find the perfect card here for every person you could possibly need one for. It’s just glorious.
There is a wonderful selection of notebooks, coffee table books, stationary, etc. Not to mention they have tons of great gift ideas here, with something for everyone. AND amazing gift wrap, including some of the cutest wrapping paper I have ever seen.

Fiona H.

Place rating: 4
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Don’t be put off by the slightly budget-looking name sign of this shop. Inside it’s pretty much wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling with anything vaguely related to gift wrapping, stationery and gift cards that you could ever need. Almost like a version of Paperchase that doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet still stocks good quality stuff.
But although it’s good quality, it’s pretty pricey as is usually the case with specialist shops. If the person you’re buying for is really into writing and would appreciate or even notice that it’s good stuff. Otherwise, if it’s just for a run-of-the mill birthday card you might not want to bother.

Anna F.

Place rating: 4
York, United Kingdom

This shop has slightly quirkier stock that it’s other branch, with a wider selection of colourful racks and other stuff that will keep your work space fun and tidy. Alas my workplace is never either of these however much stuff I get to achieve this.
Anyway, Paper Tiger is ideal for some cool gift ideas (especially say for a work colleague or someone who will appreciate expensive stationary) and I do quite enjoy popping in and seeing the latest additions here. Card selection has yet to leave me disappointed and if I feel like spending on a travel journal I always head here.

Sam C.

Place rating: 4
Manchester, United Kingdom

Unlike its Lothian road branch, this Paper Tiger stocks a little more novelty items than the other. Rather than stocking simply cards, this one includes item such as letter racks and desk tidies…
Ok, not that exciting but the overall ‘funky’ designs of simple household items is fairly appealing. As per usual with such bespoke items the prices are a little brutal, although if you want to spend £11 on a letter rack the designs here a all tempting.

Amy G.

Place rating: 5
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Paper Tiger is one of those shops that you go in for a look, and come out buying something you probably don’t need. Paper Tiger has been trading in Edinburgh for over twenty five years so they are obviously doing something right.
They sell a wide range of unique cards, stationery, wrapping paper, notebooks, diaries, books and gifts. The stock is all top quality, and is reasonably priced too. The cards are so much more than your cheesy Hallmark cards, perfect for that special someone. The gift wrap selection is amazing, my favourite is the map of the world design.
They also have a wide selection of different notebooks. Notebooks for things you didn’t even know you needed a notebook for! I bought a travel journal from here and its great, its such a pretty book and of a good quality. They have a good range of travel goods. Funny little things like little packs of travel soap and travel kits. There is also a few travel books which are quite interesting.
The gift selection is full of random little knick knacks which are usually quite humorous but you will probably know someone who each gift is perfect for.
Its hard to describe how nice everything they sell is, its much better to go to the shop and have a browse. I challenge you not to buy something!

Bronwy

Place rating: 4
London, United Kingdom

Whenever you are short on creative gifts and ideas, Paper Tiger will certainly come to the rescue as its extensive selection of gift books, photo albums and knickknacks offer something for everyone, both male and female. Shelves of brightly coloured paper, gift wrap and greeting cards make choosing an impossible task as the innovative and contemporary designs enhance the appeal and originality. While you may pay a little more for your paper-related needs in this store, the quality and distinctive character are not to be undermined.