By Dominique Sabins, Special to the Blog.
Sip and Ship expands beyond a typical shipping store. Part cafe, part shipping services, part gift shop โ- and so much more. Sip and Ship creates a vertical shopping and shipping experience with thoughtfully curated merchandise and knowledgeable staff that take the guesswork out of shipping.
Sip and Ship is led by Diana and Steve Naramore, who sought out to build a business that simplified daily errands while still feeling human.
โSip and Ship started from a simple belief: that everyday places could feel like community.โ โDiana Naramore
The Naramoreโs started their business in Ballard over 20 years ago and eventually expanded to Greenwood due to a resounding call from their customers to bring their business farther north. After a couple of shifts, they finally settled between 75th and 76th on Greenwood Ave.
They recently said goodbye to their original store in Ballard and are now focusing all their attention on their busy Greenwood location. For Diana and Steve, going down to one store isnโt about shrinking, itโs about refining their business. During this transition, theyโve focused on aligning their team and continuing to deliver the same excellent and consistent customer experience theyโve honed over 20 years.
Sip and Ship transforms an ordinary task into something you look forward to. Their business is equipped to ship with UPS, USPS, DHL, and Fedex, ensuring that no matter what you have or where it’s going, they can ship it for you. While the team makes shipping easeful, their merchandise is guaranteed to peak your interest. Explore rows of intricate gifts that are perfect to send along with your package to loved ones. Diana shares that curating merchandise is a particular passion of hers, as she seeks to find pieces that she would genuinely want to give to her friends and family.
Another perk to the Sip and Ship experience is their cafe. Enjoy Herkimer coffee and delicious pastries, which are made in-house, while you browse the store or relax in the cafe. Their small batch, family recipes like ginger biscuits, coffee cake, and banana bread are North Seattle hidden gems that locals continue to come back for.
Outside the box: Get to know Sip and Shipโs services
Diana and Steve pay close attention to their customersโ needs and have used this to guide their business over the years. From prioritizing merchandise based on customer demand to providing more solutions to everyday tasks. As such, theyโve added more services to their business on top of shipping operations.
The store offers both traditional and virtual mailboxes for those needing a secure place to send their mail. Traditional mailboxes can be a great alternative to receiving mail at home and virtual mailboxes help those who travel often or live out of state manage their mail. Both options provide convenient solutions to keep your mail safe.
Another unique offering at Sip and Ship is their notary services, which include in-store and mobile options. The mobile option is a unique offering that can help if you canโt find the time to get into the store yourself. You never know when you might need a notary, but when you do, keep Sip and Ship in mind.
Community is imbedded in their business model
Diana and Steveโs commitment to building community not only applies to their customers, it also extends to their partnerships. As a way to build comradery with their neighbors, they source as much as they can from fellow businesses.
One of their partners is Herkimer coffee, another PhinneyWood local business. Shoppers can enjoy Herkimer coffee at Sip and Shipโs cafe, a choice that Diana and Steve intentionally made to keep their products local and support another business they love. The coffee experts at Herkimer help train Sip and Shipโs team on their espresso machine, and even lend a hand with maintaining the equipment.
Their thoughtfully curated merchandise is another chapter out of Sip and Shipโs book. The store carries a wide collection of gifts, perfect for sending along with your package. At Sip and Ship youโll find artisan cards, thoughtful journals, home goods, and so much more. Staying true to their mission to support other independent businesses, most of the products in their store are carefully sourced from brands the team is passionate about.
One customer-favorite brand is Danica Studio, which creates beautifully-designed mugs, dish towels, stationary, and more. This PNW brand donates a portion of its proceeds to Education Without Boarders, a nonprofit that provides education opportunities to children globally. Danica Studios is one example of Sip and Shipโs mission to elevate brands that share their commitment to integrity and community.
Sip and Ship is a space you want to linger in, not just rush to check off your to-do list. Next time you need to ship a package, make it an outing at Sip and Ship. Let their team do the busywork while you indulge in a coffee and see what gifts are in store for you.
