Looking for a top-notch quality bullet journal notebook from a company that has amazing customer service?
This post will cover a detailed review of the Archer and Olive journals that are posted all over Instagram.
After my personal experience purchasing and using several of their products, I wanted to provide some honest insight into the entire brand.
So get comfy, and I'm going to fill you in with all the nitty-gritty details and hopefully help you decide for yourself if Archer and Olive is the right brand for you.
Firstly, I honestly recommend trying bullet journaling with any notebook you have at home to see if it's the right planner system for you. If you are new to bullet journaling, then be sure to read this post first:
Ultimate Bullet Journal Guide-Free Templates You Need To Start
Anyway, there are vital points you want to consider before taking the dive and purchasing a journal. I, for one, am very hesitant when it comes to online purchases because of past experiences.
By the way, this is not a paid, sponsored, or affiliate post. But rather a customer review!
Customer Service
When considering buying a pricier notebook, quality is your top priority and expectation. But, nothing is worse than bad customer service!!!
The shipping was terrific (and free because I had ordered quite a few of their items), but I noticed that they had accidentally sent me an extra white paper journal instead of the A5 Kraft paper I had ordered.
So I emailed the company, and the next day they replied apologizing for the mix-up and sent me a Kraft notebook, except they were all out of the A5 size I had originally ordered.
They asked me if I wanted the B5 size or a refund and told me to keep the extra white journal.
My address changed when the notebook arrived, so I emailed again, asking if they could change the address. Unfortunately, once a package is shipped, it is out of the company's hand to change the address. Even though it was not Archer & Olive's mistake, they were kind enough to send me another notebook with a sticker sheet as a gift.
I tracked down the B5 notebook and informed them. They said it was ok and to keep them all.
I was amazingly impressed. This company replied to my emails quickly, and I couldn't believe their fantastic customer service. This brand has excellent core values, and they genuinely care that when you purchase from their site, you will be one happy customer.
I was so impressed with their service that I decided I wouldn't even want to deal with another company. And it was what inspired this whole blog post, mainly because I was one satisfied, impressed customer.
Bullet journal notebook Paper Thickness
The benefits of 160gsm paper notebooks are:
- Using a journal made of thick paper can withstand most pens (except for Sharpies). But I can play with all my pens and the next page has no ghosting or bleeding… yay!
- When I'm inspired to paint, this journal is durable enough to withstand watercolor paints. Although watercolor paper is better, the fact that I can use watercolor in my planner encourages me to paint more often.
- But, recently, I've been getting into using Gouache, which I think is better to use in bullet journals just because they don't need to be diluted as much. I was super impressed with how the pages would barely even warp.
- If you intend to use brush or calligraphy pens, the journal is made of smooth, crisp white paper that won't ruin your expensive pens. So feel free to practice lettering in your spreads, and don't worry about those expensive pens getting destroyed in the process.
Bullet journal Notebook Quality and Durability
I usually purchase a 160-page notebook, and I find it will last about nine months (this depends on how many pages you use every month). More importantly, I scrapbook, paint, paste printables, and create Dutch doors.
Nothing is worse than putting all that effort, only for your notebook to fall apart.
You don't need to worry, these journals are beautifully stitched together, and the pages are perfectly aligned; you can go wild with your spreads.
Also, the fact that my journal is of excellent quality guarantees that it will stay in good condition so I can flip through for years to come 🙌
A flat-laying bullet journal notebook
The benefits of using a notebook that lays flat when you are drawing, or lettering make the process that much easier and more comfortable.
If you intend to share your spreads on social media, having a flat-lying notebook will help you make the best shots at different angles.
However, when you paste it in the journal, it will naturally be thicker on one side. A great tip for taking photos is to put something small under the side of the notebook that is lighter just to even your pages out.
The best tip for great shots is to use a clip to keep your page laying flat.
The color of your pages
Crisp white bullet journal notebook
You can use anything your heart desires in your bullet journal, but this is definitely my favorite. The crisp white paper gives you a blank canvas that allows you to customize any theme. So if you want to add Kraft paper, just add it in for that monthly theme.
When choosing other colored notebooks, you will be restricted to using that color paper for the remainder of the year. That's ok, but it is something to consider.
Kraft-colored bullet journal notebook
Kraft-colored journals are gorgeous for achieving an aesthetic, organic vibe. I love Kraft paper and add it to many of my spreads. The fact that Archer & Olive provides you with Kraft dotted paper is a life-saver. Because I would struggle to hand-letter on Kraft paper, it would be a tedious task to draw in guides every time. Now I can paste it in and concentrate on my art.
I never understood the power of dotted paper compared to lined or blank pages until I started bullet journaling.
Blackout journals
You will need specific stationary supplies when using black paper. A white gel pen will be a must-have, and these days there are so many pens on the market made explicit for black paper.
The dotted pages are barely visible, but enough for you not to have to draw in those guided lines (FINALLY). Although out of the three, this is the hardest to work with.
Benefits of using a dotted notebook:
- The dots are subtle enough for you to have a guide while drawing or writing.
- A great guide to creating even sections and custom layouts.
- The dots are so subtle that they don't interfere with your art. Give it a go, and you won't be disappointed.
Beautiful Journals
I know everyone keeps saying that all you need to bullet journal is a notebook and a pen. That is true. But if you are committed to bullet journaling, then having a beautiful, luxurious notebook to use will make it that much more enjoyable.
Beautiful aspects Archer and olive bullet journal notebooks have:
- You can choose from a wide range of beautifully colored hardcovers with a small gold-embedded illustration on the front cover.
- Two satin bookmarks are included with one having a lovely gold brand emblem hanging from it.
- Some of the notebooks are colored with gold (there are other options) on the edges of the paper. So when the book is closed it looks stunning!
- It comes in a gorgous white box so you can keep your bullet journal notebook safe (or use it for storing something else).
- So aesthetically pleasing and will make a great gift for someone special.
I love beautiful journals, and they are for keeps. Even if you finish your notebook, you can store it away safely and come back to it and enjoy your art, thoughts, and memories.
Also, it's great to go back and see your learning progress. One of the critical points I love bullet journaling is that it allows me to stay consistent in practicing art and lettering during the year.
Notebook size
Choosing the right notebook size will depend on a few factors:
- If you intend to take your journal along with you on the go? Then selecting a small size may be more suitable
- If you want enough space for art and planning, then consider the b6 size to be a good fit for you.
- An A5 notebook is a perfect balance (in my opinion). I find the larger size too intimidating and the small size more suitable for minimal spreads. This is my preferred preference, but when it comes down to it, your journal, your RULES!
I know that this is a pretty long post, just about notebooks. But when starting bullet journaling, I was lost in what was worth purchasing.
I tried to cover all key points but if I missed anything out, or want to share your experience, then be sure to comment below.
All in all, after my experience with Archer & Olive, I fell in LOVE. So I highly recommend you give them a go!
The quality of their notebooks is outstanding, and the customer service, in my experience, is a 10/10. It's impressive to see a company that has fantastic core values. These days, it's hard to come by, and you find that many businesses only know you when they are selling their product.
Archer & Olive, on the other hand, invest in selling but also satisfying the customer. It is not a tedious task to get in contact with them regarding an issue. And that, to me, is a company I will gladly support!!!
Want to see our favorite stationery supplies for bullet journaling, Head over here next!
Bullet Journal Supplies. On the hunt for something new?
Until next time, Happy Journaling everyone!
