Our story

Sandra Shepard graduated cum laude from Harvard College with a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies. While a student at Harvard, Sandra took additional courses at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She pursued further studies at both the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and California College of Arts & Crafts (CCAC).

After working at design studios in Massachusetts and California she joined AMCAL, Inc., a leading publisher of fine art, gift and stationery products. As Director of Production and Manufacturing for AMCAL, she oversaw the development of 730 skus annually for major artists and commercial brands. She even found time to invent and patent a calendar holder, manage department staff, and travel four times a year to Asia to press check products and firm up relationships with vendors. When AMCAL was sold to Meadwestvaco in 2003, Sandra set off to start her own company, and The Shepard Studios was formed.

Started in a quaint cottage in Berkeley, California (complete with rose garden, antique Wedgewood stove and a merry band of squirrels), The Shepard Studios now resides on the ground floor of a remodeled Victorian building. From here we oversee the production of today’s top licensed products for some of the best companies.

As Sandra’s business grew, she brought in a number of staff members whose diverse backgrounds encompass photo styling, licensing, visual merchandising, silkscreening, stationery buying, toy development, and graphic design. With over 50 years of collective experience in bringing products to market, there’s not much that will scare us off.