Stationery Matters: Spring 2025

Winter/Spring 2025

Stationery trends to watch out for

Creativity, Innovation and THAT erasable pen

The growth in sales of planners, organisers and diaries

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Stationery does matter

Happy New Year to all our readers, and welcome to the first issue of Stationery Matters of 2025. As we step into the new year, we are thrilled to bring you a packed edition full of industry insights, expert interviews and a look ahead at the trends shaping the stationery sector in 2025.

This issue comes at the perfect time to start planning for the upcoming trade show season, with Top Drawer and Toy Fair kicking things off. Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham takes place 2 - 5 February, and is a must-attend show for UK retailers and suppliers alike. It’s an extra special one this year, being the 75th anniversary, so there’s plenty going on to celebrate that milestone. For those looking to venture beyond the UK, Ambiente (7 - 11 February) and CreativeWorld (7 - 10 February) at Messe Frankfurt is the leading international consumer goods trade fair.

building on its success in Europe and its immersive retail experiences. And of course, there’s bound to be a lot more limited edition erasable pens coming to market over the year. Read more on pages 22-23

We dive into fine art supplies, with an indepth look at the latest trends and innovations in this sector. From watercolour painting to Manga art, the demand for high quality art materials is rising across a wide range of categories. We explore how suppliers are responding to growing demand for quality, sustainable products and what to expect in 2025 on pages 32-33

But, the show we are looking forward to the most (and yes, we may be a little biased!) is London International Stationery Show over 13-14 May. It’s the place where the stationery world comes together to exhibit, network and celebrate this thriving sector. Read our preview on pages 24-25 to find out more. And if you’re thinking of exhibiting, please get in touch with Chantelle White on on chantellew@max-publishing.co.uk sooner rather than later, as space is selling fast.

With Christmas done and dusted, it sounds like many retailers had a real cracker, with ceo of UOE Stores, Elliott Jacobs describing it as “the best Christmas ever.” See our news story on page 7 and also the business outlook on pages 15-17 for more.

In this issue, we go behind the brand and bring you a profile of Italian lifestyle and stationery brand, Legami. The company celebrates 20 years of business in 2025 and shows no signs of slowing down. This year, the brand is set to expand further into North America and Asia,

In addition, we spotlight the growing popularity of planners, diaries and organisers. As we increasingly prioritise organisation and productivity, these products are more than just functional; they’ve become a lifestyle choice. We look at how this sector continues to evolve, meeting the diverse needs of today’s consumer on pages 28-31

Elsewhere, we have an interview with Mark Janson-Smith of Postmark, catching up with him about the recent store expansion (pages 18-19), as well as insights from The Gift Stationery Company’s Nigel Parr (pages 28-29)

As always, we have our regular news pages (pages 7-15) and we congratulate organiser of National Stationery Week, Stationery Supplies’ Sarah Laker and her team for winning the BOSS Awards Campaign of the Year.

Enjoy the read and we look forward to seeing you at the upcoming trade fairs.

Michelle Urquhart, editor

Postmark’s Kings Cross station store shows off the r etailer’s new look.

Editor’s Comment

Come and see our new 2026 solution for plastic free calendars and diaries. Over 500 titles to choose from.

Plus our 2025 stationery and gift collection featuring brand new designs, over 120 lines.

And also our new 150 line Hey Hugo children’s lifestyle and stationery collections, all in stock and ready to be dispatched.

Spring Fair, 2nd - 5th February

Gifted Stationery - Hall 3, Stand Q15 | Hey Hugo - Hall 5, Stand H23

TOP STORY

With analysts confirming a national reduction in footfall over the Christmas period – in the last full week, it is estimated that footfall was down 11.4% compared to 2023 (source: BRC-Sensormatic) – how

selling more gift stationery and feel that will be an area that will keep growing. The biggest seller were the ever-popular erasable pens. A great

Wilmslow and Marple has been celebrating her best Christmas ever. “It was so busy in store from October right through December. It’s been our best Christmas period ever, which I think reflects our consistent approach to finding the right products for our customers. Our gift pen offering did extremely well for Legami erasables. In fact, pens as a whole were up 25% October to December on 2023.”

“Marvellous” was the Christmas verdict from Mark Janson-Smith, managing

director of the Postmark group of 15 stores in London, Birmingham and Glasgow, and he added: “We couldn’t be happier with our results. Overall, our like-for-like sales were up 10.4% in the Christmas category for the eight weeks leading up to Christmas Day.”

Tallon International Opens New Showroom

Tallon International has opened a new showroom in its recently-acquired second Coventry site after making a significant investment on a six-week fit-out to create a premium space for its customers.

Steve Clay, ceo says: “We’ve been on an upward trajectory for a number of years, and we actually performed very well during COVID thanks to sales of children’s craft supplies, such as crayons, stickers and colouring books, dramatically increasing.

“We are in a good position thanks to our agility and industry-leading stock availability that supports our core group of around 900 repeat customers who regularly view Tallon as their supplier of choice. This, along with the new showroom, will give us more freedom to experiment with different kinds products to see how they perform alongside our best-sellers.”

Stationery Supplies had its best Christmas ever.

Steve Clay inside Tallon International’s new showroom.

Europe’s leading responsible sourcing show

Stationery Trends For 2025 TOP STORY

As we enter 2025, the stationery world is buzzing with fresh ideas and exciting trends. From pocket-sized notebooks to hybrid paper/digital solutions, there’s something for everyone. Founder of StationeryFest (stationeryfest.co.uk), Becki Cross explores key trends shaping the stationery scene this year.

COMMONPLACE BOOKS OR ZIBALDONE

These are notebooks where a person collects and organises ideas, observations and information from various sources for future reference, based on their unique interests. You might record quotes, anecdotes, lists, poems or sketches. A zibaldone is an Italian commonplace book. The word means a ‘heap of things or miscellany’ in Italian.

POCKET NOTEBOOKS

Tiny passport and pocket-sized notebooks are huge right now, and are a portable way to capture ideas throughout the day and minimise screen time.

JOURNALLING

The wellness benefits from journalling continue to be well documented. Whether you keep a written, guided or creative journal, this age-old pastime is seeing a continued and sustained revival.

ERASABLE PENS

Erasable pens and highlighters everywhere. The Legami pens are particularly popular with kids of all ages.

TEXTURE

One of the things that appeals about stationery is the tactile appeal of the paper, the flow of the ink across the page and the feel of leather and man-made covers and accessories.

TRAVELER’S NOTEBOOKS

Traveler’s Notebook systems offer plenty of customisation for your planner, journal, and notebook system, whatever your preferred size.

FOUNTAIN PENS AND INKS

Fountain pens and inks offer endless opportunities to find the perfect pen and ink combination to match your personality or your mood and refill time and time again. At StationeryFest, you could even design your own ink via the Diamine Ink Studio.

HYBRID PAPER AND DIGITAL SOLUTIONS

Hybrid paper and digital solutions linking your diary to your phone are really taking off. For example, the Filofax reminder app, but I think we’ll see more of this as the years rolls on. Also smartpens, like the Livescribe range are becoming more popular, bridging the gap between paper and digital.

Manuscript Goes Live With Tom Hessin Website

After introducing the first writing instruments under the new Tom Hessin brand in autumn, Manuscript has now launched a dedicated website –tomhessin.com - for the new brand.

The Charles Collection is the first range under the new Tom Hessin branding. “We are thrilled to introduce the Charles Collection, by Tom Hessin, to our customers,” said

Charlie Stockbridge, managing director at Manuscript Pen Company. “These pens are a celebration of heritage, but they also represent the future of fine writing instruments. They are designed for anyone who values both style and substance, whether for professional use, creative endeavours, or simply enjoying the art of writing. 2025 will see many more products added to the portfolio.”

Traveler’s Notebooks offer a lot of flexibility in journalling and note-taking

Commonplace books like these from Midori, are becoming more popular.

Becki Cross.

There are five different colourways in the Charles Collection, the first launch from Tom Hessin.

Success At Paperworld Middle East For UK Companies

The largest edition of Paperworld Middle East took place over 12-14 November 2024 at the Dubai Trade Centre, attracting over

12,000 visitors and 615 exhibitors from 39 countries, including visitors and exhibitors from the UK and Europe.

Clairefontaine x Frida Kahlo Collection Launches

An exciting collaboration between Clairefontaine and the Frida Kahlo lifestyle brand spans over 50 unique SKUs, including notebooks, sketchpads, journals, bookmarks, storage, gift accessories and other stationery essentials.

This collection underscores the ongoing celebration of Frida’s influence. The Frida Kahlo Corporation continues to partner with global brands like Clairefontaine to preserve and share her message of empowerment and creativity. The deal was brokered by Art Ask Agency and debuts in January.

Notebooks

Papier Says Bonjour To Paris

Parisians can now find a range of Papier’s notebooks, planners and diaries in the middle of Paris at the 186-yearold department store, Le Bon Marché. The launch comes two months after Papier made its European debut at the Maison&Objet trade fair (the bi-annual trade fair in Paris for interior design).

Having been founded by Taymoor Atighetchi in 2015, the Papier brand was only available through its website until a year ago when it entered the wholesale market through an exclusive partnership with Selfridges department store. The brand is now available at over 600 retail locations in the UK and abroad.

TOP STORY

Stationery and greeting card publisher, Ohh Deer exhibited for the first time, with co-founder Mark Callaby commenting: “It was a nice show, very similar to other shows that we do. We were told that our products may not be a great fit for the market but we didn’t experience this. There were definitely some sensitivities but we found that the market was actually quite diverse and visitors from outside the UAE as well.”

It was also the first time exhibiting for Pukka Pads , which exhibited as Pukka Global Sourcing (its sourcing company). Jessica Stott, e-commerce and marketing director said: “It was a great show and was of a huge scale, with multiple halls for stationery, office products, packaging, school supplies and more. There was a huge range of exhibitors and visitors, from a large range of countries covering UAE, Europe, Asia, Africa and ROW.”

Castlegate Stationers Highlights New Faber-Castell FSDU

UK distributor for Faber-Castell, Stone Marketing is rolling out the new display units in retail stores, with Castlegate Stationers in Wetherby, West Yorkshire taking one of the first ones.

“We are really pleased to be working with Stone Marketing to promote the excellent range of Faber-Castell highlighters,” said Nish Kanabar, owner of Castlegate Stationers. “The range is being received really well by customers. The packs provide a great saving. They are competitively priced and sure to be a hit with customers.”

The Ohh Deer stand at Paperworld Middle East.

Nish Kanabar with the Faber-Castell FSDU.

Papier products in Le Bon Marché.

National Stationery Week Wins Campaign Of The Year at BOSS Awards

The BOSS Awards recognise and celebrate excellence within the UK business supplies industry. This prestigious event honours individuals and businesses that demonstrate outstanding achievement and innovation.

Among the award winners announced at the ceremony on 28 November was National Stationery Week, winning Campaign of the Year. Sarah Laker, owner of Stationery Supplies in Marple and Wilmslow took over the organising of the campaign in 2023 couldn’t quite believe it when National Stationery Week was read out as the winner. “You know those moments in life that feel too incredible to be real? Someone pinch me! The competition was fierce, with amazing campaigns from brands like Nescafé and Pukka Pads on the shortlist. For NSW to be recognised as the best campaign

Recognition For Nemo Office Club Managing Director

Nemo Office Club managing director, Tim Beaumont, was named winner of the Business Leader of the Year at the BOSS Awards, recognising the direction he has steered the group since the merger between Nemo and Office Club.

Tim was entered into the awards by his team, unbeknown to him until the shortlist was announced, saying: “It was very humbling to even have my name put forward, to win is just fantastic and a reflection on the team we have at Nemo Office Club.”

of the year in while of the stationery and office supplies industry is nothing short of extraordinary.

“It was also really lovely to be able to share the moment with Chris LeonardMorgan, who founded the NSW campaign back in 2012. Now, onwards to the 2025 campaign as we continue spreading the message that writing matters.”

Other winners on the evening included UOE Stores, with nine branches in London and Hertfordshire, which won the Independent Retailer of the Year. Elliot Jacobs, UOE Stores chief executive officer and postmaster said of the win: “We’re honoured and delighted to have won the award for best independent stationery retailer. It’s so amazing to be recognised for our achievements. The entire team are thrilled.”

Registration Open For London International Stationery Show

Visitor registration is officially open for the London International Stationery Show 2025, set to take place at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 May 2025.

With hundreds of exhibitors showcasing thousands of products and collections, the event is a must-visit for stationery retailers of all sizes and specialisms, promising another record breaking show in terms of content.

Don’t miss the chance to explore the latest launches from leading global brands, innovative startups, and fresh new designs. Register now at www.stationeryshowlondon.co.uk.

Special Editions For Caran d’Ache

Coming in February is Misty Forest, the new Caran d’Ache special edition featuring a ballpoint pen and mechanical pencil from the 849 series, inspired by mist-shrouded forests. With a gradient from pastel to sage green, this duo evokes the serene beauty of dawn undergrowth, blending winter mist with lush foliage.

Then in March comes the Black Edition collection, featuring six monochrome writing instruments, including a specialedition gift set and three new additions to the 849 family: the Fixpencil, 849 Fountain Pen, and 849 XL Ballpoint Pen.

Tim Beaumont.

Registration is now open for London International Stationery Show.

Sarah Laker and Chris Leonard-Morgan collect the award for Campaign of the Year for National Stationery Week.

National Stationery Week 2025 will run over 12 - 18 May.

Misty Forest is the latest special edition from Caran d’Ache.

Tuesday 3 June and Wednesday 4 June 2025 London’s Business Design Centre

An upbeat vibe, newness galore – and free refreshments, lunch and opening night party, PG Live 2025 is not to be missed! Over 170 fabulous companies have already booked their stands… and there are plenty more in the pipeline. PG Live has lots of great retailer fans…

“It’s such a great show, full of such wonderful products and not just from the established publishers. So good to see so many ‘newer’ publishers flourishing.”

Mark Janson-Smith,

managing director of Postmark

“What’s not to like about seeing the best publishers this industry has to offer along with new talent just starting out? There were so many exhibitors that caught my eye; there really was something there for every retailer.”

Andrea Pinder, owner Presentation Cards & Gifts, Barrowford

Don’t Miss Out… Book Your Free Tickets

Registration is now live at: www.progressivegreetingslive.com

Register now and be a part of it! Call us on: (0) 7734 111633 or email: jimb@max-publishing.co.uk Follow us @PGLiveLondon

#pglive2023

“There was a real air of excitement and a great buzz to PG Live. As we continue to open more stores and cards are doing so well, it is a great opportunity to catch up with current suppliers and to be on the hunt for new.”

Kate Salmon, head of home and gift buying for Oliver Bonas

Want to know about exhibiting at PG Live 2025?

We have stand options available to suit all shapes and sizes, contact: Tracey Arnaud on 07957 212062 traceya@max-publishing.co.uk Warren Lomax on 07977 572086 warrenl@max-publishing.co.uk www.progressivegreetingslive.com

Stationers Make Gift Of The Year Shortlist

Over 230 brands submitted entries into the Gift Of The Year (GOTY) awards, including Coffeenotes, Yop & Top, Another Studio, The Art File, Also The Bison, Vent For Change and Puckator – and these brands have all had products shortlisted, not only in the cards, wraps and stationery category, but also contemporary gifts, garden and outdoors, and Made in the UK.

Coffeenotes’ monthly planner has been shortlisted in cards, wraps and stationery and its pack of three tutti frutti notebooks are on the shortlist for Made in the UK. Sarah Downey, co-founder of Coffeenotes says: “We are absolutely thrilled to be short listed for GOTY 2025 with our sustainable monthly planners made from recycled coffee cups. They are a big seller for us as people buy one for themselves and one for a loved one as a gift that is not only sustainable but lasts a whole year. And great news for our new UK-made colourway Tutti Frutti, which is packed with punchy bright retro colours of lilac, lime green and tangerine orange. It’s become a big hit with customers too.”

Yop & Tom’s gardening journals have been shortlisted in three categories: cards, wraps

and stationery, contemporary gift and garden and outdoors. “We’re absolutely delighted to have our gardening journals shortlisted in three fantastic categories,” says co-founder Joppe Coelingh Bennink. “This achievement motivates us to continue designing beautiful and practical tools for gardeners. A huge thank you to everyone who supports us and helps our ideas flourish.”

The botanical design stencil from Another Studio is in the shortlist for cards, wraps and stationery too, with managing director Aimee Furnival commenting: “GOTY is a great recognition that celebrates the creativity and craftsmanship that goes into every design we produce. We’re thrilled to be shortlisted for 2025.”

The next stage for the shortlisted products is the highly anticipated live judging round, which will take place at Spring Fair (2-5 February, NEC), for the fourth consecutive year.

Winners will be revealed at The Gift Awards 2025, alongside the winners of The Greats gift retailer awards, a prestigious black-tie ceremony taking place at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 15 May 2025.

NEWS IN SHORT

Pilot Corporation has been awarded a gold medal for sustainable practices from EcoVadis, recognising Pilot’s commitment to the environment, social and human rights, ethics and responsible purchasing.

Moleskine opened a new store at Westfield London in December, following on from store openings in Covent Garden and Canary Wharf earlier in 2024. The three new stores will showcase Moleskine’s renowned legendary notebooks and services, including bespoke personalisation, calligraphy events and crafting workshops.

Anthony Gouldthrop joined Victor Stationery as the new national account manager within the UK Trade Team. With an impressive background and a respected reputation in the office products and education sectors, Anthony joins the team from Spicers, to help drive forward the success of Victor Stationery and its range of educational and commercial products.

Tim Gilmore, Pentel UK key accounts manager B2B, received a prestigious accolade from the chairman of Pentel, Mr Tomokazu Takahashi for outstanding sales performance. The Certificate of High-Performing Employee Award, recognises Tim’s strong sense of responsibility and contribution to the development of Pentel.

The Works has partnered with children’s charity, Barnardo’s, to roll out a takeback donation scheme following the festive season. Starting in January the Play It Forward scheme will take donations from customers of new and preloved items that are in good, reusable condition to help children in need.

Below: The botanical design stencil from Another Studio.

The new Moleskine store at Westfield London.

Time to thrive in 25

With 2024 now behind us, Stationery Matters catches up with retailers and suppliers to find out how the year finished up for them and what they’re looking forward to in 2025.

Sarah Holmes, OWNER, PENCIL ME IN, ELGIN, MORAY

ON 2024: After a great conversation with Sally from The Pencil Case last May (at dinner after London Stationery Show) I read great books which changed how I was running elements of the business and meant we finished 2024 in a really positive space, with minimal dead stock.

We had a great #MyShoplife campaign and I am building the details for 2025 now. We worked alongside the Cardmitment WhatsApp Group to promote greeting cards which has been great fun. Overall we have had a really fun and creative year.

ON 2025: I am looking forward to Top Drawer and Spring Fair to select new pieces for both my shops, looking for new notebook ranges to bring to store and absolutely new pens and pencils for our pen wall. We are intending to expand our Kaweco collection too.

ON TOP-SELLERS: Our best sellers for 2024 remain a constant, Legami’s erasable pens, our own pencil range, Blackwing Pencils and Ohh Deer greeting cards. We celebrated 10 Years of Pencil Me In in November when we launched our own range of rulers and erasers. In October we launched a range of goods promoting Moray which have sold incredibly across both our shops.

Lizzie Atkins, MARKETING ASSISTANT, STUDIO PENS

IN 2024: The highlight for Studio Pens was winning the Icon Award at the Stationery Awards at the London Stationary Show back in May. We were delighted to see the Kaweco Classic Sport recognised for its icon status.

Our big challenge last year was branching out to take on Marseille soap brand Marius Fabre – although there is some overlap in the target markets of Kaweco and Marius Fabre, it’s been a steep learning curve and we’re excited about growing this brand in 2025.

ON 2025: We’re excited to see what the 2025 Kaweco DIY Sport colour will be, after the success our retailers had with the berry colour last year. Roll on Ambiente next month, where we’ll get to see Kaweco’s spring releases. We are taking Marius Fabre to Top Drawer, Kaweco to London Stationery Show in May and both brands to Home & Gift in Harrogate in July.

ON TOP-SELLERS: Our best seller in 2024 was the green Kaweco Classic Sport. The new Kaweco Piston Sport range is also going well, with the introduction of the AL Piston in spring and the Classic Piston in winter.

James Sprigg SALES DIRECTOR, STONE MARKETING

ON 2024: We’re pleased to say 2024 was an incredible year for us. Not only did we celebrate our 35th anniversary, but we also achieved record-breaking growth, with standout performances from stationery stars like Legami and Faber-Castell.

ON 2025: We’re excited for an even brighter 2025 and can’t wait to catch-up with our amazing customers at upcoming events such as Spring Fair, London Stationery Show and Top Drawer

The Kaweco DIY Sport was a huge success in 2024.

Pencil Me In’s own range of branded stationery.

Faber-Castell has been a strong performer for Stone Marketing.

of

rhodiarama softcover

Elliot Jacobs

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND POSTMASTER, UOE STORES

ON 2024: After celebrating our bestever Christmas and successfully adding a fantastic new location in Reigate late last year, we’re actively seeking more stationery stores and Post Offices to acquire or open in the coming months. We know customers are more cost-conscious than ever, but with the right products, competitive pricing, and effective merchandising, there are plenty of sales to capture.

Simon Churly, OWNER, STATIONERY SOLUTIONS, BRAINTREE

ON 2024: The run up to Christmas was chaotic as I am as busy away from the shop as I am in it. Footfall was well up with me breaking my record for transactions three times in the final 10 days so it bodes well moving in to the new year.

ON 2025: This year will bring me my first short holiday for many years.

ON TOP-SELLERS: I am selling more gift stationery and feel that this will be an area that will keep growing. The biggest seller was the ever-popular Legami erasable pens.

ON 2025: We’re entering 2025 with great optimism and excitement. While it’s easy to focus on challenges like rising business rates, staffing costs, and increased taxes, we believe in seizing the opportunities the year ahead holds.

The upcoming Top Drawer and Spring Fair are always highlights in our calendar, offering insights into emerging trends and helping us collaborate with suppliers to select the best stock.

We’re also excited to continue expanding into categories like crafting, greeting cards, eco-friendly gift wrap, and well-priced gifting ranges. The stationery landscape is evolving,

and by staying agile and customer-focused, we’re ready to make the most of what 2025 has to offer.

ON TOP-SELLERS: Right now, we’re noticing some key shifts in the market. General filing is in decline, while erasable pens (especially Legami) are seeing impressive growth.

Wendy Vickery MARKETING MANAGER, PENTEL UK

ON 2024: The year started auspiciously for Pentel with news from our head office in Japan that our Mattehop gel roller had received the Bunbouguya Taishou (Stationery Store Grand Prix) award as a favourite new product launched in the last year. It’s always great when a truly original product receives the recognition it deserves and since it was singled out for this accolade Mattehop has gone from strength to strength with retailers throughout the UK.

Towards the end of 2024 we launched the PLUS by Pentel range into the UK and Irish market place and this has already proved to be a great success. PLUS Corporation is the parent company of Pentel and we are delighted to be able to offer retailers a carefully chosen range of staplers, glue tapes, correction rollers, scissors and identifytheft prevention products, with the quality you would expect from a Japanese stationery manufacturer.

ON 2025: We’re participating in a steady stream of trade shows this year, starting with the Nemo Kick Off event in mid-January. It’s going to be a busy year ahead with events, promotions and launches and we look forward to embracing new opportunities to work with our customers to grow our business together in 2025.

ON TOP-SELLERS: Our best-selling EnerGel range continues to lead the way in quick-drying smudge-reducing writing and there’s another new product launching in 2025. Our markers range, which includes top-performing products such as the N50, and more recent introductions such as our creative paint markers, showed significant growth in 2024. The Pentel Arts family continues to grow in popularity with both retailers and their customers.

UOE took over First Stop in Reigate in October.

Legami erasable pens continue to sell well.

Pentel’s EnerGel range is consistently a top seller.

RIGHT TOP: The curved frontage of Postmark’s Kings Cross station store was the first to fanfare the new look.

BOTTOM LEFT:

Leading stationery brands, such as LEUCHTTURM1917, have a strong presence in Postmark while, having sourced a quirky collection of stickers from South Korea they are featured in their own hanging space (left).

BOTTOM RIGHT:

Postmark’s greeting card selection is vast.

RETAILER

Marking Time

“Instigating the inaugural new look in our Kings Cross store at the same time as opening a brand new store in Liverpool Street at the same time as Christmas stock was going into all stores… you’d think I’d have learned to slow the pace down, but seemingly not!” admitted Mark Janson-Smith, co-owner of the Postmark group, who also squeezed in running the Berlin marathon in the same period.

Stationery Matters donned its trainers to chase after the marathon man and innate retailer to learn more about his plans to stay in the running and to open more stores.

This time last year, Mark JansonSmith’s wife and business partner, Leona strongly requested: “Please let’s not open any more shops this year.”

They sort of kept to the deal, well for a few months at least, instead putting their boundless energy into bedding in the former Paperchase sites Postmark took on which effectively doubled the size of the business and confronted the new challenges of running stores in busy railway station locations, with limited storage facilities and strict regulations on deliveries into those stores.

It also became apparent that while an idyllic setting, the garden ‘office’ at their home was no longer practical as the HQ for the growing stationery and greeting card retail business. Now

Postmark has its name above the door of a new office and warehouse in London’s Fulham, with a showroom set to be installed soon.

“Much as it was a luxury to wander to the end of the garden to go to work, the new set up is so much better, not just from a logistical point of view, but on the team front too. While most deliveries go straight to store from suppliers, we also have a van delivering into our station stores a couple of times of week,” says Mark, who is full of praise for Graham Leese, Postmark’s head of operations for setting up the new warehouse system.

The significant consumer-facing change however was the creation of a whole new look for Postmark, which made its debut in the Kings Cross store last October.

“When we took over the Paperchase sites in March 2023, to get them up and running we used the former fixtures and fittings, but it was

always the plan to bring them into the Postmark family with our look and feel,” explained Mark.

While freely admitting that he felt “absolutely terrified” before seeing how his plan for the transformation had come to fruition, largely as it represents “such a large investment”, Mark is delighted by the results. “I feel it really represents the exciting next step in the company’s evolution,” he endorses.

With a contemporary ‘wooden tree’ providing a central focus as soon as you enter the Kings Cross station store, the light wood flooring, fixtures with a pale turquoise accent colour, illuminated card genre signage and repositioned till area creates a warm welcome into the card and stationery emporium.

A wide selection of greeting cards flank the back wall while standalone fixtures are used to great effect along the curved shopfront and in the main body of the shop to showcase various stationery ‘stories’ from a vast array of suppliers, including LEUCHTTURM1917, Vent for Change, The Art File, Museums & Galleries, Chronicle Books and Galison.

With the blueprint of the new look having debuted in Kings Cross, it was

then translated in the new Liverpool Street store, with the London Bridge store receiving a similar makeover as SM went to press.

Although accommodating a small selection of quirky novelty gifts in the station stores, the product portfolio throughout the estate remains largely true to Postmark’s remit of championing stationery and greeting cards.

Stationery is a sizeable and growing chunk of the business.

“People love stationery, and there are some great brands out there that do stationery so well.” summed up Mark.

A case in point was evident in Postmark’s Battersea Power Station store a few months ago when LEUCHTTURM1917 offered a personalised notebook service, where customers could buy a notebook and have it embossed with a name or initials. “The demand was unbelievable, we had to turn people away as the shop had to close!” shared Mark.

Adding extra context, in the last year alone, across its 15 stores, Postmark has sold over 65,000 notebooks and over 90,000 pens.

“Like greeting cards, stationery is another tangible product. Yes, people have a need for stationery, but like cards, when they see something they like and pick it up instore, they invariably want to buy it,” believes Mark.

This year Postmark also ventured into importing, sourcing a quirky range of stickers from a company in South

Korea. “I love the relationships we have with the best companies in the UK, but importing a line directly means that we can offer something that few other retailers will have, and this further adds to our point of difference for our customers,” he believes.

With the systems now in place it does appear that the self-imposed store opening curfew has been lifted.

“Some opportunities are just too good to ignore,” teases Mark. “We are also getting approached by more landlords who are keen for Postmark to open in their sites, but they so have to be in the right location.”

Although its store in Glasgow is doing well, London remains Postmark’s heartland. “We believe there is still considerable growth potential for us in the capital. We have one store in the pipeline now while finding another two or three would be ideal,” confirms Mark.

Having forged a joint venture partnership with Paul and James Taylor of Cardzone several years ago, to help grow the Postmark brand, means that there are extra pairs of eyes and ears out there for new sites that could suit Cardzone, its Mooch gift brand or indeed Postmark.

“Paul and James leave the running of Postmark to me, Leona and the team, as we know our brand inside and out. And I feel the same about Paul, James and the team at Cardzone, but it is good to keep in touch in good times and challenging ones,” admits Mark.

When teased about him being

someone who thrives on challenges, both in his business and personal life, his marathon running being proof of the latter, Mark mulls it over.

“In the 20 years since we started the business, for 16 of them there has either been a recession or Covid, so I have never really known a sustained boom time, so trading in challenging times is my norm,” accepts Mark. “On the marathon running front, maybe you are right. I was never a runner and don’t even class myself as being very fit, but having run two London marathons and now the Berlin Marathon, I would like to do all of the Super Six, which means Chicago, Tokyo, Boston and New York to go, but these will have to be slotted in somehow between our future plans for Postmark!”

He’s a man on a mission!

REWARDING AND AWARDING

It was a proud moment in July for Mark and Leona Janson-Smith and their team when Postmark not only won the Best Small Multiple award in The Retas greeting card retailing awards, but the Overall Retailer of the Year, testament not only to the quality of the stores, but the fairmindedness and passion of those who run it.

Meanwhile, as part of Mark and Leona’s belief in supporting the industry that supports them and their business, Postmark is a steadfast sponsor of The Henries greeting card awards’ The Lynn Tait Most Promising Young Designer or Artist category, with some of the contenders’ entry boards adorning the walls of its new offices.

LEFT: Postmark enjoyed a stunning Christmas trade, with lfl sales up 10.4%.

INSET FAR LEFT: Mark and Leona Janson-Smith with the two Retas trophies Postmark was awarded in July 2024.

INSET LEFT: Mark with buyer Shannon Fisher at The Henries judging in front of the Best Young Designer entries.

TOP LEFT & MIDDLE:

The entrance and inside of Postmark’s store in Liverpool Street’s Broadgate.

LEFT: Mark Janson-Smith (left) with Cardzone’s James Taylor after completing the 2024 London Marathon. Postmark’s card buyer Shannon Fisher also ran the 26.2 mile course.

ABOVE: Nigel Parr who is to remain running

The Gifted Stationery Company even though he has sold the business to Swan Mill Group.

RIGHT: Long gone are the days when Gifted’s designs were based largely on photographic imagery, now all manner of design styles feature in the vast portfolio.

With a sizeable stand for

The Gifted Stationery Company in Hall 3, plus a pod on the Cardgains Village area in that hall, as well as a separate stand for the sibling Hey Hugo children’s lifestyle brand in Hall 5, Nigel Parr is preparing for a somewhat busier Spring Fair than he had back in 2007 when he launched the company.

Parr for the course

“I’ve worked in publishing and stationery of one sort or another since the late 70s, so it is fitting that I am now embracing a new chapter,” revealed Nigel Parr, who sold The Gifted Stationery Company to the Swan Mill Group last October, though will continue to head up the Bath-based stationery business under the new ownership.

With a wealth of new products prepped to debut at Spring Fair from Gifted and its Hey Hugo children’s lifestyle brand, Stationery Matters caught up with Nigel to hear his back story as well as the future plans.

“At our very first Spring Fair, we were allocated a stand in the volume hall, right at the back, facing the NEC’s back doors. It was not a great debut, but we have exhibited at the show ever since, thankfully in better positions!” said Nigel.

This year’s Spring Fair will be the first official outing of The Gifted Stationery Company and Hey Hugo under the Swan Mill Group’s ownership, but Nigel is still very much hands on, and has given his commitment to remain as such for another year or so at least.

What attracted David Byk, ceo of Swan Mill to Gifted echo the reasons that has seen the company build a strong following among retailers over the years – “good quality products at great prices”.

With gift stationery at its heart, Gifted is also known for its range of calendars while the launch of Hey Hugo in 2023 was a logical extension on the children’s product front. While Swan Mill already has its fingers in the stationery field, notably with its licensed Morris & Co and Paper Salad collections through its Great British Card Company as well as advents under its Ling

RACE ACROSS THE WORLD

Nigel recalled his first meeting with David Byk was somewhat bizarre. They were at Heathrow, both due to fly to the Canton trade fair when the plane was cancelled meaning they had to find their own way to China.

“We were the only two mad people who thought it was a good idea to land in Hong Kong and then take three buses into China and a taxi to a hotel in Guangzhou, arriving unshowered nearly 24 hours later in order to be at the trade show as quickly as possible,” revealed Nigel. “We established we were both staying at the same hotel so decided to race each other to the hotel in China from Heathrow with the loser having to buy the beers. We still disagree though about who bought the beers but, at that point, I’d worked out that we have a business ethos in common!”

Design and GBCC brands, the Gifted acquisition significantly bolsters the group’s presence as well as giving it a foothold into the wall calendar and diaries sector with 500+ products.

“Nigel and I have known each other since 2019 and always knew that Gifted would be a business we should buy if he ever decided to sell,” commented David. “We will continue to run Gifted as a standalone

Nigel Parr (left) shaking on the deal with David Byk, ceo of Swan Mill.

It remains undecided who paid for the Tsingtao beers!

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

SM put Nigel Parr on the spot for some personal revelations…

What are the most valuable business lesson you have learned?

“Appreciate that cash is king; to always pay your bills and treat all customers as if they were the most important buyer in the world.”

As a youngster, what did you want to be when you grew up?

“A mechanic. And I still love tinkering with cars, motorbikes and boats.”

What is your guilty pleasure?

“My passion is flying. I have a pilot’s licence so if there’s a blue sky, I want to be up there.”

Can you share an unknown claim to fame?

“I was in a boy band 45 years ago, and can prove it with a YouTube video!”

Do you have a quirky obsession?

“Fridge magnets. I have a collection of over 250 of them and can’t stop myself buying more.”

What trait in someone do you most dislike?

“Those who are economical with the truth.”

What trait do you most like?

“Those who show random acts of kindness.”

Which three people would you invite to a dinner party?

“Winston Churchill, Robert de Niro and Margaret Thatcher.”

A magic carpet awaits, where do you want to go?

“Japan. I have never been, but would love to experience the very different culture/way of looking at things.”

business in Bath with Nigel in charge and he will be able to lean into the rest of the group where necessary,” he added.

From Nigel’s perspective, he admits that he had been contemplating retirement for a while, but said: “A huge part of this process was finding the right home for Gifted, one that could take the business to the next level and beyond and have financial strength to do so.”

Talking about ‘financial strength’ took Nigel back to Gifted’s tricky start. It had nothing to do with Nigel’s lack of experience, as he had worked for WHSmith’s wholesale side, had owned his own bookshops, headed up the export side of Parragon Publishing for several years

as well as his own book publishing business, before joining forces with a mate who had experience supplying mass retail to launch a stationery business that “offered well designed aggressively priced products”.

Having spent a little bit of time trying to come up “with a clever name for the new business, in the end we decided to say what it was on the tin – a company that specialises in gift stationery,” recalled Nigel.

Less straightforward however was foreseeing the global economy.

“As soon as we had placed our first order for our first four ranges of products to be manufactured, we nearly went bust as the US dollar crashed from $1.97 down to $1.30,” admitted Nigel, reliving the horrors of the 2007-2008 global financial crisis. “The banks reined in borrowings and we had to run the business from hand to mouth. It was a real struggle those first couple of years. It taught me that cash really is king, but we got through it.”

Buoyed by the retailer response to the inaugural collections, four ranges of notecards and greeting card organisers, the portfolio has grown exponentially in both width and depth.

“We introduced calendars and diaries, then started supplying

charities with products, and made the most of the jigsaws opportunity during Covid,” recalled Nigel.

Then in 2023, expansion into the children’s market beckoned, under the new brand, Hey Hugo. “I knew the potential was there for a separate brand of children’s products that would appeal to our existing customers as well as enabling us to appeal to additional retailers, but I freely admit it has been a steep learning curve with the complex and rigorous product testing for children’s products, but life is for learning!” says Nigel.

Learning to read both retailers’ and consumers’ expectations and needs is a given for Nigel. “While a range in Gifted’s early days would have comprised five items, nowadays each of the collections, and we launch five or six every season, will span up to 27 product formats.”

A new area of learning will of course be adapting to a working life as part of a much larger group.

“It will be an education for both David [Byk] and I. While we both have different skills to bring to the partnership, we have a similar way of thinking and share a commitment to ensure Gifted remains a special business.”

TOP LEFT: The launch of Hey Hugo has taken the company into children’s products, including backpacks, drinkware and storage items.

TOP RIGHT: Foxy Tales is one of the 2025 Spring collections from Gifted.

BOTTOM LEFT: Some of the new Kissing Hares collection.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Gifted’s attractive premises in the centre of Bath.

RIGHT: Legami products span 16 worlds including home, kitchen, tech, travel and of course, stationery.

INSET BELOW: Legami now has 80 boutiques across Italy.

Inside the Legami Dream

LINSET RIGHT:

Solar panels on the roof at Legami’s headquarters meets its energy needs.

From its iconic book strap to the cult-favourite erasable pens, Legami has become a symbol of innovation, joy, and quality in everyday products. This year, the brand is set to expand further into North America and Asia, building on its success in Europe and its immersive retail experiences.

egami began life in 2003 with an idea from founder Alberto Fassi that led to the first iconic product: the book strap. Now, more than 20 years later there are over 5,000 products belonging to 16 different and ever-evolving merchandise categories (Legami calls them ‘worlds’), from calendars and diaries to stationery products, from tech to housewares and even games, beauty and travel essentials. All at affordable prices and aimed at a broad and diverse market.

Alberto Fassi is very much still at the heart of the business, leading and coordinating the research, product and design teams at the headquarters in Bergamo, where all the products are designed and where the majority of the company’s 600+ employees work.

“The essence of Legami’s philosophy revolves around the value of positive emotions, dedicated to bringing joy into

everyday life with its range of products,” states the Legami Sustainability Report. “Every component, every detail, is meticulously crafted to exude cheerfulness and optimism. At every stage, from inception to execution to distribution, the focus remains on offering the best to customers.

With this in mind, quality and safety take top priority. To guarantee this, we have consistently implemented rigorous high standards for both the materials utilised and the characteristics of the final product.” But there is one Legami product that really stands out; the erasable pen. First introduced in 2018, these

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE HEART OF BUSINESS

In 2023, Legami became a Benefit Corporation. A Benefit Corporation is a virtuous and innovative legal form of enterprise that balances the economic interests of the company with those of the community, environment and all stakeholders. Choosing to become a Benefit Corporation is another step towards creating shared value in a responsible, sustainable and transparent way.

“Environment, social responsibility and governance are three interconnected dimensions that define a company’s commitment to sustainability,” says Massimo Dell’Acqua, managing director. “Our stakeholders - customers, employees, suppliers, communities, investors - are crucial to the business ecosystem. Legami goes beyond merely offering products or services; it is a team of people working together to achieve common goals in the interest of all.”

pens have become a cult-favourite among fans of all ages, with the seasonal releases turning into highly competitive events for loyal customers.

Hayley Ripley, marketing manager for Stone Marketing, the UK distributor for Legami believes it is a combination of “the innovative erasable ink, affordable price, and irresistible collectability” that sets the erasable pens apart. “Legami creates quality products, always different, colourful, positive, and fun, perfect for everyone and every mood. The erasable pens have captured the attention of customers everywhere and continue to be a best seller. We anticipate even greater hype in the coming year, driven by their growing popularity and some exciting new launches.”

Legami has a global presence in 70 countries: with 80 single-brand boutiques in Italy, the ecommerce channel www.legami.com, 70 shops-in-shops, over 700 corners, 10,000 authorised sellers and strategic partnerships with the most important bookshops and chains in the world.

It has been in the last two years when the business has really taken off. In 2023, Legami’s single-brand boutiques underwent a major transformation with a new 100 squaremetre layout, delivering a unique shopping experience emphasising attention to detail and sensory engagement: from

WELCOME TO DREAMLAND

In May 2023, Legami Dreamland opened in Bergamo to commemorate the company’s first 20 years. Dreamland is a protected nature reserve extending over three hectares, on which more than 2,600 plants and shrubs of 40 different native species have been planted, organised into 11 different forest areas. This is an initiative like no other: in fact, access to the area is prohibited in order to preserve and shield it from human intrusion, allowing it to become a new green lung where flora and fauna can regenerate and thrive.

seasonal scents to visual aesthetics complemented by jazz music.

Thanks to this highly sensational format, Legami has successfully opened shops throughout Italy, including in historic city centres, shopping centres, and within the travel retail channel (airports and stations).

And this is just in its home market of Italy. Due to its rapid growth over the past three years, Legami has also established itself as a well-known brand in all other major European markets. Its presence extends across all major bookstore chains, department stores, concept and design stores, and gift and stationery shops in Germany, France, Spain, the UK, and throughout the rest of Europe. In addition to products, the company often collaborates with retail partnerships to create dedicated spaces such

as corners or actual shop-in-shops that mirror the distinctive look and feel of Legami boutiques.

Legami’s 2025 strategy will focus on expanding into the North American and Asian markets to replicate the success achieved in Europe and further establish itself as a truly global brand.

RETAIL VIEWPOINT

Asif Kassam, owner of Sherwood Stationers in Nottingham is relatively new to the Legami craze, with stock in store since summer 2024. “I’d seen the brand around, but started seeing it more and more on social media and in Stationery Matters, so I thought we should give it a go,” said Asif. “I’m so glad we did as we can’t believe how well it sells. Customers don’t just buy one pen, they buy a couple at a time and the limited edition sets are really popular as well. We’re really looking forward to what Legami has in store for this year.”

INSET LEFT:

FAR

FAR LEFT TOP: Legami display at Fillpots Garden Centre in Colchester.

INSET LEFT: Legami Dreamland in Bergamo is a protected nature reserve.

INSET ABOVE LEFT: Asif Kassam.

Erasable pens on display at Sherwood Stationers.

LEFT: Seasonal limited edition sets of erasable pens cause a frenzy among collectors.

Get ready for London International Stationery Show

TOP: It’s a great place to meet catch up with old friends and make new ones.

BELOW LEFT: The Business Design Centre will once again play host to over 140 exhibitors.

BELOW CENTRE: Stationery lovers get to browse all the new products at London Interntional Stationery Show.

Taking place at the Business Design Centre from 13-14 May 2025, London Interntional Stationery Show is the UK’s only event dedicated to the stationery, arts, crafts, paper and writing instruments sectors. It’s a must-see for anyone in the industry.

London Interntional Stationery Show 2024 was one to remember, crammed full of newness, chat, fun, gossip, creativity, deals, and competitions – as well as lots of business too over the two days.

Visitor numbers were up 40% on the previous year, with many exhibitors and visitors agreeing that it was one of the busiest shows in recent years.

The event attracts stationery and gift buyers from world-leading department stores and supermarkets to independent retailers, including: ASDA, British Museum, Cardfactory, Cardzone, Cass Art, Cult Pens, Fenwick, Flying Tiger, Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, Hobbycraft, John Lewis, Liberty London, London Graphic Centre, Morrisons, The

National Gallery, Next, The Notting Hill Bookshop, Poundland, Royal Museums Greenwich, Ryman, Sainsbury’s, Scribbler, Selfridges, Skinnydip London, Tesco, The Works, WH Smith and many more.

Plans are now well under way for the 2025 edition of the show, which attracts the biggest UK and international brands, through to exciting new designers and innovative start-ups, all under one roof giving visitors the chance to explore an exciting edit of new products and names alongside recognised bestsellers.

“Last year we welcomed just over 120 exhibitors to the show and 2025 is going to be even bigger!” enthused Chantelle White, event manager for

London Interntional Stationery Show.

“We’ve had so much interest from exhibitors that we’ve had to open up a new section at the Business Design Centre, so we’ll have even more exhibitors this year. We’ve still got space, but it is selling fast, so if you want to know more about exhibiting, make sure you get in touch!”

Some of the leading brands already signed up for 2025 include: Blueprint Stationery, Carousel Calendars, Craft Buddy, Crayola, Daler Rowney, Edding, Exacompta Clairefontaine, Hahnemuhle, IG Design Group, Jakar International, Kaweco, Leuchtturm1917, Manuscript Brands, Maped Helix, Mitsubishi Pencil Co, Nu:notebooks, Paperblanks, Pentel, Portico Designs, Premier Stationery, Puckator, Pukka Pads, Royal & Langnickel, Royal Talens, Silvine/Artgecko, Snopake, Stabilo International, Staedtler, Stone Marketing, Tallon International, The Pilot Pen Company and Zebra Pen UK.

Exaclair’s UK marketing manager, Lawrence Savage said that “London Interntional Stationery Show is a mustdo event on our calendar. It not only enables us to catch up with industry colleagues and customers, but offers a chance to explore new trends and opportunities across the sector. The last show was a very successful one

for us and a highlight was winning Sustainable Product of the Year award with our bamboo watercolour pads. We are already excited for 2025 and have a host of products to display, including the newly launched AutentiK collection of Exacompta filing and desktop accessories, as well as the Darwi For You range, which is a comprehensive selection of products for watercolour and acrylic artists.”

Snopake is returning to the show in this year, with director Simon Fawke commenting: “London Interntional Stationery Show continues to grow in popularity with both brands/manufacturers and trade customers of all levels. It is now firmly established within the international trade calendar and we are trying to encourage more overseas visitors to attend. Sustainability remains key to our planning and we will be highlighting our work in this area

at this year’s event. We invite both current and prospective customers to come along to the Snopake stand and allow our team to show how our new and sustainable products can enrich the consumers’ long love affair with traditional stationery.”

One of the highlights for many visitors is the Show’s Boutique Collection; a carefully curated section centred around innovation with quirky, independent suppliers presenting their product offerings. Among those exhibiting this year are Amy Britton, Andhand, Another Studio, Art House Stationery, Coffeenotes, Divide & Rule, Dodolulu, Emily May, Forma House, Good Tuesday, House of Tula, Huunuu, In Real Life, Makers Cabinet, Meraki Notebooks, Oh Laura, Rebel Stationery, Studio Frewb, Sylvia Prince and The Inspired Stories.

Simon Donald and Joe Wentworth from Andhand had a great show last year and are back again for the third year running. “We love that the show is so industry-focused. With the shared passion for all things stationery, there is a real feel of community among both the exhibitors and the visitors which really sets it apart from other trade shows,” says Simon. “It’s an opportunity to both reconnect and expand our network while proudly showing off our most recent designs. As always we have been working on new products to unveil at the show and can’t wait to share it all in May.”

In addition to the exhibitors on the show floor, the finalists of the Stationery Awards will be showcased, with the winners announced at a freeto-attend event at the end of the first day. There will also be an extensive talks and workshops programme, as well as many exhibitors demo’ing products on their stands. Details are still being confirmed, keep an eye on StationeryNews.net for all the latest information about the Show.

NEW EXHIBITORS FOR 2025

SHOW ESSENTIALS

WHEN: Tuesday and Wednesday, 13-14 May 2025

WHERE: Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, London, N1 0QH

OPENING HOURS: 9.30am-5pm Tuesday, 9.30am-4pm Wednesday

WEBSITE: stationeryshowlondon.co.uk

ENTRY: FREE for stationery buyers, retailers, wholesalers, licensors and licensees. Register at stationeryshowlondon.co.uk

EXHIBIT: Contact Chantelle White, chantellew@ max-publishing.co.uk or +44 (0)7795 951244 for more on exhibiting and sponsorship.

One of the best things about London Interntional Stationery Show is the chance to see new brands, with many using the show as a launchpad for new products. Among the first-time exhibitors this year are: Wingback, The Gifted Stationery Co, Scentos, Quadrigloo, Pebeo, Panac Japan, Oli Olsen, Meraki Notebooks, Main Paper, In Real Life and BlueSky Designs. Japanese stationery brand, Penac is now available in the UK, with James Stafford, managing director of Penac of Great Britain saying: “We are very excited to exhibit at our first London Stationery Show, building relationships with buyers and retailers, and standing proudly alongside the great names in the industry. We’ve been delighted with the interest that our range has already garnered from independent retailers, and we’re keen to widen our scope at the show.” Joyce Kudehinbu, director of Quadrigloo is another show first-timer and will be showing the UK’s first ever fully square glue sticks. “I am looking forward to more people being introduced to and learning about the brand, it’s a product so simple yet so effective and people always seem to be amazed by it which makes me really happy and excited. Our square glue sticks are the best thing a lot of stationery and craft lovers never knew they needed!” No stranger to the show circuit is Oli Olsen, but this will be the company’s first time at London Interntional Stationery Show with brand-new collections from Éccolo, a stationery brand from Brooklyn, New York and the latest designs from Metalmorphose, the company’s best-selling keyring and bookmark brand from Belgium.

FAR LEFT

TOP: There’s lots of product demos on many exhibitor stands.

FAR LEFT

MIDDLE: Simon Donald from Andhand with the company’s Stationery Award for Writing Instrument of the Year.

FAR LEFT

BOTTOM: The new Autentik range from Excompta is crafted entirely from recycled materials.

INSET

INSET

LEFT: The Business Design Centre will once again play host to over 140 exhibitors.

BELOW LEFT: Quadrigloo will show its square glue stick for the first time.

BELOW RIGHT: Oli Olsen will show new collections from American company, Éccolo.

The Power of Planning

The growth in sales of planners, organisers and diaries can be linked to more people working from home, but there’s also a move towards physical products as people choose to disconnect from screens.

Planners have evolved significantly over the years to cater to diverse needs and preferences. While dated diaries are still popular, there are many more undated products, featuring to do lists, goal setting and mood trackers, for example, as well as monthly, weekly, daily layouts. And although digital tools are fully integrated into our way of life, there is still something very satisfying about writing things down.

“There’s certainly been increased demand for tangible products, driven by people working from home,” says Jana Starcevic, co-founder and creative director of The Completist

“We saw an uptick during the pandemic when WFH was at its height. Personally, I use digital calendars to keep track of time-sensitive things where I might need a reminder, but I use paper products to get my ideas and plans down. There’s something

really satisfying about getting lists down on paper and ticking them off.”

Combining a physical product with digital is key for Papier’s customers, with Taymoor Atighetchi, founder and ceo commenting: “It’s rarely either-or, but more about finding balance with the appeal of putting pen to paper in an increasingly digital world. Our data reveals that 65% of our customers integrate planners with digital calendars, showing a desire for both analogue and digital organisation tools. Much of this is linked to the fact that over a third of millennial consumers increasingly choosing to disconnect from their screens and, in particular, social media, turning to physical products that help with their productivity and mental wellbeing.”

This hybrid approach to planning is something that Michele Ferron, founder of Good Tuesday has noticed

NEW FOR 2025

New to the planners and diaries category is Storigraphic , a design studio known for its bold designs on notebooks, journals, gift wrap and cards. Co-founder, Roz Nazerian explains why they’ve decided to take the leap into this category: “Over time we received numerous requests from our customers for planners and diaries, and knew we would develop them one day but wanted to take our time with the design. We love how everyone uses planners in their own unique way, some being incredibly creative by personalising them with illustrations, quotes, tape, grids, stickers, markers, and sketches.”

as well. “Even in an increasingly digital world, the paper planner continues to thrive. Research supports this: a study by Columbia Business School found that paper calendar users develop higher-quality plans and achieve them with greater success than digital users. Similarly, the Keller Center for Research highlighted that paper planner users have a better ‘bigpicture view’ of their plans and are more likely to follow through on tasks. It turns out, analogue planning is more

Storigraphic brings its distinct designs to a range of diaries and planners.

RIGHT TOP: Physical planners resonate with Papier’s audience.

RIGHT: Bright, bold designs from The Completist.

Retail Insight

SARAH SINGLETON marketing director, Ryman

Stationery is not just functional but also a form of artistic expression for many. It allows individuals to communicate their unique identity and artistic flair. As remote work becomes the norm, the demand for stationery that speaks to individual style is on the rise.

“It’s about elevating our workspaces with personality,” says Sarah Singleton, marketing director of Ryman. “There’s a distinct pleasure in organising our thoughts and tasks with pens and paper, but we are witnessing ever-growing trends of customers looking for more design-led products. This evolution shows a growing desire among consumers to synchronise their stationery with their seasonal styles and aesthetics.”

Ryman’s customers choose products that express their personality

powerful and has greater benefits than simply adding things to an already cluttered digital environment.”

When it comes to product range, the dated diary or planner is still popular with Michele noting “a higherthan-expected demand for our 2025 diaries, some of which have sold out long before expected. For 2025/2026, we’re excited to introduce new styles and formats that cater to even more planning preferences. We’re also expanding our collaborations with independent artists and have some incredible new names joining the fold.”

A dated monthly planner is a top seller for Coffeenotes. It’s the third year the business has made its monthly planner and each year there’s an increase in sales. Made from Coffeenotes’ signature luxury recycled coffee paper, it is dated with a month on two pages, leaving lots of space for notes, reminders and plans and have been described by customers as a sanity saviour. And as with all Coffeenotes’ products, once finished the product can be completely recycled in household waste or garden compost with nothing going to landfill.

However, for many people, an undated planner is the way to go.

“With an undated planner you can start any time of the year, no need to wait until January,” comments Sam Smith, founder of Hello Time. “Our Hello Time planner is by far our most popular product; it’s what we are known for. It has six dedicated sections for goal setting, scheduling, to-do lists, notes, plans and ideas so you can keep everything all in one place helping you to feel more in control. People love the motivational quotes that pop up through the planner and the fact we have three ribbon markers.”

As well as using a planner for organising day-to-day life admin, themed planners are also appearing more

and more, and gaining traction as cofounder of Yop & Tom, Joppe Coelingh Bennink explains: “People love their hobbies, and having a themed planner alongside makes it even more enjoyable. Our dated diaries and daily planners have been hugely popular, so we’ve expanded our range to include gardening journals, travel planners, recipe journals, and reading journals— and we’ve seen a great response from retailers. Each product range offers a variety of cover designs, allowing retailers to choose options that align with their store’s aesthetic.”

The continued popularity of planners and diaries is a testament to the desire for organisation and connection with time. Whether it’s the act of writing by hand, the joy of personalising or the satisfaction of crossing off completed tasks, planners and diaries provide a sense of control and accomplishment in an increasingly chaotic world. They are likely to remain essential tools in managing busy lives for years to come.

LEFT TOP: Dated diaries have been very popular at Good Tuesday.

FAR LEFT: People like the motivational quotes in Hello Time’s signature planner.

LEFT: Recipe journal from Yop & Tom.

LEFT BOTTOM: Sales of the dated monthly planner keeps growing yearon-year for Coffeenotes.

Art House Stationery

Bold, sustainable designs to brighten your desk.

Wearable messages for a cause.

Cotton paper Cards Office Accessories Awareness

Travel Accessories

Hand-poured Soy wax candles and products to inspire calm.

Eco-friendlynotebookspaper notebooks

Made with seeded covers that grow and cotton pages for smooth writing.

Stylish and sustainable essentials for on-the-go.

Thoughtful designs on premium eco-friendly paper.

Transform the way you work, gift, and travel with our eco-friendly stationery and wellness products. Perfect for individuals, schools, and offices, our range combines functionality, sustainability, and style.

www.arthousestationery.uk arthousestationery@outlook.com

Gilded Words

Floral Weekly Planner

All of Gilded Words art is drawn inhouse, sticking to the 3 B’s: birds, bugs and botanicals. The weekly planner is available in 10 different floral designs. With a cheerful floral boarder, each week has space for an overall goal for the week and each day starts with a ‘don’t forget’ box. There’s also space for notes and a habit tracker. gildedwords.com

Storigraphic

Undated Weekly Planners

Moleskine

Year of the Snake Collection

Moleskine celebrates the new Lunar New Year with a beautiful collection celebrating the Year of the Snake, an invitation to embrace life’s simple pleasures and to be aware of the present. Dated from January to December 2025, this popular format shows the days of the week horizontally on one page opposite a ruled page for weekly notes and tasks. Includes lucky envelopes and themed stickers.

turnaround-gifts.com

These undated planners offer a perfect blend of style and organisation. Featuring a handy A5 format and clearly designed pages with dedicated grids for undated month and week views. The planners are meticulously organised with 12 sections, including a double-page monthly overview, a lined double-page spread, and week-view spreads with dedicated areas for priorities, goals, and to-do reminders. Crafted with sustainability in mind, the planners feature 184 pages of uncoated paper sourced from an FSCcertified supplier with thread-sewn binding and printed in the UK. storigraphic.com

Ohh Deer

V&A Collection

Yop & Tom Gardening Journals

The new V&A collection from Ohh Deer will be 82 SKUs across four different designsCottagecore, Neon Floral, Playful Geometric and Scalloped – including notebooks, diaries, greeting cards and gift bags. Retailers will be able to see all the new products at the spring trade shows in January and February, with product going on general sale in February and 2026 diaries landing in August. ohhdeerwholesale.com

Yop & Tom’s gardening journals offer a clear, structured way to plan and track the garden. With three different cover designs and practical layout, it’s ideal for gardeners looking to manage planting, watering, and growth schedules while keeping their garden thriving. The layout includes dedicated sections to record planting schedules, growth milestones and daily reflections. yopandtom.com

Above: Gardening journal from Yop & Tom.

Right: Year of the Snake planner from Moleskine.

Below: Gilded Words’ weekly planner.

Right: Storigraphic’s undated weekly planner.

Below: Neon Floral 2026 diary from Ohh Deer’s V&A collection.

Brushstrokes of Change

From watercolour painting to Manga art, the demand for high quality art materials is rising across a wide range of categories. Brands are responding to this increasing interest with innovative products designed to meet the needs of both beginners and seasoned professionals.

BELOW:

With a growing number of people turning to artistic hobbies for personal wellbeing and creative expression, the market for fine art materials is experiencing significant growth.

Lawrence Savage, UK marketing manager at ExaClair, notes this focus on wellbeing has resulted in a marked uptick in the popularity of fine art materials, particularly watercolour supplies. “This is driving innovations across our watercolour products, such as a new Aqua Essentials pad, which launches this month. The pad features 12 different watercolour papers, enabling novices an affordable option as they are introduced to the watercolour technique, while also offering more experienced artists the ability to experiment across a variety of surfaces.”

In addition to traditional fine art supplies, Clairefontaine’s Manga products continue to rise in popularity. “The UK market for Manga-themed materials is projected to maintain a rapid compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 20% through 2030,” says Lawrence. “Our new Manga Start Set contains all the essential elements for perfecting Manga artwork with colour, including layout paper, alcohol markers and liner pens. The paper features some pre-drawn designs by well-known Mangaka, EsquisseWei, which act as a perfect introduction to colouring.”

Paul Sacki, managing director at Jakar International has also noticed a steady growth in the arts and crafts market, “especially for those entering retirement, and the pandemic certainly accelerated this. To meet the demand we’ve introduced new product lines. We’ve added the Rosa artist-quality range from Ukraine, with its watercolour, oil and acrylic paints quickly becoming a favourite, offering a perfect blend of exceptional quality and outstanding value. Watercolour painting has a particularly strong following in the UK, and this enthusiasm is reflected in our sales of Rosa products, which continue to grow in popularity among

both amateur and professional artists alike.”

Caran d’Ache also remains a top performer for Jakar International. “The Luminance range of permanent colour pencils, Museum Aquarelle water-soluble pencils and Neocolor II water-soluble wax pastels are consistently top sellers,” says Paul. While online sales are on the rise, many artists still prefer the tactile experience of shopping in-store. “Artists want to see and handle the products before making a purchase,” Paul explains. This preference for a hands-on shopping experience is reflected in growing foot traffic to brick-and-mortar stores, where customers can receive personalised recommendations from knowledgeable staff.

Hahnemühle, a leading name in fine art paper, continues to innovate with products that cater to evolving consumer tastes. UK marketing manager Nuala Henry is excited to launch the company’s new range of 100% cotton watercolour books with deckle edges at Creativeworld Frankfurt in February. “These will predominantly appeal to experienced artists in watercolour that really appreciate the unique and stunning qualities of Hahnemühle papers. We

TOP: DalerRowney has noticed an increasing demand for high-quality art supplies.

Manga art is a growing segment for Clairefontaine.

were the first brand in the market to introduce these in 2021 and following on from their success we are excited to be launching an extension to the range.”

In addition to this, Hahnemühle has launched round watercolour paper, bookmark pads and extended its Natural Line range further with the addition of the Sugar Cane range which it launched at London Stationery Show last year. “The addition of these products have widened the appeal and use of Hahnemühle papers with new audiences,” says Nuala. “When artists see these papers - and most often that is in store - and appreciate the quality once they work on them, it becomes a new hobby for them and also something that makes a fantastic gift to give for someone they love.”

As with other brands, DalerRowney has noticed strong growth in the fine art supplies sector, “fuelled by a surge in interest in arts and crafts among consumers of all ages,” according to marketing director Cedric Grossman. “As more people discover the therapeutic and creative benefits of painting, drawing, and

broader range of artists, from beginners to professionals. “Among our best sellers is the popular System3 Acrylics, which provide excellent quality at an affordable price point,” says Cedric. “System3 Acrylic was born out of a need for a high-quality, versatile acrylic paint that could cater to the demands of both professional artists and hobbyists. It has become a staple in the art world, providing artists with the tools they need to bring their creative visions to life.”

And while online sales continue to rise, there is still a strong preference among artists for in-store shopping, as Cedric explains: “Many enjoy the tactile experience of browsing through various art supplies. Seeing and physically testing the products is an important part of the purchasing process, ensuring artists find the perfect tools to bring their artistic visions to life.”

The fine art supplies market is thriving, driven by an increasing interest in creative hobbies and a demand for high quality materials. With a growing number of people picking up brushes for the first time, brands are adapting to this by introducing a wider range of products to cater for beginners. The next few years are bound to see more exciting developments and new offerings, as brands tap into this expanding customer base.

A NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR GOLDEN ARTIST COLORS

Royal Talens is now the exclusive distributor for all Golden brands in the EMEA region. “The partnership between Royal Talens and Golden in the EMEA region is a perfect match,” says Royal Talens’ ceo, Ronald Benning. “We share common values in responsible manufacturing, sourcing and having a corporate sustainable vision. I see a long-lasting relationship ahead of us in collaboratively driving further penetration through supportable sales growth for both of our great companies.

“We have long admired the branding and engagement Golden endures with artists globally. We look forward to applying our collective expertise gained over the past 125 years in sales, marketing and distribution, utilising our four distribution centres. Our aim is to deploy the same level of energy in availability of Golden products that our existing Royal Talens customers enjoy today,” says Ronald.

Retail Insight

SUZANNE HACK, purchasing manager, London Graphic Centre

“With the digital age, products such as mount board and display portfolios have almost become redundant. But, that isn’t to say that all analogue art materials are destined for extinction. We’ve found it’s actually quite the opposite.

“Ultimately, an artist’s ideas still begin on paper, so categories like sketchbooks, pens and pencils are always popular for us. We have also seen a huge rise in demand for artistic wellness activities, with customers wanting a tangible and nourishing experience that can’t necessarily come from a computer screen. Because of this, we have expanded our ranges of fine art products that pioneer self-expression and accessibility. Some of the most popular of these have been paint sets, drawing inks, and bullet journals.

“At the end of the day, fine art materials themselves haven’t gone out of fashion. What’s changed is the way they’re being used, and we need to keep evolving along with it.”

INSET

FAR LEFT: Caran d’Ache Neocolor II water-soluble wax pastels are a consistent top seller for Jakar International.

CENTRE LEFT: The Rosa range of acrylics are developing a strong following in the UK.

LEFT: The System3 Acrylic range is a best seller for DalerRowney.

INSET LEFT: Royal Talens is now distributing Golden brands in EMEA.

FAR LEFT: Hahnemühle’s new 100% cotton watercolour books with deckle edges are sure to be popular with customers.

LEFT: Student days at London Graphic Centre allow customers to try different products.

ENJOYING THE READ?

THIS MAGAZINE HAS LANDED ON THE DOORSTEPS AND DESKS OF RETAIL BUYERS ACROSS THE STATIONERY WORLD.

These include specialist independent retailers, online retailers, right up to major retailers including names at Aldi, Asda, Fortnum & Mason, Nemo, Ryman, Tesco, Viking, WHSmith, Waitrose, Waterstones, and many more.

The next edition will be published in April ahead of London International Stationery Show, benefitting from vast additional distribution to the many thousands of visitors who attend on 13-14 May 2025 at the Business Design Centre in Islington.

To be included, contact Chantelle White – chantellew@max-publishing.co.uk

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Licensed to sell

The world of stationery has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving into a vibrant lifestyle sector at a time when digital tools dominate. One trend that is emerging is the rising influence of licensing partnerships.

I constantly marvel at stationery’s remarkable journey from being an (anything but) ordinary everyday product to a fashionable, must-have lifestyle one.

What is even more remarkable however is that this happened at a time when digital was very much in the ascendant, and many were starting to write off handwriting and the need for stationery.

Transitioning from what was for so long in many ways a fairly dull look for writing instruments and paper products has been down to the mass injection of colour and design by the brands and some great marketing, and also ironically digital fatigue. Who would have predicted that?

Environmental considerations have and will increasingly continue to play a major part, and now there is also the huge boost from the wellbeing factor.

So what do I think 2025 holds in store for us?

• Consolidation of the WFH movement

• More reports and studies about the positive mental impact of writing and drawing by hand

• Increasing awareness of the feel good benefits of well-designed

BELOW:

Love Writing Co’s Paddington Bear set.

“many were starting to write off handwriting and the need for stationery.”

writing and paper products among the younger generation (take a bow, Papier for the deserved recognition from Ad Age of your impact on Gen Z)

• More digital writing tools

All of the above for sure, but I also have a feeling that licensing and licensed products are going to figure even more strongly on the next leg of stationery’s journey, following their

The Last WORD

By Chris Leonard-Morgan , Founder of London Stationery Show and National Stationery Week

increased representation at last year’s London Stationery Show. They can do wonders for sales as many will testify. I still remember meeting SpongeBob SquarePants at Brand Licensing Europe a few years ago.

During the past year ever popular Harry Potter has featured on products from Maped Helix, Crayola, Moleskine, Craft Buddy and LAMY. Lego is a big seller for Manuscript Pen. There’s a new Frida Kahlo Collection coming out from Clairefontaine. Paddington Bear and PAW Patrol are in action on Love Writing Co’s learning to write products for children, GBCC has Morris & Co, Portico has Sara Miller London and the V&A is working with Museums & Galleries and now also Ohh Deer.

Other properties doing well are Hello Kitty, Marvel, Pokemon, Minecraft, Nintendo and Disney, while high profile collaborations included Stabilo with Dolce & Gabbana and Charles Schulz’s Peanuts with Anya Hindmarch.

All of these brought and bring fun and excitement to the category, and most importantly, sales.

ABOVE: Anya Hindmarch created a stationery pop-up shop in London in collaboration with Peanuts, for the back-toschool season last year.

LEFT BOTTOM: Minecraft is a popular license for Puckator.

LEFT: The artwork of Frida Kahlo comes to a range from Clairefontaine.

BOTTOM CENTRE: Moleskine’s Harry Potter collection included glow in the dark features.

BELOW: The Harry Potter collection from LAMY

BOTTOM RIGHT:

Manuscript Pen’s Lego collection is consistently a top-seller.