Market News: Featured News

The National Stationery Show (NSS) is in its 62^nd year and although it has reduced in size over the past few years, strong footfall continues to ensure its pride of place in the US stationery market. This American institution opens its doors once a year to about 15,000 visitors who flock to see the latest products that its 1,300 exhibitors have on display, and learn which trends will be shaping the retail market over the next year. The show was held at the Jacob Javits Centre in New York last month and SpringFair.com Marketplace was in attendance. We cast a critical eye over the US suppliers at the show and picked out 10 products that we think will make a splash this side of the pond.

Climate Change Chocolate by Bloomsberry & Co

While not quite stationery, this product is certainly worth a mention. The American stationery market is in the middle of a green epidemic – soya ink, recycled paper, biodegradable packaging. If it’s not sustainable then it isn’t getting used. And this isn’t just for the large companies, even small start-ups are making the financial commitment to support the environment. Bloomsberry & Co is also doing its part, but in a much sweeter way. The company has created a line of Climate Change Chocolate, with 10 per cent of the proceeds being ploughed back into eco-friendly projects through offset company TerraPass. The brand was born in New Zealand in 2001 and is now on the path to world domination with Whole Foods taking in two exclusive Climate Change Chocolate bar designs.  

Christmas card by Bumble Ink

As with this card, which reads "Feel the holiday spirit" inside, sarcasm is often the order of the day with Bumble Ink. Designer Gavin Wu, who is a co-owner of Bumble Ink along with former engineer Diana Chen, has created a whole cast of original characters to adorn its stationery. The company launched three years ago at the National Stationery show and returned this year celebrating a new company milestone: Bumble Ink now only uses 100 per cent recycled materials. The company had previously used soy-based ink, the eco warriors ink of the moment, but has only just completed the paperwork to certify that its paper is now green. To celebrate, Bumble Ink created a range of pin badges with the slogan “Paper Snob”, just another hint at the type of humour that characterises the brand.

Poopie Pants Onesie and matching card by Cat Fish Greetings

There were a few matching greetings cards and baby suit sets at the NSS, and Cat Fish Greetings had its offer proudly on display. Cat Fish Greetings has been making greetings cards for the past five years but added baby grows to its armoury two years ago. The combination of the two makes the perfect gift for a new baby. The baby grows, or onesies as they are called, are made from 100 per cent cotton and come in a gift box. Other images in the range include Lil’ Stinker skunk, Lil’ Bugger giraffe, Daddy’s Girl and Ladies’ Man. As well as selling its stationery and gifts wholesale, Cat Fish Greetings also runs its own retail store in Nolita, New York City.

A Starry Heart card by Enormous Champion

Enormous Champion was one of the many suppliers making a debut at the NSS. Despite being brand new on the market, Enormous Champion’s stand looked both slick and fresh, with an eathy vintage vibe. Run by artist Jordan Provost and partner Jason Wong from Brooklyn in New York City. This letterpress card, which is printed on smooth white paper and is packaged with a red envelope, is typical of Enormous Champion’s style – modern designs with a vintage edge. The designers say they try to use renewable resources, post-consumer waste, recycled paper and friendly cleaning agents wherever possible. As well as its in-house designs, Enormous Champion also works with other designers. It is currently in the process of creating wall art to complement its stationery ranges.

Transit Blue Journal by Claire Goddard

English mixed-media artist Claire Goddard has created collections of stationery for US publisher Galison, which was originally founded in 1979 to work with museums to help transfer their imagery onto paper products. Almost 30 years later and the company is still going strong. The Transit Blue Journal is a notebook with lined and graph pages designed for travellers to keep a record of their adventures. The cover of the journal is made from a collage of travel-related items such as bus tickets, car tax discs and maps. It also has an elastic closure and page protector and bookmark. Goddard has also designed a Transit Orange journal and a Vintage Travel photo album.

Mother Goose Graphics wrap by Goosey Press

Goosey Press has created a range of stationery and greetings based on the Original Mother Goose nursery rhymes. The nostalgic monotone silhouettes of children playing, which date back to 1885, and verses are printed on creamy feltweave paper. The venture is the brainchild of founder Amy Smith who found a turn-of-the-century copy of the book while on holiday in New England. She was charmed by the history and has made sure that consumers will appreciate the beginnings of the design theme by printing historical references on the back of the products. However, the supplier is bang up-to-date with its eco credentials. As well as printing on recycled paper, Goosey Press also offsets its printing.

Elementary Love Note by The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes makes a host of quirky screen-printed stationery but its stand-out product has to be its range of Elementary Love Notes. Contained in the cellophane wrapper is a greetings card and envelope that states “Do you like me?”. The receiver of the card is then asked to check the box next to "yes" or next to "no" and return to the sender. The pack also includes a pencil to help the recipient state his or her decision, and to sway the decision that little bit the red pencil has “say that you like me” printed along the edge. The range is designed to replicate notes passed at school and is also available as plain greetings cards. If this note doesn’t do the trick there is another in the range that says, “but do you like me-like me?”

Anniversery card by Ripe Cards

Rude, witty and designed to shock, Ripe Cards is not for the faint hearted and certainly not for the easily offended. The company made its debut at the NSS, where its plain white cards featuring typewriter-style lettering spelling out cheeky sentiments made it a popular exhibitor. Rather than looking pretty, the cards are simply designed to “say it like it is”. Many cards in the range lead the reader into a false sense of security. One such card reads “Congratulations on your new job” on the front, and inside quips “I guess fucking the boss has its benefits”. Others are rude from the off, such as its cards that feature descriptions of masturbation on the covers to convey a message of adoration. Shocking? Yes. A winner? Definitely.

Game Night invitation by Spitfire Girl

While recycled paper was practically a pre-requisite for the show, there was another green material that was popular at the NSS: sustainable wood. At the show, the material was used to make – to name a few – journals, cards, bookmarks, and postcards. Americana-styled stationery supplier Spitfire Girl was one exhibitor with a range of wooden wares. This Game Night invitation is made from eco-friendly sustainably harvested cherry wood, and can be written on with ordinary pens or pencils. The natural material means that the grain in the wood varies on each product, making every one unique. The design was created by Los Angeles artist Liz Young and the invitations can be sold singly or in packs of eight.

Little Notes notepad by PaPaYa!

PaPaYa! is an American brand that has been cropping up in card and gift boutiques in the UK for some time now, but it is yet to become a regular on the UK stationery scene. The company, which cerates quirky art-led designs, is a family affair with artist Anahata Katkin working alongside her mother and brother. Little Notes is part of Pa Pa Ya!’s new stationery range called art@the office, which launched at the NSS. The range is available in five colour stories, with six products in each including legal pads, sticky notes, flip note pads and message books. Pa Pa Ya! Also creates a range of greetings cards, gift wrap and art works, and is distributed in the UK through YCUK.