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Spotlight On... Stationery
Taking Note
Below: Visitors to the London Stationery Show in 2019. Below left: Stationery from Rex London. Below middle: Two notebooks in the new Sucseed range from VENT for Change. Below right: Dream Odyssey Star Print notebook and pen boxed gift set from A Gift From the Gods. Bottom: Floral notecards from The Seed Card Company which are made from seed card.
With gift shops heading to the dedicated live London Stationery Show at the Business Design Centre on October 5-6, where exhibitors will be putting a spotlight on writing and paper products, PG&H takes a look at gift stationery to discover what’s trending for the coming season. Despite living in a world where smart phones and tablets rule, technology has, if anything, reinforced a love of trend-driven, tactile stationery that stylishly says something about the user. A lovely notebook, journal or notecard makes the experience of writing down thoughts and feelings that much more enjoyable, while for those looking for stationery for their desks - whether in the office or at home - a colourful notebook cover can help to inject a feeling of positivity into the day.
At Rex London, marketing and communications manager Anna Williams, points out: “For many organisations, some form of flexible working will become the new norm, even as we progress out of lockdown measures. The huge rise in home décor trends, particularly around home offices, increased massively during the pandemic and with many people still working from home for at least one day a week, they will be looking for ways to refresh their space.” Back to school too, evokes thoughts of notebooks, pens, pencils and rulers. “With a return to normality for the new academic year imminent in the UK, back to school is certainly on everyone’s mind,” continues
Anna. “Stationery is a huge part of that annual ritual for parents, so standing out with fun yet functional products is key for us.” For those looking for an eco-friendly stationery gift, Kay Patel, co-founder of The Seed Card Company adds: “Our notecard sets, made from seed card, have been popular sellers on our online shop, with customers buying them as gifts for others as well as for themselves. Floral, foliage and outdoor garden-inspired designs are especially popular. Over the last 18 months, people have been transforming their outdoor spaces small and large and more and more people, from all age groups, have made gardening a hobby. This has been reflected on the designs chosen for the notecard set, and it’s a trend we don’t see stopping anytime soon. It helps that our notecards also grow flowers,” adds Kay. Sustainable stationery brand VENT for Change recently launched a new Sucseed range of sustainable notebooks. made using reclaimed coffee beans, lavender, cherry and kiwi husk, plus100%
recycled paper. Each notebook features a page marker made from reclaimed corn pulp. “We’re loving the use of these new reclaimed and recycled materials to deliver a stunning tactile finish that reflects their origins,” states the company’s founder Evan Lewis. With Christmas in mind, fashion lifestyle brand A Gift From The Gods has added to the company’s stationery ranges by introducing a gift boxed notebook and pen set for Autumn/Winter 2021, with one for each of the company’s design stories. “As proven best sellers and, often bought
together, it was a natural upgrade to bring the A5 notebook and pen together as a gift boxed set, with the quality of the production and box design adding value,” comments founder Jane Reucroft. “Stationery is still a popular gift option and people are always looking for gift wrapped or gift boxed items.” One way or another, stationery has an important role to play in the lives of many people. From helping to plan and organise their lives to a personal space that allows them reflect and jot thoughts down, design-led stationery continues to makes an affordable, practical and much appreciated gift. Progressive Gifts & Home Worldwide
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