The London Stationery Show’s move last week into the bigger main hall at the Business Design Centre was enthusiastically received by both visitors and exhibitors, as well as being extensively reported in The Guardian, with many saying it was the best exhibition so far.
There was a real buzz at this year’s London Stationery Show, which was 30% bigger than last year, with the products of over 200 suppliers from around the world on 116 stands. Visitor numbers were up on the previous year, and included buyers from almost every major UK retailer of stationery as well as many independents and from overseas. For many, it was their first visit.
Visitors included Accessorize, Aldi Stores, Amazon, Anthropolgie, Argos, Asda, B&M Retail, Bentalls, Blott Retail, Booker Group, British Library, British Museum, Bureau Direct, Colemans, Costco, Cowling & Wilcox, Cult Pens, English Heritage, Fenwick, Fortnum & Mason, Foyles, Freud Museum, Funky Pigeon, Harrods, Imperial College, Jarrold, JH Lorimer, John Lewis, John Smith & Son, Laura Ashley, London Graphic Centre, Makro, Moonpig, National Theatre, Natural History Museum, Osbornes, OU Students Union, Paperchase, Pilotfish, Post Office, Queen Mary Student Union, Royal Academy of Arts, Ryman, Sainsbury’s, Scribbler, Selfridges, Student Union, Tesco, The Conran Shop, The National Trust, The Pen Shop, TJ Maxx, UCL, Urban Outfitters, Waterstones, Websters, WHSmith, Wilkinson.
“It’s a real plus for the industry to have something like the Stationery Show, it’s great to have stationery all under one roof” says Alexandra Miles, stationery buyer for Sainsbury’s.
Over 90% exhibitors were showing new products, with many of these being displayed on the new New Product Showcase at the front of the exhibition.
“It’s great to have a focused, well planned London based retail show for our growing and diverse industry. We had a great response” says Stephen Fowler, retail sales manager, Castelli UK.
Next year’s London Stationery Show takes place on Tuesday 28 – Wednesday 29 April 2015, during National Stationery Week.
