London International Stationery Show, ran over 12th to 13th May at the Business Design Centre. Among the many retail buyers who were inspired by the 160-plus exhibitors were AIS Buying Group, Amazon, Anthropologie, BOSS, Card Zone, Cass Art, Cult Pens, The Design Museum, ESPO, Findel, Flying Tiger, Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, Historic Royal Palaces, Hobbycraft, Hoopers Department Stores, Jarrolds, Liberty London, London Graphic Centre, Longacres Garden Centres, Merlin Attractions, Morley Stores, Morrisons, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, National Trust, Papier, Pen Heaven, Postmark, RM Education, Ryman Group, Saatchi Gallery, Sainsbury’s, Science Museum, Scribbler, Selfridges, Signpost Education, Somerset House, Southbank Centre, Tate Modern, Tesco, TG Jones, TJX/ TK Maxx, UOE/Stamp, Viking, Waterstones, WHSmith Travel, The Works, YPO and ZSL as well as a veritable who’s who of leading indies. There was plenty to see and do throughout the show, with a packed programme of talks and workshops, live demonstrations on exhibitor stands, and the evening’s Stationery Awards reception adding to the buzz. The expanded Boutique Collection The Boutique Collection was bigger than ever this year, with exhibitors extending into the upper gallery space. A firm favourite with visitors, the area showcased a wide range of design-led independent brands and creative businesses. Creative scenes! From brush lettering and watercolours to calligraphy, journalling and doodling, visitors had countless opportunities to get handson and explore their creative side. There were also plenty of personalised experiences on offer, including the chance to make your own fountain pen on the Kaweco stand, have a notebook customised by LEUCHTTURM1917, or create a personalised bookmark with Pentel. Colour pop! As a stationery and arts show, colour is always part of the experience but this year felt more vibrant than ever. It began with the striking Hunter Price International window artwork at the Business Design Centre and continued throughout the show floor. From bold neons and vivid brights to soft pastel tones, colour was everywhere you looked. At the heart of the mezzanine floor, Royal Talens drew attention with an eye-catching stand, where artists demonstrated acrylics, watercolours and marker pens in action. Meanwhile, in its familiar spot at the top of the mezzanine, Crayola delivered a glowing explosion of colour, complete with an interactive colouring wall. Nearby, Colart’s Liquitex brand was buzzing with visitors eager to test its new paint markers. The stamp rally For the first time ever at the show, visitors could take part in a stamp rally hosted by Shachihata. Visitors picked up a postcard on the Shachihata stand. Then made their way around the show, stopping at the seven different stations, gradually building up a stamped picture especially designed for the show. Fresh ideas and standout discoveries From first-time exhibitors to exciting product launches, the show was packed with fresh ideas and inspiring new collections. Every aisle seemed to offer something different, whether it was innovative stationery concepts, beautifully designed creative tools or eye-catching gift products. The mix of established brands alongside emerging independent companies gave the event a real sense of energy and discovery, with visitors eager to explore the latest trends and find the next big thing for their shelves. Natalia Blauth SAVE THE DATE! London Stationery Show 2027 11-12 May 2027, Business Design Centre, London Visitor registration is open and free for retailers, buyers, dealers and other resellers of stationery. It is not open to the general public. Coffee Notes 26
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