Jun 5, 2012

Increase in Key Buyers Highlights 2012 National Stationery Show

A notable influx of executive-level buyers, as well as a substantial increase in the number of brick and mortar retailers, led to a robust National Stationery Show® (NSS) for 804 exhibitors and 10,301 attendees, May 20-23, 2012 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Seventy-six percent of buyers walking the aisles hold decision-making positions, an increase in purchasing power of 10 percent over previous years. In addition, brick and mortar retailer attendance jumped 12 percent, signifying positive economic times as retailers rebound and place orders in preparation for busy third and fourth quarters.

“The productivity on the show floor was palpable, as exhibitors engaged in meaningful business with one buyer after another,” said Patti Stracher, General Manager. “From Key Account retailers and independent stationers, to gift shops, museums, Big Box stores and international distributors, the right people were in the room, laying the groundwork for both immediate and future opportunities.”

“This was our debut, and this is exactly where we needed to be,” said Chrisanne Robertson of Chrisanne Robertson LLC, an artist, illustrator and product designer specializing in hand-painted ornaments and cards. “As a result of the NSS, we are in talks with the head buyers from both the Smithsonian Institution and Precious Moments, which are significant opportunities. I was ready to take my products to a different and bigger audience, and I achieved exactly that.”

“NSS 2012 was all about the international visitors for us,” said Carolyn Forsman, owner of Carolyn Forsman Conversation Piece Jewelry. “We saw buyers from Australia, Japan, Mexico and South America. In addition, there were noticeably more specialty retailers, including specialty gift, bookstores, museums and major office supply chains. At this show alone, I added major New York and Australian museums to my customer list.”

“Masterpiece Studios experienced its best National Stationery Show since 2008,” said Doug Faust, Executive Vice President. “Both the number of orders and dollars were up over previous years. We were also pleased to find that nearly half our orders came from new customers. The buyers seemed very focused. They knew what they were looking for and specifically sought out the exhibitors who could provide what they needed.”

Highlighting the market were the Best New Product Awards, calling attention to the greatest new products at the market, as determined by a panel of editors from the leading trade publications. Taking the honors this year were Someday Designs, LLC, All Things Wedding; Branch + Cotton, Celebrations; The White Cabinet, Eco-Chic; SayItWithBookCovers™, Lifestyle; Up with Paper, Luxury; Wilk Ink Press, Paper Style; and from you to me limited, The Desktop. Up with Paper was named “Best of Show” for Desktop Notes, a pop-up under a flip top lid, with 125 loose sheets of 60-pound stock designed note paper, and featuring a locking mechanism to display for retail display or desktop.

Another feature of the 66th annual National Stationery Show, the Future Conference drew a crowd of more than 100 participants eager to hear “What’s New, What’s Next in Social Stationery”. A panel of five key industry players, representing Crane & Co., American Greetings, Twitter, and The Wall Street Journal, came together to address marketing to Generation Y, the intersection of technology and paper, the critical role design plays in product development, and the importance of the web as a promotional outlet. Breakout sessions followed throughout Sunday, Monday and Tuesday – many with standing room only – addressing the wedding market, multicultural marketing, color trends, stationery trends, social media, and retailer success stories.

The 67th annual National Stationery Show, the nation’s leading marketplace for the social stationery industry, will run Sunday, May 19, through Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The Show features nearly 800 exhibitors and attracts some 11,000 attendees.

The National Stationery Show is owned and managed by GLM. For exhibitor information, contact Kelly P. Bristol, sales manager – key accounts, at GLM, 1133 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, NY 10604. Telephone (914) 421-3228. Fax (914) 948-2918. E-mail kbristol@glmshows.com. Attendee information is available by contacting GLM’s Customer Relations Department, at (800) 272-SHOW or (212) 204-1060, or by email, at customer_relations@glmshows.com. Additional information is available online, at www.nationalstationeryshow.com.