StationeryFest was bigger and better this year with over 1000 attendees making the trip to Manchester for some stationery love.
StationeryFest – a B2C show held on Saturday 29 June at Manchester Central – was a resounding success, with social media awash with happy customers and their stationery hauls.
Sam Smith, owner of luxury stationery brand, Hello Time exhibited at the show and said: “It was even bigger this year and growing. It was busy. It was so great to meet a bunch of people as enthusiastic about stationery as me. Everyone was so lovely to speak to, and we had visitors who had just come to see us and our products, which was mind-blowing. It was great to connect with some of our followers on Instagram, too.
“We had sales across our range but it was our planners and diary sticker packs that were a real hit with the crowd. They loved our monochrome non-fussy and clean approach to planning. People were definitely there to spend, rather than browse although some did mention they had a budget in mind for the day. Our neighbours Pick and Mix Ink were so busy. I learnt so much about inks and fountain pens from some real enthusiasts.”
Another exhibitor was Sarah Laker, owner of Stationery Supplies in Marple and Wilmslow who had a fantastic show, exclaiming: “This was my biggest ever event, with a whopping four tables to fill. It took a massive amount of careful planning, ordering, and nerve holding. There was such a joyful buzz in the air, and it was an absolute pleasure to spend all day talking about pens. We even cheered a few times as we sold a few customers their first fountain pen.
“Conversations flowed about fountain pens, best pens for left handers, the wonder of the Legami erasables and I also tried to help a lady buy a pen for her autistic son. Massive thanks to Maped Helix for sponsoring 250 gifts for the goody bags, and to Kaweco for the loan of the DIY pen presses – they were a sell-out. So much so that I’m hoping to put another Kaweco event on at my shop for the people who missed out.
