Each year, the National Stationery Show attracts a wide range of retailers from coast to coast – and beyond the U.S. – who travel to New York City to find the best stationery-related products for their stores.
Edie Frère, owner/president of Landis Gifts & Stationery in Los Angeles, CA, has been coming to the National Stationery Show for 20 years. The reason she makes the annual cross-country trek, she says, is because the NSS is the one place where she reconnects with her regular vendors to see what's new, and where she finds new sources – of which she found many.
"I loved Whisker Graphics, which has really cute little printed treat bags as well as labels and twine," shares Frère. "I also loved a company called My Buddy Pal, which features whimsical and adorable illustrations of the artist's dog." Another of Frère's favorite finds was Monahan Papers' kraft gift bags and greeting cards, especially the card that reads: "Let's Not Discuss This Now." Additionally, she liked many of the new invitation albums she saw – as well as their reasonable price points – and placed orders with Smock and Page Stationery, among others.
"I think the NSS is the only way to find new companies that don't have reps," adds Frère. "We're a small store, so I like buying from small companies and helping new businesses – that's part of the fun." She also found the Show easy to navigate. "It wasn't overwhelming, and I finished this year without a sense of panic," she relates.
Frère's positive NSS experience extended beyond the Show floor. She attended the Future Conference on Sunday morning, which she describes as spectacular. "I loved the quality of the speakers," she states. Another highlight of the NSS for her each year is meeting up at lunchtime with her fellow stationers in Club GLM. All in all, says Frère, "It's totally worth the trip!"
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