Pre-Show Report North America’s most comprehensive showcase of all things paper – from greeting cards, custom invitations, gift wrap and partyware, to journals, frames, writing instruments, decorative desktop and complementary lifestyle gift – will return with the latest trend-setting products from nearly 800 exhibiting companies, May 20-23, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Some 11,000 buyers from around the world will convene at the National Stationery Show® (NSS) for four days of sourcing, buying, networking and discovery of this important and profitable product category.
THE MARKET Perhaps the most intriguing draw of the National Stationery show is the debut of hundreds of new talents – such as Applesauce greetings, Flour Pot Cookies, Kookaburra, Plum Paper and Stationery HQ – alongside the industry’s most revered brands, including Anna Griffin, Avanti Press, Caspari, Crane & co., Envelopments, Papyrus/Recycled Paper Products, and William Arthur. this combination sets the stage for the industry’s most diverse presentation of social stationery and related lifestyle products not found in any other market.
Off the show floor, the National Stationery show presents excellent opportunities for business education and professional development. the 3rd annual Future Conference – an engaging, 2-hour, pre-Show program in a “Ted Talks” format – kicks off the educational component, followed by a seminar series addressing multicultural marketing, color and retailing trends, bridal market insights and more, Sunday through Tuesday.
“Whether an independent stationer, lifestyle gift shop, bookstore, pharmacy, home décor retailer or a big box merchant, the National Stationery show presents refreshing, profitable, complementary products in a focused, easy-to-shop format. Plus, the show is filled with clever visual merchandising trends which inspire great ideas to bring back to the store.” – Lynn White, show Manager
“For the gift retailer, in particular, the NSS presents a vast number of exhibitors and products spanning all styles, price points and designs that appeal to a broad audience. this lends itself to a superior buying experience unparalleled to markets with limited focus on this product category. Paper products are in high demand today from a consumer that is oversaturated with electronic communication – and greeting cards and boxed notes, in particular, can retail in almost any store environment.” -Patti Stracher, General Manager
MARKET HIGHLIGHTS Future Conference – “Social Stationery: What’s New, What’s next?” Sunday, May 20, 8:00 – 10:00am Jacob K. Javits Convention Center The 3rd annual Future Conference will take a “TEDTalks” format. Each speaker will offer her perspective on significant forces impacting the social stationery industry: marketing to Generation Y; the intersection of technology and paper; the critical role design plays in product development and consumer impact; and the importance of the web as a promotional outlet. Speakers include: Kelly Ricker, Executive Director of Product Development American greetings; Katherine Rosman, Feature Reporter for the Wall Street Journal; Elizabeth Bailey Weil, Owner Paperwheel Press and Head of Culture and Brand Experience Twitter, inc.; and Rachel V. Ivey, VP of Creative & Product Development, Crane & Company. Tickets are available for $75 each through NSS attendee registration at nationalstationeryshow.com.
Trend Walkway Ascending to the show entrances on both sides of the Crystal Palace, the Trend Walkway reveals the latest trend predictions seen through the eyes of leading editors from Martha Stewart Weddings, Stationery Trends, Gift Shop, Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Party and Paper Retailer and Giftware News.
New Product display and best New Product Awards Taking center stage at the 2012 National Stationery show are the latest product launches from nearly 800 exhibiting companies. Hundreds of products making their debut at the show will be found in the New Product display, located in the Crystal Palace Lobby. Product categories are All Things Wedding, Celebrations, Eco-Chic, Lifestyle, Luxury, Paper Style, and the Desktop. the New Product display also serves as the judging arena for the coveted best New Product Awards, which will be determined by an esteemed group of editors. Winners will be announced on Sunday, May 20.
The Supply side Division A division of the NSS, the Supply side returns this year with more than 50 industry suppliers, including finishing specialists, die-cutting, die-making, foil/hot stamping, embossing, holography, lamination, packaging/box specialists, converters, paper manufacturers, specialty printing/thermography, production machinery, envelope manufacturers, custom displays/fixturing systems and others. the division will be located in 3E Hall. to apply for exhibit space, or to register as an attendee, visit nationalstationeryshow.com.
PROGRAMS Future Conference – “Social Stationery: What’s New, What’s next?” Sunday, May 20, 8:00 – 10:00am Jacob K. Javits Convention Center The 3rd annual Future Conference will take a “TEDTalks” format. Each speaker will offer her perspective on significant forces impacting the social stationery industry: marketing to Generation Y; the intersection of technology and paper; the critical role design plays in product development and consumer impact; and the importance of the web as a promotional outlet. Speakers include: Kelly Ricker, Executive Director of Product Development American greetings; Katherine Rosman, Feature Reporter for the Wall Street Journal; Elizabeth Bailey Weil, Owner Paperwheel Press and Head of Culture and Brand Experience Twitter, inc.; and Rachel V. Ivey, VP of Creative & Product Development, Crane & Company. Tickets are available for $75 each through NSS attendee registration at nationalstationeryshow.com.
Buyer Education Six diverse programs for a well-rounded professional development experience will be offered at NSS 2012 from true experts in their fields including “Wedding Market Insights” with Liene Stevens of Splendid Communications, “Multicultural Marketing” with David R. Morse of New American Dimensions, “Color Trends to Keep your Eye On” with Leatrice Eiseman of the Pantone Color Institute and Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training, “top Bloggers Talk Stationery Trends” with Sarah Schwartz of Stationery Trends magazine, “Turning Clicks and Likes Into Store Visits and Sales” with Brian Lawrence of Local Traffic Builder, and “Stationery Retailers Share Their Success Stories” with Kathy Krassner of the Greeting Card Association. For additional details, visit nationalstationeryshow.com. Seminars can be selected and purchased during the show registration process, or added through the Registration Resource Center for those who have already registered.
SPECIAL EVENTS Greeting Card Association LOUIE Awards Gala Sunday, May 20, 6:30 – 10:30 pm Espace, New York City The LOUIE Awards celebrate the year’s most original and creative greeting cards in a variety of categories, plus the Grand Prize “Card of the Year”. this year’s theme, “the Greatest Cards on Earth!” will bring whimsy and nostalgia to this important special event. this year’s theme concept was designed by Katy Greenspan, Creative Director at Cardstore.com and the 2011 LOUIE Awards Chair. Sponsorship information is available by visiting greetingcard.org. Tickets may be purchased through NSS attendee registration. Complimentary shuttle service will be provided from the National Stationery show. The Supply side Networking Receptions Monday-Tuesday, May 21-22, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Level 3, Hall E Suppliers to the social stationery industry exhibiting within the Supply side division will have dedicated time to connect with NSS exhibitors during the Supply side Networking Reception, where a casual atmosphere and complimentary refreshments will foster networking among colleagues. Advance registration is not required. STAY CONNECTED NSS Mobile App Back by popular demand following the 2011 launch, the NSS mobile app is ready to navigate attendees through the aisles. Designed to help attendees shop the show more efficiently, the mobile app allows users to instantly search for exhibitors or products by name, product line, product category, or description, with results including company names and booth locations. in addition, it provides details about NSS seminars, events and shuttle schedules, as well as the floor plan. the application is compatible with Android, iPhone and Blackberry Torch devices.
Online Catalog Gallery The Online Catalog Gallery, available for viewing through nationalstationeryshow.com, offers retailers the opportunity to browse exhibitor catalogs before, during and after the National Stationery show. the page-by-page browse books give retailers a sneak peek at what will be seen on the NSS show floor. For participating exhibitors, the key benefit of the Online Catalog Gallery is the lead-generating capability, which extends the life of the show from four days to a full year, including bonus exposure with the automatic connection through our online product search tool! to participate, email Stephanie Leon-Santiago at
National Stationery show Guest Blog Now featuring guest bloggers from some of your favorite industry blogs – including oh So beautiful Paper and Save Snail Mail – the NSS Guest Blog is the latest resource for trend insight, industry happenings, show perspectives and more. Visit nationalstationeryshow.com to read the latest posts.
Show Daily A ‘must read’ on your way into the NSS each morning, Stationery Today returns this year as the official show daily publication. Published by Great American Publishing – publishers of Stationery Trends, Party & Paper Retailer and Museums & more – Stationery Today features breaking exhibitor news, the latest product launches, trend insight, show news and more. to advertise, contact Brian Virgona 570-223-9190 or email sales@stationerytrendsmag.com.
Paperclips With more than 15,000 subscribers, the official enewsletter of the National Stationery show offers unique perspectives about the industry, business and trends, as well as breaking show news. to subscribe, or access the archive of past issues, visit nationalstationeryshow.com. Advertising opportunities are available.
STATUS® – Official National Stationery show Directory The official printed directory of exhibitors, available onsite, allows attendees to navigate the show floor more efficiently. in addition, the online version offers year-round visibility of exhibitors to a captive audience of stationery retailers. Visit nationalstationeryshow.com to access the online directory, or for information regarding STATUS print advertising.
Social Media One of the more effective ways to stay in touch with the NSS, as well as thousands of show participants, is to connect with us through Twitter and Facebook. Become a Facebook fan at facebook.com/NationalStationeryShow and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/stationeryshow. in addition, a complete library of NSS videos is available on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/stationeryshow.
CROSS MARKET OPPORTUNITIES Co-locations with two design-driven shows will offer additional benefit to NSS attendees. SURTEX®, the only B2B marketplace in North America for selling and licensing original art and design, will take place in Hall 3B, adjacent to the NSS. the International Contemporary Furniture Fair® (ICFF®), North America’s singular showcase for contemporary design, will take place on Level 1. A NSS attendee badge will provide access to all three markets, which combined will attract 42,000 buyers and 2,800 exhibitors, manufacturers and distributors. Additional information for these collocated markets is available online, at surtex.com and icff.com.
PRODUCTS REPRESENTED The products showcased at the National Stationery show includes greeting cards, invitations, imprintables, giftwrap/ribbons, social stationery, specialty party supplies and paper tableware, bridal accessories, customized/personalized products, in-store printing equipment, decorative home office products, luxury leather goods, writing instruments, papercrafting supplies, frames, journals, calendars, lifestyle giftware, scrapbooking and back-to-school. And, in the Supply side division, finishing specialists, including die-cutting, die-making, foil/hot stamping, embossing, holography, lamination, packaging/box specialists, converters, paper manufacturers, specialty printing/thermography, production machinery, envelope manufacturers and custom displays/fixturing systems will exhibit. PROFILE OF ATTENDEES Retail The NSS attracts a diverse global attendance of 11,000 buyers from stationery, card, gift and lifestyle stores; bookstores; fashion boutiques; bridal shops; hospital gift shops; party stores; department, chain and specialty stores; museum and gallery shops, large chains and “big box” mass retailers; online retailers and mail order catalogs; as well as importers and distributors.
Non-Retail Manufacturers, Distributors, Suppliers, Manufacturers’ representatives, Licensing agents, Artists, Designers, Consumer and Trade Press
WEBSITE nationalstationeryshow.com
EXHIBITOR INFORMATION Kelly P. Bristol, Sales Manager – Key Accounts GLM Telephone: (914) 421-3228 E-mail:
ATTENDEE INFORMATION GLM Customer Relations (800) 272-SHOW (7469) Registration for the 2012 National Stationery show is open at nationalstationeryshow.com. Registration is free for qualified buyers through May 4; after this date and onsite the registration fee increases to $60. Non-exhibiting manufacturers will be charged $175 in advance and $200 after May 4 and onsite.
BUYER SERVICES Shuttle Buses Complimentary shuttle buses will run on all show days between the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and designated hotels. Exact schedules and routes will be posted daily at the Javits Center and are available online, at nationalstationeryshow.com.
Travel & Housing Assistance Travel Planners, inc. (800) 221-3531 or (212) 532-1660 myGLMtravel.com
ENJOY THE BIG APPLE NYC & Company – the Convention and Visitors Bureau – and GLM have teamed-up to offer discounts on dining, entertainment, transportation and services throughout New York City. General tourist information is available through NYC & Company at 800-NYC-VISIT (800-692-8474) or (212) 397-8222. A complete list of discounts will be available online at nationalstationeryshow.com in advance of the show, and through the Special Events desk in the Javits Centers’ Crystal Palace lobby during all show days.
SHOW DATES AND HOURS: Sunday, May 20 9:00am – 6:00pm Monday, May 21 9:00am – 6:00pm Tuesday, May 22 9:00am – 6:00pm Wednesday, May 23 9:00am – Noon