Ringing In the New and Welcoming Back Some Fantastic Favorites!

What a great holiday season it was – full of my favorite things to feed my soul and unfortunately my stomach! Spent the week snowboarding with the kids. Correction: spent a few days watching the kids board while I drank coffee in the lodge. So glad I had that time, so I could finish my holiday cards. It was the New Year’s batch that I needed to tackle and tackle, I did.

As a matter of fact, a man sitting behind me couldn’t resist asking me if I was cramming for a test (the test being am I or am I not “late?”) He then said that by his book, the card-sending season lasts 7 weeks – from Thanksgiving to the second week of January. I loved his point of view; I too, believe this. Before his wife and 7 kids came back to the table for a delicious meal of Catamount Lodge chili, corn dogs, burgers and hot cocoa, he shared his secret that he actually sends New Year’s cards, so his stand out from the crowd. I loved it – a guy planning his card-sending for the family – not the typical demographic. We chatted some more and both claimed that this year we received and sent more cards than last, and that connecting in this personal way with friends and family far and wide was really important to us. I have to believe this was a trend, not just a coincidence.

So, I’m back at the office now and looking ahead at the exciting Show the team and I are planning, I am very optimistic about the 62nd annual event in May and the incredible products buyers will find only here. Stationery encompasses so many glorious products – greeting cards in a variety of media and genre, gift wrapping and packaging concepts, custom invitations and social stationery, fine leather goods, desk accessories and writing instruments, coffee table books, journals, party and paper table wares, scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies. In short, all of the things that reinforce life’s celebrations.

I’m also very excited about several exhibiting companies that are returning to the May 2008 show after a hiatus. Among them? Mrs. Grossman’s Paper Products, Roger La Borde, Hambly Studios, Colorbok, Busquets Gruart. These phenomenal companies will join nearly 1,000 returning companies and 300 new companies making their industry debut. Between the amazing exhibits, outstanding products and fantastic people from all sides of the business who participate plus all of the promotions, seminars, special events and serious schmoozin’ I’d say we have a dynamic, glorious 4 days in store…fun, easy, productive and exciting!

-Patti