We’ve got that After Show Glow

Though a couple of weeks have passed since the conclusion of the National Stationery Show, this team still has that “After Show Glow!” On Wednesday, the last day of the Show, I think we would have meant the glow that comes from hard work (packing up boxes, just like the exhibitors – all that stuff we hauled in – phones, files, etc. had to be packed back up). But today, I mean that kind of glow that comes from knowing that the Show was incredible – “a triumphant Show” to quote a source!

As Jess said last week, we have loved reading the blogs being posted by exhibitors and attendees alike. The many members of this stationery-loving, design-oriented community clearly enjoyed – in fact, couldn’t get enough of – all the offerings at the Show.

We didn’t have enough time to blog from on-site once the NSS was open (we promise, we’ll work it into the schedule next year!) but here are some highlights:

I was beyond thrilled to meet Leslie Moak Murray, creator of Murray’s Law, the funny, funny line of cards, books, and other products she whips up for (and with) Design Design. Here I am with Leslie (center) and Don Kallil, president of Design Design at the Show’s Opening Night Party at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center.



It was a whole lot of fun to present the Best New Product winners with their awards on Sunday afternoon! Here’s a photo of Melissa and Brad Foster of Elum. They won for their Wood Grain Desk Set, a complete collection of varying sized letterpress note cards and custom envelopes, each designed with the latest interior design color trends and packaged in a custom-printed fabric box. I’ve known Melissa and before they’d ever exhibited in a trade show. It really was a thrill to present this award to them.



This year, our operations team came up with a great way to help attendees figure out where the line ended for each shuttle bus route. The start of the line is indicated with a big sign, but often lines can get so long, it’s hard to tell where, say, Route 1 ends and Route 2 begins. Here are our intrepid on-site staff members demonstrating the signage for the “end of the line!”

That’s Scott Kramer (#1), Mike Ruberry (#2) and Randi Mohr (#3). Note that Arque (bottom right) thinks this is pretty funny!


I also got to meet the “lips lady” at the Show this year. “Who is the ‘lips lady’?” you might ask. Well, if you’ve attended the Show, I’m sure you’ve noticed our big blue banner at the entrance. The design is of a back of an envelope, and it bears the Show name at the top, and then has this big “S.W.A.K.” (sealed with a kiss….) mark on the bottom and reads “P.S. we’re glad you’re here.” The banner was designed by the talented Cliff Doenges of Freeman, and it debuted at the 2007 Show. We love this banner, but had to know where the lips came from. Story is that he asked his colleague, Anita Moreano Zales to put on some red lipstick and kiss a piece of paper a few times. The rest is history. It was fun to meet Anita. Here she is under her big smooch!



By now you’ve seen some awesome booths at the Show from the pics posted on these various sites. Kudos to all those great companies who spend their year working on designs for paper, but for the Show, diverted their attention to designing for walls that are 8’ high and of various depths and widths. This is no small challenge, and we applaud the creativity that was so apparent.

Every year, I wonder what the color trend will be in booth design. To get a hint on this, I ask Lloyd Stone, of Manny Stone, to tell me what color of foam board was most requested. This year, not surprisingly, the color was brown (BTW, last year it was green). Check out all of these brown booths!



Abby Jean line by Fontaine Maury – sleek and stylish. I love the white carpet and those “ghost” acrylic chairs.


Always a Girl’s Girl – I like that she’s brought in the pink lilies that match the pink border.


9SpotMonk – very inviting booth, Vivian! Great job! The side walls were a different shade than the back wall. Check out that sofa - I bet the buyers were happy to have a chance to sit.


Marsupial – I like the different colored dots at the top, and the clever creation of an extra short wall inside their booth.


That Sky Blue - An unpredictably brown back wall, with great shelving used to display their designs.


Here’s the new team photo, taken during the Show…

Rosanne, Jess, Arque, Kelly, Patti

I know you’ve seen and heard lots more than this, and I am just scratching the surface. We plan to give you more pics and insights from our perspective of the 2008 National Stationery Show in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

- Kelly

Post Show Highlights

Hello Bloggers! The National Stationery Show has joined the blog world! We will make frequent entries, so that we can stay in touch with the bloggers in our industry be they exhibitors, buyers, reps, distributors, prospective participants and anyone in between.

First off, let me say that the Team is still on a high from the past Show in May. We continue to receive positive feedback about the depth and variety of resources and the great energy on the floor. This goes along with an increase in attendance numbers, so there is definitely something to be excited about. We plan to build on this success in 2008, and have plans in the works to make next year’s Show even stronger.

Just in case you missed the Show – here are a few highlights:

Exhibitor Crystal Art displayed "American Icon" – a Swarovski Crystal covered Mini Cooper used to introduce the new and exciting range of crystal greetings cards.

There were 7 winners in the Best New Product Competition:

PSA Essentials – Delegates’ Choice
Oliblock – Lifestyle/Specialty Gift
Nouvelles Images – Social Stationery

Yoropen - Luxury
TableToss - Party
The Paper Menu – Paper Craft/Scrapbooking

Sinden Home – Desk Accessories

Bob Mankoff, cartoon editor of The New Yorker and president of The Cartoon Bank, held a signing to kick off the New Yorker greeting card collection in the Nelson Line booth. He then spoke to attendees about the role of humor in society.

Participants enjoyed live music playing in the lobby opening day. The band then led the Show team across the Show floor to greet many of our new and returning exhibitors.

Our new signage!
We are so excited about the bright new colors and theme displayed
throughout the Show. It’s fresh, it’s new, and it conveys what the future of the Stationery Show is all about: Great business. Great fun.

Epson America debuted at NSS 2007 to promote its printing equipment and
technology to retailers and exhibitors. It was very exciting to have this industry giant exhibiting alongside brand new, start-up companies!

The Show was buzzing with action all 4 days – you DON’T want to miss next year!


So, I hope everyone had a fun, safe, dry 4th of July! And don’t forget to spread the word about the NSS blog – it’s a great place to learn some of the inside scoop about the Show and to let us know what’s on your mind.