A Man's View on Stationery

Masculine Stationery

These two words are rarely said together. I don’t understand why it is that most stationery products are created for a primarily female market, but they are. Now don’t get me wrong, I find all kinds of designs, color combinations and artistic styles beautiful. You’re just never going to see me walking the show floor with a bright pink and baby blue notebook. Instead, I’ll be carrying a yellow legal pad or plain spiral notebook; that seems to be my only other option.

That is why I am really excited to see that there are a few new companies out there that are in some way catering to me and my half of the species. “Big Fat Black Cat” is a brand new exhibitor at the Show and I am really looking forward to stopping by their booth to check them out. They registered to exhibit in my first week of working for GLM and I was drawn in by their vibrant colors and fringe style. I think that it also gave me a nostalgic feeling for the CD cover artwork of the Swing revival of the late ‘90s.

Coffin Skull Print from “Big Fat Black Cat”

“ManCards for the Thoughtful Gent” is another company that will be exhibiting at The National Stationery Show. Their products have a decidedly masculine bent. Their basic and elegant style appeals to a desire for simplicity inherent in most men. With mellow, cool colors their note cards lend a feeling of serenity and peace to an occasion. It’s the kind of card that I wouldn’t feel weird displaying on my bookshelf. And, they are packaged in a really cool metal tin.

Green Note Card from “ManCards for the Thoughtful Gent”

So here’s the insider information about how most men shop for greeting cards. We wait until the last second. I consider myself to be a very thoughtful guy and generally I plan ahead, but I will freely admit that I almost always buy greeting cards on my way home from work, on the day of the event.

Since we buy so last minute, we tend not to buy cards online (we don’t plan that far ahead when it comes to these situations). Most of us buy them either at a store in or near our office building, or wherever it is most convenient; the grocery store, drug store, hardware store, etc.

I believe that there is a huge untapped market out there. I know that the common belief is that men do not buy social stationery, but like the famous line from a movie the man in your life is sure to have seen, “If you design it, they will come.” I know I would.

- Aaron

Oh, Baby!

Oh boy, oh boy – it’s a boy! One of my closest friends is having a baby boy in November, and I (silly me) offered to help her select the announcement. Of course, since I work in the stationery industry, I am supposed to be the expert amongst my friends. Sure. My friend’s mom said, when a person is surrounded by beautiful things all the time, it is harder to make a single choice. Does she have that right! I see amazing baby announcements all the time! Some of the most delightful and enduring social stationery design trends come from the "New Baby" category. How will we be able to whittle it down to just one? And my friend is not sure whether or not she will use a photo of her little newborn, either. So, we’ve got lots of options!

Here are some of the contenders for photos announcements:
From Stacy Claire Boyd for Tiny Prints. The colors match the colors my friend is painting the baby’s room – blue & white, with brown & green accents.



I also found this next announcment Tinyprints.com It's from Simply Put by Ashley Woodman. I think this looks wintry – perfect for a November baby.



Here are a couple that would work if she goes sans baby’s photo:

This one is from Inviting Company. We’re still going with the blues and browns, but now with cute illustration.


This one from Bonnie Marcus spells out Bebe in blocks. It’s definitely a great choice for my friend, as she is part French, and proud of it! (And so is grandmere!) And as you can see, blue and brown again.


And finally, this announcement is from Oblation Papers and Press. I love the size of the letterpress on this one, and the simplicity of it. Plus, the paper is handmade. And the type is brown!


I have no idea what announcement my friend will select. But, I can tell her – “the clock is ticking like this!” She only has another month or so to go before we meet her baby! I will get her to make that decision soon!

There are a growing number of companies focusing specifically on baby announcements, and the National Stationery Show is where they will debut their new collections. Be sure you put the show on your calendar now; May 17-20, 2009.

Until next time.. .

- Kelly