nss set-up day 2 - getting busy

Hello from day 2 of set-up at the National Stationery Show! It's been so busy here on-site! More exhibitors have shown up to set-up their booths, and many of those who are here are also dropping off their products for the Best New Product Display which will be in the "Crystal Palace Lobby" near the entrance of the Show. It's exciting to see all the submissions - sorry I can't share pics with you! You will have to be at the Show to see these!

What I can share is more photos from on-site as the Show builds up around us!

Here's Patti Stracher "the boss" - a.k.a. National Stationery Show Manager with Mike Ruberry, GLM's vice president of operations. This picture was taken in the Show Office located on the 4B Terrace. Note the walkie-talkie in Patti's hand. Even in though we all have cell phones, we mostly use our "radios" to communicate with each other here at Javits.


Display Designs creates fabulous booths for so many exhibitors in the Show. But before the booths get set, they get delivered in these distinctive crates! I'm not quite sure which exhibitor's booth was inside, but it could have been for MomAgenda, Anna Griffin, Olivia Reigel or Maude Asbury, to name a few!


This shot is overlooking the Show floor from the office Patti and I are sharing here on-site. It's a view of the Notes & Queries booth.


Manny Stone Decorators has been here since yesterday installing colorful foam board walls and bright white masonite flooring for a large number of exhibitors. The Show is going to look great! Here's Lloyd Stone (right) with one of his terrific colleagues.


Denise is one the security guards who will be scanning attendee badges at the Show. She's friendly! Make sure to say hi to her as you enter the Show floor.


Exhibitors at the Show are so incredible. Not only are they talented - producing drool-worthy products, but they really spend a lot of time creating great looking booths to welcome their customers once the Show is open. It's hard work, but it can be an enjoyable experience! I was so happy to come across the team of fun-loving folks at Dabney Lee's booth. As you can see, they are painting their booth a bright green, and they've gotten into the spirit of the day, and have their "war paint" on their cheeks! Here's Dabney and Courtney - looking forward to a great Show, ladies!


It has been so great to walk the Show floor and chat with exhibitors new and "old." Everyone keeps remarking on how happy they are to be here, and how much they are looking forward to seeing the buyers. The excitement is building, and I think it's going to be a great Show!

Until tomorrow - Kelly

on-site fun

Here we are again, back at the Javits Center in New York, setting-up for the National Stationery Show. I love the energy of move-in. Many exhibitors are already here, as are the service contractors who are building some of the largest booths. Freight is being moved in on forklifts, the place is noisy with men yelling, and equipment being used - it is a construction zone, to be sure, and the excitment is in the air.

Here are some pics I took walking around the Javits today:

Patti was excited to see our "ad" on the new digital display sign outside of the Javits Center. I think it looks great!


Like I said: a construction zone with forklifts! Hardhats not required, but be careful!


Here's John, one of the head electricians. If you're an exhibitor in the 2400-3000 aisles you surely know him, and should stop here to be sure your order is in!


Doug Duncan of Motel Deluxe, getting a nice head start.


Vera Bradley's and Knock Knock's freight has arrived!


Here's Randy from InScribe - he was waiting for his freight when I came across him, but it magically appeared when I showed up! (o;


Here's Constance Kay, checking in with the electrician in her area (Mattie, not John).


And here's my cab! Aaron and I are headed out to dinner in the City with a group from work tonight. Should be fun!


- Until tomorrow!

Kelly

Keeping Up With Trends

I’ve been thinking a lot about trends as I prepare for NSS. I truly believe that consumers count seeing trends in their favorite stores. They want to know what’s new, what’s now, what’s fresh, what’s fantastic in the market. Today’s trends are turning over faster, and more than ever are tied to current events, lifestyle demands, and most importantly, fashion. What’s hot in fashion – from polka dots and embroidery, to retro-60’s mod, from eco-chic green fabrics to affordable luxe and bling on a budget – will be reflected, interpreted and designed for products to please the current crop of fashion-savvy consumers.

The National Stationery Show (NSS) is a treasure trove of information and products that showcase the latest fashion and lifestyle trends. Paper products are relatively inexpensive to produce, attracting some of the most talented designers, who are on the cutting edge, to get into the business. Many of the trends that have dominated fashion and home décor over the past few seasons –such as oversized black & white damask designs – were first reflected in paper. The social stationery industry was offering recycled and environmentally responsible products long before “Green” appeared on everyone’s radar. NSS was the first show to blend fashion with function for today’s expanding home office product demands, and its exhibitors were earlier innovators in the lucrative, ever-changing ‘tween market.

Stationery has become so important to the lifestyle market I recently learned that internationally acclaimed designers Vera Wang, Lilly Pulitzer, Martha Stewart and Kate Spade are debuting social stationery collections at the Show!


Here’s what I’ll be looking for this year:

 The evolution of “green” products which combine great design with cause-related consciousness

 Humorous or caring cards which uplift the spirits and cause a chuckle in these challenging times

 Executive accessories and leather goods which dazzle with vibrant colors and on-trend animal prints

 Designs which interpret world-style motifs in a fresh and exciting style


As a veteran trend-tracker, I’m so excited about the upcoming NSS. See you on the aisles!!!

- Deb Gold

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

A New Experience!

Okay so I wear a lot of grey… and black and tan and brown… well, you get the picture. I’ve worked at GLM for 18 years but at a very different industry. The Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show is a fabulous show but it’s so different from NSS. It’s very corporate and everything is more….. tailored!

This will be my first Stationery Show and thus far it’s been a great new experience! I’ve been meeting Stationery exhibitors and their enthusiasm runs wild. It’s an infusion of art and creativity by a group of people well able to express themselves – artists interpreting feelings, poets penning appropriate sentiments. And then there are those colors - a fearless array of hot pinks, vibrant greens, bold yellows - flowing freely from exhibitor booths, creating very emotional and happy feelings. I’ll have to get used to that!

What a wonderful industry that celebrates every day life! While emailing friends is fast, there’s nothing like receiving an envelope with greetings in the mail. This, in itself, has become a special event. It’s good to know that the tradition of being socially connected continues. And where better than the National Stationery Show.

As a newcomer myself, I’m especially impressed with some of the programs developed to support new exhibitors. There are mentoring programs that take the fear out of a first-time experience by pairing the new with the seasoned exhibitor. Free attendees labels that allow a first-timer to reach a legitimate number of potential clients. For small businesses and owners who wear too many hats, it’s a welcoming gesture from an industry that embodies thoughtfulness.

I’m looking forward to my first show. So if you see me in the aisles, stop me and say hello. Normally I’d say I’ll be wearing a charcoal grey skirt and white shirt but this year it might be different… I might be flaunting turquoise slacks or a violet shirt, maybe a pink skirt and a yellow scarf, no it could be an orange suit or a …..

**Alyson**

Weddings and Chocolate and Prizes, Oh My!

I’m the typical woman – I admit it. I gush at all-things wedding...I could survive on chocolate alone…and top-of-the-line stationery freebies are the greatest thing ever. So I’m sure you can imagine, the upcoming National Stationery Show is turning out to be a little slice of heaven for yours truly. If you haven’t connected the dots already, let me fill you in...

Get Married (www.getmarried.com) is back, and bigger than ever. This year, the Get Married booth (1214) and surrounding area will showcase a collection of the hottest wedding-related products found on the Show floor through four table vignettes. A MUST see Show floor feature!
For those of you who can relate to my pesky sweet tooth problem, this is where that chocolate comes into play! From 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Sunday, May 17 – Tuesday, May 19, Get Married will offer attendees a mid-afternoon pick-me-up with two chocolate fountains. If you would like to meet me, I’ll be the one dipping the extra large ladle into the fountain.

Another feature that returns this year is Passport to Discovery. If you’re looking for a great way to shop the Show – or a change of pace from your regular aisle-to-aisle routine – this is the program for you. And it’s simple, which will make you love it that much more. Just pick up your Passport in the lobby bins where you grab your badge holder, visit the six key booth locations to have it stamped, and drop it off at the Gifts & Decorative Accessories booth (2500). One of the booths you’ll stop by is Get Married, where you’ll pick up a free bag packed with goodies from NSS exhibitors! And it doesn’t stop there…attendees completing the program will be eligible to win one of 15 designer tote bags overflowing with stationery products from exhibitors.

So much to see and do at this year’s NSS…and these two programs are just the beginning! So put Get Married and Passport to Discovery on the top of your “NSS To Do” list, dig out those comfy trade show shoes that you haven’t seen since last May, and pack that extra large ladle you’ve been thinking about since you read the part about the chocolate fountains.

We’ll see you soon…

Melissa
NSS Marketing Manager

New Role, New Excitement!

I just passed my 3 year anniversary at GLM and thinking back, a lot has happened these past 3 years. I remember the days when I didn’t know what a directory looked like and S-T-A-T-I-O-N-A-R-Y was the way I spelled the cute paper that I write my notes on (admit it, most of us have made the mistake!) I also remember the first time I saw a concrete, open space transform into an exciting trade show, danced at my first opening night party and attended my first seminar.

My first trade show was the National Stationery Show.
My first opening night party was the NSS Rainbow Room Party.
My first seminar was about successful and effective visual merchandising.

This May I’m excited to continue this annual tradition of working the National Stationery Show. With all of the bright colors, new products and people from all over the world, I would be crazy not to be excited. I love talking to new people and learning about our exhibiting companies. No matter how many trade shows I’ve been to, there are always great people to meet and things to learn.

Speaking of new, I have a new role at the Show this year as Conference Manager. I’ll be spending most of my days on Level 1 of Javits coordinating the seminars and meetings. Although I’m not an exhibitor or an attendee, I try to attend the seminars to better understand various aspects of the business. This year’s topics are very interesting and the speakers are well-known experts in their field. My hope is that all will run smoothly, so that I’ll be able to learn from the pro’s!

Then, after an expectedly chaotic opening day, I’m excited to celebrate at our annual Opening Night Party at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center. Let’s face it, it’s not every day I get to watch the sunset over the New York City skyline while eating amazing food and chatting with exhibitors and attendees of the Show. Then after the sun has set I love watching people smile and laugh while dancing on the rotating dance floor. And okay, once and a while I join them too!


Well the Show isn’t here yet, so I must get back to work. I hope some of you faithful readers will be joining me at these exciting events (make sure to say hi)!

Check out our website for information on the show, seminars and party. Or send me an email and I’ll help as best as I can: jreiche@glmshows.com.

*Jess*

Webinar Report and Tips

Yesterday (Wednesday), I had the distinct privilege and pleasure of presenting a webinar for NSS exhibitors with two “veterans” (well, they are!) of the industry – Mike Oleskow of Max & Lucy & Modus Operandi, and Anna Griffin, president of Anna Griffin, Incorporated.























The webinar was on Exhibitor Display and Sales, and both Mike and Anna certainly know what they are doing when it comes to creating a great looking booth and selling! My part in the webinar was facilitate the discussion and present the boring stuff (“this is an “S” hook, the floor is made of cement…” ) away from these two superstars!

We had a record number of participants on the call – about 60! It’s terrific to know that so many exhibitors (and they weren’t all new) are so keenly interested and invested in their participation in the Show that they spent the time to “attend” this webinar. Mike and Anna shared fantastic tips & tricks – a few of my favorites were:

On booth design:

1. From Mike - Make sure that your tables do not block access to your product – that is, make sure that your buyers can get right up to your product and can touch it – don’t make them have to reach over anything.

2. From Anna - It’s okay to “double-face” your product. This means you can put the same product in two different places in your booth - a trick that helps you look like you are a bigger company with more product than you might actually be! And it gives you an opportunity to service more than one customer at a time.

What I would add to this is from the show management perspective:

3. Make sure that you display your company name and booth number so that buyers can see it – this is your “address” at the Show, and the way buyers will find you again once they walk away.

On sales:

1. From Mike – make a great first impression – Your booth is your company. Be positive, friendly and professional at all times. More on this - don’t sit down – instead stand and welcome your customers in for a look - all with a smile!

2. From Anna – give your elevator speech. An elevator speech is what you would say about your company or line in the length of an elevator ride. You include 4 things that you want the customer to remember – who, what, where and when. Anna included her own example. So nice of her to share!

What I would add to these two points is this:

3. Don’t forget to ask for the sale! Too many times I hear from exhibitors that they are so excited that stores are interested in what they have, that they forget to ask “would you like to start an order?”

The webinar covered so much more – with photos used as examples for booth display and selling. I can’t give it all away here, of course – those who participated paid for these great tips, after all!

Here are a few comments we received after the presentation:

“Even though 2009 will be our 5th show, we still found much of the information helpful and we have already been in contact with Mike. Please extend our thanks to Anna Griffin as well. Aside from being very entertaining and charming, we thought it was so thoughtful for her to share her insight and knowledge with the rest of us. We so greatly appreciate it and hope to be able to give back in the same way one day.” Lisa Chin Potash, PiPo Press - Booth # 2136”

“Good job... Content was helpful. Pictures were good. Looking forward to a great Show” Regina Goernemann, Designing Ducks – booth 1208

“The comments on various booth layouts helped me in (hopefully) improving upon my design from last year (though I will keep a significant part of the original appearance the same), I will hopefully make some good improvements.” Brigitte Thieme, BeeTeeWorld LLC – booth 1852


“Great information even for a seasoned exhibitor. Got my juices flowing for preparation for the upcoming Show.” Jan Sevadjian, Jan Sevadjian Designs, Booth 3426

We’re looking forward to a great Show, too! Whether you are a retailer or an exhibitor, please feel free to contact us here at any time with questions about the Show.
- Until next time – Kelly

Changes Changes!

I’m very happy to be blogging again; I’ve really missed it. But boy, has it ever been a crazy year, one filled with highs and lows, and lots of diligence on the Team’s part to stay on top of what’s happening out there. Our business is a mirror reflection of what our exhibitors are experiencing in their businesses. And caution is playing a critical role in riding out this wacky world economy.

The National Stationery Show (NSS) will be chock full of wonderful new collections from seasoned vendors, and delightful young companies who are getting started in the business – one of the most exciting aspects of the Show! It will have a new feel, as many exhibitors have changed the scale of their exhibits, and a new energy.

We’re in show business, so setting the stage for the curtain to rise is something we care a lot about. Now eight weeks out, we’re focusing on delivering a high energy, fun ambiance on the Show floor – one that is as productive as it is memorable. I’m very excited to tell you that SURTEX will co-locate adjacent to the NSS in the north end of the floor. SURTEX presents 2-dimensional original art for sale or for license, and features several of the world’s leading surface designers. In fact many of the current popular licenses in stationery originated in SURTEX, and needless to say, many of tomorrow’s trends will begin there, too! The artistic synergy between the shows has always been fantastic, but with the adjacency, will be palpable. I can’t wait for you to experience it.

To add to the energy, we’re also presenting the Louie Awards display on the Show floor along the back of the 2200-3000 aisles; the Demo Theatre in the rear of the 2500 aisle, featuring 4 dynamic programs each day; and, for a real visual merchandising treat, bridal-themed table settings in the 1400 aisle. And, Passport to Discovery is back, a program that emphasizes discovery as a key opportunity for NSS buyers. Did you know that most new companies are making their splash here – and can only be found at the NSS? This unique quality means buyers can be the first to discover new talent and new trends, and bring in product that will enliven their stores and stimulate sales. A good, no a great thing!

Until next time…

-Patti

Coming Soon!

Hey everyone! We're so sorry that we haven't posted in a while but the team has been real busy gearing up for the 2009 Show. I am, however, the bearer of great news. You can soon expect to read some great blogs with management updates, industry news and, of course, a sneak peak of what you can expect to see at the Show. Can you believe the 63rd annual National Stationery Show is in just over 2 months? We hope you're ready!

*Jess*