How did you start a stationery line?
- Thread starter Lucky8
- Start date
Strange - it works for me.
Anyway, just Google size of UK stationery industry (or not - I really don't mind)
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If someone has convinced you that print is a growing industry Then you would probably fall for any sales line
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Based on your extensive research.
Yes exactly that based on Figures and experience
In 1995 I had 2 vans a day running for customers on busy print lines .
I don't even think we have two a month now my biggest customer Maslands Print shut down as they have no customers !
Maybe experience and actually watching the sad fall of stationary print or printed media is not enough for this forum
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As someone qualified and very experienced in carrying out market and marketing research, I tend not to make decisions based on a sample size of one.
I'm not saying you are wrong, just that the OP would be foolish to base a business decision on anecdotal evidence.
Also, high end stationery is a very different market to print.
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Then widen your search.
£250 minimum order, 500 even at one place - not very high volume.
Or find a warehouse. Supply in person can be as low as volume of 1. Not cheap without volume discount and have to catch at right time of year - supply of calendars in February less than 5 percent of supply in August.
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- Original Poster
- #25
Thank you for your continued valued insight into my ability to appraise market demand and "fall for any sales line". Obviously proper market segmentation and identifying stationery from a catch-all print category is something only fools like me do.
You've made your point Jeremy Hawke. You don't think there's any demand for what I am trying to do. Over 20 years ago you had more vans delivering print products than you do now. You've miraculously watched the "sad fall of stationery" through your delivery vans whilst the industry boomed. In answer to your assertion, you are correct - your singular experience of deliveries of print and your perception of a market fall is not enough for me.
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D
Deleted member 59730
Jeremy
In 1995 I was shipping great big parcels of litho film to printers. A book would be many big sheets of film and weigh a lot. Then came CDs and I can send several books on one small envelope by ordinary post.
What has happened since about 1993, when I did one of the very first books in the UK with 100% colour DTP, has been a revolution in print technology. Back then it was totally uneconomic to do runs under about 5,000. Now with digital setup runs of 1,000 are common and 500 is possible. I would say there are now more pieces of print than in the past.
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- Original Poster
- #27
Sort-of bump, as this thread turned into a bit of a viability scrum, when it was actually my first post looking for insight from those who had started a stationery line, specifically notebooks and calendars, or knew anyone who had.
All those notebooks "made in the UK" that line the shelves, does anyone know where they're constructed and printed? I've called a few by the way, they don't like to tell!
All those notebooks "made in the UK" that line the shelves, does anyone know where they're constructed and printed? I've called a few by the way, they don't like to tell!
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There are a few companies who make their own.
A handful I have come across will do 'private label' notebooks and calendars to the client specification (pattern, paper, pages, colour etc) - that's where you may well hit large volume requirements. Which may mean looking to sell some of what you order wholesale...
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As long as there are offices then companies will need office supplies, still a very viable business and something that can do well if you offer a service that stands out. Whilst the margin might not be great on the standard stuff if you can get a foot in the door with a few bigger companies locally then you could offer them hardware, pc's, monitors, av equipment which could be much better margins.
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Depending on your initial order quantities, a visit to a China trade show dealing in stationery products will be worthwhile.
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R
Root 66 Woodshop
Try giving these guys a call...
http://www.powellcreativeproducts.com/
Not sure if Adrian is still there... but they do some nice stuff.
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Okay, having been someone who owned and ran a stationery supplies firm, I would say you need to be aware that there is A LOT of competition out there (it's part of the reason why my business failed).
So, you are going to really need some way to stand out from the crowd and show that your products are going to be different.
You say "Mid-range and high end, notebooks, calendars etc."
As an office supplies business I able to offer clients a wide range of different products within both notebooks and calendars.
So, my first question has to be: What will your stationery have (or not have) that will make it unique to all the other brands out there?
So, you are going to really need some way to stand out from the crowd and show that your products are going to be different.
You say "Mid-range and high end, notebooks, calendars etc."
As an office supplies business I able to offer clients a wide range of different products within both notebooks and calendars.
So, my first question has to be: What will your stationery have (or not have) that will make it unique to all the other brands out there?
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- Original Poster
- #40
We have that sorted. We understand the market as a whole is flooded. My description is vague here to protect the USP and to keep the attention on the quality of the product we are looking to achieve and therefore the manufacturer we would work with. So don't worry, the positioning and research is done, we need to find a great way to produce it now.
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