Pen To Paper - Spring 2018

08 | P2P Magazine | Spring 2018 01732 759725 STATIONERY TRENDS ...continued and pads have seen a surge in popularity over the past few years and we don’t see any sign of this slowing down in 2018. One explanation for their popularity is that as consumers write less they want the very best writing experience. Another is the increasing number of mobile workers who are regularly client-facing and looking to portray a professional and stylish image.” He added: “This trend is behind the strong growth of our Clairefontaine Europa range of notebooks, which grew by nearly 10% in 2017.” Another beneficiary of this trend is the iconic Rhodia range, which last year was extended with Heritage and Goalbook notebooks featuring premium-quality Clairefontaine 90gsm brushed vellum paper. Rouillard points out that the trend towards premium quality products is also evident in filing products, particularly in the legal and professional sector. “We’ve found that customers who trialled medium or lightweight products have come back to brands like Guildhall that they trust to stand up to frequent use over a long period of time. Guildhall continues to buck the market trend, with close to 9% growth in 2017, in a market that has declined by approximately 10% overall,” he said. Sustainability Premium quality products might also be the more sustainable option if they last longer and result in less waste, appealing to what Filofax’s Langhein sees as a cultural shift. “Better described as a movement rather than a trend, sustainability is on everyone’s mind.” she said. “Reducing the waste from your stationery can be as simple as using refillable products. By keeping the core cover of your notebook, clipbook or organiser you can add and remove the content you love and reduce waste.” Fiona Mills, marketing director of Avery UK, suggests that sustainability might also impact colour choice. “With the parcel industry growing, so has the demand for brown packaging, especially as the colour is associated with being green and eco-friendly,” she said. To meet this demand, Avery’s new range of franking and parcel labels includes a Brown Kraft Franking Label made from 100% post-consumer waste. Metallics At the other end of the spectrum, the shimmering metallic shades popular in fashion and interior design have also been adopted by stationery vendors. Langhein cites the sequins and vibrant metallic ‘70s tones seen on the catwalks of Saint Laurent, Gucci, Michael Kors and Emilio Pucci as inspiration for new metallic silver, gold and rose gold versions of Filofax’s Saffiano notebook. Last year, LEUCHTTURM1917 celebrated its centenary with the launch of a special edition Metallic series of notebooks, business card cases and pen loops in gold, silver and copper. In the pen market, Pentel introduced Hybrid Dual Metallic gel rollers with sparkling iridescent gel ink. Block colours Modern and bold block colours are another fashion trend that’s been picked up by the stationery and office products industry, with big brands moving away from the traditional executive office shades of black and grey to offer products in a variety of stylish colours. The availability of colourful desktop accessories (and filing products like Exacompta’s Iderama filing range) gives office workers the opportunity to mix and match colours or co-ordinate their whole workspace in whatever way they like – a trend being driven by the blurring of the division between work and home life and the desire for more choice and personality in the workspace. Last year, Avery UK designed a new range of desktop accessories, including a letter tray, magazine rack, pen pot, accessory tray and card holder, based on the latest interior design and fashion trends. According to marketing director Fiona Mills, the benefits of bold colours are more than just aesthetic. “Many office workers are now looking for products that not only look great, but also add value to their productivity and organisation. Strong block colours are forecast to trend in 2018/19, and we already know that colour has been linked to improving productivity and boosting mood,” she said. “The new ‘Brilliance’ range comes in contemporary white with a splash of vibrant blue. This colour was chosen for its calming feel and, when teamed with a clean white, it will stand out in any office.” Exacompta Iderama Filofax Saffiano notebook LEUCHTTURM1917 metallic series Avery Brilliance range