Maped Helix, Pentel, Staedtler and Zebra Pen delight National Stationery Week ambassador
Lovers of pens and notebooks are already queueing up for the big event of the year with four main sponsors having signed up already for National Stationery Week, which will be spreading the love at both retail and consumer levels about all things stationery.
Big names Maped Helix, Pentel, Staedtler and Zebra Pen have delighted event ambassador and self-confessed stationery geek Sarah Laker, who is heading up the week for the second year in succession, by committing themselves early to the 2024 campaign.
“I can’t believe we have four great main sponsors on board already,” Sarah, who owns Stationery Supplies in Marple and Wilmslow, told PG Buzz.
“I’m delighted that all four have rebooked after being sponsors last year, it shows how well last year’s campaign went that they want to book again.”
National Stationery Week runs over Monday to Sunday, 13-19 May, this year, and encompasses the London Stationery Show on the Tuesday and Wednesday at the Business Design Centre in Islington – both are now owned by Max Publishing, owners of Progressive Greetings, PG Buzz and PG Live – and founder Chris Leonard-Morgan is back on board as a special advisor.
Sarah added: “It’s my favourite week of the year, I’ve taken part in it since the beginning in 2011, so I was beyond delighted to be asked to spearhead the National Stationery Week campaign and to return again this year.”
Sarah is still working on the full plans for National Stationery Week, but will be instigating marketing activities for each individual day, with a dedicated sponsor for each.
Staedtler has booked the Wednesday for its headline sponsorship slot, and senior marketing executive Rebekah Bell said: “We’re thrilled to be sponsoring National Stationery Week again in 2024, following the success of the 2023 event. It’s is a key event for Staedtler, and this year is set to be full of colour and creativity!”
And Pentel is Tuesday’s sponsor, as marketing manager Wendy Vickery explained: “We had no doubts we wanted to be involved once again – last year’s #LovePentelPens activity provided us with a great opportunity to support independent retailers with new product sampling and the chance to win high impact merchandising units.
“It also enabled us to encourage consumers to visit their local retail stationery stockist in store, in person, to pick up a sample pack of new Pentel pens and show their love for stationery by voting for their favourite independent stationery retailer. This year we’ll be unveiling more exciting plans to support our customers and share positive stationery vibes.”
Sarah has a series of meetings in February with the sponsors to discuss their plans and choices for the return of the daily hashtags to engage the end consumer as the week celebrates letter writing, journaling, and arts and crafts.
Maped Helix’s Monday sponsorship and Zebra Pen on Friday leaves just Thursday, Saturday and Sunday now available. Sarah is also looking for countdown sponsors for each of the six weeks preceding before the show – The Art File is signed up for week one, and Sinclairs stationery for week six.
Max Publishing md Jakki Brown said: “We’re thrilled that Sarah and the sponsors are back on board, and really looking forward to showing everyone the delights of stationery – especially all those fabulous notebooks just waiting to be written in with gorgeous pens!”
There are three NSW social media hashtags – #NatStatWeek #WritingMatters #LoveStationery – which will be employed on Facebook and Instagram, and Sarah would love to hear from anyone who wants to join in the event, so email her at sarah@marplestationerysupplies.co.uk.
London Stationery Show is the trade fair for all stationery lovers, buyers, wholesalers, overseas distributors and licensors and registration to attend is now open. To find out about the advantages of exhibiting at LSS, contact event manager Chantelle White on chantellew@max-publishing.co.uk.
