From early beginnings working in the family convenience stores in Leicester and 25 years working in the commercial field dealing with independent stores, wholesalers, the large supermarkets to car garages, Nish Kanabar and wife Liz took over their first store, Castlegate Stationery, in 2009.
Can you give us a little introduction to your shop?
Castlegate Stationery was established in 1979, in the lovely market town of Wetherby in West Yorkshire. Since 2009, we have developed a product offering from four thousand lines to over 11,000 stocks lines instore. We specialize in pens, and are appointed stocks for Cross, Fisher Space, Lamy, Papermate, Pentel, Parker, Pilot, Staedtler, Stabilo, Shaeffer, Schneider, Waterman pens, among other brands. Our expertise in pens is known county-wide, and we have customers travel to see us from all over the UK and abroad.
We also provide a service for printing, laminating, framing, and home visits to install computer equipment, including doing free local deliveries. Instore, there is a range of over 11,000, including general stationery lines, craft lines, including card making, sewing threads, large art department, toys and traditional board games, and jigsaw puzzles. Since 2009 we have constantly evolved listening to our customers, focusing on our two stores in our home town of Wetherby. Customer service is key to us, as we serve quite a wide radius of customers.
What made you get into the stationery industry?
I’ve loved stationery, ever since I was at school. It’s addictive. I’ve sold to stationers, and now in a dream come true I have been a stationer. I can’t see myself doing anything else.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is meeting people. I strongly believe people buy from people, and when we serve a customer and they leave happy, this makes our day.
What’s your favourite industry memory?
My favourite has to be, when our son Daniel, who has helped in the store since he was young, was nominated for the London Stationery Show 30 under 30 awards. He was only 16 then, so a proud dad moment.
Can you tell us three interesting facts about your shop?
- We are one of the largest independent pen retailers in the Yorkshire region.
- Our store is built into the archway of what used to be the entrance to the Electricity Board car park entrance, and before that the entrance to horse stables at the rear of the building.
- I am obsessed about eco stationery products. We have the largest range of any independent retailer, with the majority of the range produced in the UK in our own label.
What is your favourite stationery product of all time?
My favourite product of all time is the Parker Jotter ball point pen. I have 6 in different colours, and still have the 3 I had when I was at school. I have given one each to our children, who use them to this day.
What is your current favourite stationery product that customers can find in your store?
This has to be our range of own label lines, ranging from journals, sketch books, card packs, calendars, greeting cards. Currently we have about 60 lines, and the range is growing. I am very proud of these lines we have developed with UK manufacturers.
If you had to give one piece of advice to another store owner, what would it be?
Retailing is challenging, never sit on your laurels. Only you can make a difference to the success of your business, so listen to your teams, partners, customers, needs, and act upon them. Make your store friendly, welcoming, tidy, and clean, this way it will be a pleasure for all to be in the store.
Check out Castlegate Stationery Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Twitter, at @castlegatestationers, as well as their website: www.castlegatestationers.co.uk
