StationeryNews.net caught up with Coffeenotes following its win of the Working From Home Product of the Year at this year’s Stationery Awards. Read on to find out what they loved about London Stationery Show 2024 and what we can expect to see from them in 2025.
The Stationery Awards took place at London Stationery Show. Overall, how was the show for you?
In a word: busy. It was great to meet so many new and existing customers and colleagues. The interest in a genuinely sustainable brand designing and manufacturing stationery in the UK from single use coffee cups continues to generate real enthusiasm, which is a huge positive for us.
What was your highlight from the show?
Apart from the continued support and enthusiasm for Coffeenotes… probably discovering that Rob Hutchins of Products of Change was promoting Coffeenotes as a great example of a sustainable brand practicing a circular economy in his talk…..and of course winning an award.
How did it feel to win at the Stationery Awards?
It’s always great when your products are recognised by colleagues and experts and to be nominated in five categories was a huge accolade for a small independent brand. Being shortlisted alongside brands who have been around for far longer than Coffeenotes and who are part of much larger businesses is a real achievement for us. Winning was the cherry on the cake.
What do you think set your product apart from the rest of the finalists?
We hope that the sustainability message is always an important factor when judging our products but the simplicity and non-prescriptive design of our planner and organiser pad sets it apart. It is, of course, also beautiful to look at and contains a luxury paper which is fountain pen friendly.
What made you enter the Stationery Awards?
Winning awards is always a positive for the small team at Coffeenotes but the increased awareness that awards generate is also very important to us. At Coffeenotes, we encourage both customers and stationery brands to think differently for the sake of our planet’s future.
Can you give us an overview of your top three products from the show?
Our new lay flat notebooks are a very exciting development for us. We print and bind all of our products ourselves in Dorset and have spent a long time refining a proper lay flat notebook. Ours have an exposed thread binding and we have introduced two new covers made from boards containing seaweed waste from Earthshot Prize winners, Notpla, and meadow grass.
Also new are our shot books, the smallest of our stitched notebooks. At A7 size, they are great for slipping into pockets and ideal for notes and shopping lists etc. They have the same sustainable, luxury papers and the same simple design as our other products….just in miniature.
Lastly our medio size (A5) wirebound notebooks continue to be best sellers. They are completely compostable or recyclable as long as you put the non-plastic coated wires into your kerbside recycling…nothing to landfill. With covers made from repurposed waste from the food and drinks industries and textile manufacturing, as well as 100% recycled paper, there is something for everyone. They contain 160 pages of luxury coffeecup paper. What’s not to like?
What is one piece of advice you’d give to stationers planning on entering the Stationery Awards in the future?
Go for it! You have nothing to lose and lots to gain in terms of exposure and awareness. It’s a great way to showcase new products.
What is your goal for the year ahead?
Onwards and upwards! We are looking forward to promoting our new products… lay flat notebooks and shot books…and have an exciting range of gift sets in preparation for Christmas. We are always looking to spread the word, working with like-minded brands to encourage a circular economy.
Where can people find your products?
We have an online shop, www.coffeenotes.shop. Coffeenotes can also be found in many independent stationers, coffeeshops, bookshops, museums, galleries and gift shops in the UK and around the world. If you are interested in becoming a stockist please contact jack@coffeenotes.shop.
