Stationery Store Day on Saturday 3 August is a day carved out for everyone who loves stationery to celebrate most special specialty store: the stationery store!
Set up in 2022 by Kristina Burkey, owner of Calliope in Natick, Massachusetts in the US, Stationery Store Day was set up to celebrate independently-owned stationery shops. There are now shops in 14 countries around the world participating, including 12 in the UK.
One retailer who has taken part since 2022 is Sarah Holmes of Pencil Me In in Elgin, Scotland. “I really enjoy Stationery Store Day and think it’s a great initiative. We have taken part every year. Last year we offered a discount but this year we are going to offer a brand-new Pencil Me In stationery pack that is yet to be launched. I literally just signed off the designs this week! This is working with a company that I met at London Stationery Show who are based in Scotland.”
Sarah continues: “I’ll also be sharing my Google map of independent stationery shops on the run-up to the day so that all of our followers can locate their closest stationery shop and be able to support them on the day whether they’re taking part or not. And if I have enough time, I’m going to bake up some of my pencil biscuits to give out on the day to our customers.”
At the other end of the country, in Eastbourne, East Sussex, All Things Analogue will be taking part, with owner Abel Dos Santos sharing some of the events he has planned: “We’ll have things going on at the shop during the day including creative activities and limited edition Stationery Store Day goodies. We’ll be putting together some mystery bags, free gifts with purchases and offering free personalisation on TRAVELER’S Company and Leuchtturm1917 notebooks bought on the day. The shop will be full of music and conversation, as always, and we look forward to welcoming new and familiar faces to celebrate with us down along the sunshine coast.”
Hunter Paper Co in Belfast took part in the celebrations for the first time last year with owner Ross Johnston commenting: “Stationery Store Day was a great boost for us last year and we’re excited to take part again this year. We’ll be running promotions and hosting a free journaling workshop to help spread the word.”
Melanie McKay, owner of Analog Shop in Lancaster is participating for the first time this year; “This is our first year participating and we are super excited. We will be doing 10 spot prize gift bags all day worth £10 or more to celebrate Stationery Store Day. We have done similar in our yarn shop and the customers love it.”
