Following last week’s event at London Stationery Show, the winners have been buzzing on the back of their success.
There were over 70 products nominated from 40 different brands, from the well-established to newbies on the scene. Judged by an independent panel of leading retailers, across 12 distinct product categories, the awards recognise the greatest product innovations in the stationery sector.
New for this year is the Icon Award, as the name suggests, this an award to a product that has stood the test of the time and is a truly iconic product. The winner this year was the Kaweco Classic Sport fountain pen, distributed in the UK by Studio Pens.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be the inaugural winners of the Icon Award,” said Nikki Devine, director of Studio Pens. “The Kaweco Classic Sport is a true icon, designed in 1911 and still going strong today. It’s nice to see a classic design still has its place today.”
Picking up two awards was LEUCHTTURM1917, first for the Diary or Organiser of the Year with its weekly planner and notebook with dotted pages, and the second one for the Notebook or Journal of the Year with the Bullet Journal® Pocket Edition.
UK sales director, Tracy Schotness said: “We’ve just launched the Bullet Journal® Pocket Edition and the demand has been crazy. There’s nothing else like it on the market. It’s a portable flexible version in an A6 size which opens out to an A5 size. The weekly planner and notebook is also new. We’ve always done a product that’s half-diary, half-organiser, this one has the note pages at the back with dotted pages because everyone loves our dotted journals so why not in a diary!”
Taking away the award for Licensed Stationery Product of the Year was Manuscript Brands with its LEGO Harry Potter box set with diary, broomstick pen and accessories. Penny Parkin, sales manager commented on the product: “It’s a unique gift set with locking diary, tray with stationery accessories inside, poseable figure headlamp and broomstick gel pen. It was new at the show and has gone down really well. We’re thrilled with the award.”
With sustainability a hot topic these days, the Sustainable Stationery Product of the Year was a fiercely fought category with some truly innovative entries showcasing the best in sustainable practices. The winner of this award was Exacompta Clairefontaine with its Clairefontaine bamboo watercolour pads made from 100% bamboo fibres.
“Sustainability is integral to our business,” said Lawrence Savage, marketing manager for ExaClair. “We’re proud that 88% of our products have an independently verified sustainability accreditation, including GRS, PEFC, Blue Angel and the World Land Trust. We were over the moon to have our Clairefontaine bamboo watercolour pads announced as winners of the Sustainable Product of the Year category.”
The Arts and Crafts Product of the Year went to Eugy 3D model kits distributed by Brainstorm. “This year marked our first ever London Stationery Show and we couldn’t be more delighted to have one of our brands recognised in the awards,” said Debra Tiffany marketing manager for Brainstorm. “It topped off what was a brilliant event. We are passionate about Eugy and developing the brand here in the UK. Since its launch, retail sales have surpassed £10 million and industry recognition is such a positive boost not only for us but the genius creators Dodoland who are so excited to see how the range is being received globally.”
