We caught up with Andhand following their win at this year’s Stationery Matters Awards. Read on to find out what they loved about London Stationery Show 2023 and what we can expect to see from them in 2024.
The Stationery Matters Awards took place at London Stationery Show. Overall, how was the show for you?
For us it was a really great show. Prior to this so much of our time had been spent on design and development of the products. Being our first specialist trade show, it was nice to finally get our products in front of the right audience and be so well received.
What was your highlight from the show?
It was probably getting our first order at show within twenty minutes of the doors opening on day one. It was great initial validation for all the hard work and long days in the build up to the show.
How did it feel to win at the Stationery Matters Awards?
At first it was just pure surprise, we were up against some very well-established brands and we were very happy just to have been shortlisted in the first place. To win Writing Instrument of the Year was a very humbling moment.
What do you think set your product apart from the rest of the finalists?
All of our products are relatively minimal, which means in design terms there is no place to hide. Every element has been precisely thought through and executed without compromise.
What made you enter the Stationery Matters Awards? What made you believe you could win?
As the saying goes, ‘you’ve got to be in it to win it’. Honestly our aim was just to reach the shortlist given the extra exposure that it would give our fledgling brand at the show.
Can you give us an overview of your top three products from the show?
Our hoop tape dispenser got a lot of attention. It breaks the format of a conventional dispenser but in a very simple and graphically pleasing way, also the bespoke cutting blade gives a super clean cut through any tape.
I guess we’ve got to mention the award winner – the Method Pen Mini in solid brass. It’s a great pocket-sized pen which will last a lifetime and age beautifully, the twist mechanism is simple and has a really pleasing feel in use – when you’re not writing you do find yourself fiddling with it constantly, twisting back and forth.
We’d also just expanded our fountain pen range in time for the show, introducing an all stainless steel and a black and brass version of our Method Fountain Pen. We’re really happy with the range of raw materials offered and how each affects the weight and writing experience of the pen.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to stationers planning on entering the Stationery Matters Awards in the future?
There are lots of choices when it comes to which category to enter, so be thoughtful about not only which you would qualify for but also within which your offering has the most impact.
What is your goal for the year ahead?
We’re still building our product ranges so spending lots of time making and testing new things, we hope to launch a few of these at LSS 2024.
Where can people find you?
We’re working with a nice breadth of stockists across the UK: London Graphic Centre, Fortnum & Mason and Cult Pens along with loads of great independent stockists such as Pencil Me In, Analog Shop and Bartrums & Co. We also sell direct from our website www.andhand.co.uk.
www.stationeryshowlondon.co.uk | www.stationeryawards.co.uk
