Newsagents doing Back to School should read Typo, Smiggle spur back-to-school shopping boom published in Fairfax newspapers last week. Embedded in the article is this challenge to newsagents who rely on stationery, especially at Back to School time:
What has changed, however, is what’s being sold: the bland, standard-issue equipment of yesteryear has made way for stationery that is colourful and creative.
And that’s become a multimillion-dollar industry, which Australian retailers are taking to the world.
“For us it’s been a really [good] opportunity to add fun to what 20 years ago was quite a bland product,” says Slattery, who works with a team of about 30 designers, developers and product buyers to stay on top of the latest trends and styles.
“Primarily our customers are looking for fun and something that will brighten up their day, and that will speak to who they are as a person.”
Most of my customers want us to pick and pack for them so we are limited to the pretty basic stuff we can put in orders.
Carol, we also pick & pack the basics cause Qld students need to supply their own packs (different to down south). However, we have a good range of extras: book covers, lunch boxes etc for them to choose when they collect their packs.
Mark – I wondered if you were aware of this stationery supplier: http://www.jotitdown.co
I have no affiliation – just came across them and thought that some of your readers might be interested in stocking their products.
Last night, on Sunday the 17th Jan 2016, one of the Melbourne commercial TV news programs had a small segment about back to school product and valued a basket of items from a newsagency, Officeworks, Smiggle and Typo. Newsagency about $20, Officeworks I forget, Smiggle about $110 and Typo $120.